Arlena

By: Arlena Johnson Bessie Smith

(It’s 1936; “Bessie a.k.a “Queen of Blues” was looking out the window, with her hand placed underneath her chin. She was looking lonesome and nervous about her next show. While being show furred in a car. Richard Morgan (her spouse) was driving along Route 61 between Memphis and Clarksdale, Mississippi. They were headed towards New York for Bessie’s last show before switching from blues to swing. She’s thinking about events that occurred in her life, which made her who she becomes. Lastly, she wants turn back the hands of time and change the mistakes she made in her life.) Sometimes, I feel like I’m under a lot of stress because I’m an over achiever. My life has been nothing but hell from birth. Always being in confutation, disputes and fist fights. I have become da highest paid black in entertainment and singer of blues of 1920’s. Life has been hard and rough fo me. My parents died when I was young and been da streets every since. I was hustling da streets to make dolla outta fifteen cents. Dats when I had a passion fo singin and a good voice. I didn’t like goin to school and didn’t trust no white men dat dislike me fo me. Ma Rainey was da person dat started my career. Without ha dere would be no money. She was an angel sent from above from God, but I had to live out on my own. I sung 160 songs in my total career. I remember “St. Louis Blues” recorded with Louis Armstrong on da saxophone. Sometimes I regret beaten the person dat was trying to help me, when I was drunk. I remember dat night I was tore up from da floor up and Clara was a sweet young lady. Clara was da right person dat was caught up in a bad situation. I remember when she was tryin to take me home and I thought she hit me. And I fought back and I beat her up. I didn’t mean to injure in any physical, emotional and mental form. (A tear rolled her cheek and before it touched her lips she wiped the tear with a collar. The all of a sudden many tears just came down one by one. Which she couldn’t stop if she tried.) Okay. Dat was weird I never cried dat much before a day in my life. I guess my past is catchin up to me. I feel disappointed in myself. I wish I can turn back the hands of time and change my mistakes from poo choices dat I made. (She folds her hands and bow her head) Dear god I think dat everyone isn’t perfect and everyone makes mistakes. And I’m one of dose people. I feel like dat I tried my best but I didn’t try my hardest, I want to apologize fo my actions and must suffer da consequences. I apologize fo every person dat I hurt in my life. I apologize fo bein disrespectful, self-centered and inconsiderate. Most of all I apologize fo bein an evil person and I think everybody fo dealin with a difficult person like me. In Jesus name I pray Amen. After all we have been through I want you to know dat I always will love you!!! You are da first peson dat I ever love and da only person dat I only love. Can you watch out wher you goin you goof ball? Haaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is wrong with you Rrrriiiccchhhaaaddd…… (All of a sudden, the car swerves and crashes off the highway into a ditch. There is an awful accident that just occured. Blood is everywhere. The car is horrible. The windshield is busted. Bessie and Richard is unconscious’s and her body is defend less. Her legs are servely broken and bruised. While her head is busted opened. “Bessie a.k.a “Queen of Blues” was rushed to the hospital and was later pronounce dead.)

SARAH- I think it's a good piece. I love how you used ebonics because that's how Bessie spoke. But, make sure that the words are understandable, some are a little awkwardly spelled. The word show furred is spelled chauffeured. The last stage direction sort of sounds a little choppy. Maybe make that a little more detailed.

Ms. Schoen -- How does one look lonesome? You do have some spelling errors and some grammatical errors. Be careful using parentheses in parentheses in your stage directions. You transition from the effect of Ma Rainey on your career immediately in to how many songs you had in your career. TRANSITION!! You then jump from Louis to beating someone up. Be careful and finish your thoughts before you move on! Over all I do like the piece...there are some rough edges that need to be ironed out.

Akmyrat - I liked your piece, that has a lot of emotional stuff. But you can add a little bit stage thing in the end, before she says "Can you watch out wher you goin you goof ball?... ", that something is wrong with car or whatever, but I think you don't really need to do that. That's good enough. p.s.: don't ask me about grammar :P