I'm in college for screenwriting, but wrote a play earlier this year. Here is a scene from it that I hope everyone enjoys:
SCENE
(There is a doorway in the center of the stage. Behind the doorway there is a piano and a piano bench. There are a few desks surrounding the piano. HAYLEY is playing the piano and singing “The Faithful Hussar”.)
HAYLEY
(Singing in German)
Once there was a faithful hussar/Who loved his maiden for a whole year.
(TYLER walks by. He stops dead in his tracks. He turns to the doorway and peeks his head through.)
HAYLEY
(Singing in German)
A whole year and even more/His love won’t ever cease/And when he received the message
TYLER
(Simultaneously to audience)
Isn’t she wonderful? She’s so talented. You can just tell she’s down to earth. I should talk to her? No, I couldn’t. I’m a pussy? Do you know what could go wrong? Alright, we’ll see about that.
(TYLER walks through the doorway. He goes up to HAYLEY. She turns around.)
HAYLEY
Can I help you?
TYLER
I…um…(turns to audience) See!
(TYLER snaps his fingers, the lights go out. The lights come back on. TYLER is peeking his head through the doorway. HAYLEY is singing and playing the piano.)
TYLER
( To audience)
You can’t just go up to a girl these days. People are too used to texting and Facebook. They don’t want direct contact they want control, they want things to come to them without having the pressure of that spilt second decision. Don’t believe me?
(TYLER walks in the doorway and up to HAYLEY, he taps her on the shoulder.)
TYLER
Hey. I couldn’t help over hearing you playing the piano and singing. It was really good.
HAYLEY
Thanks, I’ve played since I can remember.
TYLER
Why were you singing that song though?
HAYLEY
My mom always used to sing this to my father. We used to go into our living room one night a week and my family would each play a song.
TYLER
It’s in one of my favorite movies. Paths of—
(HAYLEY’s checks her phone. She gets up.)
HAYLEY
I’m sorry I gotta go.
(HAYLEY walks out of the doorway and off stage.)
TYLER
(To Audience)
See. You people are too stubborn. She didn’t feel comfortable you could tell. Here let me show you.
(TYLER snaps fingers. The lights go out. The lights come back on. TYLER is standing in front of HAYLEY who is sitting on the piano bench. There’s a heavy set MAN in his 50s with white hair is dressed in a suit is in front of them with a microphone.)
MAN
(To Audience)
Welcome t-to the analyzation of college students with social anxiety and folks this looks to b-be a good one. A self-conscious dreamer looks to hit on a girl he probably fell in love with before h-h-he even said a word to her. Boom, tough actin’ tanactin.
HAYLEY
Can I help you?
MAN
(To Audience)
This d-d-do-does not look good. Can’t you just sense the pretentiousness in her voice? I sure can.
TYLER
Hey. I couldn’t help over hearing you playing the piano and singing. It was really good.
(HAYLEY stares blankly.)
MAN
Let’s ta-tak-take a look at this sentence. He rather just jus-just say, ‘Hey. I was staring at you while you were playing piano. I have a boner.’ She knows it. Look at that disinterest.
(MAN takes out highlighter and starts putting dots on HAYLEY.)
MAN
Disinterest here, here, and here.
HAYLEY
Thanks, I’ve played since I can remember.
TYLER
Why were you playing that song though?
(MAN pulls out a whistle and blows it.)
MAN
Bring me the board!
(Two men come from off stage and wheel in a chalkboard.)
MAN
(Drawing X’s and O’s)
Wha-wha-what does this have to do with TYLER? Nothing! Boom! All I know is Brett Farve would be great at this. Don’t you all just love Brett?
(MAN erases X’s and O’s)
MAN
(Drawing ‘NEVER’)
Never, never do what he did there. He asked her a question that made her feel that it was weird what sh-sh-she-she was doing. D-Does this guy know how to do anything right?
(Two men come back on stage and take chalkboard away.)
MAN
Let’s go on. Turducken.
HAYLEY
My mom always used to sing this to my father. We used to go into our living room one night a week and my family would each play a song.
TYLER
It’s in one of my favorite movies. Paths of—
(HAYLEY’s checks her phone. She gets up. TYLER turns to the MAN.)
TYLER
Thanks for proving me right.
MAN
Wh-what do you mean?
TYLER
You just analyzed the conversation and proved why I shouldn’t have.
MAN
No, I didn’t.
TYLER
You called me an idiot and said to everyone to never say what I said.
MAN
Kid, if you’re gonna let one harmless interaction consume you, how will you get through life? See you gotta be more like Brett—
TYLER
And text her a picture of my junk?
MAN
No. You g-got- gotta have courage and confidence. There are hundreds of religions that say we go here or there when we die, but we don’t really know what happens. W-We just know we have one shot at life at least. To cut yourself short by not taking a leap of faith sometimes is just firetrucked up to be perfectly honest. There are 7 billion people on this planet and we run into .0001 % of them. Call it fate, destiny, or whatever, she can be in your life and you have the chance make that permanent.
(MAN walks off stage.)
TYLER
(To Audience)
Wow, well…he’s right. But, just…
(TYLER snaps his fingers. Lights go out. Lights come back on. TYLER is back in front of Hayley who is again sitting on the piano bench.)
TYLER
Hey. I overheard music coming from here, and couldn’t help, but come in. It was terrific.
HAYLEY
Thanks. I’ve been playing since I can remember.
TYLER
That’s so cool. That song you’re playing is German right?
HAYLEY
Yeah. It’s called ‘The Faithful Hussar’.
TYLER
I’ve always liked it, but never knew what it was about.
HAYLEY
I remember my mom would always sing this to my dad. A few times a month my mom, dad, brother, and I would go into the living room and play songs for each other. I asked my mom one time what it was about and she just said ‘True love’.
(TYLER smiles and HAYLEY cracks a smile as well.)
HAYLEY
Do you play?
TYLER
Yeah, I play a little.
HAYLEY
Show me.
(HAYLEY slides over and taps on the bench. Tyler sits down on the bench. He starts playing “Heart and Soul”. Hayley soon joins in. Tyler stops after a moment.)
TYLER
I know this may be too soon--
HAYLEY
Wait, don’t talk. Just take in the music.
(Tyler continues to play. They finish the song)
TYLER
How about now?
HAYLEY
Yeah, go ahead.
TYLER
I know this probably sounds too direct, but would you wanna go get coffee sometime?
HAYLEY
Hmmm, sure, how about now?
TYLER
Yeah…that sounds good.
(TYLER and HAYLEY both exit through the doorway. They turn right and walk off stage. Lights go out. Lights come back on. TYLER is on stage in front of the door way. Hayley is playing the piano.)
TYLER
(To Audience)
If only things ended that way it would be perfect. Well, I mean the first way wasn’t too bad either. It’s just if I had to choose between each ‘what if’ the second one I would choose. Huh? Wait, you guys…I thought this was clear that I didn’t…so you guys think that I got a second chance? Oh, no, no, no. I haven’t even taken my first chance yet. But you know what? I am, I will.
(TYLER turns to walk through the doorway. HAYLEY gets up and walks out.)
TYLER
Hel—
HAYLEY
Excuse me.
(TYLER moves out of the way for HAYLEY to exit. HAYLEY exits through the doorway and walks off stage right.)
TYLER
See. This is why you don’t try because you can have all the confidence in the world and one little setback ruins it.
(TYLER walks up to the piano bench and sits down. He begins to play “The Faithful Hussar”. A BOY comes out with cue cards with the lyrics in English.)
TYLER
(Singing in German)
Once there was a faithful hussar/Who loved his maiden for a whole year/a whole year and even more/His love wont ever cease/And when he received the message/That his sweetheart dear was dying/All his goods and chattels he left behind/And hastened to his sweetheart dear.
I'm in college for screenwriting, but wrote a play earlier this year. Here is a scene from it that I hope everyone enjoys:
SCENE
(There is a doorway in the center of the stage. Behind the doorway there is a piano and a piano bench. There are a few desks surrounding the piano. HAYLEY is playing the piano and singing “The Faithful Hussar”.)HAYLEY
(Singing in German)
Once there was a faithful hussar/Who loved his maiden for a whole year.(TYLER walks by. He stops dead in his tracks. He turns to the doorway and peeks his head through.)
HAYLEY
(Singing in German)
A whole year and even more/His love won’t ever cease/And when he received the messageTYLER
(Simultaneously to audience)
Isn’t she wonderful? She’s so talented. You can just tell she’s down to earth. I should talk to her? No, I couldn’t. I’m a pussy? Do you know what could go wrong? Alright, we’ll see about that.(TYLER walks through the doorway. He goes up to HAYLEY. She turns around.)
HAYLEY
Can I help you?TYLER
I…um…(turns to audience) See!(TYLER snaps his fingers, the lights go out. The lights come back on. TYLER is peeking his head through the doorway. HAYLEY is singing and playing the piano.)
TYLER
( To audience)
You can’t just go up to a girl these days. People are too used to texting and Facebook. They don’t want direct contact they want control, they want things to come to them without having the pressure of that spilt second decision. Don’t believe me?(TYLER walks in the doorway and up to HAYLEY, he taps her on the shoulder.)
TYLER
Hey. I couldn’t help over hearing you playing the piano and singing. It was really good.HAYLEY
Thanks, I’ve played since I can remember.TYLER
Why were you singing that song though?HAYLEY
My mom always used to sing this to my father. We used to go into our living room one night a week and my family would each play a song.TYLER
It’s in one of my favorite movies. Paths of—(HAYLEY’s checks her phone. She gets up.)
HAYLEY
I’m sorry I gotta go.(HAYLEY walks out of the doorway and off stage.)
TYLER
(To Audience)
See. You people are too stubborn. She didn’t feel comfortable you could tell. Here let me show you.(TYLER snaps fingers. The lights go out. The lights come back on. TYLER is standing in front of HAYLEY who is sitting on the piano bench. There’s a heavy set MAN in his 50s with white hair is dressed in a suit is in front of them with a microphone.)
MAN
(To Audience)
Welcome t-to the analyzation of college students with social anxiety and folks this looks to b-be a good one. A self-conscious dreamer looks to hit on a girl he probably fell in love with before h-h-he even said a word to her. Boom, tough actin’ tanactin.HAYLEY
Can I help you?MAN
(To Audience)
This d-d-do-does not look good. Can’t you just sense the pretentiousness in her voice? I sure can.TYLER
Hey. I couldn’t help over hearing you playing the piano and singing. It was really good.(HAYLEY stares blankly.)
MAN
Let’s ta-tak-take a look at this sentence. He rather just jus-just say, ‘Hey. I was staring at you while you were playing piano. I have a boner.’ She knows it. Look at that disinterest.(MAN takes out highlighter and starts putting dots on HAYLEY.)
MAN
Disinterest here, here, and here.HAYLEY
Thanks, I’ve played since I can remember.TYLER
Why were you playing that song though?(MAN pulls out a whistle and blows it.)
MAN
Bring me the board!(Two men come from off stage and wheel in a chalkboard.)
MAN
(Drawing X’s and O’s)
Wha-wha-what does this have to do with TYLER? Nothing! Boom! All I know is Brett Farve would be great at this. Don’t you all just love Brett?(MAN erases X’s and O’s)
MAN
(Drawing ‘NEVER’)
Never, never do what he did there. He asked her a question that made her feel that it was weird what sh-sh-she-she was doing. D-Does this guy know how to do anything right?(Two men come back on stage and take chalkboard away.)
MAN
Let’s go on. Turducken.HAYLEY
My mom always used to sing this to my father. We used to go into our living room one night a week and my family would each play a song.TYLER
It’s in one of my favorite movies. Paths of—(HAYLEY’s checks her phone. She gets up. TYLER turns to the MAN.)
TYLER
Thanks for proving me right.MAN
Wh-what do you mean?TYLER
You just analyzed the conversation and proved why I shouldn’t have.MAN
No, I didn’t.TYLER
You called me an idiot and said to everyone to never say what I said.MAN
Kid, if you’re gonna let one harmless interaction consume you, how will you get through life? See you gotta be more like Brett—TYLER
And text her a picture of my junk?MAN
No. You g-got- gotta have courage and confidence. There are hundreds of religions that say we go here or there when we die, but we don’t really know what happens. W-We just know we have one shot at life at least. To cut yourself short by not taking a leap of faith sometimes is just firetrucked up to be perfectly honest. There are 7 billion people on this planet and we run into .0001 % of them. Call it fate, destiny, or whatever, she can be in your life and you have the chance make that permanent.(MAN walks off stage.)
TYLER
(To Audience)
Wow, well…he’s right. But, just…(TYLER snaps his fingers. Lights go out. Lights come back on. TYLER is back in front of Hayley who is again sitting on the piano bench.)
TYLER
Hey. I overheard music coming from here, and couldn’t help, but come in. It was terrific.HAYLEY
Thanks. I’ve been playing since I can remember.TYLER
That’s so cool. That song you’re playing is German right?HAYLEY
Yeah. It’s called ‘The Faithful Hussar’.TYLER
I’ve always liked it, but never knew what it was about.
HAYLEY
I remember my mom would always sing this to my dad. A few times a month my mom, dad, brother, and I would go into the living room and play songs for each other. I asked my mom one time what it was about and she just said ‘True love’.
(TYLER smiles and HAYLEY cracks a smile as well.)
HAYLEY
Do you play?
TYLER
Yeah, I play a little.HAYLEY
Show me.(HAYLEY slides over and taps on the bench. Tyler sits down on the bench. He starts playing “Heart and Soul”. Hayley soon joins in. Tyler stops after a moment.)
TYLER
I know this may be too soon--
HAYLEY
Wait, don’t talk. Just take in the music.(Tyler continues to play. They finish the song)
TYLER
How about now?
HAYLEY
Yeah, go ahead.
TYLER
I know this probably sounds too direct, but would you wanna go get coffee sometime?
HAYLEY
Hmmm, sure, how about now?
TYLER
Yeah…that sounds good.
(TYLER and HAYLEY both exit through the doorway. They turn right and walk off stage. Lights go out. Lights come back on. TYLER is on stage in front of the door way. Hayley is playing the piano.)
TYLER
(To Audience)
If only things ended that way it would be perfect. Well, I mean the first way wasn’t too bad either. It’s just if I had to choose between each ‘what if’ the second one I would choose. Huh? Wait, you guys…I thought this was clear that I didn’t…so you guys think that I got a second chance? Oh, no, no, no. I haven’t even taken my first chance yet. But you know what? I am, I will.(TYLER turns to walk through the doorway. HAYLEY gets up and walks out.)
TYLER
Hel—HAYLEY
Excuse me.(TYLER moves out of the way for HAYLEY to exit. HAYLEY exits through the doorway and walks off stage right.)
TYLER
See. This is why you don’t try because you can have all the confidence in the world and one little setback ruins it.
(TYLER walks up to the piano bench and sits down. He begins to play “The Faithful Hussar”. A BOY comes out with cue cards with the lyrics in English.)
TYLER
(Singing in German)
Once there was a faithful hussar/Who loved his maiden for a whole year/a whole year and even more/His love wont ever cease/And when he received the message/That his sweetheart dear was dying/All his goods and chattels he left behind/And hastened to his sweetheart dear.
Lights out
END of SCENE