The Weary

CHARACTERS

Jean-Simon Tall and lanky Haitian man with a strong presence. Gardener. Comfortable with speaking Creolish.

Kristoffe Haitian man of average height and weight, strong Christian. Coffee farmer. Comfortable with speaking Creolish.

SETTING

Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Delmas 75. In front of the house gate.

TIME

Daytime, March 2024. Gangs have taken over the capital.

Lights up. Jean-Simon, a gardener, is standing inside of the “gate” to his place of work. He is the caretaker of the property. He’s wearing long pants, sneakers and a red shirt. He is sitting on a stool with a machete on the ground on his right and an old-fashioned matchbox in his left hand. On his left also lays a thick branch with cloth wrapped crudely around the top with two rubber bands. It is ready to be set on fire at the drop of a hat. He is pensive, anxious, waiting. He slowly rocks back and forth. The song “Ayiti Cheri” (https://www.bing.com/videos/riv erview/relatedvideo? q=ayiti+cheri+song&mid=52E4E539D1AA709B6D4952E4E539D1AA709B6D49&FORM=VIRE) plays loudly at first as Jean-Simon stares off into the distance. The song fades down until it stops abruptly. We hear the sounds of a busy street, arguing, street cars in the distance, noise, disquiet, occasional gunshots. As the street sounds continue, Kristoffe enters side-stage, carrying a tattered Bible in his hands. Tattered because it’s well-worn from reading. He’s wearing shorts, moccasins and a striped shirt. As he walks up, he looks back a few times in the same direction that Jean-Simon is staring in. He doesn’t seem as troubled as Jean-Simon, but he’s also not at full peace. He is thumbing through the Bible, not looking at where he’s going. He’s been here 100 times. He bumps into the “gate” and closes the book, staring at Jean-Simon and his setup. Street sounds stop.)

KRISTOFFE

(quizzically, he looks back once before he turns back to Jean-Simon)

Jean-Simon? Kisa? (What?)

JEAN-SIMON

(gesturing with his chin and grunting)

You don’t see them? Yo ap vini (they’re coming).

KRISTOFFE

(looking back again)

I don’t see anything.

(changing the subject while glancing at Jean-Simon’s odd setup at the gate)

What are you doing?

JEAN-SIMON

Map tann yo. Waiting for them.

KRISTOFFE

They’re not coming today. Why you so sure they coming today?

JEAN-SIMON

Yo ap deplase vit. They moving fast. Last night, they hit Gerard’s house.

KRISTOFFE

Mezanmi! Oh God. Is he okay?

JEAN-SIMON

He got out. Him and his family.

KRISTOFFE

(pointing upwards towards the sky in an emphatic way)

Thank God! Bondye bon. God is good!

JEAN-SIMON

Kijan? More gangs, more zam, plis vyolans.

KRISTOFFE

He will free Ayiti one day.

JEAN-SIMON

Kile Kris? When? When? We need it now.

KRISTOFFE

(confidence alternates with bewilderment)

Only in his time. Only He knows..

JEAN-SIMON

(while digging his index finger down on an open page of Kristoff’s Bible)

Does it say that nan Bib la? We always say “in his time” when we don’t know shit.

KRISTOFFE

You know it doesn’t. But the Israelities cried out to God, and he acted. He’ll do the same for us.

Jean-Simon scoffs in response. He gets up and starts practicing with the machete by slicing it through the air to and fro.

KRISTOFFE

(interrupting Jean-Simon’s swings)

Kote bos la? I don’t hear him. Ak madamn nan?

JEAN-SIMON

(frowning in an objecting way)

The woman convinced him to run like a bitch last night. You know fanm (women). I had to organize things this morning. Clothes, furniture. All out of place.

KRISTOFFE

(laughing)

Are you the gardener or the maid?

JEAN-SIMON

(sucking his teeth)

Maid? Ki maid? She took her kids and ran to DR two days ago.

KRISTOFFE

Why didn’t you?

JEAN-SIMON

Poukisa? Why? I’m not leaving. Neg sa yo pap touye mwen. These men won’t kill me.

KRISTOFFE

(gesturing towards the machete)

Then why do you have that?

Jean-Simon smiles, raises the machete straight up into the air, victoriously.

JEAN-SIMON

What? This? I use this to do my job.

KRISTOFFE

Except, the bushes are way back there, man.

JEAN-SIMON

In case something up here needs chopping.

KRISTOFFE

I don’t think that thing can chop through the AK’s, my fam.

JEAN-SIMON

(insistent)

E ou menm? Kote zam ou ye? Where’s your gun? Where’s yours?

Kristoffe raises his Bible in the same manner that Jean-Simon raised his machete.

KRISTOFFE

I’ve got the armor of God right here. And it’s a weapon when I need it to be.

JEAN-SIMON

Who will help you fight? Peter? David? Samson? Ki jeneral? Or can paj yo stop a bullet?

KRISTOFFE

Eh. You still remember some things…..Nou vivan Jean. We’re alive. Bondye is protecting us.

JEAN-SIMON

Mwen vivan, wi. Se vrai. I’m alive.

KRISTOFFE

They’re not coming today.

JEAN-SIMON

(waving his arm behind him to indicate the property)

Why you say that? This house is big enough for Barbeque’s men. Li grand.

KRISTOFFE

Paske. More guns ap rive from Biden today. Barbeque and neg li yo will spend all their time and effort intercepting them.

JEAN-SIMON

Ah ok…Still. Need to be ready.

KRISTOFFE

(after a moment)

Jean…Where did your boss go?

JEAN-SIMON

Au Cap, I think.

KRISTOFFE

Why didn’t they take you with them? You’ve been taking care of these grounds since you were a boy.

JEAN-SIMON

For what? What would I do there? This is my te. I won’t run. Mwen pap kouri. I’ll burn it down before I run.

KRISTOFFE

Poukisa? Why boule l(burn it)?

JEAN-SIMON

So no one else can have my home. Not Cherizier. Not the government. Not even met kay la (the owner). I know every corner of this property. No one knows like me.

KRISTOFFE

What will you do?

JEAN-SIMON

Wait. For them or for your Jesu. Whoever comes first.

KRISTOFFE

Jesu has been in Thiotte recently. I’m sure he’s coming this way.

JEAN-SIMON

In Thiotte?

KRISTOFFE

Wi.

JEAN-SIMON

Kijan?

KRISTOFFE

I’ll show you.

Kristoffe shifts his Bible to his left hand to dig down deep into his right pocket for something. He pulls out a handful of fresh coffee beans from a little baggie.

Gade gade! I picked these a few days ago. Goute.

Kristoffe lifts the baggie up to Jean-Simon so that he can taste the coffee beans. Jean-Simon takes a couple and pops them into his mouth. He crunches down on them, really savoring the taste. His eyes grow large and he smiles with approval.

JEAN-SIMON

Sa yo bon. These are good! How much came out this good?

KRISTOFFE

All of it. The whole crop.

Jean-Simon laughs, which causes Kristoffe to laugh. They bump fists in a familiar handshake.

First time in 3 years.

JEAN-SIMON

Gwo neg. Big man!

KRISTOFFE

Mesi patne.

JEAN-SIMON

(gets serious again)

Have you seen them up there?

KRISTOFFE

Not like here…Jean. You can always come work with me up there, you know. If it gets too hot.

JEAN-SIMON

Jean-Simon don’t know nothing about coffee.

KRISTOFFE

It’s easy. Your job is harder.

JEAN-SIMON

Is that right, fam?

KRISTOFFE

Yeah, man. You can learn it fast.

JEAN-SIMON

(after a quiet moment of reflection)

Naw man. This is my home…… Kris?

KRISTOFFE

Yeah?

JEAN-SIMON

Mwen fatige.

KRISTOFFE

I’m tired too, fam.

Street sounds fade in again as Kristoffe and Jean-Simon stare into the distance. Taxis, loud conversations, noise. Rapid gunfire. Screaming. As the noise reaches a crescendo, the faint sounds of “Ayiti Cheri” can be heard again, suppressed by the noise. Lights down.

THE END

About the Author
Cindy Pierre is a NYU-trained playwright who is returning to producing work for the stage after a 25-year hiatus. In the interim, she has written theater criticism for numerous publications such as Theater Talk’s New Theater Corps, Stage and Cinema and Talkin’ Broadway. She is excited about returning to her first and consistent love: theater.