Play 9- November 23- Blank

Blank

(stage is completely black except for lighting in center where characters stand)

1:
Don’t you hate it when you just can’t come up with ideas for the life of you?

2:
Ideas? What kind.

1:
I don’t know. Just(pause) ideas. Dreams, fantasies, memories, clichés (pause) I don’t know- just anything.

2:
Blank board eh?

1:
Huh?

2:
Blank board; clean slate, nothing to go off of.

1:
Exactly.

2:
So what do you need ideas for? Writing, boredom (pause) presidential speech?

1:
No.
(beat.)
Life.

2:
Ah.

(lights dim, end scene)

Play 8-November 22-Breathe A Little

Breathe a little

Mason: 18
Emma: 17

(Mason and Emma are walking on the way to school in an obvious rush. They are cutting through the park when suddenly Mason sits down on a bench)

Emma:
Oh my gosh its already eight. We are gonna be sooo late!
(realizes she is walking alone, and whips around to see Mason chilling out on bench)
What are you doing?! Did you not just hear me? We’ve got exactly two minutes to get across town before we’re officially late. C’mon!

Mason:
(smiles at her, not budging)

Emma:
Mason! Come on, are you kidding me?

Mason:
Come here a sec.

Emma:
What?! No! There’s no time to sit down. We have to get to school in now
(looks at watch)
1 minute!!
(grabs Mason’s arm and tries to pull him off bench, but he pulls her on instead)

Mason:
Now relax.

Emma:
Relax?! Mason! We’re officially late! Now we have even more things to worry about.

Mason:
Stop worrying. Stop freaking out. Stop everything. Just sit.

Emma:
(about to open her mouth in protest)

Mason:
Emma, if you sit here for one minute with me- then we may go. Alright?

Emma:
But-

Mason:
Uno minuto.

Emma:
(sighs)
Fine.
(mutters)
we're already late anyways...

Mason:
My point exactly dear.
(smiles)

(long silence)

Mason:
(looks over at Emma)
Now see. Look at time flow. You go too fast through it and you never know what happens. You do nothing and it passes you by. Sometimes you just gotta breathe (beat.) You know?

(long silence)

Emma:
Wow…I guess you’re right.

(long silence)

Mason:
(looks at Emma’s watch)
So I guess our minute is over. Thank you. We can go now.
(starts to get up)

Emma:
No. No…(beat.) We can stay a little longer.

Mason:
(smiles at Emma and relaxes into seat)

(long silence with them looking thoughtful)
(lights dim, end scene)

Play 7-November 21-Suprise Fall

Intro:
okay - so this scene is basically an edited scene of one I wrote a long time ago. Yes its mushy. No I won't write another one like it for a while so bear with me for five minutes while I drench you in my sap.

Suprise Fall

Boy: m 16
Girl: f 16

Boy:
So tripping on your rollerblades and falling on your but…in the park….in front of all these people makes you happy?

Girl:
Yeah. I know. “Ha Ha”…you know you love me.
(trumps around the grass spinning in circles on tips of roller blades)

B:
(softly)
Yeah. I do.

G:
(spins around a couple more times before stops spinning to face Boy , astonished)
Wait…what?

B:
I love you.

G:
Ha ha, no you don’t
(goes back to spinning)


B:
Yes, I do.


G:
( suddenly stops spinning, clumsily dropping down on grass. Looks at ground and then looks up at him.)


B:
(smiling, kneels down in front of Girl talking into her ear)
Did that make you happy?

G:
(smiles)

B:
(smiles, gazes leans in, they kiss, lights dim, scenes end.)

Play 6-November 20-Lucky Stop.

Intro:
Okay..so according to Thomas I've got my bases all mixed up. But then again his version of the bases are a lot more perverted than mine...anyhow if he is right...please forgive my naiiveness and disregaurd this scene as an evil gremlin taking over my laptop. Thank you.


Lucky Stop

Jake: twentysomething
Woman 1: twentysomething
Woman 2: twentysomething
Woman 3: twentysomething
Girl: 8
(Scene starts out with Jake in elevator looking up at the floor numbers change)

(door opens, enter woman 1, with newspaper in hand)

Jake:
(looks at attractive woman coming in elevator, then double takes)

Woman 1:
Hi.

Jake:
(still baffled)
H-hi.

Woman 1:
(smiles and looks down at her newspaper)

(bell dings and door opens, Woman 1 exits, a very attractive Woman 2 enters-seemingly distraught)

Jake:
(with a bit more confidence due to woman 1’s greeting)
Hi.

Woman 2:
Hi.

Jake:
So- what floor are you going to.

Woman 2:
(sniffles)
twenty up from here.

Jake:
Oh.

Woman 2:
(stifling a cry)

Jake:
Wow. That doesn’t sound good.

Woman 2:
Oh. Me? Gosh I’m sorry- you’re probably like “Oh look at this pathetic woman, just walking in and spilling her emotions out to the world” ohh my gosh I’m so embarrassed..

Jake:
No. No its okay- I don’t think that at all- um…do you want to talk about it?

Woman 2:
My boyfriend- he just broke up with me.
(bawls)

Jake:
Oh. (pause) I’m uh- sorry to hear that.

Woman 2:
(bawling)
….and we had future and….
(rest of words not heard under crying)
…..dumped me for some bimbo he met at work…
(bawls)

Jake:
(confused and awkward expression)
(long pause)
Here…um let me get you a tissue.
(reaches into pocket, and gives to Woman 2)
Here.

Woman2:
Thanks..
(loud honk)

Jake:
No problem…
(pause)
Wow….I’m really sorry….If it helps…I can already tell he has yet to realize what he lost-(hesitant pause) beautiful woman like yourself.

Woman 2:
(looks up with jaw open)
You really mean that?

Jake:
Sure!
Woman 2:
(leans into him)

Jake:
(freezes in shock, then loosens up seeing his lucky position)
(puts his arm around her)
There there- its okay.

(bell dings, door opens)

Woman 2:
(straightens up, and shyly looks at Jake)
Oh…that’s my floor. Thanks….for everything.
(quickly kisses Jake, briskly walks out and waves)

Jake:
(dumbfounded)
Wait! I didn’t get your

(door closes)

Jake:
name….

(two floors go by when door opens again and extremely attractive hooter-esque woman seductively saunters in)

Woman 3:
Hey sexy.

Jake:
(baffled but extremely aware of opportunity)
Hey.

Woman 3:
How are you doing?

Jake:
Good I guess.
(looks down)

(silence)
(Woman 3 and Jake look up at each other at same time and start to inch closer)
(cliché elevator make out scene)

(bell dings)

Woman 3:
Oh! There’s my floor. It was nice…meeting you. Call me sometime.
(saunters out)

Jake:
You bet. (beat.) But wait! I didn’t get your-

(door closes)

Jake:
number…
(sighs)
(Then look of realization spreads across his face)
Wait!
(counts on fingers)
First base…second base…third base…ohh…
(pause)
YES!

(bell dings and Jake practically jumps)
(door opens to cute, smiling, Eight year old girl with teddy bear)

Jake:
What?!

(girl looks cockeyed at him)
(lights dim/scene ends)

Play 5-November 19th-Things Have Changed

Intro:
Okay- so I have to do a little introducing to this one. I have to admit I cheated a little today and for today's play I used a scene I wrote over the summer(yay for CSSSA assignments!). My brain is dead and needs recharging (aka sleep) Yes, I know it needs revisions. But for all you out there who I know are counting on me now to help them procrastinate in whatever homework activity they should be doing- here you go.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED

JACKIE: age: 13
ANDREW: age: 14


(Walking home from school on side of the road grasping on to backpack straps. )


ANDREW:
So are you goin to that party at Drake Wilson’s tonight?


JACKIE:
(looks down at ground)
No, I’ve got to like study…and give my dog a bath.


ANDREW:
Jacks, you never study and…you don’t have a dog.


JACKIE:
Oh, your right…I guess I don’t
(looks off in another direction)


(long silence)


ANDREW:
So uh did you have fun on Friday?

(silence)

ANDREW:
Jackie?


JACKIE:
What? Oh, yeah sure tons of fun.
(looks back down at ground)


ANDREW:
Jacks, is there…something wrong. Someone givin you trouble?


JACKIE:
Yeah actually, now that you mention it.


ANDREW:
Who?


JACKIE:
You.


ANDREW:
What?


JACKIE:
Oh don’t play oblivious. God, you always do this. Like, even on Friday, you pulled that type of crap and didn’t realize I actually cared!


ANDREW:
What did I do?


JACKIE:
You slow-danced with her.


ANDREW:
(pause)
Who?


JACKIE:
That girl. Melinda something-or-other.


ANDREW:
Oh.
(pause)
Was that her name?


JACKIE:
You don’t even know?!



ANDREW:
Look, we just slow danced… its not like she’s my girlfriend or anything.
(pause)
Why do you care anyway?


JACKIE:
(long pause)
It’s like- It’s like she was replacing me.


ANDREW:
What?


JACKIE:
See. I knew you wouldn’t understand.


ANDREW:
What’s there to understand? Jackie, you’ve been my best friend since we were seven years old…we’ve done everything together—


JACKIE:
Yeah, yeah, I know. We’ve fallen off our first bikes together, built our first campfire…even got poison ivy and chicken pocks at the same time…you were even there when my mom died…


(long pause as they finally look at each other, gazing.)


JACKIE:
(snapping out of it)
But that’s beside the point. There you go trying to change the subject like you’re always doing in Mrs. Kaisers…why can’t you stay on one subject?



ANDREW:
I’m sorry…but what was so important about it? It’s just a girl…and besides I don’t even like her that much.


JACKIE:
I just don’t like it.


ANDREW:
What. So I’m liking girls now…do you have a problem with that?


JACKIE:
(long silence)


ANDREW:
So answer me!


JACKIE:
(long silence)


ANDREW:
Jacks, come one what do you want? I can’t know if you don’t tell me.


JACKIE:
It’s not me you’re liking!!


(long pause)


ANDREW:
What?


JACKIE:
I don’t know…I just like you…I think.


ANDREW:
Jacks, come on…stop joking around.


JACKIE:
I’m not joking.

ANDREW:
You’ve got to be.


JACKIE:
Andrew! I like you okay?! I can’t keep that from you anymore.


ANDREW:
Jackie, I-


JACKIE:
What.


ANDREW:
I’m sorry, but I don’t like you like that…I mean I love you Jacks…. but only as my best friend.


JACKIE:
It’s not enough anymore…


ANDREW:
Why?


JACKIE:
Because I can’t watch you like-like someone else…it hurts too much. I was always so comfortable with you…but not anymore…I feel…different.


ANDREW:
But Jacks-


JACKIE:
Don’t.


ANDREW:
But I could-


JACKIE:
No, if you don’t want me than don’t take me…that just makes it worse. I’m walking home alone…don’t try to catch up with me. In fact, don’t ever try to catch up with me.
(pause)
Things have changed Andrew.
(Jackie exits stage leaving Andrew alone)


(lights dim, end scene)

Play 4- November 18th-Deep Fishing.

Karl: 30
Todd: almost 31

(Todd and Karl sitting on dock fishing, they are silent, looking out to sea in thought when Karl breaks silence.)

Karl:
So it’s your birthday today.

Todd:
(scratches head as if this concept is foreign)
Oh. (long pause) What’s the date today?

Karl:
The eighteenth. (beat.) Your birthday.

Todd:
No its not.

Karl:
Eighteenth of November? Yeah. I’m pretty sure it is.

Todd:
No- I think you’re the one who’s had one to many birthdays. Look at you- senile already .
(waves Karl off)

Karl:
Or maybe its you- poor man; can’t even remember your own birthday.

Todd:
(grumbles)
I remember things just fine. But today’s not my birthday.

Karl:
Okay then…well (beat.) when is your real birthday.
(mocking tone)
Tell me sir- for I must know! Help me to get my poor facts straight!

Todd:
(Silent, looks down at water/fidgets with reel)

Karl:
Ah.(beat.) I see. Can’t remember that either. Well (beat.) I guess since you can’t remember the date we’ll just have to use this one. Happy Birthday Todd.

Todd:
No.

Karl:
No? Why?

Todd:
I hate my birthday.

Karl:
What- why?

Todd:
Well. (beat.) Think about it. Each birthday is another year closer to death, you end up getting old, each birthday is closer to grey hair- closer to wrinkles- closer to stiff backs- the day you go to the home. It’s the anniversary of someone else’s death because someone had to die so you could come into the world. If you’re not particularly proud of yourself it’s another reminder of your failure. Hallmark makes millions off of it- cake is bad for you- wrapping paper gets all over the place…(medium pause) birthdays just suck.

(long silence)

Karl:
Let me ask you something.

Todd:
Okay.

Karl:
Do you love your friends?

Todd:
Yes.

Karl:
Your wife? Your beautiful kids?

Todd:
More that anything.

Karl:
Well- (beat.) That’s one more year with them.

Todd:
Yeah…I guess you’re right.

(long silence as they stare out to sea)

Karl:
Happy Birthday Todd.

Todd:
(smiles shyly while still looking out to sea)
Thanks.

(lights dim, scene ends)

Play 3-November 17th-"Chestnut Grooves"

“Chestnut Grooves”

Matt: 17
Maggie (Matt’s Mother): 50


(Matt and Maggie are having their pre-thanksgiving tradition of peeling chestnuts and there is a pretty much silence due to their concentration on the task until Maggie speaks)

MAGGIE:
Well you seem solemn today honey. What’s on your mind?

MATT:
Nothing.

MAGGIE:
Are you sure?

MATT:
Yes.

(long silence/both peeling chestnuts.)

MAGGIE:
Are you sure?

MATT:
(somewhat annoyed)
Yes.

MAGGIE:
Well okay then….

(medium silence)

MAGGIE:
So….have you got any plans with Sarah tomorrow? Because if not- I would like to have the shutters painted before your sister and her friends fly in from New York. You know how I get with company- and I’ll be too busy cleaning every surface around to do it myself.

MATT:
(sighs)
Sarah and I broke up yesterday.

MAGGIE:
Oh.
(long pause, peels a half a chestnut)
So you can paint the shutters?

MATT:
Mom!

MAGGIE:
Well I’m sorry honey, but there’s nothing really new about this. How many girls has it been in the last six months?

MATT:
Not that many mom.

MAGGIE:
Well, there was Tiffany, and Andrea, and Natalia, Summer, Ashley, Bridgette, Melissa, Alyssa, Jenny, Ashley P., Peggy Sue….

MATT:
It was Elsie Mae mom and I only technically dated one of the Ashleys.

MAGGIE:
Do you remember which one?

MATT:
(silence, looks down at steaming chestnuts)

MAGGIE:
I’m just sayin honey…you have been through quite a few girls…more girls than months really…and its just odd considering you-

MATT:
(looking up and cutting her off)
Don’t go there mom.

MAGGIE:
Well you were with Adeline since your freshman year honey…and you had secretly liked each other since the third grade. Deny it all you want but you learned to love by her dear- and I know people grow up and apart but it was kind of you who quickly turned it over on her…was it not?

MATT:
You don’t know the whole story though mom. She wasn’t perfect either.

MAGGIE:
Oh I know that Matt. But I’m also your mother and I know where your heart's going.

MATT:
Oh yeah? Where then.

MAGGIE:
To the dump.

MATT:
(plops peeling knife on table)
What?

MAGGIE:
Come on Matt, eleven girls in six months?

MATT:
I told you mom I only dated one Ashley.

MAGGIE:
Ah. But you don’t remember which so we’ll just have to count both.

MATT:
(frustrated sigh)

MAGGIE:
All I’m saying is that you’re going to date yourself right into a hole. Soon there won’t be anymore girls wanting to date you- I mean you did dump all twelve- now including Sarah- I’m taking an educated guess and assuming that you broke it off with Sarah?

MATT:
(reluctantly nods head)

MAGGIE:
Okay, so twelve girls. Well I’m pretty sure it’s because you’re looking for something. Am I right?

MATT:
(shrugs)
Maybe mom I don’t know.

MAGGIE:
Another Adeline Anderson perhaps?

MATT:
No mom.

MAGGIE:
You can say that out-loud- but what is your heart sayin’ honey.

MATT:
Its telling me to tell you to lay off.

MAGGIE:
(silent)

(long pause as theirs eyes are down at the chestnuts they are peeling)

MAGGIE:
You know- I remember when she peeled one of these babies whole-no broken pieces
(holds up bare chestnut)
and I remember your smile at her like she was the greatest creature that walked the planet.

MATT:
Mom…

MAGGIE:
You two would just hold hands and smile at each other. It was just the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. You’d look at each other and just start laughing-you’d just make the silliest expressions and she would just burst.

MATT:
Mom! I told you to lay off already. Come on. That was when times were good. You know that.

MAGGIE:
Well as I recall the “time” for you just got bad within a three week period. Three weeks out of the years you two were happy. And you just kind of kicked each other out of the ring. Just gave up. And look where you are now. Six months, and tons of girls- I haven’t seen you smile the smile I know that counts in any of those months. There’s never going to be another Adeline Anderson for you Matthew.
(pause)
Now (beat) I’m not saying that you still love her. I am, however saying that you just aren’t happy the way you were and that you owe it to yourself to at least admit she was worth a damn to you. You quit listening to your heart the day you shoved her out the door.

MATT:
What good does it do? She’s with someone else now. And she won’t even look at me anymore.

MAGGIE:
You’ll at least stop lying to yourself.

(Matt is silent, solemn, looks down at chestnuts, not even picking up knife)

(very long pause- everything is completely silent)

MATT:
(still looking down.)
(sighs)
I miss her.

(lights dim, scene ends)

Play 2-November 16th- Waiting

“Waiting”

Ashlin: age 17
Brian: age 18

(Brian and Ashlin sit on stoop apparently waiting for something)

ASHLIN: You know.


BRIAN:
(awakens from trance)
huh?

ASHLIN:
You know.

BRIAN:
I know what Ashlin?

ASHLIN:
(silent, stares off into street)

BRIAN:
(looking confused)
ummm Ashlin? You aren’t exactly making sen-

ASHLIN:
(interrupting)
what you need to do.

BRIAN:
huh?

ASHLIN:
I said (pause) You know what you need to do.

BRIAN:
(scratching head in somewhat confusion)
Well that sure clears things up….not. I know what I need to do? Ashlin are you ok-

ASHLIN:
(cutting him off)
What are we waiting for?

BRIAN:
uhhhh…the bus…to take us into town?...So we can go to the Cineplex? (long pause) Remember?

ASHLIN:
Why are you waiting?

BRIAN:
(puzzled expression, raises an eyebrow)
Well…because I don’t have a car at the moment…um Ashlin? Are you sure you’re okay…I mean if you don’t want to go we can go back inside…in fact I think maybe we should (pause) you don’t seem to well.
(starts to get up)

ASHLIN:
No.

BRIAN:
Ash..?

ASHLIN:
That’s not what I meant- I meant, why are we sitting here, waiting to go to the movies?

BRIAN:
Well…because there’s nothing else to do?

ASHLIN:
But there is something to do! There’s tons to do! So many things to choose from

BRIAN:
(looking puzzled but then switching to relief)
Okay Good! You’re finally speaking in something other than fragmented sentences. That’s a relief….but Ashlin…what are you talking about?

ASHLIN:
Life.

(Brian plops back down)
(long silence)

BRIAN:
Life?

ASHLIN:
Yes.

BRIAN:
Life?

ASHLIN:
Life is not the movies.

BRIAN:
Well yes…I know but-

ASHLIN:
So go out and live it. Stop waiting.

(long silence)

ASHLIN:
Go.

BRIAN:
(Brian, still confused, gets a look of somewhat realization across his face. He gets up again, and walks down the stoop to start down the street.)

(lights dim, scene ends)

Play 1- November 15th-Bang.

"Bang."

Crystal Salas

GIRL: age 16

BOY: age 16

(nameless boy and girl stand out in the middle of the quiet street on a summer evening- already talking, but audience does not actually hear anything until Girl's first line)

GIRL:
I’m FUCKING tired of everyone trying to convert me!

BOY:
Language.

GIRL:
You know what? I’m that tired of it. If you were this sick of something you’d start sayin a curse word or two. And don’t deny it, cause you may be “saved” but you’re still a fucking human.

BOY:
(silent)

GIRL:
I’m so sick and tired of you and everyone else trying to change me. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’ve done nothing wrong. For once I’m happy with who I am. I’m not ashamed of thinking differently anymore. So if they’re not happy with who I am, I’m not even sorry. Okay? This is who I am. Besides, I’m not the one who changed.

(long silence as GIRL stares fire at BOY( looking down, seeming unaware of GIRLs passionate monologue.)

GIRL: I’m happy with who I am. And I don’t need some Jesus freak shoving what they believe I should think down my throat. Or blowin smoke up my ass so I’ll like them and magically want to go to church with them.

(more silence)

BOY: I’ve got to go inside for dinner.


GIRL:
( stares at him in confused silence)


BOY:
So…. I’m going to go now.


GIRL:
Did you hear what I said?

BOY:
Yeah.

GIRL:
(Looks at BOY in anticipation)

BOY:
So I’ll see you later.

GIRL:
(long sigh in disappointment)
Okay. Bye.

BOY:
I love you.

GIRL:
Bye.

(boy turns around towards house. Lights dim, end scene)

Deep Breath.

Okay! So..hello everyone. You've managed to stumble across the play-a-day site of Crystal Salas.
Basically-I've finally given into the play-a-day idea of wonderful post CSSSA prescriptions. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the incredible Ben Rosbrow for inspiring me to do this. We're so freaking alike that I figured if he can do it- then I might as well give it a try. So thank you Ben! You are amazing!
So since I've gotten back from my art college over the summer I've had little to no time to write which has truely been depriving me of my oxygen so the goal of this play-a-day is to force myself to write a play/scene every day for a year- no matter if I've got the inspiration in me or not.
It won't all be good. But once I've got somethin up my sleeve I can also guarantee you won't be disappointed.
So if you want to follow this writer here for a year through her ups and downs- her stories- her nonsense:
Go ahead-
Sit down- stay a while.