Future? (2017)
Anna Francesca Schiavoni and
Lola Lama in the play “Future?”
Future?
by Barbara Suchecka
Music Cue: Clocks
Scene 1 – Outside Guidance Counselor’s Office – Fall, 10:46am
LIGHT CUE: USR
SLIDE CUE: #1 GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OFFICE
SOUND CUE: SCHOOL BELL
(Cameron is sitting in guidance waiting room, talking on the phone with her Mom, Robyn walks in and sits down.)
Cameron: No mom, I’m still waiting to talk to her… yes Mom, I know what colleges I want to go to…yes mom… (looks up and rolls her eyes) Oh look she’s here, bye. (hangs up and groans, she looks over at Robyn, who’s nervously staring at her hands) Hey…Robyn, right? Here to see Miss Jones about college stuff too, huh? (eyes her up and down)
Robyn: Yeah, I’ve done nothing with her yet…never even met her. (sighs)
Cameron: Really? I had to come in again 3 months ago. (starts texting)
Robyn: (with confusion) In the summer?
Cameron: Yeah, my Mom made me e-mail her.
Robyn: My parents didn’t go to college, so they want me to, but I’m as clueless about everything as they are.
Cameron: Everyone in my mom’s family went, so I am held to the same standard, I have to get in. (Robyn clutches backpack) Okay, so if you don’t go to college, it’s not like the end of the world! … just the end of your future. (Robyn looks at her with open eyes) I’m kidding! (playfully hits her)
Robyn: I don’t know if I can see Miss Jones right now, I feel like I’m going to puke. I just want my parents to be happy that I’m doing something with my life but I need to be happy too.
Cameron: I don’t even know what that is anymore, all of my feelings have been replaced with IB work.
Robyn: I’m kind of glad I didn’t do any of those.
Cameron: I still don’t think I’m doing enough of them to get into one my top choices – Cornell, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or Colgate.
(Robyn clutches backpack.)
Robyn: Okay…Honestly, I just want to get accepted, anywhere is fine. (shrugs)
Cameron: I wish I was like you, just so (takes a beat, put backpack over her shoulder) carefree!
Robyn: (laughs, stand) No, trust me, you don’t.
SOUND CUE: CELL PHONE RING
(Cameron looks down at her phone and groans)
Robyn: Your mom again? (looks at Cameron’s phone)
Cameron: Yeah, she’s annoying. (rolls eyes)
Miss Jones: (offstage) Cameron Lancaster
Cameron: Well that’s me, see ya. (grabs her stuff to exit)
BLACKOUT
TAKE OUT GUIDANCE COUNSELOR SLIDE
Scene 2
(Guidance counselor’s office, girls are talking to unseen counselor)
LIGHT CUE: SPOT ON CAMERON TALKING – DSC
Cameron: Stress, stress, stress. I’m stressed out. I need to be accepted to one of these major colleges, if I don’t all of my work would have gone to nothing. You know, I didn’t eat or sleep in like 5 days because of my IB work? If I don’t get at least an A, I won’t make it far. I’ll just be a mistake, I can’t disappoint my mother, she won’t want to waste her money on a crappy school. I need to at least get an A.
LIGHTS DOWN ON CAMERON
(girls switch spots)
LIGHTS UP ON ROBYN – DSC
Robyn: It’s different for everyone else, they have all these opportunities that come at them for just being them. Me, I have to work for them. I can’t stand failure and being a disappointment. I never got along with my family like they do. I have a mom and dad who need me to be successful. I need it too, but what I want is to be happy. I don’t think I have what it takes, the grades, the opportunities, the money… I don’t have what it takes… to be happy.
BLACKOUT
Scene 3
The next day – Outside in front of the school
(Cameron is sitting and doing homework, Robyn sees her and sit next to her.)
LIGHT CUE: USL
SLIDE CLUE: #2 OUTSIDE SCHOOL
SOUND CUE: OUTDOORS NOISE
Robyn: Hey. (sits) So, how’d it go?
Carolyn: Hey. How did what go? Oh yeah. Great. (back to her work)
Robyn: Hey, so Cameron, Miss Jones talked about essays. The whole college essay… so, is 650 the maximum I can do or minimum? (shyly smiles)
Cameron: Maximum. (looks at her with disapproval) Kind of dumb because I wrote 4 pages and I had to cut a lot out. (crosses out stuff on her homework.)
Robyn: (leaning over her) What are you working on?
Cameron: Physics and English (secretly wanting Robyn to go away; Robyn looks at her work in disgust, Cameron sees her) What? Never seen homework before?
Robyn: No, I have… but that looks like torture!
Cameron: (snobbishly) Well, it’s what you have to do to succeed. (looks away)
Robyn: (concerned) How long does it take you to finish all of this?
Cameron: (working) Sometimes I don’t sleep just to finish.
Robyn: (shocked) That’s so annoying.
Cameron: What? (looks at her straight in the face)
Robyn: The fact that you have to take so many hard classes and skip sleeping in order to finish your work (gets her backpack)… that’s not healthy! (starts to go)
Cameron: (goes after her) Well, I don’t see how you can go anywhere in life without working hard. Happiness doesn’t come easy, Robyn. The sooner you learn that, the better. (Cross SL)
Robyn: Okay well… (a little sad) I hope you finish your work soon… see ya. (gets up and walks away)
BLACKOUT
Scene 4
Stage is split showing both girls bedrooms
(Robyn’s bedroom, 8pm – she is unpacking her backpack, frustrated.)
LIGHT CUE: ROBYN’S BEDROOM – USR
SLIDE CUE: ROBYN’S BEDROOM
SOUND CUE: CRICKETS SOUND
Robyn: She’s right. I don’t do anything! I can’t believe I expected to be able to get into any college without working for it. I don’t know how Cameron handles all this homework! The fact that she doesn’t sleep is insane. I need my 8 hours! (takes a deep breath and sits on the corner of her bed) It surprisingly works for her though (pauses and gets up looking through her backpack, she takes out her laptop and a few of her books) I don’t take IB work but that doesn’t mean that I can’t study all my notes for class…Hey, maybe I’ll even research more about the colleges I would like to get into. (smiles and cheerfully looks at her computer)
Robyn’s mom: (offstage voice) Robyn! Dinner is ready!
Robyn: Can’t eat mom. I’ve got lots to do! (typing)
LIGHTS OUT ON ROBYN’S BEDROOM
LIGHTS UP ON CAMERON’S BEDROOM – USL
SLIDE CUE: CAMERON’S BEDROOM
Cameron: (on her bed still doing homework, sighs, her stomach growling,) Damn I really wish someone was home so they could make me food. (stomach growl again) I can’t concentrate! (closes her books) That girl Robyn has it so easy, why can’t I just worry about myself instead of my grades? (sits up on the side of bed and looks at her phone) Wow, 8? That’s so early! I should finish my work early and maybe sleep for once. (stomach growl again) Screw it, I’m going to get myself some food. I deserve it. (laughs)
BLACKOUT
Scene 5
In the School Hallway, Robyn’s locker.
LIGHT CUE: DSL
SLIDE CUE: LOCKERS
SOUND CUE: CLASSROOM NOISE
(Robyn is standing by her locker DSL, Cameron enters US and runs over to her.)
Cameron: Robyn! Hey! (out of breath)
Robyn: (turns around) Oh… (nervously) hi.
Cameron: (concerned) What? You okay?
Robyn: (shyly) Yeah, yeah
Cameron: Look I just wanted to say sorry. I didn’t mean to yell at you yesterday. I was just stressed out about my work, but you were right. I need to focus on myself and my health.
Robyn: Yeah I figured it was from all the work. (closes her locker) I actually think you were right. I need to work for things because they won’t be handed to me.
Cameron: So we both think the other is right? (laughs)
Robyn: (laughs) I think we just need to figure out what works best for us. There’s no right way. (smiles with confidence)
Cameron: I guess that’s true.
BLACKOUT
Scene 6 – The Next Day
Outside Guidance Counselor’s Office
LIGHT CUE: USR
SLIDE CUE: GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OFFICE
SOUND CUE: SCHOOL BELL
(Cameron is sitting in the waiting room, Robyn walks in with a smile on her face, Cameron looks up)
Cameron: (cheerful) Hey there, smiley.
Robyn: (cheerful) Hey.
Cameron: Looks like you just heard some good news. (pats the seat next to her)
Robyn: I did, I did. So I just got into one of my top schools. (sits)
Cameron: (with joy) Girl, no way! (beat) I got rejected. (Robyn stares at her with worry)
Robyn: (confused) You… you did?
Cameron: Ha, gotcha! I got into Cornell! (laughs, then says, feeling prideful) Pre-Law.
Robyn: (proud) That’s great!
Cameron: Yup, took like a hundred SAT’s (rolls eyes) and a lot of money, but I’m going! (stands up, x to backpack, looks up) What about you? Where are you going?
Robyn: I know it’s lame… but Suffolk for a year and then transfer to Brooklyn College for the rest. (looks at her hands) I got accepted into their acting program.
Cameron: That’s not lame at all. (looks at Robyn) Acting? That’s great. Wow. Look at you smile! If you’re happy, that’s all that should matter. (sits back down)
Robyn: Yeah and look at you! (turns toward her) Getting into one of those “top colleges” was your dream!
Cameron: I know (she recites the list) Cornell, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, or Colgate. And I got my first choice, Cornell! I didn’t think I could do it, and turns out that I stressed myself out too much over it.
Robyn: That’s because our parents made it a bigger deal than it had to be.
Cameron: I don’t know what to do with the rest of the year, I just want to relax a bit. (sit)
Robyn: (like a teacher, but jokingly) Just make sure not to fall behind on your work.
Cameron: Does it really matter? We’re in! (sits up with excitement, laughs)
Robyn: (after a beat, calmly) Play it safe, Cam.
Miss Jones: (offstage, over speaker) Robyn Mills.
Robyn: See you around… college girl. (smiles)
Cameron: (smiles back) See ya… college girl.
BLACKOUT
MUSIC CUE: HIP HOP POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE
Scene 7 / Epilogue
A Coffee shop in their hometown, 4 years in the future, Summer.
LIGHT CUE: DSC (when Robyn enters US)
SLIDE CUE: COFFEE SHOP
SOUND CUE: RESTAURANT NOISE
(Cameron sits DS, sips some of her coffee as she stares at her computer screen.)
(Robyn enters and goes to clean table next to Cameron.)
Cameron: (looking up, she sees Robyn) Robyn?
Robyn: (turns around, take a moment) Hey…Ca… (thinking of her name) Cameron, hi!
Cameron: How are things? (shyly) what are you doing back here? (Robyn sits by her.)
Robyn: Good… really good! I work here. I’ve been working a lot, how about you?
Cameron: I’m well, I decided I needed a little break for the summer before I start stressing again. (laughs)
Robyn: You’ve graduated right? From… (thinks for a second) Colgate?
Cameron: (correcting her) Cornell, but close enough. Yeah, I did… but now I’m headed to Law School, so I have more schooling to do.
Robyn: (nods) That’s great though! Sleeping more, I hope? (smiles)
Cameron: No… I mean more than I did back in high school but now I have even more things to stress about. (really taking her in) You seem really happy.
Robyn: Since I graduated I started working in order to pay for more acting classes. It’s really stressful but I still love everything about it. It’s what I’ve dreamed about for so long.
Cameron: Acting? Will I see you in something soon?
Robyn: I wish, it takes a lot in order for that to happen, but…yeah. Someday.
Barrista: (offstage) Robyn, Order up.
Robyn: Work calls! (smiles) but it was great seeing you. I wish you well at Law School.
Cameron: Yeah, you too…in acting class, I mean. (smiles shyly) (Robyn laughs and exits.)
THE END
SLIDE CUE: TAKE COFFEE SHOP SLIDE OUT
MUSIC CUE: THESE ARE THE DAYS
LIGHTS FADE
