Of Love And Loss
First Scene: The Malpica’s kitchen, the Sun shines through the window against the back wall and above the sink.
[Jasmine Malpica stands over the sink cleaning her dishes from the morning breakfast, her long black hair hanging over her shoulders. She has a healthy build and a gentle face to match it, her eyes, a deep green, show only compassion. As she works she hums loudly to herself, she turns quickly to notice that there is a plate of food at the table yet her son is still upstairs.]
Jasmine: ALEX!? WHAT’S TAKING YOU SO LONG? GET DOWN HERE!
Alex: Alright, alright! Geez, I gotta take time out to look good for the ladies after all!
Jasmine: Oh stop, your so fresh, just like your father…now hurry up and eat your breakfast, its going to get cold and you’ve only 20 minutes before school.
[Alex jumps down the stairs and swings around the corner into the kitchen(entering Stage Left), revealing a strong, yet small boy, no more than 15 years. His hair a dirty blonde, the tips being brown. His bangs hang directly above his eyes. He’s full cheeked with lovely brown eyes.]
Alex: I don’t get what the rush is, it’s just school, and who cares if I’m late? God forbid I miss 20 minutes of math, or science? God, none of it really matters, sometimes I wonder why I bother going, you know except for all my adoring fans… [He grins slyly.]
Jasmine: Will you quit it? [Laughing quietly.] I swear you and your father have so much in common it's ridiculous…Now come, you know what I tell you about being over confident with ‘the ladies’?
Alex: Hey hey woah, I’m just trying to find myself a good woman, I mean Dad got his after all. [A sly grin creeps across his face.]
Jasmine: Alex! You’ll find your girl one day, just be yourself and-
Alex[cutting in]: Yeah yeah, I know I know, be myself and anything I’ll ever need blah blah, I gotta get to school now, so I’m gonna- [The phone rings, and Alex quickly grabs it.] Hello? Yea, she’s here? Yep, one second. It’s for you ma.
Jasmine: Oh? [Taking the Phone] Hello? Yes this is she. Oh? Oh…well is there…? Did they…? Do they know what happe-…alright well, I um…I appreciate the call…you too, good day. [Hangs up the phone] Alex…your staying home today.
Alex: huh? What? Why? What’d they do, award me for being too good at everything?
Jasmine: Honey please sit…we’re going to talk.
Alex: …? Am I expelled? I didn’t beat anyone up I swear…alright well I did, but he was beating up on Anthony first, I couldn’t help but- Ma c’mon I was just trying to help him out.
Jasmine: Your father, Nicholas…he was doing one of his runs over seas…his plane was shot down…Alex your father, my husband…he’s gone…
Alex: …um…That’s not a good joke? I mean I respect the effort and all, but really I have to get going to-
Jasmine: This is no joke…I’m shocked too, but we knew the risks…
Alex: Ma…he’s…he’s really gone? Just like that? [He begins to choke up and cry.] I can’t believe this, I won’t believe it. Dad can’t die, look at him! He’s a brick wall, nothing can kill him! He’s not dead, he’s just on an island, waiting for a plane to fly by and he’ll fire the flare and he’ll be home, and we’ll laugh about this, oh we’ll laugh.
[She covers his mouth.]
Jasmine: Alex…I want you to know I love you, and your father loved you, but he’s gone honey, they saw his plane crash…
[She begins to tear as well, pulling him close to comfort him, as well as herself.] It’s going to be OK dear, I promise you this, me and your father had worried and planned for this since your birth…Oh! That reminds me! [she gets up and runs off to her room(Stage Left)]
Alex: Wait! Ma wha-!…Agh…What am I gonna do…
[He paces the kitchen, seeming to look for strength. The door bell rings. He jumps in place to gather himself then answers it. A young radiant girl walks through the door(Stage Right). She has short blonde hair and brown eyes deeper than Alex’s. In one hand she is swinging her lanyard with her keys upon it around her finger, in the other hand is a school book. She has a sort of skip to her step that shows you how energetic she is.
Tracey: Alex! Ready for school babe? I got you a bagel in the car, I put cream cheese on it, and I got you some orange juice too! C’mon lets get going!
Alex: Hey..yea…I’m not going…I’ve got…I’ve got a lot going on right now, just gonna skip today.
Tracey: Well you can’t just skip! You gotta have a reason! I know its stressing but we can chill and watch a movie tonight OK? I’ll bring popcorn and soda and we’ll have a lil' party, just us, it’ll be loads of fun I prom-
[Jasmine rushes back in.]
Jasmine: Alex I have to-…Oh good morning Tracey…
[They nod to each other.]
Well, Alex, Your father wanted you to have this, should this day ever come, it was very important to him. [She reaches into a baby bag and reveals a stunning gold necklace with a miniature shield emblem attached to it, it sparkles in the light.]
Tracey: “this day?” Did he quit his job? Or disown you? I mean what could-
Alex(examining the necklace): He was killed. They shot his plane down…And I swear I’ll kill them all for it… [He clenches the shield tightly in his hand.]
Tracey and Jasmine: Calm down!
Alex: No! they took him from me, they stole his life! He didn’t deserve this!
Jasmine: But your murder of them won’t bring him back, think of them and their families…
Tracey: I’m going to stay here with you today, Alex, assuming it’s OK with you Ms. M?
Jasmine: That’s fine Tracey, you know you’re always welcome here. However, Alex…?
[He raises his head from the deep trance he was focused in. He raises an eyebrow as if questioning her.
Jasmine: Could you excuse us for a second, dear?
Alex(frailly): Yea…I’m gonna…uhh…I’m gonna get some air or something… [He quickly adorns the necklace and steps outside(Stage Right).]
Jasmine: Tracey, I have to thank you a lot for staying here to comfort Alex, and I’ll be happy to inform the school and your parents that you’re safe here…he’s going through a rough time, and he’s going to need you there, I suppose I’m just asking you to not expect his usual self.
Tracey: Oh, of course not, I’m going to do everything to keep his spirits up. But I must ask you, you don’t seem as shaken by your husband’s death? Why’s that?
Jasmine: You have to understand this dear, when I met him, he had a dream of being a war hero, he spent his spare time reading about weapons and war. But with all the violence he dreamed of, his romantic side was so strong…I loved him so, and I still do. But I can’t be too sad, can I? He achieved his dream after all. I’m sad, yes, but I’m happy as well. There are plenty worse ways to die than defending the honor of your homeland.
Tracey: Wow…I’d never known that, all I ever really knew was he worked in the military and loved to tell jokes and was just a happy-go-lucky guy, I mean geez, even I’m kinda flipped that he’s gone.
Jasmine: We all are, but I’m going to need you to be strong for Alex.
Tracey: Will do!
Jasmine: Thank you. [She gets up and hugs Tracey. She then walks towards the door and notions Alex to come back in.]
Alex: Agh…I don’t know what I’m going to do…my minds just…gone right now, I just can’t believe this is happening. [He begins to cry. Tracey gets up and hugs him from behind.]
Tracey: It’ll be alright. [She kisses his cheek.] Hey! Your dad wouldn’t want you sitting around like this! He’d want you driving around blasting music and having fun! He’d want you bragging that he died like a hero while other dads’ll just die drunk in a chair! He’d want you showing the world who’s son you are!
Alex: I know, I know! I just can’t right now! [He slugs deeper into his seat and rest his head on the table. The sound of his sobs fill the room. ]
Tracey: Babe I know it hurts, I lost my dad too remember? You just have to sidetrack yourself until you can think…
[Alex wipes his tears.]
Alex: Yea…good plan…how about that movie? It’ll probably help me relax…
Tracey: Alright! I’ll go pick one out.
Alex: No, let me, my lady. [Alex bows to Tracey and leaves.(Stage Left) Tracey laughs as he walks out.]
Tracey: He’s such a good guy…I hope’ll be alright…
Jasmine: He’ll be fine with your help, I really do appreciate it in our time of need. [She hugs Tracey once more and allows her to go help pick out a movie.]
Jasmine(to self): She’s a good girl…I’m glad Alex has her…I just hope he doesn’t do anything to ruin it, or to hurt himself more…this is a big loss for him… [She shrugs.] I suppose only time will tell if he can truly cope with this.