America

by

Kim Yaged

Contact:
Kim Yaged
kyaged@gmail.com
347-974-1708
kimyaged.com
CHARACTERS: (9 PERFORMERS)

BLACK, a black man, dressed athletically with a hip hop flair.

NEW ASIA, an Asian woman, wears a kimono.

LATINA, a Latina, dressed lasciviously.

NATIVE AMERICAN, a Native American man, wears traditional

regalia.

DYKE-MAN, a gay character played by a woman and a man, each

dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

MIDDLE EAST/THE MAGICIAN, a Middle Eastern man, wears

traditional Islamic attire.

WHITE, a white woman, dressed as a ballerina.

STRAIGHT, a straight man, wears khakis, button-down and tie.

TIME: The Present.

PLACE: The United States of America.

OVERTURE

(BLACKOUT. A sampling of the forthcoming SOUND COLLAGES

UNDERSCORES. ALL, dressed in leotards, lie on top of one
another in a ball. As the lights rise, ALL slowly begin to
writhe and reach for the sky, as if emerging from the nether
regions.)

BLACK
In the beginning...

WHITE
There was man.

NEW ASIA
Ahab

LATINA
Anglo

DYKE-MAN
Apache
 2.

NATIVE AMERICAN
Beaner

MIDDLE EAST
"Oh, say can you see..."

STRAIGHT
Dago

BLACK
Dyke

WHITE
Fag

NEW ASIA
Fig Newton

DYKE-MAN
"All I want is to be loved."

LATINA
Injun

NATIVE AMERICAN
Jap

MIDDLE EAST
Kraut

WHITE
Mick

NEW ASIA
"Love it or leave it, man."

STRAIGHT
Shut up, bitch.

BLACK
Oreo

LATINA
Paleface

NATIVE AMERICAN
Pickaninny

DYKE-MAN
Queen
 3.

WHITE
Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look
at these!

MIDDLE EAST
Spook

BLACK
Three-fifther

STRAIGHT
Tonto

NEW ASIA
Towelhead

LATINA
Forgive me Father for I have sinned...

(Sampling of SOUND COLLAGES FADES. NATIVE AMERICAN EXITS.)

MOVEMENT 1: Creation

(DRUMS RISE, borrowing from a variety of influences--African,

Latin, Asian, etc. ALL dance. The dance is tribal, eclectic,
celebratory.)

BLACK
In the beginning...

WHITE
There was man.

LATINA
But, he did not walk upright.

NEW ASIA
Then there was light.

(A MILITARY MARCH drowns out the other drumming as the dance

becomes more rigid, conforming.)

STRAIGHT
And it was good.

(The MILITARY MARCH FADES as a white block with Ox'y·môr'ön

printed on it in black is wheeled out. ALL sing Take Me Out
to the Ball Game as they change into their respective
character costumes.
 4.

The singing is interrupted when a DRUNK MAN, dressed in jeans,

jersey and baseball hat stumbles onto the stage. ALL try to
help the man stand, but he keeps falling over, to their
amusement. Their mirth is cut short when the man turns,
revealing he's NATIVE AMERICAN, face decorated with tribal
paint. NATIVE AMERICAN DRUMMING RISES.)

NATIVE AMERICAN
I pound a drum. I paint my face. I
drink the liquor you use to appease.
Dilute my blood. Change the color
of my skin. You speak of holocausts
and racism. I stare genocide in the
eye and wonder if it is my fate.
Pillage a village. Scalp a head.
Shoot an arrow. Cannibalism's not
dead. I'm Native American, kemosabe.
I'm your friend.

(A DRUMMING COLLAGE RISES, drowning out the Native American

drumming. ALL dance, stripping NATIVE AMERICAN of his jeans,
jersey and baseball hat and dressing him in traditional
regalia. DRUMMING COLLAGE CUTS OFF.)

MOVEMENT 2: The Gospel

(SOUND: Rhythm, feet sliding across a wooden floor, wooden

block against wooden block, sandpaper rubbing. ALL slither
around one another.)

STRAIGHT
In my world.

NATIVE AMERICAN
In this world.

NEW ASIA
Color counts.

WHITE
Color, color, color

DYKE-MAN
Counts.

MIDDLE EAST
I walk in,

WHITE
With my all too white face,
 5.

NEW ASIA
And see them looking.

NATIVE AMERICAN
For a slant,

DYKE-MAN
A curve,

LATINA
A hint of color,

STRAIGHT
That's not mine.

BLACK
To find meaning.

MIDDLE EAST
In my not worth mentioning.

DYKE-MAN
Reason.

WHITE
In my not here to--

NEW ASIA
Help me.

NATIVE AMERICAN, NEW ASIA, LATINA,

BLACK
Appease.

MIDDLE EAST
In my world

LATINA
This world.

BLACK
Color counts.

NEW ASIA
Color.

LATINA
Color.

NATIVE AMERICAN
Color.
 6.

DYKE-MAN, MIDDLE EAST, WHITE, STRAIGHT

Counts.

(ALL slither off except MIDDLE EAST. SOUND FADES.)

MOVEMENT 3: Patriot

(MAGICIAN MUSIC RISES. MIDDLE EAST, AKA THE MAGICIAN, rolls

up his sleeves, showing the audience--nothing up my sleeves.
He rolls his sleeves back down then removes a United States
flag from his seemingly empty sleeve, waving it in
celebration. THE MAGICIAN puts a finger to his head, thinking
for a moment, then folds up the flag and begins tearing it
into tiny pieces. He throws the pieces up in the air, letting
them float to the ground like confetti, and runs off. MUSIC
FADES.)

MOVEMENT 4: Prophet

(BLACK pushes a black block with the word Open-ended. written

on it in white letters onto the stage as a RELIGIOUS COLLAGE
RISES, borrowing from a variety of influences--church bells,
call to prayer, gospel, responsive voices, hymns, chanting,
singing, etc.)

BLACK
You don't know me, but I'm your lover.
I sit precariously in the corner.
You've seen me in the movies. I run
swiftly on the field. I'm first
pick at the pick-up game. The one
you hope don't sit next to you on
the bus. I'm the one who makes you
hold your breath when he steps on
the elevator. Me? You know who I
am. I am Black man.

(The RELIGIOUS COLLAGE FADES.)

MOVEMENT 5: Prophecy

(ALL run on. WHITE and LATINA play "Miss Mary Mack" with an
urban beat. DYKE-MAN spins a couple jump ropes for some
Double Dutch. NEW ASIA jumps in. ALL take turns spinning
the ropes and jumping. Those who aren't spinning or jumping
continue the clapping game.)
 7.

NATIVE AMERICAN
I would like to believe

STRAIGHT
"Oh, say can you see..."

NEW ASIA
I would like to believe

MIDDLE EAST
The country is me

WHITE
I would like to see

DYKE-MAN
"The dawn's early light"

LATINA
I would like to be free

BLACK
I'm too tired to fight

NEW ASIA
From atop mountains high

DYKE-MAN
Streams

BLACK
Valleys low

NATIVE AMERICAN
I used to believe

WHITE
In a dream

STRAIGHT
In this land

MIDDLE EAST
I believed in a future

NATIVE AMERICAN
But now...

BLACK
I would like to believe
 8.

DYKE-MAN
"Oh say can you see."
NEW ASIA
I would like to believe
LATINA
This country includes me.
(The clapping game builds to a frenetic pace.)
ALL
(doing hand motions)
Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look
at these!
(ALL EXIT playfully except NEW ASIA.)

MOVEMENT 6: The Model

(A COLLAGE OF TRADITIONAL ASIAN MUSIC RISES. NEW ASIA
performs an eclectic dance to match.)
NEW ASIA
Ching chong, gook, FOB--who? No,
not wop. I slant my eyes and speak
beneath my breath. In dainty words
and small steps. I always score
better than you on tests.
(NEW ASIA removes her kimono, revealing a business suit
underneath.)
NEW ASIA (CONT'D)
Lots of film, lots of photos.
Electronics is my game. You look at
me like this isn't my nation. You
think, "Why don't you go home?"
(RAP samples intercut. NEW ASIA removes the business suit,
revealing a skimpy skirt and top.)
NEW ASIA (CONT'D)
I could be Chinese, Japanese, Korean,
from India, or Bali. But, you don't
know. So, you can't even tell me
where to go! I'll just stay here
and be myself. I am me, New Asia
here. This is my home.

(MUSIC CUTS OUT.)

 9.

MOVEMENT 7: Caste

(A yellow block with Laconic stretched out along the length

of it in white is wheeled onto stage.)

ALL
"Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!"

(ALL dance mechanically across the stage like targets on a

firing range.)

BLACK
Doctor,

NEW ASIA
Lawyer,

STRAIGHT
Garbage collector!

DYKE
Film

MAN
And video!

WHITE
Local solicitor.

LATINA
Teacher,

NATIVE AMERICAN
Student,

MIDDLE EAST
Corner gibberisher.

ALL
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

(GUNSHOT. ALL fall like they've been hit except LATINA.)

MOVEMENT 8: Love/Hate

(WHISTLES and CATCALLS as a red block with Virgin Mary

scripted in white is wheeled on. LATIN MUSIC COLLAGE RISES.
LATINA solos. NATIVE AMERICAN, BLACK, MIDDLE EAST then
STRAIGHT join her. LATINA fluctuates between flirtatious
and coy.)
 10.

LATINA
I shake my hips and sway my ass.
You look at me. You'd like a grasp.
I speak in words ustedes no
comprenden. You drive through my
town and think it un-American. All
these signs en español. It makes
you insane. You prefer I leave and
not come back again. But, here I
sit in my own little corner. Mis
amigos. Mis jóvenes. ¿Quién soy?
I am Latina. El mejor país en todo
el mundo.

(ALL dance into a circle and sit. LATIN MUSIC COLLAGE FADES.)

MOVEMENT 9: Natural Selection

(A block painted in camouflage with the words Military

Intelligence is wheeled on. MAN touches each person on the
head as he goes around the circle.)

MAN
Duck, duck, duck, duck, duck, duck,
duck...
(touching DYKE's head)
Goose!

(DYKE chases after MAN, tapping him on the back before he

can get to her spot. MAN takes his place in the middle of
the circle as DYKE goes around, touching each person on the
head.)

DYKE
Duck, duck, duck, duck...

BLACK
You're in the goose pot!

NEW ASIA
Loser!

LATINA
Queer!

MAN
Sticks and stones may break my
bones...
 11.

NATIVE AMERICAN
Cry, baby!

MIDDLE EAST
Crybaby!

MAN
I'm rubber and you're glue...

WHITE
Smear the queer!

STRAIGHT
Smear the queer!

ALL EXCEPT MAN

Smear the queer! Smear the queer!
Smear the queer!

(ALL aggressively close in on MAN, more like a beating than

a dance.)

MOVEMENT 10: Pride

(GAY MUSIC COLLAGE RISES. DYKE-MAN emerges from the melee.)

DYKE-MAN
We are faggots.

DYKE
We are queer.

MAN
And, oh yes.

DYKE
By the way.

DYKE-MAN
We are here.

DYKE
You can tell by the roar of my
motorcycle.

MAN
The twinkle in my toes. I'm light
in the slipper.
 12.

DYKE
I'm firm on the ground. Don't look
at my ass.

MAN
At least not right away.

DYKE
Don't look at my breasts.

MAN
I'll flash them later anyway.

DYKE
You know who I am.

MAN
Oh, yes, I could see that immediately.

DYKE
You recognize my face.

MAN
Because these days you can see me in
movies.

DYKE
On TV.

MAN
All over the place!

(DYKE-MAN skips off, and ALL, except MIDDLE EAST, chase after
DYKE-MAN like groupies. MUSIC FADES.)

MOVEMENT 11: The Conflict

(Collage of MIDDLE EASTERN MUSIC RISES. MIDDLE EAST removes

his head covering, revealing a yarmulke underneath.)

MIDDLE EAST
Did you say television? Which sitcom?
What show? Who gave you permission?
How much do you know? This is
Hollywood. I am a Jew. I won't run
for President because I don't like
to lose. I prefer to sit back and
just make fun.
(MORE)
 13.

MIDDLE EAST (CONT'D)

My decisions are based on the money
I can make in the long run. I don't
have an agenda or social mores. I
produce what I think's best. If it
fails, you don't get paid.

(MUSIC FADES.)

MOVEMENT 12: Propaganda

(ALL dance on to a collage of MOVIE THEME SONGS.)

LATINA
"What would you do with a brain if
you had one?"

MIDDLE EAST
"What's happening hot stuff?"

WHITE
"You make someone a bridesmaid and
they shit all over you."

(MOVIE THEME SONGS evolve into a collage of TELEVISION THEME

SONGS.)

DYKE
"All I want is to be loved."

MAN
"Is that so wrong?"

(TELEVISION THEME SONGS evolve into a collage of ADVERTISING

SPOTS.)

STRAIGHT
"I dare you to knock it off, I dare
you."

NATIVE AMERICAN
"It takes a licking and keeps on
ticking."

(ADVERTISING SPOTS evolve into a collage of NEWSCASTS.)

BLACK
"This race is shakier than cafeteria
Jell-O."
 14.

(NEWSCASTS evolve into a collage of WAR PROPAGANDA.)

NEW ASIA
"Love it or leave it, man. Love it
or leave it."

(WAR PROPAGANDA FADES. ALL EXIT except THE MAGICIAN.)

Movement 13: Church & State

(MAGICIAN MUSIC RISES. THE MAGICIAN walks over to the spot

where the torn up pieces of the flag remain and sweeps them
into his shirt pocket. He makes a big show of waving his
hand over his pocket then reaches in and removes the flag.
It's reassembled itself, but the seams where it was torn
remain. THE MAGICIAN folds the flag back up, holds it in
one hand, waves his other hand over it and--presto! THE
MAGICIAN unravels the flag. The seams are gone, but it has
changed from the United States flag into an Anarchy flag.
THE MAGICIAN scratches his head then waves the flag meekly
and walks off. MUSIC FADES.)

Movement 14: Affirmative Action

(CLASSICAL MUSIC COLLAGE RISES. WHITE does a barre.)

WHITE
Look at me. I'm so pretty. This
nose, blue eyes and manicured toes.
Don't hate me because I'm pretty.
Love me, despite your jealousy.
Someday, you could be me too. Well,
probably not, but I prefer you believe
it to be so. Work, ethics--that's
the way. Success is just within
reach. I tell you this because I
like making you look silly. I'm the
girl next door. A lovely White lady.

(BLACK joins WHITE in her barre, and they share a beautiful

dance. STRAIGHT ENTERS. CLASSICAL MUSIC COLLAGE CUTS OUT
with the SOUND OF A NEEDLE GETTING PULLED FROM A RECORD.)

STRAIGHT
Man, you know me. I'm tough as nails.
Totally cool. The one you all want
to be.
 15.

(The Ox'y·môr'ön block breaks apart, and the môr'ön half

inches up behind STRAIGHT.)

WHITE
No we don't!

(STRAIGHT spins around abruptly.)

STRAIGHT
What was that?

WHITE
No we don't.

STRAIGHT
Shut up, bitch. Now, where was I?
Stupid bitches interrupting me. You
want to know me, who I am? I'm
straight. I'm white. And, I'm a
man. So, keep your faggot asses
away from me.

WHITE
Would someone get rid of him?

STRAIGHT
I told you to shut up, bitch.

(STRAIGHT grabs WHITE, ripping her shirt off.)

MOVEMENT 15: Magical Thinking

(POP MUSIC COLLAGE KICKS IN. LATINA and NEW ASIA ENTER
dressed in bras, hot pants and stilettos. DYKE-MAN, BLACK,
NATIVE AMERICAN, and MIDDLE EAST ENTER with chairs. LATINA,
NEW ASIA and WHITE give them lap dances.)

WHITE
You see me

LATINA
As a pretty face

NEW ASIA
I can't see you

WHITE
But I see past your race
 16.

LATINA
Checks and boxes

NEW ASIA
Blur the line

LATINA
Arbitrary color

NEW ASIA
Meant to define

WHITE
Close your eyes

LATINA
Open up your mind.

(ALL dance sexually, erotically, pairing off--NATIVE AMERICAN

with NEW ASIA, DYKE with MAN, BLACK with MIDDLE EAST, and
STRAIGHT with LATINA, WHITE looking on jealously.)

NEW ASIA
This is reality.

(NEW ASIA pairs off with DYKE.)

STRAIGHT
This is the place.

(STRAIGHT couples with MAN.)

LATINA
Come to America.

(LATINA pursues MIDDLE EAST.)

WHITE
Look your dreams in the face.

(WHITE, BLACK and NATIVE AMERICAN wrap themselves around

each other. The partner swapping continues, ending with ALL
entwined in an embrace. MUSIC FADES.)

MOVEMENT 16: Truth

(SOUND: Rhythm, feet sliding across a wooden floor, wooden

block against wooden block, sandpaper rubbing. ALL slither
around one another--sensual, seductive.
 17.

A blue block with the word enactment snaking across it in

indigo is wheeled on.)

STRAIGHT
Sentiment

WHITE
Sentimental

NEW ASIA
Sentimentality

MIDDLE EAST
The land of the free

BLACK
The home of the brave

LATINA
One nation

NATIVE AMERICAN
Give me liberty or

STRAIGHT
Give me

WHITE
Give me

BLACK
Give me

NEW ASIA
Death before dishonor

MIDDLE EAST
United we stand

DYKE
Inalienable

MAN
Rights

STRAIGHT
The American

LATINA
Dream
 18.

DYKE
Is

MAN
A

NATIVE AMERICAN
Fallacy.

(SOUND CUTS OFF.)

MOVEMENT 17: Pedagogy

(BLACK turns on MIDDLE EAST.)

BLACK
Kike.

(MIDDLE EAST turns on DYKE-MAN.)

MIDDLE EAST
Homo.

(DYKE-MAN turns on NATIVE AMERICAN.)

DYKE-MAN
Savage.

(NATIVE AMERICAN turns on STRAIGHT.)

NATIVE AMERICAN
Cracker.

(STRAIGHT turns on LATINA.)

STRAIGHT
Wetback.

(LATINA turns on WHITE.)

LATINA
Bitch.

(WHITE turns on NEW ASIA.)

WHITE
Chink.

(NEW ASIA turns on BLACK.)

 19.

NEW ASIA
Nigg--

(ALL make "shame, shame" fingers at NEW ASIA, cutting her

off. BLACK struts over, bypassing NEW ASIA and going for
STRAIGHT.)

BLACK
(greeting)
Nigger--

(They touch fists.)

STRAIGHT
(friendly)
Nigga.

(LATINA taps--)

LATINA
Nig-ga...

(NATIVE AMERICAN taps a response--)

NATIVE AMERICAN
Nig-ga...

(BLACK starts in with a soft shoe.)

BLACK
Ahab

(MIDDLE EAST taps a response.)

MIDDLE EAST
Anglo

(ALL play off one another, the TAPPING and CHANTING building
together.)

DYKE-MAN
Apache

NATIVE AMERICAN
Beaner.

STRAIGHT
Brownie

LATINA
Bug Eye
 20.

WHITE
Carpet Muncher

NEW ASIA
Chigger.

BLACK
Cholo

MIDDLE EAST
Chunk

DYKE-MAN
Coolie

NATIVE AMERICAN
Coon.

STRAIGHT
Dago

LATINA
Dyke

WHITE
Fag--

NEW ASIA
Fig Newton!

(WHITE and LATINA resume their hand clapping game.)

BLACK
Flip

MIDDLE EAST
Gay

DYKE-MAN
Goy

NATIVE AMERICAN
Gringo.

STRAIGHT
Heeb

LATINA
Hick

WHITE
Honky
 21.

NEW ASIA
Hoopie

BLACK
Hymie.

(NATIVE AMERICAN and STRAIGHT begin skipping.)

MIDDLE EAST
Injun

DYKE-MAN
Jap

NATIVE AMERICAN
Kraut

STRAIGHT
Mick.

LATINA
Mohawk

WHITE
Mulatto

NEW ASIA
Mustard Seed

BLACK
Nip.

(DYKE-MAN and NEW ASIA begin jumping rope.)

MIDDLE EAST
Oreo

DYKE-MAN
Paleface

NATIVE AMERICAN
Pickaninny

STRAIGHT
Queen.

LATINA
Raghead

WHITE
Redman
 22.

NEW ASIA
Redneck

BLACK
Redskin.

(BLACK and MIDDLE EAST move mechanically across the stage

like targets on a firing range.)

MIDDLE EAST
Roundeye

DYKE-MAN
Shiksa

NATIVE AMERICAN
Slit-eye

STRAIGHT
Spic.

LATINA
Spook

WHITE
Three-fifther

NEW ASIA
Tonto--

BLACK
Towelhead!

(The tapping builds to a crescendo as ALL fire off a dance

to combat ever slur that's ever been hurled.)

MIDDLE EAST
Trailer Trash

DYKE-MAN
Twinkie

NATIVE AMERICAN
Uncle Tom

STRAIGHT
WASP.

LATINA
White Devil
 23.

WHITE
White Trash

NEW ASIA
Whitey

BLACK
Wigger.

ALL
(big finish)
Niggas and bitches and 'hos, oh my!

(ALL strike a pose.)

MOVEMENT 18: The Way

(ALL turn on each other, simultaneously saying their line.)

BLACK
Kike.

MIDDLE EAST
Homo.

DYKE-MAN
Savage.

NATIVE AMERICAN
Cracker.

STRAIGHT
Wetback.

LATINA
Bitch.

WHITE
Chink.

NEW ASIA
Nigger.

MOVEMENT 19: Melting Pot

(ALL rotate the blocks, weaving them in and out of one another
as if searching for their final destination.)
 24.

NATIVE AMERICAN
You can't see me

NEW ASIA
I'm not there

BLACK
Can't put me in a box

MIDDLE EAST
To label and ignore

STRAIGHT
Uncomfortable questions

DYKE-MAN
Blurry lines

WHITE
Names and faces

LATINA
Contradicting minds

MIDDLE EAST
I'm beyond religion

NATIVE AMERICAN
I'm beyond creed

DYKE-MAN
I'm your hiding place

STRAIGHT
Your, "That isn't me."

NEW ASIA
I am absence

NATIVE AMERICAN
I'm what you don't see

BLACK
I'm the exception

WHITE
You can't label me.

(The blocks come together, connecting like puzzle pieces,

and we see each is covered with a blown up facial feature--
eye, nose, cheek, etc.--from a different person, creating an
eclectic, disembodied face.)
 25.

MOVEMENT 20: Peace is Patriotic

(MAGICIAN MUSIC RISES. THE MAGICIAN makes his way to the

front, rolls up his sleeves and shows the audience--nothing
up my sleeves. He rolls his sleeves back down then removes
the anarchy flag from his seemingly empty sleeve. THE
MAGICIAN puts a finger to his head, thinking for a moment,
then folds up the flag and begins tearing it into tiny pieces.
He places the pieces in his fist, blows on it and throws his
hand in the air. Instead of the pieces floating to the
ground, a tapestry of a United States flag descends from the
ceiling. MUSIC FADES.)

MOVEMENT 21: Manifest Destiny

(A RELIGIOUS COLLAGE RISES, borrowing from a variety of

influences--church bells, call to prayer, gospel, responsive
voices, hymns, chanting, singing, etc. As the sounds fill
them, ALL begin to move their bodies, creating an ephemeral
dance that ends in a position of prayer.)

LATINA
Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

NEW ASIA
Namaste.

WHITE
God is love.

MIDDLE EAST
As-salaamu alaykum.

STRAIGHT
Yes, Jesus loves me.

NATIVE AMERICAN
Ho Mitakuye Oyasin.

BLACK
All praise to Allah.

DYKE-MAN
My higher power.

(A pinprick-size ray of light projects OPEN-MINDED across

the stage. The projection grows as the round continues until
ALL are encompassed by the ray of light.)
 26.

LATINA
Perdóname Padre porque he pecado.

NEW ASIA
Namaste.

WHITE
God is love.

MIDDLE EAST
Shalom aleichem.

STRAIGHT
Yes, Jesus loves me.

NATIVE AMERICAN
We are all related.

BLACK
Al-Hamdolillaah.

DYKE-MAN
My higher power.

(ALL begin to undress, stripping down to the leotards they

wore when they first entered.)

NEW ASIA
Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

WHITE
Namaste.

MIDDLE EAST
God is love.

DYKE
As-salaamu alaykum.

MAN
Aleichem shalom.

BLACK
Yes, Jesus loves me.

STRAIGHT
Hózno nahá slé.

NATIVE AMERICAN
All praise to Allah.
 27.

LATINA
My higher power.

WHITE
Perdóname Padre porque he pecado.

MIDDLE EAST
Namaste.

STRAIGHT
God is love.

NATIVE AMERICAN
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

DYKE-MAN
Yes, Jesus loves me.

BLACK
Ho Mitakuye Oyasin.

LATINA
Al-Hamdolillaah.

NEW ASIA
My higher power.

MIDDLE EAST
Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

STRAIGHT
Namaste.

LATINA
God is love.

BLACK
Shalom aleichem.

WHITE
Wa-alaykum us-salaam.

NEW ASIA
Yes, Jesus loves me.

DYKE
Hózno nahá slé.

MAN
All praise to Allah.
 28.

NATIVE AMERICAN
My higher power.

(RELIGIOUS COLLAGE CUTS OUT.)

Reprise

(ALL turn on each other, simultaneously saying their line,

as the projection of light shrinks back to pinprick size.)

BLACK
Kike.

MIDDLE EAST
Homo.

DYKE-MAN
Savage.

NATIVE AMERICAN
Cracker.

STRAIGHT
Wetback.

LATINA
Bitch.

WHITE
Chink.

NEW ASIA
Nigger.

(ALL resume their position of prayer.)

ALL
Amen.

(BLACKOUT.)

THE END