Black Coffee
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Synopsis
Two co-workers, a hetero Black woman and a gay white man wait for their trainer to arrive. They share topics of interest to each of them, speaking in their own familiar vernaculars but quickly notice tension rising when each assumes what the other understands or misunderstands, until their conversation reaches a tense climax. Can they find common ground where they respect each other’s boundaries in order to have a positive working relationship?
Script History
Black Coffee had a staged reading at Ensemble Theatre Cleveland 2021.
Karamu Theater licensed the script for use in their corporate training program 2021.
Karamu Theater licensed the script for use in their corporate training program 2021.
Excerpt
ACT I
SCENE I
SHE
It’s cold today. I bought my son a Canadian Goose Down jacket last night. That thing cost $600 on sale! “The Wyndham Parka.” (makes air quotes) He walks home from the High School so maybe it’s worth it.
HE
How old is your son?
SHE
He’s sixteen and six feet two inches tall. They wear everything big, and the coat is roomy, so I hope he can wear it next year, at least.
HE
They do have a tendency to grow.
SHE
Do you have kids?
HE
No. My partner and I --- Ex-partner --- had wanted to adopt, but then we broke up so.... No kids. I am hoping, though.
SHE
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Well, they grow. And eat you out of house and home. You buy shoes in August, right before school starts, and before the check can clear the bank, the boy has outgrown the shoes. (She laughs.)
(HE looks at her quizzically – no reaction.)
SHE
You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?
HE
Do people still use checks?
SHE
It’s a metaphor – for how fast they grow.
HE
Maybe you should stop feeding him.
(SHE stares incredulously)
HE
I’m kidding!
SHE
OH! (Polite laugh) Yeah....
HE
(Checking watch) Didn’t they say the training was supposed to start at 9:00?
SHE
Yes. What time is it?
HE
Nine-twelve.
SHE
Maybe she’s running late. Happens.
HE
Yeah.
(HE looks around. Gets up approaches the computer.)
SHE
What are you doing? I don’t think you should be fiddling with her computer.
HE
Look at this. Her screen saver’s hot!
SHE
(Dispassionately) Yeah, he’s kinda cute. Nice chest. Who is that?
HE
It’s George Michael. He’s really sexy. I’d like to meet him.
(SHE shows no recognition.)
HE
You know, George Michael, the singer. He’s a gay icon.
SHE
Oh, yeah? What’d he sing? Anything I might know?
HE
Oh my God, yes. He recorded “Faith”, “Father Figure”, “Fast Love”.
(SHE shrugs.)
HE
No recognition? Try this, he sang “One More Try”.... (Sings) “I've had enough of danger, And people on the streets, I'm looking out for angels, Just trying to find some peace” .... Debbi Thomas skated to it in the Olympics.
SHE
Oh, yeah, that I remember. She got robbed.
HE
What!? What happened?
SHE
No, it’s a sports metaphor. She should have won that, but that German girl, Katarina Witt, was wired to win everything, so we say Debbi Thomas got robbed. They’re not going to let a Black girl win the gold in figure skating anyway. Didn’t you know? That’s a white girls’ domain.
HE
I saw that one. The judges prefer more traditional music and presentation.
SHE
We all have our opinions. That’s what makes horse racing.
SCENE I
SHE
It’s cold today. I bought my son a Canadian Goose Down jacket last night. That thing cost $600 on sale! “The Wyndham Parka.” (makes air quotes) He walks home from the High School so maybe it’s worth it.
HE
How old is your son?
SHE
He’s sixteen and six feet two inches tall. They wear everything big, and the coat is roomy, so I hope he can wear it next year, at least.
HE
They do have a tendency to grow.
SHE
Do you have kids?
HE
No. My partner and I --- Ex-partner --- had wanted to adopt, but then we broke up so.... No kids. I am hoping, though.
SHE
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Well, they grow. And eat you out of house and home. You buy shoes in August, right before school starts, and before the check can clear the bank, the boy has outgrown the shoes. (She laughs.)
(HE looks at her quizzically – no reaction.)
SHE
You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you?
HE
Do people still use checks?
SHE
It’s a metaphor – for how fast they grow.
HE
Maybe you should stop feeding him.
(SHE stares incredulously)
HE
I’m kidding!
SHE
OH! (Polite laugh) Yeah....
HE
(Checking watch) Didn’t they say the training was supposed to start at 9:00?
SHE
Yes. What time is it?
HE
Nine-twelve.
SHE
Maybe she’s running late. Happens.
HE
Yeah.
(HE looks around. Gets up approaches the computer.)
SHE
What are you doing? I don’t think you should be fiddling with her computer.
HE
Look at this. Her screen saver’s hot!
SHE
(Dispassionately) Yeah, he’s kinda cute. Nice chest. Who is that?
HE
It’s George Michael. He’s really sexy. I’d like to meet him.
(SHE shows no recognition.)
HE
You know, George Michael, the singer. He’s a gay icon.
SHE
Oh, yeah? What’d he sing? Anything I might know?
HE
Oh my God, yes. He recorded “Faith”, “Father Figure”, “Fast Love”.
(SHE shrugs.)
HE
No recognition? Try this, he sang “One More Try”.... (Sings) “I've had enough of danger, And people on the streets, I'm looking out for angels, Just trying to find some peace” .... Debbi Thomas skated to it in the Olympics.
SHE
Oh, yeah, that I remember. She got robbed.
HE
What!? What happened?
SHE
No, it’s a sports metaphor. She should have won that, but that German girl, Katarina Witt, was wired to win everything, so we say Debbi Thomas got robbed. They’re not going to let a Black girl win the gold in figure skating anyway. Didn’t you know? That’s a white girls’ domain.
HE
I saw that one. The judges prefer more traditional music and presentation.
SHE
We all have our opinions. That’s what makes horse racing.