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Indigo
By Julio C. Trinidad
Cast of Characters | Scene The Dutch Quad suite in the campus of the University of Albany |
Wiz College Student Younger brother of Peter | Time May 2008 Act I Scene I |
Peter College Student | |
Joey College Student | |
Emilio College Student |
Dedicated to my brother.
Standing in the living room of a college dormitory
suite. Wiz is holding a bottle of water.
Wiz
(Growing impatient)... Just tell me what happened.
Dude,I’m trying to tell you, I don’t know! your brother’s been
acting like that for the last few days. He hasn’t been sl-
Wiz
Last few days? And, it never occurred to you, to I don’t know uh,
call anybody?
Joey
Dude, I’m trying to help you out here-
Wiz
Help me out, right.(In a breath) Okay umm, This dorm party, was there
any drugs you saw or smelled that might of, maybe-
Joey
I don’t know, man. I told you I was with my girl the whole night, so-
Wiz
The fuck does that have to do with your senses? I’m trying to find out if you saw somebody smoking weed? Taking E? fucking- anything.
Joey
Look man. I did see none of that. All I saw was Peter acting weird.
I think he just needs to go home, you know. Maybe all that school work might’ve been a liTtle too-
Wiz
(nods on a beat) Yeah. Yeah, You’re probably right. Listen umm, I told my brother I would bring em’ back some water. You mind [gestures](suggesting Joey do it)?
Joey
(reluctanlty accepts) - yeah. Sure.
Wiz
Thanks.
Joey hesitates for a second before entering Peter’s room. While Joey walks in, Wiz makes his way to the door. We find Peter sitting on his bed, staring at something much deeper than the bed across from him.
Joey
Yo, P?
Extends to give Peter the bottled water. Peter remains as he is, silent and motionless.
Yo?
Shakes the water in front of him, to get his attention.
Peter remains the same.
(annoyed) Whatever man.
Wiz hears everything. Then a belch is heard from the the other room in the suite, which get Wiz’s attention. Joey walks out of Peter’s room and unexpectedly finds Wiz standing there.
Joey
Hey man, I- I gotta go-my girlfri-
Wiz
Listen, sorry about earlier.
I didn’t mean to come at you like that, bro.
Joey
(pause) Yeah. No, It’s cool man-
Wiz
Nah, bro. I just, I wanna say thank you, you know, for
taking out the time to help me make sense out of this you know,
I really do appreciate it.
Joey
It’s no problem-
Wiz
(lowers voice) Yo, we’re the only ones here, right?
Joey
What?
Wiz
Like aside from you, me, and Peter, Is their anyone else here?
Joey
My roommate, Emilo. I think. Why?
Wiz
So, this whole time we were talking, he didn’t evenhuh-
Joey
Dude, I’m lost-
Wiz
You won’t mind introducing me, would you? My brother never did-
Joey
(reluctantly agrees) Yeah, sure.
Joey escorts Wiz to Emilio’s room
Wiz
(with a smile) I just hope he isn’t to busy-
Joey knocks on Emilio’s door and lets himself in.
Wiz follows. We see Emilio comfortably cramming for finals
while drinking a beer.
Joey
Emilio?
Emilio
What it is?
Joey
Chillin’ man. Yo, This is P’s Brother, Wiz.
Emilio
Sup, man?
Wiz
Nothing-
Joey makes to leave. Wiz subtlety prevents Joey from exiting.
Wiz
I just have some questions about my brother, and this party
you guys had a few days ago?
Emilio focused on his studies
Joey
Yeah. what about it?
Wiz
What about it?
Emilio
Yeah. What do you wanna know?
Wiz
What do you want to kno- I heard you burp.
taken away from his studies
Emilio
What?
Wiz
I heard you burp, so I’m pretty sure you heard me...not for nothing but I’m getting the feeling that you guys know a lot more than what you’re putting out and quite frankly it’s really upsetting me. (pause) Let me clarify the situation because obviously we’re not on the same page. My brother called me three days ago and,told me that some people on campus were picking on him. At first, I don’t think it was a big deal, but he didn’t sound like himself when he said it. So I thought he was just drunk or stressed or something, you know. And if he was getting picked on, it’s nothing a grown man can’t handle. Then, he calls me yesterday, sounding less like himself, telling me; that there were some Frat guys picking on him, spreading rumors and what not-
Emilio
What?-
Joey
Dude, It’s not even-
Wiz
He said! His suitemate is out to get him because he refused
to join his fraternity-
Emilio
Yo, your brother’s-
Wiz
I said, Punch him in the fucking mouth and maybe he’ll stop bothering you! He said, "No. That’s what they want me to do"-
Emilio
Yo. I only asked him like twice, ever. And I never pushed him to join
or anything like that- If that’s what you’re thinking-
Wiz
It’s what he saying!
Emilio
I don’t know where this is coming from, as far as I know
me and your brother are cool.
Joey
Your brother might be acting a little para-
Wiz
Around 2:30, This morning, he called me. And he’s not
acting different anymore. He’s completely changed. This
doesn’t feel like my brother anymore, he sounds like a
person consumed with fear and, paranoia! and I wanna know why?
(beat)
Both Joey and Emilio look at each other and at Wiz with helpless expressions on their faces
Wiz (cont’d)
Aside from that, how is it that the closest people Peter has in this place are apparently both clueless. I find that very hard to believe. (pause) Now, I’m going to ask you again for some information. And if
I get anything shy of that, we’re gonna have a problem.
Emilio
Great, now the other brother’s tripping.
Joey
Yeah, I think you might be overdoing it with the accusations-
Both Emilio and Joey get up.
Joey (cont’d)
I think you should-
Wiz
Ay!!
Pulls out an ice pick from his front hoodie pocket.
Both Joey and Emilio stand motionless.
Joey
(frightened) whoa-
Emilio
(frightened) Yo, take it easy-
Wiz
Son, Sit the fuck down! I really didn’t wanna do this, man.
(beat)
I packed up this ice pick, came over here thinking I wouldn’t need to use this (looking at Emilio) But it doesn’t look like it’s going down like that anymore-
Joey
Be cool, yo-
Wiz
I’m not sure what yah niggas think this is right now, but everything I love is in that room, and yah mothafuckas are treating it like it’s a fucking joke or something. Now, if one of you’s get up, or says "I don’t know" again, I’m going to jail, You feel me!(pause) All I want is some answers, that’s all. That’s my brother in there.(beat) Now, was the party here or somewhere else on campus?
Both Joey and Emilio are scared to answer
Wiz (cont’d)
Talk!!
Joey
ahh-
Emilio
Yeah, Here. It was here!
Wiz
What kind of party was it? a get-together, were you
celebrating a birthday?... I need details?!
Joey
Get together
Wiz
Roughly, how many people?
Joey
I Don-
Wiz gets closer.
Emilio
15 to 20. 15 to 20!
Wiz
(Looking at Joey) Did you know most of them-
Emilio
I know all of them. They where mostly my Frat brothers.
Wiz
So there was drinking?
Emilio
of course.
Wiz
(looks at Emilio now) Was Peter drinking?
Emilio
I didn’t see him-
Wiz looks at Joey
Joey
Me neither. And your brother don’t drink anyways-
Wiz
I know that! But was he pressured, is what I wanna know?
Emilio
Nobody pressures your brother about anything here. We like him, man.
Wiz: with a less threatening demeanor
Wiz
Not enough to look after him. No drugs?
Emilio
I smoke herb but I never seen your brother even catch contact.
We actually tease em for it-
Wiz
(takes a step forward) Fuck you mean-
Emilio
That he so straight edge, man! He thought is was funny too-
Wiz
Crack, Speed, Ecstasy, chase the dragon, cocaine,
Mixing it up, Uppers, Downers-
Emilio
Nah, nah, nah, not in this dorm. Imma drunk and a stoner, man,
that’s it. and so are my boys-
Wiz
(to Joey) You?
Joey
No-
Emilio
He’s like your brother.
Their room is the Drug Free Zone, was the joke.
Wiz
Okay. (to Joey) You sleep in the same room as him.
You never seen him-
Joey
No. Come to think of it, I don’t recall him even being
there that night of the get-together.
Wiz
Fuck do you mean?
Joey
He doesn’t party much, your brother. Especially now,
finals week and all. He’s been hitting them books pretty hard.
The only place I ever really saw him was in the-
Wiz
Library. That’s where I found him. What about when he came back?
Joey
From the library?
Wiz nods
Joey (cont’d)
I don’t know.
Wiz
Motherf-
Wiz goes to Stab Joey, Emilio falls from the bed. Wiz grabs Joey.
Joey
I swear to god! I don’t see him!! I swear, I swear Please!
Wiz
What do you mean, you don’t see him?! You sleep in the same
fucking room!!
Wiz
But, I haven’t seen him sleep. When I go to bed, his not there and when
I wake up, his bed is empty, Please, man! I swear-
Wiz
You’re telling me he probably hasn’t slept in four fucking days?!
Joey
I don’t think he has-
Emilio
I don’t think he eating well either-
Wiz
Why?-
Emilio
I took him to the cafeteria two days ago and in the middle
of him eating, he just threw-up his food.
The shit was fucking weird.
Wiz
Why?-
Emilio
He’s said they were trying to poison him or something. The whole time there, he was saying people were trying to kill his character to control his mind. And, and when I told him to chill out, "it’s all in your head”,he said I was one of them. (pause) He need a doctor, man
Wiz lets go of Joey. (beat) lowers his guard completely.
Joey and Emilio both slowly get up
Wiz
That’s my brother, man. (pause) He was suppose to be your friend.
Joey
We still are.
Wiz
Not anymore.
Wiz exits Emilio’s room and enter Peter and Joey’s room.
Sits on Peter’s bed next to Peter. takes a moment and
notices that his water hasn’t been touched.
Wiz
Sup?
Peter with his head facing down doesn’t respond
Wiz (cont’d)
(with a smile) Hey, man
Peter
Told you, They’re trying to sabotage me. Now, do you believe me?
Wiz
Yeah, (smile) Sabotage. Can’t see a brother like you succeed.
Peter
Yeah.
Wiz
(beat) You hungry?
Peter
Nah, maybe later.
Wiz begins to cry
Wiz
(trying to hold back his tears)
You sure. I hear this Dutch Quad has the best cafeteria
Peter
Nah.
Wiz
You wanna take a walk? It’s kinda cluttered in here. It’s too, it’s
too much in here. We should go outside, get some fresh air.
(beat)
Wiz (cont’d)
I’m kinda hungry though.
Wiz
Nah, I’m good.
(beat)
Wiz
Wanna shoot around? We can play ball if you want.
Peter
I’m good. Gotta be careful, snakes all over this campus.
Ready to sabotage.
Wiz
Don’t worry, I took care of them.
They’re not going to bother you anymore.
I got you. (pause) So, you just want to chill in here?
Peter
Yeah.
Wiz
Wanna take a nap?
Peter
Nah.
Wiz
(beat) Well, I’m sleepy. So Imma take a nap. (pause)
Take a nap with me?
Peter
Nah, I’m good.
Wiz
(jokingly) C’mon
Wiz forces Peter’s body in a laying down position.
Then grabs Peter’s hand and forces him into an awkward cuddling
position. Both Peter and Wiz are noticeably uncomfortable
(beat)
Peter
This feels weird
Wiz
laughing, holding back this tears
Yeah, yeah, it does.
FADE OUT
THE END
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