7 - Ijames - Kill Move Paradise

Kill
Move Paradise

By

James Ijames

“Sustained intensity equals ecstasy.” Wynton Marsalis

"At what age is a black boy when he learns he's scary?" From The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan
Lethem

“Can there be a more empathetic contrast than the one between respect for the Other’s vulnerability and

the reduction of the Other to mere ‘bare life’ regulated by administrative knowledge?” From Violence
by Slavoj Žižek

1

/ Indicates overlapping dialogue

words These words should be meant, felt and tonally inform the line but should not be
spoken. Don’t leave space say they line as though the word wasn’t there but allow the word, inside of that
moment, to color it’s delivery.

small words These are the only words the character can find but are not the right words.
Spoken in a small way and almost to themselves. Almost like a stifled weeping sometimes. Not a whisper.
More like you’re trying to speak through tears.

Bold Words These should be spoken as a whisper. Sotto Voce.

Underlined These are nonvoiced sounds. Breathing. Light.

Please honor the extended vowels as scripted. Please do not shorten them. If they feel weird, GOOD!

2

ISA 2030 years old.
TINY 1516 years old. Short.
DAZ 2030 years old.
GRIF 2030 years old.

3

(A protean space. Atmospheric and expressionistic. The space should look pregnant with
history and possibility. Upstage should feel very far away and very high up. Almost like a
wave frozen in time that could continue on and crash down on us. Imagine the audience
sitting in the bottom of a skate park. Down stage there is a square hole or trap that could
lead to just about anywhere. It should be covered until needed. However you choose to
make this appear, the necessities of the space are as follows:
∙ The entrance is from above, below and through the sides.
∙ The players must have the ability to run up and slide down the upstage wall.
∙ It should feel open.
∙ There should be places to store and hide things.
∙ This play is not realism and should not be performed as such.
Lights rise on this massive and potential space. A violent earthquake shakes the space.
An electrical storm darkens and illuminates the space. ISA is flung out into this space. He
lands face down.)

ISA
Here. Again.

(The violent earthquake is replaced with celestial music of some kind. The music reminds
Isa of something he had done before. The music stops. A paper airplane flies in and lands
at Isa’s legs.)

ISA
I’m sick of this shit.

(Thunder rumbles. Distance. Ominous.)

ISA
Fine.

(He opens it up. He reads it. He looks up at the audience, seeing us for the first time. Is
deeply affected by our presence. He runs up the expanse to escape but can not and slides
down. He sits in a heap for a moment.)

ISA
God help us...

(He moves past the information he has been given and continues.)

ISA
(To no one in particular and everyone)
Play that tune again.
4
(The music begins again.)
That’s nice. Whew. Don’t feel nothing but a breeze. Hear that?

(Isa looks out at all of us. We meet eyes and have to confront each other somehow. We
have to be willing to really see each other for a spell. Maybe a spell that feels longer and
cost more than we are willing to spend. This will happen a lot in this play so get used to
it. We have to witness what is happening. It has to cost.)

ISA
Wasgood?
Come to see me?
Yeah? What for?
Heard about me? Come to see for yourselves?
Yeah?
Yeeeeeah.
Think I can fix you?

Do I scare you?

I remember…the age I learned I was scary.

8…

I reached out to hug a teacher and she flinched.
She remembered who she was and broke herself into
A hug that was so brittle I thought it would cut my skin.

And so this begins.

(Silence. Isa looks at us for a while. At first he tries to entertain us.)

ISA
(Tune of Turkey In The Straw)
Being black men just ain’t what it used to be.

Ain’t what it used to be.

Ain’t what it used to be.

Being black men just ain’t what it used to be.

Not many years to go.

5
(He fails.)

ISA
What? Too old timey?

(Then he tries to scare us.)

ISA
Booo. BOOOOOOOOO. Boo. Boo. Boo.

(He fails at this as well…but perhaps less so.)

ISA
No? Nothing. You so fragile. Aight. Aight. Aight.

(Finally he sits down in front of us.)

ISA
Someone wrote about a war that would end all wars. Someone wrote about a rapture. Someone wrote
about revolution. Someone wrote that we would all burn. Someone wrote that we would all be caught up
in the air. Someone wrote about a false prophet. Another about a flaming devil. Another about blood on
the moon.

But that shit don’t never come.

(Another earthquake shakes the space. Isa is unsure how to survive this. He braces
himself. The opening at the edge of the stage open with a thunderous flip. GRIF emerges
from the opening. He lifts himself out of the opening and sits on the edge feet dangling
inside the opening. He is out of breath. Isa stands across from Grif. Isa studies the list
finding Grief. He then studies Grif.)

ISA
You made it here alright?

GRIF
Jus
(Huff)
Barely
(Puff)

ISA
Brotha?

6
GRIF
What?

ISA
I’m ya brother.

GRIF
Biologically?

ISA
Spiritually?

GRIF
Hmmmm.

ISA
Psychically.

GRIF
That makes sense to me.

ISA
I thought so too.

(Isa extends his hand to Grif)

GRIF
Uh…yeah…can I catch my breath before we come up with the elaborate super soul brotha secret
handshake.

ISA
This not a handshake.

GRIF
You’re hand is shaking.

ISA
Nerves.

GRIF
You jumpy man?

ISA
7
I’m trying to help you up.

(Beat)

GRIF
That seems right to me.

ISA
Well then grab hold.

(Isa lifts Grif up.)

GRIF
Who are you?

ISA
Isa.

GRIF
Good name. Arabic?

ISA
Yes.

GRIF
The holy one.

ISA
What?

GRIF
Your name is real big man. I like names.

ISA
You’re Grif.

GRIF
Yeah…how did you?

ISA
There’s a list.

GRIF
8
A list.

ISA
Long list.

GRIF
How many people on it?

ISA
Don’t know. Keeps getting longer every time I look.

GRIF
Lemme see.

(Isa shows him the list…it grows in his hand)

GRIF
God help us.

ISA
That’s what I said.

GRIF
How long you been here?

ISA
For a while.

(Grif looks out at the audience.)

GRIF
Hey…Uh…

ISA
It’s okay.

GRIF
Who are they?

ISA
They paid.

GRIF
9
What?

ISA
They like to watch.

GRIF
Kinky.

ISA
Their money. They can do what they want with it.

GRIF
Truth.

ISA
Well.

(The following should be quick)

GRIF
Do I know you?/

ISA
/Probably not./

GRIF
/You seem familiar./

ISA
/You don’t./

GRIF
/Feel like I know you./

ISA
/Don’t think you do./

GRIF
/You sure about that?/

ISA
/I’m pretty sure./

10
GRIF
/You feel like family. You kin to the Himphills or the Jacksons?/

ISA
/Are you not hearing me?/

GRIF
/Hear you just fine./

ISA
/Then why you keep asking?/

GRIF
/You seem like someone I know./

ISA
/You don’t./

GRIF
/I might!

(beat)

ISA
Yeah. You might.

(They both look slowly out at us.)

GRIF
So…they just gonna sit there?

ISA
Sometimes they sleep.

GRIF
Huh…

ISA
Yeah.

GRIF
That seems like a waste.

11
ISA
Oh…it’s a total waste. But they can afford it.

GRIF
You the first name on the list?

(Silence)

GRIF
How many?

ISA
Keeps changing.

GRIF
So you just been in here all by yourself.

ISA
Well they here too.

(Isa indicates us all watching.)

GRIF
They have a name?

ISA
America.

GRIF
Ooooooooooh! All of America?

ISA
A representative slice.

GRIF
Man! That’s what she looks like when you step back and look at her?

ISA
Depends on the day.

GRIF
Wow.

12
ISA
It’s crazy right?

GRIF
Wait I don’t see

ISA
All the way in the back.

GRIF
Whew…I was worried.

ISA
Always one.

GRIF
I mean, It’s only right.

ISA
This is just…

GRIF
A delegation?

ISA
Ooooooooooooooo! That’s a good word for it.

GRIF
Curious business this is…being watched.

ISA
And watching the watchman.

GRIF
And trying to read minds. Wonder what they’re thinking?

ISA
Probably wondering how long this last.

GRIF
How long will it last?

13
ISA
It…?

GRIF
This moment.

ISA
Don’t know.

GRIF
Damn.

ISA
Yeah.

(There is a silence. They stand and look out above the audience. Finally.)

GRIF
I gave a speech once. In front of a crowd.

ISA
Yeah?

GRIF
I was valedictorian of my class in high school. Crowd looked just like them. They all looked back at me.
Just like them. Waiting.

ISA
They ain’t make you nervous?

GRIF
Yeah. Hell yeah.

ISA
What you do?

GRIF
I pretended they were naked.

ISA
I hear that works.

GRIF
14
Took a deep breath. Those kinds of breaths that come from beneath your feet.

ISA
Yeah?

GRIF
And they all got a little smaller.

ISA
Good story.

GRIF
Thank you.

ISA
Valedictorian, huh?

GRIF
Yeah.

ISA
Family must have been proud.

GRIF
Ain’t have no family.

ISA
That’s rough.

GRIF
Been by myself since I was 16.

ISA
Who raised you?

GRIF
Ain’t never had nobody…nothing.

ISA
Well, at least we have them.

GRIF
Yeah.
15
Ooooooweeeeee They are pretty.

ISA
Man! What you talking about! Just look at them!

GRIF
Fine as hell!

ISA
Beautiful…

(Yet another earthquake shakes the space. Isa is used to it by now. Grif stands as if he is
caught in the crossfire of a gunfight with nowhere to hide. The earthquake subsides. Isa
expect a person to enter. Beat. Beat. Beat. Suddenly, a wave of water pours over the top
of the expanse. DAZ rolls in with the water and lands at Grif and Isa’s feet. The water
stops. Lifeless and soaking wet. Grif and Isa stare at him. Not sure what to do. They
move closer to him. Grif crouches down and checks Daz’s breath.)

ISA
Well?

GRIF
He’s not breathing.

ISA
Do something!

GRIF
What you want me to do?!

ISA
I don’t know man. What you do for a nigga that ain’t breathing to make him start breathing again?

GRIF
I don’t know.

ISA
This ain’t good. This ain’t good.

GRIF
What we gonna do?

ISA
16
Pulse?

GRIF
Yeah. Faint.

ISA
Like summer rain.

GRIF
Aw. That’s pretty.

ISA
I’m a poet.

GRIF
Werd?

ISA
Yezzir.

GRIF
Well look at you!

ISA
Still not breathing?

GRIF
A little…now. Just a little. He’s all wet.

ISA
That’s a good sign.

GRIF
It is?

ISA
Yeah! Water means life.

GRIF
Huh?

ISA
Can’t have life without water.
17

GRIF
Oh. Well yeah…but…he just got wet clothes on. Ain’t nothing cosmic about it.

ISA
Touché!

GRIEF
Now what?

(Isa walks over slowly and presses on Daz’s chest. A tiny fountain of water streams out
of Daz’s mouth and finishes with a cough and gasp for air. Daz inhales and begins to
screams uncontrollably. His screams should sound as though he has seen something he
can not unsee. He run about the space violently. He doesn’t notice Isa and Grif at first
when he does see them he stops dead in his tracks. Smiles at them. He walks up to Isa and
Grif.)

DAZ
Wassup.

ISA AND GRIF
Hey.

DAZ
Wheeeeeeee/eeeeeeew. Right?

ISA
/Uh.

GRIF
/Uh… you good?

DAZ
Yeah. Why do you ask?

GRIF
Well uh…

DAZ
Oh! Oh that…oh don’t mind that. Happens all the time. I be trippin sometimes.

ISA
What’s your name?
18

DAZ
Daz.

GRIF
That short for something?

DAZ
Dazzle.

ISA
Oh…………Okay.

GRIF
Yo, your momma named you Dazzle?

DAZ
No man. That’s my nickname.

ISA
Sooooooooo Daz is short fooooooor a nickname?

DAZ
I like to think of it as a code name.

GRIF
You on a mission?

DAZ
I can’t tell you that. How I look divulging that classified information to you?

(Daz see the audience. He recognizes them. He’s not sure why...He hates them. He runs
towards the audience. Isa stops him.)

ISA
Hey man. You okay?

GRIF
You see them?

DAZ
How can you not?

19
ISA
Careful man.

DAZ
Yeah. Yeah.

(Daz begins searching for something in the space.)

GRIF
We were trying to…get you to…start breathing again—You looking for something?

DAZ
I need somewhere to sit.

ISA
What?

DAZ
A chair maybe?

GRIF
I don’t think…

DAZ
Hold on…

(Daz exits from where he came from. Grif and Isa look at each other. Then at the
audience. Then off, where Daz has gone. He returns with a Lawn chair.)

ISA
How did you do that?

DAZ
Do what?

GRIF
Where you get the lawn chair, bruh?

DAZ
I passed it on the way in. There’s a whole bunch of stuff out there.

GRIF
You know about this?
20

ISA
I didn’t see it.

GRIF
What else out there?

DAZ
Man…there’s a bathtub, two big screen TVs, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln randomly, Bowling balls,
ballerina slippers, LPs, Joe Louis’ boxing shorts, at least fifty pairs of Jordans, A moose head, A stuffed
bear, All these newspapers and magazines and books, Furniture, Manniquins wearing hoop skirts, A
human cadaver, tricycles, bicycles, A mummy my nigga, A hot tub my nigga, All these put up jams and
preserves, a pimp cup, a diaphragm, two barrels of syzurp, a soul food buffet, Tupac and Biggie in there
my nigga, they told me to tell y’all they ain’t comin back, boxes of vhs tapes of old recorded reruns of A
Different World, Living Single and Martin, Black Radio is in there, Being cool is in there, cornrows,
sunglasses, two way pagers, Jamaican fucking castor oil, Just For Me my nigga, Cast Iron Skillets my
nigga. Nigga, Stylin is in there, Profilin’ is in there. Nigga, John Coltrane’s Horn is in there. Nigga
Saartjie Baartman’s ass in there. Nigga Kunta Kente’s Toes in there my nigga, They got Cool Ranch
Doritos and purple drank, Hugs in there, Tap dancing is in there, Box braids, Glass tables, Eazy E’s first
16 bars, Bessie Smith in there. A burned out bus, A burnt house, a burnt up church complete with steeple
and people. They got soul in there, they got all these books by niggas that was shot before they could
write. They got all these books that people couldn’t write or wouldn’t write. Maaaaaaaaaan. They got
everything in there.

ISA
And hundreds of lawn chairs…?

DAZ
Oh…no.
(Beat.)
Just the one.
(Beat. Then. Some what disingenuous.)
Sorry.

GRIF
Yo…y’all remember the Twilight Zone.

ISA AND DAZ
Yeah.

GRIF
That’s what this shit reminds me of.

21
DAZ
What you two doing here? You forming a club or something?

ISA
What’s the last thing you remember?

DAZ
Looking down at my daughter in the crib.

ISA
You?

GRIF
The 28 Bus…You?

ISA
Breakfast.

GRIF
Regular stuff.

DAZ
Something ain’t right.

ISA
Keep trying to remember.

(Quickly)

DAZ
Wait! This a support group?

GRIF
Wait. Is this a book club?

DAZ
Wait. Is this purgatory?

GRIF
Wait. Is this heaven?

DAZ
Wait. My Nigga, is this Heaven!?
22

GRIF
Wait. Is this sheol?

DAZ
Wait. Is this hades?

GRIF
Wait. Is this limbo?

DAZ
Wait. How low can you go, my nigga, how low can you go?

GRIF
Wait. Are we dead?

DAZ
Wait. Are we dead?

GRIF
Wait. Are we dead?

DAZ
Wait. We dead.

GRIF
Wait.

DAZ
Wait.

GRIF
Wait.

DAZ
Nigga.

GRIF
Wait.

DAZ AND GRIF
Say something.

23
ISA
Yes.

GRIF
No.

DAZ
Fuck.

GRIF
What…what happened?

DAZ
Fuck.

GRIF
Was it in my sleep?

DAZ
Fuck.

GRIF
Did I get sick?

DAZ
Fuck.

GRIF
Old Age?

DAZ
Fuck.

GRIF
I ain’t supposed to be dead.

DAZ
Fuck.

GRIF
I’m doing things.

DAZ
Fuck.
24

GRIF
I was in the middle of doing things.

DAZ
FUCK!

(Daz tries to escape the space. He runs up the wall and slides down. Runs up. Slides
down. Runs up. Slides down. Runs Slides. Runs Slides. RunsSlides. RunsSlides.
Runslides. Runslides. Runslides. Runslidesrunslidesrunslides. He finally lands in a heap.
Fetal position. Spazims of sobs shake his body. He keens. We let this happen for as long
as we can take it. Be generous with this agony. It should feel unnecessary and shocking.
This much vulnerability in a black male body, displayed with such raw focus is rare and
feels…to me…forbidden. Honor that and let it happen. Isa and Grif approach him to
console him. He erupts away from them.)

DAZ
Don’t fucking touch me!

ISA
Alright.

GRIF
Okay.

DAZ
Fuck.

ISA
Do you remember now?

GRIF
Remember what?

ISA
What happened to you?

GRIF
Yeah. I was driving home. I forgot to signal. My girlfriend was with me. It was terrible. It was like in the
movies.

ISA
Do you?
25

DAZ
Yeah.
Yeah…
Yes.
I was selling cds.
dvds.
Blazing saddles
Got that Best Man
Loves Jones
Got that Harlem Nights
Got that White Men Can’t Jump.
Claudine
I got that Bruce Lee.
That Enter the Dragon.
I got that Wu Tang.
Got that Ghostface and Gucci
I was trying to feed my brothers and sisters.
That’s what the fuck I was doing.
Do you?

ISA
Yes. I was looking down…on my mother and my brothers and my sisters. And I said…forgive, then they
don’t know what they’re doing.

DAZ
We remember. So what?

GRIF
Everyone on that list gotta die?

ISA
Yes.

DAZ
All gone.

ISA
We are sacrifices.

GRIF
No martyrs.

26
ISA
Same difference.

GRIF
Completely different.

ISA
Not really.

GRIF
The martyr dies because of who they are. That’s us.

ISA
No. We the sacrifice. We save the rest. So the others can live.

GRIF
One’s gotta choice.

ISA
Which is which?

GRIF
The one with his hands up.

ISA
That’s us. We are lambs led to the slaughter.

DAZ
‘The fuck is we?

ISA
A sacrifice. To save the world.

GRIF
Saints in stained glass. We holy man!

ISA
See what’s happening now.

GRIF
We hear prayers. We answer prayers.

ISA
27
Our sacrifice saves the rest.

DAZ
Save yaself, nigga.

(This should move seamlessly from desperation to seduction and back.)

ISA
Save the long line behind us. All the ones that ain’t even been born. We save them.

GRIF
We answer prayers. We are the example.

ISA
We lay down our lives so other can live.

GRIF
Pray to us. We are your patrons.

ISA
Our blood makes the rest clean.

DAZ
Beggin’ ass niggas.

GRIF
Pray!

ISA
Live!

GRIF.
Hang our picture on the wall and cross yourself. Pray for healing.

DAZ
Be ya own physician nigga.

ISA
Let not your body die though I am dead. Live.

GRIF
We give you soul.

28
ISA
(To Grif)
Yo. Can we talk?

GRIF
(To Isa)
I mean, really. Can we talk?

ISA
(To Grif)
Can we get on the same page?

GRIF
(To Isa)
Can you get on my page?

ISA
(Back to audience)
Maybe I can reason with you all. Huh?

GRIF
(Back to audience)
It’s real easy man.

DAZ
FUCK THEM OFAYS.

DAZ GRIF
Got that Babyface (To Isa)
Got that new Kanye Come on.
Got that new Yoncee

Got that new new
Got that good good. ISA
Got that good good. (To Daz)
You, come on.
Niggas always looking for a savior.
GRIF

(Back to us)
Arguing bout shit and they not listening Three patron saints for sell.
Nigga you think they hear you.
You wanna see some muthafucking dead behind the eye ISA
Keep talking. Go tell someone what happens. Save them.

29
GRIF
We’re here. Can you feel us? All over this space. Can you feel the redemptive power! The blood.

ISA
Been shedding our blood. Make it matter.

DAZ
Stoooooop. Alright? What kinda fool sense that make! Fuck them, Fuck your fucked up salvation cosmology.
Stop asking for salvation.

ISA
But we—

DAZ
Nope.

GRIF
Don’t you wanna—

DAZ
Shush.

ISA
Now wait a second—

DAZ
Shuuuuuuuusssssshhhhhhhh. Shhh.

(A silence.)

ISA
Oh Shit!

GRIF
What?

ISA
I have instructions.

DAZ
I hate this.

30
ISA
I’m sorry...Y’all started showing up and I just…

GRIF
Why you get instructions?

ISA
This ain’t my first time.

DAZ
What does it say?

ISA
Tells me what I’m supposed to say when y’all get here.

DAZ
Well.

GRIF
Read it.

ISA
(Reading.)
Kill Move Paradise: The Operational Manuel.

DAZ
Say what?

ISA
(Reading)
Welcome. You are one step closer to your final resting place.

DAZ
They make this shit sound so pleasant.

GRIF
Skip to the good part.

ISA
Bet. Good idea.
(Looking)
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba….uh…yes! Here we go.
(Reading)
31
Not unlike Elysium/this place has been constructed…

GRIF
/Elysium.

ISA
by your predecessors….

DAZ
Predecessors?

ISA
(Reading)
…As a waystation on your to your final destination.

DAZ
Final destination. We not getting no deader. Where we going from here?

ISA
Once your cohort has been gathered you will be transported to your final destination of pleasure and
rejuvenation.

GRIF
Rejuvenation sounds promising.

ISA
(Reading)
This is where you will be making your final transfiguration into your rightful places in the cosmos.

DAZ
Alright! Here we go! The good shit!

ISA
(Reading)
Your transformation will be observed for training a quality purposes.

GRIF
Observed.

DAZ
By who?

(They all look at the audience.)
32
GRIF
Finish reading.

ISA
Please do not: Feed them, Mock them, Steal from them, Bribe them, Hassle them, Imitate them, Seduce
them, Abuse them, Accuse them, deduce them.

GRIF
Does it say what we can do?

ISA
Dancing is encouraged.

DAZ
Maaaaaaan fuck that.

ISA
(Reading)
There is much excitement around this next step for you. Please enjoy your stay.

GRIF
That’s it?

ISA
The sparkling water and brownies are complementary, y’all.

GRIF
Damn!

(Beat)

DAZ
What kind of brownies?

ISA
Does it matter?

DAZ
I like brownies.

GRIF
Where did you get that? DAZ
33
Damn man.
ISA
Fell out the sky. Ain’t this about a blimp!

GRIF Huh. HUH!
Not very helpful.
Welp!
ISA
It’s something. Guess that’s how it go.

GRIF I guess there are a lot of
Long list huh? mindingtheirownbusinesswalkinghomed
rivingwhileblackwinkin’atawhitewoma
ISA nuppityIain’tgotnoguntalkingbacktot
Yeah. hecopstryingtogetdirectionsandgetshot
inthefuckingfaceass niggas up in here.
GRIF
Damn.

DAZ
Where the rest of them?

ISA
Don’t know.

GRIF
How many more?

ISA
I don’t see the end.

DAZ
Ain’t no end?

GRIF
Can’t stop a flood.

DAZ
What else does it say?

ISA
What?
34

GRIF
Those instructions.

ISA
That’s it.

DAZ
A fucking welcome letter.

ISA
It’s not so bad right?

DAZ
Huh?

ISA
Could be hell right?

DAZ
Man shut your dumb ass up.

ISA
Who you calling dumb?

GRIF
Hey! Everybody relax.

DAZ
It could be hell.

GRIF
It could be heaven.

ISA
Which would you prefer?

DAZ
I would prefer to be alive nigga.

GRIF
We all would.

35
(Grif looks out at the audience. He studies the audience. He moves closer to the audience.
Daz and Isa watch.)

ISA
Now what?

GRIF
Something. About them.

DAZ
Them?

GRIF
Yes.

ISA
Something like what?

GRIF
I can’t figure it out.

ISA
I been looking at them since I got here.

DAZ
Man I’m sick of looking at them.

ISA
I bet the feeling is mutual.

GRIF
You don’t see it?

DAZ
See what?

GRIF
They...the way they are looking at us...
Everybody spread out. Look real hard.

(They all spread out on the edge of the space.)

DAZ
36
Okay.

ISA
What are we looking for?

GRIF
I don’t know. But…I just feel like…there is something out there. We can’t see it from this angle maybe?
Let’s switch.

(They all scramble and into new spots. They look out.)

ISA
Now?

DAZ
Nope.

GRIF
Nothing here.

ISA
Damn.

DAZ
What we gonna do now?

ISA
We wait.

GRIF
For what?

DAZ
Read that list.

ISA
This a long list man.

GRIF
Still growing?

ISA
I think it stopped.
37

DAZ
For now.

GRIF
Read it.

(Isa reads. Daz and Grif look at the list and respond to it. Over the top of the expanse
water begins to rushing in and drain down the opening at the end of the stage forming a
mighty river. All of this chaos should build and build and build until we are not sure how
much more we can take. The impulse will be to make the list less agonizing. It should
feel specific and clear but it should not feel like memorial. I should be a speaking of
names as an attempt to keep those bodies alive. To keep black men and women alive. End
with crescendo. *This list has grown each time I have done a revision of this play and, I
fear, will continue to grow. Add the names of the newly fallen. We must say their names
as well.)

ISA DAZ
Amadou Diallo (amadu DeeallO) Huh.
Malcolm Ferguson
Patrick Dorismond (dorismuhnd)
Earl Murray (murreee) GRIF
Ronald Beasley (beeslee) Huh.
Prince Jones
Timothy Thomas
Orlando Barlow DAZ
Ousmane Zongo (Oosmahn zongo) Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Alberta Spruill (sprool)
Timothy Stansbury (stansberry)
James Brisette (brizette) GRIF
Ronald Madison Kahhhhhh…Huh.
Henry Glover (glover)
Sean Bell
DeAunta Terrel Farrow (fairrow)
Tarika Wilson (tareekah)
Oscar Grant DAZ
Shem Walker Huh.
Victor Steen
Kiwane Carrington (Keywahn)
Aaron Campbell
Steven Eugene Washington GRIF
Aiyana Jones (Iana) Ahhhhhhhh
38
Danroy Henry (Danroy) Kahhhhhhh
Derrick Jones Huh.
Reginald Doucet (doset)
Raheim Brown (rahheem)
Kenneth Harding
Alonzo Ashley (allonzoh) DAZ
Kenneth Chamberlain HUH.
Ramarley Graham (rahmarley)
Sgt. Manuel Loggins, Jr (logins)
Raymond Allen
Dante Price (dahnteh)
Nehemiah Dillard (neamy) GRIF
Wendell Allen HUH.
Shereese Francis (shureese)
Rekia Boyd (rehkeyah) DAZ
Kendrec McDade (Kendrick) HUH
Ervin Jefferson (ehrvin)
Tamon Robinson (tahmoan) GRIF
Shantel Davis (shAnntell) HUH HUH
Chavis Carter (chahvis)
Reynaldo Cuevas (Raynahldoh quayvas) DAZ
Timothy Russell Ahhhhhhh
Malissa Williams (melissa) Kahhhhhh
Kimani Gray (Kimanee)
Deion Fludd (flood)
Larry Eugene Jackson, Jr . GRIF
Carlos Alcis (alciss) Huh.
Jonathan Ferrell
Miriam Carey (meeriam) DAZ
Andy Lopez Huh.
Jordan Baker
McKenzie Cochran GRIF
Yvette Smith (yevette) Huh.
Victor White III
Eric Garner DAZ
Tyree Woodson (tieree) Huh.
John Crawford III
Michael Brown GRIF
Dante Parker (dahnteh) Huh.
Ezell Ford (eeezell)
Kajieme Powell (kahgeem) DAZ
LaQuan McDonald Huh.
39
Akai Gurley (ackI)
Tamir Rice (tameer) GRIF
Rumain Brisbon (rumain) HUH
Walter Scott
Sandra Bland DAZ
David Felix Haaaaaaaaah HA
Freddie Gray
Quintonio LeGrier (quinntoneio lagreer) GRIF
Bettie Hones HA haaaaaaaah Ha
Alton Sterling (allton)
Philando Castile (fillahndo casteel)
Paul O’Neal
Korryn Gaines (corein gaynes) DAZ
Isa Maxwell Huh.
Griffin Williams
Andre “Daz” Penny
And
And
And
And and and and and and…

GRIF
Man
Long list.
ISA
RIGHT!!!!

GRIF
Shit’s crazy.
ISA
Black Folk ain’t got nobody.
GRIF
Jesus.

DAZ
Shit. They got his ass too.

ISA
I just keep looking at it.
DAZ
Ain’t gonna change it.

40
ISA
Good to say the names.

(An earthquake. It shakes and shakes and shakes. The men look at the list. Stillness, then
from over the top of the distance emerges TINY. He is young. He is black. He carries a
toy gun. He walks down the great height to the men who stand puzzled.)

ISA
No.

DAZ
Are you kidding me?

GRIF
That can’t be right.

ISA
What you doing here?

TINY
Minding my business. What y’all doing here?

ISA
We live here.

TINY
Weeeeeeerd?

ISA
Yeah.

GRIF
You lost little man.

DAZ
Are you kidding! Are you kidding! He can’t be more than

ISA
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

TINY
What?

41
THE MEN
Nothing.

TINY
Where all you’re furniture at?

DAZ
He talking bout furniture when clearly we should be discussing how—

ISA
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

DAZ
He’s too young. They sent him too—

ISA
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

DAZ
Nigga stop shushing me!

(Tiny looks out at the audience. He walks to the edge of the space. We see him. He sees
us. He likes us. He takes us in. Perhaps he waves at a woman in the third row. Perhaps he
winks at another one. We do this for a while. We become endeared to him. The men
watch this.)

ISA
You see them?

TINY
Yeah.

GRIF
All of them?

TINY
You blind and deaf?

DAZ
So…

ISA
Yes?
42

DAZ
If he can see…

TINY
Yo…you ain’t gotta talk about me like I’m not here. Standing right here.

GRIF
If he can see all of them…then?

ISA
Yeah.

DAZ
Fuck. So he’sFUCK!

TINY
What’s his problem.

GRIF
Don’t worry little man.

TINY
Who’s worrying?

GRIF
We gonna take real good care of you.

TINY
Ew man…you making me feel like this is a stranger danger situation.

ISA
He just means we got your back.

TINY
Whatever works for you.

ISA
What’s your name?

TINY
Nickname or government?

43
ISA
Whichever.

TINY
Tiny.

DAZ
Descriptive.

GRIF
You’re Momma name you that?

DAZ
Why are you so concerned about what Nigga’s momma’s name them?

GRIF
I like names. He has an interesting name! Is it wrong to know whether that’s his birth name! I got rights.
Tiny is an interesting name.

DAZ
She mightaswell named him Molecule.

(Beat. Beat. Beat. Grif and Daz holler with laughter.)

TINY
Shut your water head up.

DAZ
Lil guy got a big mouth, though.

ISA
Where you come from?

DAZ
Molecule.

(He erupts into laughter.)

TINY
You calling me short.

(Tiny walks up to Daz. Tiny is small and this is absurd. Tiny’s commitment to this,
however, is enormous.)
44

TINY
You gonna hit me with the short jokes.

GRIF
Ain’t nobody called you short.

TINY
Nah nah nah…he implied it!

DAZ
Huh?

TINY
By commenting on my name you were commenting on my size.

DAZ
You are small.

TINY
There he go calling me small again!

ISA
Cause it applies!

TINY
I hate that.

ISA
You know what…you right.

DAZ
He is?

ISA
And we apologize.

DAZ
We do?

ISA
Yes.

45
TINY
That’s all I asked for.

GRIF
Hey little man. What do you see when you look out there?

TINY
They dressed up. Guess they on dates or something.
(To the audience.)
‘Scuse me Miss? You on a date? Miss? Miss?
(To the men)
Why she not talking back?

ISA
You know how a TV works?

TINY
Yeah man.

GRIF
You ever heard of in vitro?

TINY
What’s that Spanish?

DAZ
You ever been in a line up. With the one way glass.

TINY
Uh….no.

DAZ
They collecting evidence.

TINY
I ain’t done nothing.

ISA
You don’t know how they see you.

TINY
That was cryptic.

46
DAZ
Look at little man with the fivedollar vocabulary.

TINY
That ain’t no big word.

ISA
He’s smart.

TINY
I got a 127 IQ!

(They all over react to this. Sort of an exaggerated lean back, as if to say “Well excuse
me.” Laughing, running about the space, mocking and playful. This should last longer
than feels necessary.)

ISA
Ooooh check /you out little man.

DAZ
/I’ve got/ a 127 IQ!

GRIF
/Listen you tiny/peasant people! I’m Smaaaaaaaht!

DAZ
/Nigga I’m cool as shit with Einstein.

TINY
What are your IQ’s?

(This stops them cold.)

TINY
Clowns.

DAZ
We just teasing. You all serious.

TINY
I hurt your feelings or something?

GRIF
47
Man goonhead aight.

TINY
Soooooo…what y’all do for fun?

ISA
We uuuuuuuuh….We like to uuuuuuuh

DAZ
Sometimes we uuuuuuuuuh….

GRIF
Yeah uuuuuuuuuuh…

TINY
Y’all ever play aliens and cowboys.

DAZ
Yoooooooooooooooo!

GRIF
How you play that?

DAZ
Are there real aliens or like…you know…for play play?

TINY
Uh.

DAZ
Never mind. It don’t matter. How you play it?

TINY
It’s like a...roleplaying game. Like...we all play different parts. To like save the universe.

GRIF
I call the cowboy.

TINY
I’m the cowboy, man!

GRIF
There can’t be more than one?
48

TINY
Nope.

GRIF
That’s a stupid rule. Come on man! Lemme be a cowboy. Come on.

TINY
It’s just a game man.

GRIF
Are the aliens the bad guys.

TINY
Some of them.

GRIF
Oh!! So they’re good Aliens.

TINY
I don’t know man. They just like...The cowboys like don’t understand them...exactly. They’re just scared
of them.

GRIF
Man that sounds corny. Let me be a cowboy. Come on.

DAZ
Can I be whatever kinda alien I want? Are there costumes?

GRIF
Come on! ComeOnComeOnComeOnComeOn!

TINY
No man!! Alright?

GRIF
Fine!

TINY
Aight this how it go. You three be the aliens and I’m trying to capture you and take you back to my planet
to do all these like crazy experiments on you.

GRIF
49
Ooo ooo ooo! Like injecting us with a disease to see it’s effects?

TINY
Yeah.

DAZ
Ooo ooo ooo! Or exposing us to heightened levels of radioactive material to see if we grow a third head?

TINY
Uh…sure.

GRIF
Ooo ooo ooo! Or like seeing how much pain we can endure?

TINY
Hey

DAZ
Ooo ooo ooo! Or making us hate ourselves cause we don’t look like them by bombarding us with
photographs of what they look like everywhere so that it’s all we can see?

TINY
Well damn, when you put it like that.

ISA
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

GRIF
Let’s do it.

DAZ
Yeah…that shit sounds so dope.

ISA
Aight here we go.

(The Men contort their bodies and faces to look like “aliens”. Tiny just looks at them.
Shakes his head. Looks at the audience like “these guy.” And then back at the men.)

ISA
What!

DAZ
50
We not substantial enough for little Molecule here?

GRIF
We’re being Aliens, man!

TINY
…Have you fools ever seen an alien?

THE MEN
Yeah!

TINY
In person?

THE MEN
What!

TINY
Manyouain’tneverseeeeeeeeeeeeeeennoalien.

ISA
I gotta TV.

GRIF
I read!

DAZ
I got the internet!

TINY
Y’all don’t know what you doing. Alright. I’ll be the alien.

ISA
No No No!

DAZ
Chill little nigga.

GRIF
We got it.

TINY
Well then get it, then. Here we go.
51

(The game of Aliens and Cowboys begins. The three men contort their bodies to look like
aliens. This time it’s really real looking. They are working together. They capture Tiny.
He gets away. He fights them. He’s really good. This should feel like we are watching
someone play a very impressive video game and winning. Tired of losing…the three
men/aliens combine into one huge Alien. This terrifies Tiny but he continues.
Finally…Tiny successfully wins the game. I’m not sure what that mean. Be creative. No
fake blood though. Hate that shit.)

ISA
Hold up.
(Puffs)

GRIF
Man.
(Puffs)

DAZ
Shit.

(A large, harsh and scary gasp for air and then back to the normal huff and puff)

TINY
Y’all got asthma?

THE MEN
No.

TINY
You look like you got asthma.

ISA
We out of practice.

GRIF
We almost had you that one time.

TINY
Maaaaaaaan y’all some busters. Let’s play again.

THE MEN
NO!!!

52
TINY
What? You scared?

DAZ
Ain’t nobody scared of

ISA
Just sit your little ass down for a minute.

GRIF
Wooooo

DAZ
I ain’t about this babysitting life.

ISA
Woooooooooooooooo

TINY
Yo! I seen this kid get killed yesterday.

ISA
Yeah?

TINY
Yeah…It was crazy. In broad daylight.

GRIF
Did you know him?

TINY
I…I don’t think I did.

ISA
Damn.

TINY
It was so quick. Like lightening.

GRIF
What did you do?

53
TINY
I covered my eyes. I didn’t want to see it.

ISA
Tell us what happened?

TINY
I was out playing, right…

ISA
Uh huh.

TINY
And I was fighting off the aliens. In Douglas park! With my friends.

GRIF
Whole bunch of Aliens huh? I bet you were kicking their butts right?

TINY
I was!

DAZ
That’s sounds amazing.

TINY
It was!

ISA
Boyhood is something else.

DAZ
Getting shorter by the minute ‘round here.

GRIF
Then what happened little man?

TINY
Then a new spaceship approached! And…I turned around and they shot him.

ISA
Damn.

GRIF
54
No!

DAZ
That’s fucked up

TINY
They shot him.

ISA
They shot him?

TINY
They shot...

They shot…

There was blood. So much of it.

(Suddenly something shifts. Tiny is older somehow. Like he’s grown up in the blink of an
eye. Something isn’t right. He turns to walk away.)

ISA
Where are you going?

TINY
I don’t wanna play with you guys no more.

DAZ
Can’t leave.

ISA
Shhhhhhhhhh.

TINY
Yes I can.

GRIF
Hey little man…wait—

TINY
My mom told me if I’m ever in trouble to come straight home. Don’t talk to nobody I don’t know. And I
don’t know y’all. So I’m going home.

55
ISA
Wait.

TINY
No!

(Tiny tries to run up the expanse but can’t make it to the top. He slides back down.)

GRIF
Just like you, Daz.

ISA
Tiny. Hey…Just calm down.

TINY
I’m getting out of here!

(Tiny tries to run up the expanse but can’t make it to the top. He slides back down. Up.
Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. Down.
Up. Down. Up down. Up down. Up down. Up down. Up down. Updown updown.
Updown. This continues under the following text.)

ISA GRIF DAZ
Protect the young. Niggas don’t run man.
He’s trying to fly.

They don’t need know how The little bird is trying to fly.
horrible the world is. Right? He’s like all of us. Wings
made of wax and wood and
wire and paper. Niggas bboy. Niggas run for
office. Niggas buy and sell and
fake the funk and dress up real
I mean do you tell you And they tell us when we are nice and steal ya bitch.
children how mass murder boys don’t get to close to the
works? sun.

Don’t fly to high. Stay in the
middle of the blue. Don’t try to Niggas get fresh haircuts. Niggas do
become the eagle. cardio and eat Kale. Niggas run
theses streets. Tell that little nigga the

truth. Tell him the truth. Niggas don’t
56
Do you tell them that when run. Niggas got bluetooths for that
people die we turn to dust? No! ass.
You tell them about Santa Claus and The eagle is designed to soar.
the Tooth fairy. We want children You are designed to lumber in
to remain pure. the air.

Nigga!
He’s just a kid.
Niggas be reading. Niggas be
writing. Niggas be knowing.
Right? Right? Right? Don’t go to high. Niggas be leading.

You ain’t a bird. You ain’t no bird. You’s
a man. You’s a boy. You can’t catch the
He doesn’t need to know the
air. You can’t save yaself.
truth. It’s too late anyway.

Nothing he can do now.

You gotta learn to walk.
He didn’t survive. What would
you do, Huh? What would you You gonna tell’em or you want
do? me to tell’em cause he gonna
know the truth.

(They all gasp air in. Tiny stops running. He is spent. He lies facing the sky on his back.
The other men look at him. Then they look at us.)

DAZ
Where did your little ass think you were going?

TINY
I…

…I…I can’t breathe.

ISA
It’s okay. Just slow down. In.

(Tiny inhales)

ISA
Out.

(Tiny exhales.)
57

TINY
I don’t wanna be here

DAZ
You don’t have a choice.

ISA
Lay off!

DAZ
You lay off man!

GRIF
Everybody needs to cool it.

DAZ
Nah! This is a supremely fucked up scenario. Let me live in that. And it’s time we stop playing little
games with his kid and figure out what the hell is going on.

TINY
I want to leave.

DAZ
You think you special or something? You think any of us wanna be—

ISA
Shut your mouth!

DAZ
Man fuck that kid. Everyman for himself out here.

(Daz and Isa get into a shoving match. Brothers fighting. Grif breaks it up.)

GRIF
Stop it.

DAZ
You just gonna make this harder on

TINY
I can’t breathe.

58
ISA
Breath in.

TINY
You breathe in!

GRIF
I think we all need to calm down. Okay?

DAZ
Is there anything in there…on those instructions that talks about what to do when…you know…the new
arrival is… you know…bite size.

ISA
No.

TINY
Oh God.

DAZ
Nothing?

TINY
No. No man.

ISA
We’re not trying to scare you.

TINY
I can’t go home can I?

(All of the men look at him. They breathe. He looks away from them. He goes to get his
gun. Which he has discarded towards the edge of the stage. He picks it up. He points it at
the audience. He smiles. He lowers it. He looks at them and says.)

TINY
It’s not real.

(The men huddle. Loud whispering is heard. Occasionally one will lift his head to check
in on Tiny who continues to look at the audience.)

TINY
It’s not. It’s not real. It’s not real.
59

DAZ
(Popping up)
Uh oh.

TINY
It’s not real!

GRIF
(Popping up)
We better hurry up.

TINY
You think this is real. You think I’m gonna hurt you? You scared of me? You outta be scared. I’m sharper
than a knife. This ain’t real. I’m real! I’m fucking Real! I’m it! I’m real! I’m the fucking thing! I’m real.
You see me! See me! REAL!

(The huddle disperses. They all stand in a line. They all look at Tiny. He looks back at
them. He turns and looks at them. He aims his toy gun at Daz. He fires. The toy gun
sounds like a real gun. Daz falls.)

DAZ
Ahhhhhhhhh you shot me!

(Tiny looks at the gun. Daz lies there. Stone cold still. Tiny Points the gun at Isa. He fires.
Isa spins up and hangs suspended in the air above.)

ISA
I thirst.

(He hangs like ripe fruit and gently sways. Tiny points the gun at Grif. Grif, not out of
fear but almost like ballet runs up the expanse.)

GRIF
Stop following me!

(Tiny fires. Grif slides down and begins to run back up the expanse. Fire. Slide. Run.
Fire. Slide. Run. Fire. Slide. Run. Finally Grif lays there in a heap. Cold still. Tiny drops
the gun. He looks out at the audience. A bell rings.)

TINY
What was that?

60
(The three men gasp back the air and come to standing in the line as before. Tiny looks at
them. Almost like serpentsdogs they slither and stalk towards Tiny, accompanied by the
sound of dogs barking. He is terrified of this creature. They are not the men any more
they are something else. They are now one thing. They surround him.)

TINY
It’s not real.

THE MEN
Yes I am.

TINY
Not real.

THE MEN
Yeeeeeeeesssss….

TINY
Stop playing!

THE MEN
Wanna play?

TINY
NO MAN!

THE MEN
It’s alright. I’m your friend.

TINY
Ha! I don’t think so.

THE MEN
I guard the gates for you.

TINY
Who are you?

ISA
I…

DAZ
61
Am…

GRIF
One.

TINY
See man! That don’t make no sense.

THE MEN
Want to play with me?

TINY
I…uh….

THE MEN
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

TINY
How you gonna ask me a question and then shush me?

THE MEN
Once a man went walking…
He covered his head and walked through the darkened street.

TINY
What you talking about?

THE MEN
Once a man was fallen…
He went to a neighbor for help…

TINY
Alright. Enough. Okay.

THE MEN
Once a man was selling wares…
He lifted the gate on his place of business.

TINY
Stop.

THE MEN
Where were you?
62

TINY
What?

THE MEN
What did you do?

TINY
What do you mean?

THE MEN
Are you supposed to be here?

TINY
No. I’m not.

THE MEN
Were you there?
Did you get spirited away?
Did it hurt?
Did you bleed?

TINY
Stop it!
(To the audience)
Don’t just sit there. Get some help man! You see this!? Come on now! I know you can’t hear me. Right!

(Music starts.)

TINY
Now what?

(The Men have positioned themselves to do a sort of 1960’s boy band song and dance.
Tiny takes this in.)

THE MEN
When you are down and on the ground
I’ll pat you down, down to the ground

TINY
Oh…So y’all just gonna sit there with the singing hell hounds doo wopping behind me like that?

THE MEN
63
Who knows your name, Get you’re hands up.
Just make it plain, get down and shut up.

TINY
This is entertaining to you. You enjoying this.

THE MEN
I gotta a plan for you.
I will make you immortal.
Do the thing I say do
You getting hostile.

TINY
Well if all you wanted was a show…I could have given you that.
Don’t feel nothing but a breeze. Hear that?

THE MEN


TINY
Who are these people
Wasgood?
Come to see me?
Yeah?
What for?
Heard about me? Come to see for yourselves?
Do I scare you?

THE MEN
Breathe in. Breath out.
Choke on this air.
Breath in Breath out
Survive if you dare.

Breathe in. Breath out.
64
Choke on this air.
Breath in Breath out
Survive if you dare.

TINY
I’ll dance. I’ll sing.

THE MEN TINY
Survive if you dare
Survive if you dare Being black boys just ain’t what it used to be.
Survive if you dare
Survive if you dare Ain’t what it used to be
Survive if you dare
Survive if you dare Ain’t what it used to be.
Survive if you dare
Survive if you dare Being black boys just ain’t what it used be
Survive if you dare
Survive if you dare Not many more years to go.

TINY
Oh…I see now.
I don’t like this game.

ISA
You think we do?

GRIF
Get used to it.

TINY
No…I don’t want too.

DAZ
Ain’t about what you want.

TINY
Explain it to me.

ISA
What?

65
TINY
What this is...who they are?

GRIF
Do you remember what sent you here?

TINY
No…

ISA
Little more work to do.

TINY
This is stupid man!

DAZ
Yes.

ISA
It is.

GRIF
That…don’t change.

TINY
(To audience)
What are you waiting for? Huh?

ISA
Hey there buddy I don’t think we’re supposed to

TINY
What do you need to see?

ISA
Back up.

TINY
I don’t want them watching. Just sitting there. Waiting.

GRIF
We don’t have a choice.

66
TINY
How can we makes your time here more comfortable? Huh?

ISA
Uh oh.

TINY
Hmmmm?

GRIF
He’s all wild in the eyes again.

TINY
What can wash away my sin? Huh?

DAZ
Yo…Little man. Calm down.

TINY
Oh…I’m calm. I’m reeeeeeeeeal calm.

ISA
Yeah?

TINY
Oh yeah.

GRIF
Uh…

TINY
We made it! Right? We all the same right? We all here drinking milk and honey. We have overcome.
Right? You and you and you and you and you and you and you and you and you…hell you get the
picture.

ISA
This is feeling a little tense.

DAZ
No instructional manual for this little nigga.

ISA
I don’t think we are allow to make them uncomfortable?
67

TINY
Why not? I wanna feel uncomfortable. I wanna feel uneasy. It ain’t easy!

DAZ
Yeah! I’m with Little man!

ISA
Dead men don’t protest.

TINY
Somebody better start doing something.

GRIF
What you want from them.

ISA
It’s not their job.

GRIF
They just came to watch.

TINY
To watch.
Oh…You wanna watch something you can…relate too. Yeah?
Is that it?
(To us)
Then watch this.

(Theme song to an 80’s TV sitcom plays. They all do a sort of Cosby Show opening
dance number. As Momma (Isa), Daddy (Daz), Travis (Grif) and Tiny. It should be cute.
Very endearing. It should be a really great Sitcom. Final tableau. We are in the sitcom. So
here something about the sitcom. Think of this as a broken up, shattered and disturbed
Cosby Show. Tiny is always aware of the audience and is doing this to fuck with the
audience.)

TINY
You wanted to watch right? Don’t look away now.

MOMMA
Tiny!!!!

TINY
68
Yeah mom?

MOMMA
You not dead are you!

(Laugh track)

TINY
Yes. Momma! You know I am! I’m dead as fuck.

MOMMA
Awwwwwwwww that’s nice! That’s a good boy. Well where are you off too this after noon.

TINY
I’m going to play with the fellas.

MOMMA
The fellas?

(Laugh track)

TINY
Oh come on momma! You know we all travel in gangs! In PACKS! Like wolves! Like heyenas!

MOMMA
Awwwwwww that’s nice!

(Laugh track)

TINY
Later momma!

MOMMA
I got a call from the school that said you disrupted the last school assembly.

TINY
That school don’t know what they talking about.

MOMMA
Tiny...You have to be a good example at school.

TINY
Why?
69

(Laugh track)

MOMMA
Is that back talk I hear?

TINY
Awwwwwwww Momma you know I love you!

(Canned “aaaaaawwwwwwws”)

MOMMA
Oh boy, get out of here.

(Laugh track)

DADDY
Tiny

TINY
Yeah daddy?

DADDY
It’s time you learned the pledge.

TINY
The pledge? What’s that?

DADDY
It’s sort of a ritual.

TINY
Ritual?

MOMMA
Rite of Passage.

TINY
Something every little nigga gotta learn!

(Laugh track)

TRAVIS
70
The pledge.

DADDY
As black fathers have passed down to their black sons for hundreds of years in this country I give this
pledge to you.

TINY
It’s a long tradition.

TRAVIS
Don’t know when it started.

TINY
When we gonna finish it?

(Laugh track)

DADDY
Repeat after me. I say your name.

TINY
I say your name.

(Laugh track)

MOMMA
Tiny be serious!

(Laugh track)

TINY
I Tiny.

DADDY
Do solemnly swear.

TINY
Do solemnly swear.

DADDY
To not look pensive, mean or angry.

TINY
71
To not looks pensive, mean or angry.

DADDY
To not come off as cool or exhibit too much braggadocio.

TINY
To not come off as cool or exhibit too much braggadocio.

DADDY
And to always keep my hands visible.

TINY
And to always keep my hands visible. Nukka!

(Laugh track)

DADDY
That’s my son.

TINY
You won’t believe what happened to me yesterday! I was out playing, right…

MOMMA
Uh huh.

TINY
I was playing! I was pretending. And I was fighting off the aliens. In Douglas park!

TRAVIS
Whole bunch of Aliens huh? I bet you were kicking their butts right.

TINY
Oh I was!

DADDY
That’s sounds amazing, son.

TINY
Oh It was!

MOMMA
We’re so proud of you!
72

DADDY
You’ve become quite the intergalactic warrior haven’t you!

TRAVIS
Then what happened little man?

TINY
Then a new spaceship approached! And…I turned around and they shot…

DADDY
Who?

TINY
They shot…

MOMMA
Come on baby.

TINY
They shot me.

MOMMA
Oh no! My baby!

TRAVIS
No!

DADDY
That’s terrible.

TINY
They shot me.

MOMMA
I know you got them back!

DADDY
You used your super healing chamber to get better.

TRAVIS
Tiny the Intergalactic PostHuman Savior of the Universe!

73
TINY
There was blood.

MOMMA
Gotta break some eggs.

TINY
So much of it.

DADDY
To make a cake!

TINY
I bled. It was dark and warm. It felt like life. Like breathing out and never in. Like expiration.

MOMMA
Something’s rotten!

TINY
One time.

DADDY
Comes with the territory.

TINY
One shot. It was hot. I felt the metal passing. It was hot and burning and it bored through. Inertia wants
you to be where you are but he force wants to take you with it so you bend and you expand and you cry
out and you tear at the air and you don’t understand and you mix up what’s really happening and what’s
supposed to be happening and you see the whole scope of history and time slide across your eyes like a
viewfinder and your feet come off the ground and you spin around in the air cause your soul ain’t fastened
to your heart no more and the great vacuum of soul catcher turns on and you feel the top of you head
break apart and you feel your shoulders pulling your arms and your chest and your dick and you legs and
you feet and you and you and you, you go up and you land and you look over the edge and you see a sea.
You see all of the men. And they all look like you and they welcome you and teach you how to play a
game that you will play for eternity and the rules aren’t on earth. The rules are here. And you mourn and
you cry because you miss your momma and daddy and little brother…and they say it’s alright and then
you are alright. But the ones left behind…They don’t know the rules.

GRIF
You not special. It can happen to you. White picket fences be damned.

TINY
Why?
74

DAZ
You know you’re terrifying right?

(Laugh track)

TINY
Wittle ole me?

ISA
Just plan hideous.

TINY
Dang Momma that’s cold blooded.

(Laugh track)

DAZ
You’re reviled.
(Laugh track)

MOMMA
Despised.

(Laugh track)

GRIF
You’re superhuman. Like a mutant. A superhuman mutant. With skin that can ricochet bullet!

(Laugh track)

DAZ
Evil incarnate.

(Laugh track)

ISA
Up to no good.

(Laugh track)

GRIF
Do you know that you’re scary?
75

(Laugh track)

DAZ
Do you know that you’re scary?

(Laugh track)

ISA
You know you’re scary, right?

(Laugh track)

TINY
Am I scary?
Am I?
Is it me?
Did something happen? A long time ago?
Was it something I did?
Is it something that was made that we can’t kill?
(Silence.)
What is everyone so afraid of?

(He waits for a response. This probably won’t come. Isa, Daz, and Grif are back to
themselves. Silence!)

ISA
You remember what happened to you?

TINY
Yeah.

ISA
Hey…

TINY
Yeah?

GRIF
We remember too.

TINY
76
All of you…?

ISA
All of us.

TINY
I should have stayed at home…

DAZ
Nah man...You get to swing from the monkey bars...you get to run around and play and be a fucking kid.
You get to be man. You get to have an attitude. You get to mouth off cause that’s what little kids do man.
Fine we all remember what happened to us. So what?

ISA
It’s how we move on.

DAZ
I gotta new rule...close your eyes little man. Remember...remember that day you first played a game that
you made up...remember teaching it to your little friends. Remember that you made somebody’s life
brighter and better. That’s transformation, man.

ISA
Amen.

GRIF
Won’t be long now.

DAZ
Hey…Look.

(All of the men look out into the audience.)

DAZ
You see that?

GRIF
Yes.

DAZ
Daaaaaaaamn.

ISA
It’s coming this way.
77

TINY
It’s gonna finish us.

ISA
No. It’s kind.

GRIF
Yeah. It is.

DAZ
Slow as hell though.

ISA
Transformation takes time.

GRIF
Yeah.

TINY
Hold my hand?

DAZ
Yeah. Yeah.

(Daz takes Tiny’s hand.)

GRIF
Almost here.

TINY
Should we run into it?

ISA
It’ll catch us.

(Another paper airplane flies in. It lands, hopefully, at Tiny’s feet. He opens it. Reads.)

DAZ
What’s it say?

TINY
“I got you.”
78

GRIF
Ha.

ISA
Wow.

DAZ
Man…

TINY
It’s always the small words that breaks the kingdom’s walls.

ISA
It’s not in the wind, or quake or the fire. It’s the whisper.

(A wave of sound and light passes over the men. It should physically move them.
Imagine a wind of fire, water, and metallic particles rushes over them. They are changed
in this. They glow now. They spread out onto the space. Glowing godlike vessels of
possibility. They smile at us.)

TINY ISA GRIF DAZ
A sacrifice requires
purity of the tribute. Hahhhhhh.
Kahhhhhh
Seek ye first the Hahhhhhh.
Fresh blood. kingdom of what you Kahhhhhh
New blood. need and all these Destroy nothing.
things will be added
unto you. Get yours.
Destroy nothing.
Turn baby You can’t afford to be
I am the last they shall who you want to be.
eliminate. Turn. Turn It’s to pricy. You gotta
learn to be what the
Turn baby. Baby! machine needs. Learn
what cog you fit with.
Turn. Turn Turn.

Ezekiel saw the wheel Ezekiel saw
79
way up in the middle the wheel way up in
of the air. the middle of the air.
Kahhhhhhhh They huntin’ niggas
Ezekiel saw the wheel Ezekiel saw
way in the middle of the wheel way in the
the air. middle of the air. Blood time.
That consuming fire Kahhhhhhh
Blood time.
will burn up all that is They killing us.
Kahhhhhhh
mortal and flesh and Blood time.
make it divine Human history will
record the passing of
this time.

They’ll call it the
Blood time. Or the
Bad time. Or the Hard In my fathers house
times. Or the Killing. I saw my girlfriends there are many
Or the Culling. Or the Ultrasound. I make mansions
Wiping. life, I know It.
You wanna talk about If it were not
the bad times. Creator force. soooooooooooooo,
Something from
nothing. I make I I would have told you.
build I do not destroy.
I make I build. I do no
In my fathers house harm. In my fathers house
there are many there are many
mansions mansions

Free in fields to If it were not If it were not
wander I am the face soooooooooooooo, soooooooooooooo,
of youth. I am the next
they wish to abolish. I would have told you. I would have told you.

In my fathers house In my fathers house In my fathers house
Make room for my there are many there are many there are many
memory on the shelf. I mansions mansions mansions
haunt your dreams and
day dreams and school If it were not If it were not If it were not
systems and soooooooooooooo, soooooooooooooo, soooooooooooooo,
legislative halls.
I would have told you. I would have told you. I would have told you.
80

In my fathers house
there are many In my fathers house In my fathers house In my fathers house
mansions there are many there are many there are many
mansions mansions mansions
If it were not
soooooooooooooo, If it were not If it were not If it were not
soooooooooooooo, soooooooooooooo, soooooooooooooo,
I would have told you.
I would have told you. I would have told you. I would have told you.

(Suddenly the space cracks. Full of light. The men brace themselves for the worst. Instead
they all seem to be elevated. Astounding, blinding, white light fills the stage. Their
everyday clothes are incinerated away to reveal new clothes. Almost like superhero
costumes. They are perfect. They almost float in the white light. Then, quite abruptly, we
slam to black)

That’s it.

81

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