One of the clauses in the Discoverers Challenge is to present the dangers and consequences of drugs in an interesting way. I had given it as a challenge to the older girls a couple of weeks ago while I took the new batch for the Trefoil Challenge. I said they could do a rap, a song, a poster or a play. Well, not much was done and I got a couple of sentences from one girl which lasted maybe 20 seconds. I said this wasn’t good enough and I wouldn’t pass it.
I asked a friend of the family who has done Drama to compose a play for me for 10 or so girls whose home language is not English and we spent last week’s meeting casting, reading through the play, practicing and finally recording the play, “Dear Departed Dora”
I think the girls enjoyed it. I hope it stays with them. I am pasting the script for those who might be interested.
Dear Departed Dora
By Kathleen van Niekerk
A play about the dangers and consequences of drugs
Characters:
Dora-Good girl who takes drugs.
Dora's mom.
Good friends:
Tumi
Jessica
Lydia
Bad friends:
Thandeka
Caitlyn
Busi
Monica
Some brothers and sisters if there are more than 10
Setting: A funeral
All the people around are sad, except the “bad friends”. Dora is on the floor covered with a blanket.
Tumi: We told her not to take it.
Jessica: Why didn’t she listen to us.
Lydia: May your soul rest in peace Dora.
Michelle: We will miss you.
Dora's mom: Why didn’t she talk to me? Why didn’t she tell me how stressed she was?
Thandeka: Ag shame, she didn’t know how to take it.
Caitlyn: Guess she couldn’t handle it. What a waste of perfectly good nyaope.
Busi: Now I want, who's got any on them?
Monica: I do. Lets go around the back where no one can see.
The bad friends leave the room, the “good friends” and mom start hugging each other and crying.
Dora stands up, takes the blanket off and says,
Dora: This is what happened to me.
Scene changes to Dora sitting alone on the floor doing homework
Dora's mom: Dora, when will supper be ready?
Dora: Just a minute mom, I'm finishing my homework.
If necessary brothers and sisters come in asking about supper and saying they are hungry
Dora goes to mom, carrying food. Mom is in bed.
Mom: I thought you finished all your work already?
Dora: I did, so I thought I'd start on next months science essay. How are you feeling?
Mom: I'd feel a lot better if your father wasn’t out drinking almost every night.
Dora: I think we both would.
Mom: So how are things with you and Darren?
Dora: Oh we're fine. I have to go, dishes don’t clean themselves.
She gives her mom a tired smile.
Dora is sitting talking to herself.
Dora: I don’t know how much longer I can handle this. My moms not getting any better, my dad is certainly not drinking any less. I cant even tell my mom Darren broke up with me two weeks ago to date the most popular girl in the school. At least I had a good shift at the restaurant, but for how much longer? I don’t know if I can cope any longer.
The “bad friends” walk behind her listening. Busi shivers.
Thandeka: Ah shame, did you hear that girls? The goodie two shoes can’t cope.
Busi: That’s what happens when you have to be a know it all.
Caitlyn: Pity she doesn’t know our secret to coping.
Monica: I almost feel sorry for her. Almost sorry enough to give her one of our magic sticks, what do you girls think?
Caitlyn: Do you think she can handle it?
Busi: Only one way to find out, here take some. One or two puffs and you’ll be able to cope with all your problems..
Busi hands Dora a rolled zoll. she takes it and walks away. “bad friends” laugh.
Dora is walking looking at the zoll and bumps into the “good friends”.
Lydia: Hey Dora! Thank you again for helping me learn for the science exam.
Dora: Oh it was my pleasure.
Jessica: What’s that? (pointing to the roll).
Dora: Oh, Busi gave it to me.
Michelle: Dora is that a cigarette?
Jessica takes it and looks at it closely
Jessica: Dora that’s nyaope! What are you doing with it?
Dora: They said it would help me cope.
Tumi: No Dora! You just need some rest, you don’t have to take anything.
Dora: What do you guys know? You don’t have the stress of keeping your families together!
Michelle: Dora please let us help you. We're your friends.
Dora: You can help me by leaving me alone!
Lydia: Dora think about your mom, what would she say?
Dora: About?
Jessica: About the drugs?
Dora: She will never know, its just so I can get through till she gets better.
Tumi: Dora you know that’s not how its going to work. We did an assignment on that remember?
Michelle: She's right, you did very well in it.
Lydia: You'll use it more and more to get by then next thing you know is your a druggie.
Tumi: Then you will be kicked out of school and you’ll never be able to get a good job.
Dora: No! That’s not true, leave me alone all of you!
Dora grabs the zoll then turns and runs away, the friends try and follow. She finds a quiet place and stays standing. She looks at the zoll
Dora: I shouldn’t take too much. Just a puff or two.
She lights the cigarette and takes a puff
Dora stays standing, mom and “good friends” walk back and huddle like they did in the beginning. Scene changes back to the funeral.
Dora still standing with the blanket.
Dora: I knew that this wasn't the right way to fix my problems, but it seemed so quick and easy. It worked for me for a while then one day I got a bad one. Too much Rattex. Now my mom is still sick, my dad is still a drunk and because of my bad decision there is nobody to support them and look after my family.
