The December People’s Choice Goes To…..

Posted by on December 24, 2020

The people have spoken … The December People’s Choice Award goes to Daysha Veronica for her short play, WAITING FOR UMOJA, presented as a staged reading on Zoom on December 14. Congratulations, Daysha!

Courtesy of Daysha Veronica, we’re pleased to share the first few pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

WAITING FOR UMOJA
by Daysha Veronica

CHARACTERS:
Sky Blackman (16, black) — Liberal, pro-black, feminist.
Justin Blackman (18, black) — Republican, “free thinker.”
Sydney Blackman (early 40s, black ) — Working Mom looking for peace.
Darius Blackman (40s/50s, black) — Stay at home dad.
Calvin Blackman (70s, black) — Hasn’t been around for a while.

TIME AND SETTING:
Los Angeles, CA
In the late evening of Christmas day 2020.

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.

The Blackman dining room. The FAMILY sits around the table with SYDNEY in the head seat. Everyone is finishing
up dessert. DARIUS gets up and starts collecting dishes.

DARIUS
How was the sweet potato pie?

SYDNEY
Really yummy, honey.

SKY
Yeah dad. It was booooomb.

JUSTIN
Did you make this?

DARIUS
As a matter of fact I did. Hand grated the nutmeg myself.

JUSTIN, SKY and Sydney all make sounds of being impressed.

CALVIN
I couldn’t finish mine. It had a strong beta male after taste even the nutmeg couldn’t cover up.

Everyone looks at CALVIN.

DARIUS
(annoyed) That’s interesting dad because–

SYDNEY
It really has been so amazing the way that 2020 has brought us all closer together this year.

CALVIN
I miss the nursing home…

DARIUS
(loudly; under breath) You’re not the only one…

Darius exits with the dishes.

SKY
Hey! Does everyone know what tomorrow is?

Justin, Sydney and Calvin look at each other withconfusion/intrigue. Then Sydney’s phone rings. A look of surprise/confusion flashes across her face.

SYDNEY
Hi Mark… Merry Christmas to you too. So surprised to be getting a call from you. Is everything–… Oh…
(to the table) I need to take this. Work emergency.

Sydney exits.

JUSTIN
Uhh… Saturday?

SKY
(duh) Ok… But what else?

CALVIN
Is it the day this God-forsaken pandemic is over?

SKY
Don’t we all wish.

JUSTIN
What is it, Sky?

SKY
Kwanzaa!

Calvin and Justin look at her unaffected.

JUSTIN
Is that it?

SKY
What do you mean is that it?!

CALVIN
Girl, black people don’t celebrate Kwanzaa.

SKY
I know, but this year I think it’s important that we celebrate Kwanzaa.

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Join us on January 18th for the next Monday Night PlayGround on Zoom! Click here for more info.