Feeling

I haven't written on here for a long time! I just submitted a couple plays to KCACTF. It is a playwriting competition that happens every year. BYU participates so as a student I can submit 1-2 plays in each of three different categories. So I sent in a 10 minute play and a one act. This is the 10 minute play I submitted. It is called Feeling. I wrote it in about 5 hours total so this is totally a rough draft. But I would really like to know what people think and get suggestions! Thanks!

(On one small part of the stage is a couch and coffee table. A front door should also be visible. KAREN is sitting on the couch reading a book/magazine while action is happening on the other part of the stage. The sheriff, RICHARD, is walking quickly from the opposite side to the side where KAREN is. He is talking into his speaker.)

RICHARD

The boy is not in class. I'm just on my way to his parent's to confirm.

DISPATCHER

(Through speaker)

Okay. We are sending backup to the school. Tell me as soon as it is confirmed.

RICHARD

Okay.

(He gets to the front door and knocks. KAREN gets up and answers.)

KAREN

Oh, Officer Brown.

(She gestures him in.)

What's wrong?

RICHARD

Do you guys own a gun?

KAREN

You know we do. What's this about?

RICHARD

Is your gun missing?

KAREN

What’s going on?

RICHARD

Your son was threatening suicide. He was texting a friend and said he had a gun and was going to kill himself. He’s missing from class and we just need to know if your gun is missing.

KAREN

We always keep it locked up!

(She leaves RICHARD alone and soon runs back into the room)

It's gone! The safe was open... What sho-

RICHARD

Call your husband. I have to get back to the school.

KAREN

Should I go to th-

RICHARD

Wait here until I contact you.

KAREN

Please call me as soo-

RICHARD

I will.

(He hurries out the door and KAREN grabs a cell phone as the lights fade on her. RICHARD gets back on the speaker as he starts across the stage.)

RICHARD

Hello?

DISPATCHER

Here.

RICHARD

Their gun is missing. Shut it down. I'm heading back over.

DISPATCHER

I’ll give ‘em the word. We've got five there already and more coming.

RICHARD

Thanks. I’m on my way.

(The lights come back up on KAREN who is on the phone.)

KAREN

I don’t know. He didn’t tell me much… He just said that Jason’s not in class and that he was threatening suicide… okay… mhmm… oh good. Just hurry!

(She hangs up the phone and is pacing. She looks at her phone and thinks before dialing another number.)

Come on, Jason, just pick up. Pick up the phone… Hi honey! I’m really worried about you, please call me as soon as you can. Please call. I love you.

(She hangs up and falls to the couch. The door opens after a moment and she looks up expectanctly. WALTER, her husband, walks in.)

WALTER

Anything?

KAREN

I’m so glad you’re home! Nothing. I called him but it went to his answering machine.

WALTER

Did he seem off this morning?

KAREN

No, he was happy.

WALTER

Has he been taking his medication?

KAREN

As far as I know.

WALTER

Why don’t we go to the school?

KAREN

Officer Brown said he would keep us updated.

WALTER

I don’t want to just sit around waiting!

KAREN

I don’t either, but what help would we be at the school?

WALTER

I dunno… but I would feel a lot btter being there than here.

(Lights fade on WALTER and KAREN and come up on the other side of the stage where a couple police officers are standing and talking. WALTER and KAREN are walking toward the officers and they stop talking when they see the couple.)

KAREN

Why are all of the students out?

OFFICER 1

We shut down the school.

WALTER

Why?

OFFICER 2

Because a boy has a gun.

KAREN

Jason wouldn’t hurt anyone!

OFFICER 1

Sorry Karen.

(To officer 2)

These are Jason’s parents.

OFFICER 2

Oh, sorry ma’am.

WALTER

She’s right. He won’t hurt anyone.

OFFICER 1

We still need to be cautious and make sure he’s not near any other students while he’s armed.

(OFFICER 2’s speaker has started crackling and a voice comes through.)

DISPATCHER

It’s clear. He’s not in the building.

KAREN

I told you he wouldn’t hurt anyone!

OFFICER 1

But is he a danger to himself?

(Silence)

Karen. Walter. We really need your cooperation.

(WALTER looks away, unable to speak.)

KAREN

He has Bipolar Disorder.

(RICHARD has walked on and is walking toward the group.)

RICHARD

Thanks, officers. I’ll take it from here. The two of you go help get all of these students and their parents home.

(As they leave RICHARD continues.)

I know this is difficult for you guys.

WALTER

He’s never done anything like this before!

KAREN

That’s not totally true.

WALTER

What’re you talking about?

KAREN

Obviously nothing to this extent.

RICHARD

What is it?

KAREN

Well… he’s had a problem with cutting himself in the past.

WALTER

That hardly has anything to do wi-

RICHARD

No, this is helpful. Go on, Karen.

KAREN

He… well sometimes he really hates taking his medication.

RICHARD

What happens?

KAREN

It really lets things hit him. His highs and lows are increased by, a hundred, when he’s off his meds.

WALTER

Why does he do that?

KAREN

Because he hates the way they make him feel! He feels numb to the world.

WALTER

Why haven’t you told me this before?

KAREN

Jason was afraid of you knowing.

WALTER

But you could ha-

RICHARD

Now is really not the time.

KAREN

Sorry. What can we do?

RICHARD

Is he off of his pills now?

WALTER

We don’t know.

KAREN

He usually goes off of them when he wants to feel something.

RICHARD

Like failing a test, fighting a friend, breaking up with a girlfriend?

KAREN

Oh my gosh… Lena.

WALTER

Who’s Lena?

RICHARD

Oh… Lena Morrison.

KAREN

That’s right. She and Jason have been kinda off and on for awhile. They were never “officially” dating though. How did you know her name?

RICHARD

She’s the student he was texting.

(Into his speaker.)

We need to talk to Lena Morrison again.

DISPATCHER

She’s still here with her parents.

RICHARD

Can you send her my way? South side, I’m with Jason’s parents.

DISPATCHER

She should be there soon.

WALTER

How long have they been “off and on?”

KAREN

Awhile. But they’ve been friends for years.

(An officer soon comes on stage toward them, accompanying LENA and her parents.)

LENA

Karen, I’m so sorry!

(She runs to KAREN and they embrace.)

KAREN

It’s okay, we just have a couple questions.

LENA

I’ve been telling them the whole time.

RICHARD

We have a couple different questions.

LENA

Okay…

LENA’S DAD

I think she’s been answe-

LENA

It’s okay, dad. I want to help.

RICHARD

Thank you. Karen says you and Jason have been “off and on” for awhile.

LENA

Oh… yeah, I guess, but not ever really dating!

RICHARD

It’s fine, did anything happen recently that might have… put a damper on your relationship?

LENA

Well. We had a fight a couple days ago.

RICHARD

What about?

LENA

I was tellim him I kind of wanted to try dating this other guy and Jason seemed okay with it, but he’s been really distant the past couple days.

RICHARD

I think that’s enough. Thank you, Lena.

LENA

Can I do anything?

RICHARD

You’ve helped a lot. I think you should go home with your parents now.

(LENA and her parents exit.)

WALTER

So what do we do now?

RICHARD

We start searching.

(He gets on his speaker)

Let’s send out a search party. Start around the school and move out from there.

DISPATCHER

Right away.

KAREN

Can we help?

RICHARD

Why don’t you go home and see if he has gone home. Look around any other place he might have gone.

WALTER

You’ll stay in contact, though?

RICHARD

Of course.

KAREN

Okay, thank you!

(They all exit as the lights fade. They come back up inside the home.)

WALTER

He’s not here!

KAREN

Maybe we should go back to the school.

WALTER

Where else could he be? We’ve already been everywhere he likes to go!

KAREN

Not the park.

WALTER

The park?

KAREN

I know he likes to go there sometimes to think.

WALTER

Then let’s go.

KAREN

If he’s not there, can we go back to the school?

WALTER

Yes.

KAREN

Walter… what if he… I don’t know what… what if we’re to-

WALTER

Shh… it’s okay. We’ll find him.

(He pulls his wife into a hug and the lights fade as they exit. The lights come up on RICHARD and officer 2.)

OFFICER 2

The west side is clear as far as we can tell. We are spreading out further.

RICHARD

Good. Keep going until we find something.

OFFICER 2

Yes, sir.

(As he is exiting RICHARD’s speaker crackles and then we hear OFFICER 1’s voice coming through.)

OFFICER 1

Um… Sherrif. I think you need to get over here.

RICHARD

Where are you?

OFFICER 1

Outside the chain link fence on the far east side.

RICHARD

You find something?

OFFICER 1

Well… we… we found the boy.

RICHARD

How is he?

OFFICER 1

Are his parents with you?

RICHARD

(KAREN and WALTER enter the opposite side of the stage and start walking toward RICHARD.)

They’re headed toward me right now.

OFFICER 1

You better come alone.

(BLACKOUT)