Alma

_________________________________

a poetic realism play about the American Dream

by

Benjamin Benne

...this play is for my mom…

Draft 1.26.23

CONTACT
benjamin.n.benne@gmail.com

PARADIGM TALENT AGENCY

Rachel Ellicott, Agent
rellicott@paradigmagency.com
LUMINOSITY MANAGEMENT
Kelly Miller, Manager
kellymiller@luminositymanagment.com
 “I just wanna say since Donald Trump has announced that he’s running for president, I felt like
I’m dreaming. I can’t believe I turn on TV and prime time TV every night they’re talking about
anchor babies, they’re talking about sanctuary cities, they’re talking about Mexican rapists. They
can only win—[audience member: “Build the wall!”]—they’re talking about the wall. I love the
idea of the great wall of Trump.”
- Ann Coulter

“My Chicana identity is grounded in the Indian woman’s history of resistance. The Aztec female
rites of mourning were rites of defiance protesting the cultural changes which disrupted the
equality and balance between female and male, and protesting their demotion to a lesser status,
their denigration. Like la Llorona, the Indian woman’s only means of protest was wailing...
Wailing is the Indian, Mexican, and Chicana woman’s feeblest protest when she has no other
recourse.”
- Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands

Alma was Originally Produced by Center Theatre Group, in cooperation with American
Blues Theater at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, CA in March of 2022. The
American Blues Theater production opened in Chicago September of 2022.

Alma (formerly titled #nowall) was developed during a residency at the Eugene O’Neill
Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference in 2018.
Preston Whiteway Wendy C. Goldberg
Executive Director Artistic Director

Alma was also developed with support from Denver Center for the Performing Arts 2020
Colorado New Play Summit, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and The Playwrights’ Center’s
2016-17 Many Voices Fellowship. Alma was the winner of Arizona Theatre Company’s
2019 National Latinx Playwriting Award and the 2019 Blue Ink Playwriting Award from
American Blues Theater, Chicago, IL.

Dramaturgy and Spanish translations by Catherine María “Cat” Rodríguez with

additional contributions from Elena Araoz, Cynthia Bastidas, Ana Maria Campoy, and
Marcela Lorca.
 DRAMATIS PERSONAE
ALMA (she/her), age 34
an undocumented immigrant from Mexico living in the United States
mother (but also kind of a sister)
to
ANGEL (she/her), age 17
a United States citizen
a high school senior with acute anxiety

OTHER CHARACTERS
THE SKY
THE TV

TIME
this play’s action unfolds in early December 2016
post-election and pre-inauguration of Trump
the world feels different: scarier
it’s around 11pm (11:11…make a wish?)
the action unfolds in real time

PLACE
La Puente, California
the living space of ALMA & ANGEL’s one-bedroom apartment
on the 2nd floor of an apartment complex
where you kinda know who your neighbors are but not really—really, you just know what they
look like...

PUNCTUATION KEY & DIALOGUE GUIDE

— two lines are threaded together by a new thought, continued thought, or an interruption
[ … ] implied not spoken
( … ) a less emphasized (or sometimes clarifying) thought
… a hesitation or shift in thought or non-verbal response

the dialogue is presented in two columns to orchestrate line overlaps

Alta Dena: “alta deeena”

Mount SAC (San Antonio College): “mount sack”
 1

darkness

then stars steadily appear in the darkness

“Pre-Columbian era - Tongva land”
THE SKY full of stars

(...time elapses...)

THE SKY full of stars

circa “1769 - Spanish Colonization”

(...time elapses...)

THE SKY full of stars

circa “1846 - Mexican-American War”

(...time elapses...)

a dome of orange skyglow slowly appears as the stars steadily vanish

circa “1916”
(this is when electricity was introduced to the region)

(...time elapses...)

then the dome of orange skyglow continues to grow until the stars completely vanish
“2016”
a prominent dome of orange light pollution in THE SKY

an altar to La Virgen de Guadalupe illuminates

the interior of ALMA’s apartment in La Puente, CA

(...time elapses...)
 2

night - 11:11pm

then the sound of keys in the front door

ALMA enters with a bag

ALMA
hola
SURPRISE!

ALMA flicks on the light and looks around the living space

ALMA
guess what!
I brought some chips y salsa y un poco de guacamole
...
Ángel?

ALMA goes to ANGEL’s room

ALMA
Ángel?

no response...could Angel be sleeping already?

she is about to knock
but then decides to slowly open the door
she peeks into Angel’s room then goes in

suddenly
THE TV in the living space turns back on to a news source

ALMA reappears a second later with a bottle of orange Fanta

she looks at THE TV and scans the living space
...weird...

ALMA
Ángel?

ALMA takes the bottle of Fanta to the fridge and puts it inside
then pulls out a tupperware container with rice and beans

ALMA
(esta niña)—
ok that’s it!

ALMA pulls out her flip phone and dials ANGEL

it rings for a bit…
 3

ALMA
(contesta)

ALMA gets voicemail

she hangs up and redials
it goes directly to voicemail this time

ALMA
ohhh ok
(scolding)
¿piensas que soy una tonta?
vas a ver

ALMA leaves a message

ALMA
(sweetly)
Ángel!
guess what??
I got a surprise for you
I got off work
early
can you believe it?
so now
I can be home to help you study
por última vez
ok I’m coming home now
sooo
you better be up studying really hard
really
really
hard
like you said you was going to
ok see you soon
(a threat)
really.
really.
soon.
(blows a kiss)

ALMA hangs up and grabs the TV remote

then changes the channel (it’s another news source reporting on the election)

ALMA
(ugh)
 4

ALMA flicks it to National Geographic

(it’s a segment about elephants mourning)

ALMA
(eso está mejor)

ALMA gets a stack of flash cards and gets comfortable on the couch
(she watches with fascination as the elephants mourn on TV:
“On the other side, something unexpected: an elephant corpse. Elephant graveyards may be a
myth, but death holds a strange fascination for them.”
...let this take a while...)

then there’s a sound at the front door: keys fumbling

ALMA turns off THE TV, flicks off the light, and hides
then the front door opens and ANGEL enters hurriedly toward her room

ALMA
surprise!
ANGEL
oh my god!!

ALMA
shhhh! ANGEL
(realizing)
MOM!
you’re going to wake up la bruja [next door]

ANGEL
you’re home! (?)

ALMA
(confirming)
you got mi mensaje

ANGEL
(a lie)
no…
the battery dies so fast on this fucking / thing

ALMA
ey cuida la boca

ANGEL
(sorry)
I just really need a new phone—
 5

ALMA
where were you?

ANGEL
I was at Jackie’s—
studying

ALMA
bueno [yeah right]
entonces [prove it]
(re: a flash card)
¿qué es “r a n c o r—o u s”?
ANGEL
look I’m really tired

ANGEL moves toward her room

ALMA blocks

ALMA
espérate
(re: a smell)
¿qué es eso?

ANGEL
goodnight!

ALMA
oh no! come here

ANGEL
no

ALMA
get over here

ANGEL
no

ALMA
get over here
right / now

ANGEL
stop!
 6

ALMA
what was you doing at / Jackie’s?

ANGEL
(correcting)
were

ALMA
¿qué?

ANGEL
“what were you / doing”

ALMA
what were you drinking?

a beat

ANGEL
mom
ALMA it’s really not a big deal
/ it is a big deal
Jackie said drinking Modelo is
basically like drinking water

ALMA
is this what you do?
you tell me you’re here studying
but you’re at Jackie’s?

ANGEL
no—it was just a birthday beer

ALMA
it’s not your birthday

ANGEL
it’s still my birthday month

ALMA
did you turn 21 this month? ANGEL
no no
but Jackie’s parents don’t even care

ALMA
because Jackie’s parents don’t care about her
 7

ANGEL
that’s not true

ALMA
I don’t want you hanging out
with that girl anymore ANGEL
/ mom!
ahorita
go get a thing out of the… t h i n g

ANGEL
what t h i n g?

ALMA
you know what t h i n g
and fill it with water

ANGEL
(feigning)
a what?

ALMA
un / vaso

ANGEL
ohhhh a g l a s s (?)

ALMA
from / the—
ANGEL
c a b i n e t?

ALMA
see? you know what I mean...
now do it

ANGEL does

ALMA
how much did you drink?

ANGEL
just one
ALMA
don’t lie to me
 8

ANGEL
ok so
more than one

ALMA
how many?

ANGEL
uhh
(a pointed exaggeration)
four

ALMA
mentiras

ANGEL laughs

ALMA
ey this is serious
you see this face?
what does it look like?

ANGEL
“r a n c o r o u s”

ALMA
you know you could’ve gotten arrested?
and I wouldn’t be able to / help you ANGEL
that’s not going to happen
it can
but it / won’t
and you know what that would do to me?
a este pobre corazón mío?
and then you’re not answering your phone
y si es una emergencia
y algo horrible ha pasado
y no contestas el teléfono
yeah like what?
like
(...you know what....)

a beat in which ANGEL registers the subtext of “you know what”

ALMA
tómatelo
 9

ANGEL drinks

ALMA
(figuring out Angel’s plan)
so you were just going to wake up tomorrow
and be like “I feel siiick”

ANGEL
(a lie)
no

ALMA
you remember what tomorrow is?

ANGEL
yeah
Saturday

ALMA
¿y qué más?

a strong beat

ANGEL
mom
look
I’ve been thinking about this
(a lot)
and I’m not going tomorrow

ALMA
oh no you don’t
tomorrow is the last day you can / take it

ANGEL
well it’s not the last-last day

ALMA
pues that’s what you / told me

ANGEL
mom
just listen
tomorrow is the last day
that I can take it to qualify for fall registration
but I was thinking
 10

ALMA maybe I don’t need to start in the fall

ahora escúchame a mí / you know?
you cancelled last time
so you’d have more time to / study

ANGEL
but I need more

ALMA
I’m not playing this game with you again—
¿cuál es el deseo número trece?

ANGEL
...get 2400 on the SAT

ALMA
mira
you gotta know this is a b i g d e a l
when I was asking Mercedes to close for me
she was like “why are you asking so last minute?” so I say “por favor Ángel’s SAT test is
tomorrow and I wanna be there to help her study one last time” and she’s like
“wait—isn’t the SAT test her really really big test?” and I go “yeah” and she goes “really? her
really really big test is tomorrow...finally?” and I’m like “yeah” and so she says “ay pues go go –
go now” and I say “now?” and she’s like “claro”
so I come home to help you study por última vez...but what do I find?
just a empty house
no Ángel
but the TV’s still on
you know what that does
to the electricity bill? ANGEL
/ I didn’t leave it on
pues no
esta niña no sabe nada del dinero
/ yeah I do
you do whatever
and I gotta pay pay pay
you can’t even remember
to get milk when I tell you / to—
ANGEL
ok I really don’t need to drink milk

ALMA
la leche es necesaria

ANGEL
actually milk is really bad for you
 11

ALMA
it’s good for your brain
it says so on the label—
ANGEL
humans are the only mammals
that drink milk past infancy
it’s totally unnatural
and lactose intolerancy is evidence / of that

ALMA
why do they say to drink three cups a day?

ANGEL
that’s totally a white supremacy thing—
ALMA
(ugh)

ANGEL
seriously
there are videos on YouTube
of neo-nazis binge-drinking milk
because they think it’s proof of
their genetic / superiority

ALMA
¿sabes qué es el calcio?

ANGEL
yeah I know what calcium is

ALMA
it makes your bones strong

ANGEL
actually
in the studies they’ve done
people who drink milk
have the same chance of getting fractures
as those who don’t drink / milk

ALMA
they teach you this at school?

ANGEL
anything valuable I learn
comes from Google
 12

ALMA
mira
el caso es que
you were supposed to get the milk

ANGEL
if you love milk so much
the Alta Dena factory is like two miles that way
go help yourself
to that nasty shit
ALMA that they torture cows for—
/ boca
can you imagine being artificially inseminated—
just being impregnated over and over
so that they can milk you non-stop—
/ ay qué dramática
use your body for their profit
until your body can’t take it anymore
and then they just throw you / away

ALMA
since you’re so smart
I got a question for you
where’s the money?

ANGEL
what?

ALMA
I gave you money for milk
right?
I want you to put it right here
en estas manos

ANGEL
I used it to buy lunch

ALMA
because you forgot this?
ALMA produces the tupperware with rice and beans

ANGEL
(yeah)

ALMA
so what did you have for lunch?
 13

ANGEL
does it matter?

ALMA
what did you spend the money on?

ANGEL
Hot Cheetos
ok?!
/ fuuuu...[ck]

ALMA
¿estás loca?
you know what that’s gonna do
to your stomach?

ANGEL
I can handle it

ALMA
wait til tomorrow
when your stomach starts making noises
during your / test

ANGEL
whatever
I’m not going

ALMA
yeah you are
y mira
if you don’t get into UC Davis
you’re not getting a graduation present

ANGEL
w h a t?

ALMA
what’s the point of a high school diploma
if you don’t go to college?

ANGEL’s stomach grumbles

ALMA
was that your stomach?
 14

ANGEL nods

ALMA
see?
son los Chet-os

ANGEL
it’s not the Cheetos
(I just don’t feel so good)

ALMA
what’d you have for dinner?

ANGEL
(umm)

ANGEL’s stomach grumbles louder

ALMA
you didn’t have dinner? ¿tampoco?
sit down
and look at your [flash] cards

ANGEL
mom
those aren’t going to / help—
ALMA
siéntate

ANGEL picks up the flash cards and sits

ALMA puts the rice and beans into a bowl

ANGEL
what’s that?

ALMA
it’s the lunch you forgot

ANGEL
(ugh)
why’s it always
arroz con frijoles
arroz con frijoles?

ALMA
that’s not true
 15

ANGEL
yeah it is

ALMA
you know there are places
that the people are starving?
I make you black beans
and the brown jasmine rice
with tomate
the way you like it
but you still don’t eat it—
I just don’t get it ANGEL
you got / everything in this country (have)
everything
there’s so much food everywhere
but people are always throwing it away
like it’s nothing
when I first came to this country
and I seen / people—
ANGEL
saw

ALMA
when I saw people only eat half their plate
then throw the rest away
I’d cry

ALMA puts the bowl in the microwave

ALMA
¿cuál es el deseo número uno?

ANGEL
mom
look
I just don’t like eating beans at school
ok?

ALMA
what do you want instead?

ANGEL
I don’t know
(maybeee)
deseo número siete
 16

ALMA
(ah)
“carne asada—
ANGEL
every day”

ALMA
you were so little that birthday

ANGEL
[I was in] 2nd grade

ALMA
and you were like
“I wish for carne asada…every day”
I couldn’t stop laughing

ANGEL
I was sick of having rice and beans
all the time

ALMA
pues
carne asada
comes from cows

ANGEL
I didn’t really mean
carne asada
I just meant
not beans

ALMA
beans are better for you
than Hot Chet-os

ANGEL
I didn’t even eat the whole bag

ALMA
so you didn’t eat all day?

the microwave beeps

ALMA gets the bowl and gives it to ANGEL
 17

ANGEL
I mean I tried
but while I was sitting in the quad at lunch
this seagull came up to me
ALMA and looks at / me—
a what?

ANGEL
a seagull

ALMA
you got those at your school?

ANGEL
we have them
yeah

ALMA
pero no estamos cerca de la playa

ANGEL
I mean
I don’t know how they got there
(and it doesn’t really matter)
because the point is that they’re there
near the dumpsters
ALMA all around the school
really?
yeah
so one of them comes up to me
and it turns its head to the side
and looks at me
(like this)
and I look into its sad eyes
and I feel kinda bad for it
you know?
so I take a Cheeto out of my bag
ALMA and toss it
(mm hm)
and the seagull catches it right in the air
so I toss another one
and it catches it
but then
there’s another seagull
ALMA and then I see another one
(knows where this is going)
 18

(uh huh)
there’s like this ring of seagulls
totally surrounding me
and all their shiny yellow eyes
start to look kinda scary
so I try to move away
but they follow me
ALMA and they start squawking
. (incredulous) (making these crazy sounds)
oh really?
then one of them comes right up to me
and snaps at the bag
so I freak out
ALMA and throw the bag at it
(playing along)
you threw it?
and they totally swarm
ripping the bag apart
qué susto
but wait— and there’s Cheetos just flying everywhere—
you still saved this?

ALMA pulls the bottle of orange Fanta from the fridge

ALMA
even with all those birds attacking you?

ANGEL
where’d you get that?

a beat

ALMA ANGEL
[you know where]— [WTF]—
you spend my money don’t you ever e v e r
on junk go in my room e v e r
then leave this out
and that’s why we get ants
(ahora)
cómete la cena
ANGEL
I don’t want it

ALMA
cométela
 19

ANGEL
no
ALMA stay out of my room
your room?
this is a total violation of my privacy
and who gave you that room? I’m getting way too old
who works at Chico’s y La Luna to have you going through my personal shit
to pay for that roof over your head
I’m an adult!
todavía no
I’m practically an adult
oh really? so you should treat me like it
pues you don’t act like an adult
you forget your lunch
you forget to eat dinner oh whatever
you forget to buy your milk so what?
you’re out getting borracha because milk is disgusting A F
when you’re supposed to be studying I’m going to drink whatever I want
for your really big test tomorrow! whenever I want!
AND!

ANGEL goes to the door of her room

ANGEL
AND you see THIS?

ANGEL draws a borderline with her foot that separates the bedroom from the living space

ANGEL
that’s a line
you see it?
you don’t cross that line

ALMA
why?
you got something worse hiding
in there?

ANGEL
DON’T CROSS THIS LINE
ever
you understand?

ALMA
e v e r?
oh ok
 20

sooo
the next time you’re sick
and crying for me
to make you sopita
and bring you agua caliente
y masajearte los pies
I’m just gonna say
“oh no
I’m not allowed to cross that line
remember?” ANGEL
ohhh you’re so funny
you’re the funny one
¿crees que tú eres la mamá?
you make the rules now?

ANGEL
when are you going to take me seriously?

ALMA
when you turn 18
do whatever you want
but for now
you do what I tell you
no more Chet-os
no more soda
no more beer
cómete eso

a beat

ANGEL
what if I don’t?

ALMA
what?

ANGEL
what if I don’t do what you say?
what are you gonna do about it?

ALMA
I’m gonna...

ANGEL
what?
 21

ALMA
...

ANGEL
I’m waiting

ALMA
you don’t wanna know

ANGEL
no really
I’m dying to hear this
tell me what you’re going to do

ALMA
I’m gonna— ANGEL
what?
ground me?

ALMA
(no)
I’m gonna— ANGEL
not give me a graduation present?
tampoco
I don’t care
you probably weren’t even going to get me
the phone I wanted
anyway

ALMA
you’ll see
I’m gonna— ANGEL
what?
take away the shitty phone I have now?
cool
here
take it

ANGEL throws her phone in ALMA’s direction

ANGEL
ALMA there
¿estás completamente loca? now you definitely won’t know where I am
ever
 22

ALMA
that’s it
I’m gonna get—the t h i n g (!)

ANGEL
what t h i n g ??

ALMA
you’ll see what t h i n g

ANGEL
oh I am dying to see what t h i n g
I can’t wait—
ALMA
la chancla

ANGEL
uh seriously?
do I look like a little kid to you?

ALMA
no
you’re way worse now
than when you were a little kid

ANGEL
oh what the fuck ever
go get la fucking chancleta
look at me
ALMA I’m so scared!
espérate, no más I’m totally shaking I’m so scared
no vas a reírte de mí

ALMA picks up a flip flop sandal

ANGEL
whatever
that’s not even going to hurt

ALMA
espérate que ya te viene

ANGEL
what are you waiting for?
come at me
 23

ALMA takes a swing at ANGEL and misses

ANGEL
what?
is that all you got, viejita?

ALMA takes another swing at ANGEL that barely connects

ANGEL
aw come on!
that was nothing
I didn’t even feel it

ALMA hits ANGEL with the flip flop

ANGEL
(ow)

ALMA
ah! did you feel that?

ALMA hits ANGEL again

ANGEL
ok stop

ALMA
why? it doesn’t hurt

ALMA hits ANGEL again

ANGEL
I said
stop!

ALMA
make me

ALMA hits ANGEL again

ANGEL
ok that’s it

ANGEL and ALMA grapple over the flip flop

 24

ALMA
let go

ANGEL
no
you let go

[depending on the choreography of the chancla fight, ad-libs are permissible but please use the
following as the arc:]

ALMA
pídeme perdón ANGEL
no I won’t
parale, que me duele
you’re hurting me!
parale
para no
ow! you stop—
¡MI MANO!

ALMA pulls away with the flip flop still in hand

and she pretends to be injured

ANGEL
(hey)
did I [hurt you]—?
are you [ok]—?
ALMA
you get away from me
stay over there
you see that line
it’s for you too
you don’t pass that line
ever

ANGEL
mamá you’re ok

ALMA
what’s gotten into you?
don’t you remember what happens to kids
who hurt their mamás?
their arms fall off
you’re gonna get a bicho
that grows under your fingernails
that bicho will grow into long worms
 25

(inside your fingers)

and then those worms eat
the inside of your arms
(until they go rotten)
y las manos y los brazos just fall off
that’s how Justice works

ANGEL
I really don’t feel good

ALMA
pues you shouldn’t

ANGEL suddenly runs off to the bathroom

then the sound of retching

ALMA
(ay esta niña)

ALMA checks on ANGEL

ALMA
you ok?

ANGEL (off)
I missed [the toilet]

ALMA
(nooooo)

ANGEL emerges from the bathroom

ANGEL
I told you I felt sick

ALMA goes to the freezer and pulls out a hidden freezepop and cuts it open

ALMA
here

ALMA hands ANGEL the orange freezepop

ANGEL
where’d you get that?
 26

ALMA
crunch on it
so the bad taste goes away
but then
spit it out

ANGEL
I didn’t know we had otterpops

ALMA
that’s because they’re for me
not for you

ANGEL
can I have a blue one instead?

ALMA
no
and I know how many are in there
I count them
ANGEL
ok
I’m not going to take them

ANGEL crunches on the otterpop

ALMA
when you’re done with that
study your cards ANGEL
mamá I already told / you—
por favor just do it

ALMA goes into the bathroom with cleaning supplies

ANGEL
I didn’t totally miss
I just—
ALMA (off)
Ángel!

ANGEL
(sorrryyy)

ANGEL continues crunching on the freezepop

 27

...and stares out at orange skyglow in THE SKY…

ANGEL
(whoa)
did you see the sky?
it’s crazy
it’s like so...
orange

ALMA (off)
en México the sky was so black at night
you could see all the stars
but here
parece que Dios se vómito en el cielo ANGEL
(ew)
está anaranjado
y no sé por qué

ANGEL
it’s the light pollution
I think it’s getting worse

ANGEL picks up her flash cards and looks at them noncommittally

ALMA emerges from the bathroom (she’s weeping)

ANGEL
mom?
[what’s wrong?]

ALMA
am I a bad mamá?

ANGEL
no

ALMA
then why are you acting so
“r a n c o r—o u s”?
what did I do wrong?

ANGEL
nothing
I...
I just
 28

ALMA
¿qué?

ANGEL
nothing

ALMA
mira
you’re always gonna be
my sweet bebé
with milky breath
(but hey)
you gotta know
your mouth got real nasty and sour just now
and when you cuss a lot
it sounds really really ugly coming from your pretty mouth

ANGEL
I’m sorry, mamá

ALMA
you feeling better?

ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
[good]
come here

ALMA and ANGEL embrace

ALMA
¿cuál es el deseo número uno?

ANGEL
“salud”

ALMA
exactamente
“salud”
and why?
because I want you to live a long life
so you gotta eat every breakfast AND lunch AND dinner
AND! don’t you drink beer again
until you’re 21
 29

ok?
Ángel
look at me
you swear?

ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
and don’t you try to lie to me
because I’m around borrachos all day every day
I can smell them from a mile away
ok?
...
ok?

ANGEL
ok I swear

ALMA
good

ALMA resurrects the flash cards

ALMA
entonces
¿qué es “r a n c o r—o u s”?

ANGEL
…“hateful”

ALMA
exacto—
¿es como rencor
no?

ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
ok y—
(re: flash card)
“w a r—y”
ANGEL
hey mom
even if I was going tomorrow—
 30

ALMA
you are

ANGEL
studying those is totally pointless—

ALMA
it’s not—
¿qué es “w a r—y”?

ANGEL
would you listen please?
there isn’t a vocab section on the test anymore
and trying to cram wouldn’t help anyway

ALMA
you gotta know this for tomorrow

ANGEL
I really don’t [need to know]

ALMA
how long have you been studying these?
since deseo número trece
¿no?

ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
entonces
“w a r—y”

ANGEL
let me see the word

ALMA shows the card

ANGEL
(correcting)
ALMA “ w a r y”
ohhh “w a r y”
means
“alert”
 31

ALMA
correcto
y “j u b i l a t i o n”?

ANGEL
it’s like a celebration
right?

ALMA
that’s not what it says here

ANGEL
(ok don’t tell me)
“j” like…
“joy”!

ALMA
¡muy bien!

suddenly THE TV turns on to a news source (it’s something about Trump)

it catches ALMA and ANGEL off guard

ALMA
did you…[turn it on]?

ANGEL
wasn’t me

ALMA
are you sitting on the t h i n g?

ANGEL
no

ALMA
where’s the t h i n g?

ANGEL finds the remote control

ANGEL
there it is

ALMA
turn it off
 32

ANGEL
uhh it’s not working

ALMA
dámelo

ALMA tries the remote

ANGEL
see? told you

ALMA
did you break it?

ANGEL
I didn’t do anything

ALMA
pues posiblemente es la batería

ALMA changes the channel

ANGEL
oh it changed channels

ALMA
este si sierve

ANGEL
it’s not the battery
it’s the power button

ANGEL changes the channel

ALMA
que raro [it worked earlier]

ANGEL
this thing’s been acting weird lately

ALMA
oh yeah?

ANGEL
we need a new TV
 33

ALMA scoffs

ANGEL
(re: the TV channel)
hey look

ALMA
es the Serengeti ¿no?

ANGEL
leave it [on that channel, please]

they watch a clip of the Serengeti on THE TV

ANGEL
did you know that zebras are actually black?

ALMA
¿en serio?

ANGEL
a lot of people think they’re white
(with black stripes)
but they’re actually black
(with white stripes)
so if you took a razor
and shaved off their stripes
you’d be left with an all-black horse
isn’t that weird?

ALMA
so weird!

ANGEL
right?
sooo weird—
and did you know that Africa has the largest
terrestrial mammal migration in the world?

ALMA shakes her head

ANGEL
wildebeest

ALMA
they were showing elefantes earlier
 34

and they were playing with bones

ANGEL
that’s how they grieve

ALMA
really?

ANGEL
yeah
they’re super social
and they mourn their dead
by running the tip of their trunks
around the bones and holding them
I guess it would be like a person
running their fingers along a corpse
feeling the dead body one last time...
I wonder if they do that because they like
know they’re going extinct

ALMA
qué increíble

ANGEL
I know right?

ALMA
no not that
I mean y o u

ANGEL
[me?]

ALMA
ever since you were little
you’ve been so smart
such a beautiful brain

ANGEL
(uh huh)

ALMA
Ángel
look at me
you have the most beautiful brain
 35

a beat

ALMA
hey you know what?
I think...yeah!
I had elefantes in my dream last night

ANGEL
really?
oh my god
tell me

ALMA
after we’re done studying

ANGEL
oh come on
pleeeease

ALMA
(ahh)
I see what you’re doing ANGEL
you don’t think I see? what?
... I’m not doing anything
(uh huh)
I know this one
(re: a flash card)
“p r o c r a s t i n a t e”
...apagalo

ANGEL
(re: the remote)
but it’s not working

ALMA
try the t h i n g

ANGEL goes to THE TV and turns it off manually (successfully)

ANGEL
that works

ALMA
ven
 36

ANGEL
I’m going to get your cards

ALMA
not right now

ANGEL
you’re always bugging me to study with you

ALMA
no
your test is tomorrow

ANGEL produces another stack of flash cards

ANGEL
ALMA ready?
/ I said no
“what is one right or freedom of The First
Amendment?”
…speech

ANGEL
muy bien
(now)
ask me one

ALMA
this one’s easy
“asylum”

ANGEL
asylum means
“s a n c t u a r y”

ALMA
correcto

ANGEL
“what group of people was taken to America and
sold as slaves?”

ALMA
people from Africa
 37

ANGEL
(yeah)

ALMA
ok
“o p u l e n t”

ANGEL
opulent is “wealthy”
...
“how many amendments does
the constitution have?”

ALMA
…twenty…

ANGEL
[yeah and?]

ALMA
seven!

ANGEL
¡correcto!
muy bien

ALMA
gracias
...
“b e n e v o l e n t”

ANGEL
uh I don’t...
I don’t remember that one

ALMA smiles with her teeth displayed

ANGEL
why are you smiling?

ALMA
it’s a hint

ANGEL
(uh)
I don’t know what you’re doing
 38

ALMA
guess!
ANGEL
creepy

ALMA
“friendly, helpful”

ANGEL
(ohhh)
is that what you think you’re doing with your face?

ALMA
yes
you see this face?
this face is “friendly”

ANGEL
ok whatever you say

ALMA
ok sooo
“benevolent”—
ANGEL
benevolent—

ALMA & ANGEL

“friendly, helpful”

ALMA
eso
ANGEL
ok
“name one war fought by the United States in the
1800s”

ALMA
[easy] “Mexican-American War”

ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
“p r o v a c a t i v e”
 39

ANGEL
(um)
“inflammatory”

ALMA
(y ¿qué es “i n f l a m m a t o r y”?)

ANGEL
(the answer they want)
ok next one is...

ANGEL looks at a card

ANGEL
(uh)

ANGEL skips the card

ALMA
no!
don’t skip it

ANGEL
you know the answer

ALMA
so?
you still gotta ask me!

ANGEL
ALMA I’ll just ask the next one
ay come on “what war was Eisen / hower—?”
lemme see it

ALMA takes the card and sees the question “what is the name of the president?”

a beat
 40

ANGEL
he’s only the president elect
so maybe he won’t actually get to be president
the Electoral College votes on the 19th
and like the whole point of it is to
respect the will of the people

ALMA
and more people voted for her
no?
ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
so why did he win
if this is a democracia?

ANGEL
it’s technically not a democracy
it’s a republic
(that’s actually an oligarchy)

ALMA
a what?

ANGEL
nothing never mind
we’ll just have to wait and see
what the Electoral College does
worst case scenario
they confirm him
and everyone realizes that
gerrymandering is bullshit
the Electoral College is trash
and it’ll finally get abolished

ALMA
ok and then?

ANGEL
and then
it’s just four years
but you know what else happens in four years?

ALMA
you can drink beer
 41

ANGEL
ok yeah
but what else?

ALMA
¿qué?

ANGEL
I can be your sponsor [duh]

ALMA
(…yeah…)

ANGEL
so don’t worry
no estás sola

ALMA
pues I will be
when you go to college!

ANGEL
(…yeah…)

a beat

ANGEL
hey mom
Jackie and I were talking
and you know
it really doesn’t make sense to pay UC prices
for general ed
in addition to room and board

ALMA
mira
you’re gonna get a scholarship
I know it

ANGEL
I’m going to do my GE’s at Mount SAC

ALMA
you can’t give up on deseo número doce
 42

ANGEL
I can transfer to Davis after

ALMA
(look)
I get that you’re nervous
but remember that la Mrs Shaffer
said you were a genius

ANGEL
(oh my god)
that was in kindergarten

ALMA
exactly
even when you were little
your teachers knew you were so smart
then la Miss Park said
you had so much potential
that’s why she gave you that Book of Words

ANGEL
mom
that was in middle school

ALMA
and now
I know you’re gonna get 2400—
ANGEL
the highest score is 1600 now

ALMA
it’s what?

ANGEL
the highest score changed from 2400 to 1600

ALMA
really?

ANGEL
yeah I’ve been telling you
they changed the whole test format

ALMA
but you got to study two extra months
 43

ANGEL
that doesn’t matter
some kids study for years
with like private tutors
who teach them all the tricks

ALMA
pues you’ve been studying for years too

ANGEL
no
I’ve been looking at flash cards
that are now irrelevant

a beat

ANGEL
deseo número quince
ALMA I’m going to commute to SAC
no
and get a job
I said no
so we can use that money and my college savings
toward a down payment on a house
in Hacienda / Heights
ALMA
mira
when you were 7
you wished for “carne asada every day”
when I was 7
I was already working
washing dishes in a restaurant
10 years later
I came to this country
and was still washing dishes
and now another 17 years later
what am I doing?
I’m still working so hard
con estas manos
on my feet all day
my back hurting all the time
working so hard con el cuerpo
and getting paid tan poco—
but for you
it’s not gonna be that way
when I was 17
 44

I promised that every deseo of yours would come true

(I was gonna do anything to make them come true)
and you were born with the most beautiful brain
instead of working con las manos
you’ve been working so hard with that brain
and tomorrow all your hard work pays off
yeah?
you’re gonna take the SAT
you’re gonna get 1600
ANGEL
(I’d only need an 1150)
you’re gonna go to UC Davis
I don’t want to go to Davis
and you’re gonna be an animal doctor
and I don’t want to be a veterinarian

ALMA
yes you do

ANGEL
I never actually wanted to be a vet

ALMA
we’ve been wanting this for so long

ANGEL
you’ve been wanting this for me
being a vet was a compromise
it’s always been a compromise
that you forced me to make in the 5th grade

ALMA
I didn’t force you

ANGEL
yeah you basically did

ALMA
no I didn’t

ANGEL
I wanted to be a zoologist

ALMA
¿que no es la misma cosa?
 45

ANGEL
no it’s not
I wanted to do field work in the Serengeti
and see the zebras and wildebeest and gazelles
but nothing I wanted was ever good enough
nothing I do is ever going to be good enough

ALMA
that’s not true

ANGEL
since elementary
every report card
you’d point to the B+
and be like
“¿y por qué no es un A?”
the B on my report card always got all the attention
never the fact
ALMA that everything else was an A—
(no)
(yeah!)
and you’ve been obsessed with the number 2400
ever since I was 13
and that was the most impossible number
like I was so relieved when
I heard they changed the highest score to 1600
because 2400 had been haunting me for
years and years
that number and these words that I had to learn
before I even understood what the SAT was
all I knew was I had to know all these words
that no one actually uses
(except for maybe Alice)

ALMA
¿quién es Alice?

ANGEL
you know Alice
we’ve been in the same class since 2nd grade

ALMA
ohhh her

ANGEL
yeah so in pre-calc she’s like
 46

“oh you wanna go to Davis too?

what did you get on your PSAT?”
so I told her and she was like
“yeah that score’s like m e d i o c r e”

ALMA
pues when you get accepted to Davis
you can go right up to la tal Alice
and say
“FUCK YOU
you see me now?
I’m just as smart”—
no—
“I’m smarter than you”

ANGEL
Alice is going to get into Davis
her parents basically spoon-feed her
all the information she needs to know—
if I had Alice’s...[parents]

ALMA
¿Alice’s que?

a beat

ANGEL
mamá
that’s not...[what I meant]
I didn’t mean that

ALMA
escúchame
you gotta go tomorrow

ANGEL
I’m not going all the way to West Covina
(on a Saturday)
you gotta take this test / just to look stupid
and you gotta go to Davis
I gotta make sure you’re gonna be ok

ANGEL
I’m going to be fine—
ALMA
no I gotta make sure
 47

I just
gotta...

ANGEL
mom
ALMA why wouldn’t I be ok?
...
mom?

ALMA
I talked to the lawyer
that was helping Mercedes
ANGEL
why?
ALMA
everything’s ok
(but...)

ANGEL
what?

ALMA
we talked about some things

ANGEL
what things?
stop being so “v a g u e”

ALMA
mira la cosa es que
you have to go tomorrow

ANGEL
when did you talk to her lawyer?

ALMA
after the election

ANGEL
a month ago?
why didn’t you tell me?

ALMA
I didn’t want you to worry
you gotta stay focused
 48

ANGEL
what did he say?

ALMA
nothing

ANGEL
tell me what he said

ALMA
it doesn’t matter
because you’re going tomorrow
ANGEL
no I’m not
because I didn’t register

ALMA
…¿qué?

a beat

ANGEL
ALMA tell me what the lawyer said
I gave you a money order for $57 obviously what he said affects me too
and you said you were gonna mail it
that was a month ago
(that doesn’t matter)
yes it does matter
I have a right to know what he said
what did you do with the money order?
did you spend it on Chet-os?

ANGEL goes to her room

ALMA
Ángel
you get your ass out here right now
you want me to take your door away?
en serio
I will take those things [hinges] off
o las romper si es necesario
ok
uno
dos—

ANGEL returns from her room with the money order in hand
 49

ANGEL
here
I didn’t spend it on Cheetos
(now)
ALMA will you please tell me what he said?
you gotta take this to them tomorrow
no
and you tell them there’s a mistake
no way
I’ll go with you
we’ll explain / that you gotta take this test
don’t you have work?
ésto es más importante

ANGEL
so you’re gonna take the bus with me
to West Covina
just so they can put me on a waitlist?

ALMA
they can’t tell us “no”

ANGEL
if there’s no space
they’re going to send me away
/ tienes que hacerlo
and even if there is space
registering late is like an extra $50

ALMA
I don’t care
ésto es necesario

ANGEL
mom
it’s done
it would’ve just been a waste anyway

ALMA
a what?

ANGEL
a waste
a waste of money
a waste of time
just a total waste
 50

ALMA gets the flip flop and attacks ANGEL with it in a rage

ALMA
how could you do this ? ! ANGEL
how?! mom stop
h o w could you? STOP
I SAID S T O P

ALMA crumbles

a long beat in which ANGEL looks at her mother completely unsure of what to do…

then ANGEL goes to her room

eventually ANGEL returns with a little stuffed elephant

she approaches ALMA
 51

ANGEL
(singing)
“un elefante se…”

ANGEL can’t remember the words

so she hums the rest of the song

ANGEL
“un elefante…”
how does that song go?
por favor, canta conmigo

ANGEL gives ALMA the stuffed elephant

ALMA
“un elefante se columpiaba ANGEL
sobre la tela de una araña” (oh yeah)
keep going
please?

ALMA
“y cuando vieron que resistía
fue a llamar a otro elefante

ANGEL & ALMA

dos elefantes se columpiaban
sobre la tela de una araña

ANGEL
y cuando”…
how does the last part go again?

ALMA
“y cuando vieron que resistía

ANGEL & ALMA

fueron a llamar a otro elefante”

a beat

ANGEL
sing [me] another one

a beat
 52

ALMA
(singing softly)
tengo una muñequita vestida de azúl
zapatitos blancos y gorro de tul
la llevé de paseo y se me enfermo
la tengo en la cama con un gran dolor
dos y dos son cuatro; cuatro y dos son seis
seis y dos son ocho y ocho diesiseis...

ANGEL
I forgot that one

ALMA
that was my favorite [song]
when I was little
ANGEL
oh yeah?

ALMA
I had this doll
it was a Barbie
from the United States
she had a blue dress
and I just thought she was the best because
her knees were bendable
so it was like she was...
“m o—b i l”—
that’s one of your words
no?

ANGEL
“m o b i l e:
able to move”

ALMA
it was like she could just walk away
but then
I got afraid that one day she’d leave me
so I’d pretend that she’d get sick (a lot)
I had this little clay mug
to give her agua caliente
and I’d spend hours holding her
I’d take her with me
everywhere

a beat
 53

ANGEL
mamá
even if I get into Davis
it’s just going to be like the Mission Project

ALMA
the what?

ANGEL
my final assignment in 5th grade
where I had to make that model
of the San Diego Mission
with the little golden bells?

ALMA
(ohh yeah)

ANGEL
it took a whole week of planning
you collected all those cardboard boxes from the bar
and we asked all the neighbors for their newspapers
then we spent hours cutting cardboard
making paper mâché
putting all these pieces together
the only thing we bought were those bells
I picked that Mission
because of the bells
one on the top row
two on the second row
and two on the third row
we had to buy two packs of four
so we ended up with eight bells
even though I only needed five

ALMA
you still remember that?

ANGEL
yeah
...then on Friday we brought them to class
and displayed them in the middle of the classroom
I saw how many kids had bought a pre-made kit
they all got A’s
but Ms Howell’s note to me said “crafty”
I got a B
after all that work
 54

and you...
you looked so disappointed
...at Davis
I’m going to be in classes full of Alices
and I know that probably sounds stupid to you
because you...
(crossed a desert...
and a river...)

ALMA
(...and I was pregnant...)

ANGEL
see I couldn’t do that

ALMA
you would if you had to

ANGEL
no I really don’t think I could

ALMA
you would

a beat

ALMA
di los deseos conmigo
...por favor

ANGEL
ok
but after
you have to tell me what the lawyer said

ALMA
…ok

ANGEL
ok
…
you say the first three
(those were yours)

ALMA
deseo número uno: “salud”
 55

(because I want you to live a long life)

deseo número dos: “dinero”
(because who doesn’t wanna be rich?)
deseo número tres: “amor”
(that’s one you don’t have to worry about)
¿y deseo número cuatro?

ANGEL
...“ser una doctora”
which is more your wish than my wish

ALMA
you were four
I was just trying to help—
deseo número cinco

ANGEL
“a house”

ALMA
deseo número seis

ANGEL
“go to Africa”
ALMA
y número siete

ALMA & ANGEL

“carne asada every day”

ALMA
ocho

ANGEL
“a car”

ALMA
nueve

ANGEL
that was an amendment to número cinco
“a house”

ALMA
in Hacienda Heights
 56

ANGEL
with at least two bedrooms

ALMA
y diez

ANGEL
an amendment
to número cuatro
“be an a n i m a l doctor”
(the 5th grade compromise)

ALMA
y once

ANGEL
“get a college degree”

ALMA
eso
y doce

ANGEL
...I don’t want to do this anymore

ALMA
por favor
para mi

ANGEL
...“go to UC Davis”

ALMA
y deseo número trece

ANGEL
“get 2400 on the SAT”

ALMA
catorce

ANGEL
an amendment to número seis
“go on vacation”
 57

ALMA
to a tropical beach

ANGEL
ALMA with margaritas
after you turn 21 after I turn 21
exacto
y quince

ANGEL
an amendment to número nueve
“a house with AC”

ALMA
dieciséis

ANGEL
an amendment to número ocho

ALMA & ANGEL

“get a Honda”

ALMA
y deseo número diecisiete?

ANGEL
nice try

ALMA
you’re still not gonna tell me?

ANGEL
nope

ALMA
come on
ANGEL
it’s private

ALMA
private?

ANGEL
what did the lawyer say?
 58

ALMA
he said…
pues…
first we decided that if something happens
Mercedes is gonna be your guardian

ANGEL
nothing’s going to happen

ALMA
no
it won’t
but
if one night
I...
don’t come home—
ANGEL
mamá no

ALMA
look at me
…
si alguna noche
no regreso a la casa
llama a Mercedes
ok?

ANGEL
ALMA I know that
mírame I’ve always known / that
you call her
ok?

ANGEL
ok…
what else?

ALMA
we talked about what I gotta do
to get a green card

ANGEL
we already know
ALMA
pues he said que es más complicado
 59

ANGEL
how?

ALMA
he said that you could be my sponsor
when you turn 21—
ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
but
we gotta prove the…the—t h i n g

ANGEL
what / t h i n g?

ALMA
¿cuál fue la palabra que dijo?
uh—
“hard...ship”
we gotta prove it’s a hardship

ANGEL
but it would be

ALMA
he said it’s hard to prove
because you’ll be 21
so the court will say a grownup doesn’t need their mamá

ANGEL
so I have to wait until I’m 21 to sponsor you
but then you won’t get it
because I’ll be an adult?

ALMA
that’s what he said

ANGEL
but that doesn’t make sense—
he’s wrong
he’s totally wrong
I’ve Googled it
that’s not what The Internet said
 60

ALMA
he called it a—
something with a twenty

ANGEL
twenty?

ALMA
yeah
a twenty-catch ANGEL
catch (?)
something—
oh! a catch-22

ALMA
eso

ANGEL
that can’t be right

ALMA
I’d have to go back to México
for ten years

ANGEL
wait w h a t ?!

ALMA
because that’s what happens to anybody
who comes into the country without papers
they gotta go back
and wait ten years
before they can even apply to come back ANGEL
here— ok
he clearly doesn’t know what he’s talking about
we need to get a second opinion
(I mean)
Mercedes didn’t have to do that

ALMA
pues
she was sponsored by Miguel
and because they had JoJo
she only had to wait three years after applying
but the lawyer said that other people
wait nine ten twelve years
 61

ANGEL
no
no
he has to be wrong
he has to be

ALMA
he said it’s been that way
(even with Obama)
so now…

ANGEL
so now…[what]?

ALMA
no sé
pero posiblemente podría ser peor

a beat

ANGEL
you know what?
fuck this country

ALMA
hey!
no digas eso

ANGEL
no really
fuck it

ALMA
callate

ANGEL
mom
you watch the news
you see what’s happening
you hear what they’re saying about us
what he’s trying to do to us
I mean
ALMA shit’s already been so fucked up
boca
in this country
Obama’s been the deporter-in-chief
 62

and now
it’s just going to get worse

ALMA
there’s still justice here

ANGEL
mom
if there were justice
wouldn’t you already be a citizen?

ALMA
you know what happens
in places where there is no justice?
los innocentes lose their hands
(instead of the guilty people)
y la policía—do they care?
no
because they’re as bad as the murderers

ANGEL
that’s happening here too

ALMA
no

ANGEL
the police are killing innocent black people
all the time and getting away with it—
ALMA
the arms of the guilty will fall off
it’s going to happen
you’ll see

ANGEL
it’s not fair
this is totally unfair
how can they
ALMA do this?
escúchame how?—
I told you this
so you understand how important it is
you gotta go tomorrow
so you can go to Davis no
that way I know that no no no
(no matter what happens) they can’t—
 63

you’ll be ok— they can’t—

do that

ANGEL begins to hyperventilate

[the following dialogue is a guideline but may be adlibbed:]

ALMA ANGEL
hey this isn’t happening
breathe with me this
breathe can’t
shhhhh be
tú puedes happening
tranquila they
shhhhh they can’t
... no
shhhh no

they breathe together for a while until ANGEL calms

(let this take as long as it needs to take)

...ALMA stares out at orange skyglow in THE SKY…

 64

ALMA
when we moved here to La Puente
I was thinking the name is a sign
this is the bridge connecting us
reminding us of the past
los antespasados lived here
por naturaleza
por testamento
por la fuerza
ellos eran
Azteca
indigenes
conquistadores
Africanos
by nature they lived here
by will they traveled here
and by force they were brought here
...and there was war over this land
(that we’re on right now)
and people died
their sangre spilling all over
y después new lines got painted
lines made with their blood...
the gringos who live here now
say “what’s on that side is yours
and what’s on this side is mine”
but they know this land was stolen
los mexicanos were here before them
and los indigenes before everybody...
when they look at us
we remind them of a history they want to forget
and that’s why they’re so afraid of us
why they keep trying to push us all out
pero escúchame
this is not their land

a beat

ANGEL
on nights when I can’t sleep
I come out here to watch you
sleeping on the couch with the TV on

ALMA
¿en serio?
 65

ANGEL
yeah
and I can hear you sleep talking

ALMA
I don’t do that

ANGEL
you do
you sleep talk

ALMA
in English or Spanish?

ANGEL
English

ALMA
what do I say?

ANGEL
you’re usually repeating
what they’re saying on TV

ALMA
yeah?

ANGEL
it’s like
I can almost see the words
going from the TV into your mouth

ALMA
really?

ANGEL
yeah

ALMA
you know
I think I learned English in my sleep

ANGEL
for real?
 66

ALMA
after just one year of living here
I started dreaming in English

ANGEL
when I...

ALMA
what?

ANGEL
when I listen to you sleep talk
I feel like sleeping again

ALMA
Mercedes was telling me about the feeling she had
when she was saying her Oath of Allegiance

ANGEL
yeah? [tell me]

ALMA
she said it was like she could feel the United States hugging her
and it was a different feeling of love
than she’s ever felt before
it was different than her wedding day
or the day JoJo was born
…
Mercedes said that choosing a country
and deciding to love that country
it’s like loving yourself
in a deeper way
and that getting to vote for the first time
(this election)
it made her feel powerful
...
you know
most people don’t pick their country
they’re born citizens
(like you)

suddenly THE TV turns on again to a news source...the volume is high

(Trump’s voice is heard)

ALMA
¡qué susto!
 67

ANGEL
what is up with this thing?

ALMA
it’s going crazy or something

ANGEL
/ wasn’t it on NatGeo?
ALMA
where’s the t h i n g?

ANGEL
it’s [right here]—
wait
where is it?

ALMA
find it
y cambia el canal

ANGEL
I just [had it]—
ah!
got it!

ALMA
change it

ANGEL tries the remote but it doesn’t work—the volume is so high it drowns out their voices

ANGEL
it’s not working!

ALMA
apagalo

ANGEL goes to THE TV and tries turning it off manually

ANGEL
ALMA that’s not working either
turn it off (what the fuck)
just turn it off!

ANGEL
I can’t!
 68

Alma is having a visceral reaction to Trump’s voice

ALMA
[ay qué dolor aquí
(she holds her chest)
y aquí
(holding her head)
en todo mi ser]

the TV is turning channels on its own now—every channel is Trump

and his voice has become overwhelmingly loud

then ALMA fights back:

ALMA screams

…it’s a long scream

powerful
and it overpowers Trump’s voice…

then suddenly the electricity g o e s o u t

the lights go out
THE TV shuts off
Trump’s voice is heard no more…

darkness
 69

ALMA and ANGEL are in the dark

ANGEL
mom?
oh my god
are you ok?

ALMA
did I…?

ANGEL
what happened?

ALMA
was that me?

ANGEL
the lights went out

ALMA
try the t h i n g [light switch]

ANGEL
it’s not working

ALMA
try the other one

ANGEL
I think the power’s out

ALMA
(the microwave is off)

ANGEL
yeahh they’re [the lights] not working either

ALMA
all the lights on the block are off

ANGEL
should we light the candles?

ALMA
light la virgen y Jesús
oh! and the one with Obama
 70

they collect candles in long glass jars

(with religious-looking figures on them)

ANGEL
lighter?

ALMA
in the t h i n g [drawer]

ANGEL
where’s my phone?

ALMA
on the t h i n g [microwave]

knocking on the front door

ANGEL
(oh shit)

knocking

ALMA pulls out a gold chain necklace with a Virgen de Guadalupe pendant on it

ALMA
(a whispered prayer)
(mi madrecita
dame tu bendición)

knocking
 71

ALMA moves toward the door

ANGEL
don’t [answer it]

ALMA
it’s ok

ANGEL
what if it’s them [ICE]?

ALMA
it’s not

ANGEL blocks her

ANGEL
mom wait [I’ll do it]

ANGEL goes to the front door and looks through the peephole

ALMA
who is it?

ANGEL
(la bruja)

ALMA
ay
see?
(calling to the door)
COMING!

ALMA answers the door [ad-libs are permissible during this exchange with the neighbor]

ALMA
hola
sí
ay perdóname...

ALMA steps out and closes the door behind her

ANGEL locates her phone and uses it as a light source

ANGEL
(re: the screen is cracked)
(aw) f u c k
 72

she locates the lighter then lights the candles

(now there’s light on stage again)...

ALMA reappears

ANGEL
is she pissed?

ALMA
who cares?
she’s a metiche y una chismosa

ANGEL
what happened?

ALMA
she thought somebody was trying to kill me
so
I told her that no
but I was going to sleep
and I saw one of those big brown spiders
with the long hairy legs

ANGEL
the wolf spiders?

ALMA
she hates them
so I told her
I had one crawling on my neck
so I screamed
and went like this
(a swiping motion)
hit it with my chancla
then the lights went out

ANGEL
wait
you don’t actually do that? do you?

ALMA
what?

ANGEL
kill the spiders
 73

ALMA
...no

ANGEL gives her a look

ALMA
ok sometimes

ANGEL
mom!
why?

ALMA
pues you said we swallow like nine spiders
when we’re sleeping

ANGEL
yeah in our l i f e t i m e s

ALMA
I don’t want them in my mouth!

ANGEL
just catch them in a jar
ALMA and release them outside—
ok ok they’re important members of the local eco / system
I will!
I promise!
so I told her [la bruja] the thing about the spiders
and she was like “now I won’t be able to sleep”

ANGEL laughs at her imitation

then ALMA smiles
a beat
ANGEL displays her phone

ANGEL
(re: the phone)
the screen cracked

ALMA
(ay no)
pues
that’s what you get for throwing it ANGEL
so...?
y no
 74

I’m not gonna get you a new one...

unless [you go tomorrow]—
ANGEL
no

ALMA
¿por favor?

ANGEL
mamá sometimes I think about being at Davis
four hundred and fifteen miles away
and I get a call from you
but I’m in class
or whatever
so I can’t answer
but then when I call back
it doesn’t ring
it goes right to voicemail
I hang up
I call again
it goes to voicemail again
I text
no response
I call
voicemail
so I leave a message
and try to sleep
but still no response
I call Mercedes
I call Chico’s and La Luna...
then I make the 7 hour trip
to La Puente
to our apartment complex
I run up the stairs
I put my key in the lock
and shove the door open
there’s no one
I run into the bedroom
I check the bathroom
no one
the sun rises
it sets
I still can’t sleep
no new text messages
I keep getting voicemail
the apartment is still empty
 75

(except for me)

I wonder
“will I ever be able to sleep again?”

ALMA
you gotta grow up
and go away sometime
you know?

ANGEL
mami
escúchame
what’s going to happen if I’m not here to check
when someone knocks on the door?

a beat

ALMA
when I came to El Río
I carried la virgen around my neck
she was protecting me
her y todos los antespasados
helping me take every step

ANGEL
mom
you did that
alone

ALMA
she’s here
they’re here protecting us

ANGEL
so many people cross with her around their neck
but not everyone makes it
and what can some ghosts do if it was
(them) [ICE]
at the door?

ALMA
but it wasn’t

ANGEL
but what if it was?
what is a necklace going to do?
 76

ALMA
...

ANGEL
what?

ALMA
nunca hay estrellas
but they’re still there
you just can’t see them

ANGEL
mamí
Mount SAC is only 7 miles away
and
you know I’d kill for you

ALMA
hija
no digas eso

ANGEL
but really I would...
I’d
kill
for
you
…
I won’t let them take you away from me
you’re not going anywhere
I’m going to be right here with you
listening to you sleeptalking just a few feet away
and I’m gonna watch you turn into una viejita—
ALMA
stop

ANGEL
and you’ll get wrinkles

ALMA
no!

ANGEL
all your hair will turn white
 77

ALMA
ok that’s not funny

ANGEL
you already have white hair

ALMA
no I don’t

ANGEL
yeah you do
I can see one

ALMA
no you can’t
where? [show me]

ANGEL locates a strand of hair

ANGEL
right…

ANGEL plucks the strand—

ANGEL
here!

ALMA
ow!
¿estás loca? ANGEL
sorry
don’t you know when you pull a white hair
two more come to its funeral?
I / said “sorry”
don’t do that / again
ok ok I won’t
Ángel
you’re making me old

ANGEL
deseo número diecisiete:
“I wish for mamá and me to always be together”

ALMA
(suspicious)
really?
 78

ANGEL
ok originally I wished for an iphone 7 plus
BUT I’m amending it

...they stare out at THE SKY for a beat…

ALMA
SO
it’s night
I have la virgen around my neck
and I’m using the milky stars as my guide

ANGEL
why’s everything always about MILK with you??

ALMA
and I’m running
across a desert
and I’m running
and I’m running
and I’m running
and running
and running
(oh!)
and I’m pregnant—
ANGEL
you’re always pregnant in your dreams

ALMA
because I have you in here
un ángel en el vientre
so I’m running
and I see this pool
a white pool—
ANGEL
white?

ALMA
tal vez de leche (?)

ANGEL
eww
 79

ALMA
so I’m running to the pool
but then
un elefante
comes out of nowhere
ANGEL
what ???

ALMA
and he won’t let me pass
so then I try to go around the elefante
but then hay otro elefante
dos elefantes
y tres elefantes
y otro
y otro
y otro más
all next to each other
making these loud sounds
then they start lifting their legs
and stomping the ground
boom boom boom
like they’re going to run at me
and smash me under their feet ANGEL
whoa
and I don’t understand why—
aren’t elefantes supposed to be nice
y sensible?

ANGEL
well
they’re sensitive when it comes to their own kind
they care for and mourn other elephants
but they don’t really mix with other animals

ALMA
oh

ANGEL
so then what happened?

ALMA
so they’re making the loud sounds
and it’s like they’re going to get me
BUT then
I feel something growing from my arm
 80

ANGEL
what was it?

ALMA
it was a feather

ANGEL
a feather??

ALMA
yeah
a little feather
then I feel more feathers growing
in my hands and arms
then I feel some growing on my neck and head

ANGEL
did you grow wings ? !

ALMA
that’s what I was thinking
“maybe enough feathers will grow
that I can fly over the elefantes”

ANGEL
did you?!

ALMA
no
eran muy pocas
not enough to fly

ANGEL
ok and then?!?!

ALMA
(nonchalant)
I woke up
that was the end

ANGEL
oh

...they stare out at THE SKY...

 81

(during the following

the orange glow vanishes
so ALMA and ANGEL appear to float in starry space:)

ANGEL
hey
do you see that?
is that a star?
or is it just an airplane?

ALMA
I don’t know
let’s wait
and see if it moves
ANGEL
ok

ALMA
di los deseos conmigo
todos
all the way to diecisiete

ANGEL nods

ALMA
deseo número uno:
ANGEL
salud

ALMA
deseo número dos:
ANGEL
dinero

ALMA
deseo número tres:
ANGEL
amor

ALMA
deseo número cuatro…

then ANGEL answers out of duty—

 82

ANGEL
ser una doctora

ALMA
deseo número diecisiete—
an amendment to número cuatro:

ANGEL
what?

then ALMA asks a question she’s never asked her daughter before
and she asks it for real:

ALMA
Ángel
what do you want to do?

ANGEL looks at her mother in disbelief

then sees that she’s in earnest

ANGEL
really?

ALMA
¿qué quieres ser?

ANGEL looks to THE SKY

in search of an answer—

then the lights fade out on ALMA and ANGEL

...THE SKY is full of stars...

 83

then the stars fade out

darkness

END OF PLAY.
 84

THOUGHTS ON PRODUCTION
when casting, maybe think about the range of identities within Latinidad...and think about
representing those who are often erased within that community

avoid leaning into the sentimental or victimization of these characters in the direction,
allow them to have agency and for their many complicated layers to be present

their apartment may be cluttered (due to size) but it isn’t messy

the things in their apartment may be old/worn but they are not dirty

when the TV comes on, maybe avoid having the name “Trump” explicitly said in the audio clips
used
on page 68, if you’re craving some anachronism and a desire to express how immigration
criminalization continues regardless of the party in power, along with Trump’s voice, maybe we
hear Kamala Harris’ voice and her “Do not come” speech
some design teams have opted to use a curtain to Angel’s room instead of a door; if this choice is
used, please adjust the line on page 48 “you want me to take your door away?” to instead read “I
already took your door away / you want me to take your curtain away too?” the following line
about taking the “things” off will now reference the curtain rings rather than door hinges
if the actor playing Angel identifies as Black, then the names of Black people murdered by the
police in 2016 (or prior to) may be added after her line on page 62 “the police are killing
innocent black people / all the time and getting away with it / Eric Garner Sandra Bland Alton
Sterling Philando Castile Terence Crutcher Keith Lamont Scott” (names may be
added/adjusted based on the wishes of the actors/creative team)