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In the Red and Brown Water was produced in January 2010 by The Studio Theatre Joy Zinoman, Founding Artistic Direc- tor; Keith Alan Baker, Managing Director/ Artistic Director, 2nd Stage) in Washington, D.C. It was directed by Serge Seiden; the set design was by Luciana Stecconi, the costume design was by Reggie Ray, the lighting design was by ‘Michael Giannitti, the sound design was by Erie Shimelonis; the dramaturg was Sarah Wallace, the production stage manager was John Keith Hall. The east was as follows: om Raushanah Simmons EuEGDA Mark Hairston our sia Jahi A. Kearse MAMA MOJA, TRE WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU Denise Diggs wa ‘Shaunté Corrina ‘Tabb AUNPRERGUA Deidra LaWan Starnes sus Shannon Alexandria Lillie Dorsey sHANGO Yaogel T. Welch “THE MAAN FROM STATE, o1:R00N Michael Harris xGUNOUN Ricardo Frederick Evans CHARACTERS ova, OOUN siz [MADIA MOA, THE WOMAN YiHlo RENEINDS YOU AUNT ELEGUA a begins the play a git] and ends it a ‘woman; a woman of color begins the play a boy and ends ita man, godbrother to Oyas of Creole heritage with Oya for time, nephew of Aunt Plegua; a man of color mother of Oye, godmother to Elegba; a mother of color aunt to Ogun, godmother to Oya; a woman of color gizl from around the way giz] from around the way, friend 10 iS with Oya for atime; a dark man of color fair woman of color awhite man a DI, a boy from around the way TIME Distant present PLACE San Pere, Louisiana PROLOGUE The tights come wp. ‘The castis standing in a line dounstage. The men all begin to hum, a sad sweet hur, Thick like the early morning mist. They move upstage. Halfivay through the journey Oya is oft center stage, alone. She ties down on the ground, holds her head And stares up to the sky. Hr lines are said from this position like a chant or moan. The others continue upstage, speaking their lines, the men still faemming. Until finally they stand still. ‘The cast glows like a pantheon of deities, ending the Prologue. “ THR BROTHRA/SISTRR PLAYS 2 Gharp breath out) Abt AUNT ELBODA, don’t know all Nobody does. AUNT BLEGLA ‘But say she ain't even scream. ova ‘Oya in the air Oya... sux Say it sound like the wind ‘MAMA MOA Like a breeze . ora A breeze over Oya. ‘That's what they say? MAMA MOA, AUNT ELEGUA AND SHUN Fiub. ova IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER She enters om Oya Maas Nora Holding her head. ox Oya gal Laying up somewhere. Staring out somewhere. MAMA MOUA, AUNT ELEGUA AND SHUN Somewhere Hu. MaMa M07 Lord God ona Oya. ‘HUN ‘That givl ora Oya. 8 THE BROTHER/SISTRA PLAYS Sweet smiling ova Oya in the air Sad in the eyes Intheair... Oy That's what they say. sro ‘That's what Iixnow ... Oya, Beautiful girl ACT 1 SCENE 4 MAMA MOrA Mama Moja enters the space .. ‘Where you going Oya? ova Gotta go. Track meet. AMA MOA No. No? Moja looks at Oya like, “What I say?” ‘What I say? 6 ora Mama... You ‘What you mean? ‘MAMA MOZA A mother's stare. ora Mama please! eanta 078 ‘I'm tired of you coming in here All skin't up from running. Running go: your body all hurt, ova ain't hurt, I'm fine. just... Thave to run today. MAMA MOA ‘You must not be too good ‘You come in here all breathin Hard, dirty and funky and al, Ankles all swollen. Youa good Runner? ‘Yes Mama. MAMA MOI ‘You sure? ‘Yeah I'm suret 16 MAA MA (Oh yoah? That's what they say, huh? ‘That’ right. Llnow you heard. Tm Oya. MAMA MOA ‘Laughing! UH-HUH! Thmow that’s right! ‘Now that’s what I wanna hear! ‘You gon out there and show them Girls how to Oya laughs at her eazy mama. You crazy. anes for You my favorite Oya Joan Fair. T'm your only Mama Moja. nov that ‘Trying to see if you know. ‘Let me look at you. Here I go, 17 THD BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS ‘They stand for each other. Arreflection .. A face. ‘MAMA MOIA AND OYA Her own, (Sharp breath) Abt Moja’s breath comes loose, She catches her knee. ‘You okay Mama? MANA MOA Gon head 10 your meet, Gon head. I be here when you Get back. Tired just now. ‘You sure Mama? MAMA MOA Gon. I dan’t want you missing this one, Gon. Allright. Oys leaves Masa Ou ‘Torun her race. BLEGBA Enter Lil Legha Mojal SCENE 2 MAMA MOsA, Not today Lord, Moja! Loud as hell... ELEOBA, ‘MA MOZA! ‘Moja steps to the porch. MAL ante Mora Lil Legba! What I told you bout hollarin fa me hub? Screamin my name like that! 19 que anoTUER/sIsTRA PAYS 20 Sorry Moja. ‘Where Oya? MAMA MOJA Runnin. RLEOBA Already MAMA MOA Always. LEODA, Teome to beg some candy er some money to get some. MANA MOZA No. uEGnA I know it's bad for me, I know it but Mama Moja Thave to have it, I need it in my lifet MABA 0034 Moja looks at him like, “What I say? What I say! muEcDA What I got to do to prove to you I need it? MAMA MONA You don’t need it What I got to do to prove I gots to have it? MAMA DOTA ‘You can whatever you please, ‘Telling me what you gots to have, Tought to spank your tail! Send you round back to your peoples So they find out you round here begging. ELEOBA ‘They don't mind you giving, Mama Moja, Sweet Moja. They know you. We love you. MARCA MOTA Moja smiles. You ain't getting no candy Legba MAMA sO What you say? BLECBA Somebody say you know dreams ‘You understand dreams Mama Moja? MAMA MOA Tmayhap. LOA Sometimes I come home from the schoolhouse tired .. Ub, Lil Lega Ps Fall asleep ‘dream with messages I can't read yet ... i Need some help with. | Tiknow they messages, just don't know who they to ‘Where they from, how to get them there. ‘Moja sighs Giving into the lil fucker ‘What your dreams say Lil Lega? I don't know that's what I'm asking you. GoonLilLegba... ELEGDA ‘They hurt now these dreams MAMA OTA ‘Tell me your dreams lil boy! ‘Mumbling to herself, Shite’monlain’gotalldayforthisfootishness. Sorry Lord. [es always about the water, my dreams Near itor around it. Sometimes I stand In the high tide and I can't breathe but I Can breathe. And I walk on the bottom on ‘The floor of the waters and they’s these people ‘Walk alongside me but they all bones and they IN THK RED AND BROWN WATRR Click the bone people, they talk in the click. say, “Where yall going?” And they say, “Just ‘Walking for a while.” Tsay, “Don’t you want To go home...” They say, “When we walk there, it ‘Wasn’s there no moro.” I fel bad for them ‘Then they click and [come up on the mud part, “Like they send me to the land part, And T'm Sitting there waiting ‘cause T knew they want Me to wait I wait there looking and on “Top of the waters is Oya... Lil Legba looks for Moje's reaction. ‘MAMA M04 muon, ‘Oya girl floating on top of the water, Looking up towards the sky and with no clothes She hardly got no clothes on and she got her legs Wide Lil Legba ducks ... LEGBA And she holding her head on the side with her Hand like something ailing her, But from her legs blood coming down and it’s making the pond Red All the water around her red but she Ain’t in pain Mama Moja she ain’t in No pain it look Like just laying on top of ‘That. water. Brown skin in the red water 2s THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS ‘And I stick my hand in the water to make ‘It wavy so she soe me on the land I want ‘To ask her something but she don't look Atme so I stick my hand in the water to make Ivshake her on top and the water comes back in ‘A weve, that red and brown water, wash on me And I wake up sweating on my face and wet Low down, like that water, between my legs, wet . AMA OIA Mara Moja moves to slap his lil fresh face. BureDA, UHUHYOUTOLDMETOTELLYOU! Moja standing, can’t help rehearing All that Lil Legba said Gon, Legba, watch Oya run for me. BLEODA ‘What it mean Moja? ‘What my dream mean? “Mama Moja looks to the sky. Itmean you becoming aman Lil Legba, My Oya.a woman and I'm... Tm tired just now, murona Lil Legba begins to walk eway lke the half moon In the morning, oa SCENE 3 The men begin chanting: HOUNGUN RUN! 0.11 ROON RUN! RUN 0.Lt ROON RUN RGUNGUN RUN ot 00s RUN (Chey continue, Look at her! sHANGO RUN GUN siz RUN sHANcO BUN sHANoO BUN RUN (Sharp breath out) AH! Running AUNT ELBOUA Gon head Oya! Running Her powerful legs Running aun muxeua, Pressing that ground! ‘Burning it up! ‘AUNT BERGA Yes she is IA AND AUNT ELROUA Yea she ist Running ma Fasterl AUN ELBOUA ‘Then fastert 26 Nia ‘You can barely see where her feet meet the earth. AUNT HLEGUA, Uh uh barely see where they meet, ma Gon around that track! Running Just love to watch her saoN Huh Running like that ‘sawr HEOUA Gon head girl (Phe men stop chanting.) sui Wow She wont a YEAH ‘They all go forward to hug and congravulate, a | i Er ‘re MAN PROM STATE When The Man from State cuts in front of everyone. Oya girl you are blessed ... Did you see how them Other girls couldn't even keep up with you? They just Stop running after while and just look at your Legs flying around, flying through the air, ‘The white man lifts his hat so you could see his eyes, Oya gal you got a mean run on you. ova ‘Thank you. Kind of you. ‘THE MAN FROM STATE Oya gal you come run for me like that? We Love to have you at State, love for you to Bring in us some championships, I ain't Gon lie to you Oya gal we ain't got ‘Much in the way of offerin but you Come be one in our school, come be one of Our number as it were and we treat you Right... we meat you good. ova I... on't know sir T Wish I could answer now but I gotta ‘Talk to my mama, ‘Well tol her what I said. See what she say. Get back to me... But come on quick Oya gal. That spot in ‘The sun ain't shining eternal 38 oma Oya breathes and smiles 0ux siz ‘That beautiful smile, sHAKGO But she was bleeding. mnana Everyone saw it Guy size How could they not? Ont. (The men alt step toward Oya. The women block thern out.) ova 1... Tjust sw Didn't you know it was coming? ova Well I...Tmean... ‘cause of the running .. ‘Ie gets off and Huh. 29 THe pRoTwER/sistER PLAYS ma She didn’t know. AUNT ELEOUA Oya. ‘SHUN Stupid gin SCENE 4 ocun size Ogun Size on Oya’s front porch, PF Fine runnin out there. Hey Ogun, how you doin? oun siz So,s0 beautiful .. Tmean to, to see you ‘mean to, to see you run like that So beautiful ‘Make me almost wanna fall asleep. i oma, Hi ocuy siz mean, not ‘cause Tim ., . No because you, it's Tes, it's got this song to it your loge like A crickets, but more beautiful but still when They 30 Ogun moves his fingers like legs runnin, ‘When they move like this they start stir, stirring Asong in the air... ike, like a li Lullaby Sing-singing to me softly. Move so so ‘ast they start to sing: You know? Tn the a-aix, O-Oya in the air, Oya sad, smiles. oGuN siz What's wrong? You hurt my heart. When you stutter like that I... To that! Tdon't Giving effort to not stutter, Mean it Oya, ova ‘Limow, Its like Low you... What you want to say and sometimes when it halts up like that when the words get stuck in your chest, when they could come out so sweet just... I get sad for you... that’s all GUN size Oyal...1...1 Enter Shango. What up, Ogun? st THE BROTHER/sx6z2R PLAYS Gun size He Hey sHANCO C'mon nigga get it out. I... Hey Shango. smanoo How you doin man? see you trying to woo the ladies Suill which yo half-out words. ocuN siz ‘Oh man stop, stop teasing ma suanoo Nab [ain't teasing you man .. ‘You my man Ogun. Hey Shango . ‘You think I can talk to Oya here for A minute? oun sxe Oh...ub. sHaNoo Shango steps in front of Ogun. ‘Thanks man I preciate it 2 oun size, gum leaves the way he came, sHANoO Oya gal, Oya gal. You ren that race. How you doin Shanigo? ‘Oh I'm phyne. ‘You know Shango laughs Tim fine. oma That's good. a You looked so good out there, girl. So good. Homning Yeah you was. Till you started bleeding but still... You know you can't help that, Nah, But still damn, He adjusts his dick, He puts his leg up. He licks his lips, Trarely look at dark girls like that, But you black and phyne. So T couldn't help it, 38 om Hoh. smANGO Nah don't get all like that, Why dark women always Got to get mad so quick? ova ‘We can’t change color, like the yellow girls when they blush So we get mad quick so you can see it in our face. You craay girl. Why you so erazy? You smell good. Oya how you been running all Day and still smell good. COfitage) *Cause I teach her to wash every day Bunter Mama Moja. And not to play with trash. Teay Oya gal... Moja moves in. Don't play with tosh, hear, Te gets in yah eyes, baby, Tt gets in yah eyes Ob how you doin Ms. Moja. MAMA MOA Evening come Shango. Yo mama missing her third bern. ‘When the rent time come she don't pay No portion of it for over here .. ‘Think you need to enjoy what she pay for. ‘Think you need to be where she prepare a place for you s#axoo ‘You have a good night, Oya. Kit Shango. Maa OIA Some of the nastiest things come wrapped like that... He all sight Mama don’t mix words on him, He just smelling himself (eAMA MOZA ‘The scent strong... Yousure you don't smell him tov? ‘Maral Toys start smelling and those that was ladies and gentleman Something start coming away and they get back to animals again Sniffin each other. He gone Mama, Shango just silly like boys get, Mama. ss THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS 6 asta Mou ‘Moja, not listening, folds a little l oma. Marat Moja holds out her hand and waves Oya back. Just tired. ‘Take me inside please. SCENE 5 ‘THE MAN FROM start The Man from State stands. ora Oya looks out forward. Head high. don’t know how to say this six. Yes I ‘Do. First I say thank you, sit, very much I Wish I could come on with you this year I do. Tove to run. Nobody loving kicking Up dirt on a track like me. That I know, ‘That I feel. But Ilove my mama, And ‘She been low lately. Low. She say she ain't Got long, T don't believe her but I do. And sir you don't know but Pa be lying AE [say I wouldn't go crazy if something Happened to Moja while I was away. She say just a year, this year. T stay With her this while, I will thar's what Iwill do, But Pll keep training keeping running, always Running, I know there might not be a chance Next year but there might be. But there may not be ‘Moja when I got back... So Pma stay here. To See her stay or... go. Thank you so much sir. Have a good year. SCENE 6 oma Temas late one night, arly one moming ... Abi Oya wakes rom dream “Moja stands in the early Morning dew, her hair down, Standing, staring from her porch. oma Oya finds her there. Moja Listening. Somewhere .. Inthe distance, oma Near distance Ey She can hear ol death calling oma Mama, Singing) Gonna lay down my burdens, ‘Moja throws her hand at Oya. (Singing) Down by the riverside Telling her to stay back. sus maou Ginging) Down by the riverside MAMA MOuA Stay back. Ginging) ‘Down by the ziverside. MANA MOA Mama Moja moves ‘To lay her cross down. ova Oya sees it MAD MOA How could she not? Mama? You hear me calling to you. Listen to me. Like the wind calling you, Mama. (Mama Moja begins walking a path led by Aunt Blegua. Oya tries to follow) om Mama! Where you going?! Oya, in the air... Oya. Go on back Oya ‘This between me and the Lord. Gon back. You car't follow. oma But you can stay... . Hear Mam? I can’t follow but you can stay You know that now. Stay Mama Moja. 50 | oo vue pnotmpn/sistER PLATS Not now, no, OYA AND MARA MOSA Not now, Gon head to run your race. AUNT EEEGUA (Singing) Tain't gonna study war ne more Ain't gonna study war no more STOW AND AUNT EECCA Ginging) {ain't gonna study war no more [ain't gonna stady war no raore ‘Ain't gonna study war no more, own And with tears in her eyes. MADIA 4054 Tremors in her body. ova Oya watches her mother MANA MOA Leave this world. 40 (Aunt Blegua waves her hand. Mama Moja lets out a sharp breath.) Abt Ghe collapses.) on Oya begins to ‘Weep for her mother. Enter Lil Legba, weeping! SCENE 7 ora Ob Lord! LEOBA Je ain't right, it ain't right ora ‘Why is he so loud? Legba what’s wrong? BLEOBA ‘Yo mama's dead! TRE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS ‘Lil Legha it’s okay. Tinow ‘Trying to comfort him and herself She ain’t in no more pain! marcas ‘What make you think I'm erying for her? ova You say... Tsay Lil Legha why you ‘Nah you didn't you say, “Lil Legha what's wrong...” Tell you. Isay, “Yo mama dong,” that’s what wrong with me. Tain't crying for Moja what my tears do for her. ‘Not wanting to deal Allright now, look, Eh [am in grief damnit! ‘Thinking ‘You wanna grief with me? No Lil Legba BuBODA ‘What you too good to grief and wail with me? ‘Cmon woe the while. Lil boy! IX THE RED AND BROWN WATER Legba, my name Legba .. Linow who you Legha cries Lil Legha! Oh it ain’t right this warld sometimes! No... No itisn't Dead Mama Moja, dead. Who will give me lil candies ‘When I come by and say hi? ova Legba ¢'mon now. Twill give you runona Legba stops crying. ‘Look now ... Iam griefin and moanin, all right? Go on in the house if you gon do all that talking. Some people ain't got no respect, Legba moans. SHANGO Enter Shango Hey Oya girl... 4% any pnovuna/sreEn PLays om Shango. SHANG T'm sorry bout her pasts. ‘Thank you. saxo ‘That always sound funny to me Somebody die and you say sorry and they say thank you Never sound right to me. om. Je don’t sound right to me either ‘You got something more clever for me to say? sHANGo Nah T ain't accusing you of nothing Tssaid it too when my daddy died ‘But it never felt right you know? Never fels right. om, ‘Oya gitl Looks to the sky. Finds no answer there. sHANGO Sho breathes like the wind. upon Legba sneaks off opposite of how he come saaxoo ‘You look like you stand some company. ona Lil Lega here is smuxeo Lil Lega? Nothing Iknow I been .. In the past I ain't heen right... ‘You got tobe you. sanoo ‘That's what I say. Alsvays be you, and -. People ft together different. | fit with you different than I fit with other people got something drawing to you and I feel you drawing to me, Shango curls his fingers around Oya’s ear and Caresses the soft. Huh, sHANGo So Tim lying? You don’t feel nothing for me? Tain say all that, THE BROTHEA/SISTRR PLAYS ro sniaNGo But then... Imean it ain't love "Cause if it was love it would easily turn Hate how much I get on your nerves ona That you do. sHANoo ‘You get on my nerves too. oma Huh. seaNoo But I think Ladore you. ona Oya takes a breath suaxoo ‘Tasting Shango’s drift. like you getting on my nerves Sometimes. oma Sometimes. Pam all right with that, Tike you most of the titae... opt you be acting all dark-skinned See Niggas. You was doing good. Tm still here, I still doing all right. ‘Cause my mama ain't here to run you off onaxoo ‘You know that aix’t right. You know she alvways here. ‘And even if she ain't here, che there. Shango points to Oye's heart. ‘And here too Hee points to his own. Oya breathes saxo Like the wind. Letme take you inside, ova don't... don’t need you to do that, smanco I didn’t say I got to take you inside I asked to let me Shango offers his hand. ova ‘Oya sees it THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS sHaNoo How could she not? ‘They goin SHANGO AND OFA, Together, SCENE 8 sanco waar! ‘YOU HEARD ME! SHANGO AND OYA! ova FROM INSIDE! YELLING $0 LOUD! SHUN THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING! OKAY, WAKING UP ALL THE PROJECTS! Damnit Oyat ova Don’t cuss me in my house suHANco Eh fuck yo house - {es too early for all this, om Why did you bring it then? suaNco ain't start this thunder! Tain't even get up with the dovil this morning! I just said don't be all hugged up on me. ‘This is my house, you sleeping in my bed, next vo me! IE Tcan't be all up on you in my house in my bed ‘Where I can do it then, show met sHANGO Idone told you. I don’t want nobody all up on me When I'm sleep That's what the fuck I said .. I know I ain't stutter, That ain’t what Ido... Shit. we DNOTHER/ SISTER PLATS ows Coming outside. Niggas! AUNT ELEGUA Aunt Elegua coming down the street. Ora gat Weeping Oya gal! Moaning. ‘Yo mama dead and gone! Come let your Aunt Ele love you. ora Hoy Aunt Elogua AUNT ELEGUA Tdon't know what Iam gon dot Yo mama’s dead and gone. She been dead for months ‘Blegua stops and looks at her smart-ass Goddaughter. Hu. She breaks down again. And I still ain't igured out what to do. You need someone to watch over yout ova Yim fine Aunt Blegua. AUNT BEeuA, Me and Moja was close. Like a sister and now that she gone Isay to myself last night I say self that gir] over there Lonely... ora Tain’t been lonely. In that house without no one to talk to... Tm fine, AUN REGU And here I'am call myself a friend to Moja and smaxco Enter Shango. AUNT ELEGUA ‘Who this? ov Shango this Elegva. AUNT ELEOUA Hub, ‘Yousa phyne thang ain't you. ‘Yes sir looka here looka here, ‘This here your friend Oya giel? ora Yes Shango is my friend. 5 Yall lovers and friends? ova Aunt Ele! AUNT ELEOUA Ob honey Pm just asking ain’t judging Nak nab. Just asking; I wouldn't mind if I do Do what? ova Huh. Nab girl I was just being silly. ‘You sleep here Shango baby? Sometimes when Oya don't make me go home. oma Ey AUNT ELEOUA ‘Yeah gitlI figured thet’s how you did it. ova Aunt Elegua . AUNT EEEGUA Stop all that... umming and abing, Standing like you got to pee, honey. You don’t need to dance Tknow the story, [ain't your mama You ain't got to splain nothing to me. So yall sweet strong on each other or This a bitter honeysuckle yall sipping on. ‘Who got which in they mouth? ‘We just friends Aunt Ble AUNT ELEOUA ain't meddlin in your business Tain't. I got my own business to take care of ‘Wondering if yo mama left me anything in the house. Something for me? ‘There's a box of things I know she would have wanted you 10 have, Aur ELEGUA ‘Thank you girl. Gon head and get it, Yl keep an eye on God’s Heaven for you ‘Oya exits, suNT BLEGUA ‘You ever been with a older woman? siango Ain't none of em like that Oya, 5 YHE paOTHER/sIsTBR PLATS You stepping out on my godbaby! She kicks me out. Sometimes we can’t stand the sight of each other ‘Bus when you make up sano Ws all i the making up. How she like you to make up to he:? stanco Like all women do... On my knees. ova Oya returns. AUNT ELEGUA What you doing now, Oya, ‘With this freak hore? ‘This boy got a wickedness in his Stanco, a driving in his pants ‘What a good girl doing with somebody like him om Task the same question. ‘You ain't trying to get my baby pregnant is you 8 Iw THE RED AND BROWN WATER simaa0 Hell nahi You crazy? Holl nah? Why you actin like that? smaxco Tain’s trying to have no youngin makin me grown . . AUNT HLEGUA ‘What you eaze? You trying to get pregnant? Eh you can’t rum pregnant Oya. ‘You still running that man say come on in A year .. . You ready? ova Yeah Aunt Blegua, I'm running. sHANGO ‘Ta Oya, Lying AUNT FLRGUA Don’t you think it’s bout time to show him you still got it Fall coming ain't it ova Tis just spring. Auer euRuA You giving me mouth Oya gal, Teaivt saying what it shouldt ‘You better listen Ele when she talk yeaht You better come on now. Get your nose out that boy and what? 55 THK HROTHER/SISTER PLAYS Get your mind right ‘There itis. [know you ain't forgot. Get your books when? ora First Get some dick when? Later "That's right be fast in the feet and not in the ass C'mon on now. Listen to Ble. Call up that man get him to see you can ‘Rus like Oya gal so he ean step you up. ‘This asphalt still be burning hot when you got back. sraNco ‘You know that huh? Lf it ain’s one black road work it's another. (Oya smiles, Ail older Legba enters Breathing hard laughing breathing. Exit Shango. ‘our nooN O1Li Roon enters mad as hell. Yall better get him, hear! Catch him before I dot Because if I lay hands On E-legba ... swear fore Godt What you rushing over here sereaming for O Li Roon? 0 11 n0ON Didi’t I tell you, didn’t I tell you, if you stole from me Again Legba I was gon burn you, do something to you ‘Like they do ’eross the waters, in Kwait bum your booty hair something So you know damnit why don’t you learn? So hard-headed! COME HERE! ‘Legha laughing Running ducking Get off me! ‘What you stealin for Legbal ‘Went in his store told him I want some candy. Ho say, “Gon and get-the chocolate Legba it’s right there.” THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS 5s So you took i? LBOBA say, “Lain't got no money nab.” ou ROON And I say, “Then you don't want no chocolate!” And I say, “That's a bold-faced lie bite!” oma Legbal UROBA still want chocolace whether I got the money for it Ornot... [still want it. He gon talk bout Nigga tell him what you said you standing right there! Let me catch hold of him, I won't turn him loose! Lord swear! ova O Li Roon don't argue with that boy. out KOON ‘You know that ain't no boy ‘This lil motherfucker been here before! mmo You the stupidest white man T done seent How I been here before and I'm standing in front of you! IE Ibeen here, you been here too And you ougiat to be smart enough to know better than 10 outRoow Tain't test you, Tsay, “Lil Legha you don't want that Candy man unless you got the money for it” ‘And T shoois for you. Hel I stood on my hands to show You... Emptied my pockets out and out onto the floor, “Let the lil balls of inside pocket fall out to Demonstrate for yo half cockod-eye ass "That I ain’s had the money and wasn’t gon get it soon But that I was still salivating for thet candy. How you gox tell me what T want and don't want? can't stand fo nobody to tell me what I feel ain't Really there... said, “How much you wanna bet I want that candy!” 0 0X And I got wise to that shit ‘Cause the las timo you brought your black ass in my store AUN ELEGUA Hold on Li 011 RoON ‘Oh what he ain't black? ‘What yall catching breath ‘cause I called him what he is ‘was raised here too. Right on the Bayou, ‘Yo mama's beat my ass with you when you got in trouble... 50 His a is black and mine is white His lying black aca talking about some, “I betcha a dollar I ‘want that candy.” Tsay, "ain't betting” “Cause last time he took the candy and ate it through th ‘wrapper, like he crazy. “Talking bout, “See there, see how much T want it. That: prove it.I eat it through the wrapper. Just like eating pussy. eat it through the panties to get it.” ova Oya trying not to laugh ‘You so nasty. ELEoDA Lega licks his lips. Tmade his lil ass get out my store talking like that nasty. That timne I just made him leave the store. But here Legha ty- talkingness punk I know! I said, “Go get the money for it” Here he go, “Oh okay,” looking like a motherless child. Long-ass arms swinging sad like a sweet chariot. I started to give him the eandy but then he gon snatch the goodie and run, again in my face talking about some candy. You the ¢ o¥a ry cents worth a candy? ‘You got a whole store full of merchandise. And got a handful of hoodlums outside it ova You locked the door behind you Li? Hell nah, AUNT BEEGUA You gon be missing more than fifty cent ‘You come back honey. ‘Here go your fifty cont Li go back to the store otrn00N You so sweet, so sweet, Looking after this Mischief, Caring for people around you. So good ‘To Everybody Oya. Remember you ‘Remember you watch my daughter, my Baby girl you remember? ‘Yeah Li I do. oxrnoon She remember you Oya. You only watch her One time but she always say to me, “Pa ‘Li Roon when Ms. Mama Oya come watch ‘Me again?” You believe that? She call you Ms. ‘Mama Oya! oma Hun. Oya smiles. Hub, on THR aROTHER/sISTR spuzoma You still owe me fifty cent. on noox Oh I gor the whole G-unit for you. Li Roon jumps to get Legba. ova Gon Li. ox R008 OLi oon exits AUNT BLEGUA ‘Who lil boy this is? ‘Who big woman you is? ADNP ELHOUA, All right now you got slick with the white man Theat: the snot out your ass and tell yo mamat Elegua smiles. like himt He full of something. Like light . ‘You got pretty eyes boy. Who you leading ‘With them eyes? You gon be my husband ‘When you get grown. I promise you. ‘You eer break promises? AUNT RLEGUA Nope. AN THE AED AND BROWN WaTER URGRA ain't neva growing up, ‘Yall be on suicide watch tomorrow. Oh he full of it. Tust life and mischief Sing us a song. RLEoRA ‘This ain't no show! AUNT ELEOUA Ob nigga shut up and sing, Shit you sit zound hore with all that mouth Now somebody tell you to open it And you shy between the teeth? Get you ass over here sing for Aunt Ele... ‘Where did Darkness go? om Oh, he’s gone like he do. uy BLECUA ‘Avr git, don't worry make him miss something... Go ead, sing, Yeah Legba, sing ‘AUNT ELEGUA ‘What your name again baby? 63 THE pnormEn/s1sveR PLays unona ‘Mumblingsothatthefatladyean’thearme. Moutht ‘That's what I'ma call you ‘Mouth, Sing us song, Moutht BLEGRA ‘Legba smiles. (Singing) Lord she big Lord see that! Lord this lady, all woman Born with her own rack of fat hack Lord she... AUNT ELEOUA Elegua is not amused. You funny baby. But I know your mama, Who e’er she is would love for my fat ass to roll ‘Round there and say what? oon Mouth was stealing? het you she would have a song for you. ‘You better find some medley in all that mouth. BLEGBA got a dream I could sing a oma Dream? unr mLoUA Excited! C'mon Mouth woo me boy! A spell comes o'er Legba. Ginging) Hear Legba sing Sing of her road Hear Legba cry. - ‘Knowing her load. ome down peace, Come down night Cover over Oya git Make her world all right. AUNT BURGTA Ab hell nigga I thought ‘You was gon busta rhym Or something... muon ‘Legba stares at Blegua. AUNT RERGUA Gon head sing yo lil song. Bverybody wanna be an idol 6s THD BROTHER/SISTEA PLATS ova (Oya’s breath, punona (Singing) She bleeds now, Her wounds all close, She breathes still But her chest never rose. Gome down peace Come down night Cover over Oya girl Make her world all right. (He hums) SCENE 10 ‘a MAN PROM STATE ‘The Man from State stands . Oya girl. Yes six {THE MAN PROM STATE Tam sorry Oya gal I really am I ‘Wished you would have come on when Tasked you to, Ido. But you know ‘Thar’s good lesson on this life you IN THE RED AND BROWN WarER Never can tell what-will happen to your Chances you gona jump when you can Move, when you can move, you Young people like ... like yourself don’t have much Im the way of opportunity in this world oma ‘Wait sir please {THE MAN FROM STATE mean I would give you a chance I would. But the top girl we got she man oh man ‘When you didn't come to us Oya gal We had to get a second best; go there om Our list, F don’t like second nothing but such Is life, like I told you chance to go, go, you know. ‘She found she was the second on our list, och wee. Hell I didn’ mince no words bout it [told her square say, “You our second. Gotta girl named Oya ran Like the wind, She say she coming on in a year” ova Sir. ‘THE MAN PROM STATE ‘That giz] found out she was our second, Oya and you would Be surprised what people do to get to th' top some. ‘This here girl said to herself, I veckon, she show us good and plenty. ‘That we wouldn't wanna look nowhere else when we See what she can do. Took about seven off her time Just like that, Every time since she stepped on our grassy? She been running for her life look like. 67 | ' THE pROTHER/SISTEA PLATS Seven consistent: Seven like that... and then more. Inover seen nothing like it in m'life. Never. Ido hope you keep training there Oya. And you know keep yourself up .. ‘But we just ain't got no place for you here. No, not oma Oya sad, sales Taking it in. Blegha hens) SCENE 14 Enter Shango, dressed in an Army Reeruit uniform, Blegba ans) What you come to ell me dressed like that? We... we through? That’s what you saying? suaNoo Nothing to say? Huh. All the years I know’d you got mouth to say ‘What come to it now what? Speechless? (Biegba hems) ‘Shango just speak your words and I'l be free. Free from you coming, tasting me at night, Me smelling you smelling like somebody else Yeah say it, un spell me Shango. Do me a favor. ‘That's what you gon say right? That's what you doing me sniaxco Shango moves to No! sHaxco Tain't going to school no more J, they ain’t got no place for me, Nowhere for me to go but here, I'm here, can't go nowhere. Just be here, Here. sHtANGo ‘Shango curls his fingers around Oya's ear And Caressos. ova sHaNco Eait Shango. oo 7 THE DROTHER/SI8TER FLATS (EBlegba hums) (ya's breath comes hard to her. AUNT ELEGUA ‘They say she broke down, sau That's what they say. MAMA Mou Or that she broke a spell, Broke something. Something happened ‘ALL WOMEN Something, Luoma Ginging) Come downs peace, Come down night Cover over Oya gil Make her world allright. Lil Legha exits like ‘A three-quarter moon in the morning. (Oya stares out.) SCENE 12 oon size Enter Ogun Size T. I... know... Timow that that you can he-hear me, § So I'm Pm just standing here talking Standing h here speaking to you, my h heart. Y.... You doz’t know ... Yous so blind IE you os-ask me. Tain't n never said nothing Like that to you b-but how you think it make m-me make me «You ain't neva let me love you, but you gon lay down ‘And get closer to death? Snuggle up to him! Death with his stale breath don’t know you like T do, Hie just a nasty ol man been Tooking at you since you was ‘Was a lil gic. But I been loving you always. Teen in love with your light and your sad eyes. ‘And I got this home inside me I know Ido... My outside seem like it’s fragile but in here A big man that-will wrap you in love, Oya ‘You come home with Ogun. Just come home. You let me take care of you for a while. PIL make it all right. Yl make it okay. ova Oya stops her staring and looks at him. ‘You're not stuttering, OGux suze What? Laughing You not stuttering. He BROTRER/SISTER PLAYS OoUN size How you feeling? I should c-call somebody . ova Not Donte start again, Don't start stuttering just talle to me, For the rest of my life. oma won't skip another word. Another breath Won't interrupt myself, you let me talk to you. Oya in the air, Oya, Let's go inside. We can talk quiet in there. Come inside with me, We tall about starting Something, Making a family one day Oya smiles (The cast hums the opening. Ogun and Oya join them in the pantheon upstage. Lights out.) n ACT 2 SCENE 1 Lights. Shun and Nia dance downstage. Oya sits on her porch. Music plays. SHUN AND NIA Ginging) Abt Abt Abt sun A Party nearby! a Going loudt 1% THK BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS SHON Musiet xa ‘Dancing! mow ano xia A baby shower! Abt Ginging) Heyt Oya sitting on her porch, Staring at the shower. Look at Sophie dancing like that. Look how big her belly is, Lord. Oya staring. She rust be so happy: (The music changes) Ooh Girl! SHUN ‘This is my song? ov Oya on her porch. Thate this song. ” gts S175 Ogun Size enters ready for work, This a nice song. ‘Better than all that noise they've been playing all night. es 100 early to go to the car shop. OGUN siz ‘The early bird catches the worm, ova oot sre Oya, don't sit here all night and moriing. oma Tshouldn’s let you walk out there Make you go lay down. So I can come in later listen to you snore, GUN stax Taon’t snore. on You breathe hard. oot size Tbreathe hard... om aun size You so sweet. 7 THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS ova Gon Ogun. OOUN siz So sweet but you can’t taste your sugar. Ogun kiss T gotta go, gotta go. Ogun kiss, See you later, Ogun kiss Bye baby, Kiss, ora ‘Don't be all up on me! Gun siz See you later baby. om Music from the shower still going OGuN siz ‘We'll play good music at your shower one day. ova One day. GUN size oma, OGUN size ‘Don't sit out there all night, Oya, 76 In THE RED AND BAOWN WATER ov og siz Ogun Size exits to work. (Dhe music from the party stops) LEoBA “Legba sneaks in like the moon, ora Osa bows her head. punoaa ‘Legha hums. Boy. Why you always sneaking? uroma Tm not sneaking, Tia watching. ‘You getting too big to be doing that. ‘Watching me. [mow those looks... Tean't do nothing with them. om People talk about those looks Legha. People talk bout you Legba. n Huson So you heard? ova ‘Who ain't heard about you getting kicked out, ‘Your mama putting you out? ELEGBA Tima man now Oya. om ‘Dovtt think she ain't gon take you back .. unos She say don't be back for nine months, Don’t come back till it’s born ova ‘Who? You got somebody pregnant? unopa ‘Legba beams like the moon. LLegba how old is that girl? She my age? muons, She ain’t no girl Oba all woman. 1” oma ‘You always did like older women. ‘Wat she doing messing with you? isona She say I got an old soul, Tsay, “T'm just sixteen.” She say, “In this lifetime but you really Tike fifty” Tsay, “Yeah right but when I lay you down ‘You will know why they say boys never stop Playing with they toys.” Boy shut upt Laughing! So nasty! wupoBA ‘Nover stop playing with they food either. ‘You know I can eat, Ilove some chocolate too... « "The older it get, sugar just rise to the top... Slurp. ox Soe that: woman right you A dirty old man in there, ELEOBA ova rurona Tean’t stop being happy abou this. w eHe DROvHER/sI87ER PLATE ova Tean't stop smiling at you. We wrong Oya? Taint right to be just bringing babios in this world. ons ‘What else we got to do? Nothing. Sit around ‘Watch the world. Babies got some sunshine in em. Tsaw some little bowlegged baby ‘Walk round here the other day jtst as cute Tlooked at her and I said, “Whose baby is this? ..” She looked at me, “Not yours...” She wasn't mean She just say it matter of fact and bent down Picked one them firccrackors left from the Fourth Tsay, “Lil baby don’t ent taat.” She put it right in her mouth and started chewing. Like it was this brand-new flavor Now and Later Just chewing and the burnt orange of the gunpowder Flowing out her mouth ... she just smiling Her mama walk by and grab up the baby, “What tie fuck you got in your mouth?” Starting spanking her. “Didn't tell you to not put shit in your mouth ....” “The baby start crying. She carrying the baby away looking at Me talking bout, “And you just gon sit here and let her Kill, herself?” wanted to be Like, “Bitch that ain't my baby She just told me I wasn't her mama...” ‘Way she let the baby just roam around the projects Any damn way? As much as they shoot round here? Letting your child just walking around here. Unchecked! IN THE TED AND BROWN WATER rian ‘Lega looks at Oya girl on (Opa giz] feels him staring, Go in there and get some sleep, Look like you been up all night. EIROUA Ogun ova He gone to work ‘You need to sleep gon head .. . Daddy. mumps ‘Thank you Oya, ova ‘Ubhub. LEGBA Legba sneaks off like the moon behind a cloud Gone but still there. (Bega hums) sHANGO Enter Shango dressed in Army Fatigues ova Oya’s breath. st Tun BRoTHER/srstHR PLAYS SEANGO Shango stands in a better light. ova A sad song plays. suaxco Sad like when you were litle ova Sad like a mother’s heartbreak, SHANoO AND OFA Sed. sHax00 Tsaw Legba goin. What he doing here? on Minding bis business ... stanco ‘That lil boy got business over here? ova He ain't that little no more, He about to be a daddy. sHaNco Teen gone that long hub? om Long enough. sano Surprised you ain't swollen up. ‘You with somebody I kuow. om If you know why you asking? sHANGo ‘Who you been down together in ‘Your sleep with? om How all of this your business, huh? Didn't you just get here? Say your hellos to everybody, ‘They will tell you all ‘The news you wanna know, T'm not your reporter, seek your Prophecy elsewhere. smaco ‘You ought to be swollen, belly full, Glowing with that morning glow ‘Titties perky ready to give life ova Tain't tying to have no youngins making me grown. ‘Remember that? Please hoy. Gon, okay? Gon Shango. suaxco Shango curls his fingers... He Caresses You still sim and ripe ... 88 THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS How somebody ain't put A baby inside you yet is beyond me. Hit Shango. SCENE 2 oa Oya ‘Laughs to herself. AUNT ELEGUA Aunt Ele sees it, How could she not? oh Oya gal Oya gal! Where you coming from smiling like that? ‘Tell me Love women's secrets! ova ‘just came back from . Yi, AUNT mxEouA He home ain't he? Shango! He home from the war or ‘ho cigs. whatrer i Your Fire is back! i Girl you better go get melted down! : oya Shhh! Aunt Ele, Tim with Ogun... oo Uy THE RED AND BROWN WATER AurT mua ‘Yeah but he don't walk near you and ‘Your temperature change, I have seen you. Thnow what you're like under Ogun Size. Bat it ain't nothing like that lightning From Shango, ch? ova Aunt Ble! AUNT ELEGUA Shango come and he walk over to you ‘Your kmees clap down, you fall (On that bed, honey that muscle just Grinding on his thigh aching to touch .. ‘You start to change color you start ‘Tolose your breath, how they say (Singing) Houh-hul can you keep up? ova ‘Your nephew loves me... Tlove him . [AUNT ELEGUA Something bout that say “lie” to me, T got to go, I just come thought I be nosy Come see if you nosy. Gome see if your nose wide open. 85 i ' i f PME BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS SCENE 5 From offstage, the cast hums a gospel or spiritual ova Sunday afternoon, Oya sitting on her porch, ‘Nia and Shun walk by. euros ‘Laughing to themselves. ‘There go the git], Shun, almost let Shaumva Kill herself by eating a fireworks. Yeah Remember I told you. savy Oya Jean Fair almost let my godbaby die, Nia? ova Ttold her not to, She's got a grown lil mouth, sauN ‘You should have popped her hand or something. ‘You grown ain't you? ‘Now you know [would have come round Here and beat Oya ass she would have hit My baby. IW THE RED AND RNOWN WATER sauN Laughing -.- What? suuN Toould just see Shaunta telling Oya, “You ain't my mamal” wa Laughing toot Yeah! To0ya She so bad sometimes... sux Ooh T love her. ora 1 she was my baby ssaun She ain’t your baby you [ints got no baby. Don't un out with your mouth. “Tend to your lil grease monks: ma ‘Don't act ike that Shun. ‘Nia and Shun leave. sax Laughing, a 6 THE BROTHER/SISTRR PLAYS (The cast upstage hums.) Enter Shango. ‘You weren't at church, ‘How long it’s been since you talk to Jesus? ova Don't do that. sHaxao ‘Tm just concerned about your soul... ‘Iwanna see you in the sky when we Al get there. ova Service still going why you left? saxo Ab hell Thad to get outta there, Te’s going on four! First they started late, thon the choir... ova Legba was up there? smaxao Tsaw him... Him and Ogun’ brother, Oshoosi, If Iwas Ogun I would ship Oshoosi ase Off to military school ‘Thirteen years old, getting thrown in jail, IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER ova | Oya looks up. smaxco ‘Yeah, that’s why the church going so long, ‘They praying for his monkey ass. Choir just up there singing. Elegua came in to the church she tnad As hell. You can tell ‘cause her wig all ‘Tilted to the side and che walking that Big girl walk towards the altar, She ‘Talk to the secretary of the mother’s board, Mother Pickalo, ‘Whatever Elegua telling her making her shake and put down her head. She starts praying, Pm like, “What the hell's going on?” ‘Blegua walk up to the choirstand and she just Start to beating on Oshoosi, Beat beat beat... All the way down the aisle of the church anil out ‘The front door. Mother Pickalo, she stands up like she bout to declare war. She standing there you know in the church lady stance ‘You knaw with her face fully forward Holy Ghost filled, Double chin jangling. Gon talk about, “Giving honor to God, yall Thave some news, you know times is hard. ‘And the devil is out there I know!” People “Amen-ing” and “Yes Lorain.” Tim like I wish this chick would come the hell on ‘And stop the testimony... But you know she crying: “And Lord the devil can sometimes sneak in here ‘Too... This holy sanctuary, Lordie G Lord! ‘This temple... this house of God cam be sucked with, wasteful... THE BAOTHER/SIStAR PLATS ‘There was money being stolen from Out the mouth of God and being weed ‘To play in some corner crap game Filled with wicked youthful derision, Lord God Lord God. ask that this money be prayed over and Put back into the rightful hands of the church So it can pay for the pastor's sons’ gonorshea of the moutht” ora She didn't say thatt sano How you know you wasn't there? ova legua came and told me she put Oshoost in jal for a day suaNco So you knew this whole time, buh? ‘What you let me tell it for? ora ‘Wanted you to tell me something. suanco He smiles ova She smiles ‘SHANGO AND OYA ‘They - smaxco Shango ews .., He Caresses . ueona TLegba sneaks in unseen. A bundle in his arms... oma Oya snails. smaxoo ‘You tell me something, ‘What you doing with Ogun Size? ova ‘The same thing Iwas doing with you... sHaNco He doing itright? ora Lying Bvery night. sHANGO Like me? Nah not like me. He eat that pussy like me? ova ‘You ovorsteppin Shangot sHaNtGo How you mean, I was there first... ot wwe pnocusa/sroteR PLars cu size Where you at now Shango? Enter Ogun Size. suawco Shango grins... A glint of war in lis eyes. Hii, hi, you doing Ogun... ObT'm phyne... ‘You know .. Ogun laughs in mimic of Shango. Tm fine. ora Oya interrupting Gon Shango. snanco Smiling Tas there first... Tilbe there last. Exit Shango, oun siz Gun size muon A baby cries inside. ova ‘You hear a baby crying? OOUN ste ‘Yeah. ova ‘They move to the door tN size ‘You wanna go in now? ova Gon Ogun... ous size ‘You stay outside too much Oya, ‘You need stay in sometimes, Itain't right for you to be out here all the time. One day you'll have something to stay in for, ora ‘Let me see what's in my house. GUN SIZE ‘You should already know. ‘You know? ‘You should know already. 8s THE BNOTHER/sIsTER PLAYS SCENE + Stun and Nia stand and hang clothes on a tine. Hum, Nia Hub? Hum, so nobody can hear, (Wiz tauns) Sharing a socret. Girl Legba mama came round to Oya house Screaming and carrying ont mua Laughing, Back to humming, (ia haoms,) suun Yeah girl! "Cause Legba done “Took his baby and been hiding Out at Oya House, na So his mama got the baby now? % suus ‘You supposed to be humming? Tm supposed to be telling! IA Nis hums (Win haus.) snus So yeah Legha mama got the baby now, And she told Legha to stay at Oya house. (Nia urns.) sau (Oya got a full house, “Cause now Ogu asle Elegus to stay round there! ma Wha? saUN ‘Yeah girll ‘Nis hums. (Nia hums.) sar The night before Ogun woke up and Saw Oya sitting on the porch rocking .. . You 95 THE wnormen/sistun PLATS Remember it was during the blackout All the power was out in the projects. Anybody in they right mind be inside Not sitting on they porch but Oya Say he don't know seem like she losing her mind Ask Aunt Hle come and watch her ‘But I know the bitch ain't crazy nah ‘She a lil hotbox and she been getting a visitor. ‘Who? (Nia haus) Shango! (Ni hours.) MA But you knew that was coming know you ain't mad? emus ‘What you talking bout Nia! ought punch you in your damn face! su ‘Ah bitch you jealous you ain’t crazy, hub. Flub. os IW THE AED AND BROWN WATER ma Consoling her friend, ‘They was together before he left. sus, T don't care if they was married before she stealing My man now. ‘You know Shango ain’s nobody man. smu ‘Yet... You just got to learn how to tether niggas. Just sing your song Nia Don’t worry bout Shun okay *Cause when it come to it Tinow how to run Miss Oya ‘Where she can’t walls na ‘Nia smiles at her friend, She hums. (Nia hums.) SCRNE 6 oc S12 Why you let her go? AUNT RLEOUA She grown and got legs ‘And I asked her to go... a7 Tun wROTHEA/sISTER PLAYS ‘And further who you think you talking to boy? ain't got to splain hell of nothing to you! GUN size Aunt Ble T don't wanna get into it... AUNT ELEGUA But you step yo flat foot right im ie} oGuN size Oya ain't feeling good! sunrmugoua Who you to say that girl ain't feeling good? She a grown woman ain't she? Grown enough to know whet is and nin’. aun size She sitting out, sneaking out all the time. Staring got this look on her face. She got a sad look on her always AUNT sunevA Hell Life ike that ‘You think sadness stop niggas From going to the fish market? ova Oya enters oun size Smiling . AUNT ELEOUA Carrying a bag. OOUN sizB Let me get that for you. ‘Where you been? ora ‘Now wait... you just took the bag from me, ‘Where it lool like 1 been? aux size Di you leave outta here carrying that grin? ‘Where you pick that up from? ova Oya stops smiling Nowhere. cow siz ‘Tm serious... Tain't seen your fice like that in a long time ‘No round me, Tjust wanna see it... Tlove it... Tlove you. om I gotta help with the fish. O9UN size ‘You know I don't eat fish... AUNT ELECUA I's Friday boy... Friday the best day for some fish. Inever Did understand my sister's kids, Some of ‘The most finicky eaters. You won't eat fish ... oo THE ROTuER/ersTRA PLAYS ‘That Oshoosi talking bout he can’t have no ‘Banana pudding ‘cause it make his throat itch. On top of that neither one of the niggas take in Milks without farting all over the house. Never ‘Understood how yall get these delicate stomachs ‘When you starving ... seem like to me yo stomach Be glad to get anything in it. C'mon stay For some of this fish. You don’t eat enough nohow. oouN siz ‘Should I stay Oya? Go on in and lay dewn fore we eat. Ogun Size exits hoping to see her smile But only finds a dark cloud in Oya’s sky. Oya looks to Elegua AUNT ELEGUA Til start the seasoning ... Aunt Blegua exits, ova Oya bows her head, menona Logba tries to sneak in the door with the baby. oma Lega yo mama say you can't keep the baby round here you ‘want her to come here and be mad with all of ws 100 muons ‘Legba smiles at Oya. (Oya like his sister, Ova. “He brings the baby to her. Eh Oya look here. He shows her Straight line of little black marks On his leg. See? Laughing... Like the Lord was trying to send a message on it Soot... ova Hah.. zines Hold him... ‘Legba stands back and pulls down his pants .- om ‘What you doin? muona ‘Legba proudly shows Oya his right thigh. Same marks. The ones like nobody ever seen Right here on me and my baby.“ ‘You ever know something yours, ‘And from nowhere it proves Tuself, shows it self to be just yours only... You ever felt that, Oya? Something all yours. This mine. ova Oya stares, 10 THB wnorwen/srsveR PLATS 302 ‘When I hold him . Wes like I got more love in my hands ‘Than the world got air to breathe, don't want nothing to keep me fram it, ova mubona Tknoyr you understand me. Anybody understands me you do. Sighs Oya gives Legba back “more love than the world got air... Oya in the air Oya... Go inside Legba. ‘Legba fades into the house Like the moon in the shadow of the world. ova Oya breaks her spell ‘That's why you named that damn baby Mare! You fool! muxons, Legba laughs ..- Fades into the house. ov Oya smiles to herself, Mare. Huh, Night. Ginging) Come down peace Come down night... SHANG Enter Shango dressed in his Army Fatigues. Just carne to say Good-bye. ora All the nights I've been seeing you And you just telling me now you leaving? Ogun Size enters. ‘Teome to return the reins my man, sHAXGO T gotta go. ‘Oya keep your head up. Ttvied to leave you a likpresent but... Tgotta go. (Ogun you stay strong man. Keep your lil family together. Exit Shango. oma (Oya curls her fingers behind her ears. (Oye ons) she Caresses the soft. 105 THn BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS SCENE 6 Oya in the early evening Standing on someone else’s porch. She wants to knock on the door but She hums, ‘Oya huont,) [THE WOMAN Wito NEMANDS YO Don't sing on my doorstep. A woman of magic, a bruja, A hoodoo-voodoo lady walks ‘To the porch Igor, My body empty ‘THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU ‘What you want me to do about it? ora, Please, know you know how to fix it “THE WOMAN WHO REDAINDS YoU Go to the church ladies that’s what they there Pos they all stand over you moaning and praying They fix you right up. ‘They won't even see T'm in trouble. ‘They all say you young and you ain't pregnant? so4 Praise da Lord, bless The Lord omy soul... ‘THR WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU God is good... ova But He is good in all things [THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU Huh. The Good God of a thousand and one pieces. You looking for your piece? ova You got something, some words, ‘That make me love right, love where I should. ‘TH WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU If you ask God of a thousand and one he will provide you Be careful how you ask it chough. He gives you paths, none of them easy. ova ‘Then T want my own mark. Twanna loak down and see myself Mirrored back to me. ‘UR WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU You should have had that by now, ‘What? 105 THE anoxnEn/sisvER Prars [THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS TOU ‘You don’t think by now you should have Had something growing inside you? os, No... No. Imean not if it wasn't time. Not if it wasn’t No! ‘nu WOMAN WO REMINDS XOU But a grown woman Oya gal? ‘You been grown for a long time now How you think it just skipped you? You ain't been with no little bays. You had how many, two grown men From two sides of the world, the fighter And the businessman, Both grown men And not nar one of em filled you with seed ‘That growed into something? You still walking Round here wishing for that? You should know by now . ora ‘What I should know? [THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS TOU Hf you ain’t got it im your mind I sure as shit ain’t gon put it there, ova Put something heret [THE WOMAN WHO REDEENDS YOU ‘Tama woman, I can’t put nothing there. ‘The hoodoo bruja goes off her porch, 108 Gift) (Oya vurns, Men begin to gather 0 urRoox ‘Like a rain cloud. ooo siz You may not know ..- suaxco But just like in the middle of the desert ournoox Out of nowhere comes torrential xain .. -ROUNGUN Around here sometimes out of nowhere Apany. sano ‘The speakers get set up on one block... uN size ‘The music comes fumbling down the street RGUNGEN Calling you out your name. suANGO I's that bass drop .. 107 ‘Tue sRormun/srovea PLars Piece aeataya geome oracak: on noon sau So hard, thumping, ‘They walk through. ouNGUN sniaxoo ‘The men stare! ‘Dum da da, dum da dat satu How could they not? It calls late, as soon as the sun downs : : RGUNGUS Damn girl in the green came ready to ride And again out of nowhere ey or v For real shawty what's real? Oh she acting All stank, that’s all right you be begging me Acccowd "To be your baby daddy later girl. ouNooN soso The Hgungun assumes the position. You better watch you mnouth boi! Diing and spinning tha hottest earth : ‘Thumping melodies invoking sex and oe atic : Aight mama T ain't trying to fight ’ and tight Goddamn look at the gil in the green! Not tonight it’s too thick and tigt elie te geal Out here. Yall ready for that next sex One? He plays a song with ride Shun... Inits rhythm, making you wanna grind where You are. a ‘That’ it yall get to that spot And Nia, ‘Where it's real hot. Pia keep “Turning the temperature up sex Yall just keep riding out Attra Specially you lil red in the green ‘You thick as fuckt ma Tn their best public, ova Yer intimate apparel. Oya hears that beat! 108 109 | | THE DROTHER/SISTER PLAYS How could she not? ova ‘She stands and watches, RGUNOUN Tis that time of night where Everyone in the out over here ‘Needs to get to know that freak within, ‘You know what 'm talking, specially Yor the fellas. Come on yall I gota hundred ‘Dollars for that freshest freak girl out there wa ‘Teasing her friend. Go head girl satu ‘You done lost your mina ia, ‘That's hundred dollars. “They say you a freak You do it, Niat Ain't nobody wanna see my stretchmarks. Well I can’t in my condition ... 10 IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER ouyoun A dundred dollars for that nasty girl! ‘The one who get up here and show ws all the world. (C'mon lit mama do your thang mommy. Get up here on this speakerbox. ‘We want to see the way you move. ‘Yall scared? Why you acting shy? ‘After this here next song though we gon touch the sky. -BLBOBA ‘Enter Legba beaming like a full moon, Bright in all white. He moves to Oya, om Lega Oya, what you doing here? just came to see. IRGBA ‘You sure... just to see? ova ‘Lega where the baby? ‘My mama got him. -RUNODN “Appears the Rgungun, Eh my man Legba! THE BnoTuER/ersTER PLAYS ‘They pull close. ounaus ‘Too close to be just friends [BLBOBA AND EGUNGUN Just friends. oma Oya sees it how could she not ‘The Egungun sees Oya, ‘This your friend? Leona ‘Yeah she is. EGUNOUN You told her about me, your friend? She know we friends? ‘She wanna be friends with us? uEena Smiling like the light of the night, Ask her RovNous How you doin... Oya? uHoBA Yeah. 12 iy THE RED AND BNOWN WATER Tim all right. EGUNGUN You pretty Everybody tell you that though, Tknow they do. You... you got any kids? nouNcux Nah, nab, not yet though. No. ova Oya moves to. RoUNouN Don't go. Let me play this song. Tl be back... for both of you. om Lega Hee will if you wait. ‘We can go with him ‘You been looking, right? You came to see. ‘Maybe this what you looking for ‘Maybe this fix whats broke... ova Oya walking back. Turns. 435 THE SROTHER/s1a7ER PLAYS AUNT ELEGUA Running into the dancing Aunt Elegual UH-HUHI THAT'S MY JAM MR. DJ! Shake that goodsess hey! Like Tafly Lafiyt Work it out! That's what I mean, Dancing a “too old to be acting this young” dancet just cuts it loose yall, yeal Ido, T gee ie outt, Ooh yea honey! oma ‘Laughing how could she not! Aur Rrnoua ‘What you gon stay here all night Oya! Girl you betta cmon and dance it out. C'mon real hard so you get your system Cleaned. Work it like this! ova Oya dances like Elogua. AUNT ELEGUA, Nah gal it’s like this here, Aunt Blegua gets down with Her big old self backing that ‘Thang up! Uh-hubt ‘That’s how you do that. oma Laughing A cloud passes. don’t feel good Aunt Ele, You come to got me? 14 [AUNT ELEOUA Came to show you a way home. SCENE 7 om ‘Oya gitl sitting on the front porch, ‘Humming and then eying, Smiling, ‘Then hunuming again. SCENE 8 ous size ‘Ogun Size enters. Oya. ova ‘You don't need to be there. GUN sizB (Oya you just lnurt ova You don't know OoUN size Please let's go in Plltake care of you. ova I don’t need you to take care of me. 115 THE BROTKER/sISPR PLATS OGUN size Oya one day we. ova Not No more days! Nonet ‘What you gor? ‘You gon be stuck here like me forever. Just us so what you got? ‘What I need you to do for me? Gon head Ogun Gon head. OGUN siz (Ogun turns. ova, You was good tome... GUN siz: Ogun begins to turn back, ova Don’t turn around ‘You was good to me, And Tloved you. Go find somebody who love you better. Dow's... turn, Gon head now .. Gon head, oun size ‘Ogun Size leaves his heart behind, 18 IW THE RED AND BROWN WATER ova Legha enters like the moon during the day; there but not saying anything. Legba, Legba, Legbal ‘You surprised met mueona T didn’t know you was like that! didn't know you was into things like that. Tmean Iknow you gota lil freak in you.. unos Lega smiles. ova Legba. ‘Youa gray boy? ELRGDA Tgota son ova Gray boys have sons. Teame to tell you om Don't. Tdon’t feel oxo Shango is home. THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS ova Oyacurls... rwona He coming here I saw him. He stopped by Ogun and shook his hand first, Say he sorry how he acted before. Say now that he grown... He need to sey his sorrys. ova Hub. eneons Tdream about you Oya. ova Gon now Legba. e's always been the same... ora Gon! maroRa Blegba walks away, staring at Oya. ox Shun and Nia enter to give me more bad news. Don't... No, now! 118 (C'mon on now Shun be a good neighbor! Fuck that... Fuck that! Under her breatis: Idor't like that... I don’t see why Thave to... She erazy anyway! ma Go on girl stop being like thet. "To Oya: Hey! oma Hey! sate wa, Shunt SHON Ah shit! T guess you've heard . ova know Shango back. sun ‘Yeah I guess you would Know that, But you heard about me? ‘Me and Shango? IN THR RED AND BROWN WarEn NIA 19 THs oROTHER/sISTER PLAYS ors ‘You and Shango what? swum ‘You betwer act like you happy for me Locking all sad n shit... ‘You better know. ora ‘Happy for whas? sax Smile, Shun got Shango's baby. oxo Tm having his baby So Fin his woman now! ‘You ain't shit to him. ma Shunt SHUN Heavy breath! But Iwas gon come to Invite you to the shower we having, ‘youcanmakeit. See T said it les go, on ‘Thank you... Tdon't think I be there, 120 Good... Imean yeah Come on Nia. oma Oyals breath comes loose sarox You all right? ova ‘Yeah T just gotta go inside I gotta get a gift for Shango. satu Where my gift? ova ‘You already got it. sa Come on Shun. Oya with light in her eyes “Enters her house. ‘Nia and Shun leave. Shango enters. ova HUN ova 121 ‘THE BROTHEA/sIsTER PLAYS suanoo He stands in his officer’s uniform, (Offitage) You out there now Shangot Timow youre... The there in a minute! sumaNco Good to see you Oya gal. ‘Take your time... Timow you a busy man now heard your good news, Theard your good news! So T said let me get him something, A present so he remembers me in his new life and tines! saxo You didn't have to do that, ova Yes I did Thave to do it muwoBA Logha enters like the moon eclipsing the sun, Ginging) She sleep now But her eyes still open 00 IN THR RED AND BROWN WATER Yes sleep now But her tears still flowin. Oya enters Holding her hand to her head. sHiANGO Shango moves to curl his fingers. ova But Oya’s hand... smAxGO Holding her head .. I blocking him. vauzosa Singing) Come down peace Come down night Cover over Oya git) Make her world all right. Tn the other hand, her left... Oya gives it to Shango. To this in remembrance of you... wished I could make a part of me "To give you but I had to take what's was Already there... . Just give you what I got Oya Bleeds, down her right hand. muon, Singing) She bleeds now saaNco You. Open it. wukona Ginging) Her wounds all close sHANoo Shango opens his hand .. muroRA Ginging) She breathes still (Oya moves her hand from where her ear used to be... muroma Ginging) But her belly never rose ova For you to remember me by .. (Oye collapses down) waroMA Ginging) ‘Come down peace now Gomme down night Cover over Oya git] Make ber world all right 125 128 EPILOGUE All save Orya stand. The men hus that sweet sad hum. Oya is center stage holding her head. ser mao 1 don't know about al that. sau Me neither wa No one does... om Oya... sauna oon Say She cut it off . . IW THE RED AND BROWN Waren AUNT ELEGUA, Say that’s her mark. Say he left her there bleeding. A breeze over Oya, ‘SHON Somebody called her crazy so and so... AUNT ELEOUA She wasn’t crazy. AMA MoUs Just sad. ALL WOMEN Fuh, \ ova Oya... Oya. AUNT ELEGUA Say she sitting up somewhere .. ova Oya. ASA Ora, Staring at the ceiling 17 THE BROTHEA/SISTER PLAYS IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER ova MAMA MOA Oya girl ‘Sweet sad Oya. [AUNT BLEGUA, MAMA MOZA AND STTUN sao ONT BLEGUA, MAMA MO: On her back like a lake of brown Beautiful girl. AUN HLROUA, MAMA MOZA AND Site (Oya lets out sharp breath.) Scaring oa Abi su won Huh Blackout) sai END OF PLAY ova Inthe air... Oya Holding her head staring atthe sky ‘You look at her, Aunt Elegua looks to Oya, Look like she floating somewhere .. Inthe air. Oya Jean Fair AUNT BLEOUA, My giel Oya. 12s 139

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