DON GELLVER DE CURREA-LUGO is a writer, designer, and performing artist originally from Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia and a Liberal-Arts graduate from th e CUNY. He has writte n and published Poetry and Theatre. His works have been awarded and published in magazines such as Bronx Writers Corp (Texas), Ollantay Theatre Magazine (New York) , etc.

RETRACING YOUR STEPS
An Amusement in One-Act Play

SETTING:
The Neighborhood of Michael Jackson Heights Ghetto
The County of Prince
The City of New York
TIME:
One afternoon at the end of the twenty century
RUNNING TIME:
Thrirteen minutes, more or less
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
A: Newyokumbian, could be HE or SHE. Very old.
B: Gringo-American, could be SHE or HE. Very old.
—E’ cu’ me...
NEWYOKUMBIAN: A neo-ist term created to identify immigrant people born in Tropikumbia and living in NewYork,or born in New York with roots in Tropikumbia.
TROPIKUMBIA: Also known as: “The paradise with guns” is a Democratic Banana Republic, whence the “Kumbia” music originates.
MICHAEL JACKSON HEIGHTS GHETTO: Neighborhood in Prince, New York,
where Newyokumbian people live like they do in Tropikumbia, but without nostalgia.
POSTNEOKITSCH PHILOSOPHY:
Defined by the creator as: “The sublimation of tackiness, flashiness and vulgarity, in the collective unconscious, until it reaches a quintessential originality.”

Act One

THE SCENE The action takes place in any place.
THE PLAYERS in any of its threHE and SHE, HE and HE or SHE and SHE.

A
Picture I. D.

B
Excuse me...?

A
Let’s me see your I. D.
Please...

B
Why do you want to see my I. D.?

A
I only want to see your picture
to remember when you were young...

B
You talk to me like I’m dead.

A
Is just nostalgia...nostalgia...nostalgia...

B
Yes, some kind of folkloric disease that
reminds us of when we were happy.

A
You have seen almost nothing.

B
The antidepressants...
Take one by mouth at bed time
and sleep awake.

A
Psychological diet!

B
Something better than life.

A
Better than life is only a metaphor.

B
One falls in love and gets depressed...
That’s a metaphor?

A
To be smart is easier than being an idiot,
but people like things difficult...

B
Well... Do we do it or not?

A
We always come back to the same thing.

B
Always is always and the same is the same.
If always is always, always is the same
and if it is the same, Why do you repeat yuorself?

A
I wonder why people start letters as Dear...
Are they telling the truth
or are they repeating someone else’s beginning?

B
You still have so many things to learn!

A
That which is smooth has no wrinkles!

B
Shut up!
This is not life... It’s only an accident.

A
For this we’ve met...?

B
Don’t be cruel...
I’m not so materialistic.

A
I really don’t want to know what you
are. Do you know why?

B
Because I’m sure it’ll be
for a paranoid effect produced by your great deliriousness,
that makes you think that only what you are can be good and the rest is just garbage.

A
You are right.

B
You want the world to melt beneath your feet like butter does over heat.

A
You are wrong...
I learned from you to make a big deal out of every little thing.

B
I don’t want to get into details
I do know there is a truth for everyone of us.

A
That’s true...
When I came to this promised land
I had dreams.

B
That’s not sufficient...
You know what the problem is with dreams?
They are not practical.

A
Because it helps without expecting something in exchange.

B
Enough is enough...
We can even take someone to live in our landscape, just to help even though they abuse us and complain about everything.

A
We have a landscape...
You only have a passport.

B
This is a metaphor...?
A
Nothing can be clear and enigmatic,
transparent and mysterious
all at the same time.

B
Time changes everything.

A
The essence never changes... It transforms.

B
We transformed into an old couple.

A
We are less young than before
that’s different from being old...

B
Now we have more experience.

A
Experience doesn’t offer any guarantees.

B
The only guarantee is death.

A
No way will it be the same,
I don’t have any illusions.

B
With experience we don’t have illusions,
we have hope.

A
To do it we have to figure the risks.

B
Life is a risk that sooner or later we have to take.

A
It’s better late than never...

B
It’s never late if you want to and if you can but earlier is better.

A
We were a young couple then.
Time is not the same.

B
We were less old before,
that’s different from being young...

A
You are right.

B
What do you mean by that?

A
Only that you are right.

B
It was a promise and promises are made to be kept.

A
It was blackmail.

B
I’m not going to wait 33 more years.

A
That’s right.

B
Do we do it or not?

A
How much time do I have to make a decision?

B
None.
It’s now or never.

A
You said it is never too late if you want to and if you can.

B
I also said that earlier is better.

A
There are still things pending.

B
Death is the only thing pending.

A
Life is perverse,
and this time I will give it the opportunity to be wrong.

B
That should be celebrated

A
Without romanticism.
Business is business.

B
We should give it a name.

A
Let’s find something simple and pretty,
something easy to remember.

B
I don’t want our names...

A
Do you really think our names are A & B?

B
What about Promised Land?

A
It is good for a cemetery

B
How would you feel about...
ROMEO & JULIET...!?

A
ROMEO & JULIET...!?
ROMEO & JULIET,
FUNERAL HOME
“ONLY FOR LOVERS!”

B
We can do everything right!

A
You are right...

B
You are right... I admit it.

A
Ideally we should be the first clients.

B
Only for this you accepted?

A
Don’t be cruel...
I’m not so sentimental.

B
To do it we have to figure the risks.

A
Which ones?
To live is our only risk.

B
You are right.

A
What do you mean by that?

B
Only this,
that you’re right.

A
It’s now or never.

B
There are still things pending.

A
Death is the only thing pending.

B
So, I will be retracing my steps!

A
Will you return...?

B
It’s a promise and promises are made to be kept.

A
Don’t forget your picture I. D...
Please.