"Saving Gordito" (Play)

Saving Gordito

Characters:

Kids
Manuel: cousin 11- year- old boy
Carlitos: main character 10 year old boy                       
Juanita: 7-year-old sister

Adults
Isabella: mother
Pedro: father
Pablo:   uncle                 
Maria: grand mother
Margarita: sister
Gordito: pig

 Setting:

Barranquitas, an old town in the center of Puerto Rico that thrives with jungles, forests, and mountain ranges known as "La Cuna de Próceres" (Cradle of great people)

The day before three king’s day.

Act 1
Description:
Two cousins Manuel and Carlitos are in school in their classroom and theirs only 5 minutes left of school.

Scene 1

Teacher: Most of the architecture in Puerto Rico is found in San Juan and Ponce…

Manuel: (trying to get Carlitos attention he whispers loudly) pppsssssssss! Carlitos! Hey carlitos! Check this out. (Tosses piece of paper to Carlitos but paper falls on floor)

Carlitos: (reaches for the paper only to find himself staring at the feet of their teacher, Senorita Loinaz) (tries to speak but nothing comes out) uuuhhhhhh……uuuhhhhhhh

Senorita Loinaz: (bends down and picks up piece of paper) and what is this we have here? A note? Is it? (Opens it to find a silly drawing of herself) you can see me after class carlitos.

Carlitos: But Senorita Loi…

Senorita Loinaz: (Cutting him off) agghh no buts I don’t want to hear it.

Manuel: (laughing loudly but trying to stay quiet)

Senorita Loinaz: So you think this is funny? Huh? Well I’ll be seeing you after class too.

Manuel: (smile quickly changes to frown) what?! I ain’t do shit though!

Senorita Loinaz: What did you just say, young man?! Go to the principal’s office right now! That type of language will not be tolerated in my classroom!

Carlitos smiles at Manuel before he slams the classroom door behind him
The bell than rings.
All students leave and Carlitos approaches the teacher’s desk.

Carlitos: Yes Senorita Loinaz.

Senorita Loinaz: This is the third time you’ve disturbed my class. I’m afraid I’m going to have to call your parents. Do you understand?

Carlitos: Yes senorita loinaz.

Senorita Loinaz: Now run along now.

Carlitos: ok fine than, see you Senorita Loinaz.

Senorita Loinaz:  See u carlitos

Carlitos: (leaves classroom and enters hallway and sees Manuel walking down the hall) Hey yo Manuel. Did the principal yell at you?

Manuel: Yeah she did. She said she’s going to call my parents but I don’t care.

Carlitos: I guess that’s what you get for laughing at me. (Playfully pushes him)

Manuel: Hey come back here! Haha! You little bum!

Both run off stage

Scene 2
Description:
Isabella and Margarita (middle-aged sisters are conversating in their kitchen, cooking dinner with their mom, Maria

Margarita: so how are the kids doing in school and everything?

Isabella: their doing okay, I mean I haven’t really heard much from school and their doing pretty good with their grades.

Phone rings

Margarita: I got it (picks up phone) Hello

Teacher: Yes this is Carlitos’ teacher, Mrs. Loinaz, can I please talk to one of his parents or Guardians?

Margarita: Sure, one second please. (To Isabella) here it’s for you. (Whispers) its carlitos’ teacher.

Isabella: (takes phone) hello.

Teacher: yes umm, sorry to bother you, but I’m just calling to let you know that your son has been interrupting class quite often lately and today I caught him and another kid passing a note and when I opened it, it was a picture that made fun of me and even though it didn’t bother me, it was pretty offensive. He really is a good student but he doesn’t always make the best decisions. I see so much potential in him so when I see him doing things like this it just is disappointing to me…

Isabella: okay, I’m sorry, I’ll definitely talk to him and I’ll make sure it won’t happen again.

Teacher: ok thank you. Have a good one

Isabella: Same you, bye (to Margarita) Well I got your answer now

Margarita: uh-oh what did they do? Did they do something bad.

Isabella: well she said that he is interrupting class

Pedro Isabella’s husband enters

Pedro: Hey guys I’m home

Isabella: Hey sweetie how was your day in work?

Pedro: It was good, pretty slow but good. Not making much money lately but at least we’re making ends meet. I’m afraid we’re going to have to use Gordito for tomorrow’s feast. We’ve run out of pigs and he’s the only one left.

Isabella: That’s going to devastate the kids.

Pedro: well we have no other choice honey I’m sorry.

Isabella: I got a call from Carlitos’ teacher.

Pedro: Oh really. What did he do exactly?

Curtain closes

Scene 3
School building

Carlitos: hurry up Manuel we have to pick up my sister.

Manuel: I’m coming, I’m coming.

Carlitos: oh there she is she must’ve came out of her class room early.

Juanita: (loudly) Hey guys I’m hungry lets hurry up home

Carlitos: then come on lets go (they run ahead)

Juanita: wait for me guys, wait up

Manuel: ugghh come on than

Juanita: (pointing high up in a tree) guys look it’s a doll in that tree way up there. Can you please get it for me? Please Please Please. I really want a new doll.

Carlitos: Well I don’t know that’s pretty high up and it’s pretty dangerous you know

Manuel: what’s a matter? You scared? Scared of heights? Scaredy cat!

Carlitos: I’m not scared I…I just don’t want to get hurt

Juanita: please Carlitos please Carlitos. I beg you

Manuel: uggh I’ll do it for you (begins to climb tree)

Carlitos: I’ll go too

They both slowly and carefully climb up tree

Manuel: we’re almost there it is pretty high up and the branches are getting thinner and thinner the higher we climb. If I could just reach it…

(Stretches himself as far as he can to reach the doll.)

Carlitos: I don’t think I can get it it’s too high up

Juanita: Please, please please your so close keep on trying

Manuel: (Moves further out on branch) Got it aaaaggggghhhhhh (branch snaps and he falls off tree)

Carlitos: (from the top of tree) Nnnnnnnnnoooooooo!!!!!!! Manuel!!!!

Juanita: Oh my gosh! Manuel are you okay!

Manuel: I’m okay, but my ankle really hurts, I think I might’ve twisted it

Carlitos: Well let’s get you home. Can you walk?

Manuel: I don’t know I can try.

They all walk off stage

Scene 4
Description:
Everyone is in the house
Three kids enter house

Carlitos and Juanita: (panting heavily both try to tell their mom what happened at the same time)

Isabella: Whoa slow down one at a time please

Carlitos: well we were walking home from school and Juanita wanted a doll that was high up in the tree and I didn’t want to get it because I knew it was too high so Manuel tried to get it and I thought I’d might as well go up with him and we tried to get it but the branch broke and Manuel fell and twisted his ankle and...

Margarita: I’ll take care of Manuel, don’t worry… (to Manuel) come on Manuel.

Carlitos: I’m sorry I just wanted to get the doll for Juanita.

Margarita: no its fine it’s not your fault Manuel shouldn’t have been doing something that was so dangerous.

Manuel: It’s fine I guess I shouldn’t have been showing off.

Manuel and Margarita exit stage

Isabella: (whispers) Carlitos! Why would you allow something like that to happen! You should know better!

Carlitos: I’m sorry Mama

Juanita: Mom can we please go outside and play with Gordito?

Carlitos: Yeah mom please I haven’t seen that fat little pig in so long I almost forgot what he looks like

Isabella: Well I don’t know it’s kind of getting late

Pedro: Hey guys I have a better idea why don’t we weave those baskets for the horse’s food if you want the three kings to come tonight.

Carlitos and Juanita: Yeahhhhh!!!!!

Carlitos: after this I’ll go get the hay and straw and put it under our bed for the three kings’ horses

Juanita: and can I please get the water for them?

Pedro: We’re taking good care of the three kings’ horses this year, maybe they’ll drop off lots of gifts.

Juanita: I can’t wait until tomorrow it’s going to be the best day ever.

Carlitos: Yeah I know!!!

Curtain Closes

Act 2
Three kings Day Children wake up in their room to find the hay gone, the water drunken and presents underneath their bed.

Scene 1
Carlitos wakes up and looks under bed.

Carlitos: Juanita, Juanita! Get up Juanita the Three kings left us presents come on.

Excitedly gets up out of bed and looks under bed.

Juanita: come on, let’s go to Manuel’s room and tell him come on.

Juanita and Carlitos: Get up Get up Manuel!!

Juanita: (excited) they left us gifts! The three kings! They left gifts under our beds! Look!

Manuel gets up, looks under bed

Manuel: they did, they really did, I knew it! Let’s go show our parents come on!

They all grab all their gifts and take it downstairs
Adults are playing music

Carlitos: wait not yet there playing our favorite song “La Tierra de Borrinquen”

Manuel: Hey look no one is playing the Guiro I’m going to go play that.

Juanita: I call the Maracas!

Carlitos: Hey mom look what the three kings left for me I got my very own cuatro. I’ve been wanting one of those for so long. I’m going to teach myself how to play it. Dad could teach me too, look how good he’s playing.

Isabella: Hey do you want to make the Vejigantes now?

Carlitos: Yeah mom can we please

Isabella: go tell Manuel and your sister that we’re gonna make the masks now.

Carlitos runs over to Juanita and Manuel who are playing the musical instrument sand tries to get their attention.

Carlitos: Guys! Guys! My mom said that it’s time for mask making. Come on.

Juanita: Is it really. Come on Manuel we’re going to make the Vejigantes now.

Scene 2
Margarita, Isabella, Maria and the three kids are creating Vejigante masks while Pedro and his brothers and friends are playing Dominoes outside

Carlitos: mine is coming out awesome it looks just like a Vejigante.

Juanita: mines is better!!

Manuel: Both of yours suck mine is the one that’s greatest and look I’m already almost done.

Isabella: All of yours are great no one’s is better than the other one’s but I’m going to go start preparing dinner so you guys behave yourselves. I’m going to start boiling the pasteles because we all know how long they take.

Carlitos: Wait mom, can I come help you prepare dinner

Isabella: Sure if you want to I don’t see why not

Manuel: Well me and Juanita are going to go dance the merengue.

Juanita: They’re doing the merengue and Titi Margarita promised that she would teach me.

Manuel: the merengue is so much fun.

Isabella and Manuel go to the kitchen

Manuel: So what are we going to do first?

Isabella: Well I’m, going to do the pastels and then the rice and beans.

Pedro: Hey wanna help me with the morcillas, and quesadillas.

Carlitos: You guys should let me cook something by myself this year. Like… how about the tostones, I know how to do them.

Pedro: Well we’ll let you make them but I’m still gonna be there to make sure you do everything right.

Carlitos: Yay! Okay great! Well first can I go outside and play with Gordito??? Please.

Isabella: okay just make sure you keep yourself out of trouble!
Carlitos: okay mom I will don’t worry

Scene 3
Kids are outside playing with their pet pig, Gordito

Carlitos: Come on Gordito, Come on boy

Manuel: look when I chase him he gets scared.

Juanita: he’s so cute we had him for so long. We have so many memories with him.

Manuel: Yeah, I know Remember the first time we asked our parents if he could be a house pet they thought we were kidding.

Carlitos: Yeah remember that one time we thought he ran away and he was under your bed the whole time Manuel?

Manuel: Oh yeah I do. And I taught him how to sit too. I love him so much. (picks up pig and gives it a hug.)

Puts the pig down
Juanita chases him

Juanita: hey get back here!

Pig bumps into the table that Pedro and the uncles are playing dominoes at and all the dominoes fall off

Juanita: I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean that. I was just chasing the pig around and he…

Pablo: It’s fine, don’t worry I’ll pick it up I got it. Why don’t you guys go over there and play, and be careful!

Pedro: Yeah guys be careful when you’re running around like that because look, mistakes happen.

Manuel: Yeah come on Juanita you should know better than that

Juanita: I’m sorry

Carlitos: It’s fine…Well it’s getting boring we should play baseball.

Manuel: yeah we should

Carlitos: I’ll go get our gloves and baseball. Be right back.

Manuel enters house and passes by the kitchen door.
He overhears the adults talking about Gordito.

Margarita: How about you guys bring the kids in and I’ll try and sneak Gordito into the kitchen.

Isabella: well I’m not sure because the kids really love him and have grown a bond with him.

Maria: Well we have to eat we need pork in our meal.

Carlitos quickly leaves too tell Manuel and Juanita

Scene 4
Description
Kids are outside planning what to do about what Carlitos heard the Adults talking about.

Carlitos: Manuel! Juanita! Guys listen I just overheard the worst thing ever. So I went inside to go get the gloves and when I passed the kitchen door I heard the adults saying that they’re going to cook gordito and eat him for dinner tonight

Manuel: No way, are you serious?!

Juanita: No that’s impossible they wouldn’t want to kill Gordito, little gordito

Manuel: So what should we do. We can’t let them do this. We can’t eat Gordito.

Carlitos: I don’t know. We have to think this one out…
Okay I got it I got an idea. First we’ll tuirn the fire out. Then we’ll knock down the stickthat they’re gonna put the pig on over the fire. So Juanita you go get the water from the river to turn out the fire. Manuel you knock the evil pig killer thingie over and I’ll hide Gordito somewhere.

Manuel: okay sounds good.

Carlitos goes and gets Gordito.

Carlitos: (to himself outloud) Now where could I put that pig that no one would notice.
Oh I know where. I’ll put him under Manuels bed like what happened last time.

Puts pig under bed

Carlitos: Yeah and I’ll surround the bed with pillows so that he won’t escape.

Carlitos goes back outside

Carlitos: Good job guys we did it now they definitely won’t eat Gordito.

Isabella comes outside

Isabella: Hey guys you wouldn’t happen to know where Gordito was at by any chance would you?

Kids: No not at all where could he be?

"Regretful Desicions" (Monologue)

Character Description:

Name- Chris

Age- 16

Appearance- Medium-sized, black-haired, Brown-eyed, young boy who dresses like a street punk but really isn’t.

Personality- A friendly, outgoing kid who always does things he shouldn’t just to fit in or be cool but really is a nice kid, a follower.

Audience- He is talking to a CSI investigator who is questioning him about the incident.

Setting- He is in an interrogation room, a kind of dimmed room with only one bright light shining on the young scared boy who is sitting in the center of the room at a desk across from the detective. There is a big mirror stage right where people on the other side can watch what’s going on inside but Chris is unaware of this.

 Regretful Decisions:

(Boy sitting in chair with elbows on interrogation table and hands on forehead)

          It was only supposed to be a prank. I mean, it’s called mischief night for a reason. It was the day before Halloween and all we wanted was just to have a little fun you know. The guy, umm… I don’t even remember his name… uuuhhh (remembers it) oh yeah, Mr. Rutgers. He had to be the most obnoxious, rude, and crankiest old man I have ever met. He would always complain about the dumbest little things like people walking on his lawn.
          One time me, Tim, and Alex were walking home from school on Friday, just playing around, and tossing a football to each other. And I accidentally threw the ball too high and it went in his yard. So John being the “big shot” he is, climbed over the fence to get the football. And before we knew it we saw him standing there at the door with a bat. He started chasing us with it and yelling that he was going to call the cops on us.
          So we thought he deserved a little payback. The plan was just to give him a little scare for being so grumpy all the time. (sobs) It was all John’s idea. He is the leader and the coolest of us three and the most daring. He is always in some kind of trouble. He wanted revenge on the old guy. Alex, Alex is the smarter one of us three. He was the mastermind of the entire thing. Too bad he doesn’t use his brains for something more useful. Me, I was the follower who just went along with them and tried my best to fit in. I always would do stuff to impress them. I knew that the whole thing was a bad idea. They both were bad news. They would always get themselves in trouble and do things they’re not supposed to.
          Me, John, and Alex had devised a plan that we thought would be the funniest thing ever. So every Sunday this guy walks to the same supermarket and back and he crosses the same railroad every time. So we thought we would rig the controls of the railroad lights and put the barriers down as soon as he was in between them. All we wanted to do was to scare him a bit, teach him a lesson for being so grouchy. Everything was going exactly as planned and we were so excited. We all had walkie talkies so me and John followed the guy while
          Alex was back at the railroad messing with the controls. We were behind the bushes looking at him and we put the barriers down right on time.  We were all so happy that everything played out so perfect and it was so funny because he was so scared.  Then the prank was over—we’d had our fun—but when we pulled the lever to make the barriers go back up, it wasn’t working.  Then we heard the sound of a train.
          This was no longer funny. We all looked at each other with fright to make sure that this really was happening, hoping that it was all just a terrible nightmare.  From this point on the entire situation went down the drain. The entire mood changed. Our laughing expressions quickly changed to worry.  Then we looked at Mr. Rutgers. When I saw that look on his face I knew that it was no longer just a Halloween prank. He was so petrified he didn’t know what to do. He just stood there, in shock. He could’ve just moved. He could’ve just moved. I don’t understand why he didn’t move. Everything would’ve been fine. All he had to do was just move. He was just so frozen in horror he didn’t do anything except watch his life come to an end, Groceries in hand and everything. We all wanted to save him but I guess we panicked. By the time we thought out the idea of jumping in front of the train to save him, it was too late.  The whole thing went disastrous right before our eyes and there was absolutely nothing we could do except watch. None of us intended for things to escalate to this level.  If only I could go back in time and not make this stupid mistake that we will all regret forever.  I’ll never forget that face: His eyes were open so wide.