So, it is November, and this year I've joined the Threshold Theatre playwrighting challenge. It is to write a scene of some kind, for every day in November, and if I succeed, there is a community pot of money split at the end. It is a real challenge for me with my busy schedule and mind.
I have challenged my students to try something new to become a habit for every day this month. I don't know how serious they are taking it but they have joined in the fun from everything to commiting to brushing one's teeth every day (which I said to that student that is a good thing to work on if it isn't a regular habit) to a student that is watching a different genre of movie a day and another that is learning a new language. Two are combining their knowledge and making music beats together daily. We'll see who survives.
My goal is to get back into the habit of daily writing something creative for the theatre, my first love! Below is today's scene. It is raw just as I spit it out. That is how this is going to be done by spitting out raw unfinished work but getting it done daily. This one was responding to a prompt the theatre posted for us. We can respond to those or write whatever is on our minds. Wish me luck!
SCENE 1 (A small-town barbershop with old wasp nests in
a line from largest to smallest covering one wall. No one is there except the
barber, GEORGE, asleep in one of the two barber chairs with a towel over his
face. ENTER a well-coifed lady, CAROL, 45, who looks like she stepped out of a
fashion magazine. She stares at him and starts to leave.)
GEORGE
Why don’t you take that hat off?
CAROL
I can’t.
GEORGE
Suit yourself.
CAROL
You’re insufferable.
GEORGE
Feisty! (he sits up) I like it.
CAROL
Sure.
GEORGE
No, I’m sincere.
CAROL
Old man.
GEORGE
Witch.
(They embrace, look at each other, and he takes her hat)
CAROL
Not fair!
GEORGE
All is fair in love…
CAROL
No, this is definitely war
GEORGE
Not on my side.
CAROL
You sure? No, shall I remind you…
GEORGE
I don’t need any reminders...
CAROL
Of that day where you…
GEORGE
And, now be fair, you!
CAROL
Yes, I was there, unfortunately.
GEORGE
Fortunately for me.
(CAROL scoffs)
What? It was the best…
CAROL
WORST! Worst night!
GEORGE
BEST! Best night.
CAROL
Best worst night?
GEORGE
Si, best worst best night.
(a near kiss)
CAROL
No! You do not get to do any of that.
GEORGE
Qué?
CAROL
(mimic) Qué?
GEORGE
Sit.
CAROL
No.
(GEORGE gestures to the barber’s chair)
Maybe. No.
GEORGE
You know you want to.
(CAROL inches back towards the door)
Why else would you come?
CAROL
You don’t know what day it is.
GEORGE
Tuesday.
CAROL
What is the date, George?
GEORGE
It’s…no…
CAROL
It is.
GEORGE
No!
CAROL
Si.
(GEORGE sits in the barber’s chair)
That is why I’m here.
GEORGE
So soon? It has been a year?
CAROL
Si, mi amour.
GEORGE
Why didn’t you remind me this was coming?
CAROL
You knew, old man.
GEORGE
I didn’t want…
CAROL
I know. You tried.
GEORGE
I did. I did.
(GEORGE looks at CAROL)
CAROL
Don’t be looking at me like that. That’s not what is happening
here. Don’t go falling in love with me.
GEORGE
Too late!
(GEORGE sits her down in the barber’s chair)
CAROL
No, no, no! It just grew out! The hat, I wear it all the time!
GEORGE
And you don’t need to!
CAROL
George!
GEORGE
Carol!
CAROL
I said, no!
GEORGE
We must mark the day with something good, and what is better
than a haircut or “new do” as some ladies call them, si?
CAROL
NO! We don’t! You are crazy! I just came to…
GEORGE
QUE? Can’t hear you!
CAROL
Crazy man, I SAID NO!
GEORGE
I hear you.
CAROL
Heard. You heard me.
GEORGE
No, I hear you. Go. You came. You remind me of this date. Day.
You don’t come for love for friend or grief or haircut.
CAROL
Grief, yes. Haircut, never.
GEORGE
One day, I will cut your hair again and we will be happy.
CAROL
Oh, I hope so. I want to be happy.
GEORGE
Me too.
CAROL
But you are never cutting my hair again.
GEORGE
We’ll see.
CAROL
Can I call someone for you?
GEORGE
Stay.
CAROL
Someone else, I’m not good for you remember? Best worst night.
GEORGE
I call it best, best night. No longer worst.
CAROL
It is still the worst.
GEORGE
Can’t be, worst. It was the night we met.
CAROL
Not really.
GEORGE
Si.
CAROL
No.
GEORGE
Si!
CAROL
I had heard about you. Warned to stay away!
GEORGE
Never!
CAROL
Si!
GEORGE
No! You exaggerate!
CAROL
I knew to steer clear of you!
GEORGE
But you had not met me.
CAROL
It felt like I had.
GEORGE
I knew nothing about you. In just one look…
CAROL
Don’t start.
GEORGE
I knew! I knew that I loved you!
CAROL
(overlapping) You knew nothing! That’s why we always end up
here! The worst, worst, worst, worst, worst….
GEORGE
Last year was the worst, not that night, not now.
CAROL
It was. This night.
GEORGE
This…
CAROL
You know I can’t love you.
GEORGE
I know. I wait.
CAROL
Can’t wait forever.
GEORGE
It’s possible.
CAROL
No, it’s not.
(CAROL kisses his forehead and walks out)
