The Race (2018)

(L. to R. Autmn Coffey as Ryan, Jalisa Hopson as Louis)

The Race

by Aziza El

BRIDGEHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL

Click here to watch The Race

SCENE ONE

Setting: African Safari Wildlife Park, Ohio

(Large Donkey Exhibit equipped with Vegetation, and watering holes.)

Louis The Asian Elephant: WELL! isn’t it just a wonderful day to be alive !

Ryan the Donkey: it could be better …

Louis: What’s the matter bud?

Ryan: Nothing just nervous about the race.

Louis: scared?

Ryan: No, i said i was nervous. There’s a difference!

Louis: I mean scared to lose.

Ryan: Not exactly, i have good odds.

Louis: AHAHAHAH . No one has good odds against me.

Ryan: I’ve been training for months . i’m confident .

Louis: I thought you said you were nervous?

Ryan: I can’t be both?

Louis: No , obviously. It shows weakness.

Ryan: i’m confident in my skills , but nervous about the rest.

Louis: Well i’m sure i’m gonna win so i have nothing to be nervous about.

Ryan: Sure you’re going to win?

Louis: Of course!

Ryan: It’s a race Louis , it’s based on skill.

Louis: It’s more than skill kiddo, it’s all about strategy, and I know allll about that!! **WINKS OBVIOUSLY** right now i’m not talking about this, I have to go take a very important phone call.

Ryan: Phone call who would be calling you ?

Louis: (jokingly) just my dealer, hahahah. Just playing I have to call my Mother.

Ryan: Oh okay, I guess we’ll just see about that above average talent tomorrow then.

(Passing Black Baza)

Baza: WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT LOUIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE CALLING A SALT LICK DEALER.

Ryan: WHAT?! What are you talking about?!

Baza: I OVERHEARD HIM! HE SAID HE’S CALLING JERRY! JERRY THE DEALER!!

SCENE TWO

(In the Elephant exhibit)

(Ryan looking out into the audience describing the transfer of the salt lick between Jerry and Louis)

(on the phone)

Jerry : Hello Sir, ready to win this race!

Louis: I’m beyond ready! Today’s the day! I’m calling to make sure that everything is in place for the race. Do you have the Salt Lick?

Jerry: Yes sir ! I’ve got the Salt Lick, soon you’ll be the fastest elephant in the history of this park!

Louis: Sounds perfect to me, you have to make sure it’s not obvious, can’t have me looking suspicious.

Jerry: Louis, Louis, Louis. tsk tsk tsk. you think i’m an amateur?

Louis: Not at all, or i wouldn’t have called you.

Jerry: Then let me do my job.

Louis: Fine, Thank you for this.

Ryan (To Himself and Audience): I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS! Is THAT A SALT LICK?!?! THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE ! HE JUST GAVE IT TO LOUIS!! HE BETTER NOT BE PLANNING ON USING THIS IN THE RACE!

(Donkey Exhibit)

(Ryan talking to himself in utter surprise)

Ryan: I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS. how could I be so naive? I should have known that Louis wasn’t fast enough to win this. He was so arrogant I should’ve been more vigilant to this as a possibility.

(Louis Enters)

Louis: Good morning Ryan!

Ryan: Okay I never understood, and still don’t understand how and why you think we’re friends….

Louis: Silly Ryan, just because we’re in competition doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.

Ryan: It’s not the just the Race. We’ve never been friends, you’ve bullied me since we were young.

Louis: The way i see it, the people that challenge you but aren’t as good as you are the ones you should befriend.

Ryan: So you’re basically saying keep your enemies closer. The thing is i don’t want anything to do with you and your antics.

(Pause while Louis contemplates just how much Ryan knows.)

Louis: Antics? What type of antics would you be referring to?

Ryan: Did i say antics? Ohhhhh i meant shenanigans……

Louis : i’m involved in no type of shenanigans! It sounds like you know more than you’re letting on…

Ryan: Little ol’ me ? No way! i’m just a naive little donkey.

Louis: Yeah you are ! I’ll see you later little Donkey.

Ryan: You sure will! I can’t wait to show you how it’s done .

Louis: Good luck and goodbye.

Ryan: Yeah , goodbye…..

SCENE THREE

(Ryan decides to switch Louis’s Salt Lick with a Regular Pink Quartz Rock so he doesn’t get the enhancements of the Salt Lick.)

Ryan: (to himself) I cannot believe this is happening, he was actually going to cheat. There are endless possibilities to what this salt lick could have done for him. How could I be so dumb! Well, at least he won’t have those enhancements now.

(Louis’s enclosure, we see him with “Salt Lick)

Louis: Today’s the day! I can’t believe that i’m gonna get away with this . No one will even suspect the jaguars with race tampering. If they do i’ll defend them with my life! After today i’ll be a new elephant. RICHER THAN EVER!!!

The Race:

Ryan: (sigh) I guess it’s time .

Louis : I guess so (smiling bigger than ever)

Ryan: You seem happier than normal…

Louis: Not happier just more confident , I feel like it’s my time.

Ryan: Try not to get too giddy , this is any man’s game.

Louis: It’s definitely mine!

(the race is about to begin)

Commentator: Alright Ladies and gents, it’s time for the race to begin!

Commentator: ON YOUR MARKS , GET SET, GOOOOO!!!!

(The two animals begin running )

Commentator: ANDDDD THEY’RE OFFFF, LOOKS LIKE IT’LL BE AN EVEN MATCH UP. LOUIS AND RYAN ARE SIDE TO SIDE. UHHHH OHHH LOOKS LIKE RYAN THE DONKEY IS TAKING THE LEAD!1

(They Run around the stage two times at the same pace , the third time around we see That Louis is running out of steam )

Commentator: OH NOOO LOOKS LIKE LOUIS IS RUNNING OUT OF STEAM! I DON’T KNOW IF HE’LL MAKE IT TO THE FINISH.

(Ryan crosses the finish line far before Louis, 5-7 minutes later Louis crosses the finish line very disappointed and very winded)

(Louis walks up to ryan wiping his sweat with his trunk, hands on his knees gasping desperately for air.)

(Commentator announces Ryan as the Winner )

Louis: (Very angrily and yelling) THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS!! There’s no way that i shouldn’t have won.

Ryan: How do you suppose that you should have won?

Louis: I just should have alright!

Ryan: No , it’s not alright. I need to know why you suppose that you should have won.

Louis: FINE! I CHEATED ! I BOUGHT A SALT LICK FROM JERRY THE JAGUAR! I’m ashamed! I shouldn’t have done it alright. It was dumb but my father I need him to be proud of me 🙁 .

Ryan: Then why is it that you felt to brag like you had the raw skills. You made it seem like you could win easily. There was no need to brag when you knew you didn’t have the skills needed.

Louis: I know I didn’t need to brag, to be quite honest it’s how i was raised. My parents were very competitive and arrogant. They taught me to use cockiness as a way to divert people’s attention from my shortcomings.

Ryan: That’s not a healthy coping mechanism. You don’t have to follow in your parents footsteps , especially if you know that you’re going to have to do things that aren’t honorable.

Louis: It’s just that i want them to be proud of me, all of the criticism that I have to take from them I feel like it should be for something, like I should take something from what i’ve had to endure.

Ryan: I have a question that I think can help you.

Louis: What is it?

Ryan: Do you believe that what you’re doing is making you happy?

Louis: Yes and No. I think success is something that truly fuels me, I just think that the tools that i’m using to get said success are not correct.

Ryan: I think you have the potential to be a much better person than you’re letting onto. If you have to worry about your parents not being proud of you being a good person , forget them. They’re not helping you excel, you have so much going for you.

Louis: Yeah, I get it . It’s just hard you know? Thanks for this , I think i needed it .

Ryan: You’re welcome Louis, i think i’ve learned a lot today. I have yet another question.

Louis: Yeah?

Ryan: How would you feel about traveling to the Royal Bardia Wildlife Park in Nepal with me and my Grandpa?

Louis: WHAT!?!? Are you serious?

Ryan: Yeah ! You’re an asian elephant you’ll fit, I also think you deserve a little good.

Louis: That would be amazing! Thank you!