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Stage Play / Land Among the Stars (Analysis)
The setting of the entire play is in small, one-room department store, in the Chesterfield Mall. There are circle racks in the back half of the store, and shelves in the front half. The racks in back half have all sorts of clothing for men and women, such as: blouses, t-shirts, pants, jeans, jackets, and the things that most department stores have in them. On the shelves in the front half there are accessories such as shoes, jewelry, belts, hats, scarves, and other miscellaneous items. There are more clothing and accessories hanging and being displayed from the walls. There is only one entrance to the store, and that is the door that is on the stage right side. There is a check-out counter in the middle, connected to the “left” wall (from the audience it is the back wall.)
All characters enter the room running and in a hurry. Sam gestures to the others to be quiet by putting his finger to his mouth in the quieting fashion. Everyone looks stressed, worried, and Dan has his arm around Jesse, holding her up as they walk in.
JESSE, (distressed): Get off me! Get off me!
[Sam, who is standing by the entrance closing the door, turns sharply around.]
SAM: Shhh! Jesse, what part of “Be quiet!” do you not understand?
JESSE (glaring at Sam): Well sorry. I’m not used to this whole…situation.
SAM: And you think I am? We all have to be extremely quiet, at least for a few minutes until we’re sure they’re not around.
[Sam walks around to the check-out counter, looking for something.]
DAN: Do you need help?
[Sam looks at Dan who is standing by the entrance.]
SAM: We need to find something to block the door. Come on guys, there’s tons of stuff in here.
[Everyone except for Jesse starts moving around the store to look for big objects to block the door. Sam finds a ladder up against the wall and moves it in front of the door on the ground. Dan empties one of the shelves and signals for Ralph to help him push it. Sam turns around from the door and looks at Jesse, who is standing by the check-out counter.]
SAM: Jesse! Would you get moving and do something?
JESSE (looking at Sam in distaste): Excuse me? Why should I do anything?
SAM: Because we’re all stuck here together, and we all need to pitch in.
JESSE (rolling her eyes): Fine. What am I supposed to do?
SAM: You and Julie empty another shelf and we’ll push it over.
[Julie and Jesse walk over to another one of the shelves and pull everything off of it. Sam and Dan go over to the emptied shelf and it push it up against the other one. Everyone looks around at each other.]
JULIE: Now what?
DAN (with hope and delight): Well, hopefully someone will show up soon to look for us. I mean they must know that there are people in here, otherwise those guys wouldn’t have even bothered sticking up the place. You have to look on the bright side. Like I always say, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
SAM: Yeah…okay…some of that does make sense. So we just have to wait.
JESSE (sitting down on a chair by the check-out counter): Oh wonderful. Just wonderful.
RALPH: Look princess, no one wants to be in this situation, but we are, so shut your big mouth and deal with it!
JESSE (standing up and walking towards Ralph, who is leaning on the second shelf): You got a problem with me?
RALPH: No, of course not. Just your gigantic mouth!
JESSE: Oh your one to talk, mister, “I’m going to walk around school saying whatever I feel like, as loud as I feel like, and it doesn’t matter whose life I trample on!”
[At this point, Jesse and Ralph are face to face. Sam, who is next to Ralph, steps up and puts his arms between them.]
SAM: Alright you two, stop it. We have enough problems as it is without the two of you ripping each other apart.
DAN: Guys, just take a chill pill. We’ll be out of here before you know it.
JESSE: Yeah? And just how do you know that? You got a fortune teller in that big head of yours?
DAN (still smiling brightly): No. I just know we are going to be fine because I’ve got a positive attitude. Everyone knows a positive attitude can make any bad situation a good one.
JESSE (looking at Sam in disbelief): Is this guy for real? Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m stuck here with the worst people.
[Jesse once more sits down, this time on the ground. Sam starts to pace around the store, and the others just stare around dumbfounded.]
SAM (with excitement): Wait a minute! We all have cell phones!
JESSE: Don’t bother. I already checked and we’re too far in the mall, so there’s no signal.
SAM: Oh. Well it was worth a try.
[There is about 15 seconds of silence, as everyone looks around uncomfortably, and you can tell that they’re unsure of what to do.]
JULIE (still standing in her position near the shelf): So, what do we do now?
SAM (sighs and stares at the door, turning his head to look around at everyone while he talks): We wait.
[Julie sits down where she is, and everyone gets a look of distress on their face, and the lights dim.]
SCENE 2
Julie is sitting in the same position she was when the last scene ended. Sam and Dan are in the back half of the store, sitting on two chairs, facing the audience. Jesse is looking at the back wall, admiring the clothing and different accessories, even trying some on. Ralph is up against the wall near the door, sleeping.
DAN: Why don’t you go out for counseling?
SAM: What do you mean?
DAN: Well obviously you like to help people, and I think you are very good at it. So why don’t you become a counselor, or a therapist, or something like that?
SAM (looking to the ground with doubt): You really think I could?
DAN (smiling brightly): Of course! You can do anything if you put your mind to it. “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” That’s my favorite quote. I’ve pretty much based my life off of it.
JESSE (looking over from her spot in the middle of the store): Yeah, I think we can tell.
[Dan and Sam look over at Jesse, but Jesse ignores them and has gone right back to trying things on and searching for clothing.]
SAM: I think it’s wonderful that you’re so optimistic about everything. I know I try and keep the peace, but I can’t always keep my head from blowing off.
[You hear a grunt from Ralph as he starts to wake up.]
RALPH (groggily, to Julie): What times is it?
[Julie doesn’t respond, instead she pulls her legs up and puts her head down into her lap.]
RALPH (starting to get angry): Excuse me? Didn’t you hear me?
[Julie continues to keep her head down.]
RALPH (now very angry): What’s you problem?
SAM (looking at his watch): It’s six-thirty.
JESSE (incredulously): You mean we’ve already been here for two hours?
[Ralph turns to Sam and glares at him.]
RALPH: I wasn’t talking to you! I was talking to her!
SAM: Well obviously she doesn’t want to talk to you.
RALPH: Well I don’t care!
[Ralph is within reaching distance of Julie, and leans over and starts to shake her, gently enough so it doesn’t hurt her, but hard enough that it moves her, and she lifts her head up. Sam gets up off the chair and runs over to Julie.]
SAM (pulling Ralph’s arm off of Julie): Leave her alone! She hasn’t done anything to you.
RALPH (standing up): Why doesn’t she talk? I’ve hardly ever heard her say anything.
[Sam and Ralph are now face to face, with their sides towards the audience.]
SAM: Look, I’m only trying to keep things calm around here while we wait this out.
RALPH (looking at the ground): Yeah, well, who died and made you peacekeeper?
SAM: Well someone has to do it. Those shooters are probably still in the mall, and we’ll just have to wait until someone tries to come help us.
[Dan gets up and walks over to where Sam and Ralph are standing, and where Julie is still sitting. Jesse puts down whatever various objects she is trying on or holding, and also steps over, creating a semi-circle.]
DAN: Yeah guys, don’t worry. We’ll be out of here in no time. And at least we’ve got each other to keep us company.
[Julie stands up slowly.]
JULIE (quietly and mysteriously): But what if we don’t get out?
[There is silence for about 10 seconds as everyone looks around, or just in one direction as they realize that they might now get out okay. Then the lights dim.]
SCENE 3
Jesse is sitting in a chair behind the check-out counter, reading a magazine. Julie is sitting in the chair that Sam was sitting in in the last scene. Ralph and Dan are standing near the door, talking. Sam is standing next to the nearest shelf blocking the door.
SAM: Okay guys, do you think we should go out and look?
JESSE (looking up from the magazine): Do you really think that’s smart?
SAM (looking out the door): Well, it’s been four hours and no one has come. Plus, we haven’t heard anything, so I’m guessing they’re gone.
DAN (starting to smile): Yeah. That’s true. I think we should give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen?
JESSE (shocked): What’s the worst that could happen? Are you kidding me? Hmm, I don’t know, we could get shot!
DAN (smile fading): Shot? What do you mean, “shot”?
JESSE (rolling her eyes): Oh my God! Are you serious? Why do you think we’re stuck in here? Why do you think we had to run and lock ourselves in here?
DAN: Well…I knew there were bad people holding the place up, but I didn’t know they had guns. I couldn’t see them.
RALPH (turning to Julie, who is staring at Dan as well): Is this guy serious?
DAN: Well I’m sorry guys, but I try not to see negative things in life. Like I always say, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you’ll land among the stars.”
RALPH: Yeah, yeah. We know. You already said that. Twice!
SAM: Okay, that’s not the point. Right now we just have to worry about getting out. So how about Ralph and I go out and check?
RALPH (looking shocked at the mention of his name): Excuse me? You and I will do what?
SAM: Oh come on. Why don’t you me a man for once?
RALPH: Oh I am a man, trust me. I just don’t want to die.
DAN (brightly): I’ll do it!
RALPH (looking at Dan, turning back to Sam, and then pointing at Dan): He’ll do it!
SAM: Okay fine, Dan, let’s go.
[Dan and Sam pull the shelf out of the way, into its former position. Then, they take the next shelf and move it into its former position. Then Dan helps Sam lift the ladder vertically, and Sam leans it against the wall.]
SAM (looking at Dan): You ready?
DAN (smiling): Of course. Let’s go. Let’s shoot for the moon.
[Sam quietly opens the door, and sticks his head out. He motions to Dan, telling him it’s all clear. At this point, They slowly start walking out the door, and at this point, they are going off stage. They quietly creep out for about 30 seconds, and you can hear them talking offstage.]
SAM: Guys! It looks like there’s no one here!
DAN: Yeah, it seems to be all cl-
[Suddenly a gun shot is heard, and you hear Dan cry out.]
SAM (yelling loudly): Dan! Oh my God! Someone please help!
[Everyone in the store looks around at each other. Julie and Jesse get up to go stand next to Ralph.]
JESSE (with concern): What’s going on out there?
RALPH: I don’t know. I can’t see them.
JESSE: Do you think we should go out there?
RALPH: And risk getting shot? I don’t think so.
JULIE: But what if they’re hurt?
[Ralph and Jesse look at Julie for a few seconds.]
JULIE (looking at both of them): Are you two that selfish that you’re not willing to go help them out? (starting to yell) Well you guys can stay in here with your selfishness and pompousness and have a party, but I’m going out there!
[Julie runs out the door and Jesse and Ralph gape after her.]
SAM: Julie! Go over there and see if your cell phone works. If it does, call 911! Ralph! Help me carry Dan back in there!
RALPH: But what if those guys are there?
SAM: They’re not! I saw them leave!
RALPH: Ohhh. Fine.
[Ralph jogs out the door while Jesse and Julie pace around uncomfortably. A few minutes later, Ralph and Sam walk in, carrying Dan. Dan is bleeding on his chest, and you can see that he’s been shot. They lay him on the floor near the door, and Sam grabs a couple shirts off the wall.]
SAM: Hopefully if we wrap these up around his chest, we can stop the bleeding enough until the ambulance gets here. Julie! Could you call?
JULIE (from offstage): Yes! They’ll be here any minute now.
SAM (wrapping the shirts around Dan): Okay, okay. Dan, you just have to hold in there okay.
DAN (shaking and staring blankly off): I know. I know. Everything will b-b-be j-j-just f-f-fine.
JESSE (leaning over Dan): Dan! Dan! Don’t worry!
DAN: It’s okay. I’m n-n-not worried.
RALPH: Oh man. Dude, you better hold on.
DAN: I’m t-t-trying g-g-guys. But it d-d-does hurt…a l-l-lot.
JESSE (starting to cry): I know. I know. But you always look on the bright side of things right?
SAM: Yeah. That’s right. Find the positive and don’t let go of it.
[Julie walks back in, and at the sight of Dan, so goes over to the wall and sits down.]
DAN: I know I n-n-never got a ch-chance to say this, but I c-c-can’t think of a better g-group to get s-s-stuck with in this s-s-situation.
JESSE: I’m sorry I was acting like such a jerk! I didn’t mean it! I promise that as soon as we get out of here you’ll see that I’ve changed!
RALPH: Yeah man, I’ll change too.
DAN (weakly smiling): T-t-thanks guys. That means a l-l-lot to me.
SAM (suddenly looking even more worried): Dan! Dan! You’re starting to go limp!
DAN: Yeah. I know. It’s too hard t-t-to keep holding on.
JESSE (hysterically): No! No! Dan! You can do it! I know you can!
RALPH: Don’t give up now! You’ll be fine soon!
SAM: Come on Dan. Don’t do this to us.
[Julie gets up and walks over to where Dan is lying.]
DAN (voice fading): S-s-sorry guys. I t-t-tried. I shot for the moon. At least I’ll land among the-
[Dan’s head falls back. Jesse kneels down and cries over Dan’s body. Sam puts his hand on Jesse’s shoulder and silently starts to cry as well. Ralph looks down at the ground. Julie continues to stare at Dan. You can hear the ambulance in the background.]
JULIE (silently): At least he’s among the stars.
[Everyone turns to look at her. The lights dim.]
THE END
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iamcreative reviewed Version 1 -
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rickyhgn reviewed Version 1 -
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This is alright. I would suggest trying to bring out each character’s personality a little better, so the reader can catch on to each one’s strengths, weaknesses, and eccentricities. Diversity makes the world go round.
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Blitzwing reviewed Version 1 -
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darkwriter reviewed Version 1 -
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Amazing job on this stage play. I cried at the end, thanks, I hate crying! You did a wonderful job I felt like I was there with them in the store experiencing everything they did. I was scared, and worried. You did a nice job of dialogue, keeping it going and making your story move along at a good pace. I really loved this.
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