La Negrita Chronicles
La Negrita and Her Kind and Gentle Saviours
Scene X: LA NEGRITA and the Attack of the Wigs
(KIKI is already on stage in salon seat. Enter BOUKIE.)
KIKI
Boo!
BOUKIE
Kiki! (the two hug. Boukie sits down.)
KIKI
What’s wrong Boo?
BOUKIE
Nothing.
KIKI
(Reaches out to touch friends hand.) Tell me.
BOUKIE
(whispers.) It’s LA NEGRITA.
KIKI
Oh Gawd, what did that ritard do now?
BOUKIE
You know it’s ALWAYS the fuckin same with her! I try—I try to be this fucking rain of sunshine all the time, but she’s bringing out my storm.
Beat.
And I can’t be happy all the time. I can’t be everybody’s fucking happy all the time. It consumes me.
Beat.
I LOVE her KIKI. I love her.
KIKI
I know that.
BOUKIE
Oh Gawd, but does she?---
KIKI
----Everybody knows that.
BOUKIE
(stands) Everyone knows but her. Is she in denial? Does she want to dismiss me? Or does she just not care enough to see, me.
KIKI
Boo, you know LA NEGRITA.
BOUKIE
You’re right. We all know LA NEGRITA. And it’s not fair! She’s no excuse! It’s like, the world revolves around LA NEGRITA, and we’re just character’s living in it.
KIKI
Why don’t you just tell her?
BOUKIE
(laughs.) Because we all fuckin know LA NEGRITA. She just falls for these oppressors, that oppress the fuck all over her heart.
KIKI
Boukie—
Beat.
What is it? Please tell me. Why do any of us take her shit? Like, why the fuck do we even bother keeping her around?
BOUKIE
Because LA NEGRITA is each of us. LA NEGRITA is all of us. She is what we wish we could be. Naïve and just care free. Blind and forgiving of the harsh realities of our worlds.
Beat.
Or maybe it’s that despite anything, she is always uncontrollably herself. Despite all her damage, she still has the ability to see the best in everybody she encounters.
Beat.
And you know, she’s strong. She just doesn’t show it—or maybe she just doesn’t know it.
Beat.
And you know what? There’s nothing stronger than allowing yourself to be in love.
Beat.
I should go.
(Mood changes once LA NEGRITA enters room.)
LA NEGRITA
BOUKIE! (runs to friend for embrace. BOUKIE walks away.)
BOUKIE
I have to go.
LA NEGRITA
(smiling) But Boukie, I just got here!
BOUKIE
I really should go. Bye LA NEGRITA. (kisses KIKI on forehead, picks up helmet and shoves past Negrita to walk away.)
LA NEGRITA
(turns to KIKI) What was that all about?
KIKI
What is this all about? (looks around at salon). Why did you bring me here?
LA NEGRITA
(smiles.) So we never really got to talk since you got out, so I thought maybe we could get our hair done together?
KIKI
You are so fuckin naïve…
LA NEGRITA
What?
KIKI
Negrita, now you want to talk about me and the institute? After you let all this time past by without sayin anything?
Beat.
And you KNOW I do not let my hair be touched by the whites. (In walks in WIGGY WONDER.)
WIGGY WONDER
Hey! I ain't white, I’m just a light skinned Latina.
LA NEGRITA
Now KIKI, that’s your problem! You just have to be more open minded! Like me! (smiles.)
KIKI
Who's crawled into your panties to get you all giddy you THOT.
LA NEGRITA
KIKI!
KIKI
Am I wrong?
LA NEGRITA
KIKI, must you be so crude? I am NOT a THOT.
Beat.
His name is Luke. (beams.)
KIKI
He sounds white.
LA NEGRITA
It doesn’t matter.
KIKI
You just don’t know how to be alone. Do you?
LA NEGRITA
What?
KIKI
LA NEGRITA, since I’ve known you, you have never been alone. There’s always another boy. You always have a friend.
Beat.
But Nina, until you had be happy alone with yourself, how can you truly ever be happy with another human being? (Allow time to let sink in.)
LA NEGRITA
he invited me to the Athletic Banquet!
KIKI
(Mad buck) What?! (Snaps at her)
LA NEGRITA
Hey, what’s with the attitude?
KIKI
The athletic banquet is the epitome of oppression! That’s when all the athletes find their colored target and run a train all over her.
Beat.
They’ll ruffee you. Hell, they might even lynch ya!
LA NEGRITA
Don’t scare me. Coach will be there…
KIKI
(laughs in disbelief)
WIGGY WONDER
(whose been eavesdropping the whole time while trying to get Kiki’s hair done.) Oooooo, interracial relationships, I love them! (Something ratchet happens with a comb or flat iron or something). Just don’t get pregnant, or they gon send you to jail, and send yo baby back to Africa!
LA NEGRITA
(ignoring WIGGY WONDER and addressing attention back to friend.) Luke will be there…
KIKI
And? (looks at LA NEGRITA and laughs.) Is he gonna protect you like BUDDY did?
Beat.
Negrita, you do understand BUDDY will be there…right?
Beat.
When are you going to learn to save yourself? Because me, Boukie, Esau, Fillippe, we’re not going to be here forever hun. So you really, menina, you really need to think about what you want.
LA NEGRITA
(says softly) I want to get my hair done, that’s what I want.
KIKI
Typical.
LA NEGRITA
What?
KIKI
Typical Negrita. I just find it very hard to believe that you can be so damn superficial. Go ahead, get your hair done. I’m leaving. (gets up to leave LA NEGRITA like BOUKIE did)
LA NEGRITA
I don’t understand your problem KIKI! (enters WIGGY WONDER right as LA NEGRITA is getting ready to leave.)
WIGGY WONDER
Sit down; Come right this weave.
KIKI
(tone change. Face La Negrita). La Negrita, do you understand if I was in a crisis you wouldn’t be the person I would call?
LA NEGRITA
KIKI, I—
KIKI
You what? Don’t know how to be a good friend?
LA NEGRITA
KIKI where is all this coming from?
KIKI
It’s coming from…
Beat.
You were my person LA NEGRITA. My person. I was in trouble. I needed your help. I called you to the institute to save me. And you left me to save myself.
Beat.
You were my person LA NEGRITA, and I watched you leave with the enemy…you went to BUDDY with open arms. You never once turned back. You didn’t even try to save me. You were compliant. Nurse Ratchet asked you to leave and you just did.
Beat.
God. You didn’t even fight for me.
LA NEGRITA
I didn’t think you needed saving.
KIKI
Why? Because I’m MACHINE GUN KIKI? I’m the strong friend whose always saving herself? Always saving everybody else?
Beat.
Well, LA NEGRITA sometimes I need saving, and I never have anybody so I always have to save my fucking self. I’m always over here fighting for everybody else. It would be nice to know I have someone out there fighting for me.
Beat.
You fucking left me in prison. Who am I? Gandhi? Mandela?
LA NEGRITA
KIKI, but why won’t you ever take responsibility for your own shit. Why is it always white people?! For Heaven’s sake KIKI, just grow up.
KIKI
You know what LA NEGRITA, it used to be white people I felt bad for. But it’s you. And you know why? One day you will finally realize that white people will NEVER love you as much as you love them.
LA NEGRITA
(wounded.) KIKI, what happened to us? You’re my---you’re my best friend.
KIKI
You know, sometimes the more you get to know someone, the more you love them. And then sometimes, it’s the opposite.
Beat.
I guess that’s what is with love. When you love someone, you just see what you want to see. Not the reality of things. And LA NEGRITA, after all this time, I’m finally seeing you for who you really are: a disappointment. (KIKI gets up and walks away from LN like BOUKIE had. LN is left: alone.)
WIGGY WONDER
Dont worry your friend has no idea what shes talking about why wouldn't you jump at the chance to be with a white man!? The best thing you did was come here today to have that taken care of.
LA NEGRITA
Are you sure you can do my hair? (looks in mirror ashamed.)
WIGGY WONDER
Di que do I know how to work on “your type” of hair! Mi amor I have been trained by the best Iv basically perfected the rachel. Your going to walk out of here looking like his dream girl, I promise.
LA NEGRITA
You can really give me white people hair?!?!
WIGGY WONDER
Now don't worry it always looks like this at the beginning (looks at hair a little worried) trust me once its done it won't look so……...negro. Thats what you want isn't? I mean I thought that's why your friends are mad because you want to fit in with your boyfriend more.
Beat.
(turns chair towards mirror) Dime lo, how do you like it? It doesn't even look like your hair am I right?
Frania G. Romulus was born in Boston, Massachusetts. As a child Romulus loved to create, perform and act. She began playwriting in elementary school. As the years passed she traveled and competed as a saxophonist in her high school music assembles. She was reminded of her gift of writing while an undergrad at Clark University. She matriculated with a degree in Psychology and Performing Arts.
Romulus’ work portrays her experiences as a woman of color at a predominantly white institution. Her raw emotional honesty, uncomfortable dialogue, and satirical style won the attention of Playfest then AS220, enabling her piece to be on production as well as earning her an artist residency.
