SISTER COYOTE
Some say he gives them to children who have nothing. He comes late at night and leaves one red marble on their chest. When they wake up, find it, they know that my brother’s spirit has come to see them.
WOODEN WOMAN
See how the light makes it glow?
SISTER COYOTE
One red marble.
WOODEN WOMAN
See the life, the power?
SISTER COYOTE
It looks like a tiny heart.
WOODEN WOMAN picks up the marble and stares at it through the light as spot begins to slowly fade.
WOODEN WOMAN
A child’s heart.
Lights go to black.
ACT TWO
Scene 1
Daytime. An area downstage centre has been cleared and there is a raised platform. On the platform is a blanket with food and drink like a picnic. MISTER WOLF, SISTER COYOTE and BROTHER RAVEN are sitting on the platform. WOODEN WOMAN and WOODEN MAN are sitting on the bench. WOODEN MAN is holding a baby in his arms. Offstage we hear children playing in a park.
WOODEN MAN
She’s so pretty. Look at those brown eyes.
WOODEN WOMAN
What should we call her?
WOODEN MAN
We should wait for the spirits to show us what we should call her.
WOODEN WOMAN
She likes it here, see how she smiles.
WOODEN MAN
Let’s listen to the spirits and see what name we should give to our daughter.
MISTER WOLF takes off his dirty running shoes and begins to pick at his toes.
MISTER WOLF
Look at these toes. Have you ever seen more perfect toes before?
BROTHER RAVEN
They look more like claws.
BROTHER RAVEN takes off his shoes and shows them to MISTER WOLF
Now these are perfect feet.
SISTER COYOTE
They look more like turkey feet, all skinny and hairy.
BROTHER RAVEN
These are great feet. I can pick anything up with these.
BROTHER RAVEN attempts to pick up a plate with his toes but is unsuccessful.
WOODEN MAN
Turkey feet.
WOODEN WOMAN
What?
WOODEN MAN
We call her Turkey Feet.
WOODEN WOMAN
Turkey Feet? I don’t think so.
WOODEN MAN
You’re right, the other children would laugh at her.
SISTER COYOTE takes off her shoes and puts her feet in the air.
SISTER COYOTE
My feet are perfect.
MISTER WOLF
Never seen a perfect foot before. Let me see.
He stands and examines her feet.
You should see these, they’re perfect.
BROTHER RAVEN stands and examines her feet.
BROTHER RAVEN
They’re perfect.
He begins to tickle her feet.
SISTER COYOTE
Hey, cut that out, it tickles.
BROTHER RAVEN and MISTER WOLF both tickle her feet as she screams and laughs.
Don’t! Hey, stop! I’ll pee myself!
They both stop tickling her and she tries to catch her breath.
You guys are so mean.
MISTER WOLF
Just having some fun.
BROTHER RAVEN
We were just playing. No harm done. Are you okay? I mean, did you pee yourself?
SISTER COYOTE
No. But I bet I can tickle you until you pee your pants.
She goes to him and tickles his sides as he squirms to get away.
BROTHER RAVEN
Don’t! Ravens don’t like to be tickled. Hey, stop it! You’re ruffling my feathers.
She stops and goes and tries to tickle MISTER WOLF, but he just sits there and ignores her.
MISTER WOLF
You can’t tickle a wolf.
She stops and sits down.
WOODEN MAN
Ruffled Feather!
WOODEN WOMAN
What?
WOODEN MAN
We can call her Ruffled Feather.
WOODEN WOMAN
I don’t think so. She is much more beautiful than a ruffled feather.
She takes the baby from WOODEN MAN and holds it in her arms.
WOODEN MAN
You’re right. Boy, these spirits sure aren’t very good with choosing a name.
Offstage we hear children playing and then a voice saying: “Get out of here, you stinking kid.” TOURIST enters dressed as a small boy and carrying a red ball and a lollipop. TOURIST goes up to WOODEN MAN and kicks him in the shin. TOURIST goes up to WOODEN WOMAN and pulls on her hair. They both do not react. TOURIST goes to picnic area and stares at MISTER WOLF, SISTER COYOTE and BROTHER RAVEN. WOODEN MAN reaches for the TOURIST but WOODEN WOMAN pulls him back.
Rotten kid.
WOODEN WOMAN
Leave him be, he doesn’t know any better.
WOODEN MAN
Just a good kick in the ass. That’s all it’ll take.
WOODEN WOMAN
He doesn’t know any better.
WOODEN MAN
Where do they learn that?
WOODEN WOMAN
History, I guess.
TOURIST goes and pokes MISTER WOLF. MISTER WOLF howls and tries to be big and strong.
MISTER WOLF
You better get away from me, kid. I’m a big bad wolf!
TOURIST speaking as a snotty kid.
TOURIST
Wolves don’t wear suits.
MISTER WOLF
Oh yeah?
TOURIST
Yeah. Wolves have big teeth and walk on all fours.
MISTER WOLF
Well, I don’t.
TOURIST
Then you’re not a wolf.
MISTER WOLF
Beat it, kid, before I bite you on the ass and show you just how big my teeth are.
MISTER WOLF reaches for him but the TOURIST runs away and pokes at BROTHER RAVEN who caws real loud and tries to flap his arms like wings.
BROTHER RAVEN
You better not mess with me. I’m a big old raven and I’ll peck our your eyes if you’re not careful.
TOURIST
You’re not a raven. Ravens don’t have greasy hair. They have beautiful black feathers.
BROTHER RAVEN
Yeah, well I’m having a bad hair day. Get going or I’ll…
He reaches for him but TOURIST runs away and goes to SISTER COYOTE and pulls her hair.
SISTER COYOTE
Ouch! Hey, quit it!
TOURIST
What’re you going to do about it?
SISTER COYOTE
I’ll bite you! I’m a coyote and my bite really hurts!
TOURIST
You’re no coyote. Coyotes are beautiful and have nice eyes.
SISTER COYOTE
I have nice eyes. Hey, where do you get off telling me I don’t have nice eyes!
TOURIST smiles and pulls on her hair again as he skips off stage. Sounds of children playing ends. SISTER COYOTE begins to cry.
I have nice eyes, don’t I?
BROTHER RAVEN and MISTER WOLF go up to her and try to console her.
BROTHER RAVEN
Sure you do.
MISTER WOLF
Nothing more beautiful than a coyote’s eyes.
BROTHER RAVEN
Except maybe her feet.
MISTER WOLF
And her feet.
SISTER COYOTE
Thanks, guys.
BROTHER RAVEN
My eyes are black like the night.
MISTER WOLF
My eyes are yellow like the sun.
SISTER COYOTE
My mother told me that my eyes were like the earth and they could look at you forever. That’s what she used to call me, Forever.
They sit down on the picnic bl
anket and begin again to compare feet. WOODEN MAN stares at his child as WOODEN WOMAN holds her in her arms.
WOODEN MAN
We shall call her Forever.
WOODEN WOMAN
Yes, that’s a wonderful name.
WOODEN MAN
Look at those eyes.
WOODEN WOMAN
Yes, they look at you forever.
Lights fade.
Scene 2
Daytime. Stage is covered in dead leaves. All characters are sitting or standing at the bench. WOODEN WOMAN is still holding the child in her arms. Offstage we hear a military bugle playing softly and then the sound of a marching drum, sounds of men going into battle. TOURIST enters now dressed in a blue U.S. Calvary uniform. He enters holding freshly taken scalps, his old camera and tripod. He places the scalps in the hands of WOODEN MAN and WOODEN WOMAN, goes and takes their picture. No one moves. TOURIST gathers the scalps, his camera and tripod, and exists as stage lights and sounds fade.
Scene 3
Daytime. Only the platform area is lit. Everyone is sitting on the blanket and facing downstage. Offstage we hear: “Get out of here, you stinking Indian.” WOODEN MAN stands and faces downstage.
WOODEN MAN
We are going into battle.
WOODEN WOMAN stands with her child still in her arms and faces downstage.
WOODEN WOMAN
The men have all left the village.
MISTER WOLF
This bread is real tasty.
SISTER COYOTE
Could you pass the butter? I like a lot of butter on my bread.
BROTHER RAVEN
Here you go. Could you pass the blueberries? It’s been a long time since I’ve had any.
MISTER WOLF
It’s a nice day for a picnic. Sun’s out, not a cloud in the sky.
Sounds of war softly in the distance, horses, men screaming, gunfire, screams of wounded and dying men.
WOODEN MAN
I must go. I must kill those that have killed my fathers.
WOODEN WOMAN
The men have all left. It’s just the mothers and the children.
WOODEN MAN steps off the platform. We should hear the crunching of dead leaves as he steps down. He walks and stands downstage right as red spot comes up.
Don’t go! Don’t go! They will kill you and there will be no more fathers for our children. Don’t go! Our baby has only lived two days and has not met the earth and all its beauty.
WOODEN MAN
I must go. I must kill those that have killed my mothers.
WOODEN WOMAN is holding her child in her arms as sounds of battle get louder and louder.
WOODEN WOMAN
Come back! Come back! Be with us forever. We can hide in the forest and the soldiers will not find us. Come back! Come back!
WOODEN MAN
I must go. I must kill those that have killed my children.
Sounds build to a crashing end. Red spot fades as WOODEN WOMAN sits down with her child in her arms.
WOODEN WOMAN
The men have all disappeared. The Blue Coats have taken and destroyed their life. The earth has become silent. No more screams, no more screams. It’s quiet now, my child. Sleep and dream, sleep and dream of days unlike this, this is a sad day, a day filled with the loss of our men. May their spirits sleep like you, my child. May they sleep with endless peace.
MISTER WOLF
It’s a great day for a picnic. Not one sound, not even noisy songbirds.
BROTHER RAVEN
You got something against birds?
MISTER WOLF
Only ones who sing poorly.
BROTHER RAVEN
I wasn’t much of a singer.
SISTER COYOTE
Could you pass the bread? My belly isn’t quite full yet.
Lights fade to black on picnic area.
Scene 4
MISTER WOLF, BROTHER RAVEN and SISTER COYOTE are asleep on the picnic blanket. WOODEN WOMAN stands on the edge of the platform, still holding her child. TOURIST enters. He is now dressed as a movie director. He brings out his chair and his movie camera and sets both up to the right of WOODEN MAN who is still downstage right. TOURIST sits down in his director’s chair and on the back we read: “Mr. Costner.” He talks into a walkie-talkie.
TOURIST
Lights! Okay, bring in the buffalo!
WOODEN MAN
The cannons fired and the earth shook as they charged toward us with their fire.
WOODEN WOMAN talks to her child.
WOODEN WOMAN
Your father was the bravest of all the men. He held his head up high when he went into battle with those Blue Coats.
TOURIST
More smoke! I need more smoke!
WOODEN MAN
The cannons killed half the men in five minutes. We had nowhere to run. My brothers were on the ground, torn and dying by that screaming hot metal.
WOODEN WOMAN
Your father was a great man, everyone listened when he spoke. They looked up to him and they respected his vision.
TOURIST
Okay, kill the buffalo! Where’s the wolf? Someone get the wolf out of his trailer. I need the wolf to howl on cue. Can he do that?
MISTER WOLF howls in his sleep.
WOODEN WOMAN
Your father was so beautiful. His eyes held my spirit the first time I looked into them.
WOODEN MAN
A piece of hot metal cut into my leg and I fell from my horse as those around me died.
TOURIST talks directly to WOODEN MAN
TOURIST
Could you talk slower? More poetically. Slowly and clearly. These words were written for a reason. Let’s hear them, okay? More cannon fire! More cannon fire!
WOODEN MAN
I was there on the ground with my leg bleeding and burning with the fire of those men who were here to destroy us. My brothers had all died, and I watched their spirits rise off the ground and into the beautiful sky. They gathered above the battle and did not know what to do. They were confused and they began to cry and sing like the death they had become.
TOURIST
Okay, that’s better. Now, I want you to look mean. Can we see your war face? Who did this guy’s makeup? I want more paint! More paint on this one! Makeup! Makeup!
WOODEN MAN
I was alone as the soldiers charged forward with the cold steel of their bayonets. They slid the blades so easily into my brothers who were already dead. The cold blade slid into the warmth of death and then they cut off their beautiful hair. With the harshness of a cold blade they took their hair and screamed in victory. My brothers screamed from the sky as their hair was taken and shown to them, and then the battle became quiet.
Spot fades on WOODEN MAN as he exits. TOURIST stands and gathers his chair, camera, tripod.
TOURIST
Okay, enough of this shot. Let’s get some close-ups of those bleeding scalps. I want it to drip and drip. And get the women and children ready. I want to see the children and the women screaming and crying. Can they do that? Tell them we’ll pay them more if there’s real tears. Okay, let’s go! Let’s not waste this beautiful sunny day.
TOURIST exits. WOODEN WOMAN puts her child down and stands on the edge of the platform as lights slowly begin to fade.
WOODEN WOMAN
The soldiers didn’t stop. They were heading for our village. They were coming to kill us all and take our hair. They were coming to kill our children so they would not grow up and avenge the death of their fathers. The spirits of the dead men had made it back to the village before the soldiers. They were above us and they were telling us to run to the forest. Where are you, Husband? I do not hear your voice. Where are you? Wake up, children! Wake up! We must run to the forest and hide! Wake up!
WOODEN WOMAN tries to wake up the sleeping MISTER WOLF, BROTHER RAVEN and SISTER COYOTE, but they stay asleep as the light fades to black.
Scene 5
Night. Entire stage is c
overed in dead leaves. Platform is gone. SISTER COYOTE, BROTHER RAVEN and MISTER WOLF are all sitting on the bench. WOODEN WOMAN is standing behind them with her child in her arms. Offstage we hear: “Get out of here, you stinking Black Robe.” TOURIST enters now dressed as a priest. He sets up his easel and begins to paint a picture. WOODEN WOMAN begins to move and speak.
WOODEN WOMAN
Your father is dead. The soldiers are here. They are killing the women and children.
SISTER COYOTE
I hate waiting for the bus.
BROTHER RAVEN
Me, too.
MISTER WOLF
This bus is always late.
WOODEN WOMAN
The soldiers took the children and they made them watch as they shot all the women. My sisters fell to the ground as their children screamed for them. The soldiers took the hair of my sisters and then they turned on the children. I had run into the forest with my child and I watched as the soldiers walked to the crying children. What had they done? Why did they want to kill the children?
SISTER COYOTE
When I was a child I was sent to a Catholic school on a bus.
The TOURIST goes to SISTER COYOTE and leads her downstage left as a red spot comes up. She stands there and continues to talk as TOURIST sits back down and continues to paint.
My mother was screaming at the priests and the nuns. She didn’t want me to go with them.
WOODEN WOMAN
The soldiers took each child by the hand and they led them to a hole. “Don’t kill them!” I wanted to scream but they would see where I was hiding and they would kill my child. So I stayed quiet but in my head I screamed, “Don’t take them! Don’t kill our children!”
SISTER COYOTE
I went with the sisters and the priests. I went to their schools and they cut my hair and told me to speak English. They told me that I was a savage and that the word of God would be my saviour.
BROTHER RAVEN
I was taken away from my mother on a bus because the government men said she was unfit to care for me. I was sent to live with a family far, far away from home.
TOURIST stands, takes BROTHER RAVEN by the hand and leads him downstage right where another red spot comes up. TOURIST returns to his chair and continues to paint.
WOODEN WOMAN
They slit their throats, the youngest of the children, slit their throats and tossed their small harmless bodies into the hole.
BROTHER RAVEN
My mother was too drunk to realize what was happening to me. The government men came and took me away, took me to a family that would never love me.
The Exile Book of Native Canadian Fiction and Drama Page 12
