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Animal Hood
by
Jaime Characters:
King the Lion. Age: 26 in lion years.
O.G. the Gaselle. Age: 52 years old.
Setting: On a corner used by the drug dealing Hyenas on Army Street in the Mission district.
Time: A cold March morning.
At Rise: King is chilling on the corner and he’s watching the sun come up.
KING (to audience) Damn, my brother got killed a couple days ago and now we’re going to have a new king of the hood in one day. What am I going to do to become a REAL KING?
O.G. approaches from down the street.
O.G. Aye King, look, we got to talk.
KING (mean and aggressive) What do you want?
O.G. Look, I know you’re mad at me and you have a great reason for it.
KING (angry) What the hell are you talking about?!
O.G. I’m talking about your brother, Killer. I know you think I killed him.
KING Look, I know you’re lying. You keep selling wolf tickets. I’m going to RIP YOUR HEAD OFF IN HEARTBEAT.. I know you set him up. It’s just a matter of time before you try to back stab me, too!
O.G. Woah woah woah. Calm down. I know you’re still hurting from your loss but it was beneficial for the whole hood that that Killer was taken out. He was out of control.
KING (now breathing heavy with anger) So you did kill my brother! Why shouldn’t I kill you right now?!
O.G. Look, if you kill me we will both end up getting killed by the new king of the hood because I’m a gazelle and you’ll get killed because he’ll see you as a threat.
KING Why should I trust you? Me and the new king are both lions. Why would I be a threat?
O.G. Because you are a big lion and he will see you and take you out. Duh. You’re a lion, this is your culture. How do you not know this?
KING (angrily) And why should I trust you?
O.G. Because we both will benefit from this. You don’t have to trust me. Just go with your gut feeling. (after a pause) Look, I got some sugar cane and we can chew this and talk.
King thinks to himself. Fifteen minutes later.
KING (relaxed) Dude, you know I could totally kill you right now.
O.G. (serious) Look, we both need this to happen. Like I said, our life depends on this. I could help you. I can get the new coming king killed by my friends from A and we both would be happy.
KING Hold up! So why do you want to help me if you’re not getting anything out of this? I feel like you’re trying to play me.
O.G. The reason I want to help you is because if you become king you will be safe and if you are King no one will try to mess with me. I’m getting old.
KING (seriously mad) My brother is dead! You got him killed! My family is not the same anymore! How do you know you’re not safe? You should be in fear around me all the time.
O.G. (mad) You’re family?! Your freaking brother killed my family, including my friends, too. so don’t tell me your family’s not the same anymore. You’re not the only one suffering. I think about that every time I lay down to sleep. KING I see. I’m sorry for my brother’s stupidness. But two wrongs doesn’t make a right. You didn’t have to kill him.
O.G. So, do you want me to help you or not?! If not, I’m out of this thang!
KING Well, get to stepping, you trying to get at me like I’m a SLAP or something.
O.G. walks off. KING thinks to himself.
KING (to himself out loud) He is right… there is going to be a new king tomorrow. But this punk killed my brother… we do need each other. Uh it kills me for this old fart to be right. If I was king I would rule the hood, and my family will be set for life. And O.G. would have to do what I say.
KING (yelling) O.G. Wait! King waves down O.G.
O.G. (to himself quietly) Hahahah I knew this youngster needs me hahahah. I’m O.G. Duh.
O.G. So you finally made your mind?
KING Look. Don’t think I need you. You need me OK?! You’re going to be the one that’s going to be protected by me!
O.G. Sure. I know we both need… (King interrupts him)
KING (angry & serious) Look! I know what you do. I know the games you play. And if you try to play me it’s going to be a rap for you and your whole bloodline. You thought my brother was a beast, you haven’t seen me! I’m the one that taught big bro how to fight!
O.G. OK OK Mr. “KING” I got you.
KING So we good?
O.G. Yeah, we good!
THE END |
