Act One, Scene One
Setting: California, high school, set in study hall.
Characters: Alex, Rebecca, Mrs Jefferson, Eric, Siobhán, extras.
(Full classroom, everyone is talking to each other, first day back at school. People are sitting on desks, and congregated around different tables.)
(Teacher comes in from stage left, looking grumpy and groggy.)
Teacher: (Walking to desk quiet, mumbling, straining.) Students, can I have your attention please?
(Everyone keeps chatting.)
Teacher: (Gets to desk, little louder.) Quiet please! Stop talking to each other!
(Everyone keeps talking.)
Teacher: (Gets to her desk, shouting.) SILENCE! (She hits a ruler off the desk so hard it breaks.)
(Everyone rushes to their seat, and once seated they are shifting uncomfortably. There is silence.)
Teacher: (Slow on her words, walking to the door.) All right, before I take the roll call, (Rebecca enters.), we have a transfer student, Rebecca Jones. Rebecca, would you like to introduce yourself to the class?
(Rebecca stands in front of the class, nervously but she is upbeat, lovely and nice.)
Rebecca: Hello everyone, my name is Rebecca Jones. I’m a transfer student from Chicago. I love playing basketball and listening to music, especially hip-hop so I’m really excited to be here because I love West Coast rap music. I also love the beach. So if anyone would like to hang out at Venice Beach after school, I’d love to make some friends!
(Some students are sleepy, most are listening to her and looking at her in awe. Alex, is not really paying attention, and has his head down doodling.)
(Rebecca walks down and sits in the row behind Alex, and he looks at her while she passes, but he looks away shyly.)
Teacher: (More settled and awake.) Siobhán, can you show Rebecca around after this period?
Eric: (Puts up his hand.) Mrs Jefferson, I can show her around. (He turns around to face Rebecca.) I’m sure she wants to sign up for the basketball team, right?
Teacher: (Annoyed.) I asked Siobhán, Eric. It’s a nice gesture, but I think Rebecca would be more comfortable with another girl.
(Eric looks agitated, but changes his expression to not show his true emotions because he needs to appear like he is calm and collected and not annoyed.)
Alex: (Sneers at Eric and mutters under his breath) Good save there, teach.
(Eric glares back)
Teacher: All right, time for your first lesson of History 101. Everyone open your books to chapter one.
(Alex smiles and looks up attentively – history is his favourite subject. He goes to open his book, and knocks a pencil on the ground. When he turns to pick up, Rebecca has also reached down and is smiling at him. He grabs it, and turns away without acknowledging her. She is surprised at the reaction but she gets back to her books.
[Lights fade down – end scene.]
National Learning Network is an education and training provider for people with additional needs and/or disabilities. Students at National Learning Network Limerick came together in two groups over six weeks to write this play using our Story Seeds method. The play dealt with key themes such as trust, care and friendship, and balances these serious themes with moments of humour
