AMADA'S DIARY

By Tom Smith

Adapted from the books:

My Diary from Here to There/Mi diario de aqui hasta allá, by Amada Irma Pérez;

The Adventures of Connie and Diego/Las aventures de Connie y Diego, by Maria Garcia;

The Four Singers of Guadalajara/Los cuarto cantantes de Guadalajara, by Hanna Hutchinson;

and, The Woman Who Outshone the Sun/La mujer que brillaba aún más que el sol, by Alejandro Cruz Martinez

1/AMADA VOICEOVER

Dear Diary, we arrived in Mexicali late at night and my grandparents and all our aunts and uncles and cousins welcomed us with a feast of tamales, beans, pan dulce, and hot chocolate with cinnamon sticks. Yum! Our bellies were so full, and we were so tired, that my brothers started falling asleep. Even Papá and Mamá started to close their eyes a little.

(AMADA restlessly rolls around on the

backseat, which now her bed.)

But I can't sleep. I keep thinking about Papá leaving tomorrow to go to Los Angeles.

(AMADA sits up, frustrated and stressed out.

NANA enters.)

2/NANA

Amada, m'ija, tell your Nana what is troubling you. Why can't you sleep?

1/AMADA

I'm scared, Nana. Papá leaves tomorrow, and I don't know when I'll see him again.

2/NANA

You'll see him soon. He is a U.S. citizen, so he won't have a problem getting you your green cards.

1/AMADA

Papá said we each need one to live in the United States, because we weren't born there.

2/NANA

That's right. But that's nothing for you to worry about. He'll find work, and get your green cards, and then you can join him in America. Now, put down that diary and go to sleep. You'll need to wake up early if you want to say goodbye to your Papá.

(SHE tucks AMADA in.)

You're still worried, aren't you? Well, let your Nana tell you a story then, to help you sleep.

1/AMADA

I'm too old for bedtime stories, Nana!

2/NANA

You are never too old! Stories are the lifeblood of our culture! Now listen… In a corral on a ranch,

(Overlapping and fading away as NANA and

AMADA exit.)

…lives a burro with a rancher and his wife.

2/NANA VOICEOVER

(Overlapping.)

…vive un burro con un ranchero y su mujer. El burro está muy viejo, y no puede trabajar más. El burro está muy triste y dice,

3/DONKEY

The rancher does not want me. I am very old and I cannot work anymore. All I can do is sing.

(HE sings—and not off-key!)

I know! I can sing in the opera at Guadalajara! I am going to go make my fortunes in Guadalajara.

2/NANA VOICEOVER

Y el burro va a Guadalajara. Al lado del camino el burro encuentra a un perro.

3/DONKEY

Good morning, Dog.

2/DOG

Good morning, friend.

3/DONKEY

Why are you sitting here so sad by the side of the road?

2/DOG

The rancher doesn't want me anymore. I am very old, and I cannot work anymore.

3/DONKEY

Poor Dog! Can you sing?

(DOG sings.)

Come with me and you can sing in the opera at Guadalajara!

2/DOG

Ok! Let's go!