Climate Change Monologue Project

Reflection:

In this unit for World History we studied climate change. We focused on how various people view climate change and how it affects us as individuals. In class we watched a short film about the up and coming event People’s Climate March event and the preparation that was going on in order to have the event come to life. As a class, we discussed our personal views on climate change and and quotes from different public figures to decide if we agreed or disagreed with their opinion. For this specific project, as partners we had to create five monologues portraying five distinct circumstances about climate change. For those who do not know, a monologue is a “speech” performed by a solo actor for a theatrical program. When writing each of these monologues, the goal was to make each voice for each individual one sound different. So there was a bigger spectrum on the voices and reasons behind climate change. In each monologue, there also had to be some sort of transformation of attitude in each character. It could have been something so small as a change within the person, or something as big as their view and perspective on climate change.

I DO THIS FOR HER : Michelle

Her daughter has chronic asthma and is highly affected by the pollution that is contracted in the air. She is also tied up with hospital bills that have her living paycheck to paycheck. Living as a lower-middle class citizen.

(knock on the door)

Hey Sadie, wassup? What do you need?

(takes paper)

A march? For what?

Climate change? Yeah uhhh Sadie, I’m not going to be available that day, I’ve uhhh got somewhere to go.

Okay, sorry about that, bye now

(closes apartment door)

And for her to think I’d go outside in this freezing Chicago weather marching for CLIMATE CHANGE! Pshhhh

(Phone rings) Skylar go get that phone for me please!

Who is it?

Yes? Hello?

Speaking.. May I ask who’s calling?

Ohhhh hi doctor Elizabeth! What’s up? You never call unless something’s really wrong with Skylar

Give me the bad news first (pause)

She has what?!

I’m still hundreds and thousands of dollars in the hole from all the stuff she’s had before! How do you guys expect me to be able to afford this?!

I’ve sold my house and moved in to the janky apartment trying to generate enough money to pay these hospital bills every month!

You said you had some good news… What was that?

Okay well I’m happy about that, but how can she be “healed” when I can’t afford for her to have this procedure?

The insurance companies have stopped paying her hospital bills since she was 6… My daughter’s 11 now!

For 5 years… 5 years now I’ve been paying out of pocket for all the 20 something procedures she’s had

I’M DROWNINGGGG in hospital bills!!!
It seems like her asthma has rapidly been getting over the past couple of years… Is there anything that can be the cause of that?

Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air… WAIT WAIT WAIT Climate Change?!

So you mean to tell me climate change is the reason behind all of this?

Dr. Elizabeth can I ask you to hold on for one second?

SKYLARRRR!!!! COME HERE!!!! Turn off and unplug everything you’re not using, and no more driving everywhere, if we can we’re walking or catching the bus (scrambles through trash can trying to find paper Sadie gave her about climate march)

People’s Climate March… September 21st 2014… New York, NY?

(runs to Sadie’s apartment and bangs on the door, Sadie opens the door)

SADIE, SADIE, SADIE

Tell me more about that People’s Climate March

No no no, I checked, I’m free that day now!

I’m ready, I’m going, I’ll do it with you! Me and Skylar!

Thanks so much Sadie, see you on the 21st!

Bye

YOU AND WATER FOR LIFE : Jay-Z

[In the recording studio trying to record a song about climate change.]

yeah, ahuh ahuh

(friend walks in)

(talking to engineer/producer) Can I take take 5 right quick?

Yo bruva, (daps) wassup with you son?!

Nun much , I been tryna lay down this track, but it aint sitting all the way easy with me

Nun really I’m just a little scared b. These people might not be feeling it!

Member that UN Water for Life campaign I was tellin’ you about? Yeah and that’s what im tryna do, cause I feel like this the only way the people gone receive the message

Aight well imma spit something and tell me if you dig it (freestyle)

Bruh you wylin’! I can’t do that! This song is gone be trash! I’m not feelin’ it, AT ALL!  

Well when this record flops, I’m tellin’ errbody you’re the face behind it!

(walks into booth)

Aye can you bring that beat back just a little bit?

YEAH YEAH YEAH B, right there, right there!

(If you having climate problems I feel bad for you son,

I got 99 problems, and water’s becoming one

Water for life, it’ll be here forever

These crazy climate changes need to try and do better

Son, this weather be going from 0 to a hundred real quick

Dont know if you’ll need a scarf or a sweater tryna keep from getting sick

OH LORD! We aint got nothing we can show for it, I cant really mmhhh mhhh mmhhhh.)

(messes up)

AHHHHH !!!!!! Aight Aight one more time! Bring that beat back,

From the top this time!

Right there, right there, that’s it!

(If you having climate problems I feel bad for you son,

I got 99 problems, and water’s becoming one

Water for life, it’ll be here forever

These crazy climate changes need to try and do better

Son, this weather be going from 0 to a hundred real quick

Dont know if you’ll need a scarf or a sweater tryna keep from getting sick

OH LORD! Aint got a whole lot to show for it.  

Water going so quick, we gotta search for it.

Once the water goes and slips right through ya fingers, it aint gone sit around and linger

People expect it to just sit around to be there and linger

They say you can’t turn a bad atmosphere good, but a good atmosphere’s gone bad, its gone forever)

Aight I think that’s good!

Yeah imma come out, so I can hear from the top

Yeah son I knowwww! This jawn wavvyyyy! We got a hit on our hands

Thanks b I really appreciate it

Imma get outta here though, I got a meeting for UN,

Yeah that’s cool imma just hit ya line when I get free!

Aight man (chucks dueces)

ABOUT ALL OF US

[Picks up crates of fruits and vegetables]

I can’t believe it. . . Another day with only five sales[places the crates in the back of the truck]. I used to have fifty plus people coming to the market just by noon.[Picks up another crate] Its just not right. Not right for me and not right for the community. . . They should be able to rely on me for their well grown organic fruits and vegetables. . . My stuff is waaay better than the crap sold at Trader Joe’s. . . Its just not the same anymore. . . [Sits down at the back of the truck] The soil has become dry and hard to work with . . . My corn has become stale and most of my crops cannot be sold . .  . I will not sell to my customers these things . . . I focus on quality not quantity but both are really bad right now . . . I know its not me, it can’t be me. . . I have done this my whole life and its been working out well but now things have been going real bad. . .Ah, I know exactly what it is . . . its that stuff thats in the air thats whats messing up my crops. They’ve been talking about it all over news but I never stopped and realized [He pauses]  that it could have an effect on me. .  .[Starts to think about news stories that have to do with climate and growing crops]. . . Yes, yes I remember . . .  The rice crops in Thailand. The older woman said something about how the climate changes are disturbing the weather patterns. . .Thats whats has to be affecting me too. . . The heat waves that have been happening have now been a weekly service announcement. . . When it rains and we decide to use that water for any purpose they tell us that it must be filtered. .  . They say that we have to be careful with our river water. . . RIVER WATER! River water is suppose to be clean water but we have to be cautious . . .[Puts one hand on his head] What’s that phrase that the woman said referring to all this ? . . . Climate Change . . . Climate change is what’s affecting my work, my community and this entire world.

I AM THE VOICE OF CHANGE (STUCK IN DISASTER) : Yohani

[He gathers his bullhorn to start to speak to the people walking through the town]

People . . . People we have to start doing something. You have to come and listen to what I have to say . . We need to unite in order to combat this problem . . (Starts getting frustrated) You know its all around us . . Our own city of Tacloban has been tortured by these vicious climate changes. . . Typhoon Haiyan had no mercy when it came to us and we should have no mercy when it comes to telling the world our story . . . You see me as a bum and as a beggar but I am more than that . .  .  I do not beg for your food and your money for which I know you do not have  . . . I beg for your attention , for your awareness . . . I beg because I never want to relive the absolute worst day of my life. . .  In a matter of 30 seconds everything was gone. My family, my house, my community. And I was left alone in this cold, cruel world. . . But I will not stop until I see change. . . America WILL hear our voices! (Hours later during protest) Guys look! (points up in there air, seeing an air force 1 air craft) Our messages have been answered at last!!!! Hello President Obama (bows down to him) OKAY OKAY EVERYONE! The people with the Red Cross Disaster Relief jackets are here to help!! This line (points) is for anyone who needs for or water… This line (points) is for anyone who needs medical attention.. And this line right here (points) is for all the people that need clothing and or shelter. After all of this is situated, we have some major clean up to do. C’mon people, we’ve got work to do!

THIS IS RIDICULOUS : Joe Parker

He is on his walking down the stairs to the subway and a lady hands him a flyer about “The People’s Climate March” He was in a rush so he merely pays it any attention. When he gets a seat on the train.

[He is handed a flyer about the up and coming “People’s Climate March” and rushes after]

Excuse me, pardon me . . . excuse me, pardon me . . . Excuse me, pardon me . . . Coming through. Now, what is this? While I’m here thinking about the future, you hand me some piece of crap that means NOTHING. I need coffee, the only thing people can get right nowadays is coffee.