Derek, a five- year- old African American boy and Joel a five- year- old Caucasian boy have the best friendship. Their first meeting in the scene is on the playground in elementary school as they figure out how they can share their lunches and from that moment on they are friends for life. Their story moves through from elementary to high school where Joel plays sports and Derek engulfs himself into reading books, classes and keeping his grade up. Though they are focused on different things the boys are still able to maintain their close friendship. They talk about their differences and love each other through it. The final scene is the boys in college on the day the George Floyd video comes out. Joel doesn’t understand why Derek is so upset and tries to get him to explain why he’s so angry. Derek is tired of being the “one black guy, the one black voice” and now he wants action, he doesn’t want to have to take Derek’s hand and walk him through why 2020 was a difficult time for all black people is not just “those black people.” Joel is genuine in his love for Derek, they are best friends, and both have seen each other as family. The conversation brings them back to a moment in high school when Derek gave Joel a book to read. In this moment Joel gives Derek the book back, now realizing that he truly cares for his friend. Joel quotes the book, “I Too” by Langston Hughes and they end with preparing for a protest together, like the brothers that they know they are and have always been.
Lifetime of Learning
(Scene opens with Derek, a five- year- old African American boy sitting on the swings on the playground looking through his lunch. He swings, mumbles to himself and looks around the playground. He then lowers his head and continues to fumble through the things in his lunch dropping something to the ground. As he leans over to pick it up, Joel appears. Joel, a five- year- old Caucasian boy snatches up what Derek dropped.)
Joel: I got it! I got it!
Derek: Hey that’s mine.
Joel: I know. (They look at each other.) I saw you drop them, and my mom always says, “If you can lend a hand, lend it.” Plus, those are my favorite kind of chips and I thought maybe you would want to share them with me. (Joel passes the bag of chips to Derek.)
Derek: I’m not supposed to eat my lunch in the morning time. My mom put them in my lunch box to go with my turkey sandwich- because that’s what goes with a turkey sandwich.
Joel: Okay…
Derek: (He thinks for a moment, has an idea.) So, if I share my chips with you that means that we also have to eat my turkey sandwich.
Joel: Yeah?
Derek: Yeah! (Derek passes the chips to Joel, he opens them. Derek takes out the sandwich and carefully splits it in half passing a piece to Joel. The boys begin to eat.)
Joel: This is so good! (Looking at the sandwich in his hand) What’s in here?
Derek: See my mom uses honey turkey-
Joel: - they put honey in turkey?
Derek: Yeah.
Joel: That’s so smart.
Derek: I know right. So, the turkey has all this honey in it which makes it taste so much gooder with the mayo-
Joel: -gooder? Did you make that up?
Derek: No! My big brother says it all the time and he’s in the third grade, so it has to be a word.
Joel: Gooder, got it.
Derek: Okay so then she puts mayo on, and cheese, but not the square cheese the cheese in a bag that’s in super little pieces and she just puts like- some on top.
Joel: Like how much?
Derek: (Derek thinks for a minute then pantomimes dropping a handful of cheese on the sandwich.) Like that much.
Joel: Wow, that’s a lot. (Looking at the little bit of the sandwich he has left.)
Derek: I know, but it’s perfect. (They both take their final bite of their sandwich half.)
Joel: I’m full.
Derek: Me too.