|
|
The Lesson
Characters
George Beadlemeyer- Principal, middle aged, well-dressed but not fancy
Kenny Johnson- Student, 15, overly trendy/gangster style clothing
Adam Hennyman- Principal’s Secretary
Setting
The whole thing takes place within the principal’s office in a present day high school.
Notes
The personalities of the characters really need to come through. In the beginning, Kenny should be overconfident and appear as though he’s trying to be tough. Mr. Beadlemeyer should appear strained but still very cool and collected. In the end, the chemistry between the two characters is a must. They have to interact well and quickly.
Scene 1
TIME: Early afternoon
AT RISE: George Beadlemeyer seated in a desk, center stage. Two chairs should be faced toward the front of the desk but one will turn sideways to allow Kenny to be profiled to the audience. The only items that need to be on the desk are a stack of papers and a pen. The rest of the desk should be set for realism but not use.
(GEORGE appears to be concentrating heavily on papers before him. After a moment he sighs with relief and sets the pen down on the desk. He only has a moment to relax in his chair before ADAM enters from stage right)
ADAM: Excuse me Mr. Beadlemeyer?
GEORGE: (sighs with defeat this time) Yes, Adam?
ADAM: I assume you’re finished with the paperwork. Correct me if I’m wrong.
GEORGE: No you’re quite correct Adam. Did you need me for something?
ADAM: Well sir, there’s a young man outside who has gotten his 10th notice for profanity.
GEORGE: Is it Kenny?
ADAM: (Jokingly) How’d you guess?
GEORGE: (Dead Pan) Not everyone can manage to get 10 notices for profanity on the first day of school. Send him in.
ADAM: Right away sir.
(He exits quickly stage right. GEORGE takes the opportunity to arrange his desk slightly and fold his hands on the surface of the desk before KENNY enters from stage right with a confident swagger to his walk and an "I’m too cool for now" attitude. He approaches the desk and stops a few feet from GEORGE)
GEORGE: Sit down please Kenny.
KENNY: (Gives the principal a bored look and points to the chair on the right) Here?
GEORGE: Yes Kenny
(KENNY sits down in the chair on the left, which the principal doesn’t bother to address)
Do you know why you’re here Kenny?
KENNY: (Snorts and sets his head on one of his hands) Yeah
GEORGE: I take it you don’t agree with your being punished?
KENNY: (Talks with his hands moving) No way man. It’s a violation of the constitution. I know my rights man. I’m protected by like the 2nd amendment, yeah, the 2nd amendment.
GEORGE: (Arches an eyebrow) Our rules against profanity violate your right to own a gun?
KENNY: Well, not literally man, it’s a whole symbolism thing.
GEORGE: Symbolic of what Kenny?
KENNY: Symbolic of my oppression by the man.
GEORGE: What man?
KENNY: You know, THE man. Like that book 1986 by that Orson guy, war of the worlds and stuff.
GEORGE: Well, I won’t begin with everything wrong in that statement and I assure you, your rights are safe with me.
KENNY: That’s what they all say man. That’s what they all say. They might be controlling you as well, and you wouldn’t even know it.
GEORGE: The only person who controls me is my wife.
(KENNY laughs but then quickly looks all cool and tough again)
KENNY: Go on man. Give me my oppressive punishment.
GEORGE: (Sighs) Let’s be honest. You knew the consequences of excessive profanity before you uttered the words. Threats of expulsion and detention obviously aren’t working. Perhaps you even enjoy them-
KENNY: (Interrupting)-No way! I’m not that much of a loser!-
GEORGE: -because you seem to beg for the punishment.
KENNY: So what’s your point?
GEORGE: The point is that I don’t think giving you detention is going to do any good.
KENNY: You’re not going to expel me, are you man? That’s against the rules. I’ll sue this school district for every penny it has. Every single penny man.
GEORGE: No Kenny, I’m not going to expel you.
KENNY: Oh, well, then, what are you going to do?
GEORGE: I’m going to give you an option. Either you get after school detention for a month, which does not violate the school’s discipline policy, or you come here for ten minutes of your 5th period class for a week.
KENNY: Let’s see. I can either lose my afternoons for an entire month or I get out of class for a whole week. What do you think I’m going to chose man? Wait, what would I do here? I’m not going to do anything illegal man so don’t even ask.
GEORGE: You’ve proved to me that there’s some sense in your head by asking that question. Because you bothered to ask, I’ll give you a reply. I’m going to act as a therapist to you.
KENNY: (Suspiciously) Electric shock therapy?
GEORGE: No..
KENNY: (Sounding ever so slightly disappointed) Oh, um, good. That’s a good thing man, a very good thing. What kind of therapy then?
GEORGE: I guess you could say that it’s speech therapy.
KENNY: Speech therapy? I don’t have any problems with talkin’.
GEORGE: It’s not for those kind of speaking problems.
KENNY: Well, come on man, what then?
GEORGE: (Leans toward him) We’re going to forever cure you of that swearing problem.
BLACKOUT