Project description
In this project we wrote a play modeled of of the Greek tragedy writer Sophocles. We started of writing tragedies in groups of two and story boarded our plays. Then as a whole class we picked one play to focas on and complete, then produce. I wrote and directed the play The Words Not Spoken with Lea Cello. Our play placed second over all.
The words not spoken
Prologue:
(A simple bed, a pillow and sparse blankets are brought on stage right. The bed is made. A young man, who is Mexican, enters stage right and gets into bed. The lights come up. He is groaning and tossing back and forth, trying to get comfortable. Antonio’s sister, Lucia, enters stage right, looks over briefly at Antonio, frowns slightly, and begins writing in a notebook. Antonio’s mother, Mary, enters stage left carrying a clean trash can.)
Mary: (Goes over to Antonio’s bedside, places the trash can beside his bed and puts her hand on her son’s forehead) Como estas, mijo? Antonio, how are you feeling? Any better at all?.
Antonio: Mama? (He sits up, grimaces with pain and clenches his body into a ball).Oh, Mama.....it hurts. My stomach hurts so bad.
Mary: The herbs haven’t helped then? The healer said that they should help...I stayed after mass and the priest said he’d say a special prayer.. Do you think the prayer has helped yet? Or maybe it’s too soon. Maybe...
Antonio: (Gets frustrated and begins to yell from the pain). Uhhhh...Mama! I already told you yesterday and last week and last month! No! The herbs don’t help! The prayers don’t help! They have never helped. I don’t need a medicine woman, Mama, or a priest. I need a doctor. A real American doctor. I have been sick for a year, Mama! Don’t you see? Something’s really wrong with me!
Mary: (Refuses to really hear what her son is saying. Busies herself with tidying up the room). Antonio, mi amor, you know I’d take you to the doctor if I could. But if we go....if we take you....they’ll find out we have no papers...no green cards. They’ll send us back and you know what’ll happen if we get sent back.... we’ll be killed! (Shakes her head sadly). Your father was a good man, but he had a lot of enemies, mijo.
Antonio: If I’m going to die anyway....I’d rather be with our family, our friends, my girlfriend. Maybe I could go back alone....you and Lucia could stay here.
Mary: (She sighs and sits next to Antonio and brushes the hair out of his eyes.) Antonio, you know why I can’t let you go back to Mexico....ever since your father died, it is no longer safe for any of us there.
Antonio: I know but....
Mary: (Looks over at Lucia with exasperation, wanting to change the subject.) Lucia! What are you doing? (Lucia jumps as if she has been caught doing something bad and looks ashamed).
Have you been making sure your brother has been eating? Has he had anything to drink today?
Antonio: (Interrupting her).Sorry Ma... It’s not Lucia’s fault. She made me some tomato soup, it smelled delicious, but I couldn’t swallow it. My throat is so raw from vomiting so much. I couldn’t even swallow soup! (He shakes his head.) I was able to drink some water.
Mary: (Interrupting him again) We are so blessed to be in this country, mijo. You will get better and then you’ll be able to return to school. And Lucia...(motions to her daughter and she smiles) she is so smart, muy inteligente, she’s just like you. The opportunities for you both are much greater here.You will get better, mijo . That’s why we’re here, America will heal you. (She kisses his forehead and rubs his arm.)
Antonio: (The pain overtakes him again, but he tries to continue talking through the pain). Lucia can’t go to school if she’s stuck at home taking care of me. Mama, I have to go to the doctor. This has been going on for too long and I have to get better so I can help the family. I....(Gets much weaker and begins drifting off to sleep).
Lucia: (She walks over and joins her mother at Antonio’s bedside) It’s okay, Antonio. I’d rather be here with Mama and you. Besides school here sucks. (She gives him a sympathetic smile and squeezes his hand.) You know that.
Antonio: Yeah...I don’t think we’re going to win any popularity contest any time soon. (He and Lucia laugh).
Lucia: Mama, Antonio’s right, we need to take him to the hospital.
Mary: Lucia, we can’t mija, they’ll turn us over to la policia! (Lucia turns and looks at the floor. No one can meet anybody’s eyes)
Lucia: (She sighs. And then she gets an idea) Oh Mama! Antonio! One of my friends at school! Her father is a doctor. I can ask if he can come visit Antonio tomorrow.
Mary: (She begins to protest) No, no, no Lucia! How can we trust him? If he tells anyone, they’ll depor-
Lucia: (She cuts her off) Mama, her mother is from Mexico. She was an immigrant too until she married her American husband.
Mary: (She’s still unsure) Are you sure? (Lucia nods) Oh, Lucia, if he does this for us, if this doctor agrees to see Antonio, then maybe America is truly all that they say....a beautiful, loving country, with opportunities for all! We are so blessed to be here. Antonio, you will get better, I just know it. Sleep, mi hijo. The herbs are making you tired.
(Lights go down. All actors exit stage left. )
.
Parados:
(The chorus, a group of protesters, enters stage right, carrying picket signs. Some of the signs are in support of giving health care to immigrants, others are against it. Some signs also contain words and phrases that are discriminatory against undocumented immigrants. The lights come up.)
Protestor 1: America has accepted, Antonio, an immigrant,
in a state weakness and pain.
Protestor 2: Antonio’s stomach convulses with every breath he takes,
His throat burns as the lingering sting invades.
Protestor 1: His father’s past forces him to leave his precious home in a lawless land.
Protestor 2: Yet, all he can remember is the sun-drenched earth, the daisies out front and his first kiss still replaying on the front porch.
Protestor 1: Now, Antonio, you walk with 11 million others,
unwanted tenants in a land of “opportunity”.
Protestor 2: Denied of a warm welcome, they live in fear, afraid to even seek help when they are sick and dying.
Protestor 1: They are unaware that American doctors are obligated to care for all patients who pass through their threshold. (Places hand over heart as he/she is touched by the empathy of doctors).
Protestor 3: (Angrily. One of the people with signs against immigrants) And this is why hospitals all across our great nation are having to close their doors!
Protestor 4: $1.25 billion a year is spent on the filth that slithers in and invades our country. 84 California hospitals were forced to lock their doors for the last time because of all the money spent on the aliens!
Protestor 3: Yes! That is why the illegals cannot stay!
Protestor 4: That is why nurses and doctors must report them! Otherwise more hospitals will collapse from financial ruin. Just another effect of immigration on our country.
Protestor 1: The immigrants have no help, no answers. And so they stay hidden in the shadows, pretending not to exist.
Protestor 2: And many sick immigrants, like Antonio, do not seek treatment out of fear of being deported. Leaving them, alone, to slowly rot into oblivion.
(The lights go down. The chorus exits stage right. )
Scene I:
( Chairs are brought on stage right for Mary and Lucia. Antonio is in bed. All enter from stage left. Mary sits on the far left side with her hands folded on her lap, Lucia is on the other side,
sitting still, but is obviously anxious, Antonio is in bed with his arms crossed behind his head, he is staring at the ceiling. They’re all sitting silently. There is a knock at the door. They all jump. Lucia gets up and let’s the doctor in. Antonio sits up ).
Doctor: Hello, Mary, Lucia. Good to see you all again. Antonio, how are you feeling since my last visit?
Antonio: Terrible..
Doctor: I see... have any of the symptoms gone away? Is the pain any better?
Mary: His fever has gotten much worse. He sweats all through the night. He doesn’t get out of bed, he’s constantly tired, and he is still very nauseous, he vomits all the time.
Doctor: Are you still having pain in your neck? And in your throat?
Antonio: (Antonio nods)
Doctor: I see... Well, as you remember I took blood sample last month. (They all nod) I have the results of those tests. Antonio, I’m so sorry, but you have cancer. Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma to be exact. (Mary and Lucia gasp in horror. Antonio looks down at the table).
Antonio: (After a few seconds, he looks up. Grimly) So....I’m going to die?
Doctor: The good news is Lymphoma is a form of cancer that responds very well to treatment .
Antonio: Treatment? At a hospital? But we don’t have health insurance. How much would treatment cost?
Doctor: (He looks at his clipboard) Well, if you could get chemotherapy and radiation, it would definitely slow down the spread of the cancer. But these treatments are very expensive if you don’t have health insurance.
Antonio: How much? I-I can find a job.
Mary: (squeezing his hand) I can get two jobs. We’ll find the money.
Lucia: Doctor, if we can get the money, can we get him the treatment?
Doctor: (Closes his eyes and sighs) Yes. But he would need to go to the hospital. There is no way to treat him at home. I brought you some estimates from my hospital. The actual treatment, for the first full 8 week process, including hospitalization, is going to cost somewhere around $20,000, at least.
Antonio: $20,000? For one treatment?
Lucia: Oh my god! That’s ridiculous! Isn’t there some sort of help for people without insurance? Or is everyone going to stand by and watch as my brother dies?
Mary: (begins to cry harder and shakes her head) It doesn’t matter, I will do anything to save my son. Anything! I will work three jobs, five jobs, day and night, until I save up enough money.
Antonio: Mama? Lucia? (They look at him) Can I speak to the doctor... alone? (Mary and Lucia nod. They both walk off stage right) Doctor...
Doctor: (He looks at Antonio and sighs) Yes, Antonio?
Antonio: (He puts his hands together) My mother is never going to be able to afford the treatment. Even if she works 5 jobs, she’ll never be able to make that much money...in time. Without treatment....How long do I really have?
Doctor: (He sighs) Could be weeks, months, maybe even a year or two. It’s hard to tell...we’ve caught it early, but without treatment the cancer will spread quickly.
Antonio: And I just sit here and basically wait to die? The pain is only going to get worse isn’t it, Doctor?
Doctor: Yes. I’m afraid so. (He pauses thinking of a solution).What about Mexico? Many American doctors are trained there. The medical care there is quite good and they have socialized medicine. Your treatment would cost a fraction....
Antonio: No I can't. I'll be killed, my WHOLE family, will be killed. My father was a newspaper reporter. He was obsessed with exposing the drug cartels and bringing justice and peace to Mexico. They told him to stop. Warned him. But he refused to listen and he was killed. We had to leave the country otherwise we would have been killed too. There is nothing but death for us there. Nothing but memories.
(Antonio curls up as the pain comes back.)
Doctor: Antonio, I wish I could could give you something for the pain, but I can’t. (He sighs and shakes his head looking down) Ever since the rise in prescription drug abuse, we are very closely monitored with the prescriptions we write. Teens around here have been selling and distributing dangerous painkillers, like Oxycontin, and taking it to get high. We see hundreds of overdoses on prescription drugs each year. The majority are fatal. I’m sorry Antonio, I wish there was more I could do for you. (He sighs and walks off stage left). You’ll be in my prayers, son.
Antonio: (sighs, looks out over audience’s heads) Prayers aren’t helping me, Doctor. And I can’t live any longer with this pain.There has to be something or someone who can help me.
(Antonio groans from pain and drags himself off stage right. The lights go down. )
Chorus I
(Chorus enters stage right, with picket signs and stand down stage, center stage. Lights come up. Bedroom scene stays on in background.)
Protestor 1: Poor Antonio, a young man whose life is being ripped from his hands.
An innocent boy who came into this world doing nothing but good.
Protestor 2: He is going to be forced to leave his family with nothing.
His life dreams crushed like a snail, splattered beneath the sole of a shoe.
Protestor 1: Thoughts enter his head.
What can he do with his death just around the corner?
Protestor 4: Waiting for him.
(Bitter) What can he do that the doctor would not?
Protestor 3: (Also bitter but challenging Protestor 2) He can do nothing, he is helpless.
And the doctor would risk losing everything, just to numb Antonio’s pain.
Protestor 2: So much pain, the pain is overtaking him.
He needs something to help him run away from all the pain,
He needs something.
Anything. And he will stop at nothing to terminate his suffering.
(Lights fade. Chorus walks off stage left.)
Scene II:
(Antonio enters stage left and gets back into bed. The lights come up and Antonio is moaning and tossing back in forth . We hear a door slam).
Antonio: (He yells in pain) Lucia? Are you home?
Lucia: (She yells back still off stage right) Yes.
Antonio: Can you come here?
Lucia: Coming! (Lucia enters stage right. She sits down on the bed.)
Lucia: Hey...how’re you feeling? You look terrible.... Can I get you anything? Something to eat? Something to drink?
Antonio: (Says jokingly) Got a prescription for painkillers on you? That’s what I need.
Lucia: No.....but I know where I can get some.
Antonio: Are you serious?
Lucia: Antonio, I’m so tired of just sitting here and watching you suffer while Mama works day and night to save up for your treatment.. If some pills will make you feel better....until we have enough money, then I’ll do whatever it takes to get them for you.
Antonio: Where? Where would you get something like that? I’m a little freaked out that you seem to know people who deal drugs.
Lucia: Oh come on, Antonio, I’m a sophomore in high school.....the same high school you went to.You couldn’t have forgotten so quickly what it was like there? And what the kids there do for fun?
Antonio: Yeah..I remember. I didn’t think about that. There probably is someone there that deals.
Lucia: No. Not probably. I can get you the pills.
Antonio: Who? Who would you get them from?
Lucia: Robbie Lester.
Antonio: Robbie Lester? How does he get painkillers?
Lucia: His mom works at a hospice. He helps out there after school and on weekends. He can get you pretty much anything.
Antonio: (Quiet. Thinking.) I’m so weak now. Look at me, Lucia. Pathetic, huh? I guess I don’t have any other options... (He says jokingly) I thought about robbing a pharmacy, but they have cameras everywhere. (He pauses, thinking) Lucia, you have to listen to me... if I get you to do this for me, you can’t tell anyone. Mom would kill me if she knew I was having you buy drugs for me.
Lucia: Antonio, I promise. I’ll do anything for you.
Antonio: Lucia, when I’m gone you have to watch after mom.
Lucia: What do you mean when you’re gone...?
Antonio: Lucia, it’s obvious. I’m going to die. I have cancer for god’s sake. These pills aren’t going to cure me.
Lucia: (Looks sadly into her brother’s eyes) Well....the least I can do is to help you to be more comfortable so we can enjoy our time left together, right?
Antonio: (Smiles in relief and leans back against the pillow). Thank you, Lucia.. Here. (Hands her a shoe box). Take $200. This is money I made last summer. (He tries to make a joke) I was planning on saving it for college, but it looks like I don’t need to worry about that any longer. That’ll leave mom enough to help with some bills once I’m gone.
Lucia: (Smiles) Anything for you, mi hermano. (She exits stage right).
(Lights go down. Antonio exits stage right.)
Chorus II
(Chorus enters stage left and lights come up.)
Protestor 3: So now Antonio is set on corrupting his sister,
Pulling her into his web of self destruction
by having her go in search of relief of his pain.
Protestor 4: (Correcting Protestor 2) She will succeed.
And Antonio will find temporary relief from a dangerous drug,
a highly addictive drug.
Oxycontin.
Protestor 3: For the first time in a year, Antonio feels better. Much better.
In fact, he feels great.
Protestor 1: But has he found the temporary answer to all his problems?
Or has he found the key to opening a new one?
Protestor 2: Because of the “medication”, his pain slowly fades away.
But it returns later,
again and again,
as his supply decreases
and he is forced to ration his dosage.
Protestor 1: Stronger now.
The pain engulfs his body.
Convulsions ricochet through him as fire spews from his insides.
The disease is even more powerful as his body weakens.
Protestor 2: His ability to think rationally has been compromised.
With no thought of possible consequences clouding his mind.
He chooses the path with less pain.
Again and again he buys the numbing drug.
Until it is no longer his choice.
Protestor 4: He is addicted.
He wanted an easy escape.
An easy death.
And now he has it within his grasp.
Scene III
(Lights come up. Antonio enters stage left. )
Antonio: (He groans in pain. He sits down on the bed and pulls out the pills from under the covers. He looks at them for a long time.) I’m in so much pain... The pills...they used to help. But now....(He shakes his head). The pain’s just getting stronger. And Mama, bless her heart, has been working 3 different jobs for 4 months now. She’s trying to save enough for the treatments, but she doesn’t know that it’s useless....and I don’t have the heart to tell her that I’m dying. It’s too late. I don’t need a doctor to tell me that the cancer is growing...is spreading. (He looks down sadly at the bag of pills in his hand). I’m sure if I take just a few more than I usually take....Just enough to make the pain go away. Just enough so that I don’t even care anymore. Don’t care that I’m seventeen years old and I’m dying from cancer. Cancer that was once considered "treatable". (Disgusted. He takes a handful of pills and swallows them with water)
Antonio: (He pours more pills into his hand. He stares at the pills in his hand for a few seconds. He takes them quickly with the water. He begins to feel the effects). These pills...they make me
feel so free... (He grows sleepy)...like the days before dad died and we would go to the beach. When it got too hot, I would slip into the sea......The weightlessness......floating in the cool, blue ocean water. So refreshing,... so healing.......... (He lies back on the bed. Soon he is asleep. The lights go down for about 3 seconds. When they come up again, Antonio hasn’t moved. Lucia enters from stage left.)
Lucia: Hey Antonio. Como estas? (He doesn’t respond. Lucia walks slowly to his bedside.) Antonio? It’s time to get up. (She leans in trying to hear him breathe. She begins to yell) Oh god! Mama! Hurry! Come quick!!!
Mary: (enters from stage left out of breath) . Lucia, are you alright? What’s wrong? (She suddenly sees Antonio. She gasps) Oh! My Antonio! Que Paso?! (She covers her mouth and turns to Antonio.)
Lucia: I don’t know... Mama. We need to take him to the hospital. Call 9-1-1. He needs an ambulance! We need to go to the Emergency Room! He’s not breathing! (Mary runs crying off stage left. Lucia sits down beside Antonio and sees the pills in his hand. She takes them from him)
Lucia: (She paces back and forth) Antonio, you were fine this morning. I know this is not from your illness....you’ve done something haven’t you? With these? (Holds up the bag of pills and shakes them. ) How could you give up so easily? How could you just leave us here?! (Stops and faces him) What am I supposed to tell Mama and the paramedics when they arrive?! Tell them my older brother has most likely overdosed on very dangerous, addictive pills? Pills that his little sister bought for him! From school! (She begins crying) This is all my fault... if I didn’t get you those pills. This wouldn’t have happened.
(Lucia stays with Antonio. She hides the pills. Mary leaves the stage to call the paramedics. Lights go down. They come up on Lucia holding Antonio crying on his chest. Mary enters with the paramedics)
Paramedic 1: He has a faint heartbeat and shallow breathing. We need to get him to the ER so we can do a proper evaluation. (Mary and Lucia nod). (Paramedic one is preparing Antonio for transport to the hospital)
Paramedic 2: We know he has cancer, but is there anything else you can tell us? Has he been taking any medication? (Lucia looks down and away, refusing to meet the paramedic’s eyes).
Mary: No. We don’t have enough money. I’ve been saving up for his first treatment....
Paramedic 1: And he’s not taking anything to control the pain?
Mary: Only Tylenol.
(Lights go down. All actors exit stage right. Bedroom set is taken off stage right.)
Chorus III
(Chorus enters stage left. Lights come up).
Protestor 1: The drugs brought Antonio contentment
The relaxed feeling they gave him,
Reminded him of better days.
Protestor 3: He needed a break from the continuous convulsions
only to overuse the help that the painkiller allowed.
Protestor 4: (Snorts and continues harshly) How clueless can one boy be?
To beg his sister for help in something so sinister, only to poison himself?
Protestor 2: (Angry, defending Antonio) Have you no heart?
How can you speak of Antonio that way!
The poor boy was drowning in a sea of everlasting pain.
Protestor 1: He couldn’t just lie dormant, crying out as wave after wave of agony hit him!
Could you? Could you tolerate that type of pain if there was relief nearby?
Protestor 2: Or would seek out your own help to at least lighten the load?
Protestor 3: He could have put his faith in the American Health Care System instead of turning to illegal drugs.
Protestor 4: (Snickers) Surely, he qualifies for some program, some type of aid?
Protestor 1: No. There is nothing for undocumented immigrants. Not even Medicaid
Protestor 3: Whatever the reason. He took the drugs.
Blurring the edges of reality a little too much
until he forgot about his family, his little sister
and just let go.
(Lights go down. Chorus exits stage left. Bedroom scene taken off stage right).
Scene IV
(Waiting room set is brought on. Lucia enters stage left and is pacing back and forth and biting her nails. Mary, enters stage left and is sitting on a chair rocking back and forth, crying. The lights come up. The nurse enters stage right and approaches them).
Nurse : Excuse me, Mrs. Ramirez? Are you, Mrs. Ramirez, Antonio’s mother?
(Mary nods. Lucia sits down next to Mary and takes her hand.)
Mary: How is he? Oh my poor Antonio... Please tell me he’s alive!
Nurse : He is..... (They all sigh in relief) But, his life is still in danger..Mrs. Ramirez, your son is exhibiting all of the signs of someone who is overdosing on drugs... (Lucia sighs and closes her eyes. The nurse notices her response.) Mrs. Ramirez, if either of you know anything.... It’s important that you tell us.
Mary: (She gasps in shock and stands up) Antonio?! My son?! MY Antonio?! On drugs?! No! Where would he even get them?! (The nurse looks at Lucia. Lucia looks at the floor and starts to rub her legs nervously.)
Nurse: We can’t be sure until the toxicology tests come back and that could take too long.... But if we knew what he was taking, we may be better able to help him. If not, it’s just a guessing game....
Mary: No! No! He would never! (She looks at Lucia) Tell her, Lucia! Antonio would never take drugs! Ever! Tell them Lucia!
Lucia: (She looks up at the nurse). He’s been taking Oxy to help with his pain.(She looks at her mother and then at the nurse. She shakes her head.)
Nurse: Oxycontin? (Lucia nods. And the nurse exits quickly stage right).
Mary: Lucia?
Lucia: Mama, the Antonio we know and love would never take drugs. (She sighs and looks down). But Antonio hasn’t been himself since we moved to America...none of us have.
Mary: (She’s still holding her head) Lucia, what are you saying? You knew your brother was taking drugs?
Lucia: (She looks down hiding her face and sighs) Yes..
Mary: (She gasps and stands up. Shouting) You knew?! You knew this entire time?! And you didn’t tell me?
Lucia: (She just nods not bothering to look at Mary) I’m so sorry, Mom...
Mary: (She pinches the bridge of her nose and looks at the ground) Where did he get them? How did he get them? He was too weak to leave the house. (Lucia stays quiet)Lucia! (She shouts towards Lucia)Where did he get th-
Lucia: (She cuts her off. Shouting back) From me! He got them from me!
Mary: (Startled at first, slowly getting infuriated) From you?! Why would you give him drugs? Dangerous drugs?!?!
Lucia: To help him, Mama. To help take away his pain.
Mary: ¿Quién eres? No eres mi hija!
Lucia: Not your daughter? So I should’ve been more like you and done nothing for so long? Out of fear of being sent back to Mexico? (Mary turns away, hurt).
Lucia: (Walks up to her, trying to look her in the eyes ,but Mary averts them) Mama, couldn’t you see his pain?! He was begging for someone, for something to help him! He was suffering!
Mary: (She shakes her head, getting angry) This is your fault! YOU put your brother in the hospital! YOU are the reason he is here!
Lucia: (Shouting back at her mother) MY fault?! At least I got him to the hospital! At least I took away his pain! What did YOU do?! Other then sit back and pray! This is YOUR fault for not getting him to the hospital sooner!
(Mary gets down on her knees and begins to pray. She closes her eyes tightly. Lucia’s is not praying, but is staring sadly at the audience).
Nurse 2: (Another nurse comes in from stage right) Mrs. Ramirez? I have some news about Antonio.
Mary: Is he okay? Can we see him?
Nurse: (She sighs and shakes her head looking down) I’m very sorry, Mrs. Ramirez. We couldn’t save him. He went into cardiac arrest and died. We were too late.
(Mary falls to the floor crying. Lucia gets on her knees and holds her. The lights go down. The chairs are taken off stage right.)
Chorus IV
(The chorus enters stage right. The light comes up. )
Protestor 1: The American Health Care System has failed Antonio.
Protestor 2: As have the beliefs based off of fear that has been instilled into the immigrants.
Protestor 1: Out of desperation.....
Protestor 2: The idea for his pain relief was planted in him like a seed.
Protestor 1: And now, his life ends, shattered like glass smashed against the rough surface that is concrete.
Protestor 4: The blame cannot be placed on the American Health Care System!
The fault lies with his mother’s fear which allowed the disease to progress so rapidly.
And what about Lucia’s pride, she should have told the paramedics right away!
Protestor 1: It was her desire to protect her brother and her mother!
Antonio asked her not to tell, for fear of breaking their mother’s heart
Protestor 3: Some promises are made to be broken.
It was keeping the promise that killed him.
(The lights go down. The chorus stays on stage. Banner brought on stage.).
Scene V:
(All actors in chorus enter stage left. Lights come up. Lucia enters from stage left and she joins the group of protestors who are making a banner. They take different letters/symbols/images from the backdrop and place them on the banner. Lucia heads down stage. She begins speaking to the audience )
Lucia: Ever since Antonio’s death, it’s been the same everyday. Mama and I sending invisible daggers to each other with our eyes. An accidental touch, makes one of us run away, to hide from the truth in her room. (She sighs and shakes her head).
Lucia: I can’t imagine what Antonio would say if he were to see us acting like this....he’d be so upset. Antonio was the glue that held our fragile lives together. Without him we’re just fragments of our former selves.
Lucia: I can’t help, but to wonder what would have happened if we stayed in Mexico where healthcare is affordable and accessible, to all citizens. (She looks down and laughs bitterly). America, basically shut it’s doors on my brother, who was dying, just because we didn’t have enough money to pay for his treatment. That’s so ironic because thousands and thousands of Americans cross the border to Mexico each year for top rated medical care at a fraction of the costs in the United States. (Pauses) And Mexico accepts these Americans with open arms! They are free to come and go across the border, whenever they please.
Lucia: Unfortunately, thanks to my father’s dream of swooping in and saving all of Mexico, we had to leave. We had no choice. And my mother.....she tried. She really tried to be successful here. She also tried to save up enough money so that she could provide my brother with the expensive, life saving treatments he needed so desperately. (She shakes her head sadly) However, there just wasn’t enough time....the disease was too powerful. And her fear of being deported took away her ability to react in time to be able to afford the luxury of saving his life..
(Lucia begins to cry. Mary enters from stage right. They look at each other for a moment, they begin to walk slowly towards each other. Mary holds her arms out for her daughter. Lucia goes to her mother and they embrace each other tightly. Two protesters come by, Mary and Lucia smile at each other before they separate. Lucia begins to help make the banner, Mary stands watching over her daughter's shoulder. Lucia takes the last final piece off the backdrop and hands it to Mary. Mary takes it proudly and puts it on the banner)
Chorus V
Lucia: And so this concludes the story of our Antonio.
Mary: He may be just one undocumented immigrant from Mexico. Just one among millions.....but he was my son. (She puts her hand on her heart)
Lucia: My brother. (Mary puts her hand on top of Lucia’s)
Protestor 2: So many Americans have forgotten, that we are a country of immigrants. Don’t remember? Just climb the branches of your family trees.
Protestor 1: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” These words are inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.
Lucia: The same statue, that is infamous, as being the first glimpse of America, that greeted immigrants as they arrived to Ellis Island.
Protestor 2: At this time, America accepted all immigrants, with open arms. In fact, this is when many of your ancestors came to our beautiful country in search of the American Dream.
Mary: Immigrants from Europe, from Asia, from Africa, from the Middle East, and yes, from Mexico were welcomed.
Protestor 2: But now, our cities are too crowded, our schools are bursting at the seams, our jobs are too few and our homeless and hungry are too many.
Protestor 1: And so we have closed our borders and our opportunities. We now turn away “the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.
Protestor 2: How can a country that filled people with hope change it’s ideals, it’s morals, so dramatically in such a short amount of time?
Protestor 1: How can a country that once promised to heal, now turn its back on the sick and the poor?
Protestor 2: American Healthcare must become universal in order to care for everyone living in this country because not doing so is unethical....is un American.
Lucia: So we have to raise our voices in protest, shout it out to the heavens and beyond. (Really slow now...emphasizing each word) Because if we don’t, we are just the silence..... the quiet...... we are just..... the Words Not Spoken.
(They all hold up the banner. Mary and Lucia in the middle. Mary places her hand on top of Lucia’s. Lights go down)
(A simple bed, a pillow and sparse blankets are brought on stage right. The bed is made. A young man, who is Mexican, enters stage right and gets into bed. The lights come up. He is groaning and tossing back and forth, trying to get comfortable. Antonio’s sister, Lucia, enters stage right, looks over briefly at Antonio, frowns slightly, and begins writing in a notebook. Antonio’s mother, Mary, enters stage left carrying a clean trash can.)
Mary: (Goes over to Antonio’s bedside, places the trash can beside his bed and puts her hand on her son’s forehead) Como estas, mijo? Antonio, how are you feeling? Any better at all?.
Antonio: Mama? (He sits up, grimaces with pain and clenches his body into a ball).Oh, Mama.....it hurts. My stomach hurts so bad.
Mary: The herbs haven’t helped then? The healer said that they should help...I stayed after mass and the priest said he’d say a special prayer.. Do you think the prayer has helped yet? Or maybe it’s too soon. Maybe...
Antonio: (Gets frustrated and begins to yell from the pain). Uhhhh...Mama! I already told you yesterday and last week and last month! No! The herbs don’t help! The prayers don’t help! They have never helped. I don’t need a medicine woman, Mama, or a priest. I need a doctor. A real American doctor. I have been sick for a year, Mama! Don’t you see? Something’s really wrong with me!
Mary: (Refuses to really hear what her son is saying. Busies herself with tidying up the room). Antonio, mi amor, you know I’d take you to the doctor if I could. But if we go....if we take you....they’ll find out we have no papers...no green cards. They’ll send us back and you know what’ll happen if we get sent back.... we’ll be killed! (Shakes her head sadly). Your father was a good man, but he had a lot of enemies, mijo.
Antonio: If I’m going to die anyway....I’d rather be with our family, our friends, my girlfriend. Maybe I could go back alone....you and Lucia could stay here.
Mary: (She sighs and sits next to Antonio and brushes the hair out of his eyes.) Antonio, you know why I can’t let you go back to Mexico....ever since your father died, it is no longer safe for any of us there.
Antonio: I know but....
Mary: (Looks over at Lucia with exasperation, wanting to change the subject.) Lucia! What are you doing? (Lucia jumps as if she has been caught doing something bad and looks ashamed).
Have you been making sure your brother has been eating? Has he had anything to drink today?
Antonio: (Interrupting her).Sorry Ma... It’s not Lucia’s fault. She made me some tomato soup, it smelled delicious, but I couldn’t swallow it. My throat is so raw from vomiting so much. I couldn’t even swallow soup! (He shakes his head.) I was able to drink some water.
Mary: (Interrupting him again) We are so blessed to be in this country, mijo. You will get better and then you’ll be able to return to school. And Lucia...(motions to her daughter and she smiles) she is so smart, muy inteligente, she’s just like you. The opportunities for you both are much greater here.You will get better, mijo . That’s why we’re here, America will heal you. (She kisses his forehead and rubs his arm.)
Antonio: (The pain overtakes him again, but he tries to continue talking through the pain). Lucia can’t go to school if she’s stuck at home taking care of me. Mama, I have to go to the doctor. This has been going on for too long and I have to get better so I can help the family. I....(Gets much weaker and begins drifting off to sleep).
Lucia: (She walks over and joins her mother at Antonio’s bedside) It’s okay, Antonio. I’d rather be here with Mama and you. Besides school here sucks. (She gives him a sympathetic smile and squeezes his hand.) You know that.
Antonio: Yeah...I don’t think we’re going to win any popularity contest any time soon. (He and Lucia laugh).
Lucia: Mama, Antonio’s right, we need to take him to the hospital.
Mary: Lucia, we can’t mija, they’ll turn us over to la policia! (Lucia turns and looks at the floor. No one can meet anybody’s eyes)
Lucia: (She sighs. And then she gets an idea) Oh Mama! Antonio! One of my friends at school! Her father is a doctor. I can ask if he can come visit Antonio tomorrow.
Mary: (She begins to protest) No, no, no Lucia! How can we trust him? If he tells anyone, they’ll depor-
Lucia: (She cuts her off) Mama, her mother is from Mexico. She was an immigrant too until she married her American husband.
Mary: (She’s still unsure) Are you sure? (Lucia nods) Oh, Lucia, if he does this for us, if this doctor agrees to see Antonio, then maybe America is truly all that they say....a beautiful, loving country, with opportunities for all! We are so blessed to be here. Antonio, you will get better, I just know it. Sleep, mi hijo. The herbs are making you tired.
(Lights go down. All actors exit stage left. )
.
Parados:
(The chorus, a group of protesters, enters stage right, carrying picket signs. Some of the signs are in support of giving health care to immigrants, others are against it. Some signs also contain words and phrases that are discriminatory against undocumented immigrants. The lights come up.)
Protestor 1: America has accepted, Antonio, an immigrant,
in a state weakness and pain.
Protestor 2: Antonio’s stomach convulses with every breath he takes,
His throat burns as the lingering sting invades.
Protestor 1: His father’s past forces him to leave his precious home in a lawless land.
Protestor 2: Yet, all he can remember is the sun-drenched earth, the daisies out front and his first kiss still replaying on the front porch.
Protestor 1: Now, Antonio, you walk with 11 million others,
unwanted tenants in a land of “opportunity”.
Protestor 2: Denied of a warm welcome, they live in fear, afraid to even seek help when they are sick and dying.
Protestor 1: They are unaware that American doctors are obligated to care for all patients who pass through their threshold. (Places hand over heart as he/she is touched by the empathy of doctors).
Protestor 3: (Angrily. One of the people with signs against immigrants) And this is why hospitals all across our great nation are having to close their doors!
Protestor 4: $1.25 billion a year is spent on the filth that slithers in and invades our country. 84 California hospitals were forced to lock their doors for the last time because of all the money spent on the aliens!
Protestor 3: Yes! That is why the illegals cannot stay!
Protestor 4: That is why nurses and doctors must report them! Otherwise more hospitals will collapse from financial ruin. Just another effect of immigration on our country.
Protestor 1: The immigrants have no help, no answers. And so they stay hidden in the shadows, pretending not to exist.
Protestor 2: And many sick immigrants, like Antonio, do not seek treatment out of fear of being deported. Leaving them, alone, to slowly rot into oblivion.
(The lights go down. The chorus exits stage right. )
Scene I:
( Chairs are brought on stage right for Mary and Lucia. Antonio is in bed. All enter from stage left. Mary sits on the far left side with her hands folded on her lap, Lucia is on the other side,
sitting still, but is obviously anxious, Antonio is in bed with his arms crossed behind his head, he is staring at the ceiling. They’re all sitting silently. There is a knock at the door. They all jump. Lucia gets up and let’s the doctor in. Antonio sits up ).
Doctor: Hello, Mary, Lucia. Good to see you all again. Antonio, how are you feeling since my last visit?
Antonio: Terrible..
Doctor: I see... have any of the symptoms gone away? Is the pain any better?
Mary: His fever has gotten much worse. He sweats all through the night. He doesn’t get out of bed, he’s constantly tired, and he is still very nauseous, he vomits all the time.
Doctor: Are you still having pain in your neck? And in your throat?
Antonio: (Antonio nods)
Doctor: I see... Well, as you remember I took blood sample last month. (They all nod) I have the results of those tests. Antonio, I’m so sorry, but you have cancer. Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma to be exact. (Mary and Lucia gasp in horror. Antonio looks down at the table).
Antonio: (After a few seconds, he looks up. Grimly) So....I’m going to die?
Doctor: The good news is Lymphoma is a form of cancer that responds very well to treatment .
Antonio: Treatment? At a hospital? But we don’t have health insurance. How much would treatment cost?
Doctor: (He looks at his clipboard) Well, if you could get chemotherapy and radiation, it would definitely slow down the spread of the cancer. But these treatments are very expensive if you don’t have health insurance.
Antonio: How much? I-I can find a job.
Mary: (squeezing his hand) I can get two jobs. We’ll find the money.
Lucia: Doctor, if we can get the money, can we get him the treatment?
Doctor: (Closes his eyes and sighs) Yes. But he would need to go to the hospital. There is no way to treat him at home. I brought you some estimates from my hospital. The actual treatment, for the first full 8 week process, including hospitalization, is going to cost somewhere around $20,000, at least.
Antonio: $20,000? For one treatment?
Lucia: Oh my god! That’s ridiculous! Isn’t there some sort of help for people without insurance? Or is everyone going to stand by and watch as my brother dies?
Mary: (begins to cry harder and shakes her head) It doesn’t matter, I will do anything to save my son. Anything! I will work three jobs, five jobs, day and night, until I save up enough money.
Antonio: Mama? Lucia? (They look at him) Can I speak to the doctor... alone? (Mary and Lucia nod. They both walk off stage right) Doctor...
Doctor: (He looks at Antonio and sighs) Yes, Antonio?
Antonio: (He puts his hands together) My mother is never going to be able to afford the treatment. Even if she works 5 jobs, she’ll never be able to make that much money...in time. Without treatment....How long do I really have?
Doctor: (He sighs) Could be weeks, months, maybe even a year or two. It’s hard to tell...we’ve caught it early, but without treatment the cancer will spread quickly.
Antonio: And I just sit here and basically wait to die? The pain is only going to get worse isn’t it, Doctor?
Doctor: Yes. I’m afraid so. (He pauses thinking of a solution).What about Mexico? Many American doctors are trained there. The medical care there is quite good and they have socialized medicine. Your treatment would cost a fraction....
Antonio: No I can't. I'll be killed, my WHOLE family, will be killed. My father was a newspaper reporter. He was obsessed with exposing the drug cartels and bringing justice and peace to Mexico. They told him to stop. Warned him. But he refused to listen and he was killed. We had to leave the country otherwise we would have been killed too. There is nothing but death for us there. Nothing but memories.
(Antonio curls up as the pain comes back.)
Doctor: Antonio, I wish I could could give you something for the pain, but I can’t. (He sighs and shakes his head looking down) Ever since the rise in prescription drug abuse, we are very closely monitored with the prescriptions we write. Teens around here have been selling and distributing dangerous painkillers, like Oxycontin, and taking it to get high. We see hundreds of overdoses on prescription drugs each year. The majority are fatal. I’m sorry Antonio, I wish there was more I could do for you. (He sighs and walks off stage left). You’ll be in my prayers, son.
Antonio: (sighs, looks out over audience’s heads) Prayers aren’t helping me, Doctor. And I can’t live any longer with this pain.There has to be something or someone who can help me.
(Antonio groans from pain and drags himself off stage right. The lights go down. )
Chorus I
(Chorus enters stage right, with picket signs and stand down stage, center stage. Lights come up. Bedroom scene stays on in background.)
Protestor 1: Poor Antonio, a young man whose life is being ripped from his hands.
An innocent boy who came into this world doing nothing but good.
Protestor 2: He is going to be forced to leave his family with nothing.
His life dreams crushed like a snail, splattered beneath the sole of a shoe.
Protestor 1: Thoughts enter his head.
What can he do with his death just around the corner?
Protestor 4: Waiting for him.
(Bitter) What can he do that the doctor would not?
Protestor 3: (Also bitter but challenging Protestor 2) He can do nothing, he is helpless.
And the doctor would risk losing everything, just to numb Antonio’s pain.
Protestor 2: So much pain, the pain is overtaking him.
He needs something to help him run away from all the pain,
He needs something.
Anything. And he will stop at nothing to terminate his suffering.
(Lights fade. Chorus walks off stage left.)
Scene II:
(Antonio enters stage left and gets back into bed. The lights come up and Antonio is moaning and tossing back in forth . We hear a door slam).
Antonio: (He yells in pain) Lucia? Are you home?
Lucia: (She yells back still off stage right) Yes.
Antonio: Can you come here?
Lucia: Coming! (Lucia enters stage right. She sits down on the bed.)
Lucia: Hey...how’re you feeling? You look terrible.... Can I get you anything? Something to eat? Something to drink?
Antonio: (Says jokingly) Got a prescription for painkillers on you? That’s what I need.
Lucia: No.....but I know where I can get some.
Antonio: Are you serious?
Lucia: Antonio, I’m so tired of just sitting here and watching you suffer while Mama works day and night to save up for your treatment.. If some pills will make you feel better....until we have enough money, then I’ll do whatever it takes to get them for you.
Antonio: Where? Where would you get something like that? I’m a little freaked out that you seem to know people who deal drugs.
Lucia: Oh come on, Antonio, I’m a sophomore in high school.....the same high school you went to.You couldn’t have forgotten so quickly what it was like there? And what the kids there do for fun?
Antonio: Yeah..I remember. I didn’t think about that. There probably is someone there that deals.
Lucia: No. Not probably. I can get you the pills.
Antonio: Who? Who would you get them from?
Lucia: Robbie Lester.
Antonio: Robbie Lester? How does he get painkillers?
Lucia: His mom works at a hospice. He helps out there after school and on weekends. He can get you pretty much anything.
Antonio: (Quiet. Thinking.) I’m so weak now. Look at me, Lucia. Pathetic, huh? I guess I don’t have any other options... (He says jokingly) I thought about robbing a pharmacy, but they have cameras everywhere. (He pauses, thinking) Lucia, you have to listen to me... if I get you to do this for me, you can’t tell anyone. Mom would kill me if she knew I was having you buy drugs for me.
Lucia: Antonio, I promise. I’ll do anything for you.
Antonio: Lucia, when I’m gone you have to watch after mom.
Lucia: What do you mean when you’re gone...?
Antonio: Lucia, it’s obvious. I’m going to die. I have cancer for god’s sake. These pills aren’t going to cure me.
Lucia: (Looks sadly into her brother’s eyes) Well....the least I can do is to help you to be more comfortable so we can enjoy our time left together, right?
Antonio: (Smiles in relief and leans back against the pillow). Thank you, Lucia.. Here. (Hands her a shoe box). Take $200. This is money I made last summer. (He tries to make a joke) I was planning on saving it for college, but it looks like I don’t need to worry about that any longer. That’ll leave mom enough to help with some bills once I’m gone.
Lucia: (Smiles) Anything for you, mi hermano. (She exits stage right).
(Lights go down. Antonio exits stage right.)
Chorus II
(Chorus enters stage left and lights come up.)
Protestor 3: So now Antonio is set on corrupting his sister,
Pulling her into his web of self destruction
by having her go in search of relief of his pain.
Protestor 4: (Correcting Protestor 2) She will succeed.
And Antonio will find temporary relief from a dangerous drug,
a highly addictive drug.
Oxycontin.
Protestor 3: For the first time in a year, Antonio feels better. Much better.
In fact, he feels great.
Protestor 1: But has he found the temporary answer to all his problems?
Or has he found the key to opening a new one?
Protestor 2: Because of the “medication”, his pain slowly fades away.
But it returns later,
again and again,
as his supply decreases
and he is forced to ration his dosage.
Protestor 1: Stronger now.
The pain engulfs his body.
Convulsions ricochet through him as fire spews from his insides.
The disease is even more powerful as his body weakens.
Protestor 2: His ability to think rationally has been compromised.
With no thought of possible consequences clouding his mind.
He chooses the path with less pain.
Again and again he buys the numbing drug.
Until it is no longer his choice.
Protestor 4: He is addicted.
He wanted an easy escape.
An easy death.
And now he has it within his grasp.
Scene III
(Lights come up. Antonio enters stage left. )
Antonio: (He groans in pain. He sits down on the bed and pulls out the pills from under the covers. He looks at them for a long time.) I’m in so much pain... The pills...they used to help. But now....(He shakes his head). The pain’s just getting stronger. And Mama, bless her heart, has been working 3 different jobs for 4 months now. She’s trying to save enough for the treatments, but she doesn’t know that it’s useless....and I don’t have the heart to tell her that I’m dying. It’s too late. I don’t need a doctor to tell me that the cancer is growing...is spreading. (He looks down sadly at the bag of pills in his hand). I’m sure if I take just a few more than I usually take....Just enough to make the pain go away. Just enough so that I don’t even care anymore. Don’t care that I’m seventeen years old and I’m dying from cancer. Cancer that was once considered "treatable". (Disgusted. He takes a handful of pills and swallows them with water)
Antonio: (He pours more pills into his hand. He stares at the pills in his hand for a few seconds. He takes them quickly with the water. He begins to feel the effects). These pills...they make me
feel so free... (He grows sleepy)...like the days before dad died and we would go to the beach. When it got too hot, I would slip into the sea......The weightlessness......floating in the cool, blue ocean water. So refreshing,... so healing.......... (He lies back on the bed. Soon he is asleep. The lights go down for about 3 seconds. When they come up again, Antonio hasn’t moved. Lucia enters from stage left.)
Lucia: Hey Antonio. Como estas? (He doesn’t respond. Lucia walks slowly to his bedside.) Antonio? It’s time to get up. (She leans in trying to hear him breathe. She begins to yell) Oh god! Mama! Hurry! Come quick!!!
Mary: (enters from stage left out of breath) . Lucia, are you alright? What’s wrong? (She suddenly sees Antonio. She gasps) Oh! My Antonio! Que Paso?! (She covers her mouth and turns to Antonio.)
Lucia: I don’t know... Mama. We need to take him to the hospital. Call 9-1-1. He needs an ambulance! We need to go to the Emergency Room! He’s not breathing! (Mary runs crying off stage left. Lucia sits down beside Antonio and sees the pills in his hand. She takes them from him)
Lucia: (She paces back and forth) Antonio, you were fine this morning. I know this is not from your illness....you’ve done something haven’t you? With these? (Holds up the bag of pills and shakes them. ) How could you give up so easily? How could you just leave us here?! (Stops and faces him) What am I supposed to tell Mama and the paramedics when they arrive?! Tell them my older brother has most likely overdosed on very dangerous, addictive pills? Pills that his little sister bought for him! From school! (She begins crying) This is all my fault... if I didn’t get you those pills. This wouldn’t have happened.
(Lucia stays with Antonio. She hides the pills. Mary leaves the stage to call the paramedics. Lights go down. They come up on Lucia holding Antonio crying on his chest. Mary enters with the paramedics)
Paramedic 1: He has a faint heartbeat and shallow breathing. We need to get him to the ER so we can do a proper evaluation. (Mary and Lucia nod). (Paramedic one is preparing Antonio for transport to the hospital)
Paramedic 2: We know he has cancer, but is there anything else you can tell us? Has he been taking any medication? (Lucia looks down and away, refusing to meet the paramedic’s eyes).
Mary: No. We don’t have enough money. I’ve been saving up for his first treatment....
Paramedic 1: And he’s not taking anything to control the pain?
Mary: Only Tylenol.
(Lights go down. All actors exit stage right. Bedroom set is taken off stage right.)
Chorus III
(Chorus enters stage left. Lights come up).
Protestor 1: The drugs brought Antonio contentment
The relaxed feeling they gave him,
Reminded him of better days.
Protestor 3: He needed a break from the continuous convulsions
only to overuse the help that the painkiller allowed.
Protestor 4: (Snorts and continues harshly) How clueless can one boy be?
To beg his sister for help in something so sinister, only to poison himself?
Protestor 2: (Angry, defending Antonio) Have you no heart?
How can you speak of Antonio that way!
The poor boy was drowning in a sea of everlasting pain.
Protestor 1: He couldn’t just lie dormant, crying out as wave after wave of agony hit him!
Could you? Could you tolerate that type of pain if there was relief nearby?
Protestor 2: Or would seek out your own help to at least lighten the load?
Protestor 3: He could have put his faith in the American Health Care System instead of turning to illegal drugs.
Protestor 4: (Snickers) Surely, he qualifies for some program, some type of aid?
Protestor 1: No. There is nothing for undocumented immigrants. Not even Medicaid
Protestor 3: Whatever the reason. He took the drugs.
Blurring the edges of reality a little too much
until he forgot about his family, his little sister
and just let go.
(Lights go down. Chorus exits stage left. Bedroom scene taken off stage right).
Scene IV
(Waiting room set is brought on. Lucia enters stage left and is pacing back and forth and biting her nails. Mary, enters stage left and is sitting on a chair rocking back and forth, crying. The lights come up. The nurse enters stage right and approaches them).
Nurse : Excuse me, Mrs. Ramirez? Are you, Mrs. Ramirez, Antonio’s mother?
(Mary nods. Lucia sits down next to Mary and takes her hand.)
Mary: How is he? Oh my poor Antonio... Please tell me he’s alive!
Nurse : He is..... (They all sigh in relief) But, his life is still in danger..Mrs. Ramirez, your son is exhibiting all of the signs of someone who is overdosing on drugs... (Lucia sighs and closes her eyes. The nurse notices her response.) Mrs. Ramirez, if either of you know anything.... It’s important that you tell us.
Mary: (She gasps in shock and stands up) Antonio?! My son?! MY Antonio?! On drugs?! No! Where would he even get them?! (The nurse looks at Lucia. Lucia looks at the floor and starts to rub her legs nervously.)
Nurse: We can’t be sure until the toxicology tests come back and that could take too long.... But if we knew what he was taking, we may be better able to help him. If not, it’s just a guessing game....
Mary: No! No! He would never! (She looks at Lucia) Tell her, Lucia! Antonio would never take drugs! Ever! Tell them Lucia!
Lucia: (She looks up at the nurse). He’s been taking Oxy to help with his pain.(She looks at her mother and then at the nurse. She shakes her head.)
Nurse: Oxycontin? (Lucia nods. And the nurse exits quickly stage right).
Mary: Lucia?
Lucia: Mama, the Antonio we know and love would never take drugs. (She sighs and looks down). But Antonio hasn’t been himself since we moved to America...none of us have.
Mary: (She’s still holding her head) Lucia, what are you saying? You knew your brother was taking drugs?
Lucia: (She looks down hiding her face and sighs) Yes..
Mary: (She gasps and stands up. Shouting) You knew?! You knew this entire time?! And you didn’t tell me?
Lucia: (She just nods not bothering to look at Mary) I’m so sorry, Mom...
Mary: (She pinches the bridge of her nose and looks at the ground) Where did he get them? How did he get them? He was too weak to leave the house. (Lucia stays quiet)Lucia! (She shouts towards Lucia)Where did he get th-
Lucia: (She cuts her off. Shouting back) From me! He got them from me!
Mary: (Startled at first, slowly getting infuriated) From you?! Why would you give him drugs? Dangerous drugs?!?!
Lucia: To help him, Mama. To help take away his pain.
Mary: ¿Quién eres? No eres mi hija!
Lucia: Not your daughter? So I should’ve been more like you and done nothing for so long? Out of fear of being sent back to Mexico? (Mary turns away, hurt).
Lucia: (Walks up to her, trying to look her in the eyes ,but Mary averts them) Mama, couldn’t you see his pain?! He was begging for someone, for something to help him! He was suffering!
Mary: (She shakes her head, getting angry) This is your fault! YOU put your brother in the hospital! YOU are the reason he is here!
Lucia: (Shouting back at her mother) MY fault?! At least I got him to the hospital! At least I took away his pain! What did YOU do?! Other then sit back and pray! This is YOUR fault for not getting him to the hospital sooner!
(Mary gets down on her knees and begins to pray. She closes her eyes tightly. Lucia’s is not praying, but is staring sadly at the audience).
Nurse 2: (Another nurse comes in from stage right) Mrs. Ramirez? I have some news about Antonio.
Mary: Is he okay? Can we see him?
Nurse: (She sighs and shakes her head looking down) I’m very sorry, Mrs. Ramirez. We couldn’t save him. He went into cardiac arrest and died. We were too late.
(Mary falls to the floor crying. Lucia gets on her knees and holds her. The lights go down. The chairs are taken off stage right.)
Chorus IV
(The chorus enters stage right. The light comes up. )
Protestor 1: The American Health Care System has failed Antonio.
Protestor 2: As have the beliefs based off of fear that has been instilled into the immigrants.
Protestor 1: Out of desperation.....
Protestor 2: The idea for his pain relief was planted in him like a seed.
Protestor 1: And now, his life ends, shattered like glass smashed against the rough surface that is concrete.
Protestor 4: The blame cannot be placed on the American Health Care System!
The fault lies with his mother’s fear which allowed the disease to progress so rapidly.
And what about Lucia’s pride, she should have told the paramedics right away!
Protestor 1: It was her desire to protect her brother and her mother!
Antonio asked her not to tell, for fear of breaking their mother’s heart
Protestor 3: Some promises are made to be broken.
It was keeping the promise that killed him.
(The lights go down. The chorus stays on stage. Banner brought on stage.).
Scene V:
(All actors in chorus enter stage left. Lights come up. Lucia enters from stage left and she joins the group of protestors who are making a banner. They take different letters/symbols/images from the backdrop and place them on the banner. Lucia heads down stage. She begins speaking to the audience )
Lucia: Ever since Antonio’s death, it’s been the same everyday. Mama and I sending invisible daggers to each other with our eyes. An accidental touch, makes one of us run away, to hide from the truth in her room. (She sighs and shakes her head).
Lucia: I can’t imagine what Antonio would say if he were to see us acting like this....he’d be so upset. Antonio was the glue that held our fragile lives together. Without him we’re just fragments of our former selves.
Lucia: I can’t help, but to wonder what would have happened if we stayed in Mexico where healthcare is affordable and accessible, to all citizens. (She looks down and laughs bitterly). America, basically shut it’s doors on my brother, who was dying, just because we didn’t have enough money to pay for his treatment. That’s so ironic because thousands and thousands of Americans cross the border to Mexico each year for top rated medical care at a fraction of the costs in the United States. (Pauses) And Mexico accepts these Americans with open arms! They are free to come and go across the border, whenever they please.
Lucia: Unfortunately, thanks to my father’s dream of swooping in and saving all of Mexico, we had to leave. We had no choice. And my mother.....she tried. She really tried to be successful here. She also tried to save up enough money so that she could provide my brother with the expensive, life saving treatments he needed so desperately. (She shakes her head sadly) However, there just wasn’t enough time....the disease was too powerful. And her fear of being deported took away her ability to react in time to be able to afford the luxury of saving his life..
(Lucia begins to cry. Mary enters from stage right. They look at each other for a moment, they begin to walk slowly towards each other. Mary holds her arms out for her daughter. Lucia goes to her mother and they embrace each other tightly. Two protesters come by, Mary and Lucia smile at each other before they separate. Lucia begins to help make the banner, Mary stands watching over her daughter's shoulder. Lucia takes the last final piece off the backdrop and hands it to Mary. Mary takes it proudly and puts it on the banner)
Chorus V
Lucia: And so this concludes the story of our Antonio.
Mary: He may be just one undocumented immigrant from Mexico. Just one among millions.....but he was my son. (She puts her hand on her heart)
Lucia: My brother. (Mary puts her hand on top of Lucia’s)
Protestor 2: So many Americans have forgotten, that we are a country of immigrants. Don’t remember? Just climb the branches of your family trees.
Protestor 1: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” These words are inscribed on the Statue of Liberty.
Lucia: The same statue, that is infamous, as being the first glimpse of America, that greeted immigrants as they arrived to Ellis Island.
Protestor 2: At this time, America accepted all immigrants, with open arms. In fact, this is when many of your ancestors came to our beautiful country in search of the American Dream.
Mary: Immigrants from Europe, from Asia, from Africa, from the Middle East, and yes, from Mexico were welcomed.
Protestor 2: But now, our cities are too crowded, our schools are bursting at the seams, our jobs are too few and our homeless and hungry are too many.
Protestor 1: And so we have closed our borders and our opportunities. We now turn away “the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.
Protestor 2: How can a country that filled people with hope change it’s ideals, it’s morals, so dramatically in such a short amount of time?
Protestor 1: How can a country that once promised to heal, now turn its back on the sick and the poor?
Protestor 2: American Healthcare must become universal in order to care for everyone living in this country because not doing so is unethical....is un American.
Lucia: So we have to raise our voices in protest, shout it out to the heavens and beyond. (Really slow now...emphasizing each word) Because if we don’t, we are just the silence..... the quiet...... we are just..... the Words Not Spoken.
(They all hold up the banner. Mary and Lucia in the middle. Mary places her hand on top of Lucia’s. Lights go down)