THE RIGHT WAY TO GO BY EIZAYAH H.
CHARACTERS: BABY MONKEY, A CHIMPANZEE, 17 YEARS OLD EASY MONKEY, HIS BIG BROTHER, A CHIMPANZEE , 22 YEARS OLD
SETTING: IN THE JUNGLE. IT IS DIRTY. NO WATER IN THE CREEK. IT IS VERY DARK AND UNPREDICTABLE. THERE IS A LARGE CACAPHONY OF MANY DIFFERENT ANIMAL’S SOUNDS. TIME: ONE O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING. NO MOON.
AT RISE: BABY MONKEY IS WALKING TOWARDS THE MOUSE TREE. EASY MONKEY SEES HIS LITTLE BROTHER AND WALKS UP TO HIM.
BABY MONKEY (B.M.) What are you doing over here?
EASY MONKEY (E.M.) Man, what are YOU doing over here?
B.M. (lifts his Banana up to show his brother) You see what I’m doin’.
E.M. I see what you’re doing alright. You’re coming with me.
B.M. Yeah, right after I bounce out trippin’.
E.M. Nah, you trippin’ right now. The ASPCA have your tail in a minute.
B.M. Man, they could get it too.
E.M. Man, you sound dumb. What is that supposed to mean?
B.M. You’ll see. (Baby Monkey tries to move towards the Tree. Easy Monkey grabs him and attempts to grab the Banana.) Man, what are you doing? Get out of here.
E.M. Man, you got three minutes before the ASPCA hit the Tree and take you to the Cage.
B.M. The Hand (“the hell”) with the ASPCA! These mice are in the trap and they about to catch my drift (flashes the Banana again).
E.M. Look, just give me a second. Let me explain something to you.
B.M. THIS will only take a second. Let me handle it.
E.M. That’s why I’m here. To talk to you about these mistakes you and your friends been making. I heard about what happened last week…how your friend went up to the Trap looking for trouble…and look where he’s at now. In the Cage. Somewhere you don’t belong. But if that’s how you want to end up, then get your tail up that Tree and do what you gotta do.
B.M. Man, everytime you come around here you always tryin’ to preach. You only worried about me when you ain’t getting’ along with Pretty Monkey. I ain’t got time for your speech…this ain’t the Million Man March. This the Jungle and I’m on the Tree with it.
E.M. Man, it’s not even like that. You my little brother. And you need to think about BabyChimp. What if them mice come through here trying to seek revenge and BabyChimp get hit with some stray cheese? And then what? What are you gonna do then?
B.M. Man, you know what time it is. We out here — We live this — We do this. And as a matter of fact, leave my son out of this.
E.M. Man, the reason why I came over here is because I had a dream last night. And the dream was about you doin’ something stupid and you ended up in a cage for the rest of your life.
B.M. You had a dream. Ha ha ha. So, you Martin Luther King now? I don’t think so buddy. Since you had a dream, I had a movie. And in the movie you get to steppin’. So get from on this side of the Jungle. You don’t belong over here. You ain’t knowin’ about this struggle. Them mice came through here eatin’ my friends like there was no tomorrow. And you got the nerve to speak on my friend behind him doin’ life in the Cage. It is what it is. He did what he had to do. Straight up.
E.M. You going down the wrong path. You trying to seek Revenge is just gonna keep this little, so-called “beef” going back and forth. Is eating mice gonna make you feel better? Do you get a Kick out of this? Now, what if you end up doing life in a cage?
B.M. See, that’s what you don’t understand…about my Rounds; I WOULD do life! I ain’t trippin’ off none of that small talk you talkin’.
E.M. And then what? What about Baby Chimp? What is he supposed to do? Grow up without a father? Live under a bush? Or no, let me guess: he’s gonna be some kind of big-time Leaf-Seller. Or maybe he’s gonna be on Third Tree selling rocks. No, no buddy; I don’t think so.
B.M. Who do you think you are? A pastor? Malcolm X? You talk to me like you my Dad.
E.M. Man, listen to this…you can come stay with me on the good side of the Jungle and get some knowledge and get paid doing some garden work. That way you won’t be in the Struggle. I’m trying to give you an opportunity to get outta the ‘hood. Better yet, to get Baby Chimp outta the ‘hood before HE grows up not liking these mice and ends up doing time in a cage. I’m trying to tell you…the ASPCA ain’t playin!
B.M. They don’t need to play with me, they don’t need to play with you, and they don’t need to play with us. This ain’t no Play Station Two. This ain’t no game, this is real, and I ain’t playin with those mice.
E.M. Man, look, I been in the Cage before. I went to the cage for three years, over something that I didn’t even do. It’s Cold in that cage. They don’t care about you in the Zoo. They walk you around like you a dog. The food in there is so chimpy, man, Baby Chimp wouldn’t even get full off that food. It changes you to a different person. It makes you feel helpless, worthless, unwanted, unloved. Feels like no one cares. And the wild animals in there…it ain’t no better. So, if it’s that worth it – to be in some kind of Animal Tribe – then go ahead, be my guest, ‘cause I’m out of here. (E.M. turns and starts to walk away, both freeze)
E.M. (in his thoughts) My little brother is real hard headed. He don’t believe fat meat is greasy. He’s trying to eat these mice and they eatin’ each other. And they come through our Tree terrorizing, and my little brother and his friends return the favor, and go up THEIR Tree terrorizing. This seem like it a’ never stop. Just last week my brother’s friend went up their Tree with his Banana, ready for War, not even thinking of the consequences. Now they tryin’ to give him Life in the Cage. See, I don’t want to loose my brother like that…
B.M. (in his thoughts) I love Baby Chimp. I’d climb the biggest tree for him. I love being around him, he make me feel loved and he make me feel wanted. He make me feel like a real chimpanzee. Without Baby Chimp I don’t know how I’d be holdin’ up… I need to think about Baby Chimp instead of eatin’ these mice. ‘Cause up that Tree, they eatin’ each other! I want to see BabyChimp grow up so I could have me a Grand Chimp; I wanna to see my Baby Chimp play some Pro-Monkee-Ball…and then maybe Baby Chimp could take care of me… (B.M. comes out of the “freeze”) Hold on! Hold on!
E.M. ( comes out of the “freeze”) I said I’m done here. I don’t belong on this side of the Jungle, and I will not remain on this side.
B.M. You’re right, Bro ! (pause) I wouldn’t know what to do locked up in a cage. When I came to visit you that time, I couldn’t wait to go home. And I wouldn’t be able to imagine Baby Chimp out here, alone, without me. So I tell you what; I’m not leaving WITH you, but I will take my Monkey tail into the house. Because it’s not worth it. It’s not worth my son’s life.
E.M. You’re doing the right thing Bro. I’ll tell you what. When you’re ready to get off this side of the Jungle, your Big Bro always has an open door for you.
B.M. Alright Man. Now, grab branches and swing up out of here before I change my mind.
(Baby Monkey and Easy Monkey each disappear into the Jungle night.)
END OF PLAY |