Assignment #1

Directions: This is a mechanical exercise. Two character scene, full of conflict.
Part 1 of scene - Sentences can only be 3-4 sentences long (and only one sentence at a time).
Part 2 of scene - Character A remains the same, Character B will speak in 12-15 word sentences.
Part 3 of scene - Character A responds with long monologue, the Character B's last line.
Each part will be 1-2 pages long.

SCENE:

Curtains up, light up.

SETTING: A kitchen in a college dorm. A party is going on. A guy, LUKE (Character A), is bent over in front of the fridge, reaching in for something. A girl, BREE (Character B), somewhat drunk, enters.

BREE

What are you doing?

LUKE

(Straightening up, with a beer in his hand) Getting a beer.

BREE

Is that the last?

LUKE

(Grinning) Yup.

BREE

Hey, I want it!

LUKE

Tough luck.

(He starts to walk out.)

BREE

That’s not fair!

LUKE

I was here first.

BREE

Can’t we split it?

LUKE

Nope. It’s all mine.

BREE

You’re a selfish brat.

LUKE

(Teasingly) ...With the last beer.

BREE

Please, pleeeease can I have it?

LUKE

I said no.

BREE

Just a sip?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LUKE

No. Cut it out.

BREE

You’re being too selfish. Why can’t I just have a cupful, or something like that?

LUKE

(Thinks a moment, then:) Because I said so.

BREE

(Sighs) Okay, why do you feel the need to be so damn annoying?

LUKE

Ahh... Because I can.

BREE

And, you need to inflict this upon every person you come across, because?...

LUKE

Just bad like that.

BREE

(Getting closer to him) So let’s get this straight. You need everything for yourself just to exert your "power?"

LUKE

(Rolling his eyes) It’s not about power.

BREE

Yeah? Then what? You have to have the last beer because it fuels your idiocy?

LUKE

(Annoyed) C’mon, drop it.

BREE

(Getting worked up) No! Just because it’s "just a beer" doesn’t make it right to be such an asshole!

LUKE

Will you stop now??

BREE

No, dammit! You’re missing the goddamn point! You’re being so immature, I just can’t --

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LUKE

(Gesturing wildly) Would you let it go?! Jesus! You act like I’m taking your firstborn child away from you! Why is it so important that I give you this beer? This stupid beer? I have had a really, really shitty day. This is my first beer, and if it were yours, it would be your what, fifth? Sixth? Jesus, I don’t want to know. I don’t care.
(Pauses)
Do you want to know what happened to me today? I got fucking fired. Do you know what it feels like to be fired, Bree? After working in a place for almost 2 years, spending half my life there… Sacrificing money when I could have gotten a better paying job but I didn’t, because I wanted to help a place in need. And one day, it’s "Oops, we don’t need you anymore."
What the hell is that? Not even a warning. I didn’t get shit. They didn’t have the grace to give me an explanation or anything. Just poof, begone, we don’t want you, so goodbye. ...Jesus.
I can’t stand this. I just can’t stand it.
You want a place to call your own? Good fucking luck. Everyone gets evicted from their place in life, no matter where the hell you are. You can run away, you can keep running away to all sorts of places, but no matter where you go, you will continue to be kicked out. We’re all like hobos now.
If this beer is so important to you, take it. And try and keep it for yourself. Maybe you’ll be lucky, and no one will take it away from you. Well, good fucking luck.

He hands BREE the beer and walks out.

BREE

(To the empty space) I’m sorry...

Copyright © 2002, Lulu Rubin -- Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

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