Alma is 11. When she grows up, she wants to be a playwright. She is in the middle of writing The Problem with July. A Sliver of a Play is probably the longest thing she's ever done. When she was little, she went to Writopia, and she didn't really get into it. Now she is actually writing because she wants to, and it's fun.
“AMALAE is at her computer in the middle of the room. There is a bunk bed in the corner, suggesting that this is a bedroom.”
Scene 1
Characters: AMALAE (Amalie): twelfth grader, very protective of work, NESSET (Nes-set): clingy little sister, second grade
AMALAE is at her computer in the middle of the room. There is a bunk bed in the corner, suggesting that this is a bedroom.
NESSET runs in.
NESSET
Amalae, Amalae, what are you doing?
AMALAE looks up.
AMALAE
Go away, Nesset, I’m applying to college.
AMALAE continues doing her work.
NESSET
But, sis, you never play with me!
AMALAE stands up with a sigh.
AMALAE
Fine, but just this once.
NESSET accidentally sees her sister’s computer tab and gasps.
AMALAE
What is it?
NESSET
I left something in my bed. You can go ahead.
This is a lie. As soon as AMALAE leaves, NESSET checks the computer. She creeps to the desk. Suddenly interested in being a spy, she does some pretty bad rolls and gets to the most recent tab. She looks at it with wonder.
NESSET
Why would Amalae be applying to an acting school if she wants to become an artist?
Scene 2
New character: BECEREA (Bec-a-re-a): a mom who hates actors and loves those who study or do anything other than the arts
They are in a room with a lot of toys, a couch, and a TV.
AMALAE
So what do you want to do?
NESSET
Um, um, um.
BECEREA comes storming in after seeing that the bedroom is empty.
BECEREA
You should be studying, Amalae.
AMALAE
Um, um, um.
NESSET looks like she wants to pee her pants or like she is keeping in something important.
NESSET
Amalae wants to be an actor!
BECEREA looks at her.
BECEREA
What is she talking about, Amalae?
BECEREA looks at AMALAE to see that she has disappeared. The front door is open.
BECEREA
Nesset, how dare you put ideas in her head.
BECEREA storms out the front door in pursuit of AMALAE.
NESSET
But I didn –
(sighs)
If I were Amalae, I would run away, too.
She follows her mom out.
NESSET
I wish that I had kept my mouth shut. Then maybe we would be able to play.
Scene 3
Warning: cliffhanger
BECEREA walks through the streets, looking for AMALAE.
BECEREA
Where did that traitor go?
BECEREA passes the alley that AMALAE is hiding in. NESSET, who is following BECEREA, sees AMALAE writing in a notebook. She runs away.
NESSET
I don’t need to betray her even more.
AMALAE looks around, making sure she is not being watched. She starts doing something nobody has ever heard her do. She starts to sing (but waits for BECEREA and NESSET to talk. She instead hums).
BECEREA stops a few meters ahead.
BECEREA
Do you hear that?
NESSET, knowing who it is, is scared, and is obviously hiding something. She turns to the audience.
NESSET
Now she starts singing – just when I decide to protect her?
She turns back to her mother.
NESSET
I’ll go check.
Who Knows How Long
All my life I’ve been searching
Searching for me (long)
For who I’m supposed to be (long)
For me (statement)
But who knows how long it’ll be
’Til I’m away from my chores
From my history (long)
And I know
There’s a place out there
My secret lair
Where I can uncover the layer
That keeps coming to haunt me (long)
Cause I’m tired of all the history books (this is where it starts getting exciting)
The tests
The nooks that I can’t find
I wish for a chance to be alone
A chance to hold my own
A chance that’s all I need (long, slows down)
All I need, cause then I’ll be free (long)
But who knows how long that’ll take
Who know if before that, I’ll break
From the pressure
From the control
So I’m breaking out
They’ll shut their mouths
Once they see what I can do
Then I’ll be something different to you (long)
BECEREA
Nesset!
AMALAE turns and sees NESSET run away.
AMALAE
Uh-oh.
An actor steps into the alley a second after NESSET would have seen movement. The character is introduced later as MRS. LILLAETTE, the professor of music at the Academy of Foundational Arts, which is the academy that AMALAE wants to go to.
MYSTERY PERSON
Have you ever considered being an actor?
Scene 4
New character: KAYLEEN: best friend, wants to become a dancer, funny
They are in a dorm at the academy.
KAYLEEN
Hi – you’re my new roomie, right?
AMALAE
I guess so?
MRS. LILLAETTE
Great, you two are settled in. Amalae, this is Kayleen’s first day, too. The play is in three weeks, and auditions are in two days. Kayleen, the dancers choose their song tomorrow, but the official auditions are on the same day as the play auditions. Bye.
KAYLEEN
Isn’t this great? When I ran away from home, hoping to find an academy to train at, I didn’t think I’d get the best one ever!
AMALAE
Wait, you ran away from home? I did that, too!
KAYLEEN
What a coincidence. Anyway, what are you auditioning for?
AMALAE
I don’t even know what the play is!
MR. LOFT
It’s Beauty and the Beast.
They turn to find two people at the door.
KAYLEEN
Who are you?
MS. ROKISAS
He’s the director of theater.
MR. LOFT
And she’s the director of dance.
AMALAE
And why are you here?
MS. ROKISAS
I wanted to give you the dance we are learning for our performance, Kayleen.
MR. LOFT
And I wanted to give you the lyrics. All the wannabe-Belles will be singing, Amalae.
AMALAE AND KAYLEEN
Thanks?
MR. LOFT AND MS. ROKISAS
You’re welcome.
The teachers leave. The girls turn towards the door across from the beds.
AMALAE
I’m guessing that’s the closet?
KAYLEEN
I waited to explore until you got here.
They open it and walk in. Inside is a bathroom with two stalls and two sinks, and when they open the stalls, there’s a shower and a toilet in each.
KAYLEEN
Cool – we get our own bathroom!
AMALAE finds doors on opposite sides of the bathroom.
AMALAE
Yeah, now these doors must lead to closets, right?
KAYLEEN
One way to find out.
Together, they open the doors.
AMALAE
Oh, wow, there’s a stage and a monitor reading my lines in case I forget.
KAYLEEN
And I have a dance area with mirrors for walls, footsteps on the floor that match my dance steps, even a bar for ballet.
TOGETHER
Let’s start practicing.
KAYLEEN falls into yet another room.
KAYLEEN
Oh, there’s the closet.
Scene 5
In the house, living room. NESSET has an apple. BECEREA is pacing in anger.
BECEREA
The nerve of that… that… that… fool.
NESSET
I know, right?
(laughs nervously)
BECEREA
She is a disgrace.
NESSET
I know right?
(stops eating)
Mom, why do you hate actors?
BECEREA
(snaps)
Because they killed my grandmother.
NESSET spits out apple chunks.
NESSET
WHAT? Are you sure of that?
BECEREA
Wellll, I never found any real proof, but.
NESSET
What happened?
BECEREA
You want the whole story? Fine. It started when I was a baby.
NESSET
You remember when you were a baby?
BECEREA
Yes, shush. I had just turned one when my mother showed me a picture of her grandmother. She had started the line of actresses, she said. My mother then told me that I would be an actress when I grew up. I was excited. I begged my mother to show me the oldest actor of our alive family – I begged for years. When I was seven, she finally agreed. She took me to Broadway to see my grandma’s latest achievement. I was so excited – I watched the first act of Beauty and the Beast with amazement. Then something horrible happened. Lumiere’s candles set the place on fire. The people watching ran out, screaming. The actors tried to put it out, but in the end, they had to evacuate. But not fast enough – my grandmother was trying to stop it harder than anyone – she had gotten the role of Belle! She wouldn’t stop – they had to drag her, but. Her dress was already burning – it was too late.
A picture of her while this happens has been playing the whole time.
NESSET’s apple drops to the ground.
NESSET
Mommy, that’s intense.
BECEREA
Indeed, now, come on. I think I know where the misfit has gone.
At auditions.
AMALAE
I’m so nervous – what if I don’t get the song right?
KAYLEEN
I’m nervous, too – what if my feet don’t like modern music?
TEACHERS
Girls? It’s time.
Starts dancing (ask director for how).
KAYLEEN is in other room.
Starts.
MS. LILAETTE
And for the leading role of Belle: AMALAE! And for the honor of being up front with the dancers: KAYLEEN!
GIRLS
OMG!
(squeal)
They are bouncing off the walls in joy.
MS. LILAETTE
Good job, girls.
Back to BECEREA and NESSET.
BECEREA
I think they are at the Academy of Foundational Arts.
Zooms in on outside of school.
Scene 6
KAYLEEN
Wake up, sleepyhead – you said we should do one more run-through before the play starts!
AMALAE
It’s morning already?!
KAYLEEN
(slowly)
Yes, that’s how sleeping works – time goes faster.
AMALAE
Wait, last night was… IT’S THE DAY OF THE PLAY!
KAYLEEN
We have one hour – are you going to be dumb and just stand there, or are we running through my routine and your lines? I do not want to go to breakfast without a refresher!
AMALAE
Okay, okay, let’s go to the dance room.
In her dance room.
KAYLEEN
Okay, so it goes one, two, to the left, to the right, cartwheel, fade into the crowd, step on the platform. And shoot into the sky. Then I jump off at thirty feet and survive. I go backstage while everyone else does the rest of the song and come back for the finale. We all start singing at two.
She actually does this to music.
AMALAE is in her theater room.
AMALAE
I’m sorry, Gaston, but I… I… I… I just don’t deserve you.
Bell that signals places rings.
BECEREA storms into the main office with NESSET trailing behind. PRINCIPAL HANAYES is waiting for them.
PRINCIPAL
Hello, Becerea Temtilask. I knew you were coming. I understand you have a daughter registered and want to take her home.
BECEREA
How did you know that – are you associated with Magic?
PRINCIPAL
(laughs)
Nooo, we have security that saw you enter the school.
NESSET
I want to be a dancer!
BECEREA
Not now – where is Amalae?
PRINCIPAL
She’s about to amaze the audience as the lead in our first production of Beauty and the Beast.
BECEREA
I don’t care if she’s directing Tangled on Broadway – I want to know where she is!
NESSET
Mommy, look – Amalae’s on stage.
AMALAE is being shown her new room. BECEREA and NESSET go to stop her but become transfixed by the show. They watch the whole thing.
NESSET
Woah, Momma, that was awesome.
She notices BECEREA is getting pulled to the next room with everyone else.
NESSET
Momma?
They watch KAYLEEN.
NESSET sees AMALAE and slips away from BECEREA without her noticing.
AMALAE
Nesset! Wait, if you’re here, that means… I have to run.
NESSET
I saw you on stage, and although I only saw a part of a play, I’ve realized something.
AMALAE
What is it?
NESSET
When I grow up, I want to put on a sliver of a play, too.
BECEREA
Nesset, we are going home… Amalae is not worth our ti… Nesset?
She walks away grumbling about traitors and daughters and actors.
NESSET
Where am I going to stay now?!
AMALAE
You can stay with me.
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