copyright © 2003 Ed Malin

Ras Kolnikov and Ras Tafari

by Ed Malin

11 St. Felix St., #4F

Brooklyn, NY 11217

izanagi@hotmail.com

(917) 501-4503

(Walkway on a bridge. A man wearing black enters, looks out then over the edge. He may have a goatee and shoulder-length hair.)

RasK

Hmm. (looks up, at the weather) Rrgh. (Takes out a flask, or a coffee mug, drinks.)

(Enter a Rastafarian with colorful clothing of the red yellow and green variety. A hat covers long dread locks, which can be attached to the hat. A gold lion necklace.)

RasT

(in greeting) Oi!

RasK

(raising an eyebrow) Aye.

RasT

Eh mon, me tink its possible saw you onna bridge yesterday.

RasK

(growlingly, tired) ‘S possible.

RasT

Anna day before dat.

RasK

(same) I come here a lot.

RasT

Me notice you but you take no notice of I. (pause) Should be de udda way, if reason is followed my friend.

RasK

(perking up) So you’re a man of reasoning.

RasT

Yah, me do I fair share a reasonin’ mon.

RasK

I’ve been deep in thought lately, on this bridge…

RasT

Man, ya got nice heer, ya oughta do it in dread.

RasK

Yes, dread is definitely part of my experience. Have we met? I’m Raskolnikov.

RasT

One love, bridda. Thought you might be one.

RasK

One what?

RasT

Like me, Rasta. (Blank stare from Raskolnikov) Ras Tafar-i. Jah Haille Selassie I.

Ras K

(pointing at himself) Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov.

RasT

(confused) Oh. So you not a Binghi man.

RasK

You ever read a book called Crime and Punishment?

RasT

Na.

RasK

Me neither. It’s about me. So it can’t be that interesting.

RasT

Mon, none a I business but if ya try wear some color clothes, ya know ya be more interestin’.

RasK

Like you? All dressed up and smiling. What are you, a clown?

RasT

Hey no meanness meant. Nothin’ wrong with bein’ happy.

RasK

I am not happy. (pause) And (raises index finger) I believe in nothing. (Smiled broadly)

RasT

Me don’t get ya mon. If ya not happy, ‘ow can ya smile like dat?

RasK

The purpose of life is not to be happy.

RasT

Oh no?

RasK

It is to be satisfied. Which takes less energy. Because it’s not an act for public consumption.

RasT

(cool) Yeah?

RasK

(cool. nods) Yeah.

RasT

Ya all right, come think about it. Me thought ya maybe was one a hypocrites.

RasK

I live my own way. If I’m a hypocrite, I’ll know by end of day.

RasT

Man, sorry me interrupted you. Looks like ya got ‘eavy thinkin’ to do.

RasK

Not at all. Stay. Tell me what do you believe in?

RasT

Me life work is ta take de Bible-

RasK

Yes?

RasT

and ta complete it, mon.

RasK

Oh. (pause) Wouldn’t it be better to negate it?

RasT

Better? No. Well me don’t know what it be if it get negated.

RasK

It’d be nothing.

RasT

Leave I a little more hope den dat!

RasK

Well whether you complete it or negate it, it’s still over. Right?

RasT

Well?

RasK

(nodding) Ah-hah.

RasT

No. Cause Babylon still ‘ere. Ya know, prison for de mind. ‘Ow ya gone come out dat prison if ya leave it be?

RasK

Babylon. I like that. Is that what you call it.

RasT

Sleevery and oppression from de outside.

RasK

But to escape it, as you say, the motion has to come from inside.

RasT

Ya got to do what is right, yeah.

RasK

You need to think, in other words.

RasT

Tink if ya want mon, but after ya still got do what is right or else ya done no-ting. How long ya gotta tink? Doncha know right from wrong, mon?

RasK

(ponders, while drinking coffee) And so once I know I know what is right…if I do this, I will be free?

RasT

Free as a bird, bridder. Da kind dat can’t be cheened.

RasK

(looks him in the eye, shakes his hand) Then I know what it is. Goodbye. (turns to leave)

RasT

Ey, Ras?

RasK

Ya mon?

RasT

Me not gone pry, but you bout ta jump off dis bridge?

RasK

No. Not anymore.

RasT

Good.

RasK

I’m going to jail. It’s OK, I killed two people. I should do something to make up for it.

RasT

Me heard ya.

RasK

Good luck with Babylon.

RasT

Tanks.

RasK

How’re you going to do that exactly?

RasT

Bein’ in a circle, burnin’ tings, beatin’ drums and chantin’ down Babylon.

RasK

Sounds like fun. (RasK waves, takes a step towards the exit. RasT steps forward and hugs him, warrior style. RasK leaves, a changed man. RasT looks down over the bridge rail.)

"Ras Kolnikov and Ras Tafari" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR

"Ras Kolnikov and Ras Tafari" debuted March 7, 2003, performed by Ed Malin and Joe Ganem.

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