28 Plays Later 2024 – Brief 01 – the TLC Challenge: The Lost Cow

The Lost Cow

 

Excerpt:

Scene: the front porch of a weathered farmhouse. GLADYS enters from a door, center, and sees something in the distance.

GLADYS

George! Tyler’s little calf is on our lawn again. Hasn’t he fixed that fence yet? This is the third time this week the poor thing’s gone stray.

GEORGE

(off stage)

Guess I better call him to come get it.

GLADYS

(bossy)

I guess you’d better come out here and lead the calf to our barn. It’s supposed to freeze tonight, and that creature’s too young to stay in the open. (beat) George? (another beat) George, I mean now!

GEORGE

(closer)

I heard you, and I’m coming! You don’t need to scream your fool head off, woman. You’ll scare the calf away.

GEORGE enters from the same center door. He’s wearing denim overalls, and a baseball cap with the CAT logo on it. He’s carrying a rope lasso, which he swings as he moves

GEORGE

Alright, I’m here, now where’s the calf you’re so concerned about?

GLADYS

(pointing)

Over there, by the horse trough. Be careful you don’t trip, it’s dark out there.

GEORGE steps off the porch and disappears upstage left. There’s the sound of a lasso being twirled.

GEORGE

(off stage)

Oof! Hold it there. Now c’mon closer. I ain’t gonna hurt you.

From offstage there is a loud MOOO and then Blackout.

Read the entire play here: 001 – 2402.01 – The Lost Cow