THE PARAMETERS OF CLOSENESS by André Patterson

THE PARAMETERS OF CLOSENESS by Andre Patterson 2/25/20

ii CHARACTER NAME

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

DRE, black, late 20s - early 30s IBI, black, late 20s - early 30s CORRECTIONS OFFICER (INTIMACY POLICE)

AGE

GENDER

At rise: A crowded prison visiting room. Thirty white, oval-shaped tables sitting low to the ground, with stools attached, mimic each other in three long rows; wall-to-wall. At each end of the room are two podium-like desks on elevated platforms, akin to where a judge sits in a courtroom. Behind these judgmental podiums sit female “corrections” officers, peering down the room, seeking out any improprieties. Occasionally, one slowly strolls the visiting room looking to stamp out any semblance of intimacy. The smell of burnt popcorn and vending machine burgers permeates the air, promising to stick to nostril hairs even after visiting hours are over.

A young black man and woman (late twenties, early thirties) lean into each other across the table, within the allowed parameters of closeness. They struggle to hear each other above the roller coaster volume of voices that surrounds them.

DRE (Leaning forward.)

Did Shaena find the book?

IBI Yeah – (Correction Officer swoops in aggressively, addressing the couple.)

INTIMACY POLICE Uhh, ma’am, I’m gonna need you to cross your legs and sir, you’ll have to sit back ...

DRE But it’s loud in here and I’m within the parameters of closeness.

INTIMACY POLICE (Robotically.)

Okay. Thank you, sir. And please keep your voice down – (Spots some other couple whose intimacy needs stamping out.)

Ma’am! Sir! Please sit back!

(Rushes off.)

IBI (Frustrated.)

God. Get a life. Get a real job.

2/25/20

2.

(Dre, the laid back one of the relationship, speaks in soothing but non-patronizing tones so as not to allow over zealous officers to ruin their time together.)

DRE They’re control freaks, don’t pay no attention to them.

(Trying to change the subject.)

So, Shaena found the book?

(Ibi shakes her had exaggeratedly, snapping out of her death stare off stage where the officer rushed off to.)

IBI Oh. Yeah, she – what is this book?

DRE Wat’cha mean? Why do you say it like that?

IBI Hold on, calm down. Let me rewind ...

I’m not trying to pick a fight ...

DRE (Checking himself.)

No, you’re right. I just – it sounds like – you said it like there’s an issue.

IBI Shaena had a problem with this guy’s name – DRE Allah Jihad?

IBI Right ... Allah Jihad ... the name – she says it’s offensive or disparaging towards her people?

DRE Her people? Like, the Mexicans – or is she Puerto Rican – IBI Well, her father is Bengali –

2/25/20

3.

DRE

Oh. I thought she was a Latina – IBI Yeah, her mome is Mexican, her father is Bengali, and he’s a Muslim, so – DRE She feels like that name is an appropriation of their culture or blasphemous toward Islam – IBI I think so. She was pretty indignant about it.

DRE Is she a Muslim?

IBI (Shakes her head.)

But her dad is and they’re pretty close.

DRE (Getting amped up.)

She’s looking at it too rigidly ... too dogmatic ...

IBI Well how should she be looking at it? What does it mean, the name?

(Dre sits up, places his chin in his hand and leans on one knee which he always does when he’s in deep thought.)

DRE I’ma be real wit’cha ... I never broke it down, but let me see ... Allah is basically the Arabic word for god, Muslims worship Allah ... so I know they have an issue with a man – a BLACK MAN especially, calling himself God – IBI Any man calling himself God would be – DRE – and Jihad ... well some people interpret that as meaning holy war – IBI (Joining in the analysis.)

So, he’s calling himself the god of holy war –

2/25/20

4.

DRE It’s not that simple .... More accurately – a better ... closer, like, spiritual definition would be “the battle within” ... Jihad is more of an internal struggle to stay on the righteous path ... not a physical, like, real war to defend a religion – IBI (Like a revelation hits her.)

Ohhhh – so he flips it, or makes it an esoteric type of thing – DRE (Also receiving the revelation.)

Right – right – so I think he’s saying that he’s the god, the creator ... and sole controller of the battle ... the war raging within ... and through this book, he’s the god waging war against all of the different tools that have been used to keep black people mentally enslaved for hundreds of years – (Beaming triumphantly.)

Allah Jihad.

IBI Okay, that’s kind of deep ... but, I was reading some of what he was saying and it sounds like reverse racism – DRE It always is labeled “reverse racism” when the black man and woman try to empower themselves – IBI – the black man is god, the white man is the devil ... what is this you’re getting into?

DRE I – I can’t – it’s deeper than just the words “god” and “devil” – IBI (Sounding skeptical.)

I mean, are you saying you’re god now? I’m just saying ... last week you were praying to Jesus – for the past seven years – and you convinced me to start going to church because you were afraid that we were “unequally yoked” and feared for my soul – DRE Babe. That’s why I need the book – I’m still trying to figure all this out – what difference do it make what I was believing last week, or if I say I’m god now – is whether or not I get the book contingent on my answer?

(Pause.)

2/25/20

5.

IBI I’m just worried about who you’re talking to, what they’re putting into your head – DRE You say that like I’m gullible or something ... like I think – like I can’t think for myself.

(Pause.)

That’s how you really feel!

(He sits back, crosses his arms, obviously hurt.)

IBI Wait ... Dre, come back – come closer – (Dre reluctantly leans back into their parameter of closeness.)

I’m just being honest – look, I’ve seen you encounter different people with different ideas and you’re all excited and then you’re on to the next – DRE I’m constantly evolving ... trying to figure it all out. What’s wrong with that?

IBI Nothing, it’s just – DRE I can’t explain where I’m at right now.

(Pause.)

Look ... I know I’ve made some bad decisions ... I mean, you’ve known me since we were kids. You know I’ve been searching for something ... an identity ...to be comfortable in my own skin ... I always let people – I’ve always tried to be other than myself ... whoever that is. But I’m trying to figure it out – I’m not as vulnerable – I’m more conscious of that mind-set I had, that peer pressure mind-set – I reject it now ... so, you have to just ... you can’t be treating me like a child ... like an overprotective mother – IBI I am over-protective though. I’m over-protective of your mind – DRE I know, I know you always have my best interests at heart ...

(Pause.)

Soooo ...

IBI I brought the book.

2/25/20

6.

DRE

Thank you.

(They share a comfortable silence within the loud murmurs around them. Dre locates the intimacy police stamping out intimacy at another table, and slowly reaches his hand across the acceptable parameter of closeness. Ibi follows his lead and they lock fingers for a moment.)