Drama Scene for Creative Writing

INT. DINNING ROOM – NIGHT

Lights fade in with the sound of a doorbell. A long dining room table is seen perfectly set for a large group. A chandelier hangs above indicating the expense of the home. A maid is seen dusting around the room.

SEBASTIAN – BUTLER

(Off stage) Good evening, Miss Connors. Please, let me take your coat and I will lead you to the dining room.

ANDREA CONNORS

(Off stage) Oh Sebastian, I know where the dining room is. I will lead myself.

SEBASTIAN – BUTLER

(Off stage) Yes, of course, Miss Connors.

A young woman in a silky dress, walks on stage looking around taking in the sight of the dining room. Noticing the maid, she smiles and calls out.

ANDREA CONNORS

Ellie! How are you?

ELLIE – MAID

Oh Miss Connors! Has it been six years already? My have you grown.

ANDREA CONNORS

Ellie, I told you to call me Andy. Six years and you still haven’t changed. (chuckling)

ELLIE – MAID

Nor have you Miss Connors. Let me offer my condolences now, my dear.

The doorbell rings and SEBASTIAN is heard greeting the ringer.

ANDREA CONNORS

Why thank you, Ellie. I’m only glad that sister was here, in this time of grief. My heart breaks at the thought of my being held up in New York.

ELLIE – MAID

How very hard it must have been for you to stay there with such circumstances back home.

ANDREA CONNORS

Very much so, but alas… The show must go on, as they say.

The maid leaves as a man, seemingly in his early 30’s and dressed impeccably in suit and tie, enters the dining room. He gives off a strong vibe of authority and arrogance.

ANDREA CONNORS

Good day, sir. I am Andrea Connors, Phillip Connors’ youngest daughter. And you are?

WILLIAM PORTANCE

William Portance, former CEO of Connors Inc. Let me give my sympathies for your loss. May I assume you are the very same Miss Connors to have invited me here?

ANDREA CONNORS

Not quite. The invitation extends from my sister. Nevertheless, thank you for being here under the circumstances. (Sitting herself) Please take a seat, Mr. Portance. If I may ask, did you know my father well?

WILLIAM PORTANCE

Yes, miss, very well. He has mentored me for the past four years. Your father, from the current looks of it, has even given me his company with his passing.

The doorbell rings.

ANDREA CONNORS

Has he? My my, that company was my father’s sweat and tears…

WILLIAM PORTANCE

One of the many reasons I am so honored for the position.

An older couple walks in. The serious-looking woman was in a long black dress, black boa around her arms. It is easily spotted from her appearance and jewelry that she lives a lavish lifestyle and cares much about how she presents herself. Her husband, on the other hand, walks in with a large smile.

ANDREA CONNORS

Good evening, ma’am, sir. Please take a seat. Ellie, the maid, should be in soon to take down our drinks.

The woman takes a seat without speaking or addressing ANDREA CONNORS. She sits very rigid, causing ANDREA and WILLIAM to share glances. MR. ROWELL comes over to ANDREA and shakes her hand vigorously with enthusiasm.

MR. ROWELL

How do you do? Name is Ryan Rowell. Lovely to meet you. Of course, not so lovely, under the circumstances, eh?

ANDREA CONNORS

Right. Well, let me say welcome. I am Andrea Connors, and this here is Mr. William Portance. May I ask your name, ma’am?

MRS. ROWELL

You may call me Mrs. Rowell. (said shortly)

WILLIAM PORTANCE

Well, Mr. and Mrs. Rowell, how is it you knew Sir Connors?

MRS. ROWELL

Personal. We were friends.

MR. ROWELL

Oh yes! Phillip and I went way back. Such a shame to see him go. My very best friend in college, he was. We were roommates! Hard to believe, all those years ago, but it’s true. Thought of Phillip like a brother. Course haven’t heard from in quite some time, but I reckon true friendship never dies. Even if the actual friends do. Ha!

ELLIE walks on stage taking note of the stiff air in the room.

ANDREA CONNORS

Oh, Ellie! Yes, thank you! May I please have a water?

WILLIAM PORTANCE

I’ll take a scotch, neat.

MR. ROWELL

Evening Ellie! Get me a whiskey tonic. Can’t believe you are still here after all this time. Look at you, taking drink orders! Hope you do remember me, though it’s been some time.

ELLIE – MAID

Yes, of course. And Mrs. Rowell for you?

MRS. ROWELL

Sweet tea. Splenda.

ELLIE nods and walks of stage as the doorbell rings. The room stays silent, as everyone waits for the most recent guest to walk in. An older man walks in looking rugged. It is obvious his collared shirt and dark jeans are the nicest clothing he owns.

ANDREA CONNORS

(getting up from seat) Uncle Harry! What a surprise to see you here! How have you been?

ANDREA and HARRY hug.

HARRY CONNORS

Andy! My how you have grown! Last time I saw you, you were about yay-high. Why you were only, what, eleven then?

ANDREA CONNORS

I believe so! My, I never thought I’d see you again. Especially not in this house.

HARRY CONNORS

Well, neither did I. To be honest, even with brother gone, I am surprised you invited me here.

ANDREA CONNORS

Oh well, I didn’t, actually. Sister did. Though I’m sorry I can state my surprise of her welcoming your presence here, as well.

The doorbell rings.

ANDREA CONNORS

I wonder just how many guests, sister plans on having.

Two more men walk in. One still with his jacket, the other without. The one with his jacket carried a briefcase in one hand before placing it in the seat, side to the head of the table. The two men begin shaking hands with the other guests.

DR. ERIC THATCHER

Good evening to you all. (walking towards ANDREA CONNORS) Pleasure to meet your acquaintance. I am Dr. Eric Thatcher.

ANDREA CONNORS

Hello, doctor. Andrea Connors, youngest daughter to Phillip Connors.

DR. ERIC THATCHER

My condolences, Miss Connors. I was there in his passing. Let me assure you his death was painless.

ANDREA CONNORS

Thank you, Dr. Thatcher.

LINUS DUNN

Linus Dunn, your father’s lawyer.

ANDREA CONNORS

Pleasure to meet you.

LINUS DUNN

Sorry for your loss, Miss. I will help in any way I can, and hope his will, can bring you comfort.

SEBASTIAN and ELLIE enter the room. ELLIE entering with a tray of drinks and SEBASTIAN clearing his throat, stands to the side.

SEBASTIAN – BUTLER

If all guests would take their seat, Miss Connors will be down shortly and dinner will begin.

ELLIE goes around giving out glasses, and taking the rest of the orders in silence, as another young woman enters the room, stopping at the head of the table.

PENELOPE CONNORS

Thank you all for being here tonight. My name is Penelope Connors, and I have invited all of you here for a lovely dinner and to be present for the reading of my father’s will. We will start with dinner.

ELLIE and SEBASTIAN come out with plates of food and drinks.

ANDREA CONNORS

How lovely to see you, sister. My apologies for only just arriving. Our show had only two more weeks left on Broadway, therefore I was detained.

PENELOPE CONNORS

(monotone) Yes, well, the show must go on, mustn’t it?

ANDREA CONNORS

(not taking note of her sister’s tone) Just what I had said to Ellie!

MR. ROWELL

Thank you, Penny, for thinking of me in such a time. Your father was such a dear friend. Did he ever tell you about our time in Uni together?

PENELOPE CONNORS

No.

MR. ROWELL

Right… Well we had such splendid times. Of course it was your father that really went to make a name for himself! Not that I have done bad myself. Enough for a home and to please my wife. Then again there is no comparing to Phillip now is there. He was always such a go-getter, even back then! Always top of the class, in charge of clubs, organizations, you name it. Not to mention he was quite the mister with the ladies, yeah?

PENELOPE CONNORS, annoyed with MR. ROWELL, pushes her untouched plate of food, further in front of her and rings a bell calling ELLIE and SEBASTIAN, and silencing the guests.

PENELOPE CONNORS

As I hope you are enjoying your dinners, I must be frank in my having you here. I care not to hear my father’s will. His possessions and earning mean nothing anymore.

WILLIAM PORTANCE

Then, why is it we are here? If not to hear is final thoughts and wishes…

PENELOPE gives a glare to WILLIAM for cutting her off.

ANDREA CONNORS

(with caution) Sister… Is everything alright?

PENELOPE CONNORS

Always so observant, little sister. No everything is not alright. You each have been called here today in light of my father’s passing, to right your wrongs. Every single one of you have betrayed and, or deceived my father in some way. You will right your wrongs here tonight or pay the consequences.

Getting up from her seat, PENELOPE CONNORS exits stage. All guests look around in fear, guilt, and wonder. The lights go out.

MRS. ROWELL

What is the meaning of this?

MR. ROWELL

No worries, dear. Just a little electrical problem.

WILLIAM PORTANCE

Get those servants to turn the damn lights back on.

ANDREA CONNORS

Sebastian, can you feel for the light switch?

SEBASTIAN – BUTLER

The switch does not seem to be working, Miss.

A blood curdling scream is heard. The lights go back on.

ELLIE – MAID

Penelope!

ELLIE, ANDREA CONNORS, and HARRY CONNORS run off stage towards where PENELOPE left. Another scream is heard, followed by gasps and the start of crying. ELLIE, ANDREA, and HARRY return, visibly shaken.

HARRY CONNORS

(holding on to ANDREA as she cries) It’s okay, hun. It will be okay.

DR. ERIC THATCHER

What in Sam Hell is going on?

ELLIE – MAID

Doctor… Penelope is dead.

To My 50 Year Old Self (Experiment 15)

April 3rd, 1998 - The day you were born. The catalyst moment to every single moment yet to come. The start to what has and will become of you.

3 years old - Your parents get divorced. Honestly, something that was a better decision than the actual marriage. This is the beginning of a decade of back and forth, therapy, fighting, and court cases.

6 years old - Moved to California. Where most of your life takes place thus far.

13 years old - You stopped seeing your dad and your baby sister was born. These events brought on a diagnoses in depression and anxiety, inspired you to start writing, as well as go to CSL. There is not a day that goes by that you don't think about your sister, and you don't understand how you can miss something you never had. Your experiences this year shaped you more than anything has before.

16 years old - You are in high school and very much hate thinking about the future. There is this scary feeling you have that you are going to die young. Every birthday that comes by you are secretly very surprised you are still alive.

19 years old - Now.

May 1st, 2017

Dear Kayden,

As you write this letter you are 19 years old. Thinking about growing and experiencing life to the point you are as you read this, has always been a dream you were scared to dream. At nineteen you are so afraid of failing and not obtaining the things you desperately want, that you fail by not living because your fear of failure has turned to fear of succeeding.

You want to be a writer. I hope as you read this, you have books with your name on the bookshelves in your home. To date you have been published four times. Nothing large, but you are inspired and working towards writing every single day. You are determined to expand your writing and dedicated to preparing yourself to succeed.

I hope you were able to become a mother. At this point in time, besides writing, you truly believe that this is what you were made to do. You are so caring (sometimes too caring), understanding, honest, and accepting. While this does get you hurt and in trouble sometimes, it is something your 19 year old self hopes you never lose. Hufflepuff your life. You better be exposing those kids I hope you have to the magic of Harry Potter. Your younger self would be very disappointed in you if you aren't.

Writing to yourself in the future is a very weird experience. I can't give you advice, or tell you experiences you haven't lived through. Crafting a letter to your younger self would be much easier. Maybe you could write a response to this one. Nineteen year old Kayden is very confused and some words from the successful and motherly adult version of her could be very helpful. Even though of course I can't read it at this age, but I am curious what you learn and who you became.

Tell your kid(s) that their mother loves them. You've always wanted them. Keep writing or start writing again and don't stop being creative.

I love you. Keep loving yourself.

- Kayden (Echo) Delaney

Experiment 6.... Kinda

The world is exactly the same but instead of verbal speech, everyone communicates telepathically.

The world is exactly the same but becoming a janitor is more prestigious than becoming a doctor or lawyer.

The world is exactly the same but everyone lives either under water or in the sky.

The world is exactly the same but when getting married, it's traditional to take the bride's surname.

The world is exactly the same but when you read a book you teleport to that world.

The world is exactly the same but dragons are real and they make great house pets.

The world is exactly the same but instead of natural birth, everyone is hatched from an egg.

The world is exactly the same but everyone has 12 fingers and 12 toes.

The world is exactly the same but every time you sneeze you lose 6 minutes of your life.

The world is exactly the same but getting a tattoo on your 18 birthday is a requirement by law.

The world is exactly the same but there is no such thing as gender.

The world is exactly the same but all governments are run by werewolves.

The world is exactly the same but you get to pick out your parents before you are born.

The world is exactly the same but everyone lives in tree-houses.

The world is exactly the same but the devil will offer immortality if you do him a favor.

The world is exactly the same but no one has eyebrows.

The world is exactly the same but everything is in black and white.

The world is exactly the same but it is against the law to cut your hair.

The world is exactly the same but no one knows what they look like.

The world is exactly the same but Santa Clause is real and you don't want him coming into your house on Christmas Eve.

What I Know - A Slam Poem

Let me tell you what I know
I know the sky is blue and the grass is green
I know oblivion is inevitable
I know I'm a big girl
And don't tell me otherwise because
I know that you're lying

I know what the doctors have been telling me since third grade,
"You are in the overweight percentile for your age group. Maybe you should cut out dairy?"
Like telling a nine-year-old girl, to cut out a main food group was a good idea.

I know that in my freshman year I lost 30 pounds for state fitness testing
That wouldn't let me graduate unless I'm a certain weight, because
I have a knee injury that prohibits me from running a mile in under seven minutes
Due to a jacked up system that says if you weigh more, you should run faster

I know that I am terrified of liking a boy thinner than me,
Because of the off chance they wanted to pick me up,
I feel like I would crush them

I know that I hate shopping because when I want to wear that cute daisy crop top,
I get told, "Only skinny girls can wear that."
By my own mother nonetheless

I know society needs to stop making fat an insult and skinny a compliment
What does "skinny" look like? Those girls in the magazines? Sweetheart!
Those girls in the magazines don't even look like those girls in the magazines
All because our society demands unrealistic perfection

I know that in high school I would never have had the courage to say these things
Because I was nervous on how people who may or may not remember me in four years may react
Fuck it. Listen to what my loud mouth has to say and I will tell you what I know

I know I am a big girl, and I know that's okay
I know that I'm still scared of what you're going to say
I know that that was a rhyme
Now let me thank you for your time

Mama Said Lyrics (Experiment #2)

Mama Said

I called you up but no one was home

I left a message after the tone

“Hey, it’s me. Just called to say ‘Hi’”

But I didn’t know it was the start of goodbye

I knew you my whole life long

But it’s the end that inspire this song

You were a douche, thank god we’re through

Mama said I was too good for you

Mama said don't trust the man

He'll lie to you whenever he can

Don't listen to his hurtful words

Know what you saw, know what you heard

"Don't listen to her, baby. I love you."

But looking back that was a lie too

Practice makes perfect

But guess what? You weren’t worth it

Reasons I left you, I have a ton

I believe in God, you thought you were one

Mama said and I guess she was right

But I didn’t know until that night

Mama said don't trust the man

He'll lie to you whenever he can

Don't listen to his hurtful words

Know what you saw, know what you heard

"Don't listen to her, baby. I love you."

But looking back that was a lie too

I’ll never walk down the aisle and see you,

By my side, but some dreams don’t come true

Every time you let me down

I brushed it off, I hid my frown

Then you went and put your hands on me

Gave me glasses so I could see

Ran out that door as quick as I could’ve

But didn’t leave nearly as soon as I should’ve

Mama said don't trust the man

He'll lie to you whenever he can

Don't listen to his hurtful words

Know what you saw, know what you heard

"Don't listen to her, baby. I love you."

But looking back that was a lie too

Thought it was over

Thought the feelings were gone

Guess I didn’t let go

Guess I didn’t move on