THE TULUM CONQUEST (V5.2)

A short play

by Jonathan Florez

CHARACTERS

Gonzalo

Geronimo | Agent

Zazil Há | Cecilia

ACT I

The Mayan jungle at night.

The jungle begins to speak its universal language as the sunrise fast approaches:

A bird wakes up, another bird replies from afar.

The breeze passes, the trees & flowers begin to wake up.

We see smoke on the horizon & it yields the slight aroma of Palo Santo.

A short intense rainstorm begins, then the sky quickly clears up &

Where the flame was burning, the sun begins to reveal itself. The fog has cleared now,

Beat

A day in the jungle passes quickly. We are now closer to sunset. We hear a drum beat made of seeds, leather & dried fruits. It sounds like the heartbeat of the jungle.

Geronimo, the first hunter enters. He’s a shipwreck survivor; the only item that seems practically intact is his conquistador hat. He leaps from one end of the stage to the other with percussion instruments in his hands.

Gonzalo, the second hunter enters from the opposite side & mirrors Geronimo. They move like jungle predators.

They are skilled hunters that begin to scout the jungle for their next prey. &heir hunting language is the percussion on their hands.

This is the opening of ‘’La Danza del Venado’, a millenary ritual from the Americas.

Geronimo calls for Gonzalo, he sees movement afar in the jungle.

Zazil Há enters with percussion beads on her body and a traditional deer head over hers.

She roams around like a deer, as if looking to feed. Remaining vigilant but unaware of the hunters are nearby.

She calmly settles & begins to eat.

Gonzalo spots the deer. He signals to Geronimo & they observe.

They take a knee & bless themselves with a cross over their chest, but it seems out of place as in from another ritual.

They look once again at their prey & Geronimo encourages the ambush to begin.

Gonzalo doesn’t follow, he continues to stare at the deer.

Geronimo begins to circle the deer, closing in.

As the deer realizes she’s no longer on her own, she begins her escape. Geronimo launches his pursuit.

As he lifts his aim with an arrow & shoots, a light freezes him.

The deer has been hurt & slowly begins to die.

As she approaches a spotlight, the deer & the light disappear.

Gonzalo re-enters now with a jaguar head on top of his head. He runs toward the deer.

Geronimo re-aims at Gonzalo & they now face each other. He now pulls back the arrow ready to shoot.

Black Out.

ACT II

Tulum, 1519. Geronimo is revealed on a Mayan beach but now without his Conquistador hat.

Opposite him is Gonzalo. He is now a full Mayan Warrior, he wears an attire made out of the skin of a Jaguar. Gonzalo inhales deeply with his eyes closed:

GONZALO

"Akyaabil"

GERONIMO

What did you say?

GONZALO

It’s the breeze, right before it rains

GERONIMO

Speak to me in Christian.

Gonzalo opens his eyes

Have you read the letter?

GONZALO

Staring into the sea

They have docked in Kùutsmil

GERONIMO

Is it really Cortes? with his men & ships?

Gonzalo ignores him

Dear loving god, Alleluyah!!!! After all this time the ships have finally come! I knew they would come!

GONZALO

They’ll be leaving for the Port of Veracruz in two days.

GERONIMO

We must get to them, right away before they leave us-

GONZALO

They destroyed anything they could on the island. It’s a warning, of what is to come.

GERONIMO

A warning from God!

GONZALO

Every temple in Kùutsmil was burned down.

Every single statue had their head cut of.

& the disease is starting to spread.

GERONIMO

it is God’s will. They will fall like Sodoma & Gomorra!

GONZALO

What are the ships here for Geronimo? for the Church? for the Crown?

What good are these ships bringing to this people?

GERONIMO

-Comrade, are you not coming?

Beat

Returns gaze to horizon

GONZALO

I’ve been there with these men on the sea, searching for what doesn’t belong to us.

GERONIMO

But we can go back to our land! to our families! There are no jaguars there!

GONZALO

(Visibly angry) You will not go back to your wife. You’ll be lucky if you make it off the ship in Veracruz alive. The Aztecs will be waiting.

GERONIMO

El Santo Niño de Atocha will protect me! He reminds me of my boy…

Shows him the rosary

& I promised el Niño that if he takes me to my wife & my boy…. I will finish this crusade.

Beat

GONZALO

You can join us on the other side. Now that I’m a general-

GERONIMO

-I am no traitor unlike you. A traitor to your family, to your God & to your people!

GONZALO

Then you’ll walk on your own.

GERONIMO

I’ll be eaten alive by the jungle!

Beat

What about Mulix? He brought the letter! Can the boy come with me?

He’s good at smelling the jaguars when they are close… (cynical) he’ll return just fine-

GONZALO

Zazil Há will show you the way with her hair. A map could lead them right back to us.

If you want to make it to Kùutsmil you’ll have to memorize it, tonight.

GERONIMO

Tonight!?

Beat

but Zazil Há…. She’s the Princess of the tribe. I thought she is now promised to you…

(disgusted) this isn’t christian!

Zazil Há enters. She’s a holy member of the tribe & dressed as such, wrapped by a large cloth.

They both take a knee when she passes right by them, as it is custom.

GONZALO

She’s the only one you watch.

Beat

& she’s been having the same dream; leading a dead man deep into the jungle. The moon never comes back & there is a deer, the last one, standing, searching for a bit of shade left under any dry tree… until it all turns to ashes.

Beat

We don’t know yet who that man is.

GERONIMO

what if you’re wrong Gonzalo? What if the dead man walking isn’t me, but you?

You need me to stay.

Beat

GONZALO

(Warning him) The long dark night is coming for all of us.

Gonzalo starts to leave

ZAZIL HÁ

Lista!

GERONIMO

Did she just speak…?

Her hair is now intertwined very intricately between feathers & flowers.
 She seems angelically irresistible.

GONZALO

Mulix taught her so you’ll understand each other just fine.

Beat

If you do reach Cortes or the ships…. don’t tell them I stayed.

Gonzalo exits

GERONIMO

-& how will I cross the water to the island Gonzalo??? Gonzalo!!!

Zazil Há is sitting on the hammock, staring at Geronimo.

Marimbas begins to play on the background.

GERONIMO

(To heaven) Oh God, please help me!

He looks back at her

I have not been this close to a woman in years….

As she tries to seduce him, she plays with the hammock as if they were flying silks

ZAZIL HÁ

(Teasing him) Gerooooooonimooooooooo!

He begins to pray without being unable to completely take her eyes away from her

GERONIMO

Padre nuestro que estas en los cielos! Santificado sea tu nombre!

ZAZIL HÁ

Ven! Ven! Manik!

GERONIMO

“No nos dejes caer en la tentación y líbranos de todo mal”

ZAZIL HÁ

Manik!

GERONIMO

Give me strength God to make it holy away from here.

ZAZIL HÁ

(Pronounced ten) Teeen Alitzel! Teeen… Amaité!

GERONIMO

If you watch me safely to the Island, I promise to serve & bring the light of God to these sinners!

He looks at her hair

Ah, the hair! I have to study the hair!

To Zazil Há

Please turn around, look that way

Zazil Há doesn’t seem to understand. She stands up as if she’s about to walk to him

No no no! Stop!

Shows with his hands

Tuuuuuurn around! Yes yes! Now look that way!

Ok ok. I see, the yellow flower… that must be… the sunrise! East!

She follows. He slowly starts coming closer to her

Mmmhhh maybe those very tall palm trees up North, yes, then a left, no no no right…

a zig zag? christ

He gets very close to her

The river & oh the flowers… (takes a deep breath) I remember the smell of the flowers there…(closes eyes) & your hair….

She releases her robe

No no. Put that back on. I’m…. my wife Virginia… and my child… I’ll see them very soon

She pulls a pin out which holds the most of her hair. It falls slowly , covering her chest.

He jumps back

No! No! Stop! I don’t know the way! The way to Cortes! The way home!

ZAZIL HÁ

(Smiling & playing with her hair) Mira!

yo Alitzel! yo Amaite!

He steps further back

The marimbas heard on the background intensify & a thunderstorm begins.

GERONIMO

(Desperate) The way! I don’t know the way!

Trying to think of his wife, he begins to masturbate

Wait. Virginia. Soon….

They’ll sacrifice if you sleep with me, but he will sacrifice me if I sleep with you.

She gets incredibly angry

ZAZIL HÁ

No! No! Geronimo!!!!

He starts to climax quickly

GERONIMO

Virginia…. Your long blonde hair… soon soon my love!

ZAZIL HÁ

ven! Nooooooo Maaaaaaaniiiiikkkkkk!!!!!

GERONIMO

(Looking at her face) Ahhh Alitzel!!! Amaaaaaite!!!!

Zazil Há blows a dart at Geronimo, he falls to the floor.

Thunder & rain, followed by Black out.

ACT III

We’re in a renovated Cenote in Tulum, 2039. It looks like a chic minimalistic studio.

The deer head is placed & lit like a contemporary sculpture on a corner. The Jaguar head is on a wall, like a hunting trophy.

Geronimo is now a slick real estate agent. We hear a tribal-electronic song playing on the background.

AGENT

& this is the living room area!

To the outside of the cavern, past the high-rise buildings & on a clear day from the smoke, you can see the sun… sometimes.

Cecilia & Gonzalo enter together as a couple

CECILIA

(Repulsed) Le puedes decir que hable mas despacio? 
Le entiendo pero sabes que no me gusta hablarlo.
(Can you tell him to speak more slowly? I understand, but you know I don't like speaking it)

GONZALO

Dice que en un dia despejado se alcanza a ver el sol pero eso dicen siempre.

(He says that on a clear day you can see the sun, but they always say that)

To the agent

Oh sorry, do you speak Spanish?

AGENT

I don’t. It’s so rare around here nowadays. I did take some Mayan courses, that’s the original language around here but it was basic level stuff 101.

GONZALO

Once everyone started to speak English automatically, everything was standardized.

You know, the YouTube effect.

AGENT

Is she a local?

CECILIA GONZALO

Si Yes

AGENT

Wow…. Even more rare to meet a local, we all come from somewhere else …

I don’t even know where I’m from.

Beat

Where was I? Oh yes the Tren Maya stop is only a few blocks away & The Mayan canal is only a 30min drone lift away. The Hyperloop to Ibiza is right there.

The city does abide by strict code, so there’s a 24/7 VeganTaco Bell & no churches allowed within a 15 minute radius.

To Gonzalo

CECILIA

Y que había aqui antes?

(What was here before?)

GONZALO

What’s the story again with the cavern?

AGENT

Oh Cenotes, they were unique to the Peninsula, there used to be a very blueish turkish water till the people drank it. The Cenotes were turned into the baddest parties ever when they dried up until the city stepped in… I say the only good system is a sound system!

Beat

You know this is where the meteorite that killed all the dinosaurs 66 million years ago hit. So all these underground interconnected tunnels were made & turned Into these condos once the water dried up. The only similar thing to it nowadays is in Texas where the big bomb hit.

But ha! Who’d want one of those? It’ll be another 66 million years until they’re no longer radioactive… we’ll be dead by then.

Beat

To the agent, warming up to him

CECILIA

Que aprendiste en Maya?

What did you learn in Mayan?

GONZALO AGENT

She said Mhhh I don’t remember

Beat

AGENT

A few words here & there, mainly the names of places that used to be around here for real estate zoning and such.

CECILIA

Sian Ka’an?

AGENT

Sian Ka’an. “The origin of the Sky”

GONZALO

I know ‘Manik’ which means Deer…. & ‘B’alam’ for jaguar!

CECILIA

Hay si los B’alam!

walks towards the jaguar head

(staring) alcance a ver uno cuando era una niña!

( I saw one when I was a child!)

AGENT

I have a renovated Cenote in Sian Ka’an. Would you also like to take a look at it?

Beat.

To Cecilia

You know what do you remind me of?

“Alitzel”

which means ‘a smiley young girl’

Cecilia smiles

& Amaité!

which means ‘a face from the Heavens’

CECILIA

I like those! There are words that you cannot translate!

Beat

GONZALO

(Cheerful) Do you have any Cenotes we can take a look at over by “Zazil Há"?

Black Out followed by “Quimey Neuquen”.

THE TULUM CONQUEST (V5) April 27, 2024

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