La Negrita Chronicles
La Negrita and Her Kind and Gentle Saviours
Scene II: B-U-D-D-Y
LA NEGRITA
You know what they say about white boys? Well it’s not true. Well, for BUDDY JUNIOR, JR. at least! Yeah, he’s white. You might have thought my visit with my fam and friends earlier at the Institute of Achievement for Colored Ritards would deter me from the whites, but what can I say? They ain’t done me no harm! See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil?
(track and field of KKK University. BUDDY JUNIOR, JR. is jogging towards La Negrita. She jogs in nothing but a bright pink sports bra, and spanks. Light Rain. Slight work.)
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
(Pulls out La Negrita’s headphones. Grabs her and swirls her about.) Hi baby. (He flashes her a beautiful smile.)
LA NEGRITA
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.! (smiles. Kisses him.) Coach making you run sprints?
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
(holds her hand. They start walking) No baby. Do you know nothing about hockey?
LA NEGRITA
No.
Beat.
I’m not white, remember? (says sadly, under breath.)
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
It’s okay babe. (runs hands through hair.) We can work on that.
LA NEGRITA
So what are you doing here? (starts stretching.)
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
I dunno babe. You just been running through my mind all day, I thought I’d catch up to you. (grins.)
LA NEGRITA
HAHA.
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
Stop babe. (kisses her. Kisses hand. Places his hand in hers. Hands her his jacket)
LA NEGRITA
Such a gentleman, I appreciate the sentiment
Beat.
(hands him back jacket) But it’s humid.
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
(Looks up at rain. Then towards field. Angrily looks at team at practice) Take it babe. (wraps her in his jacket. It engulfs her tiny, yet curvy frame.) They’re looking at you.
LA NEGRITA
Who? (takes sip of water bottle)
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
The fuckin' team.
LA NEGRITA
Oh? (laughs) Why?
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
(sounds embarrassed. As if her being sexy is something embarrassing) Cuz--- you’re sexy. (looks away.)
LA NEGRITA
(laughs.) Well sorry!
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
It’s okay. I guess it’s not your fault you’re sexy. I just--I don’t want anyone looking at what’s mine.
LA NEGRITA
What’s yours?
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
Do you trust me?
LA NEGRITA
Excuse me?
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
Do you have an off button?
(LA NEGRITA looks at whhhhhhite man puzzled.)
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
Babe, have you given me any consideration? Like this has been going on for months now. I just wanna know, that you’re mine, and only mine. I wanna know, that I’m not sharing you with anybody else.
LA NEGRITA
Wait…So let me get this politically correct. You’re allowed to be with other girls, but I can’t see other guys?
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
Yeah! Exactly! (seems excited.)
LA NEGRITA
Well, that doesn’t seem that fair…
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
It’s called an “open relationship…”
LA NEGRITA
If it was an open relationship, that would mean I would be allowed any man I please. If it was open that would mean you would want your friends to know. Like screw the team. Y’all are D3!
Beat.
Are you ashamed of me?
Beat.
What’s wrong with me?
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
(looks wounded. Lowers voice.) Is that what you think Nina?
Beat.
You think I’m ashamed?
LA NEGRITA
(eyes water. Turns from him.) Yo no se. (whispers.) What do you want me to think?
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
That I really like you. I enjoy spending time with you. I like you a lot. I’m just trying to protect you. The things the team says about you…
LA NEGRITA
I don’t care BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.! I don’t care what people say about me! And until you don’t care either, no BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.- I won’t be in a stupid “open relationship” with you. (starts jogging off.)
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
(runs after her.) Babe, ugh. Come back!
Beat.
It’s not that. It’s uncomfortable okay? I’m tired of hearing my teammates talking in the locker room about how bad they fucking want to bone you. Calling you the Goddess of the Kneller, Volumptious Vixen of the Dickman. Babe, you are Proctor of my Life, can’t you see that! (grabs her into a lip-locking kiss)
LA NEGRITA
I can’t.
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
C’mon. (Holds her hand. Zips up his jacket around her.)
LA NEGRITA
I have to go.
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
You have to go with me.
LA NEGRITA
I can’t.
BUDDY JUNIOR, JR.
With me.
(Big pause, she thinks about it, thinks about it more, he slaps her booty, takes her hand, they go).
blackout
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.
