NOVEMBER PLAYWRITING CHALLENGE

November 24: “LIFE COULD BE A DREAM”

PROMPT SNARK: “WRITE A DYSTOPIAN PLAY SET IN A WORLD AFTER THE AI TAKEOVER.”

SCENE

(We are in a dining room. It looks like it’s something from the 1950s. There is no one at the table…yet. A MOTHER, a June Cleaver type is setting the table and bringing out food. She hums a little ditty, indistinguishable at first but after some time we realize it’s “Pink Pony Club” She finishes her tasks, sits down and opens a cigarette case and takes out a vape.Suddenly a sound from nowhere blares.)

VOICE

Warning! Tobacco has been detected in the air. According to Section 3, Subsection ix of the TOP Guidebook states that smoking by an unaccompanied female is not permissible. 

MOTHER

Ugh, leave me alone. I made the god damn dinner even made the gravy from scratch just leave me the fuck alone.

VOICE

Language. And you also asked me 34 questions about making gravy and my camera still detects lumps. 

MOTHER

(She gives the room the finger. In comes her son, a dashing boy of 17 wearing a varsity jacket.)

SON

Hiya mom! Gee this looks like a swell dinner you’ve made. Dad sure is a lucky guy.

MOTHER

(have volume.)

He’s lucky I don’t murder him in his sleep.

SON

What was that mom?

MOTHER

I said, isn’t that sweet. Where’s your sister. 

SON

Oh I don’t know, we started walking home from school together but I saw some of the guys from the soccer team ahead so I ran to walk with them.

MOTHER

You left her! That was cruel. She’s very venerable right now. You need to be there to protect her.

SON

So I should suffer because she got silenced because of her third TOP warning? Honestly it’s been so much more peaceful around here now that I don’t have to have my mashed potatoes with a side of radical dangerous rhetoric. 

MOTHER

How did we get here, how is a child I birthed saying things like this. It’s like you don’t remember anything from before. 

SON

I remember alright. I remember that everyone was at each other’s throats. There was no peace, there was no community. No one could agree. That was until everyone on both sides decided to let someone impartial decide. TOP is what saved our culture, saved our humanity. We now have an interceptor when our discourse goes off the deep end. We are living in a golden age of America thanks to the Technology of the People. 

MOTHER

A golden age? Dressing like we living a time period where women were lobotomized and had no ability to own a house or open a credit card on their own. 

SON

But also a time of prosperity. Of gentility. Gee mom I wish you could see how lucky we are.

(DAUGHTER walks in. She is unable to speak.)

MOTHER

We were worried about you sweetie.

(She shrugs.)

I’m sorry your brother didn’t walk with you like he was supposed to. 

(DAUGHTER gives SON the middle finger.)

MOTHER

(softly)

Atta girl. 

SON

Why are you such a freak? Why can’t you just be demure like you’re supposed to be? 

(DAUGHTER opens her mouth to scream in protest. But instead of human sound the song “Sh-Boom” by The Chords. )

DAUGHTER

Life will a dream….etc

(She looks horrified. She shuts her mouth. She grabs her things and runs out of the room.)

VOICE

Attempted malice by a silenced has been detected at this location. Another week will be added to the criminal’s sentence. 

MOTHER

How could you. Look what you’ve done. 

SON

Listen, this is why I didn’t want to walk with her.

MOTHER

What kind of family are we?

FATHER

(Father has entered without anyone noticing.)

A thumping good one if I do say so myself.

SON

Dad! You’re home!

MOTHER

(Getting up to kiss him on the cheek)

Hello darling.

FATHER 

Boy am I dog gone tired. Say why doesn’t my best girl make me a drink?

MOTHER

You can’t make you own drink any more?

(Both SON and FATHER stare at her.)

What do you want?

FATHER

Gee, what about a Sloe Gin Fizz?

MOTHER

A what? You used to drink IPAs where is this coming from.

FATHER

It was a popular drink in the 50s so it seems like it’s time for a resurgence!