Force of Friction
In this product our class learned the facts about undocumented immigration int the US. We watched documentaries, read The Circuit, and eventually wrote papers regarding the Immigration crisis. You can view my paper using the button below.
For our final product, we grouped up into pairs and wrote a play about an actually story of immigration. My group was lucky enough to get chosen, so I was able to co-direct the play. Here is the script for the play.
The Traveling
Characters:
Ruby, The Protagonist of the story, 15 years old, lives in honduras with Maria and Shealy
Maria, Ruby’s older sister, 17 years old
Shealy, Ruby’s cousin, 17 Years old
Ana, Ruby’s older sister, 22 Years old, Is supporting her family from her job in Michigan
Frank, Human Trafficker, Leads a group of Coyotes at the Rio Grande
Officer, A police office in mexico
Officer Ramos, A Border Patrol officer stationed near the Rio Grande
Rick, Ruby, Maria, and Shealy’s Landlord
Trafficker, One of the human traffickers in Honduras
Guards, the three guards that (later in story) follow Frank.
Synopsis: Due to a lack of Jobs and an abundance of gang violence in Honduras, Ruby, Maria and Sheally set out to join Ruby’s older sister Ana in america. During their travels they are detained, abducted, and and even ransomed, Will Ruby escape captivity and join her sister, or will she be Sent back to honduras forever?
Scene 1
Lights up in a interview room, ruby is sitting at one end of the table and an interviewer is sitting on the other end there is a phone in the middle of the table
Interviewer: So, Ms. Ruby... Why would you make a good dishwasher?
Ruby: Well, truthfully I just need a job. My family is going to lose our home if I don’t get some money. We’ll starve!
Interviewer: Right, can you see how that’s not a great reason for us? You’ve told me nothing about your past experience, any history of dishwashing? (ruby doesn’t respond) look, all we need to know is why you can do the job better than the next person who walks through that door.
Ruby: Please sir, I’m desperate! I just need to pay the bills. Por favor, tiene un corazón y darme el trabajo.
Interviewer: hm, maybe I could make something work (the phone rings) Sólo un segundo. (he Picks up the phone) Hello?... Yeah I have a candidate here... oh?... well, I guess you’re the boss. (hangs up the phone) Look Ms. Ruby, I’m genuinely sorry but apparently we aren’t getting enough customers to afford another employee. Sorry if I got your hopes up.
Ruby: (holding back tears) Oh, it’s uh. that’s fine... there’s always tomorrow, right? have a good day I guess...
Ruby walks offstage and stage fades to black
Scene 2
lights upon an old room. wallpaper is peeling, food stains everywhere etc. Shealy is sitting on a couch center stage and Maria is reading a paper on the floor in front of the couch when ruby enters
Ruby: Well, turns out they aren’t hiring at the Mi casa es Tu casa. Not enough customers to afford a employee apparently.
Shealy: That’s okay, I’m sure we can manage for a couple more days
Maria: Actually, we can’t. Nos quedamos sin dinero ayer, ¿recuerdas? and I talked to Ana on the phone this morning and she said she couldn’t send another check for another month.
Shealy: Well, I’ll go see if Rick will let us stay a few more days without pay (she gets up and leaves stage right)
Maria: (yelling to Shealy off stage) Don’t count on it!
Ruby: So if we can’t make any money, and we can’t get any charity, and we can’t get anything for free, how are we supposed to survive?
Maria: Podríamos seguir vivo con Ana, ella parece estar haciendo bien...
Ruby: But Ana lives in America! We can’t go to America, It’s too dangerous!
Maria: As dangerous as sleeping outside and risk being killed by some gang?
Ruby: Supongo que hay un punto... Ana always says that America is a place where determination can bring you success, so maybe we could actually get jobs there...
Shealy: (enter stage right) Rick isn’t having any of it. We have to leave. (sees Ruby and Maria talking)¿Qué pasa?
Ruby: You’re right Shealy, we do have to leave... honduras I mean. Me and Maria have decided we need leave the country…(wait a minute, look at Shealy and Maria) vamos a América!
Blackout
Scene 3
lights up, the setting is a busy street in mexico city. Ruby, Maria and Shealy enter stage left, they are disheveled. Several locals and a police officer is milling around upstage.
Ruby: Mexico city! okay, Dónde próximo? We’re close, right?
Maria: Closer than we were yesterday... I think if we head north a few miles we should hit a- (she is cut short by the police officer who has been standing in the background)
Officer: What are you doing?
Shealy: (very friendly) Oh, hello! We were just passing through. We’re heading north to america. Do you know if there’s any shelters nearby?
Officer: Dónde están tus padres?
Ruby: They.. uh.. got killed by some gangs in honduras. that’s part of why we left for america, for safety. Por favor, déjenos ir. We’re just passing through.
Officer: Do you have any idea how many laws that breaks? You’re undocumented minors. I need to send you back to your home. Come with me or else..
Ruby: (as they are being led off stage) Maria, we’re gonna try again right?
Maria: Maybe we won’t have to, the cop isn’t looking, c’mon! (Ruby Maria and Shealy run off stage, followed by the officer)
Blackout
Scene 4
Ruby, Maria, and Sheridan are crossing the hot desert and come across a little run-down hut. The thermostat has been turned up so the audience can feel the heat of the desert. They get inside and take out the only possession that they have left...a ragged blanket
Shealy: We’ve been running for hours now, I think we’ve lost them.
Ruby: (Sitting down next to them by a small fire) So tell me, do you guys REALLY think this is a good idea?
Maria: (Laying down looking at the ceiling) What other choice do we have? Go back to Honduras and stay with all the gang violence and police corruption? Please.
Shealy: You guys know I don’t like to pick sides (looks at both of them a little worried) but Ruby does have a point I mean, what if life isn’t better there. For all we know, it might be worse.
Maria: Shealy, I remember when Ana told me once that there is a lot of good in America. Opportunity. A chance for a better life. And at this point, we have nothing to lose.
Shealy: (Rethinking her opinion) That is true…
The hot sunny desert at this point has become a freezing wasteland. The light has slowly dimmed throughout the seen until the campfire is the only light. The thermostat has been turned down as well.
Ruby: (Who has laid next to the fire to keep warm) Tomorrow, we will get to a phone somehow and try to contact Ana. Don’t lose faith guys. Creo en nosotros. The border shouldn’t be too far away.
Maria: hey, Yeah! We should get there in a few more days!
Shealy: How’ll we get across? I’ve heard stories about…(gets cut off)
Maria: No te preocupes, I’m sure we can pay someone to take us across.
Ruby: With what money?
Shealy: Yeah, and what if they don’t let us go? We can’t just Hope things will turn out alright and we go skipping across the border with lollipops.
Maria: Oh... well I’m sure we’ll think of something.
Black out
Scene 5
Lights up on mexican american border, there is a small river that weaves between the walls to america, ruby, maria, and shealy are standing stage right around a trash can with streamers blowing from inside to mimic fire, the border is a chain link fence upstage
Shealy: So what are we going to do?
Maria: Not sure... (looking over at Ruby) Any ideas Ruby?
Frank: (entering stage left He immediately begins his act of being a nice person) Woah, a fire pit! How did you guys get one of these? ¿Puedo acompañarlo? I’m Frank, Frank Ramirez... but my friends call me Frank Ramirez.
Ruby: Hola Frank. Yeah we’ve been here a while... had plenty of time to gather supplies and stuff...
Frank: Oh, you’ve been here a while? How were you planning to get past the patrols
Shealy: (glancing at ruby) Apparently there was no plan.
Maria: We might try to swim across that river (points to the container with water).
Ruby: Yeah, and after that we can see my sister in america!
Frank: (under his breath) A sister in america? hmmmm... (he turns to ruby and speaks to her) The Rio Grande? No durará un minuto si intenta nadar! Actually, I might be able to help. Me and some friends were planning to take a boat across the river, We could smuggle you if you want.
Ruby: Really?! That’s so nice of you! ¿Cuando se le va a dejar?
Sheridan: (A little suspicious whispering in Ruby’s ear) I don’t know about this Ruby.
Ruby: (Ignores Shealy’s comment then Grabbing the plastic bag she has been carrying her belongings in, says) We’re ready right now. C’mon guys, let’s go to America!
(the group boards a boat Frank has brought out)
Ruby: Uh, ¿Frank hacia dónde vamos? You are going to drop us off with my sister right?
Frank: Oh! Sweety I never said we were just going to leave you, see that trailer over there? (points of stage) Es donde vas.
(The guards put bags over Ruby, Maria, and Shealy’s heads, Blackout)
Scene 6
lights up in an old trailer, ruby and Frank are standing downstage, Maria and Shealy are sitting behind in barred cells
Frank: (his tone of voice has drastically changed (cold)) Right, here’s how things are gonna work. You’re gonna call your sister in america, and you’re gonna convince her to send you 4 grand. Now if she give the money, everythings fine, you go on to america and have a great time. But if you don’t get the money, or if you try to run, or if you call for help... entonces se sentirá dolor como nunca antes.
Maria: What happens if we have a problem?
Frank: Guess
Maria: ...oh
Ruby: ¿Qué? no, por favor no hagas eso!
Frank: Do it or else! (he picks up a pipe from the floor
Ruby: Fine, ok! I’ll do it!
(Ruby dials on her phone, the phone rings and then her Sister Ana picks up the phone she is standing to the side of the stage near the audience)
Ana: Hello?
Ruby: (crying, barely legible) Ana please! Please help me! I got kidnapped by this guy who’s name is…(she gets interrupted by Frank who has taken the phone away)
Frank: Don’t mention my identity! Obtener mi dinero!(Hands phone back forcefully)
Ana: What are you saying? I can’t hear you.what are you talking about?
(Static in background)
Ruby:... Ana, just please help me! Necesito cuatro mil dólares
Ana: What? I can’t hear you….Ruby?
(Phone static...then phone line gets disconnected)
(Frank takes phone away from Ruby)
Frank: Who were you speaking with? ¿Dónde está mi dinero?
Ruby: Por qué te importa? I’ll get it soon…
Frank: You better!
(Frank leaves her in rage...storming out of the trailer)
Blackout
Scene 7
After two weeks of being held hostage in a trailer, Frank decides to go to the border, A sign is left on the edge of the stage that says ‘Gone to Border, be back in 4hrs, wait here for business’
Maria: (Whispering, not wanting to alarm the guards outside) Hey Ruby, I got key to the cell.
Ruby: ¿Qué? ¿Cómo?
Maria: (Wanting to leave in a hurry) Frank fell asleep to close to the cell, the key was easy to pickpocket. ¡vamos! if we go now no one will notice us!
Shealy: ¡Esto nunca trabajará! They’ll catch us for sure! We’ve been here for a couple weeks, why would they let up security now?
Maria: Ruby, I guess It’s your choice. Qué quieres hacer?
[If ruby chooses to run, keep reading. If she stays, go to page 8]
Ruby: (Thinking to herself) Okay Ruby...even if you die, it will be well worth it… for Ana. C’mon guys!
(They run as fast as they can(to left center stage)
Blackout
Scene 8
lights up on a bus station stage left, Ruby, Maria, and Shealy are out of breath Ramos’ car is in the painted background
Ruby: Look, a public phone! We could call Ana!
Maria: Tengo unos cuartos robo de Frank junto con la clave.
Ruby: Great! (she dials Ana) Hello? Ana are you there?
Ana: (lights up on Ana’s house stage right) Hello? This is Anna, ¿Ruby, eres Tu?
Ruby: Ana we’re in america! But we got captured by some coyotes, we escaped but we need your help.
Officer Ramos: (Entering stage left) ¿Qué estás haciendo?
Maria: (Ruby and Ana Mime a conversation while Maria and Sheridan talks to Ramos) Hi Officer, we’re just calling our sister.
Officer Ramos: Aren’t you a bit young to be by yourselves? and, what are you doing so close to the border, ¿es los inmigrantes indocumentados?
Shealy: No... and I’m 24
Officer Ramos: You don’t look 24... Let me speak to the person on the phone. (He shoves ruby out of the way)
Officer Ramos: ¿Hola? Es de este Rubí relativa Ana?
Ana: Sí ... con quien estoy hablando ?
Ana: Sabe Ingles?
Officer Ramos: Yes. My name is officer Ramos and I am told that tu hermana Ruby…(glances at her) is a illegal immigrant traveling from Honduras to America. Is this correct?
Ana: Yes. Look, Sir mi familia realmente necesita para venir a Estados Unidos. If we were capable of coming legally we would but it’s just way too dangerous. Just let her stay a bit while I sort this whole thing out.
Officer Ramos: Why would I do that? If she wants to become a citizen, she can go through LEGALLY like everyone else.
Ana: Please let her through sir. I have money….is that what you want?
Officer Ramos: No quiero tu dinero…(thinks carefully about this problem) Listen, and listen very closely, I can help you guys, and I want to help you guys. But you know the rules.
Ana: Si, I guess I do. (Begins to cry a little)
Officer Ramos: Don’t cry okay. (Looks around and there’s no one in sight besides the 3 girls who have sat down) I will go down to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and see what I can do for you and Ruby. Pero ten cuidado, it is not a guarantee she will be granted citizenship.
Ana: I will take whatever you got sir. Thank you so much Officer Ramos!
(He then hangs up the phone and turns to the curious minors)
Officer Ramos: Alright ladies, we are going to head to my car over there (points to the car) and take you to a shelter while I go down to the office.
Ruby: What did my sister have to say?
Shealy: Whatever it is, it must be good.
Officer Ramos: Yeah, let's just worry about what’s important. Getting you kids in legally.
They all walk off stage left
Blackout
Scene 9
They are in a border patrol station, there are only a few other officer because of the late hour. There is a bench stage right where the girls are sitting.
Officer Ramos: Bueno todos, before anything, I need to see if you guys are eligible to get a green card and enter legally. The other border patrol officers will look after you.
Ruby: Okay. Gracias Señor. We will wait here for you.
(They enter the shelter as Officer Ramos leaves them)
Shealy: Ruby, was it a good idea to come to america?
Ruby: (thinking about it) Yo no se. Those coyotes seemed just as bad as what was happening in honduras, but I’m sure we’ll see what america has to offer soon. We’ll just have to wait and see. I know one thing for sure, if America is a place where determination can bring you success, then this journey has more than proved we can make it here.
the end
[If She stays]
Ruby: Sorry Maria, but it really doesn’t seem likely we could escape.
Shealy: And if we try and they catch us.. things won’t be good.
Maria: Fine, We’ll wait for a better opportunity
Frank: (entering stage left) Ruby! Es necesarias en la habitación de al lado sobre. (he unlocks the cell) Follow me now. (as soon as ruby leaves the cell a guard puts a bag over her head and she is lead off stage left)
blackout
Scene 9
Lights up on center stage, Ruby has a bag over her head and is asleep on the floor, we can’t see her surroundings, Frank is standing just out of view
Ruby: (gaining consciousness and sitting up) What’s going on?
¿Quién está allí?
Frank: (Facing away from her towards wall) You hit a bump on the road and lost consciousness for a bit, anywho, Usted está aquí ahora. You’ve come full circle, haven’t you?
Ruby: Where’s maria and sheridan?
Frank: (Walking towards her) Usted está en ninguna posición para hacer preguntas (pause) Truthfully I have no idea where they are, and you never will either. They might still be back at the base, or shipped of to some other country like you. Hablando de eso, your new trafficker will arrive shortly. I need to leave for now, but tú no puedes correr... we’ll catch you. (walks off stage left)
(Ruby fumbles and takes off bag, light fills the screen and we see she is back in honduras, the street is empty)
Ruby: (speaking to herself) Man, I guess I really did come full circle... Pero estábamos tan cercanas! If we had just ran when we had the chance! Maria, Shealy, I hope you’re okay. (Pause) I will be, I’ll escape these traffickers, Voy a conseguir más allá de la frontera, I’ll make it to america and I’ll find Ana And we’ll rescue you guys! If America is a place where Determination brings success, than maybe for us that determination will be getting there. I just-
Trafficker: (entering stage right and cutting ruby off) there you are! Here, toma esta escoba (hands ruby a broom), you’re coming with me (When ruby hesitates he becomes very mad) !ahora! (Ruby follows trafficker off stage right)
The End
cite-
The Traveling
Characters:
Ruby, The Protagonist of the story, 15 years old, lives in honduras with Maria and Shealy
Maria, Ruby’s older sister, 17 years old
Shealy, Ruby’s cousin, 17 Years old
Ana, Ruby’s older sister, 22 Years old, Is supporting her family from her job in Michigan
Frank, Human Trafficker, Leads a group of Coyotes at the Rio Grande
Officer, A police office in mexico
Officer Ramos, A Border Patrol officer stationed near the Rio Grande
Rick, Ruby, Maria, and Shealy’s Landlord
Trafficker, One of the human traffickers in Honduras
Guards, the three guards that (later in story) follow Frank.
Synopsis: Due to a lack of Jobs and an abundance of gang violence in Honduras, Ruby, Maria and Sheally set out to join Ruby’s older sister Ana in america. During their travels they are detained, abducted, and and even ransomed, Will Ruby escape captivity and join her sister, or will she be Sent back to honduras forever?
Scene 1
Lights up in a interview room, ruby is sitting at one end of the table and an interviewer is sitting on the other end there is a phone in the middle of the table
Interviewer: So, Ms. Ruby... Why would you make a good dishwasher?
Ruby: Well, truthfully I just need a job. My family is going to lose our home if I don’t get some money. We’ll starve!
Interviewer: Right, can you see how that’s not a great reason for us? You’ve told me nothing about your past experience, any history of dishwashing? (ruby doesn’t respond) look, all we need to know is why you can do the job better than the next person who walks through that door.
Ruby: Please sir, I’m desperate! I just need to pay the bills. Por favor, tiene un corazón y darme el trabajo.
Interviewer: hm, maybe I could make something work (the phone rings) Sólo un segundo. (he Picks up the phone) Hello?... Yeah I have a candidate here... oh?... well, I guess you’re the boss. (hangs up the phone) Look Ms. Ruby, I’m genuinely sorry but apparently we aren’t getting enough customers to afford another employee. Sorry if I got your hopes up.
Ruby: (holding back tears) Oh, it’s uh. that’s fine... there’s always tomorrow, right? have a good day I guess...
Ruby walks offstage and stage fades to black
Scene 2
lights upon an old room. wallpaper is peeling, food stains everywhere etc. Shealy is sitting on a couch center stage and Maria is reading a paper on the floor in front of the couch when ruby enters
Ruby: Well, turns out they aren’t hiring at the Mi casa es Tu casa. Not enough customers to afford a employee apparently.
Shealy: That’s okay, I’m sure we can manage for a couple more days
Maria: Actually, we can’t. Nos quedamos sin dinero ayer, ¿recuerdas? and I talked to Ana on the phone this morning and she said she couldn’t send another check for another month.
Shealy: Well, I’ll go see if Rick will let us stay a few more days without pay (she gets up and leaves stage right)
Maria: (yelling to Shealy off stage) Don’t count on it!
Ruby: So if we can’t make any money, and we can’t get any charity, and we can’t get anything for free, how are we supposed to survive?
Maria: Podríamos seguir vivo con Ana, ella parece estar haciendo bien...
Ruby: But Ana lives in America! We can’t go to America, It’s too dangerous!
Maria: As dangerous as sleeping outside and risk being killed by some gang?
Ruby: Supongo que hay un punto... Ana always says that America is a place where determination can bring you success, so maybe we could actually get jobs there...
Shealy: (enter stage right) Rick isn’t having any of it. We have to leave. (sees Ruby and Maria talking)¿Qué pasa?
Ruby: You’re right Shealy, we do have to leave... honduras I mean. Me and Maria have decided we need leave the country…(wait a minute, look at Shealy and Maria) vamos a América!
Blackout
Scene 3
lights up, the setting is a busy street in mexico city. Ruby, Maria and Shealy enter stage left, they are disheveled. Several locals and a police officer is milling around upstage.
Ruby: Mexico city! okay, Dónde próximo? We’re close, right?
Maria: Closer than we were yesterday... I think if we head north a few miles we should hit a- (she is cut short by the police officer who has been standing in the background)
Officer: What are you doing?
Shealy: (very friendly) Oh, hello! We were just passing through. We’re heading north to america. Do you know if there’s any shelters nearby?
Officer: Dónde están tus padres?
Ruby: They.. uh.. got killed by some gangs in honduras. that’s part of why we left for america, for safety. Por favor, déjenos ir. We’re just passing through.
Officer: Do you have any idea how many laws that breaks? You’re undocumented minors. I need to send you back to your home. Come with me or else..
Ruby: (as they are being led off stage) Maria, we’re gonna try again right?
Maria: Maybe we won’t have to, the cop isn’t looking, c’mon! (Ruby Maria and Shealy run off stage, followed by the officer)
Blackout
Scene 4
Ruby, Maria, and Sheridan are crossing the hot desert and come across a little run-down hut. The thermostat has been turned up so the audience can feel the heat of the desert. They get inside and take out the only possession that they have left...a ragged blanket
Shealy: We’ve been running for hours now, I think we’ve lost them.
Ruby: (Sitting down next to them by a small fire) So tell me, do you guys REALLY think this is a good idea?
Maria: (Laying down looking at the ceiling) What other choice do we have? Go back to Honduras and stay with all the gang violence and police corruption? Please.
Shealy: You guys know I don’t like to pick sides (looks at both of them a little worried) but Ruby does have a point I mean, what if life isn’t better there. For all we know, it might be worse.
Maria: Shealy, I remember when Ana told me once that there is a lot of good in America. Opportunity. A chance for a better life. And at this point, we have nothing to lose.
Shealy: (Rethinking her opinion) That is true…
The hot sunny desert at this point has become a freezing wasteland. The light has slowly dimmed throughout the seen until the campfire is the only light. The thermostat has been turned down as well.
Ruby: (Who has laid next to the fire to keep warm) Tomorrow, we will get to a phone somehow and try to contact Ana. Don’t lose faith guys. Creo en nosotros. The border shouldn’t be too far away.
Maria: hey, Yeah! We should get there in a few more days!
Shealy: How’ll we get across? I’ve heard stories about…(gets cut off)
Maria: No te preocupes, I’m sure we can pay someone to take us across.
Ruby: With what money?
Shealy: Yeah, and what if they don’t let us go? We can’t just Hope things will turn out alright and we go skipping across the border with lollipops.
Maria: Oh... well I’m sure we’ll think of something.
Black out
Scene 5
Lights up on mexican american border, there is a small river that weaves between the walls to america, ruby, maria, and shealy are standing stage right around a trash can with streamers blowing from inside to mimic fire, the border is a chain link fence upstage
Shealy: So what are we going to do?
Maria: Not sure... (looking over at Ruby) Any ideas Ruby?
Frank: (entering stage left He immediately begins his act of being a nice person) Woah, a fire pit! How did you guys get one of these? ¿Puedo acompañarlo? I’m Frank, Frank Ramirez... but my friends call me Frank Ramirez.
Ruby: Hola Frank. Yeah we’ve been here a while... had plenty of time to gather supplies and stuff...
Frank: Oh, you’ve been here a while? How were you planning to get past the patrols
Shealy: (glancing at ruby) Apparently there was no plan.
Maria: We might try to swim across that river (points to the container with water).
Ruby: Yeah, and after that we can see my sister in america!
Frank: (under his breath) A sister in america? hmmmm... (he turns to ruby and speaks to her) The Rio Grande? No durará un minuto si intenta nadar! Actually, I might be able to help. Me and some friends were planning to take a boat across the river, We could smuggle you if you want.
Ruby: Really?! That’s so nice of you! ¿Cuando se le va a dejar?
Sheridan: (A little suspicious whispering in Ruby’s ear) I don’t know about this Ruby.
Ruby: (Ignores Shealy’s comment then Grabbing the plastic bag she has been carrying her belongings in, says) We’re ready right now. C’mon guys, let’s go to America!
(the group boards a boat Frank has brought out)
Ruby: Uh, ¿Frank hacia dónde vamos? You are going to drop us off with my sister right?
Frank: Oh! Sweety I never said we were just going to leave you, see that trailer over there? (points of stage) Es donde vas.
(The guards put bags over Ruby, Maria, and Shealy’s heads, Blackout)
Scene 6
lights up in an old trailer, ruby and Frank are standing downstage, Maria and Shealy are sitting behind in barred cells
Frank: (his tone of voice has drastically changed (cold)) Right, here’s how things are gonna work. You’re gonna call your sister in america, and you’re gonna convince her to send you 4 grand. Now if she give the money, everythings fine, you go on to america and have a great time. But if you don’t get the money, or if you try to run, or if you call for help... entonces se sentirá dolor como nunca antes.
Maria: What happens if we have a problem?
Frank: Guess
Maria: ...oh
Ruby: ¿Qué? no, por favor no hagas eso!
Frank: Do it or else! (he picks up a pipe from the floor
Ruby: Fine, ok! I’ll do it!
(Ruby dials on her phone, the phone rings and then her Sister Ana picks up the phone she is standing to the side of the stage near the audience)
Ana: Hello?
Ruby: (crying, barely legible) Ana please! Please help me! I got kidnapped by this guy who’s name is…(she gets interrupted by Frank who has taken the phone away)
Frank: Don’t mention my identity! Obtener mi dinero!(Hands phone back forcefully)
Ana: What are you saying? I can’t hear you.what are you talking about?
(Static in background)
Ruby:... Ana, just please help me! Necesito cuatro mil dólares
Ana: What? I can’t hear you….Ruby?
(Phone static...then phone line gets disconnected)
(Frank takes phone away from Ruby)
Frank: Who were you speaking with? ¿Dónde está mi dinero?
Ruby: Por qué te importa? I’ll get it soon…
Frank: You better!
(Frank leaves her in rage...storming out of the trailer)
Blackout
Scene 7
After two weeks of being held hostage in a trailer, Frank decides to go to the border, A sign is left on the edge of the stage that says ‘Gone to Border, be back in 4hrs, wait here for business’
Maria: (Whispering, not wanting to alarm the guards outside) Hey Ruby, I got key to the cell.
Ruby: ¿Qué? ¿Cómo?
Maria: (Wanting to leave in a hurry) Frank fell asleep to close to the cell, the key was easy to pickpocket. ¡vamos! if we go now no one will notice us!
Shealy: ¡Esto nunca trabajará! They’ll catch us for sure! We’ve been here for a couple weeks, why would they let up security now?
Maria: Ruby, I guess It’s your choice. Qué quieres hacer?
[If ruby chooses to run, keep reading. If she stays, go to page 8]
Ruby: (Thinking to herself) Okay Ruby...even if you die, it will be well worth it… for Ana. C’mon guys!
(They run as fast as they can(to left center stage)
Blackout
Scene 8
lights up on a bus station stage left, Ruby, Maria, and Shealy are out of breath Ramos’ car is in the painted background
Ruby: Look, a public phone! We could call Ana!
Maria: Tengo unos cuartos robo de Frank junto con la clave.
Ruby: Great! (she dials Ana) Hello? Ana are you there?
Ana: (lights up on Ana’s house stage right) Hello? This is Anna, ¿Ruby, eres Tu?
Ruby: Ana we’re in america! But we got captured by some coyotes, we escaped but we need your help.
Officer Ramos: (Entering stage left) ¿Qué estás haciendo?
Maria: (Ruby and Ana Mime a conversation while Maria and Sheridan talks to Ramos) Hi Officer, we’re just calling our sister.
Officer Ramos: Aren’t you a bit young to be by yourselves? and, what are you doing so close to the border, ¿es los inmigrantes indocumentados?
Shealy: No... and I’m 24
Officer Ramos: You don’t look 24... Let me speak to the person on the phone. (He shoves ruby out of the way)
Officer Ramos: ¿Hola? Es de este Rubí relativa Ana?
Ana: Sí ... con quien estoy hablando ?
Ana: Sabe Ingles?
Officer Ramos: Yes. My name is officer Ramos and I am told that tu hermana Ruby…(glances at her) is a illegal immigrant traveling from Honduras to America. Is this correct?
Ana: Yes. Look, Sir mi familia realmente necesita para venir a Estados Unidos. If we were capable of coming legally we would but it’s just way too dangerous. Just let her stay a bit while I sort this whole thing out.
Officer Ramos: Why would I do that? If she wants to become a citizen, she can go through LEGALLY like everyone else.
Ana: Please let her through sir. I have money….is that what you want?
Officer Ramos: No quiero tu dinero…(thinks carefully about this problem) Listen, and listen very closely, I can help you guys, and I want to help you guys. But you know the rules.
Ana: Si, I guess I do. (Begins to cry a little)
Officer Ramos: Don’t cry okay. (Looks around and there’s no one in sight besides the 3 girls who have sat down) I will go down to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and see what I can do for you and Ruby. Pero ten cuidado, it is not a guarantee she will be granted citizenship.
Ana: I will take whatever you got sir. Thank you so much Officer Ramos!
(He then hangs up the phone and turns to the curious minors)
Officer Ramos: Alright ladies, we are going to head to my car over there (points to the car) and take you to a shelter while I go down to the office.
Ruby: What did my sister have to say?
Shealy: Whatever it is, it must be good.
Officer Ramos: Yeah, let's just worry about what’s important. Getting you kids in legally.
They all walk off stage left
Blackout
Scene 9
They are in a border patrol station, there are only a few other officer because of the late hour. There is a bench stage right where the girls are sitting.
Officer Ramos: Bueno todos, before anything, I need to see if you guys are eligible to get a green card and enter legally. The other border patrol officers will look after you.
Ruby: Okay. Gracias Señor. We will wait here for you.
(They enter the shelter as Officer Ramos leaves them)
Shealy: Ruby, was it a good idea to come to america?
Ruby: (thinking about it) Yo no se. Those coyotes seemed just as bad as what was happening in honduras, but I’m sure we’ll see what america has to offer soon. We’ll just have to wait and see. I know one thing for sure, if America is a place where determination can bring you success, then this journey has more than proved we can make it here.
the end
[If She stays]
Ruby: Sorry Maria, but it really doesn’t seem likely we could escape.
Shealy: And if we try and they catch us.. things won’t be good.
Maria: Fine, We’ll wait for a better opportunity
Frank: (entering stage left) Ruby! Es necesarias en la habitación de al lado sobre. (he unlocks the cell) Follow me now. (as soon as ruby leaves the cell a guard puts a bag over her head and she is lead off stage left)
blackout
Scene 9
Lights up on center stage, Ruby has a bag over her head and is asleep on the floor, we can’t see her surroundings, Frank is standing just out of view
Ruby: (gaining consciousness and sitting up) What’s going on?
¿Quién está allí?
Frank: (Facing away from her towards wall) You hit a bump on the road and lost consciousness for a bit, anywho, Usted está aquí ahora. You’ve come full circle, haven’t you?
Ruby: Where’s maria and sheridan?
Frank: (Walking towards her) Usted está en ninguna posición para hacer preguntas (pause) Truthfully I have no idea where they are, and you never will either. They might still be back at the base, or shipped of to some other country like you. Hablando de eso, your new trafficker will arrive shortly. I need to leave for now, but tú no puedes correr... we’ll catch you. (walks off stage left)
(Ruby fumbles and takes off bag, light fills the screen and we see she is back in honduras, the street is empty)
Ruby: (speaking to herself) Man, I guess I really did come full circle... Pero estábamos tan cercanas! If we had just ran when we had the chance! Maria, Shealy, I hope you’re okay. (Pause) I will be, I’ll escape these traffickers, Voy a conseguir más allá de la frontera, I’ll make it to america and I’ll find Ana And we’ll rescue you guys! If America is a place where Determination brings success, than maybe for us that determination will be getting there. I just-
Trafficker: (entering stage right and cutting ruby off) there you are! Here, toma esta escoba (hands ruby a broom), you’re coming with me (When ruby hesitates he becomes very mad) !ahora! (Ruby follows trafficker off stage right)
The End
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