Life Is What You Make It

A Play by Lamu F.

Performance: July 2004
Playwriting Instructor: Daniel Judah Sklar
Youth Guidance Center, San Francisco

CHARACTERS: BAM-BAM the Lion, age 5 years
PEEKO the Mouse, age 7 years TIME: 8:30 in the morning on a Friday the 13th, Sunrise.
PLACE: In the Zoo in San Francisco.
AT RISE: BAM-BAM walking back and forth in his cage. There’s a cave, grass, and stairs that lead to the cave. A big bowl of dog food. Birds in the trees, chirping.


Bam-Bam:

(talking to himself) How did I end up in this place? Man. Do Teelo knows that we’ve been caught? What will he do? Will he try to free us?
(Out comes PEEKO from Bam-Bam’s cave.)
Peeko:
 ‘ey Bam-Bam, what are we going to do Big Fella?
Bam-Bam:

I don’t know. But I can’t stand this life. We need to think of a plan to get out of this place.
Peeko:

I don’t know, Bam-Bam. Maybe we should just do our time.
Bam-Bam:

What are you talking about, Peeko? I know you can’t stand the fact that they feed us when they want to, and any thing they want to at that.
Peeko:

No, but I don’t want to be on the run from these humans all my life. I’m just trying to be about my cheese and live peaceful.
Bam-Bam:

And this is what you call living peaceful? ‘Cause if it is, then you need to stop meditating. ‘Cause I think it’s too much for your little brain.
(BAM-BAM lets out a big sigh.)
I feel like I’m just gon’ drop dead any minute now and it seems like you don’t care.

Peeko:

I don’t care? Is that how you feel, you little mutt? After I took you in with me after your family abandon you? After I fed you, put a cave over your head, warmth you and everything, you gon’ say I’m the one responsible for us getting incarcerated?
Bam-Bam:

I ain’t said that. Now you puttin’ words in my mouth.
Peeko:

Well, you’re the one takin’ your frustration out on me, actin’ like I’m scared of you or somethin’. Just ’cause I’m a mouse don’t mean I can’t knock you out.
Bam-Bam:

If that’s how you feel, lil punk, climb on top of something’ and take yo best shot.
Peeko:

See, talkin’ ’bout me not carin’ is one thing, but talkin’ ’bout my height is another thing, you lil young punk. That I will not tolerate.
(They both sit there quiet for a minute)

Peeko:

(pacing back and forth)
(ASIDE) I can’t believe he just said that I don’t care. Damn. After everthang I did for him. Taught him how to walk, groom, hunt, and how to survive on his own in the jungle and he has some nerve. I feel sad, but at the same time I’m mad as hell. All I ever did for that boy was nothin’ but good and look how he addresses me after I finally disagree with him. And I’m mad ’cause he said I don’t care. He’s a damn contradictor.
Bam-Bam:

(ASIDE) Damn. I shouldn’t of said that. I know he cares. But I was just mad at him and my sub-conscious just hit me. I was mad at him ’cause he disagreed with me, when I felt
Bam-Bam:

(cont’d)
like he would always be by my side. I should just apologize to him ’cause I know he really loves me.
Peeko:

(To Bam-Bam)
You know, I’m just gon’ leave. I should have never came over here, man. But now that I know how you feel about me, just forget about me and everything I did for you.
Bam-Bam:

No wait. I’m sorry for what I said, Peeko. I can truly say that I didn’t mean anything that I said. I just thought you would agree with everything I did.
Peeko: Just because I disagree don’t mean I don’t care. You’re like a son to me and that’ll never change. Just don’t never come at me like that again or you’re eally be on your own from now on.
Bam-Bam:

Peeko. You’ll really leave me after all we’ve been through together? Are you serious?
Peeko:

Yeah, I’m serious. So next time you feel like He-man, just forget about everything.
Bam-Bam:

All right, all right. I get what you’re saying. But back to the topic about getting out. I think I got it all mapped.
Peeko: What you mean, you think? In order for you to get away clean, you gon’ need more than thought.
Bam-Bam: But I think if I suffer any more than I already did, I’m gon’ give them a reason to put me to sleep.
Peeko: WHOA! What’s your problem? Out of all the thangs I taught you, contemplating suicide ain’t one of ’em, pimp. You know what your problem is?
Bam-Bam: Yeah. But let me hear what you think my problem is.
Peeko: You think too damn hard ’bout what the past was like. And that’s what gets you frustrated even more. If you was to think how you can make life better today, you’ll be business. Now take your head out of your ass and put it back on your shoulders, man. And quit talkin’ like you dumb or somethin’.
Bam-Bam: You’re right. But I got a reason for not wanting to be here. I gotta tell you somethin’ Peeko, but I don’t want you take it the wrong way.
Peeko: Go ‘head. Say what’s on your mind.
Bam-Bam: The reason why I wanna leave is so I can go lookin’ for my parents before they die or somethin’. I just need a answer before it’s too late.
Peeko: I feel you. But what if your escape plan don’t go good and you get put to sleep in the process? Then you won’t find out who they really is and if they’re dead or not. Have you ever thought of that?
Bam-Bam: Yeah! But life is what you make it and chances you gotta take it. ‘Cause the way I see it, time don’t wait for no man or woman.
Peeko: But bein’ in here, we got all the time in the world. And all we can do is wait and watch it pass us up. And when we get out, we can go lookin’ for your parents together. How’s that sound?
Bam-Bam: Really? You’ll go look for them with me?
Peeko: Yeah.
Bam-Bam: I’m sorry, Peeko. Thank you for understanding.
Peeko: Don’t be sorry for me. ‘Cause I’m happy that you wanna know who your parents is. That’s good you wanna know who you came from, but just don’t forget who raised you.
Bam-Bam: Never that, old goat. That’s one thing I’ll never forget.
Peeko: So are you gon’ do the time or what?
Bam-Bam: Yeah. I just need to stay occupied to get my mind off escapin’ now.
Peeko: I got an idea. Every day, think of 20 questions you wanna ask your parents, if and when we find them.
Bam-Bam: Hey, great idea. I got a million questions to ask them anyway.
Peeko: See? By the time we get out, you’ll be to a million questions.
The End.


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