LITR 3731: Creative Writing
Student Drama Submission 2003

Drama in the Classroom

Characters
Travis
Will
Kelly
Jason
Dawn 

Concept   Students come together and share ideas on a writing project, then shirk when asked to participate.

Theme Talk is cheap (especially at the end of the semester).

Scene A classroom at the end of a Creative Writing class period.

Dr. White: (looks at his watch) Well, that’s all we have time for today.  Don’t forget the final draft of your drama assignment is due on Monday. See you all next week. (He gathers up his papers and books and leaves the room, privately conversing with a few other students)

As the rest of the class leaves the room, a group of students lingers after class, slowly packing and gathering their bags. As Dawn passes Travis, they pause to strike up a conversation.

Travis: So, how’s your drama assignment going?

Dawn: Terrible! I’m really struggling right now.

Travis: Yeah?

(Will walks up and stops to join in the conversation.)

Dawn: This script writing business (shaking her head)…, all I’ve got is a title on a page.

Will: Well, at least you have an idea.

(Kelly and Jason walk up and join the group, catching part of the conversation.)

Dawn: No, I don’t!  The title is “Drama in the Classroom.”

Kelly: What’s it about?

Dawn: Nothing!

Will: What do you mean nothing? What’s the drama?

Dawn: (exasperated) There is no drama! That’s all I have!

Travis: Any ideas?

Dawn: (dejectedly) Not really.

Kelly: I thought Enrique’s piece was great!

Travis: Oh, yeah, the parody--it was so over the top it worked.

Kelly: And then David…

Travis: Right, the “surfer dude” lingo and all.

Jason: Which was perfect for me, no acting required on my part.

Dawn: What about Corrie? I mean, c’mon, spontaneous applause!

Will: Yeah, she rocked.

Kelly: I want to rock, but I can’t think of anything.

Will: Me neither.

Dawn: It would be nice to come up with something different like they did.

Jason: Yeah.

Kelly: Reani already did the reality twist.

Travis: That was perfect because we were all just sitting there wracking our brains.

Dawn: I don’t have time to wrack.

Jason: Me neither!

Dawn: I have three other classes and research papers and finals coming and somehow I have to make Thanksgiving happen in my life.

Travis: I hear you.

Kelly: I’m there too, just overloaded.

Dawn: I’ve thought of everything and nothing seems to work.

Jason: How about the PMS-ing pimple with a name?

Kelly: That was disgusting!

Jason: Yeah, but you won’t forget it.

Kelly: I want to forget it.

Dawn: Ok, forget it. Let’s come up with something.

(Short pause as everyone thinks for a moment)

Jason:  (speaking up suddenly) Hey, I was thinking about having the class start, then we all see something like a meteor flying past the window. Everybody rushes to see what’s going on and it’s some kind of bomb! There’s this big explosion and women start crying and freakin’ out and everything. 

Will: (Nodding approvingly) Allright!

Kelly:  I’m thinking “major crisis,” the teacher having a heart attack or stroke or something and we have to save him, you know, real drama! Somebody has to run for help, give him mouth to mouth, talk to the school newspaper, more crying women. But, I feel like we’ve already put Dr. White through the wringer.

Dawn: Yeah, poor guy needs a break.

Will: Or maybe… not!

Travis: How about an alien abduction or a droid in the place of a student? A couple of clones could take over the classroom. Or….. (Travis looks around suspiciously, then lowers his voice) Dr. White could be the clone and we would have to figure it out by little subtle clues.

Jason: (softly) Wow. It could work.

Dawn: Here’s an idea (excitedly butting in): Time warp! We have this classroom but it’s twenty years into the future and the young, just-married students are coming back to finish school because they all got pregnant and decided to drop out. They wind up losing 30 hours because the credits were too old and now they are the little old ladies in the class and they have a totally different perspective on life.

(Long pause, nobody speaks for awhile and they just look at their feet or around the room)

Kelly: Okay……..(Drawing out the last syllable)

Dawn: I know. Boring!

(Everybody looks up and becomes engaged again)

Jason: Right!

Will: Thank you!

Dawn: And then I thought of giving everyone alter egos…

Will: Too complicated!

Dawn: (sighs) I know, way too complicated. I am just so swamped right now, I can’t think straight!

Travis: Well, what is left?

Jason: Keeping it in the classroom kind of sucks.

Will: No kidding!

Jason: I mean that is the worst place for a play!

Travis: It’s like trying to reinvent the wheel over and over and over!

Kelly: And yet we’ve gotten some really good scripts from the class so far.

Dawn: I just want to breathe life into this whole thing.

(The group pauses, thinking)

Kelly: It needs a surprise, a shock.

Will:  A twist they’ll never forget.

(The group pauses, thinking)

Kelly: (Leans in and says slowly with quiet emphasis) An illicit affair!

Dawn: OooohhHH, now that is good!

Will: Yeah, secrets divulged!

Jason: (slowly and pointing to the center of the circle) Somebody has got to take a fall.

Dawn: Fine, I’ll set you all up. Be on the lookout for a first draft.

Kelly: Oh, no, not me! (She puts up her hand in defense and backs away from the group)

(Will, Travis and Jason start walking away)

Jason: Don’t send me anything by e-mail.

Will: I won’t read it! (Shaking his head) Too busy!

Travis: Me too! Count me out!

Kelly: (defensively, still backing away) You know how shy I am!

Will: You’re on your own.

Dawn: That’s it! (She calls after them, defiantly) You are all marked! I won’t send you the e-mails! No prior notice! Your names will be on there! You’ll have to read it.

(The others turn and answer her over their shoulders as they continue to walk away)

Jason: (Sarcastically) Yeah, right!

Kelly: Don’t do it!

Will: We’ll get you back!

Dawn: No, you won’t! (yelling now) I’m presenting on the last day! Naah, Naah, Naah! (angrily mocking)

(The others continue to walk away now speaking quietly amongst themselves)

Travis: She’s lost it!

Jason: Whacked.

Will: (matter-of-factly) That’s what writing does to you.

Kelly: Well, I sure hope it doesn’t do it to me!

The End