Ara Ara’s Mind

{AN: I originally wrote this play for my Fairytales class. In our Red Ridding Hood section, we read a retelling to the tale that had Red giving her sexuality and sensuality to The Wolf. I found that a weird way to describe coming into teen hood, so I wrote this to depict the reality of growing up. Which to me is facing all the lies you’ve been told. Enjoy!}

LITTLE RED- A little girl with a red cloak

RED- A woman in a red cloak

MOM- The mother of Little Red

GRANDMOTHER- The mother of Mom

THE WOLF- The creature that lurks in the woods

Scene 1

Lights up. A bedroom. Everything is red; the bed, the sheets, the vanity, the walls; everything.

A little girl, LITTLE RED, is laying on her stomach on her bed drawing.

(MOM is heard offstage)

MOM:

Red! Are you ready yet?

LITTLE RED(SHOUTS):

Almost!

(LITTLE RED stops drawing, gets up, and busies herself. Grabbing a packed bag, her favorite plushie, etc. She moves to sit on her bed.)

(RED enters. LITTLE RED pulls a large shirt from under her pillow. RED takes it from her.)

LITTLE RED:(Praying)

Dad, please come back. I need you. I miss you, so does mom. Though she’d never admit it.

(RED grips the shirt a little tighter)

MOM(Heard off stage):

Red we have to go!

LITTLE RED(Shouting):

Coming!

(RED and LITTLE RED stare into each other’s eyes. They are staring into a mirror.)

(MOM enters. RED exits)

MOM:

Red, honey, I know it has been hard but I think going to Grandmother’s would make you feel better.

LITTLE RED:

(RED says this line off stage as well.)

But what if it doesn’t?

(MOM swaddles LITTLE RED in her red cape and picks up the shirt. MOM and LITTLE RED exit.)

(Lights out)

Scene 2

Lights up. The forest.

LITTLE RED and MOM enter walking a path they know well. LITTLE RED a few steps behind MOM. RED slinks behind them.

MOM:

Please keep up Red. The woods can be a dangerous place.

(LITTLE RED begins to catch up until RED catches her eye.)

MOM: (Walking back to grab LITTLE RED)

Red, did you hear me? I said you need to stay close. Hold my hand if you cannot keep up.

(LITTLE RED hesitates and then grabs her hand and they continue on the path.)

(Lights out)

Scene 3

Lights up. The interior of GRANDMOTHER’S house. It is a small old cottage. Everything is connected in one room.

GRANDMOTHER is in her bed. LITTLE RED enters.

LITTLE RED:

Grandmother, I’m here! How are you feeling today?

GRANDMOTHER:

Oh, my sweet Red! I am as good as an old sick person can be. How are you, kiddo?

LITTLE RED:

I don’t know.

GRANDMOTHER:

You don’t know? That doesn’t sound right. What’s wrong, my child?

(Beat)

GRANDMOTHER:

You know what? I’m getting hungry. Oh Red, I have been craving some of your sweets. Won’t you make me something to eat? It will only take a second.

LITTLE RED:

Well, ok!

(LITTLE RED moves to the kitchen to begin baking. RED enters just outside where LITTLE RED is. RED catches LITTLE RED’s attention.)

RED:

Come outside.

LITTLE RED:

Grandma?

RED:

For once please listen.

(RED exits.)

(Lights out)

Scene 4

Lights up. GRANDMOTHER’s exterior. The forest rests just on the edge of GRANDMOTHER’s house. RED enters running across the stage. LITTLE RED enters slowly behind her.

The Forest. LITTLE RED enters carefully. RED enters slowly.

THEY see each other.

LITTLE RED:

Is that a wolf?

LITTLE RED AND RED:

I swear I see a wolf.

RED:

It can’t be that big.

LITTLE RED:

It’s probably huge!

LITTLE RED and RED:

 But that has to be a wolf, I swear! Does it see me?

(RED and LITTLE RED play with the force field between them. But something interrupts their contact. RED exits.)

(Lights out)

Scene 5

Lights up on LITTLE RED. Still in the forest but it looks different than before.

LITTLE RED:

Hello? Is anyone there? I don’t know where I am. Can someone help me?

(GRANDMOTHER enters. There is something different about her.)

GRANDMOTHER:

Red! There you are!

(Hugging LITTLE RED)

Why did you run away? These woods are very dangerous.

LITTLE RED:

Oh, Grandmother! I don’t know. I don’t know. I thought I saw something. I’m so sorry.

GRANDMOTHER:

 There, there child. You’re safe now.

(GRANDMOTHER begins to usher LITTLE RED out of the forest. RED ENTERS.)

LITTLE RED:

Grandmother, I think we might be going the wrong way.

GRANDMOTHER:

I’m just taking you on the safest path, little one.

(LITTLE RED tries to pull away from GRANDMOTHER and finds that she can’t. RED stands watch.)

LITTLE RED:

Grandmother, how were you able to get out of bed? (Beat) When did you get such large hands and such sharp nails, Grandmother? (Beat) When did your ears get so large? (GRANDMOTHER snarls. LITTLE RED almost jumps.) When did your teeth get so large? Was it something I made you? I’m sorry.

GRANDMOTHER: (Grabbing LITTLE RED.)

You talk a lot for a lost little girl.

(RED comes to take the place of LITTLE RED. LITTLE RED cowers behind her.)

RED:

Well, I’m curious, Grandmother.

(GRANDMOTHER is shocked to see this change.)

Why did you leave the house? Why did you not come back? Why didn’t you just tell me who you were? Why did you leave me here?

(GRANDMOTHER reveals themselves to be THE WOLF.)

THE WOLF:

I had to. I was not safe there. You were not safe with me. I didn’t want to, but there was no other option.

(Having failed, THE WOLF exits. Theres a beat before dialogue continues.)

LITTLE RED:

Was that really Grandmother?

RED:

No.

LITTLE RED:

Who was that?

(Beat)

RED:

I don’t know.

(Lights out)

(THE END)