LITR 3731 Creative Writing UHCL sample student drama submission 2005

LITR 3731: Creative Writing
Student Drama Submission 2005

Lindsay Niemann

“Conquering Butterflies”
(revised ending appended at bottom of page)

Cast:

Bonnie

Dr. White

Devon

Karen

Mary Kay

Concept:

A student is forced to face her fear of public speaking and comes up with a way to control her anxieties.

Students are giving oral presentations about books they have read in Dr. White’s Literature of the Future class.

Devon: (standing in front of the classroom finishing her presentation) …and that’s why I found this book to be so fascinating and informative all at the same time.

The class, looking half asleep, applauds while Devon takes her seat.

Karen: (thinking to herself) Man, I wish that was me, I’d already be done.

Dr. White: Okay, thank you Devon, why don’t we take a ten minute break, and when we get back, we’ll hear Karen’s presentation, if that’s okay with Karen.

Karen: (nervously) Uh, yeah, I guess.

The students file out of the room, and Bonnie, Karen and Mary Kay gather outside for a cigarette.

Bonnie: (to Karen) So are you ready for your presentation?

Karen: No, not really. I mean, I read the book and everything, but I don’t know if I can do this. I have severe stage fright. I mean, I’ll be lucky if I can remember my own name.

Mary Kay: Well, you don’t have to remember your own name, just try to remember what book you read.

Karen: Yeah, I’ll be lucky if I don’t pass out while I’m up there. You guys don’t have a problem with stage fright?

Bonnie: No, I don’t really care. It doesn’t bother me.

Mary Kay: Me either.

Karen: Well, it bothers the hell out of me.

Mary Kay: Oh, you’ll do fine. Just take a deep breath and it’ll be over before you know it.

Bonnie: Yeah, besides, most people aren’t paying attention anyway. They’re probably either half asleep or too busy thinking about their own presentation.

Karen: I don’t know guys, I’m like, really freaking out here. Maybe I should have had a couple of drinks or something before class y’know, just to loosen me up a little.

Bonnie: There was actually a girl in my public speaking class that use to do that.

Karen: Oh Yeah? Did it work?

Bonnie: No, she still choked.

Did you guys know that people fear public speaking more than they fear dying?

Mary Kay: No way, is that true?

Bonnie: Yeah dude, I learned that in my public speaking class. Isn’t that crazy?

Mary Kay: Yeah it is, I’d have to say that dying would be much worse.

Bonnie: Right.

Karen: No offense guys, but your really not helping.

Bonnie: Oh, c’mon, wouldn’t you rather give an oral presentation than die?

Karen: At this point? I’m really not sure.

Mary Kay: You’ll be fine Karen. Just get up there and do it and try not to think about how nervous you are.

Karen: That’s easier said than done.

Mary Kay: I know, but you’ll be fine.

Bonnie: (heading to the door) Hey guys, we better get back to class.

Mary Kay: You coming Karen?

Karen: Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute, I’m gonna smoke another cigarette.

Mary Kay: Okay, but hurry.

Bonnie and Mary Kay go back to the classroom where the rest of the students and Dr. White are waiting to finish the presentations.

Dr. White: Well, we’ll start as soon as Karen gets back from the break. Does anyone know where she went?

The class stares blankly at him.

Dr. White: Okay, well I’m sure she’ll be back soon…what’s that sound? Is somebody snoring?

Bonnie: (laughing) Yeah, I think its Devon.

Dr. White: Well, could somebody please wake her up?

Mary Kay nudges Devon, who suddenly lifts her head, obviously startled and disoriented.

Mary Kay: You’ve got some drool on the side of your mouth.

Devon: Huh? Oh, thanks. (she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and lets out a healthy yawn)

Dr. White: Morning, Devon.

Devon: What?

Dr. White: Well, we’re going to wait a few more minutes for Karen to return, and then we’ll go ahead and hear Bonnie’s presentation if she’s not back.

Alone in the bathroom, Karen is splashing cold water on her face trying to work up the nerve to go back to class. She has already thrown up twice.

Karen: Okay Karen, get a grip. They’re not going to kill you, it’s not as bad as dying, besides it’s just a stupid book report. Now get in there. Oh man, who am I kidding, I can’t do this…wait a second, I know what I’ll do, I don’t have to face my fear after all.

She wets her face down again, dries it off with a series of rough, paper napkins, and takes a long deep breath. Red-faced and slightly shaking, she heads for the classroom.

Dr. White: There you are. We were about to skip ahead to Bonnie, but since you’re here now, we’ll hear your presentation. Is everything okay?

Karen: Uh, yeah.

Dr. White: Are you ready?

Karen: Uh, yeah.

Dr. White: Okay, well the floor’s all yours.

Karen: (barely audible) Okay.

She nervously walks to the front of the classroom, running into a desk along the way. When she reaches the front, she turns her back to the class and faces the chalkboard.

Karen: The uh, um, (deep breath) The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells, is um, a really good book.

Slowly and painfully, Karen makes it through the presentation never once facing the class, but gaining more and more confidence the longer she’s up there. It’s over before she knows it, and the class applauds as she takes her seat.

Dr. White: Thank you Karen, that was…interesting. Bonnie, you’re up.

Bonnie stands, facing the class, and begins her presentation.

Bonnie: Burning Chrome is one of the best books I’ve read in a really long time…

Karen: (thinking to herself) I did it! It’s over. No more worrying. No more dreading. No more throwing up. It’s over, and I didn’t pass out! Wow, Bonnie was right, I’m not listening to a word she’s saying.

Theme:

Worrying about something only makes matters worse because things are never as bad as they seem. Also, always remember to take a deep breath.

Revised Ending Scene for Conquering Butterflies

Alone in the bathroom, Karen is splashing cold water on her face trying to work up the nerve to go back to class. She has already thrown up twice.

She wets her face down again, takes a deep breath, and heads for the classroom.

Dr. White: There you are. We were about to skip ahead to Bonnie, but since you’re here now, we’ll hear your presentation. Is everything okay?

Karen: Uh, yeah.

Dr. White: Are you ready?

Karen: Uh, yeah.

Dr. White: Okay, well the floor’s all yours.

Karen: (barely audible) Okay.

With note cards in hand, Karen nervously walks to the front of the classroom, running into a desk along the way. When she reaches the front, she turns her back to the class and faces the chalkboard.

Karen: (shaking) The uh, um, (deep breath) The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells, is um, a really good book. I actually, uh, read it in high school, but uh, I couldn’t remember anything about it so I decided to read it again. Okay, (deep breath) um, what else? Oh yeah, my note cards.

She fumbles with her note cards, still shaking, and drops a couple on the floor.

Karen: Shit! I mean, oops. (she picks them up) Okay, sorry about that. Um, H.G. Wells is famous for writing futuristic novels, and The Time Machine is, of course, no exception.

Slowly and painfully, Karen makes it through the presentation. She turns to face the class towards the end.

Karen: I’m glad I decided to read this book again. I understood it a lot better this time, probably because I looked up the words I didn’t understand. I plan on reading other books by H.G. Wells as soon as I have the time. Thank you.

The class applauds as she takes her seat.

Dr. White: Thank you Karen, that was…interesting. Bonnie, you’re up.

Bonnie stands, walks to the front of the classroom, and begins her presentation.

Bonnie: Burning Chrome is one of the best books I’ve read in a really long time…

Theme:

Worrying about something only makes matters worse because things are never as bad as they seem. Also, always remember to take a deep breath.