Post by MJ Ferruzza on Nov 6, 2011 13:28:56 GMT -5
Promedy
BEATRIX:
That's not true. Young women need the Prom. It's a rite of passage as sacred as getting your driver's license or buying your first bra. There are only a few things in life that are guaranteed to be glorious and memorable and sparkling with gowns and cummerbunds. Prom is the quintessential teenage experience. Think of the unlucky grown-ups and the elderly who lament the day they decided not to go to the Prom. It is a key ingredient to a happy and meaningful life. Prom is short for Promenade, a slow, gentle walk through a shady glen, and this beloved ceremony symbolizes our journey from the shadows of adolescence to the bright sunshine of the adult world with all its freedoms. And it may be the only chance I'll ever have to dance with a boy. Maybe I'll never have someone get down on their knee and Offer me a diamond ring. Maybe I'll never walk down the aisle with a smug look of bridal triumph. But it is my right, and the right of every plain, frumpy, book-wormish, soon-to-be librarian to have one night of Cinderella magic. Even if we have to go with our cousin, or our gay best friend from tap class, we will have a Prom. And you will help me.
Tomorrow’s Wish.
CONTEXT: Juniper is a shy young woman with learning disabilities. She lives in a small town with her grandmother, sheltered away from most of the world. In this scene, she is talking to her cousin, Megan, about her first and only kiss.
JUNIPER:
I kissed a boy once. At least I tried.
I don’t know if it counts if they don’t
kiss back. But I tried to kiss a boy and
it almost worked. Most of the time Grandma
and I don’t get to see folks much, but we
go into town. Sometimes. And Grandma says
I just have to be careful to mind my manners,
and Grandma says I’m real good at being careful,
but sometimes I get so bored in that little
town. Only one video store. Only two churches.
And the park only has two swings and a pool
that never gets filled up anymore. But in our
little town there is a boy named Samuel.
He's a bag-boy at the grocery store. He does
it just right and never squishes the eggs.
And he has red hair and green eyes. And…
(Laughs at the memory.)
Freckles all over his face! And Samuel is so
nice. So nice to me and Gram. He would always
smile and always say “thank you” and “your welcome.”
If he says, “Have a nice day,” then you do. That’s
how good he is at his job. And I always wanted…
I always wanted to be close to him, or to talk
to him, without Gram around. And one day when
Grandma had a really bad cold I got to go to the
store all by myself. And I bought some oyster
crackers and some medicine. Then I got to watch
Samuel all by myself. Watch him do his bag boy job.
I just stared and stared, trying to count all of
those handsome freckles. Then, he asked if there
was anything else I wanted. I just whispered “Yes.”
(Pauses, closes eyes in remembrance.)
And then I grabbed him by the ears and MmmmmmmMM!
(Pretends she’s grabbing and kissing him.)
That was my first kiss. It was the most romantic
moment of my life. Until the manager pulled me off of him.
Irony
CASSANDRA:
No, I am not enjoying the party. Behold poor souls! The fates turn backwards on themselves. There is danger looming ahead. I can see our bleak future. I am doomed to know all of the catastrophes that will befall us, yet no one believes me. Therefore, hark, Paris, Prince of Troy. All is twisted and sour -- and I am not just talking about the fruit punch. Can you not see all of the signs? They are all around us, even as we celebrate. Look there, Hercules the strongest man in the world can break anything, but he cannot break dance. And look here, Hades is the Lord of the Dead, yet he's the life of the party. Sisyphus refuses to rock and roll. Prometheus the Titan gave us the gift of fire, but he's banned smoking. Ares has made peace with the fact that his brother Apollo isn't very bright. Narcissus broke up with himself. Orpheus only speaks the truth, but he plays a lyre. Dionysus is sober but Icarus is high, Poseidon is sloshed and Medusa just got stoned. Atlas is on top of the world. Athena is proud of her humility, and Hermes thinks that hubris belongs on pita bread. Zeus knows everything except how to spell the word omniscient, and Thor -- What the hell is Thor doing here? Midas has the Golden Touch but thanks to Aphrodite he also has a touch of herpes. Medea is offering advice on parenting. Antigone is agreeable. An audience smart enough to understand these jokes is too intelligent to be amused by them. And Oedipus' date looks old enough to be his mother! And what do all these foreboding signs forebode? We are all doomed to die. The Greeks are preparing an attack. They will lay siege to this city and destroy this city and everyone within these walls shall perish by flame and arrow and sword. Oh, and you're out of napkins.
BEATRIX:
That's not true. Young women need the Prom. It's a rite of passage as sacred as getting your driver's license or buying your first bra. There are only a few things in life that are guaranteed to be glorious and memorable and sparkling with gowns and cummerbunds. Prom is the quintessential teenage experience. Think of the unlucky grown-ups and the elderly who lament the day they decided not to go to the Prom. It is a key ingredient to a happy and meaningful life. Prom is short for Promenade, a slow, gentle walk through a shady glen, and this beloved ceremony symbolizes our journey from the shadows of adolescence to the bright sunshine of the adult world with all its freedoms. And it may be the only chance I'll ever have to dance with a boy. Maybe I'll never have someone get down on their knee and Offer me a diamond ring. Maybe I'll never walk down the aisle with a smug look of bridal triumph. But it is my right, and the right of every plain, frumpy, book-wormish, soon-to-be librarian to have one night of Cinderella magic. Even if we have to go with our cousin, or our gay best friend from tap class, we will have a Prom. And you will help me.
Tomorrow’s Wish.
CONTEXT: Juniper is a shy young woman with learning disabilities. She lives in a small town with her grandmother, sheltered away from most of the world. In this scene, she is talking to her cousin, Megan, about her first and only kiss.
JUNIPER:
I kissed a boy once. At least I tried.
I don’t know if it counts if they don’t
kiss back. But I tried to kiss a boy and
it almost worked. Most of the time Grandma
and I don’t get to see folks much, but we
go into town. Sometimes. And Grandma says
I just have to be careful to mind my manners,
and Grandma says I’m real good at being careful,
but sometimes I get so bored in that little
town. Only one video store. Only two churches.
And the park only has two swings and a pool
that never gets filled up anymore. But in our
little town there is a boy named Samuel.
He's a bag-boy at the grocery store. He does
it just right and never squishes the eggs.
And he has red hair and green eyes. And…
(Laughs at the memory.)
Freckles all over his face! And Samuel is so
nice. So nice to me and Gram. He would always
smile and always say “thank you” and “your welcome.”
If he says, “Have a nice day,” then you do. That’s
how good he is at his job. And I always wanted…
I always wanted to be close to him, or to talk
to him, without Gram around. And one day when
Grandma had a really bad cold I got to go to the
store all by myself. And I bought some oyster
crackers and some medicine. Then I got to watch
Samuel all by myself. Watch him do his bag boy job.
I just stared and stared, trying to count all of
those handsome freckles. Then, he asked if there
was anything else I wanted. I just whispered “Yes.”
(Pauses, closes eyes in remembrance.)
And then I grabbed him by the ears and MmmmmmmMM!
(Pretends she’s grabbing and kissing him.)
That was my first kiss. It was the most romantic
moment of my life. Until the manager pulled me off of him.
Irony
CASSANDRA:
No, I am not enjoying the party. Behold poor souls! The fates turn backwards on themselves. There is danger looming ahead. I can see our bleak future. I am doomed to know all of the catastrophes that will befall us, yet no one believes me. Therefore, hark, Paris, Prince of Troy. All is twisted and sour -- and I am not just talking about the fruit punch. Can you not see all of the signs? They are all around us, even as we celebrate. Look there, Hercules the strongest man in the world can break anything, but he cannot break dance. And look here, Hades is the Lord of the Dead, yet he's the life of the party. Sisyphus refuses to rock and roll. Prometheus the Titan gave us the gift of fire, but he's banned smoking. Ares has made peace with the fact that his brother Apollo isn't very bright. Narcissus broke up with himself. Orpheus only speaks the truth, but he plays a lyre. Dionysus is sober but Icarus is high, Poseidon is sloshed and Medusa just got stoned. Atlas is on top of the world. Athena is proud of her humility, and Hermes thinks that hubris belongs on pita bread. Zeus knows everything except how to spell the word omniscient, and Thor -- What the hell is Thor doing here? Midas has the Golden Touch but thanks to Aphrodite he also has a touch of herpes. Medea is offering advice on parenting. Antigone is agreeable. An audience smart enough to understand these jokes is too intelligent to be amused by them. And Oedipus' date looks old enough to be his mother! And what do all these foreboding signs forebode? We are all doomed to die. The Greeks are preparing an attack. They will lay siege to this city and destroy this city and everyone within these walls shall perish by flame and arrow and sword. Oh, and you're out of napkins.