The October People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The October People’s Choice Award goes to Maria D. Smith for her play Politics: A Mind Bending Reflection, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on October 9th live at the Broadwater Second Stage and simulcast via Vimeo Livestream. Congratulations, Maria!

Courtesy of Maria, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

Politics: A Mind Bending Reflection
by
Maria D. Smith

CHARACTERS
CATHY J. JENKINS- Our main character, choosing life and hating the experience.

REESE- A magician refined by street smarts; aspiring father

VERONICA- A disgruntled, overworked mother

DOOR- Literally a door

WOMAN- A hustled bystander

VERONICA, WOMAN, and DOOR should be played by the same person. All characters in this production are Black. The character of DOOR is never physically on stage, only the voice. The voice of DOOR should mimic that of a sassy smart house.

SETTING
A white windowless room with a door.

CATHY gets in a stance to gain momentum before she runs full speed at the door across the room. She lands into the door hard. The door is unfazed. CATHY falls back and onto the floor. The DOOR comes alive just to spite her.

DOOR
Ha!

CATHY
So you can mock me but you won’t open?

DOOR
Pretty much.

CATHY
Why won’t you let me out?

DOOR
You don’t really wanna go out there.

CATHY
I think I know what I want. Now open.

CATHY gets back in her stance to attack the door. She runs at it full speed.

CATHY
Open!

As soon as CATHY is about to collide with the door, it flies open and she falls through.

DOOR
FINE! But don’t come crying to get back in.

CATHY falls into a lived in apartment. She looks around, taking in what she asked for. Before she can inquire too much, VERONICA and REESE enter.

REESE
That ain’t polite, V!

VERONICA
How it ain’t? Cause I told you no?

REESE
Well… yeah! Why can’t she come to work with me?

VERONICA
Because, Reese! You don’t have a job! You can’t have a take your daughter-to-work-day when there’s no work to go to!

CATHY
Excuse me –

VERONICA
Stay in a child’s place, Cathy!

REESE
Shows how much you know. I’m gainfully employed!

VERONICA
Since when?

Before REESE can answer, VERONICA gets a call on her cellphone. She sighs at the caller ID. The phone keeps ringing.

VERONICA
You know what? I don’t have time to fight you on this today so if you are just this damn determined, go at it. But I swear on my great grandma, to Christ himself, if even a hair is out of place on my child’s head after a day with you, you will not have another day to look forward to, comprehend?

VERONICA gives CATHY a kiss on the forehead before she exits. Once the door is closed, REESE calls after her.

REESE
SHE’S MY KID, TOO!

A beat as REESE gets himself together. He then approaches CATHY.

REESE
You ready to have some fun?

CATHY looks around trying to see if he could be speaking to anyone else.

Join us for the  next  round of PlayGround-LA on Nov 13! For more info, click here!