Looking Sharp 

In Mr. Starr's Year 10 Drama class, students were given two periods to write a 2-page play featuring with 3 characters (one with a strange quirk), arguing over which movie to go and see. The below piece was submitted by Charlie K.

(Shakespearean England) (Maribeth and Henry wait in line outside a theatre. Percival enters from side stage)

Henry: Ah, Percival, there you are! I was wondering when you would arrive.

Maribeth: Come join us in the queue or else we’ll be late!

Percival: Coming, coming. 

(Percival turns away from Henry and Maribeth to face the audience. He winces and open his jacket to reveal a knife stabbed into his abdomen. He quickly hides it and hobbles over to join the others in the queue)

Henry: I say man, whatever’s the matter? You look as pale as a ghost!

Percival: (Nervous laughter) Well I assure you I’m not one… yet.

(Percival pats his jacket where the knife is, and his eyes widen as he manages only to force it in further)

Maribeth: Which play shall we see tonight? I hear they are performing several of Shakespeare’s works.

Henry: Hmmm, yes that is the question isn’t it? What are our options?

(Percival continues to look in pain as Maribeth pulls out three brochures)

Maribeth: Let’s see, shall we? We could see… Hamlet?

Percival: Oooooooof…

Maribeth: Macbeth?

Percival: Aaaaaaah…

Maribeth: Or perhaps Romeo and Juliet?

Percival: Eeeeeeeee…

Henry: Are you feeling alright Percy? I thought you’d have more input! After all, you’re much more a fan of Sir William’s works than we are!

(Henry playfully slaps Percival on the back, making Percival wince in pain)

Percival: H-how about we see something a little less… violent?

(Beat)

Maribeth & Henry: Booooring!

(Percival turns away from the others once again and begins trying to pull the knife out. Slowly and painfully, he manages to get it loose, only to be immediately stabbed again by a masked assailant. Percival turns back to Maribeth and Henry, still holding the bloody knife)

Henry: Percival! Where did you get that?! Who’s blood is that?!

Maribeth: Percy stabbed someone!

Percival: No! No, I didn’t, it’s uh… a prop. See?

(Percival stabs himself with the knife and puts on a strained smile, pretending he’s alright. Maribeth and Henry are fooled and return to their conversation. Percival pulls up his jacket and winces at now double the amount of knives stabbed into him)

Percival: Oh… I’m losing blood. I’ll get an infection at this rate. (Percival turns to the people in the queue behind him. They’re holding a bottle of wine)

Percival: Say, might I borrow that for… just a second? (The people in the line look confused, but hand him the wine anyway)

Percival: Oh, thank you. (Percival opens the bottle only for Henry to notice)

Henry: Oh! Would you look at that! (Henry takes the wine) Thank you very much, my friend! Look Maribeth, Percy has brought us a drink!

Maribeth: Oh! Thank you, Percy. (Maribeth curtsies)

Percival: Um… might I have a sip of that?

Henry: Now, now Percy no need to try and fit in. We know you don’t drink.

(Percy stomps the ground with his foot. Shakespeare enters from side stage.)

Maribeth: Oh, Percy look! It’s Shakespeare himself! (A crowd forms around Shakespeare)

Henry: Look Percy, this is your chance! You always said you wanted to meet the man, didn’t you?

Percival: Well…

Maribeth: (Pushing Percival right in the knives) Go on Percy! Go and say hello!

(Percy looks like he’s just about sobbing as he stumbles up to Shakespeare)

Shakespeare: Why, hello there! Here to see my newest play?

Percival: Uhm… yes, sure… what’s it about?

Shakespeare: Well, it starts off with a poor fellow getting stabbed in the stomach... Twice.

Percival: Ohhhhh… What happens to him?

Shakespeare: He dies in the first act.

Percival: Ohhhhhhhhhhh…

Shakespeare: (Laughs) You know what? I like you. How about a hug?

Percival: Noooooooo...

Shakespeare: Come on now, don’t be shy!

Percival: I’d rather a handshake…

Shakespeare: I’m a hugger.

(Shakespeare embraces Percival, pushing the knives further into him. Percival starts to cry.)

Shakespeare: There you are! (Shakespeare lets go of Percival, who flops to the ground in pain)

Henry: Oh dear Percy, did you drink some of this wine after all?

Percival: Please… The wine…

Henry: (Shaking his head) You’re already becoming dependent on it. Well no more! (Henry throws the wine off stage) Come on Maribeth, we’d best not be late.

Maribeth: Coming!

(Henry and Maribeth head into the theatre with the rest of the people in the line, leaving Percival lying on the floor, sobbing)