Swarthy & 'Fro

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Background

Only Act 1 and Scene 1 of this cinematic script were made in a scholarly setting.

Professor Name: Laura Mangini

Educational Institution: Community College of Philadelphia

Grade: A (Passed)

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Disclaimer

Acts 1 to 2 will be available to read for free on Swarthy and ‘Fro. However, Acts 3 to 4 will only be available in the subscription due to long length.

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Synopsis

A young man is pressured to get straight A’s regarding his grade. If other people can do it, why can’t he?

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Act 1: Scene 1

Cast of Characters 

Quartz Sapphire: An 18 year old twin brother. 

Ruby Sapphire: The mother of Jasper and Quartz—she’s in her late 30s. 

Garnet Sapphire: The father of Jasper and Quartz—he’s in his early 40s. 

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Setting

Time: March 1st, 10:00 AM, Friday

Location: This scene takes place in Loyola, California—which is known to be one of the richest neighborhoods in America. The characters in this act are Ruby—the mother, Garnet—the father, and Quartz—the one twin brother. The other twin brother has class on this day and is currently not present in the house. This house is what will be considered a “mini mansion” so it’s spacious, but not as huge as nearby mansions. Quartz can be found sitting on his bed in his room.

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[Quarts has dark-brown skin with chunky flat braids in rows of four that goes down to his collarbone. He wears a sky blue silk shirt and pants that feel soft like clouds.] 

Quartz 

I know they’re going to ask me…I know they’re coming. 

[Quartz looks at his laptop screen on his lap. He sees some As and a few Bs. But a C in the subject he’s majoring in. He decides to go on his touch phone placed on his bed and turns on the classical string music ‘Swan Lake’ on a moderate volume to calm his nerves—then puts his phone back down on his bed and lets it go to look right back at his laptop.] 

Quartz 

This can’t be happening to me. I’m trying my best. Am I… slow? No, I don’t want to be slow. Like mother and father said, how am I going to survive if… 

[Quartz hears a knock on his door. Suddenly, he began to hear his heart beat like bongs.] 

Ruby

Quartz? Are you in there? We heard some talking and music playing in the background. 

Garnet 

We want to ask you about your grades. I’m sure you’re doing very well, right? 

Quartz 

Uh…yes mother and father. I’m here, you may come in. 

[Ruby and Garnet turn the doorknob and enter the room. Immediately, Quartz pushes the pause button on his phone while it is still laying on the bed and faces his parents to focus his full attention on them.] 

Quartz 

Hi, mother. Hi, father. 

[Quartz smiles at his parents. But his eyes don’t lift like the other parts of his facial features.] 

[Ruby is dressed in a sanguine dress that’s made of silk. Her hair is in a twistout that lays on both of her shoulders. And she carries a small purse in the same shade as her dress in her left hand. Garnet is dressed in a blackish brown suit and tie with dress pants and dress shoes—carrying a suitcase with his right hand—the suitcase is the same color as his outfit. His beard is shaped, cut low, but full—while having a fade for his hair. Both parents are the complexion of their two sons.] 

Garnet

We just want to add in that we know you’re eighteen now. But as long as you’re living with us, we still want to let you know that we care about how you’re doing in college. 

[Garnet smiles. His entire face lifts up with full attention to his son.] 

Ruby 

So…how are you doing, Quartz? May we please see your grades? 

Quartz 

You know mother and father, I was assigned a success coach to view my grades. I don’t want to keep you worrying about me. It’s okay really. I think I also might get into tutoring and… 

Garnet 

[Garnet interrupts Quartz statement.] 

Quartz…I feel like you’re being reluctant to tell us. Last week in Introduction To Data Analysis, we saw you’ve gotten a “C”. We just want to know after the assignments of this week—where you are at now. 

Ruby 

[Ruby sighs.] 

It’s okay, Quartz. We won’t judge you. You can tell us what you’re doing to get better after you just show us, please son. You having a “C” isn’t…seen as good for the dual admission process for universities. We just want you to have a good life. 

Quartz 

I know, mother and father. I’m sorry. I know you care about me. 

[Quartz inhales and exhales, soon, he turns his laptop over and holds it up. His father softly but quickly takes the laptop from him.]

Garnet 

So are you going to do anything about this? You know, you can change majors. 

[He looks to Ruby.] 

You know, your mother and I have been thinking you could be a professor in another field. 

[He looks back at Quartz.] 

[Ruby shakes her head up and down and smiles. Looking back to Garnet, then her son.] 

Quartz 

Really? You really mean that mother and father? 

[This time, Quartz not only smiles, but his dark-brown eyes smiles, too.] 

Ruby 

[The volume of Ruby’s voice raises a little higher.] 

Yes. 

[Then goes back to “indoor voices”.] 

You could be anything that’s needed and mandatory in society. Like a doctor, architect, oh, maybe what your brother Jasper is doing—a lawyer. 

[Ruby faintly smiles.] 

Quartz 

[Quartz’s smile vanishes from his face, looking like it did before.] 

But…what about other professions? 

Garnet 

Any profession you want…just as long as it isn’t art. Please, we don’t want you to go through anything related to art. It’s not needed, sufficient, and there are probabilities it won’t last long. That’s all, Quartz.

Ruby 

I mean, you can always teach art. But being an artist…well…art is not straightforward. There’s no direct answer. And if there’s no direct answer… 

Quartz 

[Quartz finishes his mother’s words in a low but hearable tone.] 

There’s no direct need. 

Ruby 

[Ruby smiles at her son.]

Right! Thank you so much, Quartz. And you know, Quartz. Unfortunately, when it comes to…our art…it’s never really rightfully compensated and preserved like it should be. Let’s hope one day it will be, though. 

Garnet 

It’s not wise to let future generations of ours be affected by our decisions. So picking a profession now is crucial. Time is ticking and we all only have one life to live. You have to choose soon. You don’t want to start late. For you and Jasper, we want you both to start as early as possible. 

Quartz 

Okay… 

[Quartz stays silent for five seconds.] 

I’ll continue with the data analysis. May I please have my laptop now mother and father? I would like to go over my assignments for next week.

[Quartz smiles.]

Ruby 

Oh, that’s amazing, Quartz! Thank you so much for continuing and not giving up. Jasper is doing well in college with all As. If he can do it, I know you can do it, too. 

Quartz 

Yes…I remember him telling me he loves studying law. It’s his passion. I’m so happy for him. 

[Quartz smiles faintly, forcing this facial expression out as he looks towards his mother and father.] 

[Garnet hands Quartz his laptop. Ruby hugs her son and lets go and Garnet follows with two pats on Quartz’s left shoulder.] 

Ruby & Garnet 

Good luck. 

[Both of his parents leave his room with smiles on their faces.] 

[Quartz looks at his math grade, again. Out of nowhere, both his eyes get watery.] 

I thought at least having a C will be enough…but not for them. 

Quartz 

[Quartz turns his head to face the door and then back at his laptop to look at the “C” and then whispers.] 

I can’t let them hear me cry. I don’t want to alarm them. 

[Quartz’s phone buzzes. He picks it up from off his bed.]

Quartz

[Quartz wipes his tears off his face using his left hand.] 

Mother and father are going on another business trip. 

[Quartz looks on the right side of his room and gets up from off his bed. He walks to his dresser that’s about fifty inches in length. He gets on his knees and bends down on his left side to reach out for something underneath the dresser—grabbing it and going back to his bed. This time, sitting down on the edge of it.] 

Quartz 

You’ll never do good, Quartz. You have to do better, Quartz. Art is not direct, Quartz. Art will lead to failure. When will you get it? Be like the person your parents love more. They love Jasper. Be like Jasper. 

[Quartz is holding a small treasure chest, it’s metallic brown with gold edges to conceal it together. He gets up one last time, opens his bottom drawer and digs to find a small golden key. He goes back to his bed and sits back down to where he previously was.

Quartz 

Stop it… stop it! Enough! I’m sick of the voices! Okay… okay! I’m not as good as everyone else. I get it…okay…okay! Laugh it up! It’s funny that I can’t pass a class with an A?! Find…find…find. If you don’t care!…

 [Quartz voice lowers almost to a whisper.] 

Then I’ll have to care… 

[Quartz opens the treasure chest by inserting and turning the key. A plethora of needles filled with green substances are, at least ten, lying inside of it—each wrapped in their own individual see-through plastic.] 

Quartz

Then I’ll have to care. Then I’ll have to care. Then I’ll have to care. Then I’ll…

[Quartz places the treasure chest down on his bed beside him and takes one of the needles and flips the plastic—taking out the needle. And slowly places the plastic on his bed and injects the green substance in his right arm.] 

Quartz 

This is only my first time doing this…I…I…I need to do better. I need to survive. I’m doing this to survive…like what mother and father said. My grades, my grades, it’ll get better after this. I just know it. But I need more…time.

[Quarts begin to take out more needles—all as long as one and a half inch. He injects three more into his right arm…leaving six 

left in the treasure chest.] 

My heart…my heart…my heart…wait…no…I’m sorry mother and father. 

[Quartz’s voice is low and shaky—slightly slow with a few “nos” then slightly fast with the last few “nos.”] 

No, no, no, no, no, no, no… 

[Quartz quickly gets up and walks out of his bedroom and into the hallway—leaving the substances on his bed.] 

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Act 1: Scene 2

Cast of Characters 

Quartz Sapphire: An 18 year old twin brother. 

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[The hallway is long and is filled with nature portraits and has long windows whose frames are made of bronze and silver. Quartz looks out into the sunblinds and sees his family’s garden filled with fruits, vegetables, and grains—the garden is half an acre long.]

Quartz 

[He talks while looking out the window and slowly whispers to himself.] 

I’m okay…I’m okay…I’m okay…I’m okay…I’m okay…I’m okay. I just need…to sit in our garden. 

[He stops looking out the window and turns his direction to the end of the hall. He stumbles then runs fast, then stumbles, then runs fast. Then stumbles, then runs fast. Then stumbles, then runs fast again. He does all this while hugging himself to hold on to his stomach and arms simultaneously.] 

Quartz 

I’m here…

[He looks down the stairs that are at least three flights—twisting and turning to walk on each flight of stairs connected by being a winder staircase. He walks slowly down a few steps and then runs down, still holding on to himself while not touching the bronze elegantly designed railing. He topples over a few staircases and falls down one flight of stairs as his body rolls over each step.] 

Quartz 

[He extremely shakingly yells and grumbles after each hit from the staircase and then hits his head on the baluster at the first winder he fell on.] 

[He slurs his words—forehead bleeding and he passes out.]