…a little sauerkraut on my hotdog, please!

Characters:

BO: Hospital Patient, crazy or so-called crazy

The Mysterious Visitor

Nurse Anderson

Bou1

SETTING:

Behavioral Science Ward. Evening. Patient Lounge.

[BO is quietly sitting by himself, reading a magazine, on the couch in the patient lounge. There is a table next to his right, with board games, puzzles and model figures, like cars, boats and action-figures, for leisurely entertainment. All of the sudden, a model of a Voltron Action-Figure, that’s close to the edge of the table, tips over and falls down to the floor, and breaks into several pieces. It draws his attention, but he doesn’t find this strange at all. Instead, he closes his magazine and throws it to the side and begins to address THE MYSTERIOUS VISITOR(4^th Wall).]

BO:

HMMMMMM. (sarcastic)I wonder who must have DID that?

[BO gets up and collects the pieces of Volton. He uses the bottom end of his shirt to cradle the pieces. He grabs a small chair next to the table and places his seat in front of THE MYSTERIOUS VISITOR(4^th Wall).

He begins to try to put Voltron back together. He continues.]

BO:

Whoever worked on this little guy,

is going to be real HOT with you.

Don’t worry, I won’t tell,

they probably wouldn’t believe me, anyway.

You know what?

Just between me and you…

…they start coming at around six in the evening…that’s right,

just like how you came in,

one by one,

all those dead-ass motherfuckers.

Most of them that were at the house were nice, but some of them, are mean as shit. I guess it’s because they bitter or something and all…

…like me being alive and they being dead. I really don’t think that if I was a spirit, I would be acting so nasty to those still alive.

I would be a smooth spirit or ghost or shadowy thing, whatever you call those dead motherfuckers hanging out in your house.

Bou2

Boooy, the first time I seen them,

it was a whole bunch of them,

I thought they were demons!

I ran out the house so fast screaming,

so quick and loud,

that the neighbors thought somebody was being killed outside.

Screaming and Hollering about like I lost my marbles, or at least…that is what they think. It’s unfortunate that my incidences later became testimonies which have landed me here,

in the Behavioral Science Ward.

The “Behavioral Science Ward”,

a nice way of saying, “The floor of the hospital,

with all the crazy motherfuckers!”

But don’t worry, this story is between me and you, you’ll learn to like it here, it’s not that bad.

I get good drugs,

three hot meals,

snacks included,

a nice bed with cool A/C in the room for hot summers,

and reliable heat in winter.

But I spoke too soon because you can’t really have those things,

I mean,

you being what you are and all, no offense.

[BO puts Voltron back together but notices his sword is broken.]

BO

You see.

He’s all good again!

(In a robotic voice)

VOLTRON…DEFENDERS OF THE UNIVERSE.

[He places the Voltron in front of him.]

BO

…too bad his sword is broke.

My lady said I had a broken sword too. But I said…

…my dick aint the one broke…

…it’s my head, they say is broken…

…just like …sort of like…

the Voltron.

Bou3

[He places the sword into his shirt pocket.]

BO (CONT.)

…never really liked VOLTRON anyway.

Not… one… single…

…BROTHER on the show!

I mean…they got a red lion, right.

And the driver look like maybe a Russian dude, right.

You know, Russia go with red, right,

So I guess he was a Russian with that accent and all.

And they also got a green lion…

…little short leprechaun looking dude…so I’m thinking…

…you know…that place where all them Irish people live,

drinking those Guinness’s all day…

…and that shit alone is already some hardcore shit!

Drinking Guinness’s all day ‘til it becomes a part of your blood…

…so I already know this show is full of shit because the IRISH DUDE is a silly leprechaun looking motha-fucka…

… instead of looking like them bulldog looking Irish Ganstas in movies and shit. But anyways…

…that’s the green lion, right.

And then we get to the Blue and Orange Lions.

Now the blue lion…

… was some other cat, right…

…but then this which killed him,

and he got replaced…

by some fine-ass blonde bitch,now,

I aint no pervert or anything…

…but these people,

that be making these cartoons,

in other countries,

really know how to make the cartoon bitches look sexy…

…caught myself slipping now and then with the lotion and Kleenex…

…if you know what I mean,

but that’s another story, brah.

Bou4

BO (CONT.)

But anyway,

the blue lion is a blond,

blue eyed,

lil fine-ass cartoon bitch that look like…

to me…maybe france,

‘cause them french bitches be looking like all fine and stuck up and shit.

And the orange lion…

…the Orange Lion!

The driver of the Orange Lion,

look like a fat-ass Colombian Drug Lord…

…a cartoon Carlos Escobar.

But that aint even the point…

…because there is one lion left…

…The Black LION, man!

[BO picks up the Voltron and points to the torso of the ACTION FIGURE.]

BO

The Black Lion.

The mother-fucker,

who connects everyone together,

from different countries and shit,

that became his arms and legs…remember…

(robot voice)

”form…arms…and legs…and I…FORM …THE HEAD!”

and I’m like…

…Okay…Black Lion…

…is AFRICA, right?

Hell nah!

They got some middle-eastern-taliban-looking-ass-dude,

driving the BLACK LION,

aint that some shit?!?!

And the worst thing is…

…his name is Keith.

Commander Keith!

That’s a brotha’s name!

But he aint Black!

Like Keith Sweat!

And he had that little soft voice.

A Keith,

with a soft little voice like,

(in a soft voice)

“come on Voltron force! Let’s kill this monster!”

Bou5

BO (CONT.)

You know!

How you going to kill,

a monster coming soft like that?

Is he going to BITCH SLAP the monster,

or give it a back rub?

Maybe a Happy Ending and shit…

…after the rub down!

You got to some hard against motherfuckers like that…

If I was a black cartoon,

I would be like,

(in a masculine voice)

”Look Motha-Fucka,

this is my Hood,

get your green,

no pussy getting,

bitch azz out of my face.

What? It’s like that!

Aw…shiii…its bout to go down!”  …and beat that monsters ass,

like they stole something…

…then I would order the BLUE LION…

…to give me some head…

You know,

make the show more exciting!

But they always end up killing the monsters…

…and they always kill those evil monsters, with that,

same old lame sword move,

after the big fight,

at the end of every show.

One Lame-Ass sword cut,

in half right down the middle,

and the monsters blow up. Stupid shit! This little Votron here,

that Im holding,

aint got no sword…

…its broke.

So I guess he better find a gat,

or a shank…kill some monsters like he’s in American Me!

[simulates voltron as a Mexican ganster]

Bou6

(Spanish accent)

“Hey Ese!

Don’t you know Im loco!”

Maaaan! I love that movie,

we got to watch it sometime.

You would like it.

It’s real and raw,

like you.

I can tell.

You’re not fake,

like the rest of them.

Well…some of them, really.

They all want something.

And weird shit too!

One fat dude always asking me,

to eat a hot dog,

but it has to have that Sauerkraut on it. He just wants to watch.

I’m talking weird fucking things they be asking!

Honestly…

I aint never heard of Sauerkraut,

and didn’t think much about it,

until he kept me up at night.

And he kept me up!

Screaming and Hollering…

…Hollering and screaming…

…banging on walls,

he couldn’t move things like you,

but I have to admit,

that is impressive, man!

Because a lot of them can’t do that,

or they haven’t read the manual on that… in Ghost World…I don’t know, But anyways,

I finally found the sauerkraut,

and it took me a while,

because I spelled it wrong.

Guy at the store kept saying,

it’s in condiments next to the relish…

…didn’t know the damn thing was one word…I wrote like I heard it…SOUR… …KROWT!

Cashier said,

its german fermented cabbage…

I dunno what that meant but it sounded nasty.

Bou7

BO(CONT.)

So…

next thing is,

I’m cooking hotdogs and its evening,

and fat dude appears.

And I tell him,

I’m doing this once and you’re going to leave me alone…

…YOU FAT DUDE GHOST!

He didn’t look like,

he was kosher about the whole deal.

So I tell him:

I’m a throw these dogs away,

sauerkraut too!

And he’s like:

okay…okay.

But I then have him swear to GOD…

…and you know that as a ghost,

you can’t swear your word on something, especially to GOD,

and Renege.

So fat dude knows,

he better enjoy me eating that nasty ass sauerkraut,

because it’s his first and last time WATCHING,

or at least,

that was what we agreed upon,

at first.

And I start,

on one of them two hotdogs I cooked up, that had some of that sauerkraut,

and fat dude looks like he just nutted in his paints.

I mean,

I had to check under the table,

to see if there was a lady ghost giving him head or something,

even if that was possible…

…because his facial expressions,

looked like he was tagging some ass or something.

I was like, “Damn it’s just a hotdog, homey!”

But he was like adamant and pressing for me …to just eat. Keep EATING, keep eating slowly!

Bou8

BO(CONT.)

So I’m eating,

and I notice that,

The Sauerkraut,

That fermented german shit,

It aint that bad!

It actually,

in some weird German-fermented- cabbage-way…

was good. Damn Good!

And Fat Dude is sweating…

…and I’m eating! And he’s just looking like he busting all his ghost nuts, in a storm, in his pants and shit!

And I didn’t think ghost could sweat…but he was looking wet…

…like having sex kind of wet.

…and doing the nasty,

kind of wet…and I was loving the hotdogs so much…I boiled the whole rest of the 8-pack jumbos.

I tell yah…I aint never had sex with a man…and I aint got no beef with the homosexuality’s.

But that night,

I had somehow,

had sex with a fat ghost dude…

…by eating a hotdog!

With sauerkraut!

I got to admit, I enjoyed it too,

it was good eating…and GOOD SHITTING TOO…I mean big ass brown logs.

That’s the kind of people you’ll meet…

I see a lot of them become friends.

…like fat dude all the sudden had a little china man following him…

…they seem like good friends.

I don’t see them anymore,

On account of me being here,

Just a technicality, or what you call it?

Formaility? But anyways,

I think they still at the house…he probably waiting to show china man the next time I eat hotdogs with sauerkraut…

[The PA system activates and a high pitched sound resonates followed by a message, “PATIENT’s in the LOUNGE, LIGHTS OUT in five minutes, PATIENTS’s in the LOUNGE, LIGHTS OUT in five minutes, GOOD NIGHT]

Bou9

BO(CONT.)

Damn. Already? Well, I gotta go, homey. See you tomorrow. That’s nurse Anderson! Don’t she sound like a man? Now she could have done that voice of BLACK LION…with no problem.

But that’s my cue!

We will shoot the shit again tomorrow…even though…you don’t really talk much.

Not at all really…no offense…were all shy first time around.

Hey…you think…maybe…you can do some of that moving shit around Nurse Anderson?

I sure would love to hear that bitch get spooked!

Lock her up like my crazy ass, right! Only if you want to,

no worries.

Good Night, homey.

[Bo exits(right) the lounge. Lights begin to dim. Nurse Anderson enters the lounge(left). She turns around to the light switch and behind her a board game suddenly floats off the table and slams to the ground. She is startled. She turns around and walks over to the board game on the floor. She picks it up. All the sudden, in her sight, all the board games, puzzles and toy models are propelled towards her. She slips and falls on her behind screaming and frantically begins crawling then running towards the right of the lounge. Screaming and Hollering her head off down the hospital corridor]

BO V.O.

(laughing) Ha.Ha.Haow…That’s my DAWG!

WE GONNA BE GOOOOD FRIENDS!

The End

It’s in the words

CHARACTERS:

Warren, African-American, Educated, Book Smart

Laurence, African-American, Working Class, Street Smart

Bou1

SETTING:

New York. Day. Summer. 1959. Street Corner

Warren waits on a street corner. He is anxious. He is nervous. Several passers-by’s give him suspicious looks. He sees a friend and has a sign of relief. Laurence approaches.

WARREN

Lord! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes…

LAURENCE

(in somber voice and sympathetic)

Afternoon Warren. I got something to tell you.

WARREN

Why are you empty handed? You’re supposed to bring the STRANGE FRUIT. What has happened Laurence?!?! Did you lose the STRANGE FRUIT?

LAURENCE

No. It’s in good hands. My wife has it in a safe place?

WARREN

Your Wife? I don’t mean any disrespect to you or your wife; But what in God’s green earth is your wife doing with my LP? I told you my momma is sick, she is very sick.

LAURENCE

I know. And I’m aware of your momma’s health and all.

WARREN

Then why didn’t you bring THE STRANGE FRUIT?!?! You know she is going to be walking down this very street?

LAURENCE

I know. I know. I told you she does it like clockwork. But let me explain, brotha.

WARREN

What is there to explain? We had an understanding of how very important it was getting her to sign my album.

Bou2

LAURENCE

Warren, I’m sorry. Please let me explain.

WARREN

My Momma is sick, very sick! Doctors say: she’s not going to make it past the summer. But I’m keeping faith! And the only solace that I could give her, the only light in her day, is all down the drain because you are telling me some story, that your wife has it in good hands.

LAURENCE

Warren.

WARREN

Brotha, Please! I’m trying to control my anger around these folks up here. It’s enough that they look at us like we really aint welcomed. I wouldn’t come to this part of the city but STRANGE FRUIT represents more than a song to my momma. It’s more than how people look at us, too!

LAURENCE

Warren, please. Let’s go sit down, brotha. I need to tell you something.

WARREN

Just tell me you broke it. Don’t give me that jive hustle smooth talk right now. I am not the one!

LAURENCE

Warren, I am begging, please, this aint no hustle. We need to speak man to man.

WARREN

You are not a man! You get by doing whatever you get on the street. What kind of life is that for you and your wife? What kind of fool I was to lend you, probably one of the most important singles in the past 30 years.  What was I thinking?!?!

Bou3

LAURENCE

Brotha, I know you don’t mean those       things!

WARREN

Nigga… I aint your brother! I don’t care if you hurt me, but I’m not the one hurt, it’s my momma. You know she met her back in the day and told her how deeply STRANGE FRUIT touched her. But my momma didn’t have the single for an autograph, she settled for a napkin.

LAURENCE

I’m aware of that.

WARREN

…and growing up, she always told me how one day she’ll meet her again and get that album signed by her.

LAURENCE

If you would just…

WARREN

I don’t even know when I will be back here to get a chance? And I don’t know how long my momma will hold on?

LAURENCE

Im sorry.

WARREN

Laurence we’ve been friends a long time. In that time I have never judged you. I always minded my own business. But I don’t think I need a friend like you anymore.

LAURENCE

What are you saying Warren?

WARREN

You heard what I’m saying!!! You’re smarter than what you lead other’s to believe. You mail me my album and make sure it’s packaged right, extra cotton balls. I got to split right now before I…before I… (grumbles and grunts)

Aaagrrhh…dammit!

WARREN begins to walk away. The disappointment is apparent. LAURENCE is hesitant but he must continue communicate to WARREN.

Bou4

LAURENCE

Wait a minute, Warren. Please! Just listen. Just listen to what I have to say and then if you don’t want to be my friend, you can go.

WARREN pauses. His back to LAURENCE.

WARREN

…and what kind of scam hustle are you going to spit now?

LAURENCE

This is no scam, my friend.

WARREN

(bitter)

My Friend? My…friend? What does MY friend… have to tell me? Or is it, just another excuse of your gambling hustles?

LAURENCE

I wouldn’t do that.

WARREN turns around and faces LAURENCE.

WARREN

Is that it?!?! Is that what you’re too yellow to tell me?!?! You gambled my album away!?!? (shouts) …an Album I was going to give to my Momma!

WARREN shoves LAURENCE.

LAURENCE

…she’s not coming. She’s not coming today or ever. I’m sorry…I’m so sorry!

WARREN

… she probably can smell a rat from a mile away!

LAURENCE

Warren, she died today. I’m sorry, but she has passed away.

Bou5

WARREN’S bitter grimace expression shifts into a deeply empty and sad indication. All is heard are some of the footsteps of passers-by and even the ‘street noise’ assume a moment of silence.

LAURENCE (CONT.)

…I don’t know what happened? I think it was her heart. They say the police was there. I don’t know why? But she had people that loved her around.

WARREN turns to his friend.

WARREN

(Bleating in broken sound)

She died?

LAURENCE

It happened…(hesitant) early this morning.

WARREN

(Bleating in broken sound)

She died? She’s not supposed to die…she’s…

LAURENCE

It’s all over the radio. She left us with all her class and dignity. I’m sorry, Warren.

Hiatus

LAURENCE walks toward WARREN and places his hand on his shoulder.

WARREN

…why is everything I love, dying?

LAURENCE

I’m Sorry.

LAURENCE consoles WARREN with a brotherly embrace. Passers-by continue to give them bitter looks.

The end

POEM

 the “to do” list 

by Jean D. Bouciquot

I need to be conceived so I can eventually travel up the birth canal, develop and be born on a day I will celebrate once a year.

I need nourishment because it feels good and makes me sleep

It also feels good to urinate and defecate only when it’s not on me

I need to cry endlessly because im confused about the strange new reality which is becoming a slow comfort but im not going to remember it because Im still new to this world

I need to explore things when im becoming aware of my surroundings and I need cry when those familiar surroundings are different

I need to try to communicate in words because I can see hear smell and feel all the things im exploring but some things I should not taste

I need to start putting into words that make sense about how I feel about things ive explored and those things im confused about

I need to find friends because im lonely

I need to be institutionalized at a place called a school which half the time they tell lies but its not so bad because I found some friends and im not lonely anymore

I need to follow ideas and lifestyle in accordance to what my parents perceive as something called GOD

I need to follow ideas and lifestyles of my friends because I want to be accepted

I need to help the new little person in the family who is more confused than I was in what we call our household because mother and father says so even though I have a little envy, that’s strange because I do not remember when I was a little one

I need to celebrate certain events with people I know once a year called holiday’s where sometimes I dress up or at other times eat turkey and decorate trees with ornaments I would rather celebrate the day of my birth everyday

I need to tell a person that I like them very much and Im having emotions that Ive never had but instead I will tell them that their ugly because deep down im really scared and immature

I need to pray to GOD every night because a lot of people close to me tell me so and its what we do. I wonder if god ever had to wake up and go to school.

I need to go to a more mature school where I will discover my immaturity and things that I hate like pimples, 3 period French, and that group of kids that talk a little to loudly in the back about what they did this weekend while I try to mind my business but their business minds me. Pretentious Hormonal Fuck-Wadz!

I need to go to an even more mature school than the last, I think called high school, which somewhat prepared me for this place called college where I drink lots of alcoholic beverages, smoke drugs and have lots of sex.

I need to find a job after spending 4 and sometimes up to 10 years in that place called college. At this job it will be miserable because the first ones always are.

I need to be married and have 3.5 children by year 35 year of living because its what society says to do and sometimes my family.

I need to raise children and sometimes argue with the spouse and grow a belly while my hair grows gray because that means I’m succumbing to old age.

I need to go because I’ve did my to do list and the kids have kids who have their own kids and the spouse has past away years ago and being alone sucks, so my last thing is to leave and probably do another TO DO list at another time or in another TIME.

A PLAY

The Juice People

By Jean D. Bouciquot

Characters:

Luc Bouvier: 20 year-old, Haiten-American, College Student

Alan Rodriguez: 20 year-old, Cuban-American(Gringo), College Student

Monac Bouvier: 50 year-old, Haiten, Father of Luc and Isis

Isis Bouvier: 25 year-old, Haiten- American, Paralegal, Law Student

Bou1

Setting:

The Living Room of the Bouvier Home, Saturday, 10am

LUC and ALAN sit on the couch watching random programing on the television. 25 minutes ago they both arrived, to LUC’s home, from a whole week of partying and both decided to ingest the last of two small cookie Teddy Bears that were soaked in Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, commonly known as LSD.

LUC

…I don’t feel shit, Gringo. I think the last ones were duds.

ALAN

Be easy…it’s coming…trust me. Its real good Acid, man.

LUC

Wait…

(A BEAT)

Nah…I don’t feel anything. You sure they were good?

ALAN

Dude…even if their bad…we still got two days to party…and we’ll get some good shit.

LUC

Yeah. Pops and Isis working all week. You know what? We can invite some bitches, but only for a few hours, get them out before night but still…like invite some bitches and wild out.

ALAN

Oh…Shit! that’s a great idea…man…and we…

MONAC V.O.

OH GOODNESS! MY BACK HURT-EY LIKA MOEDA-FOEKA

A rumbling is heard in the KITCHEN. ALAN and LUC lean and veer on the couch to see what the commotion was.

LUC

Ok…is it me or did I just hear my pops?

Bou2

ALAN

(in bated breath)

Uh-uh, homey. I heard MR. BOUVIER, too. I thought you said everyone was working all week!

LUC

(in bated breath)

They are!

Oh shit!

ALAN looks over to LUC

ALAN

What?!?!

LUC

…you’re GLOWING!

Damn, I thought you said these were duds.

ALAN

Nah…you said that they were duds, I kept saying…

MONAC BOUVIER ENTERS with a cup of coffee.

MONAC

(excited)

OH MY GOODNESS. My booteful boy and the guy they say is the gringo from cuba…my boy and my boy!

LUC

(nervous)

Heeey. Pops. What’s…up… man?

MONAC

I feely good in ma HART and NOTSO GOOD in ma BACK. Im happy to say to JESUS TANKYOU for my job I get. I get new job gringo. That good hey?

ALAN is spaced.

Bou3

MONAC CONT.

That good hey…alan?

LUC nudges ALAN

ALAN

Eh…uh…Yes please.

MONAC

You see, luc! You see. You see Alan! That why…

LUC

(nervous)

What? What about Alan?

MONAC

That WHY…

(pause)

…I like alan. GRINGO es very polite.

He say, Yes-Please. NO-Tank-u. Why u no be like Alan.

LUC

Yeah…POPS…your right…uh we got to go somewhere this morning…right alan?

ALAN is spaced.

LUC CONT.

RIGHT…ALAN?!?!

ALAN

Oh…yes PLEASE.

LUC

(Motions to Alan)

Yah Alan. We have somewhere to go right?

ALAN

Oh yeah. We…have…appointments!

MONAC

BOOLSHEET! What appointment today. We make toast for my new job. Workie for…the JUICE PEOPLE.

Bou4

MONAC exits the living room into the Kitchen to get some tools for making a toast.

ALAN

(in bated breath)

Did he say JUICE PEOPLE? Or am I…

LUC

(in bated breath)

I heard it too. I’m bugging out man! Pops is looking like the cookie monster.

ALAN

(in bated breath)

No way…he looks like OSCAR…OSCAR the GROUCH, man!

LUC

(in bated breath)

OH…OH…we need to get out. Like right now!

ALAN

(in bated breath)

What if… (pauses)

What if… (pauses)

LUC

(in bated breath)

What if What?!?!

ALAN

(in bated breath)

I don’t know…

(Pause)

What were we talking about?

LUC

(in bated breath)

Honestly…I don’t know either.

ISIS enters the Living Room dressed in a robe and holding her laptop. She sits on the recliner.

Bou5

ISIS

Good morning guys.

ALAN

(in bated breath)

Oh shit. Now I see your sister. In like a  pink robe.

LUC

(in bated breath)

I see her too stupid.

LUC motions to ISIS.

LUC CONT.

What are you doing here?

ISIS

What do you mean?

LUC

I mean what are you doing here, in this HOUSE?

ISIS

Well Luc…believe it or not…I still live here.

LUC

I know that…dummy. Aren’t you working all week?

ISIS

I was but today is my off day.

LUC

You’re only off on the weekends. Saturday and Sunday!

ISIS

Yes I know thanks, Sherlock.

ISIS Opens her Laptop.

LUC

…and?!?!

Bou6

ISIS

(getting agitated)

And what Luc? I don’t have time for your mind games.

LUC

Aren’t you supposed to be working?

ISIS

No. Not today!

ISIS is trying to focus on starting her laptop.

LUC

And why’s that? You get fired or something?

She closes the laptop and answers.

ISIS

No. Today is Saturday, Dumb-ass!

ALAN

Today is Saturday?!?!

LUC

Today is not Saturday!

ISIS

NICE…what have you guys been…whoaa. Are you…uh…I can’t believe…

LUC

SHHHHHHH.

MONAC enters the living room with a bottle of Bourboncourt, Haitian Rum, and three glasses.

MONAC

Hey girl…you wake up now? I tell you no be lazy girl.

ISIS

(concerned)

Good Morning PAPA. What are you doing with that?

Bou7

MONAC

I celebrate with the MEN. My new job.

ISIS

Really? Where?

MONAC

I work for the JUICE PEOPLE, cut the yard, make the flower look nice, for the whole neighborhood make booteful.

ISIS

Oh. OK. But I don’t think that the guys need any of that.

MONAC

What?!?! You smokey cwack girl! I tell you no get drug in my house. What you tell me they don’t need to celebwate for me, its one glass, stupid girl! We don’t get cwazy. Right boys?

LUC

(sweating)

Uh…pops. Its kinds of early you know…

MONAC

What you sweat for…you do exercist? You tired? OK. No need drink. How bout you Gringo?

Alan is spaced.

(PAUSE)

MONAC

Hey…Gringo?!?!

ALAN

YES…PLEASE!

ISIS

(in bated breath)

Oh god.

MONAC

OH GOOD. MY FWEN. That how I like my GOOD MAN…here takit a glass.

MONAC gives ALAN a glass.

Bou8

LUC

Wait…before we do anything to (shrieking)…rejoice…why are we drinking to the JUICE PEOPLE?

MONAC

…because they gave me a good job stupid boy…one thousand dollars a week.

LUC

A grand a week? Who are these JUICE PEOPLE?

ISIS

He works for JEWISH PEOPLE in a community, Stupid! Get with pops program.

ISIS goes back into her laptop.

(A BEAT)

LUC

…you work for JEWISH PEOPLE?

MONAC

Yah boy.

LUC

Alan…he works for Jewish People.

ALAN

(spaced)

Oh…Yes Please.

LUC

You work…for…JEWISH PEOPLE!

MONAC

GOODNESS BOY. YOU CRAZY TODAY? That what I say…THE…JUICE…PEOPLE!

The End

Miami-based Rapper, STAX

Film can do more than to entertain the passing time. It can also present an idea about certain subjects of society and in life. Joseph Stalin once described Cinema as an Art of Illusion and in that Art; it dictated Laws to Life itself. When films begin to do that, it would appear, they become the very definition of Propaganda.

Propaganda, defined as, a form of communication aimed in influencing the decisions (attitudes) of a society (community), with partial or modified facts, towards an ideal, of an entities benefit. Such a tool can be used for political reasons. Even though, the intent of the Auteur (Director’s) film may be for artistic reasons, the interpretation can ignite aggressive social and political debate. When D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation debuted, this was around the time of the beginning of African American Migration towards the North in search for better living conditions.

The Social Climate in America during that time is the last of recovery from the Civil War. America is at work and is between two depressions, one beginning in 1894, the other, two decades later. The Harlem Renaissance is emerging and African American’s are gaining more of an identity in society. There is still a segregation and racial oppression but huge steps are being taken in the Black Communities, as far as, education, work and expressing through art form.

Critically, during this time it would be understood: Why Birth of a Nation would be protested? But the film’s initial success would be its innovation in film techniques that attract the non-bigoted viewers to purchase and watch the film. A fraction of the film’s success can be credited to a portion of society that supported racial bigotry. This film supports an idea, which demonizes the African-American and glorifies the Klu Klux Klan. But it is not believed, that the intent of D.W. Griffith, was to make a Propaganda Film.

In the eyes of other Americans, Black and White, which banned this film in some theatres, believed it to be a Propagandist Film. And believed D.W. Griffith’s intent was to create a propagandist film, demonizing African Americans. On top of all things, to mold the social climate in more of a stressor was the dawn of World War I. But it wasn’t until after the declaration of World War II that another film communicates an idea towards benefiting an ideal.

The Great Dictator, written, produced, directed and starring Charlie Chaplin opposed the very essence of Adolf Hitler, who in 1939 was Time Magazines, “Man of the Year”. Chaplin’s Film also debuted with a majority of success but was banned in some European Countries, considered as Propaganda. In contrast to Birth of a Nation; The Great Dictator, expressed more factual ideas about Hitler in satiric contexts, truths that can never be denied, even though done as comedy but resulting in and concluding in all serious nature.

The portrayal of Blacks as villains is a modified message, in which, making “Birth of a Nation” more of a Propagandist film than “The Great Dictator”. Even though it is the intent of Chaplin to demonize Adolf Hitler and share an idea of this leader as a callous Dictator. During this time, the Nazi’s also created films to glorify their image, another modified truth considered definitely Propaganda, being that they considered Jews to be monsters.

But not so far different from the ideas of “Birth of a Nation”, which D.W. Griffith unfortunately will always have a black cloak covering or over shadowing the film’s success in innovative film techniques. The Great Dictator, doesn’t lose any momentum in its genius, to this day is considered one of Chaplin’s cinematic masterpieces. One of the interesting facts of, “The Great Dictator” is the subject of the Jewish Oppression that was still taboo or not spoken about in Hollywood, at the time.

In contrast, to today in modern times, it has an inverse effect in Hollywood being that more stories are being made about the Jewish Oppression and that there isn’t any taboo about these subjects, and that those subjects when expressed through film, gives a memorial to those that lost their lives and suffered though that war and holocaust. Another interesting inverse contrast is the fact that films glorifying bigotry are close to impossible in getting produced by a studio, as of, “Birth of a nation”. Films of racial politics made today demonize the racist or express sympathy for the oppressed (minority). Clearly, a film pitch similar to the story of, “Birth of a Nation” would be perceived as intent to create a propagandist film that would insult African Americans.

Certain facts in the production of films and ideas expressed correlate with the social conscious through time. Decades go by and wars are fought, beloved leaders assassinated, civil rights achieved, and many changes to popular culture express more unity in a nation. This nation, in which, also grows culturally diverse, as the decades climb. Films that are made to insult a group or a people not only cause outrage but don’t do well for the business of film making for a particular studio. Studios would express that they believe and practice equality for all people because that is the moral and ethical thing to do. But at the end of the day, glorifying racial bigotry does not pay.

Both of these films can be respected for their artistic value. Birth of a Nations value weighs heavily on innovative camera techniques used in this film. The artistic value of The Great Dictator is recognized in several categories from its story to also respected film techniques. Objectively, The Great Dictator will always be a film of great value and respect, due to the ideas and facts of Hitler will never change in history. But the ideas in Birth of a Nation, obviously, subjective in course, cannot carry through time when we are slowly disengaging racial bigotry.

BY JEAN D. BOUCIQUOT

Birth of a nation picture provided by Wikipedia

The Great Dictator picture provided by IMDB   

Jean D. Bouciquot

CEO and Founder

One-Bridge-Entertainment is a independent film production company that will offer productions for music, film, television, internet and other entertainment mediums, future endeavors, such as, radio and satellite radio.  But as of now, in 2011 we will be debuting music artist and their videos on top of the independent short films with summary, all produced by One-Bridge-Entertainment and their artist.

CEO and Founder

Jean D. Bouciquot

Imagine if you will, being in a corner of a Boxing Ring but this is no ordinary fighting event. Its the Fight of your life, something that you were raised to do, which is to communicate because this is what us humans do. Then Imagine the profession you have chosen, you want to be a Journalist, you want to tell the rest of the humans on the planet the news of our lives. And how do you do it? Well, if your a Journalism student at Florida International University, Professor Allan Richards is Mickey Goldmill to your identity of the Rocky Balboa of Journalism, because as students, we all start as the underdogs. Those desiring to be contenders one day in a Industry full of Distinguished Journalist and Pulitzer Prizes. And how is Allan Richards going to train you? He definitely will not say you have to piss fire, but he will mention, that Grammar is an important tool of the Journalist. He will also convey that the key to conquering grammar is to notice the VERBS!

THE VERBS! Why? Because the verbs will begin your Journey into the Matrix. Oops! Wrong Movie! Identifying the verbs will assist you in the breakdown of a sentence. The funny thing about sentences, is that when we put them together, about relevant information pertaining to current events, we have the NEWS! We have an author, that is now a Journalist, reporting the news in whatever genre or fashion, appropriately. Professor Allan Richards lectured a Grammar Class to his ‘Intro to Journalism’ students on June 15, 2011. I was fortunate to be there because I am one of his students. The pieces of Gems that he gave to us about Grammar were priceless. At least to me because Ive always had English Teachers that confused me about how sentences went together. Now, I may be a little subjective about these English teachers, probably due to the numerous detentions they gave me, but I honestly never received a lesson in Grammar that wasn’t complicated, until last Wednesday. Does my Grammar and the way I put sentences together need improvement? Of Course! Everyone from the top tier to the lower tier in the Journalist Industry has room to improve because our communication is always evolving through the generations. Professor Allan Richards told us that when we write this blog, to mention what confused us about the lesson. I wasn’t confused about anything he conveyed because he kept simple and stuck to common sense, just like how most Champion Boxers Fight! Trainer Mickey screams,  “You Gotta eat Lightning and Crap Thunder, Rocky!”

watch Burgess Meredith as Mickey Goldmill at Youtube:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0CXUv-xxtY

picture of Allan Richards provided by jornalism.fiu.edu

Written by Jean D. Bouciquot

It is an in-depth look into the socio-psyche of students on FIU Campus as a MICROCOSM of Society. It involves finding the source of the stigmatization towards Senior Citizens, the Obese, the Disabled, and a certain populations of minorities including Hispanics from Latin countries, other than Cuba.

When Jasmine Kripalani, a Journalist, came to speak to our Intro to Journalism class, on the morning of Monday, June 6, 2011, I didn’t really know what to think about it, at first. Then I figured that this would be another success story regurgitated for the next two hours. But as she spoke, there was more to what she was conveying about her. She spoke about her experiences and I felt that it wasn’t just about her. I felt that she truly wanted to give us some tools of what to expect and how to handle it, authentically in intent.

She communicated that we can challenge ourselves now, as students, to write for different mediums. And that the only thing that can stop the ambition is the lack of persistence and positive thinking. As she was speaking, I felt a sense of reality coming over me that, if I wanted to, if I really felt the desire, that I can start writing for different papers now, at this moment, professionally. The impression that she made on me, is that she is an extremely dedicated and hardworking journalist, that whatever the ambiguity or uncertainty, she remains level headed and positive.

Jasmine Kripalani spoke to me inside, which doesn’t happen a lot when guest speakers arrive to speak to college students. Her message was that my career as a writer has started the minute I decided to write and that the walls of not having a degree cannot stop you from pursuing ambitious endeavors. And if in words, I had to describe what it meant for her to speak to our class or what I got from it, it is this message that has resonated, that I can pursue journalism professionally, in my life, right now, as a student.

picture of jasmine Kripalani provided by Facebook

Written by Jean D. Bouciquot