SCENE: TALKIN' TRASH - Advanced Kids M/M
Adapted from Broken Rainbows
Setting: A curbside and the back of a recycling truck
JOEL and DAMOND are both volunteers in a youth program that helps with
city recycling. JOEL, who is Jewish and Black, has just moved into
the neighborhood with his divorced mother. DAMOND is African
American. AS the scene begins, they enter with large recycling crates
(boxes). They are picking up and dumping cans, bottles and newspapers
into their crates, then carrying them into the large bins on the
recycling truck.
DAMOMD: Man, this must be a six-pack-a-day neighborhood. What's with
all these nasty soda cans?
JOEL: People don't think about it. Buy a Coke, drink it, and toss
the can away like that's the end of it.
DAMOND: "The End" is me busting my butt.
JOEL: "The End" is environmental catastrophe!
DAMOND: Whatever you say, Professor Greenpeace. (Muttering) Why'd
they paint these trucks all circus-looking? Bright colors and kiddy
names: "Paper Tiger" for white paper, "Mr. News" for newspaper.
JOEL: The trucks are suppose to attract attention, so people will
think about recycling.
(Sound of a horn of a car driving past. DAMOND ducks behind a trash
bin, pushing JOEL out of the way)
DAMOND: Outta my way, man.
JOEL: What are you doing?
DAMOND: Hiding from Lamont, man!
JOEL: Oh. Don't you want your friends to see you doing this?
DAMOND: Are you kidding?!
JOEL: Why'd you volunteer for this program, if you don't care about
the environment?
DAMOND: Just putting in time at the bottom, so I can step up to the top.
JOEL: Huh?
DAMOND: I've got bigger plans than you could every dream of.
(The boys look at each other, continuing to size each other up)
DAMOND: So, you're the new kid in town.
JOEL: Very observant.
DAMOND: You haven't had my tour of the neighborhood.
JOEL: What tour?
DAMOND: Step right up my man, DAMOND's Greyline cruise of our fair
community. Come on. . .the truck is pulling out.
(They mime sitting on the back of the garbage truck. The truck radio
is on, playing rock and rap music. Boys are bouncing and playing as
new friends)
Beat
JOEL: We may not be partners much longer. You may be all by your
lonesome while I'm doing something else.
DAMOND: Are you applying for the management internship?
JOEL: Stay tuned.
DAMOND: Don't mess with me. Are you? Cause I'm gonna get it.
JOEL: That's a joke. (The truck's horn sounds and the boys jump off
and grab their crates/boxes) Hustle, man. (Looking back) Come on,
hustle.
(JOEL bustles off, but DAMOND takes his time with his crate/box.)
DAMOND: (To himself) No, man. You stay tuned. (DAMOND exits)