Pass the Ball (#1MPF)

Pass the Ball was written for the New Jersey/One-minute play festival in March 2016. It was performed at the 6th Annual 1MPF at Luna Stage, Orange, New Jersey, under the direction of the late great Rodney Gilbert and performed by the members of Yendor Theater company.

Pass the Ball by TS Murphy
Characters:
Troy, African American male, 17
Demetrius, African American male, 18
Setting: a basketball court, after school around 4pm
Note: Characters should pass the ball back and forth to each other at various times within the dialogue.
(Demetrius dribbles and passes the ball to Troy, who passes it back to Demetrius, who returns it to Troy, who hesitates and looks at his watch)
Troy: (looking at his watch) Damn! I gotta go.
Demetrius: Yo, you said you would help me get ready for the recruiters coming this weekend.
Troy: D, you really don’t need my help. Brah, you good. I need to finish editing my college essay.
Demetrius: (frustrated) What for? You know you will get accepted at the colleges you’ve applied to…
T: (cutting him off) No, I don’t know that, that’s why I have to go home and look at my other choices.
D: I don’t have any other choices….except this (indicating the basketball in his hand) what else am I good at?
T: (grandly) growing up, we thought “The Great Demetrius Thomas” could do and be anything
D: (cutting him off)…and then we grew up and realized that black men can’t do and be everything.
T: When we were little you also said there will never be a black president.
D: I’m still trying to figure out how Obama did that shit.
(they laugh)
T: C’mon over and I’ll help you look at some other schools.
D: What for? This (indicating basketball) is what I do.
T: Brah, you know you have a better chance of becoming a doctor than a New York Knick…
D: (cutting him off) There he is “Troy the Brain”…
T:(continuing) and two or less percent of brothers that play ball graduated with a degree, whether they get into the pros or not!
D: (continuing)…sounding all white and “edu-ma-cated”
T: (frustrated) I’m just saying you have options.
D: (shouting) to play ball or die here! (silence)…that’s my option!
Troy, you were always smart, you went to class, your mama made sure you did your homework…
T: (cutting him off) D, you’re smart too…
D: (cutting him off) No, I’m good at this (indicating the ball)…everybody says so.
T: (urgently) forget what everybody said, you have to…
D: (pleading ) Damn, Troy (pause) help me.
(Demetrius passes the ball to Troy, who hesitates then reluctantly nods his head yes and passes the ball back to Demetrius)
End