A Play by Naufahu a.k.a. DJ
| CHARACTERS: |
TANG the ORANGUTANG, age 19 IKA the BABOON, age 16, TANG’s Brother
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| SETTING: |
It takes place at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It smells like a zoo at the jungle gym like a whole bunch of animals roaming around having fun. Sounds like a pack of hyenas laughing due to the laughter of the children. There are lots of children and adults playing and enjoying their time. It’s a busy park and there’s traffic in the street. Kids are getting out of school.
|
| TIME: |
3:00 in the afternoon in the present day |
| AT RISE: |
TANG is looking at a copy of the Oakland Tribune.
|
TANG
Hey Ika, come here! Mah girl Two Face is in the Oakland Tribune!
IKA
Fo’real?! What she doing on the front cover of the Oakland Tribune? What did they say about her?
TANG
They said that Two Face is being sent to Sea World Animal Kingdom in 3 days.
IKA
So what are you planning to do, Tang?
TANG
I don’t know. I’m just stunned to see Two Face. I really miss her and I need to find a way to get to her.
IKA
Well what about me, you can’t just leave me by myself.
TANG
Don’t worry, Ika. I was planning on taking you with me anyway.
IKA
What if I don’t wanna go? What if I wanna go look for Mom and Dad?
TANG
Forget them! They left us to go live a better life.
IKA
How could you say that about Mom and Dad? They was always there for you when you needed them.
TANG
So what, they’re gone and they probably forgot about us anyway. So let’s go to Oakland and see…
IKA
No! I’m not going with you jus’ because you wanna go see your girlfriend. How do you know if Mom and Pops is worried about us?
TANG
You act like they actually cared about me. Have you ever thought for one second about why they hated me?
IKA
What you mean they “hated you”? What are you talking about? Tell me…
TANG
It’s a long story Ika and you probably won’t like what you hear.
IKA
Tang, tell me why Mom and Dad hated you. I’ll understand if you’ll jus’ tell me.
TANG
Ika, are you hungry, cuz I am. I want a couple of bananas and some ice cream.
IKA
Tang, stop trying to avoid telling me jus’ because you think mah feelings are gonna get hurt.
TANG
Hey Ika, you wanna go hide in a tree and throw water balloons at Officer Boar?
IKA
Damn Tang, just tell me already! Whatever you got to say, jus’ say it!
TANG
Wow, isn’t this park beautiful. There’s a lots of joy, fun and laughter everywhere! Let’s go to the jungle gym and play…
IKA
No. Tang, if you don’t tell me why Mom and Dad hate you I’m gonna… I’m gonna… I’m gonna…
TANG
You gonna what? What can you even do to me that can hurt me. Huh? Nothing, so drop it already.
IKA
I’m gonna leave you and look for Mom and Dad.
TANG
Ha! I doubt you’ll find them. So instead of wasting your time looking for them, come wit me to Oakland to see Two Face and live a better life without our parents. Think about it, all-you-can-eat bananas, the females…
IKA
I don’t care about all-you-can-eat bananas and those slutty female chimps. All I care about is finding Mom and Dad. And Tang, if you really care about me you’ll tell me why Mom and Dad hated you. And if you don’t I’m leaving you for good.
TANG
(sigh) Alright Ika, you wanna know so bad I’ll tell you. I was the reason why we got sent here.
IKA
What you mean you was the reason we got sent here?
TANG
I’m sorry Ika, it was all a big mistake. You see I was playing in the jungle and I seen a man so I played a trick on him and he got pissed off and followed me back home and captured all of us.
IKA
How could you! After all this time we been together, you’re the reason I’m not with Mom and Dad. We’re here cuz you pulled some stupid prank on a man! Tang, you shoulda known that if you told me before I would have understood, but since you’ve been keeping this from me I feel wounded cuz I thought our relationship was so tight.
TANG
If you would’ve know how hard it was for me to tell you because I didn’t know how you’ll react… You don’t know how I’ve been tormented from my dreams and the day you would have found out about my secret. I feel like a ton of bricks just fell off my shoulders but I also feel shaken about how you’ll react.
IKA
Well I’m leaving you for good to go find Mom and Dad.
TANG
What?! No, you’re coming with me to Oakland where we can live a better life.
IKA
Live a better life! Don’t you mean a better life for you? The only way my life will be better is when I find Mom and Pops.
TANG
But Ika, I don’t wanna leave you behind because… because when I look at you I see a younger version of me and if I leave you, I’ll feel like I’m losing a part of myself.
IKA
Well problem is I’m not you! I can make choices for myself. I have my own destiny to follow, and that’s to find our parents.
TANG
But you don’t even know where to look, Ika.
IKA
I don’t care, at least I’m not leaving my family for some hoochie. And what type of name is Two Face, sounds like some kinda cheater…
TANG
DON’T YOU EVER DIS MAH GIRL LIKE THAT!
IKA
What! So this is how it is, mah brother going against the grain, you choose some broad over me, your only family that you got left. Man, what does she got that our family ain’t got? Huh? Tell me.
TANG
She got mah baby and that’s something you all ain’t got for me.
IKA
What… She’s pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me before, I thought we was close. I thought you told me everything but I guess I was wrong. What did our relationship mean to you Tang? Huh Tang? What?
TANG
It means everything to me, Ika. You mah lil brotha and you know that’s I’ll always love you. But you know that I can’t tell you everything about mah life.
IKA
So who you gonna choose. Huh, big brotha? You gonna choose me, you fam, you blood…or you girl?
TANG
There isn’t any way that I can convince you to come wit me, Ika?
IKA
No. So choose, me or her?
TANG
You know that I love you to death but I also love Two Face to death, too.
IKA
So who you gonna choose, your fam or Two Face?
TANG
Man, please don’t make me choose. Please, can’t you please jus’ come wit me to Oakland and help raise mah son wit me. Please, lil brotha, I don’t want to have to choose wit the two people I love most.
IKA
Who do you love more?
TANG
I love both y’all to death and having me choose is causing me pain in my heart, lil bro.
IKA
So who’ll it be?
TANG
Ika, I’m sorry to say this but I’m leaving you behind and going to Oakland.
IKA
What?! But…but we’re brothers, we’re family…
TANG
I know that, but you’ll have to understand that you’ll always be my family, mah lil brotha. But I got a baby coming so I got new responsibilities and a new family to take care of. I hope you’ll understand. Bye.
IKA
Jus’ like that, you gonna leave me, your own blood.
TANG
I’m sorry Ika. I gotta go. I ain’t got that much time. I hope you’ll understand. I love you, Ika.
IKA
OK, Tang. I know I can’t stop you. I understand that you have a baby coming and new responsibilities to take care of. I’m sorry for dissing Two Facelike that, Tang. I just didn’t know she was pregnant. But I understand, Tang. Bye. I’ll always miss you and I love you so much so take care. And please do me one favor, Tang.
TANG
What is that, lil brah?
IKA
Jus’ name the baby after me so that you’ll always remember me. Can you do that?
TANG
Yes. Yes I will. Take care and if you see Mom and Dad, tell them that I miss them and that I love them. Bye.
THE END
