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Makalaysia
the Desperada
A Play by Alicia Jeffries
Performance:
February, 2002
Thornton High School, Daly City
Place:
Africa,
Nigeria. Dead grass, rural area, dead bodies of animals
and people, dirty and sour smell of mildew and atmosphere
of destruction.
Broken houses made of wood. Dust and air, scorching
hot. Pollution, dead trees, and flowers, rocks on
the ground. The sounds of owls, vultures, monkeys,
the wind gusting, animals roaring, birds crying, gunshots,
and army trucks.
At Rise: Makalaysia the Tiger is lying
in the dark looking at the stars praying under a tree
in front of the house. It is the hollow tree,
the only living tree in the landscape. It is
a sacred tree.
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Scene
I
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| Makalaysia: |
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Dear Mother
Nature, I don’t understand a lot of things that’s
going on in my life. My Mom keeps complaining about
everything I do. She alwaysdiscourages me when she finds
out I spy on humans. I can’t help some of the things
I do. I am so very curious. I need something to help
my family, and I think it’s called money. In the
human world, I hear them talking about it all the time.
I’m starting to understand their way of life. I
need this so called “money” because I need
to help provide for my family. They are elderly
animals and I love them with all my heart. They need
to understand why I do the things I do. And if they
don’t like it-well, I have my opinion, and they
have theirs, too.We are all entitled to our own opinions.
Right?
My Mom keeps badgering me about how we can’t use
money, but I think we can because it’s very valuable
and if they use it for their families I’m sure
we can, too. Please help her to understand me
and respect the way I feel. I’m doing this for
her because I love her. It’s for her own good.
In the name of the sun and spirits,
Amen.
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Scene
II
Time: 5:30 PM, Sunset, the following day
Place:
Under the sacred hollow tree
At Rise:
Makalaysia’s mother, Asheekashae the Tiger is resting
and praying.She coughs a lot and she breathes hard.
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| Asheekashae: |
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Dear God,
Help me, help me, help me, Please! My daughter keeps
on trying to convince me to let her spy on humans.I
know if I tell her “no” she’s going to
do it regardless. I am proud of her because she’s
brave, but little does she know, my parents passed away
trying to make life better for me by doing the same.
I was very depressed when I found out she was spying
on the humans. I have high blood pressure and I know
that child of mine will be the death of me although
I love her to the fullest extreme…but if anything
happens to my child I wouldn’t know what to do
anymore. I think I would collapse and go crazy.
She needs to understand that spying could put her in
a dangerous predicament she’ll regret. So can you
lead her from temptation, for her own good?
This is getting out of hand. Whatever I tell her, she
feels like I’m putting her down, but as her parent
I need to let her know how I feel.
Lead me and her in to the right direction.This is important
to me. I want our family to stick together in a positive
way. I don’t want to see her get hurt.It would
hurt all of us to see that. I pray you protect us, and
especially her.
Amen.
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| Makalaysia: |
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(Enter
Makalaysia, jumping, happy) Mom! Guess what?!
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| Asheekashae: |
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You
know what? We have to talk.There’s a lot of things
going on through my mind and I gotta talk to you on the
one, in a mature way. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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Man,
I have to tell you something that’s important. You
never listen to me. |
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| Asheekashae: |
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Well, first
of all, I’m not your man. You’re my only daughter.I
don’t want anything to happen to you.We need to
get things straight.
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| Makalaysia: |
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I
don’t want any lectures, Mom. Can I at least get
my 2 cents in? |
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| Asheekashae: |
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Well,
I respect you as a young adult. Say what you gotta say. |
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| Makalaysia's
Rap: |
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I
was chillin on the scene when I was out today
I’m feeling relieved
Cuz we’re about to get paid.
No need to be depressed
Just don’t get upset
I’m about to do something
I won’t regret.
When I was walking towards the abandoned trucks
I seen a human holding a couple of bucks.
He was ugly and deformed
I felt tense
So I started to roar.
He got startled
So he dropped his money to the floor
He said, “Please don’t hurt me
I’ll give you all the money you need
Just work for me in the circus
Foe a couple of days…or weeks.”
“What is the circus?
Tell me please”
“Well all you gotta do is
do some tricks for me
I’ll give you something nice to eat
and some greens we call money.
We’ll train you to do some crazy stuff.
You’ll be a number one stunter
You have nothing to be afraid of.”
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| Asheekashae: |
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Nonsense.
You know what? Right now, I’m feeling hurt.
I can’t believe how you just go out and disobey me. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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But
Mom… |
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| Asheekashae: |
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Don’t
‘But Mom’ me. I told you not to go out there
looking for them. You broke my rules and you broke my
heart.I don’t know what to do with you.
You’re a great tiger, and a great daughter. I don’t
want you even thinking of such a thing. I don’t want
you to end up like your grandparents. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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Grandparents.
I thought you said they were in a convalescent home in
France. |
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| Asheekashae: |
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Okay—you
can make up those little rhymes—I have one for
you. I’m gonna show you what I got from my
days.
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| Asheekashae’s
Song: |
There’s
something I’ve been meaning to tell you
I’ve never had a chance to tell you
I couldn’t find the right things to say
Your grandparents
They passed away |
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| Makalaysia: |
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(Makalaysia
interrupts)
What are you talking about?
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| Asheekashae: |
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They
left me, neglected and sad
I lost my dear parents, in a confusion I don’t understand
They were a little something like you
They were strong and amazing
(and a little ignorant, too)
They left me to find money
And they never came back
They were erased from my life
I didn’t know how to react
Humans are evil
they make me feel like I’ve got the measles.
They’re disrespectful
And they make me feel uncomfortable
They want to manipulate you
Makalaysia—They don’t care how you feel
they’ll throw some bills in front of your face
and expect you to run and chase.
We are not able to use money.
It’s not a part of our world.
You need to understand that.
You’re making my mind go into a twirl. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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Wow.
I give you props, Mom. That was great. Why
didn’t you tell me before? |
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| Asheekashae: |
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I didn’t
want you to go out there crushing every human you see.
I know what kind of tiger you are. You always
want to be the hero.
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| Makalaysia: |
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You know,
Mom, this is something I really want to do. We
need this.
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| Asheekashae: |
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We do not
need this. All I need is you. I want you to be here
with me.
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| Makalaysia: |
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Do you see
the life we’re living?We barely have any food.We
can barely survive.There’s other animals out there
bullfighting for what they need.
And we’re always hungry. We’re always fighting
over who gets what—who’s hungriest. The human
even said he’d give us some meals.
I feel so
sad for my grandparents. I can’t believe you didn’t
tell me. Now I have to finish what my grandparents wanted
to finish—to get some money for you. Maybe it’s
my destiny. I don’t know. It’s this feeling
in my heart, and I have to go.
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| Asheekashae: |
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Damn
it, Makalaysia. You’re not going anywhere.You want…(she
gasps)
…I’m having a heart attack.. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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Mom,
no! Mom, no!
(Asheekashae falls into a coma. Makalaysia lays
on her mom, thinking she’s dead)
Ever so dearest Mother Nature,
Sun and Spirits, Help me now! I need your help. I know
you’re out there.
I just killed my mom.
I love you, Mom! Please don’t go. I need you.I won’t
go if you wake up.
As a matter of fact…if you don’t wake up, I
really have to go to help the family. I need you,
Mom, Please!
Please, Mother Nature, bring her back. From the
bottom of my heart, Lord.
Touch my mom. Wake her up! I’m sorry!
(Makalaysia is crying) |
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Scene
III
Time:Several days later, early in the morning.
Place:Where there’s bones. It’s so early
it’s still dark. Dead animal smells. Cemetery.Everything
is dead.The trees. Surrounded by dirt. Holes in the
ground. There are flies around, and hyenas.
At Rise:Makalaysia is burying her mother. Asheekashae
wakes up.
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| Asheekashae: |
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Oh,
Lord, have mercy, what’s going on?
(Makalaysia looks at her mom, puzzled, scared,
speechless, shocked)
Girl—why you looking at me all crazy—like you
just seen a ghost. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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Ummmm…Mom—You’re
dead. |
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| Asheekashae: |
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I’m
dead.You got a weird imagination.You better go’on
with all that. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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I’m
so sorry, Mom. I don’t want to hurt you again. I’m
not going to the circus. |
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| Asheekashae: |
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The
circus. What are you talking about? |
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| Makalaysia: |
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What,
did you forget or something? You passed out when I told
you I was going to the circus. You died, Mom. |
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| Asheekashae: |
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Well,
I don’t remember what you’re talking about.
Get me out of this place. It smells like dead animals.
I’m tired. |
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| Makalaysia: |
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Please,
Mom, don’t go back to sleep.I’ve changed, Mom.I
want to be here for you.I want to provide some unconditional
love. Forget the money, and forget the humans. I’ll
hunt for you. You can rest.
(they hug) |
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| Asheekashae: |
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Now
lead me out of this hell house. |
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The
End. |
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