31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 28 - The New Girl in Town

THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN

Scene - Brianne's Home

BRIANNE sits at the head of a circle of ladies in a living setting. NADIA sits next to BRIANNE. JANETTE and ABBY sit side by side.

BRIANNE

Welcome everyone. It's been a year since Nadia has joined our little community and discovered our dirty little secrets. She has found out that our very own Janette, who has been struggling with cancer, is actually a ghost, but God love her for sticking around even after her death. She learned that Abby is really a demon princess from another dimension. Girl power. And finally, she has revealed to all of you that I am in fact not a human being, but a very complicated piece of machinery. A Stepford if you will. It was quite a shock to me too, but if there's anything I have learned in our "adventures" it's that we are all friends still. We have these dirty secrets and we're all still together. Now Nadia, it's your turn.

NADIA

My turn?

ABBY

Yeah, reveal your dirty secret.

NADIA

I don't really have one.

JANETTE

Oh come on. We know you do. 

NADIA

How could you possibly know that?

ABBY

Because we were snooping around and found a locked box in a locked safe in a locked room in your locked house.

NADIA

You guys broke in?

JANETTE

It's kind of easy if you're a ghost ya know.

BRIANNE

Nadia, we're not trying to gang up on you. We care about you, we're your friends, if something is wrong, we'd like to know.

NADIA

Nothing is wrong, and if you're really my friends you'll let it go.

JANETTE

Okay fine. If you want us to drop if we will.

NADIA

Thank you.

Scene - Nadia's House

Nighttime. JANETTE leads ABBY and BRIANNE outside as they attempt to break into NADIA's house yet again. 

BRIANNE

Girls, what are we doing?

JANETTE

We're going to find out for sure what's in that stupid box of hers.

BRIANNE

Janette we promised.

JANETTE

So. I'm a ghost, what is she going to do.

BRIANNE

She's going to get you exorcised. Me reprogrammed and send out Buffy the Vampire Slayer for Abby.

ABBY

Oh that's funny.

JANETTE

She is not going to do all that. We're her friends.

ABBY

I love that show.

BRIANNE

Her friends? We're breaking into her house.

JANETTE

Yeah I know, so hurry up before she wakes up.

JANETTE "ghosts" through the walls and opens the windows from inside for ABBY and BRIANNE. They both get in.

ABBY

I always thought it was spooky in here.

JANETTE

Really demon princess?

JANNETTE floats around and gets hold of the box. She puts her finger in the complicated lock system, supposedly picking the lock.

ABBY

Hey I didn't know about that until a few months ago. Not surprised though. I'm just too awesome. There's no possible way I'm human.

BRIANNE

What is it to be human really?

JANETTE

Oh God. You need to stop watching Blade Runner okay.

BRIANNE

I have not been watching Blade Runner. I've been watching A.I.

NADIA enters.

NADIA

What are you all doing here?

JANETTE's fiddling has opened up the box.

JANETTE

Uh oh.

NADIA

Abby, NO!!!!

A plethora of demons exit the box and start flying about.

BRIANNE

What is that?

NADIA

My dirty secret. Ladies, meet all the negative things I keep hidden from all of you. 

BRIANNE

Those are negative feelings?

The demons crash out of the show. The girls run outside.

Scene - The Neighborhood

Nighttime. NADIA leads the girls to find the demons.

NADIA 

My mother was a witch who put a spell on me. All of my negative feelings would turn into little demons that would fit into that little box, as long as they stayed locked in.

The demons are seen flying through the night.

JANETTE

Wow, these are years of negative feelings?

NADIA

Yes, and unless we get all of them, the world is doomed.

BRIANNE

Come on girls.

ABBY use her demon strength to throw one of the demons towards NADIA who opens up her box and locks it up. BRIANNE uses her robot powers to neutralize several demons. She throws them at NADIA who captures them in the box too. JANETTE posseses a demon and knocks it out.

NADIA

Come on girls, only 200 to go.

The girls fight all night, defending the neighborhood.

Scene - Nadia's House

Daytime. The front porch. NADIA is sitting alone at thought. BRIANNE enters holding a purse.

BRIANNE

How are you feeling?

NADIA

I'm feeling that I'm really upset that you girls invaded me like that.

BRIANNE

Nadia it's because we love you. 

NADIA

Well I don't love this about myself. I hate how ugly I really am.

BRIANNE sits next to NADIA.

BRIANNE

Nadia, you are not an ugly person. Everyone has negativity.

NADIA

But mine are so bad that I have to keep them bottled in a stupid box.

BRIANNE

Well, maybe you shouldn't bottle them up. Look.

BRIANNE takes out a little demon from her purse. It's crying very wildly.

NADIA

What is that?

BRIANNE

It's one of your negative feelings. It's a little one. 

NADIA

Why didn't you lock it up?

BRIANNE

Because that's not the answer. You have to deal with your negative feelings, or it'll grow and grow and eventually attack the whole town.

BRIANNE hands NADIA the demon like a baby. NADIA holds it in her arms, comforting it.

NADIA

You poor dear. Please don't cry. It's going to be all right.

The demon stars to calm down and glow.

BRIANNE

Nadia look. 

NADIA

What's going on?

The demon turns into a butterfly.

BRIANNE

You've turned it into a positive.

The butterfly flies away as the two friends look on.

END

31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 27 - Yesterday Once More

YESTERDAY ONCE MORE

SCENE - THE AUDITORIUM

JACKSON sits alone in thought on the edge of the stage. AJA enters after a moment.

AJA

Hi Tiger.

JACKSON

Hey.

AJA and JACKSON hug.

AJA

It's been way too long huh.

JACKSON

What are you doing here?

AJA

I teach here. What are you doing here?

JACKSON

Just needed to be somewhere happy.

AJA

What's wrong, did you and Vandella break-up. (pause) Oh no, you and Vandella broke up?

JACKSON

It's a little more complicated than that.

AJA

I'm sorry. Do you want to tell me about it.

AJA sits next to JACKSON.

JACKSON

College, it changes people. 

AJA

It really does. 

Pause.

JACKSON

Hey, how's your brother doing?

AJA

Brian? He's off at New York, making his dreams come true.

JACKSON

Hey, you wanted stardom? Why are you still here?

AJA

I can't seem to leave. I love teaching theater. I love the looks on these kids faces. They want what we wanted when we were in our High School musical. To just have a good time and leave all of the crap of High School behind. We all got lost in shows like West Side Story, Grease, The Wiz...

JACKSON

Awww, The Wiz. I loved that show.

AJA

You were the best Scarecrow.

JACKSON

And Diana Ross had nothing on your Dorothy.

AJA

Yeah, but original cast member Stephanie Mills did.

Laughter. Pause.

JACKSON

It's good to see you again.

AJA gets up.

AJA

Look, I'm grabbing something to eat for lunch, would you like to join me?

JACKSON

I'm sorry. I can't. As awesome as that would be.

AJA

I understand. 

AJA starts to walk away. She then turns around and...

AJA

Hey, if you wanted to know, Brian will be visiting tomorrow.

JACKSON

Yeah?

AJA

Yeah. 

JACKSON

Thank you.

AJA

Anything for a friend.

JACKSON

It will be real good to see him.

AJA

I realize that.

AJA exits. Pause. JACKSON smiles, jumps up on his feet and happily exits.

END

31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 26 - Date with the Queen Bee

DATE WITH THE QUEEN BEE

Scene - Jenny's Hair Love

SHEERA enters from the back as PUDDING does LATOYA's hair and DRAKE works the front desk.

SHEERA

Has anyone seen Jennifer?

PUDDING

She hasn't come in. I heard she didn't even come home.

DRAKE

How could you possibly know that.

PUDDING

Because Donnie told Flo and Flo told Britney and Britney told Harry and Harry told LaToya...

LATOYA

Holla HAYY

PUDDING

...and LaToya told me.

DRAKE

My brain just exploded.

PUDDING

Mop it up drama queen.

JENNIFER enters. She doesn't look too good.

SHEERA

Oh look, here she is. 

PUDDING

Jennifer?

LATOYA

Are you okay?

JENNIFER

Oh yeah. I'm fine.

SHEERA

Could've fooled me.

LATOYA

Girl are you drunk?

JENNIFER

Oh yeah.

PUDDING

Was your date with the queen bee a disaster?

JENNIFER

Of epic proportions.

PUDDING

Oh hells.... 

JENNIFER

She picked me up, we went to the party, and it was High School all over again. She had the same friends, the same attitude. The mean girls, they were still mean girls, and it was sad.

SHEERA

I'm sorry Jen. I know you wanted it work out.

JENNIFER

I don't think I really did. I'm not the same person I was in High School. I'm not that girl who worshipped the ground she walked on. I'm better than that.

LATOYA

You sure are. So who cares if the Queen Bee is still hot, sexy and in control...

DRAKE

LaToya.

LATOYA

Girl, you are better than that.

JENNIFER

Damn straight. I think I'm gonna vomit.

JENNIFER gags and runs to the bathroom outback.

SHEERA

You better run I just changed the carpet!!!

DRAKE 

She looked a mess.

LATOYA

She was a mess.

PUDDING

I'm hungry who wants some mexican.

CLAIRE enters.

CLAIRE

Hi ladies. And Pudding.

PUDDING/DRAKE

Oh hells...

SHEERA

Can I help you Claire.

CLAIRE

Is Jennifer here. I was trying to see her at her place, but no one was home.

SHEERA

Yes, she's out back getting pretty for today's work.

JENNIFER (OFFSTAGE)

Oh my God. I slipped and missed.

SHEERA

I'll be right back. 

SHEERA goes outback. CLAIRE has an awkward silent moment with PUDDING, DRAKE and LATOYA. JENNIFER enters with a bruise on her head, and wet from water.

JENNIFER

Hello Claire.

CLAIRE

Oh my God Jennifer. 

JENNIFER

What?

CLAIRE

You look horrible.

JENNIFER

Nice. Is that residual teasing from last night's event with your coven of bitches?

CLAIRE

Look, I can't control what my friends do?

JENNIFER

Why would you want to be around people who treat others like that?

CLAIRE

Jennifer they're my friends, you know that.

JENNIFER

If that's who you want to be associated with, why the hell would I want to be around you?

CLAIRE

Because you like me.

JENNIFER

I did like you, but that was when I was a teenager. I'm a grown woman now. I wish I could say the same for you.

CLAIRE

I came here to apologize to you. I don't want to anymore.

JENNIFER

Oh please. Allow me to apologize. I'm sorry I ever liked a shallow bitch like you.

SHEERA gets in the middle of CLAIRE and JENNIFER.

SHEERA 

Whoa ladies, none of that.

CLAIRE exits. JENNIFER goes outback. Pause. And then:

LATOYA

That was some L Word bullshit.

Lights out. Lights back on. SHEERA and JENNIFER are cleaning up.

SHEERA

Can I expect you to come in on time tomorrow?

JENNIFER

Yes I'm sorry. You know I'm the owner of this salon right?

SHEERA

You own it, I run it.

JENNIFER

We're a good team aren't we?

SHEERA

You feeling better about that whole Claire situation.

JENNIFER

Yeah. I guess I was just trying to relive a high school fantasy. You can't always go back though, can you?

SHEERA

No. But sure is fun.

They laugh.

SHEERA

Come on girl. LaToya just text me. She said everyone's at Marla's.

JENNIFER

Good. I could use a drink. With friends. Real friends.

They exit.

END

31 Plays in 31 Days - Day 25 - Quest for the Stars

QUEST FOR THE STARS

Scene - TV Commerical

ANNOUNCER enters onto the empty stage with a mic on hand. She stands stage right.

ANNOUNCER

Welcome to the newest episode of the hit talent search series, Quest for the Stars, where our judges are on a quest to find the next singing super sensation. Our featured judges are very hot and very gay Nicholas Riches.

NICHOLAS enters and strikes a pose off-center stage.

ANNOUNCER

International singing senstion Diane Moon.

DIANE enters and poses off-center stage also. The two are leaving a space in-between them for...

ANNOUNCER

And making her come back to the public eye, the very mysterious Gwen Gomez.

GWEN enters, takes center stage, and a musical sting cues the lights to go down.

Scene - The Show

Lights come back on. DIANE is getting ready in front of a vanity mirror. GWEN enters.

GWEN

Hi Diane.

DIANE

Hi Gwen.

GWEN

It seems as if the media is making us out to be rivals. I don't agree with them.

DIANE (SNARKY)

Of course we're not rivals. You haven't had an album out in my years. My album on the other hand...

GWEN

I'm going to stop you right there. We're not doing this. No snark. No double entendre. I'm going to be your friend. Trust me, you're going to need friends.

DIANE pauses.

DIANE

I'm sorry. I will be sweet.

GWEN

I will too.

NICHOLAS enters. A judge's table appears behind him as does a studio audience.

NICHOLAS

Okay you skinny bitches. Are you ready to judge these losers.

DIANE

What did I sign up for?

GWEN

A life sentence.

As GWEN, DIANE and NICHOLAS take their seats behind the judge's table, the focus shifts to a bunch of loud contestants enter. PETE is among one of them. A QUEST STAFF member keeps him at bay.

PETE

You don't understand, Gwen and I are friends. We grew up together.

QUEST STAFF

Sure. I know. Everyone grew up with Gwen.

PETE

Just tell her Pete is here.

QUEST STAFF 

Whatever.

Focus back on the judge's table. Audience listens.

GWEN

Wow. This has been strange. All these auditions in front of all of these people.

DIANE

It's all a show Gwen. Just make sure you say what you mean. Don't be a cookie cutter.

GWEN

Thank you.

NICHOLAS

Blah blah blah. Do you ladies realize everything you say is being recorded?

GWEN

In that case, be yourself and feed the poor.

DIANE

That was cute.

GWEN

Thank you.

NICHOLAS

Boring. Bring out our next contestant.

PETE is sent out for the judges.

GWEN

Oh my God.

DIANE

I know, cute huh?

GWEN

I know him.

DIANE

Yeah?

NICHOLAS

Oh this will be good.

The light fade.

Scene - After the Show

Lights come back on. The same set, but it's messier and emptier. PETE is onstage alone. GWEN enters.

GWEN

Pete? 

GWEN hugs PETE.

GWEN

Pete how are you?

PETE

Oh Gwen I missed you so much.

GWEN

You did great. I didn't know you could sing like that.

PETE 

Well, I couldn't in High School. But you inspired me. You went out there and did it. I figured if you could follow your dreams, then what's stopping me? Thank you.

GWEN

Oh Pete. 

The hug again and then pause a moment to look at each other.

GWEN

I have to get going. I'm so happy you're part of this competition.

GWEN exits. NICHOLAS enters.

NICHOLAS

Well hi there Pete.

PETE

Hi. You're way meaner in person.

NICHOLAS

I don't have time for your compliments. I don't know how long how long you think you've known Gwen, but I've known her for as long as she has been in this industry and the last thing she needs is another man in her life to screw her up.

PETE

I think the last thing she needs is someone controlling her life. She's more than a singer. She's a person.

NICHOLAS

She's Gwen Gomez. Don't you know what that means?

PETE

It means she needs to be careful with who she surrounds herself with.

NICHOLAS

Exactly. Welcome to the competition.

NICHOLAS exits leaving PETE alone. Lights out.

Scene - Limo

Lights on. DIANE and GWEN are in the backseat of a limo with NICHOLAS.

DIANE

How romantic. After all these years, he's here.

GWEN

What?

DIANE

Come on. Everyone can sense the romantics out there.

GWEN

Romantics? No. He's...

DIANE

Just a friend? They all say that. It means there's romance there but someone's not ready.

NICHOLAS

And she's not ready so maybe you should drop it.

GWEN

Hey, be nice. Diane is just having some girl talk with me. It's harmless.

NICHOLAS

Gwen shouldn't be thinking about romance at this point. Not after what she went through.

GWEN

I think I know what I've been through Nicholas, thank you.

NICHOLAS

And so does the rest of the world. I just don't want you to make the same mistakes and bring my show down with you.

GWEN

If you don't want me in your show, I don't have to be in it.

NICHOLAS

Oh yes you do. Aside from signing a contract, you need us to help revive your dying career that you started killing - yourself - when you started eating more, singing less, and dating publicly every boy band member from every record label in America and Canada.

GWEN

Driver, let me out of here.

GWEN gets out of the limo.

NICHOLAS

Yeah get out.

DIANE

What is wrong with you. 

DIANE exits the limo and goes to the driver's seat

DIANE

Driver go without us, I'll take her home.

The limo leaves GWEN and DIANE alone onstage.

GWEN

That guy is an ass.

DIANE

I know. Tell me about it.

GWEN

You don't have to help me Diane. No one is around. There are no cameras.

DIANE

Wait a minute. That is not fair. I'm trying to look out for you.

GWEN

Why? 

DIANE

Because, you're probably one of the most real people I've met in awhile in this business. Come on, we'll get a cab and get you home. 

GWEN thinks for a moment.

GWEN

Thanks Diane. 

GWEN and DIANE exit.

Scene - The Show

ANNOUNCER enters stage right. Mic on hand.

ANNOUNCER

We are at the season finale of Quest for the Stars and it's down to two singers. Pete Wendels (light on PETE) and Heidi Spices. (light on HEIDI) Who's it going to be?

Lights off on ANNOUNCER, PETE and HEIDI. GWEN, DIANE and NICHOLAS enter.

GWEN

Who's it going to be?

DIANE

I know. They're both so talented.

GWEN

I really want to vote for Pete, but Heidi is amazing too. 

NICHOLAS

And Pete will never forgive you if you don't vote for him.

GWEN

Shut up.

DIANE

Don't listen to him Gwen. We're on our last episode, and then you don't have to deal with him anymore.

GWEN

Not until the next season at least.

DIANE

Really?

GWEN

Yeah?

DIANE

That is so cool. 

NICHOLAS

What is so cool?

DIANE

Gwen is now going to be a judge for the next few seasons of this show. 

NICHOLAS

Excuse me?

GWEN

You're stuck with me mister.

NICHOLAS

How does she get a contract like that? I don't even get a contract like that.

GWEN

I guess that kind of puts me higher in the totem pole doesn't it.

NICHOLAS

Gwen, you don't want to leave music behind.

GWEN

One of the reasons I came onto this show, was to help find young talent that could push music forward. Like what my friends and I did. I think Diane here is perfect for that.

DIANE

Really?

GWEN

Yes. You are the new Princess of Pop Hits. I pass the torch to you.

DIANE

Oh Gwen this means so much.

GWEN

Not that you need it, but I'll always be here to help guide you, as you have guided me.

DIANE

Are we ready to pick a winner?

GWEN

We sure are.

NICHOLAS

Let's do it.

Scene - After the Show

The same set, but messy and empty. PETE stands alone. Defeated. GWEN enters.

GWEN

Hey superstar.

PETE

Hi.

GWEN

If it helps, I voted for you.

PETE

I know.

GWEN

Do you know what you're doing now?

PETE

Back to auditions. Now I'm just a nobody.

GWEN

Oh stop. Don't you realize what just happened?

PETE

Huh?

GWEN

For 8 weeks, you were on national television. Millions of people heard you sing. Saw you perform. You're a star.

PETE

I got second place.

GWEN

So. That just means you have more opportunities than Heidi.

PETE

What?

GWEN

Because Heidi won the show, she has to do whatever the show wants her to do next. In her case, it's a definite album.

PETE

Poor her.

GWEN

But you, can soar. 

PETE

To what?

GWEN

We're going to figure that out. You and I.

PETE

Really?

GWEN

Yes. Together. 

GWEN takes PETE's hand and sings with him as they exit.

END