By: Michael A. Oren
Cast:
Narrator—non-descript
character that moves the plot along
Student—a studious
somewhat naïve character
Drunkard—friend of the
student that chooses drinking over studying
Criminal—a common
mugger
Good Samaritan—believes
in helping individuals no matter what the risk
Rapist—a guy at the
party that the Student and Drunkard meet
Counselor—tries
his/her best to get the Student over the traumatizing experience
Scene: As the curtain
rises, the stage is revealed to be bare other than a table, draped with a black
cloth, upon which sits a vase containing half a dozen red roses. Spotlight on
the vase containing the roses.
Narrator: (From right stage) Everyday brings new trials, new tribulations, new challenges, and new situations. Some people rise to these occasions and others falter. (Walks on to the stage to the vase of roses and pulls one rose out) This rose is a tribute to those who try. (Enter the student, carrying ten books. Narrator bows to the student, presents the rose, then exits stage left)
Student: Sometimes it’s hard keeping up with all of this homework—reading fifty pages for English, do twenty-five problems for Calculus III, and write a political thesis paper. On top of all that, I’m on the speech team, I have to do student congress, I wouldn’t miss the good times at the Union Board meeting, and how can I forget my five hours of community service each week? However, what must be done, must be done, and I can have fun AFTER everything is finished. (Sits at table and opens one of the books).
Narrator: (From stage left) Daily, we are
confronted with situations which may lead us into harm’s way. Sometimes we make
the right decision, often times we make the wrong one. (Walks on to the stage to the vase of roses, and pulls another rose
out) This rose is to remind us that wrong decisions are sometimes made, but
that one wrong decision, or even a few, are not the end of the world. (Enter the Drunkard, stumbling, with 2
glasses of beer. Narrator bows, presents the rose, and exits stage right)
Drunkard: Why study when you can drink? Come on there’s a party over at SAE, put those damn books down and let’s go! After all, all work and no play makes Jane a dull girl. Here’s a beer for me and one for you (hands beer to the student, knocking the books off of the table).
Student: (Looking dazed) Huh, what? Party? Beer? I have work to do though… (downtrodden and sullen).
Drunkard: (Forcefully pulling the Student out of the chair) Study? English please. Anyway, party time, let’s go. (Lights go out. Drunkard and Student freeze in a standing position, heads bowed, staring at the rose they hold within their hands)
Narrator: (From stage right. Light is again focused on
the vase of roses) One of the things that separates mankind from the
animals is our ability to love and be loved in return. As part of our ability
to love, we go out of our way to help those in need, despite possible negative
consequences it might have on ourselves. (Walks out on stage and pulls out
one of the white roses) This rose is a tribute to the human ability to love
and the belief that good prevails. (Enter
Good Samaritan from stage right and Criminal from stage left. Criminal proceeds
to hold up Student and Drunkard, while Narrator bows to Good Samaritan and
presents the rose. Narrator exits stage left).
Criminal: All the world’s a charity, and I’m the sole recipient. Why wait for things to come to you when you can bring them to yourself? Can’t afford something? Why wait and save, when you can have it now? Steal from the rich, steal from the poor, all the same as long as you get what’s yours. (Notices the student and the drunkard and approaches them). Take these two for instance. Most would probably ignore them, just a couple of college kids walking down the street, but I, on the other hand, see them as chickens ripe for the plucking. Jewelry, money, credit cards, anything works, and they’re sure to have at least one of these. (Addressing the Student and Drunkard now) Alright, kiddies, hand over any valuables and I won’t have to hurt you. (Criminal freezes in position, spotlight is turned on the Good Samaritan).
Good Samaritan: Greed begets hate and hate begets violence. A world of violence, of free flowing blood, will accomplish nothing, other than create more greed, more hate, more violence. Such a world is not a world for me. While I receive no thanks, I work to end the greed, the hate, the violence of this world. Perhaps, it will end the vicious cycle, perhaps it will all be in vain; it matters not. I do what I do for personal satisfaction, nothing more. (Noticing the Criminal and approaching) Here is a prime example of what is wrong with the world today. (Criminal, Student, and Drunkard unfreeze. Struggle scene ensues. Good Samaritan sneaks behind the Criminal and knocks him out. Lights go out, Good Samaritan and Criminal exit stage. Stage crew tosses streamers on to stage).
Narrator: (From stage left. Light focused on vase of roses) Sins of the flesh is the predominant curse of mankind in the modern age. Physical desires unabated by a moral code of ethics have led to innumerable problems. Individuals force their will onto others and often times this has lasting effects. No matter how much good those who can’t control their desires may do in life, their vice condemns them because to destroy one’s self is one’s own choice, but to do evil toward an innocent is inexcusable. (Walks out on stage and pulls out one of the roses) This rose represents the sins of the flesh, the sins of desire; it is to remind us of the damage it does and that we must work to end it. (Enter the rapist from stage left. Narrator bows to him and hands him the rose. Narrator exits stage right. Music goes on. Rapist, Drunkard, and Student all start dancing)
Rapist: Would either of you ladies like a drink?
Drunkard: (holds up a few glasses) I have one, hell I’ve got a few… COOL! Thanks though.
Student: (has been checking out the Rapist as if
interested in him) Sure,
I’ll take one.
Rapist: Alright, I’ll be right back. (Music volume
is turned down so it’s barely audible, light is taken off the Student and
Drunkard who freeze. Spotlight is focused on the Rapist, who gets a glass and
pulls out a pill bottle from his pocket) One of these will do the trick. (Opens
the pill bottle and tips a pill into the glass) Now to go make myself a
great night. (Walks back to the Student and Drunkard. Music is turned back
up. Normal stage lighting. Hands drink to the Student) Bottoms up! (Student
downs the drink and then passes out into the Rapists arms) Looks like she
can’t hold her liquor, I’ll take her upstairs and lie her down; I’ll be back in
5 min…well, actually… let’s make it twenty. (Rapist drags Student off stage.
Drunkard is left alone and keeps downing her drinks. Lights fade out and
Drunkard exits the stage, picking up nearby streamers. Re-enter Rapist by
himself. Sole focus of light on Rapist. Pulls out pill bottle and looks at it
admiringly) These babies never fail. Why wait for the girl to get drunk
when these work so much faster and they ENSURE the work is done? Some girls,
even when drunk, still have a problem with sex, these ensure they don’t. I
simply do what it takes to be satisfied, sex is natural, doesn’t matter how
it’s done or when it’s done; after all, no girl can be a virgin forever; I just
help them free themselves of that constraint faster. (Exits stage, has a
cocky walk. Also picks up nearby streamers as he goes along. Lights go out and
student walks on to stage, head down and dragging her feet)
Student: (crying, sits down in front of the table, rocking herself back and forth) I…I…can’t believe what just happened… and to think that I thought that guy was NICE… I’m such a moron. (Light is re-focused on the vase, student is silent but keeps gently rocking herself back and forth. Any remaining streamers are cleared off stage)
Narrator: (From stage right) Often times, victims blame themselves for traumatic events. In these cases, the innocent suffer twofold because of the guilty since they take on not only the trauma of the experience but also the trauma of the guilt, which is not theirs. Many individuals try to help those who have undergone trauma, whether they are professionals or amateurs; it’s the effort that’s important. (Walks on to stage and removes the last remaining white rose from the vase) This rose is to honor those who place their time and their emotions into helping those that are truly in need. (Enter the Counselor. Narrator bows to him/her, lower than the previous bows, bestows the rose to him/her and then exits stage left.)
Counselor: (Places arm around the student, who continues to rock herself back and forth) you have to understand that this was NOT your fault; he drugged you, there was nothing you could do.
Student: (Angry) But it WAS my fault. I could’ve refused the drink and then this NEVER would’ve happened.
Counselor: There was no way for you to know. Some wolves dress in sheep’s skin.
Student: I’m sure it could’ve been prevented though… (sobs loudly) I just want to die… (Lights fade off of student and a single spot light remains focused on the Counselor)
Counselor: Despair
often times takes hold on those that have undergone trauma. They wish for
nothing but death. It’s a shame that those who have suffered for nothing of
their own doing often times turn everything against themselves; while those who
are actually to blame suffer nothing and often times enjoy what they have done.
I do what I can to help, but quite frankly, the whole situation just MAKES ME
SICK (storms off of stage and the
spotlight is re-focused on the vase, with the lone, red rose remaining)
Student: (mumbling to herself in between sobs) I
just wish I were dead… why can’t I be dead? If the world is but a dream, why
must it be a nightmare? (Lights go back
on and the student is seen to have a bottle of pills in her hand) Death is
my only escape from this nightmare; perhaps in eternal sleep my dreams can
return and this hell that has come down will be vanquished. (Opens the bottle and downs the pill. Falls,
dead. Lights go out other than the spotlight on the lone, red rose)
Narrator: (From stage left) Evil breeds evil and tragedy breeds tragedy. This student had everything going for her. She had a life filled with promise and ambition, but the events of a matter of hours changed all that. Such events are not over dramatized. This is the way of the world, and because of that this lone rose stands alone as a reminder to us all that our decisions affect others and that we can do great good…or great evil with our lives and our decisions. Each person is entitled their own choices in life, but remember this rose, red as blood, standing alone as a symbol of all that’s happened. (Light shines on rose for another 10 seconds and then, slowly, the stage fades to black and the curtains close.)
Fin
