Matrix project V.2--more revisions

I watched him from the back of the classroom where I sat. The creations he painted made mine look like finger painting from a four year old. He was perfection in human form, the Elvis of painting. His brush danced along the paper, the red paint harmonizing with the black.

“Trisha! Your picture can’t paint itself, get to work,” Ms. Jennie said as she broke my trance.

I looked at my sad attempt at a dog playing fetch and groaned. It looked like a dust bunny with an oversized pink tongue. I added clashing wisps of color to my drawing until Ms. Jennie directed us to clean up. I was about to bring my brushes to the sink when I saw him standing there. My heart started pumping and I could feel the sweat oozing out of the pores in my forehead. I turned to Jan.

“Could you wash my brushes out for me today? I promise tomorrow I will do yours,” I negotiated as I placed my brushes on top of hers.

I left the classroom as the bell rang, and glanced back just long enough to see Jan hurriedly trying to finish washing the brushes. Cain was at her side helping her. Jan didn’t realize how lucky she was to actually be having a conversation with Cain, though I was glad I wasn’t in her place. I would have vomited from the anxiety.

The rest of the day was uneventful. In each class I got lost in my own daydreams. I dreamt that Cain would come up to me in class and say, “Wow, what a great work of art.” I would look into his hazel eyes and we would live happily ever after.

The next day, Jan handed her brushes to me at the end of class. Jan has been my best friend since elementary school. If there were paparatsi in Melrose, Jan would have her picture in all the magazines. Her long blonde hair is desired by everyone, and her tall slender body makes her look like a supermodel. Her looks have what got her into the cool crowd this year. I, of course, was left out. This didn’t surprise me, I mean who has ever heard of a fizzy haired, braces filled popular girl?

After handing off her well used brushes to me, Jan tossed her goddess hair over her shoulder and joined the group of kids standing at the classroom door. I turned around and to my relief the sink was abandoned. I quickly started washing the brushes of their sticky color.

“Isn’t it marvelous?” said a sturdy voice from next to me.

I froze looking down at the sink. My heart started pumping harder as I realized who the voice belonged to.

“What?” my voice cracked on the single word I was able to let out.

“The colors draining down the sink, it’s like a painting in and of itself,” he said as I fumbled with the brushes.

My voice left me stranded in the awkward silence that lingered between us. I swear he could hear my heart beating. As soon the water running off my brushes was clear, I left Cain at the sink without saying goodbye.

Instead of taking notes in Trig that evening, I ran through the conversation that I had with Cain at the sink. I thought up charming and witty responses to his words just incase I got caught in that situation again.

A week passed without the chance of another conversation with Cain. I observed him as he painted elegant swirls of red across his canvas. I admired his hands and how they delicately supported his brush as his emotions fled into the artwork. I was dreaming of what it would be like if we were dating when he turned around and looked in my direction. He smiled and waved. Embarrassed, I dropped my eyes to my lap. I suddenly became self-conscious. Did he know how long I was staring? Did he smile at me because he likes me? Oh no! Was my mouth open? I couldn’t remember.

“Wow, what a great work of art,” said a deep voice behind me.

My spine shivered at the words I dreamt in my head. I struggled to find the charming comments I thought up a week before. I finally looked up at my muse, but as I was about to say thank you, I saw his chiseled face and realized that those words were not directed at my dust bunny dog. They were meant for the flower on Jan’s canvas. I snapped my head back to my painting; heat started radiating from my body as disress filled me.

My chin started to quiver but neither Jan nor Cain noticed anything besides each other. I wanted to run right out of the classroom but my legs stayed still like I was diseased with Polio. That is when I noticed the empty spot where my heart used to beat. That gorgeous, angelic looking theif swiped it. I didn’t struggle to get it back for I hoped I would receive his in return. To my dismay, he didn’t surender his, instead he took mine and smashed it with his rough hands. He used the blood from the broken fragments for a deeper shade of red in his masterpiece.

Matrix project V.2

The Color in His Painting

I watched him from the back of the classroom where I sat. The creations he painted made mine look like finger painting from a four year old. He was perfection in human form, the Elvis of painting. His brush danced along the paper, the red paint harmonizing with the black.

“Trisha! Your picture can’t paint itself, get to work,” Ms. Jennie said as she broke my trance.

I looked at my sad attempt at a dog playing fetch and groaned. It looked like a dust bunny with an oversized pink tongue. I added clashing wisps of color to my drawing until Ms. Jennie directed us to clean up. I was about to bring my brushes to the sink when I saw him standing there. My heart started pumping and I could feel the sweat oozing out of the pores in my forehead. I turned to Jan.

“Could you wash my brushes out for me today? I promise tomorrow I will do yours,” I negotiated as I placed my brushes on top of hers.

I left the classroom as the bell rang, and glanced back just long enough to see Jan hurriedly trying to finish washing the brushes. Cain was at her side helping her. Jan didn’t realize how lucky she was to actually be having a conversation with Cain, though I was glad I wasn’t in her place. I would have vomited from the anxiety.

The rest of the day was uneventful. In each class I got lost in my own daydreams. I dreamt that Cain would come up to me in class and say, “Wow what a great work of art.” I would look into his hazel eyes and we would live happily ever after.

The next day, Jan handed her brushes to me at the end of class. Jan has been my best friend since elementary school. If there were paparatsi in Melrose, Jan would have her picture in all the magazines. Her long blonde hair is desired by everyone, and her tall slender body makes her look like a supermodel. Her looks have what got her into the cool crowd this year. I, of course, was left out. This didn’t surprise me, I mean who has ever heard of a fizzy haired, braces filled popular girl?

After handing off her well used brushes to me, Jan tossed her goddess hair over her shoulder and joined the group of kids standing at the classroom door. I turned around and to my relief the sink was abandoned. I quickly started washing out mine and Jan’s brushes in the warm water.

“Isn’t it marvelous?” a sturdy voice came from next to me.

I froze looking down at the sink. My heart started pumping harder as I realized where the voice came from.

“What?” my voice cracked at the single word I was able to let out.

“The colors draining down the sink, it’s like a painting in of itself,” he said as I fumbled with the brushes.

My voice left me stranded in the awkward silence that lingered between us. I swear he could hear my heart beating. As soon the water running of my brushes were clean, I left Cain at the sink without saying goodbye.

Instead of taking notes in Trig that evening, I ran through the conversation that I had with Cain at the sink. I thought up charming and witty responses to Cain’s words just incase the opportunity of conversation came up again.

A week passed without the chance of another conversation with Cain. I observed him as he painted elegant swirls of red across his canvas. I admired his hands and how they delicately supported his brush. Emotions fled into his artwork. I was dreaming of what it would be like if we were dating when he turned around and looked in my direction. He smiled and waved. Embarrassed, I dropped my eyes to my lap. I suddenly became self-conscious. Did he know how long I was staring? Did he smile at me because he likes me? Oh no! Was my mouth open? I couldn’t remember.

“Wow what a great work of art,” said a deep voice behind me.

My spine shivered at the words I dreamt in my head. I struggled to find the charming comments I thought up a week before. I finally looked up at my muse, but as I was about to say thank you, I saw his chiseled face and realized that those words were not directed at my dust bunny dog. They were meant for the flower on Jan’s canvas. I snapped my head back to my painting; heat started radiating from my body as embarrassment filled me.

My chin started to quiver but neither Jan nor Cain noticed anything besides each other. I wanted to run right out of the classroom but I sat still in my seat. That is when I noticed the empty spot where my heart used to beat. The thief took it, then made me hopeful of receiving his, and finally he crushed it to use the blood for the color in his painting.

Welcome creative writing 2

what I needed to say poem

To Pixie

three to four months

that’s all You have left

i’ve denied so many times

that You were going to leave

but i can’t deny

the overgrown tumor living on your foot.

i remember when You were small,

so energetic and playful.

a close sister to me

always here when i’m sad.

You’ve taught me responsibility.

i am going to miss how You always

tell me when i have a visitor,

and how You hog the hot air

streaming out of the vent in the morning,

and even Your click clacking, tick tacking

as You walk across the floor.

i can’t picture my life without You.

i ache everyday thinking about

each moment You have left

and all i want to do is make it the best.

i’ll never give You fully up

and I hope i’ve made it clear,

that i love you.

random boredness

Rebels with a Cause Game!

I am so totally psyched about the game tonight.. even though i am pretty sure I SUCK at football but thats ok.. we will still slaughter the juniors!! yipee!! everyone come and see me and kat play!!!

v.2 of A time my world changed poem

95 lbs. and Overweight

I winced as I saw the red numbers pop up on the scale.

It was the first time I’d used the machine.

I was heavier than I thought.

You’re fat,

My sister teased.

(She had all the right to. She was the pretty one.)

That’s when obsession started.

In the days proceeding,

I passed on seconds,

skipped breakfast,

ate a one serving, 240 calorie, bag of Ruffles for lunch,

and popcorn for dinner.

I cringed at my reflection.

My thighs the size of tidal waves,

rippling as I walked.

My empty stomach looked to me as if

I just ate a large turkey dinner,

and the oversized bulges climbing out of my waistband

were covered by my oversized hoodies.

I cut out pictures of models-

The ones everyone criticized for being

too skinny.

But their thighs did not ripple-

their love handles were nonexistent.

I tucked them away in a binder under my bed

for secret motivation.

I weighed myself everyday hoping to shed the pounds.

The scale became my mood ring

too high, and my day was ruined.

Try as I might, my weight

never went down.

What a failure.

That was then.

Now at 120 pounds, trying to stop the rising numbers

would be wasted time.

I have learned to accept the girl

In the mirror,

Although whenever I see her,

I still suck in my stomach.

A Day My World Changed

95 lbs. and overweight

I winced as I saw the number show up on the scale

It was the first time I had ever checked my weight

I was heavier than I thought.

The obsession started then.

Back at the party,

I didn’t eat anything the rest of the night.

In the days proceeding,

I passed on seconds

skipped breakfast,

Ate a minimal amount of food at school

And popcorn for dinner.

I cringed at my reflection

My thighs the size of tidal waves,

Rippling as I walked

My empty stomach looked as if

I just ate a large thanksgiving dinner

I weighed myself every day hoping to shed the pounds

The scale became my mood ring

too high, and my day was ruined.

It started the day

when my older sister called me fat.

this happened in middle school.. don't worry cause I'm totally fine now :)

When Your World Comes Crashing Down

This is not my "A time my world changed poem.. I just was pissed off so I had to write something down."

Lies, that's all I've been told.
No one is brave enough to tell me the truth
but I see it anyways.
The pain grows inside me
and the tears I try so desperately to hold back
start flowing
I know the truth.
We are crumbling to the ground because of her
and she doesn't even care.
She stabbed me
the knife is in my back.
she departs as my blood flows
and my heart stops as I see you grab her hand.


I'm not sure if I like it.. but its just unedited feelings at this point.

Longer Short Story

Red Sky

The taxi drove across the flat land down a dirt road through what looked like a ghost town. The taxi stopped at a dirt driveway that had to be about two miles long. The driver told me that my unwanted journey would cost me $25.00. After giving up my money I grabbed my bags and sighed as I started toward my new home. The building at the end of the driveway was hardly big enough to call a house. It was made of brick with green vines crawling up toward the sun. I knocked on the bright orange door but no one answered. I turned the handle and to my surprise, opened the door- it wasn’t even locked. This didn’t surprise me when I realized that the value of the inside contents of the house were worth no more then a thousand dollars.

“Hello? Aunt Elsie?” I called into the empty house.

I decided to walk outside to find where my aunt may have wondered off. As I looked at the horizon I saw Aunt Elsie walking contently towards me. She had a large floppy straw hat placed on her head. Draping over her small body was a yellow and red floral dress. Trotting next to her was a plump pink pig with his nose high in the air and a homemade collar around his neck with a sunflower placed on top.

“Samantha! How are you?” Aunt Elsie asked me as she gave me a bear hug.

“Good.” I replied.

“Well let’s get you settled in,” Aunt Elsie said joyfully.

She grabbed my two bags from the entry way and brought them upstairs to a small room with an iron bed placed in the middle.

“You are my first visitor Samantha!” Aunt Elsie said joyfully. I hated how she called me Samantha. It made me feel so proper. All my friends at home call me Sam.

“Cool,” I replied.

“Well I will let you unpack your bags while I go down stairs and whip up some dinner,” Aunt Elsie said ignoring my lack of enthusiasm.

I looked around at my new living situation and found myself hating Jenny. She was so irresponsible leaving me for a guy who wants nothing to do with me. Well I didn’t need her. If she was willing to send me away than I was willing to forget about her.

“Samantha! Dinner is ready!” Aunt Elsie called from downstairs.

The food was like a rainbow of colors compared to the McDonalds’ meals I got served at home. There was bright green salad with fresh carrots delicately placed on top. Next to them were Red radishes, which looked like nothing I’ve ever eaten before. Than there were mashed potatoes with a lake of gravy, grilled chicken, and ripe yellow bananas.

“Sit sit! I hope you are ok with what we are having, “ said Aunt Elsie. “I didn’t know what foods you like.”

As soon as I sat down, something brushed against my legs. I looked under the table and there was the pig that was following my aunt earlier. It looked right at me and snorted.

“UGH! What is that thing doing under the table?” I asked in disgust.

“Oh Harold?”

“Yes Harold. Shouldn’t he be outside?”

“No no no. He is always allowed in the house. What if I just left you outside? You wouldn’t be too happy with me. Oh no, Harold is family,” said Aunt Elsie. “Speaking of family, how is your mother?”

“Fine I guess.” I didn’t feel like talking about my mother much.

“Well that’s nice of Jenny for letting you stay with me!” Aunt Elsie said. She was so oblivious to the truth.

“Of course. Did she tell you how long I would be staying?” I asked.

“No, she just said that she would be gone for a while and asked if I could look after you, “ She said while she started peeling her banana.

“That’s just like her,” I said under my breath.

“What’s wrong Samantha?” my aunt asked sincerely.

I found myself quickly confiding in her, “Its just that my mother feels like she can just drop me off wherever she pleases. This isn’t the first time this has happened. The last time she left me at grandma’s house for three months.”

“Oh Samantha, it will be fine. Your mother loves you very much and she will be back soon to get you.”

“No you don’t understand. She doesn’t care about me. When I actually am home she doesn’t even notice me and half the time she is at one of her jerk boyfriend’s houses,” I snapped back in anger.

By this time we were both done with dinner and migrated outside where the sun was getting ready for bed.

“Well while you are here, lets have some fun. Have you ever gone firefly hunting?” Aunt Elsie’s eyes brightened up as she told me about her favorite game.

“No, there isn’t many fireflies in New York,” I replied.

“Oh you will have so much fun! Let’s go!” My aunt started running through the tall grass. Trotting behind her trying to catch up was Harold happily snorting.

I looked up at the red sky and smiled to myself as a sudden calming filled me. I knew that a better day was to come. I knew that the summer I would spend at Aunt Elsie’s house would open my eyes to new things and teach me many life lessons.

“Come on Sam!” Aunt Elsie yelled back to me.

I laughed. “Coming!” I said running full speed towards the horizon.

Word Vomit Due to Mind Blank

So we are supposed to be writing our longer short story but I have no idea what to even write about. I know we were supposed to start with the characters and what not but yet again I dont have a certain character in mind. Which ofcourse sucks majorly. but whatev. I am one of those people who wait til the very last minute of the very last hour to get things done so I'm not stressing over it yet. I have to work today.. 12-4. Joy. 12-4 shifts are so totally boring cause no one shops then. So all you do is sit around waiting for your next break. Maybe I could write about that. Someone who works extensively and just thinks about when her next break is. Based on a true story. Nah thats lame. What would be the conflict? Do you ever wonder when you can just live for the moment? I mean day after day we look towards the future. I feel like we live for the next deadline. We are all working right now, trying to get everything done for Monday when we need to turn in our "Longer short story." Than what? we get another assignment. I feel like that's all I do... I am looking and planning for college but once I get there I will be planning for moving into my first house, than getting married, than having kids, raising kids, kicking the kids out of the house when they turn eighteen. Then what? Will I have to live for the moment when I'm old and grey cause I have no more plans left? Right now it feels like I can't go out on a limb and do something crazy. And if I do decide to go on any type of adventure, than it is planned. First we go here, than there, and so on. Maybe I'll write a story about that. A person who is always planning for the next thing and than something happens to them where they are pulled out of their comfort zone and they have to live for the moment. Oh boy.. maybe word vomit is useful.

55 Word Short Story

To Fetch Water

“Why do we have to climb so far?”

“Stop complaining Jillian, we’re almost there.”

“It’s too steep Jackson, I can’t do it.”

“It’s just a hill, anyone can do it.”

Jackson slips and falls to the bottom of the hill. Jillian rolls her eyes and goes to get him.

“Anyone?” smirks Jillian.

Final Draft to 10 Minute Play

PROJECT COOPERATION

[The scene starts out with four students sitting around a table working with a large piece of poster board. There is a girl who is wearing a cheerleading outfit, a boy with tape holding his thick glasses together with a pocket protector full with pens, a girl dressed all in black with black nails and lipstick, and finally a boy in baggy jeans with a baggy sweatshirt on, hair all ruffled.]

JOY
[to audience]
So I can’t believe Mr. Jones would be so cruel. I mean putting me in a group with these losers. Why couldn’t we just pick our own groups? Or at least put me in a group with normal people. I mean I’m stuck here with Poindexter, death herself, and the kid who sits in the parking lot smoking his life away. Please.

[JOY goes back to sitting at the table and starts working again with her group.]

KURT

So what does Mr. Jones want us to do?

EUGENE
He wants us to make a Prison of the Future. Crime rates have been increasing at a steady rate and by the time our generation hits their mid life, crime rates will be higher and it will be more expensive to keep massive amounts of prisoners in prison with the money government and other services provide.

SELENA
Could we put in a torture room? For those evil prisoners who act up. We can have an electric chair.

KURT
That would be dope. We should also let the prisoners have free time where they can just do whatever they want. Being stuck in one place sucks.

JOY
A torture room? How about we focus on normal things like I don’t know, jail cells, security rooms, and possibly even a gym so the prisoners can work out! And these people are PRISONERS, they don’t need free time.

[The characters freeze while SELENA gets up and moves toward the audience.]

SELENA
Can you believe this chick? She thinks her ideas are better than everyone else’s because she is part of the cheerleading squad and her mommy and daddy buy her everything she asks for. It’s going to be so much fun to push her buttons during this project. I wonder how much she can take.

[SELENA returns back to her seat and the scene starts up again.]

EUGENE
Well studies show that groups get projects done much faster when they split up, so I advise that we have one person work on the blueprint of the prison, one person work on the painting of the frontal view of the prison, and two people work on the essay that describes what sort of services we have in our prison.

KURT
I’m not painting. I refuse to paint.

SELENA
Well I would rather work on the essay. I have a lot of ideas for what our prison should include.

JOY
You are not going to turn our prison into a Satan worshiping palace. I refuse.

KURT
Well if you have such strong feelings about it then work with her on the essay.

EUGENE
Well if you two are working on the essay and Kurt, you don’t want to paint, then you can do the blueprints and I can do the painting.

[The scene freezes and EUGENE stands up and walks towards the audience.]

EUGENE
I didn’t actually want to do the painting but no one seemed up to doing it. I have a feeling that Kurt will probably not try on the blue print so I will have to definitely have to supervise him. Selena and Joy have their work cut out for them. Selena does have interesting ideas to say the least and Joy, well, she is exactly how I pictured her in my daydreams but much prettier up close.

[EUGENE returns to his seat and the scene starts again. KURT and EUGENE are silently working on their part of the project.]

JOY
About these torture rooms with electric chairs, it is the worst idea I have-

SELENA
No it’s not. There are electric chairs in many prisons. It’s a way to put the death penalty on criminals who’ve done horrible crimes.

JOY
Is that all you think about- death? It doesn’t matter who anyone is, all you want to do is kill them.

SELENA
You’re saying I don’t care about people? Look who’s talking. Little miss [mockingly] ‘I’m Joy and I ignore you unless you’re a jock or cheerleader.’

JOY
Well I don’t see you going out of your way to talk to anyone who is actually wearing color.

SELENA
Ok fine. We both don’t like each other and agree that we have different opinions. Let’s just get this project over with so we can get back to our own lives.

JOY
Fine by me.

[JOY’s cell phone in her pocket vibrates. She takes it out and realizes she got a text from a friend.]

SELENA

What now?

JOY
Mind your own business.

SELENA
This is unbelievable. You can’t even stay off your phone for ten minutes! Is it that important?

JOY
I said mind your own business.

[JOY reads a text and slowly closes her phone and becomes very silent and closed off.]

SELENA
[angry but caring]
Is everything ok? What’s up?

JOY
Nothing. You wouldn’t care anyways.

[The scene freezes and JOY gets up from her seat and talks to the audience.]

JOY
The truth is, Selena wouldn’t understand how crushing my news is. She probably would think, ‘she deserves it.’ People like her don’t understand that I do have feelings and despite the act I put on. I am not as confident as I portray.

[JOY returns to her spot next to SELENA and the scene starts to play again.]

SELENA
[concerned]
You sure? Your mood changed within a total amount of 2.5 seconds.

JOY
[hesitant]
Well, it’s just that John, you know the starter quarterback of the football team, just, well he decided, he decided that he didn’t want to go to prom with me anymore. I realize maybe that wouldn’t be the end of the world to you, but now what am I supposed to do with a week until prom? I can’t return my dress, nor do I really want to, but who am I supposed to go with? I can’t go alone, that would just be embarrassing.

SELENA
Who wants to go to prom anyways. Its just a load of drama dressed up in poofy gowns. [seeing that this did not cheer JOY up] Besides, any guy who dumps you is not worth your time. You deserve so much better and many guys would kill to go to prom with you. Trust me.

JOY
[smiling slightly]
You really mean that?

[SELENA smiles and nods in confirmation.]

[The scene freezes as SELENA gets up and walks to the audience.]

SELENA
I know what you are thinking, ‘you are kidding right? Telling the popular girl that she deserves better?’ This surprised me too but I wasn’t kidding. This poor girl just got dumped and for once in my life I saw her as an actual human being- not just another Paris Hilton wannabe.

[SELENA walks back to her seat next to JOY and the scene starts again but moves over to KURT and EUGENE.]

EUGENE
You sure you know what you are doing? Because I could help you figure out the calculations for how big the rooms need to be.

KURT
I’m fine Eugene. Believe it or not I sort of know what I am doing.


EUGENE
Really because I am open to help you out. We don’t want to get a bad grade on this project because some people don’t understand.

KURT
[aggravated]
I’m Fine! Just worry about your own part of the project.

[The scene freezes and KURT walks up towards the audience.]

KURT
Man! Could I have one moment to think without Milhouse over here breathing down my neck? Everyone thinks that just because I have experimented with drugs that I am not capable of doing anything else. My mind isn’t totally baked.

[KURT returns to his blueprint and the scene continues.]

EUGENE
Alright alright alright, if you need me then I’ll be right over here.

[The group goes back to working quietly for a couple seconds. SELENA and JOY stand up and walk closer to where EUGENE and KURT are sitting.]

JOY
Well we’re done! How about you two?

EUGENE
Just adding the finishing touches to my picture. Done! How do you guys like it?

[EUGENE holds up a brightly colored and elaborate picture of the front view of their prison.]

JOY
Wow Eugene! I never knew you had such a talent for painting!

EUGENE
Neither did I. Painting actually helped me not be so nervous and uptight. I feel very relaxed.

SELENA
You done Kurt?

KURT
[holding up a precisely measured out blueprint of a prison]
Yup! Here it is! Everything is measured out to a perfect T.

EUGENE
Your work is impeccable. How did you learn to do all those calculations and make blueprints?

KURT
Well I am actually fairly good at math. I just don’t like raising my hand in class. I don’t want people to think that I am a nerd or anything- no offense Eugene.

EUGENE
None taken.

[The scene freezes and JOY walks up to the audience.]

JOY
I’m totally not trying to sound like Full House or anything but things happened to work out. I mean who would have thought that VooDoo over here actually has a heart and cares about other’s feelings, and that little Angel Hair is the next Einstein, and Eurkel is actually a natural born Picasso. Maybe there is more to the book than what meets the eye.

[EUGENE becomes unfrozen and walks up to JOY.]

EUGENE
You mean there is more than what meets the eye.

JOY
No, I’m pretty sure there is something about a book.

[SELENA becomes unfrozen and walks up to JOY and EUGENE]

SELENA
You mean don’t judge a book by its cover.

JOY
[getting aggravated]
No I think I would know what I am talking about! Why do you guys always doubt me?

[KURT becomes unfrozen and walks up to JOY and EUGENE and SELENA.]

KURT
Who cares? It’s just a stupid saying.

JOY
I care! I wanted to end in a cute and optimistic way! Why are you guys in my thoughts anyways?

EUGENE
Well technically these are not your thou-

JOY
I'm so sick of you correcting everyone.

SELENA
Wow Joy. Way to be harsh.

JOY
[defending herself]
I'm just saying that it sucks to be corrected ALL the time.

KURT
You just have to roll things off your back. Not everything will be perfect and not everyone will worship the ground you walk on.

JOY
I don't think that! Whatever, you guys are just jealous.

[The group bursts out into arguments that the audience cannot follow.]

EUGENE
[breaks away from the other three and speaks to the audience]
Well so much for happy endings.

[EUGENE goes back to join the others in the argument. The scene ends and the light dims.]

First Draft to Ten Minute Play

This is the first draft of my ten minute play. It needs major revision and character developement but it is a start to (hopefully) a great idea. Enjoy.

[The scene starts out with four students sitting around a table working with a large piece of poster board. There is a girl who is wearing a cheerleading outfit, a boy with tape holding his thick glasses together with a pocket protector full with pens, a girl dressed all in black with black nails and lipstick, and finally a boy in baggy jeans with a baggy sweatshirt on, hair all ruffled.]

JOY
[to audience]
So I can’t believe Mr. Jones would be so cruel. I mean putting me in a group with these losers. Why couldn’t we just pick our own groups? Or at least put me in a group with normal people. I mean I’m stuck here with Poindexter, death herself, and the kid who sits in the parking lot smoking his life away. Please.

[JOY goes back to sitting at the table and starts working again with her group.]

KURT

So what does Mr. Jones want us to do?

EUGENE
He wants us to make a Prison of the Future. Crime rates have been increasing at a steady rate and by the time our generation hits their mid life, crime rates will be higher and it will be more expensive to keep massive amounts of prisoners in prison with the money government and other services provide.

SELENA
Could we put in a torture room? For those evil prisoners who act up. We can have an electric chair, and etc.

KURT
That would be dope. We should also let the prisoners have free time where they can just do whatever they want. Being stuck in one place sucks.

JOY
A torture room? How about we focus on normal things like I don’t know, jail cells, security rooms, and possibly even a gym so the prisoners can work out! And these people are PRISONERS, they don’t need free time.

[The characters freeze while SELENA gets up and moves toward the audience.]

SELENA
Can you believe this chick? She thinks her ideas are better than everyone else’s because she is part of the cheerleading squad and her mommy and daddy buy her everything she asks for. It’s going to be so much fun to push her buttons during this project. I wonder how much she can take.

[SELENA returns back to her seat and the scene starts up again.]

EUGENE
Well studies show that groups get projects done much faster when they split up, so I advise that we have one person work on the blueprint of the prison, one person work on the painting of the frontal view of the prison, and two people work on the essay that describes what sort of services we have in our prison.

KURT
I’m not painting. I refuse to paint.

SELENA
Well I would rather work on the essay. I have a lot of ideas for what our prison should include.

JOY
You are not going to turn our prison into a Satan worshiping palace. I refuse.

KURT
Well if you have such strong feelings about it then work with her on the essay.

EUGENE
Well if you two are working on the essay and Kurt, you don’t want to paint, then you can do the blueprints and I can do the painting.

[The scene freezes and EUGENE stands up and walks towards the audience.]

EUGENE
I didn’t actually want to do the painting but no one seemed up to doing it. I have a feeling that Kurt will probably not try on the blue print so I will have to definitely have to supervise him. Selena and Joy have their work cut out for them. Selena does have interesting ideas to say the least and Joy, well, she is exactly how I pictured her in my daydreams but much prettier up close.

[EUGENE returns to his seat and the scene starts again. KURT and EUGENE are silently working on their part of the project.]

JOY
About these torture rooms with electric chairs, it is the worst idea I have-

SELENA
No it’s not. There are electric chairs in many prisons. It’s a way to put the death penalty on criminals who’ve done horrible crimes.

JOY
Is that all you think about- death? It doesn’t matter who anyone is, all you want to do is kill them.

SELENA
You’re saying I don’t care about people? Look who’s talking. Little miss [mockingly] ‘I’m Joy and I ignore you unless you’re a jock or cheerleader.’

JOY
Well I don’t see you going out of your way to talk to anyone who is actually wearing color.

SELENA
Ok fine. We both don’t like each other and agree that we have different opinions. Let’s just get this project over with so we can get back to our own lives.

JOY
Fine by me.

[JOY’s cell phone in her pocket vibrates. She takes it out and realizes she got a text from a friend.]

SELENA

What now?

JOY
Mind your own business.

SELENA
This is unbelievable. You can’t even stay off your phone for ten minutes! Is it that important?

JOY
I said mind your own business.

[JOY reads a text and slowly closes her phone and becomes very silent and closed off.]

SELENA
[angry but caring]
Is everything ok? What’s up?

JOY
Nothing. You wouldn’t care anyways.

[The scene freezes and JOY gets up from her seat and talks to the audience.]

JOY
The truth is, Selena wouldn’t understand how crushing my news is. She probably would think, ‘she deserves it.’ People like her don’t understand that I do have feelings and despite the act I put on. I am not as confident as I portray.

[JOY returns to her spot next to SELENA and the scene starts to play again.]

SELENA
[concerned]
You sure? Your mood changed within a total amount of 2.5 seconds.

JOY
[hesitant]
Well, it’s just that John, you know the starter quarterback of the football team, just, well he decided, he decided that he didn’t want to go to prom with me anymore. I realize maybe that wouldn’t be the end of the world to you, but now what am I supposed to do with a week until prom? I can’t return my dress, nor do I really want to, but who am I supposed to go with? I can’t go alone, that would just be embarrassing.

SELENA
Who wants to go to prom anyways. Its just a load of drama dressed up in poofy gowns. [seeing that this did not cheer JOY up] Besides, any guy who dumps you is not worth your time. You deserve so much better and many guys would kill to go to prom with you. Trust me.

JOY
[smiling slightly]
You really mean that?

[SELENA smiles and nods in confirmation.]

[The scene freezes as SELENA gets up and walks to the audience.]

SELENA
I know what you are thinking, ‘you are kidding right? Telling the popular girl that she deserves better?’ This surprised me too but I wasn’t kidding. This poor girl just got dumped and for once in my life I saw her as an actual human being- not just another Paris Hilton wannabe.

[SELENA walks back to her seat next to JOY and the scene starts again but moves over to KURT and EUGENE.]

EUGENE
You sure you know what you are doing? Because I could help you figure out the calculations for how big the rooms need to be.

KURT
I’m fine Eugene. Believe it or not I sort of know what I am doing.


EUGENE
Really because I am open to help you out. We don’t want to get a bad grade on this project because some people don’t understand.

KURT
[aggravated]
I’m Fine! Just worry about your own part of the project.

[The scene freezes and KURT walks up towards the audience.]

KURT
Man! Could I have one moment to think without Milhouse over here breathing down my neck? Everyone thinks that just because I have experimented with drugs that I am not capable of doing anything else. My mind isn’t totally baked.

[KURT returns to his blueprint and the scene continues.]

EUGENE
Alright alright alright, if you need me then I’ll be right over here.

[The group goes back to working quietly for a couple seconds. SELENA and JOY stand up and walk closer to where EUGENE and KURT are sitting.]

JOY
Well we’re done! How about you two?

EUGENE
Just adding the finishing touches to my picture. Done! How do you guys like it?

[EUGENE holds up a brightly colored and elaborate picture of the front view of their prison.]

JOY
Wow Eugene! I never knew you had such a talent for painting!

EUGENE
Neither did I. Painting actually helped me not be so nervous and uptight. I feel very relaxed.

SELENA
You done Kurt?

KURT
[holding up a precisely measured out blueprint of a prison]
Yup! Here it is! Everything is measured out to a perfect T.

EUGENE
Your work is impeccable. How did you learn to do all those calculations and make blueprints?

KURT
Well I am actually fairly good at math. I just don’t like raising my hand in class. I don’t want people to think that I am a nerd or anything- no offense Eugene.

EUGENE
None taken.

[The scene freezes and JOY walks up to the audience.]

JOY
I’m totally not trying to sound like Full House or anything but things happened to work out. I mean who would have thought that VooDoo over here actually has a heart and cares about other’s feelings, and that little Angel Hair is the next Einstein, and Eurkel is actually a natural born Picasso. Maybe there is more to the book than what meets the eye.

[EUGENE becomes unfrozen and walks up to JOY.]

EUGENE
You mean there is more than what meets the eye.

JOY
No, I’m pretty sure there is something about a book.

[SELENA becomes unfrozen and walks up to JOY and EUGENE]

SELENA
You mean don’t judge a book by its cover.

JOY
[getting aggravated]
No I think I would know what I am talking about! Why do you guys always doubt me?

[KURT becomes unfrozen and walks up to JOY and EUGENE and SELENA.]

KURT
Who cares? It’s just a stupid saying.

JOY
I care! I wanted to end in a cute and optimistic way! You know leave a good message for those incoming freshies.

[Improvational arguing between the group. The lights dim and the scene ends.]