Ras Kolnikov and Ras Tafari
by Ed Malin
11 St. Felix St., #4F
Brooklyn, NY 11217
izanagi@hotmail.com
(917) 501-4503
(Walkway on a bridge. A man wearing black enters, looks out then over the edge. He may have a goatee and shoulder-length hair.)
RasK
Hmm. (looks up, at the weather) Rrgh. (Takes out a flask, or a coffee mug, drinks.)
(Enter a Rastafarian with colorful clothing of the red yellow and green variety. A hat covers long dread locks, which can be attached to the hat. A gold lion necklace.)
RasT
(in greeting) Oi!
RasK
(raising an eyebrow) Aye.
RasT
Eh mon, me tink its possible saw you onna bridge yesterday.
RasK
(growlingly, tired) S possible.
RasT
Anna day before dat.
RasK
(same) I come here a lot.
RasT
Me notice you but you take no notice of I. (pause) Should be de udda way, if reason is followed my friend.
RasK
(perking up) So youre a man of reasoning.
RasT
Yah, me do I fair share a reasonin mon.
RasK
Ive been deep in thought lately, on this bridge
RasT
Man, ya got nice heer, ya oughta do it in dread.
RasK
Yes, dread is definitely part of my experience. Have we met? Im Raskolnikov.
RasT
One love, bridda. Thought you might be one.
RasK
One what?
RasT
Like me, Rasta. (Blank stare from Raskolnikov) Ras Tafar-i. Jah Haille Selassie I.
Ras K
(pointing at himself) Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov.
RasT
(confused) Oh. So you not a Binghi man.
RasK
You ever read a book called Crime and Punishment?
RasT
Na.
RasK
Me neither. Its about me. So it cant be that interesting.
RasT
Mon, none a I business but if ya try wear some color clothes, ya know ya be more interestin.
RasK
Like you? All dressed up and smiling. What are you, a clown?
RasT
Hey no meanness meant. Nothin wrong with bein happy.
RasK
I am not happy. (pause) And (raises index finger) I believe in nothing. (Smiled broadly)
RasT
Me dont get ya mon. If ya not happy, ow can ya smile like dat?
RasK
The purpose of life is not to be happy.
RasT
Oh no?
RasK
It is to be satisfied. Which takes less energy. Because its not an act for public consumption.
RasT
(cool) Yeah?
RasK
(cool. nods) Yeah.
RasT
Ya all right, come think about it. Me thought ya maybe was one a hypocrites.
RasK
I live my own way. If Im a hypocrite, Ill know by end of day.
RasT
Man, sorry me interrupted you. Looks like ya got eavy thinkin to do.
RasK
Not at all. Stay. Tell me what do you believe in?
RasT
Me life work is ta take de Bible-
RasK
Yes?
RasT
and ta complete it, mon.
RasK
Oh. (pause) Wouldnt it be better to negate it?
RasT
Better? No. Well me dont know what it be if it get negated.
RasK
Itd be nothing.
RasT
Leave I a little more hope den dat!
RasK
Well whether you complete it or negate it, its still over. Right?
RasT
Well?
RasK
(nodding) Ah-hah.
RasT
No. Cause Babylon still ere. Ya know, prison for de mind. Ow ya gone come out dat prison if ya leave it be?
RasK
Babylon. I like that. Is that what you call it.
RasT
Sleevery and oppression from de outside.
RasK
But to escape it, as you say, the motion has to come from inside.
RasT
Ya got to do what is right, yeah.
RasK
You need to think, in other words.
RasT
Tink if ya want mon, but after ya still got do what is right or else ya done no-ting. How long ya gotta tink? Doncha know right from wrong, mon?
RasK
(ponders, while drinking coffee) And so once I know I know what is right if I do this, I will be free?
RasT
Free as a bird, bridder. Da kind dat cant be cheened.
RasK
(looks him in the eye, shakes his hand) Then I know what it is. Goodbye. (turns to leave)
RasT
Ey, Ras?
RasK
Ya mon?
RasT
Me not gone pry, but you bout ta jump off dis bridge?
RasK
No. Not anymore.
RasT
Good.
RasK
Im going to jail. Its OK, I killed two people. I should do something to make up for it.
RasT
Me heard ya.
RasK
Good luck with Babylon.
RasT
Tanks.
RasK
Howre you going to do that exactly?
RasT
Bein in a circle, burnin tings, beatin drums and chantin down Babylon.
RasK
Sounds like fun. (RasK waves, takes a step towards the exit. RasT steps forward and hugs him, warrior style. RasK leaves, a changed man. RasT looks down over the bridge rail.)
"Ras Kolnikov and Ras Tafari" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
"Ras Kolnikov and Ras Tafari" debuted March 7, 2003, performed by Ed Malin and Joe Ganem.