La Cabana

Little Cosette and Father Christmas

Characters: Rosa, Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Gonzalez, Rebecca, Priscilla, Manuel, Popsicle Seller, Clown, Guest 1, Guest 2, Guest 3, Rosa’s Father

Setting 1: Gonzalez Inn, Night

Narrator: This is the story of a little girl that never knew what love really was; she could only imagine something so special. Today will be different for this little girl as herlife will forever change. It is Panama City, the present year and it is summertime. While everyone is outside playing, poor Rosa has to work at the Gonzalez Inn.

(In the scene Rosa brooming, Mrs. Gonzalez, Rebecca and Priscilla)

*Speaking to the audience*

Mrs. Gonzalez: Everyone welcome to our humble inn, the best inn in Panama City! Feel free to make yourself at home; we have warm sheetsand hot meals, come in!

*To Rosa*

Keep brooming little rat, new guests could arrive at any minute and find this place looking like a trash hole. You cannot go out unless you finish cleaning the entire inn.

Rebecca: haha poor Rosie, you will never finish. I guess you won’t be able to come outside and play in the pool with us haha.

*To Priscilla*

Rebecca: Ha, Mama never lets her playanyway, because she is ungrateful with us.

Both: (laugh at Rosa)

Priscilla: loser!

Mrs. Gonzalez: Go play outside my little angels, mommy is busy here.

(The girls laughing at Rosa)

Both: Mama is going to punish you.

(Exit Rebecca and Priscilla)

Mrs. Gonzalez: I seriously can’t believe I let someone like you near my angels.

(Exit Mrs. Gonzalez)

(Rosa takes out an old dollthat she was hiding and looks at it)

Rosa: Why is the Mrs. Gonzalez so mean to me? I am always working hard in the inn, I keep it clean, I help our guests, I cook everyone’s meals, and yet I never get to play like Rebecca and Priscian. It is summertime and I’m trapped here. (Sigh) You are my only friend.

(Enter Mrs. Gonzalez)

Mrs. Gonzalez: Aha! I knew you were hiding something from me.What is it?? Give it to me! Now!

(Takes the doll from Rosa)

You know you can’t have dolls here, now keep working.

(Exit Mrs. Gonzalez)

Rosa: Now I am all alone again.

(Rosa grabs broom and continues brooming)

(Enter Mr. Gonzalez and Guests 1-3)

Mr. Gonzalez: As you can see we have the best to provide a pleasant stay for all of our guests. Son don’t you worry; I can assure youthat your stay at the Gonzalez Inn will be the best!

(Sees Rosa)

Get out of here little girl, the new guests will see you. Go broom some other place; I don’t want to see you again.

Rosa: But Mrs. Gonzalez told me to broom here.

Mr. Gonzalez: I don’t care, just go or you will not eat tonight!

(Exit Rosa)

Guest 3: Poor girl, is she your daughter?

Mr. Gonzalez: Oh no, no, no, no,no, don’t even say that. She is a girl we are taking care for a woman, just another annoying kid.

Guest 2: But she looks all mistreated and dirty.

Mr. Gonzalez: She must work to earn her stay here; you wouldn’t think we would give her free food and clothes?

Guest 1: That is horrible; she is too small to work like that.

Mr. Gonzalez: Hey, don’t come to my inn to insult what I do. Myfamily has run this inn for decades, this is how we work here so shut up and get out. Believe me; you won’t get any lodging for tonight.

(Exit Mr. Gonzalez)

Guest 3: This man is a monster.

Guest 1: But he is right we won’t get rooms in another inn, everyone is vacationing here and the other hotels and inns have no rooms left.

Guest 2: We will just have to stay quiet in this matter andpass the night here.

(Exit Guests 1-3)

(Enter Rosa, Mrs. Gonzalez, Rebecca, Priscilla, and Clown)

(Juggler is juggling two balls for Rebecca and Priscilla, Rosa is stirring soup for the guests, Mrs. Gonzalez is watching the Clown with the two girls)

(Clown finishes juggling the balls and bows, the girls and the Mrs. Gonzalez applaud)

Mrs. Gonzalez: Wonderful, wonderful, you are an...