LITR 3731: Creative Writing
Student Drama Submission 2005
Jamie Garcia
Lead Poison
Characters
Bonnie
Devon
Sherry
Jennifer
Dr. White
Daniel
Angela
Concept Sentence: A young girl tries her best to keep calm, but tension builds up too much for her to handle.
[This is set in a Junior High classroom.]
Bonnie: (talking to Devon) I hate assigned seating. I can’t wait until I go to college so I can sit anywhere I want. My sister says if she doesn’t go to class that she doesn’t get in trouble, they don’t even take attendance! She even walks in late all the time.
Devon: Wow, that’s awesome! Well, at least we still get to sit next to each other.
Bonnie: Yeah, that’s cool, but I hate this guy Daniel who sits in front of me.
Devon: Duh! The whole class does. I don’t think Dr. White likes him either.
Bonnie: Oh, I know. Every time he opens his stupid mouth I see him roll his eyes.
Sherry: (trying to join the conversation) I don’t like him either. He’s annoying.
Bonnie: (to Sherry) Who asked you looser?
Devon: Yeah, go get your own friends. (to Bonnie) I hate when nerds try to talk to us, we are so more popular than her.
Bonnie: Duh!
[Bonnie and Devon continue to talk amongst themselves.]
Jennifer: Are you okay Sherry? I don’t even know why you bother with them.
Sherry: I just want to be cool, that’s all.
[Dr. White walks in class and the tardy bell rings, Daniel walks in right after.]
Dr. White: So Daniel, I see you’re late again. What’s your excuse this time?
Daniel: I’m sorry sir, but I was talking to God.
Dr. White: And what will it be tomorrow, you had lunch with him?
Daniel: That, that’s not what I meant.
Dr. White: Just be quiet Daniel. Now you know the routine, you have one week to serve your detention, in the morning or after school. Let’s get back to class. (starts taking attendance) Devon
Devon: Like, here.
Dr. White: Sherry
Sherry: Present
Devon: (to Sherry) Gosh, you’re such a dork, (in a joking, mocking voice) Present.
Dr. White: Bonnie
Bonnie: What?
Dr. White: Daniel
Daniel: Jesus!
Dr. White: No Daniel, that was me. I’m taking roll. (continues to call attendance for the rest of the students)
Bonnie: (to Daniel) I wish it was Jesus to take you away so I wouldn’t have to sit in front of your big head anymore.
Daniel: (to Bonnie) You know, you shouldn’t talk like that or you’ll go to hell.
Bonnie: Whatever, looser. (hits Daniel upside the head)
Daniel: Ouch!!
Dr. White: What’s the matter Daniel?
Daniel: (in a whiney voice) Bonnie hit me upside the head.
Dr. White: Bonnie, is that true?
Bonnie: No
Dr. White: (to Daniel) What did I tell you about lying? Do I need to tell you this everyday? You lie about being tardy and you always make up stories how Bonnie is so mean to you. I don’t want to hear another word from you. (calls the last name of the attendance sheet) Jennifer
Jennifer: Here
Dr. White: Now take out your books and open to page 180.
[Daniel raises his hand.]
Dr. White: Yes, Daniel.
Daniel: I don’t have my book.
Dr. White: Oh well, you probably won’t understand anyways. Just put your head down and take a nap.
[Daniel lays his head down and goes to sleep. Daniel starts to dream as Dr. White lectures.]
Daniel: (in his dream) Jesus, is that you?
Dr. White: No, it’s Dr. White, but you can call me Jesus.
Daniel: Wow, so it is you! Can you tell me why no one likes me?
Dr. White: Because Daniel, you’re annoying. You can’t seem to get things together and that voice of yours is so irritating. In fact, you weren’t even supposed to survive after being born. I just accidentally gave you a heart that beats.
Daniel: (wakes up and rapidly sits up and screams) Noooo!
Bonnie: (to Daniel) What’s wrong with you stupid?
Daniel: That’s it, I’ve had enough of you!
Dr. White: Daniel, you stop trying to fight with Bonnie.
Bonnie: (to Daniel) What are you gonna do, read me some bible phrases?
Daniel: No, I’m going to smack you right in the mouth.
Bonnie: Sure you will. That’s not what good Christians do.
Daniel: That’s the old me. He talked to me in my dream and said I wasn’t a child of His, so don’t push me!
Bonnie: (sarcastically) Oh, I’m scared.
Dr. White: Daniel, just turn around and behave.
[Bonnie, still sick and tired of Daniel, grabs her pencil and stabs Daniel in the back with it as hard as she can.]
Daniel: (screams) Ouch! Whatcha do that for?
Bonnie: (laughing) Because I hate you and I knew you wouldn’t hit me.
Dr. White: Daniel, come up here so I can see what happened.
[Daniel walks up to the teacher’s podium.]
Dr. White: (looking at Daniel’s back) Well, Daniel, it looks like I’ll have to call for a nurse. You have the entire pencil lead stuck in your back.
Daniel: (eyes starting to water) Will I need stitches?
Dr. White: That shouldn’t be your biggest concern, you may have lead poison.
[Dr. White walks over to the school phone and tell the nurse he needs her assistance.]
Devon: (to Bonnie) That was so cool.
Bonnie: Yeah I know. And it made me feel better too.
[The nurse walks in the room.]
Angela: Hi Daniel. Turn around and let me see what it looks like. (Daniel turns around) Oh no, that pencil tip is in there deep. I’m most certain that you have lead poison. Let’s walk down to my office so I can remove it.
[Nurse Angela and Daniel walk out the door.]
Dr. White: Bonnie, will you step out the classroom so I can talk to you?
[Bonnie and Dr. White get up and walk out the door into the hallway.]
Bonnie: Yes?
Dr. White: You know I should be giving you detention, but I’m not going to. I think he deserved it, but you can’t let anyone know.
Bonnie: Thanks, I won’t.
[They walk back in the classroom. Right after Bonnie sits down, the dismissal bell rings and the students get up and leave.]
Devon: (to Bonnie) So what happened? What he say? Are you in trouble?
Bonnie: Well, he did tell me not to say anything, but….(happily) I’m not in trouble. He thought Daniel deserved it.
Devon: See, I told you Dr. White didn’t like him.
Theme Sentence: Not everyone will like you, nor will everyone be punished for the way they treat people or the actions they take.