A Song to Sing

A SONG TO SING BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

Spotlight on a mic on a mic stand.

GWEN shyly enters.

She looks around.

She looks at the microphone.

She smiles.

She speaks into the microphone.

GWEN: hello?

No response.

GWEN taps on the live mic a few times.

GWEN: anyone here?

No response.

GWEN: huh.

Pause.

GWEN: hit it!

The backing track to Amy Winehouse’s Tears Dry on Their Own starts to play.

GWEN: whoa.

The music stops.
Pause.
Beat.

GWEN: hit it!

The backing track to Amy Winehouse’s Tears Dry on Their Own plays again.

GWEN grabs the mic dramatically and starts to sing to the song.

She is quite good at it.

It's really nice to see her without inhibitions.

GWEN: (Singing)

All I can ever be to you is a darkness that we knew
And this regret I got accustomed to
Once it was so right
When we were at our height
Waiting for you in the hotel at night
I knew I hadn't met my match
But every moment we could snatch
I don't know why I got so attached
It's my responsibility
You don't owe nothing to me
But to walk away, I have no capacity

He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown
And in your way
In this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

Slowly the lights in the house rise.

GWEN sees all of us in the audience.

Without warning she starts screaming.

It’s a blood curdling scream.

The scream of only a shy person with massive anxiety can produce.

She runs away like a gazelle spotting a lion from afar.

Silence.

It was nice while it lasted.

END OF PLAY.

#ThisIsAmerica

#THISISAMERICA BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

An isolated light on JEFFREY with his backpack on the floor next to him.

Above him is a projection that reads “This Is America”

JEFFREY looks up at the projection and reads it. 

JEFFREY: Seriously?

As JEFFREY looks at the words,, they get closer and then read “#ThisIsAmerica”

JEFFREY: Oh wow, you think your clever? Look, what Donald did with that one was too good. If I’m gonna get on that level I’m gonna need some time so…

JEFFREY picks up his backpack.

JEFFREY: I’m gonna get to work. I’ll be right back. Um. Watch the video.

JEFFREY exits.

END OF PLAY.

Gas

GAS BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

MELVIN, a Filipino-American guy in his 20’s and his buddy ROGER, a Caucasian-American guy in his 20’s at a gas station. They are pumping gas into MELVIN’s car. They both lean on the back of the car, sharing a pack of skittles, waiting for the tank to fill. 

We hear the gas siphoning into the car.

Beat.

ROGER: Hey Mel.

MELVIN: Mm?

ROGER: I was thinking.

MELVIN: Yeah?

ROGER: Do you ever think about what it’s like to be Filipino-American.

Pause.

MELVIN: What?

ROGER: Do you ever think about it? Like, what it’s like to be Filipino.

Pause.

MELVIN: What are you talking about?

ROGER: Cause I think about it. Like all the time.

MELVIN: Why?

ROGER: Because you’re my friend.

MELVIN: That doesn’t make sense.

ROGER: Of course it makes sense. You are my friend. You are Filipino so I think about what it’s like to be Filipino.

Pause.

MELVIN: Ok.

ROGER: What?

MELVIN: Nothing. I didn’t say anything.

ROGER: You said Ok.

MELVIN: Ok!

ROGER: Don’t you think about what it’s like to be white?

MELVIN: Jesus, Rog.

ROGER: When we became friends you never thought about what it what must be like to be white?

MELVIN: No Roger, because you are not the first white person I’ve ever met.

ROGER: There are Filipinos all around here too!

MELVIN: Yeah, now that you moved to Milpitas, but when you were in Texas?

Pause.

ROGER: Fine.

Pause.

MELVIN: And I already know what it’s like to be white. It’s all money and neutral and privilege. 

ROGER: Hey! That’s not nice.

Beat.

MELVIN: You’re right that wasn’t nice.

Pause.

MELVIN: My bad.

Pause.

ROGER: I mean I am privileged but what am I supposed to do about it? I try to be good but sometimes cops just pass me by. Should I waive my weed in their face?

MELVIN: Hell no!

ROGER: Exactly.

Pause.

Beat.

The gas pump pops. The tank is full. 

MELVIN and ROGER look at the pump.

MELVIN: I don’t have to think about what it’s like to be Filipino-American. Just like you don’t have to think about what it’s like to be white. We just are.

MELVIN puts back the pump and closes his gas tank.

MELVIN heads opens the door to the car.

MELVIN: You coming?

ROGER: Oh, Yeah!

ROGER jumps into the car with MELVIN.

END OF PLAY.

Kanye

KANYE BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

Lights up on a bear mascot suit a la "The College Dropout"  sitting on the floor.

"The College Dropout" album plays from beginning to end.

Pause.

"Late Registration" album plays from beginning to end.

Pause.

"Graduation" album plays from beginning to end.

Pause.

Lights fade.

End of Play.

The Song That Doesn't End

THE SONG THAT DOESN'T END BY JEFFREY LO
(DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

TYRONE aka LAMBCHOP sets down a meal on his dining table.

Probably Lambchops.

Probably mashed potatoes.

Probably some broccoli. For health.

He runs offstage and plays some music.

A funk song.

A good funk song.

An old funk song.

A good ole’ funk song.

TYRONE aka LAMBCHOP sits down and eats his meal.

He enjoys the meal while he enjoys the music.

He enjoys the music and the food like no one is watching.

He doesn’t know there’s an entire theatre audience watching.

Anyway.

He enjoys thie music and food for a while.

Maybe like… 20 minutes?

Then he finishes his food.

Then he wipes his mouth.

Then TYRONE aka LAMPCHOP makes a realization.

TYRONE AKA LAMPCHOP: Has the same song been playing this whole time?

Blackout.

END OF PLAY.

Strategies for Happiness, Five Seconds a Time

STRATEGIES FOR HAPPINESS, FIVE SECONDS AT A TIME
BY JEFFREY LO
(DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

Darkness.

Five seconds pass.

A title card reads: STRATEGIES FOR HAPPINESS

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI in front of an ocean.

HARUKI closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and lets the wind blow in his face.

Five seconds pass

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI on a couch reading CRAZY RICH ASIANS.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI listening to Christmas music in May.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI eating a steak.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI eating a bowl of ramen.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI eating a salad.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Lights up on HARUKI dribbling a basketball.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI watching an episode of ATLANTA.

Five seconds pass.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

Lights up on HARUKI.

Four seconds pass.

HARUKI shrugs.

HARUKI: I tried.

Blackout.

Five seconds pass.

END OF PLAY.

Wake Up

WAKE UP BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

Darkness.

The sound of a phone alarm.

A really obnoxious phone alarm.

The sound of a THUMP!

That THUMP! was JESSAMYN snoozing her phone.

Lights up.

JESSAMYN is sitting up in bed.

JESSAMYN looks crazed.

JESSAMYN:
Curse the person who invented the alarm.

That mother fucker

Father fucker

Fucker fucker

That invented that little fuck.

Waking up is a terrible thing.

The worst.

Torture really.

Why must we force ourselves to wake up?

Why can’t the world be made in a way where we can get up when we want to?

The only pure pleasure in life is sleep.

Truly.

The only one.

And don’t tell me sex cause sex is not PURE pleasure.

Sex can come with a whole mess of problems, insecurities and scary stuff so just –

Sleep is the one.

Sleep is love.

That is not metaphor.

That is fact.

Sleep is love.

Sleep is life.

Sleep is –

The snooze alarm goes off.

JESSAMYN screams and throws her head into her pillow.

Blackout.

END OF PLAY.

One Swipe Too Many

ONE SWIPE TOO MANY BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

BRANDON, sits on a park bench eating frozen yogurt.

He takes out a pair of headphones.

He connects it to his phone and puts on music that makes him happy.

After a moment, THOMAS enters.

THOMAS is also eating frozen yogurt/

THOMAS also sits on the bench.

THOMAS sits right next to BRANDON, in fact.

THOMAS looks at BRANDON.

THOMAS looks at BRANDON’s frozen yogurt.

They are eating the same flavor.

And even the same toppings!

How interesting…

THOMAS smiles at BRANDON.

BRANDON smiles back.

THOMAS takes out his phone.

BRANDON sees he has opened the Tinder app.

BRANDON pretends to look away but discreetly watches THOMAS swipe.

THOMAS swipes left.

THOMAS swipes left.

THOMAS discreetly looks at BRANDON to double check what BRANDON looks like.

BRANDON tries to look away.

THOMAS swipes left.

THOMAS swipes left.

THOMAS gets to BRANDON’s profile.

BRANDON’s eyes get big.

THOMAS smiles and quickly swipes right.

BRANDON is thrilled.

THOMAS goes back to his frozen yogurt.

BRANDON quickly opens the Tinder app.

BRANDON starts quickly going through profiles.

BRANDON swipes left.

BRANDON swipes left.

BRANDON swipes left.

BRANDON swipes left.

Beat.

BRANDON discreetly looks at THOMAS’ face to double check.

BRANDON swipes left.

BRANDON swipes left.

BRANDON swipes left.

BRANDON gets frustrated and swipes faster.

BRANDON swipes left.

BRANDON swipes left

BRANDON swipes –

Left.

BRANDON freezes.

BRANDON realizes something.

BRANDON just swiped left on THOMAS.

Oh no.

What can he do?

What should he do?

BRANDON just ruined his chances.

What are his options?

Talk to THOMAS in person!?

Oh god…

Oh god…

Oh god…

Real life interaction before a Tinder match?

BRANDON stands.

Pause.

THOMAS looks at BRANDON standing.

Silence.

BRANDON looks at THOMAS, kisses him and runs away.

Blackout.

END OF PLAY.

Under Construction

UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

A blank stage.

Lights rise with silence.

The silence keeps going.

A little too long.

Have we started the play?

Is there a play?

Then, from offstage, we can hear sounds.

Lots of sounds.

Loud sounds.

It’s hard to know what it is but it sounds like a lot of hard work is happening.

It’s not ready.

But it’s hard work.

Then

CRASH.

Then

HAILEY stumbles on stage.

HAILEY catches herself before she falls.

HAILEY looks at the audience.

HAILEY smiles at the audience.

HAILEY puts away the fake smile and runs back offstage.

More sounds.

More crashes.

Lights fade.

Tentatively.

END OF PLAY.

So Long, I Know

SO LONG, I KNOW BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)

JAY and MELISSA.

Somewhere.

Somewhere not real, probably.

JAY: Hey.

MELISSA: Hi.

JAY: Remember me?

MELISSA: Kind of, yeah.

JAY: Same. Kind of.

MELISSA: How did you find me.

JAY: Don’t know. I’m not sure I actually found you, to be honest.

MELISSA: Me either.

JAY: Right.

MELISSA looks away and starts scratching her wrist.

MELISSA: So why’d you find me. Or. Try. To find me.

JAY: Oh.

MELISSA: Not that there’s a problem it’s just been… I don’t know. So long.

JAY: I know.

MELISSA: Like, I don’t know, 6th grade?

JAY: Something like that. 7th maybe?

MELISSA: Who knows at this point?

JAY: Right.

Silence.

MELISSA: So?

JAY: Um. Sorry.

MELISSA: Why?

JAY: I don’t know. Um.

MELISSA: Um?

JAY looks a little stressed.

MELISSA: Hey.

JAY: Huh?

MELISSA: I’m just bustin’ your balls. Chill out.

JAY: Right.

Pause.

MELISSA: How old are you now?

JAY: 29. You?

MELISSA: I was the same age as you so –

JAY: 29.

MELISSA: Maybe.

JAY: Maybe?

MELISSA: I don’t know.

JAY: How do you not –

MELISSA: I don’t know cause you don’t know cause –

JAY: Right.

Pause.

MELISSA: So have you thought a bit more about why you’re looking for me?

JAY: I mean – I do know. I do know why.

MELISSA: Well?

JAY: I just… I don’t know the right words.

MELISSA: The right words aren’t really important.

JAY: Right.

Beat.

JAY: Well. Um. The other day I was, um, going through some old stuff.

MELISSA: Old stuff?

JAY: Old documents. Files. On the computer.

MELISSA: Ok.

JAY: Pictures and stuff.

MELISSA: Yeah?

JAY: And I actually found a file with some old, um, instant messenger chats. You know, AOL instant –

MELISSA: I remember.

JAY: Right. You remember we used to chat on that a lot, right?

MELISSA: Yeah. I remember. I was new at school.

JAY: Yeah.

MELISSA: And we got to chatting.

JAY: I don’t even actually remember how we got to chatting. Do you?

MELISSA: No. I don’t… Cause –

JAY: Right. Well. Anyway. Not super important. What’s important is we got to chatting here and there. We became friends, right?

Pause.

JAY: Melissa?

MELISSA: What?

JAY: We became friends, right?

MELISSA: You tell me.

JAY: I think we became friends.

MELISSA: Then I think so too.

Pause.

JAY: Ok.

MELISSA: What are you getting at?

JAY: It’s just… Reading those chats. Between the two of us. In the 6th grade.

MELISSA: Maybe 7th.

JAY: Reading those chats… and, um, seeing those pictures you would send me.

MELISSA: … Yeah.

Pause.

JAY: Looking at those as an adult… I don’t think you were ok.

MELISSA: I don’t think I was either.

JAY: Like… you would send me photos of you hurting yourself.

MELISSA: I know.

JAY: You weren’t doing well.

MELISSA: I wasn’t.

JAY: And you shared those things with me.

MELISSA: I did.

Pause.

MELISSA: Jay. What are you getting at?

JAY: I don’t think I helped you.

MELISSA: You talked to me.

JAY: But I don’t think I helped you.

MELISSA: You were my friend when I needed a friend.

JAY: But I don’t think I helped you in the way I was supposed to have helped you.

MELISSA: And what way is that?

Pause.

JAY: I don’t know.

MELISSA: You were in 6th grade.

JAY: Maybe 7th.

MELISSA: You were my friend.

JAY: And what are friends supposed to do when their friend is hurting?

MELISSA: What is a 6thgrader supposed to do?

JAY: I don’t know.

Pause.

MELISSA: What are you getting at, Jay?

JAY: I want to know if you are ok.

MELISSA: Jay?

JAY: Are you ok?

MELISSA: I don’t know.

JAY: I don’t know either... Shit.

Silence.

JAY: I saw those chats and in some ways it made me think fondly of that time in my life. Then I got to reading more and more and I remembered more clearly. And I know that at some point there, my life went one way and yours went another and I just want to know… I just hope… I just pray to God that you are ok. And I haven’t thought about you in ages. Over a decade you’ve probably been out of my mind and I’m sorry about that. I don’t even think your name is Melissa. But Melissa… I just want to know…. I just want you to know… that I hope you are doing ok. That whatever was happening back then. When you opened up to me. That whatever was happening back then is not happening now. And whatever was in your mind and whatever made you hurt yourself… I hope you’ve overcome it. And I know this won’t help at all but… There it is. I’m sorry it’s been so long.

MELISSA: I know.

JAY: I don’t know why we –

MELISSA has disappeared.

JAY is alone.

And this place is now painfully real.

END OF PLAY.