Carl. By E. Jack Williams. Performance Rights

Transcription

1 By E. Jack Williams Performance Rights It is an infringement of the federal copyright law to copy or reproduce this script in any manner or to perform this play without royalty payment. All rights are controlled by Encore Performance Publishing, LLC. Call the publisher for additional scripts and further licensing information. The author s name must appear on all programs and advertising with the notice: Produced by special arrangement with Encore Performance Publishing. PUBLISHED BY ENCORE PERFORMANCE PUBLISHING encoreplay.com 1995 by E. Jack Williams Download your complete script from Eldridge Publishing

2 -2- The play is dedicated to. STORY OF THE PLAY Inspired by a true story, tells of a young man s experience with being teased. Through the moving portrayal of s life and ultimate suicide, members of the audience are compelled to examine their reactions to people who may be different. * * * We all knew a as a kid, too bad we feel guilty as an adult. Gary Bohm, High School Counselor. is the winner of Minnesota s Arc of Excellence Community Media Award. * * *, was first produced by Waseca High School, Waseca, Minnesota, on January 25, 1991, under the direction of E. Jack Williams. Original cast and crew included: Ann, Brian, Eric, Gabriel, Ginnie, Gregg, Julie, Joel, Leah, Adam, Ben, Grant, Jeff, Jared, and Jon.

3 -3- CHARACTERS (5 m, 4 w, + extra students if desired) CARL:..the guy everybody loves to pick on. AL: A follower. Gives graduation speech. BUTCH: A leader; poor student; a real jerk. JACK: Athletic type; not very intelligent; a follower. JERRY: A follower. Wears glasses, slightly more studious. JUDY: Romantic; very enthusiastic. MISSY: Sharp dresser; thinks highly of herself; sensitive. RACHEL: Rough; tough-talking; a defender. TEACHER: She s kind but constantly in a hurry; stereo-type. THE SET The original set consisted of a self-supporting center flat. To the right and left of the center unit are two window flats hinged together and covered with theatrical gauze. (For stability, a support flat should be hinged to each window unit.) s room is located behind the window, stage left. The walls remain in the same position for the entire play. Only the furniture will be moved to establish the change of scenes. The furniture consists of eight boxes (18-inches high), two tables, a 10-Year Reunion sign, and casket. MUSIC Up-tempo party music, Pomp and Circumstance, and optional piano music for transitions. If possible, the teacher should sing Amazing Grace for the funeral scene.

4 -4- SCENE 1 THE REUNION (AT RISE: A high school reunion. A banner reading 10-Year Reunion is draped across the back wall. A memory table with punch bowl is set stage center. MISSY enters and crosses to the table. She examines the pictures, yearbooks, etc. Party MUSIC plays in the background.) MISSY: I m not sure how I feel about class reunions. Whoever invented them must have either been a sadist or a caterer. (Pause.) Ten years, ten years... Why does it seem that life passes by so quickly when you re not in any hurry? Some of my old friends seem to continue to live in the past, while some of us would like to keep it hidden, buried, forgotten... It s nice to reminisce about some great moments of the days gone by. (Looking at a yearbook.) There isn t much I would change about my high school days, not much... (Pause.) Just one thing. (Quickly changing the subject.) Have you ever noticed that not everyone goes to reunions? There are some who wouldn t attend if their life depended on it. We, the lucky ones, get a chance to find out about Judy s latest marriage, Betty s real estate deals, Nancy s five kids, and so on, and so on. Most of us have changed, thank heaven for that. BUTCH: (In a PIN LIGHT, extreme SR or SL.) Why is it that every time I walk into a room, all the women undress me with their eyes? MISSY: Except Butch... BUTCH: So the guy said, Hey mister, I don t know about your organ, but your monkey s burning up! (Laughter.) Hey! Hey, guys... anyone see? I wonder if he d ever show his ugly face? (Laughter.) JACK: (Joining Butch.) After the way we treated him... JERRY: (Joining Butch.) What do you mean? (In a mocking one.) We weren t that mean to him. Were we? (THE THREE laugh. PIN LIGHT out. They exit.)

5 -5- MISSY: There aren t many things about my high school days I would do over. I loved every minute on it. We had the greatest time; the dances, dates, games, everything. We all had fun. (Pause.) Almost all. (MISSY takes out a tightly folded piece of paper from her purse. She unfolds it. She speaks slowly and thoughtfully.) MISSY: (Cont d.) There isn t much I would change about high school, not much... just one thing. (Pause.) won t be here tonight... was one of those lost souls. The kid everybody loved to pick on... I remember as if it were yesterday. (BLACKOUT. Transition MUSIC.) END OF SCENE

6 -6- SCENE 2 (TRANSITION. CARL S silhouette is seen center. The following voices are echoes of his mind. The voices are of the past. The cry of a BABY is heard.) MOTHER S VOICE: Lullabye and good night. Little is sleeping. Close your eyes and sleep tight... (BABY cries louder.) FATHER S VOICE: Shut that damn kid up! Shut him up! (A loud SLAP. BABY S cry fades.) CHILDREN S VOICES: (Offstage or recorded. Singing.) London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London bridge is falling down, my fair lady. CHILD S VOICE: (Offstage or recorded.) Tubby, Tubby, two by four, can t get through the kitchen door... CHILD S VOICE: (Offstage or recorded.) Na, na, na, na, na... Na, na, na, na, na... CHILDREN S VOICES: (Offstage or recorded.) Judy loves. Judy loves. Judy loves... GIRL S VOICE: (Offstage) Judy hates! FRIENDLY VOICE: (Offstage.) Hey, You re a loser! VOICES: (Sung to I m a Loser by the Beatles.) You re a loser... You re a loser... MALE VOICE: (Offstage.), yo, I m talk n ta ya! Ya zit face! ECHO: Pimple head... Zit face... FATHER S VOICE: (Offstage.) You ll never amount to anything! You re a bum! MOTHER S VOICE: Leave my baby alone! MALE VOICE: (Offstage.), you re a dirt ball! ECHO: Dirt ball... Dirt ball... Dirt ball... MALE VOICE: (Offstage.) Monkey face! Whoooo, whoooo, whoooo...

7 -7- ECHO: Whoooo... Whoooo... Whoooo... MALE VOICE: (Offstage.) Hey, Dapper Dan the Ragman! ECHO: Dapper Dan the Ragman... Ragman... Ragman FEMALE VOICE:, oh. Hello,... (CARL raises his head.) I can t believe how dumb you are. You are really stupid! (Stage LIGHTS up full.) END OF SCENE

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