Attic of Dreams
by Yolantha Harrison-Pace
Dedicated to my daughter, Erin Salay Pace, on her 20th birthday
CAST OF CHARACTERS
CHIEF, an older, seemingly stereotypical Indian man as portrayed in movies of the 'Old West'
TIME
PLACE
Act I
Scene 1
(Houselights are up, all actors except for CHIEF are in the audience. BOB, VERA, GEORGE, ELAINE, TRUCE, ANIMAL, DIAMOND are dressed in black. RAPHAEL is dressed in red, white and blue celebrating America.)
RAPHAEL
DIAMOND, ANIMAL, TRUCE, VERA, BOB, ELAINE, GEORGE
(Houselights fade as faint Indian drums are heard in darkness. As lights fade up the Indian music becomes louder and CHIEF is standing in front of the stage curtain, dressed in full Indian Chief Attire, including feathered headgear. He is holding rattles and begins to dance. He has Indian bells on his feet. As the drums increase his dance becomes more intense. He sings as he dances.)
CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF VERA DIAMOND ANIMAL RAPHAEL BOB ANIMAL RAPHAEL CHIEF GEORGE CHIEF ANIMAL GEORGE VERA BOB ELAINE DIAMOND ELAINE DIAMOND
(more confrontational) RAPHAEL
(still from audience) GEORGE BOB GEORGE ELAINE ANIMAL CHIEF TRUCE RAPHAEL GEORGE RAPHAEL ELAINE GEORGE BOB ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE (Chimes are heard. DIAMOND dressed in black Enters wearing colorful butterfly wings and does an interpretive dance to Chief‘s speech)
CHIEF RAPHAEL (Lights slowly fade into black out)
SCENE 2
(Spotlights come up. TRUCE AND ANIMAL are in front of curtain, clothing is hip hop with Mississippi logo on Animal’s shirt. Louisiana is written down the side of Truce’s jeans. A beat box sound is heard done by actors or as recorded background music)
ANIMAL & TRUCE TRUCE ANIMAL TRUCE and ANIMAL (simultaneously) TRUCE TRUCE AND ANIMAL SCENE 3
Day 1
(Curtain slowly opens on the attic a radio announcement is heard in the darkness)
RADIO (High wind sounds are heard, sounds of a huge storm. There is a long static sound, then silence. Stage lights slowly come up to reveal an attic loft apartment. One-third is a living area with 3 rocking chairs, couch that makes into a bed, a futon, an old ghetto blaster, a recliner. The rest of the attic is an abundant storage space of many attic-type things. There are trunks marked with years, like 1920, 1930, 1960 etc, in which are clothes from that particular decade. There are lawn chairs, hurricane lamps, Indian relics, a totem pole, tee-pee, fencing sword, Star Wars laser sword, fishing equipment, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, hanging wedding gown in a clothes bag, an old record player with vinyl album records and album covers, a lot of tapes and Cds, butter churn, washboard and wash tub, exercise equipment, a long pole, jump ropes, stationary bike, a tricycle, free standing weights, a shelf of games that include Trouble, Scrabble and Twister. There is a door down stage right that leads down from the attic.)
(Sound of glass breaking. CHIEF climbs in attic window, sopping wet, just wearing jeans. When other actors enter they are wearing every day attire which is torn and filthy from wading through the hurricane waters. CHIEF walks around the attic, examining things. He opens the stage right door. Shuts it. He finds an Indian headband with a feather, he ties it on his head. He goes to the totem pole and kneels down low with palms outstretched toward the heavens and then to the floor. Voices are heard outside of the window, CHIEF goes and looks, then grabs the pole.)
(CHIEF at window with the pole pulls in ANIMAL)
ANIMAL
Thanks, thanks ... Chief. There are 2 more. Get the girl.
(DIAMOND comes through window, coughing, covered in mud and dirt. ANIMAL helps Chief pull in Truce.)
TRUCE DIAMOND ANIMAL TRUCE DIAMOND (CHIEF helps VERA through the window)
VERA CHIEF (CHIEF Exits out of window. Vera, Truce and Animal pull up Bob. He is breathing hard and lays down on the floor.)
TRUCE VERA DIAMOND VERA ANIMAL TRUCE ANIMAL (CHIEF falls through window. DIAMOND screams.)
TRUCE CHIEF DIAMOND ANIMAL DIAMOND ANIMAL ELAINE ANIMAL CHIEF ELAINE BOB VERA TRUCE TRUCE VERA CHIEF VERA RAPHAEL ANIMAL TRUCE ANIMAL RAPHAEL ELAINE VERA DIAMOND GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ANIMAL GEORGE ELAINE RAPHAEL GEORGE ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE RAPHAEL (TRUCE is in a zoot suit. DIAMOND is in a go-go girl outfit with boots. Bob is in a Cowboy outfit. ANIMAL has found some large clothes to make a hip-hop/gothic look. VERA is colonial-looking. GEORGE has on bib overalls and a flannel shirt.
VERA RAPHAEL ROBERT RAPHAEL (VERA whispers in Raphael’s ear)
RAPHAEL
ANIMAL DIAMOND
RAPHAEL VERA VERA ELAINE GEORGE RAPHAEL BOB DIAMOND DIAMOND, TRUCE & ANIMAL RAPHAEL VERA GEORGE TRUCE GEORGE TRUCE DIAMOND TRUCE ANIMAL BOB ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL BOB ANIMAL BOB ANIMAL DIAMOND GEORGE VERA ELAINE RAPHAEL GEORGE ELAINE ELAINE RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ELAINE ANIMAL SCENE 5 RADIO VOICE BRITISH RADIO VOICE FEMALE RADIO VOICE TRUCE AND DIAMOND GEORGE ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL GEORGE TRUCE DIAMOND ANIMAL VERA RAPHAEL ANIMAL BOB VERA RAPHAEL DIAMOND RAPHAEL TRUCE ELAINE RAPHAEL GEORGE ANIMAL GEORGE ANIMAL ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE, GEORGE, VERA, BOB RAPHAEL (All laugh loudly.)
ELAINE (RAPHAEL, embarrassed, goes away from the group)
(ELAINE brings him 2 M&M’s.)
RAPHAEL VERA ELAINE RAPHAEL ANIMAL BOB GEORGE BOB ANIMAL (The men try to get the canoe through the window and it won’t fit)
GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE DIAMOND ELAINE GEORGE BOB ELAINE RAPHAEL GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE RAPHAEL DIAMOND VERA, ELAINE RAPHAEL RAPHAEL, VERA, ELAINE, DIAMOND RAPHAEL GEORGE ELAINE CHIEF TRUCE CHIEF RAPHAEL VERA ANIMAL DIAMOND RAPHAEL (ELAINE grabs a sheet and tries to rip it in half but can‘t)
GEORGE DIAMOND TRUCE GEORGE (VERA gives George a spray can of red and blue paint)
(GEORGE sprays “help (8)” in large letters and hold it up for all to see)
DIAMOND Scene 6 (Lights come up and RAPHAEL is riding around on a tricycle that is too small, dressed as a Darth Vader. He rides over to the radio and turns it on.)
RADIO BOB VERA BOB VERA BOB VERA RAPHAEL ANIMAL (TRUCE joins in with a butter churn, dressed as Spider man.(DIAMOND plays some pipes dressed as Cat woman in shiny patent leather.
RAPHAEL GEORGE CHIEF GEORGE CHIEF
I know. RAPHAEL DIAMOND ANIMAL RAPHAEL DIAMOND GEORGE ELAINE TRUCE ANIMAL CHIEF TRUCE ANIMAL GEORGE BOB RAPHAEL ANIMAL VERA ANIMAL VERA (RAPHAEL is on his bike between Animal and Vera. Raphael watches them grab back and forth as if it is a ping-pong match. The box opens and muffin mix spills all over Raphael. Raphael wets his finger and tastes the spilled mix on his body.)
VERA Scene 7 RADIO RAPHAEL ANIMAL VERA RAPHAEL ANIMAL DIAMOND TRUCE ANIMAL RAPHAEL GEORGE ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE ANIMAL GEORGE ELAINE VERA ANIMAL BOB ELAINE GEORGE VERA BOB ANIMAL TRUCE DIAMOND RAPHAEL DIAMOND TRUCE (RAPHAEL has been watching the dance and starts
spinning the game board over and over again with out playing)
GEORGE TRUCE ANIMAL RAPHAEL DIAMOND RAPHAEL ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE RAPHAEL GEORGE SCENE 8
(Truce and Animal are playing a game of Chess.
Vera, George and Diamond are playing dominoes.)
ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE (RAPHAEL wakes up)
ELAINE TRUCE VERA GEORGE RAPHAEL BOB TRUCE ANIMAL RAPHAEL CHIEF GEORGE CHIEF BOB CHIEF BOB ANIMAL TRUCE ANIMAL VERA ANIMAL ELAINE RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL (TRUCE bursts out laughing)
DIAMOND RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL ELAINE (RAPHAEL nestles up with Chief in his tee pee for the night)
VERA ELAINE VERA ANIMAL DIAMOND AMIMAL RAPHAEL SCENE 9
(DIAMOND, RAPHAEL, TRUCE AND ANIMAL are playing a game of Trouble. Audience hears the sound of the game as the lights come up.)
VERA & BOB BOB VERA BOB VERA BOB VERA BOB VERA GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE VERA ELAINE DIAMOND GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL DIAMOND ANIMAL GEORGE BOB VERA BOB VERA ANIMAL VERA ANIMAL DIAMOND ELAINE ANIMAL DIAMOND ANIMAL TRUCE RAPHAEL ELAINE VERA RAPHAEL VERA RAPHAEL GEORGE RAPHAEL VERA BOB GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE VERA ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE GEORGE RAPHAEL GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE RAPHAEL ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE VERA GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE ANIMAL ELAINE VERA RAPHAEL VERA RAPHAEL VERA ELAINE VERA GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE VERA BOB TRUCE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ACT II
SCENE 1
(RAPHAEL has taken off the cover to an electrical fan & is spinning it with his hands)
ANIMAL BOB TRUCE VERA BOB VERA BOB TRUCE BOB TRUCE BOB VERA TRUCE BOB VERA BOB VERA BOB VERA RAPHAEL BOB VERA BOB VERA SCENE 2 RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL ANIMAL (RAPHAEL tries to imitate but is unsuccessful)
ANIMAL (RAPHAEL stands straddle with his arms folded across his stomach)
ANIMAL (RAHAEL watches Animal pass by turning his whole head)
(ANIMAL walks by and smacks Raphael on the forehead)
RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL ELAINE RAPHAEL ANIMAL TRUCE, DIAMOND ANIMAL RAPHAEL (ANIMAL smacks him on the forehead again.)
RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL RAPHAEL ANIMAL ELAINE RAPHAEL ANIMAL ELAINE ANIMAL ELAINE RAPHAEL ELAINE SCENE 3 ELAINE VERA ELAINE VERA ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE GEORGE ELAINE (CHIEF is standing over Vera who has quietly died)
SCENE 4 ELAINE CHIEF DIAMOND TRUCE DIAMOND TRUCE RAPHAEL TRUCE RAPHAEL TRUCE RAPHAEL TRUCE RAPHAEL TRUCE (Door bursts open loudly and two armed looters stand with guns)
LOOTER A (CHIEF steps into the shadows)
LOOTER B LOOTER A LOOTER B LOOTER A BOB LOOTER B ELAINE (RAPHAEL moves close to Mrs. WASHINGTON)
LOOTER B LOOTER A (TRUCE stands up)
CHIEF LOOTER B LOOTER A CHIEF LOOTER A (TRUCE lunges at Looter A)
LOOTER A shoots Truce. Diamond runs toward Truce)
CHIEF (LOOTER B laughs)
(CHIEF shoots Looter B with arrow)
(LOOTER A fires 2 times. Looter A is aiming gun at CHIEF. Diamond, screaming, gets in the cross fire and is shot. Second bullet hits Elaine)
RAPHAEL (lights go out)
SCENE 5
(Chief and George are inspecting the damage and dragging bodies toward the window)
ELAINE GEORGE CHIEF GEORGE GEORGE CHIEF GEORGE GEORGE CHIEF GEORGE SCENE 6
(Only Chief and Raphael are left. Raphael is dressed like Chief in full Indian attire. Chief doesn’t have on the head dress. Chief is putting war paint on Raphael as they listen to the radio.)
RADIO VOICE CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL (CHIEF nods and gives back the knife)
RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF RAPHAEL CHIEF (Door bursts open, and two NATIONAL GUARDS are standing in the door)
(RAPHAEL jumps up, grabbing bow and arrow)
FIREMAN NATIONAL GUARD RAPHAEL FIREMAN NATIONAL GUARD RAPHAEL FIREMAN RAPHAEL (ANIMAL Enters)
FIREMAN RAPHAEL ANIMAL (RAPHAEL approaches Animal, bow and arrow drawn and aims it at Animal’s heart)
(ANIMAL arms opened out wide)
RAPHAEL ANIMAL FIREMAN and GUARD CHIEF CURTAIN CALL
(Actors Enter, except for RAPHAEL, each giving a statistic surrounding the Katrina disaster and then sit in audience,
as a montage of power point photos and statistics from the Katrina Disaster are shown, as well as those who helped. The music is Jimi Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner, and Indian drumming sounds ending with an Indian Flute version playing Amazing Grace.
RAPHAEL (All Actors join in singing and Exit the theater,
joining hands with audience members as they exit)
END OF PLAY
RAPHAEL, an African American boy, between 9 and 12 years of age
GEORGE WASHINGTON, African American, around 55-60 years of age, lives with Elaine
ELAINE WASHINGTON, African American, around 55-60 years of age, lives with George
BOB SMITH, White, around 70 years of age, married to Vera, has a weak heart & is diabetic
VERA SMITH, White, around 70 years of age, married to Bob for over 50 years
DIAMOND, African American, female rap artist, Beyonce type, age 15-21
TRUCE, African American, male rap artist, lover and playah type, age 15-21
ANIMAL, African American, male rap artist, tough gangsta type, 15-21
LOOTER ONE, White male
LOOTER TWO, African American male
FIREMAN, African American
NATIONAL GUARD, White
August and September 2005, following the Katrina Hurricane
An attic in New Orleans
What you are about to witness can’t be real. Not here in America. Nope, no way. Not my America.
(cups his hands to his mouth, leans his head back and shouts)
Aaaaaaaaaaaall Aboooooooooooard. The HURRI-CAAAAAAAAAAAANE.
(sounding like a train starting down the track and speeding up)
Ka--trina…Ka--trina…Katrina-trina, Katrina-trina
Trina-trina-trina-trina--trinatrinatrinatrina
Dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah
Dream-ah dream-ah dream, dream, dream.
Dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah
Dream-ah dream-ah dream, dream, dream.
Dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah
Dream-ah dream-ah dream, dream, dream.
Dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah dream-ah
Dream-ah dream-ah dream, dream, dream.
(Dance slows down as drums slow down. CHIEF goes into sitting cross-legged, softly shaking rattles. The other actors are still dispersed in amongst the audience.)
What’s that smell?
The carrion of humanity.
The new aroma of a dead Orleans.
Will she be born again?
Can there be a reincarnation?
Will she come back?
Or will she come back as somebody else?
The American Renaissance?
The America Remix?
Dream big, baby, dream big.
(walks on stage from audience)
It is said that dreaming is an act of pure imagination, attesting in all men a creative power, which if it were available in waking, would make every man a Dante or Shakespeare.
A Cochise or Sitting Bull.
(coming on stage)
An Usher or Kanye West.
(coming on stage)
A Mozart or a B.B. King.
(coming on stage)
A Betsy Ross or Dear Abby.
(coming on stage)
A Dr. Phil or an Einstein.
(coming on stage)
An Aretha Franklin or Lena Horne.
(confronting Elaine)
A Beyonce.
(challenging Diamond)
Mahalia Jackson.
Or Missy Elliot.
How can that be?
(squats from the stage speaking to Cameron and the audience)
Dreams are only thoughts you didn’t have time to think about during the day.
(to audience)
I saw an episode of X-files, it said, “Dreams are answers to questions we haven’t yet figured out how to ask.”
(to Bob)
My dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions.
We are all geniuses when we dream, the butcher, the poet…are all equal then.
The jug heads, the nerd herds ... all equal then.
The cowboys, the Indians, when we dream.
The Black man, the White man ... the playah, the playah hater ... all geniuses.
How can that be?
A dream is a microscope through which we look at the hidden occurrences in our soul.
What?
Dreams say what they mean, but they don’t say it in daytime language.
The best reason for having dreams is that in dreams no reasons are necessary.
That’s brilliant.
Of course it’s brilliant. A woman said that. As a matter of fact her name was Ashleigh Brilliant.
(offers his hand to Elaine, pulls her in close and slow dances with her)
And a woman, Barbara Kingsolver wrote in a play.
I can’t think of anything to dream. Except my ordinary life.
Your dreams are ordinary only if you have an ordinary life. If you want sweet dreams, you’ve got to live a sweet life. Dream sweet, baby, dream sweet.
A Chinese philosopher said: “Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly ... Suddenly I awoke ... Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man."
Sweeee-eeet
(Usher/Busta Rhymes/hip-hop rap style through the process of this rap they get the audience to clap and wave their hands)
Hey-----Ho
Hey-----Ho
Mississippi, M-S dreamin’
Loo-eezee-anna, Zee-anna L-A
Alabama, bama bay-bay
Can you see, oh say, oh say
Hey-----Ho
Hey-----Ho
Can you see the winds a blowin’
Washing my dreams, my dreams away
Mississippi, M-S dreamin’
Loo-eezee-anna, Zee-anna L-A
Alabama bama bay-bay
Can you see, oh say, oh say
(spoken in quick rap rhythm)
To dream or not to dream
That is the question
Whether tis nobler to
Give me dreams or give me death
Can you see, oh say, oh say
Can you see the winds a blowin’
And washing my dreams, my dreams away
We must walk softly but carry a big dream
Dream away, dream away
It was the best of dreams, it was the worst of dreams
Mississippi, M-S dreamin’
Loo-eezee-anna Zee-anna L-A
Alabama, bama bay-bay
Can you see, oh say, oh say
(rapped with more of a rock and roll type rhythm with Jimi Hendrix psychedelic sounding guitar playing in the background)
I double dog dream ya
My dreams are gonna scream ya
I dream rock and roll
I dream rock and roll
Dreamy mountain high in Colorado
Dreamy valley low dark dark shadows
Get your dreams a running
Headin’ for the highway
I dream rock and roll
Dream on and on, til the true break of dawn
I dream rock and roll
Where my dreams at, where my dreams at
Rock and roll dreams bay-bay
Where my dreams at, where my dreams at
Dream on, Dream on and on til the true break of dawn
(Truce and Animal both waving arms back and forth, house lights come up getting audience to join in)
Where my dreams at, where my dreams at
Where my dreams at, where my dreams at
(Animal continues through Truce’s next rap)
My dreams are made for livin’
And that’s just what they’ll do
One of these days my dreams are gonna
Live all over you
My dreams are made for livin’
And that’s just what they’ll do
One of these days my dreams are gonna
Live all over you
My dreams are made for livin’
And that’s just what they’ll do
One of these days my dreams are gonna
Live all over you
(clapping and exiting through audience getting audience to participate)
Born to dream wi-ild
Born to dream wi-ild
Born to dream wi-ild
(house lights fade as Truce and Animal exit through back of audience)
I repeat...(static) All people in the city of New Orleans must evacuate ... Tune into your local television station for evacuation plans for your area. I repeat (static) is of the utmost urgency (static) safety ...(static)... emergency survival kit ... (static) ... water ... batteries, flash ...
Thanks man. Where’s Diamond? Good. At least we were able to stay together at my recording studio. I’ve never seen anything like it. The world has gone crazy. The weather, the people.
The door just burst open. And a wall of water chased me up the stairs. Next thing I knew I was being shoved by water through the bedroom window.
The basement of the studio was filling up fast. I kicked out the window and squeezed through. It was like some bizarre Tom and Jerry cartoon.
Alfred Hitchcock movie.
Except it was real.
(crosses over and opens SR door)
Look at all that water.
My husband is down there and he’s sick. He’s real weak. I can’t get him up the pole.
I’ll go with this rope. You pull.
He doesn’t look so good.
Is there something sweet around? Any food? Some water?
We just got here. I’ll help you look. Here look, here’s part of a bag of M&M’s.
That will do fine.
Plain or Peanut?
(takes one)
Chill, you animaniac, we may have to ration that. What else is there?
Wow, look at all of this stuff. Trunks and trunks of stuff.
(He opens one trunk.)
Oh, sorry, Chief, we didn’t mean to forget about you.
Two more. (He holds pole out of the window. ELAINE & GEORGE Enter)
Looks like this is some sort of attic loft storage space. Someone was living up here. They must have got out early.
Any food?
(sound of yelping out outide window, as if a puppy is crying)
(runs to window)
It’s a dog, get it. Save it.
We don’t have enough food for all of us, let alone a dog.
Get it. Have a heart.
Yeah, we might have to eat it before this is all over.
No dog.
(Chief Exits out of the window. All gather and watch. He returns carrying a child.)
It’s a little boy. Get a blanket.
Look at all of this stuff. Pieces of Americana. (hands over an Indian blanket)
Leave the things alone. They’re not ours.
We all need a change of clothes. We’re filthy, and no telling what all was in that water. We need to change.
(They all begin going through trunks finding a change of clothes.)
This attic is like a time capsule.
(holds out a Star Wars laser sword and a fencing sword)
Look at all of this Indian paraphernalia.
Hmmm, never heard us spoken of as paraphernalia
I’m sorry, I mean Indian souvenirs.
Are people paraphernalia and souvenirs?
Just a way of dehumanizing a culture of people.
A way to justify past, present and future injustices.
It’s a semantic form of power and control.
Is there such a thing as African American paraphernalia and souvenirs? Is there such a thing as white folks paraphernalia and souvenirs?
Hush, little boy, don’t you see the white folks standing right there?
Oh that’s okay, I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm.
It's like some kind of Attic of Dreams.
(He tries on a queens crown from the Renaissance days.)
Here’s something for the boy.
(He hands her a baseball uniform that says Admirals on the front. RAPHAEL changes then goes and looks in a trunk)
(to Elaine)
And I found these scrubs for you.
In your dreams. No way are those gonna fit me.
(He goes back to a trunk and digs. He pulls out a skimpy negligee, looks at it, looks at his wife)
Man I don’t think so.
I think you’re right.
(He finds a sparkly evening type of dress in a larger size and takes it to Elaine.)
Give it here. At least its my size.
This would look good with that.
(wearing a boa to match Elaine’s dress)
Boy, give me that.
How lovely, bring it here, little boy. What’s your name?
Raphael.
Raphael? That’s a nice name. What happened to your family?
I don’t know ... I was asleep. I woke up, water was everywhere and my bed was starting to float like I was in a giant bathtub. I couldn’t find my mom or my dad.
(taking the boa)
You have tremendous taste Raphael. Thank you, you are a class act.
You’re welcome.
(softly)
Thank you.
Look at all of this stuff. CRISIS MAGAZINE.
What’s that?
My wife and I belong to that organization.
What organization?
NAACP? That’s a black organization.
Can’t have nothing.
They probably have a subscription to O Magazine.
Oprah’s magazine? Do you?
Well, yes we do.
(introducing herself)
Vera, Vera Smith. And this is my husband, Robert.
My pleasure I think, Vera, Robert. I’m Elaine, and that’s Mr. Washington.
George, and that’s my wife Elaine.
George? Washington? Man oh man I bet you got teased.
(shaking hands)
Call me Bob…George, Elaine.
I’m Diamond, and that’s Truce and that’s Animal. And together we are “IN YO’ FACE”.
Face, face, face
Inter face with face
Saving face, saving grace
For the big face off
We are
In you’ face
In Yo’ Face? You came to my school. Wow man.
I found 2 packages of ramein noodles and a can of pork and beans, and a package of blue berry muffin mix. And two pieces of Dentyne gum.
Look at this. An old record player.
And some real records. Animal check it out. B.B. King, Joe Tex ...
5th Dimension. Dionne Warwick. The Mama’s and the Papas
(sings holding up Beatles cover)
She was just seventeen, and you know what I mean, and before too long, I fell in love with heeeer. Oh I’ll never dance with another. Whoooooo The Beatles.
(raps)
Just seven teen
Know what ah mean
She was just so clean
As she stood over they-er
Dance Shorty dance, Dance Shorty dance
And I’ll never ever dance with no other
Whooooo when I saw Shorty standing there
I don‘t think so
(stops trying to rap)
Well, something like that. Here’s Simon and Garfunkel.
An old Harley Davidson. I wonder if she still rides.
Found some batteries.
Here’s an old timey ghetto blaster. Look at all of these tapes. From Nancy Sinatra to Thriller, the Bee Gees ... lues Brothers.
Whose Nancy Sinatra?
Gimmie those batteries.
No it’s in our best interest to save them we may need them later.
I’m not planning on staying here long. Are you?
I guess you have a point.
(puts in Nancy Sinatra’s “These boots are made for walking”)
(walking and strutting and rapping over the music,
she does the jerk and the monkey, the poney maroney, dances from the past)
Boots, boots, sha-boots boot
Walkin and talkin
Boot-toots, sha boots boot
That’s just what I’m gonna do-doot
Boot-boots, sha-boots boot
Walking, talkin, over you
(stops the music, takes out the batteries)
I’m with Bob. We need to save the batteries. We need to orchestrate a plan. Nobody knows we’re here.
(looking out of the window)
Somebody’s gotta come soon to get us out.
But nobody knows we’re here.
(has a package of the ramen noodles,
smashes it on the ground by stepping on it.
Opens the noodles, takes out the seasoning packet
and pours it over the dry noodles.
Everyone stares at him as he begins to eat the dry noodles.)
What? This is how my sister and her best friend, Kaitlyn eats them. Right before they run cross country.
I use to run
Dream on.
Do you run young man?
Yes, but not as fast as my sister.
Let me try some of that little man.
Sure, anybody else want some?
That’s gonna leave us with just one package of noodles, a can of beans, some gum and the rest of the M&M’s and the muffin mix.
Look what I found.
(opens the bottle and takes a long drink leaving it half full)
A half a bottle of water.
(lights out)
(day two)
(static)
What’s taking so long to respond? (static) too long ... discontent among the Black leaders (static) ... if this were white people stranded (static)
Look how quickly the great America responded to the Tsunami, what about her own? (static)
Death rising, dreaded death toll to surpass September 11 (static)
(They have gone through the trunks of clothes lights come up to costume vignettes)
(dressed Victorian style, and are humming dancing a minuet)
(dressed as George Washington)
(dressed as Zorro, uses the Star Wars laser and is fencing with Raphael who is dressed as Sponge Bob and is using a hanger)
Ow, ow, ow that hurts. No fair.
Come on, you big baby. Come on you wanna piece of me? Ya big yellow bellied baby.
I don’t want to play any more. You’re mean.
We need to be planning how to get out of here before we all die.
I think we should take turns on the roof.
And what colors the roof? Pitch black.
Nobody will see some of us on the roof.
Exactly, they’ll come quicker for white folks. Put the white folks on the roof.
This isn’t about color.
When you’re dead, you’re dead. Death doesn’t have a color does it?
Let’s just say that when you’re white and dead, America grieves differently. But when you’re black in a America it‘s not the same, one is good bye, the other is… good riddance.
That’s not true. Look at Kennedy and King. My wife and I cried equal tears.
And we don’t celebrate JFK day, but America does celebrate MLK day.
You do have a point.
But when the rescuers come who will they rescue first?
Women and children?
White women and children. And we have one of each.
She’s older than me, she should go first.
Than I ... the correct grammar is she’s older than I, she should go first.
And he’s a sick man, as a Christian I would let him go first.
You sure it’s not your slave mentality that would let him go first?
No, it’s my Christianity.
The white man’s brainwashing religion.
What did you say?
Yes, you need to check your bible. Jesus was a Jew, not a white man. A black man helped Jesus carry his cross up the hill. Moses wife was Black. That’s right, there was even a Black person in the fiery furnace.
What?
Shadrach, Meshach and a baaaahd Negro.
That’s Obindago.
(walks over to Vera)
I know he needs the sugar. I’ll let him suck off the sugar coated color and then I’ll just eat the peanut inside.
(hugs Raphael)
You’re such a sweet little boy. I mean young man.
He’s under 12, he’s still a boy.
We could spray paint a sheet with the word help. They would see that.
Yes and looters would see where we are and consider it an open invitation to come and “help” us out.
(Dressed as Abraham Lincoln carries 2 fishing poles,
hands one to George, they sit off the edge of the stage
and pretend to fish)
Kid’s got a good idea. But it also might be good if we got out so people could see us and know that we’re here.
There’s the canoe. Maybe we could send out a canoe patrol.
That’s not a real canoe.
Hey Chief, is this canoe real?
Tilt it son, you gotta tilt it.
Can’t you see it’s not gonna fit.
This is men’s work. You women just leave this to us men.
Men’s work?
Like I said, it’s not gonna fit. A woman can just look at things and tell it’s not gonna fit. Just like a woman can just look and tell, “Honey, we’re lost.” Just like packing, a woman can always get one more item in, you may have to sit on it to close it, but we know how to make it fit in the suitcase. So as a woman, I’m telling you, the canoe is not gonna fit.
What if you sawed off part of the tips of the canoe
You might have a point. Get it point? Tip?
That’s not funny. Now if you had said, “Thanks man, that’s a good tip,” then that would have been at least a little humorous, not funny, but interesting in an amusing type of way.
Oh, now I get it. It’s not funny, but it’s an on the inside make you say hmmmm smile.
(finds a saw and starts sawing off the tip of one end of the canoe, when he saws off the other tip, the whole canoe falls apart)
Well, it’ll fit now.
I’m trying to save us.
Well I feel real saved right now.
(sarcastically)
You’re really breaking my heart.
Please stop it, don’t fight. Husbands and wives are suppose to love each other.
(all women are dressed like Diana Ross and the Supremes back up singers imitating their dance moves as they sing)
Stop in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Haven’t I been good to you
Oo ooh
(joins in still dressed as Sponge Bob)
Baby love, my baby love
I need you oh how I need you love
Ain’t no mountain high enough
Ain’t no valley low enough
Ain’t no river wide enough
To keep me from you---whooooooooo
Hey, please, give a President a break.
(goes to SR door)
Water’s still way up. Looks like it’s moved up a step. We’ve gotta do something, let people know we’re here.
Why don’t you organize that roof watch in case a rescue helicopter comes.
Too steep. The roof is too dangerous.
How would you know?
I went out last night and looked. Roof is too steep. We are onto a back remote road.
I still say we should make a sign and hang it on the roof.
That says "help" and the number of people here.
I still say that’s inviting trouble.
But the looters are way downtown, they aren’t coming way out here.
There are some sheets in this trunk right here.
Get back woman. Think about it, where there are looters, there are police and where there are police, there is help.
That’s in the inner city. We’re in the outer city.
On the edge of whitey city, which wants nothing to do with blackey city.
Right. So there will be security coming through here, to keep the likes of you out.
(sings)
Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough, keep me from you-whooooo ...
(lights fade out)
(day 3)
(static) ... Fema representative says they are on their way. Well where are they? Get off your (static) and do something. God (static).
(dressed in wooden shoes, knickers and suspenders)
Thank God for the good ol’ days and kerosene lamps.
(quietly to Vera)
Vera ... I don’t know if I can make it. I don’t want to die here. I don’t want to die with these people. I’d rather die out there.
Don’t say that.
I don’t want to die among strangers.
This doesn’t make any sense. Some one should have been here by now.
And you and I aren’t Black. There aren’t just black folks in Louisianna.
Radio says its not about race, its about economics, its ‘cause we’re poor.
(circling round and round on bike)
But poor doesn’t have a color. Are you feeling sick again? Here. I’ll let you have one of my M&M’s. Here, you can have my favorite. The red one.
(he rides up to Bob, fishes out a red M&M and places it in Bob’s mouth. Bob just automatically opens his mouth and takes it almost by reflex or instinct)
(dressed as super man)
The good ol’ days.
(starts a beat on a washboard)
(still riding the tricycle)
What time is it?
Anybody have a watch that still works?
It’s 11:45 am
How do you know?
What day is it?
The levees broke on Monday morning the 29th
CHIEF
It’s Wednesday August 31st, 11:46 am.
We’ve been here a long time.
(riding)
A long, long, long time
(laying with her head on Truce’s lap, dressed as a 1920‘s flapper)
Everything that I see and that I seem, is as if it is but a dream within a dream.
(dressed in Army fatigues)
That’s the ticket. Miss Diamond. Let’s talk about our dreams. That will pass the time.
(she passes out a small palm full of ramen noodles)
This is it. All of the noodles
Dreams? Dreams are a measure of our lack.
Don’t you mean a measure of our reality?
(still dressed as he was on day one, he never changes clothes)
Dreams are a proof of our divine nature. To dream is divine and to be divine is to dream.
Sigmund Freud said. Dreams are often most profound when they seem the most crazy.
Give me a dream any day. This reality, this attic, this waiting, this is crazy.
William Shakespeare said, we are such stuff as dreams are made of.
I’m not quite sure whether I am dreaming or remembering, whether I have lived my life or dreamed it.
(holding the box of muffin mix)
I’m still hungry.
(grabs box)
Me too.
That’s for tomorrow.
I’m hungry today. Let’s just dream like it’s tomorrow.
Grabs at box.
Look what you did.
(lights fade as all gather around Raphael)
(day 4)
(static)... looters have broken into gun stores ... looters have gotten out of control and are robbing and stealing (static) out of control ... armed looters ... police and rescuers have withdrawn for their own safety hampering the rescue efforts (static) two police suicides (static) some believed to have deserted their posts (static) no one is safe (static) where are you Mr. President ... (voices chanting) Help us, help us, help us!
(dressed as a clown, whispering to the chant)
Help us, help us, help us.
(wearing tan safari gear)
They’re coming? Right, dream on.
(dressed like 1950’s in apron and wearing pearls
a la June Cleaver of Leave it to Beaver)
It’s not a dream. It’s a reality. They are coming. I know it. My America. Land of the free, home of the brave.
(carrying Twister game, lays the playing sheet on the floor. Spins the marker.)
That’s right we just have to be brave. Right foot blue (stands with right foot on blue space, spins again) Left hand yellow.
Get real, dreams are for old folks who never did anything with their lives.
(wearing Spanish, flamenco style dress with ruffles
a deep leg split and flower behind her ear)
Where have all the dreams gone?
(dressed as a matador)
They’ve all been dreamed
One by one. What do I need to dream about? I have everything I need ... had everything I needed.
Are we gonna have to dream it all over again?
(spins game)
Right hand red
(dressed in scrubs)
Young folks don’t know nothing about dreamin’
Why should they?
(spins)
Left foot blue.
He‘s right. They have everything we ever wanted growing up.
BOB
(wearing train conductors outfit)
I never wanted a game boy, or an ipod, or super Mario brothers.
More like Lincoln logs and a toy train.
A red flyer wagon.
(dressed as a nurse)
A stick and some mud.
A princess phone. A pink princess phone. Just like this. This is what I dreamed of.
(holds up phone)
Dreams, hah, what are they good far? Absolutely nothing.
I once read in one of my wife’s women’s magazines, “A dream is a wish with wings.”
Hogwash. The young folks are right. A dream is a mission statement with goals and strategies for completion
Then it’s not a dream anymore.
Well then you have to dream again, dream bigger.
Yeah, that’s what Oprah Winfrey says.
Oprah Winfrey? What has Oprah got to do with the price of tea in China and real people stuck in an attic?
The price of tobacco in Kentucky.
The price of potatoes in Idaho.
The price of Cajun food in Louisiana
(long silence)
What is there left to dream about?
Moon, Mars and beyond.
(begins chanting softly, whispering to DIAMOND, then begins to get louder, does River dance steps, which evolves into him using a chair as a dance prop, then doing a very strong virile tango style dance with Diamond)
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Hah, Mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Dreams make life a better place, more efficient.
(twirls Diamond, then dips her)
Like I said, mission statement, goals, strategies for completion.
Well I’m dreaming about a steak, and potatoes, with sour cream, onions, bacon bits, washed down with a cold Dr. Pepper. Mission statement that.
I’m hungry. I want a potato and I want to wash it down with some red kool-aid, it doesn’t have to be cold.
I’d settle for a hot can of caffeine free pepsi.
I wanna go home, I want my Daddy. I want my Daddy. Dad-deeeeeeeeee (sobs)
See what you started, talking about dreams.
My daddy isn’t a dream. My daddy is real. Dad-deeeeee. Daddy come get me daddy. I promise to be good from now on. I won’t steal from mama’s purse no more. I’ll do all of my chores. Just come get me daddy.
See what you’ve done. All of this nonsense about dreams?
My daddy ain‘t a dream.
(screams and runs at Elaine, flailing his arms at her trying to hit her. Animal grabs him, holds him tightly
Elaine takes him, sits and begins to rock him)
Don‘t worry honey America is coming soon. She‘ll be here soon.
I don‘t want America. I want my daddy and my momma.
That is America. Your mother and your father. Your sister, brother, your uncle, your aunt, your cousins.
(light slowly begins to fade)
Your poppy, your nana.
(grabs Elaine‘s hand)
Our nephews and our nieces. Our grand fathers and grand mothers, great grand fathers and great grandmothers, great-great grandfathers, our great-great grandmothers.
(evening of day 4)
(holding Raphael and rocking him as he sleeps)
He’s just exhausted, and hungry and weak.
What was your dream Pookie?
Don’t call me that.
Pookie, come on, what was your dream?
Hush. I’m not talking to you, you made the child cry.
Poooooookeeee. (tries to hug her)
Get away. Big Daddy ... Mr. Washington we are not at home. (pause) Gone it’s all gone.
(rocking quickly)
Oh, you know I love it when you call me big Daddy. Tell me what was your dream home Pooo-
Don’t call me that, you’ll wake the boy. And why waste a dream on a home. You rent what you can afford.
But throw caution to the wind.
You mean the hurricane.
How many stories? A swimming pool? You used to talk about it way back when we first were together. With a Jacuzzi tucked nearby, a rock garden pathway, kissed along the way with monkey grass and stately rooster combs. A house flanked with huge yellow budding rose bushes, two circus tent sized weeping willows. We used to dream about the changes we’d make.
You know what I’d change. You know exactly what I’d change.
Don’t go there woman. After 40 years if it ain’t broke then why mess with it?
You asked about my dreams. You asked about my dream home.
As long as we’ve been together. Forty something odd years. And you still dream the same ol’ naggy whining dream.
What’s wrong with my dream? Mister, I wanna be a mad scientist patent pending Nobel peace prize winning ain’t never gonna happen wanna be Einstein inventor.
Why you gotta dis my dreams?
And why you gotta dis mine?
I gave up on my dream. Dreams should never depend on other people. They will only disappoint you. Dreams are a wasted life. I think the young people make a lot of sense. Life is about action. America is about action. When America ceases to act, it ceases to be America.
August 29, 2005. America just stopped being America. Check.
America can’t just stop being America.
America is an ideology.
You mean America is an idea? I’m not an idea. I’m not just a thought.
America is a democracy.
What was democratic about the Katrina catastrophe?
Or September 11 for that matter.
Well in some ways they both were very democratic. The people are all equally dead.
(putting up a Tee Pee)
It’s in the rescue where equality has failed.
A strong nation is built on its imagination and its ability for negotiation.
Is the white man still negotiating with beads? And whiskey?
A nation is based on commonality. Commonality of territory, commonality of political system. Commonality of law and language. Commonality of ethnicity, traditions and interests.
Commonality based on genocide? Stolen territory, propaganda ridden political systems? English as the universal language? Whose interests? Whose traditions?
Bottom line it’s a shared community of citizens willing to accept one another.
That’s not the America I know.
Checkmate.
You cheated man, you cheated.
(tosses the game off of the table)
We pride ourselves ... I pride myself on my ability for tolerance.
Tolerance is not acceptance.
Tolerance equals co-existence. It doesn’t equal community.
Chief, one of the worst feelings in the world is the feeling of being tolerated. At school, I think that some of the teachers only tolerate us Black kids. They don’t really want us there. One day the other three black kids in my class were out with the flu for a whole week. I was at the teachers desk and I wasn’t meaning to look but she had emailed one of the other teachers and it was still on the screen, it said, “This week is heaven without the three little monsters.” And Chief, this same tolerance some how gets passed down to my friends. At least I think they are my friends. If it's an odd number for choosing teams, I’m always the odd man out. The last one chosen. Then they tell stupid racist jokes like I‘m not even there. Chief, do you know how to get a Black man out of a tree?
I don’t know son. How do you get a Black man out of a tree?
Cut the rope.
That’s not funny.
And I didn’t even get it. My mom had to explain it to me, about lynching and tarring and feathering.
I’m sorry.
I know the other students can tell that the teacher’s only tolerating me. By her actions. It’s the way the teacher leans away from me when I come to her desk, and crosses her legs away from me if she has to sit next to me. It’s how she puts her arm around the back seat of other students and lets them into her personal space. She never lets me go into her personal space.
You’re a smart boy.
Chief? Can I tell you a secret? I’m suppose to be on medication. But for two years now, I have been tricking the teachers into thinking I’m taking it. I’ve got a sock full of Ritalin in my locker at school. Every now and then I have to act bad so that the teachers don’t get suspicious. I even have gotten good at pretending I can’t read. I think drugging kids is one of the new ways that America negotiates. I begged my mom to take me off of the medicine. But she gets a check every month since I am considered attention deficit. They are buying some of the parents off. Chief and I have a friend who sells his Ritalin. But that’s wrong. So I just sock it everyday.
What are you two so chummy about? Time to get your rest, so you can have energy in case they come tomorrow.
Aren’t they beautiful. Why does everything have to be black and white, black and white. Why can’t everybody see past color? I do.
Personally I see because of color.
I don’t see color. I just see people. I see people and all people are people.
(getting his hair combed and braided by Diamond)
I feel sorry for you. All you Bushatoid, left-wing conservatives with your right hand fingers crossed behind your liberal backs. That’s just like saying I just see flowers, and all flowers are flowers. Or I just see animals and all animals are animals.
That means that you miss out on the iris and the magnolia and the African Violet and the fall mums. You miss out on the cocker spaniel or the German shepherd.
(lights begin to fade)
The lion and the muskrat, the blue jay and the eagle or the humming bird and the toucan. The quail and the ostrich. The peacock and the elephant. You’re saying you can’t tell Mother Therea form Coretta Scott King or ... or ...
(peeks his head out of the tent)Ellen Degeneris
Or Ellen DeGeneres from Oprah Winfrey.Ellen Degeneris
(lights out)
(morning of day 5)
(playing scrabble)
I pulled an X, you pulled an F. You go first.
J-U-G-H-E-A-D.
Jughead.
Add it up, baby, add it up.
Thank you for the 'U'. Q-U-I-Z.
I’ve only just begun, D-A-Y-B-R-E-A-K, daybreak, add it up baby.
You provided the H, now I have the U-R-R-I-
That’s not how you spell hurry.
C-A-N-E. Hurricane.
Tell me again. Your dream house.
You know I never dream about things.
Okay, what was your dream job.
Dream job? Never dreamed about that. I always knew what I wanted to be. A nurse. I knew how to get it. So what’s the use of wasting a dream on it? Go to school, keep my grades up, graduate high school, go to nursing school, graduate ... voila, a nurse.
Didn’t you ever dream of becoming a doctor?
Nope. I wanted to be a nurse. So I became a nurse.
Animal, I landed on you, you have to go back.
Well, who would be your dream man?
Dream man? Now that’s another story.
(preening as if describing himself)
Strong, sense of humor, beautiful soulful eyes, charming smile, debonair.
Well, I’m still dreaming about him.
1,2,3,4,5,6 -- Go back, Animal, go back.
(tickles Animal under his chin)
Coochee, coochie coooooooooo
I quit. You cheated. (making fun of his name) Ray---field.
No I didn’t, I didn’t cheat, I landed on you fair and square. Coochie coochie coooo? I beat you?
Get away from me little boy.
Don’t mind him, he’s a sore loser.
We’re all losers stuck up in here.
Ah Pookie, why you gotta act like that? My dream woman was you, always was you, always will be you.
Same here. Vera is my dream girl.
And you are my dream boy, I love you Bob.
And I love you Vera. Well look at this. L-O-V-E-R. Add it up, baby, add it up. The great American philosopher and writer Henry David Thoreau said, “Love is an attempt to change a piece of a dream world into reality."
And you are my reality.
Ahhh, ain’t that real sweet, all lovey dovey. When the real reality is that we are dying off up in here.
The real reality is the heat index in this attic is bad for old folks and children.
And me.
It's bad for all of us.
Change the subject, there’s a child present.
Ignoring reality doesn’t make it go away. Unlike love. If you ignore love it will eventually go away. But not reality. I’m thinking, I’d rather take my chances out there.
In all that filth and stench. You’d just become another floating body. At least in here you have us.
I don’t have you. He’s got you.
Aw man, what you trying to say?
(pulls on Animal's sleeve)
I don’t got nobody either.
You have us, little man. Let’s talk about something else. Vera, what did you dream about as a little girl?
When I was young, one Christmas I dreamed that I wanted my very own transistor radio in a black leather pouch. And I got it. I listened to it at night under my pillow with an earplug. Black shiney, fit right in the palm of my hand. I’d use my thumb to change the channels and my pointer to set the volume and it had a little black switch to change it from AM to FM.
A transistor radio? Never heard of that. After you got that, then what did you dream for?
My very own black and white TV.
Black and White? A Zebra TV.
No son, the picture, the images were all in black and white and grey tones.
Get out of here.
Yep, black and white, that’s all they had back then.
Did you dream?
Well ...
Gone and tell them. Them Big Daddy. Tell them your dream.
Naw, yall will just find it funny.
No we won’t.
Yes you will. Gone and tell them, hee, heee, heeeee.
See how you do me. What kinda way is that to treat your dream man.
I never said you was my dream man. You are a dreamer, but you sho’ ain’t my dream man. That’s all you ever did was dream. Dreamin’ of owning a boat ...
A yacht woman a yacht. Not a boat. Any ol’ man can have a boat. Not just anybody can own a yacht.
And that’s exactly right, that’s why you never ever had one.
Don’t you get me started.
Don’t you get me started. Ya dreamer. Gone, tell the folks. Tell the folks Big Daddy, what your dream is.
Gone woman, mind your own business.
Tell em Big Daddy, or Pooookie’s gonna tell them. He ... wanted to be a ... a ...
An inventor there, I said it.
More like a mad scientist.
(laughing)
And his mentor? The one and only George Washington Carver.
But he’s dead.
Precisely, just like your dream. Even wanted to change his name to Carver.
Woman.
Don’t you woman me. It’s your dream. Your Dr. Jeckyle and Mr. Hyde, mad scientist dream.
Pookie ...
Now what kinda name would that be. Pookie Carver.
(laughs)
Pookie Carver?
(laughs)
Yep me, Pookie Carver, who ever heard of such a thing.
See that’s why I never married you.
(comes up behind Mr. Washington and taps him on his back)
You really wanted to be a mad scientist?
An inventor, an inventor. I could have changed the world.
(sarcastically)
Yuh, right.
Woman, America is what she is today because of magnificent black inventors. The broom, the iron, the golf tee, the stop light, the pace maker. The refrigerator, the fire fighters mask.
Did you know that it was a Black man that invented the super soaker?
Yep, and the super soaker changed the world.
(laughing real hard)
Okay two can play this game. Y'all know who her dream man is?
The ultimate, quintessential dreamer.
You ought to see the walls in our house. The dining room, the living room, all up and down the hall.
Stop.
She even has a paint by number that she did with her own little hands, hanging right next to the velvet portrait over the couch in the living room, next to a calendar with his picture on it. And in every purse she has a fan with his picture on it.
Elvis Presley. Next to you honey, he’s the king of my dreams.
No, not Elvis Presley. The other king, the other dreamer.
(making fun)
I have a dream. That one day, little black boys and little blaaaaack girls will one daaaay walk haaaand in hand.
(icily)
He had a dream that changed a nation.
(making fun)
Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii’ve been to the mountain top, aaaaaand I’ve seeeen the other side.
I’m gonna show you my other side.
And look where his dream got him.
(to Vera)
What else did you ever dream about?
I always had a secret dream of wanting to be a woman who mattered.
Like Oprah Winfrey?
Or Barbara Jordan, or Condoleezza Rice.
But those are Black women. You wanted to be a black woman?
I always dreamed that if your life mattered it didn’t matter what color you were.
True, that. If the truth really be told, dreams have no color boundaries.
You may dream in color. But color never limits your dreams.
I’m like my boy, George Bernard Shaw.
Oh no, not another George
Some men see things as they are and say why ... I dream things that never were and say why not?
Okay Mr. Scientist. What did you ever invent?
(ignoring Elaine)
Dreams keep your mind sharp. Dreams motivate you to stay alive. Without a dream there is no reason to get up.
Responsibilities. That’s reason enough to get up. Some times you gotta get up, just cause you gotta git her done. Life is not a dream. It’s about gittin her done. Diapers are not dreams. Ear infections, strep throat, and shooing away childhood monsters in the night, that’s real. That’s life and life is ‘bout gittin’ her done. Being a doctor, a lawyer, Martha Stewart, Mandela, Donald Trump, Jesse Jackson, that’s about gittin’ her done.
All that I have a dream fol-d-rol... King was about Gittin it done.
Marching, police dogs, jails, fire bombings of little innocent children that was not a dream. Assassination, that’s no dream. King wasn’t a dreamer, he was about gittin’ it done.
Without his dream, you’d still be riding the back of the bus.
Whew, it sure is getting hot in here.
We do still ride the back of the bus.
But that’s by choice. Not by law. His dream was about the right to have a choice Your right to a quality education. And you, Big Daddy, made the choice not to even finish high school, you made the choice to drop out. There was a time the law said you had to drop out and you couldn’t legally get a high school education…
Dream killer, that’s what you are. Dream assassin.
Inventions are real, the golf tee, the traffic light? That’s real. Peanuts are real.
When are they coming? I’m so hungry.
It’s hot. This heat alone is gonna kill us. I’m really considering taking my chances out there. America’s not coming. Bush doesn’t care about me.
Yes he does. He’s our President.
The only reason Bush would ever care about you is for a photo opportunity.
(to Elaine)
How long is it gonna take for America to come, Mrs. Washington?
(sarcastically)
How long? Too long.
(turns on the radio, music is playing)
They’re playing music now. Does that mean they’ve forgotten us?
(lights fade slowly out as music continues to play on radio)
(day 6)
White man, what do white men dream?
(wearing an Elvis Presley type jump suit)
Uhhh, just things.
Nothing you boys would be interested in.
Young men, honey, not boys. Tell them.
No Vera.
Show these young men a thing or two about your dream.
(Does Elvis Presley impersonation)
Blue, blue, blue suede shoes.
(Hit’s a Johnny Travolta pose. Sings in high Bee Gee voice)
You can tell by the way I use my walk I’m a woman’s man, I’m a woman’s man
Your dream was to be a singer?
Back up singer.
(standing by Bob)
Oh, oh, I heard it through the grape vine, that no longer would she be mine
(doing Temptations move, gets real excited)
I heard it through the grapevine that no longer would she be my baby, baby.
Careful.
(rapping while Bob is doing Travolta moves)
You can tell by the way I live my dreams
I’m a playah man, I’m a playah man
Places to go and dates to keep
No time to sleep, my lovin’ is deep
Liven large 24 seven
You playa hate but that’s okay
We love the shorties any ol’ way
You may never understand
So dream your dreams we’re making plans
Ah, ah, ah, ah dream yo’ lie, we’re making our plans
Ah, ah, ah, ah dream yo’ liiiiiii-ie
Dreamin yo lie we’re making our plans
Boom, boom-boom, boom boom-boom
Shugahpie honey bun
You know that I love you
I can’t help myself
I love you and nobody else
(does real fancy move, then drops to his knees, falls forward)
His heart, his heart. He’s diabetic. We’re out of M&M’s, anybody have a stick of gum, anything, sugar, sweet ...
They’re not coming.
Yes they are.
They won’t come in time for me.
Somebody, help me, help me. Help me please? You’re not going back out the window.
(spins fan toward Bob)
Don’t die, don’t die. I’m sorry, I’m sorry I ate the last M&M.
I ... I, have to go. I can’t die up in here.
Then I’m going too.
Nobody knows we’re here. I have a note in my pocket, they’ll find you, they will.
(he staggers to the window)
Nooooooo!
(lights out)
(day 7)
(takes out a pocket knife and joins Chief who gives him a stick to whittle)
You know the favorite part of my day at school?
(whittling)
Math and science.
Not really, cause the kids call me a geek, a nerd, the jocks call me Erkel. I really hate school. I get stuffed in my locker a lot. Once in gym, my backpack ended up in the toilet.
Hey little Erkel, I can help you with that. It’s all in how you carry yourself. In how you walk. Here walk this way.
(does a gangstah walk)
No, no, no. I gotta take you back to the basics. We better just teach you how to stand tough, before you trip and hurt yourself. Let me see how you stand. No not like a girl. Stand with your legs apart.
Little man you stand like you have a stomach ache. Cross your arms up high. And then watch the enemy walk by.
(walks past Raphael)
Ow.
(squats down holding his forehead)
Stand up little man, stand up, never show you’re weak. That didn’t hurt you.
Yes it did.
Raphael, no it didn’t.
(pinches Raphael real hard on his arm)
Ow, ow, ow, that hurts.
(smacks Raphael’s forehead)
But I thought you said that hurts.
Stop it. Leave the boy alone.
Is nobody really coming to get us?
Our great lady says, Give us your tired your poor, your huddled masses longing to breathe free. They say it’s not a black/white issue as the reason they haven’t come. We’re huddled up in here breathing this stale air, smelling the putrificaion of death’s bondage all around us, and let’s just forget I’m black. I’m still waiting because I’m poor? Sooo I’m suppose to say. Oooooh America, it’s okay that you don’t care about me because I’m poor. Whew. For a minute I thought you didn’t care because I’m black.
(step dance/stomp/Black College marching band movement combination)
I have a dream…I have a dream
Dream-a-Dee, dream-a-Dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
Dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
Dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
Dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
I have a dream…I have a dream
Dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
Dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
Dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
Dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee, dream-a-dee dream dream dream
It’s time out for kiddie dreams. He needs to be a man. Okay, little man, let’s try this again. You stand with your legs apart. Arms folded high, watching the enemy go by. You gotta watch him in a way that he doesn’t know you’re watching him.
But what if it’s a girl.
(grabs his head)
Ow…I mean…that didn’t hurt.
Now say, You wanna piece of me?
You want a piece of me?
Louder.
Do you want a piece of me?
Wanna, wanna, not want a.
(pulling Raphael away from Animal)
Stop it. You said once that you hated school, but there was a favorite part that you liked. What was that?
(in angry gangstah pose and in angry tone imitating Animal)
Back off lady, you wanna piece of me? My favorite part was at the end of morning assembly. When errr-body, the janitors, the teachers, the principal, jug head jocks, the kids in the wheel chairs, even the deaf kids, and the cheer leader types and us geeks, the nerd herd, we’d all say together on one accord, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. My favorite part was saying UNDER GOD. Now you wanna piece of me?
(breaking gangsta pose, looks at Animal)
How’s that?
Good job little man. But when you’re strong you don’t care what other people think.
You are strong because ... you DO take into consideration what other people think.
(stands toe to toe with Animal, with hands on her hips)
Leave the child alone. Now, ya wanna piece of me?
No ma'am.
Then leave the boy alone.
Mrs. Washington, how’d I do? Was I tough? Did I scare you?
(still standing toe to toe with Animal, Animal backs away)
Your pledge was beautiful. And no, you didn’t scare me.
(black out)
(evening of day 7)
(has the can of pork and beans)
Vera, eat something.
Give it to the child.
You’ll die.
My life left me when Robert left. What was your dream?
Never mind that. Some dreams are best forgotten.
Tall, dark and handsome.
Forgotten.
(making motorcycle noises)
Varooom, Varooooom
I ain’t playin’ with you.
Vaaaaaaaroooooooom
Okay, when’s my birthday?
Don’t start.
You started it. Come on scientist, you remember formulas. But tell me when is my birthday.
February.
February?
March?
Hah, it’s not March, that’s your mother’s birthday. Feb. 7th, three days after yours. It has never changed, dreams change, but not my birthday. Ya dreamer.
If man hadn’t of dreamed, Columbus would never have discovered America.
If you’d stayed in school you would know that Columbus didn’t discover America. Ain’t that right Chief?
(day 8)
Where’s Animal?
Gone.
Gone?
He couldn’t take it any more. Waiting to die. He said his dream has always been to die doing and not to die waiting.
But we’re not going to die.
We’re not going to die.
(to CHIEF)
America isn’t a dream. We studied democracy this year in school. America is government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Of some people, by some people, and for some people. We hold half truths to be self evident yadda, yadda, yadda.
That’s not what it says.
What?
That’s not what it says. It doesn’t say yadda, yadda, yadda. It says: when in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect of the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation ...
Okay, little man, okay.
But it doesn’t say yadda, yaddy, yadda. It says: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are
(does the Harlem Shake)
Life
(pops his collar)
Liberty
(C-walks)
and the pursuit of Happiness. It doesn’t say yadda, yadda, yadda.
(imitating ANIMAL)
That to secure these rights, these rights, these right-right-rights
Governments are in-in-instituted among men, men, men
Deriving their just, ju-ju-just powers from the consent of the gu-gu
Governed, the governed, theeeee governed
That’s the people, people, you, her, him everyone in this room, me.
And I’m not a dream.
(strikes a rap pose)
Ah, my little man, but to some people you are America’s nightmare.
Everybody down, Everybody down!
Down…down…NOW
Where’s your food?
You heard the man. Food…where is it. And water.
Speak up or somebody dies, somebody dies. Y'all got any drugs up in here?
Hold up, young man. Slow down before someone gets hurt.
Hurt? I’m in the killing business
(hits George with gun)
That hurt?
(puts gun to George’s head)
This is killing.
(shoots gun just past him)
Now, food, water, drugs.
We have nothing. We’re dying here.
So what have I got to lose.
Well lookie, lookie what I got here. This outta be fun. I saw your little “help” sign on the roof. I’ve come to rescue you. I’ve come to save your day.
(grabs Diamond and kissed her on the lips)
(dressed in Indian Chief attire, holding a bow at his side, arrows are in a quiver on his back)
Let her go, now.
(laughs)
Hi-ho silver, if it ain’t Tonto.
How Kemo Sabe
(kisses Diamond again)
Take your hands off of her.
Dream on Indian man.
(chants)
Dreama, dreama, dreama
(he reaches behind his back and draws an arrow)
(covered in blood because he was standing by Elaine when she was shot, he jumps on Looters A‘s back)
I have the right as an American to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. And the constitution says that I have a right to declare war “whenever any Form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or to abolish it" -- it doesn’t say
(stabs looter 3 times)
yadda, yadda, yadda.
(day 8, a few minutes later)
(huge blood stain on her dress)
Big Daddy, Pookie needs you. I’ve been hit.
Elaine? No, my lady, my sweet life, Oh ... oh ...
Give me something to stop the bleeding. Hurry, she is losing fast.
(RAPHAEL grabs towels and gives them to CHIEF)
She’s not going to make it.
Yes she is. Pookie … I’m coming. It’s your dream man.
(gets the wedding dress and pulls it on Elaine, he pulls up the motor cycle.)
Will you marry me Pookie ... Elaine, will you marry me?
Chief, come here now. Marry us.
I am not a -
(grabs CHIEF)
Man to man, do this.
Here, my queen. Your dream. To be made an honest woman. And you wanted to ride down the aisle on a motorcycle. See I’ve got it all right here. Right here. Your knight in Harley armor.
(he and CHIEF help her onto the bike)
Do it, Chief, do it.
Do you, Ms. Washington, take Mr. Washington and do you Mr. Washington take Ms. Washington, til death do you part?
I do ... say it Poookie, say it. Pookie? Say it ...
(he sobs)
I waited too long. I waited too long. And it was an easy dream, and I waited too long
(she begins to slump off of the bike, she is dead, Chief goes to grab her)
Don’t touch her. She is my bride. I will handle it.
(George takes her to the window)
(to RAPHAEL)
Do better, little America, do better.
(he Exits with Elaine out of the window)
(day 8)
(static) ... knew this would happen. Who builds a city of this magnitude in a bow. (static) a huge study over a year ago. This very scenario was predicted (static) reported to the President (static) how America looks to the rest of the world.
The great America receiving aid.
(turns off radio)
This can’t be happening, can it, Chief? Not in my America? They are laughing at us. The other countries are laughing at us.
Sometimes laughter brings a person to her knees. It's been a long time since America has been brought to her knees.
What about September 11.
September 11? That only caused America to lower her head for a moment.
Do you think this will make America put prayer back in school?
Do you pray in school?
I used to at lunch, but my teacher said we shouldn’t.
Is this your America?
(Raphael goes to window)
Help us, help us!
(goes to attic door)
Help us, help us
(goes to edge of center stage facing audience)
Help us.
(doing an Indian dance with his pocket knife used to stab the looter)
Inter face with face
Saving face, saving grace
For the big face off
I am in--yo--face---
What do you have there, Little Chief?
My pocket knife ... my daddy gave me for Christmas.
You used it well, my brave. It’s good to have a good father. May I see it?
For what? You know ... I really don’t know my daddy. My mother gets me things for my birthday and for Christmas and says its from my father. I know it’s not, but it would hurt her feelings if I told her that I knew the truth. Sure you can use it.
Let me show you something.
(uncovers totem pole, he begins to carve)
What are you doing?
Leaving a message.
What’s it say?
(CHIEF steps aside)
Little Chief 9/11/05, is that me?
That’s a good idea, just in case we don’t ... or they don’t find ...
They’ll know you were here.
Is it true, Chief, that all tribes did not have totem poles?
True that. This attic has many things that represent many aspects of America. A totem is something that a group of people have as their sign. Something that the people have a kinship with.
I think America’s dreams are the totem that unite us. This is an attic of dreams. We should carve everybody’s name. Diamond and Truce. Animal, Mr. And Mrs. Washington, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, Big Chief ... You know what? We need to get more names because we never know...
You never know.
(walks out into the audience, he is showing major exhaustion
from lack of food water and proper rest)
Hey what’s your name?
(get the audience member’s name, then goes and carves it on the totem pole,
goes back out into the audience, get 2 more names and goes back on stage,
carves them into pole)
I’m tired now. Very sleepy.
Stay awake my little brave, stay awake. You mustn’t sleep. Sing me a song. Do you know ... HOME HOME ON THE RANGE?
(sings)
Oh give me a home, where the buffalo roam, where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard, a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day.
Home, home on the range, where seldom is heard, a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day.
(they sit in silence)
Chief? I’m hungry. Chief? My mama said that when she was little, they prayed in school every day. And even before they ate, the whole class would sing what she called a ‘grace’. Chief, I’m hungry. Real hungry. Do you know this song?
(sings)
Thou art great and thou art good. Lord we thank thee for this food. By thy hands have we been led, give us Lord our daily bread, give us Lord our Daily bread. Aaaaaahhhmaaaan.
No, I don’t know that one. But you make even me hungry.
Chief, we learned in school that Indians had a pouch that they wore around their neck and that they kept medicines and beef jerky in it when they went on long hunts.
(pretending to have a pouch and pulling something out)
Want some?
(pretends to have a pouch and pulls out an imaginary piece of beef jerky, he takes a bite and pretends to chew, then offers one to Raphael)
EAT.
(joins in the pretending, he imitates Chief)
Ah, buffalo. Takes like chicken.
Ah, green apple.
Ahhhhh, strawberry banana.
Ahhhhhhhhh, egg foo yong.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, original recipe Kentucky fried chicken.
(starting to nod off to sleep, wakes with a start)
Daddy? Daddy? Oh, it's you Chief. Who will keep America’s dreams if America stops dreaming?
(lays his head on Chief’s lap)
God bless America, land that I love, stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above. Through the mountains, through the prairies, through the oceans, white with foam. God bless America ... my
(RAPHAEL is asleep. CHIEF puts on Indian Chief headdress
and fades into the back ground.)
It’s okay. We’re here, we’ve come to get you out. Are you here alone? He can’t be more than 11 years old.
It’s a shame, all those bodies floating outside. Man it’s got to be 120 degrees in here.
America? Is that you? Identify yourself.
He’s delusional, dehydrated, give him some water.
Son, it’s okay.
Stand back, I have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It’s okay. We heard you singing.
Identify yourself, are you America?
We heard you singing. God bless America.
God bless America, My ... Chief? Chief? What have you done with Chief?
Hey little man, its me.
(squats down to RAPHAEL’S level)
(very menacingly)
You want a piece of me?
(louder)
I said you wanna piece of me?
(lowers arrow slowly in left hand, he tries to smack Animal on the forehead)
Wanna piece of me?
(crumbles to the floor in exhaustion)
(catches him and picks him up in his arms)
I came, didn’t I? Through the mountains, through the valleys, through the ocean white with foam...
God bless America.
(They Exit through the audience)
(blending in next to Totem Pole like waxed figure, shaking rattles)
My home sweet, home.
(Indian drums are heard as lights slowly fade out)
(Enters)
America is not a dream
(points at Audience)
Because I see you, touch you, taste you, hear you and I feel you clearly.
(He sits on edge of stage and Sings America The Beautiful.)
Oh Beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. For purple mountains majesties above the fruited plains, America, America, God shed His grace on thee and crown thy good with brother hood from sea to shining sea.
Women's Lives, An American's Eyes | Pyroglyphics: A Gallery | Arriving at a Hyphen |
The B Word | Media Glance: "Friends" - If You Can Take It
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