SCHOOL ME

A Written Creative Work submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree

Master of Fine Arts

Playwriting

by

Ramon S. Jackson

San Francisco, California

May 2018 Copyright by Ramon Shawntez Jackson 2011 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL

I certify that I have read School Me by Ramon Shawntez Jackson, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Arts: Playwriting at San Francisco State University.

Roy Co )oy Au/D. Professd Creative Writing

Michelle Carter, Au.D. Professor of Creative Writing SCHOOL ME

RAMON SHAWNTEZ JACKSON San Francisco, California 2018

“School Me”: A play on words and worlds

Michelle Carter and Roy Conboy (Mentors), Department of Creative Writing

“School Me” is a hyper-realistic creative work that seeks to initiate conversation surrounding academic, vocabularies of communication, and the pedagogy of inclusive access for all. The setting - an Ethics 101 class full of local community college students (Laney College, Oakland.); their quest - to escape the never ending war-zones the live in for a fresh start an legal money. Their shared obstacle; an extremely detached professor, and a city on the verge of annihilation because of another murdered young black male. When will enough be enough? What are the keys to freedom? Can any of them last through the semester to graduate? Who has the vocabularies of access?

This play was written as a commentary on the advanced education system and some of the short-comings I noticed as I encountered these characters. The story is based on real people, and some very real life circumstances. Names have been changed to protect innocent and guilty alike; although, no judgements are made, or conveyed in the natured of this piece. I sought to let the truth of the character’s existences speak for themselves without any judgement from me as a writer; allowing room for the audience to confer with their own complicated feelings surrounding the less fortunate, or urban lower-class.

I certify that the Abstract is a correct representation of the content of this written creative work. PREFACE AND/OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you Father Universe, Master of meaning, God, for this journey and the destination, yet unknown. To Mom and Dad, Mrs. B. A. & Mr. Raymond L. Jackson, for letting me spill our stuff on the floor and me getting dirty in it. Dad, it was a Spirit thing, thanks for the time and attention. Grandmas, Leola Jackson & Annie Pear Moore, there will be no stronger cornerstones in my foundation than yours. It is your courage in my veins, thank you. To Kasey, Tiana, Ty-Tre, Ciara, thank you for putting up with all of me, there is no greater anything, than siblings.

To my counsel of advisors personal and academic: Michelle Carter, Truong Tran, Anne

Galjur, Misty Williams, Wesley McAfee, Ms. Marion Martin, Bishop Walter L. Hawkins,

Edwin Hawkins, Judy Juanita, Jackie Graves, Roy Conboy and Regan Pruitt, Michael

Torres, Parish Sampson, Shotgun, Compo Santo, City of Refuge, UCC and the YAF

Foundation. Thx. School Me! by R. Shawntez Jackson

© 2011 -R. Shawntez Jackson [email protected] 2737 Harold St. # 5 Oakland, Ca. 94602 510-301-9916 2

School Me ©2011

II Act / Poetic Dramedy /13 Actors (6M/6F/1T) Multi-Ethnic

“Education is the key to freedom.” In a city like Oakland, these words are the only hope for the millions of students too short to play pro ball, or the 10 of millions who can’t rap; but education isn’t cheap, and for these 9 Junior College students (Laney College), trying to get out of the hood; in less than 24 hours, it will cost them more than they ever nightmared.

Production Notes:

This production is a transcendent journey between the physical worlds of these students verses their inner aspirational monologues. Theses shifts will be represented by MOOD within the stage directions accompanied by the desired emotional cue for artistic, lighting, & sound direction choices. 3

Characters: ^PROFESSOR HEAD (On-Screen) - Uneasy/ Detached, Professor with a past, 40 - 50’s M, White & F, Black

(Live) - Aware/ Secure, Professor with a past, 35 - 50’s T (M/F), Black or Mixed Race

STUDENT/ - Pissed off, Male, early 20 - 30’s REPORTER 2

NIKO/ROBBER - Sexy, well built, flirtatious user with an exotic edge, JUDGE 4 Male, 20’s - 30’s,

SARAH/ REPORTER 1 - Hustler, quick with the lip, sharp with her tongue JUDGE 6 Female, Late teens PAMELA/ - Obese - Big girl with a chip on her shoulder & a heart of JUDGE 5 gold, protector, Female, mid 20’s ANGEL/ - Militant, enlightened/ awake, determined JUDGE 7 African American, Male, Late teens - Early 20’s *GWEN/ - Bubbly expectant hood girl, Female, 20’s JUDGE 3 JONATHAN Scorned and succumbing, bright but naive, Male 22 LAWRENCE/ Guarded & lonely, Gay, Male 20’s JUDGE 2 MAY LING/ Sensitive/ collected, Observant, Asian, Female, 20’s REPORTER 3/ JUDGE 1

Dr. NEWBOOTY Cagey, Female, mid-late 40's

*Notes:

Professor Head to be played by at least two actors, one male & one female, (you can have as many as you’d like, working as a chorus) whose images and voices will be interchanged for PROFESSOR HEAD during the performance on-screen at the director’s discretion. Onstage the actor will be played by 40 & up older Black Trans.

Jonathan is on the spectrum.

Gwen’s mother was on crack while pregnant with her. 4

ACT I

Scene 1

A classroom

The class is dimly lit. Desks arranged in an open v formation from the front o f the room. A large combination chalkboard & dry-erase board is on the wall behind a big desk with a globe on it. A clock is off to the upper left and an extra-large flag hangs from the wall to the upper right. There are posters o f Astronaut Neil Armstrong on the moon; Diana Ross & the Supremes, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jesus on the cross and Oscar Grant hangs on the wall stage right. All the students are present in class, in varying states of interest and/or disinterest o f the film.

Song Ain’t nobody’s Fault but Mine by Nina Simone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iILzubTCrvcA

A montage of photos intermingled and projected on a large screen at the head of the class, showing history offamilies in front of deplorable housing, students studying in school, learning and achieving vs. images o f violence, protest, black panthers, and images o f internment camps and veterans o f war. In the middle o f the song the audience should see images of triumph and achievement in more current times, jazz music, performers, dancing, the cotton club, pop culture icons. In the ending refrain of the song, there should be images o f lynching’s from historical archives opposed with current images of black deaths, images o f holocaust deaths and bodies, images o f slavery abuse, abused bodies, and the final image should be o f the earth after nuclear destruction.

Lights comes up on stage and in-house, lights flicker on and off and a giant head appears on the screen, opens its eyes, clears its throat and begins the class, as a female. *All the students monologues should be cast to the audience as if they were the head o f the class (PROFESSOR HEAD).

PROFESSOR HEAD (Female) (Nervous and uneasy) Ummmm... Hello! Oh, ahhha, welcome, everyone. This is Ethics 101, just in case you are in the wrong class. I can’t see the room very well but all your syllabi and handouts should be on the table at the front of the class. Please take one of everything before you leave; for no- Interrupting

PAMELA -There’s nothing on that table! 5

PROFESSOR HEAD Really? (Under their breath with a huff) So much for that TA. (Louder) Well in any case I will make sure that your handouts will be available for you by the next class. I am your educational facilitator for this semester; Professor Head.

Snickering and laughter from the class.

I need to take roll so please raise your hand when your name is called. At that time you can let me know if you have a preferred pronoun, your desired gender ...and what the hell else am I supposed to say? Oh yeah, I am a mandated reporter ... so if you tell me that you were raped or beaten or experience violence or something...I have to tell, so umm. Yeah. There’s at least one on campus counselor left, so I advise you go make time with her if you need help. That’s out the way, so.. .back to the role, yeah. If your name is not called, you are not enrolled in the class. If you are not currently enrolled in the class you will need to leave the class immediately. If there are any available spaces in the class as determined by the computer, please go to the admissions office and enroll there. Until which time you can return with an enrollment permission number, you should not return...

Grumbles and mumbles from the class.

GWEN (While rubbing her nearly 7 month old belly) D-AAAAAMN you’re rude!

A few potential students shake their heads, get up and walk out the class grumbling.

STUDENT Fuck this man; there ain't no open classes on this campus! Every class is full already. You know they limiting the number of classes a semester now, and keep letting all those professors go on “sabbatical.” How am I supposed to finish school if I can't get a class? One muthafuckin’ class, (pleading) com’on, I need this class to graduate this year. (He waits) 6

PROFESSOR HEAD (Blank Stare)

STUDENT This is some bullshit, all these empty seats. You know damn well yo ass can add us. I can’t afford another semester of this. I quit!!!

More students get up and leave the class.

PROFESSOR HEAD (Slightly satisfied) Okay...two more down. Anymore? Ummmm, so let’s get started shall we?

Students raises their hand and says present as their name is called

ANGEL GOODMAN, good to see you again. JONATHAN HINKLEY? PAMELA JOHNSON; LAWRENCE WILLIAMS; why is this roster out of alphabetical order? SARAH SINGLETON, Cynthia Ho, GWEN JONES, MAY LING CHANG, NIKO MILES, Kimberly Sanchez...Kimberly Sanchez...humm, I’m getting lucky today.

An awkward and sudden silence falls over the Professor and they start looking for more names on the roster.

Ooooooookay..., we need to ascertain who we’re in class with, so let’s get familiar, shall we? Umm, Niko, why don't you go first? Please .. .tell the class your major, what brings you to this class and finally, one fun-fact about yourself nobody knows.

Fixing his clothes Niko stands and turns to face the class and the audience. Niko is singled out.

NIKO Black, Hispanic, Asian, or White? Cute, complex, insane or contrite? Which are you; and does that make it right; to be so bold and hold your head in such high esteem, just because you have a dream? 7

NIKO Like I ain’t supposed to dream too. I’ve been watching those late night commercials and thinking... What will it mean to perfect the knowledge or the intellect I will need just to say I will succeed? So here I am. Now what? Who should I be? What do I want to become of me? Then I talked to that damn counselor, You know what she said?

STUDENTS represent the entire class, minus PROFESSOR HEAD, speaking in monotone unison.

STUDENTS “Be a drone.”

PROFESSOR HEAD Medicine?

STUDENTS be a pawn...

PROFESSOR HEAD Oh, business

MAY LING Wait... what?!

STUDENTS be a patsy...

PROFESSOR HEAD politics...

ANGEL Hey watch it, I ’m pre-law

NIKO be a pimp...

PAMELA Oh-NO-HE-DIDN’T. 8

GWEN (To Pamela) Yes he did gurl, and it's too bad too cause he so cute! (.Bursting into laughter)

PROFESSOR HEAD Wait a minute. What does that translate to? International affairs? Yes, international corporate business affairs. Oh wow aren’t you an ambitious one.

NIKO (A physical reaction for the Profs comment) The bitch told me to be some kind of/

STUDENTS /simp-a-de-simp? Pointing to the audience.

NIKO Yeah...all for the... machine.

JONATHAN Preach! Niko slaps five with Jonathan and another guy in the class as he moves around the space.

NIKO Like the Jefferson’s, I want a piece of the pie... (He pauses) to take hold of the American Dream.

Someone raises their hand with an "amen " and MOOD: TRIPPING

...A sustainable future with no strain on my brain as to how I’ll pay my bills, get my next meal, or just stay sane. You know, maintain? A car, a companion, a kid, and a place to lay my head; is that too much to dream?

Exit MOOD abruptly. SARAH I feel you.

Looking over at Jonathan, and taking over Niko ’s monologue. MOOD: SEX

A dream that I can wake up in the morning and not regret putting on my clothes. To forget the fear of facing the...

Pained faces I wish I could forget. Pained faces trying to make it the same dreadful way I face when I play the game to erase me and become more paper friendly.

PAMELA Shut up slut! Exit MOOD abruptly.

Let the man talk! Don’t nobody want’a hear you.

LAWERANCE {Laughing) Daaaamn... touchdown! 10 points. (Writing the number with his lickedfinger in the

PROFESSOR HEAD Hrummm students! Go ahead Niko.

Back to MOOD: TRIPPING

NIKO A dream of having a life without tedium and the humdrum, mundane, un-impactful nothingness that is me, and just be.

Living! A life free from that monotone ticking of unexcited seconds of minutes to hours on days by years, of regret.

Wishing I’d completed this task long ago; of deferred living; of dreams unfulfilled, of wanting to release this phoenix from my belly. 10

NIKO Of wishing I’d stop wanting so much, stop consuming so much and

His actions should resemble that o f being on a roller-coaster.

.. .take in the blur of this roller coaster I’m on, in the middle of this oasis, drowning in the truth of what learning truly is ...what life truly is.

Intensify MOOD. (Climax)

NIKO Passion! Everyone claps and hoots as he snaps out o f his MOOD, gathers his composure, backing back into the class, looking around at the other students then at the audience.

GWEN Yes lord, phyne and deep. If I wasn't already having this baby...oooowwweeee!

MOOD shimmers in and out.

NIKO (Blushing from the comment) But, I digress and re frame-for I need these letters behind my name- for the man to proclaim- that I am ordained -to receive all rights and privileges due me as a citizen of these here-United plains.

It’s a shame -that I have to refrain -from climaxing too soon-in order to be groomed -on eating humble pie, for this professor’s sly electronic eye-to notice me. Maybe she'll clue me into a vein, or a stipend or two. Change my process from cloudy and blue.

Exit MOOD with hard drum thwack.

You ask me why I’m in school. 11

NIKO I need money, it’s true, but I need freedom more than anything. How about you?

PROFESSOR HEAD Freedom? I’m not sure I ...I ...I understa- ...that does not, what ...not included... data...within limits...compute, not based in fact ...not prime.. .not coded for.. .error in anticipation... ummmm, I .. .1.. .1 I don't understand what the hell is going on here? This crappy equipment; what were you talking about again NIKO, I’m so sorry, what was it...freedom? Oh here we go again.

Professor Head starts having distortion issues.

PROFESSOR HEAD I am having some technical problems with this equipment. I must reboot. Please hold, ummm I mean take a ten minute break.

Face on screen goes black.

SARAH (To Niko) What the heck is this crap? You broke the teacher down on the first day? Really man, you are too much! (Slapping a high five with Niko and looking slyly at Jonathan)So you need money huh? I got a hustle I know, and you’re pretty cute, it may work out well for you.

NIKO No thanks. I’m good.

SARAH It’s good, but if you change your mind...I’m just saying.

JONATHAN What are you just saying SARAH?

SARAH Huh? Oh I was just saying... I.. .1.1 was just trying to tell the brother about a financial endeavor that could benefit his pockets.

PAMELA Wow, how you gone help somebody? You a broke bitch hoe! 12

The class goes up in owwes and ahhhas as SARAH jumps up from her seat toward Pamela.

SARAH Fat ass bitch, you don’t know me, I’m from the dubs, those could be your last words!

PAMELA What you gon’ do? Get loud and jump around like the chicken head you are? Oh no wait, you gone get yo dumb ass man to take up for you aha?

SARAH (Looking at Jonathon) You gon’ let her talk to me like that?

Everyone looks toward Jonathan but he turns his head and says nothing.

PAMELA Okay. I see he ain’t as stupid as you think he is. We all see you on campus, up in every woman’s man's face trying to get yo low down, gutter bucket behind something to eat. Begging folks for bus money, always looking for somebodies weed to hit. You do too much and you really doing too much right now if you think I'm gone let you bark up on me like that doggie! So sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up! I said it the first time and I'll say it again, you a hoe!

SARAH I should gut yo fat ass where you sit dyke!

PAMELA (With great confidence staring SARAH down intensely) Listen girly, I ain’t the 3, the 2, or the 1 and if you feeling like taking a beating, leap frog. Leap!

SARAH leaps at Pamela; the other students are laughing and crowding around the two girls pulling one another’s fake hair out. Professor Head comes back online just as the fight gets underway. 13

PROFESSOR HEAD STUDENTS! This behavior is unacceptable; I will be forced to call campus security! (In a low murmur) And they wonder why I teach from home.

Screen back to black.

NIKO (To Angel) Do all the females at this school act like that?

ANGEL You the new booty; they just trying to impress that’s all. (Watching like nothing was going on.) I’m Angel

NIKO Niko.

ANGEL You never said, what’s your major?

NIKO I’m undecided (murmuring to himself) He stares at LA WRENCE catching LA WRENCE's attention then looking away quickly. ...on a lot of things.

ANGEL I hear ya.

NIKO What position you play?

ANGEL Huh? NIKO (Laughing) Lettermen’s jacket, I figured you on the football team.

ANGEL Oh naw brah, I’m on the on the lacrosse team, the debate team, the swim team, chess team and the cheer squad. You know any-thing that can get a brother a scholarship but not damage my brain or body in the process, I’m there for it. (An afterthought) Besides, cheer keeps me waist high in pussy 14

NIKO (Nodding at Lawrence) Like that? Damn. Y’all got any room for a brother on cheer? (Laughing) Who’s that?

ANGEL Who, the resident homo? NIKO What? How you know that?

ANGEL 'Cause he hella quiet, and real timid. You know the basic stuff. His clothes be on point, I think he works at Nordstrom or something, oh, and he can dance real good. He he he tends to either hang with himself or a couple of the girls; Pam & Gwen. Pam's the fat girl whooping SARAH’s ass right now and Gwen is the pregnant one. Why you ask? You swing like that?

NIKO Naw, I was just checking cause I was trying to see who's who. That's all. He don't look like no Homo, but I guess, humh whatever floats yo boat! Shit, I need to know who to work around here just in case I need some homework done or something. You know with a little flirtation or whatevea I might have a free pass to help outta here, who knows. I might even let the punk suck me up if he does a good job on my papers and my girl won't do it.

ANGEL (Surprised) Ha, right! I’ve never thought of that before. You want the hook up? I can introduce you.

NIKO I’m cool, but thanks, I think I can maneuver on my own.

Lights Transition The audience hears a baby cry in the distance and gun shots ring out as a mothers ’ horrified cry starts. 15

Scene 2

SARAH’S Room

Low lights up on a bedroom

SARAH sits in a dimly lit bedroom (this can be as minimal as a lighting shift, or just a mirror and a chair; to as elaborate as a full room set). She is facing the audience with her head in her hands. She is half dressed and pondering her next move.

SARAH I’ve been trying to make it on these streets, living pillar to post. I’ve been on friends’ couches and friends’ of friends floors. That wore thin quicker than quick. It ain’t easy when you don’t have money in your pocket.

She gets up and walks toward a full length mirror. She is checking her face and body in the mirror primping.

I’m missing class; but I need money more than anything. I keep praying that I graduate ‘cause I know if I get my diploma I can make real money. Legally! Looking at the reflection of her assets.

See... when you don’t have family and need money you learn things. Out in them streets you learn things that you can use in real life.

Like my communication professor told me... I have the gift of gab. He told me that when I talked him from a C to an A last semester; and later talked him out of $75.00 dollars for a $20.00 Viagra pill, and then $500.00 for some extracurricular assistance he needed. (Laughing)

I gab folks out of lunch money, drank money, weed money, phone money, clothes money... whatever!... 16

SARAH Shit, the more I learn from the streets, the more I get in my pockets. You have to have hustle to survive and I have a hustle. Only thing is there's a fine line between a hustle and a hustler I found out.

She feels a chill come into the room, so she cowers in a ball on her knees.

When you need someplace to lay your head, food in your stomach and money in your pocket you do whatever it takes; right?

She gets up and turns the chair around. She mounts the chair differently this time. The chair becomes the embodiment of Professor X, a near elderly Professor at the college. She’s reenacting their last encounter.

So what he’s old and ugly, he’s got a job and he likes me. SARAH cont’d He’s willing to take care of me as long as I take care of him.

Looking at the audience but speaking to her lover for the night. She simulates a sensual seduction of her prey. Her speech changes. MOOD: Seductive/ Intoxicating

SARAH Long day; I'll make it better, just relax. (Almost whisper) My joy is the joy of sunlight that flows like rivers and streams My joy can know no ending because you know what it can bring My joy is still strong after like before it comes quick and new My joy sets things to laughter and re-titles your Monday blues My joy, oh my joy If you had a clue as to what it could bring, there would be nothing; I mean nothing in this world that you ever want in exchange 17

SARAH My joy, oh my joy is plentiful and pours down on you like rain.

Pulling the man’s head closer to her bosom. Can you feel it? My joy, rushing and gushing and motioning you to tidal waves, away from the journey in the land of the lonely. Away from your day’s regret. Away from the sullen prospect of things you’ll soon forget.

My joy, yes my joy, it comes as a wonderful thing. When it appears on the scene and sweeps us away to the absolute most precious things Bliss, and fragrance, amusement and prose My joy will affect you right down to your toes. My joy? Yes my joy It knows, it knows, it knows. An alarm bell rings. Music starts. SARAH jumps up, grabs some clothes and bolts out of the scene while getting dressed. She runs back through the scene in the opposite direction still getting dressed, while grabbing a book bag & hat.

LIGHTS transition. MUSIC ends. End Scene

Scene 3

Classroom 18

PROFESSOR HEAD (Male) Since this is an Ethics class, we are going to discuss personal histories and what effect they have on your daily Ethical decisions.

NIKO (To Jonathan) Hey potna, where yo girl at? She may be loud and bossy and ghetto but...

JONATHAN (Cutting him off abruptly) /Man shut the hell up.

ANGEL Chill out J, he was just asking a question; she a lot of things but she's never late for class. What's the deal?

JONATHAN How the fuck am I supposed to know? She grown; can go wherever and do whatever the fuck she wants. Unlike most of y’all, she’s a free slave; I ain't got no chains on her.

PAMELA Maybe you should, 'cause I saw her leaving with Professor Marshall earlier; they were heading towards the parking lot.

JONATHAN What were THEY doing heading toward the parking lot? She told me she had a paper to write but she would be in class. She doesn't even have him this semester.

PAMELA J grow up, grow a pair, and pay attention to what she is doing to you. Why can everybody else on campus see what she is but you? That can't be love you just gotta be stupid.

GWEN Come on Pam. Don't be like that. PAMELA No fuck that! There are too few good men out here for her to just get her pick of the litter, And then, fucking throw them to the lions whenever she feels like it. 19

GWEN Girl, you know I love you, but you sound jealous.

LAWRENCE Yeap! As hell! Why you always gotta/

PAMELA /Of what? She a tramp!

LAWRENCE But./

PROFESSOR HEAD /Is there something that you'd like to share with the rest of the class while I am lecturing?

JONATHAN (Highly irritated) Yeah Pam, since you know everything about my relationship; what is she doing to me?

NIKO Yeah, what is she doing to him, but giving him the righteous good-good? You are getting the good-good right bruh?

JONATHAN Is that any of your business?! Standing from his chair to head to Niko then sitting back down when the professor interrupts.

PROFESSOR HEAD Class! Why am I having such a hard time keeping you community college students focused? This is not the place. Please don't make me have to call for security!

PAMELA (Waiving the professor away) Please! GWEN Is that all you fools think about...pussy? I mean really, does everything in ya'lls heads have to revolve around your little dicks and where you can put them?

PROFESSOR HEAD Gwen has a point. 20

The entire class turns and looks at PROFESSOR HEAD in disbelief. They wait to see what is said next.

PROFESSOR HEAD This is a wonderful discussion. Does every major decision made by men have an inception from sexually altered mindsets?

GWEN I thought you had something to say that made since. Never mind!

PAMELA Sweetheart, you aren’t too bright are you? What is you major? She is using yo ass; for your financial aid check, yo pay check, and any other check she can get her- think she slick-always broke, hands on.

LAWRENCE Damn, you right. I just noticed it since you said something... But for the last month she say she always broke and asking me for lunch, weed and extra change, but her nails are done and she wearing new shit!

PAMELA That’s her game man\ Poor, poor SARAH, Please help me, batting them ghetto eyelashes at you and everybody else that will hand her a dime. I heard her talking to that girl Janie one day and she was going off about how she was in foster care and she had to learn to get her hustle on no matter what. What do you think she is doing to you fool?

JONATHAN She wouldn’t do that to me though. I told her I would do anything for her and she don’t ever have to worry. (Starting to believe what he is hearing) We were talking about getting married next summer. (A resurgence of denial) Ya’ll just hating on me ‘cause I get good grades and I got a fly ass girl. 21

MAY LING I wouldn’t say anything, but she is a bit of a skank and... I have seen her do things... that aren’t appropriate for someone with a man. I’m sorry to have to tell you Jonathan.

Devastated by the news Jonathan gets up and storms out of the class to find SARAH.

PROFESSOR HEAD Jonathan .. .Jonathan...

NIKO Damn! Poor dude!

ANGEL Naw, poor SARAH! He didn't look right.

LIGHTS dim as the students collect their things and leave the classroom. Rap music is heard then fades as LIGHTS transition to the next scene.

Scene 4

Outside

Jonathan is standing center stage, with SARAH, 'who is standing off to the side. SARAH stands silently as Jonathan comes to grips with her betrayal takes all he has not to react violently. (This scene is a dance of proximity to distance and back, but they never face one another. Their distance and resistance o f this scene is from one another’s physical proximity to each other, but they are delivering actions and reactions directly to the audience.) Music Ends. MOOD: Betrayal

JONATHAN Where were you? 22

SARAH You are not my daddy! Moving closer in proximity.

JONATHAN PAM said she saw you with Professor Marshall in the parking lot. You don’t have anything with him this semester.

SARAH So you got “Big-Thigh Private Eye” spying on me now?

JONATHAN MAY co-signed. What’s good?

SARAH That bitch!? Why are you listening to them?

JONATHAN WHERE WERE YOU SARAH?

SARAH You said you’d never treat me like this...why are you questioning me J? You don’t/

JONATHAN /‘Cause I need to know.

SARAH You need to know where I was. Really! I missed a class; so what?

JONATHAN SARAH. Answer the question.

SARAH I was getting my hustle on.

JONATHAN ... With Marshall?

SARAH But baby he gave me a lot of money. Why are you trippin’? ...It’s just sex. 23

JONATHAN (Between hurt and disbelief) What?!?!?

SARAH It’s just sex. What’s the big deal? I don’t love him. I love you and... He gave me a stack and a half.

JONATHAN You had sex with him? We were gonna get married. Why?

SARAH (Proud of her work) Shhhhiiiiii/

JONATHAN /Oh hell NO! This hurts too much. I trusted you... I thought you loved me!

SARAH reaches out and he pulls away quickly.

JONATHAN Don't touch me bitch, a cauldron of frustration is bubbling with the thick distasteful ooze of anger you’ve left in my heart. How could you have taken my kindness for a malnutrition hound’s howl for food? My eyes are blinded by the piercing shock of your words as they leave your lips. Complete darkness overtakes me,

...and I still can’t believe, in moments of lapsed time between reality and nightmare, the words that have connected with my brain. You’ve cheated on me for all this time, and used me thinking I wouldn’t mind.

He can't face her. She’s moving in to console him.

SARAH I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just needed/ 24

JONATHAN /Why? Are the only words that remained on the blackboard of my mind, whipped clean from the anger and discuss that is rushing through my veins. My heart is getting away from me, chasing my breath completely from my lungs and now I am lightheaded to the point of seeing only red or ...Godno .. .black again.

SARAH But baby/

JONATHAN /10...9...8...7..., please God let me get to 6! You better pray to God I reach 6! To his sanity.

SARAH But JONATHAN/

JONATHAN /Dear lord; my last innocent prayer before I react... but right here under my nose she played me and used no tact, breaking my heart when I ask for the truth.

SARAH J You starting to scare me now.

JONATHAN Dear God. I can barely hold this back. SARAH creates distance from him. They are both on the verge of tears. I can’t react, I don’t know what to do and if I say what I want to say nothing will be the same ever again. I haven’t been a saint, and sin is just sin,

SARAH J! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean/ 25

JONATHAN /but do I want to sin like this? In the arms of an attack that will not miss.

To SARAH. When she hears the words she sets her body for defense. She is scared.

I could murder you and just dismiss it as a mental break getaway with an O’Jay, right here and now.

SARAH STOP TALKING LIKE THAT. Baby, listen to me, I love you. You’re not a murderer. You love me. I love you. We have each other’s backs, remember?

To God.

JONATHAN You know, my brain struggles to catch my body up to emotions that have already given charge to the bulls of Pam Plona, trampling the gates of my moral fiber and sanity.

SARAH It’s me J. SARAH! Oh God.

JONATHAN Eyes wide open now and visions of only tunnels, long, far off places. No consideration of laws or a police teasers’ sting.

To SARAH Nearly out of my mind from this abrupt affront; I want to turn on my heels but my heart takes a slump, because I am still in a state of arrest, from the confusion of your new found detest, for me as human with rights. Like, somehow I’m not a man to fight; and you’ve taken me there, in a semi with all 18 wheels, skidding and killing bugs with your grill.

Attempting to snatch her to him quickly.

Is that me, hum? 26

SARAH NO BAB/

JONATHAN /Some bug on your hood; some insect that could be worth no good?

I’m way past irritated and now ain’t the time, ‘cause if I speak, I’ma speak my mind. So I shut down and take me some time, to keep my cool and keep from blowing your mind with the slashes and cuts I would lacerate you with. That’s right

Pacing.

SARAH But you knew who I was when we/

JONATHAN /Are you serious? So you believe you told me you were a ho/

SARAH I’m not a HOE!!! And I showed you me. I let you into my hall of bones. You told me you like my exhibit of hidden skeletons .. .My secret parade of fractured pasts.

You told me you felt like an archeologist, learning me from the inside out. You said you keep me bleakness secret - you said you’d never push me to clear out the traumatic contents of my container; and just love me where I was. I guess you lied to me and yourself.

JONATHAN LITTLE GIRL.. .1 found you burned like a bird that flew to close to the sun and mended you and this is how you repaid my empathy... throwing me compromising propositions to tranquility? Common street trash.. .the both of us? Shift. Oh, you done done it now. I’m really that passed pissed!

You're lucky I'm not one iota closer to being Freddy or Jason cause they ain’t got nothing on me, and in the state I’m in you wouldn’t get free, 27

JONATHAN to run or scream or squirm, not one bit.

Attempting to walk away but SARAH moves in and blocks his exit physically. They are both facing the audience.

Its best that I leave before your number is called and the last of our friendship is red listed and blackballed. And people wonder why girls get beat. I can see from your actions you’re on a mission to be laid to sleep. But I’m better than that, my mama said. My mamma said. Mamma said...

Clarity comes and aids in calming the immediate resolve with the remembrance of what mamma said.

So I’ll leave you this for you to ponder in your head. Because acting like this with anyone else that didn’t really care, you’d definitely end up dead. I thought you knew me better than to set up, abuse, use and dismiss me this way...

.. .Believe it or not, someday you will have to pay for the treatment you’ve issued to me. Promises, promises I will no longer make and please understand this, .. .this using thing I will no longer take. You’re dead to me. At the top o f his lungs You hear me! Dead! JONATHAN storms off stage leaving SARAH alone onstage. MUSIC.

Exit MOOD. Leaving the remnants o f the desired emotion behind the lights stay on while the next scene starts SARAH remains in place on stage alone. LIGHTS transition. MUSIC ends. 28

Scene 5 Classroom

Only Professor Head is visible.

PROFESSOR HEAD For all who turned in your assignment today, I have a surprise; you will not be required to make presentations to the class and I am giving you all an A. Congratulations. There are rewards for being prepared. You who have not done the assignment, I look forward to seeing your full assignment and presentations on Thursday, I will be grading carefully.

The audience hears cussing and angst from the class before PROFESSOR HEAD disappears, SARAH disappears. GWEN gets up holding her stomach; she heads out of class down- stage. Colored lights mark areas of the bathroom, and there is a red spot on her looking in a make believe mirror, rubbing her belly from the contractions she is feeling. Pacing back and forth she is singing a lullaby to the unborn baby. MOOD: Trepidation

MUSIC starts: Suggested Missing You- Diana Ross

GWEN We’re going to be alright, baby. We just gotta get out of that shelter and find us a place of our own.

Baby kicks

I know, I know. I can’t believe that bitch believed him over us either. Grandma always said momma was a man-chaser. I’m just tired of all those different men chasing me, and she want to call me a whore and blame me when they leave her ass. 29

GWEN Another kick; she sits in a chair on the apron o f the stage and rubs her belly talking to the baby.

I hope you never ask me about your daddy because we gone have problems.

Looking out into the audience I won’t mention names because you know who you are. I’d think you remember leaving these horrible scares Rubbing her belly Though time has replaced you and mended the wounds, I still sometime look at the places you’ve bruised

Looking at her arms and touching the scars.

And pondered if you remember me at all; the one that you played with, fadangaled, and mauled. My name, your name, does it matter, no, I mean really? As I sit here thinking, I’m suddenly appalled because you whispered sweet nothings; but in an instant you disappeared like my tears into the sea of my pain, I was still left here scared and lonely. Forever engaged with the mortal wounds you’ve caused; and now I’m taken aback because your name I cannot recall. All the men that have run through me! That have run through my mind, but you. There was something bitter in the way that you beat me into silence. Greg, Mark, Paul ...Uncle James I won’t mention names because they don’t matter at all

Exit MOOD. MUSIC ends. LIGHTS cross-fade slowly. 30

Scene 6

Classroom

Angel stands stage left of Professor Head in the empty class room.

PROFESSOR HEAD Angel, can we talk about the scene you caused in class today? Is there a problem I can help you with? I understand you were very angry but you cannot result to violence. You shouldn’t have used that word.

ANGEL What, CRACKER? Please. Some white slave master invented a weapon to beat and whip me down for centuries and I am not supposed to retaliate? Why do you think we invented it?

PROFESSOR HEAD But the term is derogatory/

ANGEL /And the other isn’t?

PROFESSOR HEAD But your intentions/

ANGEL /Hurt huh? Didn’t exactly fit acceptable black language standards for public consumption? Oh no, it’s that political correctness bullshit that no one cares about until it comes to blacks mattering or saying how we feel; I’m just mad that it went away. I think I’ll use it more often. Just to let “the majority” know how it feels to live under the possibility of constant degradation within verbal castrations. I take back my power and use my words. Yes, even those ones - that aren’t supposed to be heard.

PROFESSOR HEAD Angel, you have enormous potential; and you will be labeled. It is so easy for people to see you as an angry militant African American. Aren’t there other ways that you can express how you feel about this subject? Maybe an open letter to an editor/ 31

MOOD: Uprising

ANGEL /Nigga boy! Nigga Man!

PROFESSOR HEAD But...

ANGEL Nigga what? Nigga you can...

PROFESSOR HEAD The word is derogatory.

ANGEL Exactly; what bigga figga than a nigga? Can I kill a word just by not saying it anymore? Do you know the pain words carry? Do you know the history of the words you use? Do you know that every time you use a word with centuries of hate and pain attached to it you are raising those legacies from the dead? Your powerful tongue - which has the ability to speak life and death into existence, calling on the spirits that inhabit that vocalization of something less than human, something more than primal, something darker than evil.

HELL NO! and people use and abuse their words so freely they have no affect anymore.

PROFESSOR HEAD You are in an academic setting, and that type of pontification is not acceptable in a learning environment.

ANGEL Where else to make a statement on this thing that needs to be addressed; but to tackle this for my thesis? I mean can a nigga be led, can his mind be fed? 32

ANGEL Can a change really come if I change my tone? Can a change really come just by leaving it alone? The word has become a part of pop culture, a free flying verbal assault on the psyches of our future. You say that I should just let it be and do nothing? Find an easier topic to address when everywhere I go I’m inundated with Nigga this, and Nigga that, Nigga, Nigga, Nigga; in videos, and music, in movies, on TV, on the radio, on campus, on my block, and even in the air on the bus,

Something needs to be done.

All you can hear is: Nigga No! Nigga who? Nigga you ...

Chained to a plantation or one chained to a friend; when will the power of the nigga ever end? No matter how many times we holler “Crucify” there’s still power in the word you can't deny. I want to rise above and never sink into its pit, but this word from my past I cannot forget. My people, my lineage, my family, my future all relate, to this five letter word that we say we all hate.

Exit MOOD.

PROFESSOR HEAD So what do you intend to do? ANGEL Not become one first and foremost. Secondly I intend to call for a fast on using the word. History or no history, this situation is causing me to begin to feel different just hearing it so much. 33

PROFESSOR HEAD That’s interesting. Do you think that you are becoming one because you are falling into the trap of the word?

ANGEL I pray not, but... you and I both know if you hear that you are stupid all your life you will begin to believe it. What is it called Stockholm syndrome? Militant or not I can’t fall prey to the hundred year old Lynch Papers like the others. I gotta break free somehow.

Actors continue to chat as LIGHTS cross-fade to the Cafeteria area (which can sit more downstage center o f the classroom).

Scene 7

Cafeteria

Pamela sitting at a table, In front of her is a gigantic bowl o f ice cream with all the fixings. As she takes a large spoonful and hums her satisfaction, she looks up from her bowl accusingly and starts her tirade. MOOD: Enlightened/ Cynical

PAMELA Yeah I'm fat. So what of it? It's my body not yours. It's my business not yours what I eat. We are all addicts in some form or another. It’s just fat girls that get the bad end of the stick,

.. .probably because you think we don’t get the dick. That's what you think

Laughing Keep thinking ...Yeah, some people become gluttons for pain or food; others just live for the thrill of adrenaline rushing through their veins from some substance 34

PAMELA that they exchange for bliss. Weed, drank or pills ain't never been my bag like the rest of these fools. Eyes all tight and no working brain cells for them to use. But the pain is too much for us to take. Why would God make us this way, creatures of habit, longing for the comfort of repetition in the safety of the arms of something to make us whole? We’re all addicts; addicted to seeing fools live their lives out on reality TV shows for our entertainment, adopting their slogans or buying their clothes. Shopping with no money just for the pleasure of the purchase, knowing damn well that the debit will accumulate and amass to the point of being well past due, and maybe land you out on the street on your designer ass.

Some chick actually said she’d rather be homeless with labels than without. Can you imagine? Slaves in designer labels.. .but isn’t that what’s going on?

Everything is an addiction now, right Tiger Woods? Eric Benet? Bill Cosby ...Harvey Weinstein? Think about it. When did cheating and getting caught become an addiction that you just can’t help? And the Quaaludes conversation...and the need for ME2. It’s become obsessive and compulsive the range of our disorders.. .too many and too much Cigarettes, sex, exercise, work, church; What’s^owr addiction?

You know what I’m talking about... that thing that causes your mind to escape your body when you need it most. You do realize we’re free right? We can just walk away. We don’t have to escape. There aren’t no hounds or hoses - there is a way out. But trauma lingers far longer than it takes the body to decompose and there are too many ways to cover up 35

PAMELA the pain of childhood wounds or my adolescent angst.

ChiP I know someone that can’t go a day without the collar of coffee tied to his neck, and another who needs a couple of vineyards of wine at night just to get to sleep. Why must it be this way? Dependent on substance, person, or thing to make what is already perfect palatable; why would God create such a world where everyone has to have a vice? Something to make things lighter in such a dreary world one might say. Unfortunately there is no leisure to the day when you are still searching for a cure to your addictions.

She winks at the audience and eats a large spoonful o f ice cream.

Fade to Black

Scene 8

Classroom

All students present, and Niko raises his hand to ask a question.

PROFESSOR HEAD Niko?

NIKO I have decided what it is I want to be.

PROFESSOR HEAD And what is that Niko?

NIKO I want to be a pimp! Chatter from the class

SARAH Now you talkin’!

PAMELA YOU, would say that 36

MAY LING Really! SARAH (Turning around in shock) Oh WOW, the dead has risen! I forgot you were even back there, Ms. China doll, Ms. I'm too good to talk to anybody; what do you care?

MAY LING I'm Vietnamese not Chinese, first of all, you dumb ass. Secondly, who goes to College to be a pimp? That is crazy! (Looking over at SARAH) You would condone this drama wouldn't you, and if that's the case, I guess you're here ...to learn to be a better HOE?!

Jumping up from her seat towards May Ling as others attempt to stop her.

SARAH I AIN'T NO HOE! I'll kick yo little chank eyed ass all over this campus bitch. You better watch what you saying to people. I ain't got no problem snatching you.

MAY LING Bring it bitch I ain't scared of you!

SARAH Fuck you, Ms. My family owns a grocery store and I get A’s because I’m going to take over the business when they die. You were the only ones that got off the boat with money, huh and on top of all that the government even has the nerve to feel sorry for ya'll asses and pays for your tuition and you get a check!

MAY LING Jealous much?! You... baby-momma-reject! I get good grades because I spend my time studying and not hanging out all day smoking weed with my legs open on snap back hinges. 37

LAWRENCE (Laughing) Oooouuuwwweeee! Checked again! (To Gwen) This is getting good.

PROFESSOR HEAD SARAH! TAKE your SEAT! This is becoming a regular occurrence with you in my class. If you cannot control yourself I will have a talk with the dean to have you dismissed from the class.

SARAH (In complete disbelief) What? You wanna kick me out after she disrespected me like that in front of everybody? This is a class and we have the right to speak our minds; and Niko can be whatever he wants to be, it's his life and his decision! (Malice dripping from her lips) And as for you Professor Head...

Walking toward the center of the classroom.

I checked you out on that website, the one where students can rate their professor; and from what I could see, you ain't shit! Why do you think that there are so few students in your class? We are only in here because of budget cuts and this is the only class in this section that’s transferable. I mean really?! What do you know about our lives when we leave this room? Do you care?

Staring at May Ling, shaking her head with her hands on her hips, then turning back to the professor with a sly look in her eyes.

SARAH You sit in your living room a few hours a day on a computer screen and pretend like you’re doing something; like you making a difference.

ANGEL SARAH!

SARAH SARAH my ass, tell ‘em, tell everybody why you don't teach on campus anymore! Hum? Why your sorry ass is on that screen like an idiot. 38

PROFESSOR HEAD (Visibly affected, but with a great shout) Irrelevant and none of your damn business! ... Now take your damn seat or get hell out!

The entire class is caught off guard by the Professor's outburst. SARAH takes a seat in the nearest chair.

(Attempting to regain composer) Niko, where has this sudden ...revelation come from?

NIKO I need money...I look good...I got body...and I’m packing. (Looking over to SARAH) I ain’t gone be no hustler so the next logical step is being a pimp; and yeah May Ling, I want SARAH to be my number one girl.

SARAH Jumping up again Fuck you dude, I ain’t no hooker!

NIKO You sure?

JONATHAN Naw she ain’t sure!

SARAH Jonathan?!

LAWRENCE (Laughing uncontrollably) Check Two!! Damn, you make it so easy girl! I mean really. Every class you havin' out with somebody. You need therapy or anger management or a hug. You want a hug gurl?

SARAH (Turning on LAWRANCE) Shut up Faggot! Go suck a dick and get out of grown folks business. Oh, you think nobody knows! You think nobody can tell you a punk? Is that why you stay off with that fat bitch all the time? You think if you hang with her she will protect you? 39

SARAH You think if you keep a low profile nobody will know you like dick? Ha, I could tell the moment you’re sissy ass walked in the room.

PAMELA Leave him alone! Damn, you don’t care nothing about who you hurt. Just as long as it ain't you, huh? LAWRANCE ain’t never done nothing to you, but you lash out on him cause you a trick!

NIKO (Looking over a LAWRANCE) Yeah leave him alone! If you got a problem with me than say it; I was just trying to offer you some cheese. Because I'm gonna blow up and I figured you could use the money.

MAY LING All of this is crazy! You all talk about prostitution like it is a 9-5 or something. There are people that have to do that shit not because they want too, but because their life depends on it, and you Americans act like this is the only way to make money! Shake yo ass and drop it quick, get a little money for taking a little dick.

SARAH Who asked you MING LEE? If I wanted anything from you I would ask you to do my toes or something!

PAMELA You know you sure come off ignorant! Plus you are really beginning to get on my nerves taday, and I really have a problem with people that continue to pluck my nerves like you’re doing. You need to quit!

PROFESSOR HEAD Yes I agree; this must stop! Class dismissed! I can’t take any more of this. Oh great and now the system is overloading. Looking down at something

How do you reboot this thing? Ouch, my hand! Damn this school, these damn students! 40

The students begin to leave class and MAY LING is the last.

PROESSOR HEAD That was really close; and how could she have found that information? Whew, I dodged a bullet.

Fade to Black

Scene 9

Bus Stop

LIGHTS up on LA WRENCE He is waiting nervously for the next bus home as Niko passes by and Lawrence watches. He holds his introductory conversation meant for NIKO with the audience instead. MOOD: Confessional

LAWRENCE Hey Niko, yeah I’m LAWRENCE. What? Why I don't talk a lot? Who me? Shoot I'm just cool like that. Yeah I’m cool. I don’t really like making eye contact though; too easy to see into people’s souls that way; to know their secrets. Shit. I can't say that to him!

My grand-mama use to say: “Everything ain’t for everybody to know, some stuff just ain’t anybody’s business.” I was kinda young when I realized what that meant. Either keep my mouth closed or get a butt whooping for letting some family secret out of the closet of our mundane skeleton-filled lives.

Taking a seat on the bench 41

LAWRENCE I remember things like: we had our lights turned off for over three weeks. My uncle went to jail for whooping the hell out my cousin’s boyfriend after he raped her. My Auntie June was a crack hoe, and all twelve of my cousins lived in foster care. When I heard my grandmother’s sister Mutt say: “I don’t want them hard headed nappy tail kids up in my house tearing up everything and bring roaches.” I knew that couldn’t get out.

So I kept my mouth shut, about everything, to everybody.

.. .and when I figured out that I was different who was I gonna tell? I was the one who didn’t talk. I didn’t know why I wasn’t like most of the boys growing up. I’d rather be inside, watching TV or reading comic books. I was real shy ‘cause I was different and I knew that being different you had to be ready if you told someone. You had to be ready to deal with the whispers, looks and the laughs. I hated the snickers the most. People knowing your business, spreading it in the streets like peanut butter and then snickering at what they think they know about you behind your back when you can hear. So I learned to disappear and not be seen or heard.

The first time I saw something that made that nerve quiver in my neck and made me hard, I kept my mouth closed. I didn’t want to have the demons cast out of me, or the doctors talk to me. Daddy wasn’t around and I didn’t have a friend I could tell. I didn't want to have to explain that no one touched me inappropriately or made me this way, I just was! I wanted someone to share how I felt with and not be judged. So I kept my mouth closed. I didn’t want to be a side show, or a fool. Like I didn’t have feelings when people acted cruel; so I just kept my mouth shut and held it all in, like grandma said, everybody ain’t your friend.

My grandma, she knew I was ...; and when I finally said the words 42

LAWRENCE there was this look of knowing on her face. She smiled and said, “I think it’s just a phase, but in any case here, here’s some money,” handing me a 20, “go have fun with your friends and have a drink on me.”

“Don’t worry about your mother, she’ll come around you'll see.” Only thing was I had no friends to share my pain and my mother and I, we never spoke again.

I kept my mouth closed again, when He handed me my sentence, Quite, somber...catastrophic. Stagnating words.. .deadly. So do you always use protection'? Have you ever used intravenous drugs'? Do you engage in high risk sexual behaviors?

I didn’t say it was only once... I didn’t say that he was my first.. .1 didn’t cry... Ummm..., your immune system is... “You mean it was...” You ’ve contracted the virus also known as... letters More dismal than a period .. .powerful Repetitious hemorrhaging - vocabularies pleading while living comatose.

I became a log on my living room floor decomposing under celestial voices from the TV canceling out the silence of my thoughts, for weeks; angry at God, and myself. Ignoring the world knocking at my door; I ignored them all until the police and fire department arrived, twice in one day, threating to bash in the recognition that I wasn’t living a nightmare. Even though it was, a horror. It was.. .I’m much better now. I want to live. I’m not killing myself anymore. I take my pill, I’m GREAT, but...

Whipping away what could be tears and getting up for the bus stop. 43

LAWRENCE I still don’t tell everyone ‘cause dealing with fools just ain’t fun. So I’m guarded maybe far less than I was, but I still feel reason for some sensitive buzz, when I think of telling too much. So I keep my mouth closed.

MOOD Ends LA WRENCE starts waiving his hands and running offstage towards the bus we hear. Lights go green then red as we hear the squeaking of bus tires then the squiggling of breaks before lights fade to black and we hear the bus drive off.

Scene 10

Classroom

LIGHTS up. NIKO is sitting in the near empty classroom, when Lawrence walks in and sits down. He starts reading a book.

NIKO What up? LAWRENCE Hey NIKO What you reading?

LAWRENCE The assignment for tonight, I didn't get a chance to do any homework this week. Aren’t you the pimp guy, Niko? NIKO I wasn’t really serious about that man, I just like watching SARAH get her tail beat for talking up on shit she ain’t got no business. (Laughing) So what's your major? Lawrence, Right?

LAWRENCE Right. Ahha, Psychology and you? 44

NIKO Political Science, I think, I want to write laws and shit.

LAWRENCE That sounds ambitious. I like that!

NIKO I'm glad. Can I ask you a question?

LAWRENCE Shoot!

NIKO Why are you so quite? Is what SARAH said about you the other day true? You fuck around?

Pamela walks in the class with Gwen

PAMELA Where the hell is May Ling, she never misses class?

GWEN Chile, she been cup-cakin' with that Jamaican boy, Clinton what's his name.

PAMELA What?

GWEN Yeah, I saw them leave together earlier.

Walking to their desks

LAWRENCE Her daddy is gonna flip if he finds out!

PAMELA Who you tellin'? Mr. Tran don't play that shit and she know it! There gone be hell to pay when he catches wind of that shit. She best be careful. Plus you know them Jamaican's ain't wrapped too tight either!

GWEN Laughing You stupid! 45

PAMELA I dated one I should know. They are good as I-don't-know-what in bed; but crazy as all get down in the head.

Gwen & Pamela laugh loudly

PROFESSOR HEAD Class, please come to attention. Your midterms are on the desk in front of the class, please take one and wait until I say begin. After you have completed your test place it in the locked box at the door. Please make sure you check online for your grades and pick up your papers by next week. Some of you will not make it back from spring break and I don’t want to hold on to this material any longer than I have to.

PAMELA You a mess Professor Head.

PROFESSOR HEAD No just a realist Pamela, just a realist.

Music is heard. LIGHTS shift as students leave.

Scene 11

Classroom

Lights up. An eerie gloom cast over it via the lighting and music that plays as the students enter with their heads down.

MAY LING They just shot him like he was nothing!

PAMELA They killed him right in front of us! 46

MAY LING (Looking down at her blouse in horror) His blood is on me! (Screaming)...he's dead.

SARAH You act like you care. He was black, you don't care about us. You only care about your own kind.

GWEN You BITCH! That was her boo!

NIKO What the fuck is going on? Coming onscreen.

PROFESSOR HEAD Hello?! Is the threat over? Please settle down and take your seats. What was the security threat this time?

NIKO Threat? What threat? He wasn't gone hurt nobody! They had him handcuffed and laying on his stomach! Who was he gonna harm? (Screaming at the top of his lungs) That rent a cop, shot him in cold blood while we were watching. Shit! We were even filming the shit on our cells! They didn't care...

May Ling gets up and runs out o f the classroom crying.

Fade to black

End ACT I 47

ACT II

Scene 1

In darkness Song begins Hear My Call, Jill Scott https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQruGIOEnck

Note: ACT II happens during the night o f the final scene ofACT I. There should be some adjustments on the hue o f the scenes to relate the night and chaos o f the night.

The opening scene of ACT II is a relay o f overlapping experiences that mark accelerated time from character to character. These transitions should be seamless, preferably through lighting design within the theater darkness. Some actions are meant to be performed in the house among the audience and in front o f the stage. The sequence of events and characters are represented with letters. The stage is set with a bedroom for MAY LING, an oddly shaped area that gives the feeling o f extreme dysphoria for MAY LING. There is a small living room area with an ugly sofa, coffee table, video game system, gun, weed and drug paraphilia for JONATHAN; as well as an abbreviated bedroom from Scene 2 with SARAH

Lights up on: (A) - SARAH- Bedroom Escapes from her temporary sanitary franticly (B) - MAY LING - Bedroom Rocks hysterically, beating the bed (C) - JONATHAN - Living room Contemplates suicide playing with a gun while doing drugs (D) - GWEN -Apron Prays, begs, and pleads for her mother to take her and the baby back in (E) - NIKO - Front o f the stage Pursues fast fortune while figuring out his affections for LA WRENCE (F) - LAWRENCE - House - running the isles Chases acceptance from NIKO: shunned in public / embraced in private (D) - GWEN - Apron Surrenders to the beating while protecting her unborn child with each blow (B) - MAY LING - Bedroom Convulses around the room as if possessed by the spirit o f grief (C) - JONATHAN — Living room Distraught, playing Russian roulette with his life (A) - SARAH - House 48

Discovers deadly opportunities surrounded by too many men to handle. Everyone shares light in final verses o f song until it ends. Lights out except for on MAY LING.

Scene 2

MAY LING’S ROOM

MAY LING is in her room. (This can also be as simple as a cot and table or as elaborate as a full bedroom.) She is sobbing uncontrollably. There is a timid knock at the door, which progressively gets more aggressive. MOOD: SHOCK/TRAUMA

MAY LING (4 Beats) WHAT!!!!! The audience hears the voice of MR. TRAN

MR. TRAN Ducmg khi (Sugar Monkey)! Nhung gi la sai voi ban?

MAY LING English daddy!! You are supposed to be using your English.

MR. TRAN Why are you crying Sugar Monkey? Your mother told me you won’t let her in.

MAY LING NO!!

MR. TRAN Tai sao? Ah...WHY? Are you hurt?

MAY LING No daddy! I’m -

MR. TRAN Let me in...you’ve been sobbing since you come home from school. Why in so much pain girl? 49

MAY LING Life hurts daddy!

MR. TRAN Oh child. You will find out life hurts more than you think.

MAY LING NO DADDY....my life hurts. the sky went dark, the ground bled, and possibilities suddenly got snuffed out by parasites, The ground bled daddy, ...disdain and envy permeated the deeds so violent the earth couldn’t contain them “Negative Sum Displacement Representations” ghetto redevelopment numbers - probabilities of parole critical thinking geometries, housing projects, welfare and WIC Songs of ethics.

MR. TRAN You sound crazy! What happen at your school? Mei?

MAY LING They killed him daddy...

MR. TRAN WHA.. .they ... Who? Mei let me in!! MR. TRAN bangs his entire body against the door; completely snatching MAY LING deeper into her reliving the event.

MAY LING 360 degrees of people daddy, needed no permission to rule over that moment capturing the instant of loss daddy the moment the ground bled, and the sky went dark. (Pause)

MR. TRAN BABY, OPEN THIS DOOR, PLEASE!!!! 50

MAY LING Bones burned like paper into memory flinging fruit of intimidation absorbed in hours continued in numbness without my voice, mental unwillingness and unruliness irradiated hate harmonized hymns misunderstood and unmeasurable It’s sitting in my pores causing my soul to ache from the stains on my skin

MAY LING goes into a fit and begins banging her head against anything and trashing around the room in a complete frenzy, then suddenly stops.

(Speaking really slowly now) I get it now.

The death definition I can measure it now- we’re scientific devises daddy, formulated lives not intended to pursue contentment not conditioned for tranquility but field tested for anxiety thresholds, and violence tolerances, social media experiments of numbness daddy.

MAY LING falls to the floor.

MR. TRAN Khong! MEI. MAY LING I can‘t ...like this? MAY Ling starts crawling towards a lamp near her. She snatches the lamp and Lights out on the room, we hear MR. TRAN banging on the door to break it in. There is a great deal of banging, and then we hear MAY’S mother screams at MR. TRAN in Vietnamese. 51

MR. TRAN Mei!!!??? Lights Up on GWEN wearing dirty clothes and looking hungry. She’s been crying a lot. She has safety on her mind.

GWEN But mamma...

GWEN But mamma

GWEN No ma’am GWEN But I’m 8 months pregnant mamma. I can’t be sleeping outside on the streets, that ain’t no way to have a baby. Is that what you want for your grandchild?

GWEN It’s my child. Who gives a fuck what people think? And it will be your grandchild. Think about the baby.

GWEN What am I supposed to do? I can’t live like this on the street.

GWEN But mamma, GWEN I’ve been going to school, and my grades are good; and going to my doctors’ appointments, the doctor said I need to eat more because the baby needs more calories now, and I was just wondering if you had some leftover oatmeal from breakfast maybe or a banana or something, I don’t need much; and then I was looking for an apartment, but the landlord wanted a shit load of money, so I asked PAM if I could stay on her couch and- 52

GWEN No ma’am, I ain’t begging I’m just hunger- GWEN No ma’am. GWEN No ma’am. GWEN But mamma I... GWEN But you... GWEN But mamma. That wasn’t what I was saying; I just needed a little hel-

GWEN But you won’t help me. GWEN What lesson? GWEN Really; is that what’s important? Why do you always do that? GWEN I’m asking you for - GWEN No ma’am. GWEN But- GWEN B u t- GWEN Mamma... GWEN Please!!! GWEN I’m afraid I’ll get hurt. GWEN I can’t stay in a shelter. GWEN No. I don’t think I’m better than you. 53

GWEN ...But mamma -- GWEN Wait... what? What did you say? GWEN NO! You brought those men into our house. GWEN Hold the fuck up! You knew? GWEN Y Y OU KNEW!!!!??? GWEN You knew I was being violated in my sleep? Abducted from my childhood in my own home; what kind of woman are you?

GWEN But you didn’t say anything. You never did anything!

GWEN Your silence gave those men permission to keep raping me? To tear away at my heart and make it fear the joy of touch.

GWEN You won’t even help me now, when what I am is because of you?

GWEN Were they paying you to use my cat for a litter box and my daydreams as a rest stop for pedophiles; did-you-make-money-from-selling-off-pieces-of-my-s o u 1?

GWEN Answer the question mamma. Mamma!!!

GWEN You’re avoiding the question mamma.. .damn. My life sucks more than I could have imagined. And to think I was begging you to stay here. 54

GWEN /For a place to lay my head and a little food; you’ve been playin’ the pimp role all my life, humph, but you don’t take care of your hoes. Wasn’t I your number one bitch? Aren’t you supposed take special care of the hoe that makes you the most money? Aren’t those the rule to this pimpin’ thang you do? Isn’t that what you’re saying mamma, I was your number one hoe and you failed on your duties?

GWEN I use to think you were superwoman. You were so amazing and beautiful when I was young. You made all those men fall at your feet. I use to think I wanted to be just like you. Humph. Just like you. Wow.

GWEN You was a hoe.. .you were turning tricks! Fuck we both were, but I was a kid, I couldn’t see it then. I had no idea what was going on. All I knew was it wasn’t right.

GWEN Damn you fail at everything you do. Everything; you failed at being a hoe, definitely at being a mother, now I find out you was my pimp and yo punk ass got me out here on the streets when you made all that money off my tears.

GWEN But look what you did to me. I thought you suppose to want better for your kid than what you had.

GWEN Do you know what love looks like mamma?

GWEN Suuuure you do. 55

GWEN Please. Naw, I’m good. Fuck YOU CUNT! We will ...be... good!

GWEN Who in the hell needs a mother like you? You sold me out like you were rent-a-center.

GWEN .. .Bible verses? From you? Try this one on for size; “What you sew, you will reap” lady.

GWEN No, fuck you back Jessica. We don’t need YOU!!!

LIGHTS crossfade. End Scene

Scene 3 Outside

LAWRENCE is running calling NLKO ’S name. He finds NIKO on the block hustling. Their conversation is a balance o f romantic flirtation and a war for position and dominance. This push and pull should be a romantic dance of sorts.

LAWRENCE NIKO, you wanna go over PAM’S house? It’s movie night and we - NIKO You tell PAM about us? LAWRENCE I know you DL and everything but don’t give me too much, she’s my friend. We’re classmates it shouldn’t be an issue. Especially since everybody knows you working me to do your papers; why are you tripping? 56

NIKO Because knowing PAM’s jaded suspicious ass, one clue and all my business will be on campus before we even get back from break. I’m what?

LAWRENCE Tripping; do I need to remind you, you started talking to me, I don’t approach you; and you knew damn well what you was doing when you approached me officer, all up in my face grinning and showing off them sexy ass lips.

NIKO Not right now son, maybe later. I got to get my hustle on. You know?

LAWRENCE But I was thinking. NIKO What was you thinking? You supposed to be at yo crib working on my next paper, not out here thinking. It’s too dangerous out here for you. These streets don’t give a damn about your dreams and you got too many dreams on lock, to be out here this time of night chasing after my no good ass.

LAWRENCE I think yo ass is cute, hurum; So why you out here? Come to the house with me. My grandma is gone to the casino for the weekend so I got the house to myself; maybe we can study, I know right, or play Xbox or something. I can cook you something, what’s your favorite food?

NIKO You think I’m stupid? You cooking for me and shit; sound like you trying to get on this bone, ain’t cha? I ain’t as smart as yo ass but I ain’t dumb neither. You trying to get to me thru my stomach. You still wanna see it don’t you? You mad because I’m making you wait babe? You’ll get it soon. I know you dickmatized. 57

LAWRENCE I keep telling you, you aren’t dumb; but since you mentioned it, you can only be dickmatized by actually seeing or touching the dick, sexy. I’ve been able to do neither, and why do you have to be so crass?

NIKO Because it turns you on and makes you hot for daddy. I can see it in your eyes. You like it.

LAWRENCE Pull-ease - So are you coming over or not?

NIKO I want to suck on your lips so bad right now, looking all sexy and shit when you pout, but, I told you I got to tend to my hustle. I’m definitely gone get by that empty house of yours I just got to make a little bit more tonight.

LAWRENCE You still haven’t told me what you need all this money for.

NIKO Don’t worry about it. Just trust me. I’m gone make sure we good.

LAWRENCE We? And the other thing... NIKO Dang you sounding like my baby mamma yo.

LAWRENCE You wish. Don’t come over too late boy. I ain’t waiting on you all night, cooking and cleaning for you like you got a wife. You better not be creeping up on me in the middle of the night neither, I don’t do booty calls, and besides, if you wait too long, I may have someone else in your spot. I wouldn’t want you losing your shit and get ta flashing out in my front yard. 58

LAWRENCE I definitely don’t want you getting carted off to jail with all that money in yo pocket and you never getting to “tize” me at all. I know how hot headed you ghetto boys are.

NIKO There you go with that ghetto boy shit again. You’ll answer when I call, and believe me if I want in, I’m in ...whatever I want.

LAWRENCE You are so unnecessarily thuggish. Sexy frontin’ ass; but yo lip game needs a lil work.

NIKO What that mean?

LAWRENCE I like you better when you ain’t doing all that fronting for people. When you’re just being you, you know, Nikoli.

NIKO I told you don’t call me that... no, no that I can’t kiss shit.

LAWRENCE Why? Oh, don’t get angry Nikoli, I like having my own little black Russian aound. I just think you need work on your technique when it comes to kissing me. Don’t forget, I’ve seen your moves on these girls before I got you; and it’s kinda weak. You’ve got to step it up. I need more passion, less tongue. You can’t just keep licking me to death like a desperate cat. I like you but I hate that shit. And now that I’ve got you, I figured it’s best to tell you up front.

NIKO Forget you Bubble. You don’t got me nigga. LA WRENCE kisses NIKO. 59

LAWRENCE You sure of that? We’ll see later tonight, and stop that Bubble bullshit. I don’t even understand what the hell that means.

NIKO (Slapping his ass) Oh - Yeah you do.

LAWRENCE Ouch! You are soooo nasty.

NIKO Get out of here before someone sees you. I ain’t got no time for a whole bunch of questions from my boys about why yo sweet ass out here trying to hang. I don’t have a clue what the hell I’d say.

LAWRENCE Just tell them you like the way my lips feel on your/

NIKO /BYE Bubble!

LAWRENCE Later NIKOLI NIKO continues to stand on the block while LA WRENCE makes his way home. LA WRENCE comes upon SARAH’S body on his way.

LAWRENCE SARAH? Damn girl. SARAH what have you gotten yourself into? (Reaching for his cell) Hold on. I’m gone get you some help. All this blood; what is that damn number? 1- 9 no 9 - 1 Who did this shit to you?

SARAH JONATHAN. 60

LAWRENCE Girl... SARAH JONATHAN. LAWRENCE Hello? 119? I mean 911? Damn!

Sirens red lights fill the streets as he cradles SARAH’S head in his lap. LIGHTS crossfade.

Scene 4

PAM’S HOUSE PAM is on her couch watching TV.

She’s eating from a big bowl of popcorn & Chocolate Rasins and an extra-large soda sitting on the table. Whatever she is watching is scary because she jumps when her cell rings. GWEN gets illuminated during the call.

PAM Damn it. Who the hell is this? Hell-ol GWEN PAM it’s me. PAM GWEN? Girl why you sound like that? GWEN Girl I’m at the hospital. PAM What? It’s too early for you to have the baby.

GWEN Naw girl, I got into a fight with my ... with Jessica.

PAM Wait, who? Hold on a sec. Hell-ol 61

We hear the cell call waiting beep, and LA WRENCE is illuminated.

LAWRENCE PAM!

PAM LAWRENCE? I can barely hear you for all that noise.

LAWRENCE I found SARAH.

PAM You found her? Why were you looking for that bitch?

LAWRENCE I wasn’t. She got jumped on the block and I found her laid out in the street.

PAM I’da left that winch there.

LAWRENCE Naw PAM, not if you’d seen her. You have a heart bitch, under all that ass and titties you got, you still have a heart in there somewhere.

PAM I don’t know, my heart don’t work like everybody else’s; yawl know I’m obese. So where are you now?

LAWRENCE I’m at the hospital. I came with her in the ambulance. She got beat bad girl. Bad!

PAM That’s what her ass get always talking to folks crazy. That bitch will learn now. I kept warning her stupid tail.

Gunshots ring out and more sirens.

LAWRENCE PAM. She said JONATHAN did it. 62

PAM What? I couldn’t hear you over these damn niggas out here killing each another; chil’ one day.

LAWRENCE (Louder) I asked her twice and she said JONATHAN.

PAM Fuck no. Damn, oh, GWEN’S on the other line, I forgot.

LAWRENCE GWEN? She alright? The baby?

PAM Chil’ she got into a fight with some bitch and now she at the hospital.

LAWRENCE What the fuck is going on today? I am starting to wonder if the world’s coming to an end or something. All this chaos, they protesting again, tearing up everything; what hospital?

PAM Hold on I’ll 3 way.

LAWRENCE Okay.

PAM GWEN?

GWEN Yeah.

PAM LAWRENCE?

LAWRENCE Yeah.

PAM GWEN, LAWRENCE found SARAH beat down! GWEN What?

LAWRENCE She got jumped I think, but check this; she said JONATHAN did it. Do you believe that shit?

GWEN Damn. That’s some fucked up. JONATHAN? / I never seen him as that dude. He’s such a sweetheart.

PAM /I know right? But I told ya’ll he’d snapped. You know that boy yellow bus special. I could tell by that crazy look in his eyes, just like them damn Jamaicans, cold and dazed, like he lost a piece of his soul messing with that janky ass bitch.

GWEN & LAWRENCE PAM!!!

PAM Ya’ll think I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about. I’ve seen plenty of crazy in my family; he really could have done it you know. They get strong when they snap. Poor thang.. .you can’t turn no hoe. I hope they don’t put him all-the-way under the jailhouse.

LAWRENCE Damn girl, you sending the man to prison before they even finish putting the stitches her head.

PAM (Sarcastically) Stitches; oh great, that means she gone live.

LAWRENCE Ignoring that; GWEN, what hospital are you at?

GWEN Highland. 64

LAWRENCE What floor? I’m already here.

GWEN 12th east wing.

LAWRENCE PAM, put down whatever you’re munching on and, get yo ass up off that couch and meet me at the hospital. We need to talk.

PAM About what? Wait. LAWRENCE. They got NIKO on the news.

Lights out. Gun shots ring out. An audible actual news report is heard of the violent protests o f the killing of another young black man and the ensuing destruction of the city. Then the audience hears a report of statistics o f black deaths in America at the hands o f police, a child screams. End scene

Scene 5 JONATHAN’S living room

There are empty take out containers everywhere, clothes are thrown all over the room, piles of different substances in several spots stationed around the room. He’s sitting on the couch smoking a blunt and vegging out on TV. He looks different than he’s looked before; he appears hopeless and less innocent, depraved in some way. We hear the news of protest violence happening in the streets between youth and police over the death at school, someone else has been shot, stores are being looted and there are reports o f 5 65

possible deaths; and then there’s a knock at the door.

JONATHAN Who is it?

ANGEL It’s yo boy ANGEL. J, I came by to check on you man.

JONATHAN We ain’t really boys G.

ANGEL Um, can I come in anyway? You know muthafuckas out here doin’ the most tonight.

JONATHAN Whatever man.

ANGEL enters. JONATHAN never turns to look at ANGEL nor acknowledges his presence. ANGEL stares at JONATHANfor a long period before scanning the room. He walks slowly around the room talking to JONATHAN while taking in the place.

ANGEL It is crazy as fuck out there man. It feels like the city is giving birth or something. All over the place looks crazy. These folks gone tear up everythi-... (Looking around) So what’s good J?

JONATHAN What looks good bruh? ANGEL Not you.. .and for damn sure not this spot. You do know what a broom is right?

JONATHAN (Silence) 66

ANGEL Blood? When was the last time you took a shower?

JONATHAN (Silence) ANGEL The funk is real. JONATHAN (Silence)

ANGEL This ain’t you man; you been sitting up in here all day like this?

JONATHAN I may have found time to get out for a minute or so. Why?

ANGEL ‘Cause you just can’t sit in shit man. I know we ain’t exactly boys and all but I ain’t inhuman. I can see you hurting bruh.

ANGEL picks up a mirror with white powder on it. He kicks a shoe out of the way and a couple o f take-out boxes fall.

We are a part of each other man. I got to look after my crew or I’ll be the only one graduating, damn, that would suck.

JONATHAN A graduation for one motherfucka; I guess that would suck. Would be kinda funny though, but knowing how things work, t hey’d cancel it and mail you yo shit. That’s what I’d do. Save you the humiliation.

ANGEL We’ve worked too hard man. We worth more than that piece of paper, we’re worth the time. We put in time so they have to put in the time to acknowledge us man. They have to. 67

JONATHAN So you came over here to lecture me on time? Is that why you over here looking all around my place, judging me?

ANGEL I ain’t judging you man. I don’t have no space to judge you. If you knew my life, you’d feel me. Ain’t nobody on this earth so good they got a place on the bench of my life; nor I theirs. I just want you to feel you again. You can’t let what one chick does to you take you out like this.

JONATHAN Have you ever been publicly humiliated like that?

ANGEL Aww hell naw.

JONATHAN Fuck you G. That’s what I’m talking about.

ANGEL What, a little humiliation?

JONATHAN Oh, so you are judging.

ANGEL Naw, just pointing out the facts man; you were humiliated, your relationship failed, some people knew about it; period. You no better than Beyonce and Jay-Z, the President, and every other muthafuck on TMZ right now. Success is birth from the remnants of chaos left over in our lives, and how we transform that energy into fuel. How we tell our story. How we approach our goals. How we use it to our benefit. You didn’t bring this on; you didn’t show yo ass in the street. You still have a chance; a brand to think about. 68

JONATHAN Nigga did you say I have a brand to worry about? Are you fucking kidding me?

ANGEL Yeah man. Everything we do is an expression of our brand now. Where you will ascend to will be an extension of your brand. What you have people believe of who you are is based on your brand, and this shit is not brand worthy. It’s the stuff a successful brand can rise from the ashes of, but it ain’t the breakfast of champions. I thought you said you were a champion J?

JONATHAN breaks out in song; ANGEL is captivated by his expression o f their existence.

JONATHAN Lain’t me no more I ain’t me no more I ain’t me no more Constantly running from violence that hunts me

I ain’t me no more Lain’t me no more I ain ’t me no more Constantly warring with torment that haunts me

I ain’t me no more I ain’t me no more I ain’t me no more Constantly bitter from trying to get free

I ain’t me no more I ain’t me no more I ain’t me no more

Constantly raging from the fallen just like me I ain’t me no more I ain’t me no more I ain’t me no more 69

All o f this chaos is constantly on me Feel like Fm dying from trying to live free.

ANGEL That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout. That’s the beginning of a brand man. You got it.

JONATHAN I don’t got shit man. My poor black ass don’t even have enough manhood to keep a pigeon like SARAH on my branch. She out there chasing old men blood. I lost to some old dudes.

ANGEL Did you really lose J? Their eyes meet as JONATHAN rubs his knuckles, and answers.

JONATHAN Maybe...

ANGEL Bruh.. .what happen to your hands? There’s a loud forceful cadence of knocks at the door and the announcement.

POLICE This is the police!!! Open the door.

ANGEL J What did you do?

Lights out as the door opens and the police enter the room.

**AUDIO ONLY** The scuffle and arrest o f both young men. ANGEL protests. There is a hard thud and someone groans loudly. Sounds shift louder and the audience hear police sirens then 70

an ambulance siren; they multiply in numbers progressively coming from all different directions in the city. Cursing and shouting protesters are heard close and in the distance.

Breaking business windows and looters scavenging for brand name goods are laughing, at business owners screaming, “We aren 't responsible for this shit, why hurt us? ”

PAM, GWEN & LA WRENCE enter immediately from an awkward positioning behind the audience if possible; if not, they are to enter from the entrance that the audience used to enter. This will act as the entrance and exit o f the hospital. Pam is to say her lines as if to answer the last statement of ANGEL from the stage.

PAM

He did too much, that’s what he did....

LAWRENCE No bitch, you did too much. GWEN As always / 71

PAM LAWRENCE

/I know you two motherfuckas are try in’a judge me when it was you two who called me down here, to see that tired bitch in a hospital bed, still living, during this Armageddon mess in the first place. Fuck that security guard! He wasn’t cute anyway. Suuuurrrre...he got instantly ugly once he wanted my number instead of yours. Why you gotta be that chick?

They move in closer toward sitting eye area of the audience, it’s like a flea market outside the hospital. There are people on both sides with things to sell. (These will be audience members.) They encounter the “HAIR SALEMEN” There should be packets o f hair stashed under the row ahead o f the chair selected to be the vendor

GWEN PAM

You already know whhhh..... bitch.. .are These motherfuckas will sell just about these fools selling looted hair? For real anything. They’d sell cockroaches if there was a market for ‘em. (Talking to the person in the seat) How much? (Pause) I said how much muthafucka,

GWEN PAM

I’m not buying no looted street hair. It’s $5.00 a pack.

Grab me 6 packs.. .does he have Eurasia? looks like if we sweat? Or God forbid gets (Now speaking directly to the audience wet? I’m not/ member) You got any Indian? (Now digging through the box of hair stashed.) What is this? All you got is Malaysian and Peruvian??? Do you know what that shit 72

LAWRENCE PAM

What the fuck? Why is ANGEL down here? ANGEL, baby, why are you down here? (Seeing his face as she gets closer) What the fuck happen to you? They all run to ANGEL.

ANGEL

JONATHAN got arrested and I was over there when they busted him.

PAM ANGEL

What the fuck happen to you? What you think happened PAM? The police thought I was in on whatever they think he did so they messed me the fuck up too. You know how they do. They fucked me up too much to just release me once they figured out I wasn’t involved. So they brought me here to get fixed up.

GWEN You look like shit!

ANGEL Umm, thank you?

GWEN No, I mean.. .1 mean.. .maybe this is a good thing.

LAWRENCE What? How the hell you thinking?

GWEN Well, you can file a suit against the city, the police department, and the officer for excessive force, and violations of your civil rights. Shit, you should get enough money to get into one of them good schools you keep wishing for a scholarship from. Plus you should have no problems getting a letters of recommendation from the Mayor’s office, the city supervisor and possibly even the governor. They for damn sure don’t want you all over the news with this bullshit, on top of all the other shit going on tonight. The city is falling apart, why not get paid during the breakdown? 73

GWEN They just did you a favor. Did anyone take pictures of your face? Somebody needs to take pictures of your face. You have any broken bones?

Everyone is in shock because GWEN is talking like a lawyer and they’ve never heard her talk like this.

GWEN What? LAWRENCE All of a sudden you turned into that bitch from how to get away with murder. Where did all that come from?

GWEN LAWRENCE Why do you think I was going to school? The hell if I know. Law asshole...

PAM Wait. You said they arrested JONATHAN already? How they get him so fast LAWRENCE? The police out here never work that fast on something to do with us.

ANGEL Y’all know why?

GWEN I guess/

PAM /He snapped. The poor muthafucka snapped all the way out and beat the shit outta/

LAWRENCE /PAM!!! (BEAT) (Now to ANGEL) I found her, she kept saying “JONATHAN, JONATHAN, JONATHAN” every time she opened her mouth, all she said was JONATHAN. So when I asked her that’s what she said and when they asked me, I had to tell them what she told me. I guess when they tried to ask her she said the same thing because they left here in a huff. 74

ANGEL That nigga would never hurt that girl. He loves the fuck outta her.

GWEN, PAM, LAWRENCE Did you just say nigga?

ANGEL (3 Beats) Damn!!! PAM It’s okay man. We all fall short of what we want to be. Ain’t nobody on this earth meant to be perfect. That’s why I don’t give a fuck.

ANGEL GWEN

We’ve got to find out what the fuck You really don’t believe he did it you guys? JONATHAN did and what they think he did. He did have a motive.

LAWRENCE Okay Judge Judy, we get it, you got the law thing covered. (To PAM) Girl, is it the baby making her smarter or did she hit her head during that fight she had and she’s getting dumber?

PAM Hell if I know. I’m trying to figure out if I’m gonna buy these Jordan’s or that gold chain over there. How much muthafucka? How much? Do you speak English?

Damn. ANGEL don’t you speak some Spanish? (Mouthing to the audience member in the chair) I want this. (To herself) Why don’t they make you learn how to speak English? You’ve been here too long to not speak the language sucka, but of course you know the money...

ANGEL & LAWRENCE Are you for real?

Gunfire rings out. They all duck. LA WRENCE or ANGEL hits the floor. PAM grabs a vendor, while GEWN grabs 75

her stomach. They scatter from their locations into different directions screaming. PAM screams for HELP loudly.

Lights Out.

In the darkness the audience experiences the chaos of the night’s violence. Sirens, lights, and smoke enter the theater and surround the audience.

PAM’s plea for HELP is repeating during the melee. Someone ’ cell calls 911, the phone rings, while we hear heavy panicked breathing awaiting an answer between the bullets. The line answers and we hear this recording:

911 RECORDING You have reached 911.. .Please listen to the entirety of this message for advisements...

Since the investigations and prosecutions of officers for Sexual trafficking violations in 2016, and the subsequent indictments of officers across the country for excessive force, and manslaughter; there has been an overwhelming deficit in the number of qualified applicants seeking to protect and serve our city under the new guidelines set in place by the new administration. With great efforts and major bonuses offered, no applicants have seen fit to inquire and the department has been protecting the city with minimal staffing coverages for crucial areas and infrastructure of the city at large for the last 3 years. At this time the department is overwhelmed and unable to handle any calls. Please be advised to SHELTER IN PLACE! Lock & bolt all entry ways and stay connected to others via social streams where you can check in periodically to maintain a connection with love ones. We regret not being able to assistance you during this city wide emergency situation. Thank You and God Speed.

End Scene 76

Scene 7 The CITY

* AUDIO ONLY* NEWS REPORTER

Tensions are rising in the streets of Oakland tonight. The death of another African American youth who was fatally shot on the campus of the local community college was captured on cell phone video and posted to Social Media, (read overly happy) The footage will be available on our website.

Reports of arrests in multiple locations are being covered by our team across the city;

Spot up on REPORTER 1 (dressed in a trench coat with mic) in the theater.

REPORTER 1 This is KINA KARIA KURTZ reporting from city hall on the demonstrators gathering here to protest the actions of campus security and local police. Many are being charged with assembly without permission; a new requirement set in place by our President T, sending many of whom, who are merely spectators, to jail, for loitering and/ or impeding the duties of an officer. Police presence is minimal here. There has been some mention of a National Guard presence on alert.

Spot out on REPORTER 1, Up on REPORTER 2 in a completely opposite site o f the theater

REPORTER 2 NATHAN ANTHONY ANDERIOUS CHAPMAN-PARKS here in the Uptown district, where the current condition of the many of the business here are dismal. Most have been looted; matter of fact there is still some looting going on as we broadcast right now. Vandalisms from simple windows out to outright arson is happening all around me. Many of our city’s small businesses and properties are completely demolished. Hundreds of cars have been totaled and/or burned. Damages already estimated at over 100 million dollars...

Someone runs by in a hoody behind him and snags his wallet & phone from his rear pocket. Hey my phone! I’ve just been robbed! 77

Spot out on REPORTER 2; Up on REPORTER 3 in a different zone o f the Theater. We hear the sound o f tanks in the background.

REPORTER 3 In shock from hearing the incident from REPORTER 2

I.1. (Composed) I am Jaini Chew-Hathaway in the eastern district where we are currently at one of two locations with active hostage situations. There are multiple reports of some of the hostages being physically assaulted and just swept up off the street via car-jackings and armed robberies. Some eyewitness reports say there are as many as 32 hostages being held by unknown individuals in the newly built Arena parking structure, near the tailgating park.

Sounds of a helicopter and lights shine. Wind starts to blow the reporter fiercely; she’s holding her wig down. It will blow away.

REPORTER 3 There are helicopters overhead but it doesn’t appear to be our local law enforcement. (Surprised) It appears to be a, a, a army helicopter? Ladies and gentlemen, the U.S. military has been called in and they are descending upon the Arena with full military action. Not sure of what their plan of attack is but... Full automatic gunfire is heard at a near deafening level. It suddenly ceases. In Silence, REPORTER 3 stands in shock as she witnesses firsthand the murder o f an entire area o f people in the parking structure.

(Silence) I. I’ve just witnessed. I can’t believe. (Drops her mic then pics it back up to close out his segment.) Back to the studio.

Spot out on REPORTER 3, her microphone is still on and all o f TV news hears her crying uncontrollably now from the death she’s just witnessed. As much as possible the transition from the street scenes to the next scene inside the PROFESSORS’ home should appear seamless. The hooded 78

robber becomes NIKO sneaking into the house as the lights o f the PROFESSOR HEAD’S house illuminates on stage.

SCENE 8 PROFESSOR HEAD’S HOUSE

A “Professional’s mess. PROFESSOR HEAD’S home is decorated in very muted colors. *(The setting should give forth the experience o f the energy o f the place being drained in some way.) Dust covered achievements & accolades scattered. Bookcases fdled to overcapacity. A small living sofa, a television and a small cove area w/ dining room table and computer set-up is clearly lit up stage of the living area (this includes a green-screen.).

PROFESSOR HEAD enters from the kitchen with something in a large mixing bowl. Looks at the television in shock, and non­ verbally quantifies her shock with the city, almost sits on the couch but a “ding” her from sitting up completely. She Exits.

**The incarnations of the PROFESSOR that we’ve encountered on screen will in no way be a representation of who PROFESSOR HEAD actually is. They were filters of the “Machine. ” **

TV NEWS REPORTER * AUDIO ONLY*

...BREAKING NEWS...as reported earlier during the 6 O’clock broadcast, a student of the campus was arrested, we’re unsure of his involvement with the initial crime, but that student has since escaped. In a confusing melee with onlookers, the police report, there was an attempt to free the young man from police custody. The OPD has released the young man’s picture and name in hopes that someone with turn him in. NICKOLI MILES is African American, light to fair complexion; 5’l l ” - 6 ’ tall; weighing approximately 1901bs; brown eyes / brown hear... last seen wearing... 79

As the NEWS REPORTER describes NIKO’s clothes, he enters leg first into the room, out o f breath. He’s been running hard; he looks around, shrugs, he then begins to undress.

TV NEWS REPORTER (Describes what he’s wearing/ closes with basic tag out)...We’ll be right back after these messages.

NIKO (In a whisper to himself)

Motherfuckas thought they’d actually hold the kid? Ha. Try harder for this black man PIG! I gots to get outta this shit. Sweating like ah... (shaking his head from the irony) PIG! (He laughs)

NIKO gets down to his boxers and wife beater when PROFESSOR HEAD enters from the kitchen. They don’t notice each other initially until it’s too late.

PROFESSOR HEAD NIKO What the hell? Oh, man, I got the wrong.

PROFESSOR HEAD NIKO What the HELL are you doing in my home? This can’t be happening. You shouldn’t be here NIKO!/ /Wait!

PROFESSOR HEAD NIKO You're naked!!? Who the fuck? I’m sorry lady, I thought... How the fuck you know my name... mothafucka, you a/

PROFESSOR HEAD NIKO NIKO. ...NAW...PROF

PROFESSOR HEAD NIKO /Wait.. .weren’t you .. .arrested You ah?!?! 80

PROFESSOR HEAD & NIKO (Both covering their nakedness) /Son of a Bitch The sound of an explosion happens outside and the lights flash off and on causing both to rush to one another in an embrace for safety. It appears very compromising if not for the violence outside. They notice this positioning they are in and how it appears but in the fury of the continued noise after the explosion they stay situated as is as the lights fade off and only fire is seen.

End Scene

Scene 9 Court of Public Opinion A hard spot on JONATHAN sitting (slumping) cuffed to a metal table opens this scene. He is beaten and bruised, clothes torn or missing. The sounds o f ticking time and the muffled sounds from outside become uncomfortable. A loudly slamming door jolts JONATHAN and the audience. The police investigator interrogating him isn’t seen only heard from somewhere behind the light. The surrounding area is pitch-black. The gallery o f public opinion rests a level higher o f JONATHAN. They can each look down on him from their respective perches. (An appearance o f the judicial seats with large religious symbols behind each student dressed in odd colorful futuristic costumes with white wigs in futuristic styles. The space in between the “Court” & JONATHAN is projection area. MOOD: INSURRECTION

DECETIVE *Audio Only* Oh did I wake you? Shit for brains.

JONATHAN

DECETIVE Oh, so the cat’s got your tongue now, BOY? 81

JONATHAN (Slow and wearily) Your words are glass.

DECETIVE What the fuck did you say to me BOY?

JONATHAN’S head gets knocked sideways hard. He looks up now in a sinister way. Resolute now in where he is and what is happening to him. His speech has more authority than ever in the play.

JONATHAN GLASS BITCH! You hard of hearing all of a sudden PIG? Or should I call you Massa DECECTIVE ‘SA?

DECETIVE *racially charged. * Oh so we got Eddie Murphy up in the house. A real comedian. You don’t remember the last time you got picked up Eddie? You didn’t like it did you Eddie? You were embarrassed weren’t you Eddie? Your little freak got exposed didn’t it BOY?

JONATHAN Your ...words are... glass... Under-my-feet, under-my-feet trying to split my center / slash my humanity but you’re under-my-feet, under-my-feet your words are fragile unless you wear hoods because you’re under-my-feet, under-my-feet

Enter MOOD: The DECETIVE’S voice becomes muffled out by JON A THAN’S monologue. All we can hear o f the DECETIVE is the maum maum (ala Peanuts Gang teacher voice). JONATHAN begins to stomp his feet in sync with rhythms o f “under-my- feet” there needs to be some accompaniment reminiscent of an angry heartbeat to accompany this piece. 82

JONATHAN Your words are glass... (Beat) under-my-feet, But you amputate limbs Cut off futures Segregate my possible.. .from spirit A delusional non-directional existence... (Shift) You wanna put me in a cage JONATHAN want is me in a zoo of niggas, and spicks You think I don’t know how much a nigga is worth? I’m mean, really? On the open market... You think I don’t know there’s a price on my head? You think. You think, You think...? The “Gallery” becomes visible. Their reveal should somehow be grand yet not overpowering JONATHAN’S realm which could be seen as GOD’s vs. Man/ or Government vs. Individual, and should be played as such. They speak to JONATHAN but he never really responds to them directly.

JUDGE 1 (M) They give me the shakes. Make me itch.

JUDGE 3 (G) I remember before...

JUDGE 2 (L) My heart would race and fear would grip me with anxious palpitations every time I saw one.

JUDGE 6 (S) They’re SO ANGRY... I just don’t understand why you are just so angry. Don’t I pay for your housing or something? Why aren’t you happy?

JUDGE 1 (M) I heard myself lie. Why’d I have to lie like I like ‘em? DAMN foreigners. 83

JUDGE 6 (S) ... remember?

JUDGE 3 (G) When all we had to do was assassinate somebody?

JUDGE 5 (P) I’d shake violently barely able to catch my breath.

JUDGE 7 (A) Oh, God, no. No. No. Don’t mention the smell. Why do they smell like that? It makes me want to hold my breath from the smell. I can barely breathe now; it’s the stench of poverty and revolt...

Images of the outside protestors and chaos appear onscreen above JONATHAN and below the COURT. (These images can and should be o f actual protest footage from city streets or cell phone videos.)

JOANTHAN too much hate, too much loss and grief, too much anger and pain I can’t breathe. JUDGE 6 (S) You’ll be ok, just lie down.

JUDGE 5 (P) Smoke a blunt, or crack, or shoot up or something.

JUDGE 7 (A) Yes, get numb....get numb.. .get numb little ghetto boy. Get numb....get numb.. .get numb little ghetto boy.

Sinister laughter from the gallery. They begin to chant “Get numb, get numb, numb little ghetto boy" while giggling. A video and still footage montage of images to support JONATHAN’S monologue appears throughout. 84

JONATHAN too much hate, too much loss and grief, too much anger and pain I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. you’re choking the life out of me, Snuffing US publicly on TV No filter...

Fuck it. I’ll tell the truth. You want us raw, full on fear and asleep, depressed zombies drowning in our own tears.

JUDGE 3 (G) Put a rock on the pipe and write your life in smoke signals.. .it’s easier, I hear.

JUDGE 4 (N) Who did you hear that from?

JUDGE 3 (G) The researchers I employ. (LOL) They tell me that way they don’t feel any pain. Like when you sedate a dog.

JONATHAN .. .hate... grief, anger... pain, my soul weary shock, (difficulty breathing) gone, spirit, amputating my body. I can’t breathe.

equality cries I can’t breathe from castrations and rape,

I can’t breathe from abuse on our souls; I can’t breathe for the color of our skin? What happened to the 40 acres and a mule for your mistakes?

JUDGE 1 (M) Oh here we go with that. I ain’t giving you shit! You were used like we were. You should have paid attention to how we recovered. 85

Images may transform from actual images into animations or renderings morphing into the next set o f images.

JONATHAN just wanted a seat at the table share the same bread...a meal, communion, communication Instead we got war zones, zip code redistricting, Voter suppression, minority statuses and conduct codes;

JUDGE 1 (M) (Sung) “Make it like it was.” For our protection; we wanted a wall. Why didn’t we get the wall again?

JUDGE 7 (A) Everybody wanted one.

JUDGE 2 (L) So?

JUDGE 7 (A) Everybody wanted one.

JONATHAN Personal power is a cannon, firing off like 4th of July fireworks into innocent houses. Soil like Afghanistan, blood tides rising, from the cracks of the streets crying, ...calling for help from the ass cracks of the city death angles wearing badges walking on our backs like the cracks of the streets, their wings engraved on their remolded halos, because being an asshole makes you holy somehow. And you stomp me, stab me, tase me into the cracks of the streets and I can’t breathe. 86

Animation or renderings change to letters and signs, tweets, type, and then pictures along with the words in heightening angles and scripts.

JONATHAN don’t shoot while you tweet about our rage at our protectors. What black hands carry cause death? what black minds carry cause extinction level planning and fatherless homes. It was only Keys.

JUDGE 5 (P) phone, a wallet, a TV remote, a candy bar; I don’t give a fuck. You have to know your place. We have a place for you and you have to stay in it, doesn’t matter; everything’s a gun in the presence of your skin. You were to understand that early. There are understandings.

JUDGE 1 (M) You mean he doesn’t understand? How could he not understand the understandings?

JONATHAN Everything is a reason to shot first and deny later. Killing made into calloused comic comments and catch phrases Memes for ignorant opinions to make ethical decisions #Black lives don’t matter! and #Slavery in plain sight; Tagged, tracked, and hunted.

JUDGE 4 (N) The pipeline? (Whispering to another gallery member near him.) Why is he discussing the pipeline? (To JONATHAN) Oh, you poor dumb boy, every commodity in this country has a pipeline.

JUDGE 2 (L) Unless you have a brand.

JUDGE 5 (P) Followers. 87

JUDGE 3 (G) Influence.

JUDGE 7 (A) But you’ll still be a nigga. Ask OJ. Ask R. Kelly. Ask Cosby. They remember now. They’ll be happy to comply now.

JUDGE 3 (G) But Jay Z is telling everybody.

JUDGE 7 (A) What that rich nigga, field nigga lemonade answerback - I’m living my life out loud for my fans bullshit?

JUDGE 2 (L) I actually liked that song, and I hate rap. It was artistic and endearing.

JUDGE 7 (A) They have a brand. You see the crap they throw out now? Leak a video of a fight on an elevator and suddenly you have instant drama to back up, how many tours and albums on this cycle so far?

JUDGE 5 (P) Like we have time to discuss our rivals, the illuminati and Scientology folks don’t give a damn about us. We’ve got our own brand problems.

All Visuals cease.

JUDGE 6 (S) Silence!!! Enough talk of BRANDS. It’s not in fashion to just give away information like tha

Images seep into the blackness onscreen and become stronger as JONATHAN’S monologue increases. 88

JONATHAN /You are bringing it back into fashion to hang black bodies from trees and school yard swing sets like my ass in this court of public opinion. Suffocating color from the future like an old episode of Star Trek, but they ain’t beaming us up Scotty. They’re beating us down with Billy clubs, sparking us up with Tasers, and ...Data Jonny law is crushing wind pipes under steel toes.

You motherfiickas are policing with a hunting license hungering for validation! And I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. Too much hate, too much loss and grief, too much anger and pain.

JUDGE 1 (M) You act as if the world is coming to an end. Assimilate. The world will become easier. What on earth do you have to lose?

JONATHAN Genocidal isn’t grand enough a concept to contain the perpetual burning of bodies; The severing of souls from legacy for the sake of sport and stupidity; my existences consumed like frosty red Kool-Aid, perfectly sweet, on a hot summers day. Like penny candy and Now-A-Laters, making our ghosting home necessary through back alleys and side streets that the “pigs” can’t find. TASTING THE RAINBOW CAN COST YOU YOUR LIFE,

JONATHAN I can’t breathe - because my city is burning - my brothers are falling - slain for trophy.

While Twitter whores resting on head games and hand jobs, never allowing ecstasy or a nut. Release me.

JUDGE 2 (L) We’re trying to give you a way out. We’re attempting to be humane. You people are never satisfied. We actually took you into account this time. What do you have to lose? 89

JONATHAN My breath...my questions... aren’t being answered.

JUDGE 7 (A) Answer the little NIGER’S questions already. I’m getting tired of dealing with this drama. We have a country to run. There’s money to make.

JONATHAN When did my life lose its worth and what made such a miraculously mysterious gift something so easily thrown away like last week’s trash, when all around us are the quests and questions for the reason why we are here? But, you see, differences and greatness make you less necessary in the eyes of the beholder.

JUDGE 3 (G) But, you see, your differences and my greatness makes you less necessary in my eye. I’m your beholder idiot. You should’a had a brand.

JONATHAN But there’s a threat somewhere brewing in the backs of your minds, so we become expendable? Effortlessly extinct-able from past, present, and future, huh?

So we’re Mid-evil now. The Roman Empire has come out of retirement? No, you mean slavery. For real, for real.

The good old days. The need for hoods done disappeared? You just devour us in public like ice cream now?

Yelling as if revealing a secret at a press conference.

You know I know right, I know. I know the secrets you keep keeping now. Jim Crow isn’t dead, I’ve seen the evidence; he changed his name to James Raven, He’s been seen with Elvis hanging out in Virginia and Ohio in the mall food courts with white women over 50, giggling, drinking wine and grabbing their vaginas against their will; 90

JONATHAN the bitches who voted Republican in spite of themselves.

Super-crackers telling tales of monkeys and coons with devil-tails and glowing eyes, in the moonlight, still existing in this great republic land of their minds. They think our babies are bom grunting like bulls, have faces of demons, and skins of steel like some ancient mythological creatures.

JUDGE 5 (P) How long are we going to let this go on? The other issues are pressing on our resources. We’re not judging our time right anymore. We seem to be losing influencers.

JONATHAN When did snatching the spark that wasn’t lit by your mortal will into being become the strange fruit for consumption on a national scale?

But if you lived within the limits of your protection, would your actions change? Would you still snuff me out if your neighbors held you accountable for killing the boy from around the comer?

JUDGE 2 (S) I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. JONATHAN If you knew you would be held responsible for the decisions you made with your authority, would you still empty your weapon without question? Would you still feel justified?

JUDGE 3 (G) You damn Skippy! My life matters; My life matters', My life matters .../ am the only one that matters in my life. 91

JONATHAN .. .to say you feared for your life against the boy who cut your grass? The son of a friend of your wife’s from down the block. Would you let me breathe then? Would you let me breathe then? Would you let me breathe then? Would you let me breathe then?

JUDGES Sentence HIM already. It’s Sushi day damn-it.

JONATHAN’S cuffs are unlocked somehow. He has just enough time to cover his face before his body is flailed across the space and he is beaten more. He goes out singing the “I ain’t me no more ” that he sang in ACT I. Lights fade to black as we hear his life being beaten out of him.

End Scene

SCENE 10

SWALLOWED UP To be performed in the Theater

Individual monologues in the house in spot. First spot up on PAM looking disheveled and extremely distressed. Her clothes are burned and ripped; her hair is wild and dismayed. She is holding onto a torn shopping bag or a backpack with a few bullet holes and burns. She appears to be a fresh inductee as a bag lady against her will.

PAM They wouldn’t let me get her stuff. I tried to. I couldn’t reach her. I couldn’t get out of the way and reach her hand.

Spot up on LA WERANCE, who appears to be in shock He’s really not present yet; he is fashioned with his head wrapped in gauze, his arm in a sling, and blood all over his clothes. 92

LAWRENCE I never seen. Some much blood. I heard. The gun. I didn’t see. I couldn’t tell where it was. It was all around us. I felt it. in the air. (Starting to show emotion) Zooming by me. Me. It could have been me. Me. Me, I felt it. Zooming by me. I felt it. I ran, and I felt him. NEAR ME. I felt him near me. Like on my heels.

PAM All I could do was scream. She. Her hand. I just wanted her hand. ...so scared I...felt it Zooming by me. It was like hail coming out of nowhere. Sideways.

I don’t know where it was coming from. Right next to me maybe. I couldn’t see for the smoke. Somebody let off a smoke bomb and tear gas. I couldn’t breathe. The baby?

LAWRENCE No he wasn’t in no gang. He was a activist. No he wasn’t no convict. He was a student. Yeah, at the school. Yeah he was mad. So am I. No he wasn’t protesting! I don’t know. You shouldn’t have just shot at us. Yeah we was running, there were bullets flying everywhere, what would you do? That’s not a reason to shoot at somebody.

Do you expect to be shot during your morning jog? I’ve never been trained to shot people. Taser. Billie club. Tackle. Boomerang. Rock. Anything, but all you know is bullet. All I know is he wasn’t there anymore. I couldn’t feel him behind me. The baby? 93

Lights out End Scene

SCENE 11

PROFESSOR HEAD’S HOUSE

NIKO is still undressed and PROFESSOR HEAD has put on a robe over the flimsy, near see thru bedroom number they had on. They are about to eat off of two TV trays while the news plays on the TV. The scene starts with the end of a commercial for a local funeral service.

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NIKO is saying grace over his plate.

NIKO Are you for real? You’re for real? You are for real.

Laughing hysterically while eating. I hate to break it to ya. You are a shit teacher. You don’t care.

Copious amounts o f food in his mouth. ...and it shows. PROFESSOR HEAD I have you know I’m an excellent professor. I have an excellent rating on Rate My Professor.com. Completely shutting down all action. 94

NIKO No you don’t.

PROFESSOR HEAD Yes I do.

NIKO No. You can’t.

PROFESSOR HEAD But I do.

NIKO For what school? Under what name?

PROFESSOR HEAD Oh. Never mind.

NIKO Oh nooo, don’t get quite now, spill, please, you got me curious.

PROFESSOR HEAD At the other school I teach for. Under my real name.

NIKO So you teach at a whole bunch of colleges under different identities? So the other school is what, in a rich neighborhood?

PROFESSOR HEAD It’s not what you think.

NIKO So, you hate us ‘cause we poor, or black or what? You got that reverse racism thing going on? You Dolezal-ing?

PROFESSOR HEAD Excuse me?

NIKO Rachel Dolezal... the white chick that wanted to be black...you leading this double life and all, you must hate your blackness. So you have to hate all brown folks trying get a leg up? Is this some transferred racial and prejudice bullshit? Plus you got this...what the heck am I supposed to call you anyway. You a dude right? Oh, you doing the black Caitlyn Jenner thing. 95

PROFESSOR HEAD Where the hell did you come up with that bullshit?

NIKO Look at you. It’s not bullshit. You a black tranny.

PROFESSOR HEAD I was talking about the racial paradigm you spouted. And I am transsexual, not a Tranny. Every transsexual doesn’t see themselves through Mz. Jenner’s lens. She’s led two privileged lives. I don’t know anyone how’s led one, terrible source material young man. Always consider your sources/

NIKO /Excuse me. (Under his breath) so you just a bitch to everybody then.

PROFESSOR HEAD Character is more than genitalia. From privileged life to privileged life, and other than the sports, where is her character? (Whisper) She killed somebody.

NIKO And you hate your own kind. It’s okay, niggas all over the place got that shit. Especially once they get some money and get out the hood. They lose they minds because they have to keep up the white-wash of their souls daily. And after a while, you start to hate what you can’t be anymore. So you treat brown folks like shit because it makes you more like them. You know crowd bullying; what’s it called? Racial Mob Mentality or something like that, i don’t remember, you were putting me to sleep that day. That sound like you?

PROFESSOR HEAD Putting students to sleep? You were listening to my lecture?

NIKO Man! Yo I signed up for classes, what you think I just did it for that phony financial aid check? How you get yo job? 96

PROFESSOR HEAD I went to school and got my degrees. I have several. (Motioning around the room) I’ve written numerous novels, over 35 plays, the majority of which have been produced. I even have a Tony or two in here some place...

Getting up and walking to a stack of stuff digging for the TONY but pulls out a Playbill instead.

NIKO Shut the fuck up! You ain’t got no Tony Award mayne.

PROFESSOR HEAD (Evil-eyeing NIKO) My play King Ding-a-ling/

NIKO /You wrote King Ding-a-ling?!

PROFESSOR HEAD You know my work?

NIKO There you go with that shit again. So I ain’t supposed to know about broadway ‘cause I’m from the hood huh?

PROFESSOR HEAD You just don’t seem like/

NIKO /I have culture?

PROFESSOR HEAD Well.. .you did stand up in my class and announce that you wanted to become a pimp.

NIKO So? At least I told the truth. You pimpin’ on the sly. (Beat) Why? What’s that shit about?

PROFESSOR HEAD You asking a lot of questions for someone who broke all up in my house half dressed. And you can get dressed by the way... 97

PROFESSOR HEAD Tightening their robe and ogling NIKO’S body.

Your clothes are clean and dry now.

NIKO You not gone say nothing to no body, are you?

PROFESSOR HEAD About you pissing your clothes? Why would I do that?

NIKO I get your drift. I’ll quit fucking with ‘cha; just chill on being such a cracker, okay?

PROFESSOR HEAD Did you just call me a cracker?

NIKO Oreo then, that better?

PROFESSOR HEAD Young man!

NIKO Yeah, Oreo, that’s you.

PROFESSOR HEAD NIKO!

NIKO What Oreo?

PROFESSOR HEAD Look ‘lil muthafucka/

NIKO /Oh SHIT! The real comes out now! I was wondering how long that was gone take. Poor ‘lil lost soul Separated into you Part and partial compartmentalized for who? You’ve been chewed up And spit out as some kind of glue without stick left You’re out to pasture ass has no gumption anymore 98

NIKO Your race has ran its last track So why you cut up? Who made you into this white devil you is? How you lose yourself like that right in front of your eyes? ‘ole aunt tom ass/

PROFESSOR HEAD ENOUGH!!! Enough with the disrespect!! Enough.

Lights shift all attention to Dr. NEW BOOTY. We have been transported back in time to a meeting with HEAD NEWBOOTY, HEAD steps into the conversation from her living room while NIKO watches.

DR. NEWBOOTY You’re a brilliant writer, I love your work, but I’m not sure your pedagogy in exactly in line with where the university is trying to take this department. We cannot have the university subjugated to students responding to your personal and professional philosophies. People of color aren’t ready to be in the position that you are looking to ascend to.

PROFESSOR HEAD Excuse you. Why? Because I believe gatekeepers should hold their keys less tightly to their chests? Or is it because under my plan more young women and especially men of color would graduate college? Is the access piece disturbing you?

She cuts her eyes in such a ways as to acknowledge the shade that had been thrown her way. She attempts to adjust her demeanor.

DR. NEWBOOTY We need people of color in our institution sir, we just can’t have them thinking that they going to get special treatment or a free ride.

PROFESSOR HEAD So you make the process harder on them? Are you aware what some of these students go through just to get to school each day? Do you have any understanding of the plight of your students?

DR. NEWBOOTY No, but apparently you do. You speak so passionately about it. 99

PROFESSOR HEAD As a matter of fact, I do.

DR. NEWBOOTY That may be the issue. You’re too close to the issues.

PROFESSOR HEAD Maybe you’re the issue Dr. NEWBOOTY.

DR. NEWBOOTY I believe you need more time to hone your pedagogy. Maybe you should remain an adjunct for a while. It will give you a clearer pathway to your goals if you have the proper time to consider your approach to the departmental objectives at stake. Maybe in a few years you’ll be in the proper mindset to honor your mentors’ considerations of your potential.

PROFESSOR HEAD You can’t do that? I’ve worked too hard. I’ll go before the chancellor/

DR. NEWBOOTY So cute. You don’t get it do you?

PROFESSOR HEAD Oh lady, I got you. And you ’re the one gonna get it.

DR. NEWBOOTY Well you’re partially correct, and I’ll make sure to let the chancellor know of your little threat after I screw his brains out later on tonight. I hope you have a back-up plan for your little teaching career, because you really should have never been let this far in the first place. You don’t understand your place in the scheme of things, and I guess you never will.

PROFESSOR HEAD You can’t judge me. 100

DR. NEWBOOTY Sweetie, it’s done every day; judge, jury and executioner. You’re not special. Nor are you innocent. Poor poor thing, just too green to survive in academia, we are a very possessive and cutthroat bunch. Didn’t they tell you that in the orientation? You should be ready to get your nuts cut dearie. Well I’m off and you’re suspended, indefinitely. Good luck with that.

NEWBOOTY exits. HEAD sitting & devastated from the relived conversation. He interviews from his seat.

PROFESSOR HEAD Yes sir, I graduated with honors, Magna Cum Lude sir, and received the presidential medal of excellence in playwriting, fiction and poetry. The only student in over 56 years to do so; Yes, I pride myself/

PROFESSOR HEAD My pedagogy? Well I believe all persons should have the benefit of an advanced education. The proper place that education deserves isn’t manifesting relevant within communities of color for differing ethnic and cultural diaspora, and this should change from within the current academic polarises.

Yes, for people o f .. .color. Oh, okay, thank you. Reset.

PROFESSOR HEAD Magna Cum Lude sir, and I received the presidential medal of excellence in playwriting, fiction and poetry. Only student in over 56 years to do; Yes, I pride/ PROFESSOR HEAD My pedagogy? Well I believe all persons should have the benefit of an advanced education. The proper place that education deserves isn’t manifesting itself relevant within communities of Asian, Hispanic and African descent, and this should change from within the current academic/ Yes, 101

PROFESSOR HEAD for people like me, yes sir.

PROFESSOR HEAD Sir, the presidential medal of excellence in playwriting, fiction and poetry, sir; but only myself and 1 other in over a hundred years; Yes, I am proud. I accomplished/ A hundred years sir.

PROFESSOR HEAD My pedagogy? ... Well I have been reviewing my pedagogy, conceptualizing an alternate approach to global learning. Oh, Global Learning...well, Well I believe there is a benefit for everyone in the educational process, the student and the subject. Yes sir, the subject. For the student to engage with the subject matter in such a way as to manifest an educated individual from within all communities involved within the society of learning and the learned on a whole, and .. .that.. .this.. .can Be changed from within / Education sir. Isn’t that the purpose sir? For others sir. No sir. Do you validate? Reset.

PROFESSOR HEAD My pedagogy? I need a job, within the current school year. I have loans to pay off I have rent to pay. I just need anything. Are there any janitorial positions available? Yes, for people, like me, yes sir.

NIKO Damn. Like dat?

PROFESSOR HEAD moves toward a bottle ofJameson and pours two shot glasses and hands one to NIKO. 102

PROFESSOR HEAD You have no idea, and that’s with a master’s degree. I lived in a homeless shelter for nearly a year. Almost took me completely out of my mind trying to write a novel in the library every day, while trying to look for work, and food, and a place to live.

My hustle kicked in,

NIKO Oh shit, you really are black. You had a hustle. Woe!

PROFESSOR HEAD That snake interviewed me personally, littering me with praise for my insight into the field of educational administrant assessments and concurrent displacement exercises to offset its disparities. Pours another drink.

She was gloating and doting on me like I was Beyonce come to teach. I’d changed my name and interviewed online using an older version of that filter program to change my face. I’d said I was disabled on my new application and they couldn’t question me as to what it was, so I got away with staying at home, under some bullshit anxiety clause and here we are .. .tenure.

Do you know how famous I am now?

NIKO Do I care? (Looking around the room.) Look how you living.

PROFESSOR HEAD It’s enough to save your butt.

NIKO You right. You right. I’m sorry Linda.

PROFESSOR HEAD Do you torture LAWRENCE like this?

NIKO Excuse you? What are you talking about?

PROFESSOR HEAD Oh, so I’ve found your sore spot. That is whose home you were intending on barging in on in the middle of the night? His grandmother lives next door. Lovely woman; I wonder if she knows about you yet? 103

NIKO Knows what about me yet? I don’t know what you’re talking about lady. You need to stay in your lane. Bad Teacher.

PROFESSOR HEAD So what’s your deal? Bi, or are you one of those gay for pay boys? I pay attention too. I’ve seen how you been watching LAWRENCE from day one. You like him.

NIKO I’m not gay. PROFESSOR HEAD Okay. Pours another.

NIKO Okay what?

PROFESSOR HEAD Just okay. I’m not asking you have to label yourself.

NIKO What you asking my business for then?

PROFESSOR HEAD You’re not gay. You saying you don’t have feelings for him? Soooo.

NIKO You are buggin’. Got me mixed up. I’m getting at the kid to get my papers done ‘cause he smart. You should be able to observe that much computer head, he got a chance to make it. I don’t look gay nor do I act gay, step off with that. Can’t you tell I’m a magnet? Folks just like to be close to me. So? Pours another.

PROFESSOR HEAD Ummmm, well that would be relative.

NIKO To what? 104

PROFESSOR HEAD To your level of concern and desire toward LAWARENCE.

NIKO I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about lady.

PROFESSOR HEAD You are a very attractive young... and you are well aware when you step into a room the effect you have on people with that body. How often do you use that to your advantage? I graded your last paper NIKO, LAWARENCE didn’t write that. You did, but he helped you. But you don’t have feelings?

That must have taken a great deal of time together to get such an improved grade NIKO.

NIKO Shifs aggressively across the room opposite o f the PROFESSOR, while HEAD pours another shot and watches him fluster.

NIKO So what, I like him, I ain’t no good for him. I don’t wanna mess up his life with my shit.

PROFESSOR HEAD Why do you think you’d mess up his life? Are you a thug .. .oh I’m sorry; I’ll use your words. Are you a pimp NIKO?

NIKO What?

PROFESSOR HEAD (Pouring a drink for NIKO) Are you really a pimp? Or are we both just smart and quick to make adjustments to our benefit depending upon our situations?

NIKO By those criterions, no; but I’m starting to really wonder about you HEAD. How you just gone twist the game like that?

PROFESSOR HEAD There are key components necessary in the process, for a dedicated student to find his or her truest success in higher learning. That was one. 105

NIKO What are you talking about?

PROFESSOR HEAD I am telling you the stuff that a majority of the gatekeepers won’t tell you; unless you use that body against them.

Laughing and scanning the young body falling under the influence.

PROFESSOR HEAD The stuff that makes a young man like you successful beyond your muscles. No matter how fine those muscles may be.

NIKO I think you’ve had enough.

PROFESSOR HEAD I don’t think I’ve had enough for what I’m considering actually.

NIKO Considering?

PROFESSOR HEAD Yep.

NIKO Woe. I don’t know if I’m/

PROFESSOR HEAD /Sushhhhh up boy! You about to ruin everything. Just listen. Don’t speak for the next hour or so. Alright? Can you trust me for an hour NIKO?

NIKO (Silence)

PROFESSOR HEAD You are a fast learner. (Giggling)

Lights Out. End Scene 106

SCENE 12

Graduation Day

An auditorium stage set up. LAWERENCE is standing behind a podium wearing full Masters Regalia and honors tassels. Strong lighting spots him while flashes from cameras and phones are near blinding. An announcer’s voice is heard.

ANNOUNCER (Audio Only)

Your San Francisco State class Valedictorian LAWERENCE WILLIAMS, Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting.

LAWERENCE As I stand before you I am reminded of my journey to this point. The many angels that I carry with me, that carry me. That carry me. My grandparents, Bishop and Papa Goshea, Leeola & Annie; to m my aces, Maurice, Martin, Mark; my mentors Ms. Marion Martin, Dr. Earl Robinson, Sandra Johnson, mother Youngblood, Bishop & Dr. Walter L. Hawkins and Dr. Edwin Hawkins, my friends and mentors, Yvette Flunder and Mamma Shirley.. .and the love of my life... NIKO MILES

To the left o f LA WERENCE we see a small party illuminated. NIKO is in the middle o f the dancers wearing cap and gown. A gun shot rings out and NIKO falls dead. Lights out on the party.

I feel lucky I feel fortunate I feel...I feel I feel like ...I’m on the firing line. People around me dropin’ like they stepin’ on mines. Each day a new face gone...

Each character walks into the area light now boarding around LA WERENCE, their faces whitened and pale, their hair ghostly. They are wearing grey clothes. MOOD: Reflective/ Desperate 107

NIKO Gone...

LAWERENCE Gone and I’m still here watching disappearances occur as each day rolls along.

ANGEL By submission to the system, by the lips, by the gun,

LAWRENCE I feel like their picking us off one by one.

NIKO Grading us

ANGEL on material never taught -

NIKO testing us

ANGEL on stuff we never learned

MAY LING staying up all night writing papers on subjects we barely understand

LAWRENCE They’ll never read them or barely take a glance

NIKO All to test-read- and test all over again.

GWEN They’ve pegged us from the very first day. Where we will get and if they will let us; it’s all part of the game I’m telling you, from the very first day it’s decided. Which ones of us will live or die?

LAWRENCE Which ones of us can press through?

PAM The method and the madness, chipping away at us like a time bomb counting down,

JONATHAN raping us frighten, insecure souls, 108

All the males begin to move forward toward the apron o f the stage down their individual isles until they are in a single row o f the theater.

SARA over and over and over again,

NIKO ‘til it kills you. A gunshot and a drum snare and someone crying in the distance.

LAWRENCE Or at the very least makes you physically ill,

SARA To the point that you’re starting your day out in the mirror arguing with yourself just to leave the house for your first class.

MAY LING I’m figuring and factoring and memorizing stats, as I am out running bullets and beatings

JONATHAN and homelessness, and depression

SARA and haters hiding knives behind their backs ready to attack!

LAWERENCE Is it science that your names will disappear from my brain before the seasons change? Even now while my tears are flowing over the loss of your offering to my life, I forget you Because I am on a mission.

To change something, to do something you couldn’t do, what you wouldn’t do.

All Males I have an obligation to seal the deal, and steal my opportunity. To forget quickly the feelings I feel from not seeing your faces anymore. 109

GWEN The funerals come like parades

NIKO and we march with time bombs attached to our necks

JOHNATHAN and targets on our backs; ready!

NIKO To be the next statistic

ANGEL or social theorem...

MAY LING (said in conversation to one of the fellows on his left) It’s way too much for me

SARAH & JONATHAN (Responding to someone else on the other side of him) I didn’t have the strength!

PAM & ANGEL The fallen render a stale aroma of cramped bodies on the city while memories cast shadows on hearts.

NIKO & LAWERENCE I still feel the crackle of glass beneath my feet in the street, everywhere! Every now and then my hearing goes out from the shouting stuck in my bones.

ANGEL from the outcry for justice and peace in the midst of salacious violence?

NIKO this city had to bum to the ground so we can start all over again. It ain’t fair! Maybe if we tear it all down we can rise again from the ashes like that bird.

Staring off into the sky look for the phoenix he starts to back up to his original position.

LAWRENCE The phoenix? 110

GWEN & MAY LING Man that’s only a myth; nothing comes from burning garbage and filth.

ANGEL But I can image it... burning all the crooked cops, and sticky fingered administrators, the ones that robbed us of our birthrights. The flames would be high and the smoke would bellow so that in China they’ll catch the vapors.

LAWRENCE I dare not close my eyes for fear of images of my city burning for protection again.

ANGEL But we are the future.. .and no one seems to care.

NIKO It’s necessary! Bum this bitch!

ANGEL / PAM / GWEN The future isn’t as stupid as you think, the future knows, because the future could school you on some things that would blow your mind. Just like the lies you’ve made us cling to all this time, the future is wising up, and paying attention-

NIKO And if there’s still some future left after the bullets

LAWRENCE the bullies

JONATHAN the tests,

ANGEL and the system,

ALL there will be hope!

LAWRENCE (Spoken softly as if said to an absent friend) You had to fade, to make me shine .. .but... I still feel like I’m on the firing line-

Lights go dark. We hear LA WRENCE, while pictures of actors and students flash across the theater. I l l

LAWRENCE I discovered what PROFESSOR HEAD had done many years later. She had given NIKO the secrets to success that he passed on to me, unknowingly, before he died. I loved him and he loved me, and I loved HEAD for what she shared with my man that night. She showed NIKO that he had potential, and gave me the keys to success.

But every now and then I think I see him or hear him calling out my name during a lecture or while I’m directing a scene. I feel like he’s smiling at me and rooting me on with every project I do. I feel their spirits guiding me in my choices. It helps me not to forget where I came from and who I represent, and why.

Lights dim after Firing line monologue. Ghosts and LAWRENCE are present. A news report is broadcasted

REPORTER (v.o.) This just in. The President of the United States of America has declared war with North Korea. There has been no response from Kim Jong-Un. Wait a minute.. .1 have just received word that several missiles have been launched and are heading toward the U.S.

America’s anti-missile system has been activated. There are warnings going out to shel/

Bright lights flash and the sound of a bomb explodes, all lights go dark. (Song: Ain’t nobody’s Fault but Mine by Nina Simone) plays for a small refrain.

Lights up on everyone as ghosts. They dance to Music: America - Prince and the dancing bleeds out into the audience. The characters dance out o f the theater.

THE END