A Play by Lendell V.
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CHARACTERS:
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JADA the Black PANTHER, age 17 years old Female PITCH the Black PANTHER, age 16 years old Male (Jada’s significant other)
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SETTING:
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In Barbados in a cave behind an ever flowing waterfall. The sound of the crystal clear falling waters colliding with the river below is so relaxing. The smell of freshly blooming magnolia flowers that caresses the hair in your nose. The moist feel of the soil on the surface can comfort you with every step. The sight of the exotic fish is an admirable sight to see.
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| TIME: |
8:05 A.M. On November 1st, 2006 |
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AT RISE:
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JADA is sitting up in her flowerbed anticipating how to tell pitch that she’s pregnant. Pitch is stepping from under the waterfall after a shower.
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(JADA picks up her stone phone to call PITCH)
PITCH
What’s up mamas?
JADA
Pitch I’m pregnant!
PITCH
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Can I get a good morning or something? What you mean you pregnant?
JADA
I mean what I said. I’m pregnant. What is it not registering to you? We are about to be parents.
PITCH
Parents? When did all this come about? How long have you been carrying?
JADA
I’m about 3 weeks going on 4.
PITCH
And I’m just now finding out because…?
JADA
(Sigh) Because I didn’t know how to tell you when I found out. I mean I was scared and in shock. I’m still just as shocked as you, as we speak.
PITCH
(Sarcasm) You ain’t know how to tell me? It couldn’t have been that hard. You sho’ll did just throw it at me with ease this morning.
JADA
Look Pitch, are you going to start something out of this or are we going to discuss this like two adult mammals?
PITCH
(Chuckle) Oh now all of a sudden we are adults? I could of swore yesterday I was 16 and you were just 17. How about we call ourselves GROWN MINORS?
JADA
Pitch is this some kind of game to you? Are you taking me for a joke? I’m pregnant with your cub and your laughing and carrying on. Can you at least consider being serious for a moment, this is a life changing issue…
PITCH
Alright, alright, alright your right. So what are you thinking about doing? Have you told anyone?
JADA
No, I haven’t told my madre or padre. What do you think we should do? This is not only my decision we have to collaborate on this one.
PITCH
I don’t know. Should we go to the primate clinic and abort it or should we keep it? (Proud) Hell nah we aint aborting it, I don’t believe in such a thing.
JADA
Pitch are you sure your o.k. with this? I don’t want this to be a burden on you with your growling career at hand and all.
PITCH
(Assured) Look my career is not more important then you or my cub. I love you mamas I have to step up to the plate. Growling is always going to be there. I’ll be here beside you don’t worry.
JADA
(Grateful) Aww, Pitch I love you too papa. You don’t know what this means to me. We’re going to have a beautiful cub.
(2 Months later into the pregnancy, PITCH and JADA are inside Jada’s waterfall loft, relaxing on her flower bed.)
JADA
(Offended) Pitch let me ask you something.
PITCH
Yeah, wassup mamas?
JADA
Why is it that you spend more time in that damn studio cave then you do with me and I’m pregnant?
PITCH
(Puzzled) What? Where did that come from? You should be able to answer that yourself.
JADA
And what is that supposed to mean? (Sarcasm) I should be able to answer that myself. You done lost your damn mind?
PITCH
(Sarcasm) You CAN answer it! If I don’t work we don’t eat. If I don’t remain consistent at work, who’s going to provide you with all the berries you crave? Tell me that!
JADA
I don’t need to tell you what you already know Pitch.
PITCH
So why you asking me what you already know, Jada? You know you being real backward s right now, you acting like a donkey instead of a panther.
JADA
(Assertiveness) I’m not acting like nothing if anybody is acting here it’s you. I think you need to check yo self-buddy. What does my cravings have to do with your neglecting me and this cub? I need more than financial support Pitch.
PITCH
(Aggravated, unappreciated) (Speaking under his breath) Man I’m bout to get up out of here; I ain’t finna listen to this nonsense. I’m being neglectful but I’m the one attending to her needs. I can’t believe this I’m gone.
JADA
(Calling to Pitch to come back) Pitch, Pitch ,Pitch you bet not walk your four legs up outta here.
(PITCH doesn’t respond.)
(JADA calls PITCH on the stone phone)
PITCH
(answer ‘s phone) What child?
JADA
Where you at papa?
PITCH
(Sarcasm chuckle) Oh now I’m papas huh? What happened to me being a neglectful S.O.B?
JADA
(Blush and chuckle) Alright dude I’m sorry for earlier I didn’t meant it. Now where are you at?
PITCH
(Sarcasm) Working. I’m spending too much time in the studio cave remember?
JADA
Alright, enough with the sarcasm already I said sorry.
PITCH
Your apology is accepted but it still aint coo. You know what you said to me today that really offended me.
JADA
(Persuasive) I know but I didn’t mean it babe. It’s really not on purpose I’m really on ah unusual hormonal roller coaster. I can’t control the way I react to things. I’ve never been this emotional before, I’m telling you it’s your daughter she’s doing this to me.
PITCH
You can’t blame it on her. I can understand your hormones are jumping but you gone have to learn to control that.
JADA
I know papa I’m sorry ok? I promise to work on it.
PITCH
I’m serious Jada. I ain’t finna keep going threw these little mood swings, I mean it’s getting out of hand one min we’re the best of friends the next min you treat me like an enemy.
JADA
I just want to spend more time together that’s all. I mean am I asking for too much? All I ask is that you dedicate yourself to me as you do your music. It seems like I’M ALWAYS ALONE, I don’t want to be ALONE. It seems like work is taking you away from me.
PITCH
Yeah, well we can discuss this more later, let me get back inside the soundproof tree trunk and finish up. I’ll talk to you later.
JADA
Alright, Love you.
PITCH
(Flat) Love you to.
(9 P.M. later that night, JADA’S waterfall loft)
PITCH
Wassup mamas?
JADA
(Aggressive) Don’t wassup mamas me. Where have you been since the last time we spoke?
PITCH
(Bothered angrily) Are you serious? Didn’t we just go threw this earlier today? Did you not take heed to any of what was said today? I was at the same place I was when I hung up with you.
JADA
Yeah right Pitch! You and I both know it does not take that long to growl a song, we spoke way in the afternoon.
PITCH
So I’m lying now? Man you know what dude I’m tired of this foolishness; I’m finna go sleep at my moms. I think you better sit and think about what you saying. You getting on my nerve with this. We just talked about the exact same thing this afternoon.
JADA
So you just gone up and leave? (Defeated) Pitch don’t leave please I don’t want to sleep by myself tonight.
PITCH
(Laugh) you seriously need to do something about those hormones because you don’t know what you want. I’m sleep at moms you know where to find me if you need me. Oh yeah here go the berries you crave so much.
(12 AM. Jada’S been blowing Pitch’s mother’s phone up since the time Pitch stepped his 4 paws out her cave.)
(PITCH finally answers.)
PITCH
(Aggravated) Jada it’s 12 in the morning why don’t you stop calling my mothers phone back to back.
JADA
Because pitch I want to talk to you.
PITCH
What do we have to talk about right now? It seems like you don’t get it. When we talk you do the exact same thing right after. You need time to think and so do I, so don’t call unless it’s about my cub o.k.?
JADA
Don’t do me like that pitch, it’s not my fault please just listen to me. I’m not trying to run you away. I love you but it’s my hormones, don’t you understand that even a little?
PITCH
Jada get some rest girl. I’m tired good-bye.
JADA
(trying to stop him) No, Pitch (smacks her lips)
(JADA cries for about an hour and PITCH sits up feeling guilty, trying to figure out what’s going on with his relationship.)
(PITCH picks up the stone phone and calls Jada back at 1:30AM)
JADA
(answers the phone) Pitch I just wanna…..
PITCH
Jada just listen before you speak. First off I would like to say I apologize for my stubbornness. This is just all new to me. I’ve been so rapped up in making sure I can provide financially I never stopped to think about what you were going through physically or mentally. This is really hectic for the both of us our mind is in so many places at once. (Chuckles) I mean can you believe we’re about to be parents? I sat up thinking about what you were saying all night and I’m starting to make sense of it. I don’t completely understand because I’m the opposite gender but I can see where your coming from. I had a talk with moms and she explained it to me as best as she could. We gone get threw this mamas. There might not be a such thing as FAIRYTALES but there’s a such thing as SOULMATES. I love my two ladies you know that right mamas?
JADA
Yes, yes I know papa we love you too. Baby, you’re so understanding. I love you.
PITCH
(Assuring) That’s what I’m here for. Oh yeah, I wrote you something I’m going to drop it off at your waterfall loft in the morning before work, k?
JADA
What is it?
PITCH
You’ll see in the morning.
JADA
O.K. Goodnight papa.
PITCH
Goodnight mamas sweet dreams.
(Early Morning. PITCH shows up and drops the sap-sealed leaf off to Jada and rushes off to work. JADA opens it and begins to read.)
JADA
“UR Never Alone”
I’m always present, rather your sleep or awake with wide eyes…
as long as the months contain weeks and seasons you’ll find “I”…
you ask why…
because I’m a FRIEND
into you deep like splinters under your SKIN…
I’ll be your defender when your weak, your contenders will never WIN…
deep in your thoughts is where I live you have to dig when you THINK…
I’ll be the vision on the back of your eye lids when you BLINK…
and I’m drawn to you permanently like tattoo INK…
I’ve been everywhere you’ve looked in every angle that you’ve TURNED…
you taught me and I’ve taught you all creatures were created to LEARN…
I’m all around, when you breathe I’m in the air like GERMS…
I’m in everything you’ve been given and everything that you’ve EARNED…
I am the memories god won’t give you permission to BURN…
I hover as quiet as humming birds but I sing from WITHIN…
I’m the transformation you witness change from boys to MEN…
into joy from SIN…
I’m here to tell you it ain’t over this is where it BEGINS…
If you were blind and couldn’t see I’ll be that extra LENS…
If you were an exotic fish in tropical waters I’ll trade my hands of flesh for FINS… ”U Are Never Alone”
I have a spiritual EXISTENCE…
if your soul and heart are singing songs I’ll be the lyrical MUSICIAN…
I am the shooting star for all your WISHES…
I am the keys to your car and the starter on your ENGINE…
you’ll be the PAIN and I’ll be the LOVE…
you’ll be the RAIN and I’ll be the LIGHTNING…
you can be funny and I’ll be FRIEGHTNING…
you can have MONEY and I’ll be the NICE THINGS…
you can BUY me I’ll be PURCHASED…
you’ll have PURPOSE and I’ll be WORTHLESS…
you’ll be on the UNDER and I’m on the SURFACE…
you can be PROPER I’ll be the CURSES…
just know wherever you are I’ll BE until they close the CURTAINS
and that’s CERTAIN!!!
UR NEVER ALONE, NO, UR NEVER ALONE!
— Pitch.
THE END!
