The March People’s Choice goes to…..

 

CHARACTERS

Farmer Howard — Male (black), age 60s, 4th generation farmer. Owner of The Harrington Family Farm. Walks with a cane.

Lenny — Male (black), age 40s, 5th generation farmer. Son of Farmer Howard.

Greg — Male (black), age 30s, currently in business school. Son of Farmer Howard.

Mother Earth/Nurse — Female (any race) any age.

TIME & SETTING:

Present day. April 22nd. Outside a barn somewhere in the south.

NOTES:
“//” — Overlapping dialogue
“​Some people​” — emphasis
“SOME PEOPLE” — loud emphasis

A stacking of names without dialogue: Represents non-verbal communication. It could be as small as a body shift, or holding a long gaze. Or as big as pacing across the room. It is up to the actor to decide what would be most appropriate for the moment.

Pacing: This play should feel and move like a bead of sweat. At times, it slowly creeps down your face. But every now and then on it’s journey it picks up speed out of nowhere and somehow gets in your eye before you can wipe it away.

_____________

A swelteringly hot day in April– a new normal.

Quick breathing and heavy panting is heard.

The panting feels as heavy as the

trickling

beads of sweat

seeping

down and out

of every crevice from the heat.

Slow

sticky

and deliberate.

Then a piercing scream/groan

The voice of someone yelling “Good job!” or “You can do it” or “Just like that.”

A group of farmers and townspeople await the news around the barn.

 Small talk and anxious hushed murmurs flood the space.

FARMER HOWARD finishes up his conversation.

FARMER HOWARD

Aw’right now Mr. Crawford. You take care. And thank yah for the well wishes. I’m holdin’ my own real​ good now… Yes, yes. It’s gone be a good year. I know it.
(to himself)
Found a fly in the honey this here mornin’. So I know it’s gone be a GOOD day, boy.

LENNY, his son, catches up to him while holding a bag of sunflower seeds.

LENNY

(holding out bag) Mistuh Crawford been here long?

FARMER HOWARD

(taking some)  Nah. Nah. Not too long– Bout 15 minutes fore us, he guesses. No news yet.

Both men stand and take in the crowd—

Munching and sweating.

Slow

sticky

and deliberate.

LENNY

How long you suppose this gone take this year?

FARMER HOWARD

Boy, as long as it needs to take. We don’t wanna rush this. (wiping sweat away)  We ​cain’t​ rush this… Mmm mmm, not this year.

Another deep groan.

 Then the voice of someone yelling “Almost there” and “You Got This.”

Small talk and anxious hushed murmurs flood the space.

FARMER HOWARD

Found a fly in my honey, boy… Is gonna be GOOD year. I can feel it. And these seeds here yah got is just another good sign from God, too.

LENNY

How you figah, pop?

FARMER HOWARD

Cuz Willie ain’t always got the seeds. Sometimes he jus come out with the nuts or-or some sweet treats his wife be bakin’ up. But ​today​, boy, he got the seeds. And seeds are the start of all life. They represent beginnin’s, an-an-and growth, an-an-and opportunity.

Farmer Howard reaches into the sunflower seed bag.

FARMER HOWARD

(eating; mostly to himself) Yeah. Yeah. He ain’t got to bring the seeds today. BUT he did. And that right there was cuz GOD sent a message to help ease our worries, yah see?

Lenny reaches into the bag.

They both munch and sweat.

Slow

sticky

and deliberate.

Occasionally, a townsperson will walk by, they will greet them, and see them on their way.

Then–

LENNY

(chuckling; hitting pop to look his way) Booooyyy, look at this here city pretty nigga you raised, pop.

Milling his way through the crowd, GREG, comes in wearing slacks with a tank top as he holds his button down shirt, occasionally using it as a sweat rag.

FARMER HOWARD

(laughing) Boy, where the hell you think you is wit all that city slicker mess out here.

LENNY

Yeah, nigga, why you out here dressed for Wall street on Bellflower road?

Farmer Howard and Lenny give a hearty chuckle. Greg rolls his eyes, and takes his shirt up to his face to wipe away another bead of sweat.

GREG

So, uh, has ​it​ happened yet?

LENNY

Nah. Not yet. Seeds?

GREG

Uh, no. I’m good. Thanks.

LENNY

(mimicking; chuckling) “Uh, no. I’m good. Thanks.”

GREG

Nigga, why you always gotta be startin’ with me, man?

FARMER HOWARD

Chill out, now. Y’all too grown for this here foolishness in public.
(to passing townsperson)
Hi now. How you doin’? Happy Mother Earth Day. Yes, yes, it’s gonna be a GOOD day. Don’t let anyone tell ya otherwise. Say hi to ya grandmama for me… Aw’right now.

Lenny and Farmer Howard reach into the seed bag.

They both munch and sweat.

Slow

sticky

and deliberate.

Greg checks his nice-looking watch.

GREG

So, uh, dad, I think I’m gonna head back into the city tonight after dinner.

FARMER HOWARD

Aw’ready?

GREG

Yeah. This heat… When did it get so friggin’ hot down this way? It’s April for all hell’s sake!

LENNY

(loudly munching in a passive aggressive way)  Maybe yo pretty city nigga ass would know if you came around more often.

GREG

(moving closer) Listen, man. I’m not gonna tell you–

FARMER HOWARD

(strained loud whisper through forced smile while greeting passing townspeople with eyes) Hey! HEY!… Now I ​know​ both you negros is not about to make a fool outta me today.

LENNY

I’m just sayin’ pop. He be actin’ like you didn’t put him through business school on this ​dirty ​farm money that he be​ pretendin’​ like he too good to visit since he went up that way.

GREG

Oh, really? So then why am I here right now?

LENNY

 (Overlapping) Cuz nigga, you jus tryna eat and creep. // Gettin’ yo home-cooked, country ass to-go plate cuz you ​cain’t​ be seen wit–

GREG

(Overlapping, laughing)Eat and creep? That’s… ​That’s​ hilarious. Tell me did you come up with that after sleeping around on Donna last—

LENNY

You think you ​SO​ fuckin’ perfect–

Lenny steps to rush Greg, but Farmer Howard blocks/hits him with his cane.

Then the NURSE appears wearing a mask and holding a covered basket. Everyone clamors and hushes and gives her their attention.

FARMER HOWARD

Shut up! Shut up! Come on an’ pay attention now. This is the moment.

The Nurse slowly removes their mask, and reaches into the covered basket​.

FARMER HOWARD

Come on, now Mother Earth! Show us the way!

The Nurse lifts up a spoiled vegetable. The crowd gasps with shock and horror.

The Nurse spills out the basket full of spoiled vegetables into the crowd.

Nothing