THE PERFECT HOME
By Jaylan
CHARACTERS:
BABY BLUE the BLUEJAY, age 17
PROTECTIVE the BLUEJAY, age 44, BABY BLUE’s Mom
SETTING:
A big nest made out of brown twigs in a giant christmas tree at a christmas tree farm in Tahoe, where it is very white and snowy. People laughing, people singing christmas carols and throwing snowballs. There is a smell of cinnamon in the air.
TIME:
Late afternoon on a snowy Christmas Eve.
AT RISE:
BABY BLUE is on a prickly branch covered in snow, pruning her feathers. PROTECTIVE is lounging in her nest while snacking on salty, crunchy worms.
BABY BLUE [Direct address]
I literally need to just get away. I know I’m still little for a bluejay, but I feel that its time for me to flock my feathers and fly to Hawaii with SHADOW. My mother, PROTECTIVE, believes that I will get myself hurt hanging around a huge crow like himself. But I DON’T CARE! All that matters to me right now is being with the love of my life.
I can just imagine SHADOW and I, right now in Hawaii, living in a gigantic, beautiful Palm Tree. Watching the sun set on the clear blue ocean. It would be a calm, warm environment, not to mention the fresh worms instead of the frostbite worms!
All I want is stability. I want to be able to lounge in my nest all day without constantly worrying that we’ll get cut down or abducted! Those filthy humans – always wanting to take our home. I’m sick of it and I’m ready to leave. If only I knew a way to tell mom…
PROTECTIVE
Hey BABY BLUE, come here!
BABY BLUE
Oh tweet, what does she want? Be right there Mom!
PROTECTIVE
Hurry, and gather our twigs. There’s a snow storm coming soon.
BABY BLUE flutters her wings and sits down next to her mom and gives mom a peck on the cheek.
PROTECTIVE
What do you want?
BABY BLUE (blushes)
You want some more worms, Mom?
PROTECTIVE
No thanks…but foreals, what do you want?
BABY BLUE
Well…
PROTECTIVE
Yes?
BABY BLUE
Ok…look Mom, I don’t want you to get upset. But I’ve been thinking for a while now that, well… (whispering) I want to fly to Hawaii.
PROTECTIVE
What are you chirping about?
BABY BLUE
Mom, I’m serious about this.
PROTECTIVE
Tweetie, are you feeling ok today?
BABY BLUE hears crows squawking from a distance.
BABY BLUE
Um… Not so much to be honest.
PROTECTIVE
What’s going on? Is there still something you haven’t told me?
BABY BLUE
Well, the thing is… and I know you don’t approve of SHADOW very much. But he and his pack are coming to pick me up any minute now.
PROTECTIVE
SHADOW? You’re not talking about that filthy crow, are you?
BABY BLUE
Crow? Yes. Filthy? No.
PROTECTIVE
You know how I feel about those crows!
BABY BLUE
Mom, they are not going to hurt me!
PROTECTIVE
But you’re too little! You never know when those crows will turn on you.
BABY BLUE
I may be a little bird, but I’m a GROWN bird!
PROTECTIVE
I’m only looking out for you. I wouldn’t let you do something this crazy if I knew you will get hurt! Where are you going anyway?
BABY BLUE
Mom I won’t get hurt, I promise. I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, and I want today to be the day I go.
PROTECTIVE
You want to leave me too? After everything we’ve gone through? And not to mention your sister STUBBORN, who hasn’t spoken to me in months.
BABY BLUE
Mom you act like its MY fault we keep losing our home…
PROTECTIVE turns her head and gets very silent.
BABY BLUE [ASIDE]
Oh tweet, what did I do now?
PROTECTIVE puts her wing in front of her face and starts crying.
BABY BLUE
Mom, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to offend you.
PROTECTIVE
My oldest daughter, STUBBORN, won’t even speak a word to me and now my only other daughter in my life, has her mind focused on something far more unnecessary – THAT CROW! Oh BABY BLUE… I try telling you not to mess around with those filthy crows, more importantly, boys at all. But BABY BLUE, you are way smarter than that and you know it. Speaking of babies, I need to see my grandson. The only person who will understand me is you, BABY BLUE. You can help me get in touch with your sister STUBBORN and her son TINY. If onlly I can get you to think about family other than boyfriend. If this doesn’t work, I will feel empty without a complete family…
BABY BLUE
All I’ve done is be there for you and now you’re trying to say ‘I don’t care?’
PROTECTIVE
You have to understand that family is way more important than that stupid crow!
BABY BLUE
He’s not stupid! He’s the love of my life. What is it with you and crows anyway?
PROTECTIVE
They’re dangerous and I don’t want you getting hurt like I did.
BABY BLUE
What do you mean like you did?
PROTECTIVE
Tweetie, I’m not getting into that now…
BABY BLUE
No Mom, start talking!
PROTECTIVE (whispers)
…because your father was a crow.
BABY BLUE
My what? What are you chirping about Mom?
PROTECTIVE
I tried telling you about how dangerous and violent those crows can get honey. If only you knew.
BABY BLUE
But SHADOW would never hurt me. He wouldn’t lay a claw on me…
PROTECTIVE
Ok, but what’s the need to fly all the way to Hawaii? I thought you liked it here.
BABY BLUE
No Mom! I hate it here! I don’t want to stay in this cold, depressing place anymore. I need stability Mom. I need to find a healthy environment. We’ve been moving from home to home every year and I’m tired of it. I don’t know how much more I could take if I stay here any longer.
PROTECTIVE
So that’s it? You’re just going to leave us now? What about me? What about your brother?
BABY BLUE
Look, I really don’t want to argue with you… SHADOW is outside waiting for me. The snow storm is starting any second! You have to let me go… this is my only opportunity.
PROTECTIVE
I know this isn’t stable BABY BLUE, and I’m sorry for that. But look, if you leave us, you will never be able to find SENSITIVE and I. Our family will be broken. Please don’t go, we need you. We always pull through together and find a new home.
BABY BLUE
That’s not what I want anymore. Sure we’ll find a new home… but its only temporary Mom. I want to go somewhere I can stay forever. [Silence]…and if I can’t go alone, then you and SENSITIVE are coming to Hawaii with me.
PROTECTIVE
But… I can’t leave my daughter STUBBORN behind… and my grandson. I love them very much and our family would be incomplete without them.
BABY BLUE
I understand how important that is to you but Mom, how do you ever think STUBBORN will accept you if we’re going to be homeless anyway? I mean its Christmas Eve! You know the owner is selling all the trees before Christmas…
PROTECTIVE
You have a point but there’s one thing. I’m not flying with those crows.
BABY BLUE
Mom please have faith in me! Just this one night, please? They’re not going to hurt us, I promise. Now hurry up, the crows are starting to take off! Please, please, Tweetie PLEASE????
PROTECTIVE
Ok, FINE!
BABY BLUE gets so excited she starts losing her feathers.
PROTECTIVE
Now don’t get you feathers in a bunch! Now go get your brother.
BABY BLUE
OMG Mom, I love you so much! I promise you won’t regret this.
BABY BLUE and PROTECTIVE start flying away together.
THE END
