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Sunday, January 15, 2017

Women in the Age of Trump: THE CURFEW

THE CURFEW by Drewcella Oya Mae Davis is a semi-finalist for NYCPlaywrights project "Women in the Age of Trump."

DREWCELLA OYA MAE DAVIS is a playwright from Minneapolis MN who uses the rhythms derived from hoods and ghettoes, and Santeria traditions to inspire her plays. She considers herself a blackist, a term coined by her, it is someone who focuses on the disparities that come with being black in America.

Thanks to Drewcella Oya Mae Davis for allowing NYCPlaywrights to publish this excerpt from her play THE CURFEW.


(The stage opens to the apartment building of Amaze, AARon, Afina, and Anaya.  
Anaya is sitting on the couch she is staring out the window she stands up to reveals her stomach which is full of new life she holds her stomach and begins to pace back and forth than jumps on the couch and starts to look out the window again.  
Enter Afina the older sister of Anaya she is carrying two cups of tea she sets one on the table than makes her way to her sister. 
Anaya Jumps up to start pacing again almost hitting Afina. Afina jumps and spills some of her tea.)
   ANAYA 
I am so sorry 
   (Afina shakes her head) 
   AFINA 
Don’t worry about it.
   ANAYA 
I just don’t get it [BREATH] I don’t get them 
   AFINA 
They will be back love [BREATH] Don’t worry
   (Afina kisses Anaya on the head she helps her sit down) 
   ANAYA 
They got five minuets until the curfew Afina 
   (Anaya grabs her tea from the table takes a sip and sets it down .)
   ANAYA 
Black men have been killed for less[BREATH] Since they made him president 
   AFINA 
Whose they? 
(Anaya looks at Afina confused) 
   ANAYA 
The white man [BREATH] White women too they are the ones who voted for him. 
[BREATH] I don’t understand [BREATH] I mean white men yes but white women why would they vote for a man who says he wants to grab women by their- 
   AFINA 
Please don’t say that word. 
   (Anaya takes a breath.) 
   ANAYA 
Sorry[BREATH] Rape has basically become legal since he became president[BREATH] But what do you expect to happen when you make a man who has been accused of rape a president
   AFINA 
Anaya 
   ANAYA 
I mean most boys want to be like their president so 
   AFINA 
Anaya I don’t wanna talk about him right now[BREATH] Can’t we just talk about something else 
   ANAYA 
What else is there to talk about[BREATH] Society has gone to shit since he was elected it’s all around us [BREATH] Men raping women[BREATH] Black people getting murdered 
   (Anaya shakes her head she looks to her sister) 
   ANAYA 
I don’t know what I was thinking wanting to bring a baby into this world[BREATH] Two black babies whose skin will be as dark as their fathers 
   AFINA 
Hey don’t say that[BREATH] we will get through this and your not alone 
   ANAYA 
If A-ron don’t make it home by the curfew than I’ll be a single mother raising two boys all on my own

(Afina holds Anaya’s hand Anaya looks to her sister) 

   AFINA 
They are both gonna get here in time [BREATH] I’d be afraid if they were alone but together[BREATH] Amanze with his quick thinking and A-ron with his quick hands 
   ANAYA 
I just don’t understand this whole thing anyway [BREATH] Like who would declare a war on protesting it was peaceful 
   AFINA 
Guess old Trump got angry when he saw that black people didn’t respect him 
   ANAYA 
Black people weren’t the only ones who were protesting him becoming president [BREATH] Yet we were the only ones who had to suffer for it 
   AFINA 
At least he didn’t ship us off to working camps like he did to the immigrants[BREATH] I rather be shot dead in the street than have to go to one of those camps 
   ANAYA 
Yeah I hear you [BREATH] 
   (In her Trump voice) 
If you are gonna come into America you are gonna work like an American 
  (Afina stares at Anaya) 
   AFINA 
So has A-ron asked you 
   ANAYA 
Asked me what 
   (Afina looks at Anaya and smiles Anaya rolls her eyes) 
   ANAYA 
Not everyone wants that 
   AFINA 
You telling me you don’t think about getting married 
   (Anaya blushes) 
   ANAYA 
Sometimes but I don’t know if it’s A-ron’s thing [BREATH] Or my thing 
   AFINA 
It wasn’t Amaze’s thing either but it happened 
   ANAYA 
Amaze and AA-Ron are two different people 
   AFINA

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