What Would It Be Like? – Eastport South Manor (2014)

Mia Milton and Izzy DeRosa in Brett Mistler’s play, “What Would It Be Like?” Photo by Star Black.

What Would It Be Like? by Brett Mistler

Click here to watch “What Would It Be Like?” on YouTube

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

(Scene One – Abby’s house April 19, 2014)

(INTERIOR HOUSE SLIDE)

Narrator: Once upon a time, two friends were spending a large amount of time studying for the biggest social studies exam of their lives. They were constantly talking, writing, and dreaming about socials studies, and the American Revolution. And they began to wonder what would it be like to live in that era? And so, one day, they asked the universe that very question…

(Doorbell rings)

Michelle: Hi Abby thanks for having me over.

Abby: No problem, come in. Mike, can I ask you a question?

Michelle: What Abs?

Abby: What if we could go back in time and see what life was like back then?

Michelle: Abby.

Abby: What?

Michelle: I think that idea sucks.

Abby: Why do you think that?

Michelle: Because it would be boring, no shopping, no cheerleading, no dance moms, no TV – should I keep going?

Abby: I just think it would be cool to see how life was back then.

Michelle: That’s just ridiculous. Let’s go to the mall and find something to do.

Abby: Ok, ok.

Michelle: (She sees a weird object all of a sudden.) Hey Abby, what’s this –

(The lights start to change and weird sounds start to happen. Abby picked up the object and they both blacked out.)

(TIME WARP SLIDE)

(REVOLUTION SLIDE)

(Scene Two – American revolutionary War Lexington and Concord April 19, 1775)

Narrator: Abby and Michelle wake from their slumber, in a time not like their own.

Abby: What happened? Where are we?

Michelle: I don’t know, why are you asking me?

Abby: Clearly l hit my head and thought you’re the smarter one.

Michelle: I’m a whole lot smarter than you!

Abby: (sarcastically) yeah sure ok you got it.

Michelle: Alright enough! Let’s go find a way to get home.

(Gunshot goes off)

Abby: What was that?

Michelle: I believe it was a gunshot.

Abby: Why are those men holding rifles? Did we just wake up in the middle of a war?!?

Michelle: I think we woke up in the middle of the American Revolutionary War. I think we are at the battle of Lexington and Concord.

Abby: What?

Michelle: You know like in Social Studies the American Revolutionary War does that ring a bell? Do you ever pay attention in class?

Abby: Sometimes.

Michelle: So that’s why you’re so stupid right.

Abby: Excuse me!?

Michelle: You heard me.

Abby: You’re a pathetic, low life, idiot..,

Michelle: Shut up you…you…stupid..

Abby: Really?

Michelle: You started it.

Abby: Now I’m ending it.

Michelle: Now you know why I didn’t want to go back in time. Do you think being in the middle of a war is cool? We need to get out of here.

Abby: I am pretty sure we can’t leave with bombs going off everywhere.

Michelle: Obviously, do you have any suggestions?

Abby: That ball you touched at my house must have sent us back in time. Where is it?

Michelle: I don’t know we need to find it and quick.

(Scene Three – Town outside of battlefield April 19, 1775)

Narrator: It takes hours of dodging bullets, avoiding bombs going off and hiding from both the British and the Americans but Michelle and Abby make it into town.

Abby: Michelle I’m starving and I’m tired and I want to go home! (Beat) MICHELLE! I need to stop for a second.

Michelle: I know I’m hungry too, but we need to find that time machine ball before we get stuck here.

Abby: MICHAEL FRANCIS PETERSON. I’m not going anywhere until I get fed.

Michelle: Alright, alright, let’s take a break and figure out what we’re going to eat.

Abby: It’s really weird not seeing cars or paved roads.

Michelle: Yeah and no electric polls… and horse crap all over the place. It really stinks here.

Abby: Where do you want to eat?

Michelle: McDonalds?

Abby: Really…?

Michelle: Hey, I was kidding. Clearly we have to eat KFC, since this is the time of Colonel Saunders.

Abby: Michelle, you need to FOCUS.

Michelle: What?

Abby: OH MY GOD I can’t even deal with you right now.

Michelle: Abby, I’m trying to laugh about this!! Cause really, I’ve never been so scared in my life. Did you see all those guys with those huge guns?

Abby: HOW is this helping?

Michelle: Well, I was thinking about it and the only way we are going to find this ball is to go back to where we woke up.

Abby: In the middle of the battlefield?!?

Michelle: It’s our only choice.

Abby: You’re right why did I want to go back in time? (Beat) Let’s go.

(SLIDE CHANGE)

(ROAD)

(BATTLEFIELD FROM SCENE 1)

(Scene Four – American revolutionary War Lexington and Concord April 19, 1775)

Narrator: Abby and Michelle travel for hours back to the battlefield. Luckily the soldiers have stopped fighting for now and most of them are asleep. They know they have to act quickly and quietly if they have any chance of getting back home.

Abby: (whispering) The area over to our North looks familiar let’s go check it out.

Michelle: (whispering) It does to me too, let’s go.

Abby: Ouch!

Michelle: SHHHH!

Abby: It’s so dark! I can’t see anything and I TRIPPED, OKAY?

Michelle: (whispering) BE QUIET! They are going to hear us.

Abby: (whispering) I really wish we were back home. This is really a tough way to live.

Michelle: (sarcastically whispering) And again I ask why you were wondering about traveling back in time and how it would be cool?!?

Abby: (sarcastically whispering) Enough you were right. (whispering) Hey, what’s that glowing over there?

Michelle: (whispering) You’re probably just seeing things, keep looking.

(BALL ROLLS OUT AGAIN)

Abby: (excited) I found it!

Michelle: (whispering and annoyed) SHUT UP – good job, but be quiet.

Abby: How does this thing work?

Michelle: No clue I just picked it up and woke up here.

Abby: Since you seem to have the magic touch hold it and hopefully we wake up home.

Narrator: Abby hands Michelle the ball and they both black out, and are transported into a time that they both know and love.

(TIME WARP SLIDE)

(INTERIOR HOUSE AGAIN)

(Final Scene – Abby’s house April 20, 2014)

Abby: I had the weirdest dream.

Michelle: What was it about?

Abby: I can’t remember that much but we traveled back in time to the American Revolution and you kept complaining about there being horse crap everywhere. And the strangest part of the dream was that you were smarter than me.

Michelle: HA HA very funny. I told you that it was a bad idea to go back in time. (BALL APPEARS AGAIN) Hey Abby what’s this ball on the floor?

(BLACKOUT)