Make My Day
By Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.
Audience
The Mayor
MIke Faith and
Hope
The Experts
Rita
PRESS
CAMERAS
Bob
STAGE SETUP: As shown above. Panelist may sit on chairs. BOB her camera man does his job, but looks
The press stands with cameras and notepads. at her with disbelief at times.
Several Students and concerned parents are
planted in the audience.
Mike, Faith & Hope are good students at the
high school who are student leaders. Mike is
CHARACTERS
the Mayorʼs son.
The PRESS is upstage left. Movements are STUDENTS with Mike, Faith & Hope (4 or
a coordinated ensemble .Orchestrated like a
more) are in the audience.
chorus of choroegraphed writers and orators.
THE SCENE: TV reporter Rita enters with
The Experts, upstage-right, are 2 males and Bob and opens with commentary to the TV &
2 females. Each one should be a dressed in local audience as the members of the press
attire representative of their character.
take their places. A Large banner “Make My
Nothing overstated, just something that
Day...Stop the Violence!” is held by some
reflects who the character is.
students in back of the press others may be
JUDGE U. R. Black in a robe with a gavel,
posted on the back wall of the stage. Some
MISSY PRISSY Churchlady dress w/ a Bible, students also carry them in the audience.
POLICE CHIEF MANNERS is in uniform,
Dr. I.M. SMART in glasses and a book she
consults at every opportunity.
RITA: Ready everyone! Bob! Over here!
(Checks her makeup briefly in a
MAYOR AUNDRAE GOODMAN is a good
compact first, then fluffs her hair.
person (may be male or female) who happens
Bob gives her a signal to get ready
to find him/herself in the position of being a
and then ques her. She takes center
politican attempting to run a town hall meeting
stage with her microphone and
full of angry, frightened people.
begins speaking calmly and
seriously into a house microphone
Rita Chaquita Monifa DelaCruz-Villatoro
to the TV and present audience)
(pronounced “vi-ya-toro”), is conceited and
Good Day and welcome to all of you
likes to say her name real fast with an “extrahere with us... (turns to face Bob
spanish” pronounciation.
and the camera briefly) and to all
® 2002, Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed ...page 1 of 5
my viewers sitting at home with your families and on the internet...uh-
with yourselves. Anyway... As many
of you know, my name is...(heavy
spanish for the name) Rita-Chiquita
Monifa DelaCruz-Villatoro
(pronounced “vi-ya-toro”) and I will
be your news anchor for this
Mayor:
afternoonʼs event.
Members of the local and national
press are here in preparation for this
most important of town hall
meetings on the growing prevalence
of violence in America today-especially in our own special little
home town.
Now, I know you are all familiar with
the tragedy that occurred recently
when two teen boys, Jeffrey and
Francisco Goldberg--two brothers-and fierce rivals--met a tragic end on
the high school playground.
(Cameras flash from the Press
Galley as first, the Mayor, then as
each panelist enters) And now, I will
turn this program over to Mayor
Goodman....Mayor?
Thank you Rita-Chiquita... And
thank all of you for showing an
interest in stopping the violence in
our schools.
As all of you know, I have called this
meeting to not only understand, but
get to the root of the tragedy that
occurred at our high school last
week and hopefully, find out what
we can do to avoid problems like
this in the future.
Each of our panelists has either
been involved in the lives of Frank
and Jeff, works closely with teens at
the school, or is active with youth
programs in the community.
So....letʼs start with Dr. Smart, the
principal of the school.
In our parentʼs time, these young
men might have met and settled
their differences with their fists--or
perhaps in a family conference-RITA: instead, Jeff and Francisco decided
to steal their parentʼs guns, walk
towards each other in what can only
be called a western type showdown
(dramatic pause) --and now both are SMART:
dead.
...And a city grieves and
asks ʻwhy did this happen ...and
what can we do the prevent it from
occurring again?ʼ
Dr. Smart... What do you think
happened to Frank and Jeff...and
why couldnʼt you and your teachers
see the warning signs?
Warning signs! (exasperated)
Well, I donʼt know what you would
call warning signs! We were as
surprised as you! I donʼt know quite
what to say! The instructors and I
have gone over and over the facts
and donʼt know where we went
wrong. I mean--
(Sees the Mayor start to come in)
Ahh...I see The Mayor and our panel
of Experts is ready. Please
welcome the Mayor of our lovely
MISSY: Excuse me! Excuse me!
city, Mayor Aundrae Goodman!
(applause and flashes)....and
MAYOR: Missy Prissy?
following the Mayor is the principal
of the high school, Dr. I.M. Smart,
MISSY: Thank you Mayor! (Hump!) Well, for
Police Chief Leroy Manners, Judge
starters, I say you should never
U.R. Black and the one and only
have agreed to take religion out of
Missy Prissy, local socialite and
public schools. --Amen!--Those
youth counselor.
boys were in need of guidance and
® 2002, Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed ...page 2 of 5
a moral compass Amen!--....those
boys needed to know how to get
down on their knees. ...(to the
audience) Can I get an “Amen?”--
CHIEF: Well, we had to call them so
much...you know how it is.
PRESS GALLEY: (A flash goes off and
notes are taken as they say in
AUDIENCE CITIZENS: Amen!.../You tell ʻem,
unison) Nooo, how is it?
Sista Prissy!/...Halleluhia!
CHIEF: (uncomfortable) Well --uh--they
MISSY: Why, I remember, --Amen--when
were out of town a lot--on business,
those boys --Amen!--were invited to
but they had their credit cards
our home --Amen!--by my sweet
registered with us for bail so we
Mister Prissy--Amen!-- for prayer
wouldnʼt have to, to, uhmeeting-JUDGE: Let me help you Chief, “ARREST
CHIEF: Prayer Meeting? Now, hold on
THEM.” Well, itʼs not rocket science
there! The only time I know that
that these brothers came to no good
Frank and Jeff were down on their
end! Iʼve got three words for all of
knees was when they were in the
you! (Points to each one) You
alley behind the school--shooting
Mayor, and you and you, and even
dice! We hauled them in so many
you Chief.”Youʼre too soft!” Youʼre
times, we felt sorry for their parents.
too soft on them. All of you!
Fine upstanding citizens with a lot
going for them--.
SMART: Now really Judge Donʼt you think
thatʼs a bit harsh! At juvenile court,
PRESS#1: Their parents! Where were their
we have sent students such as
parents?
these to counselors that have had
great success...
PRESS#2: Yes! Are they here? (Other
press look around)
JUDGE: Juvenile Court! Foolishness! Dr.
Smart, just give the troublemakers
PRESS#3: Where are they?
to me and let me try ʻem all as
adults. Thatʼll free you up to teach
RITA: Thatʼs a good question, Chief! How
the good ones!
involved were their parents in their
lives?
(to Missy) Put ʻem in jail and theyʼll
learn how to pray-- Missy! Ever
CHIEF: Why, --uh--very--uh--very involved.
notice how many of them become
Well, as much as they could be with
born again? Remember MalcolmX,
their busy schedules. Well, you
Tyson, --Puff Daddy? HMMMM?...
know how rich people can be
And Chief! Chief! Why just let the
sometimes, real busy. ..
rich peopleʼs kids go! Give ʻem all to
me! Do the crime...do the time I say!
MAYOR: Whatʼre you trying to say, Chief?
SMART: What about professional therapy?
RITA: Yeah, whatʼre you trying to say?
JUDGE: Ha!...analyze this, Dr. Smart, if
PRESS GALLEY: (Leaning forward. A flash
these boys hadnʼt killed each other,
goes off as they say in unison) Yes!
weʼd probably be crying for one of
What?
your teachers today instead of
young hoodlums--remember that
boy in Florida?
® 2002, Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed ...page 3 of 5
RITA:.
(to cameraman) Bob! over here! (he
turns camera on her) The judge has
just made reference to the case of a
young Florida middle schooler who
gunned down his english teacher in
cold blood--an incident that brought
chills--
JUDGE: –And you Ms. Rita-Banana
“Delacatessian-Village”
RITA: STUDENTS:No! Wait! Please! Stop!
MAYOR: QUIET! (everyone freezes for a
second) Letʼs hear what the students
have to say about this. (they all
freeze and lean forward. A camera
flash or two goes off)
MIKE:Thanks!
(drum beat or other music begins)
Now, weʼve listened to you in horror
and disgust...
(insulted gasp says name extremely
fast with heavy spanish) Rita-Chiquita
Monifa DelaCruz-Villatoro!
HOPE:
...trying to figure out what is wrong
with all of us...
JUDGE: ʻCusa me!
FAITH:
...Calling us confused ..condeming
our generation...
JUDGE: Even a bleeding-heart liberal like you
knows itʼs true,Mayor! The problem
with this generation is that they think
that woman is real, that the violence
she feeds off is the same as in the
movies we send them to and as fun
as the blood and guts video games
we buy them for christmas..
MIKE:
When truth be told, itʼs a disease of
the nation.
MISSY: You tell ʻem Judge!
STUDENTS:Yes weʼre ok!
JUDGE: Shut up Missy! ʻTruth is, all teens
today have no grip on real life--none
of you do, not you or you or you or
you....no wonder generation X is so
confused! Too bad we canʼt jail them
all and start over again!
FAITH:
MAYOR: Now Judge....
(The entire stage erupts in a cacophony of
protestations as the Mayor, panel and Rita start
shouting at the Judge while the Judge bangs
her gavel. The press yells, waves pencils,
microphones and takes pictures. At that
moment, three students, run up on the stage
while the other students in the audience stand
up move to the front of the stage and begin
shouting...)
MIKE, FAITH & HOPE:
Stop!
No! Wait! Please!
STUDENTS:(facing the audience) Yeah, itʼs not
just us....not our generation...truth be
told, itʼs a disease of the nation!
HOPE:
But weʼre ok!
And weʼve got something to say.
MIKE:Something to say that will make a better
way...
STUDENTS:For all the students in America
today.
HOPE:
We donʼt have to be bangers..
MIKE:..Act out
FAITH:
or steal..
MIKE/FAITH/HOPE: When all students need
today...
STUDENTS:is less time to kill!
® 2002, Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed ...page 4 of 5
MIKE:
Now church is fine,
GALS:
Thereʼs a lot more fun..(all actors
draw an imaginary pistol from an
imaginary holster)
GUYS:
..a much better way...(all actors point
their fingers in the air---”1..2”)
GALS:
Than holding up a gun...(all actors
pull back and “cock” their
thumbs.---”3..4”)
GUYS:
...and saying (hunker down like a gun
slinger and point their fingers at the
audience)
ALL: Come on...“Make My Day!”
(actors point their fingers at their own
heads, make a explosive sound--as
cymbols crash in the background-with their mouths as they fire and
recoil then they freeze and all is
DEAD SILENT AND FROZEN for a
count of 4 before continuing in the
rhythm...)
FAITH:: ...and school is too
HOPE:
...but once they are done..
STUDENTS:we need something else to do!
MIKE:
Where we can turn off Nintendo
FAITH:
...voilent movies and TV
HOPE:
and gather with our friends, like you
and you (points to Mike and Faith)
STUDENTS:...and me! (points to self)
MIKE:Go out and discover...
FAITH....and socialize at will!
HOPE: So now donʼt you see
STUDENTS: We need less time to kill
(Actors on stage gather in the middle behind
students)
MAYOR: Now I think I understand, now I think I
see a way.
SMART: How we can stop the violence....
MISSY Not tomorrow...
JUDGE: ...But today
RITA: ʻCause students need to realize
STUDENTS:that violence is not cool
PRESS And no oneʼs gonna think youʼre hip
ALL When you wind up dead at school!
(music stops for four to eight beats as everyone
freezes as a horn or some of the press in the
back do a funeral durge “dum-dumda-dum” or
“taps” etc. Then beat and action resume)
GALS:
GALS:
ALL: Cause everybody knows,
that violence is not cool
And carrying a weapon
wonʼt make you popular at school
GUYS:
GALS:
GUYS:
ALL: so donʼt be a fool
And maybe wind up dead.
so, donʼt play with guns...
Pick up a book instead!
(As they all exit, actors do this chant...)
MAYOR: So all you people present here
RITA: and there in TV land
SMART/JUDGE
For the sake of us all
MISSY/CHIEF:
Just help us take a stand!
GUYS: We donʼt have to run..
GALS:..Act out
GUYS: or steal..
ALL ACTORS:
All students need to day..
is less time to kill!
ALL ACTORS:
We donʼt have to bang..
..Act out....or steal..
All students need to day..
is less time to kill! (rpt 1x)
GUYS: so donʼt be a fool
GALS: And maybe wind up dead.
GUYS: so, donʼt play with guns...
ALL: Pick up a book instead!
–fini–
® 2002, Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed ...page 5 of 5