Cast of Characters: (descriptions by me at age 17)
The Mask- Male, age 17, good looking. He realizes that he conforms too much, but doesn't;t quite know how to handle it. He has strong feelings for the princess.
The Princess-Female, age 17, pretty, popular intelligent. She's the American mother's dream. She's tired of being stereotyped by her so called friends.
The Shadow-Male, age 17. He's quite and a follower. He doesn't like to be alone yet for the most part he is. He's also very philosophical at times.
The Older Brother-Male, age 17. He's the leader of the group. He doesn't like looking out for his younger brother, but he does.
The Younger Brother- Male, age 16. He says he's tired of being in his brother's shadow. Still he never steps out of it.
The Slut- Female, age 16. She's misguided and wants to feel loved. She looks to men to take care of her. She's haunted by her conscience. She always manages to say the wrong thing.
The 1st Cheerleader- Female, age 17. She likes being popular. Her best friend is cheerleader 2 even though cheerleader 2 is not very loyal.
The 2nd Cheerleader- Female, age 17. She's not very smart and is always causing trouble. She's still a caring friend.
The Jock- Male, age 17. He wants to be a super jock and Mr. smooth. He resents that he's adopted and has mixed emotions about his natural and adoptive parents.
The Drinker-Female, age 17. She's not an alcoholic, but she likes to get drunk on an occasional weekend to forget her problems for a while. She wants true friends by doesn't quite know what they are.
The Set:
Friendship Circle
(Curtain opens black stage. Lights come up slowly on UC trash can. "The Drinker" is sitting on it. In the blackout "The Princess" is on DL sofa, "mask" is on UR Bed, "Cheerleaders 1 & 2" are in school desks just right of center. Full spot on trash can and "Drinker")
Drinker:
(tough/upset) Big Deal. I went to the party and got drunk. Everyone made it out to be a big deal. It's not...It wasn't. I've drank before with other people. The point is that every time I do it there are many people around, yet I do it myself, for myself. I'm tense. I'm under pressure, and I'm sick and tired of trying to find another way. I can't hide from my problems. I know that, but I'll face them when I'm strong enough. No one's gonna help me, so if I drink just to forget them for one night, who cares.
(mellowing) I want to feel good, to be held in strong arms, any strong arms. I said I knew what I wanted, but did I really? For now I can't remember. They- my friends wouldn't let me make a fool of myself any longer, although I tried real hard.
When he took me home, and even though we had kissed before he wouldn't let me touch him that night. He said that it wouldn't be fair of him. Was it fair of me to put him in that position? I was the fool, not him, even though I thought differently that night.
But where was he before- before - when I needed him. It only hurts now. It hurts that I don't remember, and it hurts more because I don't understand. So now I'll go out and I'll drink and it won't help. But I don't have to try to understand while I drink. And I'm so tired of trying to understand.
(lights come up on entire wall. Slut walks along and over to the Drinker)
Slut: Hi Hon'
Drinker: Hi
Slut: Are you coming out with us tonight?
Drinker: Probably, I guess so.
Slut: (smiling) Try to keep your liqueur in control, OK?
Drinker: Shut up. (walks off left)
Slut: (following her to the end of the wall, confused) What the?
(lights come up on UR walkway. Shadow has been walking toward right side of wall from UR and sees Slut & Drinker. Drinker exits. Slut gets up and sits on left side of wall. Left side of wall lights fade. Lights up on right side where shadow has gotten up on and is sitting just left of the trash can.)
Shadow:
They're my friends...of course I like them. I go out with them and have a good time. Well actually I watch them have a good time. I don't think they really understand me. So I don't say too much. In fact, I don't say anything at all. I suppose I'm quiet because it doesn't matter what I think. Well I feel that they don't think it will. So I just go out to have a good time.
(lights start to dim on Shadow and come up left wall on Slut)
Slut:
A good time, that's all I want, to feel loved, to be held. I like the feeling of having a man close to me, and I don't care what I have to do to get it. Sure, I know what they're thinking, but I don't think that what I'm doing is wrong. They're my friends, and I like to be close to them.
(Jock enters form UL and sees Slut. Lights brighten on Left wall a little. Shadow watches)
Jock: (to Slut sitting on wall) Hey, what's doing?
Slut: Not much. You're early.
Jock: So are you.
Slut: I'm just hanging out.
Jock: Want to hang out at my house for a while? My mom and dad won't be home for some time.
Slut: (innocently)...And what are you suggesting?
Jock: (helping her down off the wall) Aren't we cute?
(Jock begins to kiss her then she pulls away)
Slut: What about-
Jock: (cutting her off) Hey, she and I are through. I broke up with her three weeks ago...of course we're still friends.
Slut: I was under the impression that it was the other way around.
Jock: Nah, come on good looking (leading her off left by the hand)
(lights fad off on wall as they come up on upper bedroom- Mask is on his bed)
Mask:
I look around at my circle of friends and I don't see what I think I should see. You would think that friends should be close, but we don't even know each other at all. I don't even act the same to all of them. I put up a mask to make myself what they expect me to be, and I don't think they're any different.
Who are we? Part of a big joke? A couple of cheerleaders and brothers, a jock, a slut, and drinker, and one who none of us seem to know at all. And of course, a princess, a beautiful princess. And me, who always wears a mask never willing to be myself.
I've done enough soul searching that I should know myself, but I can't be myself around other people. And my friends...Do I really know them? Oh sure, most people guess them to a tee. But... Is that really them?
Oh, I don't know.
(lights fade from bedroom to two school desks just right of center. Cheerleaders 1 and 2 are in detention. Bright spot on Cheerleader 1)
Cheerleader 1:
She's supposed to be my best friend since junior high. She's stolen my boyfriends, was responsible for my getting caught cheating on last years math final and now she's managed to get ourselves detention everyday for the next three weeks, even on Fridays-and all of us are suppose to go out tonight. Why am I still her friend? ..(sarcastic) There's nobody I'd rather sit in detention with?
No, because she let's me cry on her shoulder and she picks me up when I'm down, and she shares all her secrets with me. She even told be when she though the big time "Jock" got her pregnant. But she miscounted and it was really only four days late.
But boy, did we stick close that week. An when my parents kicked me out of the house that weekend I came home drunk,who kept me going and gave me a place to stay.
(getting mad) But who was the one who got me drunk in the first place!
Cheerleader2:
I never mean to cause all that trouble. I just want the attention. I want to be popular, Is that so much?...
Sometimes I get so jealous of her. She's my best friend and I'd go to the wall for her...but it bugs me when she gets all the guys and all the attention. It's not fair. ...But she's so nice to me, even when I act like a jerk. I don't deserve her.
(Lights fade to down left -den-Princess is on the sofa, very sad)
Princess:
Sometimes I wonder how I keep up. I need help and it just isn't there. No one understands me. They don't even try, and it hurts so much. I really try to be close to people and understand them, but they close up and hide away. I don't know why.
I just want to be held close and understand. I want to have friends, real friends. I want to be a friend. I don't think that is so unreasonable. I just guess that in today's society, people are cold and don't trust anyone, not even themselves.
Everyone desires to belong and yet be free. Some sacrifice their belonging to be free, and I've sacrifice my freedom to order to belong. Why can't I have both?
(lights fade and come up as spot on DL entrance. The younger brother is crossing right to the curb. He gets as far as the edge of den. Starts off casual then builds into rage.)
Younger brother:
He's gonna kill me! I know it, he's gonna kill me.
Big deal---I'm fifteen minutes late and he's gonna kill me? (stops)
I'm sick of his shit. If he touches me, this time I'll take a knife to his neck. If I was just born first...
(light fades and comes up on Mask's bedroom. He's sitting at his desk.)
Mask:
There's one of them who I always watch. I feel as if I love her, yet I never actually got to know her. But I'd like to...She's sweet and she smell good...but... more than that there's something wonderful, mysterious and wonderful deep inside her that I just can't figure out. But I can't tell her. We're just friends.
(Older brother has walked form DR to Street lam. Lights fade from bedroom down to the curb)
Older Brother:
I'm gonna break his damn neck. What does he think that I'm here for him. He came up the high school and is loved by all because of me. And now he's hanging out with my friends. They were my friends first. ...Where is the little brat? (pauses and waits) If he doesn't get here in one second...
(light comes up on entire downstage and Younger Brother casually walks to the curb)
Younger Brother:
I'm tire of being in his shadow. I have a name. I'm not just his younger brother. I mean they're my friends too, and I should be treated just like him. It's not fair. (arrives at curb and looks and sees big brother) Oh, here we go again.
(Older Brother sees Younger Brother and they meet in the middle of the curb)
Older Brother: Where the hell were you?
Younger Brother: I had to see my math teacher.
Older Brother: On Friday?
Younger Brother: Yes on Friday. I'm practically flunking in there.
Older Brother: You couldn't see him on Monday? Why don't you be a little more considerate for a change. I'm sick of waiting for you. Next time I'll go without you.
Younger Brother: Ask me if I care?
Older Brother: Don't talk smart with me!
Younger Brother: (under his breath) Asshole.
Older Brother: (hits Younger Brother in the face and puts him in a head lock) Ever gonna swear at me again?
Younger Brother: (Quietly) No.
Older Brother: (yelling) What?!
Younger Brother: (yelling) No!...Mercy!
(The Brothers break apart and Older Brother pushes Younger Brother off right and follows him Lights fade from curb to desks. Cheerleaders 1 &2 get up and walk to the curb then off right talking)
Cheerleader 1: Thank God we're out of there.
Cheerleader 2: Tell me about it. I'm sorry that I got you in trouble.
Cheerleader 1: Nah, forget it.
Cheerleader 2: You sure?
Cheerleader 1: Let's just go out and have a good time.
Cheerleader 2: You've got it, my friend.
(lights fade off right and come UL on Jock. He enters in a rage to the left side of the wall)
Jock:
That....Slut! (calms down, checks watch) It's almost time. (sits on wall , thinks to himself and becomes sadder, less loud)
Geez why'd Princess break up with me? I was nice to her. (changing mood to smug) What's the difference she didn't screw anyway. (pause) But I could us a girl like that. Someone to hold and to smother with kisses. We's be the most popular couple in school. And the I'd show my parents, see what you blew? (angry) Having me for a son. Just you wait til' I'm eighteen, then I'll give you a piece of my mind. Leave a kid for adoption when he's only four years old.
(calms down) I wouldn't want to hurt mom and dad though. They care, not always as I want them to, but the do care. I'll tell them about my plans when I turn eighteen. And I'll tell those scumbags that they gave up a starting quarterback.
(lights fade and come up on Mask's bedroom. He contemplates then goes over to the phone and dials. As he's dialing, lights come up on Princess' den. She's on the sofa crying. Phone rings.)
Princess: (wiping tears) Hi? Hello?
Mask: Hi Hon', it's me, what's up? Are you going out with us tonight?
Princess: I don't think so.
Mask: Hey...What's the matter?
Princess: (holding back tears) Nothing, look I gotta go- bye. (hangs up phone and buries face in sofa)
Mask: Hey wait! (light goes off in den. Mask places his phone slowly down. He thinks a minute then begins to go down his back steps and off right as lights fade)
(lights come up on right side of wall where Shadow sits)
Shadow:
(looking up to God) Hey, you up there! Are you there? Do you exist? If you do, you have a funny way of showing it. Well anyway, if you do, listen... I've got a problem. Can you tell me who I am?
Everything really stinks lately. No it's hit rock bottom. The family's fine. School's fine, just I'm not. I'm lonely. I'm bored and I'm tired of being ignored. I know I'm a nice kid, so why don't I have real friends. They don't care what happens to me. I'm just another "OK" kid who hangs out with them and the "think" they know me. I want to be me, not part of a group. I want real friends who'll understand me and who'll notice me.
(lights fade off from wall to the den. Princess is at the entrance facing off stage. We hear Slut's voice from off stage. Princess is still in a bad mood although calmer than before.)
Slut: Hi got a minute? (entering)
Princess: Sure what's up? (the two head to the sofa. Princess sits, but Slut stands)
Slut: I just came by to apologize about you and ---
Princess: (cutting her off) What are you talking about? That was three weeks ago?
Slut: Well, up, today (sitting down) I kinda almost fooled around with him, but I didn't. Because he's just a conceited self centered jerk and we're supposed to be friends.
Princess: (a little shocked, yet she covers up) I don't mind. He and I are through.. Why should I care?
Slut: You mean you wouldn't care if I went out with him? I wouldn't want to hurt you, ya know.
Princess: No, go out with him. He's not for me, maybe he's for you.
Slut: OK (getting up for the door) You sure? (confused)
Princess: Yes.
Slut: I'll see you tonight then.
Princess: Ya sure (lying)
Slut: Bye (heads off stage)
Princess: (after Slut's gone) You two deserve each other.
(lights begin to fade on den. Older and Younger brothers come in from UR entrance and meet Jock and Shadow at Wall. Lights come up on curb where Drinker sits. Rest of stage is black)
Drinker:
I once had a true friend, a best friend. We used to play at the playground together everyday after school. When we got older we became so close. In junior high we looked so much alike that everyone thought we were twins. We acted like twins too. But something happened in high school. She got too busy for me. I thought it was me and she was just a snob aiming for popularity. Well she was, but that isn't why she canceled plans and ignored me. To be friends, you have to have time. And where we weren't in the same classes anymore or the same teams or clubs, we didn't have the time. So we gave up the friendship that we used to have, because there was no way we could keep it going. People change. The friends you have in high school aren't really friends because you're only friends with them since they're there. And when you go off into the world you forget them and you meet different people to be friends with for better reasons.
But you can't always forget true friends...I miss her.
(Drinker gets up and walks off right, lights begin to fade as cheerleaders 1&2 come in from UR to meet at wall. Slut enters and walks over to Jock form UL. Lights fade and come up on Princess moping in her den again, staring out the window. There's a soft knock, pause, then Mask enters)
Mask: You left your door open. I shut it (waits for reply, there is none) What's the matter Princess? (walks over to her)
Princess: I need to be alone (still staring out the window into nowhere)
Mask: No, I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong. Come on. (he sits on the sofa and motions to her as she looks at him)
Princess: (taking a few steps towards him) Look at me, a little cry baby. You shouldn't have come over.
Mask: All you need is to relax. (motioning to her to sit)
Princess: (sitting down facing away from him at first) No, you don't understand. It isn't anything in particular. Nothing happened. No one did anything. It's me. It's all me. I hardly ever cry. I'm not a cry baby, but look at me now, drenched in tears. Lately I'm always like this, and that only gets me upset even more... I sit in my room at night and cry myself to sleep. I know no one can hear. I know it doesn't help. I just do it as if there wasn't anything else I could do. It's a feeling of desperation.--- You shouldn't have to see me like this. No one should (getting up and pacing a bit)
I'm a mess... I don't know what to do. It's so confusing. Confused...there's a good word for it. I look at the world around me and I can't see where I fit in. I don't know who my friends are. (now she talks as if Mask isn't in the room) Sure I have friends, mostly one's who I go out with to have fun. But they don't understand me. So I can only tell them certain things. Different types of conversation for different people...They have a lot of flaws. Some that bug the living hell out of me. I'm not perfect. Just like them I expect to be accepted for what I am. I just wanted an honest to god true friend. (breaks down crying as she looks out the window)
I always feel so uncomfortable, so out of place. I see people who are crowd pleasers. They act like the people around them. They're afraid, yet I'm just as guilty. I don't play any games, yet nothing's natural.
(Mask walks up behind her and puts his hand on her shoulders. She's startled for she forgot he was there. She pulls away a few steps out of his reach)
Mask: You'll be all right. Look at all you have going for you.
Princess: (walking across the front of the room) Yes, I believe that, but it's now that worries me. I see how close people can be and I can't understand, why can't I have that?
( Mask stares at her and walks to sofa and motions to her to sit. She walks slowly to him and they sit) I'm the American mother's dream. I take learning seriously. I'm in the top of my class, good grades, top courses. I work part time. I kill myself getting involved in school activities that I like.
I'm physically fit and I'm somewhat mature. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. I'm an old fashioned wholesome girl when it comes to sex. I love my parents. I seriously talk to them. I'm miss American pie. A princess! So why am I so miserable...
You know why ( getting up and walking behind sofa toward window, then turns to face sofa) I can't see where I belong. My parents will often hassle me about tiny little things and it drives me crazy. They don't realize how easy of a time they have to raise me compared to most kids out there. (turns stares out window, breathes deep to calm herself down)
Look at me... complaining, pouting, crying (turning to Mask) Probably ruined your weekend. I guess after all this time of saying this speech to the walls I needed some one to hear it.
Mask: (rises and walks to Princess) We all have our insecurities, me too. I'm one of those people who sacrifices himself to belong. What makes it bad is that I know it. Cheer up, you're not alone.
Princess: I'm really sorr--
Mask: (cutting her off) Don't be... I'm glad I got to know you.
Princess: I guess, I just wish for some one to hear me, to really listen.
Mask: I'm here, a friend.
(both pause and then give into a long hug-lights fade. they walk hand in hand off left. Lights come up on U.l. area and wall. Drinker enters form UR entrance and walks over to wall. Shadow is on right side of wall, Jock and Slut are towards the left side of the wall. Cheer 1 is on the trash can. Cheer 2 is leaning against the wall to her left. Older Brother is sitting on the center of the wall and Younger Brother is leaning against the wall to his left near Jock and Slut. Drink stands next to Cheer 2)
Cheer 2: So where do you guys want to go out tonight?
Older Brother: I don't know (to Slut and Jock) Any ideas?
Drinker: I heard that Lisa Robinson might be having a party.
Cheer 1: How about a movie?
Jock: Nah, let's go to the party (he smiles at Slut and puts his arm around her)
Cheer 2: (to Drinker) Do you know how to get to Lisa's?
Drinker: Yah, she lives on my street.
Younger Brother: I'd rather have an easy night with just us. Let's just hang out here.
Older Brother: Shut up! What are we gonna do here?
Cheer 1: Let's go out for pizza and a movie.
(Mask and Princess enter UL)
Princess: Hi guys.
(Jock takes his arm off Slut and gives a glance at Princess)
[chorus of "hi's" etc.]
Mask: What are we doin' tonight?
Older Brother: We're not sure yet. (all begin chatting about plans)
(Jock tries grabbing slut-exchange of glances between Slut, Jock and Princess. Slut pulls away. The rest stop chatting and stare)
Jock: Come on
Slut: No! (she jumps off wall)
Jock: Slut!
Princess: Shut up, you conceited....
Jock: Shut up Prude!
Mask: Why don't you just leave her alone. You're not going out anymore.
Cheer 2: Come on guys let's not fight.
Cheer 1: Let's just go out and have fun...OK?
Jock: I'm not going out with them. Time to grow up little girls.
Princess: You are so screwed up. (motions to Mask and Slut) Come on.
(Princess and Slut exit off left followed by Mask)
Drinker: Cut it out, let's just all go out together.
Mask: (as leaving) Don't you get it? We keep saying "us" as if we're part of this....I don't know....circle that's unbreakable. We're not. We're different people and if we're friends, we're friends. Not wardens. Check you all later.
Jock: Much later
(pause of silence)
Cheer 1: So where are w going?
Older Brother: (to all) Out to the movies
Cheer 2: Sounds fine.
Jock: Whatever.
(rest nod, say OK, sure etc.)
(Older Brother, Younger Brother, Cheer 1&2, Jock start off UL, turn around to Drinker and Shadow)
Cheer 1: Aren't you coming?
Cheer 2: Come on, We'll have a good time.
Drinker: No, I'm kind of tired. I think I'll go home.
Jock: No loss.
Cheer 2: (as walking off) You can be so rude.
(The five walk off. Shadow about to walk off after them, looks at drinker, and walks over to her instead. Lights fade)
Curtain Falls
Written 12/12/85-2/3/86
Performed spring 1986.
Copyright 1986 RFA