Play Two- The One

[Lights up on an old man. He sits on a bench and feeds squirrels/ birds. After a beat an old woman hobbles in. She sits next to him and watches the animals eat.]

OLD MAN:
Pleasant weather out today, no?

[The Old woman nods and looks out ahead of her. A different old man walks up and greets the old woman. They go off together. The Old man keeps feeding the animals. When the couple is completely off stage, he looks after them, longingly.]

OLD MAN:
I was hoping she was the one.

[Lights fade as he continues to feed the squirrels/ birds]

First play-a-day not graded- Requirements

[Lights up on a young girl sitting at a table.There is the remains of a midnight snack in front of her, and there is also a stuffed bunny sitting to the side of the mid-night snack. The girl leans back in her chair and happily pats her stomach. The bunny speaks:]

STUFFED BUNNY:
Are you full now?

[The girl nods.]

STUFFED BUNNY:
Are you sleepy?

[The girls eyes start to droop and she nods.]

STUFFED BUNNY:
Are you happy?

[The girls eyebrows knit together and her eyes slowly open. She looks at the bunny.]

GIRL: [Worriedly]
Oh no! Is that a requirement?

[Blackout]

Play Twenty-Nine- Maybe.

[Lights up on a girl, C.S. She wears daintily colored clothing and a blank expression, except for sad eyes.]

GIRL:
Maybe I don't want to be your friend anymore.
Maybe I don't want to write.
Maybe I don't want to talk.
Maybe I want to talk.
Maybe I don't know how to talk.
Maybe I want to be alone.
Maybe I want to be in a room full of people.
Maybe I want to cry.
Maybe I want to laugh.
Maybe words hurt.
Maybe they heal.
Maybe I like chocolate.
Maybe I prefer flowers.
Maybe I think actions speak louder than words.
Maybe I think words are nice.
Maybe I enjoy wearing dresses.
Maybe I would much rather be in jeans.
Maybe I write plays.
Maybe I write poetry.
Maybe I share my life with others.
Maybe I keep my life to myself.
Maybe this speech sounds natural.
Maybe this speech sounds forced.
Maybe I sing along to the radio.
Maybe I don't listen to the radio.
Maybe I read Vonnegut.
Maybe I just read Golding.
Maybe I wear a mask.
Maybe I expose myself.
Maybe I like morning.
Maybe I like the night.
Maybe I lie.
Maybe I tell the truth.
Maybe I mean it.
Maybe I don't.
Maybe I want to die,
Or Maybe, just Maybe I want to live.
Maybe you have no idea.
[She smiles sadly at the audience.]

Maybe you should guess.

[Blackout.]

Play Twenty-Eight- Questions.

[Lights up on a girl and a boy, sitting side by side. The girl, without looking at the boy asks:]

GIRL:
Can I ask you a question that I think is kinda silly?

BOY: [Not looking at her either.]
Go ahead.

GIRL: [In all seriousness.]
....Do you love me?

BOY: [Clearly jesting.]
..Eh.. Sometimes.

[He nudges the girl in a "Hey, we're just joking around" manner. She looks at him sadly.]

GIRL:
I hate you.

BOY:
What'd I do?

GIRL:
Nothing.

BOY:
..Whaa..?

[The girl gets up and walks away leaving the boy sitting alone, looking confused. Lights fade.]

Play Twenty-Seven- Not anymore.

[Lights up on a girl sitting center stage. There are a ton of people all around her. They mull together, but keep a circle of space around the girl, who keeps her eyes down. All of a sudden she stands up yells:]

GIRL: I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE!

[Everyone turns and looks at her in silence. She ignores them and stomps off stage. The people pause for a beat, and then go back to mulling with eachother. Lights fade.]

Play Twenty-Six- I HATE YOU!

[Lights up on a car at a gas station. A girl sits in the passenger seat, a boy sits in the back behind her. She turns and smiles at him. He shakes his head.]

BOY:
I hate you so much.

GIRL:
I hate you so much more than you hate me.

BOY:
I fucking hate you.

GIRL:
I FUCKING HATE YOU!

BOY:
OH MY GOD! I FUCKING HATE YOU!

GIRL: [Whispering]
I hate you.

BOY: [Also whispering]
I hate you.

[Lights fade.]

Play Twenty-Five- Potty Heart.

[Lights up on a bathroom. A girl walks in and goes to a toilet. There is a beat or two of her messing with the chest of her shirt. (Back to audience.) When she turns around she has her heart in her hand and she looks at it, with blood dripping down her arm. She then throws it into the toilet and flushes it. She watches it go, sadly, then walks out. Lights fade.]

Play Twenty-Four- Playground Bruises.

[Lights up on a playground there are two small children pushing each other on a swing. One pushes the other too high and the one on the swing falls off when the swing is at it's highest. When the child lands it starts to cry and the one that was pushing the swing runs away. Lights fade.]

Play Twenty-Three- AMEN!

 [Lights up on the bedroom of a little girl. She kneels by her bed in pink footie pajamas. She looks up at a tapestry hanging on her wall, as though reading it.  The tapestry is of the "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep." Prayer. (She's to young to read anything real.) Her mother stands to the side recording her, with a smile on her face.]

LITTLE GIRL:
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray dear Lord my to keep, if I shall die before I wake, I pray dear Lord my soul to take. Dear Lord, please bless Mommy, and Daddy, and doggie, and the kitty. (Pause of deep thought.)....(Shouting) AMEN!

[The little girl climbs into bed and the mother puts the recorder away, chuckling. Lights fade on the mother tucking the little girl into bed.]

Play Twenty-two- Hand Holding.

[Lights rise on an apartment flat. A woman dressed in a horizontally stripped black and white long sleeve shirt. She has on a dark pair of tight fitting jeans and a scarf. She is mostly hidden behind an easel. She taps her foot to a beat that she alone hears. She may hum a little. She is neither grim, nor happy. She is almost apathetic, yet completely absorbed in her art. The phone rings. She lets it ring and the answering machine clicks on.]

ANSWERING MACHINE:
Please leave a message after the tone: BEEP
Hi honey, it's Mom...I'm just checking in making sure that you're okay. We haven't heard from you in a few weeks and your father and I have been worried... We were wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner...or we could go out...whichever. We know that you've been down, but honey, It'll look up, I promise. Well, call me back. Love you, buh-bye. (Click)

[The woman continues painting for a moment and then sets her brush down. She goes over to the answering machine and deletes the message. She goes over to her easel and picks up the canvas. She hangs it on the back wall. It's an image of two hands that had been holding on to each other, barely touching as they break apart. Lights fade as the woman straightens the picture.]

Play Twenty-one- Don't wait up.

[Lights rise on a bedroom. In the bed is a woman. She looks exhausted and every now and then her head falls on to her shoulder and she drifts off to sleep. After a beat though, she jerks her head up, to repeat her eyes drooping, falling asleep on her shoulder and jerking her head up. After a little while a door is heard opening and closing from downstairs. Someone tries to sneak up into the room, but the woman jerks her head up, yet again, when the man walks in. He wears an EMT uniform and smells of crisp fall night air and cigarette smoke.  He looks at the woman lovingly.]

MAN:
Honey, I told you not to wait up.

[The woman sleepily holds her arms out to him. He crawls across the bed to reach her and they embrace. The woman then lays her head on his chest and falls asleep. Lights fade.]

Play Twenty- DADDY

[Lights up on a cemetery. A little girl in a white, lacy dress holds a bouquet of red roses. She travels to each tombstone and bows her head. After a beat she straightens her head and places the rose on the grave. She moves to each. After all of the roses but one are gone, she goes over to the last grave. It's labeled DADDY. The girl curls up against the tombstone and plays with the rose in her hand. Tears start to fall down her face. Lights fade.]

Play Nineteen- Not Good Enough.

[Lights up on a lady, Beth, standing behind a window, much like those at the DMV. She chews a wad of gum and is flipping through a fashion magazine. A man walks in and knocks on the plastic window when she doesn't look up. ]

MAN:
Ma'am?

[Beth carefully sets down her magazine with a sigh and looks at the man. She points at her name badge.]

BETH:
I've got a name.

MAN:
Uh, 'scuse me, Beth, um. I'd like to make a correction on my son's college information?

[Beth pops her gum and stares at the man. There is a beat of the man shifting uncomfortably.]

BETH:
Can you read?

MAN:
Uh, what?

BETH:
Can. You. Read?

MAN:
Yes, I can.

[Beth pops her gum and leans forward a little. She looks up and then leans back to where she was before. She pops her gum again and points up. The man looks up.]

MAN: [Reading]
This is the complaint window.

BETH:
You got a complaint?

MAN:
No, I just want to correct my son's...-

BETH:
NOT good enough.

[Beth presses a button in front of her and a person come out from behind the window, where Beth stands, with a boxing glove on. The person punches the man in the face. The man is knocked out cold. The person goes back from where they came from, and Beth presses another button. A different person comes from off stage and grabs the man by the feet and drags him off. Beth settles back into her magazine and pops her gum. Lights fade.]

Play Eighteen- Sneezing Vines.

[Lights up on two people in the jungle. They stand on one side of a river in a deep ditch. Each have red, watery eyes, and the sniffles. They look miserable. There are howls coming from behind them. Person One grabs a vine that hangs down. ]

PERSON ONE:
Quick! Grab on!

[They both grab on, but person one sneezes. The vine snaps.]

PERSON TWO:
What the hell happened?

PERSON ONE:
I dunno, I just sneezed.

[Person one grabs another vine and they both grab on. Person two sneezes and the vine snaps.]

PERSON ONE:
What the Hell?

PERSON TWO:
I don't know!

PERSON ONE:
You try this time.

[Person two shrugs and grabs a vine. A loud howl is heard and both look over their shoulder, terrified of the noise.]

PERSON ONE:
Let's go!

[Person two grabs the vine and hauls himself up on it, Person one follows. They start to swing, but Person one sneezes. The vine snaps and both fall to the ground.]

PERSON ONE:
CURSE THESE ALLERGIES!

PERSON TWO:
.....Mine's a cold.

PERSON ONE:
CURSE YOUR COLD!
PERSON TWO:
CURSE YOUR ALLERGIES!

[Another howl, even louder/closer this time. Person one and two look at each other, grab a vine and swing. Just as they get over the river both of them sneeze, sending them falling into the water below. After the splash is heard, Person Three is seen climbing out of the trees with a big pair of sheers. He chuckles to himself. There is another loud/close howl and he stops chuckling. He looks both ways, scared, and speed walks off. Lights fade.]

Play seventeen- Sorry, Mr. Fly.

[Lights come up on Heather. She is in her bedroom and is starting to pull back her covers to crawl in. There is a buzzing sound. She looks at where the buzzing is coming from.]

HEATHER:
Alright, Mr. Fly, I'm going to bed, you just shut up and leave me alone and you can stay.

[Heather climbs into bed and covers up. She pauses and then looks at her light. She lets out a disgusted noise and gets up. She shuts off her light and makes her way back into bed. After a few beats of silence, she screams. There is the sound of her running, and the lights come on.]

HEATHER:
WHAT DID I SAY?! Oh my God. I warned you.

[She moves to her closet door and grabs a fly swatter off the handle. She stalks around her room, looking for the fly. After a few beats, she pauses and then SLAM! She swats the fly. ]

HEATHER:
Ew.

[She finagles the fly swatter under the fly and throws it away. She looks at it in the trash.]

HEATHER:
Sorry.

[She shuts off her light and climbs back into bed.]

END.

Play Sixteen- Exes and Ohs, Emma.

[Lights rise on a little girl. She holds a teddy in the crook of her arm and kneels at the side of her bed. There is a distant yelling and door slamming heard from down the hall. The little girl responds with slight facial twitches, but it is something that she is used to. She clasps her hands and bows her head.]

LITTLE GIRL:
Dear Lord, Thank you for the food that I put in my belly today. The Mac and Cheese was good. Also, thank you for Teddy, I love him. [She gives her teddy a quick kiss on the head.] Thank you for Mommy and Daddy not fighting until I got into bed. I like it better than when I'm out there. But, Lord? Do you think that you can make them stop? It scares me alot sometimes. Right now is a bad fight, so, can you please protect Mommy from him? I know that she's not the best Mommy. I know that the pills she takes aren't good for her. I know she's bad, but she's my Mommy. Will you please send Daddy's angel down to protect us...Once we're all protected he can go right back, promise. Mommy tells me that you're a mean, awful man that doesn't love us.That's why you took daddy away. I don't believe her...Is that wrong of me? [A giant banging of a door is heard and the fighting gets louder.] Lord, can you please make all of this stop? Thank you, Love always, Exes and Ohs. Emma.

[Emma pulls back her covers and crawls into bed. She places Teddy under the covers next to her and tucks them around him. She kisses him on the head. Emma puts her head on her pillow and snuggles into the blankets. There is a particularly loud bang and Emma pulls the covers over her head. Lights fade with the noise of the fight still going.]
END

Play Fifteen- Cookies.

[Lights up on a window of a third floor room. There is a beat of silence and then the window is flung open by a woman. She throws a laptop out of it.]

WOMAN:
FUCK YOU AND YOUR COOKIES YOU PIECE OF SHIT LAPTOP!

[The woman slams the window shut and stomps away. There is a beat of silence and the lights fade on the window.]
END.

Play fourteen- So....Tired....

[Lights up on Nina cleaning her room. She is visibly upset by the mess, and eventually becomes so upset she sits down at her computer and brings up a word document. She types away, but then suddenly exits it. There is a manic energy about her. The type of energy that scares people. She empties out her dresser drawers and folds the clothes back up. She sorts them out some too, putting some clothes in her laundry basket, others in a pile on the floor. She picks up her phone and starts to dial a number. She changes her mind and presses end. All of a sudden, as though taken over by a tremendous weight, she sits, exhausted. Her eyes are only half open as she surveys her mess of a room. Still quite a bit upset about the mess, she opens up her closet and shoves everything in there. She sits back at her computer and looks at the screen, not zoning out, but not taking anything in either. She doesn't smile, if anything she looks almost miserable. She plucks at her top lip in thought. She picks up her phone and dials. The other line is picked up on the second ring.]

NINA:
Hi Muma. Huh? Oh, nothing, I was just calling to tell you that I'm really, really tired. Yes, I know. You told me.. What time? Okay. I won't. No Muma, I won't, I'm going to sleep now. Huh? Fold the...what? Oh, the dryer. Mhm, It'll be done before you get home, I promise. 'Kay, have fun...Hey, Muma?....I love you. You know that right? Okay, good. Huh? Oh, I was just checkin'. I love you. I will, and I won't let the bed bugs bite either. Goodnight, Muma. I love you...Buh-bye

[Nina puts the phone down with a sigh. She looks at it for a moment, and then exits. She comes back on with a laundry basket full of towels. She folds them all neatly and sets them back in the basket. She puts the basket by her door, and then sits down. She rests her head on her own shoulder and looks at the ground, while one hand rubs one arm. The other rests between her legs. Nina stays like that for a few beats and then gets up. She goes to her dresser and from on top of it, in a little decorative wooden box, she pulls out a prescription bottle. She brings it to her bed and sits on it.]

NINA:
...I'm. Just. So. Tired....

[She opens the bottle and takes the whole thing. She shuts off her light and then climbs under the blankets. Heard in the dark:]

NINA:
So....Tired....

[Then silence.]

END.

Play thirteen- Backin' up.

[A man sits on his couch with a laptop in his lap. He is listening to the news cast of a woman who had witnessed a robbery. He laughs hysterically at what she's saying and then, once it's over, makes up some music to put what the woman was saying to. As he starts to finish up, his friend walks in.]

FRIEND:
Whatcha doin'?


[The man pats next to him on the couch. The friend sits and the man plays the video that he had just made of the woman, who was now singing about backing up and how her daddy taught her good. (Can be found on YouTube.) Lights fade on the Friend and man laughing hysterically.]