To Tell Or Not to Tell

No More Excuses Cast of Characters (write down the names of the characters you create below) Parent ______Child ______Next Door Neighbor ______(The setting is a kitchen, present day. There is a table C. with two chairs UC. The table is set for breakfast. At curtain, the Parent is standing at the table, preparing a sack lunch. Child enters from R, and tries to exit L, out of the house, when Parent stops them.) Parent: Hey! Slow down! Come back here, sit down, and have some breakfast! Child: I can’t Mom/Dad. I’ll be late for work. Parent: You can take two minutes and eat some breakfast. Sit! (Child sits down.) So, what’s going on at work? Child: Well, you know how things have been the past couple of weeks with Grandma getting sick. Then the car wouldn’t start, and the road was flooded. My boss, Mr. Bennett, said that he wouldn’t take any more excuses. The next time I came to work late, it wouldn’t matter what the excuse was. I’d be fired. Parent: That doesn’t seem very fair. You helped your grandma get to her doctor’s appointment, and it was my fault that the battery was out on the car. And none of us can control the weather. You just tell Mr. Bennett to call me, and I’ll set him straight… Child: (interrupting, worried) No, you can’t get involved in this. This is my job, and I got it all by myself. I really don’t want you to get involved. Parent: But if your boss never listens, how will he understand the problems you have been facing? Please let me give him a call. Child: No, please stay out of this. I need to prove to myself that I can handle an adult situation, OK? Parent: (sighs) All right, you win. I’ll keep quiet for now. Child: Thanks, Mom/Dad. I know I’ll do better from now on. (There is a rushed knock on the door L.) Neighbor: (offstage voice) Please ______! Help! (The Parent goes over to answer the door) Parent: (voice offstage) Hey, ______. What’s the matter? (Parent enters, with Neighbor following) Neighbor: Thank goodness you’re still home! My daughter Rosie fell down the stairs, and I think her arm is broken. I tried to call 911 but something is wrong with the phones-I can’t get through! (Both Parent and Child check their phones) Parent: You’re right-something is wrong with the lines or something. (Puts phone away) But we can get you and Rosie to the hospital-it’s only 20 minutes or so away. Child: But Mom/Dad, I need the car to get to work. Mr. Bennett said he would fire me if I’m late again! Neighbor: Please, Rosie may be hurt badly. You have to take us. Parent: (to Child)______, what are you thinking of? Rosie is hurt! Child: But Mom/Dad, I’ll lose my job!

What happens next is up to you. Your cast must find a way to resolve the conflict. Without adding any additional characters, write the ending to this play, including dialogue, blocking and emotional notes. All characters must have at least one additional line of dialogue. No physical violence is allowed.

When you have completed your resolution, show your completed script to Mr. Dalton, who must approve your ending before you can begin rehearsing.