Leaving (2007)
A Play by Edwin B.
CHARACTERS:
VEGA, the Jaguar, age 18, SWISHER, the Jaguar, age 18, Vega’s brother
SETTING:
The jungle. A lot of trees, waterfalls, a beach, caves
TIME: 1:00pm, the afternoon
AT RISE:
We see VEGA and SWISHER, chillin’
VEGA
Let’s go look for Mom and Pops.
SWISHER
O.K. Let’s go look around the jungle.
VEGA
No. ‘Cause I already looked around the jungle.
SWISHER
Well where are you planning on going?
VEGA
I’m planning on going out of the jungle and go to the City.
SWISHER
Hell naw. I’m not leaving the jungle; and if you’re thinking I’m going with you, you’re crazy.
VEGA
Lions out there killin’ all Jaguars. I say we go look for our parents before it’s too late.
SWISHER
Naw! I’m good. I’m about to stay here. I suggest you stay too ‘cause you’re the only family I got.
VEGA
But we got family out there, and they need us more than anything.
SWISHER
Things would be all bad if you decide to leave me here myself, because lions might appear out of nowhere and start to attack you when you’re out the jungle.
VEGA
You’re strong. You been fightin’ battles since you were four months old. I think you can handle the lions when they show up.
SWISHER
That’s not the point. You my blood, and we never been separated, and I think we should do things together.
VEGA
Ever since that day I seen those lions playin’ with their children, it made me feel lost. When I find my parents it would bring me joy and make me feel happier than ever.
SWISHER
Watching the lions play with they children made me feel lost also. But it’s going to make me feel more lost if we separate.
VEGA
Eventually, we’re going to have to learn how to do things on our own. And this is our opportunity to do so.
SWISHER
Man, forget this opportunity. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to just leave me on my own. We should stick together.
VEGA
But to make things easy, we should go on our separate ways, because we are out-numbered.
SWISHER
What if things just went all bad? Like you ended up being killed or hostage somewhere and I get stuck with the lions?
VEGA
Then that’s on me.
SWISHER
But can’t you see that I have strong feeling for you?
VEGA
I do too. But I also have feeling for how our parents are doing, and if they even think about looking for us.
SWISHER
Can’t we just make things easy and do what I say, Vega?
VEGA
No. ‘Cause they can be gettin’ attacked as we speak.
SWISHER
Just think about it. You’ve been here all your life and all of a sudden you want to leave the jungle. I don’t think it’s worth it, ‘cause I barely have any feelings for our parents. ‘Cause I got you, and that’s what really matters to me.
VEGA
So you’re saying that you wouldn’t care if our parents end up dead ‘cause of the lions.
SWISHER
No it’s nothing like that.
VEGA
From the sounds of it, it does sound like you wouldn’t care if you found them lying dead on the floor.
SWISHER
Vega, like I said, it’s nothing like that. As we speak, they might be dead and buried somewhere where we wouldn’t expect them to be, like way deep into the waterfall or something.
(VEGA slaps Swisher)
VEGA
Don’t talk like that.
SWISHER
Ay, Vega, I’m just keeping things real. I wouldn’t want to lie to my brother.
VEGA
Keep things real, but don’t talk about our parents like that.
SWISHER
Wouldn’t you think that things would be a lot awkward if you left me here on my own? I mean, I would love to go find my parents; but I would also like it if we just stick together. (beat) Man, forget this. If you want to go your own way, do what you do. If I lose you, then it’s all bad. I wouldn’t have no one to look forward to. To have faith in.
VEGA
This is goin’ too far. Do you want to find your parents? Yes or no?
SWISHER
Yeah.
VEGA
Don’t worry about me, I got things under control. And if I got things under control, I know for a fact that you also could keep things under control.
SWISHER
Alright. If that’s the case, then I got things under control.
VEGA
Alright then. I’m about to got look for them.
SWISHER
Naw! Hell naw! You stayin’! ‘Cause if you don’t stay there’s going to be major consequences!
(SWISHER starts to go crazy, roaring)
VEGA
Naw, alright. Chill. Chill! Everything’s going to be alright. Just take a deep breath. Go get a drink of water or something. I didn’t mean for you to get excited all up tight. Swisher, I finally agree with you, a’ight !!! (beat) You know what?
SWISHER
What?
VEGA
I think you’re right. This is my jungle and we’ve never splitted or anything like that.
SWISHER
See, now you talkin’.
VEGA
Screw it. I’m stayin’ here with you and find them here, inside this big ass jungle.
SWISHER
THE END