ACT I
SCENE II
A Special Hat is Made
(Rueben walks up to the musician, reaches deep in his pocket and tosses a
small coin in the musician’s hat. Rueben tips his hat to musician. The
musician stop playing, thanks Rueben, then picks up the hat and leaves
stage left as they look at the money in the hat. Rueben enters the store. As
he enters the store, the curtain opens, as if it is the door opening. There is
some reggae music playing softly on the radio as the hatmaker works. The
music is “What’s Inna Hat”. Rueben notices the hatmaker working on a
hat. Their eyes meet and they both nod to one another, then Rueben starts
looking around at hats. A tourist couple is also in the store. The woman,
Doris, is trying on a hat. Rueben walks by the woman and tips his hat. The
woman sticks her nose up in the air and pretends to ignore Rueben. She
walks past him and closer to Jack, her husband, while Jack looks on with a
bored expression. The hat-maker looks up as Doris speaks.)
DORIS
Oh, Jack, look at this one!
(She tries the hat on and smiles).
What do you think?
JACK
Mmm hmmmm...
DORIS
You didn't even look. Where’s your sense of adventure?
JACK
I left it at the pool with my Mai-Tai, along with my energy for shopping.
DORIS
You should get a hat. We ARE souvenir shopping.
JACK
I’m not a hat man.
DORIS
You wear baseball caps, sometimes.
(Doris starts watching the hat-maker making a hat and takes off the hat
on her head and holds it in her hand. She tilts her head to the side,
walks towards the hatmaker, while intently watching him work.)
Look at this one! This would look nice on you!
(she points to the hat the hat-maker is making)
HATMAKER
I usually sell dese to de local people.
JACK
I wouldn't be caught dead in dat-ting! Or any-ting in here! What’s in a stupid hat,
anyway?
(Hat-maker takes offense and retorts with song.)
HATMAKER
What's inna hat ya say?!
(Beat)
Ya really want ta know what's in a hat? I tell ya what inna hat, mon!
(The hat-maker stands as he says the word “hat”, with the hat he is
working on in one hand, he turns up the music on the radio.)
WHAT INNA HAT?
YOUR HEAD IS INNA HAT
YOUR MIND IS INNA HAT
YOUR THOUGHT
YOUR HOPE
YOUR DREAM IS INNA HAT
LOOK BENEAT' A HAT
DAT WHERE IT AT
YOU CANNOT HIDE
WHAT IS TRULY INSIDE
WHEREVER YOU MAY BE
IT SHOW PERSONALITY
YOU DON'T OWN A HAT
YOU ARE KNOWN BY YOUR HAT
NOT SO FULL A PRIDE
TA MAKE IT STUFFY OUTSIDE
DAT WHERE IT AT
IT ALL GO ON INNA HAT
IDEA IS INNA HAT
LOT OF FEAR IS INNA HAT
YOUR LOVE
YOUR JOY
YOUR TEAR IS INNA HAT
(Break, hat-maker picks up a hat and uses it as a prop) optional
WHATEVER IS INSIDE
YOU TRULY CANNOT HIDE
YOUR HEART
YOUR SOUL
YOUR MIND IS INNA HAT
SELF ESTEEM IS INNA HAT
PIPE DREAM IS INNA HAT
SINCERITY
PROSPERITY
AND I IS INNA HAT
HATMAKER
(Turns down the music, but keeps it playing softly in the background.)
An' you happen ta be inna hat shop, mon. So if you don’t wanta hat den run
along! I won’t be needin' yer biz-ness!
(The hat-maker looks at the hat in his hand and he notices something
unusual, something supernatural. Only the hat-maker, the woman and
the audience notice the event occur. A small flashlight lights up inside
the hat and a light shines down from above to convey this.)
DORIS
Oh Jack! Did you see that! We’d like to buy THAT HAT! How much is it?
HATMAKER:
(Hides the glowing hat behind the counter)
I tol’ ya dis one is fer somebody
(Looks down at hat quickly and back up at the woman.)
else
(Looks over at Rueben, who is trying to look like he is minding his own
business.)
JACK
(interrupts Doris and hat-maker)
I don't want a stupid hat! If you want a hat then just get one and let’s get out of
here!
DORIS
Oh, hmm, well then, what about these ones over here?
JACK
What about the one IN YOUR HAND, DAMMIT!
DORIS
Oh,well, I suppose,
(she puts the hat in her hand on her head and sighs.)
but I bet it doesn't do what that hat does.
(points to the hatmaker who is concealing the hat)
(Hatmaker looks surprised and tries to hide the hat more)
JACK
Oh, there you go again, Doris, living in dreamland. What do you think that hat
could do for you that this one can't? Make you look any better? You'd need
more than a hat to do that!
(Doris ignores Jack. Jack looks at the hatmaker)
How much do you want for that stupid-looking “ting”?
(Jack points to hat on Doris' head as he says “ting”)
HATMAKER
That hat happens to be $15.00.
(you can tell that the Hat-maker is angry.)
JACK
Geez, here, here’s a twenty.
HATMAKER
(sticks his head out of the shop)
NEVIL, YOU GOT CHANGE FOR AMERICAN MONEY MON?
JACK
Ahhh, don’t bother! Just keep it! Let's go, Doris!
(Gives Doris a hostile glance, takes her arm and escorts her hastily out
the door. They both stand just outside the door beyond the curtain center
stage.)
I told you this would happen if we went into the marketplace!
Those people are crazy! And… and he just soaked me for 5 bucks!
DORIS
Jack! Shut up! He can still hear you!
(in a loud whisper)
JACK
I don’t care! I hate this Rasta crap! You wanted local flavor, well, you got it!
From now on, the only Jamaicans I want to see are the ones serving me drinks.
(The couple begins to walk off toward the front of the stage facing the
audience.)
DORIS
Well, you're the one who picked Jamaica, dear!
JACK
Yeah, for the sun, the warmth, the re-lax-a-tion! Can we go back to the resort
now? I just want to relax, and I need a drink!
(Couple exits stage right)
HATMAKER
(Looks at Rueben standing near the counter with a hat in his hand)
You know, If dey were betta people, dat hat would’o cost dem 10 dollar.
(Rueben and hat-maker look at each other and both start laughing.
Rueben looks down towards the floor and then looks at the hat he is
holding as he places it on the counter.)
RUEBEN
(Smiling)
You some Samfi mon, takin’ money from de man like dat.
HATMAKER
A’ nuh mi! It say in Proverbs...de kind mon benefits hissef, but a cruel mon bring
trouble upon hissef. Ya tink he bring enough trouble upon hissef tiday?
RUEBEN
Ahhh, he probably be bringin’ a lot more on. If he knew de currency
exchange rate here, he'd know dat hat cost him almost 2000 dollar in Jamaican
money mon!
(They both laugh heartily. Rueben looks down after a moment.)
At least they gone now and you only hav to put up wid dat type for just a little bit.
Ah nuh mi...I gotta go work for one of dem soon
HATMAKER
How soon?
RUEBEN
As soon as de bus get here. Dat's what I waitin' fer
HATMAKER
Is he a kind man or a cruel one?
RUEBEN
Ah, well, he is kind enough to give me de job, but he can be cruel.
HATMAKER
Where ya goin’ ?
RUEBEN
I’m goin’ ta work on de farm in America.
HATMAKER
Ahhh, dat is hard work, mon! You maybe miss de bus?
RUEBEN
Nooo, My wife and my babies are needin' me ta go. I don't want ta go. I got
a bad feelin’ about lefin’ dem.
(beat, looks away absently)
I neva been away from mi wife when a baby come…
HATMAKER
Oh, mon! Dat must be tuff, lefin’ ya fambly. How long you gone fer? And when
is your baby ta be born?
RUEBEN
Babies come when dey wanta come, but mi wife is due in about 4 month. I
hope I can leave early enough ta get back here before de baby come, if I can
make enough money by den.
(beat, tries to be more disciplined)
But I can't feed dem workin’ here. And mi fambly is mi life.
HATMAKER
I tank Jah dat I can feed my fambly wit’ de money I make here.
But I and I...we still workin’ for de man.
RUEBEN
But don’t let it make ya bitta, mon. ‘Member what it also say in de book o’
Proverbs, not ta envy de downpresser and not ta choose his way.
HATMAKER
An’ here you are mon, wid de weight o’ de world on you shoulder and you tink
about mi own soul? Dose two, dey bringin’ mi down, makin’ mi angry,
fullo’ resentment. But I shouldn't complain.
You always put others before ya self?
RUEBEN
(puts head down)
Well, I…
HATMAKER
(cuts Rueben off)
Wwll what 'chu here for antyway, udder den ta keep mi on de righteous path?
RUEBEN
My wife, she told mi ta get a new hat...
HATMAKER
Oh, MON! YOU DO you do need a new hat, and you come ta just de right place!
How long you been wearin’ dat ting?
RUEBEN
(Laughs shyly.)
Too long!
(He picks up the hat on the counter.)
How much fer dis one?
HATMAKER
(Takes the hat away from Rueben )
Aw, no mon. Here,
(hands him THE HAT)
take dis one, I just made it.
(Rueben takes the new hat and places it on his head. The hat starts to
glow!The Hat-maker looks at it and his eyes pop open and his mouth
drops.)
RUEBEN
Tanks.
(Notices the hat-maker staring at the hat on his head)
Sometin' up wid dis hat, mon?
HATMAKER
No... oh no….it’s jus
(Beat.)
dat hat...
(Beat, speaks nervously.)
just seem ta want ta go wid ya.
RUEBEN
How much?
HATMAKER
No, no money, mon! I want YOU to have it. Dat hat come to you from up above.
Dat hat,
(Beat)
was made fer ya! Jah bless you wid it ,,,,,(Nods his head.)
RUEBEN
(He looks at his watch, the hat stops glowing.)
I got to go get de bus, mon. You sure you don't want?
(As he heads for the door.)
HATMAKER
(shakes head emphatically)
NO, no money. Dat hat belong wid you…
(Beat.)
Hava good trip, mon! Jah guide.
RUEBEN
Tanks for de hat mon.
(Beat)
I pray you are blessed, too.
(Rueben nods and exits with hat on his head.)
HATMAKER
(Scratches his head and shakes it.)
Either dis is de hand of Jah at work, or I gotta stop smokin' de ganja, mon!
(Jamaican hand drummers start playing drum improv at each side of
the stage or play a Reggae beat, continue through the scene change)
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