Welcome to the America plays! A weekly play about the top story or stories in America last week. This week it’s all about trump! Without further ado:
What About Trump?
Characters
AMIR, 20’s, Black/Hispanic Male
RICO, 20’s, Caucasian Male
(Lights Up)
(AMIR is sitting on the couch in the living room, eating cereal in front of his laptop. He wears a “Make America Great Again” t-shirt. RICO enters, wearing a #FEELTHEBERN t-shirt)
RICO
Hey, Amir!
AMIR
Hey, Rico, did you get my text about Nancy Reagan?
RICO
I think so.
(Walks to his room offstage.)
AMIR
And?
RICO
(From offstage)
I got it.
AMIR
I meant…how’d you feel about it?
RICO
(From offstage)
Oh, it was, uh, a shame. She was a credit to our nation.
(Enters the living room)
Now, can we talk about tonight?
AMIR
I actually wanted to talk about Turkey…
RICO
Later, we have to hurry up if we’re going to make the rally in…
(Notices Amir’s shirt)
What are you wearing?
AMIR
(Looks down, smiles)
Oh, it’s a new Trump t-shirt. It just came in the mail today!
RICO
Why are you wearing it?
AMIR
Because I support Donald Trump. Duh.
RICO
Why would you support him???
AMIR
Lots of reasons. He’s charismatic, popular and has a strong message. Kind of like Obama back in ‘08.
RICO
This is a joke, right?
(Rico laughs as Amir stares at him)
You’re messing with me!
(Rico laughs harder as Amir stares)
There’s no way in hell you would even consider voting for that guy.
AMIR
(Puts down cereal. Calm.)
Rico. I don’t see why you are having so much trouble taking my choice seriously.
RICO
Because you can’t be a Trump supporter!
AMIR
Why not?
RICO
(Motions his arm up and down Amir’s body)
AMIR
Because of my height?
RICO
You are black and hispanic! Trump is racist!
AMIR
How so?
RICO
Remember that stuff he said about Mexicans being violent?
AMIR
When did he say that?
RICO
Like six months ago!
AMIR
That’s so long ago, man. I remember Beyonce’s choreography at the superbowl more clearly. And besides, I’m not Mexican.
RICO
He wanted to deport Muslims!
AMIR
I’m not Muslim, I’m Catholic.
RICO
He insulted a woman over her looks!
AMIR
That’s just sexist.
RICO
(Frustrated)
You can make all the excuses for Trump that you’d like, but you can’t deny his supporters are a problem. The other day a guy was elbowed—in the face—at a Trump rally.
AMIR
I saw that. Old guy has a mean arm.
RICO
See?
AMIR
What?
RICO
His fans are out of control.
AMIR
And that means I shouldn’t vote for Trump.
RICO
Yes!
AMIR
Rico…let me put it like this. Imagine if you go to a concert for your favorite band.
RICO
Twenty-one pilots!
AMIR
Sure. Anyway, let’s say a fan at the concert stabs you in the stomach today.
RICO
Jesus!
AMIR
If that happened, what would you say?
RICO
That the guy was crazy!
AMIR
It could be a girl. Don’t be sexist!
RICO
What’s your point?
AMIR
When you get stabbed…
RICO
If!
AMIR
After the stabbing, would you stop listening to the band?
RICO
No.
AMIR
Exactly. So if a stabbing by one person at a concert won’t stop you from listening to music, why should one angry fan end my support for Trump?
RICO
(stops, considers this point. Then shakes his head)
I’m not going to the rally with you while you’re wearing that shirt.
AMIR
Fine. If it makes you that uncomfortable, I’ll change.
(Amir removes his t-shirt and reveals a blacklivesmatter t-shirt)
RICO
What the hell?
AMIR
Huh?
RICO
You’re wearing a blacklivesmatter t-shirt!
AMIR
Yes. Cause I think blacklivesmatter, especially mine.
RICO
How can you be a Trump fan and support blacklivesmatter? They’re enemies.
AMIR
But they’re so similar.
RICO
In what universe is the trump campaign similar to the blacklivesmatter movement?!
AMIR
You just proved it!
RICO
HOW?!
AMIR
Anger. Blacklivesmatter supporters are angry. Trump supporters are angry. Aren’t you angry?
RICO
A little.
AMIR
We have two strong political movements that desire strong outcomes, massive change and have millions of passionate supporters. They both come at a critical time in our history. And their t-shirts are cool as hell! The goals are different in some places, I admit, but both groups are standing on the edge of a deep valley of values and reason. If they’re both so close to the edge, why do they have to stand on opposite sides?
(Beat.)
RICO
I need to lie down.
AMIR
What about the rally?
RICO
I’m not going with you!
AMIR
Cause of my shirt? I can just change to my Kanye West shirt if you’d like.
RICO
This isn’t just about a shirt. You can’t just wear Trump and take it off the moment you get tired of it.
AMIR
If I get tired of him.
RICO
Listen, Amir. I’m genuinely scared.
AMIR
Me too. But Trump is going to make America great again.
RICO
When’s the last time we were even great?
AMIR
I used to think that we were always great, but now I’m thinking it happened when Bush was in office…
RICO
I’m terrified for you, Amir. What if some people think Trump winning is a sign? To indulge in their worst viewpoints? To say whatever you want, no matter how negative it is? To stab me?
AMIR
Trump will take care of it. He has to.
RICO
He’ll just deny his involvement like he always does.
AMIR
It won’t matter. He’ll be blamed anyway. It’s always the President’s fault when something bad happens. Thanks to Obama.
RICO
Wait. Wait. Are you saying we’d blame Trump for everything that goes wrong?
AMIR
I also said, Thanks Obama.
RICO
(processing)
If Trump screws up, we’ll hate him. He’d be destroyed day by day….
AMIR
If he fails.
RICO
He will! Trump has no specifics, broad policies, simple rhetoric…he might be the worst President we’ve ever had! And then…oh my god…people will see that anger gets them nowhere. They’ll see the error of their ways! They’ll finally feel ready to feel the bern!
(grabs amir’s trump tshirt)
Can I borrow this?
(Amir nods)
I’m going to make sure Trump gets elected. Is there a Trump rally nearby tonight? I’ll text Constance and find out…
(Sends text)
AMIR
Rico?
RICO
Yeah?
AMIR
I was just messing with you.
RICO
What?
AMIR
This whole Trump thing was joke.
RICO
A joke that went on for that long?
AMIR
Yes.
RICO
You were very convincing.
AMIR
I took those improv classes.
RICO
Are you sure?
AMIR
Come on. I compared the blacklivesmatter movement to Trump’s campaign. That should have been a dead giveaway.
RICO
But why?
AMIR
You’ve haven’t been answering my texts about anything that doesn’t have to do with the election.I did this all to get you to pay attention.
RICO
What did I miss?
AMIR
Nancy Reagan was a blip on the radar to you. Migrants died leaving Syria. Ankara…
RICO
(distracted)
Oh, I get it. You come up with these crazy stories because you don’t want Trump to fail.
AMIR
What?
RICO
Well, newsflash, Amir! I’ve got to pay more attention to him now. Prop him up as high as he can go, so we can knock him down.
AMIR
But while you’re setting up this game, what else are you gonna miss?
RICO
(Getting text)
Constance has a rally spot! You coming?
AMIR
No, man. I’m not.
RICO
(goes to exit)
Suit yourself! Here I come, Drumpf!
AMIR
Rico!
RICO
(stops, turns back to Amir)
Yes.
AMIR
Could you…at least check in on Ankara for me?
RICO
Who’s Ankara?
(Rico Exits. Amir stands there and sighs. He takes off his blacklivesmatter shirt to reveal a shirt with the Turkish flag on it.)
Blackout
End of Play.
