Showing Respect (2008)
A Play by Christian F.
CHARACTERS:
Snoopy, a male German Shepherd, age 18. Jumpy, a female cat, age 41, Snoopy’s mom.
SETTING:
The Streets of East Palo Alto. Fresh smelly air. The sounds of cop’s sirens, birds and people
TIME:
5:00PM, 2006
AT RISE:
SNOOPY is chillin’ with his friends. JUMPY comes in, worried, looking for him.
JUMPY
How you been, Snoopy?
SNOOPY
I been good, Mom. Just here hanging out with my friends. How you been, Mom?
JUMPY
I been good. Just here missing you. Wishing you could come home soon.
SNOOPY
Don’t worry Mom, I’ll be home one day.
JUMPY
But Snoopy, I want you home already because I miss you and I don’t want you on the streets getting in trouble.
SNOOPY
But Mom, I like bein’ with my friends.
JUMPY
So what you don’t like bein’ with me or what?
SNOOPY
Mom, is not that. Is just that I’m not ready to come home. Mom, you know I love you to death and I would do anything for you. But I don’t think I’m ready to come home.
JUMPY
So you are saying you would do anything for me?
SNOOPY
Yes Mom, I would.
JUMPY
Then come home with me then.
SNOOPY
You know what Mom, I’m tired of you not listening to me, so just leave me alone.
JUMPY
Oh. O.k. you want me to leave you alone?
SNOOPY
Yes!
JUMPY
O.k., I’ll leave you alone. But I’ll tell you this – I’ma keep loving you ‘til the end of time. And if you decide to come home, I’ll be waiting for you.
SNOOPY
Mom, I’m sorry for making you go through this.
JUMPY
Is o.k. All I’m doing is trying to help you out. But like they say- you can lead the horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. And that’s you, because you’re not listening to me. You’re just doing your own thing.
SNOOPY
Mom and I’ma keep doing my own thing. Because I like doing what I’m doing and I’ve been in the streets for too long just to leave like that.
JUMPY
So you rather be on the streets biting people, getting into fights, then bein’ home with me. Have you sat down and thought about how dangerous the streets is?
SNOOPY
You know what Mom, I don’t believe the streets are dangerous.
JUMPY
Are you crazy? I did not want to tell you, but your best friend Fuzzy got hit by a car and is no longer here.
SNOOPY
I can’t believe this! Are you serious, Mom? Or are you just telling me this to change and come home?
JUMPY
I’m dead serious, Snoopy. Son, you have to change and come home with me. Because if you don’t, you will probably be next and I don’t want that to happen to you. I love you so much. I don’t know what I would do without you.
SNOOPY
You know what, Mom? I’ve realized that there’s more to life than just to hang out on the streets and living this crazy life in and out of the dog pound. Mom, I’m ready to come home and change my life around.
JUMPY
But with one condition. Once I welcome you home, I don’t want you doing your own thing or going back to the streets. Because the day you go back – forget that I exist.
SNOOPY
What? Did you just say that Mom?
JUMPY
Yes I did. But if you’re serious about coming home and changing your ways, you don’t have to worry about that. You feel me?
SNOOPY
Yeah, that’s true, Mom. I’m willing to do anything for you just not to lose you again.
JUMPY
I’m proud of you. You finally make the right decision. I never thought I’d see the day.
SNOOPY
Thank you, Mom, for being there for me every time I needed you.
THE END
