A Ten-Minute Play
Characters:
Angel—a 16-year-old, androgynous character. The Angel is the mentally superior person in the group. He is also aware of that mental aloofness and has the arrogance to match. Although named the Angel, his actions relate more to self-righteousness rather than purity. It is for his own advancement that he acts in any situation.
Child—a 16-year-old male. The Child is the only person in the group that is real. The other three are just elements of his own fragmented mind, but as the three interact furiously, he cowers in the corner, hoping only for peace. As he contains the elements of the other three characters within him, he must respond as both giver and receiver as the others interact. When the play is done, he will be the only one left.
Student—a 16-year-old male, the Student is the balance between the Angel and the Beast. Seemingly the only sane one of the group, he is the representation of the Child's appearance that most people are exposed to. However, within the Child's mind, the other two buffet him about as he tries to complete his daily tasks. It should be noted that although he is attempting to read, he is never even allowed to turn the page because of the continuous interference by the Beast and the Angel.
Setting A:
[The scene is set. An empty stage.]
[As the lights fade up, the actors will walk onto the stage. First the child, who will immediately go to the edge of the stage at right, tuck his legs up and sit there staring off. The Child will come second, carrying a school desk with a black trench coat wrapped around the back of it. It will sit at center stage. He will then sit and begin to read his book. The Angel is quick behind him and will take up a position standing behind the Child reading over his shoulder. The Beast enters last, pacing furiously upstage.]
Setting B:
(This alternate setting is provided due to viewer response. Although the playwright’s preference is Setting A, numerous people were uncomfortable with the minimal setting and wanted something more defined. A second setting has been provided if the director’s feelings are the same.)
[The scene is set. A boy's bedroom around late 1998/early 1999. A twin bed is at center upstage with a black trench coat lain across it in a non-conspicuous fashion, while a door and desk compose stage left. Stage right is set with a closet and a TV with Playstation and VCR. However, all these stage pieces should be abstract or distorted in some fashion. The actors should look either very similar or opposingly different in regards to physical features. They should all be dressed nearly identical, representing the mid to late 1990s.]
[As the lights go up, the Beast is in the corner. The Student is at the desk reading Dante's Inferno as the Angel stands behind him, reading over his shoulder. The Child enters and as he passes the Student and the Angel, they begin to move. The Student reads while the Angel makes the occasional condescending gesture or sound. The Child crosses and throws his jacket and bookbag into the closet. As he passes, the Beast begins to pace in a small circle. None of the actors should move until the Child comes to their relative position. After throwing his stuff in the closet, he moves down stage, sitting and staring off-stage. The director may choose to have him rocking back and forth or sitting entirely still. Either way, the Child should never turn around until he speaks at the end.]
[Shouting] Rrrrrraaaaaaaaaa-Mother fucker!
Angel
Here we go again.
How can you two just sit there? I need to do something. I need--Hey, I asked you a question. What the fuck are you two doing?
Homework. You know exactly what I'm doing and I'll never finish it in time if you don't shut up.
[Stopping in front of the desk and throwing the book to the floor. The Angel immediately picks it up and returns it to the desk.] You're wasting your time. It's all a waste of time. When was the last time you saw your dad use this shit at work? It's about as useful as studying Roman history.
Actually, if you could sit still long enough to look at it, you'd find that
Would you shut the hell up! I need to do something. I need...I need to...I need to break something.
And why is that?
Why not? Do you ever wonder why people don't ask that question? If you want to do something, they're like, "Why would you want to do that?" Why the fuck not? Does everything we do in this world have to have a reason? Have we completely destroyed the animal instinct that allowed us to survive for centuries?
So you'd have us be animals?
We are animals.
No, we're not.
Yes, we are.
No, we're not—
Yes, we are. Basic Biology: Man is part of the Animalia Family. We're just as much of an animal as a monkey or a dog or a cat.
And what would you know about Biology? Last time I checked you barely stayed awake long enough to get a C in that class.
I didn't see you helping me any.
It's not my responsibility to save you from your own stupidity.
Yes, it is! That's why you're here. And you're not doing much to keep your place either.
Oh sure tough guy. And what about those football players yesterday. You really handled them didn't you? You talk too much.
[The student's following lines should be interrupted and overlapped as the Beast and the Angel begin to attack each other.]
Now hold on a second--
[Slapping the Angel.] You think I'm done with those jocks? Don't think they won't get what's coming to them.
Guys, I really don't think that's necessary--
Yeah right. And what would that be?
Guys?
You'll see.
[Laughing.] Ha! That's original. You walk around talking all tough, smacking me around, but when it comes to some overgrown jerks trying to beat him up, you just run to the corner and hide like...like him! [Pointing at the Child.]
[Grabbing the Angel by the shirt and throwing him to the ground.] Fuck you! How much do you think I could have done with their coach two rooms down the hall? I punch one of them and we're suspended and they go back to their fucking football practice.
[Standing up defiantly, grabbing the book and pushing it into the Student's face. To the Student:] Read your book. You need to study. [To the Beast:] And you--
I am.
No you're not.
Back off, I didn't do anything wrong.
[Slapping the Student.] Don't talk back to me. You did do something wrong. You failed your last quiz over that book.
Hey, if the kid says he's reading then he's reading. Why don't you leave him alone?
Why? Because I want to graduate. I want to get out of this town and away from you. And as long as I have to go to a high school where the football players think they can beat him up on a daily basis because you're too much of a wimp to do anything, that's not going to happen.
I said not to worry about the football players. I'll teach them a lesson.
Oh really? And how are you going to do that? When? When are you going to do that? They've been picking on him for months now and I have yet to see you do anything.
You want me to do something? Is that it? You want me to do something?
Yes, I want you to do something!
Tuesday. Give me the weekend and I'll show the football players and the teachers and everyone else who's fucked with him that they made a big mistake.
Right.
I'd like to see that.
What, you think I'm kidding?
No, I was just saying—
Beast
Just give me a duffel bag full of some guns and a shit load of ammo and then I'll just walk down the halls fuckin' holding onto the triggers, rockin' and rollin'. What are they gonna do then? It'll be like shooting mirrors in a funhouse. There'll be so many of them I can't miss. Then they'll know who I am. Then they'll know not to fuck with me. You know what Teddy said, "Walk loudly and carry a big fucking stick."
Actually—
It was walk softly and carry a big stick. And he didn't say fuck.
That's why he's dead. He was a pussy. Give me some nice black boots to go clomping around with and I'll pull all these guns from my pockets like Bloody Bill Anderson and they'll be falling down left and right screaming their heads off. Not knowing what the hell is going on. Then I'll live forever. Who the hell is gonna forget that? Fuck Teddy, I'll live forever. They'll probably make a movie out of it. Or an after school special. No one'll forget. No one. Then they'll know not to mess with me cause I am the all-American Anti-Christ.
Dear Lord!
You're insane!
Insane? Insane! [Pointing at the Child.] He's insane. Look at him. He's a vegetable. Just sits there all day like a fuckin' baby that was born dead. Is that what you want me to be? Is that what you want to be? Like him? He's nothing. He's always been nothing and he always will be nothing. [Chris Jericho-esque (dragging out the second ever in a mixed scream and yell).] And I refuse to ever, ever allow myself to fall to his level. If that's what you want, go ahead and be a vegetable. But I won't. I'm going to be strong. I'm going to be tough. And I'm going to be the guy people wished they had never shit on because once I'm done with them, they're going to look like him. All of them.
Feel better? You've had your little tantrum; now you can go back to pacing.
Please don't--
[To the Student:] Quiet. [To the Beast:] I'm so tired of your shouting. You come here and you rant and you rave and you scream your head off and you beat up on me and you beat up on him and on him, but that's all you ever do. Well I'm sick of it. It never does any good and I don't want to deal with it any more.
Please--
[To the Student:] Oh what, you're gonna take his side now? I suppose you want to end up like the little gimp-boy over there. Go off and cry in the corner you faggot. I don't give a shit. [Shoving at the desk.] Go on; go cry in your corner. Go on and be comatose like the bitch. I'm sick of having to deal with you any way.
No, I'm not going to take his side. I'm going to take my side. And this time, for once, my side is the same as his. All I'm trying to do is study so I can do well on my quiz so the two of you will finally leave me alone. [To the Angel.] I don't know how you expect me to do well when he's constantly yelling at us? Stop antagonizing him. [To the Beast.] And how do you ever expect him to stop nagging at me if you're always screaming your head off? Now this book is kind of interesting, and I'd like to read it since I have another fifty pages due by tomorrow. [Taking a deep breath, calming himself.] So if the two of you could just give me one hour. One hour of quiet so I could read. It would be immensely helpful.
[There is a brief staring match between the Student and the Beast until finally the Beast breaks and begins pacing quietly. The three return to their opening positions and there is an extended silence as the Beast paces around the stage. Finally, his patience has visibly worn thin and he makes his way over to the Child. He squats down and arches his neck, trying to look the Child in the eyes.]
And what about you bitch-boy? You getting a kick out of this? You getting a rise out of this little tête-à-tête over here?
Do you even know what that means?
Whataya think, should I kick his ass? I could just turn around and practice on him what I'm going to do in school on Tuesday. That'd be fun, wouldn't it? [His voice crescendos to a yell.] Maybe then you'd stop being such a fucking pussy and come join the rest of us! What are you so afraid of?
You most likely.
Well maybe you should start taking your cues from him. Otherwise, I might just have to put you out of your misery on Tuesday too. How would you like that? A nice bullet right between the eyes. Or maybe I should just beat the fuck out of you right now and you can end up like him.
Please...
I bet you'd like that even better. I should just pound your face in right now so I don't have to worry about you on Tuesday.
Please be quiet.
You don't have the guts.
I'm gonna kick your—
I said be quiet! [Jumping up, turning to face the others. The other three characters collapse (similar to a toy having its plug pulled out of the wall: first they slump over, top heavy and then collapse completely) as he reaches his feet.] Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Just shut the fuck up! I can't deal with this any more. I can't live like this. Every day, every hour, every second, the three of you just scream at each other constantly. Do you honestly believe you're helping me? You're not. I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't get anything done. Just shut up! Is that too much to ask? I'll read the book and I'll do fine on the quiz and I'll teach the jocks a lesson. Are you happy? Is that what you want? [Brief pause.] Is that what I want? Is that what will finally make everything quiet? I would do that...for one night of sleep. They deserve it. They all do. I'd probably do that just to teach them a lesson. But if it meant that the three of you would just stop for a while...[He walks over to the bed/school desk (depending on which setting is being used) and takes the trench coat, putting it on.] They all deserve it. They'll all learn their lesson. And I'll be able to sleep again. [He exits.]
This work is dedicated in loving memory to my father Lloyd Selby. A prayer goes out to all that have suffered in the past years. May we all find our
way together.