Minimum Wage, Maximum Pain
Prologue
Lucenzo and Mama Lupe are having a parent teacher conference with Ms. Amelia, his 12th grade teacher.
Ms. Amelia:
Ms. Martinez, your son is failing 4 of his 6 subjects. By the way this year is going he’s not going to pass.
Mama Lupe:
Please give him a chance. Can’t you give him extra credit or something to catch him up?
Ms. Amelia:
Already have Ms. Martinez, and I found it in the recycling bin 3 days ago.
Mama Lupe: Well at least he recycles.
Ms. Amelia: Look. Lets face it, your son has no interest in his education.
Lucenzo walks in with a disgusted face.
Lucenzo:
We almost done? Just being in this place makes me wanna kill myself.
Mama Lupe:
I’ll be out in a minute mijo, no mas espera afuera.
Lucenzo exits stage with the same disgusted face he walked in with.
Mama Lupe:
So what do you think I should do?
Ms. Amelia:
What does your monthly pay look like, Ms. Martinez?
Mama Lupe:
You know how it is. I’m barely getting by for me and Lucenzo.
Ms. Amelia:
Why doesn’t he get a job? If he’s not going to focus in school, he might as well help you with the bills.
Mama Lupe:
Ms. Amelia, you know how the economy is these days. It’s become impossible to get a job.
Ms. Amelia:
Well the custodian quit last week. We could have him work here.
Mama Lupe:
Thank you so much Amelia, for everything.
PARADOS
Mama Lupe and Miss Amelia move to center stage, spotlights on when speaking
Mama Lupe:
A failure from the start, my son, a dropout... well, more of a pullout than a dropout.
Ms. Amelia: Without a care in the world for anyone except himself, he walks
Mama Lupe:
With no way to turn, he walks
Ms. Amelia:
Mr. Cool, Mr. Punkass, was on top of the world with all his friends
Mama Lupe:
But like the sun, they settle beneath us... hiding, waiting, to be someone extraordinary... in Lucenzo’s case... a janitor is extraordinary.
BOTH:
But never did we think we would only make things worse.
SCENE 1
Mama Lupe is sitting in the living room while Lucenzo is in his room.
Mama Lupe: Mijo, can you come here.
Lucenzo walks in through stage left.
Lucenzo:
What?
Mama Lupe: You
are no longer going to school. If you don’t care about your education that’s fine. I’m not going to make you do something you wont even attempt to do. But I’m also not going to let you just sit here, como huevon? You’re going pay for your own food, wash your own clothes, and help with the rent.
Lucenzo:
But mama -
Mama Lupe:
But nada! You ARE going to work. I’m tired of you doing whatever you want. I’m finally going to act like your mother instead of those good for nothing people
you call friends. I’m not going to let you throw your life away mijo. Not anymore.
Lucenzo:
Fine, I’ll look for a job tomorro-
Mama Lupe:
No need. I already found you a job. As a janitor.
Lucenzo:
Really? Where?
Mama
Lupe: Your school. You don’t wanna go to school to learn, your going to work.
Lucenzo:
You’re crazy if you think im gonna work there! I’m gonna be the laughing stock of the whole school!
Mama Lupe:
Not my problem. You picked your choice now there is no turning back. You start next week.
Lucenzo:
But ma-
Mama Lupe:
But nothing. You picked what you wanted now you’re stuck with it. Now go your room!
Lucenzo:
UUGGHHH!
CHORUS 1
Mama Lupe and Ms. Amelia move to center stage, Spotlights on when speaking, color changing background lights
Mama Lupe:
Like a hand grenade, he exploded.
Ms. Amelia:
Like a twig, he snapped.
Mama Lupe:
No longer did he want me to be his mother,
Miss Amelia:
No more than he ever wanted to see me again
Mama Lupe:
A stone cold man, he became
Miss Amelia:
A waste of education,
BOTH:
But nothing compared to the coming days
SCENE 2
Lucenzo walks on the stage. And then Principal Whitmore.
Lucenzo:
(annoyed voice) I’m here.
Whitmore:
Good, now get to working. You know where everything is at right?
Lucenzo:
Yeah, yeah.
Whitmore exits stage while Lucenzo gets supplies from backstage.
Lucenzo:
(Mumbling to himself) ...Stupid job...
Laughing from backstage. Raymond enters through stage right.
Raymond:
Aye, Cabron, how’s my favorite janitor doing? (laughing)
Lucenzo:
Dude, one more comment and imma bust your damn face in.. I’m not in the mood.
Raymond:
Damn, Cezo, chill. Don’t get your calzoncitos in a bunch. How’s it going? (laughing)
Lucenzo:
How the hell do you think it’s going? You honestly think being a janitor at your own school is a good job?
Raymond:
Well I mean, technically you don’t go here anymore. (chuckling)
Lucenzo glances at him with rage.
Lucenzo:
Shouldn’t you be in class?
Raymond:
I’m sorry I don’t remember the last time I cared.
Lucenzo and Raymond both laugh. Roger, Brad, and Zach enter stage left
Roger:
Look guys, it’s the high school dropout! (Laughs) What’s up, Lucy?
All start laughing while Lucenzo stares at them with fury.
Lucenzo:
How ‘bout you shut your mouth before I do it for you.
Roger:
Oooo, I’m so scared. What are you gonna do hit me with your raggedy mop? (chuckles) Then what are you gonna do? Sell fruit at a street corner to help your mommy with the bills? How ‘bout YOU shut up and get to moppin’ ya fuckin beaner.
Roger, Brad, Zach exit stage laughing.
Lucenzo:
I swear If i ever catch ‘em by my street I’m gonna -
Raymond:
Do what? Throw a rock at ‘em? We both know what you gotta do. Kill ‘em. Beat ‘em to a pulp. Dale una putisa wey. Si no, when they gonna stop?
Lucenzo:
Are you crazy? You want me in jail for the rest of my life? ‘Tas pinche pendejo. And I think you should get going. I don’t wanna get fired on my first day for just
sitting around talking to you.
Raymond:
Orale pues. Think about it bro’.
Raymond exits stage right as Lucenzo thinks to himself.
CHORUS
Miss Amelia and Mama Lupe enter stage right and left
Mama Lupe:
Decisions, Decisions, Lucenzo, not only a janitor but now the laughing stock of El Torino High School.
Miss Amelia: Raymond, whose parents couldn’t give another damn about his education or his decisions, now influencing Lucenzo to do something morally wrong...Murder.
Mama Lupe:
Que Locura? My son, a murderer? This cannot be.
Miss Amelia:
After weeks of mocking and picking and fighting, something big is about to go down and quite possibly ruin the lives of 5 teenagers.
BOTH:
Though we pray, we must also pay.
SCENE 3
After School, Lucenzo is mopping the hallway(center stage) when Omar, Raymond’s other friend, bursts through the door, out of breath and bleeding from his arm.
Omar:
(from backstage) CEZO!!!!
Lucenzo:
Huh?
Omar:
(Now running onto stage left) Lucenzo! Oh shit, thank god I found you! Its Raymond, they got him! They beat the hell outta him!
Lucenzo:
Whoa, Whoa, slow down. Calmate. Que paso? What happened? And stop bleeding on the floor! I just mopped there!
Omar:
Roger, and his pinche gringos. They hit him in the head and took Raymond away in his van and dumped him in the park. That’s when it happened.
Lucenzo:
That’s when WHAT happened???
Omar:
They beat him. They beat the shit outta him. I mean, he fought back and took a branch to Brad’s temple, I don’t think he made it. But Cezo, there was too many. They ran off when I pulled out my 9, He’s at my Tio Nacho’s! Ay cabron, help me!
Lucenzo:
No te preocupes wey. Don’t worry, We’ll give those putos what they deserve. We might need your 9 though, it might come in handy.
Lucenzo and Omar run off stage right. Lights down, change set to living room (Raymond on couch, drenched in blood.) Lucenzo and Omar run on stage left. Omar points to the couch.
Lucenzo:
(kneels down next to couch, sobbing) Raymond. . . No puede ser! No you can’t leave like this. Not like this. Not now.
Omar:
(pauses) Cezo...I think we’re too late
Lucenzo stands up, and steps back.
Omar:
Now what?
Lucenzo:
You’ll see.
Raymond and Lucenzo exit stage left. Lights dim.
CHORUS
Enter Mama Lupe and Miss Amelia, move to center stage, back to back. Color changing lights.
Mama Lupe:
The undisputed Raymond....gone.
Miss Amelia:
Lucenzo instantly befriends Omar, another friend of Ray, in need of comfort and consoling undelivered from anyone else in the city.
Mama Lupe:
Even under the wing of Lucenzo, young Omar has nowhere else to turn.
Miss Amelia:
No family... no home...no money...
Mama Lupe:
Only the protection of his gun and Lucenzo, of course
Miss Amelia:
Only one word is on Lucenzo’s mind now
Change lights to red
BOTH: REVENGE.
Lucenzo and Mama Lupe are having a parent teacher conference with Ms. Amelia, his 12th grade teacher.
Ms. Amelia:
Ms. Martinez, your son is failing 4 of his 6 subjects. By the way this year is going he’s not going to pass.
Mama Lupe:
Please give him a chance. Can’t you give him extra credit or something to catch him up?
Ms. Amelia:
Already have Ms. Martinez, and I found it in the recycling bin 3 days ago.
Mama Lupe: Well at least he recycles.
Ms. Amelia: Look. Lets face it, your son has no interest in his education.
Lucenzo walks in with a disgusted face.
Lucenzo:
We almost done? Just being in this place makes me wanna kill myself.
Mama Lupe:
I’ll be out in a minute mijo, no mas espera afuera.
Lucenzo exits stage with the same disgusted face he walked in with.
Mama Lupe:
So what do you think I should do?
Ms. Amelia:
What does your monthly pay look like, Ms. Martinez?
Mama Lupe:
You know how it is. I’m barely getting by for me and Lucenzo.
Ms. Amelia:
Why doesn’t he get a job? If he’s not going to focus in school, he might as well help you with the bills.
Mama Lupe:
Ms. Amelia, you know how the economy is these days. It’s become impossible to get a job.
Ms. Amelia:
Well the custodian quit last week. We could have him work here.
Mama Lupe:
Thank you so much Amelia, for everything.
PARADOS
Mama Lupe and Miss Amelia move to center stage, spotlights on when speaking
Mama Lupe:
A failure from the start, my son, a dropout... well, more of a pullout than a dropout.
Ms. Amelia: Without a care in the world for anyone except himself, he walks
Mama Lupe:
With no way to turn, he walks
Ms. Amelia:
Mr. Cool, Mr. Punkass, was on top of the world with all his friends
Mama Lupe:
But like the sun, they settle beneath us... hiding, waiting, to be someone extraordinary... in Lucenzo’s case... a janitor is extraordinary.
BOTH:
But never did we think we would only make things worse.
SCENE 1
Mama Lupe is sitting in the living room while Lucenzo is in his room.
Mama Lupe: Mijo, can you come here.
Lucenzo walks in through stage left.
Lucenzo:
What?
Mama Lupe: You
are no longer going to school. If you don’t care about your education that’s fine. I’m not going to make you do something you wont even attempt to do. But I’m also not going to let you just sit here, como huevon? You’re going pay for your own food, wash your own clothes, and help with the rent.
Lucenzo:
But mama -
Mama Lupe:
But nada! You ARE going to work. I’m tired of you doing whatever you want. I’m finally going to act like your mother instead of those good for nothing people
you call friends. I’m not going to let you throw your life away mijo. Not anymore.
Lucenzo:
Fine, I’ll look for a job tomorro-
Mama Lupe:
No need. I already found you a job. As a janitor.
Lucenzo:
Really? Where?
Mama
Lupe: Your school. You don’t wanna go to school to learn, your going to work.
Lucenzo:
You’re crazy if you think im gonna work there! I’m gonna be the laughing stock of the whole school!
Mama Lupe:
Not my problem. You picked your choice now there is no turning back. You start next week.
Lucenzo:
But ma-
Mama Lupe:
But nothing. You picked what you wanted now you’re stuck with it. Now go your room!
Lucenzo:
UUGGHHH!
CHORUS 1
Mama Lupe and Ms. Amelia move to center stage, Spotlights on when speaking, color changing background lights
Mama Lupe:
Like a hand grenade, he exploded.
Ms. Amelia:
Like a twig, he snapped.
Mama Lupe:
No longer did he want me to be his mother,
Miss Amelia:
No more than he ever wanted to see me again
Mama Lupe:
A stone cold man, he became
Miss Amelia:
A waste of education,
BOTH:
But nothing compared to the coming days
SCENE 2
Lucenzo walks on the stage. And then Principal Whitmore.
Lucenzo:
(annoyed voice) I’m here.
Whitmore:
Good, now get to working. You know where everything is at right?
Lucenzo:
Yeah, yeah.
Whitmore exits stage while Lucenzo gets supplies from backstage.
Lucenzo:
(Mumbling to himself) ...Stupid job...
Laughing from backstage. Raymond enters through stage right.
Raymond:
Aye, Cabron, how’s my favorite janitor doing? (laughing)
Lucenzo:
Dude, one more comment and imma bust your damn face in.. I’m not in the mood.
Raymond:
Damn, Cezo, chill. Don’t get your calzoncitos in a bunch. How’s it going? (laughing)
Lucenzo:
How the hell do you think it’s going? You honestly think being a janitor at your own school is a good job?
Raymond:
Well I mean, technically you don’t go here anymore. (chuckling)
Lucenzo glances at him with rage.
Lucenzo:
Shouldn’t you be in class?
Raymond:
I’m sorry I don’t remember the last time I cared.
Lucenzo and Raymond both laugh. Roger, Brad, and Zach enter stage left
Roger:
Look guys, it’s the high school dropout! (Laughs) What’s up, Lucy?
All start laughing while Lucenzo stares at them with fury.
Lucenzo:
How ‘bout you shut your mouth before I do it for you.
Roger:
Oooo, I’m so scared. What are you gonna do hit me with your raggedy mop? (chuckles) Then what are you gonna do? Sell fruit at a street corner to help your mommy with the bills? How ‘bout YOU shut up and get to moppin’ ya fuckin beaner.
Roger, Brad, Zach exit stage laughing.
Lucenzo:
I swear If i ever catch ‘em by my street I’m gonna -
Raymond:
Do what? Throw a rock at ‘em? We both know what you gotta do. Kill ‘em. Beat ‘em to a pulp. Dale una putisa wey. Si no, when they gonna stop?
Lucenzo:
Are you crazy? You want me in jail for the rest of my life? ‘Tas pinche pendejo. And I think you should get going. I don’t wanna get fired on my first day for just
sitting around talking to you.
Raymond:
Orale pues. Think about it bro’.
Raymond exits stage right as Lucenzo thinks to himself.
CHORUS
Miss Amelia and Mama Lupe enter stage right and left
Mama Lupe:
Decisions, Decisions, Lucenzo, not only a janitor but now the laughing stock of El Torino High School.
Miss Amelia: Raymond, whose parents couldn’t give another damn about his education or his decisions, now influencing Lucenzo to do something morally wrong...Murder.
Mama Lupe:
Que Locura? My son, a murderer? This cannot be.
Miss Amelia:
After weeks of mocking and picking and fighting, something big is about to go down and quite possibly ruin the lives of 5 teenagers.
BOTH:
Though we pray, we must also pay.
SCENE 3
After School, Lucenzo is mopping the hallway(center stage) when Omar, Raymond’s other friend, bursts through the door, out of breath and bleeding from his arm.
Omar:
(from backstage) CEZO!!!!
Lucenzo:
Huh?
Omar:
(Now running onto stage left) Lucenzo! Oh shit, thank god I found you! Its Raymond, they got him! They beat the hell outta him!
Lucenzo:
Whoa, Whoa, slow down. Calmate. Que paso? What happened? And stop bleeding on the floor! I just mopped there!
Omar:
Roger, and his pinche gringos. They hit him in the head and took Raymond away in his van and dumped him in the park. That’s when it happened.
Lucenzo:
That’s when WHAT happened???
Omar:
They beat him. They beat the shit outta him. I mean, he fought back and took a branch to Brad’s temple, I don’t think he made it. But Cezo, there was too many. They ran off when I pulled out my 9, He’s at my Tio Nacho’s! Ay cabron, help me!
Lucenzo:
No te preocupes wey. Don’t worry, We’ll give those putos what they deserve. We might need your 9 though, it might come in handy.
Lucenzo and Omar run off stage right. Lights down, change set to living room (Raymond on couch, drenched in blood.) Lucenzo and Omar run on stage left. Omar points to the couch.
Lucenzo:
(kneels down next to couch, sobbing) Raymond. . . No puede ser! No you can’t leave like this. Not like this. Not now.
Omar:
(pauses) Cezo...I think we’re too late
Lucenzo stands up, and steps back.
Omar:
Now what?
Lucenzo:
You’ll see.
Raymond and Lucenzo exit stage left. Lights dim.
CHORUS
Enter Mama Lupe and Miss Amelia, move to center stage, back to back. Color changing lights.
Mama Lupe:
The undisputed Raymond....gone.
Miss Amelia:
Lucenzo instantly befriends Omar, another friend of Ray, in need of comfort and consoling undelivered from anyone else in the city.
Mama Lupe:
Even under the wing of Lucenzo, young Omar has nowhere else to turn.
Miss Amelia:
No family... no home...no money...
Mama Lupe:
Only the protection of his gun and Lucenzo, of course
Miss Amelia:
Only one word is on Lucenzo’s mind now
Change lights to red
BOTH: REVENGE.