Left Long

Steel Fuses — Act I Scene I

(The set is split into four playing areas.

Stage left there is a mobile section of concrete wall on wheels and also a section of chain link fence that is the same size as the wall. The wall is covered in graffiti, both murals and random tags. The surface is asphalt, with basketball court markings in white paint. The three-point line is cut off by the sidelines.

There is one basket backstage, in between the two, supported by a metal pole. The backboard is pockmarked metal and the rims have chipped orange paint. The rim has a slight downward lilt from too much hanging on it after dunks.

Mid-stage right is the courtyard of the public housing complex. There is a park bench and a sign that reads Porter Graham Houses in orange lettering on a blue background. The bench has concrete supports. There are penned and markered tags covering the wooden slats. Hints of the green paint underneath poke through.

Mid-stage left there is a building front is either projected or painted on the back wall. Holes exist in the windows to allow heads to poke through.

Stage left is the fourth, and final, playing area – the corner bodega. There is a countertop extending from back to mid-stage. The stage door is backstage right. The counter abuts the door, and a person has to pass by it on the way in. There is one shelving unit that runs parallel to the counter. Stage right is the freezer – soda, beer and the like. There are assorted grocery supplies on the shelving unit. The shelf ends around chest-level.

The spotlight opens on the game court – the handball wall is stage left of the chain link fencing. There is a game going on, portrayed by a flickering video projected onto the court from the back of the theater. The sounds of the game start loud, then become muffled when the dialogue starts.

GERARD (“Def”) and FRANKIE (“Stut”) are hanging on the fence, watching the game. GERARD is a black man in his early-to-mid 20s. HE is dressed in baggy khakis, Doc Maartens, and a colorful Hawaiian-style shirt, which is left open, revealing an a-shirt and a large platinum necklace. A white plastic afro-pick is sticking upright in his hair. HE is a talker, and the local basketball hustler – the proverbial seller of water to a well. HE entertains thoughts of riding out of the hood on the coattails of a player whom he has yet to find. FRANKIE, also black and the same age as GERARD, is wearing a matching denim jacket and jean combo. HE also wears a solid colored t-shirt, Timbs, and a headband cocked at an angle. HE is GERARD's best friend, and his words are spare, partly because of his nature, and partly to balance out GERARD's ever-present vocals.

GERARD reacts to a play in the game.)

GERARD
( covering his mouth in shock )

DAAAAAA-YUM, son! ( a beat ) That was a dope move.

FRANKIE

Word.

GERARD

Boy's got game.

FRANKIE

No doubt.

GERARD

He could go places.

FRANKIE

True.

GERARD

You think I should give him the hook up?

FRANKIE

He's straight. ( a beat ) I'd give it to him.

(THEY resume watching the game. A few beats pass. GERARD breaks the silence.)

GERARD

Yo, son.

FRANKIE

Yea?

GERARD

Work's been draggin' dawg. Juan's been giving me shit – won't lemme get a break. Thinks just because he pays me, I gotta work all the time or something. ‘S no good, Stut.

FRANKIE

Sucks, Def.

GERARD

But, yo, I met this fly female, though. Dime piece just up and drops in on the corner store. Bitch was off the chain. Like whoa. Caramel complexion and whatnot.

FRANKIE

Aight. ( raises an eyebrow ) Digits?

GERARD

Nah, dawg... But it's goin' happen soon. She said she'd be back around the way in a quick minute.

FRANKIE
( cutting through his bullshit )

Negro, please. You don't even know her name do you?

GERARD
( sheepishly )

Naw… Just give it time, yo. I'm on it. ( reacts to a play in the game ) OH SHEE-IT! That was dope! Stut, you seen that? I'm likin' things from this kid – I'm likin' things.

FRANKIE

Word. I seen it same as you did. You need to chill.

GERARD
( not missing a beat )

Dude went around the back, spun off and yammed it. I'ma tell you what – boy's trippin' on some T-Mac nonsense. Speakin' of which, who you take to start a team, McGrady or KB8?

FRANKIE
( passive, but instigating )

Kobe.

GERARD

Say what? Take that shit back.

FRANKIE

Nah, kid. I'ma take Kobe.

GERARD

Dawg. Listen. T-Mac puts up better numbers than Kobe, across the board, yo. Them's the only two niggas up in the L to average 25, 5, and 5, and T-Mac does his bidness without Shaq Daddy takin' away the defense. I could put up numbaz like that if I been feedin' muthafuckin' Shaq down low. Me and him, we'd be illin', word is bond. But I'm sayin, you take Shaq away and the Lakers are the Magic, and since Kobe ain't no T-Mac, they ain't even that good. Sheeeit.

(GERARD exhales. A beat passes.)

FRANKIE

I'd still take Kobe.

(GERARD steps back from the fence in disbelief and turns around to gather himself.)

GERARD

Man, whatever the fuck ever. ( a beat ) I'm fiendin' for some chips. Let's grub and ball.

FRANKIE
( smirking )

Aight. But I'ma still take Kobe.

(GERARD exhales in frustration and they begin to leave for the bodega as the lights fade out on the court.)

Scene II

(The lights open up on the courtyard of the public housing complex.

MANI [MAN-ee], JAMAL and JARROD [JUH-rod] are chillin on the bench. MANI is black, right around 20, and dressed in a long white t-shirt, denim shorts that could almost pass for pants, and the retro Nikes with the Velcro strap across the tongue. HE carries himself with an air of cocksure braggadocio. JAMAL and JARROD [the Js] are twins, in their early 20's, and dress similarly thugged out. THEY are sure of themselves, but look to MANI for ultimate approval.

There is a group of three girls stage right. JASMINE keeps looking over at Mani, but is too shy to go over. KRYSTAL and ALICIA are giving her encouragement before KRYSTAL finally gives her a little push-start towards MANI. JASMINE stumbles a little because she is trying not to go forward.)

KRYSTAL

You go, girl!

(JASMINE looks back at KRYSTAL with a “what-are-you-making-me-do?” look. KRYSTAL and ALICIA motion towards MANI. JASMINE turns around, sets herself, begins walking towards MANI, who along with the Js, has been enjoying the scene.)

MANI

Hey, ma. ( a beat ) You gonna do this or what?

JASMINE
( thrown off guard )

Huh?

MANI
( smoothly )

I seen you over there with your girls. You want up in this piece.

(MANI glances at the Js for approval. THEY responded by snickering, and one gives him a pound. JASMINE is flustered. A beat passes, during which GERARD and FRANKIE enter from stage right, walking by. MANI leans forward, grabs JASMINE's hand, laughs to himself, looks down, shakes his head, then looks up with a killer smile.)

MANI

(continuing)

( soothingly )

I'm just playin', boo. ( a beat ) Sorta.

(HE leans back, releasing her hand and then winks.)

MANI

(continuing)

Nah, for real. We can run this back, do it straight.

(HE extends a hand towards her.)

MANI

(continuing)

They call me Mani.

(GERARD and FRANKIE have paused to watch this. JASMINE places her hand in his; he raises it to his lips and kisses it on the knuckles. JASMINE is charmed. SHE stupidly keeps shaking his hand. SHE gives her head a quick shake, clears the cobwebs and lets go of his hand.)

JASMINE

Jasmine. I'm Jasmine.

MANI
(salesman style)

Well, hello there Jasmine. It's nice to meet you. Do you have a phone number I would be able to reach you at?

JASMINE

Huh? Oh yea. One sec.

(JASMINE fishes in her purse for a scrap of paper. MANI pulls the pen from over his ear, and holds it up in front of her face. GERARD rolls his eyes, taps FRANKIE on the chest and they exit stage left. SHE looks up when she finds a piece of paper, is staring directly at the pen, but doesn't immediately realize what it is.)

MANI

Pen?

JASMINE
(realizes)

Yea. Thanks.

(JASMINE takes the pen out of his hand, sensually, creating a good, lengthy amount of skin-to-skin contact. She scribbles it down and hands it to him. MANI takes it and looks up at her. His eyes are sparkling.)

MANI

I'll call. Holla.

(MANI winks. JASMINE is frozen in a moment of not knowing what to do with herself. Then SHE waves and walks back over to her friends. KRYSTAL and ALICIA are wide-eyed and impressed. They celebrate as girls do. JASMINE is stunned, and somewhat muted in her celebration. MANI and the Js watch the girls exit stage right.)

JAMAL

Dawg, how you gon' do us like that?

JARROD

Word, son. Why you ain't gonna hook up your boys for?

MANI

Hook up what?

JARROD

Don't gimme that shit, man. Them other bitches. They got digits too.

JAMAL

‘S what I'm sayin', dawg.

MANI

Jarrod. Jamal. Fellas. Slow your roll. You gotta work with what you get. They did not want your numbers. She wanted mine .

JAMAL

But you ain't even try.

JARROD

I see how it is.

MANI
( relaxes back into the bench, smugly )

Don't hate the playa, hate the game.

(JAMAL and JARROD both whack MANI a good one as the lights fade out on the courtyard.)

Scene III

(Lights come up on the bodega. JUAN is behind the counter. HE is a wiry Hispanic man in his late 30's. HE has a sinewy strength to him from years of hard labor. HE is wearing a button-down plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up, worn jeans, and a black belt with a shiny buckle. HE is taking inventory on a checklist with a pen when GERARD and FRANKIE walk in and start perusing the aisles.)

GERARD

I can't stand that nigga. ‘S some bullshit for real, son. Whutup Juan?

(JUAN looks up from his paper, meets GERARD's eyes and throws a casual wave in his direction.)

JUAN
( flatly, resuming his work )

Gerard. Frankie.

FRANKIE
( trying to decide between types of chips )

Eh? Hey.

GERARD

Ayo, dawg, you remember when Mani showed up in town?

FRANKIE
( to himself )

Here we go again.

(He takes a second to mentally prepare to hear this story for the three hundred and forty-second time.)

FRANKIE

(continuing)

( to GERARD, patronizing )

Nah, kid. I don't remember. Do tell.

GERARD

I was just chillin' by the court, just like erry other day – you know how I do.

(FRANKIE laughs to himself)

FRANKIE

Yeap.

GERARD

(continuing)

And this new nigga rolls up, keepin' it on the DL. Guy just up and chills, but on the inside of the cage, like he's waitin' to get burn. Ain't even earn shit and boy thinks he's just gonna up and ball.

FRANKIE
( sifting through the bags )

Don't hate.

GERARD

No hating is being done. I'm just sayin' is all. But yo, dude was just chillin' and this guy pulled a hammy, and they're lookin' for someone who can jump in, and someone nods over at him and is like, ‘Yo, nigga's been waitin, let's see what he's got.'

FRANKIE

‘S awful nice of ‘em.

GERARD

Man, shutup. So guy gets the rock, and he's doin' his thing, kinda easin' into the game and whatnot and then it happens. He's on the break, one man to beat, and yo, he faked lef', and juked right, and then ain't nobody know where he was goin', ‘cept for hisself. Dukes went right o'er top. Musta thought he stepped in gum or sumthin'; cuz he showed guy the soles of his shoes. Shit was off tha block.

FRANKIE

That was pretty dope.

GERARD

Jaws dropped to the floor. Ain't nobody seen shit like that since C-Webb filmed that Code Blue bidness. And it wasn't just the ups. Boy was droppin' dimes, splittin' the ‘D,' breakin' ankles, and rainin' threes and whatnot. Musta put up a double nickel on ‘Clamp.'

FRANKIE

Now that nigga got played.

GERARD

Word, son. Someone needed to take his shit down a notch, though. Anyways. But yo, Mani's team won eight straight games. He got on the court and din't get off until after the lights had come on. By the last game, shadows was maaad long on the court cuz there was a crazy amount of heads peepin' the new guy. If I hadn't been chillin' there all day, I wouldn'a been able to see shit.

FRANKIE

You are a lucky one.

GERARD

And you know this, man. (pause) I still can't believe dude just up and bounced after alla that. I mean, you go out and ball ‘til you fall, and then roll out like a free agent from the Clips. Never balled again. I coulda given dude an ill hookup. A li'l bit of work, no doubt, but I coulda done my part. People had questions. I couldn't say nothin' neither – I din't know any answers. How you gonna play erryone like that? Guy's trippin' on some Maniac Magee shit. That's my word. But, I wasn't the only one to notice, neither. Why you think he's called Mani for?

FRANKIE

Ya know, I done been wonderin' that.

GERARD

Problem solved.

(GERARD starts walking over to the counter and stops at the end of the aisle, turning halfway back to face FRANKIE.)

GERARD

(continuing)

Yo, you know what bugs me the most? He gets to live off that shit. That bidness with the girl back there is exactly what I'm talkin' ‘bout, dawg. Dukes din't even put any effort in. Anyone else tries to pull that and they ain't gon' get nothin' – girl be gone before you can even think about a phone number. ‘S some bullshit, Stut.

FRANKIE

Whatever, D. You trippin' on the haterade.

(FRANKIE picks out a bag and raises it triumphantly in the air.)

Here we go. Salt and Vinegar.

GERARD

And you said I'm trippin'? You gonna be the one with the dragon when you kill that. (shakes his head disapprovingly) That shit is gross. I ain't never seen anyone else go near it.

FRANKIE

If no one likes it, how come this is the last bag? Hmm?

GERARD

Whatever, yo. Spot this one?

FRANKIE

You ain't got a dollar?

GERARD
( loud enough for JUAN to hear )

Paycheck don't come ‘til Friday.

(JUAN stops mid-page turn and looks up at GERARD with a “keep dreaming” look on his face. GERARD pops open the bag of chips and begins eating them.)

JUAN

Better question is do you come in before then?

GERARD

Yea. I'ma be here tonight. Hook him up, Stut.

(GERARD slides his soda across the counter, and raises the hand with the open bag so JUAN can see. FRANKIE puts his stuff down on the counter, grabs a pack of mint gum, tosses it towards the rest, and pays.)

JUAN

Thanks, fellas. Gerard, be here round six, ese.

GERARD

Aight, yo. Catch you later.

(FRANKIE raises a peace sign and they EXIT through the stage door, lights fading down on the bodega.)