Up next...a script of Jealousy!
A week ago I posted the first of eight scripts, each a stand-alone scene, that I wrote as a part of a Creative Writing Drama class I took. Once those are posted, I'll put the final project, one act of a play, up in parts
This is the second one, with the prompt of: "Exercise 2: ‘Jealousy’ – Write a two-page scene with two characters: A is jealous of B."
How-to: Because I know scripts can be odd to read if you're not used to them, and from what I hear the format the class had us use was not standard, here's just a quick guide to reading it:
All stage direction, such as actions of the characters and scene description is in italics.
The name of the character who is speaking is in capitals on the left.
Pause means there's, well, a pause between dialogue.
Beat is like a rest in music: basically just a short pause.
Also, normal scripts have better spacing in the dialogue, but this was what the professor asked for (and formatting that way is surprisingly difficult). We were also told to only list the characters' names, ages, and gender.
TRISH: a 17 year old girl.
ROSE: a 19 year old girl.
The scene is set in the dressing room for a beauty pageant. Vanities and stools line the walls, draped with costumes and clothes and cluttered with makeup and hair products. There is a door in the far corner leading to the pageant’s backstage. The door opens, allowing distant cheers and applause to drift in.
ROSE enters, wearing an enormous crown and a green, sparkly dress. She seems relieved but tired, and walks to a vanity. Rolling her eyes she takes the crown off, but before she can set it down TRISH bursts in, wearing a slightly smaller but still gaudy crown and a frilly, over-the-top pink dress. TRISH flops down at an especially messy vanity and begins dramatically crying.
ROSE: (without turning to look at TRISH) You okay?
TRISH whips around to face ROSE, her makeup starting to run.
TRISH: Do I look okay to you, jerk?
ROSE glances back at TRISH, raises an eyebrow, and then turns back to the vanity. TRISH watches ROSE casually drop the crown on it and begin to undress.
TRISH: You don’t even appreciate it, do you?
ROSE: The prize money? Yes, I do actually.
Beat.
TRISH: You do this and all you care about is the money? You’re stealing these pageants away for stupid money?
ROSE, finally free from her dress, leaves it on the floor and starts putting on her street clothes of jeans and a t-shirt.
TRISH: I mean, why would the judges pick you? I’m prettier. My dresses are nicer. It doesn’t make sense.
ROSE: I’m sure to you it doesn’t.
TRISH struggles, not knowing what to say. Her makeup continues to smudge and run across her face.
Beat.
TRISH: They were mine! Can’t you see that? I’m supposed to be the winner. That’s supposed to be my crown and my flowers and my applause. Not yours, mine!
Pause. The only sound is TRISH’s pitiful sobbing.
ROSE, now dressed, shakes her head and looks at TRISH.
ROSE: Do you think if I had a choice I’d be here? You’re right, I don’t like any of this glitz and glam crap. It’s dumb. But I need that prize money. It’s not my fault that a spoiled girl like you can’t deal with second place.
TRISH: You think I’m spoiled? You beat me!
Beat.
TRISH: Everything was great until you showed up. And now you have everything that matters to me. And they mean nothing to you. You just appeared and stole them from me. It’s not fair.
TRISH crosses her arms. ROSE shifts uneasily, and sits on the stool at her vanity.
ROSE: Look, I only need to win a few more pageants before I’ve earned enough. After that I can quit and you can go back to being queen of the world again.
TRISH: Oh how generous of you to give me my spotlight back after you’re through with it. You didn’t deserve it in the first place.
TRISH goes back to dramatic sobs at her vanity. ROSE frustratedly and quickly brushes out her styled updo.
Pause.
ROSE stands up and puts the crown in a duffle bag, which she carries as she walks toward the door. TRISH quiets down as she looks to see ROSE leaving, and then resumes her cries.
ROSE hesitates, her hand on the doorknob. She seems to be wrestling with something inside herself.
ROSE: (to TRISH, sighing) Some friends and I are going out to dinner in a little bit…want to join us?
TRISH looks up in surprise, then composes herself, attempting to wipe some of her now thoroughly messy makeup back into place.
TRISH: (faking ambivalence) And what makes you think I’d want to do that?
ROSE: I don’t know, I thought I’d try to be nice.
TRISH: Well, no. I don’t want to.
ROSE: (turning to leave) Fine.
Beat.
TRISH: Oh, Rose?
ROSE: Yes?
TRISH starts adjusting her drooping false eyelash.
TRISH: Even you should know by now to hang your gown up. Otherwise it’ll be wrinkled beyond repair. Just because it’s an ugly dress doesn’t mean it deserves to be left crumpled like that.
ROSE gives TRISH a wary look, but goes and puts the dress on a hanger on the vanity. TRISH flashes a perfect, practiced smile as ROSE exits, while continuing to fix her makeup.
Fade to black.
I remember feeling a little stumped as far as inspiration, and it probably shows. Still, I think it's not bad for my second attempt.
Even though my idea isn't super original, I'm happy I chose to do a concept where it's more that they're jealous of each other. Reading it over again, I think I might have been subconsciously influenced by my love of the musical Wicked. 💚
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed and thanks for reading!
