And now for something completely different...senior Ryan Howland submits the script of a play he wrote and directed for last year's one-act festival, a drama called...
Don't Need Words
The original characters were played as follows:
Mother-Eden Berube
Daughter-Thelmaleta Laplant
Man-Dean Phypers
Woman-Taylore Aussiker
Old Man-Josef Marquis
Old Woman-Kim Stacy
Brother-Ryan Howland
Sister-Hailey Dixon
SCENE: The stage is divided into three sections (OLD MAN & OLD WOMAN, MOTHER & DAUGHTER, MAN & WOMAN). Only the MOTHER & DAUGHTER are lit. Everything else is in semi-darkness. The MOTHER sits alone. The DAUGHTER enters. She looks very glum. Her face is flush and there is evidence that she has been crying.
MOTHER: What are you doing home? The prom isn’t supposed to end for another two hours.
DAUGHTER: I know. I couldn’t stand there any longer.
MOTHER: What do you mean?
DAUGHTER: He wasn’t there, Mom! He told me he was going to meet me outside the door, and, he never showed up.
MOTHER: Oh honey...are you sure he wasn’t already inside?
DAUGHTER: His name wasn’t checked off. And even if he was—
MOTHER: It’s okay.
They freeze. Lights down on them and up on the MAN & WOMAN. The man sits on the couch reading a newspaper. The WOMAN enters with a card.
MAN: What’s that you got?
WOMAN: A wedding invitation. Harry and Susan are getting married. (Pause.) You know, we should be thinking about the other wedding in the future.
MAN: Who else is getting married?
WOMAN: We are.
MAN: Oh, I haven’t really thought about it.
WOMAN: Unbelievable!
MAN: What?
WOMAN: You! You proposed to me two years ago. We haven’t made any plans for the wedding; I don’t even have a ring. Did you mean it when you said it?
MAN: Of course I did. Why do you think I asked if I didn’t?
WOMAN: I don’t know, maybe you were delirious.
They freeze. Lights down on them and back up on the MOTHER & DAUGHTER.
DAUGHTER: No Mom, it’s not okay. (Beat.) You know Brenda and Ashley?
MOTHER: Yes. Those girls you said picked on you.
DAUGHTER: Well, when they found out I was going to junior prom with him, they didn’t pick on me anymore. It felt good, Mom. Not being the nerd anymore, the one who’s kicked when they’re already down.
MOTHER: Oh—
DAUGHTER: And then we went and you bought this dress for me...I was so happy. For once in my life I thought I was one of those popular people.
MOTHER: Why does it matter whether you’re popular or not? You know who you are, and so do I, and so does your father. And what about Linda? Isn’t she your friend?
DAUGHTER: Well yeah, but—
MOTHER: You never have to worry about your place. There will always be people trying to bring you down, but if you believe in yourself, then all they’re talking about is garbage.
They freeze. Lights down on them and up on the OLD MAN & OLD WOMAN. The OLD WOMAN is doing some knitting. The OLD MAN is reading a newspaper and drinking some coffee.
OLD MAN: Did they say what time they were coming over?
OLD WOMAN: No, but they should be here soon.
OLD MAN: That’s good. (He flips a page of his newspaper.) Look at this, an advertisment for an iPhone. What is the deal with all of these iPods, iTunes, iWhatever. I remember when the only phone you could use had a cord.
OLD WOMAN: Well, that’s progress, dear.
OLD MAN: I’m not saying that I hate it, but, I just think technology is making life so easy that maybe it’s just getting a little too easy.
BROTHER: Mom? Dad?
OLD WOMAN: They’re here! (She puts her knitting down as the BROTHER and the SISTER enter.) My kids! (She goes over and kisses and hugs them.) Oh darling, you’re looking so thin.
SISTER: Thanks Mom.
OLD MAN: Hello, son.
BROTHER: Hey Dad. (They hug.)
OLD WOMAN: Well, let’s go into the kitchen, I made some food.
SISTER: Oh, Mom, I hope you didn’t outdo yourself.
OLD MAN: Oh, she’s been cooking all morning.
BROTHER: Good...I’m starving.
The family laughs as they walk offstage talking. Lights down on them and up on the MAN & WOMAN.
MAN: No, I wasn’t delirious. I knew exactly what I was doing. Do you know what day it is today?
WOMAN: Tuesday?
MAN: Well yeah, but, think harder. (Beat.) It’s the anniversary of the day we first met. All those years ago. (The MAN gets down on one knee and pulls something out of his pocket.)
WOMAN: Oh...
MAN: Honey, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and then some. You mean so much to me. I never want to lose you. Will you marry me?
WOMAN: Of course. (The MAN laughs, puts the ring on her finger, and they hug.) I—I don’t know what to say.
MAN: Shhh...we don’t need words. As long as we have each other, words don’t matter.
They freeze. Lights down on them and up on the MOTHER & DAUGHTER.
DAUGHTER: Oh Mom. You always know exactly what to say. (They hug.)
MOTHER: Here, I’ll go make you some cocoa---with marshmallows.
She exits. The DAUGHTER smooths out her dress and wipes her face. She freezes. Lights down on her and up on the OLD MAN & OLD WOMAN. They enter with the BROTHER and SISTER.
BROTHER: Mom, that was delicious.
OLD MAN: I’m so full!
BROTHER: Sorry to eat and run, but, I’ve got to get going. I’ve got a meeting.
OLD WOMAN: Okay, I love you. (They hug. The BROTHER exits.)
SISTER: I’d better go too. (She hugs the OLD MAN and the OLD WOMAN and goes to exit when the OLD WOMAN stops her.)
OLD WOMAN: I never asked you...how was that job you interviewed for?
SISTER: I got it! I start on Monday.
OLD WOMAN: I'm so proud of you. (She exits. The OLD WOMAN sits back down.) That's great. Remember when they used to sell lemonade when they were kids?
OLD MAN: Remember when you first told me you were pregnant?
OLD WOMAN: Like it was yesterday.
The lights remain up on the OLD MAN & OLD WOMAN but now they also rise on the MAN & WOMAN. They break their embrace.
MAN: Here, I’ll go get the champagne we’ve been saving for a special occasion. I think this definitely qualifies.
WOMAN: You don’t have to do that. (The MAN goes offstage.)
MAN: (Offstage.) Why not? Let’s celebrate! (He reenters with a bottle and two glasses.) Here, I’ll pour you a glass.
WOMAN: I don’t want any.
MAN: Why not?
WOMAN: Because I’m pregnant.
MAN: You are?
WOMAN: Yeah.
MAN: That’s great!
WOMAN: It is?
MAN: Honey, if you’re scared, it’s okay. We’ll get through this. We’re gonna have a family.
WOMAN: I’m really scared.
MAN: Come here. (They hug.) It’s gonna be okay. (They sit on the couch.)
WOMAN: I just thought of when we first met.
MAN: (Laughs.) I stood you up at junior prom.
They both laugh. Lights remain on the OLD MAN & OLD WOMAN and the MAN & WOMAN, but now the lights rise on the MOTHER & DAUGHTER. The DAUGHTER sits where she was before. The MOTHER enters.
MOTHER: Honey, the phone’s for you.
DAUGHTER: Maybe it’s him! (She runs offstage. The MOTHER smiles and follows her.)
WOMAN: It was you. Your father was in the hospital. You were calling to say you were sorry.
The lights go down on the MOTHER & DAUGHTER and the MAN & WOMAN. The OLD MAN goes over to the OLD WOMAN and offers his hand.
OLD WOMAN: What are you doing?
OLD MAN: Care to dance?
OLD WOMAN: I’m much too old. My bones are fragile.
OLD MAN: Oh, would you put down the knitting and dance with me?
OLD WOMAN: I don’t know. Will I? (Music starts to play.) This is my favorite song.
The OLD WOMAN stands and takes his hand. They start to dance. The DAUGHTER enters and begins to dance on one side of the stage. The MAN & WOMAN enter on the other side of the stage and start to dance. The OLD MAN leads the OLD WOMAN out onto center stage where a spotlight falls on them. The MAN & WOMAN slowly dance offstage. The DAUGHTER slowly dances offstage.
OLD MAN: I love you.
OLD WOMAN: Shhh...we don’t need words.
They continue to dance. The spotlight fades away along with the music.
END