Brief:  Write part two of a trilogy of plays.

Excerpt:

KATE:                        So, Sophie, are you ready to sew with us tonight?

SOPHIE:                     Sew with you? Um… why would I want to do that? Pass the salt, please?

KATE:                        (passing the salt) Maybe because we have a family tradition of gathering to make a quilt every year, and  you’re old enough to join us?

ELIZA:                        It’s more than tradition.

KATE:                        Mom, you don’t need to put any magical nonsense into Sophie’s head.

SOPHIE:                     No, I want to hear what Gran has to say. (to Eliza) What magical nonsense does she mean?

 

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012 – Triptych II – Heart and Soul

Brief: Write the first play in a trilogy.

Excerpt:

She surveys her last bit of work, nods to herself in approval, and goes on.

ELIZA:                        But before… before all the mass production that took the soul out of handwork we used needles made from bone. Oh, you modern stitchers will wrinkle your noses and call it disgusting, but those bone needles had a bit of a curve to them, made the sewing go smoother, and their points were sharper than what you know.

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011 – Triptych I – Blood and Bone

 

Brief: Write the libretto for an opera.

Notes: This was meant for the day 8 prompt, but after trying to adapt two different episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and realizing it was taking more time than I can give, I posted two out-of-order, scrapped everything, and went back to this today. Thanks to my friend Fran for the inspiration. And to (counterclockwise from the top right) Teddy, Perry, Max, and Piper for being my loyal, if drooly, companions.

Excerpt:

TEDDY:                     No one knows what it’s like

Being feared and hated

Knowing death is fated

 

ALL:                            Behind steel bars.

 

PIPER:                        But we dream

Of love and cuddles

And fur-ever families…

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008 – Tennis Ball Rhapsody

Brief: Write a play that takes “just a minute.”

Excerpt:

No, I mean. What if… what if me not being able to beat his time means he won’t come home.

MOTHER:                  (wrapping her arm around her son). Sweetie, whether you race through the piece in fifty-six seconds, or  play it in the two minutes most people do, it won’t bring your dad back sooner, or prevent him from coming home.

MATTHEW:               Promise?

MOTHER:                  Promise. (she ruffles his hair) Want to know a secret about the Minute Waltz?

Notes: Another out of order piece… still working on prompt 8.

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010 – Waltzing with Matthew

Brief: Write a play aimed at 3-6 year-olds.

Notes: This is appallingly bad. And it’s written for kids to perform, as well as watch. It’s also the response for brief 9, because brief 8 is incredibly lengthy and needs more time.

Excerpt:

CHILD TWO:                E is for Everyone getting along.

F is for Fortnight, my avatar’s strong!

G is for Grover and Oscar the Grouch.

H is for Hiding behind the big couch.

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009 – ALPHABETICAL

Brief: Use a piece of music composed by Beethoven to inspire a play.

Excerpt: 

She:                  So, do you come here often?

He:                  My writing group meets here on Thursday evenings; yes.

She:                  Is that usual? For a published author to still have a writing group?

He:                  Absolutely. Feedback is better than a home-cooked meal.

She:                  I’d think that would depend on the meal.

He:                  Oh?

She:                  Well, you know, pot noodles aren’t exactly on par with shrimp scampi.

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07 – Variations 1-7

 

Brief: Write a play in which you meet one of your idols.

Excerpt:

JACQUES:                  Do you know why these were made without handles?

MELISSA:                   I do. It was so the submarine officers on watch could wrap their hands around them for warmth.

JACQUES:                  Warmth is something we all need when we are at sea.

(he places the mugs on a low table between them, and pours tea from a pot into each)

Do you need milk or sugar?

MELISSA:                   I used to. Not so much anymore.

JACQUES:                  I find I like the bit of astringency that comes with black tea. It’s bracing. Reminds you you’re alive.

Notes:  Some of Jacques’s lines are taken from actual quotations.

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06 – Aye Calypso!

Brief: Write a play using one or more of some pre-defined characters, using some or all of the provided traits.

Notes: I didn’t feel that any of the suggested characters were speaking with me so I went to the THEY FIGHT CRIME generator and stole two that I liked, but used a couple of traits from the pre-defined characters.

Excerpt:

HOBBES:                    Then how did you mean it?

CALVIN:                    I’m Aristide. Calvin Aristide. Metal dude on my right is Sparky.

HOBBES:                    (ruffling her wings in irritation) And this information matters to me… why?

CALVIN:                    (annoyed) The Agency didn’t tell you? I’m your new partner.

HOBBES:                    The Agency hasn’t bothered to contact me in weeks. They still blame me for what happened with the last guy. It wasn’t my fault he decided to go to Kestrel Five without me. I mean, who does that?

(beat)

Figured they’d call me in, put me on permanent sabbatical, not assign a new partner. Do you drink?

CALVIN:                    Well, not blood…

 

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04 – Match Made in Purgatory