Sunday, November 27, 2011

Teacher's Lunch - Sketch

Here's another scene I wrote for a couple friends at school for our schools Theater Night


Characters:
Jane Anderson: Really cheery and nice to everyone.  Fun to be around. Cares a lot about teaching and tries to do what's best for her students. Teaches English
Alexander Roberts: Happy and Nice teacher. gives a  lot of Homework but knows how to teach well. Teaches Science.
Noah Walker: Young, new teacher. Really enthusiastic, but stressed about his job. Teaches Math.
Ava Peterson: Calm, ecstatic, bubbly, quiet, furious, cheerful. She's always in a different mood, you never know what will happen next. Teaches Psychology.
Anita Tucker: Nerd teacher basically. Loves her job. She always accidentally mentions dissecting or something, especially during lunch. Teaches Animal Science.


Table and Chairs CS. Jane and Alexander enter SR. Jane looks tired, Alexander concerned. Jane Carrying a lunch box, Alexander a paper bag.
Jane: (sounding almost exhausted) Alexander, I don't think I can put up with these kids anymore.
Alexander: (trying to help) Well they can't be as bad as my last class.
Jane: Oh, I wouldn't say that, I have Joe Stitcher in my class!
Alexander: (almost laughing) Aaaah! you have Stitcher do you?
Jane: (slightly frustrated) This is not a laughing matter!
Alexander: (Holds "door" open for her, she nods thanks) (mock sincerity) I'm sorry, I do feel your pain.
Jane: (pushes his shoulder) You don't even care!
(Noah enters SL, Jane and Alexander pull out their lunches. Noah opens "door" and walks in, quietly sits down. Jane and Alexander look at Noah, then at each other)
Jane: Is something wrong Noah? (Ava and Anita enter SL)
Alexander: (overly cheerful) Yeah, you're not your regular cheery self.
Noah: Aaaahhhggg!!!! (they both jump back, Ava and Anita come in quickly)
Ava: What happened?!
Anita: Is something wrong?!
Noah: I can't stand these High Schoolers any longer!!!!
Alexander: Is that all? You are still a pretty new teacher. Don't worry, you'll get…
Noah: No, I won't, I can't get used to them!!
Ava: (trying to comfort Noah) Maybe you should sit down.
Noah: Good idea. (he attempts to sit, although he's already sitting) Wait,  I am sitting down!
Ava: (realizing her mistake) Oh, well then maybe you should stand up.
(Awkward Silence)
Anita: (Acknowledging awkward silence attempts to change the subject) You won't believe it! (Jane and Alexander become interested while Ava tries to help Noah feel better) During Animal Science today, a student found the remnants of a man-of-war jellyfish in the shark we were dissecting. (they become uninterested)
Alexander: Well thank you very much Miss. Tucker for that flawless attempt of changing the subject. (Jane looks at her lunch with disgust. Noah and Ava are now listening)
Anita: Well excuse me Mr. Roberts. I was only trying to help. (she gestures with her hands) I'm sure you didn't have anything that spectacular happen today.
Alexander: My day was uneventful, to say the least. (motioning to Jane) Jane's the one to talk to if you want a story.
Jane: (modesty shrugging) It's not that exciting really. Just another day attempting to teach Joe Stitcher. (a few slightly pull back and gasp)
Ava: Oh, I'm sorry Jane, that you have to put up with him.
Alexander: (slightly laughing) How'd you end up with crutches?
Ava: It wasn't Joe, I fell off a desk doing a demonstration.
Noah: What kind of demonstration?!
Ava: Don't ask.
Jane: What do you think I should do?
Alexander: Hey, a little extra homework never hurt the kid.
Noah: (to Alexander) Yeah, all those reports and essays you assign to be turned in the next day, those never hurt anybody.
Alexander: Oh, I usually give them full credit, or never collect it, if they learn to behave.
Jane: And what does it benefit the students.
Alexander: Almost absolutely nothing. But that's the point. The benefit is all mine. (he tells this excitedly as if it's a big secret) You can almost hear the silence when they're working.
Jane: Why Mr. Roberts, that's horrible!
Noah: (to Jane) You know, he has a point.
Anita: Now don't you go and side with him!
Noah: I'm just saying…
Jane: That's no way to teach Mr. Walker.
Noah: I know, I know. But you have to admit, it's not a bad idea.
Anita: (trying to change the subject again) Have any of you ever had Melany Coleman in your class? She's a jewel. (attention turns to Anita)
Alexander: No, what makes her so special?
Anita: She's absolutely a star student! One day, during Animal Science, she discovered the most amazing microorganism devouring the protoplasm of a particularly agitated bacterium.
Noah: Um, if you haven't noticed, we were going to try and eat our lunch.
Alexander: (Sarcastically, to Noah) Are you kidding?! That really helped my appetite!
Noah: (equally sarcastic) Oh, I'm sure! Just Imagine that poor bacterium being eaten by the…(stops, turns to Ava) what did you say that was?
Anita: (slightly agitated at his sarcasm) A microorganism.
Noah: Oh yes! (turns back to Alexander) imagine that poor bacterium being devoured by the microorganism. I'm sure it made you very hungry.
Ava: (scolding Noah and Alexander) Honestly, you two. (speaking to everyone) You know, there are a few girls in my first class that just drive me up the wall.
Jane: What are they like?
Ava: Well, I let my class choose where they sit because I believe it helps them learn better if they can work with someone they know…
Alexander: Oh, I think I can see where this is going.
(Noah takes out his phone and starts texting)
Ava: Shhhh, I haven't even gotten there yet. Well these three girls sat right next to each other and instead of talking to each other face to face, they're always texting! Can you believe it?! I don't know what this world is coming to. Imagine, three people so socially inept that they can't even talk to each other face to face! (her phone rings. She looks at it.) Oh, I just got a text from Mr. Walker. (she reads it slowly) I have those girls in one of my classes. I believe they're starting to rub off on me. (she starts texting him back, and realizes what's happening) Wait a minute!!!! (turns to Noah, exasperated)
Noah: (He shrugs innocently) I was just trying to make a point.
Jane: So, Noah, what was bothering you earlier?
Noah: (motioning with hands) Those same girls in Ava's class. No matter what I do I can't ever get them to stop talking…er…texting.
Alexander: Why don't you just take their phones away?
Noah: They won't confess that they actually had their phones out. I don't know where they hide them, but the general response is that they were looking in their purse. What is so important that they have to constantly look in their purse? I don't see how they think that's a good excuse.
Alexander: Just like I told you Noah, you'll learn to...
Noah: No, I told you before I can't get used them!! It's utterly impossible!!!
(A school bell rings back stage)
Jane: (Standing up to leave) Well, we better get to our next class.(exit SR)
Alexander: (Stands up and follows Jane) I'm right behind you!
Ava:  better go prepare some last minute things for my class. See you all later. (waves goodbye, exits SL)
Anita: (Sighs, controlling herself as if she has to do something really hard) Back to the Laboratory. (waves) See ya' later Noah. (exits SL)
(three girls enter SL, texting and occasionally giggling)
Noah: (Looks at the girls, Sighs/groans, puts head on table then slowly picks up his lunch bag and walks out of the room pushing "door" open, SL)  (Lights darken)


           
           

En gaurde

This is a scene I wrote for my Theatre Arts class, enjoy!


Synopsis:  As the curtain opens, light shines on a castle courtyard. A few trees shrubs and an open archway are seen. Aurthur is carrying wooden practice swords. Both Arthur and Elizabeth grew up in the castle together and are rarely seen without each other. little do they know, they are betrothed.
Aurthur is a nobleman's son, training to become a knight. he has always loved having Elizabeth as a friend, but is afraid they will be separated by her marriage or war. (17 yrs old)
Elizabeth is nobleman's daughter, who is spunky and energetic. She's always enjoyed being Aurthur's playmate, friend and soon to be colleague throughout their lives. She has been secretly training at night and can't wait to best Aurthur during their private fencing match. She'd rather  ride with a regular saddle or no saddle at all, and wear breeches rather than learn how do stuff like make intricately boring samplers and eat properly and politely with a different fork for practically each bite.


Arthur: Elizabeth, I really don't think you're ready.
Elizabeth: Arthur…
Arthur: I don't want you to get hurt!
Elizabeth: (She steps in front of him, hands on hips.) Don't you remember when we were kids? Remember when we dumped a bucket of water on the guards standing on the terrace?
(He smiles at this) And other times, when the whole palace became our playground, and we could do anything in the world as long as we stayed in this courtyard? (She gestures around the space.)
Arthur: (holding the swords loosely at his side.) Yes, but Eliz…
Elizabeth: Things haven't changed!
Arthur: What are you saying?
Elizabeth: What I mean is, We can still do anything.
Arthur: ( Putting his hand on her shoulder) Elizabeth, in a few years time, you will become a Lady, and I a Lord. (Gesturing to himself) I will go and fight for the kingdom, and you will remain here. We can't continue to pretend that, that will never happen.
Elizabeth: Must I become a Lady? (Taking one of the swords from Arthur, pause, she pulls back and swipes down at him. He quickly deflects the blow with his sword, she flips hers around and holds it close to his neck.) I assure you Arthur, (pulling in closer) This is no pretend.
(They both pull back. he takes a simple fencing stance, and she follows. Their swords hit twice and she swipes so low that he has to bend far backwards. They take the stance again. The swords hit twice again and he cuts across at her feet. She blocks it just in time. He pulls back, and she aims for his chest. He blocks it and brings the tip of her sword to the ground. She pulls away and turns just in time to miss his blow for her back.)
Elizabeth: In the back Arthur?!
Arthur: (with a mischievous smile) Never turn your back on an opponent.
(they take the stance again. Swords clash, and they circle.)
Elizabeth: You fight with force, but where is your style?
Arthur: I'm just getting started!
(He swings the sword high above his head and comes down toward her. She easily deflects it to the side and reaches out to grab the hilt of his sword. She pulls his sword out of his grasp and brings her's down, stopping right before the wooden blade reaches his neck.)
Elizabeth: Au contraire, I believe you are finished.
(She tosses his sword in the air and catches it around the middle. Looking at the sword she says,) when you leave for the battle, (she gives the handle end back to Arthur but doesn't let go, but pulls in.) I'll be following close by your side.
(He takes hold of both ends of the sword and pulls it around in front of her so she is caught between him and the sword, and catching her off guard just enough to keep his pride intact)
Arthur: Elizabeth?
Elizabeth: (slightly surprised) Yes, Arthur?
Arthur: Elizabeth I…(sigh) (he pauses, almost regretting his acceptance, he looks her in the eye, she looks back.) I'll be there for you. Just, just be careful.
(light fades to darkness and the curtains close)



I talked to a senior actor last year, and he said I should add a kiss at the end. Tell me what do you think?



Thursday, November 10, 2011

Dearest Love

                                 My Deepest love
                           Burns within my own heart.
                    Makes me laugh and want to cry.
                You love me back and hold me so close
         to your heart. Many days we spend together.
   This is only the start. We will love each other
much longer than we can imagine right now.
   My tears fall on your shirt as you help
         me through the trials. And your smile
                warms my weary soul. You make
                      me so very happy, and full of light.
                              Thank you for your love.
                                    All my love,
                                       __________

Hold Your Breath

Bad-um
Bad-um
Don't breathe.
Listen and feel.
Hold on just a little longer.
Sink lower.
Don't go just yet.
My head is screaming No!
My lungs need air!
Bad-um

Bad-um


Bad-um
Calmer, slower now.
Just wait.
Open your eyes.
Bad-um.
Breathe out.
Watch the bubbles surface.
Bad-um
Let go.
Float.
Bad-um
Bad-um
Bad-um
Go up now.
You've had enough.
Surface!
Gasp!
Fill your lungs!
Bad-um

Bad-um.

Stop

Time stops.
We don't have to worry about the rest of the world's troubles because they're gone.
No more.
No stress.
No heart break.
No sorrow.
Only peace, happiness, and love remain.
If I could only stop the world from turning,
we could rest from our troubles and worrisome lives and
take time to spend with our families, friends, and neighbors.
If we had no deadlines, no rush, no cares.
All would be well.
We would have time to think.
Time to share.
Time to hope.
Time to live.