A Play by Jameel

CHARACTERS: SCALLY, the Crocodile, age 40

HOTTY, the Crocodile, age 38, his girlfriend

TIME:       5:00 in the afternoon, April 5th

PLACE:     A river filled with crystal clear water, so clear that you can see all the fish at the bottom. Birds and ducks swim around, having fun. The sand on the river bank makes Scally feel like he’s’ walking on clouds. Scally hears the splashing of the crocodiles playing and just enjoying themselves.

HOTTY
(sad look)

SCALLY
(SCALLY looks at Hotty, noticing the sad look on her face)

What’s wrong Hotty? All day you’ve been looking sad and miserable. (pause) Is it me, did I do something to upset you?

HOTTY
It’s nothing, I’ve just been thinking about something that’s been on my mind.

SCALLY

     What is it? It must be something really wrong because I’ve never seen you this sad before. (pause) Did something happen to the baby?

HOTTY
No, it’s just all week I’ve been thinking about the baby and, (pause) I just don’t think I’m ready to have it.

SCALLY
(SCALLY says in a laugh.)

 Hotty, what are you talking about? You don’t want to have it? We’ve been
talking about having this baby and starting our own family. You know I love
you, I even told you that I wanted to start a family with you. And when I told
you this, you were overjoyed.

HOTTY
I know Scally, it’s just I’ve been having second thoughts about this.

SCALLY

(in anger)

     So …what? You’re just going to kill it? (pause) Hotty, you remember about two
     weeks ago, when we were crawling over to my house to dinner? You told me that you loved me and you would do anything for me. And when you told me that, I just knew that you were the one I was going to spend the rest of my life with.     (pause) Why? Why don’t you want to have my baby? What, you don’t love me anymore?
 
HOTTY
Scally, you know I have always loved you, and still do.

SCALLY
Then why not have my baby?

HOTTY
It’s just … (pause, she looks away from him) I’ve been having second
thoughts.

SCALLY
You know what, Hotty? I know you don’t want to kill the baby, but what I
don’t get about you is, why tell me you want to kill it? (pause)  Is
there someone else?

HOTTY
(looks at Scally, then in a sad voice)

No Scally. I told you that I love you, and I could never leave you for
someone else.
SCALLY
(grabs her by the arms, angrily)

Then what Hotty? You’re telling me all lies right now. (pause, let’s her
go. softly) Hotty, please, just stop lying to me and just tell me what
you got to say.

HOTTY
(softly)

O.K. Scally, but first I just want to let you know that I love you so much
Scally. I had no intention in hurting you.

SCALLY

     Hotty (pause,) please, just tell me.

HOTTY
(she looks away from Scally)

The baby’s not yours.

SCALLY
(shocked)

What do you mean it’s not my baby?

HOTTY
I’m so sorry Scally, I didn’t mean for this to happen.

SCALLY
Hotty, how could you? (pause,) You went behind my back, sleep with
another crocodile, and in the process get pregnant? I even told you that
I wanted for us to start our own family together! You know that is my
greatest wish in life. And you told me its mine!

HOTTY
I never told you it was yours, I just said I was pregnant.

SCALLY

     Well you never told me it wasn’t mine. (pause,) Well, who is it by?
 
HOTTY
(pause,)It’s … (pause,) byyour (pause,) brother.

SCALLY
So you’re telling me you slept with Li’l Bra and then you got pregnant by
him? (pause,) How did this happen?

HOTTY
You remember when me, you, and Li’l Bra was swimming around the swamp and
found that bottle filled with that brown liquid?

SCALLY
(sadly)
Yeah, (pause) I remember.

HOTTY
And then Li’l Bra was the first one to taste it and he said it tasted
good, and it didn’t seem harmful, and then we started drinking the brown
liquid?

SCALLY
(still sad)
Yeah, Hotty, I remember.

HOTTY
When you said you were going home, we went to my house and I thought my
parents were home, but they weren’t. Me and Li’l Bra started talking, and
…he kissed me.

SCALLY

      So you’re saying Li’l Bra just kissed you out of nowhere?

HOTTY
Yeah.

SCALLY
(angry)

You know what, Hotty? Why would you lie on my little brother?

HOTTY
(sadly)

I’m not lying Scally! You know that we all weren’t ourselves that day after
we drank that brown water. We were all acting funny. When he kissed me, one
thing led to another, and …3 weeks later I was pregnant.

SCALLY

      So how do you know it’s his and not mine?
 
HOTTY
Because at that point in our relationship, we weren’t …sleeping together.

SCALLY

(pause) Did Li’l Bra know?

 HOTTY
He was the first one I went to. We were talking about who was going to tell
you, and he said he was going to tell you because he thought you would be
more forgiving if he explained what happened. (pause. Scally lock glares
with Hotty) Scally, I never meant for none of this to happen.

SCALLY
(looks away from her)

So why didn’t Li’l Bra tell me?

HOTTY
(sadly)

Because he died the next day. (pause) I’m so, so sorry about this Scally. I
love you so much and I don’t want to lose you. That’s why I’ve been thinking
and thinking, and I’ve decided to abort the baby. So we can start our own
family.

SCALLY
((pause))

I just don’t know what to think… Hearing about my girlfriend getting pregnant
by my brother is a lot to take in.

HOTTY
(sadly)

I can only tell you how sorry I am. I just love you so much. You’re the
person I want to spend my life with. So that’s why I’m getting the
abortion tomorrow. I hope you still love me and will stay with me because
I don’t know what life will be without you.

SCALLY

    (pause,) Hotty, even though I just heard from you that you’re pregnant by my
li’l brother, I still love you, I love you more than life itself. (pause) But
   Hotty, I don’t want you to have the abortion.

HOTTY
(curiously)

But why? Didn’t you say that wanted to start a family of our own? You even
said that was your greatest wish in life.

SCALLY
Yeah, but before my brother died he talked about starting a family of his
own, and when he told me that, he sounded so enthusiastic about it! But he’s
dead now, and I know he would have wanted a part of him left behind in the
world. And the baby you’re pregnant with is still family and I don’t want
you to kill him or her. Have the baby and we can just take care of it, and
when he gets older, we’ll tell him who his father really was.

HOTTY
Are you sure?

SCALLY
Yeah (pause,) I’m positive.

HOTTY
Scally (pause), I love you so much!

SCALLY

             I love you too (they hug)

 

THE END