31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 4 - Cinderella at Comic Con

CINDERELLA AT COMIC CON

Scene 1 - ASHFORD HOUSE 

Interior. The Living Room. EVA and CARRIE sit at arms length from each other watching an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the TV. EVA has popcorn. CARRIE is sitting in a fetal position in her PJs.

EVA

Do you want some popcorn sweetie?

CARRIE

No mom. Popcorn makes me cough and I'm at a very crucial point of this Buffy episode.

EVA

What's going on in this one?

CARRIE

She's about to sacrifice herself to save her sister's life.

EVA

That is sweet.

CARRIE

I wouldn't sacrifice myself to save the lives of my two sisters.

EVA

Carrie, come on.

CARRIE

No. They went to Comic Con without me, they can burn in hell for all I care.

EVA

You don't mean that. (CARRIE gives her mother a look) Oh you do mean that. 

CARRIE

Mom, they didn't even really want to go. They're just excited because they get to meet all the celebrities. I want to go to try to get a job. I mean, I have my degree in design and creative writing, this is where I can use it and network. 

EVA

Is that where you do that?

CARRIE

Mom, you don't understand. Dizzy Studios is going to be there. They're scouting for talent. They have these things called portfolio reviews where you can sit with a Dizzy Studios rep and get your work looked at. That should be me in there getting my work looked at.

EVA

That is true. (sarcastic) Those little bicthes.

CARRIE (SHOCKED)

Mother, language. 

EVA

It's not their fault that you're not there. Did you try to get tickets?

CARRIE

I did. But you have to be up like at 4am in the morning to click the buy link on the comic con webpage.

EVA

And you didn't get up for that.

CARRIE

I tried. My alarm clock didn't go off. I woke up at 10am... and I almost didn't want to get up, ever.

EVA

Now you're being silly. How did they get tickets?

CARRIE

Are you kidding. Their pretty girls with natural endowments. Every geek withing a 10 mile radius probably begged them to go.

The doorbell rings.

EVA

Who's that.

CARRIE

I'll get it.

CARRIE answers the door. FAYE enters.

FAYE

Hi pumpkin.

CARRIED

Aunt Faye, hi.

EVA (TO FAYE)

Faye. Back from the STD clinic?

FAYE (TO EVA)

Yes I was picking up your results.

CARRIE

I wish you ladies wouldn't be so mean to each other.

FAYE

We're just talking. 

EVA

Yeah that's how we talk.

FAYE hands CARRIE a laminated piece of paper.

FAYE

Here my dear Carrie. I think you could use this.

CARRIE

What is this? (realizes) Whoa.

EVA

What is it?

CARRIE

It's a one day pass to Comic Con.

FAYE

Yes

EVA

What?

CARRIE

How did you get this?

FAYE

Can you keep a secret?

CARRIE

yes.

FAYE 

So can I.

CARRIE

I don't even, I... thank you so much.

CARRIE hugs FAYE and exits.

EVA

How did you get that pass? I've been trying for weeks and I couldn't get anything.

FAYE

I was standing outside of the convention center, just waiting for the right moment.

EVA

For what?

FAYE

You'd be amazed at the things the geeks will do, to grab a breast. Or even just look at one.

CARRIE re-enters holding a silver folder and ready to leave for Comic Con.

CARRIE

Thank you so much. Bye guys. I'm going to Comic Con.

CARRIE exits.

FAYE

Hey, so how did her two sisters end up going? Those tickets were hard to get, even with the twins here.

EVA

Let's just say I think you and my other two daughters have something in common in the chest area.

FAYE

That's my girls.

Scene 2 - Portfolio Line Day 1

A door that reads DIZZY STUDIOS stands to stage right. A line goes across the stage. DARYL is at the end of it. CARRIE enters stage left and stands behind DARYL. Everyone has a portfolio.

CARRIE (HALF TO HERSELF)

Oh wow. (DARYL turns to look at CARRIE) I'm sorry, I'm just a little overwhelmed at the line here. (DARYL turns back) I shouldn't be really. Lines are a thing of Comic Con right? Besides, things happen for a reason right? I wasn't even supposed to be here, but look, I'm here. 

A number of people leave the line and excitedly exit.

CARRIE

Whoa, we just moved a lot there. What happened?

DARYL

Mark Hamill just passed by. More than half the line left to try to flag him down.

CARRIE

See, things happen for a reason. 

DARYL smiles at CARRIE and then turns back towards the door. After a few moments of awkward of silence-

DARYL

Hi, I'm Daryl Kingston.

CARRIE

Carrie Ashford.

They shake hands.

DARYL 

Are you a Dizzy fan?

CARRIE

Oh yes, I've always wanted to work for the studio, I even have most if not all of their movies on Blu Ray.

DARYL

(laughs) You can relax. This isn't the interview. This is small talk.

CARRIE

Small talk. Cool. (pause) I can't do small talk, can I see what you got in your portfolio?

DARYL

I don't know.

CARRIE

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

DARYL

(laughs) Okay.

CARRIE and DARYL exchange portfolios. Both look impressed, then unimpressed, then impressed again. 

CARRIE

Your works looks awesome.

DARYL

I like yours too. Very beautiful

They exchange folders and for a moment they're just looking at each other. Then the line moves. More people appear behind CARRIE.

CARRIE

Oh we're moving again, who is that now?

DARYL (LOOKING FOR A MOMENT)

Joss Whedon.

CARRIE 

Joss Whedon? Creator of Buffy? 

DARYL

Yes.

CARRIE (TO HERSELF)

Be strong Carrie. This is bigger than Joss Whedon.

DARYL 

Nothing's bigger than Joss Whedon.

CARRIE

Oh yes this is. (changing tone) You like Joss Whedon too?

DARYL

Well, I wouldn't call myself a huge fan or anything, but I do love Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

CARRIE

Me too. I love that show.

Enough people have left that now DARYL is next in line. 

DARYL

Good, good. It appears to be my turn.

CARRIE

Good luck Daryl.

DARYL

Thanks, you too.

DARYL enters DIZZY STUDIO's space. CARRIE stands, next in line. The line behind her starts to leave.

CARRIE

Oh wow I'm next. I'm next. I'm next. Wait, where is everyone going?

CON ATTENDEE

It's almost time for Dizzy to stop taking submissions today. They'll either take just one person or they're going to leave.

CARRIE

Really? What time are they done?

CON ATTENDEE

15 minutes.

CARRIE

15 minutes. (half to herself) Oh please let it be my turn.

CON ATTENDEE

Good luck. I'm just coming back tomorrow.

CARRIE

But I only have today, I can't come tomorrow. This is my only shot. (CON ATTENDEE exits and CARRIE is alone) Okay. I have 15 minutes. The days been going good so far. 

SECURITY enters and approaches CARRIE.

SECURITY

I'm sorry miss, but they're done for today.

CARRIE

They are?

SECURITY

Yeah, the guy they got in their right now is doing really good. They told me to dismiss everyone and that they'll see more people tomorrow.

CARRIE

But I can't. You don't understand, it was so hard to get me here "today" much less tomorrow. What am I going to do?

SECURITY

I'm sorry miss, but I can't do anything for you.

CARRIE

Please talk to them again, explain to them...

SECURITY

I can't.

CARRIE (STARTING TO GET HYSTERICAL)

Oh come on. It's just me. Just one more person. Why can't I be seen?

SECURITY

Miss you're going to have to calm down.

CARRIE (NOW SHE'S HYSTERICAL)

"You" calm down. This is "my" shot. Don't you understand.

SECURITY

I'm going to have to escort you out of here.

SECURITY grabs CARRIE's shoulder. Shoulder pushes his hand away.

CARRIE

No. Don't touch me.

SECURITY

Miss.

CARRIE

I'm going to be seen!

SECURITY

I'm going to need some assistance here.

SECURITY GUARDS enter and try to get hold of CARRIE.

CARRIE

I'm not going anywhere. Stop. 

CARRIE drops her silver portfolio during the hassle with security. SECURITY GUARDS drag CARRIE offstage with just a lone silver portfolio left behind.

Scene 3 - Front Porch of the House

Nighttime. CARRIE is alone outside of the house in a fetal position. SHERRY and MARY enter lost in their conversation and smart phones. 

SHERRY

That was so much fun. Look, (shows MARY a picture on her phone) it's me and Taylor Lautner.

MARY

That's not Taylor Lautner. That's a very douchey cosplayer.

SHERRY

Well after I edit his face in photoshop, he'll be Taylor Lautner.

MARY

Look at this. (shows SHERRY a picture on her own phone_ It's me and Jabba the Hutt.

SHERRY

That's a fat guy.

MARY

What's the difference? (laughs)

SHERRY

Oh you're cheesy. (notices CARRIE) Are you still crying about not going to Comic Con?

CARRIE

No, I went.

MARY (HAPPY FOR HER)

Oh that's good.

SHERRY (SARCASTIC)

Then girl, why are you crying? Did they cancel Adventure Time?

MARY

(to SHERRY) Oh stop it. (to CARRIE) Carrie, you okay?

CARRIE

I was trying to get seen by Dizzy Studios...

SHERRY (EXCITED)

Oh man Dizzy Studios? I love their cartoons.

CARRIE (ALMOST OFFENDED)

Animated films.

SHERRY (IRRITATED) 

Oh whatever.

MARY

(scolding SHERRY) Sherry. (Comforting CARRIE) So what happened?

CARRIE

Well, I couldn't see them because they only were allowing people to be seen for certain times each day and I missed those times. And I can't go tomorrow because my pass was only for today. And top if off, I lost my portfolio. I had all my work in there. 

MARY

I'm sure someone will turn it in to Lost and Found." Do you want Sherry and I to go to Lost and Found tomorrow to see if someone turned it in?

CARRIE

Yes please.

MARY

Okay we'll do that. Won't we Sherry? 

MARY gives SHERRY a look. SHERRY softens up a little bit. A little bit. Really little. 

SHERRY (TO CARRIE, BUT NOT LOOKING AT HER)

You want to go tomorrow?

CARRIE (SLOWLY)

Yes.

SHERRY (HANDING CARRIE HER FOUR DAY PASS. STILL NOT LOOKING AT HER.)

You can have my pass.

CARRIE 

What?

MARY 

What?

SHERRY

Yeah, whatever, take it. I don't want to go anyways. It's too crowded and hella crazy.

CARRIE slowly gets up and takes SHERRY's pass.

CARRIE

Thank you Sherry. 

CARRIE looks at her sisters.

CARRIE

Thank you guys.

CARRIE exits. MARY looks at SHERRY.

MARY

You have an ulterior motive.

SHERRY

What? How can you say that?

MARY

(with love) Because you're a heartless bitch. Especially to her.

SHERRY

I have no ulterior motive. She's our sister. And I have a beach date tomorrow, good night.

SHERRY exits. MARY is left alone.

MARY

Good night.

Scene 4 - Portfolio Line Day 2

Another line has formed in front of the door to Dizzy Studio's Comic Con room. CARRIE and MARY enter. As soon as CARRIE enters, two security guards talk to each other, looking at CARRIE.

CARRIE

Okay, round 2. And this time I came here real early. Nothing is going to go wrong. Except I don't have a portfolio, but I'll just explain to them what happened.

MARY 

I'll go to Lost and Found and see if anyone turned in your folder.

CARRIE

Thank you Mary.

SECURITY

Are you Carrie Ashford?

CARRIE

Yes. Is this about yesterday? Please don't kick me out. 

SECURITY escorts CARRIE away. MARY watches on, not knowing what to do.

CARRIE (CALLS OUT TO MARY AS SHE IS TAKEN AWAY

Mary? Mary call mom.

Scene 5 - DIZZY STUDIOS ROOM SPACE

DEENA COOK sits at a very humble but classy looking desk. CARRIE sits on the opposite side. Nervous.

DEENA COOK

So, you're Carrie Ashford.

CARRIE

The very one.

DEENA COOK

You caused quite a stir yesterday

CARRIE

Yeah, I'm sorry. I just really wanted to be seen. And I lost my portfolio in the process. I should go. I'm sorry.

CARRIE starts to leave, but DEENA holds up CARRIE's portfolio from under the table.

DEENA COOK

Do you mean this portfolio.

CARRIE

Yes.

DEENA opens up the folder and lays out some of the work on her desk. 

DEENA COOK

It was left here after our day was over. I went through it. I'm very impressed.

CARRIE

Really?

DEENA COOK

Yes. I almost didn't see it either, but the last young man we saw insisted that we did.

CARRIE

Daryl?

DEENA COOK

Yes. Daryl Kingston. He said your work was worth viewing. And he was right.

CARRIE

Wow. Don't that beat all?

Scene 6 - Outside of Dizzy Studios Room Space.

CARRIE exits the door. 

CARRIE

That was different.

DARYL (OFFSTAGE)

Carrie! Carrie!

DARYL enters running towards CARRIE.

CARRIE (HAPPY TO SEE HIM)

Hi.

DARYL

Did they talk to you?

CARRIE (PROUD)

Yes, I was offered a paid internship.

DARYL

That is awesome. We'll be working together.

CARRIE (EXCITED)

Oh really, that is great. I can't wait.

CARRIE hugs DARYL.

DARYL

Me neither.

MARY, SHERRY, EVA and FAYE enter.

MARY

Mom, there she is.

SHERRY

And with a boy.

EVA (TO CARRIE)

Honey are you ok?

FAYE (TO EVA)

She looks ok.

SHERRY

Does anybody see that she has a man with her?

CARRIE (TO EVA AND FAYE)

Oh I'm okay. I'm going to work for Dizzy Studios.

EVA (TO CARRIE

Oh honey that is great.

FAYE (TO CARRIE)

That's my girl.

CARRIE (CONFUSED)

How did you all get in Comic Con? Don't you need passes?

FAYE

Oh we got passes.

EVA (NOTICES DARYL)

And who is this young man?

SHERY

Finally. The elephant in the room.

CARRIE (TO EVA)

This is my prince charming, Daryl. If it weren't for him they probably wouldn't have even given me a second look.

DARYL (TO CARRIE)

That's not entirely true. The ruckus you made yesterday had everyone talking.

CARRIE

Oh. Embarassing. But who cares, I'm going to work for Dizzy Studios. 

END

31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 3: Dorothy and Alice

Scene 

A black stage. Two figures appear as piano underscores. A light on one of the figures. DOROTHY. 

DOROTHY (TO AUDIENCE)

When I was younger I always wanted to be a writer. Now I'm the ruler of an entire empire. I don't have time to dream in a dreamworld.

Towards the end of her dialogue, a light goes on the other figure. ALICE. Her dialogue overlaps towards the end of DOROTHY's.

ALICE (TO AUDIENCE)

When I was younger I always wanted to be a grown up. I didn't have time to be a child. I had studies. I was always surrounded by adults. I was always smarter than adults. It was a wonder I ended up surviving.

DOROTHY (TO AUDIENCE)

Today I'm interviewing Alice Liddel, the newest member of an organization called The Society.

ALICE (TO AUDIENCE)

An organization comprised of Queens, Hatters, Duchesses and talking animals.

DOROTHY

Sounds somewhat familiar, but much stranger.

ALICE

That it is.

DOROTHY

I'm Dorothy Gale with the Dreamland Times. It's a newspaper.

ALICE (TO DOROTHY)

I thought you were ruler of a kingdom though?

The lights come on to reveal a table setting. DOROTHY and ALICE sit at opposites sides of the table)

DOROTHY

Oh I left all of that behind. 

ALICE

You left a whole kingdom behind?

DOROTHY

Oh yes. 

ALICE

Who's ruling now?

DOROTHY

I left it in the hands a very responsible person.

ALICE

Who?

DOROTHY

A princess who used to be a farm boy.

ALICE

A farm boy?

DOROTHY

Yeah. Before she was a farm boy, she was a little girl. Now she's a princess, and a great one at that.

ALICE

All girls go through a phase where they can be mistaken for little boys it appears.

DOROTHY

I think I'm still in "my" phase... though my body would deceive you.

ALICE

You feel you can still be mistaken for a boy?

DOROTHY

Hey now, I'm supposed to be the interviewer.

ALICE

I'm sorry.

DOROTHY

So, what has prepared you for The Society? 

ALICE

I've been known to vocally spar with some of the world's most fiercest queens. So it was a natural thing to be nominated into the group.

DOROTHY

That does prepare one.

ALICE

You've been known to spar with witches and wizards and the sort too. I've read about you Dorothy Gale.

DOROTHY

Hey now, I'm the interviewer.

ALICE

I know, but your life is as fascinating as mine, if not moreso. I barely remember my adventures. I just get flashes of conversation here and there. Your adventures are documented in 15 plus volumes.

DOROTHY

And counting.

ALICE

So why would you leave all that to interview me? A normal girl.

DOROTHY

Because there is no such thing as a normal girl. We all have this power within us that make us truly magical. Boys wish they had it, but they do not have it. They have something else.

ALICE

We're magical?

QUEEN OF HEARTS enters holding something behind her back.

QUEEN OF HEARTS (TO ALICE)

Are you?

DOROTHY (WHISPERING TO ALICE)

Who is that?

ALICE (WHISPERING TO DOROTHY)

The Queen of Hearts. She is out of control.

QUEEN OF HEARTS 

What did you say? Off with her head!

QUEEN OF HEARTS reveals she is wielding an ax behind her.

DOROTHY

Seriously?

ALICE

Run Dorothy.

ALICE and DOROTHY run offstage. QUEEN OF HEARTS chases after them, knocking the table set over in the process. ALICE and DOROTHY re-enter from the other side of the stage, out of breath.

DOROTHY

What's her problem. 

ALICE

She's probably one of those girls that never realized she was magical.

QUEEN OF HEARTS re-enters, out of breath and looking more savage. She eyes the girls_

DOROTHY (TO ALICE)

Actually she might just not have honed it right. (to QUEEN OF HEARTS) Why are you so angry?

QUEEN OF HEARTS

Because the Knave of Hearts took my tarts.

DOROTHY

You can't let a man control the way you emote. You need to surpass.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

No man controls the Queen!

DOROTHY

Obviously one does.

ALICE

Dorothy no.

DOROTHY (TO ALICE)

No wait. Maybe she needs to be told. Maybe she's never been told.

QUEEN OF HEARTS (INDICATING DOROTHY)

Off with her head too!

ALICE

Run again.

ALICE starts to run, but DOROTHY stops her as QUEEN OF HEARTS starts to weaking. Getting more and more out of breath.

DOROTHY

We'll be fine. Look. She's getting tired.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

I'll get you later.

QUEEN OF HEARTS exits the stage.

ALICE

How did you know she'd get tired?

DOROTHY

Because if you let your emotions run, you won't get very far. And she's letting her emotions run because she's not owning up to her problems. 

ALICE

Her problems?

DOROTHY

She thinks that it would be bad to admit that a man is controlling how she is feeling, but in reality, if she just said it, she'll be fine. She'll feel a million times better if she could just admit to that.

ALICE

Is that true?

DOROTHY

Yes. Admitting things is the start of being ruler of your own world.

ALICE pauses to think.

ALICE

I think I'm ready for that interview Dorothy.

DOROTHY

Good. I can't wait.

END

31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 2 - 10 Years Later...

10 YEARS LATER...

Scene - The Park

Exterior. An afternoon in fall. BRIAR is standing, waiting for someone. HANK appears and slowly approaches BRIAR. A bench is nearby.

BRIAR

Hey, thanks for coming.

HANK

I almost didn't.

BRIAR

I know, and I understand.

HANK

What's up?

BRIAR

You look good. 

HANK

Thank you.

BRIAR

It's almost as if no time has passed at all. What have you been up to? Are you still dancing? Singing?

HANK

Are you?

BRIAR

Yes I am. Not in the capacity that I would've liked, but, I love to do it, and it pays the bills.

HANK

What do you do?

BRIAR

Dinner theater.

HANK

Oh my.

BRIAR

It's whatever. I get to read for Hamlet next week, while people order cheeseburgers.

HANKS giggles a little. BRIAR giggles a little. 

BRIAR

You remember what I did to you right?

HANK

You stole my boyfriend.

BRIAR

He went on a date with me, while you two were still together. He cheated on you.

HANK

Is this your idea of an apology?

BRIAR sits down on the nearby bench. HANK slowly joins him.

BRIAR

Look, all these years, I've ignored your crazy texts, your crazy e-mails, and your crazy stares as you'd pass by me at auditions. I would always tell myself that it's not my fault he left you. I didn't even know he was with you while we dated. It's not my fault, I would tell myself. Looking back on it, it kind of was my fault. I didn't know you guys were together, but if I did know, I'm pretty sure I would've taken the exact same actions. I was "that" guy. I was the home wrecker. I denied it all these years because we all want to see ourselves as the good guy, but I wasn't the good guy, not in that instance. I'm sorry Hank. And I hope you can forgive me.

HANK

I loved him, did you know that?

BRIAR

I did.

HANK

And you still went after him, while we were together.

BRIAR

Yes. 

HANK

I don't know if I could forgive you.

BRIAR

I've said my peace. It's up to you to decide what do now. 

BRIAR gets up and leaves. HANK is alone as the leaves begin to fall.

31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 1 - Romeo and Juliet 2

                                   ROMEO AND JULIET 2

                                   SCENE 1 - LIMBO

                    PUCK stands center stage facing the audience. The
                    stage is bare.

          PUCK (TO AUDIENCE)
               Everyone knows the story of Romeo and Juliet. The star
               crossed couple who's feuding families forced them to
               kill themselves so they can truly be happy together.
               But here's what happened to them, after their untimely
               death. I'm Puck. The Merry Wanderer of the Night. Night
               of the Living Dead that is. But Romeo and Juliet are
               not zombies. At the moment, they are in limbo, and I'm
               now responsible for making sure they move on to the
               next phase of their after life.

                    ROMEO and JULIET enter.

          ROMEO
               Where are we?

          JULIET
               Are we in heaven?

          PUCK
               Oh you are so cute. Both of you.

          JULIET
               What is this place?

          PUCK
               This is a special place for special people, like you
               two. Your act of death has caused both of your families
               to spread a message of peace, instead of hate.

          JULIET
               Our families?

          ROMEO
               That is amazing.

          PUCK
               As a reward, you both get to live another life,
               together, and hopefully for longer.

          ROMEO
               This is all so fascinating.

          PUCK
               you can go anywhere, be anyone.

          JULIET
               Oh Romeo.

          ROMEO
               My Juliet.

          PUCK
               Oh yes. Just look through this book and let me know
               what tickles your fancy. I'll be right over there. It
               looks like the entire population of Denmark has just
               arrived.

                    PUCK exits as ROMEO and JULIET embrace each other.

                                   SCENE 2 - ARCHIE'S ROOM

                    ARCHIE is fixing up his very fashionable room.
                    PUCK enters from the inside of ARCHIE's closet
                    space. ARCHIE is the reincarnation of ROMEO.

       

          PUCK
               Well look at the life you live now.

          ARCHIE (SLOWLY RECOGNIZING)
               It's you.

          PUCK
               Puck, the merry wanderer of the night.

          ARCHIE
               Hi. So what's the deal here?

          PUCK
               It's 1999. You are Archie. A college graduate. You have
               your degree in design.

          ARCHIE
               Such a new world, but I don't feel lost in what you're
               saying. I can see my childhood in this world. See what
               I have learned. I see my mother in this world. She is
               gone. I see my father. He is distant.

          PUCK
               Yes, you will slowly come to understand this world the
               more you walk around it. And you maintain your memories
               of your past life as Romeo too.

          ARCHIE
               Why is that? Is it part of the reward.

          PUCK
               No. I forgot to erase your memories. Juliet's too.

          ARCHIE
               You forgot?

          PUCK
               It happens more often than you think. I think I did the
               same thing to Shirley Maclaine. Do you know who Shirley
               Maclaine is?

          ARCHIE
               I didn't until you mentioned her name. Now I know her
               from several movies.

          PUCK
               It's going to happen a lot. You'll get used to it. You
               won't even notice it after awhile. It's fun isn't it?
               This new life?

          ARCHIE
               Where's Juliet.

          PUCK
               She should be next door. She's been your neighbor for
               years.

          ARCHIE
               She has. I remember. She's different too.

          PUCK
               Oh, you have no idea Romeo oh Romeo.

                                   SCENE 3 - THE FRONT YARD

                    Two houses, alike in dignity, are side by side.
                    ARCHIE exits the house on stage right and looks
                    around. BRUCE enters very slowly.

          BRUCE
               Hello Romeo.

          ARCHIE
               Juliet?

          BRUCE
               No. Now it's Bruce.

          ARCHIE
               You're a man.

          BRUCE
               Yes.

          PUCK
               Bruce is a 24 year old college drop out who spends most
               of his time nowadays playing video games.

          ARCHIE
               Is this one of your jokes? She chose to be a man?

          PUCK
               Actually she didn't. She wanted to see the world. She
               wanted to be strong. She wanted to be with you.

          BRUCE
               The body doesn't matter at all Archie. We are together
               Archie, don't you see that?

          ARCHIE
               We are, we really are. And I'm not letting go of you.

          BRUCE
               Our kind of love, it's not accepted still is it?

          PUCK
               Not at all. And not in this time.

          BRUCE
               Are we always going to have to fight?

          ARCHIE
               I'll fight a dozen lifetimes just to be with you.

          PUCK
               You guys are precious. I have to get going now. I still
               have the deaths of Denmark to deal with. Maybe I'll
               turn them into the cast of a TV sitcom.

                    WILLARD, ARCHIE's father, peaks out from the
                    window in his home on stage right. He looks at
                    ARCHIE and BRUCE. ARCHIE embraces BRUCE. The two
                    hold hands and walk offstage.

                                   SCENE 4 - ARCHIE'S DINING TABLE

                    A very dimly lit table setting. WILLARD and ARCHIE
                    sit at opposite sides of the table.

          WILLARD
               Son.

          ARCHIE
               Yeah dad?

          WILLARD
               I want to talk to you.

          ARCHIE
               Okay.

          WILLARD
               I saw you kissing that boy.

          ARCHIE
               Bruce?

          WILLARD
               Son I didn't know you were gay.

          ARCHIE
               Well now you know. What's the big deal?

          WILLARD
               The big deal is that we go to church every sunday, and
               now we can't do that with our heads held high.

          ARCHIE
               I'm sorry you feel you can't go to church because of
               the man I love.

          WILLARD
               Oh now it's love. You don't even know him.

          ARCHIE
               Oh I know him. I know every part of him. His wants. His
               dreams. His desires.

          WILLARD
               You sicken me.

          ARCHIE
               You sicken me. I'm in love and all you care about is
               yourself. You're not going to control me father. Not
               this time.

                    ARCHIE exits.

       

                                   SCENE 5 - BRUCE'S LIVING ROOM

                    A very light room. Two couches face each other as
                    a TV plays. BRUCE is watching TV. MONICA, his
                    mother, is reading a magazine.

          BRUCE
               Mom?

          MONICA
               Yup.

          BRUCE
               I'm in love with Archie next door.

                    MONICA puts her magazine down for a second.

          MONICA
               Excuse me?

          BRUCE
               I'm in love with him. I want to be with him.

          MONICA
               Archie? Next door?

          BRUCE
               Yes.

          MONICA
               Well, if he makes you happy.

                    MONICA goes back to her magazine.

          BRUCE
               You're not going to yell at me?

          MONICA
               Do you want me to yell at you.

          BRUCE
               But being gay isn't socially acceptable in this world.

          MONICA
               In this world? Are you playing those video games again?

          BRUCE
               Yes, and they're very fun, but what does that have to
               with Archie?

          MONICA
               Baby, I love you. Just be you. As long as you're not
               hurting anyone. Now, finish your dinner.

          BRUCE
               There is no dinner.

          MONICA
               What? Oh man. Let me order a pizza.

                    MONICA gets up to get the phone book.

          BRUCE
               Mom?

          MONICA
               Yes?

                    BRUCE gets up and hugs MONICA.

          BRUCE
               Thank you. For listening and accepting me.

          MONICA
               You are strange today. And I think your boyfriend is
               coming by.

          BRUCE
               Archie?

                    A knock on the door. BRUCE gets it. ARCHIE is
                    crying.

          ARCHIE
               Bruce, he was horrible to me, I don't know what to do.

          MONICA
               Archie? Are you okay?

          ARCHIE
               I told my dad about is.

          MONICA
               He didn't take it too well did he?

          ARCHIE
               No.

          MONICA (TO HERSELF)
               That bible thumper.

          ARCHIE
               I don't know what to do.

          MONICA
               Bruce will take you for a drink. I'll deal with him
               okay.

          BRUCE
               Are you sure mom.

          MONICA
               Get out of here okay.

          ARCHIE
               Thank you Monica.

          MONICA
               Honey don't you worry.

                    ARCHIE and BRUCE exit. MONICA starts to tidy up
                    the house. She turns off the TV. She picks goes
                    through the phone book.

          MONICA
               First, I'm going to get me a pizza.

                    She finds the pizza page and starts to on her
                    phone.

          MONICA
               Hello, hi. Can you send over two supreme pizzas.

                    A knock on the door.

          MONICA
               Make that three supreme pizzas. Yes, it's Monica. Hi
               Lana. You know the drill.

                    MONICA answers the door.

          WILLARD
               Did you know my son is gay?

                    WILLARD lets himself in, and paces frantically.

          MONICA (SARCASTIC)
               Please come in.

          WILLARD
               Yours is too.

          MONICA
               I know.

          WILLARD
               They're together.

          MONICA
               Yeah I know. I gave them 10 bucks to go to a bar.

          WILLARD
               What?

          MONICA
               Relax. Knowing Bruce he probably took Archie to a tea
               house or something. He loves his anime.

          WILLARD
               It's wrong, it's against the bible.

          MONICA
               Look, I know the Japanese can be crazy sometimes, but
               there's no need to demonize them.

          WILLARD
               I'm talking about my son. My gay son.

          MONICA
               Willard, I don't like you, but I'm going to level with
               you. Get all that bible stuff out of your head, and
               just answer my question. How do "you" feel about...

          WILLARD
               Homosexuals?

          MONICA
               Your son.

          WILLARD
               My son. I love him.

          MONICA
               So why is who he loves an issue with you?

          WILLARD
               Because homosexuality is wrong.

          MONICA
               Why is it wrong?

          WILLARD
               Because the bible says...

          MONICA
               Wait wait wait wait wait. We're going to keep the bible
               out of this... for now.

          WILLARD
               I'm a man of the church.

          MONICA
               Tell me "you"... "personally" think that homosexuality
               it wrong.

          WILLARD
               I never really thought about it. The church tells me
               and I follow.

          MONICA
               If you're church is telling you to hate your son, then
               don't you think you're in the wrong church?

          WILLARD
               What do you know, you're not a woman of faith.

          MONICA
               How do you know? We've been neighbors for years and
               this is the most you've ever said to me. You don't know
               me. I was raised on good christian values and that does
               not include condemning anyone based on who they want to
               be with. Why don't you come with me to my church?

          WILLARD
               You go to church.

          MONICA
               Yes. Sometimes. When I feel like it. I feel like it.

          WILLARD
               So many new things today.

          MONICA
               It's a new world Willard. Open your mind.

          WILLARD
               Forget this. I have no son. You can have him.
             

                 

                                   SCENE 6 - TEA HOUSE

                    A very classy place. Asian themed. ARCHIE and
                    BRUCE sit at a booth alone.

          ARCHIE
               Suicide? Again?

          BRUCE
               You're right. Besides, I'm pretty sure that a second
               death wouldn't give us another second chance.

                    PUCK appears from under the table.

          PUCK
               That would be illogical.

          ARCHIE
               Puck.

                    PUCK joins the couple on a seat.

          PUCK
               This is your second chance. No third chances. You have
               to get this right if you two want to be together.

          BRUCE
               Then we're going to fight. We should've done this
               before.

          ARCHIE
               It was a different place. A different time.

          BRUCE
               Now we have a real chance. I love you and we will live
               together in this world.

                    MONICA enters with WILLARD. He looks reluctant.

          MONICA (TO WILLARD)
               Told you they'd be here.

                    MONICA and WILLARD approach BRUCE and ARCHIE.

          ARCHIE
               Father, you can't stand in our way. We love each other,
               and we're going to be together.
             

          MONICA
               Cool your jets Archie. Your dad wants to say something
               to you.

          WILLARD
               Look, this is really taking me for a loop, but if you
               really want to be with Bruce, then I'm not going to
               stand in the way of that.

          ARCHIE
               Really?

          WILLARD
               Yes. You're my son, and I love you.

          ARCHIE
               I love you too dad.

                    ARCHIE embraces WILLARD. WILLARD

                    takes his son's hand, and puts it in BRUCE's.

          BRUCE
               Times are changing Archie.

          ARCHIE
               Yes. They finally are.

                    ARCHIE and BRUCE kiss as WILLARD and MONICA look
                    on. PUCK stands in front of the couple as a priest
                    as if the last image the audience sees is a
                    wedding.

                                                              END