10-Minute Play

What is that?
By: Panhia Xiong

[As the curtain opens, STEPHANIE and CHELSEA is seen on stage talking on the phone with each other, STEPHANIE is telling CHELSEA about a movie she and Dan has just seen]

STEPHANIE

So like me and Dan just got done watching "The Ring" and omg, it is the scariest thing ever and everyone who watched it died in seven days. [confused] So wait does that mean I’m gonna die in seven days too?

CHELSEA

What?! Why would you think you’re gonna die in seven days. Steph it’s only a movie. Don’t overreact.

STEPHANIE

But Chels think about it, everyone died in the end. So that has to mean that I’m gonna die too. But if I die, so will Dan. [Gasp] I don’t wanna die yet. I’m still young and very pretty.

CHELSEA

[Rolls her eyes from Stephanie’s comment]

STEPHANIE

Imagine what life will be like without me. [gasp] Everyone would be so depressed, and this whole world would become so dark and gloomy. Everyone would so miss me.

CHELSEA

[Scoffs and mutters under breath] I’m sure life would be great without you. Because we wouldn’t have to listen to you brag about yourself all day.

STEPHANIE

What did you just-
　

CHELSEA

Nothing, don’t worry about it.

STEPHANIE

Ok whatever, but really Chels, I don’t wanna die yet. How can I like save myself? [Thinking really hard then suddenly comes up with an idea] I know what I’ll do, I’ll just stay away from everything and everyone. Then I wont have to die. But wait that’ll mean I wont have a life outside anymore which means no more Dan, no more parties, and oh my
gosh, no more life. That’s so horrible.

Chelsea

Umm ok. Well Steph I think you’re taking this too serious. I mean it’s just a movie. I’m sure you wont die.

Stephanie

Well how do you know I won’t die?

CHELSEA

I know because I saw the movie like a week ago with Josh and I’m still alive and healthy. Also I’m pretty sure Josh is alive and well too. But speaking of Josh, he is coming over and we’re gonna watch a movie so I’m gonna have to go and get things ready. So I’ll call later and check on you. Who knows maybe you’d be dead.

STEPHANIE

　That’s not really nice Chels.

CHELSEA

You know I'm kidding. I'm sure you'll be fine. Ok well ttyl.

[The scene changes and CHELSEA is setting up the movies in the basement, then suddenly her phone rings]

CHELSEA

Hey Babe. Are you here yet?

JOSH

Yeah, I’m outside the front door so open up.
　

CHELSEA

Ok. I’ll be right there.

[CHELSEA runs up the stairs and opens up the door for JOSH. They smile at each other and CHELSEA takes JOSH‘s coat]

JOSH

It’s super nasty out there. Everywhere you look is white, and its so ugly out there.

CHELSEA

Oh yeah? That’s not good. Then maybe you should’ve just stayed home.

JOSH

No, it’s fine. I wanna be with you. So what’s up, you seem annoyed?

CHELSEA

[Sigh] It’s nothing. C’mon let’s go.

[They smile at each other, and then CHELSEA leads them downstairs]

JOSH

No really. What’s wrong?

CHELSEA

[while taking a seat on the couch, she groans]
I just got off the phone with Steph, and as usual she just kept bragging about herself. She’s like freaking out that she’s gonna die in seven days. It’s so annoying.

JOSH

Man I'd hate to watch a movie with her. I bet she forced Dan to watch it with her.[laughs]Man Life sucks for him.

CHELSEA

[laughs] whatever Josh, but what can you do about it. He is her boyfriend, and he does whatever she wants.

JOSH

He’s whipped.

CHELSEA

[laughing] [turns to look at him] I mean she’s like really freaking out about the whole dying thing. The movie isn’t even that scary.

JOSH

Seriously? You were scared when you saw it too. I remember you couldn’t sleep for 3 whole days, I’m sure you were just as scared as she is now.

CHELSEA

What! No way. I was not scared.

JOSH

[jokingly pushes her] C’mon. Stop lying.

CHELSEA

Haha whatever. [stands up from the seat] so are you ready for the movie?

JOSH

Yeah. What movie are we watching?

CHELSEA

We are watching Swan Lake.

JOSH

[groans and covers face]
Ugh Barbie? Seriously! Why can’t we watch something else?!

CHELSEA

I thought you liked Barbie. So it’ll be fun.

JOSH

No, I said I liked Rapunzel. It’s a totally different movie.

CHELSEA

Fine. Whatever. But we’re still watching Swan Lake.

[CHELSEA goes to the TV and puts in the movie, while JOSH is waiting patiently, then suddenly the lights go out.]

CHELSEA

UGH. Stupid storm. Josh, can you go fix the lights.

JOSH

[getting up from the seat]
Ok then. I’ll be right back.

[JOSH leaves the room and CHELSEA is alone. She sits on the ground and suddenly she hears a scary noise. She starts freaking out and she looks around the room but she can‘t see anything because it is too dark so she calls out JOSH‘s name]

CHELSEA

Josh? Are you there? Whatever you’re doing. It’s not funny. I swear if it is you, I will hurt you.
[Then suddenly the lights starts flickering and the noise becomes louder and more intense. She closes her eyes tightly and the lights come back on. JOSH enters the room again. ]

JOSH

What’s wrong? You look freaked out.

CHELSEA

[shaking head] No I’m fine.

JOSH

[Confused] Umm ok then.

[The lights go off again, and it is once again Pitch dark]

What the hell is wrong with this storm? It’s bugging the crap out of me. [annoyed] I’ll be back again. I’m gonna go back and fix the stupid lights.

[JOSH leaves the room, and the noise comes back but this time she sees a figure by the stairs. The figure looks like a girl. She has long black hair which is covering her face, and shes wearing a cream colored dress which is torn and dirty.]

CHELSEA

[To the figure] Who’s there? Josh, is that you?

[The figure comes crawling down the stairs, and she is making the noise that CHELSEA has been hearing. Chelsea runs to the couch and grabs the blanket that was on the floor. She starts to scream so then JOSH runs in the room]

JOSH

What happened? [He notices the long haired girl crawling down the stairs and points at it] WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? [He runs to the corner and covers his eyes] HELP! SOMEONE HELP SAVE ME!

CHELSEA

[annoyed] JOSH!

[JOSH is screaming and tears are rolling down his cheeks. CHELSEA is under the covers and then STEPHANIE enters the stage, and looks confused]

STEPHANIE

[Looks at JOSH] Why are you crying in the corner? [Turns to CHELSEA] And why are you hiding? And why is this room so dark? [She hears the girl and notices her] And who are you? Wait what is that?

[The Long hair girl makes her way down the stairs and she stands up slowly. STEPHANIE runs to CHELSEA and hides with her. The Long hair girl slowly makes her way to them and suddenly she trips on her dress.]

LONG HAIR GIRL

OW!

CHELSEA

[pissed off] HANNAH! WHAT THE HELL!

HANNAH

UGH. The plan was going so well too. MAN!

CHELSEA

[really pissed off] YOU FRIKEN IDIOT! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR! YOU FRIKEN SCARED US YOU LITTLE BRAT!

　

HANNAH

[laughing] Well you said you weren’t scared, So I was just proving you wrong. I thought you weren’t scared huh? [looks at JOSH] Wow. Who would’ve thought you’d cry.

[JOSH wipes his tears and goes over to the girls. CHELSEA pushes him away and they sit down. STEPHANIE is taking deep breaths, while CHELSEA is giving HANNAH the evil look]

HANNAH

Calm down. It was just a joke.

CHELSEA

That wasn’t funny! and how did you come up with The Grudge idea. I said I wasn't scared of The Ring.

HANNAH

Um. If it wasnt funny. I wouldnt be laughing. And I didn't even think of coming down the stairs. I just thought of the long haired girl from the ring. Coming down the stairs was just for fun. So basically i added the ring AND the grudge together. Does that make sense? But whatever. I'm gonna go make me some Pop Tarts. Bye Babies. [she skips out of the room]

JOSH

[he goes over to CHELSEA]

CHELSEA

Please don't touch me right now Josh. [moves away] I need space.

STEPHANIE

I think I just saw my life flash before my eyes.

CHELSEA AND JOSH

How?

STEPHANIE

Duh. Did you see that thing. The weird thing is that it disappeared when Hannah came into the room. Does Hannah have powers?

[JOSH AND CHELSEA leaves the room and the curtains close. The play is done]

1. What can I do to make my play more interesting?
2. Any suggestions to make my ending better because I feel like it isn't good enough?