SLANDER

Transcrição

SLANDER

PROJETO CONEXÕES – www.conexoes.org.br – todos os direitos reservados
SLANDER
Jandira Martini
English version by Fernanda Sampaio
COPYRIGHT
This play was written for specially for the schools participating in the
Conexões Youth Theatre Project Brazil
and it was part of its portfolio in 2010.
Any performances outside this Project will need to
be negociated with the writer´s agent.
Jandira Martini: SBAT (Sociedade Brasileira de Autores teatrais)
[email protected]
1
Slander – Jandira Martini
This is a work of fiction; any similarity to real facts or to actual people, either
dead or alive, is a coincidence.
“OF ALL HUMAN POISONS
YOU ARE THE FINEST CREATION:
FRAIL, FRAIL SUCH AS GLASS
AND MORE COMMANDING THAN STEEL
WORDS, OH, WORDS,
SUCH STRANGE POWERS YOU HAVE.”
CECÍLIA MEIRELES
ROMANCEIRO DA INCONFIDÊNCIA
ROMANCE LIII OU DAS PALAVRAS AÉREAS
2
CHARACTERS
BIA
CAMILA
DIEGO
DRICA
MARIA
MICA
ORELHA - DUMBO
QUITO
TIAGO
VITAMINA - MIKE
A VOICE (masculine, imposing, a voice one respects)
YOUNG MAN
YOUNG PEOPLE DANCING
A WAITER
A CLEANING WOMAN
3
The action takes place in an unconventional pub
The stage is bare. No need for walls. The upstage, stage right and stage left should
be used. There are two side exits: the left one leads out to the street; the right one
leads to the service area and emergency exit. The light and sound booth is located,
through our own convention, in front of the stage and a little above the audience.
When the play begins, the dance floor is marked by the light, which should be dim, as
usual in this kind of environment.
Loud electronic music. Eight young people are dancing next to DUMBO, DIEGO,
DRICA, BIA, TIAGO, CAMILA, MARIA, QUITO, MICA and MIKE, who are also dancing
with gusto. A WAITER goes around the dance floor serving drinks. A CLEANING
WOMAN collects cans and plastic cups strewn across the floor. After a while, DIEGO
leaves the dance floor and signals to the others who, still half dancing, go to him:
MIKE
What’s cracking?
DIEGO
This place is kind of lame.
BIA
Tell me about it.
They all agree.
MARIA
I hear there’s a killer place out in Moema.
4
TIAGO
We go there?
DUMBO
Chill out, hussies. It’s still early. We go in half an hour. Ok, guys?
They all agree
DIEGO
(looks at his watch and confirms with one of the young people dancing on the floor)
It’s 4:15 now, right?
YOUNG MAN
(checks his watch and confirms)
That’s right, mate. 4:15.
DIEGO
(tall for his age)
Hey, guys. It’s 4:15. We get going at a quarter to five, agreed?
MIKE
Cool!
Everyone makes signs showing their agreement. One second later the light and sound
stop. Blackout. Normal reactions to this type of situation: booing, screaming,
laughter, etc. up to the point when they are silent, indicating they understood what’s
going on. Beat.
DIEGO
(blowing up)
Fucking Electrical Company!
5
DRICA
Easy, dude. Shit happens!
MIKE
Fucking shit, dude.
DUMBO
Dancing in the dark is subnormal!
BIA
What if it’s a blackout?
DIEGO
I hate the dark.
MIKE
(lights a lighter)
Come on, dude. Don’t tell me you’re scared.
DIEGO
(speaking up towards the lighting booth)
Hey! There is no emergency light in this rat hole?
MIKE
(puts out the lighter)
Ouch! Fuck!!! I burned my finger.
MARIA
At home, it goes dark all the time...
TIAGO
All the time? Are you serious?
BIA
6
Where do you live?
MARIA
None of your business!
DUMBO
Cool it, lads. The problem now is the light!
MIKE
Light and sound. They’re fucking with us. Real turnoff, dude!
DIEGO
(nervous, speaking up towards the booth)
Hey, bro! Can’t you give us a break? Send us some light, dude!
The emergency light lights up.
They shout for joy: UHUHUH!!
All the other young people who were on the dance floor, the WAITER, and the
CLEANING WOMAN have disappeared.
DIEGO
(relieved, looking towards the booth)
Thanks, dude. Is this a general blackout, or is it only here?
They all look at the booth
TIAGO
(after looking, back to Diego)
Who are you talking to, dude? There’s no one up there.
MARIA
Are you saying the lights came up by themselves?!
TIAGO
7
The emergency lights are automatic, aren’t they, sis?
MARIA
If they were automatic, they wouldn’t have taken so long to light up, would they
now?
BIA
They sound in love those two.
MICA
Who sounds in love?!
BIA
Those two. They’re always poking at each other.
MARIA
In love, me? Get real, hus.
DUMBO
A girl was coming on to me bad. She disappeared in the dark...
BIA
(shrugs her shoulders)
The one with the fake boobs?
DUMBO
She was hot, or what?
BIA
(contented)
She must be barking up another tree by now.
DIEGO
It seems weird, if you ask me.
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DUMBO
A hot chick coming on to me?
DIEGO
(half irritated and confused)
Not that, Dumbo. It’s just that it wasn’t just the chick. Everyone vanished in the dark,
didn’t you notice? That is what’s weird. Lights out and everyone vanishes!?
MARIA
Totally abnormal. Where are they gone?
CAMILA
Didn’t I tell you, Quito? Didn’t I tell you this place was bad news? Didn’t I?
QUITO
Why bad news, Camila? This shit could have happened anywhere.
CAMILA
This place sucks. It’s disgusting. It looks like Dracula’s basement.
MICA
I like it. And the name is cool: “Cave”!
MIKE
(teasing)
The name is really buzzing. Does it mean “I dug my own grave? ‘Cause, let’s face it,
we are seven feet under here.
MICA
(superior)
“Cave” in French means basement, jack!
TIAGO
9
How do you know?
MICA
I read it.
MIKE
(teasing)
She reads so much!!!
MICA
I do indeed. “Those who read know more.”
MIKE
Who says?
MICA
Monteiro Lobato1.
MIKE
Great phrase, ain’t it? What a genius. When you run into him, tell him I said hi.
MICA
He’s dead and buried, you ignoramus!
DIEGO
(confused)
So are we. I don’t know about dead. But we’re buried all right.
DRICA
(serious)
Shut up with the morbid conversation, Diego. I get claustrophobic just from thinking
about it.
1
Brazilian author of both adult and children’s literature (TRANSLATOR’S NOTE).
10
TIAGO
Let’s get going.
CAMILA
You mean you want to climb in the dark the filthy stairs we came down on?
QUITO
So? What’s wrong?
CAMILA
All because you insisted on discovering a new place.
QUITO
Are you gonna blame me now? Everyone agreed.
BIA
Everyone includes you, Camila. You love every suggestion that comes out of that
mouth!
CAMILA
(irritated, speaking in a loud voice)
What do you mean by that, Bia?
TIAGO
Chill it, mates. What a pointless discussion. We voted. Majority won.
BIA
I voted against it.
DIEGO
What else is new? You’re always against everything.
DUMBO
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Guys, (lying and stretching on the floor) let’s relax. Have a few more beers and wait
for the lights to come back on. (Loud, towards the side wings) Waiter!! (to the
others) Sit yourselves down!
A few sit down, but their posture remains tense.
DRICA
Don’t forget you’re driving, Dumbo.
DUMBO
I’m cool. Why would I forget that?
MICA
Alcoholic amnesia.
MIKE
Wow! The girl is inspired. Alcoholic amnesia! Where did you get that one from? Who
said that?
MICA
Your mom did!
TIAGO
Ô, ô, ô!! What’s up, Mica? Can’t you see Mike is kidding?
MIKE
(still teasing)
That’s why I’m ignorant. If you know everything, you offend when you could be
teaching.
MICA
Fuck you, Mike.
QUITO
12
Mica is right, you know, Dumbo? Alcoholic amnesia indeed. Bro, you don’t even
remember where you left the car.
BIA
And then he raises hell because he lost the keys.
DUMBO
Hey guys, could you lighten up a notch!
MARIA
And poor Tiago has to babysit his ass off, isn’t that right, Tiago?
TIAGO
(distracted)
What?
MARIA
Dumbo, dude.
TIAGO
What about him?
QUITO
Fuck! The dude is out in space. We’ve been talking about Dumbo for hours.
TIAGO
I was thinking. This sure is weird.
DRICA
(worried)
What is weird?
TIAGO
13
Did you notice that it’s only us here? Isn’t that strange? Where is everybody?
Doorman, bouncer, receptionist, DJ?
DIEGO
That’s true. It is strange.
MARIA
Maybe they all split and left us hanging here.
CAMILA
What the fuck for?
MARIA
How should I know? There are all sorts of lunatics out there.
TIAGO
I’m beginning to think this place is really fucked up. (yells) Waiter!!!
DUMBO
Relax, dude. I’ve called him.
BIA
And did he show up, by any chance?
DRICA
How about that cleaning bitch? Where is she?
MARIA
She must be in the lady’s room. I’ll go check...
MICA
It’s pitch black.
MARIA
I’m used to it.
14
MIKE
(fixing it)
“At home, it goes dark all the time!”
Everyone, except Maria, laughs harder than expected. The laughter dies out and is
replaced by a tense silence.
MARIA
Does any of you clowns have the guts to come with me, or will I have to go alone?
No one says anything for a while.
DUMBO
I’ll go. All those beers I took are beginning to make their presence. I need to leak it
out. If the waiter shows up, ask him for a few more for me. I’ll need to refill. Gimme
your lighter, Mike.
MIKE
(lighting a cigarette)
See how good it is to smoke? I don’t know why you guys complain about it...
(giving the lighter to Mike)
Don’t use it all. If the lights don’t come back, we’ll need it to climb those fucking dark
stairs!
DRICA
(worried, going offstage to check)
The stairs must have some emergency light.
(offstage, in despair)
I can’t believe this. Oh my god!
Everyone is surprised at her intensity.
15
DRICA
(coming back onstage)
There’s no light. It’s pitch dark out there.
MIKE
Hey, Dumbo. Watch for that lighter.
DUMBO
No sweat. Let’s go, Maria.
They leave. There’s a moment of silence when everyone stares at each other without
knowing what to do.
DRICA
(suddenly, nervous, shouting)
Waiter!! Waiter!!
(walking off stage. She shouts again)
Where are you, man? Waiter!!! Waiter!!!
Everyone is worried at her behaviour.
CAMILA
(going to her, frightened)
What’s cracking, Drica? What’s the matter?
QUITO
(same)
Do you want a glass of water? I’ll go get it...
BIA
16
Where, Quito? I don’t think there’s even a kitchen in this dump!
DIEGO
There has to be a deposit for the beverages. Or have we been drinking virtual booze?
I’ll go find it... (he threatens to go)
DRICA
Let it go, Diego. Stay here.
(pacing to and fro like a caged animal)
Piece of crap not having my own car. If I didn’t need a ride, I would have split a long
time ago.
TIAGO
(looking at her pacing)
Let them come back from the loo and we split. I’ll drive you.
DRICA
(restless, going away)
... I’ll go now. I can’t take being stuck here anymore...
CAMILA
Wait a minute, Drica! Wait for the lighter. You’ll fall on your ass on the stairs...
DRICA
I’d rather break my neck than stay cooped up down here. (she goes)
TIAGO
(apologizing to the others)
I’m leaving with her, guys. I think you should get going too. (leaving) I’m gone!
CAMILA
(speaks up, towards them as they leave)
17
I’m just waiting for that lighter.
QUITO
I’m coming with you.
CAMILA
No need. Are you feeling guilty for sticking us in this rat hole?
QUITO
Shit, Camila! Stop blaming me. Aren’t I allowed to want to leave too?
MICA
Of course you are. I’m going too. You coming, Diego?
DIEGO
(making like he’s going)
Sure. I don’t know how come I haven’t split yet.
MIKE
Come on! Are you deserting me? Leaving me here?
BIA
I’ll stay with you.
MIKE
What have I done to deserve this? I mean, what has any of us!
TIAGO
Isn’t it too long for those two to be still in the bathroom?
BIA
Some amazing affairs get started in the loo. A few even end up in marriage.
MIKE
I know a few stories too.
18
BIA
Loo stories?
MIKE
No. Rattlesnakes that bit their tongue and died victims of their own poison.
BIA
(uncomfortable)
I didn’t mean it like that. I was worried about you guys. You’re really edgy.
MICA
Hail “Saint Bia of the Edgy Ones”, you think you can fool anyone?
BIA
Hold on, guys. It was just a joke.
CAMILA
Ah, then you should have told us we were supposed to laugh.
BIA
Come on! It’s just some lights out. Why is everyone like that?
DUMBO and MARIA come back.
DUMBO
Bad news, guys!
MARIA
No waiter, no cleaning woman.
DUMBO
We looked everywhere.
MARIA
There is no one nowhere.
19
QUITO
This is ridiculous. Who’s in charge in this pit? Someone had to show up and tell us
what’s going on, right?
DUMBO
That’s it. It’s ridiculous, dude. They forgot all about the four of us. (He counts heads)
Or rather, the eight of us. Where are Tiago and Drica?
BIA
They split. Drica is totally claustrophobic. She was going ballistics...
MICA
We were just waiting for the lighter...
They make it like they’re going to leave, but stop when see TIAGO and DRICA coming
in. She is crying, held up by him, who also looks defeated. Everyone reacts finding this
strange.
DIEGO
(nervous, anticipating)
So? What’s up? Why did you come back?
TIAGO
(lacks the courage to speak)
The Exit door doesn’t open.
CAMILA
You’re joking!
QUITO
What do you mean, it doesn’t open?
20
TIAGO
It’s locked.
MICA
That’s ridiculous! Didn’t they realize we were here?
DRICA
(almost crying)
Of course they did. Someone locked us here on purpose.
DIEGO
(trying to hide his concern)
Why would anyone do that?
MARIA
I told you, didn’t I? They split and left the “jerks” behind.
DRICA
They didn’t forget us. They did it on purpose.
MARIA
Don’t be paranoid, Drica. What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense.
DUMBO
No beer, no music, no light is too much, right? Let’s get out of here, guys!
TIAGO
Are you retarded or deaf? How do you plan to get out of here?
DUMBO
Through the emergency exit, dumbass.
BIA
There’s an emergency exit in this hole?!
21
MARIA
Sure. Back there, after the loos. There even a sign on.
MIKE
Let’s go, then.
QUITO
Maria’d best go ahead. She knows the way.
MIKE
(giving orders)
Everyone line up behind me. Drica, you come in front with me!
DIEGO
Let Maria lead, Mike.
MIKE
Does Maria have a lighter by any chance? She doesn’t. Well, I do. (he raises the
lighter and lights it gravely) “The lighter will show the way!”
Everyone goes in a single file, MIKE and DRICA in front.
The stage is empty for a long time. They come back (no longer in single file) slowly
and with gaps between them. General despondence. It’s as though all comments and
obvious implications had been said off stage, in front of the emergency exit. Beat.
DIEGO
(agitated)
My old man is going to sue these fuckers. They’ll have it. This is against the law. An
emergency door must stay open.
BIA
22
(ironically)
Even after the bar is closed?
QUITO
All the more reason to sue. How can they lock up without checking if there’s anyone
inside? I’ll kick the shit out of these people!
CAMILA
Now? But when I mentioned...
QUITO
Don’t start.
CAMILA
But this is serious, man. What if something happens with us locked in here?
QUITO
Something happens, Camila? What could happen?
BIA
(biting)
A fire?
MIKE
(pretending to scare off BIA and lighting another cigarette)
Shoo, bad omen, shoo!
DRICA
(out of control, screaming)
Shut up, Bia! Shut up. Don’t say that, not even joking. Words have power. And put
out that cigarette, Mike. There’s no air in here. My throat is closing off. (to QUITO
23
and DIEGO) And you two, instead of thinking about suing and kicking, why don’t you
find a way to get us out of here?
Some time passes, so everyone can come up with a solution.
CAMILA
This is total bad luck, don’t you think? After what we went through at the university,
we go out to forget and have some fun and we end up in this situation. Sounds like
some sort of punishment to me.
DIEGO
(worried)
Why punishment? I didn’t do anything. I have a clear conscience.
BIA
Do you, now? It doesn’t sound like it.
DUMBO
Take it easy, ok? I only said what I knew.
MARIA
Even if we knew something I don’t think we should have talked.
MICA
For god’s sake! Let’s not talk about it anymore.
MARIA
I think we do need to talk about it. There’s still something not right in this story.
QUITO
Guys, forget about it. It’s over. No sweat, please. The situation is as follows: we are
stuck in a shitty underground club and we must find a way to get out of here.
DIEGO
24
That’s right. Let’s put our heads together, guys. Who could get us out of here?!
Some time for them to think. Then they all have the same idea and they all grab their
mobile phones at the same time, moving identically choreographed while they all say
together:
MARIA
Police! (she dials)
DIEGO
My father! (dials)
MIKE
Fire department! (dials)
CAMILA
My mom! (dials)
MICA
Round the clock locksmith (dials)
QUITO
Emergency unit! (dials)
DUMBO
My brother! (dials)
TIAGO
House insurance! (dials)
DRICA
My chief of police uncle! (dials)
BIA
Civil Defense?! (dials)
25
Still at the same time, they all take the phone to their ears. They realize nothing
happens and put down their mobile phones.
EVERYBODY
(looking at the screen)
No service!
They’re all flabbergasted and despondent about their situation. Some time passes.
BIA
That’s it. Best case scenario, we are ten meters below street level. But you guys
insisted we came to this crypt. I was against it.
DIEGO
(getting jumpy)
We all know, Bia. Cut it out!
BIA
(also getting jumpy)
Ah, what’s with you? What have I done now?
MARIA
(jumpy)
You talk too much, that’s all.
CAMILA
(jumpy)
You stick your nose in everyone’s business.
DUMBO
(jumpy)
Get real, girl. Mind your own business.
26
BIA
(jumpy)
What are you saying? That I don’t have the right to speak my mind?
MIKE
(jumpy)
Of course you do. Everyone does. But when you speak, you’re full of shit!
QUITO
(loud, to finish the argument)
Take it easy, guys. Cut it out. Arguing with each other won’t solve anything.
Everybody tries to cool down. Time.
MICA
(thoughtful)
“Hell is other people”!
TIAGO
What are you going on about, Mica?
MICA
I read that somewhere. It’s a play, I think. These dudes are locked somewhere and
they start abusing and accusing each other. Then they realize they are dead and in
hell.
DRICA
Could you stop? I don’t want to know the rest of it.
MICA
27
They just come to the conclusion that: “hell is other people.” That’s the idea the
author wants to pass on.
TIAGO
Who’s the author?
MICA
I think he’s French.
DIEGO
Sartre.
DUMBO
What are you mumbling about, Diego?
MIKE
The author. It’s Sartre. Jean Paul Sartre.
Everyone looks at him in astonishment.
MIKE
“Surprise!” Ignoramuses also read.
QUITO
You read it?
MIKE
Yep. But let’s not go on about it. I don’t like to show off my culture.
MICA has an awkward reaction, like she understands.
QUITO
So, dude? How does the story end?
They hear an amplified voice over loudspeakers:
VOICE
28
“Attention! Attention! In three minutes we begin!”
We see everybody’s reaction trying to locate the voice and understand what it’s all
about. After a while, the VOICE repeats what it just said.
“Attention! Attention! In three minutes we begin!”
DUMBO
(still trying to locate the VOICE)
This is insane, dude. What is this??
QUITO
Hey! We’re locked here. Tell someone. Can you open the emergency door?
MARIA
(trying to have a dialogue with the VOICE)
Begin what??
Time.
DIEGO
Answer, dude. Talk to us. Who are you??
TIAGO
(looking for someone)
There’s no one in the booth. Where is that voice coming from? From beyond?
DRICA
(seriously, hardly breathing)
Mica is right. Maybe we have died. And we’ll pay for our sins.
MICA
What sins, Drica? Snap out of it. Stop talking crazy.
DIEGO
29
Guys, let’s not lose it. That’s what they want.
CAMILA
Who is they?!
DIEGO
How should I know? But I’m beginning to agree with Drica. They locked us here on
purpose.
BIA
We only have three minutes, gang. (looks at her watch). Not even that now.
CAMILA
(irritated, nervous)
Stop putting us down, girl...
BIA
(same tone, but truthful)
I’m not putting you down. Get real, guys. We must get ready to face it.
TIAGO
I thought it was taking too long.
MIKE
Too long for what?
TIAGO
We must get ready.
MIKE
Get ready for what? We don’t even know what’s going to happen!
VOICE
“Attention! Attention! In two minutes we begin!”
30
DUMBO
(nervous, aggressive)
Begin what, dickhead? Come down here, you big fuck. We’re down in the dirt. Come
down here and face us, asshole!
DRICA
(holding him back, trying to sooth him)
Don’t affront him; it may be worse. We don’t even know if it’s just one.
QUITO
Gang, let’s pull ourselves together. Someone locked us here, right?
A few agree; others are in doubt.
QUITO
Who?? And what for??
MIKE
(trying to find an answer)
Just to mock us?
CAMILA
Candid camera like?
MARIA
(realizes, with conviction)
Robbers!
MICA
Robbers? Do you think? Oh, my god!
TIAGO
Of course. They locked the bar people and now they’re coming after us.
31
DUMBO
We will react, right, guys?
QUITO
I’m not reacting, dude. There’s badasses killing people for 10 bucks.
DRICA
We best just hand it all over now.
QUITO
All? What all? I have nothing...
MIKE
(points to his feet)
Of course you do. Wicked American sneakers, man!
TIAGO
(bossy)
Take’em off!
QUITO
My brand new sneakers?!
DUMBO
You buy another pair, dude. Your old man is rolling in dough.
TIAGO
(still bossy)
Come on, guys. Everybody off with your sneakers.
They all begin to take off their sneakers.
CAMILA
How long?
32
MIKE
(checks his watch)
One minute and ten seconds, I think.
TIAGO
(to MIKE, bossy)
Take’em off. The watches too, guys. If you have one, take it off.
DIEGO
Let’s make a pile, guys.
The boys and a few girls take off their shoes and watches, piling them center stage,
one on top of the other, while the dialogue resumes:
MIKE
What else, gang?
BIA
Cell phones!
MICA
Man! I just bought it.
They all take their cellular phones and put them on the pile.
VOICE
“One minute to begin! One minute to begin! One minute! One minute! One minute!”
MARIA
(out of control, yelling)
We got it! We ain’t stupid!
CAMILA
I’m getting a huge headache!
33
QUITO
(affectionate, trying to massage her neck)
You’re too tense. It’ll be over soon.
MICA
I have an aspirin in my bag.
TIAGO
Bags, girls. The bags! (to the boys) Wallets!
MICA grabs the aspirin and throws her purse on the pile. The boys throw their
wallets.
VOICE
“Thirty seconds! Thirty seconds! Thirty seconds! Thirty seconds!”
DRICA
(covering her ears, breathing heavily and with difficulty)
This is no robbery; it’s torture. I can’t take it.
DIEGO
(taking her hand, himself also tense)
It’s ok. Sit here. Try to relax.
The two sit down.
DUMBO
That’s it. Everybody sit down. Make an “I don’t give a damn” face. “All cool”. Easy,
gang. Easy.
Everybody sits down waiting, staring at the “lighting booth” and trying to look calm
and cool.
VOICE
34
“Time’s up. Everyone ready?”
They all look at each other. They don’t know what to do.
VOICE
“Are you ready or aren’t you?”
DIEGO
(afraid to speak)
Everything is there.
VOICE
“What everything, Diego?”
DIEGO
(more and more fearful and confused)
How do you know my name?
VOICE
“What do you mean by everything is there?”
CAMILA
(filling herself with courage)
It means all our valuables are there. On that pile. Sneakers, cell phones, money, IDs.
Isn’t that what you want?
VOICE
“Why would I want that, Camila?”
MARIA
(whispers)
Does he know us?!
DUMBO
35
(losing control, getting up and going forward pointing his finger up)
Listen here, dude. I understand your gig. I get it. If you’re here looking to mock us, I
won’t let you, you copy?
VOICE
“What language does he speak? Can anyone translate?”
TIAGO and QUITO hold DUMBO and try to calm him down. Time.
MICA
(cautiously)
It’s just that… we get it… it’s a holdup, isn’t it?
VOICE
“A holdup? (laughs) This is no holdup.”
MICA
It isn’t?
VOICE
“Get your stuff back.”
They hesitate.
VOICE
“Come on. Put your sneakers on. Get your wallets and phones. This is not a holdup, I
tell you.”
MARIA
What is it, then?
VOICE
(his tone goes up)
“No more questions. Get your stuff!”
36
Still fearful and clueless, they start to collect their things.
MIKE
(he stops and talks to the VOICE, angry)
Of course it’s a holdup, dude. First you cut off the lights, then you make everyone
disappear, lock the gang in here and start your little mind games: “let’s begin” and
we don’t know what! If this is not a holdup, I don’t know what is. Look it up, dude:
any unexpected act of violence is a holdup. It’s a psychological holdup. Words have
different meanings. You copy, dude?
VOICE
(applauds)
‘Bravo, Mike. Genius, man. Words have different meanings indeed. That’s why they
are dangerous. Too bad none of you thought of that before.
DRICA
(out of breath, desperate, kneeling down)
Please, sir. I don’t know what kind of game this is, but I can’t be a part of it, you see?
I’m not well. If I feel I’m locked up, my throat starts closing in and...
(trying to catch her breath. She has asthma)
I’ll do whatever you want, but make it quick. I need to get out of here, please.
DUMBO
Can’t you see she’s sick, dude? Give us a break. Let her go and the gang stays here
playing your little fucking game. Just let her go!
37
VOICE
“Let’s say it is a little game, like “guess the secret word” or “truth or dare.” Drica
depends on you to get out of here. Get in the game and soon Drica and all of you will
be rid of me.”
Still suspicious, everybody looks at each other and agree.
TIAGO
Ok then, right gang? Let’s go. Roll the dice. Begin.
They all sit down, willing to play.
VOICE
“The word is Slander!”
They look stunned; they don’t know what to do.
VOICE
“So?”
BIA
It’s just that we don’t know how to play this game...
MARIA
What are we supposed to do with the word?
VOICE
“Take a stand.”
MIKE
What do you mean, stand? Define it?!
VOICE
“That too. You, Mike, I could tell you were good at this.”
They all look at MIKE, waiting for him to save them.
38
MIKE
Slander is… is… man, that’s a tough one. (thinks) It’s like, to say bad things about
someone...
MICA
Yes. That’s it. To say bad things about someone.
MIKE
Sort of like defaming a person...
DUMBO
Absolutely. That’s it. To gossip. To spread the evil word on some dude.
DRICA
(with urgency)
All right. There’s your definition. Sort of. What now??
VOICE
“Now you take a stand.”
DIEGO
What do you mean take a stand?!
MICA
About the word...?
QUITO
I’m out. I don’t even use that word.
BIA
I never said that in my life.
CAMILA
Me neither.
39
MARIA
Nor me.
DUMBO
And me? What a fucking word. And hard to use: Slander! Shit!
VOICE
“What’s at stake here isn’t the use of the word.”
TIAGO
(intrigued, trying to understand)
What is it then, man? What are you aiming at?
MIKE
“At the truth.”
MICA
What truth?
Time.
BIA
Give us a clue, sir, please. Otherwise, we’ll never leave here...
VOICE
(cuts them off, raising his tone)
“I have already given you a clue. The word is the clue.
MARIA
Slander is the clue?
DRICA
(always panicky)
For god’s sake, say anything, guys. Do something!
40
Everybody reacts a little confused. They don’t know what to do.
VOICE
“Since none of you seems to be willing to take a stand, or to tell the truth, let’s go
on. “Truth or dare”, remember? The dare is another word. And the word is: Bigotry!”
DIEGO
(angry, out of control)
Listen here, dude. I don’t get your fucking intellectual fucking game. Why pick on us?
Why have this little game with us? (threatening) Go fuck yourself, dude. You’ll get a
fucking lawsuit on your head if anything happens to Drica, it’s your fault. You’ll be
the guilty one!
VOICE
“Guilt! I like that! That word is also in the game.”
DIEGO
No one here is guilty of anything. I’ll sue your ass, motherfucker!!
VOICE
“Sue me? How? Do you know who I am?”
DIEGO
I’ll find out. I’ll find out!
VOICE
“Great. It will be good for you, Diego, to find out who I am. Out of consideration for
Drica, I’ll give you another clue. It’s not because I fear your threats. Pay close
attention, gang. This is a hot one!
Everyone is anxious waiting for what’s to come. Time.
VOICE
41
“Does the name PRISCILA PORTO mean anything to you”?
They all look at each other secretly and apprehensively. Silence.
VOICE
“So?”
They all lower their heads. No one speaks.
VOICE
“Drica won’t hang on much longer. Does any of you know someone called PRISCILA
PORTO?”
DRICA
(out of air)
We do. We do know her!
MICA
(trying to play it down)
We sort of know her.
DIEGO
Very little, actually.
BIA
We run into each other on occasion.
QUITO
Used to run, you mean.
MARIA
She’s not a friend of ours. Just a schoolmate.
MIKE
That’s right. At the university.
42
CAMILA
She used to be in our year, I mean, in our class.
VOICE
“Used to be?”
Tension. They look at each other knowingly.
DIEGO
(disheartened)
Yes. She used to be. She was expelled.
VOICE
“Why?”
DRICA
(always panicky)
Come on, we can’t waste time going into that. It’s in all papers; it’s on television, on
the internet...
VOICE
(raising the tone)
“I want to hear it from you!”
TIAGO
We only know what’s in the media.
CAMILA
That’s right. The dean’s office took care of everything. It was their decision.
QUITO
They made an investigation. And decided to expel her.
MIKE
43
Yep. They came to the conclusion that the girl’s behaviour “offended decency and
academic ethics”. That’s sort of how they put it.
VOICE
“They came to the conclusion based on what?”
DUMBO
(impatient)
On the investigation. Aren’t you paying attention?
VOICE
“How about you?”
MARIA
Us? Well, our group, here, was called to testify. I thought it was a dirty trick.
MICA
They asked us a bunch of questions. Like the Inquisition.
QUITO
That’s right. They cornered us, like, you talk or else you get screwed too.
DRICA
Exactly like the disgusting little game you’re playing with us now.
VOICE
“How about you?”
QUITO
Us?
(looks at the others, trying to get their approval).
QUITO
Well, we said what we knew.
44
They all agree: Exactly! That’s it!
CAMILA
(understanding, nervously)
That’s what you want to know, isn’t it? What we said. I get it. I don’t know who you
are or what’s your interest in this! But if that’s all you want, let’s get this shit over
with once and for all. I said I heard she had screwed several professors. That’s all I
said.
DUMBO
That’s all? Fuck, dude, you finished the girl off!
QUITO
(surprised)
Camila! You said that?
CAMILA
(crying)
I did. I said that to get rid of that horrid situation. That bunch of vultures from the
Board asking me all those questions. I didn’t know what else to say. At first I said I
didn’t know anything. But they put the pressure on and I got scared. I didn’t mean
any harm, Quito. It was out of fear. I was nervous. So I said it. (trying to apologize)
But I also said I didn’t have any proof. I said I heard...
TIAGO
You heard from who?
CAMILA
From Bia.
45
BIA
(truthful)
From me? I never said that. Never. What I said was that I’d heard some heavy story:
that the girl was flirting with some professor. That’s what I told you and that’s what I
said over at the investigation too. Someone mentioned that to me. (trying to
remember) One of the boys, I think (remembering) It was you, Tiago!
TIAGO
(aggravated)
Me?! Cut it out?! Don’t come to me with accusations. I didn’t say any such thing. I
just asked if you had noticed she was giving creepy looks to the professor! And you,
a rattlesnake as you are, and jealous of the girl, because she is hot and popular, went
on and inflated what I said.
BIA
(aggravated)
I’m a rattlesnake? And what are you? The Romeo of this gang? You’re all over Maria,
but what you really want is to have us all! Why did you go and notice the way she
was looking at the professor? Out of jealousy, that’s why. You were rolled up in a
knot because she never so much as looked at you.
TIAGO
Shut your face. You don’t know what you’re saying. Maria was the one who called
my attention to the way she was looking...
MARIA
(jealous)
You wanted that girl, Tiago?
46
TIAGO
No way! And you believe anything Bia says?
MARIA
Of course I do. Things weren’t exactly the way you’re saying… What I told you was, if
she wasn’t making life easy for any of the boys in class, she must have been after
some professor’s attention. Otherwise, why did she always sit like that? Showing off
her legs, as Mica said.
MICA
(caught in the act)
Me?! Did I say that? Maybe I did. I don’t remember.
MIKE
Wow, Mica! What a disappointment! Such prejudice. I never expected that from
you. You have such a modern air about you. You, the intellectual, criticizing the girl’s
legs. A lovely pair, by the way!
MICA
(annoyed)
I didn’t censor anything. It was just a stupid remark. Inconsequential, idiotic.
Probably because I didn’t have anything better to say. It was just small talk, that’s all.
But, let’s face it; the girl bothered us, didn’t she? So liberated, so confident. She
didn’t give a hoop about us. So we all looked at the poor thing kind of funny. And
Drica started with the “that’s no way to dress to school”; “it seems it’s not just the
legs she wants to show”...
DRICA
(making an effort, breathless)
47
I did say I thought she didn’t wear panties”. I said it and I regret it. It was just
something to say, just to be part of the general gossip... What I do think is that
everyone should dress as they please… and do whatever they please about their
lives. But, when it’s time to speak up … how can I be so… bland, such a yes-man, like
a sheep following the herd, as my mom says.
All Mike had to do was make some silly remark and I had to add the panties story ...
“Cow-Bitch”, wasn’t that what you called her, Mike?
MICA
(ironic)
Cow-Bitch?! Hum! He’s creative with words now. He doesn’t like to show off his
culture, but enjoys coming up with new words. That’s so lame, Mike. What does it
mean?
MIKE
(uncomfortable, apologizing, ashamed to talk)
It’s the combination of a cow with a bitch. It was just a gag. I can’t resist this thing
about being funny. It’s like you guys expect it from me ... don’t you? And then, when
Drica mentioned the way she sat in the classroom and that wasn’t proper, that it
looked like she wanted to show her panties, I didn’t want to waste a gag and came
up with that one. She was behaving like a “Cow-Bitch”. It was a stupid joke. Except
that Dumbo thought it was funny and started spreading it.
DUMBO
It was lame, guys, I know it was. But you know me. I’m crazy for a new little slang. I
love spreading something new. It’s my way of being accepted in the gang. It’s a way
of getting people to notice my humble and immature person, you know? And I also
48
thought “Cow-Bitch” was soft compared to what Quito had been spreading. Tell us,
Quito...
QUITO
Me? Tell what? I have nothing to say.
CAMILA
What have you been spreading, Quito?
QUITO
(the best defense is to attack)
If I did say anything it was because I heard it from someone. I didn’t tag the girl with
no nickname! Come on, man. You’re like Camila now? Am I to blame for everything
that’s going wrong? I’m already feeling terrible for this mousetrap we ended up in,
now you want to blame me for the girl getting kicked out of school too? Don’t even
try, Dumbo. I’m not gonna be your escape goat that easy!
DUMBO
(trying to calm him down)
No stress, bro. No one is blaming you of anything. Everyone here has admitted their
own guilt. You’ll have to live up to your own deeds too, dude. You know why?
Because I saw you. I caught you red-handed when you were telling the bros at the
university that the girl wasn’t worth your words because she was nothing but a
harlot. And you said it loud and clear: Har-lot!
CAMILA
That’s low, Quito. Did you have to talk like that?!
QUITO
(angry)
49
And did you have to say she “screwed all the professors?”
(talking to each one)
How about you? Did you need to disparage her way of looking, dressing, sitting,
showing her legs, behaving? Of course you didn’t need to. I didn’t either, but I talked
about her. A little to be cool with Diego, who was kind of down, god know why. He
came to me saying she was a whore, and I...
DIEGO
I didn’t say whore. I said she was a call girl.
QUITO
Isn’t that the same thing? Call girl is a euphemism for whore. I did notice that every
time I mentioned it to someone, you kind of liked it, got all happy like. Then I started
repeating it just out of habit, and if someone asked me: “is this true, dude? Are you
sure?” I said: “sure, dude”, because there was no way to take it back, because the
word had spread.
BIA
How about you, Diego?
DIEGO
(looking down, no courage to face them)
Me? What about me?
BIA
Where did you get the idea that she was a call girl?
DIEGO
(without raising his head, after a while)
I made it up.
50
BIA
(trying to understand)
Why?!
DIEGO
(without raising his head, after a while)
Out of spite. Stupid revenge. You can stop blaming yourselves. It’s all my fault. I’m
the one who started slandering the girl.
MIKE
No. Wait a minute, Diego. Hold it. Everyone here said more than they should.
DIEGO
(defenseless, filled with emotion)
But she wouldn’t have ended up expelled if I hadn’t started, you get it? No one had
paid much attention to her… I liked her from the start. I tried everything, but she
didn’t care. She snubbed me completely. And the more she ignored me, the more I
liked her. Then, one day, I got the nerve to ask her out, to go to a club. And she said
it right to my face: “Count me out. Dancing? Necking, with you? Not me, thanks!” It
was like a punch. It hurt right here (gesture). I felt like shit, like I was some garbage. I
spent a few days down in the dumps, and that’s when I had this stupid idea to
spread something about her, just to get to her, to make her lose that air… But I
swear… If I knew where it would lead…
Lowers his head trying to hide the emotion.
DIEGO
That’s it, guys. It’s all my fault. But I made up my mind. I’m going to the Dean’s Office
and I’ll try to...
51
Everyone is touched by his feelings and by their own guilt.
MIKE
They may go back on the expelling, but what we said about the girl, we can’t take it
back.
MICA
(finally understanding, almost to herself)
Slander… Bigotry… Guilt.
(excited)
Fantastic! We won! We won, guys!
TIAGO
What’s with you, Mica? You gone ballistics? What have we won?
MICA
The game, gang. We won the game! We made it to the point where he wanted us.
BIA
He who?!
MICA
The guy up there.
DUMBO
Shit! I had deleted all that!
MARIA
(trying to speak to the voice)
Hey, you! Tell us! Was that it?
DRICA
(hopeful)
52
That was it, wasn’t it?
Time.
TIAGO
Answer, dude.
QUITO
Where are you, dude?
MICA
Have we or haven’t we come to the truth you were aiming at?
Blackout.
DRICA
Oh, my God!
MARIA
Oh, no! Not again!
DRICA
(totally out of air)
Guys… guys… I can’t take it anymore. I’m completely out of breath… I think I’m going
to faint...
The light from the beginning returns at the same time as the music, back to the point
when it had been cut off. Everyone, the young people, the waiter, the cleaning
woman, reappear at their first blocking.
DIEGO, DRICA, CAMILA, TIAGO, QUITO, MARIA, MICA, BIA, DUMBO and MIKE are at
the exactly same place they were when the first blackout took place.
DIEGO observes his friends, the other young people, the waiter and the cleaning
woman. He doesn’t understand anything.
53
DIEGO
(confused, to the same young man he talked to in the beginning)
Dude! Where did you hide yourself?
YOUNG MAN
Me?? What do you mean, bro?
DIEGO
Where did you all go when the lights went out?
YOUNG MAN
What are you talking about? Where did the lights go out?
DIEGO
Here. They cut off the lights. Did you forget?
YOUNG MAN
(shouting)
What’s up, bro? Is this some sort of joke?
DIEGO
(shouting)
Me?! You’re the one pulling my leg. Why don’t you answer? Or is it some state
secret the jerk here can’t know about?
The gang, sensing the tension, approaches.
TIAGO
Everything ok, Diego?
DIEGO
So so. I just wanted to understand how come everyone disappeared and he got all
worked up. Explain it to him, Tiago.
54
DRICA
(talking normally)
Explain what, Diego? When did everyone disappear?
DIEGO
(finding this strange)
Drica?! Are you all right?
DRICA
I’m cool. Why do you ask? Shouldn’t I be?
DIEGO
Your asthma. You looked awful. We were locked in here, and that guy, that voice...
MIKE
What voice, Diego?! What’s with the crazy talk?!
DIEGO
Are you two playing dummy too? The voice that came out of nowhere after they cut
off the lights and everyone left...
DUMBO
Come on, bro. I drink and you get high? Come to the floor, bro. Just half an hour.
Quarter to five we get out of here.
Not understanding what’s going on with DIEGO, the gang starts dancing again,
finding all this very strange and funny.
DIEGO
(to the YOUNG MAN)
55
Just explain something to me. When I asked you if it was four fifteen a while back
and then the lights went out...
YOUNG MAN
A while back, bro? You just asked that just now.
DIEGO
No, dude. I asked that a long time ago.
YOUNG MAN
Long time? You bonkers, senile or high? You just asked me that.
DIEGO
(beginning to believe)
It can’t be. It’s impossible...
YOUNG MAN
It can be so.
(showing his watch)
Look here, bro. You copy?
DIEGO looks at the boy’s watch, as the boy starts dancing again. He checks it with
his. On the floor, everyone is still dancing happily while DIEGO stays motionless trying
to understand. The light on the floor starts to dim, until only DIEGO’s astonished face
is lit up. Some time passes and the light on him starts to dim and the music fades to
the end .
JANDIRA MARTINI -JANUARY 2010
56

SLANDER

Transcrição

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