STREETWISE

CURTAIN OPENS:

A small box is sitting on stage in what appears to be an outside city street location.  A garbage can is resting against the wall with a box next to it.  The box is about the size of a milk carton.

A booming voice comes out of the speakers.

V.O.:
My people are in trouble.  Go help them see the error of their ways.  Show them the High Road away from their madness and self-destruction.  GO NOW.

Out of the small box Kristine appears wearing bag lady type clothing.

KRISTINE
Man, who was that?  Can't a girl get her beauty sleep?  Where on earth am I ever going to get a hundred thousand dollars for a kidney operation?

D-Man magically appears through a screen.  He is wearing a slick business suit carrying a portable phone.

D-MAN
I don't often get down to this part of town, but I heard you talking.  There are plenty of ways to get a hundred thousand dollars.

At a wave of his hand, his phone disappears and a gun appears in Kristine's hand.

KRISTINE
What?

D-MAN
Use it.  Go rob someone making a night deposit.

KRISTINE
Steal it.  No way, dude.  Where are you from, anyway?  You always just sort of pop in.
D-MAN
(opens his cape)
You see this?  I can go anywhere any time I want.

D-Man has a spaced out looking machine that looks like a giant alarm clock: WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO WITH ME?

As D-Man takes her hand, another cloud of smoke appears.  This time a tall, white being walks out of the cloud.

DARIUS
So, D-Man, up to your old tricks again.  I am Darius, Captain of the Hosts.  I've been given the authority to Kristine to grant you three wishes.

KRISTINE
Wow!  Like what's the catch?  Nothin is for nothin.

DARIUS
You are right.  You must lead others on the high road away from such as him.

D-MAN
Don't, it's a trick.  He is just out to get you to be a slave.

MUSIC KICKS IN:

Follow me and you'll have unlimited wishes, everything that you could want--money, fame, and power.

SONG:
ORPHANS IN THE CITY

My Market's for the blood men
Who sell the teenage crop
They set them out on corners
For the lonely men who shop
In Cadillacs and Turbos
Our looking for a thrill
Our real twisted strangers
Lookin for a kill

ORPHANS IN THE CITY

(continued)

(continued)

Sometimes their daddies beat them
Or momma pulls their hair
They search for love in movie show
Leave home on a dare.
They've got no one to turn to.
There are no decent jobs.
They're turning tricks
And for kicks pushin for my mob.

Orphans in the city
My slaves rolled like dice
Orphans in the city
So many wasted lives

Socially rejected
Their lives are just a mess
I've got them dangling in my web
Just what I do best
They're dying by the thousands
Left in unmarked graves.
Forgotten youth, what's your excuse
How many will you save?

KRISTINE
I don't know, D-Man.  It just doesn't seem right doing everything for myself and nothing for anybody else.  I think I'm gonna pass for now.

D-MAN
Very well, if you are not for me, you are against me.  

D-Man vanishes.  His face floats away over the audience.

DARIUS
Will you take the High Road?

KRISTINE
How will I know?

SONG STARTS:
HIGH ROAD

From stage right, four dancers appear in leotards and feather masks.  They circle about Kristine.  They lift her over their heads and walk off the stage with her.  When they set her down, lights flash and her ragged clothes disappear.  
Lights dim and she is dressed in a flowing white silk outfit.  On the silk outfit, three red hearts beat.

KRISTINE
Wow.  What are these?

DARIUS
Those are your three wishes.  Use them as you wish.

KRISTINE
I can use them on anything?

DARIUS
Anything you wish.

As the light goes back up, Darius and Kristine walk over to a box with elastic sides.  Faces and hands are being pushed into the elastic.  Voices are muffled saying "Let Us Out."

As the lights go back up, the background reveals a prison cell with three inmates.  They are talking among themselves very crudely and don't even notice Darius and Kristine.

DARIUS
This is to be your first test.  D-Man was here planting hate in all of these hearts.  You must show him the high road.  Tonight he plans on killing the guard and escaping.

KRISTINE
Can't they hear us?

DARIUS
No, they can't hear anything.  You are watching everything from a different sphere.  When I go, you will be visiting as an officer of the State Parole Board.  It's up to you to turn him away from this evil crime that he's planning.

Darius vanishes in a cloud of smoke.  Stage goes black and Kristine (walks around and reappears) dressed in a business suit wearing glasses.  The electric box turns into a cell wall, with three men sitting on benches.

KRISTINE
Excuse me, I am Miss London, Nevada Parole Board.  I need to speak with Andrae Jefferson privately, please.  (Two of the men get up and walk away.)

ANDRAE
I'm him.  What can I do for you?

KRISTINE
I'm from the Parole Board.  You're up for your next hearing Tuesday.

ANDRAE
Ain't nobody gonna give me parole.  I iced a white man.

KRISTINE
It says that you were convicted of vehicular manslaughter.  You've done two and a half years.  Are you going to be ready to go back to society?

ANDRAE
Look, Ms. Parole Board, if you're holding out a carrot, I ain't biting.  Ain't nothing this state's ever done for me.  I'm going my own way.  No strings when I get out.

SONG:
ANDRAE'S RAP

I ain't into being checked on every week.
I want to hang with my bros in the streets.
If I want to get high, I'm gonna do what I feel.
That's my attitude, that's my deal.
Go peddle your parole to somebody else.
Leave me alone to be myself.

I've been judged so long
By the color of my skin.
Been called boy nigger
I feel dead within.
If I die, I'm dead, who cares.
Go on sister, get out of my hair.

A puff of black smoke appears.  D-Man walks out laughing.  The music continues in the background.
(continued)
(continued)

If you think you'll turn him
You're in for a shock.

Other black-hooded dancers appear.  They begin a funky dance.

Tonight he's gonna waste a cop.
When you had your chance
You should have followed me.
Watch, I'll have him at my feet.
What hope can you offer
This one's too gone.

In the background, they've chained Andrae.

All praise be to me, He'll only dance to my song

He's on the dope
We pull his chain
He lives on hate
He'll never see
Sweet liberty
It's much too late

He's on the dope
We pull his chain
He lives on hate
He'll never see
Sweet liberty
It's much too late

KRISTINE
Wait a minute, D-Man

If you think I'm gonna just sit here
See you torment some poor soul
You've got another thing comin
My wishes haven't even begun.
Maybe this is a good time
To put one into gear.
Take your low life dancers.
Get on out of here.

Lights flash.  D-Man and the dancers are frozen in time.  Kristine walks up to Andrae and frees him from his chains.  She leads him back to this chair.

KRISTINE
Andrae, wake up.  You fell asleep.

ANDRAE
I was having the strangest dream.
You were in it.  You took chains right off of me.  I can't explain it.

KRISTINE
I want you to forget about all this hate you have for people, Andrae.  We want to give you another chance to become a productive member of society.  Hate is black, Andrae.  It blackens your soul, but love comes in all colors.  My wish is that your heart would flood with love.

One of the hearts on her top blinks out and lights up on Andrae.

SONG:
LOVE COMES IN ALL COLORS

Love comes in all colors
Chasing teardrops
Mending lives
Love comes in all colors
When we're in the light

Love comes in all colors
Yellow ribbons
Bands of gold
Love comes in all colors
Breaking hearts of stone

See it shine
Beyond the sea
Where the babies cry
See it shine
A ray of light
To guide the blind
See it shine

As Kristine is singing this song, men of all races in prison garb join them.

CURTAIN CLOSES.

STREETWISE

SCENE TWO

Curtain opens.  Kristine is doing a tap dance number on the stage.  She is humming a song.

I'm so happy
That's why I dance.

Darius appears in a cloud of smoke and dances along with her.

KRISTINE
You're pretty live for a Captain.

DARIUS
You used one of your wishes.

KRISTINE
I had to.  The dude was in bad shape.  You were right about D-Man.  The only thing that he loves is himself.  He wants everybody to be his slave.  Sure glad I didn't take up with him.  Say, where'd you learn to tap?  They have that up there.

DARIUS
Yeah, and a whole lot more.

KRISTINE
Say, how come you left me in that prison by myself.  Some of those dudes, you know, I could have gotten in some trouble.

DARIUS
Remember who you're workin for.  I was right there.

KRISTINE
Right next to me.

DARIUS
Right by you.

Music starts:
RIGHT THERE BY MY SIDE

During the song, five dancers joint them for a tap part.

DARIUS
You ready for the High Road again?

KRISTINE
Yeah (touches her hearts).  Maybe I should wish myself that money for an operation.

DARIUS
Well, it's up to you.  You can use another one of your wishes.  You can do what you want with them.  But first there is someplace I want to take you.

BLACK OUT: Spacey music plays and strobe lights shine on D-Man.  His powerful form is standing over a metal frame bed set starkly in the middle of the stage.  Every time the strobe blinks, he is frozen in another position.  The girl is levitated off bed.

SOFT BLUE LIGHTS FADE UP.

DARIUS
Up to your usual, D-Man?

D-MAN
She's done herself in.  Turns out her boyfriend had AIDS and now the child she is carrying has it as well.  And how about you, little Kristine?  You foiled my plans for Andrae.  What will you do with La Trish?  She's not planning on killing anyone else--just herself.

SONG - House Style
WHAT YOU GONNA DO

What you gonna do
For this hopeless soul
She's better off dead
Or don't you know
AIDS can't be cured
Give up the fight
Leave this girl to me
She'll be just fine.

Music continues.  Kristine walks over to the bed and holds the sleeping girl's hand.

DARIUS
Barley a heartbeat.  She's fading fast.

KRISTINE
What can I do?  I know.  Help me, Darius.  We can walk her out of it.

DARIUS
Is that your wish?

KRISTINE
Yeah.

Music kicks into higher gear.  Five white clad dancers appear and lift La Trish over their heads.

KRISTINE
Hey, everybody, let's kick it.  Let's get this girl happening.

Suicide, it's no way out.
There's always hope.
Things will get better.
Why cause the pain
To those you love.
By checking out altogether.

There's got to be a better way
For problems that are here today.
You've got to take a different road
And show yourself a little love.

Streetwise - on the level
Streetwise - get together
Streetwise - you'll get better
Streetwise - you've got to, got to be streetwise

Streetwise - take some credit
Streetwise - kick the habit
Streetwise - you are awesome
Streetwise - you've got to, got to be streetwise

The dancers set La Trish down.  Kristine demonstrates a slide to her and La Trish gets up and dances along.

The music stops.  It's just Kristine and La Trish on stage.

LA TRISH
How did you know?  I mean, like who sent you to save me?

KRISTINE
Does it matter?  Look, girl, somebody's giving you another chance.  You can't be giving up hope and checking out.  You know like life's tough and everything, but things turn around.  You need a friend, you just call on me.

SONG: CALL ON ME

LA TRISH
Alright, it's a deal.  I won't do any checking out.

KRISTINE
You know, girl, just because there's no cure now doesn't mean they aren't gonna find one.  We're all gonna die sometime anyway.  Your life can make a difference helping others, you know?

LA TRISH
It was like some force was telling me to take all those pills.  I just gave up.

KRISTINE
We all give up sometime.  Just give a little more to others and you'll always have enough for yourself.

LA TRISH
You're right.  Maybe I can do something to help others from getting what I got.

Rap beat starts.  Three funky looking dancers surround her.

Hey, don't be a fool, stay a virgin.
AIDS can kill, that's for certain.
I'm no prude, I'm no liar.
Sometimes I feel all on fire.
I wanna live, not die in pain
That's the way you go with AIDS
(continued)
(continued)

Just say no.
Don't give in
Sex ain't worth it
If it does you in.
Just say no
Till you find someone
To spend your life with
Monogamous

Some folks have it, some folks don't.
You can't tell by looking so just don't.
You can't by whether they're rich or poor
It's nondiscriminating, that's for sure.
Stay a virgin, you'll live longer
Just say no, you'll be stronger.

When somebody asks you into bed
Tell them no, Don't wanna be dead 
When you roll the dice, the odds increase
Then your number's up, you're diseased
It's no party when you're dying
Just say no, I ain't lyin.

As the music continues, the three center female dancers hold up placards one by one, black and white block lettering.

JUST SAY NO!

Music continues.  Curtain drops.  Blackout.

END SCENE TWO

STREETWISE

SCENE THREE

As the curtain rises in the background, you see a chain-linked fence and a graffiti covered wall.  A streetlight is shining and the stage is a hazy blue color.  Two dudes ride by on skateboards, speed metal music blaring.  Each time they go by, they do some awesome stunts including handstands.  A flashy looking pusher carrying a gold-tipped cane walks up and leans on the streetlight.  He pulls out a large amount of cash and is counting it.

JAMES
My oh my, do I love this little greenback.

He kisses the money.

JAMES
Nothing like a whole lot of money.

A puff of black smoke appears and D-Man appears.  Right out of his hands, the pusher's cash disappears.

D-MAN
(holds the cash)
This is yours.

JAMES
Yeah, what are you doing with my money?  Give it here. 

He rushes up and tries to grab it from D-Man's hands.  He gets shocked.  The lights flash on and off and he convulses.

JAMES
What are you, some kind of electric eel?

D-MAN
You really don't remember me, do you, James?  Don't you remember, you said you'd do anything to get rich?  Anything at all?

JAMES
But that was years ago.  I'm rich now.  Give me back my money.

HOUSE BEAT

GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY

Give me back my money
Give it, give it to me
You got no right to my stash
These are my streets

I pump everybody
Full of coke
When you look at their eyes
They all but float.

You think that cash is something
I've got a hundred piles more.
I keep it in my cupboards
Stashed under the floor.
I've got more money than Donald Trump
Ever wished he had.
I've got cards, I've got women
You could say, I'm bad.

Give me back my money
Give it, give it to me
You got no right to my stash
These are my streets

As the music continues, D-Man waves his hands and a Lucite box appears full of cash.

Now I got all your money
Right there in that case
If you want it all that bad.

Flash and the pusher's body stumbles back and forth headless.

Light up on Lucite box with Jimmy's head revolving (shoves money in his mouth).

Here, have a taste.

See how long you live
On hundred dollar bills
You'll be crying out for freedom
Remember all those people that you killed?

The song continues and the pusher's head revolves around in the box full of money.

PUSHER
Let me out.  Let me out.  You can keep it all.

D-MAN
It's already mine.

A puff of white smoke appears.  Darius and Kristine approach him.

D-MAN
You really want to help this one out, Kristine.  Remember, your friend from high school, the one who overdosed?  Well, this is where he got it from.  You really think this one will take your cursed High Road?  Take this money for your operation.

DARIUS
He's right, Kristine.  The choice is yours.

KRISTINE
That's like blood money.  I can't leave anybody like that.

D-MAN
He dies, you live.

Five street dancers come on stage.  Music kicks in . . .

SONG:
WHAT YOU GONNA DO

What you gonna do, let him die.
It's not worth saving his life
What you gonna do, you decide
Keep the money, don't think twice

Hey I don't need blood money,
I don't want the shame.
Maybe he deserves to die,
I don't want the blame.
He could need just one more chance
To turn his wrongs to right.
Follow the High Road
If he's dead he can't decide.

As the music continues with the dancers, the Lucite box is spun round and round.  Every time it faces the audience, the pusher gasps on it.  Kristine dances up to it.  D-Man takes another bill and shoves it in his mouth.

KRISTINE
STOP!

Everyone on stage is frozen in time.

DARIUS
What will it be?

KRISTINE
I wish him free.  I can't watch him die--not even for my sake.  (Her heart dims.)

The stage goes into blackness and the head vanishes from the Lucite box.  Head appears on baby wearing the red heart.

JIMMY
Thank you, thank you.  You got me out of there.  What can I do to repay you?

DARIUS
She got you out so you could make a choice, the High Road or the Low Road, the one you have been travelling on.  What will it be?

JIMMY
You mean you aren't going to require anything of me?  I can keep all my money?

DARIUS
You can keep your money but eventually you will forfeit your soul.  It's a high price.

JIMMY
I don't want it.  I don't need it.  You take it.  Use it for something good.  You can't eat it.  You can't breathe it.  It almost killed me.

DARIUS
You want none of it.

PUSHER:

I don't need blood money
I'm starting again
It doesn't make me happy
It just brings pain

I don't need the low road
Taking me down.
I can't see, can't breathe
Under the ground.

Take it all
Use it for good
Money, money, money
It's all yours.

During the son, the dancers reappear grabbing handfuls of cash.  They hand it to Kristine.

KRISTINE
Wow.  There's more than enough here for my operation.

D-Man is standing on a wall in the rear of the stage.

D-MAN
(reveals himself as a disfigure demon)
I'll destroy you.  You can't have my precious money.

DARIUS
She's on the High Road.  You can't have her.

Lights and music heighten as D-Man attempts to conjure up a spell.

Kristine spins around and throws a big fireball at him.  He begins to melt.

SONG: High Road

DARIUS
I must go now.

The five white clad dancers and Darius begin to walk and dance up in mid air.  Music continues.

KRISTINE
(all my wishes)
I'll never be able to see you again or help anyone out.

DARIUS
As long as you continue on the High Road, you'll have as many wishes as you like.  Just show others.

SONG:
SHOW AND TELL

It's a mad man's dance
It's a wild man's show
We're going up, going up, going up
Come take a chance

Many ways seem right
So many voices call
You got to know, got to know, got to know
How to win it all

Come take the High Road
Come take the High Road
You'll travel on so far
Come take the High Road
Come take the High Road
You'll walk right beyond the stars.

Listen to your heart
Showing right from wrong
Turn around, turn around, turn around
Before it brings you down

La Trish and Andrae walk out during the number with the other dancers and inmates.

There's no bitter end
Just a golden path
It's gonna wind, gonna wind, gonna wind
Through a distant land

Come take the High Road
Come take the High Road
You'll travel on so far
Come take the High Road
Come take the High Road
Walk right beyond the stars.

KRISTINE
All right, everybody on your feet.

The audience rises up.

SONG: Show and Tell

THE END

Original story and lyrics by BRIAN P. STEWART
Based on a concept by KRISTINE WEITZ

PUBLISHING WEITZ HOUSE MUSIC INC.
           KING STEWART MUSIC INC.

Copyright 1991 - All Rights Reserved