Blackie's Trunk / El baúl de Blacke
a play in English and Spanish
by
Sujay Sood
[email protected]
(917) 340 0385
ACT I
A BEACH. A TRUNK. MORNING.
(Upstage right, Child is absorbed in making a sandcastle. It is impossible to tell whether
the Child is a girl or a boy)
(IMPORTANT: The actors never see Child except when Child speaks to them directly.
Child participates in the action as described below, but they are never aware of it)
(The light comes on Atman upstage left, presumably asleep. He gets up, stretches,
breathes deeply. Inspects his surroundings. Notices Blacky's trunk, runs over to it and
peers in. Puts his hand and searches, but finds nothing. Stands on trunk, etc. He is in
the process of discovering his surroundings and his self. Finally, he kneels to wash his
face downstage right)
(The light comes on Kala, upstage left, same spot where Atman begun)
ATMAN: Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy. Joy.
(Kala awakes as Atman begins a set of martial arts/Tai Chi like motions, downstage
right, that will later be employed for his trunk-pulling efforts)
(Kala takes a stock of her surroundings, much as Atman. Finally, Kala goes downstage
left, kneels to wash her face)
(They notice each other simultaneously. A long moment of self searching ensues, with
mixed emotions until they finally recognize each other. They are overjoyed)
ATMAN: Kala!
KALA: Atman!
(They run and embrace at the halfway point)
ATMAN: (joyous) Darling, I'm so happy to see you!
KALA: (equally joyous) I'm thrilled, I'm thrilled beyond words! Can it really be you?
ATMAN: The one and only. In the flesh.
KALA: What are you upto?
ATMAN: An examination.
KALA: Of?
ATMAN: My self.
KALA: Again?
ATMAN: (strikes a pose) Power and endurance.
KALA: You're missing the essential.
ATMAN: What?
KALA: (strikes a pose) Grace and unity.
ATMAN: Grace and unity? (considers this suggestion for a moment. Atman has an
Epiphany) Kala! Kala come to me!
(Atman spreads out his arms invitingly)
KALA: Just hold it for a moment and listen.
(Atman strikes a listening pose)
ATMAN: Sure.
KALA: Where have they gone?
ATMAN: (angry) No se; y tu, donde estabas?
KALA: I was around.
ATMAN: "Around!" Con quien?
KALA: Con Nadie.
ATMAN: Estás segura?
KALA: Sure I'm sure.
(Kala pulls up the lid of the trunk, and gets dressed in a flowing skirt and sleeveless top
she retrieves from behind the trunk. Atman watches surreptitiously as she dresses)
KALA: (with her back to Atman) So what's the sea like today?
ATMAN: See? Ah yes, the sea...
KALA: (Looks out at sea in the audience's direction) The waves sound pensive, like
they're listening to us.
ATMAN: They're always listening to us.
KALA: Not always.
ATMAN: Then?
KALA: Sometimes they stir like petunia longing for honeysuckle.
ATMAN: Ah, yes, suckle.
KALA: Have you seen Braman around?
ATMAN: (annoyed) "Around!" Porque estas buscando a Braman?
KALA: He said he wanted to talk.
ATMAN: What about?
KALA: (troubled) No estoy segura. Us?
ATMAN: Us? us as in you and me us? or you and him us? or all of us us?
(Genuine anger flares up in the next exchange)
KALA: Te lo he dicho cien veces. No estoy segura.
ATMAN: No estas segura? Como puede ser posible que no estes segura?
KALA: Seguro es que jamás estaremos seguros.
ATMAN: (mimics her) "Jamás estaremos seguros!"
KALA: Te burlas de mi?!
ATMAN: "Te burlas de mi?!"
KALA: Ya basta! Siguele y te voy a dar una!
ATMAN: "Siguele y te voy--"
(Kala floors Atman)
KALA: Oh! Are you all right?
(Atman strikes a pose of excrutiating pain)
ATMAN: Ow!
KALA: Does it hurt?
(Atman whimpers as Kala cradles and soothes him)
ATMAN: Where d'you learn that?
KALA: Watching you.
ATMAN: Me?
KALA: Feel better?
ATMAN: This is familiar.
KALA: We've been here before.
(They clasp each other fondly. Child hums a happy tune)
KALA: What is that? Music?
ATMAN: Yo no escucho nada.
KALA: Listen. What's that? Music?
ATMAN: No escucho nada.
(Kala tries to get up but Atman struggles to keep her. Child stops humming)
ATMAN: Quedate!
KALA: Dejame!
ATMAN: Quedate aqui!
KALA: Sueltame!
(Kala gets up and scopes the area but there is no music to be heard)
KALA: The music is gone.
(silence as Atman gets up)
ATMAN: Where were we?
KALA: I thought I heard something.
ATMAN: (takes a step towards Kala) No escuché nada.
KALA: (takes a step back) Self-absorbed as usual.
ATMAN: (step forward) Absorbed by you.
KALA: (step back) Ahorita no.
ATMAN: (Step forward) Why not?
KALA: (step back) Porque no tengo ganas.
ATMAN: (step forward) You're just saying that.
KALA: (step forward) No tengo ganas.
ATMAN: (step forward) Are you sure?
(A frozen moment. They both scream as Atman springs at Kala. Stylized chase ensues
until Atman trips over Child and lands face first in the sand-castle)
KALA: (laughs) How often do you end up ending up like this?
ATMAN: (gets up and tries to recenter himself) I am Atman, the unique.
(Kala sits down on Blacky's trunk. Child begins to build two sand figures, a male and a
female)
KALA: You know, they'll be here soon.
ATMAN: What else is new.
KALA: We need to improvise a little tonight.
ATMAN: We keep trying.
KALA: I know. But we must try harder. Be more daring, more inventive.
ATMAN: It's not that I don't give it my best but...
KALA: But?
ATMAN: Well, Braman...
KALA: What about Braman?
ATMAN: (irritated) Hay algo de el que me molesta.
KALA: Jealous?
ATMAN: Me, jealous?! Let me remind you that I am Atman, the uni-KALA: We all need to work hard to make a difference.
ATMAN: We keep trying.
KALA: We need to do it differently.
(Atman sits down beside Kala on the trunk, both now facing the audience)
ATMAN: (suggestive) I keep saying.
KALA: Need to splice the circle.
ATMAN: This isn't the way it's always been.
KALA: It was different before.
ATMAN: It all changed with Blacky's Trunk.
(pause)
KALA: How long back was that?
ATMAN: No me acuerdo.
KALA: Yo tampoco.
ATMAN: Perdimos el camino.
KALA: Before Blacky's trunk.
ATMAN: Maybe it's always been here.
KALA: We just couldn't see it.
(pause)
ATMAN: Then one day.
KALA: One day.
(pause)
ATMAN: Maybe Blacky left it while we were sleeping.
KALA: Maybe Blacky came in our dreams.
(silence)
(Note: As they name the attributes that follow below, they make gestures that will serve
as hooks for the audience when this part of the dialogue is repeated in French in act II)
KALA: We were full of strange ideas before Blacky's trunk.
ATMAN: We thought that we were the fallen.
KALA: We were the chosen.
ATMAN: The servants.
KALA: The Renouncers.
ATMAN: There was guilt.
KALA: Sin.
ATMAN: Destiny.
KALA: Othering.
ATMAN: Retribution.
(pause)
ATMAN: Now we know.
KALA: We know.
ATMAN: All is given.
KALA: Everything is here.
ATMAN: Everyone is here.
(pause)
KALA: Improvisation is key.
ATMAN: (uneasy with foreboding) La improvisación es peligrosa.
KALA: (disgusted) Como siempre, te preocupas demasiado.
ATMAN: Uno no debe de alterar las cosas.
KALA: Si debe.
(Pause)
KALA: Isn't the sea blue today?
ATMAN: It always is.
KALA: Green as algae sometimes.
ATMAN: (searches for a simile) Red as...
KALA: Grey as mercury.
ATMAN: Purple as...
KALA: Brown as mud.
ATMAN: Orange.
KALA: Mirror as a twin.
(silence. They stare)
KALA: The sea murmurs its secret to us.
ATMAN: It speaks.
KALA: Sometimes you can hear it cry.
ATMAN: It laughs.
KALA: It's always calling us.
(They listen. They sigh)
KALA: Where's Braman?
ATMAN: Where's Maya?
KALA: Where is everyone?
ATMAN: Everyone's here.
KALA: Here?
ATMAN: We're all here. All of us.
KALA: And the others?
ATMAN: (dictum) There are no others other than us.
(silence)
KALA: What now?
(Atman springs up, full of energy. He will strike various poses as he suggests the names
of the games below)
ATMAN: Let's play a game.
KALA: Which one?
ATMAN: Evening Shore.
KALA: It's not the right time.
ATMAN: Beach Morning.
KALA: We just played that.
ATMAN: Tide in, Tide out?
KALA: No.
ATMAN: (lascivious as he closes in upon Kala on the trunk) Spongey spongey!
(They look at each other for a moment. Suddenly they both spring up and face each other
in a predatory crouch. The movements of the following lines are exactly the same as
previously until the chase)
KALA: (a step back, irritated) Ahorita no.
ATMAN: (a step forward, angry) Why not?
KALA: (a step back, exaperated) Porque no tengo gamas.
ATMAN: (a step forward, disbelief) You’re just saying that!
KALA: (a step forward, thawing) No tengo ganas.
ATMAN: (a step forward, excited) Are you sure?
(A frozen moment. They both scream as Atman springs at Kala. Stylized chase ensues.
This time she stops behind the trunk. They end up face to face. They go down behind the
trunk. Sex: Giggles and squeals can be heard from behind the trunk. Legs stick out
variously. Disappear. A punctuated primal scream. Silence. Kala rises, flushed and
disheveled)
KALA: (announcement) Blacky's trunk.
ATMAN: What?
KALA: (inspects trunk) Have you looked today?
ATMAN: Aún no.
KALA: I wonder what it's going to be.
ATMAN: Probably the same as yesterday.
KALA: Each day is always different.
(Atman emerges from behind the trunk)
ATMAN: It's always the same.
KALA: Different. For example, yesterday we changed roles.
ATMAN: We always change roles.
KALA: There was confusion.
ATMAN: There always is.
KALA: (profound sadness) En todo caso, ayer me sentí triste.
ATMAN: What about?
KALA: No se. Wishing.
ATMAN: Wishing what?
KALA: Wishing Blacky were here with us.
(silence as Kala and Atman sit back on trunk as before)
ATMAN: When's the last time Blacky was here?
KALA: It's been a very long time.
(Silence as they try to remember Blacky. Child onto the trunk and and plays with each of
their parts as they describe Blacky below)
ATMAN: Lovely hair.
KALA: Beautiful eyes.
ATMAN: What a voice.
KALA: Perfect hands.
ATMAN: Great legs.
KALA: Sexy buns.
ATMAN: Oh yes, and what a torso!
KALA: Graceful feet.
(silence as Child returns to his sand figures)
ATMAN: At least we have Blacky's trunk.
KALA: Life would be different without it.
ATMAN: It's been here ever since I can remember.
KALA: What did we do before Blacky's trunk?
ATMAN: I think it's always been right here.
KALA: What about before?
ATMAN: Before what?
KALA: Blacky's trunk.
ATMAN: Yo no se.
KALA: Wasn't there a time before it?
ATMAN: (Atman walks away from the trunk, irritated) No me acuerdo.
KALA: Braman thinks he can solve it.
ATMAN: Braman? Solve it? What?
KALA: Blacky's trunk.
ATMAN: (angry) Eso es ridículo! Como?
KALA: He thinks there must be an explanation.
ATMAN: Este idiota constipado quiere explicar todo.
KALA: Be polite, Atman!
ATMAN: Porque?! No está aqui!
KALA: They'll be here any minute.
ATMAN: Are you sure?
KALA: (pause as Kala walks away from trunk and faces off with Atman centerstage) No
estoy tán segura.
ATMAN: Well then. They might be coming tomorrow.
KALA: I'm quite sure they said today.
ATMAN: Yesterday it was, and I remember it clear as today, they promised us
tomorrow.
KALA: Today?
ATMAN: Tomorrow.
KALA: Yesterday?
ATMAN: As today.
KALA: That they said tomorrow?
ATMAN: No estoy tán seguro.
(A heated argument follows)
KALA: Oh pues! Comoes que cuando tu te acuerdas de algo esta bien, y cuando yo me
acuerdo de algo esta mal?!
ATMAN: Porque eres mujer!
KALA: Comehormigas!
ATMAN: Zebra blanca!
KALA: Ya estoy cansada de discutir.
ATMAN: Es culpa tuya que discutamos!
KALA: (trying to calm down) Then I'm stopping it.
ATMAN: "Then I'm stopping it!" (Spanish accent)
KALA: Ya parale, no?!
(Kala floors Atman)
ATMAN: (strikes a pose of pain) Au! Me duele!
(Atman looks longingly at Kala hoping for an embrace as earlier)
KALA: Stop clowning around. Let's check Blacky's Trunk.
ATMAN: (complaining) Ya estoy cansado de estar esclavizado al baúl de Blacke.
KALA: No one is forcing you to look.
ATMAN: (stands) But we always end up looking. Not a day goes by that we don't fish
things out of Blacky's trunk.
KALA: It's there, we should make the most of it.
ATMAN: Yeah, but where's Blacky, that's what I want to know.
KALA: What difference does that make? We have Blacky's trunk.
(Atman paces in front of the trunk, asking attorney like rapid-fire questions)
ATMAN: What I really want to know is how did he get the trunk here? How come we
never saw him come or go? At what time, exactly, did he leave it here? Why doesn't he
want it back?
(pause as Kala looks bewildered)
KALA: He? Who's he?
ATMAN: He?
KALA: He. Who are you talking about?
ATMAN: Blacky, who else?
KALA: (throws back her head and laughs) But Blacky's a she!
ATMAN: (throws back his head and laughs) Blacky's a guy!
KALA: Blacky's a girl.
ATMAN: A guy! a guy like me with balls and a mustache.
KALA: You don't have...a mustache.
ATMAN: Blacky does.
KALA: She does not.
ATMAN: What makes you think Blacky's a girl?
KALA: What makes you think she's a he?
ATMAN: Everything points to Blacky's being a guy.
KALA: Like what?
(Atman thinks, searching for proof. then, jubilant)
ATMAN: Only a guy could move a trunk this size.
KALA: You can't move it.
ATMAN: I've never tried seriously.
KALA: That' s what you said yesterday.
ATMAN: I'm stronger today.
KALA: I bet you can't move it.
ATMAN: Bet me what?
KALA: Anything.
ATMAN: Anything?
KALA: Anything.
ATMAN: Even...(whispers in Kala's ear)?
KALA: Yes.
ATMAN: Ah, yes, you're in trouble now! I'm at peak strength these days!
(Invigorated by the prospect of winning the bet, Atman steps back, centers his energy and
attacks the trunk. Grunts, groans, and sweat as he tries out various leverages and
positions but is unsuccessful. Child comes over to help for the big, final effort)
ATMAN: Esque nadie puede mover este pinche baúl de mierda de Blacke!
KALA: That's too bad, isn't it?
ATMAN: (remembers the bet) One more try.
KALA: Sure.
(The effort of all efforts)
ATMAN: (panting and dejected) Es inútil!
KALA: Well, then. Blacky's a she.
ATMAN: Just because I couldn't move it doesn't mean he's a girl! You'll have to prove
it.
KALA: That's easy.
ATMAN: How?
KALA: Think about what's in Blacky's Trunk.
ATMAN: What?
KALA: Let's take a look.
(Kala opens trunk while Atman pretends to be disinterested. By the way, on the inside of
the lid, "BLACK" is written clearly enough for the audience to read)
KALA: Wow! Will you take a look at this!
ATMAN: (nonchalant) Si, si, lo que sea.
KALA: (excitedly peering into the trunk) This is really something!
ATMAN: (feigning lack of interest, yawns) Si te divierte, Kala.
KALA: (increasing excitement) I almost have it!
(Curiosity overcomes Atman)
ATMAN: Let me see.
KALA: Too late, I got it, it's mine!
(Kala retreats from the trunk, hiding what she retrieved behind her back. Child shuts the
lid and sits on the trunk, watching)
ATMAN: Well, what is it?
KALA: I thought you weren't interested.
ATMAN: I am. What is it?
KALA: (yawns) Whatever.
ATMAN: Come on, show me!
KALA: Ok, here.
(With a flourish and beaming, Kala reveals a carrot)
ATMAN: (between confusion and excitement) That's...that's a...that is...a carrot.
KALA: Yes!
ATMAN: (deflated, sits next to Child on the trunk) Well, at least it isn't a radish.
KALA: This is the last thing we'd have expected.
ATMAN: (wrily) Yes, a carrot--who would have thought of it.
KALA: Do you like it?
ATMAN: No se.
KALA: Do you want it?
ATMAN: Maybe.
KALA: Here, have my carrot.
ATMAN: Really?
KALA: Yes, go on.
ATMAN: Thanks. (takes carrot) May I eat it?
KALA: Do whatever you want.
(Atman takes a bite as Kala sits down on trunk. Child sits sandwiched between them.
They pass the carrot back and forth, each of them taking a bite. Being in the middle,
Child gets the most. They are happy)
ATMAN: Hmm, tastes very...carrotty. Here, try some.
KALA: Well, this is a nice bite out of life.
ATMAN: Thanks to Blacky's trunk.
KALA: Things always end up being useful.
ATMAN: We wonder why when we first get them.
KALA: We ask ourselves what this is all about.
ATMAN: But in the end we're happy to have it.
KALA: We always end up using what we get.
(pause as they chew)
ATMAN: Sometimes we get the same thing for days.
KALA: Sometimes we get nothing.
ATMAN: (shaking his head) Nada.
KALA: But sometimes we get really big surprises.
ATMAN: Yes, but only sometimes.
KALA: That's the point of surprises.
ATMAN: What?
KALA: If we got surprises all the time, they wouldn't surprise us.
(silence as Atman considers this. He throws carrot toward Child's pit and walks away
from the trunk)
ATMAN: Why can't we move this trunk?
KALA: Why do you want to move it?
ATMAN: Yo no se.
KALA: Where would you move it to?
ATMAN: There. Or there, or there.
KALA: Why?
ATMAN: No se. (pause) It's taking up all our space.
KALA: But we have unlimited space.
ATMAN: Yes, but that's my favorite spot.
KALA: Since when?
ATMAN: Since always.
KALA: Why?
ATMAN: It's the best spot in the county. (Atman stands up on the trunk, covers his eyes
and peers across the horizon) It's got the best view. I can see for miles.
KALA: That's because you're standing on it.
ATMAN: So?
KALA: So if you move it, you can't stand on top of it over there anymore.
(Perplexed, Atman begins to think hard)
KALA: Anyway, suppose you could. What then?
ATMAN: Then?
KALA: If you moved it. What then?
ATMAN: No se. (pause) At least we'd have moved it.
(Trunk begins to shudder and shake)
KALA: Do you hear that?
(They all jump off the trunk. Child resumes finishing the sand figures. Kala throws open
the lid and peers about excitedly)
ATMAN: (feigns disinterest) What is it?
KALA: I see it! Quick, help me!
ATMAN: What?
KALA: It's very big! I got it! Quick, Atman HELP!