Excerpt from the play (full play downloadable here)
"She Flies”
written for the stage by Mike D. Garcia © 2002
based on David Rice’s short story “She Flies”
*selected scene by permission, from Raul Castillo’s “Bad Blood”
set pieces lighting cues sound cues stage directions/text
1
Play begins with lights up center stage. We are in Milagros’ home. Milagros begins scene with a sense of urgency, she is trying to get ready for school and is running out of time. Set pieces include kitchen table and chair.
Mil mom
No answer
Mil mom!….mom! at this point Milagros is screaming MOM!
Mom quietly yes?
Mil where’s my faded blue jeans? Rummaging through a laundry basket.
Mom in the dryer
Mil they weren’t dirty
Mom they were on the floor
Mil Ay, mom!
Mom Come eat your cereal. Your corn flakes are getting all soggy.
Mil Thanks, I’ll be there in a second…
Mom goes over to the kitchen table humming and picks up the newspaper. Starts to read.
Mom nope…ugly…too short…too fat…too hairy…Y esta, que perra…
Mil What are you talking about? Walks over to the table
Mom The pageant.
Mil Oh, the Miss Grapefruit or is it Miss Watermelon? I forget.
Mom No, it’s the Miss Citrus. You know when I was young…
Mil I know mom. You’ve told me a million times. You were Miss Citrus Queen runner- up. Let it go. That was a thousand years ago.
Mom Milagros, I was pushed out. There is no justice in our society.
Mil Mom, it’s too early for pageant talk, please.
Mom Milagros, are your pants wet?
Mil Milagros quickly gets up from the table Gotta go…
Mom did you get those from the dryer?
Mil they’re my favorite, they’ll be dry by the time I get to school.
Mom Ay mija, no tienes verguenza. Your pompis are going to freeze, then you’re going to catch a cold and die of pneumonia.
Mil Bye, mom. I love you, too.
Mom Hurry up Milagros before you miss the bus! Sound cue of bus horn and into beat for the next scene.
Milagros walks off wet and waddling. Lights fade. Quick change. Cast hits their marks quickly.
Bus driver music