Sharkhuahua (2019)
By Tevyn
Characters:
Roberto, the shark, male, 17.
Crazy, the chihuahua, male 10.
They’re best friends.
Setting:
In the Atlantic Ocean. Deep down we see all the thousands of other creatures & we can feel the icy cold water in an old rusted abandoned shipping container where there’s no sunlight at all. It’s so dark, you have to squint your eyes & listen to the sounds around you just to find out where you are. If you listen close enough you can hear the horns of the huge ferries miles above the ocean floor. You’re able to taste the blood in the salty cold water.
Time:
Noon on a cloudy winter day.
At Rise:
Roberto is watching Crazy swim in the distance. Crazy is swimming towards the deep end of the ocean.
Roberto
(Aside)
Why is Crazy going so deep without me? He’ll get lost down there.
Crazy
Oh, hey Roberto! You came just in time to help me look for my brother.
Roberto
(Nervously)
Hey, maybe we should check by the docks. I think I found him in a old shipping container…
Crazy
(Excited)
Really?! Show me the way!
[Swimming to shipping container]
Crazy
Thank you. I can’t believe I’m going to meet him after so long. & now you really found him!
Roberto
So you’ve never met your brother? How did you know to look for him?
Crazy
Because my mother would tell me stories about him when I was a puppy & I always thought maybe if he knew he had a younger brother, maybe he’d come back on land.
Roberto
(Aside)
He hasn’t even found his brother & that’s all he wants. He still has so much to live for. I can’t do this to my own friend. I won’t. I don’t care what my brothers think anymore.
Crazy
Hey Roberto, are you okay? You look a bit nervous.
Roberto
I can’t do this. I lied. Truth is, I have no clue where your brother is…
Crazy
(Confused)
What do you mean? I don’t understand, why? Where were you really taking me?
Roberto
I was bringing you to my brothers for them to eat you.
Crazy
(Worried)
You were going to let me get eaten?!! How could you. I thought you were really trying to help me.
Roberto
I had to. My brothers were making me do it so I can truly be one of them. But I changed my mind. Now I don’t want to be like them. If you give me another chance I promise to try & help find your brother.
Crazy
What’s so important about being like your brothers?
Roberto
Because I’m the only shark in the family who hasn’t done it. It’s a tradition in my family to bring your elders whatever meal they ask for.
Crazy
Why me? Why not somebody who deserves it.
Roberto
Because my brothers are picky & gave me strict details on what to bring them: A small brown chihuahua with long ears & a long tail.
Crazy
I’ve known you for so long. Why are you only now in a rush to find someone for your brothers?
Roberto
Because I’m 17. And once I turn 18, they decide to forever accept me or to forever disown me.
Crazy
I think I understand… I’ve been searching for my brother for so long, if I had my brother like you, I’d follow behind him too.
Roberto
So what happened to your brother anyway?
Crazy
He left land to escape all the problems & teasing because he was born with gills. So he thought if he lived in the ocean with all the other animals that he might not stick out as much. If he knows that he has a younger brother that swims under water just like him, he might feel more proud of who he is.
Roberto
(Aside)
“Feel more proud of who he is?” Hmm I’ve always wanted to be able to be proud of who I am.
(To Crazy)
I wish I could be more proud of myself like you are, Crazy. But us sharks can be insecure.
Crazy
Well if you want to be proud of who you are, you should start by making your own decisions. Not what others want. If you always do what they want you to do, it’s going to come down to your brothers or your real friendships. If you’re always worrying about what your brothers want, you won’t ever have time to live your own life.
Roberto
That’s when I realized: Do I stay loyal to my brothers, or do I finally get what I’ve wanted my whole life: To make my own choice.
Crazy
I don’t get what your brothers eating me will prove. If i don’t get eaten, it’s because you made that choice yourself.
Roberto
You know Crazy, you’ve been right this whole time. You made me realize I don’t want to be anything like my brothers because they are so focused on hunting everything that they would make me even kill my own friend.
Crazy
So if you’re not going to kill me, what are you going to do?
Roberto
I told you I’d help you. So lets find him
[Roberto & Crazy swim off to find Crazy’s brother. They find Crazy’s brother, Insanity, & Roberto moves out of his brothers’ shipping container to explore the ocean.]
The End
