choices
Doors
This is the first scene of my play, Doors. This play is really about choices we make, and some of the misconceptions regarding those choices. I hope you will stick with me as I continue to post more scenes.
ACT I
Scene 1
Scene takes place with six different doors on stage; Our Planet, Pride, Global Government, My Choice, Spirituality and Grace. Each door will have a specific symbol and its pledge on each door representing what each door stands for; example, Our Planet door will have a big oak tree with people holding hands around it. The “Grace” door is the only door with no symbol or pledge on it. The set is pretty minimal for this scene as cast members will be wondering on and off the stage, and in and out of the doors. ANALISE is observing LOBBYISTS.
ANGEL: (As ANGEL speaks characters freeze.) Which door would you choose? We all have a path; a door to walk through. There are opportunities and consequences behind each door. These are the choices we all face and you must make a choice which door you will choose.
LOBBYISTS: (OUR PLANET door.) We pledge allegiance to the Earth, and all the life to which it supports. One planet in our care, irreplaceable, with substance and respect for all.
LOBBYISTS: (PRIDE door.) We pledge allegiance to our community with love and freedom for all. For our orientation, in which we stand, with tolerance and acceptance for all.
LOBBYISTS: (GOVERNMENT door.) We pledge allegiance to a united world, in humanity, for which we stand, one world, under justice, with unbiased respect for all.
LOBBYISTS: (MY CHOICE door.) We pledge allegiance to our bodies and the universal access to choice. For unto ourselves, for which we stand, in honor and commitment for self.
LOBBYISTS: (SPIRITUALITY door.) We pledge allegiance to the universal belief of many gods alike. We coexist, for which we stand, with support and understanding for all.
ANGEL 1: Which door would you choose? We all have a path, a door to walk through. There are opportunities and consequences behind each door. These are the choices we all face and you must make a choice which door you will choose.
Lights fade out as the Angels exit and CORIANNE is on stage deciding which door to go through.
CORIANNE: How do I know which door to walk through? It’s not like trying on a pair of shoes testing to see which one fits the best. Who could go wrong with this door? (Walks toward OUR PLANET door). They pledge to life and have respect for it.
Before CORIANNE enters the door a group of children skip around a tree reciting the pledge in a rhythmic manner. CORIANNE walks through the door.
IRA: (Directing protesters to make more signs.) I appreciate all your help, but we need to make it to the construction site before we lose any more of that green belt stretched across highway 82. We need to have these signs finished in 20 minutes. Katelynn, did you finish planting the trees behind the back…
KATELYNN …I thought I told you, call me Kat, and yes I planted all 13 of them!
IRA: You’re such a dirty hippie.
KAT: Yeah I know, thank you.
CORIANNE: What can I do to help?
CORIANNE starts making signs as light fades out on the OUR PLANET door and a spot lights up on the MY CHOICE door.
COUNSELOR: This is your body and your choice. Please feel free to take the time you need. You’re at the beginning of your pregnancy, and are just barely 4 weeks along so we still have time. Here’s some literature I would like you to read regarding the procedure. Do you have any questions for me?
CHERIE: I understand what I did, and I get that this is my body but… (softly) I feel like I’m killing this tiny human… I don’t know.
COUNSELOR: This is not an easy decision, and I can’t tell you what to morally believe. We here, at the clinic, look at science and we hold the belief that life begins when it can be sustained on its own. I know it must be overwhelming and a lot for you to consider. You still have time to make your decision. We just want you to know that we’re here for you, and that this is your body and your choice. Please know that abortion isn’t your only option, there is adoption as well.
CHERIE: I’m a 22-year-old, fairly attractive adult with my whole future ahead of me. It was a one-night stand, not something I’m proud to admit I had, and we were safe, but if I’m going to get fat and go through morning sickness then I may as well keep the baby. Right now I don’t want a baby. I don’t know what I morally believe, but I just don’t want to be considered a murderer.
CHILDREN and 2 ANGELS enter stage and are skipping around the logo of a woman and the two angles are standing by the door.
CHILDREN and ANGELS:
We pledge allegiance to our bodies and the universal access to choice. For unto ourselves for which we stand in honor and commitment for self.
CHILDREN and ANGELS exit, lights focuses in on IRA and CORIANNE.
IRA: New girl, do you want to march with us at the construction site?
CORIANNE: Are you in the habit of not knowing who you’re talking to?
IRA: I’m sorry…
CORIANNE: Corianne!
IRA: Corianne. I see lots of people coming in and out of this door all the time. Maybe you’re just trying this door out to see if it fits, but I’ve been trying to fight for this place we live in, this place we call home, since I planted my first plant in preschool. The way I see it, if we don’t get our act together and save our planet, we won’t be around to fight for anything. So please don’t take it personal.
CORIANNE: Truth is Ira, I don’t know if this is the door or the choice I would like to stand up for. My parents were big on recycling and I have tried my best to become a little greener. I read your pledge, and I think it’s a good cause to stand up for, but I wasn’t aware I had to just choose one door, one cause, or that I couldn’t decide to change my mind later. Not all of us can say we knew what we wanted to fight for when we were two.
IRA: I wasn’t two I was four. Are you going to march or not?
CORIANNE picks up a sign and heads out the door with the rest of the protesters
ANALISE gets up from the bench walks towards center stage talking to God. ANALISE paces around stage as she continues to talk.
ANALISE: Dear God — what am I doing is that how you address God? — Ummm…Our Father in heaven hallowed… No one talks like that. Seriously I don’t know how to do this God. Okay, I’m just going to talk to you. I feel like I’m at this place in my life where it’s not okay to just float in and out of these doors. I don’t know what I believe in; I don’t know what I want to fight for. I don’t even know if you are real. Maybe I’m just a fool talking to myself. I look at this door without a symbol or fancy dressing. It’s simple. What is that supposed to mean, and why is there no pledge? I don’t hear protesters chanting a creed, all I hear are constant quiet knockings at it, and I’m curious to walk through but…I don’t know what’s behind the door. What do those behind it fight for; what do they believe? The Spirituality door seems more accurate. Their pledge talks about how all beliefs are true, and that there isn’t just one God. It makes sense that behind that door it wouldn’t matter if you believed in a god or absolute truth, regardless, you would still be accepted. I don’t know, I feel like I need more time. Well I guess that’s it so, I’m going to leave now and talk to you later…ummm, “Talk to you later.” Really is that how one should address God, if he is real? I must look like an idiot talking to myself. (Sigh)
ANALISE returns to bench and continues to observe.
The CHILDREN and ANGELS enter, and are skipping around a sign for the one world government.
CHILDREN and ANGELS:
We pledge allegiance, to a united world in humanity, for which we stand, one world, under justice, with unbiased respect for all. CHILDREN and ANGELS exit as MADDOX enters.
MADDOX: (Knocks at door) Nasreen it’s me Maddox open up. I think I’ve decided which political party I want to claim.
NASREEN: Maddox are you insane? Do you realize what time it is?
MADDOX: Please, Nasreen, open up.
NASREEN: (Opens door with a cup of coffee in her hand, irritated at MADDOX.) Did you really come all this way at two in the morning to tell me you have chosen a political party when you know full well we are…
MADDOX: Wait before you go any further. I know what you are going to say about how you’re helping our president and those in other nations unite together in a more justified unbiased one world government. But Nasreen, I made a choice, a deceleration, so throw me a bone and ask me what I am declaring!
NASREEN: Okay Maddox, what did you decide to declare, even though…
MADDOX: Nope, (puts finger up to stop Nasreen) I have declared independent.
NASREEN: You came to tell me you are “independent” with a massive group of other declared “independents?” Good night Maddox!
NASREEN closes the door on MADDOX. Lights fade out.
Lights come up on ISAAC, indicating a new day.
ISAAC: (Talking on the phone) Hey Raina, its Isaac. Listen, I was calling to see if you can invite your friend…ummm… the girl that came to your house last week when you and I were having coffee? Yeah that’s the one, Sybil, to our meeting tomorrow tonight. Uh.. that’s why you should invite her. Just because you and I stake our claim in what we believe doesn’t mean all are not welcome. I would just love to meet her. Why? Because… okay, so I think she’s kind of cute. I think she would like us. I’m just surprised you haven’t invited her already. Will you just ask and see if she will come? Thanks Raina, regardless though, I’ll still see you tomorrow tonight?
Lights fade out on ISAAC and come up on the CHILDREN and ANGELS.
CHILDREN AND 2 ANGELS:
(Children enter skipping around a coexist sign.) We pledge allegiance to the universal belief of many gods alike. We coexist, for which we stand, with support and understanding for all.
CHILDREN and ANGELS exit
CHERIE begins to enter the door marked “MY CHOICE” when approached by ANALISE
ANALISE: Hey can I ask you a question?
CHERIE: Me?
ANALISE: Yeah.
CHERIE: Okay.
ANALISE: Well, I see all these doors and life changing choices to be made, and I was just curious as to why you have decided to go to this door. I mean, I don’t want to get personal, but I need to choose a door and I don’t really know what this one is about. So why this door?
CHERIE: I’m a firm believer that God gave me this body and my life to do with which I please. I mean, the door says my choice.
ANALISE: So you’re a believer in God?
CHERIE: I assume everyone believes in God, or at least some higher power. I just choose to call him/her God.
ANALISE: So then why this door instead of the door marked, “Spirituality”?
CHERIE: I guess I chose this door because I’m pregnant, and I don’t really need spirituality right now. I need someone to take care of the pregnancy. I guess once I’m done with this I can always go to the other door.
ANALISE: You’re ending the pregnancy? I would think with something like that you would need both doors.
CHERIE: I can’t keep it. I have so many plans for the future. Right now just isn’t the best time. And as for the doors, I suppose I don’t have to choose just one. I mean, I’m just terminating a fetus right? They should be accepting of me in the spirituality room. Their pledge states that they are accepting off all gods and religions and beliefs.
CHILDREN and ANGELS enter stage as the children are skipping around the gay pride symbol.
CHILDREN and ANGELS:
We pledge allegiance to our community with love and freedom for all. For our orientation, in which we stand, with tolerance and acceptance for all.
CHILDREN and ANGELS exit as KALE and ALESSA enter.
KALE: You’ve been in a bad mood all morning, what is up with you?
ALESSA: My parents and I got into it last night. I just wish they could understand this is who I am and accept and love me for it. We have been friends for a long time right?
KALE: You’re like my sister; there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. Do you want me to talk to them?
ALESSA: No that will make things worse. I can see it now: they’ll go on and on about how you and I would be perfect for each other. Then they would throw us into the closet hoping enough time in there will change us, and we will magically kiss, and — poof! — we’re two straight people in love.
KALE: Alessa you know I love you, and yes you are very beautiful, but I’m not attracted to you. But you are my favorite girl in the world, you know that, right? (They give a quick peck on the cheek and hug)
ALESSA: Of course I do. I just wish my parents were more accepting and understanding like how your parents are. The irony is my parents go to church and believe in all that God stuff. Your parents, who don’t have religion, have shown me more love and acceptance than mine who claim that the God they serve is a God of love. If that’s true, then why can’t they love me for who I am?
BLACKOUT
Dreaming on stage 