Crescent-hood
by Jesse P. Hamlin-Navias
CHARACTERS
LEE, 9
SIL, 13
JO, 11
PIM, 10
LAUREL, 12
EM, 11
ROBERT, 11
PLACE
A neighborhood street in a quiet suburb or rural area. The stage is a line of three houses, each with a front yard and porch, and running in front of all of them is a sidewalk and then the road. The Stage rightmost house is Jo’s. It has a falling apart front porch, forgotten plants and an old tire. The Center stage house is Pim and Laurel’s house. It is perfectly white with a radiant green lawn and an expensive looking stone path up to a porch with some open white paint cans. The Stage leftmost house is Em and Robert’s house. It is an old but well kept building with a front porch, an american flag, stairs and a ramp, a cracking cement path, and political yard sign with nothing of particular importance on it.
TIME
Evening, when the shadows are long, the heat builds into a final crescendo, and the full moon is visible in the sky even while the sun is setting. It is the last day before summer.
The first thing the audience notices is the sound of children laughing and shrill excitement. Lights up on Pim, Jo, Em, Lee, Sil and Laurel play on the street. Lee is chasing Laurel, while the others skirt around Lee, watching the chase happen.
JO: Get her Lee!
LAUREL: Can’t catch meee!
LEE: You're it!
(Lee misses Laurel by a foot, hands outstretched. He turns and slyly tags Sil, who thought she was only watching.)
LEE: You're it.
SIL: No you don’t!
(Sil grabs Lee strongly by the collar as he runs away and tags him, then disengages.)
LEE: Hey!
(Lee chases after Sil. Seeing that Em is watching timidly he pivots and tags her before giving a big grin and leaping away. Em looks around, uncertain what to do, frozen. Pim jogs up to her and whispers in her ear.)
EM: You’re it!
(Em tags Pim. Pim makes no attempt to avoid her.)
JO: Not fair! Puppy guarding!
PIM: That’s not puppy guarding!
LEE: CAR!
(Pim chases Jo, ignoring the others. All of them laugh and run onto the sidewalk dodging the car. Jo runs up onto the stageright porch, teasing Pim. The sound of a car passing is heard.)
PIM: Can’t be on your porch, off limits!
LAUREL: Don’t cheat.
JO: None of your beeswax Laurel!
(Entering onto stage from the stageleft house is Robert, a young boy in a wheelchair who looks a lot like Em. He rolls down the ramp and the path. Em and Sil notice first. Em jogs over to him as he gets to the sidewalk. She kneels down and they talk silently for a moment. She gets up and Pim notices them while the rest bicker.)
LEE: Cmon Jo, bet you can’t catch me.
JO: Oh Ya?!
(Jo jumps over the porch banister and chases Lee around his yard)
PIM: Guys, come here.
(Jo catches Lee and they begin to wrestle. Laurel chants them on in the street.)
SIL: (Bellowing) T I M E O U T!
(Jo, Lee and Laurel all come to attention, looking first at Sil, who stands on the sidewalk center stage. Then they all look behind her at Pim, Em and Robert)
LEE: Hey Rob.
SIL: Hi Robert.
ROBERT: Hey.
(Smiling, Robert rolls to center stage to meet Sil on the sidewalk. Pim and Em follow.)
ROBERT: How's it going Sil?
(Sil squats down and holds Robert’s hand kindly, smiling at her feet for a moment.)
SIL: Happy you came.
(Robert rolls past to Laurel, Jo and Lee.)
PIM: You ok?
SIL: Ya Pim it’ll be fine.
PIM: Ok. Here if you need me.
(Pim pats her shoulder before joining Robert again, who is chatting with Jo, Laurel and Lee, and you can hear them laughing.)
EM: (To Sil.) Glad you could play.
SIL: Don’t worry Em, you dorks need me.
(Em and Sil walk over and join the rest of the group.)
JO: (To Rob.) You were almost caught, you’re crazy!
ROBERT: Ya, but Mrs. Frear liked it so she didn’t write me up.
LAUREL: When school starts we’ll help.
PIM: (Pim actively changes the subject as Sil comes over.) So what are we doing?
LEE: (To Jo.) Wrestling.
JO: You can’t beat me with my hands tied.
SIL: Neither of you put up a good fight.
LAUREL: (To Jo.) See if you can take Sil.
PIM: Guys, we need a different game, on the sidewalk or the road.
(Lee Laurel and Jo look at Robert, conflicted.)
EM: Monkey in the Middle?
JO: Nah, my pops lost the last ball.
EM: oh.
SIL: Hide and seek?
LEE: You always win that, you’ve lived here longest.
(Sil and Robert look hurt. Jo elbows him in the ribs without looking.)
LEE: Ow!
PIM: We need a game we can all play.
ROBERT: Don’t worry, I have an idea. Today is the best day to do it.
(Robert turns around and rolls over to the centerstage house)
ROBERT: We need a way to build.
EM: Build? Build what? What for? Build?
(The rest of the group follows Robert, scattering onto the road, looking at him as he moves upstage, up the stone path while looking directly upwards to the setting sky.)
ROBERT: (Not yet looking down.) Sil, got any empty boxes left?
SIL: Might have some, my mom hasn’t packed yet. What for?
ROBERT: I'll show you if you get some.
SIL: (Lovingly.) Whatever you want, Dork.
(Sil walks off stage right. Everyone waits for her to leave.)
JO: (To Lee.) C’mon, you even think!?
LEE: What’d ya mean?
EM: That wasn’t nice.
LEE: I didn’t do anything!
PIM: Lee I think they mean that you shouldn't hurt Sil’s feelings.
LEE: What?
PIM: Just don’t talk about her living here. Let's have a good last day.
LAUREL: Don’t boss him around.
PIM: I’m not! I’m trying to-
ROBERT: Hey.
(Everyone turns to look at Robert. He's grinning wide at the sky. Finally, he looks down to the group, smiling ear to ear.)
ROBERT: How far away do you think the moon is?
JO: What is going on! Rob, you gotta tell me.
ROBERT: Laurel, are there any ladders left?
JO: Tellll me.
LAUREL: No idea.
LEE: CAR!
(All the kids standing on the street move onto the sidewalk. The sound of a car passing is heard.)
PIM: There's some in the back. Want small ones or the really big one?
ROBERT: The more the better.
LAUREL: (Stepping in front of Pim.) Me and Jo will go.
JO: Betcha! Pim, come too.
(Laurel rolls her eyes. They head off behind the center house. Pim turns around at the last moment.)
PIM: Lee, come help in the shed. My sister’s got the ladders.
LEE: Ok!
(Lee and Pim head behind the house, leaving Em and Robert in Pim’s front yard. Robert is looking up at the sky again.)
EM: Robbie, you ok out here? Don’t want you getting in trouble.
ROBERT: (Robert looks at her, and proceeds to roll into the road.) Wouldn't miss it. Is Sil
ok?
EM: She’s here so I think so. (Em walks into the road with him.) You still gonna hang out
after?
ROBERT: Don’t know. Mom and Dad won’t leave me alone.
EM: I'll distract them.
ROBERT: Really? You're the best.
(Jo and Laurel enter from behind Laurel’s house on the side closest to Em’s house with two wooden stepping ladders. They place them in the front yard, and go back behind the house again while Em and Robert talk.)
EM: It’s fine.
ROBERT: Ya? (Laughing, looking Em in the eyes.) No really, we owe you. You're always here when it gets complicated.
EM: Usually I know what we're doing
ROBERT: (Gives Em a quizzical look.) ?
EM: (Seeing something offstage right.) Nothing.
(Sil enters stage right, carrying a stack of large flattened cardboard boxes.)
EM: That's a lot!
SIL: Ya. (Place them in Pim’s yard.) Is this enough?
ROBERT: Perfect. (Wheels back onto the sidewalk with Em’s help.) Thanks.
SIL: Always. Where's everyone?
(Em walks away towards her house, and sits on her porch stairs.)
ROBERT: They went to get ladders.
SIL: … What are we doing?
ROBERT: You’ll see.
(Pause.)
ROBERT: After this could I come over? Love to help finish packing.
SIL: …
ROBERT: Oh I… if it's not ok I can-
SIL: No it's fine, I want you to come over.
ROBERT: Oh.
SIL: (A big breath in.) Ya. Come over after. We’ll have fun.
(Sil and Robert sit at the edge of the sidewalk, staring off across the road longingly. She mindlessly fiddles with his wheelchair. Meanwhile Jo and Laurel come around the side of Laurel’s house closest to Em. Each of them are carrying the end of a long ladder. )
LAUREL: You're not bad!
JO: Thanks? (Sees Em.) Here, rotate, and lean it up. (They do so. Laurel heads back behind the house, but Jo remains.) I’ll catch up in a sec.
(Laurel shrugs, turns back, and when she is gone, Jo heads over to Em and sits beside her on the steps.)
JO: Hey!
EM: Hey.
JO: What's up.
EM: …
JO: Why you over here?
EM: What are we doing?
JO: No clue. Your brother’s plans are crazy, but that's why I like him. (Grins and looks down at his feet.)
EM: That's not what I meant.
JO: What’d you mean?
EM: Nothing.
JO: Hey now, what do you mean? You and your baby brother can’t keep secrets! C’mon, tell
me. I’ll listen this time.
EM: Jo he's younger by twelve minutes.
JO: Hey that's still younger. Now what's up?
EM: … Like why are we doing this? Why are we waiting here for everyone to leave. Were not
gonna get anything. We’ll all be sad, and that's messy. (Looks at Robert and Sil.)
(Jo is silent. The sound of a car passing is heard. Pim and Lee come around the far side of Pim’s house laughing and carrying concrete blocks. )
JO: We're getting a lot.
EM: Like what?
JO: Everything. Everything that's worth it.
EM: (Silence.)
JO: I spend a lot of time, with you guys. And, I can’t be in the house often… (Long pause as
they watch Robert instructing the boys and Sil to unfold the boxes in the yard.) We have a
rad group. We'll be ok.
EM: But you're leaving too!
JO: I’ll visit. My mom will let me visit.
EM: You don’t know that! Don’t go.
JO: I don’t know much, but I know this group does what we want. I’ll definitely come back and
see you.
(Laurel comes around the house with another wooden step ladder.)
LAUREL: Hey, weren't you helping!?
JO: (Jumping up.) I helped!
LAUREL: Idiot!
JO: (To Em.) It’s worth the mess Em.
(Jo playfully chases Laurel back behind the house.)
PIM: Over here?
ROBERT: Yes, like that. This is going to be amazing!
SIL: I can have the boxes back, right?
ROBERT: I’ll carry them if you want.
PIM: (Noticing Em.) One second. (Pim gets up and walks over to Em and stands at the base of the stairs. The group in Pim’s front yard continued without noticing his absence.)
LEE: I’ll set up the ladders! Let me do it.
PIM: Hey. We need help.
EM: I’m good.
PIM: You don’t have to hide. (Long Pause.) I think I know what you need.
EM: ?
PIM: (Grinning.) Come boss us around Em. Robert’s ideas never work without you.
EM: (Smiles, glances at Robert, then looks down.)
PIM: Know it's true. Your brother might be smart but his head’s in the clouds.
EM: (Laughs.) You're right.
PIM: Great!
(Em gets up and her and Pim walk over to the group in the front yard. All the boxes have been unfolded.)
PIM: Alright, what are we doing?
SIL: Don’t know.
EM: Why do we need those blocks?
LEE: It’ll help.
EM: Robbie, What you think?
ROBERT: We’ll find a use for them. They'll go on the boxes.
EM: (Imagines the structure.) Can’t do that. They’re too heavy.
ROBERT: You're right. (Em grins at Pim. Pim laughs.)
(Laurel and Jo return, hands empty, laughing at each other.)
EM: Guys! Hurry! (Jo runs over.)
JO: Couldn’t find more ladders.
ROBERT: That's alright. We have enough.
LEE: I saw one by the shed.
LAUREL: There weren't any ladders.
(Lee walks over to Laurel. Robert and Em begin instructing the rest of the group.)
LEE: There was.
LAUREL: Was not.
LEE: Was too.
LAUREL: Idiot.
(Pause. A circle of boxes are being placed, open face down, by Sil, Em and Pim. Jo walks and grabs the tall ladder, carries it over to the boxes and stands it up.)
LEE: Gonna miss Jo?
LAUREL: He’ll be fine without me.
LEE: Ya. We can hang out more when he’s gone…
LAUREL: What, gonna join me and Em’s sleepovers dork?
LEE: Can I?
LAUREL: (Rolls eyes.) No dork. We do makeovers and stuff.
LEE: oh. (Pause.) I like makeovers.
LAUREL: What! You? Makeovers?
LEE: Ya? (Reads Laurel, then stammers.) Well no, I, well I meant I maybe-
LAUREL: That's… weird.
(Pause. A second layer of boxes are being placed on top to make a hill of boxes. Jo is placing the wooden step ladders on top of the boxes. It doesn’t look quite physically sound. Pim walks onto Jo’s yard and watches thoughtfully. )
LAUREL: Wait so you’ve had one before?
LEE: … My sister did mine for my birthday.
LAUREL: FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!?
LEE: (Silence.)
LAUREL: Did you like it?
LEE: Ya, it was fun. She says next time we’ll go buy makeup.
LAUREL: Lee, you're pretty strange.
LEE: … sorry.
LAUREL: But that's cool, in a way. You can join us if you want.
LEE: Really?
LAUREL: But don’t get germs on my good makeup. (Begins walking over to the group.)
LEE: Sweet! (Follows Laurel.)
(A third layer of boxes are being placed, forming a mountain of cardboard.)
ROBERT: More to the left.
JO: TELLLLL MEEEE. (Jo is dramatically begging Robert as Jo places another ladder.)
LEE: Here, like this. (Lee grabs onto the ladder and they position it together.)
PIM: Hey Rob?
ROBERT: Ya? (Turns around, then rolls over to Pim.)
PIM: Thank you.
ROBERT: Dude, I should be thanking you. I don’t think any of us would still be friends if it
weren’t for you.
PIM: Ya.
(Pause. They turn and watch the group. Lee and Sil are placing the concrete blocks on the wooden boxes. Laurel, Sil and Jo are climbing the step ladders on top of the boxes to move the tall ladder higher upwards. Physics and strength limitations are being ignored completely.)
PIM: So, gonna tell us yet?
ROBERT: You have the most important job.
PIM: Is that a good thing?
ROBERT: Always has been.
(Pause. The tall ladder is placed on top of the mountain of step ladders, concrete blocks, and cardboard boxes.)
ROBERT: You're the best climber. Can you climb the boxes and then use the ladder at the top?
PIM: I think so.
ROBERT: You can do it. (Calling everyone’s attention.) Alright! Lee leave it alone it's good.
(Everyone steps back as Pim and Robert walk up, forming a circle around this giant tower. It's taller than Pim’s house, the top of the ladder touching the darkening sky.)
ROBERT: Go for it Pim. (Pim begins to climb.)
LAUREL: Is it safe?
PIM: I trust him.
(Pause. Laurel nods and Pim resumes climbing. Robert is looking upward at his climb.)
LEE: Gonna miss you Sil.
SIL: Me to guys. I’m gonna miss you.
ROBERT: (Interrupts his gaze at Pim to look at Sil for a moment.) I’ll miss you Sil.
LAUREL: I’ll miss you Jo.
JO: I’ll be back.
EM: Promise?
JO: Bet on it Em.
(Pim has reached the ladder. He looks down at Robert. Robert nods, and Pim turns and begins to climb.)
LEE: What does it look like?
SIL: Do you see my house?
PIM: (Stopping midway up the ladder.) … It’s, very pretty. There's so many waves of houses.
They all have their own shadows. And their own kids. And they’re playing their own
games. They’re… (Long pause.) Were all holding on, waiting for summer.
LEE: Can you see my house?
ROBERT: Ok Pim, listen. Sit at the very top.
PIM: Yes Sir!
ROBERT: Ok, now reach up as high as you can.
PIM: Ok.
ROBERT: And grab.
(Pim grabs what he thinks will be empty air. His hands come to rest around the moon. Astonished and wide eyed, he lifts it down, holding the moon.)
ROBERT: We did it! (Laughing loudly.) It Worked! PIM IT WORKED!
PIM: WHAT DO I DO!?
LEE: (Already bounding upwards.) Hand it to me! HAND IT TO ME! (Lee is halfway up the ladder.)
LAUREL: Got it! (Laurel follows Lee to the base of the ladder. Jo follows two thirds up the mountain, then Sil one third up. Em waits at the base. They fireman pass the moon down as if it were fragile, each taking a long moment to hold it and look. Em takes it and they all climb down.)
EM: (Without breathing.) here. (Passes the moon to Robert.)
(Everyone is staring as Robert takes the moon and rests it in his lap. He rests his cheek against its side, closes his eyes, as if listening for a heartbeat. He finds it)
ROBERT: It’s warm on one side. Like drying laundry, or sunlight through a window. (Pause.)
SIL: (Holding her breath.) What do we do?
ROBERT: (Looking up to Sil, smiling as if everything is as it must be.) We wait.
(Robert places the glowing moon on the ground. Everyone comes and sits in a circle around it. Slowly, the lights begin to go down as the sun sets. When the lights go out, the moon illuminates the seven kids, all staring into it like we stare into fire. Finally after forever, the moon fades out.)