Asian American sisters May and Ashley are much like any sister- sister duo, they love each other, fight like cats and dogs and always come back together for movie nights and play fights. But as they grow up, they have grown in different directions. They both use to sing and excelled at it but eventually May decided that it wasn’t for her and Ashley began college and is focusing on vocal performance as a major. Through the scene we see them celebrate their sisterhood with memories and laughs, performances, and play, and have difficult conversations about how older sister Ashley wishes she had the outgoing personality of little sister May, and May wishes she had her sister’s voice. As hate crimes in America against Asian people soars the sisters are forced to face the reality that there are people in this world who will not like them not on their merit but simply on the way they look. This story follows the sisters as they attempt to live their lives and maneuver this new world while avoiding the crimes against them, until one sister becomes the victim of a hate crime. They must come together to support each other through a difficult time as one sister is mistaken for the other in this senseless attack and how heavy the guilt of that mistake weighs on the other. Eventually, they figure out how to move forward in love and in song.
*Note: this story has two endings for the performers to choose from or mix as they see fit. The performers in this story must be of Asian descent.
Sister Song
(Scene opens with Ashley, a Korean girl, 18 years old practices singing, she is very good. She is focused as her little sister May, 16 enters. She listens to her big sister sing and when Ashley finishes, she applauds her.)
Ashley: (singing) “It is only in the words that fuel our hearts. (To May) The fuel that often leads us to the parts of us that we didn’t know we could love so. Love abundantly. Love like you and me.”
Ashley: (smiling as she takes her bows) Thank you, thank you.
May: (still clapping) Sorry Miss Ashley the Great, I don’t have any flowers for you but I hope you will accept my hands clapping until they are red (showing her) as a sign that you really can sing. (they both laugh)
Ashley: Really, thanks. And you could have been a great singer with me if you hadn’t quit.
May: Oh, no, here we go again. (mocking) “If you hadn’t quit you could have been great. If you had just hunkered down and followed the lead of your sister you could be getting college scholarships like she did for singing. What are you going to do with your life May?”
Ashley: (laughs but sees it hurts May) Hey, don’t compare yourself to me.
May: Everyone else does.
Ashley: I don’t.
May: Because you know you’re better than me.
Ashley: (laughs) Are you serious? I wish I had the personality that you have.
May: Shut up.
Ashley: I’m serious little sister. I don’t have any friends; I have a voice that won’t always sound like this. I go to college, but no one hangs out with me because all I do is study and practice.
May: But you’re so good.
Ashley: I’m lonely. I want to have friends and go do things on the weekends like you do. (she takes her hands) I want to dance like you- (they dance, Ashley is awkward, but May has a simple flow)