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100 Meters |
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A play for lower-intermediate learners of English and upwards. » About '100 Meters' RUNNING ORDER SCENE: Inscription on calendar BEFORE PLAY: 100 Meters SCENE ONE: 1947 Wilma and Sammy are seven years old. (NO CHANGE) SCENE TWO: 1947 Wilma and Sammy are seven years old. (NO CHANGE) SCENE THREE: 1947 Wilma and Sammy are seven years old. (NO CHANGE) SCENE FOUR: January 1948 SCENE FIVE: 1949 In the playground. (JIMMY) SCENE SIX: 1949 In the playground. (NO CHANGE) SCENE SEVEN: 1950 February – Freedom! (DOCTOR) SCENE EIGHT: 1950 October “The Allstars!” (BASKETBALL PLAYER) SCENE NINE: 1956 Melbourne – is this a win? (FATHER) SCENE TEN: 1957 Wilma and Sammy are 17 years old. (SAMMY) SCENE ELEVEN: 1960 Rome Olympic Games. (COMMENTATOR) SCENE TWELVE: 1960 Rome Olympic Games. (NO CHANGE)
Rights Before you use this work with your students, or anyone else, you MUST contact me to establish whether you can gain the rights. They are currently held by a third party. If you intend to charge money for your performance, then 10% (author's royalties) of any money made (before costs) MUST be paid to the Wilma Rudolph Foundation. » Contact me for details. ©Kevin Booth 1992. Registered in the Registre Provincial de Propietat Intel.lectual de Barcelona; Solicitud No.892. |
SCENE ONE: 1947 WILMA AND SAMMY EMPTY STAGE EXCEPT FOR A PILE OF BONES/LIMBS, CENTER STAGE. RIGHT FRONT IS A LARGE CALENDAR THAT IS CHANGED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCENE TO REVEAL THE YEAR AND A KEY PHRASE. CALENDAR SET TO: 100 Meters GAZELLE MUSIC STARTS. PUPPETEER ENTERS AND BRINGS TO LIFE THE PILE OF LIMBS THAT BECOMES A YOUNG GAZELLE WAKING UP. THE GAZELLE SHAKILY GETS TO ITS FEET AND TOTTERS OFFSTAGE. THIS “BLACK GAZELLE”, LEARNING FIRST TO WALK AND THEN TO RUN, IS A REPEATED MOTIF THROUGHOUT THE PLAY. WILMA ENTERS AGED SEVEN YEARS OLD. SHE COMES UP TO THE CALENDAR AND TURNS IT TO THE FIRST DATE. CALENDAR: 1947 Wilma and Sammy are seven years old. WILMA: Hullo. My name’s Wilma Rudolph. I’m from Clarksville, Tennessee. That’s in the United States. They used to call me the Black Gazelle, and if you pay attention, you’ll find out why. At the moment I’m seven years old, but soon I’ll be eight. This is my story. It’s a true story. WILMA BEGINS TO PLAY BY HERSELF. SAMMY ENTERS. HE IS PLAYING AT DRIVING A TANK, OR BEING A SOLDIER, MAKING ENGINE NOISES, GUNSHOTS, ETC. HE IS FULLY ENGROSSED IN HIS GAME. WILMA SEES HIM. SHE WATCHES HIM FOR A WHILE. WILMA: What do you think you’re doing, Sammy? What an idiot! SAMMY: (EMBARRASSED) What do you want, Wilma? Go away. WILMA: No. What are you doing? Tell me. SAMMY: (SHARING SECRET) I’m a soldier. You be careful or I’ll shoot you. Bang! WILMA: You aren’t a soldier. You’re a silly little boy. Don’t be stupid! SAMMY: Don’t call me stupid! And I’m not little; I’m as big as you are; I’m seven. WILMA: I’m older than you. I’m almost eight years old. You’re younger than me and you’re stupider! SAMMY: I’m not stupid! I’m more intelligent than you. WILMA: No you’re not. You’re stupider than me. SAMMY: I am not. I’m the most intelligent person in the world. WILMA: Okay. What’s 3,678 plus 9,742? Ha, you don’t know! SAMMY: I do. WILMA: What is it, then? SAMMY: I’m not going to tell you. Use your own brain. Anyway, I’m more intelligent than you; I’m more handsome than you... WILMA: Ha, you don’t know! SAMMY: Yes, I do. Anyway, I’m more handsome than you... WILMA: Girls aren’t handsome, they’re beautiful. I’m more beautiful than you and I’m faster than you... SAMMY: No you’re not. WILMA: And I can jump further than you. SAMMY: No, you can’t. I can jump much further than you. WILMA: No you can’t. I can prove it. Let’s have a competition. I’m much better than you. Okay. You have to start here. You go first. SAMMY: Okay. THEY HAVE A JUMPING COMPETITION, BUT ONE ACCUSES THE OTHER OF CHEATING AND A FIGHT STARTS. WILMA: You’re a cheat Sammy. I jumped further than that! SAMMY: You did not. Girls can’t jump. I’m better than you. WILMA: No you’re not. I’m the best! SAMMY: I am. WILMA: You crossed the line! SAMMY: You put your hands down! THEY FIGHT TO CRIES OF “I’m the best!” and “You cheated!” WILMA GETS ON TOP AND PINS SAMMY DOWN. WILMA: You cheated Sammy, I won, I’m the best jumper! SAMMY: Get off me Wilma. WILMA: Say that I’m the best jumper Sammy! SAMMY: No, you are not. WILMA: Say it! SAMMY: No. WILMA: Say “Wilma Rudolph is the best jumper in the world”. SAMMY: Okay, okay, okay. WILMA: Say it Sammy! SAMMY: “Wilma Rudolph… is… the best… jumper in the world”. WILMA: I’m the champion! SAMMY: Okay, but I can run faster than you. WILMA: You can’t. SAMMY: I can. Let’s have a race. WILMA: Alright. (THEY PREPARE FOR A RACE) You have to run and touch the pine tree, that one over there. Can you see it? SAMMY: Yes. WILMA: Touch it and come back. Okay?... On your marks... get set...Go! THEY EXIT RUNNING. WILMA COMES BACK OBVIOUSLY NOT HAVING TOUCHED THE TREE. WILMA: I won, I won! SAMMY: You didn’t touch the tree; I saw you! WILMA: I did, I ... (COUGHING FIT) SAMMY: You did not! You went... What’s the matter? WILMA: I... It’s... (COUGHING) SAMMY: Wilma? Wilma, are you okay? (WILMA EXITS COUGHING) Wilma? You won, okay?... But don’t tell your parents, okay? It isn’t my fault, you wanted to have a race... Wilma?... (EXITS) * * *
GAZELLE MUSIC: GAZELLE ENTERS. AT FIRST GAMBOLING, SHE SOON BECOMES SICK AND UNABLE TO WALK. WILMA’S FATHER ENTERS AND PICKS HER UP, CRADLING HER IN HIS ARMS. UNLESS YOU HAVE A SEPARATE ACTOR TO PLAY THE NURSE, THE GAZELLE PUPPET DOUBLES AS WILMA THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SCENE. A WHITE NURSE, DRESSED ALL IN WHITE, IS SITTING READING WHEN WILMA’S FATHER ENTERS WITH WILMA (THE GAZELLE PUPPET) IN HIS ARMS. BLACK AND WHITE MASKS ARE USED TO SHOW RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN THIS SCENE. CALENDAR: 1947 Wilma and Sammy are seven years old. FATHER: Excuse me, Ma’am? NURSE: Hmmm? FATHER: Excuse me, this is an emergency. NURSE: What? FATHER: It’s an emergency. You see my daughter... NURSE: You just sit down and wait, boy. FATHER: But Ma’am... We have to see the doctor! NURSE: What? Have to? Have to? You don’t have to do anything, boy. Who do you think you are, the boss? FATHER: (CONTROLLED ANGER) Of course not, Ma’am. But please, Ma’am (FIRM) my daughter is very sick. NURSE: Really? Is that a fact, boy? And how good are your eyes? Can you see okay? FATHER: Yes Ma’am, I can. But my daughter needs to see the doctor, urgently! NURSE: Well, I don’t think your eyes can be that healthy, boy. If your eyes were okay, you would be able to see colors correctly. You see, you are black, boy, and this is a white hospital. Blacks can’t come in here. Blacks have to go to another hospital. Now, go away and find a black hospital. FATHER: My daughter is sick! She needs a doctor! NURSE: Don’t shout at me or I’ll call the police! WILMA’S FATHER IS ON THE POINT OF LEAVING WHEN A WHITE DOCTOR ENTERS. DOCTOR: What’s all this noise? What’s the problem nurse? NURSE: There’s a black man here who says his daughter’s sick, sir. DOCTOR: So what’s the problem? Tell him to come in. NURSE: Sir! This is a white hospital! Blacks can’t come in here. DOCTOR: Nurse, that girl is sick and I’m a doctor. You tell him to bring his daughter in here! NURSE: But sir... these blacks... They cause problems sir. They have their own places to go. You shouldn’t worry about blacks sir. Why, there’re lots of good, white people who need your attention Sir. DOCTOR: Boy, you bring your daughter in here, right now. NURSE: But sir... FATHER: Yes sir. Thank you, sir. DOCTOR EXITS AND THE NURSE STOPS WILMA’S FATHER AS HE IS ABOUT TO FOLLOW THE DOCTOR. NURSE: Okay boy, you heard the doctor. But you behave yourself with him. Do you hear me? And if you try to steal anything, you’ll go straight to the police. Understand? Now go! FATHER: Yes, Ma’am. Thank you, Ma’am. (EXITS) NURSE: These blacks! You can’t trust ’em. CONTINUES SPEECH WHILE PREPARING THE STAGE FOR THE NEXT SCENE. NURSE: Look at me! Can you see what I’m doing? I can’t believe it myself… I wouldn’t like my Mum to see me doing this... preparing a bed for a black girl! And that doctor... What kind of a doctor is he?... This is the last time, I tell you.. This is the last time! EXITS. MUSIC. * * *
WILMA IS ASLEEP IN BED. SAMMY ENTERS WITH SOMETHING BEHIND HIS BACK. HE WATCHES HER FOR A WHILE AND THEN COUGHS OR MAKES A NOISE SO THAT SHE WAKES UP. CALENDAR: 1947 Wilma and Sammy are seven years old.
WILMA: Sammy!...What are you doing here? SAMMY: Nothing. Uh...I... WILMA: Yeah? SAMMY: Uh... I heard you were sick. WILMA: Who told you? SAMMY: Your Pop told me.. He said you were here. WILMA: What’s that? SAMMY: Flowers. HE GIVES HER THE FLOWERS. WILMA: Where did you get them? SAMMY: I picked them. WILMA: Where? SAMMY: Uh.. At the cemetery. WILMA: Oh great Sammy! I’m not dead yet! SAMMY: Well, I tried to get some from Mrs. Jameson’s garden but she saw me and I had to run off. WILMA: Well? Why have you come to see me? SAMMY: I ... Uh... I heard you were sick. WILMA: That’s right Sammy. SAMMY: Are you very sick? WILMA: Pretty sick. SAMMY: What have you got? Is it the measles? WILMA: No. SAMMY: Have you got chicken pox? WILMA: No Sammy. I haven’t got any spots, have I? SAMMY: You’ve broken your arm! WILMA THROWS THE FLOWERS AT SAMMY. SAMMY: Is it the “flu”? WILMA: No. It’s much worse than that... I can’t walk. SAMMY: Ah, so you’ve broken your leg? WILMA: No Sammy. SAMMY: Have you sprained your ankle? WILMA: No Sammy. SAMMY: Well, what have you got? WILMA: I don’t know exactly. The Doctor thinks it is... SHE PRONOUNCES THE WORD WITH DIFFICULTY. Po-li-o-my-l...something. SAMMY: Oh. OBVIOUSLY NOT HAVING A CLUE WHAT SHE’S TALKING ABOUT. Are you going to be sick for a long time? WILMA: I don’t know, Sammy. What a stupid question¡ SILENCE. SAMMY: Hey Wilma... I learned a new song at school today! WILMA: Yeah?...what kind of song is it? SAMMY: Do you wanna hear it? WILMA: Okay. SAMMY: It’s called “The skeleton song” Listen: HE REALIZES THERE ARE NO MORE BONES AFTER THE FINGERS. Wait a minute, I made a mistake. I’ll start again. HE STARTS AGAIN AND DOES THE SONG COMPLETELY. WILMA LISTENS TO HIM PRETENDING NOT TO FIND IT FUNNY, TRYING TO HOLD ONTO HER BAD MOOD, BUT SHE LIKES HIS PERFORMANCE. WHEN SAMMY GETS TO THE LEGS WILMA STARTS THINKING ABOUT HER ILLNESS AND GETS DEPRESSED AGAIN: Your head bone is connected to your... neck bone. WILMA: I think it’s a stupid song. SILENCE SAMMY: Well... (PAUSE) I think it’s time for me to go. My mum said I have to be home by five o’clock. WILMA SAYS NOTHING SAMMY: Sorry about the flowers. Sorry about the cemetery. HE PUTS THE FLOWERS AT THE END OF THE BED. Bye Wilma. WILMA: Bye Sammy. HE STARTS TO GO. WILMA: Hey, Sammy…? SAMMY: Yeah? WILMA: Are you... going to come and see me again? SAMMY: I don’t know. Maybe. WILMA: Oh. I was just wondering... Bye. Bye Sammy. SAMMY EXITS. WILMA PICKS UP THE FLOWERS, SMELLS THEM AND SMILES. * * *
MUSIC. EVERY TIME THE DOCTOR RE-ENTERS IN THIS SCENE, HE CHANGES THE CALENDAR BY A FEW MONTHS TO SHOW THE PASSING OF TIME. WILMA IS LYING IN BED. THE DOCTOR ENTERS. CALENDAR: 1948 January. DOCTOR: Hello Wilma, how are you today? WILMA: I don’t know. DOCTOR: Hmm… you don’t know? WILMA: I’m okay. DOCTOR: Okay? Now, now, That isn’t what I want to hear. You’re a strong girl. You must be brave. You must be positive. WILMA: How can I be positive if I can’t even get out of bed. I’m never going to be able to walk again. DOCTOR: Don’t say that Wilma, It isn’t true. You’ve got lots of things to make you happy. How old are you now? WILMA: Eight sir. DOCTOR: Eight? Well, you’re very young. You’ve got your entire life ahead of you. You’ve got a wonderful mother and a wonderful father. You’ve got lots of friends, haven’t you? WILMA: Only Sammy. DOCTOR: And how long have you and Sammy been friends? WILMA: Since I got sick. DOCTOR: Well then he must be a very good friend to you, mustn’t he?... And then you have... WILMA: But I cant walk! I can’t get out of bed! I wanted to be a basketball player, sir! Now I can’t even walk! SILENCE. DOCTOR: Wilma...you.. ah... Wilma, you are very sick. Polio is a very serious disease. You’ve been in bed for a long time. I know that is very difficult for you. But you have to be brave and strong. WILMA LOOKS DOWN AND AWAY. Listen Wilma, I don’t know if you’re going to be able to run. I know you will be able to walk again if you want to. But you must really want to. If you want to get out of this hospital bed, you must be strong and brave. It will be very painful. You must work and do your exercises every day. You must tell your body that you want to walk again. That’s the only way you’re going to walk.. And in the future, who knows... one day you may even be able to run and play basketball. WILMA: Do you think I could sir? DOCTOR: I can’t say for certain Wilma. It all depends on you. You must do your exercises every day, okay? WILMA: Uh-huh. DOCTOR: Now, the next time I come I wanna see a smile on your face, okay? I’ll see you next week. Bye-bye. WILMA IS LEFT ALONE. WILMA: In the future, who knows? One day you may even be able to run and play basketball.. SHE STARTS TO MASSAGE HER DEADENED LEGS WILMA: I can do it... I can do it... I know I can! SHE REACHES FOR HER CRUTCHES, AND PREPARES TO STAND WILMA: I’m gonna do my exercises every day... SHE STRUGGLES TO A STANDING POSITION -MUSCLES HURTING- HOLDS IT FOR A SECOND AND THEN COLLAPSES TO THE FLOOR. WILMA: I can do it... I know I can. Come on, legs.. Come on... SHE STRUGGLES TO HER FEET AGAIN, HOLDS IT FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN COLLAPSES AGAIN. ON THE FLOOR SHE IS CLOSE TO TEARS, BUT STILL REPEATING THE SAME SENTENCE. THE NEXT TIME SHE STARTS TO GET UP, THE DOCTOR ENTERS, CHANGES THE CALENDAR AND HELPS HER. TIME HAS PASSED. CALENDAR: 1948 June DOCTOR: How are you today, Wilma? WILMA: I feel stronger today sir. DOCTOR: Magnificent! You’re standing. Let’s try a step... and another. (DOCTOR MOVES FOOT FOR HER) Excellent! I’ll see you tomorrow, Wilma. HE EXITS AND SHE ALMOST FALLS. THE DOCTOR ENTERS. IT’S A NEW DAY. WILMA STANDS WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM DOC. CALENDAR: 1948 December DOCTOR: Good! Now take a step.. and another.. WILMA TAKES ANOTHER STEP. SHE SMILES AND DROPS THE CRUTCHES. SHE STANDS LONG ENOUGH TO SAY: WILMA: I can walk!!! BEFORE COLLAPSING INTO THE DOCTOR’S ARMS. HE GENTLY HELPS HER WITH THE CRUTCHES AND THEN LEAVES. DOCTOR: I’ll see you next week Wilma. WILMA: In the future, who knows? One day you may even be able to run and play basketball... you may even be able to run... Okay... I’m gonna do... ONE HUNDRED METERS!… One… two… three… WILMA EXITS COUNTING LOUDLY EVERY STEP SHE TAKES. SHE WALKS WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, BUT SHE KEEPS GOING. * * *
FIRST HOODLUM (JIMMY) SAUNTERS ONSTAGE IDLY DRIBBLING A BASKETBALL: VERY “COOL”. 2ND HOODLUM (DANNY) CALLS FROM OFFSTAGE. THEY SET THE STAGE FOR THE SCENE WHILE THEY TALK. ALL THREE ACTORS WEAR BLACK MASKS TO SHOW THAT WILMA IS PICKED ON NOT BECAUSE OF HER RACE BUT BECAUSE SHE IS LAME. CALENDAR: 1949 In the playground. DANNY: Come on Jimmy. Let’s have a game! JIMMY: So get out here man; I’m waiting. DANNY: I’m coming. JIMMY: Hey, (SMIRKING) Have you heard the latest? DANNY: No, what? Oh come on Jimmy, tell me. JIMMY: That Wilcox kid. DANNY: You mean Sammy, Sammy Wilcox? JIMMY: Is that his name? The stupid one? Yeah, him. DANNY: Well, what? What about him? JIMMY: He’s started hanging round with that girl Rudolph, you know, the one with the brace. DANNY: But she’s a cripple. What does he want from her? JIMMY: I don’t know, but they play together an awful lot. It looks pretty suspicious if you ask me. DANNY: (GRINNING) Do you think they’re boyfriend and girlfriend? JIMMY: (LAUGHING) Nah. He’s too ugly. And she’s… she’s like a robot! (IMITATES WILMA. THEY LAUGH) DANNY: Perhaps he’s teaching her to dance? THEY LAUGH AGAIN. WILMA ENTERS, WEARING A BRACE, FLUSHED WITH HER RECENT SUCCESS – NO CRUTCHES. WILMA: … ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred! THEY STOP LAUGHING. WILMA STANDS WATCHING FOR A WHILE, PLUCKING UP COURAGE. THEN: WILMA: Hi Danny... Hi Jimmy. DANNY: Hi. JIMMY: Hi. WILMA: Hiya! DANNY: What do you want? PAUSE WILMA: Can I play? JIMMY: What? DANNY: Did you hear that? (LAUGHING) She wants to know if she can play! JIMMY: But you’re a cripple. You can’t run! WILMA: No, but I can throw it and catch it. JIMMY: Great. She can throw it and catch it. Okay... you can play. DANNY: What? Are you nuts, man? JIMMY: Give me the ball. WILMA: Really? Great! DANNY: No man! no way! JIMMY: Danny... give me the ball. DANNY: But... Jimmy! JIMMY: Give me the ball… Trust me. Hey, Rudolph, come over here. WILMA: Here? JIMMY: No, here... stand here, that’s it. And now, put your arms like this. HE PLACES WILMA CENTER STAGE WITH HER ARMS FORMING A HOOP. WILMA: Like this. JIMMY: Exactly... good girl. Now, here we go. One, two... and I score! (USING HER ARMS AS THE BASKETBALL HOOP) You’re the basket! DANNY: Ha ha! Yes, or... I’ve got another idea… If we played cricket, she could be the wicket! JIMMY: Yeah, that’s great! Hey Rudolph, you’re the wicket. Make sure you don’t get hit! THEY DANCE AROUND HER, BOUNCING THE BALL. WILMA: Oh, come on. Let me play! DANNY: You are Wilma, you are. Look out! BOTH BOYS: If we play cricket, you can be the wicket! Come on hop-a-long; run, run, run! JIMMY: (SINGING) Wilma Rudolph, you will never run! BOTH BOYS: Wilma Rudolph, stupid hop-a-long! THE BOYS EXIT LAUGHING. WILMA KEEPS PRACTICING HER WALKING, BUT FINALLY WITHDRAWS DEFEATED. SHE STARTS SINGING TO THE SAME TUNE (A BLUES?) AS THE BOYS: BOTH BOYS: Wilma Rudolph, you will never run! PAUSE. IT APPEARS THAT WILMA HAS GIVEN UP, BUT THEN ANGER AND DETERMINATION ARISE FROM WITHIN HER: WILMA: In the playground, now I hop along SHE KEEPS SINGING THE SONG, ENCOURAGING HERSELF. SHE GOES BACK TO DOING HER EXERCISES. * * *
WILMA IS PRACTICING HER WALKING ALONE. SHE IS TEARFUL YET DEFIANT, PUSHING HERSELF EVEN HARDER THAN BEFORE. SAMMY ENTERS. HE IS HOLDING SOMETHING BEHIND HIS BACK. CALENDAR: (NO CHANGE)
WILMA INDICATES HER BRACE. WILMA: Yeah? What’s this, Sammy? SAMMY: (PAUSE) Ah... your brace. WILMA: That’s right. I’m not walking. This brace is walking. I’m a cripple! SAMMY: Come on, that’s not true. You’ll be able to walk alone soon. WILMA: That’s never gonna happen. I’m a cripple! SAMMY: Don’t you want to play basketball? Don’t you want to be a basketball star? WILMA: I can’t play basketball. You have to be able to run to play basketball. I can’t run. (PAUSE). And if I could, I wouldn’t wanna play with the stupid kids in this town! SAMMY: Don’t you like them? WILMA: No, I don’t. SAMMY: Oh. SILENCE. SAMMY: I brought something to show you. WILMA: Yeah? Show me. SAMMY: You know they’re looking for a mascot for the basketball team? WILMA: Yeah? Show me! SAMMY PRODUCES A PICTURE OF A BADLY-DRAWN “COBI*” (MASCOT OF THE ’92 BARCELONA OLYMPICS), PERHAPS WITH A DIFFERENT NOSE. SAMMY: What do you think? WILMA: What is it? SAMMY: This could be the mascot for the next competition! WILMA: Yeah. But what IS it? SAMMY: It’s a dog/ ______. I call him Kobu/________. WILMA: A dog/_________? It looks more like an elephant or something. SAMMY: I thought I could show him to Coach Temple. He could be the symbol for the “Burt Highschool Allstars”. WILMA: Sammy, you’re crazy! The coach is never gonna want that. PAUSE. SAMMY: Well, perhaps I’ll show him anyway. SILENCE. WILMA REALIZES SHE HAS HURT SAMMY’S FEELINGS. WILMA: It’s good Sammy. It’s good... I think it just needs… a little more work. SAMMY: Do you like it? WILMA: Yeah, I like it. SAMMY: I did it for you. WILMA: Oh. (PAUSE) Thanks Sammy. THEY SIT IN SILENCE FOR A WHILE. SAMMY OBVIOUSLY HAS SOMETHING ON HIS MIND. SAMMY: Ah... Wilma, have you ever... ah... have you ever had a boyfriend? WILMA: A what? SAMMY: A boyfriend. WILMA: Are you serious, Sammy? SAMMY: Umm...Yes. WILMA: I’ve been in bed for the last year, how could I have a boyfriend? SAMMY: That’s right. You’re right. SILENCE. SAMMY: Wilma? I... I like you. Do you want to be my girlfriend? WILMA: Uh... Sammy... I... uh... SAMMY SUDDENLY TRIES TO KISS HER. WILMA PANICS, THINKING HE IS TRYING TO ATTACK HER, OR HAS GONE COMPLETELY MAD. SHE STARTS FIGHTING HIM AND THEY END UP ON THE FLOOR. SAMMY: Are you alright, Wilma? Are you alright? WILMA: Yes, I’m alright. SAMMY: Is your leg okay? WILMA: Yes, my leg is fine. SILENCE WILMA: Sammy…I don’t... Oh Sammy.... I don’t think... I don’t think this is a good idea. Can we just be friends? SAMMY STARES AT THE FLOOR FOR A LONG TIME SAMMY: Okay. (PAUSE) Wilma, do you really want to be a basketball player? WILMA: Yes. SAMMY: Really? WILMA: Yes, really! SAMMY: Okay (PAUSE) If I can’t be... your boyfriend... I’m gonna be your personal trainer! WILMA: My personal trainer? SAMMY: Yep. If you’re going to be a basketball player, you have to have a trainer! WILMA: But Sammy... SAMMY: Right Wilma. You’re going to be the best basketball player in the world and I’m going to be your trainer! I’m coming over tomorrow morning. We’re going to start training. Bye. HE EXITS WILMA: Sammy...!? * * *
CALENDAR: 1950 February – Freedom! MUSIC BACKING, ECHOING THE EMOTIONAL PROGRESSION OF THE SCENE. WILMA ENTERS PRACTICING HER WALKING. SHE IS MUCH BETTER AT IT. SHE COMES TO CENTER STAGE AND STOPS. THE DOCTOR ENTERS, REMOVES HER BRACE AND EXITS. WILMA, ALONE, EXPERIMENTS WITH HER NEW FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. SHE DISCOVERS SHE CAN RUN, ALTHOUGH HALTINGLY AT FIRST. FROM THIS POINT ON IN THE PLAY WILMA SHOULD BE TRYING TO RUN AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, UNABLE TO KEEP STILL. SHE IS LIKE A YOUNG DEER LEARNING TO SPRING. IN THE NEXT SCENE, SHE EASILY FITS HER NICKNAME OF “SKEETER”, BUT BY THE END OF THE PLAY, SHE MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLES A “BLACK GAZELLE” FOR HER INCREDIBLE SPEED AND SUPPLENESS. MUSIC INCREASING WILMA: I can run!!!!! WILMA EXITS. * * *
CALENDAR: 1950 October “The Allstars!” ENTER COACH TEMPLE AND BASKETBALL-PLAYER/S. COACH: Okay kids let’s try some lay-ups. (BB-PLAYER/S START PRACTICING LAY-UPS) Come on, higher. Remember, you have four seconds inside that ring. Make use of them. Billy, you’re late! You’ve got to feel the rhythm. It’s like a dance: one, two, jump. Right, left, jump. That’s it… Fly up there and just drop that ball in. WILMA ENTERS RUNNING, TACKLES A PLAYER, GETS THE BALL AND DRIBBLES ROUND THE COACH. WILMA: Don’t tell me I can’t be on the team sir. Watch
me shoot. ‘Cause if you tell me I can’t be on the team,
sir… you can’t have your ball back! IMAGINARY GAME IS PLAYED. ALL: Wow! Yeah! Alright! THE BASKETBALL PLAYER/S EXIT. WILMA IS ABOUT TO EXIT WHEN THE COACH STOPS HER. COACH: Hey Wilma, wait a minute, I want to talk with you. (PAUSE) Congratulations
on your game! COACH EXITS. WILMA REMAINS ALONE, THINKING. WILMA: I can do it... I know I can. SHE SINGS A REFRAIN OF THE SONG SHE SANG IN THE PLAYGROUND, BUT THERE IS CLEARLY A GREATER SENSE OF TRIUMPH THIS TIME. WILMA IS BEGINNING TO SUCCEED. WILMA: In the playground, I used to hop along But in the future, one day I will run. Now I’m playing, playing basketball But in the future, one day I will run. So take back all those names, For they won’t make me fall In the future, one day I will run. In the future, one day I will run! SHE TAKES THE SAME DIRECTION SHE TOOK WHEN SHE EXITED WITH THE CRUTCHES. WILMA: Okay... I’m gonna do... ONE HUNDRED METERS. SHE EXITS RUNNING. THE GAZELLE MAKES A BRIEF ENTRANCE. * * *
CALENDAR: 1956 Melbourne – is this a win? ENTER FATHER READING A NEWSPAPER. FATHER: Wilma! You devil! (LAUGHING) Hey Ellen, listen to this. Ellen! Come out of the kitchen and listen to this about our daughter. Look at this. The Olympic games have started and there’s an American woman athlete on the front page. Wilma! An American athlete! (READING) “Local lady scores bronze! The United States of America won a bronze medal today in the Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia in the 4 by 100 meter relay. It was Clarksville girl, Wilma Rudolph, who helped to win the bronze. Miss Rudolph”... Hey did you hear that Ellen, they call her Miss... “Miss Rudolph...” That’s my girl... “Miss Rudolph, who is only sixteen, has trained at athletics since she was ten years old. She is presently a student at Burt High School, where she plays on the school basketball team. Miss Rudolph also holds the state record for the most points scored in a single basketball game in the state of Tennessee. We, at the Clarksville Observer wish her the best of luck for the other events at The Games. Miss Rudolph can expect a big welcome when she arrives home”. That’s great! That’s fantastic! My daughter is an Olympic champion! Hey Wilma, you can run! ENTER THE BLACK GAZELLE AND THE FATHER’S MOOD CHANGES SLIGHTLY. When we win, we’re American! At least when we win, they call
us American; when we lose, we’re just black. FATHER AND THE OTHER ACTOR CREATE A SEGREGATED PARADE WITH WHITE/ BLACK MASKS AND BANNERS. WHEN WILMA ENTERS, SHE SEES THE VISIBLE DIVISION IN HER “HOMETOWN”. A LOT OF FLAG-WAVING AND “CANNED”, PATRIOTIC MUSIC CREATES A DREAMLIKE, UNDERWATER ATMOSPHERE. WILMA COMES DOWN CENTER STAGE THEN STOPS. WILMA: I can’t believe it, I won a bronze medal! this parade... it’s for me? Pop, when I was running, I couldn’t hear anything; it was silent; I could just hear my own heart beating; then when we finished, it was incredible; people were cheering and yelling; there was so much noise; there were so many people; it was like thunder; I was scared, actually. I had never seen so many people. Pop, where’s Sammy? FATHER: Ah, he’s in the other section of the parade, at the back. That’s where I’ve got to go. This part is just for the heroes, honey. WHITE PERSON: Hey you, black girl! WILMA PUTS ON A BLACK MASK, OR ELSE HAS WORN IT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCENE. WH.PERSON: Are you the athlete, the runner? Move over there, to the front, so the people can see you. No, not too close to me, about two meters, that’s right. WILMA: What... what is this? Pop! You can’t.. wait a minute. FATHER: I have to go honey. Keep smiling. I’ll see you after the parade. WILMA: No. Wait. We can’t do this. I won’t. I’ve just won a medal. I’ve just proved we’re better than this. What is this?; blacks to the back, whites at the front. No. I will not participate. WH.PERSON: What? Be quiet. Get in your position, black girl! WILMA: Don’t call me black girl! I’m not going to participate in a racist parade! FATHER: (QUIETLY) No. Neither am I. Neither are any of us. We deserve better. THEY TAKE OFF THEIR MASKS. WH.PERSON: We’ll see. You’ve won a single, bronze medal. You’re still not as good as a white person. THE WHITE PERSON EXITS. PAUSE. WILMA: In four years time I’ll win a gold. WILMA AND FATHER EXIT WITH ARMS ROUND EACH OTHER THE GAZELLE ENTERS WITH MUSIC. * * *
CALENDAR: 1957 Wilma and Sammy are 17 years old. SAMMY ENTERS WITH A STOP WATCH. HE IS SEVENTEEN. THE TRAINING IS A ROUTINE THAT HE TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY. SAMMY: Now, let’s see...We’ll start... with the starts... ten, and then... no, fifteen; she was slow yesterday. Fifteen starts. (SHOUTING) Come on Wilma! Okay. Then, some fast ones; 100 meter sprints, five of those. (SHOUTING SLIGHTLY IMPATIENTLY) Come on, Skeeter! WILMA: Coming! SAMMY: “I’m coming!” Every day it’s the same. Six o’clock every morning. “Come on Wilma” “I’m coming” WILMA: (OFFSTAGE) I’m coming! SAMMY: Come on Wilma, it’s quarter past six. You’re fifteen minutes late. WILMA: (ENTERING) Here I am. What’s the matter with you? I’m a couple of minutes late and you go crazy. SAMMY: (A LOT LESS FULL OF HIMSELF, FACE TO FACE WITH HER) Yeah, but we said... WILMA: Okay come on, let’s work SAMMY: (TAKING ON HIS TRAINER ROLE) Ah... okay. Today we’re going to concentrate on starts. Because that’s the most important part of the hundred meter sprint. WILMA: Okay. SAMMY: Okay, you ready? On your marks... get set... go!... Nah. You were much faster yesterday. Try again. (WILMA TRIES AGAIN) On your marks.. get set... go! No! You’ve got to be faster off the mark! You’re too slow. WILMA: My legs are hurting. SAMMY: Come on, do it again. WILMA: Oh no! SAMMY: Yes. Come on! On your marks... get set... go! (WILMA RUNS AGAIN) No. You’ve got to be faster. WILMA: Sammy I can’t. I’m tired! SAMMY: Come on. This time I’ll run with you. On your marks... get set.. go! WILMA RUNS AROUND THE STAGE WHILE SAMMY KEEPS TALKING TO HER SAMMY: Come on, Wilma, you can do it, I know you can. Come on... Go for it... you can do it... you can be the best, Wilma... You can win the gold! AT THIS POINT WILMA EXITS. BLACKOUT. SAMMY EXITS. * * *
CALENDAR: 1960 Rome Olympic Games COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. Here we are at the 1960 Olympic Games. It’s a glorious day and it looks like half of Rome has arrived today to watch what will be one of the most exciting races this year, the final of the women’s 100 meters sprint. Down below me on the track, I can see the athletes preparing for the big race. There is the Russian Maria Itkina. She looks very strong and determined to win the gold medal. I can say the same for the German, Brunhilde Handrix who has trained very hard for the games this year. WILMA COMES ONSTAGE AND STARTS WARMING UP FOR THE RACE, THE ACTRESS FOLLOWS THE COMMENTATOR’S SPEECH. SHE PERFORMS THE RACE IN SLOW MOTION, BREAKING INTO NORMAL SPEED AS SHE CROSSES THE FINISHING LINE. ALL THE TENSION AND SPEED OF THE RACE IS TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE OFFSTAGE COMMENTARY. WILMA THEN CONTINUES RUNNING AROUND THE STAGE AS IF RUNNING HER VICTORY LAP. And now America’s favorite has just entered the stadium. This is the woman they call the Black Gazelle. I can understand why they are saying that. She certainly moves with extraordinary grace for a woman with such a history. That’s Wilma Rudolph down there Ladies and Gentlemen, dressed in the United States’ colors: red, white and blue. This is a woman who passed her childhood in a hospital bed, unable to walk, and here she is competing with some of the fastest runners in the world. She’s certainly looking good today. She’s also competing along with her team mate Barbara Jones in the final of the four by one hundred meters. Jones is running today too. There she is, down on the track, talking to Rudolph... So we’ve got two women from the United States in this race. Now they are calling for the athletes to take their positions at the starting line. In lane number one is Teresa Wieczorek from Poland; in lane number two, the Frenchwoman, Catherine Capdevelle; in lane number three, Brunhilde Handrix, from the RDA.; lane number four, Barbara Jones, from the United States of America; in lane five, Giusepina Leone, from Italy; in number six the Russian Maria Itkina; in seven, Dorothy Hyman from Britain and in lane number eight, Wilma Rudolph from the United Sates of America. They’re ready now... waiting... On your marks... Get set... (SFX OF A PISTOL SHOT) And they’re off! Itkina and Rudolph in front from the start. It’s going to be close! They’re leading by two meters, but Rudolph is faster! Then the English woman next, she’s passed the Russian... But Rudolph’s going to take it.. No-one can stop her now! Look at her go! And.. she’s going to win... Yes! Wilma Rudolph has won the gold medal for the United States of America! Dorothy Hyman has taken second place and Maria Itkina has finished third. And I’ve never seen such a fast race in my life. That was incredible. What a race! (PAUSE) Here comes the order... Rudolph first, Hyman second, Itkina third.. Handrix and Jones equal for the fourth place.. Teresa Wieczorek, the polish athlete in the fifth position. The Italian Leone, number six... and from France, Catherine Capdevelle... last. Now we’re just waiting for the times to come up on the board... (PAUSE) Will this be a record? It was definitely a very fast race… I wouldn’t be at all surprised… Here come the times... Will it… Yes! Rudolph... 11´3! That’s a new record, folks! It’s a world record! Today, September the third, nineteen sixty, Wilma Rudolph, for the United States of America, has broken the world record for the women’s one hundred meter sprint! This is incredible! What a woman! Wilma Rudolph is the fastest woman in the world! CHEERING AND EXULTATION LEADS INTO A MEDAL CEREMONY WHERE WILMA ACCEPTS THE GOLD. A SECTION OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS AND THEN THE SCENE DISSOLVES TO WILMA AND SAMMY. * * *
SAMMY: Hey Wilma, you’re a winner! WILMA: Yahoo! (SHE GRABS SAMMY AND HUGS HIM) Sammy, you’re the best coach in the world! SAMMY: (PROUD) I know. Hey Wilma, the 1964 Games are in four years time. WILMA: Yeah, and? SAMMY: Well, they need a mascot for it, don’t they? HE PRODUCES ANOTHER MORE ELABORATE VERSION OF THE DRAWING FROM SCENE SIX, CARICATURING THE SAME MASCOT) WILMA: Sammy! SAMMY: Look, I’ve done some work. I call him “Kabi/_______*”. He could be the mascot for the 1964 Olympic Games! WILMA: You’re crazy Sammy! SAMMY: Well, perhaps he needs a little more work. Yeah? WILMA: I love you Sammy. SAMMY: Hey you, “Olympic Champion”... race you. WILMA: Okay. You have to run and touch the pine tree, that one over there, can you see it? SAMMY: Yes. WILMA: Touch it and come back, okay... SAMMY: Okay... but no cheating. BOTH: On your marks... get set... GO! BLACK OUT AS THEY BEGIN TO RUN TOWARDS THE AUDIENCE.
THE END
* NOTE: When this play was first performed in Barcelona, during the lead-up to the ’92 Olympics, as our symbol we used variations on “Cobi” (the mascot Mariscal designed for the Games). In your production, you should find the well-known symbol of an upcoming sporting event to caricature. |