Still alive. Yup. Hard to believe. I am going to kill an idiot. I wrote a wonderful play, it has to get performed tomorrow, and this moron continues to make excuses as to why we cannot get together to practice. I am going to murder him. It will be easy; I'll just slip some rat poison into his coffee. Shh, don't tell anyone.
Since I am extremely bored, I'll let you all read my play. Reviews are welcome. The basic format for the sequence of the play is this: The resulting event is first, while the event that caused the first is last. If you are still confused, just read the damn thing.
Act 1
[Teressa (14) is holding something in her hands, it is wrapped in a cloth, so we can’t see it. Anne (18) sits on the couch, reading. Dean is not present.]
Teressa - Anne…[her voice sounds strange]
Anne - [looks up.] What?
Teressa - I’ve [clears throat] I’ve got to do something.
Anne - [puts down book, stands, and moves toward Teressa] What are you going to do?
Teressa - [her hands are behind her back] I’m going to-to-
Anne - What are you holding, Tessy?
[Teressa brings hands to the front, the package in one of them]
Anne - [Takes package, opens it.] A gun…what is this for Tessy?
Teressa - I’m going to stop Daddy. [She looks at Anne.] Mommy was killed by a drunk driver, right? [Anne nods] Daddy is out driving right now, and he is drunk, right?
Anne - It’s not the same thing, Tessy.
Teressa - [grabs gun] What if he kills somebody else’s Mommy? Will it be the same thing then?
Anne - No! It will never be the same thing! That is our Father; he would never do anything like that! [She grabs for the gun, Teressa pulls it away]
Teressa - You just don’t get it, do you. This is not right! He has no right to do what he does!
Anne - You’re the one who doesn’t get it, He gave us everything we have. So what if he gets tipsy every now and then.
Teressa - It’s not every now and then, Anne! He gets drunk every single day!
Anne - And he is entitled to do that. Just leave him alone; when I move out, you are coming with me. So throw that piece of trash out, and think like a rational person again! [She makes another grab for the gun.]
Teressa - [she steps backward] You can’t move out! He takes your whole paycheck to buy alcohol. This is the only way.
[Dean walks in, bottle in hand. He doesn’t notice the gun as he walks to the table. Anne walks over to the couch and picks up her book. Teressa stands still, gun at her side.]
Dean - Who’s making dinner?
Anne - I am.
Teressa - Make your own dinner, you disgusting pig!
Dean - What? [He looks at Teressa for a second then comes at her with arm raised.]
[The gun is fired. Dean staggers backward, hand on wound. He falls to ground.]
Act 2
[Teressa (13) and Anne (17) are cleaning the house up. Anne sweeps with the broom while Teressa holds the dustpan. Dean is not present]
Anne - Do you want to go out later?
Teressa - Where would we go?
Anne - I don’t know, how does bowling sound? We haven’t done that since Mom died.
Teressa - I don’t remember how. Is it hard?
Anne - [laughs] It’s real easy. All you do is roll a ball and knock over these pins; they sorta look like milk jugs. And they sell pizza at the bowling alley, so I’ll get us both a slice. It’ll be fun, what do you say?
Teressa - Okay. [She bends over with the dustpan so Anne can sweep dirt onto it.]
Anne - [sets the broom up against the table then leans against it herself] Do you know where Dad went?
Teressa - [dumps dustpan.] I think he went to the store.
Anne - [makes disgusted noise] Probably to get more beer.
Teressa - Yup.
[Dean walks in. He is carrying a bag and an open bottle, which is covered by a brown paper bag. He kicks the door shut, then wobbles over to the table. Anne moves away from the table as he approaches. Teressa moves over to Anne, and they both watch Dean as he unloads the bag.]
Dean - Teressa.
Teressa - Daddy?
Dean - Why didn’t you get me more beer this morning?
Teressa - [nervously fidgets] I didn’t have time, I’m really sorry Daddy.
Dean - You’re not sorry, not yet. Come here. [He looks at her, waiting]
[Teressa begins to move toward Dean.]
Anne - [she moves in front of Teressa] It’s my fault, Dad. I should have gotten you some more, but I forgot.
Teressa - [stage whisper] What are you doing? I was the one who forgot!
Anne - [focuses on Dean.] Just shut up and let me deal with this. I’m sorry Dad.
Teressa - Anne…
Dean - Get your ass over here! [Strides over to Anne and grabs her hair, pulling it as he walks backwards]
Teressa - [screams] Anne!
Anne - Get the hell out of here! [Is thrown to the ground as Dean begins to kick her.] Go!
Dean - Forget [kick] my [kick] beer [kick] will [kick] you? [Kick]
[Teressa runs off stage, Dean stops kicking Anne and walks over to the couch and turns on the TV. Anne slowly gets up off the floor.]
Act 3
[Teressa (12) is sitting at the table doing her homework. Dean is sitting on the couch watching TV; he has a bottle in his hand and takes frequent swigs off it. Anne (16) walks in; she is visibly agitated. As she walks over to the table to set down her stuff, she crosses in front of the TV.]
Dean - [snarled] Watch where you’re walking!
Anne - [she looks up from her purse and glances at Dean.] Sorry Dad.
Teressa - Where’ve you been? I thought you were taking me to Baskin Robins today.
Anne - Well, I got off work late today, then I had a little trouble with the car. [She sits down at the table]
Dean - What kind of trouble?
Anne - Oh, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it, Dad. [She pulls off her over shirt]
Dean - [Stands, and then walks over to the table; he is wobbling (drunk)] Tell me. Now.
Anne - [flips her hair] Some idiot rear-ended me at a red light. [She looks at Dean] Like I said, don’t worry about it. I got his insurance card, and I’m going to make him pay for the damage. No big deal.
Dean - What did I tell you about that car? [He takes a swig]
Anne - Treat it like it is brand new. But Dad, this wasn’t my fault! And it’s not really that important.
Dean - [wipes mouth] So the car is not important, huh?
Anne - Dad, that’s not what I meant! [She half stands] I said the repairs weren’t going to be a problem!
Dean - [backhands her across face, she falls to ground] Shut up!
[Anne rocks back and forth. Dean takes another swig on his bottle, then realizes that it is empty. He slams it down on the table.]
Dean - [kicks at Teressa] Grab me another beer. [He swaggers over to the couch and sits down heavily]
[Teressa gets him another bottle.]
Act 4
[They are at the mother’s funeral. Teressa (11) is crying loudly; Anne (15) wipes her face silently; Dean is stony faced. They are standing close together, Dean with one hand on each girl’s shoulder. Dean begins to pull the girls away from the grave.]
Teressa - Mommy…[sob]…Mommy!
Dean - It’s all right. Mommy is in a better place now.
Anne - Dad, is Mom coming back?
Dean - No, Anne. Mom can’t come back. But don’t worry; she still loves you very much. As do I.
Anne - Why did she have to leave us?
Dean - Because God needed her up in heaven with him.
Anne - I need her here with us! Make God bring her back. [She looks up at Dean]
Dean - Sorry sweetie. I can’t do that. I wish I could, but I can’t. [He looks at his feet for a second, then back at Anne] Don’t worry. God has a plan for us all, just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.
[They all walk off together, Teressa still crying into her hands. Dean half hugs them both as they walk backstage.]
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