The February People’s Choice goes to…
The people have spoken… The February People’s Choice Award goes to Eteya Trinidad for her short play, LA PLANCHADA, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on February 15 on Zoom. Congratulations, Eteya!
Courtesy of Eteya, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!
LA PLANCHADA
By Eteya Trinidad
CHARACTERS
Ramón a Mexican American man in his fifties or sixties.
Lola a young Latina woman, 20s. Ramón’s niece.
La Planchada the ghost of a neglectful nurse who still wears a cleanly ironed uniform from the 1930s. Mexican woman, 30s to 50s.
SETTING
A COVID-19 ward in an overcrowded hospital, possibly El Paso. Lola calls in on Zoom from her comfortable apartment in California.
RAMÓN lays in a hospital bed, attached to oxygen and IVs, on a Zoom call with LOLA.
LOLA: How are you feeling, tío? Are you getting everything you need?
RAMÓN: Eh, the nurses are busy, but I’m fine.
LOLA:I’m surprised you even got a bed.
RAMÓN: They save the best ones in the house for tired viejitos like me.
LOLA: You’re not that old.
RAMÓN: I’m old enough.
LOLA: I wish I could be there with you.
RAMÓN: You’ve got your med school studies, cariño, don’t worry about me. Plus I don’t think you could fit.
LOLA: How many do you have in the room?
RAMÓN: Six en todo. We all suck in our panzas, reeaall tight. (Ramón holds his breath, but it catches in his throat. He has a small coughing fit.)
LOLA: Tío, you can’t be the class clown right now, okay? You need to focus on getting better.
RAMÓN: Lighten up, Lola. One little joke’s not gonna kill me. (The coughing fit picks up again.) I have to impress my new roomies somehow, and my looks just don’t do it anymore.
LOLA: Are you getting along with them alright?
RAMÓN: The bed next to me says he saw La Planchada in the hallway last night.
LOLA: That ghost lady you told me about growing up? What would she be doing so far from Mexico City?
RAMÓN: No sé. Our hospitals are short staffed. Maybe she knew we needed her.
LOLA: You don’t believe him, do you?
RAMÓN: Stranger things have happened. A pandemic, a Cheeto for president. Lolita the loca’s gonna be a doctor
LOLA: Okay, okay, just don’t try to do any ghost hunting, alright?
RAMÓN: Te prometo.
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Join us for the next Monday Night PlayGround on Monday, March 15 on Zoom and choose your own favorite! Click here for more info!