Final Script Draft

BEGINNING

Lights Rise. Setting is a kitchen with Grandmother and her daughter.  

Grandma: Did you hear what true he oh said the other day? He will not stop at anything to insult the Haitians.

Mom: What did he say this time?

Grandma: He accused us of stealing food and starting more violence in this country. There are rumors that he sends men to Haitian villages to kill entire families. He should know we just want peace.

Mom: That’s horrible. I heard Edwidge’s family has already left. Their youngest is only four months old. They don’t want their children to grow up here.

Grandma: It may be our time soon as well.

Mom: Mamman, in this state, I can’t go anywhere.  

Grandma: Let us pray. Bondye will watch over us.

Mom: faint gunshots wait. Manman, do you hear that?

Grandma: What is that? (louder gunshots) We should leave now. Quick, I know where we can go.

(multiple gunshots, screams heard outside. Chaos and panic ensues in the room.)

Women shouting, screaming “What is going on?” “Run!!”

(gunshots getting louder and louder)

At edge of river (one side of stage) (gunshots can be heard, but faint)

Mom: Hurry. I see them over that hill. Faster!

Grandma: (clearly distressed) I can’t. I'm tired; please, Let me sit.

(sits on nearby rock?)

Mom: We both know it will be safer on the other side.

Grandma:  I need to tell you something. Listen to me

(loud gunshots heard, as if they are much closer)

Mom: Manman, they're getting closer.

Grandma: listen to me, I’m getting old. I am afraid our time together is very limited.

Mom: What are you talking about? (looks at Grandma and understands)

Grandma: You should go on without me. I won't make it across the river; I'll only hold you back.

Mom:(pause), I’m not ready to say goodbye.

Grandma: I know, take this. (Gives her daughter the Madonna)  Keep the Madonna. On the other side, maybe you will have someone to take my place. I hope you will. But if you don’t, you will always have the Madonna. (Shouting is heard again, louder) Go! Escape from this place.

Lights focus on Mother, preferably red lighting.

She is wearing the wings of fire. She stands alone, empowered. Somehow police officers run from her.

Then she realizes she is all alone, and lost the Madonna doll. She calls out for her mother when the Madonna (person) appears.

Lights come up slightly.

Mom: Who are you?

Madonna: I am the Madonna.

Mom: How did you find me?

Madonna: Your mother sent me to guide you. You and your child are safe here.

Mom: Thank you.

MIDDLE

Lights Up Full Stage (white)

J: Tell me the story again.

Mom: Again? Josephine, this story gives you nightmares.

J: Please?

Mom: Alright. It was 1937, 12 years ago, right before you were born. Grandma and I were at home when the soldiers had come for us. we had to leave quickly. We ran and ran, until we got to the river. With nowhere else to go, I jumped in. But Josephine, that water changed us. We emerged new women. The soldiers ran from us and our wings of fire. I lost my Mamman that day. But here, I could give you a better life. Bondye saved us from the river. Remember he will protect her.

J: But, what about the others?

Madonna: (Interrupts) She will meet them soon enough. Tell her to go to bed.

Mom: That’s enough for today, Josephine. Go to bed.

(J leaves the area)

Lights go down on the bed, and go up center stage.

Mom: Why can’t I tell her about them?

Madonna: Because she is not ready. She will learn about the others in time.

Lights fade out

Lights Up

(J enters from stage left)

Mom: Josephine, how was school today?

J: It was okay. A priest came to school today, he was telling us about God and the Bible. He taught us that God created the world in seven days, and showed us the seven sins. He said voodoo was sinful, too. Some of the other kids clapped when he said that.

Madonna: (clearly alarmed) WHAT? How Are they allowed to bring in priests like that?

Mom: And what did you do? Please tell me you did something.

J: I couldn’t say anything to the priest. We weren’t allowed to speak during his presentation, but after, I overheard some of the boys making fun of Fanelia. You know her mother, right?

Mom: Yes, she was one of the women who escaped through the river with me.

J: Well, I couldn’t stand what those boys were doing. They were tearing her apart, calling her a baby killer. It made me so mad. I had to say something, so I walked up to Jonal and told him the truth.

Mom: The truth? She is trying to get Josephine to say it herself, and prove to Madonna she is ready

J: That there is nothing wrong with voodoo. Just because her mom believes in Bondye, doesn’t mean she is worthless! Right?

Mom: You’re very right, Josephine. Bondye is our God. It is why I escaped through the river. It was so you could grow up somewhere safer.

(Josephine nods, thinking, exits right)

Madonna: She proved herself worthy today, you know. You should be very proud of her.

Mom: So I can tell her everything now?

Madonna: Not everything today. But eventually.  

Lights Up Full Stage(white)

Madonna: Today is the day to teach her what your mother taught you.

Mom: You said she was too young.

Madonna: She has proven herself.

(Mom sits down, thinking. Sees Josephine playing stage left)

Madonna: (puts hand on Mother’s shoulder) It’s time.

Mother: (takes a deep breath) Josephine love, come here. I want to teach you something.

All light fades, except a soft circle light that focuses on the pair

Lights fade out, come back up  

Mom: Who are you?

J: I’m a child of that place. I come down from that long trail of blood.

Mom: Where are you going?

J: I am walking into the dawn.

Mom: Who are you?

J: I am the first daughter of the first star.

Mom: Where do you drink when you're thirsty?

J: I drink the tears from the madonna's eyes.

Mom: And if not there?

J: I drink the dew.

Mom: And if you can't find the dew?

J: I drink from… um…

Mom: the rain…

J: the rain before it falls.

Mom: And if you can't drink there?

J: I drink from the turtles hide.

Mom: How did you find your way to me?

J: By the light of the mermaid’s comb.

Mom: Where does your mother come from?

J: Thunderbolts, lighting, and all things that soar.

Mom: Who are you?

J: I come from the puddle of that river.

Mom: Speak to me.

J: You hear my mother who speaks through me. She’s the shadow that follows my shadow. The flame at the tip of my candle. The ripple in the stream where I wash my face. Um. I will . I can  . . (struggling for the right words)

Mom: I will eat my. . .

J:  tongue if I ever whisper that name, the name of that place across the river, that took my mother from me.

Lights Fade

Lights Up on House set

Madonna: Get Josephine ready to leave.

Mom: Where we taking her now?

Madonna: The river.

Mom: The police are already on high alert from the festivities.

Madonna: Don’t worry.

(exit stage right)

Lights Fade

They are now at the river bank. The sun shines above and the water is crystal clear

Lights Up Full Stage

The mother dips her and Josephine’s hands into the water.

J: I expected the water to be red, like in your story.

Mom: The blood of the lost ones washed out a long time ago, Josephine. But their souls are here, in this river. We come here to pray and to thank Bondye for saving our lives.

J: Oh.

Mom looks toward the audience and begins to speak

Mom: Here is my child, Josephine. We were saved from the tomb of this river when she was still in my womb. You spared us both, her and me, from this river where I lost my mother. Let her flight be joyful, and mine too.

(Mom stands downstage, J. stands more upstage. As her mother staying in praying position, looking up toward the sun, she delivers this monologue. She never crosses her mother downstage. She always stays behind her.)

J: The river isn’t red... I don’t see any souls.... How can someone believe in what they cannot see? This whole time I have followed her, listened to her, believed her. I waited so long to see this river of red, to see what she said was true. My whole life has led to this moment, but what if I followed her blindly? (emotion gradually climaxes) The river isn’t red! It’s brown and murky. There aren’t any souls, just hard, warm rocks and sand that I can feel beneath my feet. (She kneels down to feel the ground) I know it’s real, I can see it. But I can’t see the souls. How can they be real? Manman and the Madonna hide so much from me. How do I know they’re telling me the truth now? Maybe that Priest was right at school. Maybe voodoo isn't as real as Manman thinks it is.

Lights go down.

Scene change to the house. Lights Up.

Mom: You're back later than usual, Josephine. Was everything alright at school today?

J: Yes, I went to a friend's house after school.

Mom: Who?

J: Fanelia. I got to meet her mother. The Madonna said she crossed the river with you.

Mom: but I didn't realize you two were friends. Is she in your class?

J: No. I don't really know her that well.

Mom: But she invited you over her house?

J: Well she invited me home for a snack to thank me for standing up for her last month. She showed me the shrine in her house. I’ve never seen anything like that before. I wish you could've seen it.

Mom: That's very kind of her. How's her mother?

J: Fanelia told me her sister was born a few weeks ago. Maybe we both can go visit them sometime.

Mom: We’ll see.

Lights down. Back up to just the mom and madonna

Mom: I’m worried about Fanelia and her family. I heard their baby, Emmanuel, isn't doing too well, but I don't want to upset Josephine. Maybe we should go visit.

Madonna: We should. Without Josephine. We can go tomorrow after she goes to school.

Mom: Okay, we will go.

Lights out.

Full Lights fade back up on ?? set

(Guards enter stage left, walk toward Mamman, and grab her arms)
Mom: No! What are you doing? Get off of me! (struggling with the guards) I demand for you to tell me what is going on!

Guards: We were instructed to take you away for the death of Emmanuel. Please come with us.

Mom: No! I have a daughter; I cannot just leave her here! No, please let me go!!  

(Guards are taking mother away, Madonna hovers toward the back, watching & reacting as if she cannot do anything. Josephine wanders onto the stage)

J: Mamman? Mamman! Mamman! Where are they taking you?!! MAMMAN! NO!

(Mother tries to speak, but is stopped by guards. Throws wings back near Josephine, while she is dragged offstage stage left.  Josephine reaches for jacket.) Mid reach, the lights immediately blackout.

Lights up to Josephine sitting at river with wings in her hands

(sitting on the ground, thinking, holding wings)

Madonna: (walks up near Josephine) Why did you come to the river?

J: (gets up) What? Who are you?

Madonna:  (walking toward Josephine) I am the Madonna, Your mother sent me to guide you. You are safe here.  

J: The Madonna? What are you talking about?

Madonna: I was sent to guide you, just I did for your mother, her mother, and her mother before her.

J: Guide me? I don’t understand.

Madonna: You will eventually. I am sent to guide you through this life and into the next. I helped your mother cross the the river. I was there for all the hardships in your life,  and I will be there for the many more in your path. But I have always known you to be strong. Look at where you are now, the river.

J: I couldn’t go back home. Not without Mamman. I didn’t know where else to go. I thought someone here might have an answer. But I’m the only one here.

Madonna: There was nothing I could have done, you know. She was brave until the end.

J: (understands the meaning of what Madonna is saying, starts to cry) I have nothing else in this world! Mamman was all I had!!

Madonna: Your mother made sure to give you what saved her life. (looks at wings) And you will have me. It will have to be enough.    

Spotlight comes back on on Josephine & Madonna onstage back to audience, says ending to response, blackout.

Blackout remains, Spotlight on Josephine.

J: “Our mothers were the ashes and we were the light. Our mothers were the Embers and we were the sparks. Our mothers were the flames and we were the blaze. I am the child, Josephine. My mother was saved from the tomb of this river when I was still in the womb. You spared her from this river where she lost her mother. Yes. I will eat my tongue if I ever whisper that name, the name of that place across the river, that took my mother from me.”

Madonna goes to put the wings on Josephine, blackout.