OSSIFER what the fuck
Again Ossifer pulls the trigger twice in rapid succession.
Bang Bang.
Again, he can’t.
fuck that
i’m taking you in
MOSES not your stick
Ossifer attempts to brandish his baton.
He can’t.
OSSIFER what the fuck
what the fuck
what the fuck is going on
you stupid nig—
MOSES not your words
Ossifer attempts to say the n-word.
He can’t.
you nig—
you nig—
Kitch, bearing witness, lowers his hands.
KITCH holy shit
you moses man
you moses
MOSES dis shit’s changin now
you feel me
now
cuz we are not
the people that’chu
think we are
not stupid
not lazy
not violent
not thug
We Are Men
Two Black Men
we standin here
and we ain’t doin shit
OSSIFER don’t hurt me
i was just doing my job
MOSES you scared
OSSIFER i’m terrified alright
and when i see you
when i can’t quite see you
then the terror only grows
please
i’ll do anything
i will
just make it stop
MOSES you want all this to stop
these plagues
dat eat’cho whole damn life like locusts
stop killing us
stop killing us
stop killing us
thus sayeth my God
STOP KILLING US
and get’cho goddamn house in order
Moses purges the evil from Ossifer’s body.
Ossifer spews black bile from his mouth.
Then he inhales.
Then he proclaims.
OSSIFER YOU’RE MEN!
The plagues stop.
you’re men i say
you’re men
you’re men
and you are free to go
Ossifer tries to stand up, but he can’t. He’s too weak.
Moses helps him up.
Ossifer exits.
The sun begins to rise.
MOSES yo kitch man
you a’ight
KITCH yeah nigga
you
MOSES i’m good
i’m real good shit
KITCH nigga
plagues
MOSES i know
nigga damn
KITCH yo
plagues
MOSES i know
KITCH yo reverend missus
dis nigga
called down plagues
you feel me
plagues
MOSES yo
i ain’t felt dis good since
i’on know man
since my brotha
was here i guess
KITCH yo nigga damn
yo brotha man
he’d be buggin right now
you feel me
buggin like
(as Moses’ brother) mo sed what
mo did what
what da fuck
my nigga damn
yo ass was preachin
to dem po-pos
spoke yo truth
like
like blood
up on dem door posts
nigga
like blood
MOSES po-pos ain’t got nuthin on us
we free
oh my god
we free
KITCH sun comin up
we free
MOSES i think we jess
self-actualized
KITCH i think we jess
got woke
MOSES nigga
i think we jess
transcended race
KITCH woo!
MOSES (singing to the tune of “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” perhaps while swinging on the base of the lamppost like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain)
OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SOMETHING
OH LA LA LA LA LA LAAAAAAA
KITCH (singing the Mister Rogers theme song)
ISS SUCH A GOOD FEELIN
MOSES
ISS SUCH A HAPPY FEELIN
YOU GROWIN INSIDE
MOSES & KITCH ba bum bum BUM BUM la la la laaaaaaaa (uh) (uh) (uh) (uh) [percussive sounds]
They laugh.
MOSES yo kitch man
you my nigga
KITCH mos def
MOSES you gon always be
my nigga
you hear
always
but after all dis shit
right here
we been thru
man
you my brotha too
you feel me
you my brotha too
KITCH … . .
Kitch grabs Moses in a bear hug. It’s a startling, simple thing.
After a time, Moses hugs him back.
yo
what we fixta do now
moses
MOSES sun comin up
we free
how bout we
git up off dis block
go git some food
my nigga damn
you hungry
KITCH yo less get some ribs
Mister enters, wearing the suit and hat and carrying the picnic basket, as before.
A moment.
MISTER why salutations
and good morning to you
fellas
MOSES yo
what da fuck
man
KITCH what da fuck
MOSES how long yur ass
been standin there
man damn
MISTER you fellas going somewhere
MOSES what
MISTER sure looks like
you’re going somewhere
KITCH yeah man damn
we goin to get some ribs
you wanna come wit—
MISTER who are you
MOSES … . .
MISTER please don’t make me
ask you again
During the following, and at the very last moment possible, Mister pulls out a gun.
MOSES i’m moses
dis my brother kitch
and we gittin up off—
Bang Bang.
Mister shoots Moses.
KITCH NO!
Moses falls.
Kitch holds his body.
Mister puts his gun away, then addresses the audience.
MISTER golly gee
did you guys hear
a fella was killed today
black fella
another black fella was killed
i should say
well
because
well gosh
it just keeps—
(he makes a gesture for “happening”) which is sad
you know
so sad
but also
gosh
so darn perplexing
how does something like this keep—
(again, he makes the “happening” gesture) gosh
and yes
yes there are times
i must admit
there are times
that i
i don’t know
resist
or find myself resisting
having to listen to
to look at
or acknowledge
there are times i just don’t wanna know
you know
because it just keeps—
(again, he makes the “happening” gesture) and each time
it makes me feel so sad
but als
o helpless to
to change
or intervene
or i don’t know—
but then
you know
there are those few [black people]
who manage to make good
or decent—
i don’t know
so that’s
that’s really… . . [heartening]
yes
but yes
there are those times when i don’t wanna—
A moment.
Then a big performative sigh; self-conscious without being ironic.
A moment.
Then his demeanor brightens.
anyway …
Blackout.
END OF PLAY