CHARACTERS
TARA – 14 year old, jean clad, attitude, intelligent
TARA’s MOTHER – 38 year old, divorced, mother of 3, father has the 2 boys – yoga master, Zen, fit, depressed, organic (this is essentially a non-speaking role until the end of the scene)
TINA – 14 year old friend and neighbour of Tara – jean clad, not too much attitude, quiet
The scene opens with Tara bounding into her home after school. Tara’s mother is in a lotus position facing the lit fireplace with her eyes shut, deep in concentration. Waterfall music plays throughout the speaker system within the home. Tara enters with a bang and calls out for her mother without bothering to notice her mother in the living room to her right as she races straight ahead to the kitchen.
Tara: Hey Ma! what’re ya doin’? calling out in a loud voice
When there is no answer she pops her head into the living room. Her mother does not respond. Tara performs an eye roll and a headshake
Tara: Well okay, well since you’re not answering I guess I’ll just have to tell you…
Tara glances again to see an unmoved figure.
She sighs and throws her arms up, letting them fall to her thighs with a slap.
Tara: You know Ma – stats show that a child who is virtually ignored by her mother seeks love elsewhere – mostly in dark and dirty alleys with drug addicts and pedophiles…
voice raises to a higher volume at the word pedophiles
Tara pours and drinks a glass of juice leaving fridge door open, empty glass and juice container on the counter while she opens and closes the same cupboards 2-3 times. Each time slamming louder than the last.
Tara: There’s NOTHIN’ to eat! Gawd! There’s only RABBIT food – do you EVEN GO grocery shopping??
Pause
Tara: that was a question ….
(eye roll)
Tara: Ya know – I’d like to know one other kid who comes home to a freakin’ zulu-zombie-zen-head who listens to water falls all freakin’ day! – Tina’s Mom – you know Tina? Across the street- my best friend? Well she’s got it made. HER Mom listens to hip-hop – they dance together EVERYDAY – they IN-TER-ACT and I gotta come home to this crap –
Voice trails off at the end as she stuffs strawberries in her mouth. Tara’s cell phone rings. Tara pulls her i-phone out of her back pocket, taking a quick glance at the screen before answering with her mouth still full.
Tara: Talk to me Tina (mumbling due to strawberries)
Pause
Tara: No she can’t come over, she’s MEE-DEE-TA-TING.
Pause
Tara: WHAT? OhMyGawd OhMyGawd – I’m comin, I’m comin – stay on the phone
Tara runs down the hallway leaving the fridge and cupboards open, glances with hesitation at her still, still mother and runs out the door and across the street where Tina’s mother is being taken away in a body bag.
Tara: (with slight hysteria) What happened? Did it happen while you guys were dancing?
Tina: I never told anyone. I never told anyone…
Tara: Told anyone what? Tell me. Tell me!
Tara put her arm around Tina’s shoulder and together they moved away from the ambulance(?) to sit, huddled closely on the front step of Tina’s house.
Tina: I’m sorry I didn’t tell you …
Tara: What?
Tina: I kinda lied … My Mom was drunk everyday when I got home. She would be dancing like an idiot. She forced me to dance with her – drinkin’ from her bottle of peace – that what she called it. Her bottle of peace… her peace pills and her bottle of peace to wash ‘em down… I’m sorry I never told you …
Tina was crying to the point of sobbing now. Tara stared ahead and hugged her friend tighter, rubbing her back. Tara had a glazed look in her eyes.
Tara: It’s okay…
Soothing voice
Tara: My mother smokes pot. She’s a frikken space cadet.
Tina: (smiling) but what does she eat to cool the munchies?
Tara: (smiling) ha! A bag of carrots – we go through a LOT of carrots
They both giggle.
Tina: Remember when we smoked?
Tara: Yeah
Tina: Then we bought that huge cookie-dough ice cream but had no spoons?
Tara: Yeah
Tina: We ate it with our fingers…. Those were the good ole days…
Tara: Yeah
Pause, quiet voices follow
Tina: Ever since my Dad died she died too. I tried … (more tears)
Tara: (wisely) Believe me there is nothin’ you could’ve done …
Tina: I could have told someone – at least
Tara: (wisely) What could anyone do? My mom has been dead for years – ever since my Dad left with the boys. I should have gone with him.
Tina:(incredulous) Tahhhrah! I can’t believe you just said that! Your mother is alive! Mine’s dead!
Tara: I’m sorry , I’m sorry – I’m really sorry. That was a stupid thing to say. I just wanted you to know that I know how you feel. I can’t imagine how you feel. I’m sorry. (Tara is crying now as well)
Tina: What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna live? I don’t even know where my brother is! He could be dead too! (whining) (hysteria is creeping back into her voice)
pause
Tara: (soothing) You can live with us. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Don’t worry. You can live with us.
Tina: What will your Mom say?
Tara: She won’t notice for a while. I’ll figure it out. Now, don’t worry- please, please. I’m your best friend. I’ll take care of you.
Tina and Tara face each other holding each others hands and looking at each others eyes.
Tina: I can cook. I do it everyday anyway.
Tara: I can grocery shop so you can cook. We can shop together with a list.
They smile slightly.
Tina: I’ll clean our room. I can stay in your room right? I don’t want to be alone. (whistfully)
Tara nods and smiles wide.
Tara: I’ll do our laundry.
Tina: I’m never getting married.
Tara: Me either – look what happens…
Tina: Let’s promise right now to always be together.
They pinkie swear.
Tara’s mother saunters across the street.
Tara’s Mother: I saw an ambulance earlier. Is everything alright?
Tara and Tina glance at each other and then stare for a moment at Tara’s mother.
Tara: Yeah Mom – everything’s cool. I took care of it.
Pause
Tara: (softly) Why don’t you go ahead and get dinner ready. Tina’s coming over to eat – she’s sleeping over tonight.
Tara catches Tina’s eye with a bit of a wink.
Tara’s Mother: Okay girls – see you later.
Tara and Tina watch her walk away.
The girls laugh and cry at the same time.
Tara: (sadly) See Tina? I told you she was dead…
Tina: (sadly) Yeah – a peace zombie, like my Mom.
Thanks for reading the first scene for a play I have ever written 🙂 Ballsy to post this aren`t I? Guess what? I love criticism, feed back, ideas – the works.
While I was checking the spelling of Criticism I came across an article on how to accept it. Read it. Posting it here.
http://zenhabits.net/how-to-accept-criticism-with-grace-and-appreciation/
And now we ALL know why my days fly! – bye for now, Lesley
Inspiration Import 
Ballsy oh my yes! Grabbed my attention quickly and held it, no need to discuss the social norms of today about the young people…one minute I love them the next, disdain. You will receive enough of that anyway, looking forward to ‘the rest of the story’ 🙂
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That`s what I need to hear – that it grabbed someone. Many thanks Len. So happy you are back and hopefully very well!
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Thought provoking – but I hope you introduce an adult with a little common sense too? I’m a little weary of children being so much more reasonable than their parents.
Sorry Lesley – thought I’d get that off my chest first. (Criticism) – now the good stuff. This is so well written and catches my attention immediately. You really make me feel for those two poor girls. I just want to take them into my arms and cuddle them – their insecurity must be astronomical. I do like they are thinking instead screaming hysterically about ‘poor little ol’ me.’. I think that might alleviate Merlin’s fear they will become selfish/self-centered adults.
It is excellent Lesley. What an exciting story. I want to read more for sure. 🙂
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In this case Mary, it is supposed to be a 3 character scene with one being silent. 🙂 Should I ever expand on it I will add in a few balanced adult roles. Thanks with no need for sorries. I asked for it!
I felt for them too, knowing that once reality took over for shock life would of course be changed forever.
Growing up is a tough business isn`t it?
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Well – I think you should definitely expand – and make it into a real screen-play. It will be great. Yes – growing up is tough and reality will be a shock.
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Mary! Eureka I just had a brainstorm based on your comment. I am going to go backward in order to show the audience how the mothers arrived at the point they are. tytytytyty
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Not sure how to react or what to say, as a reflection upon life as it is today it saddens me but maybe that’s the point, it is high time people took notice and did something.
A thousand years ago in the early days of British TV we have what was affectionately called ‘Kitchen Sink Drama.’ Hard hitting, Tell it like it is stories written by young angry screen writers to shock or a pass on the message of ‘Wake Up and smell the coffee !’ This has all the hall marks of that genre.
Did those angry young men make a difference? It was largely the clash of social classes, the ‘Haves’ being challenged by the ‘Have Not’s.’
For sure society has changed dramatically since those far off times of the 50’s and 60’s, we have made many changes and reaped the benefits of modern technology question is are we any better for it? In some ways Yes, while in many other ways No however unless you happened to live through both eras you will never know.
Back then we were technology deprived, most of us did not own our own homes nor did own a cars, washing machines or fridge freezers. A telephone was something in a Red Box at the corner of the street. But we were a society based upon a community, we knew our neighbours, helped each other during struggles, kids played outside safely, it was a simpler life and most say a happier one.
I look around a society today and ask for all our technological advances are they any happier, listening to people, gripe looking at the sheer discontentment on the faces of teenagers and everything that lies before them I know where I’d rather be.
Perhaps you are picking up the vibes of a society in turmoil Tara and Tina seem to be two strong characters with more questions than answers and nowhere to turn except to each other for consolation. How will they develop as people ? Strong yes, but will they be loving, caring young ladies or go on to become tough, street smart, take no shit adults whose only interest is self preservation at any cost?
There is more than one play here. Well done and as a first effort definitely 10 out of 10.
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10 on 10 is not bad … 😀
It sadden me also as I wrote it and that`s why I started over but with a more gregarious character in Tara to provide some humour as it was going to get dark soon enough.
As for kids now. I tackled it in my first book (Prom Girls) and in interviews that followed. I really think the youth today is both advantaged and disadvantaged by technology. They are under a tremendous amount of pressure to reach for the stars both in their career choices and in their role to provide a better world for the next generation regarding global warming, waste reduction, help for humanity. Why are they so under pressure to fix everything? Because of the advent of information technology. Global issues bombard them, just as they do us everyday but with a difference – they Believe They Can Fix It – We as a society brought them up that way, with confidence, indulgence and even owed for things they didn`t earn yet.
By comparison, we came from the dark ages. What I mean of course is that we as a generation didn`t have access to everything kids do now. I was brought up during a time that everything was kept from children… mental illness, poverty, racism, wars, money problems, sex, violence and other real life situations. The kids now are exposed to all of these things from a very early age. It is scary and yet exciting at the same time (Cite – Mid East situation and how cell phones spread the word of revolt) .
But, overall I think humanity doesn`t change much. As they grow up they will take on responsibility and tackle life just as we did and I think they may even do a better job of it (at least sooner than myself). Fourteen is the same now as it was then only the times have changed and with that children have too, outwardly but not fundamentally.
I have a firm belief in the future via the youth of today.
Thanks Merlin, I appreciate your comment and happy I was able to Provoke you!
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