Well, I've made an overall A- in my Playwriting class. It was fun, but a lot of hard work. Thanks to you guys, I've learned lots of playwriting methods and/or tips... Playwriting is actually something new to me. I mean, I've read plays from Shakespeare to Stoppard, but I never really thought about EVER taking a class dedicated to techniques, styles, and theories of playwriting! Wow... just wow. I feel very accomplished.

Anyway, here's one of my assignments I had to write to add in my portfolio as my final exam for Playwriting. (I'm glad it's all over now! Summertime for me!) It's a trio scene in that I have to have at least 10 pages to it (sort of like a 10-page "playlet")...

Enjoy. (Don't mind the brackets []. You guys do not know the previous scene, and so I've adjusted some things for your convenience and to prevent major confusion. Also, LJ is very annoying with the formatting... and so there are some places in the text that deserve to have emphasis to get a character's point across, but I'm just too lazy to do that here... Too much, you understand. So you guys can use your imagination.) *smiles*


-A Trio-Continuing Play (11-pages) by Kathy Nguyen
-Scene Two
-Setting
[Living room and...] it's getting close to 2pm.

JENNA
(hangs up the phone and turns around and gasps)
Dav—Davis... H—How long have you been standing there?

DAVIS
Just long enough to hear you say "You can trust me." Trust you with what?

JENNA
(twiddles with fingers and runs her hand through her hair)
Oh, noth—nothing. It's nothing, hun.

DAVIS
Look, Jenna. You've been acting strange ever since Savara's been calling us for a week already. Do you mind telling me what's going on? Can I at least help you with anything?

JENNA
No... It's—it's just something personal, that's all. You know, feminine hygiene.

DAVIS
(raises an eyebrow)
Isn't she a bit old enough to know all of that?

JENNA
Yes... but she was calling us so that she can get more money to buy more tam—

DAVIS
(pulls out a checkbook from his pocket and a pen from his ear)
Okay, okay. I get the point. How much does she need? 10? 20?

JENNA
10. 10's fine.

DAVIS
Done...
(scribbles and then gives JENNA the check)
Anything else besides that? What is all of this stuff about "trust" anyway?

JENNA
You know... I want her to... I want her to trust me as her mother...

DAVIS
She should... Wait a minute... Why? Did you do something to lose her trust in you?

JENNA
(chuckles with nervousness and guilt)
Well, no, no—of course not! No! That'd be every mother's nightmare to know that her own children would not even trust her!

DAVIS
Yes... That'd be sad... Then they wouldn't depend on the mother anymore after that...
(looks at his wristwatch)
Okay, I gotta go, Jenna. It seems as if I do have an appointment after all.

JENNA
But... but what about Savara's homecoming party?

DAVIS
Don't worry. I'll be home in time, okay?
(kisses JENNA's forehead)
Besides... I don't want to interrupt the two of you. You both have a lot of catching up to do…

JENNA
So do you, Davis. I—

DAVIS
Don't worry. I can do all of the catching up later.
(quickly walks offstage)

END OF SCENE


-Scene Three
-Setting
Savara's bedroom. It's about 5:30pm.

JENNA
(rummages in the closet)
Damnit. Where is it? She's going to be home any minute now… If I could just find it, then no one will know...

(Doorbell rings.)
DING DONG! DING DONG!

JENNA
(frustrated)
Where is it, damnit! Where's that fucking medical record?

SAVARA
(yells)
Mom?! Dad?! Anyone home?!
(walks towards her bedroom and gasps)
Mom! What the hell are you doing in my closet?!

JENNA
Huh? ...
(turns)
Savara!
(gasps)
How'd... How did you get in? I didn't hear you ring the doorbell.

SAVARA
Never mind how I got in… I can't believe this! Mom, you're invading my room! ... First the cops, now you...

JENNA
(gets up and dusts herself off)
I'm sorry, Savara. I was... I was... trying to find something...

SAVARA
Trying to find what exactly?

JENNA
Oh, you know, a bunch of... uhhh... It's in a folder...

SAVARA
A folder? Is it important?

JENNA
Yes, sweetie... Come here.
(pulls SAVARA towards her for a motherly embrace)

SAVARA
Uhh... Mom? You're not answering my question…
(untangles herself from JENNA’s arms)

JENNA
Yes—yes, it's an important folder... filled with—umm, filled with... uhh... PICTURES! Yes! Yes! It's a folder filled with photographs of you…

SAVARA
Photos? What's so important about those?

JENNA
(nervous, rushes in her speech)
You see, you're coming home today, and I wanted to surprise you... and your father... with your photos... And I was going to have them all placed in nice, little frames on the tables—in the—uhhh... living room... Yes, yes... in the living room…

SAVARA
Oh, Mom. That's definitely so sweet of you. You went through the whole trouble of decorating the living room for me?

JENNA
Y—yes, sweetie. Do you like it? I wanted to throw you a little party, that's all.

SAVARA
The room is beautiful, Mom. It looks like my 16th birthday party.

(The sound of the living room door opening and closing is heard.)

SAVARA
Dad? Is that Dad?

JENNA
Well, it seems as if your father is home in time for your party, after all.

SAVARA
That's great! Because I need to tell him something!
(leaps toward the bedroom door for exit)

JENNA
(reacts to the word "something")
S—something? What is it, Savara?

SAVARA
(stops in her tracks)
Well, I wanted to tell him that I have my memory back now... You know, since the car crash... I wasn't able to remember anything...

JENNA
And...?

SAVARA
And I think he deserves to know what really happened... And after months of working with my therapist, everything makes sense to me now...

JENNA
Oh, no—no. He doesn't need to know... not right now anyway... I mean, can't it wait... for—for some other time, maybe? Right now, we need to all focus on you—your homecoming party!

SAVARA
Mom, I've been waiting for one whole year. I want to be in Dad’s good graces. I'm not a criminal, for heaven's sake...

JENNA
No—no... Trust me, sweetie. Maybe it's good to wait... Now is not really a good time…

SAVARA
Umm, okay... I... I guess I can tell him when the right time comes...

JENNA
(nods)
Yes, yes. Go do that...

DAVIS
(yells)
Jenna? Are you still here?! I brought home a cake! It's for Savara!!

SAVARA
A cake? Mom! My homecoming is not such a big deal—

JENNA
Don't say that, sweetie. You're our only daughter—so we're happy that you're home...
(lightly spanks SAVARA's bottom)
Now, sweetie, go and help your father with the cake and say hi.

SAVARA
Okay, Mom. Thanks—thanks a bunch, Mom.
(hugs JENNA)
I'm so happy to be home!
(runs to the door, exiting the bedroom)

JENNA
(JENNA is left by herself. She has an evil grin, pacing the floor like a panther—half with nervousness, half in such unusual excitement that she could barely contain herself.)
Of course you are, sweetie... A folder with photographs?
(chuckles)
Now, that's really clever... Now where the hell is that folder of Savara's medical records?
(goes back to the closet)
If I find it, I'll tell Davis everything—even your secret, Savara... And then I'll burn it... all of it!
(finds a sharp kitchen knife from the closet and taps on it)
Oh yes... still here, when I hid it before the car incident... And another surprise still awaits you, sweetie. The night is ever young...
(pauses in her pacing)
No one ruins my reputation as a respected, famous... bestselling writer... No one!

(Meanwhile, SAVARA and DAVIS are in the living room, not talking much, but each is respectful of one another—more or less. An uncomfortable tension is painfully wedged between them.)

SAVARA
It's... it's good to see you again, Dad... I—I really miss you... a whole lot, Dad...

DAVIS
(nonchalantly responds)
Yes... yes, sweetie… I miss you, too.

SAVARA
(a little hurt)
I'm... I'm really sorry, Dad... for—for everything...

DAVIS
It's a bit too late for that, Savara. What's done is done. You can't change things.

SAVARA
I—I know that, Dad. But... but I'm not really a criminal.

DAVIS
(raises his voice a little bit)
Do you think I'd believe that, Savara? Do you know painful it is—to see your own daughter's face—plastered all over the news—for the whole goddamn world to see? I can't even bear to show my face at work!
(about to raise a hand to strike her face)

SAVARA
(cringes and cries softly and then whispers)
I'm... I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm really sorry... Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt anyone. I-I have to admit that I-I was a bit drunk when the accident happened... I'm... I'm sorry not to tell you that earlier...

DAVIS
(snorts with contempt)
Why am I not surprised? I specifically drilled you to not ever drink and drive, when you had that new car... You disobeyed me...

SAVARA
But... but Dad... I can explain—

DAVIS
Explain? There's no need for any explanation! You nearly killed 3 people, for God's sake!

SAVARA
But Daddy—please listen to me... I-I now have my mem—

JENNA
(emerges from the bedroom and deliberately interrupts SAVARA’s last sentence)
Well! You both are loud! I can hear you all over the house! What are you two arguing about anyway?

DAVIS
(rubs his face and smiles)
I'm sorry, sweetie. We didn't mean it to go out of hand. Savara and I were just arguing about whether or not Terry Schiavo deserved to die…
(sternly looks over at SAVARA)
even in her vegetative state...
(raises his voice slightly threateningly)
Isn't that right, Savara?

SAVARA
(wipes her tears)
Y-y-y-yes, Dad.
(attempts to smile)
Yeah, Mom... It was a stupid argument really... I mean... it's a controversial issue... but there's—there's both sides to everything... R-right, Dad?

DAVIS
I think not. It's perfectly legitimate that Terry had to die anyway. Her brain is dead. She's not even a functional human being—

SAVARA
But she should still be given a chance to live. How would you like it if I pull the plug on you... and take your life away?

JENNA
Davis. Savara. That's enough... This is supposed to be a happy homecoming party, not a vicious one.

SAVARA
(smiles sadly)
I'm sorry, Mom. Maybe... maybe I should go.
(heads for the door)
I mean, I'm officially out of pris—that place tomorrow... So I'll—I'll just come and visit you another day...

JENNA
Nonsense, Savara. Sweetie, we've already planned a homecoming party for you. So it doesn't make any sense for us to have the cake to ourselves…

SAVARA
Ummm...
(pumps her feet like a ballet dancer, fidgeting and uncomfortable, then glances over at DAVIS)

JENNA
(catches the gesture)
Davis, isn't that right? Today is a happy day, isn't it? Savara is home! And we're now a family, aren't we?
(jabs DAVIS with her elbow)

DAVIS
(under his breath)
Oww...
(out loud)
Yes, Jenna. That's right. Savara... Come, you should join us. I didn't mean to raise my voice on you...

SAVARA
O—okay. I'm... I'm sorry too, Dad.

JENNA
Good. Now that we made up. Shall we cut the cake?

DAVIS
Sure...

SAVARA
(nods)

JENNA
Here.
(gives the same kitchen knife that was in the closet to SAVARA)
You should do the honors...

SAVARA
Th-thanks, Mom.

JENNA
Now, Davis. Would you mind going to the fridge and bring out the rest of the food and microwaving them?

DAVIS
We're having microwaved dinner?

JENNA
No, darling. I've already cooked all of them... Now all of you have to do is warm them up in the microwave...

DAVIS
Oh... okay...
(gets up and heads towards the kitchen)

JENNA
(calls after him)
Don't forget to bring out the cokes!
(turns back to face SAVARA. SAVARA is licking her fingers and chewing quietly.)
Okay, sweetie... How’d you like the cake?

SAVARA
(with her mouth full, talking between words)
It's—it's really good, Mom. My favorite—vanilla cake with lots of cut-up fresh fruits... and cream-cheese frosting... I've forgotten how it tasted like... since my 16th birthday... Thanks, Mom... You're the best...

(While SAVARA is talking the lines above, JENNA has taken with her the kitchen knife)

JENNA
You've cut the whole cake already, so you don't mind me taking this knife to wash it?

SAVARA
(shakes her head and muffles)
Uh-uh... No, Mom...

JENNA
(saunters over to the CD player behind SAVARA and puts on Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata")

SAVARA
Mom? Since when do you listen to Beethoven anyway? You never listened to classical music...

JENNA
Oh... since recently... You don't mind, do you?

SAVARA
No... not really. It's a change actually. I was somewhat bored with all of the romantic blues and jazz you've always listened to...

JENNA
(smiles wickedly, and says under her breath...)
A change, eh? I'm the best mother, eh? ... Too bad... You won't see your 18th birthday after tonight... Consider it your last cake... Having your memory back is my risk to take, and I won't let you ruin my perfect life with the ugly truth. You will NEVER tell Davis anything!
(raises knife pointing downward to SAVARA'S neck and screams)
ANYTHING!

(SAVARA then looks up and screams. Simultaneously, DAVIS also screams, coming out from the kitchen, and now seeing his own wife about to plunge the knife through SAVARA's neck, and dropping all of the plastic plates of food on the floor, where everything clatters. Then BLACKOUT.)

END OF SCENE