A Play by Carman
| CHARACTERS: |
PAQUITA the MONKEY, age 16 PANCHITA the MONKEY, age 17, PAQUITA’S Best Friend
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| SETTING: |
There’s a really special tiny tree. There are monkeys talkin’ really loud. There’s a smell of dirty monkeys and bananas. It’s a really hot day.
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| TIME: |
Late July, 2:30 PM
|
| AT RISE: |
PAQUITA is walking away from the tiny tree. She has a
paw print on a leaf she is carrying in her hand. PANCHITA comes from the back of the tiny tree.
|
PANCHITA
Paquita. Paquita, where are you going?
(Walking towards Paquita)
PAQUITA
Nowhere…why?
PANCHITA
What’s that you’re carrying in your hand?
PAQUITA
Nothing. What do you care?
(PANCHITA snatches the leaf from her hand. She looks, sees the paw print. PAQUITA takes it away from PANCHITA.)
PANCHITA
I can’t believe you still want to join that stupid Monastics Competition. What are you thinking?
PAQUITA
Don’t act like you don’t know what I want. You, better than anyone else should know.
PANCHITA
Nnn…no, I don’t. Why don’t you explain it to me.
PAQUITA
Okay, you want me to explain. (Loud voice) I’m going to the Bird Nest totake my paw print to enter the Monastics Competition.
PANCHITA
No, you’re not.
PAQUITA
Oh, yes I am.
PANCHITA
(Starts crying) No PAQUITA, please don’t do it. I don’t want you t get hurt. I don’t want the monkeys laughin’ at you be…because you’re…
PAQUITA
Go ahead, finish your sentence. (Loud voice) “I’m UGLY.” Yes, I have big ugly yellow ears and nose, I’m fat, I’m whatever you want to call me. But I have a dream. I want every monkey in Changolandia to know that looks don’t matter when it comes to achieving your goals.
(PAQUITA starts crying.)
PANCHITA
Those monkeys aren’t going to listen to you.
PAQUITA
Yes, they are. For the first time in my life, I am going to go up in front of all of them. I’m going to prove it to them.
PANCHITA
You think that by joining the Monastics Competition they are going to all of a sudden change their way of thinking.
PAQUITA
Why are you so negative? Why aren’t you supporting me? You always said (mimicking) “I want the best for you,” and that you would be by my side.
PANCHITA
I do want what’s best for you. I told you I just don’t want you to get hurt. I’m always by your side.
PAQUITA
No, lately you are separating yourself from me. You don’t help me collect bananas anymore. You used to enjoy it. What happened?
PANCHITA
I’ve just been busy. I’ve been with my family. (Getting mad, loud voice) Nothing’s wrong with me.
(Moment of silence)
PANCHITA
(Crying so hard she can barely talk) I left my family behind for you. I ignored all the things all the monkeys thought of me. I was so happy to have a friend like you. Someone I could trust and be myself around. And you tell me I don’t care.
PAQUITA
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. But I’m speaking the truth. You’ve changed a lot.
PANCHITA
You have changed a lot, as well. You don’t trust me, you don’t believe anything I say.
PAQUITA
I had enough arguing with you.
(PAQUITA starts walking away. PANCHITA grabs her by the arm)
PAQUITA
I have to go and take my paw print right now. I only have thirty minutes to turn in my paw print or else I’m never going to be able to join again. This competition only happens every fifty years. It’s my perfect chance. This is the only event where everyone in Changolandia attends.
PANCHITA
No, please don’t.
PAQUITA
Okay, if you really care and love me so much, why don’t you just let me go? You know I want this more than anything in the world. I think there’s some other reason why you don’t want me to go.
PANCHITA
(Mad voice) No, there’s no other reason.
PAQUITA
Oh really.
PANCHITA
You really want to know the truth, well, I just don’t want you to take away everything I have.
PAQUITA
What do you mean take away everything you have?
PANCHITA
(Quiet voice.) I don’t want you to be popular and take all my attention away.
PAQUITA
Is that all you care about? I knew you didn’t want me to succeed. What kind of friend are you?
PANCHITA
I care about you, but I don’t want to give up all my things. I’ve always been around people admiring me. I like being the center of attention and I would feel worthless if someone like you took that away from me. “I don’t want you to be better than me.”
PAQUITA
(Starts crying.) What do you mean someone like me? Someone “ugly”? You never made fun of me and now you’re making me feel like a piece of garbage.
PANCHITA
I didn’t mean it like that.
PAQUITA
Do you understand why I want to prove to monkeys like you that even if I’m ugly I can do whatever I want. I’d rather be ugly than be a friend like you.
PANCHITA
(Defensive) You’re just jealous.
PAQUITA
The jealous one here is you. I can’t believe I thought you were a friend. If that’s the way friends are, I’d rather not have any.
(Grabs her head)
PAQUITA
I’m sorry, I have to leave. I have 15 minutes to get to the nest.
(Starts walking away, head down)
PANCHITA
No, don’t leave me.
PAQUITA
Goodbye.
THE END
