A Play by Dantae B.

CHARACTERS:

AMBIVALENT the Donkey, Age 19years old
ODDYSSEY the Cow (repesents life), Age 600 billion years old.

SETTING:

Grassy plain shaded by a huge Tree of Sight next to an old shed surrounded by a picket fence.

TIME: July third at 11:30pm
AT RISE:

We see a panicked AMBIVALENT the Donkey as a car drives toward him from far up the road


AMBIVALENT
Oh my God that looks like the same car that butcher drove the last time I saw him.  What do I do?  The fourth of July is arriving in thirty minutes.  That’s the day of grilled pig and smoked cow.  Oh no, he’s coming for Oddssey.  I need to tell her, to warn her.  But what if he get me too?  My mom once told me that Americans cook any kind of animal and just tell the consumers that its beef or pork.  They won’t even care that I’m a donkey.

(AMBIVALENT then seeks ODDYSSEY out rather quickly.  He looks to the left to the right, up and down all around franctically unitl he spots her by the Tree of Sight and gallops to her until he’s at her hooves.)

AMBIVALENT
Oddyssey!  Oddyssey!  He’s coming!  Ruuuun!

ODDYSSEY
Who’s coming?

AMBIVALENT
Run Oddyseey!  Don’t let him get you!

ODDYSSEY
Wait up minute!  Slow down horsey!  Tell me slowly what you’re talking about.

AMBIVALENT
There’s not enough time!  He’s gonna take you and make a filet mignon or a Salisbury or a T-bone steak out of you.

ODDYSSEY
A filet-min-what.  Slow down Ambivalent.  Who’s coming?

AMBIVALENT
The butcher!  The man with the meat cleaver is coming and he’s gonna try to gut you like a cow and sell your insides at the local supermarket.  You have to leave now.

ODDYSSEY
Wait.  How did you get here to me?

AMBIVALENT
I galloped as fast as I could without falling on my tail.

ODDYSSEY
You did it Ambivalent!  You did it!  You finally moved.  If I had known all it took was for a guy in a cloak with a meat cleaver to come after me I would have told him to come for me years ago.

AMBIVALENT
What are you saying!  Oh God please don’t tell me he drugged you out with those steroid needles they use and now your delirious.

ODDYSSEY
No!  Ambivalent.  There’s something that I need to tell you.

AMBIVALENT
I don’t care what you have to say just go before he gets you and maybe even me.

ODDYSSEY
That’s just it Ambivalent.

AMBIVALENT
Whats just it?  What are you waiting for?

ODDYSSEY
The butcher and I are

AMBIVALENT
Are what Oddyssey, what are you?

ODDYSSEY
He’s my uh, my umm

AMBIVALENT
Your what just spit it out already.

ODDYSSEY
He’s my friend

AMBIVALENT
Your what!  He’s your what?  Oh no, he did drug you!  My mother never liked that pond water. You’re drugged.  You can’t possibly know what you’re saying.  Run Oddyssey. Save yourself!

ODDYSSEY
I’m not drugged Ambivalent.  I’m not going to become a filet mignon or a T-Bone or whatever you said.  I’m leaving to find a new home and he’s going to take me.

AMBIVALENT
So you’re okay with people eating your corpse?

ODDYSSEY
Stop all of that nonsense, will you? 

AMBIVALENT
Nonsense! Nonsense!  You’re about to leave with a guy that is wearing a cloak, has a meat cleaver, and a portable freezer and you’re telling me that I’m talking nonsense? You really are delirious.

ODDYSSEY
Look Ambivalent. You’ve always wanted love, companionship, someone to be there for you and you wanted that with me.  I know I treated you badly.  I made a promise to your mother before she passed away.  She told me to make sure you love yourself.   She wanted me to make sure you were strong and could take care of yourself.  The only thing I could do is promise that I would.

AMBIVALENT
What are you talking about?  You knew my mom was sick?

ODDYSSEY
No!  I never knew until it was too late.  But after she passed you became pitiful, understandably.  But you never came back Ambivalent.  You gave up on yourself.

AMBIVALENT
I didn’t give up on myself.  You pushed me when I was already falling.  You cut my legs off and called me shorty, you shaved my hair and called me bald.  You hurt me. 

ODDYSSEY
I’m sorry Ambivalent.  It was the only way I could teach you to be strong.  I wanted you to stand up for yourself. 

AMBIVALENT
But why didn’t you just tell me what you wanted me to do why didn’t you carry me down the right path?

ODDYSSEY
A calf doesn’t learn to walk by riding on its mothers back, Ambivalent.

AMBIVALENT
So what are you saying Oddyssey?

ODDYSSEY
I love you Ambivalent.  I’ve always loved you.  I watched your mother give birth.  I helped feed you. 

AMBIVALENT
You hurt me Oddyssey. You made me feel like I was worth nothing.  You never helped me.  You didn’t keep the promise you made to my mom. You betrayed her. 

ODDYSSEY
So why are you helping me Ambivalent?!  Why are you here?  Warning me.  Telling me to run!  To save my life!  Why didn’t you just let me get slaughtered? Huh?  Ambivalent?  Why then?  Tell me.

AMBIVALENT
I don’t know.  I never wanted my mom to die.  I hated you because you let her die.  I blamed you for everything.  But I also knew that you loved her back.  You were always there for her but when she passed away I expected you to be there for me too but you weren’t.  I don’t even understand why I wanted to save you.  Maybe I knew deep down that even though you were mean and cruel to me that you were still here and I wasn’t completely alone.  I didn’t want you to leave. I won’t be able to live completely by myself. 

ODDYSSEY
I have to leave.  This isn’t the place for me anymore.  I’m sorry that I never explained my motives to you.  I did love your mom.  She will always be in my heart and so will you.  You just don’t know how much it hurts to even leave you right now. 

AMBIVALENT
So then don’t go.

ODDYSSEY
I have to Ambivalent.

AMBIVALENT
Why? Why can’t you stay?

ODDYSSEY
I just have to Ambivalent.

(ODDYSSEY begins to walk toward the butcher)

AMBIVALENT
Please don’t go.  If it hurts you to leave me then stay.  The only way you would leave right now is if you were lying to me and to my mom. 

(ODDYSSEY halts and turns toward AMBIVALENT)

ODDYSSEY
I’m sorry that you feel that way.  But I do love you and your mom.  There’s more to life than what meets the eye Ambivalent.  I must take care of the people who need me but I must leave you to do it. 

AMBIVALENT
Leave me to help me? How is leaving me going to help me Oddyssey.  You’re hurting me.  Can’t you see that I need you.

ODDYSSEY
What are you afraind of Ambivalent?

AMBIVALENT
Being left alone.

ODDYSSEY
But you will always have yourself.  Your mom once told me “Many animals look for love in the places where love is not forever and miss out on finding the love in themselves because only there will it last for eternity.”  She told me this and even I learned something.  Out of the 600 billion years I have been around I wish I could hear her say it again because I have never heard anything so profound and heart touching. 

AMBIVALENT
My mom said that?

ODDYSSEY
Yes. Love yourself Ambivalent.

AMBIVALENT
I will Oddyssey I promise. Just don’t leave me forever.

ODDYSSEY
I won’t be gone forever.  You’ll always have me in your heart and I’ll keep you in mine.

AMBIVALENT
When will I ever see you again?

ODDYSSEY
Due time will tell Ambivalent.  I love you always.

AMBIVALENT
Just stay a little while longer.  How about another couple of years. 

ODDYSSEY
Ambivalent.  I wish I could but I have a problem.  I was hoping I wouldn’t have to tell you. I almost wished that you wouldn’t have come here.

AMBIVALENT
Why what’s wrong?  I can help you. Just stay with me.

ODDYSSEY
I wish you could help me Ambivalent.  Buut you can’t.   Nobody can.

AMBIVALENT
What is it?  I know I can help just give me a chance.

ODDYSSEY
Ambivalent.  I’m sorry to have to tell you this.  Don’t hurt for me.  Don’t worry.  I’ve been here for a long long time.  Just take care of yourself.

AMBIVALENT
Why? I’ll love myself.  What’s wrong?

ODDYSSEY
I’m suffering from a deadly disease and I won’t make it another day.

AMBIVALENT
Oh my God!  Why didn’t you tell me. What can I do?

ODDYSSEY
Nothing. I’m sorry Ambivalent….bye.

AMBIVALENT
Wait.

ODDYSSEY
Yes?
AMBIVALENT
I love you Oddyssey.  Ill be okay I will make it for you and for my mom. Bye.

ODDYSSEY
And I love you and forever will…bye.



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