Stand Off
Adapted from Blessings
CHARACTERS: (2 w)
Katie, 13-14
Rene, 13-14
SETTING:
The living room of a mountain cabin
KATIE and RENE are the daughters of high-school friends who are having a reunion in a cabin in the mountains of California. KATIE'S father brought her along as a surprise for RENE. What the adults don't know (or remember) is that RENE and KATIE did not get along at all at the last reunion. KATIE is a super-achiever, first in her class for everything. RENE is a very talented water-colorist, but she struggles with severe learning disabilities. During the play, the girls learn that they have much more in common than they ever dreamed.
In this scene, KATIE has just performed one of her original songs for the group. Now the girls are left alone together for the first time.
KATIE: (Calling down the hall.) Good night, Dad. See you in the morning bright.
(KATIE and RENE look at one another. RENE moves to get her sleeping bag, and starts to unroll it on the floor. KATIE pauses uncomfortably.)
KATIE: You can sleep on the couch. I know you weren't expecting to have to share this room.
RENE: I'd rather sleep on the floor. It's better for your back.
KATIE: What?
RENE: I learned that in movement class.
KATIE: You take dance?
RENE: Movement. It's different.
KATIE: I had to take a dance class last year. It was awful. But I had the lead in the school musical and I had to dance, so they made me take it. And then in the show, I sang really terribly.
RENE: Why do you say things like that?
KATIE: Like what?
RENE: You just sang great for everybody. And didn't you write the song, too?
KATIE: I'm not as good as I should be.
RENE: And you've got to be the best?
(KATIE turns away from RENE. Silence, but then KATIE begins to laugh.)
RENE: What? Why are you laughing?
KATIE: That was so funny when you opened the popcorn while it was still popping! It was like a white volcano exploding! (KATIE mimes popcorn exploding from a popper and flying everywhere.) Didn't you hear everybody telling you not to?
RENE: No.
KATIE: Your Mom was talking right to you.
RENE: Sometimes I just... can't listen. It's the way I am.
KATIE: Oh. I didn't know you had a hearing problem.. .on top of everything else.
RENE: I don't have — Forget it. (RENE crosses to her sleeping bag.)
KATIE: I know you don't want me here. You might as well say it. (RENE is still silent.)
KATIE: You can ignore me. It's OK. I can't believe I missed a whole day of school just driving here. I'll probably fail because I missed class today.
RENE: Yeah, it's real tough on you straight-A students, isn't it.
(Now it's KATIE's turn to be silent. She merely looks at RENE.)
RENE: Sorry if I'm not real sympathetic.
(RENE gets up and crosses to the lamp to turn it off.)
KATIE: (Turning over to go to sleep.) I'll probably fail.
(RENE turns off the light. She is left in the glow of the moonlight.)
End of Scene.