Pearl River Community College's award winning literary magazine

Special Edition—Spring-Summer 1998

Special Section

MCCCWC entry—one act play division

The Situation

by Jennifer Roberts
 
 
 

Ernest Taylor: A hard-working man in his forties. Ruth Taylor: A woman in her forties, addicted to talk shows.

Lydia Taylor: An intelligent young woman who is constantly overshadowed by her brother, Morris.

Morris Taylor: A 19 year old who is lazy and clever. He is spoiled by his mother and constantly at odds with his sister, Lydia.

MollyAnne Warner: A sleazy talk-show host.

Cindy: A talk show guest.
 
 
 
 
 

Scene One: The stage is split. Stage left should represent a traditionally decorated living room with adjoining dining room. The t.v. should be turned so as to allow the family to see the picture, but making it hidden from the audience. Stage right is the set for the MollyAnne Warner show, consisting mainly of a backdrop, some chairs and a couple of potted plants.
 

The scene opens with Stage Left fully lit and Stage Right Dark. Ruth is setting the table for dinner while Morris lies sprawled on the couch.
 

Ruth- Morris, honey, do me a favor and change the channel to my show, will you baby?
 

Morris- (sarcastically) Oh great, it's time for the MollyAnne Warner show.
 

The door opens and Ernest comes in from work. He begins to talk as he takes off his boots.
 

Ernest- Damn that traffic. It's not bad enough I slave away in that tin can of a factory for 10 hours a day, then I've gotta fight my way home through a million cars keeping the streets plugged up like a bad sewer. Where do they all come from? I think they must be giving them out now with learner permits. I swear I saw a 16 year old driving a Mercedes down South Main. Isn't that some kind of sin? (He looks around for support. When no one acknowledges his statement he continues.) The day I let a 16 year-old son of mine drive a Mercedes or, heaven forbid, buy him one - and I don't care if I'm a kagillionaire you can just put me away. Or better yet, bury me right then and there 'cause I've obviously lost my senses and can't carry on a normal life.
 

Morris - Yeah Dad, I know, we had that conversation 3 years ago.
 

Ernest - So what have you accomplished today, eh Morris? I guess it would be a waste of breath to ask if you got a job, right?
 

Morris - Well Dad, unlike hundreds of pimple-ridden 16-year-olds, I did not receive my Mercedes, so unless something opens up within a 4 block radius there's no use looking. Without a car I can't get a job and without a job I can't afford a car. It doesn't take Socrates to follow that logic.
 

Ernest - Don't you get smart with me. I work myself to death putting food in your mouth and clothes on your back. Don't you...
 

Ruth - Hush, you guys my show is coming on!
 

Ruth hurries over to where Morris is sitting and snatches the remote control away from him. She turns the volume up so everyone can hear the theme music to the MollyAnne Warner show.. Ernest has finished with his boots and goes to sit on the couch by Morris. As the sound of the music increases, the lights dim on stage left. They go up correspondingly on stage right. There the MollyAnne Warner show has begun.
 

Scene Two
 

MollyAnne Warner- Hello and welcome to the show. Today we'll be talking to Cindy, a woman not so different from any one of us. But did the computer age suck her into a dangerous relationship? I'm not talking about men who beat women,

(dramatic pause while audience boo's)

or the men who control their lives so completely that they are kept a prisoner in their own home (dramatic pause for booing).

I'm not even talking about the creeps that prey on lonely ladies looking for love only to leave them broke and in despair

(very dramatic pause with loud reaction from the audience).

Nope... I'm not talking about a man at all. Why don't I let Cindy explain the rest of the story.

Applause comes from the audience as the guest (Cindy) enters from Stage Right and takes a seat in one of the chairs.
 

MollyAnne Warner- I know it's painful for you, Cindy, but, can you try to tell our audience what happened to you?

Cindy (obviously distraught) - I'll try. You see, I had just come out of a bad relationship and I guess I was feeling pretty lonely when a friend told me about Internet dating.
 

MollyAnne Warner- For those of you who don't know, there are quite a number of dating services that are available on the Internet for people to use from the privacy of their own homes. And you thought this would be a good idea for you, Cindy?
 

Cindy- Yes, I've always been a bit shy, and I thought it would be great to meet someone without the pressure of seeing them face to face - at first, of course.
 

MollyAnne Warner- I think everyone can understand how nerve-wracking that can be. And everything seemed to be going well at first, didn't it, Cindy? In fact the man you contacted seemed to be ideal, isn't that right?
 

Cindy - Oh yes, we wrote back and forth for months about everything... all of our likes and dislikes, our favorite movies and books, the type of music we listened to. We were absolutely compatible.
 

MollyAnne Warner- Well, it sounds great. You are looking for someone to have a relationship with and thanks to the miracle of modern computers you find your soul mate, the man you've been looking for all of your life.
 

Cindy- Yes, or at least that's what I thought.
 

MollyAnne Warner- You're right, Cindy, there was a problem, wasn't there? Something that you just couldn't overlook, could you? Well, I know why Cindy is here today. But, why don't you go ahead and let everybody else in on the secret.
 

Cindy- He was an alien.
 

Outburst from audience
 

Cindy - It took 5 months, but he finally told me the truth. He tapped into our satellite system and was able to communicate with me. He said he was lonely, that he had been monitoring earth for the last 3 years in a ship in orbit and had had no outside contact with anyone. I guess I still feel kind of sorry for him, but I just ... I... don't know what to do now.

She bursts into tears
 

MollyAnne Warner- I guess Cindy needs a little time to compose herself. It must be hell to discover something like this about someone that you have come to trust. Let's take a break and we'll be back with the rest of her story.
 

The theme music plays again and lights go down on Stage Right. Lights go up on Stage Left to show Ruth, Ernest and Morris staring raptly at the t.v.
 

Scene Three
 

Morris- Well, I think a couple of I.Q. points just got sucked out of me. I don't know how you watch that stuff, Mom.
 

Ruth- Now that's just not true, Morris. That MollyAnne is an absolute angel. I read her autobiography just the other day and she came from normal people just like us and had to fight to make a name for herself. And she's done it without trying to be so uppity and all like that Donahue, with his glasses and his thick silver hair, always spouting out five-syllable words. Who does he think he is? I can't believe that she would have that girl on her show if it wasn't the God's-Honest truth.
 

Ernest- Stop giving your mother a hard time, Morris. You're lucky you even have a t.v. to watch. Now get up and help set the table, it's the least you could do.
 

Morris grudgingly gets up and takes over setting the table.
 

Ruth- Oh, thank you honey (to Morris). Now Ernest, let's go change before our company gets here.
 

Ernest- What company? What are you talking about?
 

Ruth- I told you last Tuesday. Lydia's new friend is coming over tonight.
 

Ernest- Are the clothes I wear every other night not good enough for Lydia's friends or something? Why should I change? I'm tired.
 

Ruth- Come on Ernest, Lydia's really been looking forward to him coming over.
 

Ernest- Oh okay, anything for some peace and quiet.
 

Ernest and Ruth exit stage right and Morris continues setting the table. Enter Lydia from Stage Left with a bag of groceries and some flowers.
 

Lydia- Man, what is this, the twilight zone? What are you doing setting the table?
 

Morris- Oh, Dad's in one of his moods. I'm just trying to stay out of the line of fire. What's this about you having some guy over tonight? I haven't heard about you dating anyone around here. Where's he from?
 

Lydia- Do you promise you won't laugh?
 

Morris- No.
 

Lydia- Fine then, I won't tell.
 

Morris- Okay, okay. What's the deal?
 

Lydia- I've actually known him for a while now, but, no, he's not from around here. I met him over the Internet.
 

Morris (beginning to laugh) - You have got to be kidding me Lydia. I mean you're no super-model, but I'm sure if you tried you could find a man without becoming some sort of cyberspace mail-order bride! Oh, this is too much!
 

Lydia (angry)- It's not like that, you jerk. He's really great. He's from France, but he's doing a student exchange program this year, and he's just over at the state college. I might even do a couple of semesters in Paris if things go okay. I'll drop you a line when I get there. Don't worry about giving me an address, I know where you'll be. She makes a grand gesture toward the couch.
 

Lydia exits down hallway, Stage left. The sound of her door slamming at the end of the hall can be heard. A couple of moments pass and Ruth and Ernest return to the living room in their new clothes. Morris is busy chopping the stems off the bottom of the flowers and putting them in a vase on the table.
 

Ruth- Why what a nice thought, Morris. Those flowers are beautiful.
 

Morris- Think nothing of it Mom.
 

Ernest- How much did they cost?
 

Ruth- You can't put a price on beauty, can you dear?

She smiles sweetly at Morris who accepts the praise with a humble grin and shrug.
 

Morris- I just thought I would try to make it nice for when Lydia's new boyfriend gets here, but I guess that is pretty much impossible considering the (he leans toward them and says in an ominous tone) "situation."
 

Ruth- What situation sweetheart?
 

Morris- Oh! (feigning surprise) you don't know? Perhaps I've said too much.
 

Morris saunters over to the couch and has a seat while his parents look at each other in confusion.
 

Ernest- If some no-good bum around here has gotten that girl in trouble, I'll kill him! Ruth, where's my gun?
 

Ernest exits Stage Left to go look for his gun and Ruth goes around to sit on the couch beside Morris.
 

Ruth- Is that it, honey? Is that the situation that you're talking about? Tell me what's wrong.

Morris- very melodramatic speech Well Mom, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but someone has to do it. I can't believe that Lydia hasn't told you yet. I was just now able to get it out of her. I suppose she's embarrassed, but that's no reason to ambush the family with no warning. You see, Lydia isn't dating someone she met around here. In fact, he's from quite a distance away, if you catch my drift. She met him over the Internet. I guess we should have suspected something with her typing away on that computer day and night. If only I had known what would happen. That she could be so deceived as to believe that she loves him. Now she's planning on flying away with him back to his home. (Then thoughtfully) I wonder if she could be under some kind of mind control.
 

Ruth- I knew it, Morris! I told you that MollyAnne Warner wouldn't lie. And now here we are

in the same mess. I knew when she bought that computer there would be trouble. We've got to stop Lydia before it's too late!
 

Morris, pleased with the trouble he has caused, saunters out of the room while his mother is left fretting on the couch.
 

Ruth- LYDIA! COME HERE NOW!
 

Lydia (running into the room still with one shoe in her hand and a couple of rollers stuck in her hair)- What's wrong, Mom? Why's Daddy running around looking for his gun? Has someone broken into the house?
 

Ruth- No, no nothing like that. This is much more serious. Lydia, sit down by me.
 

Lydia, calm now but curious sits by her mother on the couch.
 

Ruth- I know that we've never really discussed the boys that you date. I've always known that you are a smart girl and would do your best to do the right thing. But now this whole situation with this new "boy." Well, Lydia, what could you be thinking?
 

Lydia- Let me guess. Morris told you what I told him, right?
 

Ruth- I would be surprised if he tried to keep this from us. I can't believe that you were going to spring it on us without any warning. This is not the sort of thing that can be taken lightly, you know.
 

Lydia- Oh come on, Mom, it's not that big of a deal. I know that Luc (she pronounces it with an accent that sounds strange) isn't like the other guys I've dated, but I think that's what I like about him the most. And you must see the opportunities that traveling would give me.
 

Ruth- I'm afraid that this is my fault. I've tried to raise you to respect all people and to treat them equally, but you must see how different this situation is. Don't you dear?
 

Lydia- I can't believe this, Mom. You're right. You have always taught me to ignore the differences in others and treat them as I would be treated and now I find out how truly prejudiced you are. You shouldn't act so superior, Mother, you do know that a good part of our heritage comes from Luc's people? They came to our country looking for opportunities just like the Irish and the Germans and , well, practically everyone else in the universe.
 

Ruth leans back into the couch and fans her face with a t.v. guide. She is incredulous at what Lydia is saying.
 

Ruth- Now come on, Lydia, you know that's not true. This situation has gotten way out of hand. You're going to have to talk to your father about this. Or... (musing to herself) maybe I should get the government involved. I bet they'd like to know what's going on here.
 

Lydia- Mom, don't you know anything? The government encourages visits like this. It's part of a cultural exchange program. It's all perfectly legal. He didn't sneak into the country or anything.
 

Ruth- How come I've never heard of this before if it's so common? I know I don't get out that much, but I do watch the news, you know. I think it would have been mentioned at some point. Please don't try to make a fool of me, Lydia. That is where I draw the line with you kids.
 

Lydia- I've had enough of this, mother. I try so hard to please you and Dad and I never get any credit but Morris just lies around all day and you think he's some sort of sainted genius. You don't have to worry about me bringing my boyfriend into this house, and you don't have to worry about me being here any more either. I'm moving out!
 

Lydia storms out of the room down the hall leaving Ruth on the couch still half in shock.

Stage Left goes black
 

Scene Four
 

Lights on Stage Right go up. Ernest, Ruth and Morris are seated in chairs at the MollyAnne Warner show. The theme music is playing and MollyAnne Warner is standing in front in order to introduce the show a spotlight is directed on her.
 

MollyAnne Warner- Hi! And welcome to the show. Today we continue our expose on "Aliens Online" with a visit from the Taylor family. Ruth and Ernest's daughter and Morris' sister has left her home to live with an alien she met over the Internet. She claimed it was part of a government sponsored program. Could this be true? Stay tuned because we have a lot more to tell about how this family was torn apart and how you can prevent it from happening to you.
 

The spotlight goes out
 

Offstage Voice - And cut for commercial!
 

Ruth- Excuse me, Ms. Warner, but could we take a bit of a bathroom break? I'm afraid Ernest and I overdid the punch in the Green Room.
 

MollyAnne Warner- Are you kidding? Yeah, go ahead. After an intro like that I bet we can get in a full fifteen minutes of commercials without losing a single viewer. Take your time.
 

Ernest and Ruth exit Stage Right. Morris gets up and saunters over to MollyAnne Warner.
 

Morris- I think you owe me a Thank You.
 

MollyAnne Warner- What are you talking about?
 

Morris - I made this story and I could break it right here and now. If I was to tell the truth, you'd look like a complete idiot.
 

MollyAnne Warner- Oh great. Just what I need, a guest with half a brain. Listen Uh...she glances at her notes...Morris. There's really no harm in this sort of thing. No one really believes this stuff, and even if they do it doesn't do any harm. Just sit over there and smile and you'll have something to talk about for the rest of your life. This is nationally televised you know. You'll be a star.
 

Morris- I have a better idea. Why not get me hired here and I could set you up a story like this every week, no problem. Surely you could use another executive in a big place like this?
 

MollyAnne Warner- You mean a job?
 

Morris- That's exactly what I mean.
 

MollyAnne Warner- Are you trying to blackmail me, Morris?
 

Morris- Well, let's just say that I'm offering you the chance at a really great show with no...contradictions to your story line. With what I could say you could squeeze in 30 minutes of commercials and still have your audience on the edge of their seats. What do you say? Is it a deal?

MollyAnne Warner- You know Morris, I think you might fit in just fine around here. Go take your seat and we'll discuss your salary after the show. How does lunch at the Palace sound?
 

Morris- (grinning ear to ear) MollyAnne, I think we are going to get along just fine.
 

Offstage Voice- Everybody in their seats. We're back on air in four minutes!
 

Ruth and Ernest hurry in from offstage and take their seats and Morris sits down as well.
 

Morris- Well, Dad, I've got a job! MollyAnne Warner just offered me a position with the show.
 

Ruth- Oh honey! That's so wonderful! I knew you would find something.
 

Ernest- I'm proud of you son! I guess you just needed to find the right opportunity. MollyAnne must have really noticed some potential in you for you to get hired so quickly. I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time. Now if only Lydia would get her act together....
 

Ruth- I know she's my daughter, but Lydia always did have a dark side to her personality. I guess I was just too easy on her. But at least one of you kids turned out right. She gives Morris a pat on the shoulder.
 

Morris- Well, you don't have to worry about me, Mom. I feel like this is what I was born to do. By this time next year.....I could be hosting this show. How does "The Morris Taylor Show" strike your fancy?
 

Both parents beam at their son and curtain falls.