The Morning After

Jacob, my TA in my dramatic writing class, had us write down a scene with only action and no dialogue. It was an in-class assignment, and this was the first thing that popped into my head. Keep in mind that I write fiction. Thank you.

She opened her eyes and became startled when she realized the bedroom she woke up in was not her own. She looked under the covers to discover that she had apparently slept in her underwear. She reluctantly turns to her right to see who’s bedroom she was in. She sees his face and, him being a handsome man, half smiles with a look of content. She lifts the covers just enough for her to be able to slip out, very carefully maneuvering out of the bed. She doesn’t realize her right leg is a bit entangled in the sheets and ends up falling onto the floor in the least graceful, least quiet way possible. She quickly peeks over the side of the bed trying to hide behind it. The man simply rolls over but does not wake. She lets out a sigh of relief and begins to search for her clothes and various belongings. She finds her dress, shoes, and cell phone quickly. She puts on her dress and her shoes, and clutches her cell phone in her right hand. She looks around the room, seemingly bewildered. Then she sees them. Her keys are right next to the man’s face on his night stand. She mouths the word “Fuck!” raises then drops her hands in frustration then puts her left had to her forehead thinking. Having formulated a plan in her head, she takes her shoes back off, holds them in her right hand with her cell phone and very quietly and slowly tip toes in the direction of her keys. She accidentally stubs her toe on the corner of the bed. She lets out an “Ow!” quite loudly then quickly covers her mouth with her left hand and completely stops moving. Again the man stirs but is not awakened. She takes her hand off her face and sighs again. She inches closer and closer to her keys and with her left thumb and index finger picks them up making sure not to move and have them make noise. She lifts them and brings them closer to her body. Then with her shoes, phone and keys clutched tightly to her body she tip toes backwards toward the door. The man stirs again. She stops moving and tightly closes her eyes wishing him not to wake. He begins to snore, she opens her right eye, then her left. The man is still obviously asleep. She makes it to the door and she opens it quickly but quietly. She turns to exit, and then sees that the man is awake, sitting up, and looking at her.

He's in Love With a Stripper

This was my second assignment that I just turned in, in my dramatic writing class. Jacob, my TA, gave good reviews and thought that I should expand on it and make into a short play. Who knows...maybe I will.

He's in Love With a Stripper

Her name was Amelia Cassack. But everyone at work called her Cassie. Largely in part because she didn’t want anyone to know her real name. In her line of work this type of consideration was essential to her safety. She was 20 and gorgeous, therefore using her looks to pay her way through school.

His name was Stephen Lerner. He has just turned 21 and has never been to a strip club. His four best friends thinking this to be the most ridiculous thing ever, decided to surprise him for his birthday. They brought him to a strip club, got him drunk, and then bought him a lap dance (in that order).

(Stephen nervously taps right foot simultaneously tapping his left hand on his left knee to opposite rhythms. Amelia walks in wearing a red see through type of nightgown, black patent high heeled boots that went up to her knees, a black thong, and black lacy bra. Stephen stands now tapping his left hand on his side, faster.)

Amelia
(She drops her purse of cash in the corner of the room.)
Hey there big boy.

Stephen
Hi.
(Still tapping his hand, and obviously nervous.)

Amelia
Why don’t you have a seat?
(She’s turned around adjusting her bra, and then bends over to adjust her boots.)

Stephen
(He stops moving altogether when she bends over.)
Okay.
(He doesn’t sit down.)

Amelia
(She turns around.)
Did you want me to give you a lap dance standing up?

Stephen
What?
(He begins nervously tapping his hand again.)

Amelia
(Walks up close to him, and grabs his hand to make it stop. She whispers in his ear.)
You should sit down.
(He does.)

Stephen
Hi. I’m Stephen.
(He extends his hand to Amelia for a handshake. She ignores it.)

Amelia
(Giggles)
I’m going to turn the music on now. And remember you can look, but you can’t touch. Unless, of course, I ask you to. Got it?

Stephen
(Nods a little too quickly)
Okay.

Amelia
(She flips a switch that turns on the music and a series of rotating disco balls.)
You ready for me big boy?

Stephen
Uh…yeah…uh…huh…
(He has been nodding the whole time.)

Amelia
First time?
(Amelia is bending over in front of Stephen, looking at him from between her legs, she slowly rises and begins to take off the red see through nightgown slowly.)

Stephen
Uh…yeah… I mean…
(clears his throat)
naw… I uh…yeah…
(He just leans back and stares.)

Amelia
(With her nightgown off she walks toward him, and with one leg up, and about to straddle him, she suddenly stops)
Do I…know you?

Stephen
(Leans forward to get a better look at her)
OH SHIT! AMY???

Amelia
OH MY FUCKING…WHAT THE FUCK?!
(She gathers her clothing of the floor and tries to cover herself up with her see through nightgown)

Stephen
Oh my God! How are you?! Give me a hug!
(He stands with his arms open, but is stumbling drunk.)

Amelia
You have got to be fucking shitting me. You’re so fucking drunk.
(She turns off the music and lights)

Stephen

It’s my birthday! What are you doing here anyway? Whoa…I’m gonna need to sit down again.

Amelia
Um. I work here. I almost gave you a lap dance remember?
(She motions toward her outfit)

Stephen
Oh yeah! You got fucking hot!
(He says with a big smile on his face.)

Amelia
(She steps closer toward him.)
Look Stephen, I’d rather if you not say anything about me working here. And if you not tell anyone here my name’s Amelia. If anyone asks, it’s Cassie okay?

Stephen
Of course, anything for an old friend. Now how about that hug?
(He opens his arms up again.)

Amelia
Stephen, I can’t. I’m sorry. I have to go.
(She leaves.)

Stephen
Now why does that sound so familiar?
(He grabs his jacket, and uses as it as blanket to take a nap.)

Greg and Tess

I'm taking a dramatic writing class this quarter, and it's a tad challenging due to the fact that I write fiction, not plays or screenplays. But the class gave me good reviews on my first attempt. Here it goes:

Greg
So where were you today?

Tess
I told you, I went to lunch with the girls.

Greg
All day? Did you guys hang out after too or something?

Tess
Um, well after lunch I went out for a little bit.

Greg
It’s nine o’clock Tess. You’ve been out for like twelve hours.

Tess
No I went out at like ten…so it was only like eleven hours. (begins to straddle him in his seat, kiss his neck, talk in baby talk, etc.)

Greg
(He stops her, and holds her away at shoulder‘s length) Teresa, stop being cute, I was worried.

Tess
Shit…okay honey, I’m sorry God…(gets off him and walks into the bathroom, Greg follows her and leans against the doorway as she takes off her make-up)

Greg
I called Jules, she said you got out of lunch at one.

Tess
Yeah, we did.

Greg
She also said you didn’t want to go shopping with Maggie afterwards.

Tess
Yeah, I wasn’t really in the mood. Plus I’ve been spending too much money lately. So you should be proud of my self-restraint. Why are you all concerned with where I go all of the sudden anyway?

Greg
Straight up? (she nods) Okay, like I said before I was really worried and it was getting late and you weren’t here so-(she interrupts him)

Tess
Aw, how cute you were worried about me. (She puts her arms around his neck and begins to kiss him)

Greg
(smiles as she kisses him, but then pushes her away again) Tess, come on, just tell me where you were.

Tess
(arms still wrapped around him) Ugh, okay, since it’s not a big deal, I went to McMillan’s office. (begins to kiss him again)

Greg
(stops kissing and holds her away from him) McMillan’s office?

Tess
Yeah.

Greg
Dr. McMillan? The friendly neighborhood oncologist?!

Tess
Yeah. It was just a little check up, whatever, then I went to get some coffee and write a bit at the café around the corner from his place and now I’m here.

Greg
Little check ups are not “whatever” and definitely don’t happen at ONCOLOGY offices.

Tess
Yeah they do. And how the hell would you know anything about it anyway?

Greg
Because I talked to Robert and he said you were having a round of chemo. (Tess immediately stops what she’s doing) So are you going to tell me what’s going on now?
(Tess is quiet, she pushes past him and heads to the kitchen, she leans against the sink looking for a way out of their conversation)

Greg
Don’t do this Tess. Don’t shut me out, you need to talk to me. We have a life together now. (She begins to wash the dishes, he shuts of the water, furious.) Damnit Tess! Talk to me!

Tess
(She turns the water back on and begins washing the dishes again) Gregory Capana, why are these dishes just sitting in the sink?

Greg
(Attempting to be calm but still apparently furious) Teresa look at me.

Tess
I’m cleaning up after you, can’t you be more appreciative?

Greg
Tess, just turn around. (He starts to rub her back)

Tess
It’s really not that hard to put dishes in the dishwasher. (She’s beginning to break down.)

Greg
Tess…

Tess
I mean you eat something, and then you fucking clean it. It’s that simple, and some dumbasses can’t even do stupid simple shit like that. It’s not like I’m asking you to become a servant or some shit like that. I just hate always having to be the Mom here. (the last few words are staggered as Tess is trying not to cry)

Greg
(he finally gets to her and holds her hands in his and puts dishes down, and turns off the water. Tess begins to cry, he turns her to face him) Talk to me.

Tess
FUCK! (she breaks down, he holds her) Last month, remember when I had my annual, it was all routine you know, they do the normal tests and whatever.

Greg
Mhm…yeah I remember

Tess
Then a week later they tell me I need to come in right away, but they didn’t tell me what for. So, I go in and um…(she tries to hold back her tears) they have the results of my tests…

Greg
yeah…

Tess
And um… (she pauses) it’s back.

Greg
Oh God, Tess… (he holds her more tightly, she semi-pushes him away)

Tess
Greggy, there was more.

Greg
Okay what?

Tess
I was supposed to have my first round of chemo today, just like Robert told you, but I decided not to.

Greg
What?!

Tess
Greg, just listen to me. (she sighs and tries to pace herself as she speaks) I didn’t tell you where I was going today because I didn’t want you to know, that (she pauses) it’s stage five. The chemo would’ve been useless anyway.

Greg
What?! Why didn’t you tell me all this before?!

Tess
How the fuck was I supposed to tell my fiance that even though I love him so much, and have been looking forward to becoming his wife for two years, a wedding would just be a waste of moeny! Huh?! I mean I could be gone in a year! I just…I love you Greg! And I didn’t want to put you through all this again.

Greg
All what?! All this shit that I already have to go through anyway?!

Tess
YES! All this shit! All this FUCKED UP SHIT! God Greg, I’m FUCKING DYING! Okay?! Happy?! Now you know everything! Woopdie doo! I told you, and now you’re hurt, and sad and whatever. But you know what? Fuck you! You’re not even the one dealing with ANYTHING! I’M dying. ME! I’m twenty-four fucking years old, I thought I beat it, and I was so FUCKING happy! And pretentious, and now I AM DYING! (lets out a big sigh as she just bursts into tears. Greg holds her as she tries to resist, and then finally gives in) I’m dying, Greg. (She whispers between sobs)

Greg
(holding her and trying to console her) I know, honey, I know. Shh..

Voice Over
Then he told me the nicest lie any girl could ask for.

Greg
You’re going to be fine. Everything’s going to be ok.

Voice Over
All I could think was, no, it’s not. In reality nothing’s going to be okay, and we both knew that. But I gave in to the lie because of how perfect it sounded.

Tess
Promise?

Greg
I Promise. (He kisses her)

Apologies.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not calling, for not being there more, for not telling you the three simplest words I could ever say. I'm sorry for leaving you. I told myself that it does not do anything to dwell on the idea too long. That my reasons for leaving were completely justified. That everything wrong with us was your fault. I told myself that I was making the right decision. That it would be better for everyone, that I needed to leave you. I told myself that I shouldn't regret it. That one should never regret anything in one's life. That making a decision such as I did would add character. That it would contribute to my maturity and self-development. But it didn't.
I have spent years missing you. Wondering what you're doing at any given moment of every day. Wondering if you ever missed me. I have spent years wondering whether or not I did in fact make the right decision. Wondering if you'd ever take me back, if you still loved me, or if you even thought about me.
And then I saw you with her. You looked happy. You looked happier than you ever did with me. And then I saw you kiss her and I knew. She loved you back. I knew that I wasn't the love of your life, though you have always been the love of mine, despite everything. And then I saw you say "I do." I saw the minister pronounce you man and wife. Then I knew. You had gotten all you ever wanted with someone else, and I had lost you forever.
I'm sorry it wasn't me. I'm sorry for every hurtful thing I have ever said to you. I'm sorry I was never ready to let myself love you completely, the way you had always loved me. I'm sorry I never let you know just how much I was in love with you. I'm sorry I didn't have enough strength to stay. I'm sorry for leaving you.
But thank you for being strong enough to fall in love again, much stronger than I can ever even hope to be, though it pains me desperately to know it will never be with me.