The October People’s Choice Award goes to…

Posted by on October 30, 2021

The people have spoken… The October People’s Choice Award goes to Aaron Higareda for his short play, South Hope St., presented as a staged reading at The Broadwater Second Stage and simulcast on October 11th. Congratulations, Aaron!

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

SOUTH HOPE ST.
by Aaron Higareda

CAST OF CHARACTERS

SERGIO—40s-60s Latinx Male, ex-gangster born again Christian.
EDDY—20s Latinx Male, Community College Student.
NOAH/NOAH LOOK ALIKE-30s Latinx Male, Homeless Drug Addict.

TIME

Present.

PLACE

On a bus.

LIGHTS UP on SERGIO seated on a Foothill
transit bus reading a bible. “El Monte
station” a robotic voice calls out.
ENTER EDDY. He taps his card.

EDDY

(To the bus driver O.S.)

This goes to downtown?

(Bus driver nods O.S.), and EDDY finds his
seat.

SERGIO

Where in downtown are you trying to go homie?
EDDY ignores SERGIO.

SERGIO

Hey I’m talking to you lil homie, where in downtown are you
trying to go?

EDDY

Staples Center.

SERGIO

What you need to do is take this bus to Union Station, you
should’ve taken the J line, but you can catch the 70 right there
at Union, and it’ll drop you off right there on Grand and Pico,
and you walk up towards Hope St.

EDDY

Cool thanks.

EDDY tries to confirm these directions on
his phone, but his internet is slow.
Long BEAT

SERGIO

Who do the Lakers play tonight?

EDDY

Uh, the Kings.

SERGIO

That’s Sacramento, right?

EDDY

Yea.

SERGIO

You ever been upstate little homie?

EDDY

Nah.

SERGIO

You gotta visit. It’s beautiful up there. I was there for 16
years. 5 years at Folsom, then 10 years at San Quentin.
The good lord and savior Jesus Christ guided me with his divine
presence to a church in Oakland and for a year and a half I sat
and watched the most beautiful sunsets, I’m telling you.
The way the sun ripples across the bay, and then with that
bridge in the background, how can someone deny the existence of
God.
You believe in Jesus Christ?

EDDY

I don’t know…

SERGIO

What do you mean you don’t know?

EDDY

I mean I believe theres gotta be something out there I think-

SERGIO

Are you calling me a liar?

EDDY

Nah.

SERGIO

Go upstate, see a sunset, and you’ll feel the presence of our
lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Where you from?

EDDY

I live in Whitter.

______________________________________________________________

Join us on for the next Monday Night Playground on November 8th! For more info, click here!