A Play by Maria P.
CHARACTERS: |
AGONY the PYTHON, age 15, originally from the bright, sunny, super-hot Amazon, she was captured by a travelling circus and now lives in a lonely glass cage that is 6ft by 4ft and 7ft tall. MOM the CROW, age 36, from the same bright, sunny and super-hot Amazon; a dangerous jungle filled with many different types of animals that are poisonous.
|
SETTING: |
A travelling circus somewhere in America, inside the tent where Agony is kept in her lonely glass cage and called “The Most Dangerous Jungle Creature”
|
TIME: |
8pm after the last show of the day
|
AT RISE: |
The crow has been flying for 55 hours straight from the Amazon. Besides making one or two stops in America to find out where the circus that keeps Agony is located. Finally, she has found the location and her daughter in a big glass cage under a dark tent.Agony sits in her lonely glass cage that has inside it only a small, hard, plastic kiddie pool shaped like a turtle with a Fischer-Price logo on it. The water inside the turtle shaped kiddie pool is very dirty and looks greenish brown. It’s 8pm and it’s real dark outside- except for the moon and stars that light up the sky. Agony is unable to see this from her lonely glass cage until the crow flies into the tent, out of nowhere, through an opening in the tent.
|
AGONY, The Python
Mom!!!!! Is that you? (In a loud and surprised voice)
MOM, The Crow
(In a loud voice) Yes! (Then softly)Do you have to be so loud, quiet down so no one will hear you!
AGONY, The Python
Sorry, I just didn’t think you would come here, for me at least!
MOM, The Crow
I’ve come here for a reason today, and that is to talk to you about some things I should have talked to you about before.
AGONY, The Python
Uh-huh…What are you going to yell at me about now? How stupid I am for letting them capture me? Is that what you came here for?
MOM, The Crow
No…No, I didn’t come here for that. I want to apologize for all the years I neglected you and all I ask for is if you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I know I haven’t been the best role model and mother to you and probably never will but all I can do is try. I miss you.
AGONY, The Python
(shocked) Umm, ummm, I don’t have amything to say – I’m speechless.
MOM, The Crow
Agony, please can you find it in your heart to forgive me?
AGONY, The Python
I don’t know if I can. And how do I know if your’e being real with me? What if…what if you are lying?
MOM, The Crow
Agony! When Have I ever lied to you, huh? Think about it.
AGONY, The Python
Ummm…I can’t think of anytime you have!
MOM, The Crow
Okay then, Agony whatever has happened, I want you to know I’m your mother and you’re my only daughter and I’ll always love you no matter what.
AGONY, The Python
Mom, I really have nothing to say. I want to believe you but at the same time I don’t want to believe you because if you love me like you say you do and know you aren’t the best mom, why did this all have to come up now? Why couldn’t you have done what needed to be done a long time ago? It’s been 15 years and you really don’t know how I feel and now it’s all convenient for you to say all of this? Now? I hoped all of my life you would just be there for me and now I just don’t know what to say! Look at me now!
MOM, The Crow
Can I nest inside your cage with you and give you some love pecks on your head?
AGONY, The Python
Maybe…I’m still trying to decide whether or not I should forgive you. Today was just weird that you popped in out of nowhere – and I’m still dealing with
MOM, The Crow
I can respect that. I’ll just stay right here.
AGONY, The Python
Well, there’s things that I always wanted to talk to you about, too, but I didn’t know how! Can I talk with you about these things mom? – NO! Give me more time to think. Okay? Come back tomorrow night!
MOM, The Crow
(2 tears fall from the Crow’s eyes) Are you sure, Agony?
AGONY, The Python
Yes, by the way, tomorrow is our last show here in this city, so come back right after the show is over and don’t be late. Okay? Can you promise me that you’ll be here and stay true to your word?
MOM, The Crow
I promise I’ll be here. I will be right outside waiting until the show is over and when it is all clear I’ll come right back here.
AGONY, The Python
You’re not lying right?
MOM, The Crow
Actions speak louder than words so I’ll show you with my actions.
AGONY, The Python
I guess…I’ll see you…tomorrow then. Good night Mom.
MOM, The Crow
Good night.
SCENE 2: The following day after the show.
MOM, The Crow
Agony, pssst…I’m here like you wanted me to be do you believe me now?
AGONY, The Python
Mom? Oh hi. I’ve been thinking a lot – you can be sure about that.
MOM, The Crow
So……
AGONY, The Python
Well…I love you Mom and I have always wanted to be able to talk to you about anything and for you to always be there for me.
MOM, The Crow
I always felt the same but never had the courage to be that for you. I was always scared that I was going to fail at it no matter what so I never did. Because of my cowardice.
AGONY, The Python
You’re not a coward mom, you just don’t know how to be a parent, a mother.
MOM, The Crow
I can’t blame it on nobody but you’re right – I never had a mother myself to teach me how to love and care. She wasn’t like that with me and I see it has rubbed off on me and I wish I could be everything you want me to be, but I don’t know how and I’m not perfect. But you can help teach me what love and caring is.
AGONY, The Python
I never knew…oh Mom, I’m sorry. I wish I could just take all of the pain away, but it’s all a part of life. God didn’t make us perfect but we all learn to love each other for the way we are.
MOM, The Crow
Oh, Agony… I been waiting for this day to come when we’d sit down and talk – mother to daughter.
AGONY, The Python
How did you feel when they took me away?
MOM, The Crow
I was falling apart, and I knew I had to come out here and talk to you because I’ve finally built my courage up to tell you how I feel after all these years.
AGONY, The Python
But what are you so scared of and why can’t you answer my question instead of avoiding it?
MOM, The Crow
Why…I’m not avoiding your question, Agony. I’m just expressing what’s on my mind, to you.
(All of a sudden they hear voices. One of the voices says “Let’s get all the animals together first”)
AGONY, The Python
Mom…they’re going to take me away soon so please tell me why I should forgive you.
MOM, The Crow
Because…because I know I’m wrong and all these years have went by and I’ve never spent time with you like I should. I never did the things a mother should do for her daughter.
AGONY, The Python
(In a loud voice) Is that it!? Tell me everything!
(They start to hear other animals squealing and the sound of a truck that carries the animals)
MOM, The Crow
Okay, you want to know everything…well, you should know that I’ve always been scared that you would reject me and I would fail at being a mother anyways. And its not your fault it’s that I don’t know how to be all these things you’d like me to be and that I want to be for you.
(They now hear footsteps that stop close to the tent)
AGONY, The Python
Mom!…shhh..listen I think they are here to get me… It’s not easy trying to forgive you but we can work at it and over time I eventually will.
MOM, The Crow
Agony…we will get through everything
(The tent is starting to come down)
AGONY, The Python
Get out of here now. Mom! Don’t let them catch you…
(Crow flies out of the tent)
(A single tear falls from Agony’s eye)
THE END