Borders
A 10-minute Play
by Conrad A. Panganiban
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Clark Nobida: Male. 20s
Nida Soriano: Female. 20s
SETTING: The cafe with a Bookstore. Two tables are side by side. At one table is a young college student, CLARK. He has several books on the table and he’s writing something in a notebook. He’s listening to some hip-hop music on his iPod and bobbing his head to the beat. At an adjacent table, NIDA is typing away at her laptop.
NIDA
(noticing a book on CLARK’s table)
You’re gonna like that book.
CLARK
(taking off his earbuds)
Excuse me…
NIDA
Gregory McGuire’s novel, WICKED. I was just saying that
it’s a good book.
CLARK
Thanks.
(CLARK puts back his earbuds and then starts bobbing his head.)
(NIDA tries to get his attention again and succeeds.)
NIDA
Hi. Sorry to interrupt your musical flow, but I was just wondering if it was okay if I take a really quick look at that book.
CLARK
No. Have a blast.
(CLARK hands the book to her and she immediately starts rifling through it.)
NIDA
I haven’t seen this book in a while. Don’t you think that it was so genius that the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good were like friends in college. Then they go off to see the Wizard together only to find out that he’s really out to use Elphaba’s, the Wicked Witch of the West’s, powers to rule all of Oz. And then… OHHH! And then, when she doesn’t want to help him, they come up with a plot to threaten to kill her sister…
CLARK
Thanks. I guess I can put the book back on the shelf now.
NIDA
Shoot. I am so sorry. My friends always tell me that I give
way too much information.
CLARK
No worries. It’s actually one of my favorite books too. I lent my copy to my friend before she just packed up and moved to New York City to be a dancer on Broadway.
NIDA
Must be nice.
CLARK
What is?
NIDA
To be able to just pack up and leave. To be able to do what you want to do. Guess some people are just lucky to be able to… just do.
(beat)
I’m sorry, I just took your book and went zonkers. Here…
(hands him the book)
I’ll leave you alone now.
CLARK
It’s alright. Actually, I don’t think luck has that much to do with packing up and leaving. The way I see it, you shouldn’t let anyone stop you from just… going. I mean, that’s why I’m going. I figure if I’m going to be on Broadway one day I might as well see it first.
NIDA
Fo realz? Are you like a dancer or a singer?
CLARK
Let’s see. The last thing I tried to sing was “Eye of the Tiger” at my uncle’s birthday party, which I scored a whopping 23 on the Magic Sing. And I’m definitely not a dancer since I can’t even do the electric slide right.
(attempts to do the electric slide and almost falls)
I think I’ll stick to acting, thank you very much.
NIDA
Get outta here!
CLARK
Okay.
(gets his books and stands to leave)
NIDA
I was kidding.
CLARK
(sits back down)
Oh, you were. I thought that you liked giving orders.
NIDA
No, I just meant that I act as well.
CLARK
Cool-dealio. So when will I see the name, Nida, up in lights?
NIDA
How’d you know that my name was Nida?
CLARK
Um… I kinda assumed that it was from the name on your name tag… that you’re wearing. But if your name isn’t Nida, then, (suspiciously) what did you do to Nida?
NIDA
Cute.
CLARK
(pops his collar)
Thanks.
NIDA
You’re incredible.
CLARK
So I’ve been told.
NIDA
No. I mean. Yes, you are safe to assume that my name is Nida. But, no, I don’t think you’ll see the name, Nida Soriano, up in lights any time soon.
CLARK
Interesting name, Nida. Cute too.
NIDA
Uh… thanks.
CLARK
I’m Clark, by the way. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nida.
(They both shake hands and smile. Nida abruptly lets go and looks around and goes back to typing in her laptop. They both look at each other and start to laugh, then she winces in pain.)
NIDA
(grabs her side)
Ar-ouch!
CLARK
You okay?
NIDA
Yeah. I just… overstretched my side while… working out. It just hurts when I laugh, so no jokes, ‘kay?
CLARK
Who me? Pshh… uhh, I’m guessing you’re Filipino, right? (a surprised Nida nods) (pause) So, what did the magical banana say to the frying pan?
NIDA
What?
CLARK
(puts up hands saying a magician’s TA-DA!) Turon!
(Nida starts to laugh and winces again. Clark starts to stand to give assistance, but Nida puts up her hand saying, Stop. Clark sits back down with concern on his face.)
CLARK
My bad. I promise no more jokes.
NIDA
Thanks. Especially bad ones like that.
CLARK
Touche. So, if I’m not going to see your name up in lights, why’d you quit acting?
NIDA
I just… did. (beat) What about you? Why do you feel the need to bare your soul in front of strangers every night on a dark stage?
CLARK
Probably the same reason I read books like WICKED – to escape from the problems of this reality and to go somewhere and be someone else even if it’s just for a couple of hours.
NIDA
That’s pretty deep.
CLARK
Well, it’s to meet girls, too. I mean, I get the best photos of me during the show’s marketing photo shoots. Post those picts up on Facebook and Tumblr and I’m in with the ladies!
NIDA
You really think that?
CLARK
C’mon, you know you look at other people’s relationship status’s if you see a picture of a cute guy. That’s what the internet is for. You won’t find my WordPress Blog writing a sob story about my mom dying last year. I don’t think so.
NIDA
I’m sorry about your mom. (pause) But, sometimes having a blog is like the only friend you can talk to when you feel like you don’t have anyone to lean on. (pause) Besides, there’s so many blogs out there, I don’t think anybody cares about my ho-hum existence that some call life.
CLARK
You think?
NIDA
I know. (beat) You know this is crazy. I don’t normally talk to strangers about stuff.
CLARK
But, you really haven’t told me anything, like… where you’re from?
NIDA
You first.
CLARK
Okay, I’m up to answer the first question. Born and raised in the hip happening all-around swanky town of… Sacramento.
NIDA
You’re from Sacramento? Cool. That’s where my boyfriend’s from.
CLARK
Oh… your boyfriend.
NIDA
Yeah.
CLARK
From Elk Grove.
NIDA
Yeah. How did you know he’s from Elk Grove?
CLARK
What? My bad. I thought you asked where I grew up and I was just saying that my family’s from Elk Grove. (beat) So, I answered the first question, now it’s your turn.
NIDA
I was born and raised right here in San Francisco.
CLARK
Right answer to the wrong question. But, I’ll start you off with an easy one then… if you didn’t have any borders, so to speak, where would you want to be right now?
NIDA
There isn’t a simple answer to your so-called, “starting off easy question”, Clark. There’s just so many factors.
CLARK
As I said, there are no longer any obstacles for you. A “yellow brick road” is cleared to your happiness. What’s waiting for you at the end of your journey, Nida?
NIDA
A stage. That’s where I’d be. Home. (beat) You know, this is stupid, cuz this isn’t real life. Acting is just a game. You grow up and you find that there’s more to life that’s more important than playing a game.
CLARK
Like your boyfriend?
NIDA
Not exactly, but a big factor. After my dad died, I didn’t have anybody else except for my boyfriend. I needed him and he said he needed me. I didn’t have Shakespeare to help me pick up the pieces of my life after I had no family left and a mortgage to pay. I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to play games anymore.
CLARK
So acting doesn’t pay the bills, but it does give you something that money can’t – the feeling of being Home. You said it yourself. And Jeff should’ve realized that.
NIDA
How’d you know his name is Jeff?
CLARK
When I was younger, I’d come home from school and I knew if my dad had hit my mom. She’d say, “Don’t worry, Clark. I’m going to be okay.” She’d still be alive if I helped her the same way I’m helping you.
(Nida frantically picks up her cell phone and pushes a button to make a call.)
(A ring tone sounds from CLARK’s bag. Ring tone continues as CLARK continues to speak.)
CLARK
He’s the one that made you quit acting and school because he was afraid you’d tell people what he’s been doing to you? Like the bruise on your back when he threw you against the wall last week when he saw you talking to your ex-boyfriend.
JEFF
(voice-mail greeting)
Wat up? You reached Jeff and I’m not in. You know what to do at the tone! Later.
(beep)
CLARK
You don’t lead too much of a ho-hum existence, Nida. From the first time I read your blog, I knew you needed my help. And about Jeff? You don’t need to know. It’s over now.
(Nida closes the cover of her laptop.)
(Lights fade.)
END OF PLAY