La Negrita Chronicles
La Negrita and Her Kind and Gentle Saviours
Scene IX: The Coffee Shop- Since All Great Plays Seem to Have One- *transition song- Rider Nicki Minaj
LA NEGRITA
So I’ve decided to meet Luke at the Coffee Shop. He wants to talk, or something. I dunno, I’ve decided to give him a chance I guess. I mean, I’ve never had anybody talk to me the way that Luke did.
LA NEGRITA
(Looks at LUKE.) Is this my seat? (points to only other chair at coffee table.)
LUKE
Of course it is. We are on a date. (Gives big cheesy smile.)
LA NEGRITA
Look at you all prompt.
LUKE
Is that not cool?! (says worried.)
LA NEGRITA
(acknowledges that he is trying to impress her.) No, no, it’s fine! (she smiles.)
LUKE
So do you like Triple K University?
LA NEGRITA
(puzzled because nobody has ever asked her that question before.) What?
LUKE
Yeah, do you like going here? What made you chose Triple K?
(LA NEGRITA quietly looks down and stirs drink.)
LUKE
What?
LA NEGRITA
(looks up at him.) Nothing.
LUKE
Are you going to answer my question? (laughs.)
LA NEGRITA
It’s just that… (smiles a little.) Nobody’s asked me that before. (looks up at him.)
LUKE
Nobody asked you if you were going to answer their question before?
LA NEGRITA
No, not that.
Beat.
(takes sip of drink.) Nobody has asked me if I like Triple K…or asked me how I liked it.
LUKE
Oh well… (scratches head.) I think that’s kind of what you do…when you’re trying to get to know somebody.
LA NEGRITA
Everybody just assumed I liked it, loved it. Or whatever. Or maybe they never asked, because they didn’t want me to tell them…
LUKE
So do you? (looks genuinely and deeply in LA NEGRITA’s eyes..) Do you like going here?
LA NEGRITA
I guess. (says aggressively then looks up at him.) So is skating around the rink the only thing you’re good at? (changes subject.)
LUKE
I wouldn’t call it “skating around the rink”. It’s called “hockey” and it’s a sport. Sorry it’s not soccer, or basketball or whatever. (points up to painting of baby girl hanging in coffee shop.) And, as a matter of fact, I also paint.
Beat.
I’m a Bio-Art double major, remember?
LA NEGRITA
(In awe of painting.) You did this? You drew this? You’re so talented! My God, it’s beautiful!
LUKE
(smiles.) Like your voice.
LA NEGRITA
What?
Beat
You’ve heard me sing? (looks embarrassed.)
Beat.
When have you heard me sing?
LUKE
At the gym.
Beat.
You work at the gym. I hear you singing there all the time. You have a beautiful voice.
LA NEGRITA
Wow.
LUKE
(Raises eyebrows.) What?
LA NEGRITA
That’s what you notice about me?
LUKE
Yeah…
LA NEGRITA
That’s not what the team notices.
LUKE
Yeah, I hear the locker room talk, but I listen to your voice.
Beat.
They’re jocks, what do you expect? (Takes another sip of his drink.) You have a beautiful voice.
Beat.
(change of subject.) So, what’s your favorite movie?
LA NEGRITA
What’s your favorite movie?
LUKE
I asked you first. (takes sip of coffee.)
Beat.
Okay, so what is it?
LA NEGRITA
Lakeview Terrace…
LUKE
Lakeview Terrace?!
LA NEGRITA
Yea. (laughs)
Beat.
Have you seen it before?
LUKE
Yeah, I’ve seen that before. (chuckles.) Is that the movie with Samuel L. Jackson and Kerri Washington.
LA NEGRITA
That’s the one.
LUKE
Oh man, Kerri Washington.
LA NEGRITA
(gets a tad jealous.) What about Kerri Washington? (says softly)
LUKE
She’s an incredible actress.
LA NEGRITA
Wow. (taken aback.)
LUKE
What?
LA NEGRITA
Kerri Washington.
LUKE
What?
Beat.
You didn’t think I’d know who Kerri Washington is?
LA NEGRITA
No, its not that. (Looks taken aback.)
LUKE
What is it then?
LA NEGRITA
I’m just surprised…
LUKE
That I’ve watched Lakeview Terrace? I watch BET sometimes…
LA NEGRITA
No, not that! (smiles, starting to enjoy herself.)
Beat.
I never met a man who described Kerri Washington as a great actress.
LUKE
She is! (gets defensive about his views on Kerri Washington.)
LA NEGRITA
(extends her hand on top of his.) No, usually when I say Kerri Washington the first thing a guy says to describe her is “sexy”.
LUKE
Well, she is sexy, she’s also talented actress.
(Big pause.)
LA NEGRITA
(looks mischevious.) Do you think I’m sexy? (points out outfit. Gives him mischevious look.)
LUKE
Now, Nina. Why you gotta do that? We’re talking about the damn movie.
LA NEGRITA
There’s sex in the movie!
LUKE
And that’s why it’s your favorite?
LA NEGRITA
Yup!
Beat.
Exactly!
Beat.
That and the fact that Patrick Wilson is also sexy.
LUKE
Right.
LA NEGRITA
What!?
LUKE
Bullshit.
LA NEGRITA
What’s bullshit?
LUKE
(looks deep in her eyes.) That can’t be why its your favorite movie.(says quietly.)
LA NEGRITA
You know what’s bullshit? Its bullshit when I say “Kerri Washington” the first thing you say is “great actress.”
LUKE
She is!
LA NEGRITA
Whatever “Fitz.”
LUKE
Fitz? Who the hell is Fitz!
LA NEGRITA
You are SO whhhhyteeeeeeeeee. Don’t you watch Scandal?
LUKE
I don’t even have cable…
LA NEGRITA
So, why is it that I like the movie? (mockinglinly) You tell me why I like the movie.
LUKE
You like the movie because you are a hopeless romantic. You believe in love above all, no matter the circumstance.
LA NEGRITA
No, LUKE, that’s not why I enjoy the movie. I’m cynical, okay? Samuel L. Jackson saw that interracial relations were the devil and tried to DESTROY them.
LUKE
Are we talking about Samuel L. Jackson that actor, or Abel Turner the character? Cuz Samuel L. Jackson’s wife is white…
LA NEGRITA
No she isn’t!
LUKE
She isn’t?
LA NEGRITA
She isn’t!
LUKE
Does this mean the date's over?
LA NEGRITA
I dunno.
LUKE
I hit a chord, didn’t I?
LA NEGRITA
I’m not a piano.
LUKE
Why is everything so black and white with you?
LA NEGRITA
Enough with the piano!
LUKE
It is! You see everything through race.
LA NEGRITA
How can I not? You know what you are to me? You are my savior and my oppressor.
LUKE
What the fuck is that?
LA NEGRITA
You are. You’re both.
LUKE
Bullshit. I’m neither. I’m me.
(pause, biddies shake heads.)
Beat.
I just can’t be this white guy to you. (pause.) Everybody is looking for love. Some people just don’t have the balls to admit it.
LA NEGRITA
(looks at him. Long pause.) Luke, why am I here? Why do you… why do you like me. (says softly.)
LUKE
I dunno. I just care about you okay? I’m part of the team—and I wasn’t there to protect you from BUDDY, I wasn’t there to stop them, and I feel guilty. Not because of any complex, but because—ugh, I just care, okay? I care what happens to you.
LA NEGRITA
Care about me? You don’t care about me! You don’t even know me.
LUKE
I don’t know you. But what I do know is that you’ve been loving men who treat you like you’re ordinary. And you’re FAR from ordinary. You’re extraordinary. You are REMARKABLE. (Places his hand on hers. Intertwines his fingers in hers.)
LA NEGRITA
(He looks at her. She looks back.) What?
LUKE
(Smiles at her.) We’re holding hands. (LA NEGRITA looks around.) In public.
LA NEGRITA
(Widens eyes.) We gon get lynched!
LUKE
Shut up.
(They can kiss…I guess.)
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.
