August 1, 2012
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Scribbling On Scratch Paper Or How I Injected Much Needed Drama Into My Play
Yes, that’s a long title. When you see those on the blog it’s usually a sign I’m in a chipper mood and it’s also a sign of my fondness for Rocky and Bullwinkle. Side note: my fondest memory of Rocky and Bullwinkle is the episode of Mr. Know It All on “How to be a Beatnik” which has a fantastic line for the grownups watching (see italics): “The first step in becoming a beatnik is growing a beard. This can be a long process–especially if you are a girl.”
But back to the meaning behind my long title.
On my commute today I began thinking about the plays I am working on, the plays I took a break from while in Texas and now must return to. While all have writing that must be done the most immediate concern I have is to get Wolf at the Door ready for an informal table reading this month.
Wolf at the Door is one of my grimm Latino fairy tale plays. It’s the one that started the whole cycle (you can read about it here but be forewarned names have been switched around), though because of my AlterLab The River Bride (the second fairy tale in the cycle) is much further along in the writing process.Anyhoo, I was thinking about a point in the play where I was trying to figure out the action so that I could kinda fill a mini hole in the script (it’s in first draft stage and I’m trying to finish that first draft for the read through). I began to consider rewriting a section to amp up the drama, the stakes and the action. And then it hit me. “Isadora needs to slap Septimo.”
It was like a light bulb going off. Of course! Yes, Isadora needs to strike her husband. And I’m not condoning physical violence here but it is exactly what her character evolution needs as she’s been the victim of spousal abuse and the play is about her gaining agency. Secondly, the slap would enrage Septimo and third, the action could be what tips Yolot into going into labor. Yes! Yes! Yes!
And here’s the important part I realized: in the script as it is now the women (Isadora, Rocio and Yolot) are unsuccessful in freeing Yolot (she’s chained to a bed). But I realized, they do need to release her. They need to start the process of getting her away from the hacienda and that process needs to be interrupted by Septimo.
So there I am on the bus trying to find something to write with because I don’t have my Wolf at the Door journal with me. I found folded piece of paper in my messenger bag. Folded so that I had four squares (which I numbered since I started writing on what would be the lower left square).
Here’s the scene fragment I wrote, though I’m not sure it’ll make any sense to you, dear reader:
The women successfully use the hammer to detach the chain from the bed.
ISADORA: (to ROCIO) Quick, go get something to keep her warm. And grab a pair of my shoes and some food.
YOLOT: No. I don’t need any of that. I just need to leave.
ISADORA: But the cold.
YOLOT: I’ll be fine.
ROCIO: Listen to her, hija.
A moment.
ISADORA: Fine, but then take one of the horses.
They help YOLOT to her feet, she experiences a sharp contraction.
YOLOT: Ah! Hurry. We have to hurry.
ISADORA: Rocio, abre la puerta.
ROCIO opens the front door to reveal SEPTIMO holding the carcass of a wolf in his hand. The women recoil.
SEPTIMO (to ISADORA): You bitch!
He throws the dead wolf onto the floor. YOLOT screams in horror and goes to the animal’s lifeless body crying. SEPTIMO quickly grabs YOLOT by the nape of her neck. She struggles with a mixture of mourning, hatred and labor pains. SEPTIMO forces her to look at the dead wolf.
SEPTIMO: You like that? I think I’ll make a little fur coat out of it…for the baby.
ISADORA: Sueltala!
ISADORA tries to get SEPTIMO to let YOLOT go. SEPTIMO pushes ISADORA away forcefully and throws YOLOT into the bed. ISADORA rushes SEPTIMO again and slaps him, hard. SEPTIMO freezes. As does ISADORA, returning his hard stare.
SEPTIMO: That’s it, mujer.
He lunges at ISADORA who holds her ground. All this is interrupted by YOLOT screaming and clutching her belly.
YOLOT: Ah! He’s coming! He’s coming!Hm….now just to figure out what Rocio is doing throughout the scene. I may have Septimo knock her out at the top of this fragment. Yes, Septimo is an all around not so good guy.
More soon,
M
