Other Side of the Game

Amanda Parris

• Publisher: Playwrights Canada Press
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781770919938
• Topic: Literatura
• Subtopic: Arte dramático

I don't think you can expect society to change if you're not ready to take the first step.

In the 1970s Beverly walks into an office of Black activists, wanting to join the Movement, and has to prove she's committed enough to fight. Some forty years later, in the Hip Hop Generation, Nicole reunites with her ex-boyfriend on a basketball court, wondering where he's been, when a police officer stops them.

In this striking debut, Amanda Parris turns the spotlight on the Black women who organize communities, support their incarcerated loved ones, and battle institutions, living each day by a ride-or-die philosophy, strengthening their voices and demanding to be heard.

Scene 1

We are in the visitors’ waiting room of the Don Jail in Toronto. It is filled with people sitting and waiting on hard chairs; they are the anonymous, faceless majority. They begin staring silently at the audience. This moment is pushed to the point of discomfort for the audience. The visitors suddenly erupt in a scream that expresses the pent-up frustration of their position. They perform a silent sentence of movements, sometimes independently and other times in unison. Each visitor is oblivious to the presence of the other, all existing in solitary isolation.

Guard: ID please.

Nicole: Yep. Here you go.

She passes him her ID.

Guard: Miss, this is not valid identification.

Nicole: What do you mean not va —

Guard: Do you have anything else?

Nicole: Like what?

Guard: A driver’s licence perhaps?

Nicole: No. I don’t drive.

Guard: Passport?

Nicole: Not on me. But that’s my health card.

Guard: Yeah, I can see that.

Nicole: I spent two hours in a line getting it.

Guard: Uh-huh.

Nicole: And you’re telling me it’s not valid?

Guard: Yup.

Nicole: But —

Guard: Listen, a health card is not considered valid ID. End of story. I’m sorry. You won’t be able to come in today.

Nicole: But —

Guard: Next!

Nicole turns around and now has her back to the audience. Simultaneously Beverly turns to face the audience.

I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’ve been placed on lockdown. All visits are cancelled for the day.

Beverly: Lockdown?

Guard: Yeah. Lockdown.

Beverly: But I called first and everything was fine.

Guard: Uh-huh.

Beverly: I spent over an hour in traffic trying to get here!

Guard: There’s nothing I can do, ma’am.

Beverly: But —

Guard: Try again another day. Next!

Beverly turns around and now has her back to the audience. Simultaneously Nicole turns to face the audience.

Do you have any narcotics, food or electronics on you?

Nicole: No . . . wait, yes.

Guard: You are in current possession of narcotics?

Nicole: No! Just . . . my cellphone.

Guard: You can’t bring that on the premises.

Nicole: So, what am I supposed to do with it? Do you guys have lockers or something?

Guard: Not at this facility, miss. You can put it in your car and line up again.

Nicole: I don’t have a car!

Guard: Hmph.

Nicole: And I just stood in line for twenty minutes.

Guard: Okay.

Nicole: Okay? So . . . what am I supposed to do?

Guard: I don’t know what you’re supposed to do. I just know what I’m supposed to do. And I cannot allow you in with that cellphone.

Nicole: But —

Guard: Next!

Nicole turns around and now has her back to the audience. Simultaneously Beverly turns to face the audience.

Sorry, ma’am, we’re not letting any more visitors in for the day.

Beverly: But it’s 3:30.

Guard: Yeah, I can see that.

Beverly: Visiting hours are until four.

Guard: Yes but you need to arrive with ample time for us to locate the inmate and bring them in from their range.

Beverly: That’s ridiculous. How much time could ...