One Act Play
A 10-Minute One Act Play
Help Wanted
By G. L. Horton copyright © 2003 Geralyn Horton
CHARACTERS
JAKE: 40's, managerial type.
TERESA: late 50's, a gentle elementary school teacher.
MERRIK: late 30's, a born-again Christian.
DEBBIE: 30's, bright, tough, and angry.
KIM, 20's, waif like, depressed.
Time/Place/Scene: A suburban church basement, used as the office of a nonprofit support service for the unemployed, with a couple of desks, an elaborate answering machine with two phones: one real, one facade with a recorded message saying "executive offices" -- which this obviously isn't. There is a card table, folding chairs, newspapers, trade magazines.
TERESA is sitting on a folding chair at the desk , talking to JAKE, who is consulting THE JOB FINDER'S GUIDE and taking notes in a notebook from his briefcase.
DEBBIE enters, looks around.
TERESA I wear an extra sweater and a hat. That's what my mother did when she was a girl, during the Depression. The kitchen stove was their heat. (notices DEBBIE) Can we be of help, dear?
DEBBIE Group's supposed to be at 10:30, isn't it?
TERESA Yes, but--
DEBBIE I'll wait. ( DEBBIE sits, takes out newspaper, begins reading.)
TERESA (to JAKE) How is Janet doing?
JAKE Better. Takes her a couple weeks to bounce back from chemotherapy. But she's up and around, now. Cleaning out the kitchen drawers.
TERESA And your boy?
JAKE I told Park School I was going to have to pull Jason out of there. (sits) They came up with a scholarship.
TERESA (pats JAKE's shoulder) Well, now. That's good news.
JAKE Is it? Jason's grades are dropping. He's out too late, comes back with bullshit --sorry. You'd think that being out of work I'd have time to ride herd on him, but with hustling a job and taking care of Janet--.
TERESA A boy that age can be a real pill. Especially at a time of crisis.
JAKE You're telling me this is normal?
TERESA I saw it my boys. There's stress, and a boy feels
Help Wanted
By G. L. Horton copyright © 2003 Geralyn Horton
CHARACTERS
JAKE: 40's, managerial type.
TERESA: late 50's, a gentle elementary school teacher.
MERRIK: late 30's, a born-again Christian.
DEBBIE: 30's, bright, tough, and angry.
KIM, 20's, waif like, depressed.
Time/Place/Scene: A suburban church basement, used as the office of a nonprofit support service for the unemployed, with a couple of desks, an elaborate answering machine with two phones: one real, one facade with a recorded message saying "executive offices" -- which this obviously isn't. There is a card table, folding chairs, newspapers, trade magazines.
TERESA is sitting on a folding chair at the desk , talking to JAKE, who is consulting THE JOB FINDER'S GUIDE and taking notes in a notebook from his briefcase.
DEBBIE enters, looks around.
TERESA I wear an extra sweater and a hat. That's what my mother did when she was a girl, during the Depression. The kitchen stove was their heat. (notices DEBBIE) Can we be of help, dear?
DEBBIE Group's supposed to be at 10:30, isn't it?
TERESA Yes, but--
DEBBIE I'll wait. ( DEBBIE sits, takes out newspaper, begins reading.)
TERESA (to JAKE) How is Janet doing?
JAKE Better. Takes her a couple weeks to bounce back from chemotherapy. But she's up and around, now. Cleaning out the kitchen drawers.
TERESA And your boy?
JAKE I told Park School I was going to have to pull Jason out of there. (sits) They came up with a scholarship.
TERESA (pats JAKE's shoulder) Well, now. That's good news.
JAKE Is it? Jason's grades are dropping. He's out too late, comes back with bullshit --sorry. You'd think that being out of work I'd have time to ride herd on him, but with hustling a job and taking care of Janet--.
TERESA A boy that age can be a real pill. Especially at a time of crisis.
JAKE You're telling me this is normal?
TERESA I saw it my boys. There's stress, and a boy feels