"While I Have You" Transcript
Written by Danielle Monroe
Etta performed by Danielle Monroe
Raahi performed by Kaz Qutab
ETTA
(in character)
We’ve been watching you for some time. You may not know this, but you are one of the Abnormals.
RAAHI
(in character)
That’s impossible.
ETTA
(in character)
It is not impossible. I will explain, but we have no time. Elite Force is coming. We must escape.
RAAHI
(in character)
I can’t just leave. The Homecoming Dance is tonight.
ETTA
(in character)
You, Ray, are the key to defending our kind against Elite Force. Without you, there may never be another Homecoming Dance ever again.
(out of character) Ok, can I make a quick suggestion?
RAAHI
Mom…
ETTA
You say “Never be another Homecoming Dance ever again.” You don’t need the ‘ever’. It’s “never be another homecoming dance again.”
Ok, don’t give me that face. It’s just a suggestion.
RAAHI
It’s fine, ok?
ETTA
It’s important to be open to criticism.
RAAHI
It’s fine the way it is. Can we just, like— (sigh)
ETTA
Ok, I’m sorry. Let’s keep going. Actually, I have a question, or two.
RAAHI
(annoyed)
ETTA
Well, since we’re already stopped.
RAAHI
What.
ETTA
The Abnormals. They’re like, superheroes
RAAHI
No.
ETTA
but they made themselves superheroes? Ok, not superheroes.
RAAHI
Not superheroes. That’s so… No. They’re augmented humans. So, like, they’ve had surgery to put devices in their brains that let them see, like, infrared, or to hear high pitch like dogs can.
ETTA
Ok.
RAAHI
Like the cochlear implant.
ETTA
Cochlear implant (mispronouncing)
RAAHI
Cochlear
ETTA
Cochlear, cochlear—
RAAHI
It lets deaf people hear.
ETTA
Cochlear. Got it. Ok… So they have surgery to put these devices in their brains and everyone’s fine with it but then they’re not fine with it anymore.
RAAHI
An evil political regime takes over the government and wants to destroy all the Augmented humans.
ETTA
So like X-Men
RAAHI
No
ETTA
With a twist. No, look. I like it. It’s so creative.
RAAHI
Thanks
ETTA
I’m just so proud of you. You’re such a clever boy, I mean man… man.
RAAHI
Mom, can we—
ETTA
Excuse me for giving you a compliment.
RAAHI
Ok. Thank you Mom.
ETTA
And this is for a—
RAAHI
A podcast
ETTA
What’s a podcast?
RAAHI
It’s like a radio show, but on the internet
ETTA
People listen to those?
RAAHI
Can we?
ETTA
I’m sorry, I just… I see you for a half hour in the mornings and for another half hour during dinner. I have to make the most of the time I have with you and tell you how proud I am of you and your play.
RAAHI
Podcast
ETTA
Fine, podcast. Whatever. And I appreciate you letting me be a part of it.
Ok, stop with the face. Let’s start, ok?
RAAHI
(in character)
I can’t just leave. The Homecoming Dance is tonight.
ETTA
(in character)
You, Ray, are the key-
(out of character) What made you chose the name Ray?
RAAHI
Mom! I have track at three.
ETTA
I’m sorry. Just one other thought, ok?
Look, my birthday is coming up soon.
RAAHI
In like two months
ETTA
You remembered… Well, you don’t need to get me anything. I just want to pick your brain a little bit. My only son. Blood of my blood. Spawn–
RAAHI
Please. Stop.
ETTA
Why did you chose the name Ray? It’s so…
RAAHI
White? I am white.
ETTA
Half. Half-white. I’m just wondering, that’s all, why you didn’t chose an Indian name.
RAAHI
It’s fiction, Mom. I can do whatever I want. It’s not like I based Ray on myself.
ETTA
You mean the 15-year old boy named Ray, which I could argue is the white version of Raahi, who’s dad died when he was four and lives in the town of Winterville?
RAAHI
Dad died when I was five
ETTA
uh-huh… And we live in Somerville
RAAHI
Can we just please get through this script? I have track…
ETTA
Ok.
RAAHI
(in character) I can’t just leave.
ETTA
Do you see yourself as Indian?
RAAHI
Oh my god.
ETTA
It’s just…
RAAHI
I need more friends.
ETTA
So dramatic!
RAAHI
Maybe I can join a gang or something.
ETTA
This is important. I know it’s hard because your Dad didn’t get to teach you the language and Ammuma and Appupa didn’t make the trip over as often as I’d have liked over the years.
RAAHI
Mom. I’m Indian. I’m white. I’m fine. I really just want to record this.
ETTA
Ok, Ok. I’m sorry. Let’s keep going.
RAAHI
Thank you.
ETTA
Ok.
(in character)
You, Ray, are the key to defending our kind against Elite Force. Without you, there may never be another Homecoming Dance ever again. Your parents implanted in you the muscular reflexes of a cheetah.
RAAHI
(in character)
What’s a cheetah?
ETTA
(in character)
They are majestic creatures that have gone extinct due to humanity’s greed and drive for copulance.
(out of character) Oo. I think you mean Opulence.
RAAHI
Oh. Well, what does copulance mean?
ETTA
Umm. That’s a good question for the internet.
RAAHI
All right…
ETTA
Ok. (in character) They are majestic creatures that have gone extinct due to humanity’s greed and drive for opulence. They were once the fastest creatures on earth and you have their abilities written into your DNA.
RAAHI
(in character)
There must be some mistake.
ETTA
(in character)
No mistake. With our training, you can be the most powerful Abnormal ever.
RAAHI
(in character)
Holy shit!
ETTA
(out of character)
Excuse me?
ETTA
Mom! Don’t freak out.
ETTA
I don’t think so.
RAAHI
It’s artistic expression.
ETTA
Cursing? And using the Lord’s name?
RAAHI
I say Holy
ETTA
Well, the Bible probably isn’t a fan of that either.
RAAHI
We don’t even go to church.
ETTA
Do you want to start? Clean it up or we’ll start going. Every Sunday.
RAAHI
Holy crap?
ETTA
Try again. You know your grandparents are going to listen to this.
RAAHI
What happened to ‘Don’t choose based on the choices of others.’
ETTA
Did I say that?
RAAHI
Yes. Can we just get back to this?
ETTA
I’m a great mother.
RAAHI
You’re all right.
How about just ‘Damn.’
ETTA
Only if you say it funny.
RAAHI
Damn!
ETTA
Artistic expression. When did you get so smart?
RAAHI
In the womb.
ETTA
That’s right. You sucked up all my intelligence.
RAAHI
Gross. Pretty sure I got it from Dad’s side.
ETTA
Yeah. Probably. You’d know he’d be proud of you, right? I mean, he’s probably rolling over in his grave hearing you call yourself ‘Ray’ but proud of you nonetheless.
RAAHI
We had him cremated.
ETTA
You’re exhausting.
RAAHI
That I definitely got from you. Mom, this is fiction.
ETTA
Raahi, come on.
RAAHI
What
ETTA
I’m supposed to believe ‘Ray’ isn’t at all based on you? You could’ve chosen a more ethnic-neutral name like Rohit?
RAAHI
Rohit is neutral? Why don’t I just call him “Apu”?
ETTA
I’m just making sure—
RAAHI
All I wanted was to record this before track at three. And why do you care? It’s not like I ever learned Malayalam or Hindi. There are classes all around Somerville if you’d cared. I’ve never even visited India. You have like two Indian friends that you barely see. We don’t eat Indian food, we don’t do anything to engage with the community
ETTA
“engage with the community”?
RAAHI
You know what I mean. You— Don’t blame me for your choices. Don’t put that shit on me.
ETTA
All that therapy rubbed off on you.
RAAHI
Something like that.
ETTA
You’re right. Profanity-aside. I know you’re right. It’s just, when you were born, God, it was like nothing I could’ve prepared for. I mean, you gave us hell. You didn’t sleep, once you could crawl you got into everything. I still have scars on my nipples from trying to nurse you.
RAAHI
Mom…
ETTA
Sorry. My point is you weren’t easy, but I was so happy. Me and your father were exhausted and completely consumed by everything you did. Our connection, you and me, was primal. For a while you couldn’t sleep unless you were curled up beside me with your face in my armpit. You needed my smell to feel safe. And you got older and got friends and then started Kindergarten and you were your own person, but I still ran your world. And we were supposed to go to India. You were four. We were going to take two months and visit all your family. The prodigal grandson returns. Do you remember that?
RAAHI
Not really.
ETTA
We’d bought our tickets, had the passports armed and ready. And then…
RAAHI
Yeah.
ETTA
After your dad died my feet went out. And you… I didn’t have my eye on you for a while. And it took me months to even look you in the eyes again.
RAAHI
Two years.
ETTA
Two years. And by the time I was fully your Mom again you were older and independent. All I could do, all I can do, is hope you’re ok. And now you’re fifteen. You’re becoming your own person, as you should be. Every day you’ll be moving further and further from my orbit and before I know it you’ll be at College.
RAAHI
If I got to college.
ETTA
Well that is a larger conversation.
RAAHI
Steve Jobs didn’t finish college.
ETTA
Yeah, let’s put a pin in that. My point is, we’re here right now and while I have you, I want to make sure I give you what you need. I wish I could have passed on all of what your father wanted you to have. But now, I’m just trying to see if I passed on any of it. I know I got a lot wrong. Life threw me some curve balls, but I’m your mother and the buck stops with me.
RAAHI
So many metaphors.
ETTA
Raahi.
RAAHI
Sorry.
ETTA
It’s ok. I don’t want you to hold back because of me or feel like I want you to be someone else. I just want to check in, to see who you are before you become a stranger for a while.
RAAHI
Do you think Dad would be upset I’m not more Indian?
ETTA
No. Not at you, at least. Maybe at himself. He’d be proud of who you are. How brave you are, how you put up with me.
RAAHI
You can be a handful.
ETTA
I recognize so much of him in you.
RAAHI
What would he want me to be?
ETTA
Just yourself. With a dash of me in there and a sprinkle of him.
RAAHI
We don’t talk about him much.
ETTA
You’re right. Not enough.
RAAHI
Mom.
ETTA
I know, track at three.
RAAHI
I’ll change the name to Rohit.
ETTA
I win!
RAAHI
But seriously, I do have track at three.
ETTA
Ok, Ok. Just a sec.
RAAHI
Mom. You ok?
ETTA
Yeah. It’s just been a minute.
RAAHI
Been a minute?
ETTA
Did I not use that right?
RAAHI
No, it’s cool. You sound real hip.
ETTA
Stop wasting time. I hear you have track at three.
RAAHI
(laughs)
ETTA
(in character)
Ok… Without you, there may never be another Homecoming Dance ever again. Your parents implanted in you the muscular reflexes of a cheetah.
RAAHI
(in character)
What’s a cheetah?
ETTA
(in character)
They are majestic creatures that have gone extinct due to humanity’s greed and drive for opulence.