· 9 years ago · Jan 15, 2017, 05:18 AM
1JUNIOR PIECE BEAT SHEET
2
3-ENTERING THE ROOM/ICE-BREAKER CONVERSATIONS (ensemble)
4 The players file into the space, and quietly make introductions/decide where to sit. Little flashes of small talk help to establish relationships and circumstances.
5
6-SOCIAL SYMBIOSIS (Eliza, Dalal, Robin)
7 Two-person poem where Eliza and Dalal explain to the audience the social structure that is forming within the room, using biological metaphors.
8
9-REBEL CLOSES THE DOOR/CHALLENGES THE THE STATUS QUO (Lani and Serenity)
10 Serenity closes the door. Ensemble sings King of Anything. Serenity and Lani incite insurrection.
11
12-THE DEBATE BEGINS (Austin, Behr, Bear, Elena, Gabriel, Ellie)
13 Austin establishes the rules of civil discourse, and different characters begin to get up and make their case for what the rules should be. This segues into...
14
15-THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER TO GO “INTO THE WOODS†(Anaya, Madison)
16 -Two-person poem, enumerating the reasons not to grow up/go into the woods.
17
18-EMBARKMENT (Tanvi, Fronia)
19 Two-person slam between two characters right on the cusp of making their way into the proverbial woods.
20
2130 second viewpoint, midsummer night’s dream movement piece
22
23(AUSTIN and BEHR notice each other.)
24
25Austin: Dude?
26
27Behr: Dude!
28
29Both: Dude!
30
31Austin: I’m starving.
32
33Behr: Dude, same.
34
35Austin: When’s cake?
36
37Behr: No idea, bro.
38
39Austin: Dude, lame.
40
41Behr: Lame, dude.
42
43Serenity: Did you see that dress?
44
45Lani: Drab.
46
47Serenity: Did you see those shoes?
48
49Lani: Ultra-drab.
50
51Serenity: And this.
52
53Lani: What even is this?
54
55Serenity: Worst.
56
57Lani: Reception
58
59Both: Ever.
60
61Lani: Sheah.
62
63(They find a seat. Pull out their phones.)
64
65-----
66
67Ellie: I guess technically we’re family now, right?
68
69Dalal: Technically.
70
71Ellie: Pretty cool, right?
72
73Dalal: So cool.
74
75Ellie: Are you on instagram--
76
77Dalal: Hang on a sec...
78
79Ellie: Why...
80
81Dalal: Just stop talking.
82
83(Ellie nods, obligingly)
84
85Dalal: Good. Now keep doing that forever.
86
87------
88BEAR: Cool party, right?
89
90ANAYA: Reception.
91
92BEAR: What?
93
94MADISON: It’s not a party. It’s a reception.
95
96BEAR: Oh, right. Sorry. I’m Bear. You were great as flower girls.
97
98ELENA: We prefer the term Floral Distribution Artists.
99
100BEAR: Good one.
101
102ANAYA: What’s so funny?
103
104BEAR: That’s...you made that up, right? “Floral Distribution Artists.â€
105
106(ANAYA, ELENA and MADISON stare at him, stone faced.)
107
108BEAR: I’m sorry. Should I stop?
109
110MADISON: I think that would be best.
111
112---------------------------
113Tanvi: Do you have a phone?
114
115Fronia: What?
116
117Tanvi: My stepmother took my phone!
118
119Fronia: What!?
120
121Tanvi: I need my phone.
122
123Fronia: Yeah you do.
124
125Tanvi: I mean, how do I even--
126
127(Fronia pulls out her phone)
128
129Fronia: Here. Relax. You’re safe now.
130
131Tanvi: Thank you.
132
133---------------------------
134
135Eliza: So wait, are they just leaving us here?
136
137Gabriel: I don’t care.
138
139Robin: I think so.
140
141Eliza: They’ll come check on us, right?
142
143Robin: They have to, right?
144
145Gabriel: Let’s start a fire.
146
147Eliza: What?
148
149Robin: What?
150
151Gabriel: What?
152
153
154----------------------
155
156
157
158ELIZA
159(to audience)
160It’s amazing, isn’t it?
161How quickly the social structure sets in.
162In this population of children,
163banished to the kids table.
164Most of us barely know each other,
165But you can already see four distinct communities forming.
166
167DALAL
168(joining ELIZA’s address)
169It’s social symbiosis.
170
171ELIZA
172First, you’ve got the older female organisms.
173
174DALAL
175The leggings squad.
176
177BOTH
178Big fish in a little pond.
179
180ELIZA
181Apex predators of popularity.
182
183DALAL
184Ironically though, they’re mostly herbivores.
185
186ELIZA
187The obnoxious kind that say things like
188“clams feel pain too†and “why are there never vegetarian options at a wedding?â€
189
190(By this point in the speech, MADISON has crossed the table, to sit next to FRONIA, who looks annoyed to be dealing with her. They seem to be sisters.)
191
192DALAL
193Now, as you can see, a sister
194from the younger female organism group
195has travelled over to the older female group,
196and has planted itself on the older sister host,
197proceeding to make her look “uncool.â€
198Textbook parasite.
199
200ELIZA Moving on to the male organism group...
201
202(The boys are playing that game where one person tries to slap the other person’s hands, while the other person tries to move them out of the way at the last second.)
203
204These organisms are competitors,
205And proceed to show off with their physical fitness. This will aid them well in their hunt for the digital prey called Pokemon.
206
207DALAL
208And then there’s us, the floater organisms.
209The community made up of people that...don’t have a community
210I’m not sure why.
211
212ELIZA
213Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we only talk about science.
214
215DALAL
216(shrugs)
217Anyway, it’s not a peaceful ecosystem we’re in here.
218It’s primed for conflict.
219Teens, tweens and kids,
220can’t coexist for long, without things getting pretty toxic.
221
222ELIZA
223Case in point every middle school in America.
224
225DALAL
226The kids nibble away at our maturity,
227The tweens sap our strength
228(to ELIZA)
229No offense.
230
231ELIZA
232I think we’ll be okay though.
233The door’s open,
234The parents are watching.
235
236DALAL
237I guess you’re right. Good thing that door’s open. Otherwise, this room would turn into a time bomb.
238
239ROBIN
240Not a time bomb exactly. More like a whirlpool.
241
242ELIZA What?
243
244ROBIN We’re gonna need a chart.
245
246(ROBIN claps. SOMEONE brings in a post-it board, whiteboard, something similar...)
247
248ROBIN
249See, our whole ecosystem within this room is just a smidgeon of the larger biosphere that is this wedding.
250Everything about the ebb and flow of this room is dictated by the current of that room -- the grownup room. Our parents are our supply line. They take care of us. Everything we have, we have because of them. We are a gulf within their ocean, connected by that canal.
251(motions to door)
252
253(DALAL begins illustrating what Robin is explaining)
254
255ROBIN
256If we shut that door -- if we block off the canal -- we create a dam. Instead of our current flowing in and out, from that room, it just spins around and around on itself, creating a whirlpool effect. And if that happens, we all just end up whirling around in a vortex of hormones and body odor, until we drown. And if we somehow manage to survive that, the whirlpool will eventually stagnate into a swamp of social awkwardness.
257
258Basically, closed door equals bad. As long as that door stays open, we’ll be fine. But if it closes, no more free-flowing current; we all either drown, or get stuck in the mud.
259
260(SERENITY gets up, closes the door, sits back down.)
261
262ELIZA and DALAL
263Uhoh.
264
265(ROBIN smacks her head in exasperation)
266
267KING OF ANYTHING
268
269SERENITY
270(to the entire room)
271Excuse me everyone,
272Can I have your attention, please?
273We interrupt this lame excuse for a wedding reception
274to bring you the following message:
275
276No one is watching us,
277they’re not coming into check on us.
278They’re too busy in the next room,
279dancing badly and making dumb decisions.
280So I have just one question for you all:
281Why are we still playing their game?
282
283(SERENITY looks around the room for affirmation and gets it from LANI who gets up and joins her.)
284
285LANI and SERENITY
286Why are we still playing by their rules?
287
288LANI
289Why are we still letting them keep score?
290Let’s keep our own score.
291
292SERENITY
293Or board up the scoreboard altogether.
294
295
296LANI
297Take a bat to their schedule and make our own, off the role of a dice.
298
299SERENITY
300Torch their rulebook and let a new game take flame.
301
302LANI and SERENITY
303Out there, they write the story,
304
305LANI
306We live our whole lives based on what they dream up.
307So let’s stop being characters in their fairy tale,
308and for once, be the main characters in our own dreams.
309I don’t know about you,
310But it’s my worst nightmare
311getting bossed around, based on whatever they think up.
312
313SERENITY
314Yeah, it’s a nightmare being locked in their tower, biding my time
315until some pre-approved prince comes along.
316
317BOTH
318Let’s knock down the tower.
319Smash the glass slipper of their expectations.
320
321LANI
322They say you can’t do things you know you can,
323And they make you do things you know you can’t.
324
325BOTH
326How about just this once, we stop caring what they say?
327
328LANI
329We were banished to this room,
330But we can turn this prison into a haven.
331
332(Everyone is sufficiently riled up by SERENITY and LANI’s words)
333
334AUSTIN
335I know what to do! There was something just like this in history class.
336
337(people sit down to listen to Austin’s idea)
338
339So in the 1700’s, the Americans declare independence from the British, right?
340
341GABE
342(cough)
343Nerd.
344
345AUSTIN
346And then they have to decide what rules they’ll set for their new nation. And to help figure those rules out, they debate. That’s what we have to do. We have to engage in civil discourse.
347
348GABE
349Boo.
350
351AUSTIN
352See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to waste my time fighting. If we want to set up our own rules that the adults can’t touch, we have to respect one another. If we’re tired of not being listened to, we have to listen to each other. So look, right now I have the floor. I’m holding the crimson rose. That means I’m the only one who can talk until I yield the floor.
353
354BEHR
355Question.
356
357AUSTIN
358Yes?
359
360BEHR
361Is there a time limit to how long a person can have the floor?
362
363AUSTIN
364There is no time limit. Any other questions?
365
366(BEHR raises hand again)
367
368BEHR
369Can I have the floor?
370
371AUSTIN
372You may only have the floor after I yield the floor. Does anyone else have a question?
373
374(BEHR raises hand)
375
376AUSTIN
377What?
378
379BEHR
380Will you please yield the floor?
381
382AUSTIN
383No. Not until I’ve finished saying what I have to say. That’s how the floor works. Everyone gets to speak their mind.
384
385BEHR
386Go ahead then.
387
388AUSTIN
389I will...
390
391(pause)
392
393BEHR
394You ran out of stuff to say, didn’t you?
395
396AUSTIN
397No, I didn’t.
398
399BEHR
400You did.
401
402AUSTIN
403No, I’m just pausing for effect.
404
405BEHR
406Are you sure?
407
408AUSTIN
409Yes.
410
411BEHR
412Because it sounds like you ran out of stuff to say/
413
414AUSTIN
415Well I didn’t/
416
417BEHR And now you’re just kind of grasping, because you don’t want to admit that you ran out of stuff to say like thirty seconds ago/
418
419AUSTIN
420Okay fine! I yield the floor. You can have it.
421
422BEHR
423Thank you.
424
425AUSTIN
426But only because I yielded it.
427
428BEHR
429Sure.
430
431(BEHR takes the floor)
432
433BEHR
434YOLO. You only live once. We should all live by this. Or perhaps WOLO. We only live once. These are the five rules that I believe will light up our lives.
4351. Laugh at everyone’s jokes, so everyone has self-worth.
4362. Everyone must smile, so we are happy.
4373. Because none of us have any money, we will instead use jokes as currency. That way, we will all feel our jokes have value.
4384. Do one YOLO thing a day.
4395. Wear bright colors. Just because.
440
441(BEHR yields the floor. A few people tap on the table, in approval of what he’s just said.)
442
443AUSTIN
444Okay then. Does anyone see things differently?
445
446ELENA
447Everyone should be treated equal. Everyone gets a vote. They teach us that in school, like it’s true. Our parents say it too. They say our voice matters. But then, when they want to move to a different state, suddenly the whole democracy thing goes out the window. They’re just like “look, this is what’s best for the family. Besides the new house has a swimming pool. That’s pretty cool, right?†Like, when have I ever wanted to go swimming? And then I suggest turning that swimming pool into a giant aquarium, and they won’t even hear what I have to say, or watch my powerpoint. They’re just like “no, honey, it won’t work,†and I’m like “excuse me, I binge-watched all of The Magic School Bus last week, I know for a fact it’ll work,†but they don’t care. Because when it comes down to it, they don’t actually believe equality is best. So the most important thing we can do, is not just say everyone should be equal, but actually mean it. Societies function best this way. If we rule ourselves, then the system is arranged in a way that everyone likes. If we do everything as a group, we are stronger. All of our minds are better than one. And no one’s ever alone. You always have a group. I’m through being treated like a lesser person, aren’t you?
448
449(there’s more tapping on tables in approval.)
450
451GABRIEL
452Okay, I guess I see things a little differently. Listen guys, I don’t normally talk much, but I’m having kind of a breakthrough moment right now and it feels like a big deal, so I’m gonna say what I need to say. A few minutes before I walked in here, I had this glass of chocolate milk. Only it wasn’t chocolate milk. It was some kind of fancy, grown up chocolate milk. Somebody left it sitting at the bar. And when my parents saw me drinking it, they flipped out. They took away my Pokemon and they said I’d made a bad choice for my health. But I have to tell you, this does not feel unhealthy. I feel like Professor Xavier hooked up to Cerebro. Suddenly I can say all these things I always wanted to say. And, after this, I don’t think I can ever go back to Nestle Quick. Which is why I think the most important rule we can make is freedom to choose for yourself. Freedom to set your own destiny and learn from your own mistakes. Sure, everybody should be equal, but we also have to stay as individuals. I don’t want some group deciding what’s best for me. Let me figure out what’s best for me. I would know, right? Anyway, that’d be my main rule. Happy birthday, or whatever this is. Peace.
453
454(GABRIEL sits, BEAR takes the tambourine)
455
456BEAR
457Excuse me friends, but I have something to say. I see -- and I know you see -- how unfairly we’ve been treated. None of us wanted to be here. I feel your pain. And even though I’ve only known most of you for a few minutes, I can already feel a serious bond forming between us. I really can. Look, I’m not ashamed to admit, I’m beginning to care deeply about each and every person in this room, which is why I’m going to suggest something that may sound a little crazy, but please, don’t judge me until you hear me out, okay? I think you should make me your dictator.
458
459(The room disapproves of this suggestion)
460
461Wait, wait, wait, let me finish, let me finish! I thought I had the floor. I know dictatorships have gotten a bad rep in the mainstream media, but don’t overlook all the ways they make life easier. Do you hate school? Well, when you answer to a dictator, you don’t have to educate yourself. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. You don’t have to make decisions. Let me worry about the decisions; that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
462
463In fact, you know what? Dictator is the wrong word. I would be more of a...Caretaker; a Supreme Caretaker. That’s what I want you all to call me from now on. Supreme Caretaker Bear. But I can’t take care of you unless you let me. By signing a pact right here, right now to give me complete control of the room. So who’s in? Anyone? Anyone?
464
465(No one shows any sign of support)
466
467Well, can’t blame me for trying.
468
469(Bear sits down.)
470
471AUSTIN Okay, thanks for that. Hey guys, I’d like to remind everyone, if you’re done talking, make sure to officially yield the floor.
472
473BEHR Is it really that important?
474
475AUSTIN
476I didn’t open the floor to questions, but yes, actually it is.
477
478(BEHR takes the tambourine from AUSTIN)
479
480BEHR
481Look, I feel like this whole floor thing goes against the whole spirit of what we’re trying to do here.
482
483(AUSTIN takes the tambourine back)
484
485AUSTIN
486That’s an interesting idea, and you’re free to share it, when you have the floor.
487
488(BEHR takes the tambourine back.)
489
490BEHR No, dude, you’re not even listening to me. If the point of the floor is to get us listening to each other, the floor’s not working.
491
492(AUSTIN takes the tambourine back)
493
494AUSTIN
495Maybe the floor would work better if you would just sit down and be patient, dude.
496
497BEHR Dude, that just sounded a lot like you telling me what to do.
498
499GABRIEL
500(to ELIZA)
501Hey, this is starting to feel a lot like this book they made us read in school.
502
503ELIZA
504Lord of the Flies?
505
506GABRIEL What did you just call me?
507
508ELLIE
509Okay, guys, this clearly isn’t working, and I think I know why. I keep sitting here, trying to think what the rules are in my perfect world, and everything I come up with is just a shadow of the world that already exists on the other side of that door. I don’t want to be making my own rules in here. I want to be making my own rules out there, and here’s the crazy part -- pretty soon, I will be. High School starts next year, and after that, I’m somehow old enough to be called an adult, and once that happens, every day becomes as chaotic as this room. Every day becomes a debate with myself where I flail around in the dark trying to decide where to go, what to do, what rules to follow, what rules to break. And even though that sounds kind of terrifying, I still want it.
510
511A couple weeks ago, I was watching Peter Pan -- it used to be my favorite movie -- but this last time I watched it, all I kept thinking was “Peter Pan’s a jerk. He just flies around abducting children and cutting people’s hands off. He only cares about himself. And he really badly needs a mom. I feel sorry for him.†I guess that should’ve been my first clue. I want to grow up.
512
513ANAYA
514Excuse me? First of all, Peter Pan is amazing. Second, I’m having trouble understanding why anyone would want to grow up.
515
516MADISON
517Being more grown up means being closer to bills
518
519ANAYA Jobs
520
521MADISON
522Taxes
523
524ANAYA
525Death
526
527MADISON
528Everyone says that sooner or later, you’ll have to “go into the woods.â€
529Everyone says the majestic, flowers will make you weep with happiness and transform you.
530
531ANAYA
532That the babbling rivers will enlighten you and loosen your consciousness. That you take one step inside and instantly realize your entire life depends on this point.
533
534MADISON and ANAYA
535I say no to all that.
536
537ANAYA
538I don’t want to be Little Red Riding Hood,
539Walking through the woods of self-discovery,
540running away from the hungry wolf
541of making adult choices.
542
543MADISON
544I don’t want to be Snow White,
545Escaping from the Evil Queen
546Into the forest of self-consciousness
547Meeting the seven dwarves named Acne, Clothing Choices, Hair Worries, Close-toed Shoes, Make up, Nail polish and Diets.
548
549ANAYA
550The unknown shadowy figures of the what-the-heck creature behind me, reminding me that this wasn’t a good idea.
551
552MADISON
553Helpless and meek,
554like a scared cat in a rapid river.
555
556ANAYA
557Swallowed by fog,
558
559MADISON
560Kicked by wind.
561
562BOTH
563It’s not the darkness I’m afraid of, it’s what’s within it.
564
565MADISON
566No way.
567
568ANAYA
569Not yet. I’ll wait until my curiosity grows stronger than my fear and gets the best of me.
570
571[Possible Insert: (TANVI and FRONIA can use these lines to position themselves downstage center for the final slam.
572
573TANVI I’m sorry. That’s not how it works.
574
575FRONIA
576You don’t get to wait around and pick the perfect moment to grow up.
577
578TANVI and FRONIA
579It just happens.
580
581FRONIA
582It comes for you whether you want it to or not.
583
584TANVI
585Whether you’re ready or not.
586
587FRONIA If you don’t go to the woods yourself, you get led there or dragged there. ]
588
589
590TANVI and FRONIA
591In the woods, silence.
592
593TANVI Then rain and songs of soaring feathered birds.
594Tough, colorful, steady, mocking, rough. You watch your shadow. Your dark mocking shadow. It screams that you only have confidence in your eager fear.
595
596Fronia
597Your heart quickens with every beat, as you stand before the daunting trees, dark and reaching towards the sky. Branches quietly shifting in the wind and the faint sound of birds chirping in the distance, as if beckoning you inside.
598
599TANVI
600Or are they laughing through their tough bark and rattling leaves.
601
602FRONIA
603You can almost hear footsteps behind you.
604
605FRONIA and TANVI
606It’s now or never.
607
608TANVI
609The flowers are still bright. They say you might make it through.
610
611FRONIA
612But you don’t know what’s inside the woods, what growing up entails. What if it’s worse than what you’d be leaving behind?
613
614TANVI
615Steady is the river, they say. Watch how it flows. But what they don’t know is that the river is also rough. It splits in two as if it is splitting you.
616
617BOTH
618Stay or go? Stay or grow?
619
620FRONIA
621Your dreams, your patience, your morals, and your strength flow both steadily and chaotically away from you. Who are you? They ask you to repeat. You take a step. Another one. One more.
622
623TANVI
624Will the stones of age be sharp and jagged or smooth and cool?
625Will the wild animals attack, or help you through?
626Are the woods like a cave, playing tricks on your eyes, feeding you lies,
627Or is it only within the woods that you’ll find the truth?
628
629FRONIA
630You can definitely hear footsteps approaching.
631They’re right behind you.
632
633BOTH
634Booming like thunder
635
636FRONIA
637And shaking the ground.
638Just then, your mind goes blank,
639And you know what to do.
640
641TANVI
642Dry leaves crunch under your feet
643as you step forward, fingertips tingling with fear
644maybe excitement,
645maybe bravery.
646
647FRONIA
648The trees take you in with their branches and your shadow is no longer mocking you. Who are you? Tough, colorful, steady, mocking, rough. You take one more step.
649
650BOTH
651And you’re in.