.
ELIKAPEKA
a play by Pamela Monk
Cast: Four young teenage girls
Elikapeka
Nesley
Dara
Ethel
Time
The present
Setting
The background of the stage is a collage, intense, personal and idiosyncratic, reflecting the private world of each of the characters.
Each girl has a mask, that is worn and taken off as the action demands.
The masks represent the public personas of Elikapeka, Nesley and Dara, co-ordinated and uniform, with a superficial nod to individuality. Ethel has a mask, undecorated, which she doesn't use much, if at all.
Other furniture consists of four chairs to be rearranged as needed to represent different settings.
At rise, each girl is standing, facing the audience, preparing her mask. Their comments are directed more at the audience than to each other.
ELIKAPEKA
This one or that one?
NESLEY
That one.
ELIKAPEKA
You think so?
NESLEY
Definitely. It matches your eyes perfectly.
DARA
What about this?
NESLEY
That's great, Dara. Really.
DARA
You think so?
NESLEY
I do. It's you.
DARA
What do you think, Peka?
ELIKAPEKA
Go for it.
DARA
Ok, I like it.
ELIKAPEKA
You look great, Nesley.
NESLEY
I do, don't I?
DARA
You always do.
NESLEY
Natural talent.
ETHEL
I've never felt natural my whole life.
AT THE CAFETERIA
NESLY AND DARA (Masks on) are sitting together, saving a space for ELIKAPEKA. There is an empty chair set apart. ELIKAPEKA, (mask on) is speaking to ETHEL (No mask) Both are standing.
ELIKAPEKA
Hi. We have math together. With Ruloff.
ETHEL
Yes, the kindly Nazi. (mocking) "and you WILL have your homework in on time. We have ways."
ELIKAPEKA
( joining in. ) "And you WILL be thanking me for it, this I promise. "
ETHEL
What a monster.
ELIKAPEKA
Don't sweat it. That's just how he starts out. The word on him is if you kiss up, he grades high.
ETHEL
That's good to know.
ELIKAPEKA
So you're new, aren't you?
ETHEL
My family moved here in July.
ELIKAPEKA
Hi, I'm Elikapeka, Peka, for short.
ETHEL
Hi.
ELIKAPEKA
Don't you have a name?
ETHEL
I do. It's Ethel.
ELIKAPEKA
Ethel.
ETHEL
It's an awful name. I hate it. But I was named after my grandmother. Not much I can do about it.
ELIKAPEKA
So don't you have a middle name or something?
ETHEL
Yes.
ELIKAPEKA
So?
ETHEL
Hedwig. The other grandmother.
ELIKAPEKA
Well, no one's called Elikapeka, either.
ETHEL
But, Elikapeka is a cool name. Ethel is just dumb.
NESLEY
Hey, Peka, over here.
ELIKAPEKA
Well, think of it this way. We both have names that no one else would dream of that begin with E.
ETHEL
Your favorite letter, I bet.
ELIKAPEKA
Of course. Ellipse, elephant, ectoplasm
ETHEL
eggplant, effervescent
ELIKAPEKA
entropy
ETHEL
evidence
ELIKAPEKA
egregious
ETHEL
excellent. Ok, it isn't such a bad letter after all.
NESLEY
(impatient)
Peka, hurry up. We're saving you a seat.
ELIKAPEKA
Gotta go. See you in math.
ETHEL
See you.
DARA
Hey,
NESLEY
Who was that.
ELIKAPEKA
A new kid. We have math together.
DARA
Should we invite her to sit with us?
NESLEY
Why?
ELIKAPEKA
She seems nice enough. Do either of you have her in class? Her name is Ethel.
DARA
Ethel. What a name.
ELIKAPEKA
Worse. Ethel Hedwig.
NESLEY
Ew...Hey, I have an idea. Let's do the cat in the bathtub to her.
DARA
Fun.
ELIKAPEKA
I don't know. It's mean.
DARA
Maybe it is.
NESLEY
Oh please, it's just a joke. Come on.
DARA
Come on, Peka.
ELIKAPEKA
OK, OK
NESLEY
So go ahead, call her over.
ELIKAPEKA
Hey, Ethel, want to sit with us?
ETHEL
Sure, thanks.
ELIKAPEKA
Ethel, this is Nesley and Dara
DARA
Hi.
NESLEY
Move over, Peka. Sit over here, Ethel. Dara was just starting a joke. Go ahead.
DARA
OK, so there was this cat who decided to take a bath. So he filled the tub with hot water, put in tons of bubble bath, and got in. He was just so cozy, when he realized that he forget to lock the door. Sure enough, in comes the dog. The dog looks at the cat, all covered with bubbles and says:
Mind if I turn on the radio?
(At this, DARA, ELIKAPEKA, and NESLEY break into gales of laughter. Ethel joins in, weakly, suspecting a trick, but not quite sure what it is. )
NESLEY
The radio. I mean it.
ETHEL
Yeah. Look. I forgot I had a guidance appointment. See you later.
ELIKAPEKA
See you.
DARA
Oh Ethel, guidance is THAT way.
ETHEL
Thanks.
NESLEY
She's pitiful.
ELIKAPEKA
I don't know. That was mean.
NESLEY
No, it was funny. I thought I'd pee my pants. Did you see the look on her face?
DARA
Like this.
ELIKAPEKA
It was funny.
NESLEY
OK, so back to business. My party.
DARA
Are you sure it's set?
NESLEY
For sure, I'm sure. My folks are away ALL weekend, camping, away from electronic devices, and they actually believe my brother will keep an eye on things instead of hanging with his girlfriend at her house. We are SO set. But don't forget, this is a dead secret, right, Peka?
ELIKAPEKA
Right.
DARA
We pinky swore.
NESLEY
No backing down. Not like the time you finked on the anonymous letters.
ELIKAPEKA
I promise. Don't worry.
NESLEY
Or telling your mom that we smoked. Honestly. You are such a goody two shoes sometimes.
DARA
She'll be OK, won't you, Peka?
ELIKAPEKA
I told you, I promised.
NESLEY
Good. Oh, crap. I have to get to my locker before sixth period. See you guys after practice?
ELIKAPEKA
Bye
DARA
Bye
MATH CLASS
ELIKAPEKA
Hey. How's it going?
ETHEL
Ok, so far. ( mocking )
"oh Mr. Ruloff you explained it SO clearly."" I don't know what I'd do if you weren't such a GOOD explainer"
ELIKAPEKA
"Why thank you young lady."
ETHEL
"Oh Look... class participation grades have raised me to a n A- " What a surprise.
ELIKAPEKA
I told you. My brother had Ruloff. That's why I didn't worry.
ETHEL
You've lived here your whole life.
ELIKAPEKA
Just about. As long as I can remember.
ETHEL
I wish I could live somewhere just three years in a row. My mom is always moving us around.
ELIKAPEKA
That's hard. I don't think I'd like it.
ETHEL
I don't. Living in the same place for a while, I might have a chance of getting some of the jokes.
ELIKAPEKA
Yeah. Hey, listen. Ness is having a party in a couple of weeks. A big one. Want to come?
ETHEL
Would your friend care?
ELIKAPEKA
Why should she? We've been friends forever, she won't mind.
ETHEL
OK, then.
ELIKAPEKA
Great... Oh here comes Ruloff. Talk to you later.
TRUTH OR DARE
ELIKAPEKA (mask off)
Truth: I really don't know if Nesley would be OK with this. But I felt bad about that cat in the bathtub trick. I don't know why Nesley can talk me into stuff. No I take that back. I do know why. Nothing bothers her, and she has great ideas sometimes. Besides, it's so funny to watch people squirm, at least until it isn't anymore. So I invited Ethel Hedwig to the party. She can 't help it if her grandmothers had dopey names.
NESLEY'S house. After school.
NESLEY
You invited her to MY party?
ELIKAPEKA
There's gonna be a ton of people there. What's the difference if there's one more, right, Dara?
DARA
I guess.
NESLEY
All right. But... only if we make her a mogul.
DARA
Right. A mogul.
NESLEY
THAT would be fun.
DARA
Definitely.
ELIKAPEKA
What's a mogul?
NESLEY
Oh my god, you don't know, do you?
DARA
No she doesn't. Remember, Peka wasn't at camp with us this summer
NESLEY
Well, there's only one way to fix that. We'll make YOU a mogul. Now.
DARA
Oh I think so. Then you'll understand.
NESLEY
Ok. So let's go down to the basement. I'll get the blindfold.
Exit NESLEY. ELIKAPEKA and DARA speak, briefly, masks off
ELIKAPEKA
What are we doing?
DARA
Don't worry. It's just a game.
ELIKAPEKA
It doesn't feel like one.
DARA
Don't be a baby. I lived through it. You will, too.
EXIT ELIKAPEKA
TRUTH OR DARE
DARA
Truth: I hate the way I'm never sure. I envy Nesley, just because. She's always sure. ALWAYS. I don't know why I'm doing this to Elikapeka, and I do know why. That's the worst part.
BLACK OUT. NESLEY"s voice is heard in the dark.
NESLEY
OK Peka, is the blindfold on good and tight?
ELIKAPEKA
Yes.
NESLEY
Dara, you lock the door?
DARA
Got it.
NESLEY
Let the ceremony begin.
LIGHTS GO BACK ON to reveal DARA and NESLEY, seated, facing ELIKAPEKA who is blindfolded. ELIKAPEKA is holding her mask. The other two are wearing theirs.
DARA
You have been chosen to pass a test of worthiness.
If you pass this test, you will become a member of the Great Secret Society of Moguls.
NESLEY
Not everyone is worthy. But if you are, you will receive a sign from the Great Mogul himself.
DARA
Are you prepared to provide proof of worthiness?
ELIKAPEKA
(to her mask) Proof of what? I don't like this.
(to them) Yes, I am ready.
NESLEY
Good. In order to become a mogul, you must offer the ultimate gift.
ELIKAPEKA
(To mask) The ultimate gift? Let me out of here.
(To them) What's that?
NESLEY
It is not for us to say. When you have given the gift, the great Mogul himself will offer you a sign.
ELIKAPEKA
What kind of sign.
NESLEY
The great Mogul will show you the light.
DARA
We wait.
ELIKAPEKA
(To mask) What do they want from me?
(removes a shoe) Here.
(Silence. The other shoe is removed) Here.
(More silence. She removes her necklace.) What about this?
(More silence, one earring at a time, still met with silence.)
(To mask) Ultimate gift? What do they mean by that? Do I have to get naked? That must be what they want. I have to take off my clothes. But I don't want to.
This isn't right. But I don't have anything left to take off that isn't public. What if they want something ELSE? I can't decide what to do. Help!
(To them) Look, I gave gifts. Where' s the mogul.
NESLEY
Do you want to be in the secret society or not?
ELIKAPEKA
(To mask) Screw your secret society.
(To them) Yes I do.
NESLEY
Then the great mogul will let you know when you've given the ultimate gift. He will show you the light.
(More silence)
DARA
(Taking pity) Peka, when you give the ultimate gift, you'll SEE THE LIGHT.
ELIKAPEKA
(To mask) There's a clue there
DARA
(Shaking off Nesley's objection) You'll see the light, Peka, you have to do something so you can SEE THE LIGHT
ELIKAPEKA
Oh, I see. I really do.
(She tears off the blindfold.) I see the light.
(To the mask) I hate this game. I hate them.
NESLEY
Congratulations.
DARA
You're a mogul.
ELIKAPEKA
So now what.
DARA
You get to make other people moguls.
ELIKAPEKA
(To mask) That's it?
(to them) That's it?
NESLEY
Yep.
ELIKAPEKA
(Slowly puts on her mask)
Cool.
NESLEY
We're all set to have a blast at my party.
ELIKAPEKA
I can't wait.
TRUTH or DARE
NESLEY
I never tell the truth. I always take the dare.
(Each of the four girls is standing with a fortune teller. ELIKAPEKA paired with DARA, NESLEY with ETHEL)
ELIKAPEKA
Pick a number
DARA
Three
ELIKAPEKA
One two three. Pick a color
DARA
Red.
ELIKAPEKA
R-E-D Pick another number
DARA
Six
ELIKAPEKA
One two three four five six. Yes or No
DARA
Yes.
ELIKAPEKA
You have no mind of your own.
DARA
Pick a number
ELIKAPEKA
Two
DARA
One two, Pick a color
ELIKAPEKA
Blue
DARA
B-L-U-E Pick another number
ELIKPEKA
Three.
DARA
One two three. Yes or no.
ELIKAPEKA
No.
DARA
You have a mind of your own, but do you listen to it?
NESLEY
Pick a number
ETHEL
I don't want to play.
NESLEY
But you will. Pick a number
ETHEL
point five.
NESLEY
I'll round it up. One. Pick a color.
ETHEL
Chartreuse
NESLEY
Whatever, green. G-R-E-E-N Pick another number
ETHEL
What for?
NESLEY
Four. One two three four. Yes or no.
ETHEL
NO
NESLEY
Will you ever fit in?
ETHEL
Pick a number
NESLEY
Yeah, right.
NESLEY'S PARTY NESLEY, DARA, ELIKAPEKA are making ETHEL a mogul. Masks are on.
NESLEY
... and so you have to give the ultimate gift
DARA
And when you do, the great Mogul himself will show you the light.
ETHEL
Ok.
(She slowly removes her shoes and all public clothing to the excruciating silence of the other three. They give her no help.)
I didn't give the ultimate gift. I didn't think so.
(She starts to unbutton her shirt, button by button while ELIKAPEKA takes off her own mask to talk to it, after this scene, she no longer wears it)
You can't let her do this?
Why not? I did it.
Dara helped you, and you know it.
So, Dara's my friend.
Isn't Ethel?
No.
Then why are you pretending?
I'm not. All I did was invite her to the party. that's all.
That's all, huh. Look at what she's doing Are you going to let her?
What kind of a person are you anyhow?
NESLEY
(to Dara) What a fool.
ELIKAPEKA
Ethel. Stop.
NESLEY
What are you doing?
ELIKAPEKA
Stop a minute. When you give the Ultimate Gift , you'll see the light.
ETHEL
So?
ELIKAPEKA
So. Stop thinking so hard. What's stopping you from seeing the light.
ETHEL
Oh.
ELIKAPEKA
Right.
ETHEL
(takes of the blindfold)
I don't suppose I made it to mogul.
NESLEY
No you didn't. Thanks a lot, Elikapeka. Let's go, Dara.
ETHEL
She's mad.
ELIKAPEKA
She'll get over it.
ETHEL
Why did you do that?
ELIKAPEKA
It just stopped being fun, that's all. You want to ditch this place. Maybe go over to my house. My mother won't mind.
ETHEL
OK
ELIKAPEKA
Let's get out of here before it gets out of hand.
ETHEL
Her parents aren't home, are they?
ELIKAPEKA
No. We've been planning it for weeks.
ETHEL
I really ruined it.
ELIKAPEKA
No you didn't. I hate that Mogul game, anyhow.
ETHEL
That's not what I mean. I really ruined it. My mother is going to call here. I know it. I didn't tell her until the last minute where I was going, and she'll call, she always does.
ELIKAPEKA
What if we get to my house and my mother calls to head her off.
ETHEL
That could work, but we better go fast.
IN SCHOOL, PASSING NOTES..
DARA PASSES TO ELIKAPEKA, who reads.
"Nesley's really hurt. She thinks you let her down. why don't you talk to her? We've been friends since kindergarten, how can you forget all that?"
DARA PASSES TO NESLEY, who reads
"Peka's really sad you won't talk to her."
ELIKAPEKA PASSES TO DARA, who reads
"I didn't do anything. What's Nesley's problem?"
NESLEY PASSES TO DARA , who reads
"I can't believe she's hanging out with Ethel her mother got me in so much trouble."
ETHEL
I hate notes.
NESLEY passes to ELIKAPEKA, who reads
"Meet me and Dara at lunch. It's URGENT. Ethel, too."
I wonder what's going on.
AT LUNCH
NESLEY
Thanks, Ethel. Your mother called mine and I'm screwed. Grounded until Christmas. Unless.
ELIKAPEKA
Unless what?
NESLEY
Unless you both back us up.
ETHEL
How?
NESLEY
Well, I told my mother that I only planned a sleepover, but that Ethel told a lot of kids.
ETHEL
Why would she believe that?
DARA
You don't know her mom.
NESLEY
I gave her a story that since you were new in town, you were looking for a way to be popular, and your mother is way overprotective and doesn't think you do anything wrong. My mom totally buys it.
ETHEL
But then, I'll get in trouble.
NESLEY
You owe me, and what's the big deal. You don't have to lie to your mom. I'll just tell mine that you did. All you have to do is apologize, play dumb a little, and I'm off the hook.
ETHEL
That's it?
ELIKAPEKA
If we all stick to it.
NESLEY
And my mom will really believe it if you go along, Peka. You know how she loves you.
ETHEL
(starting to put her mask on) Well, maybe.
ELIKAPEKA
(prevents her from putting on the mask) No.
NESLEY
What do you mean, no? You have to.
ELIKAPEKA
I don't think so. Why should I?
NESLEY
Because we're friends, that's why.
ELIKAPEKA
We are friends, so why are you asking me to lie?
NESLEY
You know I'd lie for you, if you were in this much trouble.
ELIKAPEKA
I know you would. But I won't do it for you. I don't think you have the right to ask me.
NESLEY
We've been friends since kindergarten. How can you say I don't have the righ?
Who can you ask if you can't ask your friends?
ELIKAPEKA
Maybe you shouldn't ask anyone.
NESLEY
Ethel?
ETHEL
I can't. I'm sorry.
NESLEY
No you're not.
EXIT DARA and ETHEL, ELIKAPEKA and NESLEY remain
ELIKAPEKA
Pick a number
NESLEY
Two
ELIKAPEKA
One Two. Pick a color.
NESLEY
Green
ELIKAPEKA
G-R-E-E-N, pick another number.
NESLEY
Five.
ELIKAPEKA
One two three four five. Yes or no
NESLEY
No.
ELIKAPEKA
Can you understand that this is the hardest and best thing I've ever done?
EXIT NESLEY, ENTER ETHEL (masks off)
ETHEL
Is Nesley still mad at you?
ELIKAPEKA
It's beyond mad.
ETHEL
I'm sorry.
ELIKAPEKA
Don't be. I owe you an apology. For the cat in the bathtub joke. It was awful to do that.
ETHEL
I've done it, too.
ELIKAPEKA
I thought you didn't understand.
ETHEL
It took me a while to figure it...Different story, same idea. I'll never do it again, though. It isn't fun being on the other side.
ELIKAPEKA
Let's call it even.
ETHEL
Sounds good.
DARA
Hey.
ELIKAPEKA
Hey, Dara, what's up?
DARA
I was wondering if you, both of you, want to come over to my house on Friday, maybe sleep over. My folks will be home if your mom has to know that.
ETHEL
That's great.
ELIKAPEKA
What about the football party?
DARA
Nesley's grounded.
ELIKAPEKA
Oh, I see.
DARA
(Taking off her mask) And I don't really want to go anyhow. I was only going because Nesley was.
ETHEL
Maybe Nesley's mom will let her come to your house, if she knows it's just us.
DARA
I don't know.
ELIKAPEKA
Here comes Nesley now. Let's ask her if she wants us to try.
Hey Nesley, wait up.
NESLEY
(mask more secure than ever)
Oh, so you want to talk.
ELIKAPEKA
Yes.
NESLEY
Well I don't.
ELIKAPEKA
I'm sorry you're mad
NESLEY
But you're not sorry for what you did to me.
ELIKAPEKA
No, no I'm not. But I didn't do anything to you. You did it to yourself.
NESLEY
You were in on it from the start, Peka, don't tell me. And now you're leaving me to take all the blame.
ELIKAPEKA
That's not how it is.
NESLEY
That's exactly how it is.
ELIKAPEKA
We were wrong.
NESLEY
No, we got caught.
ELIKAPEKA
It was a bad idea.
NESLEY
It was a great idea. Ethel messed it up, and now you're hanging out with her. I thought you were my friend, but you're not. So that's that.
EXIT NESLEY
ELIKAPEKA
That's that.
(takes out the fortune teller)
Pick a number One
Pick a color Blue
Pick a number three
Yes or no.
DARA
Yes
ELIKAPEKA
Will the rest of my life be more than this moment?
ETHEL
No
ELIKAPEKA
Will the rest of my life be more than this moment?
