Characters:
Sarah Li ~> Edwidge Danticat
Marinda Hsu ~> Melissa (the mother from “New York Day Women”)
Setting:
In Ms.Danticat’s imaginary world, she interviews her made up character Melissa while writing her story Krik Krak.
Blockings:
Two chairs and a table in the middle of the stage.
Pen or something to show Ms.Danticat is writing.
Danticat focusing on her writing, stops for a while acting as if she needs inspiration and idea to add into her writing. ---->
Melissa enters the stage slowly (if possible, smog effect could appear as Melissa walks in to create this dreamy feeling, or dim the lights on the stage) ---->
Danticat stands up---->dialogue starts---->
Sarah (Danticat): Hi Melissa! I am writing a story about you.
Marinda (Melissa) : hello...your name is….?
S: Oh, my name is Danticat, nice to meet you here in my mind.
M: it is nice to meet you, too.
S: Please take a seat Melissa.
M: So, We're both from Haiti, aren't we?
S: Yeah! When did you come to New York?
M: A few years ago when my daughter was still a young young girl.
S: Why did you choose to come to New York?
M: I choose to come here because of my daughter, I wanted to protect her.
S: Protect her?
M: Emmm …. My husband, the father of my daughter of course, was against the dictatorship back in Haiti, and you know what would happen don’t you, if someone goes against the government.
S: I do understand the terrible situation back in our homeland.
M: Yes, as you know, my husband got hanged in public. People in our small town refused to talk and interact with us. My daughter was still in kindergarden and she told me that her friends are drifting apart from her. I did not want this to continue when she grows older and understand the reason of it. This is the reason why i choose to bring my lovely girl to a new place.
S: Oh … you are such a great mother. Your daughter and you must be close.
M: Haa (smiles awkwardly) … Not really. There have been some estrangements between me and my daughter as she grew older and whenever I show my concerns based on what is happening back in Haiti. She told me there is no reason to think or worry about things that is far away from us from the day we leave. But for me, what has happened to my husband and what might be happening to the people back in my homeland, I could not stop feeling guilty for a much more safe and comfortable life we’re living in.
S: I actually can feel the same distress for what our countrymen still have been suffering from the brutal regime in Haiti. But, have you ever think about having a conversation with your daughter?
M: I tried, but every time as soon as I start talking about anything that is related to Haiti, she sighs. And I do not want to force her, she’s already an adult.
S: I am sorry to hear that … but I believe that she loves you very much. It’s just because that she never gets a chance to know what happened back there where she was born. As long as she can remember, she started to live in New York. Maybe you can take her back in the future.
M: I could understand what my daughter feels about my unnecessary concerns. There will always be a disconnection and a barrier between someone that have been in a suppressing society and someone that is living in this country known for liberty. However,
How about you? Why are you writing a story of me? What’s your story?
S: Emm.. I was born in Port-au-Prince, where also suffered from the oppressive Duvalier regimes. My parents fled to New York but left me behind with my brother when I was twelve. Then, after a few years, I eventually can come here with my brother, and reunite with my parents. And surprisingly, I have got another two new brothers. Those days were really difficult when I first came here. I was excluded from my classmates at school because of my strange accent, my black skin, my odd appearance … Every day I woke up in the morning, I used every means possible to not go to school. I refused to accept this kind of new environment, new culture, and new friends … But the one thing that supports me to keep going is my dream of being a writer. It was a dream that was strongly against by my parents but I still persisted. (Here, the moment when Danticat bow down, Melissa leaves the stage. The stage light turns to be brighter to show that it comes back to reality from Danticat’s imaginary world.) And now, I am so happy that I have achieved my dream --- I become a storyteller.
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