Lock Jaws (2008)
A Play by Jesus G.
CHARACTERS:
Lock Jaws the Pit-Bull
Beauty the Pit-Bull, his mother
SETTING: The dog pound. We hear a lot of dogs barking. It looks like a gray old place depressing and filthy
TIME: 4:30 on Saturday, Christmas Eve
AT RISE: Lock Jaws is fighting with another dog and tearing at his neck while pinning him on the ground
LOCK JAWS
You seen what I did. I just tore Kilo up for snitchen’. I just found out they was going to put me to sleep because of Kilo. Oh well, he’s asleep now too. And he’ll never get to snitch again. Oh well, that’s what happens when you in this dog game. I’m waiting for my last visit with my mom because of Kilo unless I escape. Iono. I’m going to just sit here and see what happens.
(He waits and ponders around in his cage and he hears the croak of a bull frog while he waits)
This taking long. I wonder what it’s going to feel like to be put to sleep. It’s kind of weird to know when they going to put me to sleep. Usually dogs don’t know when they being put to sleep, but it’s crazy to know that I’m going to be put to sleep in a few minutes or hours or even faster than I thought if my Mom doesn’t hurry up.
(As he’s waiting, he hears his dog friend barking and whining because he is about to be put to sleep)
This is crazy. That’s going to be me in a lil while. I wonder how they do it. Are they going to just stick me and sleep me or are they going to do it with like what happens with the humans and strap me down like I use to see when I was a pup sitting in front of my owners TV set in the living room.I wonder what it would have been like if I had just stayed a house dog. I probably wouldn’t be knowing when I’m going to die.
(And the bull frogs go on)
It must be getting dark – the frogs just keep croaking continuously, this usually means it’s dark out. I remember this from when I use to ponder through the woods. This must mean it’s almost time. Any minute now they are going to put me to sleep. I’m getting worried. If my mom doesn’t come in the next few minutes – I’m running.
(While Lock Jaws is waiting he bites at the cage to free himself. He starts to get the cage loose, but…)
If I run, I’m just running the risk of getting caught right away and being put to sleep faster but I could also escape and have another chance to see my Mom.
(As he is pondering his Mom, Beauty, walks through the door)
LOCK JAWS
I was starting to get worried. I thought you weren’t going to show.
BEAUTY
What do you mean I wasn’t gonna show?
LOCK JAWS
I was getting ready to run.
BEAUTY
Why do you get yourself into situations like this.
LOCK JAWS
I don’t know. It’s just certain things I feel like I have to do to accomplish what I want.
BEAUTY
What kind of things are you trying to accomplish? They don’t seem like they’re very positive.
LOCK JAWS
You wouldn’t understand, Mom. It’s different from when you were a growin’ up.
BEAUTY
Look at your cousin, he changed from the way he used to be. Now he’s a good house dog. What changed you from being the way you used to be?
LOCK JAWS
You just don’t understand. I wanted to be just like my cousin growin’ up. Because I seen the things he was doin’ and honestly they looked like fun. I wanted to see the kind of trouble he was getting into and it was sort of thrillin even though I didn’t want to find out.
BEAUTY
Why couldn’t you just ask him instead of just experiencing it for yourself?
LOCK JAWS
At first that was the idea. But after that I wanted to take it to the next step and to tell you the truth, after I find out what it felt like- I liked it more than I thought. Sound kinda crazy but I got kind of addicted.
BEAUTY
Do you know what you’ve put me through? Doing all these things?
LOCK JAWS
Honestly, I don’t know. To be frank whichoo. I never really did this to hurt you. I just needed to fend for myself no matter what the consequences.
BEAUTY
It’s been heartbreaking. Many nights with no sleep thinking about if the dog pound has got you yet or if your enemies will get to you first. And I’d rather see you here than out on the streets where you can get killed. Do you know what I’m talking about? I used to hope that the hounds would get to you first before anyone else could do you any harm.
LOCK JAWS
Wachoo mean – you’d rather see me locked up, than with you?
BEAUTY
No – I’d rather have you be somewhere where you protected by the hounds- than out on the streets where you’re protected by no one. And now to think that I might only see you in my thoughts – that scares me.
LOCK JAWS
I’m gonna run – you got nothing to be afraid of. As soon as you leave out those doors- I’m out and nobody’s stopping me. Do you understand me, Mom? I’m out!!!
BEAUTY
Do you hear yourself? I came here to see if you would change the kind of thinking you had. And you tell me the most outrageous thing that I’ve ever heard you say in any of the conversations we’ve had.
LOCK JAWS
Don’t act like you haven’t been insinuating that I was gonna do something dumb like runnin-
BEAUTY
What? Do you actually believe that I think of you as a bad son? If it wasn’t for you I never wouldda become a house dog again. But it was the idea of me giving you a new life.
LOCK JAWS
What are you talking about? You gave me a good life. It was my bad choices that got me here. And I don’t blame that on no one but myself. And I’m gonna go on doin what I believe in. I believe in stickin’ together, Moms. Even if you do think my friends are street-hangers and pedigree-slangers. They’re my family and they’ve stuck with me through good bones and bad bones- they’ve been there.
BEAUTY
You must be outta your mind. You are my own fur and blood. How are you gonna say I’m not your family? I watch you from a pup to a grown dog. I raised you (Pause) You’re all I got left. And if you die, I would go mad.
LOCK JAWS
I don’t know what to tell you, Moms. I never knew you felt like this. I honestly don’t like thinking about death. If it’s gonna happen, just let it happen.
BEAUTY
Well, I’m here to see what happens. I’m your real family. I’m here in the hard times. A real hard time for me. An especially hard time for a mother.
LOCK JAWS
Thanks, Mom. There’s nothing you can do about it. I’m pretty sure that in the next few seconds, I’m gonna get put to sleep.
(BEAUTY starts to cry.)
(A dog catcher approaches Lock Jaws’ cage. Behind the dog catcher is a family that is actually coming to adopt Lock Jaws and not to put him to sleep)
THE END