DAWN: 65-year-old Jamaican grandmother with white hair, but face not older than 50
KELLY: Dawn’s 13-year-old granddaughter
MALIK: 15-year-old neighbour
The verandah of a small house and its front door are upstage left (soft lights illuminate the verandah). Street lights and trees outline a path/small road leading from stage right to center stage. In the front yard, there is a small garden, just three wilting flowers on stage left. DAWN bends over, watering and tending to her small garden. Her head is wrapped in a brown turban, and she wears a tired nightgown that sweeps the ground. She hums “Rivers of Babylon”.
Enter KELLY, stage right. She hurriedly stuffs candy wrappers into her pockets. A chime sounds. Kelly is walking backward along the path/road very slowly towards Dawn, who is in her front yard. A chime goes off every four seconds when Kelly bends over, picks up something small off the road, and drops it in a brown paper bag. She is barefoot, and her legs are unusually muddy.
DAWN: (Stomping her feet to the rhythm and singing loudly.) When we re-mem-ber-ed Ziiiion. When the wick-ed carried us away in cap-ti-vity (pauses and steps away from the flowers) required from us a song, now how shall we sing the Looord's song in a straaaaaange land? By di rivers of Baaaaaabylon, where we sat dooow— (Long pause; Dawn turns to notice Kelly walking down the road strangely.)
DAWN: Gyal pickney[1], what di[2] (pronounced “dee”) hell you think you doing?
KELLY: (Frightened) Mama!
Kelly turns around quickly and straightens up, hiding the paper bag behind her back. She walks towards the house slowly. Chimes end.
DAWN: I never tell you to reach back here before mi spit dry pon the ground and is like you gone fi[3] five years now. (Holds up her hands indicating five.) You taking your own sweeeeeet time, while we deh yah a starve. Is duppy[4] you a walk wid?
KELLY: (Looking down at her feet, says meekly.) No, Mama.
DAWN: Gimme di money you bring back from di shop, is fi pay my tithes in church tomorrow. She turns to walk inside the house but realises Kelly is still three feet away from her. Pickney, come inna[5] di yard. Mi know you love road but at least try fi hide it, man.
Kelly shuffles in the same spot.
DAWN: Dawn puts her left hand on her hip and shakes her right leg fiercely. Kelly?
KELLY: (On the verge of tears.) Yes, Mama.
DAWN: Give mi di bag.
Kelly shakes her head “No” six times quickly.
DAWN: Mi not asking you little gyal. Kelly steps back. Kelly, nuh tell me say I give you di last dime inna mi pocket, and you left gone to shop for God knows how long (pause) and you bring back not a rass[6] thing?
KELLY: Mama, me bring back something. (Dawn tries to grab Kelly, but she jumps back quickly.)
DAWN: Hey, gyal, don’t bright yourself[7] wid me bout “bring back something”. Show me di bag!
Kelly gently throws the paper bag to Dawn’s feet and jumps back twice. Dawn laughs and takes up the bag and reveals a small clear plastic bag of rice. The bag is torn and rice spills to the ground.
KELLY: (Frantically.) Mama, it wasn’t my fault. When I reach the shop, you see…the money just…di money just…vanish from my pockets.
DAWN: Last time mi check, Kelly, you was no magician. Bout “vanish”. You take mi fi idiot, you know. The money vanish and leave back just enough to buy only rice? Where is di flour? Di sugar? The salt mackerel? The stick-ah-butter? Di seeeeeaaasoniiiing, Kelly? Is suoso[8] rice you expect we fi eat for three (pronounced tree) days if dis (pointing to the small amount of rice in the bag) can even make a spoonful.
KELLY: Mama, mi not making up no story. The money lost, and I don’t know how. I did my best with what was left, Mama.
DAWN: Kelly, come here.
KELLY: You ago beat me, Mama. I not coming to you. (Kelly shakes her head.)
DAWN: You see unuh[9] new age pickney. (Hisses/sucks teeth and shakes head.) Gyal, (pauses and sighs) mi never ask you what you want or what you think mi ahgo[10] do. (Starts pacing forwards and backwards.) Ten pickney. I grow TEN, (emphasizes by holding up both hands) and you is the ongle[11] one that seem to enjoy getting pan my nerves, and giving mi baga[12] talking. (Shakes hands in the air and holds head up to heavens.) Every single night I pray and bawl on my knees, asking Father God to deliver me from you. And now, I feel like the more you round me, is the more God stop pay me mind, cause dis is the longest any prayer of mine ever go unanswered. I am sure you are my test. If I survive you, my heavenly home is certainly guaranteed, and as di Bible say, the devil comes in many forms, and sometimes I convinced you is the living Antichrist. (Kelly starts weeping.) Look at you! Standing there lying wid crocodile tears a drip-drop pon the ground. I duh fraid [13] of your tears, Kelly! How you so wicked, gyal? No, sah. (Dawn chuckles. A pause.) So, Kelly, (puts hands on hips) I have to ask this. Is di rice that you pick up off of di dutty[14] road you did expect me fi eat? You think me never see you, a pick-pick like sensei fowl?[15] (Dawn mocks Kelly picking up the rice off the street.)
KELLY: I fell, and the bag burst, Mama. The road was muddy, and I slipped cause someone let me rush out the yard with NO slippers pon my foot. You always think the worst of me, eh, Mama? I can’t wait until my mommy comes back for me. As you say, I bound to kill you, so maybe it’s for the best.
DAWN: (Softly.) Kelly, I’m so—(A low beat and a pause.) You know WHAT, I want fi see is whose house you ago sleep inna tonight. Bout “someone”. Go find (pronounced “fine”) you mumah[16] then. Go find her. Because from the time she tell me say you just here for a summer, so many things gwaan dung[17] inna history. We get independence, Marcus Garvey now national hero instead of a criminal, you pupah[18] ketch[19] strokes and mi hair tun white. So...so go find her, Kelly, cause I sure she just lost. So—go. Take out the map and start your quest. (Dawn points towards the road/path.)
KELLY: (Long pause.) I have nobody else, Mama. (Dawn points towards the road again.)
Kelly shuffles in the spot and starts to weep. Dawn pretends to throw something at Kelly, and she jumps. Kelly turns and begins to walk away, sobbing toward stage right. Dawn gently puts down the bag of rice and begins to creep up on Kelly, slowly. Chime. Dawn tackles Kelly from behind.
KELLY: Help! Help! She going kill me now. Jesus Christ, help! Daddy! Daddy!
DAWN: You a call for daddy. My son can’t even help himself. Gyal, open your mouth or I’m going to open it fi you. (Kelly struggles against Dawn.) Kelly, mi not asking you again. (Kelly refuses. Mama pries her mouth open with her fingers.)
DAWN: Pupah Jesus! (Laughs loudly.) I never know say I have grand pickney born with blue tongue. Mi tell you father from you born, ennuh,[20] dat you MUST be jacket.[21] (Dawn cackles.)
KELLY: I did lose the money, Mama. (She says this with a sheepish grin.) But there was enough for rice and…and the sweetie that you promised me.
Dawn gets up and pulls up her granddaughter. Dawn shakes her head, laughing. Both are panting.
DAWN: Child, is so you licky-licky,[22] man? You could have at-least buy some seasoning AND rice. (Sucks teeth.) Well, you had your dinner in sweets, and now I will eat my spoonful of dutty[23] suoso rice. It better than nothing.
KELLY: (Wiping tears.) Mama, sweetie can’t full belly.
DAWN: You shoulda think bout that before you spend my money. Go inside and go bathe, you smell like the dog...or...or your father. Hard fi distinguish between the two of them these days.
Kelly laughs. Kelly exits stage via upstage left door.
DAWN: (Starts to clean up the rice with a grass broom and begins singing another spiritual.) Gonna lay down my burdens by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside. Gonna lay down my sword and shield, down by the riverside, ain't gonna studyyyyy war noooo more. (The sounds of fingers snapping are heard.)
Dawn starts humming as lights on stage start to dim gradually. The sounds of showering.
DAWN: (Shouting to Kelly. who is offstage.) Pickney, empty your piggy bank so I can pay my tithes. The Lord has been good!
MALIK enters on the path/road holding a paper bag to his chest. He is walking towards Dawn, who continues singing.
DAWN: I ain't gonna study war no more, I ain't gonna study war no more, I ain't gonna studyyy war no mo-or-ore, I ain't gonna study war no more, study war no more. I ain't gonna study war no more.
MALIK: (Says timidly) Mama Dawn?
DAWN: (Dawn jumps.) Bwoy![24] How you fi creep up pan a woman like me inna di evening yah? You want me fi ketch heart attack? I swear unuh possess.
MALIK: Sorry, Mama Dawn. I thought you saw me coming.
DAWN: Malik, I might just tump[25] you. (She punches him gently on the shoulder.) You see me have eyes addi back of mi head, young man?
MALIK: No, Mama Dawn. (Stretches out the bag to her.)
DAWN: (Confused tone.) Who dis belong to?
MALIK: Oh. (Pauses and scratches head.) Kelly left it at the ball field this afternoon. Someone had took it up by accident, and so she couldn’t find it when she was ready to leave. So, I stayed back and looked for it for her. Sorry about the butter—it melted, Mama D. (Malik smiles proudly.)
DAWN: (Mouth ajar. Silence for five seconds.) Thanks, child. Tell your mother I will see her in church on Sunday.
Malik waves goodbye, turns, and walks towards the exit right. Dawn starts to hum, and the stage goes dark. There is the sound of a dangling belt buckle and a shower curtain being pulled open.
KELLY: (Stunned.) Mama?! Is what?
DAWN: (In-between whips). Mi. Nuh. Tell. You. Fi. Stop. Romp. Wid. Di. Baga. Boy-Boy.[26] (Stops the beating.) Go play ball inna yuh Bible!
END SCENE
[1] Child.
[2] The.
[3] For/to.
[4] A ghost or spirit.
[5] in to.
[6] An expression of shock, surprise, frustration, or annoyance.
[7] Don’t be disrespectful.
[8] Bland/mediocre/plain.
[9] You (plural)/you guys.
[10] Going to.
[11] Only.
[12] A lot.
[13] I’m not afraid.
[14] Dirty.
[15] A hairless chicken.
[16] Mother.
[17] Went down.
[18] Father.
[19] Caught/catch.
[20] You know.
[21] An illegitimate child.
[22] Greedy.
[23] Dirty.
[24] Boy.
[25] To punch/hit down.
[26] All the boys.