A Play by Lauryn E.
CHARACTERS:
Hostile, female, the Lightning, age 18 years old Enraged, (E-Rage), male, the lightning, age 34 years old He is an original E.C. Electro Current member, and like an older Brother to Hostile.
SETTING:
The corner of the 900 Block of Cloud and Fog. Surrounded by broken windows covered with plastic bags to keep the wind from coming in. The smell of home-made tortillas, and suavitel fabric softener coming from the clothing lines fill the air. Gunshots, crying and the sound of drunken laughter is in the background.
TIME:
Saturday, 8:00am, 2 hours after Fuming’s (Fume) murder
AT RISE:
E-Rage is waiting on the corner for his _______, Hostile. Shortly after Hostile arrives & he notices a burdened look on her face
E-RAGE
Wats up, wats wrong, Carnalita?
HOSTILE
Nada, ey …I don’t know how to say this but, its bad. Fume is no longer with us. His mom hit me up at 6 this morning, He died around 5:53am. His funeral’s Monday. She wants us to be there. (E-Rage is stunned, Hostile zaps back and forth). Sun-E took him out, 4 rays straight to the chest! He only lasted until shortly after. You down to strike on this fool? (E-Rage doesn’t know what to say, Hostile doesn’t notice) He took Fume’s current, and now we’re gonna take his! I want revenge, E-Rage. Fume was our friend -“rest in peace!”- and I can’t live with knowing he took our homie’s current and we did nothing about it. What do you say, you down to crack this fool? You know I can’t do this wit’ out you.
E-RAGE
I know… I got your back, bu—
HOSTILE
(interrupting) Alright. So you down to do it tomorrow
E-RAGE
Yea, fa sho. I can’t believe he’s gone –you’re not playing, right? You’re not gonna tell me ‘just kidding’ in a few minutes, are you? Fume was the last bolt I would expect to be gone, out of all of us. He was always making us laugh. He got shocked in the same day as you, didn’t he?
HOSTILE
Yea, that’s why I feel this strongly bout this, E. I owe it to him. Remember when I got shocked in? I went right after him. He kept telling me I could do it, and it only took a few seconds more, and then I would be part of the family.
E-RAGE
Yea, of course I remember: I’m the one who shocked you and him in. Don’t trip, we’ll do this thing tomorrow.
HOSTILE
WE HAVE TO! Word around is Sun-E’s planning to come to the funeral! You know what that would do to his mom and our E.C. rep. We gotta do this mission as soon as possible!
E-RAGE
Well… I gotta get going. I’ma catch you later, alright.
HOSTILE
Alright. Late. (they separate)
E-RAGE
(to himself) I don’t know if I can do this hit. I mean, I know I’m not innocent by any means, but I’ve come close to cutting it too close the past couple of times. I got my own stuff to think about. This mission is just too risky…
HOSTILE
(to herself) Fume’s gone. I can’t believe it! Sun-E’s gotta pay. I‘m gonna strike him so fast he won’t even get a ray in, and I’ma have my older brother, E-rage, beside me during the hit. Ha ha, this fool’s gonna be done for!
SCENE TWO
SETTING: Same
TIME: Sunday, 8:00am,
AT RISE: Hostile is waiting for E-Rage, when he finally arrives
Why you late?
E-RAGE
Calmatee! I had some things to take care of.
HOSTILE
Yea, yea, whatever. So you ready to go? (starts to go)
E-RAGE
Holds up, wait, listen…
HOSTILE
What is it? We don’t have all day, make it quick
E-RAGE
Hostile, I’ve known you a long time.
HOSTILE
Yeah, and…?
E-RAGE
Since you were just a young li’l current. I baptized you as Hostile. I remember the big crackin party that night after you became an E.C., an official Electro Current member. You’re like a little sister to me, you know this, don’t you? What I’m trying to say is I’ll always have your back but I’m going to have to for Li’l Menace. Hostile, whether I like it or not, I’m a daddy, and I gotta be there for that little boy, like my daddy never as.
If we blast Sun-E tonight, there’s a chance we might not make it home. My son will be all alone, without anyone in this world. He will end up with Worthless, my baby mama, and no father figure. Hostile I don’t want this little boy ending up with our same life. You see, I don’t want to have to do this, but I gotta sit this one out.
HOSTILE
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘you gonna have to sit this one out?’ YOU A PUNK! I’m ashamed you even shocked me in! Don’t you care that Fume’s gone?
E-RAGE
Calm down, li’l bolt, remember who you’re talking to! Don’t get this twisted; I care more than you know. But you also needa grow up and think a bit. I put a lot of work into the E.C., more than twenty years, but lately I been thinking of letting some of the generations below me to take over. Hostile, what I’m saying is, its time for me to calm down and be a daddy.
HOSTILE
Call it what you want, I call it letting me and the whole E.C. down. Sabes que, forget you. We are through, …I don’t care what you say when word gets out that you don’t got juice for the E.C. They’re gonna feel the same as I do. Catch you later sucka!
E-RAGE
But… (Hostile storms off toward home)
HOSTILE
(alone, self-debate) What does he mean, ‘he taught me everything I know’? Him of all bolts! Any youngster I could expect this from, but HIM?! He’ one’s of our leaders! Maybe there is something more to this than I am seeing? But what could it be? I mean why wouldn’t he want to strike Sun-E with me –the world would be a better place without Sun-E! But if Sun-E’s taken out, then there is still his crew. In fact, as long as we E.C. members live, this life we will keep continuing the pattern. They’ll take out one of us, we’ll get them back… then us again… Where will it ever end? I better get some sleep, I’m talking crazy. Maybe it’ll be clearer in the morning.
(she goes to sleep)
SCENE THREE
SETTING: Hostile’s place in the projects. Cut electric lines, broken windows, chipped paint and a cracked roof with rusted plumbing pipes. Outside, old broken down cars and brown lawn.
TIME: Monday, 8:00am,
AT RISE: Hostile slowly wakes up
HOSTILE
Oh no, it’s Monday. How did I sleep this late? Fume’s funeral is in 3 hours! I gotta call E-Rage –oh wait! How could I forget what happened yesterday? E-Rage all of a sudden decides to get a conscience? Since when do lightning bolts have consciences? Although I’m starting to think he’s got something, this thinking about our futures. I’m not so sure I can do this forever, this whole lifestyle of attending funerals and constant death & heartbreak around surrounding me. Maybe… If I get out of all this, I might actually be happy for once! I gotta find E-Rage. I gotta tell him he’s right about …Everything! I can’t let this come between us. (she exits to find him)
EPILOGUE
E-RAGE
(Just got off the phone TO THE AUDIENCE.) I just received a call from Mischievous the Thunder, Hostile’s sister. She was pronounced dead at 8:45 this morning. Word around is that Sun-E just happened to be in the sky, and …a confrontation went down. Now, not only do I have Fume’s funeral to attend, but now my best friend & only younger sister, Hostile… This ain’t cool
THE END
