Master Plan: Act I, Scene I
KYLE: (Narrative. Off stage.) Generation, after generation, after generation: time goes by. Things change: fads, morals, people. Change can be good. Change can be bad. But nevertheless, change comes. (Gradually with each phrase, pieces of school hallway set slide on) Families change. Friends change. Schools change…Well, for me anyway. (Taking a step onstage from LSR. With a sigh.)Hello, New London High…
KYLE: (Glancing on and off at his schedule, attempts to approach various bustling students) Excuse me, could you tell me…? Uh, excuse me…! Hey! Can anybody tell me where the…?! (Groans in exasperation. Shuffles to a set of lockers SR and lets head fall forward and hard against them. Mumbles) I hate my life.
BRIDGET: (Enter SR. Walks hesitantly to KYLE) Can I, uh, get to my locker?
KYLE: (Gives BRIDGET wary glance, head still against locker) Huh?
BRIDGET: My locker; you’re kind of…on it.
KYLE: (Suddenly. Jumping away from locker) Oh! Right! Sorry about that.
BRIDGET: Don’t sweat it.
KYLE: While I have your attention, can you tell my where the guidance office is?
(Clatter in the hallway as MACY falls to knees CS searching floor blindly.)
MACY: My glasses! Has anyone seen my glasses?! Can somebody help me please?
BRIDGET: (Strides over to MACY. Stoops down, picks up glasses and slides them on MACY’s face. Stands with hands on hips.) How many times have I told you to get contacts?
MACY: Well, I went to the optometrist but I have this condition where my eyes are too small for contacts…
BRIDGET: (Shaking her head) Only you, Macy. Only you.
KYLE: (Apprehensively) Don’t they make smaller sized contacts for people with small eyes?
MACY: That’s what I thought, but maybe they only make them so small…?
BRIDGET: Or maybe you didn’t really go to the doctor? (Pokes MACY on the nose) I’m telling you, contacts are a lot better to live with than glasses. Especially since you trip over thin air.
MACY: I don’t do it on purpose…
KYLE: (Begins walking away, cutting across BRIDGET and MACY) I’m sure the office isn’t that hard to find… (Is suddenly yanked backwards by the sweatshirt hood by BRIDGET)
BRIDGET: Where do you think you’re going?
KYLE: (Blinks) I, uh…well, you two were having a conversation so I just thought I’d…
BRIDGET: (Gesturing to MACY) This is Macy. Macy this is…(pauses) Well, I actually don’t know who this is. (Turns to KYLE) Who are you?
KYLE: Ah…Kyle. Kyle Boudre. I just moved here.
(MACY waves shyly)
BRIDGET: Oooh, a new kid, huh? That explains a lot. (Shakes KYLE’s hand enthusiastically) The name’s Bridget. (Motions to MACY) That’s Macy.
POPPY: (Walks up to random student) Have you seen a frog around here? (Runs over to KYLE) I’m looking for a frog? Have you seen it?
BRIDGET: (sighs) And this is Poppy. My brother, unfortunately.
POPPY: Bridget, have you seen my frog?
BRIDGET: You mean the science project?
POPPY: Yeah, he escaped from the lab this morning and I’ve been searching all over for him. (spots frog somewhere near a student) No! Don’t step there! (rushes over)
KYLE: It-it’s nice to meet you.
(Bell rings)
BRIDGET: I guess we’ll see you around then. (BRIDGET and MACY begin to walk away)
KYLE: Oh, wait! Could you tell me where room 204 is? I- I can’t seem to make heads or tails of this place. (Nervous laugh)
MACY: We’re actually heading to that class now, if you wanna go with us…?
BRIDGET: Come on, new boy. (Grabs KYLE’s wrist and leads him off SR)
(Cafeteria setting. Two tables on either side of stage. Trash bin in middle. Group of girls are sitting at table on SL along with SCOTT. KYLE, BRIDGET, MACY and POPPY enter from SR.)
BRIDGET: (Sees girls and SCOTT at table) Ugh, again? Seriously?
KYLE: (looks around trying to find what BRIDGET is talking about) What?
BRIDGET: The Scott Mitchell Fan Club conquered our table. I swear they just keep growing in numbers everyday…
(The four sit at table on SR)
KYLE: Who- (Stops as MACY and POPPY start flailing wildly in order to stop him from asking. He proceeds slowly.) Who’s Scott Mitchell?
BRIDGET: (Freezes. Turns on KYLE) Scott Mitchell. He’s Scott Mitchell. Everybody knows about him.
KYLE: …except me. I don’t know who Scott Mitchell is.
BRIDGET: God, you have to explain everything to these newbies don’t you?
KYLE: Well, I haven’t exactly talked to anyone but you guys…
BRIDGET: Scott Mitchell is one of -if not the - most known guys in school.
KYLE: …so he’s popular?
MACY: I don’t think you’d say popular…
KYLE: Then he’s hated?
POPPY: No, people like him.
BRIDGET: He’s notorious.
KYLE: …for what?
BRIDGET: All the girls love him. He’s got that dark, mystery, loner guy thing going on; what the girls in bubble gum pink like. Eighty percent of the school’s girls either have gone or still are after him. And he doesn’t reject them. Rumor has it that he spent his freshman and sophomore years sleeping around. He didn’t hold an actual relationship more than a week. Then, out of the blue in his junior year, he causes this huge uproar when he says that he’s gay. No one believes him, though. (They watch as SCOTT stands and crosses to exit SR) You know, since he’s such a player and all.
KYLE: Do you guys believe him? That he’s gay?
(MACY and POPPY murmur indecisive replies)
BRIDGET: I’ll believe him when I see him chasing after some boy instead of hanging around his fan club. That’s all he ever talks to, his groupie girls.
KYLE: Oh. (With a shrug) Well, he doesn’t seem that bad.
BRIDGET: Just don’t go running over to be his friend. He probably won’t bother you anyway, so I’d steer clear of him. That kid’s got bad news written all over him.
KYLE: (walking backwards down the hallway; USR to LSC. Books clutched to his chest. To BRIDGET, MACY and POPPY.) So, do any of you have History with Mr. Pine? I’m probably gonna need another escort like last block. (Laughs.)
(SCOTT is walking from USL to LSC. SCOTT and KYLE walk by each other at LCS. KYLE is suddenly yanked backwards as his messenger bag strap snags on SCOTT’s backpack. Both let out an OOPH! in surprise. KYLE’s books spill onto the floor. Quickly, they try to untangle themselves.)
SCOTT: Ah, you got caught on one of my pins. (Nervous laughter) Usually I don’t even bring this thing…
KYLE: I think I got it…
SCOTT: Wait, let me-.
KYLE: No, no, no, I’ve got it.
(The bags finally come loose. An awkward pause ensues and KYLE fidgets with the pin on SCOTT’s bag, trying to fix it back in its original position.)
SCOTT: (Notices KYLE’s books on the floor) Oh, let me help you with those. (He, followed by KYLE, drops down and scrambles to gather the books.) I’m sorry, I made you- (stops suddenly upon looking up at KYLE. Dumbfounded.) …drop your books…(Is frozen with astonishment, holding one of the books.)
KYLE: (Looks up at SCOTT. Flustered.) Oh, no, it wasn’t your fault. I just kinda…(Loses his words)…and the bags…(Gives up on speaking. Spots the book in SCOTT’s hands.) Chemistry my book that’s. (Embarrassed.) Err, I mean, that’s-.
SCOTT: Your book. Right. (Makes no move to return it.)
(A moment of awkward silence passes, neither moving.)
KYLE: (Hesitantly reaches for his book.) Could I…ah…have it back? …Maybe? (Nervous laughter)
SCOTT: Oh! Yeah, yeah. (Pushes book into KYLE’s hands as both rise to their feet.)
KYLE: Well, I gotta go…
SCOTT: Yeah, yeah. Me too.(Nods vigorously.)
KYLE: Thanks for the…uhh..(Motions with book) (Both stand there awkwardly. KYLE starts USL.) I’m just gonna… I’m just… (motions behind him with his thumb) Bye! (Whirls around and hurries off USL)
SCOTT: (Slowly raises a hand and waves. Dreamily.) Bye.
(Cue "Music Again")
KYLE: (Glancing on and off at his schedule, attempts to approach various bustling students) Excuse me, could you tell me…? Uh, excuse me…! Hey! Can anybody tell me where the…?! (Groans in exasperation. Shuffles to a set of lockers SR and lets head fall forward and hard against them. Mumbles) I hate my life.
BRIDGET: (Enter SR. Walks hesitantly to KYLE) Can I, uh, get to my locker?
KYLE: (Gives BRIDGET wary glance, head still against locker) Huh?
BRIDGET: My locker; you’re kind of…on it.
KYLE: (Suddenly. Jumping away from locker) Oh! Right! Sorry about that.
BRIDGET: Don’t sweat it.
KYLE: While I have your attention, can you tell my where the guidance office is?
(Clatter in the hallway as MACY falls to knees CS searching floor blindly.)
MACY: My glasses! Has anyone seen my glasses?! Can somebody help me please?
BRIDGET: (Strides over to MACY. Stoops down, picks up glasses and slides them on MACY’s face. Stands with hands on hips.) How many times have I told you to get contacts?
MACY: Well, I went to the optometrist but I have this condition where my eyes are too small for contacts…
BRIDGET: (Shaking her head) Only you, Macy. Only you.
KYLE: (Apprehensively) Don’t they make smaller sized contacts for people with small eyes?
MACY: That’s what I thought, but maybe they only make them so small…?
BRIDGET: Or maybe you didn’t really go to the doctor? (Pokes MACY on the nose) I’m telling you, contacts are a lot better to live with than glasses. Especially since you trip over thin air.
MACY: I don’t do it on purpose…
KYLE: (Begins walking away, cutting across BRIDGET and MACY) I’m sure the office isn’t that hard to find… (Is suddenly yanked backwards by the sweatshirt hood by BRIDGET)
BRIDGET: Where do you think you’re going?
KYLE: (Blinks) I, uh…well, you two were having a conversation so I just thought I’d…
BRIDGET: (Gesturing to MACY) This is Macy. Macy this is…(pauses) Well, I actually don’t know who this is. (Turns to KYLE) Who are you?
KYLE: Ah…Kyle. Kyle Boudre. I just moved here.
(MACY waves shyly)
BRIDGET: Oooh, a new kid, huh? That explains a lot. (Shakes KYLE’s hand enthusiastically) The name’s Bridget. (Motions to MACY) That’s Macy.
POPPY: (Walks up to random student) Have you seen a frog around here? (Runs over to KYLE) I’m looking for a frog? Have you seen it?
BRIDGET: (sighs) And this is Poppy. My brother, unfortunately.
POPPY: Bridget, have you seen my frog?
BRIDGET: You mean the science project?
POPPY: Yeah, he escaped from the lab this morning and I’ve been searching all over for him. (spots frog somewhere near a student) No! Don’t step there! (rushes over)
KYLE: It-it’s nice to meet you.
(Bell rings)
BRIDGET: I guess we’ll see you around then. (BRIDGET and MACY begin to walk away)
KYLE: Oh, wait! Could you tell me where room 204 is? I- I can’t seem to make heads or tails of this place. (Nervous laugh)
MACY: We’re actually heading to that class now, if you wanna go with us…?
BRIDGET: Come on, new boy. (Grabs KYLE’s wrist and leads him off SR)
(Cafeteria setting. Two tables on either side of stage. Trash bin in middle. Group of girls are sitting at table on SL along with SCOTT. KYLE, BRIDGET, MACY and POPPY enter from SR.)
BRIDGET: (Sees girls and SCOTT at table) Ugh, again? Seriously?
KYLE: (looks around trying to find what BRIDGET is talking about) What?
BRIDGET: The Scott Mitchell Fan Club conquered our table. I swear they just keep growing in numbers everyday…
(The four sit at table on SR)
KYLE: Who- (Stops as MACY and POPPY start flailing wildly in order to stop him from asking. He proceeds slowly.) Who’s Scott Mitchell?
BRIDGET: (Freezes. Turns on KYLE) Scott Mitchell. He’s Scott Mitchell. Everybody knows about him.
KYLE: …except me. I don’t know who Scott Mitchell is.
BRIDGET: God, you have to explain everything to these newbies don’t you?
KYLE: Well, I haven’t exactly talked to anyone but you guys…
BRIDGET: Scott Mitchell is one of -if not the - most known guys in school.
KYLE: …so he’s popular?
MACY: I don’t think you’d say popular…
KYLE: Then he’s hated?
POPPY: No, people like him.
BRIDGET: He’s notorious.
KYLE: …for what?
BRIDGET: All the girls love him. He’s got that dark, mystery, loner guy thing going on; what the girls in bubble gum pink like. Eighty percent of the school’s girls either have gone or still are after him. And he doesn’t reject them. Rumor has it that he spent his freshman and sophomore years sleeping around. He didn’t hold an actual relationship more than a week. Then, out of the blue in his junior year, he causes this huge uproar when he says that he’s gay. No one believes him, though. (They watch as SCOTT stands and crosses to exit SR) You know, since he’s such a player and all.
KYLE: Do you guys believe him? That he’s gay?
(MACY and POPPY murmur indecisive replies)
BRIDGET: I’ll believe him when I see him chasing after some boy instead of hanging around his fan club. That’s all he ever talks to, his groupie girls.
KYLE: Oh. (With a shrug) Well, he doesn’t seem that bad.
BRIDGET: Just don’t go running over to be his friend. He probably won’t bother you anyway, so I’d steer clear of him. That kid’s got bad news written all over him.
KYLE: (walking backwards down the hallway; USR to LSC. Books clutched to his chest. To BRIDGET, MACY and POPPY.) So, do any of you have History with Mr. Pine? I’m probably gonna need another escort like last block. (Laughs.)
(SCOTT is walking from USL to LSC. SCOTT and KYLE walk by each other at LCS. KYLE is suddenly yanked backwards as his messenger bag strap snags on SCOTT’s backpack. Both let out an OOPH! in surprise. KYLE’s books spill onto the floor. Quickly, they try to untangle themselves.)
SCOTT: Ah, you got caught on one of my pins. (Nervous laughter) Usually I don’t even bring this thing…
KYLE: I think I got it…
SCOTT: Wait, let me-.
KYLE: No, no, no, I’ve got it.
(The bags finally come loose. An awkward pause ensues and KYLE fidgets with the pin on SCOTT’s bag, trying to fix it back in its original position.)
SCOTT: (Notices KYLE’s books on the floor) Oh, let me help you with those. (He, followed by KYLE, drops down and scrambles to gather the books.) I’m sorry, I made you- (stops suddenly upon looking up at KYLE. Dumbfounded.) …drop your books…(Is frozen with astonishment, holding one of the books.)
KYLE: (Looks up at SCOTT. Flustered.) Oh, no, it wasn’t your fault. I just kinda…(Loses his words)…and the bags…(Gives up on speaking. Spots the book in SCOTT’s hands.) Chemistry my book that’s. (Embarrassed.) Err, I mean, that’s-.
SCOTT: Your book. Right. (Makes no move to return it.)
(A moment of awkward silence passes, neither moving.)
KYLE: (Hesitantly reaches for his book.) Could I…ah…have it back? …Maybe? (Nervous laughter)
SCOTT: Oh! Yeah, yeah. (Pushes book into KYLE’s hands as both rise to their feet.)
KYLE: Well, I gotta go…
SCOTT: Yeah, yeah. Me too.(Nods vigorously.)
KYLE: Thanks for the…uhh..(Motions with book) (Both stand there awkwardly. KYLE starts USL.) I’m just gonna… I’m just… (motions behind him with his thumb) Bye! (Whirls around and hurries off USL)
SCOTT: (Slowly raises a hand and waves. Dreamily.) Bye.
(Cue "Music Again")