My Play (Untitled)17:04 Jan 13 2007
Times Read: 546
Scene 1
Characters:
Christal – 16 years old, 5’4’’, light complexion, red hair, dresses punk
Eddie - Christal’s twin brother, 5’9’’. tan complexion, likes to dress decent/casual
Mother – 5’, around late 40’s, chubby, light complexion, attitude, highly religious
Father - 5’6’’, around early 50’s, pop belly, tan complexion, always seen with a Kango hat Christal gave to him for father’s day.
At Rise: The Rose family is in the living room. Mother is sitting on the sofa stage right, facing stage left. Father is behind her holding her down and trying to calm down the situation. Eddie is leaning against the bookstand. Christal is standing couple feet in front of Mother.
Mother: (to Christal angrily) How can you betray our family like that? I gave you a roof over your head, food when you are hungry, clothes on your back. And then you come to me with this? I took you to church every single Sunday ever since we bought you home for the first time. Didn’t you hear what Pastor Benny said what will happen to those sinners? No daughter of mine is going to hell. No!
Christal: Ma, I am not going to hell just because I’m gay.
Mother: You know what, you’re right.
Christal: Thank you.
Mother: Because you’re not gay!
Christal: What?
Mother: I believe it’s that demonic music you’re listening to. Uh huh. That stuff in those songs is making you confuse. You’ll get over it. I’ll have Pastor Benny pray for you.
Christal: I am not confused! How come you can’t just accept me for who I really am?
Father: She does sweetie. She just needs time to soak it all in.
Mother: (Gets up and backs away from Father; feeling betrayed) What! Since when did you speak on my behalf? I am not having this. No daughter (turns to Eddie) or son of mine is gay. I am not going to be a parent of…
Eddie: (Overlapping; walking towards Mother) Whoa whoa whoa. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Just because we’re twins, you think I’m gay now? Get the hell outta here. Shoot. If you think it goes through the family than maybe we got it from you.
Mother: (While slapping the back of his head) Go to your room! I don’t even want to see your face for diner. (Pause, breathing heavy) And you (points to Christal) I want you out of here by tomorrow night.
Christal: But ma!
Mother: Gone! (heads to the kitchen stage right)
Eddie: (Looks at Father) That’s your wife. (Head towards the stairs stage left. Rubbing his head while talking to himself out loud) Lady got issues.
Christal: (Trying to hold back tears) Dad, please. I don’t want to go.
Father: (Walks up to Christal; holds unto her) I know sweetie. I’m not going to let you go anywhere. You’re staying right here. Everything will be ok. Dad will keep you safe. I promise.
Lights Fade
Scene 2
Characters: Friend 1(male), Friend 2(male), Christal, Eddie, Student 1(female), Student 2(female)
At Rise: Stevenson High school hallway. Students trying to make their way to class. Eddie is with a bunch of friends in front of the lockers bragging about Christal. Christal comes from stage right.
Friend 1: Yo, what’s good Christal?
Friend 2: My sistah’s gay too. I could hook ya up. Just come ova to my house afta school, iight. I’ll drive you.
Christal: (Pulling Eddie away from his friends; angry) You told them!
Eddie: Why you care? You out now, you could be you. It ain’t like they weren’t gonna find out. If anything you should be thanking me.
Christal: Thanking you? Your ugly, stupid self shouldn’t be telling people my business. That’s my job not yours.
Eddie: Hey, hey, hey! Let’s get one thing straight missy. I am not ugly. (smoothes out his hair)
Christal: It’s like talking to a brick wall. Now thanks to you everyone is going to find out. Something like this circulates this hell hole.
(Christal walks off into her classroom. When she walks in everyone turns to her including the teacher. She walks to her desk in this awkward silence. Student 1 pushes Christal’s desk away from hers)
Student 2: Oh hell no. I ain’t having this lezbot sitting this close to me. (pushes desk towards student 1)
Student 1: Don’t push that desk towards me, heffa.
Student 2: Like you gonna do sut’in about it? Quite acting like you tuff, you ain’t gonna do nut’in.
(Student 1 gets up and punches Student 2. Fight brakes out. Teacher went out and is calling for security. Christal runs out the classroom exiting the school. Lights fade.)
Scene 3
Characters: Christal, Guy 1, Guy 2, Guy 3
At Rise: Christal is lying on her deceased girlfriend’s grave (who was killed for being gay) at St. Raymond’s cemetery.
Christal: (crying) How come you didn’t hold on a bit longer? You could’ve gotten out of that coma. I need you Jessie. I’m scared. I feel so alone in this world. You were the only person I had. I just want you to hold me, tell me everything will be ok even though it won’t.
(Three guys come from stage left)
Christal: I miss you.
Guy 1: (Clears throat) Excuse me, Miss, are you alright.
Christal: (Gets up from the ground) Uh, yeah. Um, I was just on my way home.
(Guy 3 walks around, behind Christal. Christal does not notice)
Guy 2: We could take you home. It’s dangerous around here. A lot of perverts, you know? (pause) Um, have we met before?
Christal: Uh, no we haven’t. I really have to go now. (turns around and bumps into Guy 3)
Guy 3: Yeah, son. This that lesbian chick from Stevo.
Guy 2: Oh yeah. So what? (Steps up to Christal) Guys ain’t good enough for you?
(Christal is frightened and starts to run. Guy 1 catches up to her and knocks her down to the floor. Lights fade. Christal is heard shouting out for help. Three gunshots end her cry)
Scene 4
Characters: Christal 1(dead body within casket), Eddie, Father, Lynda (Eddie’s girlfriend), Students, Christal 2(Spirit)
At Rise: Christal’s funeral. Casket is on center stage. Empty chairs line in front of casket in 6 rows. Only persons there are Father and Eddie. Father is looking at pictures stage left of casket, heart broken. Eddie is pacing back and forth frustrated.
Eddie: Where the hell is everyone?
Father: Where’s your mother? That’s what I like to know.
Eddie: You know ma ain’t gonna come to Christal’s funeral. Shoot, she ain’t even gonna go to her burial.
Father: Damn it! (knocks down the pictures of Christal as a little girl. In tears) This wasn’t supposed to happen.
Eddie: (shocked from his fathers reaction) Dad.
Father: No, no! I promised her, Eddie. I told her everything will be ok. I told her I would keep her safe. Now she’s dead! (Swings at the flowers)
Eddie: (grabs Father) Dad, stop it!
(Eddie’s girlfriend (Lynda) comes into funeral home)
Eddie: Lynda, what you doin’ here?
Lynda: (walks up to casket) We were not that close. I still can’t believe she’s gone.
(More people start to come in. Most are students that attend Stevenson high school and feel guilty for not talking to her even though they’ve had class together for years. Voices overlaps. Women are heard crying. Lights dim as a girl steps out from crowd. Spotlight is on her. She takes off her hat and sunglasses to reveal that she’s the spirit of Christal)
Christal: (addressing to the crowd) Gay bashing happens everyday. That is the reason why it is hard to come out knowing how society feels about gays and lesbians. Most people would feel neglected by everyone and would fall into depression. 3 out of 4 gay teens would attempt suicide and succeed. You see, gay bashing doesn’t have to be physical harm. Calling one a faggot or an f-ing queer would put ones self-esteem down. Just the way you look at a person like we are some terrorist emotionally damage us, wishing we were not gay. Some say being gay is a choice. If that is true than why would I had choose to be disowned by my mother? So before you judge anyone, just put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if you were a type of person society doesn’t accept?
(Christal walks into the crowd. Crowd clears. Father is left alone with the casket. Christal’s spirit stands behind Father placing her hand on his shoulder. Father takes off his hat and places it inside the casket.)
Curtain Closes
COMMENTS
-