Two Friends

Long term friends, two young women are set in an improvisation scene for a theatre class, but discover that one tends to overshadow the other in terms of talent.

 

Two Friends

            By Sara Heistand

 

            Characters

Renee, best friend #1

Christiana, best friend #2

Mr. Hart, improv teacher

 

            Scene

Light is neutral on a stage being used temporarily as storage for past sets. There is a large terrace that is in the process of being built. A skeleton of a staircase that goes no where. A bay window turned on its side; just an array of class stage play sets, really. In front of it all are two chairs facing each other. Two teenage girls, best friends follow each other up the stage from stage right, pretty and confident RENEE in the lead. CHRISTIANA, plain and dorky follows, somewhat hesitantly. Off the stage, comes the bored voice of

 

MR. HART (Voice over): Alright, Renee. Christine.

CHRISTIANA: Christiana.

MR. HART (Voice over): You have five minutes to perform three skits. You will be graded on your dramatics, your ability to work off each other, and

 

            RENEE and CHRISTIANA smile at each other, giggling nervously.

 

MR. HART (Voice over): Your originality. Try to do your best.

 

            RENEE grins, shifting her weight foot to foot as CHRISTIANA is rigid.

 

MR. HART (Voice over): Your first topic. “Two friends are at an amusement park. One wants to ride the newest roller coaster in the park, and the other one is terrified to do so. He/she tries to convince the other not to ride without letting on that he/she is scared.” Go.

 

RENEE turns to CHRISTIANA expectantly and starts to pull urgently at her hand, putting her friend earnestly in her place. CHRISTIANA catches on, half-heartedly protesting to RENEE’s over-the-top dramatics.

 

RENEE: Come on! You have to go on! It’s the biggest, sweetest, funnest ride in the park!

CHRISTIANA: Er, no, I can’t.

RENEE: Why not? I paid for your ticket and everything! You gotta!

CHRISTIANA: I simply cannot.

RENEE: Fine, you’re not my friend anymore!

CHRISTIANA: Okay…

 

RENEE makes to retort, but she and CHRISTIANA are distracted by someone in the direction of the audience.

 

MR. HART (Voice over): Okay, alright. Christie, perk up a bit.

CHRISTIANA: Christiana.

MR. HART (Voice over): Second topic. “Two friends are deciding which clubs/classes to sign up for.” Go.

 

            RENEE holds up an imaginary piece of paper and exaggerates writing down.

 

RENEE: Soccer, Drama, Feminist Theory…

CHRISTIANA: Hey. Hey, can I see that?

RENEE: Sure! My pen’s out of ink anyway, do you got one?

CHRISTIANA: Yeah, yeah I have one. Let me find it.

 

            CHRISTIANA hesitates and begins to attack RENEE’s head as if she is a chimp looking for goodies.

 

RENEE: What, what?

CHRISTIANA: Oh, oh I found one… Sign me up for HAM Radio would you?

RENEE: Would that be HAM for pork?

CHRISTIANA: HAM for Horribly Affluenced Mademoiselle.

RENEE: Oh, should I sign you up for French too? As in merde?

MR. HART (Voice over): Oh okay, that’s good. Thanks. Third topic and you should be squared. “Two friends are on a talk show.” Go.

 

            The girls plop angrily down into the two chairs. They seem to be struggling with their eyes on who is to be the talk show host.

 

RENEE: So what is your deal?

CHRISTIANA: I’m a homemaker.

RENEE: And do you actually make anything of yourself that way? Or are you a leech? A lackey, so to speak?

CHRISTIANA: No, my husband depends on me to make a fool of himself. Where else does he get all of his ideas?

           

            RENEE stands.

 

RENEE: Oh really?

 

            CHRISTIANA stands.

 

CHRISTIANA: Indubitably!

RENEE: Maybe he wants to be a team!

CHRISTIANA: A team!

RENEE: Yes, Christiana! Maybe he is tired of being the joker!

CHRISTIANA: Maybe I’m tired of being the butt of every joke!

RENEE: Maybe he just wants to be friends. A freaking duo.

CHRISTIANA: Deux.

 

            RENEE and CHRISTIANA look meaningfully at each other. Slowly, they begin to grin. The bell signaling the next class rings.

 

MR. HART (Voice over): Okay, obviously we’re going to go over this unit again. Grades will be handed out next Tuesday.

 

            The two friends grin to each other and with their arms around each other, walk off stage right.

 

CURTAIN

 

 

Reviews

[Colleen C Dunphy]

is this one scene from a bigger play or just a one act?