Key Lucas
Issue No. 22 • Spring 2021
SYNOPSIS
The Agenda is about the battle of conflicting identities queer black folks, especially black Trans and GNC folks, must face in the fight for justice and freedom from oppression. Until college, Aya Jean Louis never had to choose between being black or being queer. Raised by the great Cynthia Jean Louis, womanist, writer, and leader of the Black Freedom Movement, the black was always there. And even though Aya kept it closeted, the queerness was always there too. In fact, it was simply too much gay to exist solely in Aya’s physical form, so it manifested itself into the spiritual. Meet the baddest bitch FM and the nerdy, yet boi-ishly MM, the genderqueer spirits inside of Aya . You see, before Aya ever knew what a pronoun was, they were always they. Now they must navigate a completely Different World, not Hilman but a just as comparable fictional HBCU. As the activist group IMPACT looks to Aya to lead them in their agenda to remove all police from campus and institute community policing, they must also fight against the “gay agenda” from The Tribe, an underground queer collective that wants Aya to speak out against the inner community violence between the Cis and Trans/GNC students. But before Aya, FM, or MM can get to any of that, the first item on the agenda must be healing with the fight within themselves.
CAST
AYA: 18, Completely unaware of their power, but about they’re to find out. Non-binary.
FM (Femme Manifestation): Nameless. A spiritual manifestation of Aya in the form of a butch queen (femme presenting man)
MM (Masc Manifestation: Nameless. A spiritual manifestation of Aya in the form of a boi(masc- presenting woman).
DEREK: 19, The President of IMPACT (Student Activism Org). Aya’s love interest. Cis.
BLAINE: 19, Member of the Tribe (Queer Collective). Aya’s love interest. Cis.
TIA: 20, Founder of the Tribe (Queer Collective). FTM.
ENSEMBLE: There should be at least four members. Feel free to mix up the genders. The ensemble will play all other roles.
SETTING
A fictional Historically Black University. In a city that’s nowhere in particular but feels like it could be anywhere and everywhere at same time. The set is divided into two levels with three main rooms. On one side of the upper level is Aya’s single bedroom freshman dorm. On the other side is Blaine’s dorm. It has way more space than Aya’s perks of being in her second year. On the lower level is the community room, the school’s multipurpose event room. The dorm rooms and the community take up the upstage and middle stage areas. The downstage area is for the campus courtyard, or The Yard.
ACT I
Scene 1
Lights up on AYA’s dorm room. There’s one twin bed, a dresser and a bookshelf. AYA, MM, and FM are all unpacking AYA’s storage boxes and suitcases.
FM: Can you please let us go shopping? This isn’t going to work.
AYA: Where is the box of bathroom stuff?
MM: Over there next to the books and comics. I’m up for a store trip. We could use some groceries.
FM: Yeah these are gonna have to go too…
MM: The tags are still on them.
FM: I know. (beat) Okay so let’s try a thrift store first. Wait. Are there even thrift stores here? There has to be. Hey Siri! Where's the closest thrift store?
SIRI VOICE OVER: Locating thrift stores nearby.
FM: Oooo I’m excited!
(AYA quickly snatches the phone before Siri gives out the locations.)
AYA: I was ignoring you for a reason. We just moved into this dorm two days ago. Classes start
next week. This room is a mess thanks to you and still, your only concern is shopping. Priorities!
FM: These excuses are becoming exhausting. If this (lifts shirt) isn’t a priority, I don’t know what is.
MM: Ehhhh maybe there is a point in there somewhere. It may not be the first thing we do, but it
could be a nice way to embrace our fresh start. You know, a new place, a new space --
FM: And new taste!!! Your ma has been your stylist your whole life. Don’t you think it’s time we fire her? You know? Time to step out from under her shadow? Like, NONE of this shit is you Aya! It never was.
AYA: Who the fuck are you to tell me what is or isn’t me?
MM: Well….
FM: (to MM) Thank you. (goes back on rant) Because I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.
These floral pants? Gotta go! Bootcut jeans and button ups? That’s nasty. And we are
throwing out these fucking mumus! We all hate them. The hate flows through us equally.
(MM and FM laugh. Unable to hold it in, AYA joins in on the laughter as well.)
AYA: I don’t know why y’all complaining. I’m the one that had to wear them.
FM: And we had to see you wearing them. We deserve compensation for our pain and
suffering.
(There is a knock on the door. AYA cracks the door open to see their RA, resident assistant.)
RA: Hey there! Remember me? I’m Tori. Your RA this year. (pushes the door open) I’m doing
my rounds and checking in to see how all my ladies on the 4th floor are doing. Everything going okay?
FM: That’s one.
AYA: Uhhh Yeah I guess.
RA: It’s okay. Being a girl and living alone can be hard to get used to at first, but trust me having a single room is a blessing. You could be living in a triple like 412 down there. Three people sharing one room is a special kind of hell. I know from experience.
MM: Ooo I like this game. That’s two!
AYA: (looks back toward FM & MM) I can imagine
RA: Well if you need anything girl --
MM: Three!
RA: I’m right down the hall. Room 401. (begins to walk away) Oh! Wait! I almost forgot. The Org Fair! Make sure you swing by the community room later today. Honestly, we have more orgs here than we need, but the plus is that there’s something for everyone. What’s your vibe girl? Maybe I can point you in the right direction.
FM: Okay. You know what bitch? Why don’t you direct yourself out of here? THHEEEYYY don’t need your help!
(AYA turns and glares at FM.)
RA: (completely unbothered) You alright?
(AYA remembers their RA is still there.)
AYA: Oh uhh yeah. Sorry. I just need to finish getting moved in. I will stop by the fair though. Thanks.
(AYA closes the door so quickly it slams in the RA’s face.)
MM: Field trip?
Scene 2
Lights up on the community room as AYA, FM, and MM enter the Org Fair. The sorority and fraternity tables are front and center, yet no one is there to actually talk to people. The following clubs should also have signs and/or table set ups: #Blerds (Black Nerd Club), Musicology (Prince Appreciation Club), F.U.B.U (Community Service), Lean on Me (Peer Counseling), and last certainly not least IMPACT (Student Activism).
FM: Damn. She wasn’t lying about all these orgs. Lean on Me Peer Counseling. Every single sorority and fraternity there ever was.
MM: F.U.B.U Community Service? That actually has a ring to it.
AYA: Let’s remember you both agreed to follow my lead in here. So just ---
MM: Blerds?!?!
(MM drags AYA & FM over to the #Blerds table. The Blerds Club President sits at the table, lost in his phone.)
MM: (reads) Exploring the Universe one comic at time. Ummm yes! And they take annual trips to Comic Con. FUCK YEA! We gotta sign up.
FM: Please sign up before they have blerdgasm.
MM: It’s already happening!
(AYA grabs a pen and the sign up sheet.)
BCP: Thanks for checking us out. You know any guys who would be interested?
AYA: Hell yeah. My best friend introduced me to comics when we were kids. I mean he’s obsessed with manga, but he puts up with my love for Marvel. The first thing I packed to come here was my X-Men collection.
BCP: Oh you seriously about this life! Shit it’s only a few of us with our own collections here. We usually end up buying or renting them out. Your best friend. Do you think he would wanna come share some of his stuff?
AYA: Oh he doesn’t go here but I wouldn’t mind bringing some of mine. When do you meet?
(At this point, MM is jumping up and down in excitement.)
BCP: Oh. Look umm I’m sorry, but we… How do I put this? Blerds is a space for young black men exclusively. It’s been that way since it was first established. Nerdy niggas like us, don’t usually get to take up space in normal settings so we made our own. It’s fucked though. Because lately, we’ve been getting a lot more interest from females like you and I’m all for it, but not everyone feels the way I do. (shrugs) You know. Sexism and misogyny and what not? You seem really cool though. Maybe we could still do a swap sometime.
AYA: Nah. I’m good.
MM: That’s bullshit! And who still says females???
FM: Fuck him! Let’s go to Musicology. A bitch loves Prince! And more importantly, there is a very fine specimen standing over at that table.
(FM points at BLAINE and they all look. AYA and BLAINE connect eyes. FM begins to make their way toward the Musicology club table. MM & and AYA follow, but as they walk past the IMPACT table, out of nowhere DEREK steps in front of AYA and stops them.)
DEREK: When was the last time you made an impact? If you can't think of an answer, then it’s time for you to join the fight. Because we are at war. Black people have always been at war. Sometimes we just lose sight of who we’re fighting against and what we’re fighting for. We’re all on social media, but we can’t hashtag our way to justice. We gotta fight. And not each other! We need our black sisters and brothers standing together in this. We are in one of the most powerful positions. We’re at an HBCU. This is where the work really happens. The generations before have tried but now it's up to us. Shit the Boomers done already fucked up the climate and our future. If Ima die anyway, I wanna go down swinging and make an impact! How about you? What’s your name sister?
FM: What in the hotep?
AYA: Aya
DEREK: Aya...?
AYA: Aya Jean Louis
DEREK: Aya Jean Louis. That’s a powerful name.You share a last name with one of the greatest leaders in the movement right now, Cynthia Jean-Louis. Her memoirs changed my life. She is single handedly bringing life back into the womanist movement. I didn’t understand what it meant to love, honor, and respect black women until I read her books. I could talk for hours and still not be able to do her justice. There are some things you have to sit with yourself. You ever heard of her?
MM: I love it when this happens.
AYA: Yeah. She’s my mom.
DEREK: Oh. Shit. That’s
MM: Awkward
FM: Embarrassing AF
DEREK: I’m sorry. You must think I’m... Can we start over? I’m Derek. I run an activist group on campus called IMPACT. Shit, if I knew you were the daughter of Cynthia Jean-Louis, I would’ve skipped the speech. You already hip. I know I made a terrible first impression, but please believe me when I say IMPACT isn’t just talk. I would be honored, hell the whole org would be honored if you came to one of our meetings.
AYA: You don’t have to apologize. My mom is really fucking great, but I’m not her. I’m not the person you’re looking for.
DEREK: Don’t sell yourself short. Who knows? You could be better. Just try us out. We meet here Thursday nights.
(No response)
Just think about it.
AYA: Alright
(AYA turns and walks toward the exit with MM and FM right behind.)
DEREK: It was nice to meet you Aya Jean Louis!
MM: Nice recovery. He’s cute.
FM: Whatever. Musicology would’ve been better.
SCENE 3 OMITTED
Scene 4
Lights Up. The sun is going down and AYA, MM, and FM are all laid out on the ground of the courtyard. The yard isn’t empty, but it’s empty enough for them to feel comfortable smoking a blunt. BLAINE and a couple friends sit on the other side of the yard talking and scrolling. MM sits up and looks at the sky.
MM: What came first? The chicken or the egg?
FM: Don’t pass them the blunt nomore.
MM: I mean people joke about it all the time, but have you ever really thought about it?
AYA: Honestly? I think about it often. Probably more than I should but I never land on an answer. I only end up asking more questions. At the root of it all what we’re really asking is: does creation give birth or does something or someone give birth to creation? Idk. It’s kind of like when I think about us. I always ask myself, did I create them or did they create me?
FM: (coughs from the blunt) Nope! We saved you... (catches breath) From whoever your mom was trying to create.
AYA: (laughs) A strong and proud black woman! Soft and nurturing,
MM: Educated
FM: And never afraid to embrace the divine femininity within!
AYA: She put all of her energy into molding me into her perfect image. And yet, here I am with you two hoes!
MM: Ay nigga! We are you.
FM: Exactly! It’s not you and then us. We’re a package deal. We’re plural, bitches!!
(They all laugh. Then everything goes quiet and in the silence they breathe. AYA puts the blunt out.)
MM: Why don’t you ever correct people?
AYA: I don’t know. I just don’t. I mean if anyone ever asked I would tell them.
FM: But they never ask and you never tell. You just let them tell us who we are.
AYA: I know who I am!
(While FM and AYA argue, MM notices BLAINE looking their way.)
MM: Ay y’all
FM: Here you go with this shit again! And as always it’s my job to be the asshole saying the truth. Aya you can’t correct people when you don’t even correct yourself. You’re too busy trying to hide us like we don’t exist!
(BLAINE gets up and begins to walk toward them.)
MM: Ay y’all Isn’t that...
AYA: Fuck you!
MM: (hits both FM & AYA on the arm) Y’all!!!
FM & AYA: What?!?
MM: (points) Isn’t that the fine one from the org fair?
(Finally AYA and FM look and see BLAINE as she reaches them.)
BLAINE: Hey. I think I saw you before. Were you at the org fair?
AYA: Oh. Yeah. I was there. Not for long though. I’m surprised you remembered.
BLAINE: I am too. I saw a lot of faces that day, but yours was hard to forget.
FM: (to MM) Well damn!
BLAINE: What’d you say?
(FM gives MM a puzzled look.)
AYA: Uhh nah. I was..I was just saying.. You were at the Prince table right?
BLAINE: Yeah that was me. I don’t usually go to Org Fairs or shit like but I was helping my friend while he took a break.
FM: Thank God for that friend!
BLAINE: True
(BLAINE smiles and steps in closer to AYA. MM hits FM on the arm.)
BLAINE: I’m Blaine.
AYA: Aya.
BLAINE: Pronouns?
MM: Holy shit! This is the first time someone’s asked since we’ve been here.
BLAINE: Damn. I’m sorry. People can be real shitty here sometimes.
(Finally it clicks! AYA, MM, and FM realize BLAINE can hear all of them. MM and FM celebrate.)
AYA: (under their breath) Oh Fuck...
BLAINE: It’s completely okay if you aren’t comfortable telling me. Maybe I should go
AYA: (interrupts BLAINE before she finishes) They! My uhh.. My pronouns are they/them.
BLAINE: Cool. I’ll remember that.
AYA: Yours?
BLAINE: She/her. I’m basic. Sooo my friends sent me over here to invite you a party we’re throwing.
FM: Party?
BLAINE: Well not really a party. Just some folks hanging out with music. There may be drinking if everyone is comfortable with that. Weed will definitely be involved.
MM: Sounds like a party.
BLAINE: I guess you’re right. You have a phone on you?
AYA: Yeah.
(AYA pulls their phone out of their pocket. BLAINE puts her phone next to AYA’s.)
BLAINE: I just shared my contact with you. That way if you decide to come you can just text me and I’ll give you the details. Cool?
AYA: Cool.
BLAINE: But even if you don’t decide to come, you should text me anyway.
(BLAINE smiles and walks away.)
AYA: Did that just happen?
MM: Yes.
FM: Yes it did.
Key Lucas is a writer, producer and educator based in Washington, DC. They received their degree in African Studies and Theatre Arts from Howard University. As a black Trans/GNC writer, Key aims to highlight the untold stories of black and queer folks and the instersections of their identities. Most recently, Key participated in the “Behind the Masc” artist residency at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, where they were able to write, direct, and perform an original play excerpt.
Off stage, they teach middle school history through a social justice lens to create informed change makers and foster positive identity development.