10-Minute Plays for Teens, Volume II

Florida

Introduction

It has been noted, studied, and confirmed that the attention span of the average person is getting shorter and shorter. With all our modern conveniences and technological advances, it’s no wonder we insist upon immediate gratification. We have come to expect it. That type of mentality is now upon us in the theater as well. The ten-minute play has become increasingly popular over the years and festivals have sprung up far and wide in order to showcase this format.

Short can be just as satisfying, and high school drama departments are the perfect venues for the ten-minute play. Easy and inexpensive to produce, they provide the student actor all the challenges of a full-length play wrapped up in a shorter, more concise package. The twenty short plays in this book range from the typical to the unusual and they offer the young actor not only diversity in both theme and character, but also an opportunity to play over 106 different types of roles.

I have written these plays keeping in mind the varied ages and experiences that occur during the teen years. Thus, the characters in this book range in age from thirteen to twenty, allowing teen actors the opportunity to play parts close to themselves as well as being able to stretch their range accordingly.

So go put on a play. Or two. Or six. Because they’re only ten minutes long, so you’ll have the time. And don’t forget, it’s called a play. Which means you have to have fun, and I hope you do! Enjoy!

Debbie Lamedman

THE VISITOR

4F, 2M

KENSIE, D, SHAUNTEL, LISA, BEN, SAM

SETTING: KENSIE’S living room—an upper middle-class suburban home. The front door is visible LC. Exits to the inner rooms of the house are off RIGHT.

TIME: 11:30 A.M. on a Saturday morning.

At rise, KENSIE is seated. She has a black smock draped over her. D is putting the finishing touches on her makeup. It is quite over-the-top.

D: Oh my God … you look amazing. I did a brilliant job even if I do say so myself!

KENSIE: Really? I look good? Because it’s so important that I like look … ya know … good!

D: You’re gorgeous. You have nothing to worry about. Here. Have a look. (She wisks off the smock and hands KENSIE a mirror.)

(KENSIE looks in the mirror and is stunned. She is totally speechless and horrified.)

D: See? What did I tell you? Right out of the pages of Cosmo.

KENSIE: Are you out of your mind? Is this some kind of cruel joke? Today of all days!

D: What are you talking about?

KENSIE: I look like a slut. No! I look like a clown. (She looks again in the mirror.) No, was right the first time. I look like a slut! Bright blue eye shadow? Are you kidding me?

D: (Defensively.) I showed it to you. You said the color looked great!

KENSIE: You showed me gray! It looked gray anyway. This is like electric blue!

D: Well, I guess I did put on several extra coats … but I just wanted you to look your best.

KENSIE: I can’t meet her looking like this. She’ll take one look at me and run for her life.

D: Seems to me she already did that to you once before.

KENSIE: Exactly. And I don’t want to risk it happening again. At least not until I get a chance to talk to her.

(Doorbell rings.)

KENSIE: (In complete panic mode.) Oh my God! She’s here! What time is it? She’s early! She’s way too early.

D: Calm down. I’ll get the door. You just … go and wash all that stuff off and we’ll try it again.

KENSIE: I don’t have time to try it again—she’s here!

(Doorbell rings again.)

D: Just … do it … clean your face … GO! I’ll handle this.

(KENSIE runs off. D goes and opens the door.)

SHAUNTEL: (At the door.) Hey! So … is she here yet?

D: No! What are you doing here?

SHAUNTEL: I just wanted to lend my support, ya know? She’s not here yet?

D: No. And you shouldn’t be here either.

SHAUNTEL: Are Kensie’s parents here for all of this? They must be freakin’ out.

D: Nah. They went away for the weekend. They thought it was best to give her some privacy.

SHAUNTEL: Wow! That’s totally cool. My mom would be hanging around, videotaping every single moment of the entire visit.

D: You can’t stay.

SHAUNTEL: Well, why are you here?

D: (Proudly.) I’m doing her makeup.

SHAUNTEL: Are you gonna stay after she gets here?

D: Only if Kensie wants me too.

(KENSIE enters tentatively. Her face is completely makeup free. She is quite relieved when she sees SHAUNTEL.)

KENSIE: Oh thank God it’s you Shauntel. I thought it was her. I was thinking how rude it was for her to come so early.

SHAUNTEL: Nope. Just me. How ya doin’?

KENSIE: I’m nervous as hell.

SHAUNTEL: (Looking closely at KENSIE’S face.) Hey! I thought you said you did her makeup? You’re not wearing a stitch!

D: I’m about to do it.

KENSIE: We had a little mishap.

SHAUNTEL: Ya want some help?

D: No! It’s not necessary. I’m perfectly capable of doing it alone. I am a fabulous makeup artist. I just got the color wrong, that’s all. No big deal.

KENSIE: (To SHAUNTEL.) You’d better go. Thanks for checking up on me, but I’ve got to get ready.

SHAUNTEL: I can stay till she gets here. For moral support, ya know? I think this is all so exciting.

D: You’ll just make her more nervous if you stay. I’m giving Kensie all the moral support she needs.

SHAUNTEL: I thought you were just the makeup artist.

D: She doesn’t need you here.

SHAUNTEL: It’s not up to you. I’m her friend just as much as you are.

KENSIE: You guys, come on. Cut it out.

(Doorbell rings and makes all three girls jump.)

KENSIE: Oh no! This time it really is her. I’m not ready. Not mentally or physically ready! Why did I ever agree to do this?

SHAUNTEL: OK, chill. D take Kens into the other room and give her the fastest makeover you’ve ever given. I’ll entertain the lady until you come out.

D: Well … ya know. I happen to be very good at making conversation with people I don’t know very well. Why don’t I go to the door and …

SHAUNTEL: (Interrupting.) Then who’s gonna do the makeup? I’m not any good at all with that kind of stuff.

(Doorbell rings again.)

KENSIE: You guys—quit it! Shauntel, you get the door and stall her! D, come with me.

(KENSIE grabs D’s arm as they walk off together. SHAUNTEL moves toward the door.)

D: (As they exit.) I was thinking of maybe a rose color this time? It won’t be too bright, I promise! How does that sound?

(They exit. SHAUNTEL opens the door. It is LISA pretending to be out of breath.)

LISA: (Breathing heavily.) Kens! Oh … Shauntel. Hi! Where’s Kensie?

SHAUNTEL: Getting ready for the big day. What’s the matter with you? Why are you breathing like that?

LISA: (Walking in and making herself immediately at home.) Oh—well I was running. Jogging actually. And since this house was on my route, I decided to stop by and see how Kensie was doing. She must be going out of her mind, right?

SHAUNTEL: (Amused.) You’re such a liar!

LISA: What are you talking about?

SHAUNTEL: You don’t run. You never run. You have bad knees. You just wanted an excuse to see what was going on here.

LISA: Yeah, whatever. I did run a little … OK, no I didn’t! You caught me! So how is she doing? Where is she?

SHAUNTEL: D is doing her makeup.

LISA: Oh no!

SHAUNTEL: What?

LISA: She’s gonna look hideous. If D ever makes it as a makeup artist, it’s gonna be for the circus.

SHAUNTEL: I think this is the second or third attempt. Hopefully, she’ll get it right this time.

(D enters.)

D: OK, no matter what you think, tell her she looks fantastic. She is really starting to trip out. Hey Lis, what are you doing here?

SHAUNTEL: She was takin’ a jog and decided to stop by.

D: Lisa doesn’t jog. She’s got bad knees.

LISA: OK. OK! I wanted to know what was going on over here. Did you screw up her makeup like you did mine that time?

D: No! There’s nothing wrong with the makeup. I am an excellent makeup artist! Just make sure you boost her confidence, OK?

(KENSIE enters. Her makeup is much more subtle this time. She is dressed a little too young for her age, but she looks very sweet.)

LISA: Kens … you look … great! I’ve never seen that dress before.

KENSIE: (She’s very nervous.) Lis, hi! Thanks for coming over. Do I really look all right?

SHAUNTEL: You look so … young.

KENSIE: I am young.

D: She means younger. You look great Kensie. She’s gonna love you. She’s gonna wonder why she ever gave you up. (Doorbell rings.)

KENSIE: (Taking a huge sigh.) OK. This is it. (She starts for the door and stops abruptly.) Oh my God, you guys. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my life. I can’t do this. I think I might throw up.

SHAUNTEL: Ya want me to tell her that I’m Kensie? I’ll do it for you!

LISA: You can’t do that. Kensie, if you don’t do this now, you’re gonna wonder about her for the rest of your life.

D: There’s nothing to be nervous about Kensie. She’s the one who should be nervous.

KENSIE: OK. I’m fine. I can do this. I really can. I wanna do this. You guys are great. Thanks! (Taking another huge breath.) Here goes …

(She opens the door. BEN and SAM are standing there.)

BEN: Hey Kensie! Wow you look … are you getting ready to go to church or something?

KENSIE: What are you doing here?

SAM: Is Shauntel here?

KENSIE: Yeah. What do you want?

SHAUNTEL: Sam?

SAM: (Pushing past KENSIE into the house.) You are so dead!

SHAUNTEL: What are you talking about?

SAM: Mom has no idea that you snuck out. She’s got a list of chores a mile long and as soon as she finds out you’re gone … you’re dead!

SHAUNTEL: So you came here to track me down and drag me home? Stay out of it, Sam, it’s none of your business.

D: Hey, could you guys take your little sibling rivalry out of here. Kensie’s got enough going on.

LISA: I’ll say! (She gestures toward BEN & whispers to D.) Why is Ben here?

(By this time, BEN has edged his way into the house. KENSIE is standing among them looking completely baffled and confused.)

BEN: I didn’t realize you were having a party or something. I guess I should have called you.

KENSIE: It’s not a party! Everyone has got to leave! Ben—why are you even here?

LISA: (To D—under her breath.) Isn’t it obvious?

BEN: I just thought … if you weren’t doing anything…maybe we could hang out together? If you wanted to. But I see you’re busy so …

SAM: I just tagged along cause I figured my sister would be here. She is gonna be in so much trouble.

SHAUNTEL: Yeah Sam. We get it. You made that clear!

KENSIE: Look everybody. Thank you all for coming. D, thank you so much for doing my makeup. Shauntel and Lisa—you guys are awesome to come over and check in with me. I totally, totally appreciate it. Ben, you’re right. You should have called first. And I’m flattered that you’re asking me out, but I can’t even think about that right now. I can’t really think about anything except for the fact that my mother is going to be here any minute and … and … (She becomes very emotional and cannot continue.)

BEN: Your mother?

LISA: Her real mother.

SHAUNTEL: Kensie’s adopted.

D: And she’s meeting her biological mother for the first time.

BEN: Today?

SHAUNTEL: Today.

LISA: Any minute now.

SAM: Whoa! This is intense! I woulda ditched doing my chores too!

D: So you have to go. Everybody out!

KENSIE: Wait! D, no. Everybody can stay. All of you. You too Sam. I want her to see that I have great friends. And people who care about me. And a wonderful house. And nice clothes.

LISA: Most of the time.

D: (To LISA.) Shhhh!

KENSIE: I have a great life. And it’s OK that she gave me up. I’m sure she had her reasons.

(Doorbell rings.)

D: Looks like you’re about to find out what they were …

KENSIE: