Paradise Diner
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Scene VI
Darla: (Walks halfway across stage dancing to music on her Ipod. Sees audience again and stops short. Waves and calls out.) Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit--you guys are still here?! You’re a faithful bunch!! Some people would have headed to the hills once things started to get dicey! I guess you heard about them threatening to take away Susan and Buck’s land and close the diner…Buck hardly needs this what with his high blood pressure…and Susan…well, she’s not the kind to take on City Hall. Everybody is shocked about it…(Her phone rings.) Hi Mom…I’m sure Roger is very adorable rolling around on his back…no, I don’t know why God gave him nipples…Mom, I need to go. I told you about what’s going on at the diner. Okay. Bye. (Looks back at audience.) Well, let’s pray for the best! Remember, Jesus saves…but Moses invests! (She exits.)
(Scene takes place in front of curtain. Stage right is the boys, stage left is the girls.)
Lara: Thank you for taking me to dinner.
Jill: Oh, it was fun, Lara.
Rachel: Yeah, we’re glad you like Chinese food!
Lara: I like everything but not Mexican!
Kristine: Really?! That’s funny. Why?
Lara: I don’t know...I just don’t like Mexican food. Too many beans and rice.
Kristine: Do you get tired of the food at the diner Jill?
Jill: No, not really. There’s so many different things.
Carrie: Yeah, but you just eat the same stuff over and over.
Rachel: There you go again–
Others: FOOD POLICE!
Carrie: She does. She eats chicken caesar salad, chicken fingers, grilled cheese and salad.
Kristine: You have an interesting obsession with food, Carrie. It’s amazing that you’re not really fat or really skinny.
Carrie: I just like to see what people eat. It tells you a lot about them.
Rachel: Oh yeah? What do I eat and what does that tell you?
Carrie: You eat a lot of egg salad...which is obvious.
Rachel: What…
Carrie: You want to have a lot of babies.
(The others laugh)
Rachel: I do want to have a lot of babies....
Carrie: I know.
Jill: Oh! The diner! Poor Mom and Grandpop!
Kristine: We’re sorry Jill, we meant to take your mind off it tonight, not to bring it up again.
Jill: That’s okay…I still just can’t believe someone is trying to take it away from them…
(Switch to boys on other side of stage)
Bo: So Oswaldo, man, your game is volleyball?
Oswaldo: Yes, my family plays it a lot. I like it too.
Bo: That’s cool.
Oswaldo: Do you have a sport, Jason?
Jason: Yeah, um....baseball, boxing, race car driving...
Oswaldo: Really? Wow...
Bo: Yeah, especially cause he’s sitting on his butt while he’s doin’ em! He doesn’t play those sports for real–just on videogames.
Jason: Video games are just another form of reality, my friend.
Bo: Okay–well, I guess in that reality you’re also in great shape…
Jason: Now you understand.
Bo: So Oswaldo, how are you likin’ your job at the diner?
Oswaldo: It’s okay. Susan is a nice boss. But I am worried for her about the diner. Those people are saying they have to close it down.
Jason: Yeah, it’s too bad. (waits a second) So, do you work with her daughter Jill sometimes?
Oswaldo: Yes, she is there sometimes on a weekend for a half day maybe...
Jason:...does she....talk about me?
Oswaldo: I don’t know.
Jason: Does she talk to the other waitresses about me....me, Jason...?
Oswaldo: Maybe, I don’t listen.
Jason: She doesn’t–
Bo: (laughing) Jason, man–give it up, bro! You are so sad!
Oswaldo: Jill probably doesn’t have time to think about you Jason—she’s got the diner on her mind.
Bo: (chuckles) Yeah, you could win her over by saving the diner, but I don’t think they have that in a video game yet…
(Back to the girls)
Jill: I want to have a baby, maybe adopt one. But first I want to finish law school.
Kristine: What do you want to do, Lara?
Lara: Excuse me?
Kristine: What things would you like to do in your life?
Lara: Oh. I want to be a teacher.
Rachel: Really, that’s great. Teach what?
Lara: Oh, I don’t know. I can’t do it now so...
Jill: You mean because you aren’t a citizen yet?
Lara: No...I have to help my family...with money...
Jill: Oh.
(They are all quiet for a minute.)
Jill: Maybe you could get a scholarship...
Lara: What’s that...
Jill: Someone gives you money to go to school.
Lara: Okay. Where is this person?
Jill: Well, it’s not a person...it’s more like, um, an organization...
Lara: I will tell you what I want, but I can’t in English...only Spanish. Rachel, (sp) can you translate?
(Back to boys)
Bo: So Oswaldo, what would you be doin’ right now if you could do whatever you wanted to do?
Oswaldo: Excuse me?
Bo: Like, do you ever want to do something else besides work at the diner?
Oswaldo: Si–naturally. But I can’t do that now. I have to help my family.
(They sing Mi Familia. Lara, Oswaldo, Rachel and Bo.)
Mi Familia
(Verse sung in Spanish by Lara, mirrored in English by Rachel)
When I was little all I dreamed of was America
my great aunt came here through the desert in the night
her brother died while walking
there was no time for grief
there was no time for balking
they held to their belief
that they would get here, they would make it to America
(Verse sung in Spanish by Oswaldo, mirrored in English by Bo)
When I was little all I dreamed of was America
My uncle came here in the trunk of a car
He sent us lots of money
and told us of the wealth
the land of milk and honey
you had more than your health
If you can get here, life is better in America
(Verse sung in Spanish by Lara and Oswaldo, mirrored closely in English by Rachel and Bo)
Now I am here and it’s not all that I thought it would be
We’re kind of crowded, we have twelve in our house
But I have my own corner
my bed is just for me
Someday I’ll be a teacher (lawyer)
but first, my family
yes, I must help them because I made it to America
I want the same things that you do
but I must take care of my family
I must take care of my family
(All: Verse sung in Spanish, mirrored closely in English)
I want the same things that you do
But I must take care of my family
I must take care of my family
I want the same things that you do
But I must take care of my family
I must take care of my family—
(Jill)
I must take care of my family