Standing By

by Alan Eisenberg



  “STANDING BY”

  A Play in One Act

  Created by

  The 2010-2011

  W.T. Woodson High School

  Drama 4 Students, Allison Zhou, Ellen Neukam, Erica Messenger,

  Terri Hobson & Alan Eisenberg

  Copyright © 2015 Bullying Recovery, LLC

  All Rights Reserved. This book has been made free to the public for use in performances. For further information about the authors and playrights, contact Bullying Recovery, LLC. 10929 Carters Oak Way, Burke, VA 22015 or at pr@bullyingrecovery.org

  As part of the agreement to perform this play for free, we ask that you inform us of performances by emailing the performance date and location information to pr@bullyingrecovery.org

  ISBN: 978-0-9963313-9-5

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  (In Alphabetical Order)

  Ben……A High School teen bully victim

  Brit……Claire's sister

 

  Cassie……The new kid at the school

  Charlie……A teen bystander

  Claire……A straight A student

  Drake……A teen bully

  Haley……A quiet student

  Jennifer……A popular teen and bully

  Levi……A High School teen bully victim

  Mr. Duffman……The Gym Teacher

  Ms. Patricia Bayer……The History teacher

  Mrs. Mary Elliot……A School Administrator

  Ronnie……Teen bystander

  Sam……The bully's loyal lieutenant

  Staci……A popular teen and bully

  FADE IN:

  THE COCOPHONY

  The stage is dark and a soft light slowly comes up revealing the cast in black. No faces can be seen, only the shadows of them on the stage.

  CASSIE

  I’m the new kid.

  BEN

  I’m a wimp.

  CHARLIE

  I’m Catholic.

  HALEY

  I’m Jewish.

  SAM

  I’m good at math.

  DRAKE

  I’m dyslexic.

  RONNIE

  I’m a drama geek.

  MS. BAYER

  I wear glasses.

  MRS. ELLIOT

  I’m Republican.

  JENNIFER

  I’m Muslim.

  MR. DUFFMAN

  I’m pale.

  STACI

  I’m blonde.

  LEVI

  I’m gay.

  BRIT

  I’m shy.

  CLAIRE

  I’m invisible.

  ALL

  I’m bullied.

  BEN

  I want people to see past the way I look.

  MRS. ELLIOT

  I want to fit in.

  BRIT

  I want to be invited.

  MRS. BAYER

  I want the laughing to stop.

  DRAKE

  I want my family to appreciate me.

  LEVI

  I want people to stop stereotyping me.

  STACI

  I want to be taken seriously.

  CHARLIE

  I want to be happy.

  JENNIFER

  I want to be envied.

  HALEY

  I want them to stop staring.

  SAM

  I want to matter.

  RONNIE

  I want to be understood.

  CLAIRE

  I want to be seen.

  MR. DUFFMAN

  I want to change.

  CASSIE

  I want to end my life.

  Bell rings. Students disperse into chaos; some go off-stage, some form a hallway from stage left to stage right.

  SCENE 1 – HALLWAY

  Typical High School hallway at break. Kids at lockers and talking. The background characters freeze and Ben talks directly to the audience.

  BEN

  It’s not like I have a bad life. My life as a child was pretty good. . . at least for the first 8 years. I’m not the JOCK or even the ARTIST. I don’t know that fit in to anything. Of course my parents put me in sports as a kid, but it’s just not my thing. I like video games and music.

  Around 5th grade, the other boys at school noticed I sucked at sports. Somehow that labeled me a wimp. Whatever! But then they started making fun of me. Then they wanted to fight me. Can’t say I’m much of a fighter either. I don’t want to fight them. I just want them to leave me alone.

  I have my friends and my Mom and Dad are pretty cool. I don’t really mind school, but I just wish I could be me without these guys having to give me a hard time. I get by. . .

 

  The scene unfreezes and Ben goes back to his locker. Ben stands at locker and looks up to see Claire, Staci, and Jennifer walking by him. As he says the line he smiles

  BEN

  Hi Claire.

  3 girls stop, turn to look at Ben, break into laughter, and continue to walk to end of hallway. Levi enters stage left as Ben slams locker shut. Ben turns around and bumps into Levi.

  BEN

  (scoffs) Fag. (Keeps walking and exits.)

  LEVI

  (almost to himself) Sorry. (Keeps walking and exits.)

  CLAIRE

  (to Staci and Jennifer) Oh I forgot, I need to see my counselor before class. I’ll catch up with you guys later. (Exits)

  STACI AND JENNIFER

  Bye!

  STACI

  Ugh, I can’t stand her. Did you hear the way she talked about Drake? As if he’d ever like her.

  JENNIFER

  Yeah, I know, right?

  Jennifer and Staci exit the stage.

  Enter Cassie, looking at her phone. Levi crosses and bumps into Cassie.

  CASSIE AND LEVI

  Sorry!

  Cassie rushes away. The scene freezes and Levi turns to talk to the audience.

  LEVI

  Why is being different a crime when you are in High School? From an early age I knew I was different. I didn’t know how, I just knew I didn’t like things that the other boys were into.

  People think that I can help who I am. That I should be different. That I should be heterosexual. Like I have a choice. People tell me I’m too young to know I’m gay. People label me weak, a pansy; they avoid me like I have a disease. I feel it all the time.

  I want to tell them that I can’t help who I am and that I don’t want to change. I just want to feel accepted. Instead, I just hear the whispers behind my back and the taunts to my face. Sometimes I wonder if it will get better? If people will accept who I am? Sometimes, I truly doubt they will.

  The scene unfreezes and returns to the hallway. Mrs. Elliot monitors the hallway. Ms. Bayer enters.

  MS. BAYER

  (Spots Cassie with cell phone.) Hey, put your phone away. Next time I see it out during school, I’m going to take it.

  Cassie puts phone away & goes to locker. Bell rings – all students exit, rushing to class, except Cassie who remains at her locker. When everyone has left, Cassie closes her locker and slowly walks to class.

  MRS. ELLIOT

  Ms. Bayer, do you have a minute?

  MS. BAYER

  Sure, Mrs. Elliot. What’s up?

  MRS. ELLIOT

  Did you read the email I sent about the incident at Parkview High School?

  MS. BAYER

  No, I haven’t checked my email. What was it about?

  MRS. ELLIOT

  It was about a student there who committed suicide. But the bigger issue is that the parents believe that bullying of their daughter at the school led to her to taking her own life. The parents are suing the school.

  MS. BAYER

  Yes. I did read something about that in the paper.

  MRS. EL
LIOT

  I’m a bit worried that this could happen here and I know that we have some bullying going on, but it seems that there’s more focus right now on the issue.

  MS. BAYER

  I know that there’s some minor bullying going on here, but I can’t imagine that it would cause a student to kill themselves.

  MRS. ELLIOT

  I’m sure they thought the same thing at Parkview, but I don’t think we can predict that. Can you just keep an eye on your students and let me know if you even suspect that there’s an issue. I just want to make sure we are vigilant.

  MS. BAYER

  Of course, Mary, I’ll let you know if I see anything out of the ordinary.

  MRS. ELLIOT

  Thanks, Patty. By the way, how’s that new student, Cassie, doing in your class? When I met with her, she was pretty quiet.

  MS. BAYER

  She is pretty shy, I think, but she seems fine.

  MRS. ELLIOT

  Good. Well, I’ll talk to you later.

  MS. BAYER

  OK, take care.

  Bayer and Elliot exit while talking.

  SCENE 2 – LOCKER ROOM

  Typical boys locker room activity and then everyone freezes. Drake comes forward to talk to the audience.

  DRAKE

  Yeah, I know a lot of the kids think I’m a bully. I like it that way. I get a rush from the fear they have when I walk by them. I just want them to respect me. I mean they don’t even know me.

  When I go home it’s totally different. My mom and dad don’t take any crap from me. I think they like to yell and stuff at me, like if I don’t do well at school or sports. It’s really annoying and I just want to punch them too, but my dad will kick my ass and my mom probably would too.

  So taking it out on some queer or wimp here makes me feel a little better, maybe about myself, but I don’t know.

  Everyone unfreezes and Ben and Sam are discovered. Gym class has just ended.

  MR. DUFFMAN

  (Enters.) Good hustle today, boys! I’ll see you next class. (Exits.)

  Boys start to change. Drake and Sam toss a ball back and forth.

  DRAKE

  Hey, heads up! (Throws ball at Ben.) Nice catch, pansy! Do you try to suck this much? Is it possible for someone to be that bad at everything they do?

  And . . .did I see you talking to Claire today? Do you really think you have a chance? You should try and find someone at your level…Way down here.

  (Shoves Ben to the ground.)

  Sam, let’s go!

  (Drake and Sam leave. Levi enters, sees Ben on ground.)

  LEVI

  (Running towards Ben)

  Oh my God, hey, are you okay?

  (Offers a hand to Ben.)

  BEN

  (Slaps hand away)

 

  Get away from me, homo!

  (Runs out. Levi slams bookbag down, lets out a sigh. Duffman enters)

  DUFFMAN

  Hey, Levi. Everything OK? I heard-

  LEVI

  Yeah, Coach, I guess everything’s OK…

  DUFFMAN

  OK, then…

  (Sees K-Bo gloves)

  Boxing, huh?

  LEVI

  Yeah… Kick Boxing. I got into it a couple years ago. It helps. . .you know...getting out some aggression.

  DUFFMAN

  Do you compete?

  LEVI

  Yeah… I have a match tonight. It’s a good outlet.

  DUFFMAN

  Huh… well, good luck, man.

  LEVI

  Thanks, Coach…

 

  Lights go down.

  SCENE 3 – CAFETERIA

  Three tables in lunch room - Jennifer, Drake, and Sam are discovered at one table. Staci enters and everyone freezes. Staci talks to the audience.

  STACI

  I have always been popular at school. That’s never been a problem. But, there’s a level of pressure to this, you know? It’s going to just take one person to bring me down, so I always have to stay one step ahead. I can’t trust anyone, you know?

  And when I get home, I’m ignored. My family just assumes I’m perfect, but they are too busy to even notice me. Then there’s the mirror. I don’t know what others are seeing... Everyone tells me I’m pretty, but I know...I know. . .

  (Staci joins the group at the table)

  STACI

  The party at my house this weekend is going to be awesome. Tell everyone who is anyone to come. Can you guys bring anything?

  SAM

  I got soda.

  DRAKE

  I’ll bring snacks.

  JENNIFER

  I’ll bring the music.

  CLAIRE

  Hey guys, guess what? (No one responds.) I got into Northwestern! You know, my top college choice? That’s where my sister is. I’ve been working so hard to get in. I’m so glad all this stress has paid off.

  SAM

  Dude, did you see the Wisconsin and Northwestern game? (Boys go on sports tangent.)

  CLAIRE

  Yeah, Northwestern, and my sister’s home getting her application to go to grad school there, so we might be going to the same -

  STACI

  (Jennifer listening attentively)

  So…anyway, the way he asked her out was so cute. He had roses and these expensive chocolates—

  CLAIRE

  (Awkwardly interrupts)

  Hey Jennifer, I like your shirt

  JENNIFER

  Oh, thanks…

  (Exchanges look with Staci.)

  STACI

  (To Claire)

  Well, your shirt looks good; I mean, it covers everything it needs to.

  CLAIRE

  Oh um… well, are you guys doing anything this weekend? (Boys have cued into girls’ conversation and stay silent.)

  STACI AND JENNIFER:

  (Share a quick glance)

  No, not really.

  DRAKE AND SAM

  Nope. Nothing at all.

  CLAIRE

  Well, do you all wanna hang out at my house this weekend? I definitely need a break from homework…

  STACI

  No, sorry. We can’t. We’re busy.

  CLAIRE

  Oh okay. I just haven’t had the chance to hang out with you guys recently. I’ve just been so busy with everything…

  STACI

  This is a bad weekend for us.

  JENNIFER

  Yeah, we’re really sorry.

  DRAKE

  Did you see that touchdown run on Saturday?

  SAM

  Aw man, that was crazy! He must’ve broken like eight tackles.

  DRAKE

  Yeah, talk about putting a team on your back!

  CLAIRE

  Well, how about you, Drake? Do you wanna come over?

  STACI

  He doesn’t want to go.

  DRAKE

  (Looks at Staci)

  Uh, sorry, I just can’t.

  JENNIFER

  Can’t you take a hint?

  SAM

  Oh man, I forgot Coach Duffman wanted us to watch film during lunch.

  DRAKE

  Oh yeah, let’s go.

  STACI

  Bye, Drake! Anyway, I heard Hayley got a nose job.

  JENNIFER

  Well, it didn’t help very much.

  CLAIRE

  (Staci and Jennifer ignore her)

  Okay well I guess I’ll go now…You know, I think I have some homework… (Exits.)

  STACI

  Oh thank God that’s over. Anyway, about the party…

  SCENE 4 - Hallway

  MRS. ELLIOT

  (scene freezes as Mrs. Elliot speaks to the camera)

 

  We all see it every day. Another story about how bullying caused a child to commit suicide. There are about 4,400 suicide deaths a year among young people and one study shows that half of these suicides could be attributed to bullying.
/>   We have implemented good programs at the school on anti-bullying. But I can’t be everywhere at once and I can’t convince every teacher and every student to be aware of what’s going on with the kids around them. And now with cyberbullying, we can’t even see it happening. But I have to keep trying. It’s more than just my job, it’s someone’s life.

  (The scene unfreezes and Ms. Bayer walks onto the stage)

  MRS. ELLIOT

  Patty? Have you had a chance to look at that e-mail I mentioned the other day?

  MS. BAYER

  Ohhh, not yet, but I will after school…

  MRS. ELLIOT

  Please do and I hope that I can count on you to let me know if any of your students seem to need help. I can’t tell you how important that is. There are kids here who are suffering because of the incident at Parkview. We have counselors available for the kids who need it, but the teachers are the front line here, and it is vital that you are aware of what’s going on and how we can get these kids the help they need.

  MS. BAYER

  I understand. I’ll keep an eye out.

  MRS. ELLIOTT

  Please, please do.

  SCENE 5– BATHROOM

  (Levi is at a mirror. Charlie is about to exit; Drake enters)

  CHARLIE

  What’s up?

  (Washing hands.)