In the Red and Brown Water was produced in January 2010
by The Studio Theatre Joy Zinoman, Founding Artistic Direc-
tor; Keith Alan Baker, Managing Director/ Artistic Director,
2nd Stage) in Washington, D.C. It was directed by Serge
Seiden; the set design was by Luciana Stecconi, the costume
design was by Reggie Ray, the lighting design was by
‘Michael Giannitti, the sound design was by Erie Shimelonis;
the dramaturg was Sarah Wallace, the production stage
manager was John Keith Hall. The east was as follows:
om Raushanah Simmons
EuEGDA Mark Hairston
our sia Jahi A. Kearse
MAMA MOJA, TRE WOMAN WHO
REMINDS YOU Denise Diggs
wa ‘Shaunté Corrina ‘Tabb
AUNPRERGUA Deidra LaWan Starnes
sus Shannon Alexandria Lillie Dorsey
sHANGO Yaogel T. Welch
“THE MAAN FROM STATE,
o1:R00N Michael Harris
xGUNOUN Ricardo Frederick Evans
CHARACTERS
ova,
OOUN siz
[MADIA MOA, THE WOMAN
YiHlo RENEINDS YOU
AUNT ELEGUA
a
begins the play a git] and ends it a
‘woman; a woman of color
begins the play a boy and ends ita
man, godbrother to Oyas of Creole
heritage
with Oya for time, nephew of
Aunt Plegua; a man of color
mother of Oye, godmother to
Elegba; a mother of color
aunt to Ogun, godmother to Oya; a
woman of color
gizl from around the way
giz] from around the way, friend 10
iS
with Oya for atime; a dark man of
color
fair woman of color
awhite man
a DI, a boy from around the wayTIME
Distant present
PLACE
San Pere, Louisiana
PROLOGUE
The tights come wp.
‘The castis standing in a line dounstage.
The men all begin to hum, a sad sweet hur,
Thick like the early morning mist.
They move upstage.
Halfivay through the journey
Oya is oft center stage, alone.
She ties down on the ground, holds her head
And stares up to the sky. Hr lines are said from this position
like a chant or moan.
The others continue upstage, speaking their lines, the men
still faemming.
Until finally they stand still.
‘The cast glows like a pantheon of deities, ending the
Prologue.
“THR BROTHRA/SISTRR PLAYS
2
Gharp breath out)
Abt
AUNT ELBODA,
don’t know all
Nobody does.
AUNT BLEGLA
‘But say she ain't even scream.
ova
‘Oya in the air Oya...
sux
Say it sound like the wind
‘MAMA MOA
Like a breeze .
ora
A breeze over Oya.
‘That's what they say?
MAMA MOA, AUNT ELEGUA AND SHUN
Fiub.
ova
IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER
She enters
om
Oya
Maas Nora
Holding her head.
ox
Oya gal
Laying up somewhere.
Staring out somewhere.
MAMA MOUA, AUNT ELEGUA AND SHUN
Somewhere
Hu.
MaMa M07
Lord God
ona
Oya.
‘HUN
‘That givl
ora
Oya.
8THE BROTHER/SISTRA PLAYS
Sweet smiling
ova
Oya in the air
Sad in the eyes
Intheair... Oy
That's what they say.
sro
‘That's what Iixnow ...
Oya,
Beautiful girl
ACT 1
SCENE 4
MAMA MOrA
Mama Moja enters the space ..
‘Where you going Oya?
ova
Gotta go. Track meet.
AMA MOA
No.
No?
Moja looks at Oya like, “What I say?”
‘What I say?
6ora
Mama... You
‘What you mean?
‘MAMA MOZA
A mother's stare.
ora
Mama please!
eanta 078
‘I'm tired of you coming in here
All skin't up from running.
Running go: your body all hurt,
ova
ain't hurt, I'm fine.
just... Thave to run today.
MAMA MOA
‘You must not be too good
‘You come in here all breathin
Hard, dirty and funky and al,
Ankles all swollen. Youa good
Runner?
‘Yes Mama.
MAMA MOI
‘You sure?
‘Yeah I'm suret
16
MAA MA
(Oh yoah? That's what they say, huh?
‘That’ right. Llnow you heard.
Tm Oya.
MAMA MOA
‘Laughing! UH-HUH!
Thmow that’s right!
‘Now that’s what I wanna hear!
‘You gon out there and show them
Girls how to
Oya laughs at her eazy mama.
You crazy.
anes for
You my favorite Oya Joan Fair.
T'm your only Mama Moja.
nov that
‘Trying to see if you know.
‘Let me look at you.
Here I go,
17THD BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
‘They stand for each other.
Arreflection ..
A face.
‘MAMA MOIA AND OYA
Her own,
(Sharp breath)
Abt
Moja’s breath comes loose,
She catches her knee.
‘You okay Mama?
MANA MOA
Gon head 10 your meet,
Gon head. I be here when you
Get back. Tired just now.
‘You sure Mama?
MAMA MOA
Gon. I dan’t want you missing this one,
Gon.
Allright.
Oys leaves
Masa Ou
‘Torun her race.
BLEGBA
Enter Lil Legha
Mojal
SCENE 2
MAMA MOsA,
Not today Lord,
Moja!
Loud as hell...
ELEOBA,
‘MA MOZA!
‘Moja steps to the porch.
MAL
ante Mora
Lil Legba! What I told you bout hollarin fa me hub?
Screamin my name like that!
19que anoTUER/sIsTRA PAYS
20
Sorry Moja.
‘Where Oya?
MAMA MOJA
Runnin.
RLEOBA
Already
MAMA MOA
Always.
LEODA,
Teome to beg some candy er some money to get some.
MANA MOZA
No.
uEGnA
I know it's bad for me, I know it but Mama Moja
Thave to have it, I need it in my lifet
MABA 0034
Moja looks at him like, “What I say?
What I say!
muEcDA
What I got to do to prove to you I need it?
MAMA MONA
You don’t need it
What I got to do to prove I gots to have it?
MAMA DOTA
‘You can whatever you please,
‘Telling me what you gots to have,
Tought to spank your tail!
Send you round back to your peoples
So they find out you round here begging.
ELEOBA
‘They don't mind you giving, Mama Moja,
Sweet Moja. They know you. We love you.
MARCA MOTA
Moja smiles.
You ain't getting no candy Legba
MAMA sO
What you say?
BLECBA
Somebody say you know dreams
‘You understand dreams Mama Moja?
MAMA MOA
Tmayhap.
LOA
Sometimes I come home from the schoolhouse tired ..
Ub, Lil Lega
PsFall asleep
‘dream with messages I can't read yet ...
i Need some help with.
| Tiknow they messages, just don't know who they to
‘Where they from, how to get them there.
‘Moja sighs Giving into the lil fucker
‘What your dreams say Lil Lega?
I don't know that's what I'm asking you.
GoonLilLegba...
ELEGDA
‘They hurt now these dreams
MAMA OTA
‘Tell me your dreams lil boy!
‘Mumbling to herself,
Shite’monlain’gotalldayforthisfootishness.
Sorry Lord.
[es always about the water, my dreams
Near itor around it. Sometimes I stand
In the high tide and I can't breathe but I
Can breathe. And I walk on the bottom on
‘The floor of the waters and they’s these people
‘Walk alongside me but they all bones and they
IN THK RED AND BROWN WATRR
Click the bone people, they talk in the click.
say, “Where yall going?” And they say, “Just
‘Walking for a while.” Tsay, “Don’t you want
To go home...” They say, “When we walk there, it
‘Wasn’s there no moro.” I fel bad for them
‘Then they click and [come up on the mud part,
“Like they send me to the land part, And T'm
Sitting there waiting ‘cause T knew they want
Me to wait I wait there looking and on
“Top of the waters is Oya...
Lil Legba looks for Moje's reaction.
‘MAMA M04
muon,
‘Oya girl floating on top of the water,
Looking up towards the sky and with no clothes
She hardly got no clothes on and she got her legs
Wide
Lil Legba ducks ...
LEGBA
And she holding her head on the side with her
Hand like something ailing her,
But from her legs blood coming down and it’s making the
pond
Red
All the water around her red but she
Ain’t in pain Mama Moja she ain’t in
No pain it look Like just laying on top of
‘That. water. Brown skin in the red water
2sTHE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS
‘And I stick my hand in the water to make
‘It wavy so she soe me on the land I want
‘To ask her something but she don't look
Atme so I stick my hand in the water to make
Ivshake her on top and the water comes back in
‘A weve, that red and brown water, wash on me
And I wake up sweating on my face and wet
Low down, like that water, between my legs, wet .
AMA OIA
Mara Moja moves to slap his lil fresh face.
BureDA,
UHUHYOUTOLDMETOTELLYOU!
Moja standing, can’t help rehearing
All that Lil Legba said
Gon, Legba, watch Oya run for me.
BLEODA
‘What it mean Moja?
‘What my dream mean?
“Mama Moja looks to the sky.
Itmean you becoming aman Lil Legba,
My Oya.a woman and I'm...
Tm tired just now,
murona
Lil Legba begins to walk eway lke the half moon
In the morning,
oa
SCENE 3
The men begin chanting:
HOUNGUN
RUN!
0.11 ROON
RUN!
RUN
0.Lt ROON
RUN
RGUNGUN
RUN
ot 00s
RUN
(Chey continue,
Look at her!
sHANGO
RUN
GUN siz
RUN
sHANcO
BUN
sHANoO
BUN
RUN
(Sharp breath
out)
AH!Running
AUNT ELBOUA
Gon head Oya!
Running
Her powerful legs
Running
aun muxeua,
Pressing that ground!
‘Burning it up!
‘AUNT BERGA
Yes she is
IA AND AUNT ELROUA
Yea she ist
Running
ma
Fasterl
AUN ELBOUA
‘Then fastert
26
Nia
‘You can barely see where her feet meet the earth.
AUNT HLEGUA,
Uh uh barely see where they meet,
ma
Gon around that track!
Running
Just love to watch her
saoN
Huh
Running like that
‘sawr HEOUA
Gon head girl
(Phe men stop chanting.)
sui Wow
She wont
a
YEAH
‘They all go forward to hug and congravulate,
a|
i
Er
‘re MAN PROM STATE
When The Man from State cuts in front of everyone.
Oya girl you are blessed ... Did you see how them
Other girls couldn't even keep up with you? They just
Stop running after while and just look at your
Legs flying around, flying through the air,
‘The white man lifts his hat so you could see his eyes,
Oya gal you got a mean run on you.
ova
‘Thank you.
Kind of you.
‘THE MAN FROM STATE
Oya gal you come run for me like that? We
Love to have you at State, love for you to
Bring in us some championships, I ain't
Gon lie to you Oya gal we ain't got
‘Much in the way of offerin but you
Come be one in our school, come be one of
Our number as it were and we treat you
Right... we meat you good.
ova
I... on't know sir T
Wish I could answer now but I gotta
‘Talk to my mama,
‘Well tol her what I said.
See what she say. Get back to me...
But come on quick Oya gal. That spot in
‘The sun ain't shining eternal
38
oma
Oya breathes and smiles
0ux siz
‘That beautiful smile,
sHAKGO
But she was bleeding.
mnana
Everyone saw it
Guy size
How could they not?
Ont.
(The men alt step toward Oya.
The women block thern out.)
ova
1... Tjust
sw
Didn't you know it was coming?
ova
Well I...Tmean... ‘cause of the running ..
‘Ie gets off and
Huh.
29THe pRoTwER/sistER PLAYS
ma
She didn’t know.
AUNT ELEOUA
Oya.
‘SHUN
Stupid gin
SCENE 4
ocun size
Ogun Size on Oya’s front porch,
PF Fine runnin out there.
Hey Ogun, how you doin?
oun siz
So,s0 beautiful ..
Tmean to, to see you
‘mean to, to see you run like that
So beautiful
‘Make me almost wanna fall asleep.
i oma,
Hi
ocuy siz
mean, not ‘cause Tim ., . No because you, it's
Tes, it's got this song to it your loge like
A crickets, but more beautiful but still when
They
30
Ogun moves his fingers like legs runnin,
‘When they move like this they start stir, stirring
Asong in the air... ike, like a li Lullaby
Sing-singing to me softly. Move so so
‘ast they start to sing: You know?
Tn the a-aix, O-Oya in the air,
Oya sad, smiles.
oGuN siz
What's wrong?
You hurt my heart. When you stutter like that
I... To that! Tdon't
Giving effort to not stutter,
Mean it Oya,
ova
‘Limow, Its like Low you... What you want to say and
sometimes when it halts up like that when the words get
stuck in your chest, when they could come out so sweet
just... I get sad for you... that’s all
GUN size
Oyal...1...1
Enter Shango.
What up, Ogun?
stTHE BROTHER/sx6z2R PLAYS
Gun size
He Hey
sHANCO
C'mon nigga get it out.
I... Hey Shango.
smanoo
How you doin man?
see you trying to woo the ladies
Suill which yo half-out words.
ocuN siz
‘Oh man stop, stop teasing ma
suanoo
Nab [ain't teasing you man ..
‘You my man Ogun.
Hey Shango .
‘You think I can talk to Oya here for
A minute?
oun sxe
Oh...ub.
sHaNoo
Shango steps in front of Ogun.
‘Thanks man I preciate it
2
oun size,
gum leaves the way he came,
sHANoO
Oya gal, Oya gal.
You ren that race.
How you doin Shanigo?
‘Oh I'm phyne.
‘You know
Shango laughs
Tim fine.
oma
That's good. a
You looked so good out there, girl. So good.
Homning
Yeah you was.
Till you started bleeding but still...
You know you can't help that,
Nah, But still damn,
He adjusts his dick,
He puts his leg up.
He licks his lips,
Trarely look at dark girls like that,
But you black and phyne.
So T couldn't help it,
38om
Hoh.
smANGO
Nah don't get all like that,
Why dark women always
Got to get mad so quick?
ova
‘We can’t change color, like the yellow girls when they blush
So we get mad quick so you can see it in our face.
You craay girl. Why you so erazy?
You smell good. Oya how you been running all
Day and still smell good.
COfitage)
*Cause I teach her to wash every day
Bunter Mama Moja.
And not to play with trash.
Teay Oya gal...
Moja moves in.
Don't play with tosh, hear,
Te gets in yah eyes, baby,
Tt gets in yah eyes
Ob how you doin Ms. Moja.
MAMA MOA
Evening come Shango.
Yo mama missing her third bern.
‘When the rent time come she don't pay
No portion of it for over here ..
‘Think you need to enjoy what she pay for.
‘Think you need to be where she prepare a place for you
s#axoo
‘You have a good night, Oya.
Kit Shango.
Maa OIA
Some of the nastiest things come wrapped like that...
He all sight Mama don’t mix words on him,
He just smelling himself
(eAMA MOZA
‘The scent strong... Yousure you don't smell him tov?
‘Maral
Toys start smelling and those that was ladies and gentleman
Something start coming away and they get back to animals
again
Sniffin each other.
He gone Mama, Shango just silly like boys get,
Mama.
ssTHE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS
6
asta Mou
‘Moja, not listening, folds a little
l
oma.
Marat
Moja holds out her hand and waves Oya back.
Just tired.
‘Take me inside please.
SCENE 5
‘THE MAN FROM start
The Man from State stands.
ora
Oya looks out forward. Head high.
don’t know how to say this six. Yes I
‘Do. First I say thank you, sit, very much I
Wish I could come on with you this year I do.
Tove to run. Nobody loving kicking
Up dirt on a track like me. That I know,
‘That I feel. But Ilove my mama, And
‘She been low lately. Low. She say she ain't
Got long, T don't believe her but I do.
And sir you don't know but Pa be lying
AE [say I wouldn't go crazy if something
Happened to Moja while I was away.
She say just a year, this year. T stay
With her this while, I will thar's what Iwill do,
But Pll keep training keeping running, always
Running, I know there might not be a chance
Next year but there might be. But there may not be
‘Moja when I got back... So Pma stay here. To
See her stay or... go. Thank you so much sir.
Have a good year.
SCENE 6
oma
Temas late one night,
arly one moming ...
Abi
Oya wakes rom dream
“Moja stands in the early
Morning dew, her hair down,
Standing, staring from her porch.
oma
Oya finds her there.
Moja
Listening. Somewhere ..
Inthe distance,
oma
Near distanceEy
She can hear ol death calling
oma
Mama,
Singing)
Gonna lay down my burdens,
‘Moja throws her hand at Oya.
(Singing)
Down by the riverside
Telling her to stay back.
sus maou
Ginging)
Down by the riverside
MAMA MOuA
Stay back.
Ginging)
‘Down by the ziverside.
MANA MOA
Mama Moja moves
‘To lay her cross down.
ova
Oya sees it
MAD MOA
How could she not?
Mama?
You hear me calling to you.
Listen to me. Like the wind calling you, Mama.
(Mama Moja begins walking a path led by Aunt Blegua.
Oya tries to follow)
om
Mama!
Where you going?!
Oya, in the air... Oya.
Go on back Oya
‘This between me and the Lord.
Gon back. You car't follow.
oma
But you can stay... . Hear Mam?
I can’t follow but you can stay
You know that now. Stay Mama Moja.
50| oo vue pnotmpn/sistER PLATS
Not now, no,
OYA AND MARA MOSA
Not now,
Gon head to run your race.
AUNT EEEGUA
(Singing)
Tain't gonna study war ne more
Ain't gonna study war no more
STOW AND AUNT EECCA
Ginging)
{ain't gonna study war no more
[ain't gonna stady war no raore
‘Ain't gonna study war no more,
own
And with tears in her eyes.
MADIA 4054
Tremors in her body.
ova
Oya watches her mother
MANA MOA
Leave this world.
40
(Aunt Blegua waves her hand.
Mama Moja lets out a sharp breath.)
Abt
Ghe collapses.)
on
Oya begins to
‘Weep for her mother.
Enter Lil Legba, weeping!
SCENE 7
ora
Ob Lord!
LEOBA
Je ain't right, it ain't right
ora
‘Why is he so loud?
Legba what’s wrong?
BLEOBA
‘Yo mama's dead!TRE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS
‘Lil Legha it’s okay. Tinow
‘Trying to comfort him and herself
She ain’t in no more pain!
marcas
‘What make you think I'm erying for her?
ova
You say... Tsay Lil Legha why you
‘Nah you didn't you say, “Lil Legha what's wrong...”
Tell you. Isay, “Yo mama dong,” that’s what wrong with me.
Tain't crying for Moja what my tears do for her.
‘Not wanting to deal
Allright now, look,
Eh [am in grief damnit!
‘Thinking
‘You wanna grief with me?
No Lil Legba
BuBODA
‘What you too good to grief and wail with me?
‘Cmon woe the while.
Lil boy!
IX THE RED AND BROWN WATER
Legba, my name Legba ..
Linow who you
Legha cries
Lil Legha!
Oh it ain’t right this warld sometimes!
No... No itisn't
Dead Mama Moja, dead. Who will give me lil candies
‘When I come by and say hi?
ova
Legba ¢'mon now. Twill give you
runona
Legba stops crying.
‘Look now ... Iam griefin and moanin, all right?
Go on in the house if you gon do all that talking.
Some people ain't got no respect,
Legba moans.
SHANGO
Enter Shango
Hey Oya girl...
4%any pnovuna/sreEn PLays
om
Shango.
SHANG
T'm sorry bout her pasts.
‘Thank you.
saxo
‘That always sound funny to me
Somebody die and you say sorry and they say thank you
Never sound right to me.
om.
Je don’t sound right to me either
‘You got something more clever for me to say?
sHANGo
Nah T ain't accusing you of nothing
Tssaid it too when my daddy died
‘But it never felt right you know?
Never fels right.
om,
‘Oya gitl Looks to the sky.
Finds no answer there.
sHANGO
Sho breathes like the wind.
upon
Legba sneaks off opposite of how he come
saaxoo
‘You look like you stand some company.
ona
Lil Lega here is
smuxeo
Lil Lega?
Nothing
Iknow I been ..
In the past I ain't heen right...
‘You got tobe you.
sanoo
‘That's what I say. Alsvays be you, and -.
People ft together different.
| fit with you different than I fit with other people
got something drawing to you and I feel you drawing to me,
Shango curls his fingers around Oya’s ear and Caresses the
soft.
Huh,
sHANGo
So Tim lying? You don’t feel nothing for me?
Tain say all that,THE BROTHEA/SISTRR PLAYS
ro
sniaNGo
But then... Imean it ain't love
"Cause if it was love it would easily turn
Hate how much I get on your nerves
ona
That you do.
sHANoo
‘You get on my nerves too.
oma
Huh.
seaNoo
But I think Ladore you.
ona
Oya takes a breath
suaxoo
‘Tasting Shango’s drift.
like you getting on my nerves
Sometimes.
oma
Sometimes.
Pam all right with that,
Tike you most of the titae...
opt you be acting all dark-skinned
See
Niggas.
You was doing good.
Tm still here, I still doing all right.
‘Cause my mama ain't here to run you off
onaxoo
‘You know that aix’t right. You know she alvways here.
‘And even if she ain't here, che there.
Shango points to Oye's heart.
‘And here too
Hee points to his own.
Oya breathes
saxo
Like the wind.
Letme take you inside,
ova
don't... don’t need you to do that,
smanco
I didn’t say I got to take you inside I asked to let me
Shango offers his hand.
ova
‘Oya sees itTHE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
sHaNoo
How could she not?
‘They goin
SHANGO AND OFA,
Together,
SCENE 8
sanco
waar!
‘YOU HEARD ME!
SHANGO AND OYA!
ova
FROM INSIDE!
YELLING $0 LOUD!
SHUN
THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING!
OKAY, WAKING UP ALL THE PROJECTS!
Damnit Oyat
ova
Don’t cuss me in my house
suHANco
Eh fuck yo house -
{es too early for all this,
om
Why did you bring it then?
suaNco
ain't start this thunder!
Tain't even get up with the dovil this morning!
I just said don't be all hugged up on me.
‘This is my house, you sleeping in my bed, next vo me!
IE Tcan't be all up on you in my house in my bed
‘Where I can do it then, show met
sHANGO
Idone told you.
I don’t want nobody all up on me
When I'm sleep
That's what the fuck I said ..
I know I ain't stutter,
That ain’t what Ido...
Shit.we DNOTHER/ SISTER PLATS
ows
Coming outside.
Niggas!
AUNT ELEGUA
Aunt Elegua coming down the street.
Ora gat
Weeping
Oya gal!
Moaning.
‘Yo mama dead and gone!
Come let your Aunt Ele love you.
ora
Hoy Aunt Elogua
AUNT ELEGUA
Tdon't know what Iam gon dot
Yo mama’s dead and gone.
She been dead for months
‘Blegua stops and looks at her smart-ass
Goddaughter.
Hu.
She breaks down again.
And I still ain't igured out what to do.
You need someone to watch over yout
ova
Yim fine Aunt Blegua.
AUNT BEeuA,
Me and Moja was close.
Like a sister and now that she gone
Isay to myself last night I say self that gir] over there
Lonely...
ora
Tain’t been lonely.
In that house without no one to talk to...
Tm fine,
AUN REGU
And here I'am call myself a friend to Moja and
smaxco
Enter Shango.
AUNT ELEGUA
‘Who this?
ov
Shango this Elegva.
AUNT ELEOUA
Hub,
‘Yousa phyne thang ain't you.
‘Yes sir looka here looka here,
‘This here your friend Oya giel?
ora
Yes Shango is my friend.
5Yall lovers and friends?
ova
Aunt Ele!
AUNT ELEOUA
Ob honey Pm just asking ain’t judging
Nak nab. Just asking; I wouldn't mind if I do
Do what?
ova
Huh.
Nab girl I was just being silly.
‘You sleep here Shango baby?
Sometimes when Oya don't make me go home.
oma
Ey
AUNT ELEOUA
‘Yeah gitlI figured thet’s how you did it.
ova
Aunt Elegua .
AUNT EEEGUA
Stop all that... umming and abing,
Standing like you got to pee, honey.
You don’t need to dance
Tknow the story, [ain't your mama
You ain't got to splain nothing to me.
So yall sweet strong on each other or
This a bitter honeysuckle yall sipping on.
‘Who got which in they mouth?
‘We just friends Aunt Ble
AUNT ELEOUA
ain't meddlin in your business
Tain't. I got my own business to take care of
‘Wondering if yo mama left me anything in the house.
Something for me?
‘There's a box of things I know she would have wanted you
10 have,
Aur ELEGUA
‘Thank you girl.
Gon head and get it,
Yl keep an eye on God’s Heaven for you
‘Oya exits,
suNT BLEGUA
‘You ever been with a older woman?
siango
Ain't none of em like that Oya,
5YHE paOTHER/sIsTBR PLATS
You stepping out on my godbaby!
She kicks me out.
Sometimes we can’t stand the sight of each other
‘Bus when you make up
sano
Ws all i the making up.
How she like you to make up to he:?
stanco
Like all women do...
On my knees.
ova
Oya returns.
AUNT ELEGUA
What you doing now, Oya,
‘With this freak hore?
‘This boy got a wickedness in his
Stanco, a driving in his pants
‘What a good girl doing with somebody like him
om
Task the same question.
‘You ain't trying to get my baby pregnant is you
8
Iw THE RED AND BROWN WATER
simaa0
Hell nahi You crazy?
Holl nah? Why you actin like that?
smaxco
Tain’s trying to have no youngin makin me grown . .
AUNT HLEGUA
‘What you eaze? You trying to get pregnant?
Eh you can’t rum pregnant Oya.
‘You still running that man say come on in
A year .. . You ready?
ova
Yeah Aunt Blegua, I'm running.
sHANGO
‘Ta Oya,
Lying
AUNT FLRGUA
Don’t you think it’s bout time to show him you still got it
Fall coming ain't it
ova
Tis just spring.
Auer euRuA
You giving me mouth Oya gal,
Teaivt saying what it shouldt
‘You better listen Ele when she talk yeaht
You better come on now.
Get your nose out that boy and what?
55THK HROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
Get your mind right
‘There itis. [know you ain't forgot.
Get your books when?
ora
First
Get some dick when?
Later
"That's right be fast in the feet and not in the ass
C'mon on now. Listen to Ble.
Call up that man get him to see you can
‘Rus like Oya gal so he ean step you up.
‘This asphalt still be burning hot when you got back.
sraNco
‘You know that huh?
Lf it ain’s one black road work it's another.
(Oya smiles,
Ail older Legba enters
Breathing hard laughing breathing.
Exit Shango.
‘our nooN
O1Li Roon enters mad as hell.
Yall better get him, hear!
Catch him before I dot Because if I lay hands
On E-legba ... swear fore Godt
What you rushing over here sereaming for O Li Roon?
0 11 n0ON
Didi’t I tell you, didn’t I tell you, if you stole from me
Again Legba I was gon burn you, do something to you
‘Like they do ’eross the waters, in Kwait bum your booty
hair something
So you know damnit why don’t you learn? So hard-headed!
COME HERE!
‘Legha laughing
Running ducking
Get off me!
‘What you stealin for Legbal
‘Went in his store told him I want some candy.
Ho say, “Gon and get-the chocolate Legba it’s right there.”THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS
5s
So you took i?
LBOBA
say, “Lain't got no money nab.”
ou ROON
And I say, “Then you don't want no chocolate!”
And I say, “That's a bold-faced lie bite!”
oma
Legbal
UROBA
still want chocolace whether I got the money for it
Ornot... [still want it. He gon talk bout
Nigga tell him what you said you standing right there!
Let me catch hold of him,
I won't turn him loose!
Lord swear!
ova
O Li Roon don't argue with that boy.
out KOON
‘You know that ain't no boy
‘This lil motherfucker been here before!
mmo
You the stupidest white man T done seent
How I been here before and I'm standing in front of you!
IE Ibeen here, you been here too
And you ougiat to be smart enough to know better than 10
outRoow
Tain't test you,
Tsay, “Lil Legha you don't want that
Candy man unless you got the money for it”
‘And T shoois for you.
Hel I stood on my hands to show
You... Emptied my pockets out and out onto the floor,
“Let the lil balls of inside pocket fall out to
Demonstrate for yo half cockod-eye ass
"That I ain’s had the money and wasn’t gon get it soon
But that I was still salivating for thet candy.
How you gox tell me what T want and don't want?
can't stand fo nobody to tell me what I feel ain't
Really there... said, “How much you wanna bet I want
that candy!”
0 0X
And I got wise to that shit
‘Cause the las timo you brought your black ass in my store
AUN ELEGUA
Hold on Li
011 RoON
‘Oh what he ain't black?
‘What yall catching breath ‘cause I called him what he is
‘was raised here too. Right on the Bayou,
‘Yo mama's beat my ass with you when you got in trouble...
50His a is black and mine is white
His lying black aca talking about some, “I betcha a dollar I
‘want that candy.”
Tsay, "ain't betting”
“Cause last time he took the candy and ate it through th
‘wrapper, like he crazy.
“Talking bout, “See there, see how much T want it. That:
prove it.I eat it through the wrapper. Just like eating
pussy. eat it through the panties to get it.”
ova
Oya trying not to laugh
‘You so nasty.
ELEoDA
Lega licks his lips.
Tmade his lil ass get out my store talking like that nasty.
That timne I just made him leave the store. But here Legha
ty-
talkingness punk I know! I said, “Go get the money for it”
Here he go, “Oh okay,” looking like a motherless child.
Long-ass arms swinging sad like a sweet chariot. I started
to give him the eandy but then he gon snatch the goodie
and run,
again in my face talking about some candy. You the ¢
o¥a
ry cents worth a candy?
‘You got a whole store full of merchandise.
And got a handful of hoodlums outside it
ova
You locked the door behind you Li?
Hell nah,
AUNT BEEGUA
You gon be missing more than fifty cent
‘You come back honey.
‘Here go your fifty cont Li go back to the store
otrn00N
You so sweet, so sweet, Looking after this Mischief,
Caring for people around you. So good
‘To Everybody Oya. Remember you
‘Remember you watch my daughter, my
Baby girl you remember?
‘Yeah Li I do.
oxrnoon
She remember you Oya. You only watch her
One time but she always say to me, “Pa
‘Li Roon when Ms. Mama Oya come watch
‘Me again?” You believe that? She call you Ms.
‘Mama Oya!
oma
Hun.
Oya smiles.
Hub,
onTHR aROTHER/sISTR
spuzoma
You still owe me fifty cent.
on noox
Oh I gor the whole G-unit for you.
Li Roon jumps to get Legba.
ova
Gon Li.
ox R008
OLi oon exits
AUNT BLEGUA
‘Who lil boy this is?
‘Who big woman you is?
ADNP ELHOUA,
All right now you got slick with the white man
Theat: the snot out your ass and tell yo mamat
Elegua smiles.
like himt He full of something. Like light .
‘You got pretty eyes boy. Who you leading
‘With them eyes? You gon be my husband
‘When you get grown. I promise you.
‘You eer break promises?
AUNT RLEGUA
Nope.
AN THE AED AND BROWN WaTER
URGRA
ain't neva growing up,
‘Yall be on suicide watch tomorrow.
Oh he full of it.
Tust life and mischief
Sing us a song.
RLEoRA
‘This ain't no show!
AUNT ELEOUA
Ob nigga shut up and sing,
Shit you sit zound hore with all that mouth
Now somebody tell you to open it
And you shy between the teeth?
Get you ass over here sing for Aunt Ele...
‘Where did Darkness go?
om
Oh, he’s gone like he do.
uy BLECUA
‘Avr git, don't worry make him miss something...
Go ead, sing,
Yeah Legba, sing
‘AUNT ELEGUA
‘What your name again baby?
63THE pnormEn/s1sveR PLays
unona
‘Mumblingsothatthefatladyean’thearme.
Moutht
‘That's what I'ma call you
‘Mouth,
Sing us song, Moutht
BLEGRA
‘Legba smiles.
(Singing)
Lord she big
Lord see that!
Lord this lady, all woman
Born with her own rack of fat hack
Lord she...
AUNT ELEOUA
Elegua is not amused.
You funny baby. But I know your mama,
Who e’er she is would love for my fat ass to roll
‘Round there and say what?
oon
Mouth was stealing?
het you she would have a song for you.
‘You better find some medley in all that mouth.
BLEGBA
got a dream I could sing
a
oma
Dream?
unr mLoUA
Excited!
C'mon Mouth woo me boy!
A spell comes o'er Legba.
Ginging)
Hear Legba sing
Sing of her road
Hear Legba cry. -
‘Knowing her load.
ome down peace,
Come down night
Cover over Oya git
Make her world all right.
AUNT BURGTA
Ab hell nigga I thought
‘You was gon busta rhym
Or something...
muon
‘Legba stares at Blegua.
AUNT RERGUA
Gon head sing yo lil song.
Bverybody wanna be an idol
6sTHD BROTHER/SISTEA PLATS
ova
(Oya’s breath,
punona
(Singing)
She bleeds now,
Her wounds all close,
She breathes still
But her chest never rose.
Gome down peace
Come down night
Cover over Oya girl
Make her world all right.
(He hums)
SCENE 10
‘a MAN PROM STATE
‘The Man from State stands .
Oya girl.
Yes six
{THE MAN PROM STATE
Tam sorry Oya gal I really am I
‘Wished you would have come on when
Tasked you to, Ido. But you know
‘Thar’s good lesson on this life you
IN THE RED AND BROWN WarER
Never can tell what-will happen to your
Chances you gona jump when you can
Move, when you can move, you
Young people like ... like yourself don’t have much
Im the way of opportunity in this world
oma
‘Wait sir please
{THE MAN FROM STATE
mean I would give you a chance I would.
But the top girl we got she man oh man
‘When you didn't come to us Oya gal
We had to get a second best; go there om
Our list, F don’t like second nothing but such
Is life, like I told you chance to go, go, you know.
‘She found she was the second on our list, och wee.
Hell I didn’ mince no words bout it [told her square
say, “You our second. Gotta girl named Oya ran
Like the wind, She say she coming on in a year”
ova
Sir.
‘THE MAN PROM STATE
‘That giz] found out she was our second, Oya and you would
Be surprised what people do to get to th' top some.
‘This here girl said to herself, I veckon, she show us good
and plenty.
‘That we wouldn't wanna look nowhere else when we
See what she can do. Took about seven off her time
Just like that, Every time since she stepped on our grassy?
She been running for her life look like.
67|
'
THE pROTHER/SISTEA PLATS
Seven consistent: Seven like that... and then more.
Inover seen nothing like it in m'life.
Never.
Ido hope you keep training there Oya.
And you know keep yourself up ..
‘But we just ain't got no place for you here.
No, not
oma
Oya sad, sales
Taking it in.
Blegha hens)
SCENE 14
Enter Shango, dressed in an Army Reeruit uniform,
Blegba ans)
What you come to ell me dressed like that?
We... we through? That’s what you saying?
suaNoo
Nothing to say? Huh.
All the years I know’d you got mouth to say
‘What come to it now what? Speechless?
(Biegba hems)
‘Shango just speak your words and I'l be free.
Free from you coming, tasting me at night,
Me smelling you smelling like somebody else
Yeah say it, un spell me Shango. Do me a favor.
‘That's what you gon say right? That's what you doing me
sniaxco
Shango moves to
No!
sHaxco
Tain't going to school no more
J, they ain’t got no place for me,
Nowhere for me to go but here, I'm here,
can't go nowhere. Just be here,
Here.
sHtANGo
‘Shango curls his fingers around Oya's ear
And Caressos.
ova
sHaNco
Eait Shango.
oo7
THE DROTHER/SI8TER FLATS
(EBlegba hums)
(ya's breath comes hard to her.
AUNT ELEGUA
‘They say she broke down,
sau
That's what they say.
MAMA Mou
Or that she broke a spell,
Broke something.
Something happened
‘ALL WOMEN
Something,
Luoma
Ginging)
Come downs peace,
Come down night
Cover over Oya gil
Make her world allright.
Lil Legha exits like
‘A three-quarter moon in the morning.
(Oya stares out.)
SCENE 12
oon size
Enter Ogun Size
T. I... know... Timow that that you can he-hear me,
§ So I'm Pm just standing here talking
Standing h here speaking to you, my h heart.
Y.... You doz’t know ... Yous so blind
IE you os-ask me.
Tain't n never said nothing
Like that to you b-but how you think it make m-me make me
«You ain't neva let me love you, but you gon lay down
‘And get closer to death? Snuggle up to him!
Death with his stale breath don’t know you like T do,
Hie just a nasty ol man been Tooking at you since you was
‘Was a lil gic. But I been loving you always.
Teen in love with your light and your sad eyes.
‘And I got this home inside me I know Ido...
My outside seem like it’s fragile but in here
A big man that-will wrap you in love, Oya
‘You come home with Ogun. Just come home.
You let me take care of you for a while.
PIL make it all right. Yl make it okay.
ova
Oya stops her staring and looks at him.
‘You're not stuttering,
OGux suze
What?
Laughing
You not stuttering.He BROTRER/SISTER PLAYS
OoUN size
How you feeling?
I should c-call somebody .
ova
Not
Donte start again,
Don't start stuttering just talle to me,
For the rest of my life.
oma
won't skip another word. Another breath
Won't interrupt myself, you let me talk to you.
Oya in the air, Oya,
Let's go inside. We can talk quiet in there.
Come inside with me, We tall about starting
Something, Making a family one day
Oya smiles
(The cast hums the opening.
Ogun and Oya join them in the pantheon upstage.
Lights out.)
n
ACT 2
SCENE 1
Lights.
Shun and Nia dance downstage.
Oya sits on her porch.
Music plays.
SHUN AND NIA
Ginging)
Abt
Abt
Abt
sun
A Party nearby!
a
Going loudt
1%THK BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
SHON
Musiet
xa
‘Dancing!
mow ano xia
A baby shower!
Abt
Ginging)
Heyt
Oya sitting on her porch,
Staring at the shower.
Look at Sophie dancing like that.
Look how big her belly is,
Lord.
Oya staring.
She rust be so happy:
(The music changes)
Ooh Girl!
SHUN
‘This is my song?
ov
Oya on her porch.
Thate this song.
”
gts S175
Ogun Size enters ready for work,
This a nice song.
‘Better than all that noise they've been playing all night.
es 100 early to go to the car shop.
OGUN siz
‘The early bird catches the worm,
ova
oot sre
Oya, don't sit here all night and moriing.
oma
Tshouldn’s let you walk out there
Make you go lay down.
So I can come in later listen to you snore,
GUN stax
Taon’t snore.
on
You breathe hard.
oot size
Tbreathe hard...
om
aun size
You so sweet.
7THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS
ova
Gon Ogun.
OOUN siz
So sweet but you can’t taste your sugar.
Ogun kiss
T gotta go, gotta go.
Ogun kiss,
See you later,
Ogun kiss
Bye baby,
Kiss,
ora
‘Don't be all up on me!
Gun siz
See you later baby.
om
Music from the shower still going
OGuN siz
‘We'll play good music at your shower one day.
ova
One day.
GUN size
oma,
OGUN size
‘Don't sit out there all night, Oya,
76
In THE RED AND BAOWN WATER
ov
og siz
Ogun Size exits to work.
(Dhe music from the party stops)
LEoBA
“Legba sneaks in like the moon,
ora
Osa bows her head.
punoaa
‘Legha hums.
Boy.
Why you always sneaking?
uroma
Tm not sneaking,
Tia watching.
‘You getting too big to be doing that.
‘Watching me. [mow those looks...
Tean't do nothing with them.
om
People talk about those looks Legha.
People talk bout you Legba.
nHuson
So you heard?
ova
‘Who ain't heard about you getting kicked out,
‘Your mama putting you out?
ELEGBA
Tima man now Oya.
om
‘Dovtt think she ain't gon take you back ..
unos
She say don't be back for nine months,
Don’t come back till it’s born
ova
‘Who? You got somebody pregnant?
unopa
‘Legba beams like the moon.
LLegba how old is that girl?
She my age?
muons,
She ain’t no girl
Oba all woman.
1”
oma
‘You always did like older women.
‘Wat she doing messing with you?
isona
She say I got an old soul,
Tsay, “T'm just sixteen.”
She say, “In this lifetime but you really Tike fifty”
Tsay, “Yeah right but when I lay you down
‘You will know why they say boys never stop
Playing with they toys.”
Boy shut upt
Laughing!
So nasty!
wupoBA
‘Nover stop playing with they food either.
‘You know I can eat, Ilove some chocolate too... «
"The older it get, sugar just rise to the top...
Slurp.
ox
Soe that: woman right you
A dirty old man in there,
ELEOBA
ova
rurona
Tean’t stop being happy abou this.
weHe DROvHER/sI87ER PLATE
ova
Tean't stop smiling at you.
We wrong Oya?
Taint right to be just bringing babios in this world.
ons
‘What else we got to do? Nothing. Sit around
‘Watch the world. Babies got some sunshine in em.
Tsaw some little bowlegged baby
‘Walk round here the other day jtst as cute
Tlooked at her and I said, “Whose baby is this? ..”
She looked at me, “Not yours...” She wasn't mean
She just say it matter of fact and bent down
Picked one them firccrackors left from the Fourth
Tsay, “Lil baby don’t ent taat.”
She put it right in her mouth and started chewing.
Like it was this brand-new flavor Now and Later
Just chewing and the burnt orange of the gunpowder
Flowing out her mouth ... she just smiling
Her mama walk by and grab up the baby,
“What tie fuck you got in your mouth?”
Starting spanking her.
“Didn't tell you to not put shit in your mouth ....”
“The baby start crying. She carrying the baby away looking at
Me talking bout, “And you just gon sit here and let her Kill,
herself?”
wanted to be Like, “Bitch that ain't my baby
She just told me I wasn't her mama...”
‘Way she let the baby just roam around the projects
Any damn way? As much as they shoot round here?
Letting your child just walking around here. Unchecked!
IN THE TED AND BROWN WATER
rian
‘Lega looks at Oya girl
on
(Opa giz] feels him staring,
Go in there and get some sleep,
Look like you been up all night.
EIROUA
Ogun
ova
He gone to work
‘You need to sleep gon head .. . Daddy.
mumps
‘Thank you Oya,
ova
‘Ubhub.
LEGBA
Legba sneaks off like the moon behind a cloud
Gone but still there.
(Bega hums)
sHANGO
Enter Shango dressed in Army Fatigues
ova
Oya’s breath.
stTun BRoTHER/srstHR PLAYS
SEANGO
Shango stands in a better light.
ova
A sad song plays.
suaxco
Sad like when you were litle
ova
Sad like a mother’s heartbreak,
SHANoO AND OFA
Sed.
sHax00
Tsaw Legba goin.
What he doing here?
on
Minding bis business ...
stanco
‘That lil boy got business over here?
ova
He ain't that little no more,
He about to be a daddy.
sHaNco
Teen gone that long hub?
om
Long enough.
sano
Surprised you ain't swollen up.
‘You with somebody I kuow.
om
If you know why you asking?
sHANGo
‘Who you been down together in
‘Your sleep with?
om
How all of this your business, huh?
Didn't you just get here?
Say your hellos to everybody,
‘They will tell you all
‘The news you wanna know,
T'm not your reporter, seek your
Prophecy elsewhere.
smaco
‘You ought to be swollen, belly full,
Glowing with that morning glow
‘Titties perky ready to give life
ova
Tain't tying to have no youngins making me grown.
‘Remember that? Please hoy. Gon, okay?
Gon Shango.
suaxco
Shango curls his fingers... He Caresses
You still sim and ripe ...
88THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
How somebody ain't put
A baby inside you yet is beyond me.
Hit Shango.
SCENE 2
oa
Oya
‘Laughs to herself.
AUNT ELEGUA
Aunt Ele sees it,
How could she not?
oh Oya gal Oya gal!
Where you coming from smiling like that?
‘Tell me Love women's secrets!
ova
‘just came back from .
Yi, AUNT mxEouA
He home ain't he?
Shango!
He home from the war or
‘ho cigs. whatrer
i Your Fire is back!
i Girl you better go get melted down!
: oya
Shhh! Aunt Ele, Tim with Ogun...
oo
Uy THE RED AND BROWN WATER
AurT mua
‘Yeah but he don't walk near you and
‘Your temperature change, I have seen you.
Thnow what you're like under Ogun Size.
Bat it ain't nothing like that lightning
From Shango, ch?
ova
Aunt Ble!
AUNT ELEGUA
Shango come and he walk over to you
‘Your kmees clap down, you fall
(On that bed, honey that muscle just
Grinding on his thigh aching to touch ..
‘You start to change color you start
‘Tolose your breath, how they say
(Singing)
Houh-hul can you keep up?
ova
‘Your nephew loves me...
Tlove him .
[AUNT ELEGUA
Something bout that say “lie” to me,
T got to go, I just come thought I be nosy
Come see if you nosy.
Gome see if your nose wide open.
85i
'
i
f
PME BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
SCENE 5
From offstage, the cast hums a gospel or spiritual
ova
Sunday afternoon,
Oya sitting on her porch,
‘Nia and Shun walk by.
euros
‘Laughing to themselves.
‘There go the git], Shun, almost let Shaumva
Kill herself by eating a fireworks. Yeah
Remember I told you.
savy
Oya Jean Fair almost let my godbaby die, Nia?
ova
Ttold her not to,
She's got a grown lil mouth,
sauN
‘You should have popped her hand or something.
‘You grown ain't you?
‘Now you know [would have come round
Here and beat Oya ass she would have hit
My baby.
IW THE RED AND RNOWN WATER
sauN
Laughing -.-
What?
suuN
Toould just see Shaunta telling
Oya, “You ain't my mamal”
wa
Laughing toot
Yeah!
To0ya
She so bad sometimes...
sux
Ooh T love her.
ora
1 she was my baby
ssaun
She ain’t your baby you
[ints got no baby.
Don't un out with your mouth.
“Tend to your lil grease monks:
ma
‘Don't act ike that Shun.
‘Nia and Shun leave.
sax
Laughing,
a6
THE BROTHER/SISTRR PLAYS
(The cast upstage hums.)
Enter Shango.
‘You weren't at church,
‘How long it’s been since you talk to Jesus?
ova
Don't do that.
sHaxao
‘Tm just concerned about your soul...
‘Iwanna see you in the sky when we
Al get there.
ova
Service still going why you left?
saxo
Ab hell Thad to get outta there,
Te’s going on four!
First they started late, thon the choir...
ova
Legba was up there?
smaxao
Tsaw him...
Him and Ogun’ brother, Oshoosi,
If Iwas Ogun I would ship Oshoosi ase
Off to military school
‘Thirteen years old, getting thrown in jail,
IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER
ova
|
Oya looks up.
smaxco
‘Yeah, that’s why the church going so long,
‘They praying for his monkey ass.
Choir just up there singing.
Elegua came in to the church she tnad
As hell. You can tell ‘cause her wig all
‘Tilted to the side and che walking that
Big girl walk towards the altar, She
‘Talk to the secretary of the mother’s board, Mother Pickalo,
‘Whatever Elegua telling her making her shake and put
down her head.
She starts praying, Pm like, “What the hell's going on?”
‘Blegua walk up to the choirstand and she just
Start to beating on Oshoosi, Beat beat beat...
All the way down the aisle of the church anil out
‘The front door. Mother Pickalo, she stands up like she bout
to declare war.
She standing there you know in the church lady stance
‘You knaw with her face fully forward Holy Ghost filled,
Double chin jangling. Gon talk about, “Giving honor to
God, yall
Thave some news, you know times is hard.
‘And the devil is out there I know!” People “Amen-ing” and
“Yes Lorain.”
Tim like I wish this chick would come the hell on
‘And stop the testimony... But you know she crying:
“And Lord the devil can sometimes sneak in here
‘Too... This holy sanctuary, Lordie G Lord!
‘This temple... this house of God cam be sucked with,
wasteful...THE BAOTHER/SIStAR PLATS
‘There was money being stolen from
Out the mouth of God and being weed
‘To play in some corner crap game
Filled with wicked youthful derision, Lord God Lord God.
ask that this money be prayed over and
Put back into the rightful hands of the church
So it can pay for the pastor's sons’ gonorshea of the moutht”
ora
She didn't say thatt
sano
How you know you wasn't there?
ova
legua came and told me she put Oshoost in jal for a day
suaNco
So you knew this whole time, buh?
‘What you let me tell it for?
ora
‘Wanted you to tell me something.
suanco
He smiles
ova
She smiles
‘SHANGO AND OYA
‘They -
smaxco
Shango ews .., He Caresses .
ueona
TLegba sneaks in unseen. A bundle in his arms...
oma
Oya snails.
smaxoo
‘You tell me something,
‘What you doing with Ogun Size?
ova
‘The same thing Iwas doing with you...
sHaNco
He doing itright?
ora
Lying
Bvery night.
sHANGO
Like me? Nah not like me.
He eat that pussy like me?
ova
‘You ovorsteppin Shangot
sHaNtGo
How you mean, I was there first...
otwwe pnocusa/sroteR PLars
cu size
Where you at now Shango?
Enter Ogun Size.
suawco
Shango grins... A glint of war in lis eyes.
Hii, hi, you doing Ogun...
ObT'm phyne...
‘You know ..
Ogun laughs in mimic of Shango.
Tm fine.
ora
Oya interrupting
Gon Shango.
snanco
Smiling
Tas there first...
Tilbe there last.
Exit Shango,
oun siz
Gun size
muon
A baby cries inside.
ova
‘You hear a baby crying?
OOUN ste
‘Yeah.
ova
‘They move to the door
tN size
‘You wanna go in now?
ova
Gon Ogun...
ous size
‘You stay outside too much Oya,
‘You need stay in sometimes,
Itain't right for you to be out here all the time.
One day you'll have something to stay in for,
ora
‘Let me see what's in my house.
GUN SIZE
‘You should already know.
‘You know?
‘You should know already.
8sTHE BNOTHER/sIsTER PLAYS
SCENE +
Stun and Nia stand and hang clothes on a tine.
Hum,
Nia
Hub?
Hum, so nobody can hear,
(Wiz tauns)
Sharing a socret.
Girl Legba mama came round to Oya house
Screaming and carrying ont
mua
Laughing,
Back to humming,
(ia haoms,)
suun
Yeah girl! "Cause Legba done
“Took his baby and been hiding
Out at Oya House,
na
So his mama got the baby now?
%
suus
‘You supposed to be humming?
Tm supposed to be telling!
IA
Nis hums
(Win haus.)
snus
So yeah Legha mama got the baby now,
And she told Legha to stay at Oya house.
(Nia urns.)
sau
(Oya got a full house,
“Cause now Ogu asle
Elegus to stay round there!
ma
Wha?
saUN
‘Yeah girll
‘Nis hums.
(Nia hums.)
sar
The night before Ogun woke up and
Saw Oya sitting on the porch rocking .. . You
95THE wnormen/sistun PLATS
Remember it was during the blackout
All the power was out in the projects.
Anybody in they right mind be inside
Not sitting on they porch but Oya
Say he don't know seem like she losing her mind
Ask Aunt Hle come and watch her
‘But I know the bitch ain't crazy nah
‘She a lil hotbox and she been getting a visitor.
‘Who?
(Nia haus)
Shango!
(Ni hours.)
MA
But you knew that was coming
know you ain't mad?
emus
‘What you talking bout Nia!
ought punch you in your damn face!
su
‘Ah bitch you jealous you ain’t crazy, hub.
Flub.
os
IW THE AED AND BROWN WATER
ma
Consoling her friend,
‘They was together before he left.
sus,
T don't care if they was married before she stealing
My man now.
‘You know Shango ain’s nobody man.
smu
‘Yet... You just got to learn how to tether niggas.
Just sing your song Nia
Don’t worry bout Shun okay
*Cause when it come to it
Tinow how to run Miss Oya
‘Where she can’t walls
na
‘Nia smiles at her friend,
She hums.
(Nia hums.)
SCRNE 6
oc S12
Why you let her go?
AUNT RLEOUA
She grown and got legs
‘And I asked her to go...
a7Tun wROTHEA/sISTER PLAYS
‘And further who you think you talking to boy?
ain't got to splain hell of nothing to you!
GUN size
Aunt Ble T don't wanna get into it...
AUNT ELEGUA
But you step yo flat foot right im ie}
oGuN size
Oya ain't feeling good!
sunrmugoua
Who you to say that girl ain't feeling good?
She a grown woman ain't she?
Grown enough to know whet is and nin’.
aun size
She sitting out, sneaking out all the time.
Staring got this look on her face.
She got a sad look on her always
AUNT sunevA
Hell Life ike that
‘You think sadness stop niggas
From going to the fish market?
ova
Oya enters
oun size
Smiling .
AUNT ELEOUA
Carrying a bag.
OOUN sizB
Let me get that for you.
‘Where you been?
ora
‘Now wait... you just took the bag from me,
‘Where it lool like 1 been?
aux size
Di you leave outta here carrying that grin?
‘Where you pick that up from?
ova
Oya stops smiling
Nowhere.
cow siz
‘Tm serious... Tain't seen your fice like that in a long time
‘No round me,
Tjust wanna see it...
Tlove it...
Tlove you.
om
I gotta help with the fish.
O9UN size
‘You know I don't eat fish...
AUNT ELECUA
I's Friday boy...
Friday the best day for some fish. Inever
Did understand my sister's kids, Some of
‘The most finicky eaters. You won't eat fish ...
ooTHE ROTuER/ersTRA PLAYS
‘That Oshoosi talking bout he can’t have no
‘Banana pudding ‘cause it make his throat itch.
On top of that neither one of the niggas take in
Milks without farting all over the house. Never
‘Understood how yall get these delicate stomachs
‘When you starving ... seem like to me yo stomach
Be glad to get anything in it. C'mon stay
For some of this fish. You don’t eat enough nohow.
oouN siz
‘Should I stay Oya?
Go on in and lay dewn fore we eat.
Ogun Size exits hoping to see her smile
But only finds a dark cloud in Oya’s sky.
Oya looks to Elegua
AUNT ELEGUA
Til start the seasoning ...
Aunt Blegua exits,
ova
Oya bows her head,
menona
Logba tries to sneak in the door with the baby.
oma
Lega yo mama say you can't keep the baby round here you
‘want her to come here and be mad with all of ws
100
muons
‘Legba smiles at Oya.
(Oya like his sister, Ova.
“He brings the baby to her.
Eh Oya look here.
He shows her
Straight line of little black marks
On his leg. See?
Laughing...
Like the Lord was trying to send a message on it
Soot...
ova
Hah..
zines
Hold him...
‘Legba stands back and pulls down his pants .-
om
‘What you doin?
muona
‘Legba proudly shows Oya his right thigh.
Same marks. The ones like nobody ever seen
Right here on me and my baby.“
‘You ever know something yours,
‘And from nowhere it proves
Tuself, shows it self to be just yours only...
You ever felt that, Oya?
Something all yours. This mine.
ova
Oya stares,
10THB wnorwen/srsveR PLATS
302
‘When I hold him .
Wes like I got more love in my hands
‘Than the world got air to breathe,
don't want nothing to keep me fram it,
ova
mubona
Tknoyr you understand me.
Anybody understands me you do.
Sighs
Oya gives Legba back “more love than the world got air...
Oya in the air Oya...
Go inside Legba.
‘Legba fades into the house
Like the moon in the shadow of the world.
ova
Oya breaks her spell
‘That's why you named that damn baby Mare!
You fool!
muxons,
Legba laughs ..-
Fades into the house.
ov
Oya smiles to herself,
Mare. Huh,
Night.
Ginging)
Come down peace
Come down night...
SHANG
Enter Shango dressed in his Army Fatigues.
Just carne to say Good-bye.
ora
All the nights I've been seeing you
And you just telling me now you leaving?
Ogun Size enters.
‘Teome to return the reins my man,
sHAXGO
T gotta go.
‘Oya keep your head up.
Ttvied to leave you a likpresent but...
Tgotta go.
(Ogun you stay strong man.
Keep your lil family together.
Exit Shango.
oma
(Oya curls her fingers behind her ears.
(Oye ons)
she Caresses the soft.
105THn BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
SCENE 6
Oya in the early evening
Standing on someone else’s porch.
She wants to knock on the door but
She hums,
‘Oya huont,)
[THE WOMAN Wito NEMANDS YO
Don't sing on my doorstep.
A woman of magic, a bruja,
A hoodoo-voodoo lady walks
‘To the porch
Igor,
My body empty
‘THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU
‘What you want me to do about it?
ora,
Please,
know you know how to fix it
“THE WOMAN WHO REDAINDS YoU
Go to the church ladies that’s what they there
Pos they all stand over you moaning and praying
They fix you right up.
‘They won't even see T'm in trouble.
‘They all say you young and you ain't pregnant?
so4
Praise da Lord, bless
The Lord omy soul...
‘THR WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU
God is good...
ova
But He is good in all things
[THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU
Huh. The Good God of a thousand and one pieces.
You looking for your piece?
ova
You got something, some words,
‘That make me love right, love where I should.
‘TH WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU
If you ask God of a thousand and one he will provide you
Be careful how you ask it chough.
He gives you paths, none of them easy.
ova
‘Then T want my own mark.
Twanna loak down and see myself
Mirrored back to me.
‘UR WOMAN WHO REMINDS YOU
You should have had that by now,
‘What?
105THE anoxnEn/sisvER Prars
[THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS TOU
‘You don’t think by now you should have
Had something growing inside you?
os,
No... No. Imean not if it wasn't time. Not if it wasn’t
No!
‘nu WOMAN WO REMINDS XOU
But a grown woman Oya gal?
‘You been grown for a long time now
How you think it just skipped you?
You ain't been with no little bays.
You had how many, two grown men
From two sides of the world, the fighter
And the businessman, Both grown men
And not nar one of em filled you with seed
‘That growed into something? You still walking
Round here wishing for that? You should know by now .
ora
‘What I should know?
[THE WOMAN WHO REMINDS TOU
Hf you ain’t got it im your mind I sure as shit ain’t gon put it
there,
ova
Put something heret
[THE WOMAN WHO REDEENDS YOU
‘Tama woman, I can’t put nothing there.
‘The hoodoo bruja goes off her porch,
108
Gift)
(Oya vurns, Men begin to gather
0 urRoox
‘Like a rain cloud.
ooo siz
You may not know ..-
suaxco
But just like in the middle of the desert
ournoox
Out of nowhere comes torrential xain ..
-ROUNGUN
Around here sometimes out of nowhere
Apany.
sano
‘The speakers get set up on one block...
uN size
‘The music comes fumbling down the street
RGUNGEN
Calling you out your name.
suANGO
I's that bass drop ..
107‘Tue sRormun/srovea PLars Piece aeataya geome oracak:
on noon sau
So hard, thumping, ‘They walk through.
ouNGUN sniaxoo
‘The men stare!
‘Dum da da, dum da dat
satu
How could they not?
It calls late, as soon as the sun downs : :
RGUNGUS
Damn girl in the green came ready to ride
And again out of nowhere ey or v
For real shawty what's real? Oh she acting
All stank, that’s all right you be begging me
Acccowd "To be your baby daddy later girl.
ouNooN soso
The Hgungun assumes the position. You better watch you mnouth boi!
Diing and spinning tha hottest earth :
‘Thumping melodies invoking sex and oe
atic : Aight mama T ain't trying to fight
’ and tight
Goddamn look at the gil in the green! Not tonight it’s too thick and tigt
elie te geal Out here. Yall ready for that next
sex One? He plays a song with ride
Shun... Inits rhythm, making you wanna grind where
You are.
a ‘That’ it yall get to that spot
And Nia, ‘Where it's real hot. Pia keep
“Turning the temperature up
sex Yall just keep riding out
Attra Specially you lil red in the green
‘You thick as fuckt
ma
Tn their best public, ova
Yer intimate apparel. Oya hears that beat!
108 109|
|
THE DROTHER/SISTER PLAYS
How could she not?
ova
‘She stands and watches,
RGUNOUN
Tis that time of night where
Everyone in the out over here
‘Needs to get to know that freak within,
‘You know what 'm talking, specially
Yor the fellas. Come on yall I gota hundred
‘Dollars for that freshest freak girl out there
wa
‘Teasing her friend.
Go head girl
satu
‘You done lost your mina
ia,
‘That's hundred dollars.
“They say you a freak
You do it, Niat
Ain't nobody wanna see my stretchmarks.
Well I can’t in my condition ...
10
IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER
ouyoun
A dundred dollars for that nasty girl!
‘The one who get up here and show ws all the world.
(C'mon lit mama do your thang mommy.
Get up here on this speakerbox.
‘We want to see the way you move.
‘Yall scared? Why you acting shy?
‘After this here next song though we gon touch the sky.
-BLBOBA
‘Enter Legba beaming like a full moon,
Bright in all white.
He moves to Oya,
om
Lega
Oya, what you doing here?
just came to see.
IRGBA
‘You sure... just to see?
ova
‘Lega where the baby?
‘My mama got him.
-RUNODN
“Appears the Rgungun,
Eh my man Legba!THE BnoTuER/ersTER PLAYS
‘They pull close.
ounaus
‘Too close to be just friends
[BLBOBA AND EGUNGUN
Just friends.
oma
Oya sees it how could she not
‘The Egungun sees Oya,
‘This your friend?
Leona
‘Yeah she is.
EGUNOUN
You told her about me, your friend?
She know we friends?
‘She wanna be friends with us?
uEena
Smiling like the light of the night,
Ask her
RovNous
How you doin...
Oya?
uHoBA
Yeah.
12
iy THE RED AND BNOWN WATER
Tim all right.
EGUNGUN
You pretty
Everybody tell you that though,
Tknow they do.
You... you got any kids?
nouNcux
Nah, nab, not yet though.
No.
ova
Oya moves to.
RoUNouN
Don't go. Let me play this song.
Tl be back... for both of you.
om
Lega
Hee will if you wait.
‘We can go with him
‘You been looking, right? You came to see.
‘Maybe this what you looking for
‘Maybe this fix whats broke...
ova
Oya walking back.
Turns.
435THE SROTHER/s1a7ER PLAYS
AUNT ELEGUA
Running into the dancing Aunt Elegual
UH-HUHI THAT'S MY JAM MR. DJ!
Shake that goodsess hey! Like Tafly Lafiyt
Work it out! That's what I mean,
Dancing a “too old to be acting this young” dancet
just cuts it loose yall, yeal Ido, T gee ie outt,
Ooh yea honey!
oma
‘Laughing how could she not!
Aur Rrnoua
‘What you gon stay here all night Oya!
Girl you betta cmon and dance it out.
C'mon real hard so you get your system
Cleaned. Work it like this!
ova
Oya dances like Elogua.
AUNT ELEGUA,
Nah gal it’s like this here,
Aunt Blegua gets down with
Her big old self backing that
‘Thang up! Uh-hubt
‘That’s how you do that.
oma
Laughing
A cloud passes.
don’t feel good Aunt Ele,
You come to got me?
14
[AUNT ELEOUA
Came to show you a way home.
SCENE 7
om
‘Oya gitl sitting on the front porch,
‘Humming and then eying, Smiling,
‘Then hunuming again.
SCENE 8
ous size
‘Ogun Size enters.
Oya.
ova
‘You don't need to be there.
GUN sizB
(Oya you just lnurt
ova
You don't know
OoUN size
Please let's go in
Plltake care of you.
ova
I don’t need you to take care of me.
115THE BROTKER/sISPR PLATS
OGUN size
Oya one day we.
ova
Not No more days! Nonet
‘What you gor?
‘You gon be stuck here like me forever.
Just us so what you got?
‘What I need you to do for me?
Gon head Ogun
Gon head.
OGUN siz
(Ogun turns.
ova,
You was good tome...
GUN siz:
Ogun begins to turn back,
ova
Don’t turn around
‘You was good to me,
And Tloved you.
Go find somebody who love you better.
Dow's... turn,
Gon head now ..
Gon head,
oun size
‘Ogun Size leaves his heart behind,
18
IW THE RED AND BROWN WATER
ova
Legha enters like the moon during the day; there but not
saying anything.
Legba, Legba, Legbal
‘You surprised met
mueona
T didn’t know you was like that!
didn't know you was into things like that.
Tmean Iknow you gota lil freak in you..
unos
Lega smiles.
ova
Legba.
‘Youa gray boy?
ELRGDA
Tgota son
ova
Gray boys have sons.
Teame to tell you
om
Don't.
Tdon’t feel
oxo
Shango is home.THE BROTHER/SISTER PLATS
ova
Oyacurls...
rwona
He coming here I saw him.
He stopped by Ogun and shook his hand first,
Say he sorry how he acted before.
Say now that he grown... He need to sey his sorrys.
ova
Hub.
eneons
Tdream about you Oya.
ova
Gon now Legba.
e's always been the same...
ora
Gon!
maroRa
Blegba walks away, staring at Oya.
ox
Shun and Nia enter to give me more bad news.
Don't...
No, now!
118
(C'mon on now Shun be a good neighbor!
Fuck that... Fuck that!
Under her breatis:
Idor't like that... I don’t see why
Thave to...
She erazy anyway!
ma
Go on girl stop being like thet.
"To Oya:
Hey!
oma
Hey!
sate
wa,
Shunt
SHON
Ah shit!
T guess you've heard .
ova
know Shango back.
sun
‘Yeah I guess you would Know that,
But you heard about me?
‘Me and Shango?
IN THR RED AND BROWN WarEn
NIA
19THs oROTHER/sISTER PLAYS
ors
‘You and Shango what?
swum
‘You betwer act like you happy for me
Locking all sad n shit...
‘You better know.
ora
‘Happy for whas?
sax
Smile,
Shun got Shango's baby.
oxo
Tm having his baby
So Fin his woman now!
‘You ain't shit to him.
ma
Shunt
SHUN
Heavy breath!
But Iwas gon come to
Invite you to the shower we having,
‘youcanmakeit. See T said it les go,
on
‘Thank you...
Tdon't think I be there,
120
Good...
Imean yeah
Come on Nia.
oma
Oyals breath comes loose
sarox
You all right?
ova
‘Yeah T just gotta go inside
I gotta get a gift for Shango.
satu
Where my gift?
ova
‘You already got it.
sa
Come on Shun.
Oya with light in her eyes
“Enters her house.
‘Nia and Shun leave.
Shango enters.
ova
HUN
ova
121‘THE BROTHEA/sIsTER PLAYS
suanoo
He stands in his officer’s uniform,
(Offitage)
You out there now Shangot
Timow youre...
The there in a minute!
sumaNco
Good to see you Oya gal.
‘Take your time...
Timow you a busy man now
heard your good news,
Theard your good news!
So T said let me get him something,
A present so he remembers me in his new life and tines!
saxo
You didn't have to do that,
ova
Yes I did
Thave to do it
muwoBA
Logha enters like the moon eclipsing the sun,
Ginging)
She sleep now
But her eyes still open
00
IN THR RED AND BROWN WATER
Yes sleep now
But her tears still flowin.
Oya enters
Holding her hand to her head.
sHiANGO
Shango moves to curl his fingers.
ova
But Oya’s hand...
smAxGO
Holding her head ..
I blocking him.
vauzosa
Singing)
Come down peace
Come down night
Cover over Oya git)
Make her world all right.
Tn the other hand, her left...
Oya gives it to Shango.
To this in remembrance of you...
wished I could make a part of me
"To give you but I had to take what's
wasAlready there... . Just give you what I got
Oya Bleeds, down her right hand.
muon,
Singing)
She bleeds now
saaNco
You.
Open it.
wukona
Ginging)
Her wounds all close
sHANoo
Shango opens his hand ..
muroRA
Ginging)
She breathes still
(Oya moves her hand from where her ear used to be...
muroma
Ginging)
But her belly never rose
ova
For you to remember me by ..
(Oye collapses down)
waroMA
Ginging)
‘Come down peace now
Gomme down night
Cover over Oya git]
Make ber world all right
125128
EPILOGUE
All save Orya stand. The men hus that sweet sad hum. Oya is
center stage holding her head.
ser mao
1 don't know about al that.
sau
Me neither
wa
No one does...
om
Oya...
sauna oon
Say She cut it off . .
IW THE RED AND BROWN Waren
AUNT ELEGUA,
Say that’s her mark.
Say he left her there bleeding.
A breeze over Oya,
‘SHON
Somebody called her crazy so and so...
AUNT ELEOUA
She wasn’t crazy.
AMA MoUs
Just sad.
ALL WOMEN
Fuh, \
ova
Oya... Oya.
AUNT ELEGUA
Say she sitting up somewhere ..
ova
Oya.
ASA Ora,
Staring at the ceiling
17THE BROTHEA/SISTER PLAYS IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER
ova MAMA MOA
Oya girl ‘Sweet sad Oya.
[AUNT BLEGUA, MAMA MOZA AND STTUN
sao ONT BLEGUA, MAMA MO:
On her back like a lake of brown Beautiful girl.
AUN HLROUA, MAMA MOZA AND Site (Oya lets out sharp breath.)
Scaring
oa
Abi
su won
Huh
Blackout)
sai END OF PLAY
ova
Inthe air... Oya
Holding her head staring atthe sky
‘You look at her,
Aunt Elegua looks to Oya,
Look like she floating somewhere ..
Inthe air.
Oya Jean Fair
AUNT BLEOUA,
My giel Oya.
12s 139