Author's Note
Welcome to another edition of the "Origins of a Playwright" series. The 'Playwright' in focus is obviously me, because it would be wrong to publish someone else's plays (that's the kind of stuff you get sued for I hear).
I'm not going to get into a big Author's Note here, so here's the Author's Note from Part 1:
Hello, and welcome to a brand new three-part series I'd like to call 'Origins of a Playwright'. If you've read any of my previous works (as I write this I've published 13 stories), or some of my future works (stories I haven't published yet but you read before this one), then you know that I wasn't always a great writer (returning readers will love this joke).
You can find all my published stories (previous or future) on my Page.
As you may already be aware of, 'Tabula Rasa' was the first story I ever wrote. In my other series, 'Origins of a Writer', I talk about how I went from being a non-fiction writer to a fiction writer.
Notice the fact that I am self-labeling myself as a writer? That's the power of Launchora! Or probably the power of being the CEO of Launchora, whatever that power may be. The point being that anyone can become and call themselves a 'writer' on Launchora. Try it out! Call yourself a writer. Do it!
Now, didn't that feel great? Trust me, self-labeling gives a great boost to the good ol' confidence.
Well, this series is about how I went from being a fiction writer to a playwright. Also self-labeled.
In Fall of 2009, the beginning of my third year at UC San Diego, I took a class called 'Intro to Playwriting'. Don't even get me started on why playwrights get to call themselves playwrights while us regular folks have to call ourselves writers.
What do you do?
Oh, me? I'm a Wright.
It Just sounds so much cooler.
Tabula Rasa was the final play I wrote in this class, but before I could get to it I had to write three plays to hone my skills.
---- End of Author's Note from Part 1
I just realized that I didn't tell you my grade in this class! I didn't purposely keep the information from you of course, because I would tell you my grade even if it was horrible. I really forgot that that was something I was doing in the 'Origins of a Writer' series and should probably continue in this one. So anyway, I got an A- in this playwriting class. That was a pretty good quarter for me, I got As in all four classes!
This story is the second play in the series. It was written (finished) on October 13, 2009, and is reproduced here word-for-word, typo-for-typo. As always, don't judge my writing, judge 20 year old me's writing.
PPN (Pre-Play-Note): I probably shouldn't say this, but I'm tempted to because I am really excited about this - I'm working on my first play since Tabula Rasa. It's called 'Soul-mates' and is also a sci-fi-ish story with only two characters. The story starts with two scientists - a man and a woman - discussing cloning and whether one can invent a 'soul'. I don't want to ruin the story so I'll just say that the situation goes further than just talking about those topics. I don't know when it will be ready but you can follow me (through my Page, not in real life) to get notified when I publish new stories.
Anywho, here's play two.
PLAY TWO
SALLY, WHO?
LOCATION: Classroom
CHARACTERS: Meredith (teacher), Steve (Parent)
STEVE looks into the classroom through the small window on the door. The room is empty besides MEREDITH who is sitting behind her desk. He knocks. She looks at him, gets up and straightens her dress, which is a little too short for a schoolteacher. She opens the door.
MEREDITH
Please come in, Mr. Parks. I’m sorry to call you at such short notice. (Stares at him for a few seconds, then realizes the silence) Oh...please sit down.
STEVE sits down on the bench in front of her desk. MEREDITH leans on her desk, with her legs almost touching STEVE’s, making him uneasy.
STEVE
(awkwardly) So, you said over the phone you wanted to talk about Sally?
MEREDITH
(blushing) Well, Steve...oh is it okay if I call you Steve?
STEVE
Uh, yeah, sure.
MEREDITH
And you can call me Meredith! Or Mary, that’s what my friends call me.
STEVE
Okay...Meredith. (pauses, as he sees that she is staring at him) So...is everything okay?
MEREDITH
Oh, yes! Everything is fine.
MEREDITH continues looking around, glancing at him while shifting on her desk so that her torso is right in front of STEVE’s face, too close.
STEVE
(confused) Uh...you said on the phone that this was about Sally.
MEREDITH
Oh..yes! I’m sorry. I called you! Of course. It’s just that I’m used to dealing with Mrs. Parks about Sally. She is usually the one who I call. But I was told by her office that she is out of town?
STEVE
Ah, yes. She...she’s going to be gone for a while. (distracted) Actually she and I..we just separated..last month.
MEREDITH
Oh, my god! Are you okay?
MEREDITH leans over and keeps her hand on STEVE's, which he jerks away by reflex, and she takes it back.
STEVE
(realizing he just told something personal to a complete stranger) Oh...I’m sorry. (pauses) Yes, I’m fine...
MEREDITH
What is it, Steve? Was it something I said?
STEVE
Uh..yeah..no. It’s just that I’m not used to taking care of Sally. My wife...Sarah..always took care of everything...(goes silent, pauses) Has Sally been acting stran...
MEREDITH
(cuts him off, overly concerned) Oh, you poor thing. Is there anything that I can do?
She sits next to him on the bench.
STEVE
(uneasy) What..? Oh, no...thank you. (pauses) So..you were talking about Sally?
MEREDITH
Sally? Oh, yes! Sally! I’m sorry I just started blabbering about you and Mrs. Parks, very sorry to hear about you two, by the way. (pauses) Wait.. (suddenly realizes something) I know...this..this is going to sound strange...but..do you go to the Starbucks on 8th and Anderson?
STEVE
Uh..yeah. Everyday, really. It’s a block from where I work.
MEREDITH leans on the table attached to the bench, her face just inches from STEVE's.
MEREDITH
Uh hmm...and what do you do there?
STEVE
...get...coffee?
MEREDITH
Oh! Of course you do! What was I thinking asking that. (awkward pauses) So...do you have a date for the Father-Daughter Dance this saturday?
STEVE
Um..yeah...Sally.
MEREDITH
Who?
STEVE
Sally! My daughter...because of whom you called me here? Is she okay? I want to see her.
MEREDITH
Oh..yes..of course you would bring your own daughter to the Father-Daughter Dance. How silly of me to even...
STEVE
Ms. Olsen...
MEREDITH
Please, Steve...call me Meredith.
STEVE
(sighs) Okay, Mer...
MEREDITH
...or Mary!
STEVE
(frustrated) ..Mer...Mar..MISS OLSEN! Where is my daughter?
STEVE stands up in a quick motion, almost making the table in front of him fall down, shaking MEREDITH.
MEREDITH
(getting up) Steve! You scared me! I was just about to tell you where she...woah (still shaken)..I’m sorry...(moves closer to STEVE) just that sudden movements startle me usually...every since I was in college.....a few years ago...
STEVE
(angry, but tired) Ms. Olsen..
MEREDITH
Huh? Yes! Sally...she..she's with the school nurse.
STEVE
WHAT?? Is she okay? Where is she?
MEREDITH
She’s fine. She slipped on the dining hall steps this morning and has a couple of bruises. No big deal, really. She’ll be able to walk normally...soon. She’s ready to go home for the day...which is why I called you to come and pick her up.
STEVE
You could’ve told me that on the phone! Or when I got here!
MEREDITH
I know..but you just got separated..I didn’t want to upset you.
STEVE
(losing his patience) Where is Sally?
MEREDITH
Second door on your right.
STEVE starts walking towards the door behind MEREDITH, she doesn’t realize that and thinks he is approaching her.
MEREDITH
So..about saturday...I’m not doing anything before the dance if you want to grab a...
STEVE slams the door and exits.