FRIENDS FOREVER

 by

Vicki Bartholomew

A large cast play for high school students.          

19F, 4-8M     

 75 minutes         

 Friends Forever

Copyright ©2002 by Vicki Bartholomew

All Rights Reserved

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           CAST for FRIENDS FOREVER

          Seniors  (Main cast)

Catherine             Belle            Kendra

Chrissy                Beth             Brooklyn

Tanya                  Fontaine       Tina

Kelly                   Randy           Young Catherine

Liz

Miss Green  

       Younger girls  (Small roles, may be divided)

Jade Lynn             Becky Ann         Wanda Lu

Mary Theresa        Jenna Jo             Ria Kim

          Male cast (Small roles, may be double cast)

Lance                  Paul             Garrett

Todd                             DUI

Casey                  Ryan

CAST NOTES for FRIENDS FOREVER         

High School Girls

Main Cast Girls are Seniors at a prep school.  Northeastern accents unless otherwise noted.  May be done without accents.

CATHERINE Marriott

       New girl in school/quiet/moody or

       depressed/sometimes slight limp or

       stiffness/ballet dancer/from San 

       Francisco.

LIZ Whittier             

       Catherine's roommate/boy crazy/not 

       athletic looking/loves clothes.

KENDRA Phillips

       Catherine's other roommate/very 

       athletic/soccer player.

CHRISSY Edwards

       Loves to shop/nicknamed Plastic

       Princess/takes Liz and Beth 

       shopping/cries.

BELLE Jackson

       Beth and Brooklyn's roommate/Southern girl/new at school. 

BETH    

       Belle and Brooklyn's roommate/ 

       sweet/speaks in a surgary sweet 

       voice (not comic)/gives presents/is 

       the surprise thief.

BROOKLYN

       Belle and Beth's roommate/soccer 

       player/real name Clarice Epstein/

       scholarship student/Brooklyn accent.

 (Note: Others in cast may be A-A except Belle.)

FONTAINE

       Steals boyfriends/attractive/great 

       hair/soccer player.

TINA   

       Talks fast all the time/comic.

MISS GREEN

       Teacher/dorm counselor/intercom 

       announcer.

RANDY  

       Kendra's cousin/comes for soccer 

       game with rival team from St. Mary's. 

YOUNG CATHERINE

       A ballet dancer/may wear a mask. 

          MALES

LANCE  

        Kendra has a crush on him/athletic/crashes the 

        slumber party at Liz's invitation.

PAUL    

        Crashes the slumber party with Lance.  Hair is 

        disguised with curler hat stuffed with tissue 

        paper or nightcap.

GARRETT 

        Young Garrett appears with young Catherine in 

         a flashback.  

TODD   

        Garrett's brother who appears in the funeral 

        flashback.  Sad and aggressive.  Wears suit.

DUI    

         Driver appears in funeral flashback.  17 years old.  

         Wears colored shirt and a tie.

 CASEY     

         Kendra's brother.  Also in snow scene.

 RYAN    

         Kendra's youngest brother.  Same 2 scenes.

JUNIOR VARSITY GIRLS:  These six roles may be divided to provide 7-12 roles by dividing names into the first and middle names.  Younger than main cast.  They might wear a different school uniform than the main cast.  (May also be used for girls in the snow fight, patrons arriving for talent show in ACT II, girls at the slumber party.)

 JADE LYNN                MARY THERESA

 BECKY ANN                JENNA JO

 WANDA LU                 RIA KIM

 Senior Roommates:       Catherine, Liz and Kendra

                                       Brooklyn, Belle and Beth

                                       Fontaine, Chrissy, and Tina

                                      Tanya, Kristen and Amy

                                      Kelly, and unnamed

 STAGE

      The play takes place in the dorm of a fictitious 

 northern girls' school named West Hills Secondary School for Girls.

      There is only one set, a dorm room.  There are three beds arranged in a half circle upstage. Catherine's bed is central.  Kendra's wall is covered with sports posters, Liz's with posters of boys, and Catherine's wall is empty.  The door is between Catherine's bed and one of the other beds. The opening on the other end of Catherine's bed can be used for Catherine's closet or a second door.  The audience side (downstage) is an imaginary wall with a central 

imaginary window and imaginary mirrors on each side.  

      During the first scene there are boxes and suitcases scattered around the room.  Later the room looks lived-in, but Catherine's part of the room is always very neat. 

       There is no special scenery for the flashback scenes, the talent show scene, nor the snow scene.

       For the play's opening at Oglebay Institute, they used a large scrim over Catherine's bed.  For most of the play they had a transparency of an ornate gate saying "West Hills Academy".  Later, they had the flashbacks take place on a platform behind the scrim instead of taking place downstage in spotlight.  I liked the transparency, but I hope someone will try the flashbacks on stage where they are more visible.    

 SOUNDS

 Bells for mail call, dinner, and class.

 Crash of broken tree limb.

 Radio with rock'n'roll, classical.

 Thud of a snowball on the window.

 Sound of burglars breaking in.

 A burglar alarm.

 Siren (flashing lights).

 AD LIB ACTIONS

      In the first scene, the actors are unpacking.  In later  scenes, some actions are specified and others may be ad libbed:

           doing homework

           typing on computer

           reading book, magazine, newspaper

           folding laundry

           hand sewing

           putting on makeup or lotion

           putting in curlers or hair ribbons

           exercising

           shaving legs

           painting nails

           cutting and pasting pictures

           eating a snack

           re-arranging bulletin board

           making beds, folding a blanket

           putting away clothes

           dusting

           cleaning the invisible window, mirror

           playing around with soccer ball

           making a model of a castle

           shaking pompoms

           etc.

 ACT I Scene 1

AT RISE:  The day before the school year starts.  LIZ and KENDRA are wearing shorts appropriate for soccer practice.  KENDRA is putting up posters and LIZ is unpacking.  Some of Liz's clothes are in a small case on Catherine's bed.

KENDRA: I'm done. (SHE plays with her soccer ball and pushes it out the door.)

BETH:(BETH enters carrying a bracelet.) Hi, Liz!

LIZ: Hi, Beth!  Can you believe summer is over?  I needed at  least another month of summer vacation, didn't you?

BELLE:   All my friends are at West Hills.  I'm glad to be back. 

LIZ:  Not me.  We spent three weeks in St. Martin.  There were these hot French lifeguards on the beach.  Look!  I've got their pictures!  Aren't they fine!

BELLE:   They look . . . so old.

BELLE: They go to the University of Paris.

BELLE:   Did they speak English?

BELLE: They didn't need to.

BELLE:   Liz!  

LIZ:  Don't worry.  I'm joking.  They thought I was a little kid. (LIZ looks at photograph again and sighs.)

I'm going to have this one blown up poster size.  What did you do this summer?

BELLE:   I spent the summer with my grandmother.

LIZ:  Uh, oh.  You must have met SOME cute boys though?

BETH: (BETH shakes her head and hands LIZ a present.)  I brought you a present. 

LIZ:  A coral bracelet.  Did you get it in Hawaii?  Beth, how sweet of you to think of me on your vacation.  

BELLE:  I didn't go to Hawaii.  I got it at home.  Do you like it?

LIZ: I love it.  Thank you. 

KENDRA: (KENDRA enters wearing shorts.) Hi, Beth.  Miss G. is looking for you.  I think your new roommate is here.

BELLE:This is so exciting!  I'll see you later.

(KENDRA makes a face/gags at BETH's surgery tone as she exits.  LIZ doesn't notice.)

LIZ:  Bye!  I hope she gets a nice roommate.  She's so sweet.

KENDRA: Sure she is.  (LIZ notices KENDRA's tone, but Kendra continues talking.) Haven't you finished putting your stuff away yet?

LIZ:  I brought too many clothes.  Wouldn't it be great if we didn't get assigned a roommate?  We could share the other closet.

KENDRA: Don't you mean, you could take over the third closet?  Why did you buy so many new clothes?

LIZ: I needed them.

KENDRA: What for?  We wear uniforms!

LIZ: Chrissy spent last week with me, and we hit every mall in the city.  It's hard not to buy something when you shop with Chrissy.  

KENDRA:  Yeah, the Plastic Princess.  They'll probably name a mall after her someday.

LIZ:  Didn't you go back-to-school shopping, Kendra?

KENDRA: Sure, I bought new soccer shoes, running shoes, socks, underwear and a Nike shirt.

LIZ: That's all?

KENDRA: I got a new soccer ball.

LIZ: No dresses?

KENDRA: Not me!  But my mom bought me a party dress. 

LIZ: Ooh, let me see!

(KENDRA shows LIZ the dress.)

It's pretty!

KENDRA: I'll never wear it.

LIZ: It would be perfect for the Harvest Dance.

KENDRA: Get real!  Like some boy is going to ask me to go to the Harvest Dance. 

TINA: (TINA enters carrying a small box or bag.  She is wearing shorts.)  Here I am!  Here I am!  Here I am!

LIZ:  Tina!

KENDRA:  Tina!  Are you our new roommate?

Tina: (Speaks fast.)  

Don't I wish!  Alas, some malevolent being has assigned me to share my dark dungeon with the luscious Fontaine seducer and breaker of male hearts. Naturally, I will swallow all scruples and bow and scrape before her in the hopes that she will throw her unwanted crumbs my way.  Wouldn't it be great if she showed up overweight and with acne!  

LIZ: Tina, how unkind!  Like you said, at least we get her crumbs.  No cake, no crumbs.

KENDRA: I thought you were going to room with Brooklyn?

Tina: (Still talking fast.) They changed us.  The administration of this fine institution has decreed that I am a negative influence on  poor innocent Clarice, alias Brooklyn.  Brooklyn's new roommate is named Annabelle Jackson.  She's from Georgia,  plays the violin, and (Tina speaks in southern accent.) 

 "her daddy" has two "huntin' dogs".  Kristen and Amy have a new roommate named Tanya Jackson.  She's from Connecticut and plays the violin, too, but Annabelle Jackson says she doesn't believe they are related as there aren't any "Yankees" in her family.  Your new roommate's name is Catherine Marriott.  She's from San Francisco. 

KENDRA: That's all?

LIZ: What do you mean, that's all?  They wouldn't even tell us her name.  How did you find out?  

Tina: (Speaking fast.) 

I read her application on Miss Green's desk.  She didn't have any hobbies or interests listed on the front page and I was unable to look on the second page and garner any further useful information because, at the precise moment that my hand of its own volition had reached out to turn the page, Miss Green chose to return from the powder room.    

LIZ: You're lucky she didn't catch you a second later. 

Tina: (Sighs and speaks a little slower.) Yes, Miss G. has an uncanny ability to catch me at every indiscretion I commit. (Speaks fast again.) Can you imagine the disgrace of being caught when I had only  arrived at this sacred establishment minutes before.  They  would probably have had the police flag down my parents car and return for their miscreant daughter forthwith.

KENDRA: Nah, if they didn't expel you for climbing down the oak tree  at 2 A.M. last spring, they wouldn't expel you for looking at a paper.

Tina: (Normal speed.)  Oh, yes, they would.  My parents and I have signed a contract that I will conduct myself in a exemplary manner . . . or . . .I'm out-a-here! (TINA pretends to hold knife to her throat as she speaks, and then she exits.)  

KENDRA:  Do you think she can?

LIZ: Exemplary?  By her standards, maybe.  By a normal person's, no way.

LIZ:  Hey, they got us a new mirror. 

(LIZ looks in invisible mirror downstage.)

KENDRA: How can you tell? (KENDRA crosses to mirror.)  

It looks like the same mirror to me. 

LIZ:  You are living with a mirror expert.  (KENDRA and LIZ both stand in front of mirrors facing audience.  Then KENDRA crosses to stand behind her  as LIZ continues talking.)  I wonder what Catherine will be like.  You know, my mom is still friends with her high school roommates.  Wouldn't it be great if the three of us stayed friends forever?  

KENDRA:(KENDRA speaks looking over Liz's shoulder.)    Friends forever.

(MISS GREEN and CATHERINE enter. CATHERINE is carrying a suitcase. MISS GREEN is carrying a clipboard.)

MISS GREEN: Girls, I'd like you to meet your new roommate, Catherine Marriott.  Catherine, this is Kendra Phillips and Elizabeth Whittier.  

CATHERINE:  How do you do?

KENDRA: Hi!

LIZ: Hi!  This is your bed.  Let me get my things off of it.

(LIZ and KENDRA remove items from bed.) 

MISS G.: Well, I'll leave you girls to get acquainted.  If there is anything you need, Catherine, just come to my office and I'll help you.

(MISS G. exits.)

CATHERINE:(CATHERINE sets suitcase on the bed and starts to unpack.)  Thank you, Miss Green.

(CATHERINE ignores LIZ and KENDRA's friendly overtures.  There are pauses between comments. CATHERINE unpacks as they talk.  CATHERINE doesn't look at them, but LIZ and KENDRA make eye contact as though to say what's wrong with her?)

LIZ: I hear you're from San Francisco. (Silence.)  You are from San Francisco,  aren't you?

CATHERINE: Yes, I am. 

KENDRA: I've never been there.  I've seen lots of photographs of the Golden Gate Bridge.

LIZ: And China town.  (Silence.)  I've been to China town in New York.  They must be very similar.  (Silence.)

KENDRA: My dad's a big fan of Steve Young.(Silence.)  You know, the quarterback.  (Silence.) Of the San Francisco 49ers.

CATHERINE: I don't watch basketball.

KENDRA: Football.  

CATHERINE: I'm not really into sports.

(KELLY and BROOKLYN enter dressed for soccer practice.)

KELLY: You guys ready?

KENDRA: Catherine, this is Kelly and Brooklyn.

BROOKLYN: My real name is Clarice, Clarice Epstein.  

CATHERINE: How do you do, Clarice?

KELLY: Please, call her Brooklyn.  If you call her Clarice, she might forget she's our star defender.  Do you play soccer, Cathy?

CATHERINE: Catherine.

KENDRA: She's not into sports.

BROOKLYN: You should give it a try.

CATHERINE: I don't know anything about soccer.

KELLY:  We'll teach you.

LIZ: Come on, Cathy.   It's fun.  

CATHERINE: Catherine. 

LIZ: If I can learn, anyone can.

KELLY: Right!  We taught Liz last year, and she got a Varsity  letter. 

BROOKLYN: Yeah, you don't have to be an expert to play on our soccer team.  

LIZ: All you do is run up and down the field like you know what you're doing.

(LIZ does a feminine little run across the stage and curtsies.)

BROOKLYN: Or you can sit beside Liz on the bench.

LIZ: Hey, I heard that.

KELLY: We'll wait for you to change.

CATHERINE: I couldn't.  I need to unpack.

KENDRA: Are you sure?  

(LIZ walks to front of stage and puts on lipstick looking into mirror.)

BROOKLYN: Get your face out of the mirror, Whittier!

KELLY: Liz, why are you putting on makeup?  We're going to sweat.

KENDRA: Quick!  Come on, before she gets out the curling iron!

LIZ: I'm coming!

(KELLY, BROOKLYN, KENDRA and LIZ exit.  Catherine unpacks.  FONTAINE enters looking for KENDRA and LIZ.  FONTAINE is wearing short shorts and a tight shirt.  Her hair is curled.)

FONTAINE: Ta da!  Hey, where's Kendra?

CATHERINE: She went to play soccer.

FONTAINE: (FONTAINE goes to window, looks out at audience and shouts.)  I see them.  HEY, WAIT FOR ME!  You're new here, aren't you.  I'm Fontaine.

CATHERINE: I'm Catherine Marriott from San Francisco, California.

FONTAINE: Do you have a boyfriend?

CATHERINE: What? (Unusually upset by this question.)

FONTAINE: A boyfriend?  I guess he'd be in San Francisco anyway.  

CATHERINE:  Yes, San Francisco. (CATHERINE speaks reluctantly, because her boyfriend is dead.)

FONTAINE:  Is he tall, dark and handsome?

CATHERINE: Garrett was blond.

FONTAINE: But handsome?

CATHERINE: I'm sorry, I don't want to talk about him.

FONTAINE: Well, in a week or two when you forget him, let me know, and I'll fix you up. (FONTAINE exits.)

CATHERINE: Right. (SHE walks to window, faces the audience, and speaks in anguished voice.)  In a week or two when I forget him.  (CATHERINE is silent a moment.  She wipes away a tear.)

CHRISSY: (CHRISSY enters with a purse.)  Hi!  You must be Cathy.  

CATHERINE: Catherine.

CHRISSY: I'm Chrissy, Fontaine's roommate.  About so tall.  Tight (green) shirt.  The one who has never had a bad hair day in her life, even when she plays soccer.

CATHERINE: A girl in a green shirt went to play soccer with Kendra and Liz.

CHRISSY: That's her.  Soccer is her big passion.  That and other people's boyfriends.  If you have a boyfriend, watch out!  Fontaine's lethal when she sets her mind to stealing someone's boyfriend.  

CATHERINE: I don't have to worry about that anymore.

CHRISSY: That's right, your boyfriend is too far away, isn't he?  You're from San Francisco.

CATHERINE:  Yes.

CHRISSY: The reason I came by was that Miss Green told me you were here alone.  I was wondering if you needed to go shopping for anything.  We don't have a real mall here, but downtown has a couple of dress shops and a J.C.Penney's. I'm going to buy sheets if you want to come along.

CATHERINE: Doesn't the school provide linens?

CHRISSY: Plain white. I want something bold and attractive. It gets pretty dreary around this place after a few weeks.  Besides, I haven't used my credit card in two days.  It wilts without exercise.  Do you want to come? 

CATHERINE: No, but thank you for the invitation.

CHRISSY: Okay. Any time you need a ride downtown, call me. I live to shop.  (CHRISSY turns back as she exits.)  If you get lonely, go down to the t.v. room.  There's always someone down there.  After classes start tomorrow and you meet everybody, you won't ever be left alone again.  See you later!   

CATHERINE:  I want to be left alone.  (LIGHTS: FADE)

 I WANT to be alone.

(BLACKOUT)

              END OF SCENE 1

ACT I Scene 2 

AT RISE: A week later.  The room is unpacked. CATHERINE is sitting on her bed drawing.  When LIZ enters CATHERINE hides her drawing pad and picks up a book.  CATHERINE is wearing a school uniform and LIZ is wearing shorts.

ANNOUNCER: Congratulations on finishing the first week of school with everyone in our house still on the honors list.  Dinner will be served 15 minutes early tonight due to the large number of girls attending the first Grant Academy football game this evening.  Don't forget that all Freshmen and Sophmores must have a pass to be off campus after 8:00 P.M.  

BELLE:(LIZ enters, groans, and collapses on  her bed.)

Uuuuhhhh!  I may never move again.  Every muscle in my body aches.  I think my legs have turned to stone.

VOICE: Liz, telephone!  It's Matt.

(LIZ jumps up and runs out.)

(CATHERINE takes out her drawing pad and draws.) 

(KENDRA enters carrying a blue envelope.  She is wearing the same shorts that she'll wear with her team shirt later.)

KENDRA:  Hey, Catherine, you didn't pick up your mail.

CATHERINE: No one has my address here.

KENDRA: Someone does.  Someone in Paris, France.  

CATHERINE: My Aunt Caroline.  (KENDRA hands her the letter.) Thank you.  (SHE puts the letter on the bed.) 

KENDRA: (KENDRA waits for CATHERINE to read the letter or make a further comment.)  Aren't you going to read it?  I love getting mail.  I even read my junk mail.

LIZ:  La, la, la, la.  (LIZ skips in.)

KENDRA: I thought you were dead.

LIZ: I've revived.  Matt's taking me to the game. What should I wear? (LIZ throws clothes and shoes onto the bed.  She holds up shirt and scarf in mirror.)  Does this scarf go with this shirt?  Or this one?

KENDRA: Matt's not going to notice what you wear.

LIZ: Kendra, Kendra, Kendra, when are you going to wake up?  Of course he's not going to notice what I wear, but he's going to notice the whole effect, casual elegance.  

KENDRA: For a football game?   For Matt?  I thought you said he was a dork.

LIZ: I want a date for the Harvest Dance.  If not with Matt, then some other Grant Academy boy.  There will be ten boys for every girl in the stands tonight.  And I'm dressing for every one of them.

KENDRA: You're sick, Liz.  Really sick.  

LIZ: Oh, pleeease.  Isn't that why you're going to the game with Kelly and Tina, to find a date for the Harvest Dance, so that you can wear the dress your mom bought?

KENDRA: No, it's not.  I'm going to watch the game.  I keep telling you no one is going to ask me to the Harvest Dance.  

(SOUND: DINNER BELL RINGS)

LIZ: There's the dinner bell.  Hurry up!  I want to be first in line.  I've still got to shower and do my hair.

(LIZ exits, followed by KENDRA.  CATHERINE combs her hair in front of mirror.  BROOKLYN enters with the J.V. GIRLS who are running in place.)

 BROOKLYN: Where's Kendra?

CATHERINE: They went down to dinner.

BROOKLYN:(As J.V. GIRLS stop running.)  Don't stop!

JV GIRLS: (Groan and start running.)

JADE LYNN: Aren't we done yet, Coach?

BROOKLYN: (Looks at her watch.)  Ten more minutes.

(To Catherine as she exits.)  We'll see you at dinner.  

(BROOKLYN starts jogging and JV GIRLS follow her out of the room with JADE LYNN and BECKY ANN last.  JADE LYNN stops running and sits.)

JADE LYNN: I thought you told me J.V. soccer was supposed to be fun?!

BECKY ANN: It is.

JADE LYNN: Then why are my feet killing me?

BECKY ANN: (Pulling JADE LYNN's arm.) Hurry up, will you.  I don't want to do pushups.

JADE LYNN: (Pulls away.  Speaks sarcastically.)  Oh, but Becky Ann, think how much more fun pushups will be.  

BECKY ANN: Hurry up, Jade Lynn!  She'll make all of us do pushups.

(BECKY ANN runs in place near door and then exits.)

JADE LYNN: Maybe I don't want to hurry.  I'm tired.

(SOUND: P.E. WHISTLE)

(JADE LYNN jumps up and runs out the door after Becky Ann. BETH enters cautiously.  She takes money from a drawer and picks up a scarf or necklace on the bed.  She holds in against herself and looks in the mirror.  She pockets it and exits.)

         (BLACKOUT)

                 END OF SCENE 2

ACT I  Scene 3

AT RISE: A few days later.  Liz is studying when Belle enters.

ANNOUNCER: Attention, please.  Someone left her ALGEBRA book in my office on Monday and it's still here.  Does this mean she has not done her homework for the last two days?  She wouldn't want to be responsible for the house slipping off the honors list, would she, Tina?

BELLE: (BELLE enters carrying letters.)  Mail call.  Kendra . . . Liz . . . Kendra . . . 

LIZ: The blue letter is for Catherine.  

(BELLE places KENDRA's letters on her bed or chest.  LIZ opens her own card while she's talking to BELLE.)

BELLE:(BELLE smells Catherine's letter putting it on her bed.) Mmmm, smells good.  What a great stamp!

LIZ: It's from her aunt in Paris.  She writes every week.

BELLE:  That's thoughtful of her.  Unless she's like my Aunt Bertha.  She always complains about her arthritis and  bunions, Uncle Henry's snoring, and the price of canned greens.  

LIZ: I don't know.  Catherine never shares her letters.

BELLE: She's a deep one, huh?  

LIZ: Deep and quiet. 

BELLE: Silence is not a bad quality in a roommate.

LIZ: Are you talking about Brooklyn?

BELLE: What makes you say that?

LIZ: You could hardly be referring to Beth.  She's so sweet.

BELLE: If you say so.

LIZ: Don't you think she's sweet?  And polite?  She's always giving people little gifts.

BELLE: I think Brooklyn is just as sweet, and she's very thoughtful, even if she doesn't give people "little gifts". 

LIZ: Sorry.  You're a loyal roommate.

BELLE: I like Brooklyn.  And I wasn't referring to her,  although she does talk louder than is quite genteel.

BELLE:(Teasing.) GENTEEL?

BELLE: I was talking about Tina.  Every time I walk by her room I hear her talking.  That girl never shuts up.

LIZ: Shuts up?  Tsk!  Tsk!  What an un-genteel expression.

BELLE: You're teasing me.  You know very well what I mean.  Beth seems like a very sunny, warm, pleasant person; but I don't think I could bear to have her for a roommate.

LIZ: However I can't help but feel that Fontaine deserves her.

BELLE: Fontaine?

LIZ: I guess you didn't hear what happened after the football game Friday night.  She's not my favorite person at the moment.

BELLE: What happened?

LIZ: She flirted with my date, Matt, all through the game.  Then when a bunch of us went to have a hamburger afterwards, she somehow ended up sitting next to him in one car and I had to ride in another car.

BELLE: Oh, no!  Are you heartbroken?

LIZ: Over Matt?  No way, but it was a very UN-GENTEEL thing for one of your friends to pull, don't you think?

BELLE: Absolutely.  I'd be madder than a shaved possum.  

LIZ: A what?

BELLE: A shaved possum.  Come to my room.  I have just the thing for stolen-boyfriend-stress syndrome: chocolate fudge with pecans fresh from my daddy's tree.

LIZ: Sounds good to me!

(BELLE and LIZ exit.  BETH enters, takes money from KENDRA's drawer, picks up the blue envelope and smells it.  BETH touches several of CATHERINE's things before she hears SOMEONE coming.  KENDRA and CATHERINE enter with school books.  CATHERINE sits on her bed.  KENDRA is wearing her school uniform with her shirt tail out.  Her soccer uniform is hidden underneath for the next scene.)

KENDRA: What's up, Beth?

BELLE:  Have you seen Liz?

KENDRA: No, she should be here.  She said she had a math test to study for.

BELLE:  Maybe she went to get help.  I'll check back later.    (BETH exits.)

KENDRA: Kelly and I are going for frozen yogurt.  Want to come?

CATHERINE: No, thanks.

KENDRA: (KENDRA finds her mail.)  Oh, good, mail.

(KENDRA opens her letters.) 

KELLY:(KELLY enters.) Are you ready?

KENDRA: Just a sec.  Hey, Ralph had puppies.

KELLY: Ralph?

KENDRA: My dog.

KELLY: I know Ralph is your dog, but he's a boy.

BELLE:(Enters.) Did I hear someone say "boy".

KENDRA: Liz, you have a one track mind.

LIZ: Yes, isn't it great!

KENDRA: Beth came to see you.

LIZ: She did.  I wonder what she wants?

KENDRA: She didn't say.

LIZ: I'll talk to her after I study for my math test.  I got a D on my last test.  Where are you two going?

KELLY: We're going to Yoshi's Frozen Delight for frozen yogurt.

LIZ: Can I come? (LIZ jumps up and goes to mirror  to her comb hair.) 

KELLY: I thought you had to study.

KENDRA: Forget it, Kell.  Yoshi's is across the street from Grant Academy.

KELLY: Ohhhhh.

LIZ: Come on, girls.  I don't have time to waste.

(LIZ, KENDRA, and KELLY exit.  CATHERINE gets out her sketching pad.  WANDA LU and MARY THERESA enter dancing to music on their headphones.) 

WANDA LU: Hi!  Is Kendra here?

CATHERINE:  No, she went to Yoshi's.

WANDA LU: What?  

          (CATHERINE shakes her head "no".)

MARY THERESA: When will she be back?

CATHERINE: I don't know.  An hour?  

MARY THERESA: An hour?  We'll come back.  

(MARY THERESA and WANDA LU dance out. 

(SOUND: LOUD MUSIC)

(CATHERINE can't concentrate.  Finally, she picks up some books and exits.)

(SOUND:  THUMPING ON WALL)

VOICES: Turn that down or I'll . . .  Hey! I'm trying to sleep! Use your headphones!

(BLACKOUT)

       END OF SCENE 3

ACT I   Scene 4

AT RISE: One evening a week later.  CATHERINE is sitting on her bed reading.  BROOKLYN, KENDRA, KELLY and LIZ are wearing West Hills soccer team uniforms.  JENNA JO and RIA KIM are carrying bags of soccer balls.

BROOKLYN: Are you ready to trounce St. Mary's?

JENNA JO: Go, Tigers!

RIA KIM: Bash those Beavers!

BROOKLYN: Take the balls down to the field and check on the water.

JENNA JO: Okay, Coach.

RIA KIM: I'll carry the balls.

JENNA JO: No, it's my turn.  You carried them up here.

(RIA KIM and JENNA JO exit.)

LIZ: Do those girls follow you everywhere?

BROOKLYN:  I'm their coach.

KENDRA: We don't follow our coach everywhere.  

LIZ: Admit it, Brooklyn.  You like having your own fan club.

KENDRA:(Shakes out coin purse.) I thought I had more money than this.

LIZ: Too many trips to the yogurt shop.

KELLY: Yeah, Ken.

BROOKLYN: Yogurt shop?  What's with this hat, Kendra?(BROOKLYN holds up a flower bedecked straw hat.)

LIZ: It came UPS this afternoon.  Isn't it cute?

BROOKLYN: (Puts on hat and looks in mirror.) I don't know.  It doesn't quite look your style, Ken.

KENDRA: My grandmother sent it.  She probably thinks we still have tea on Sunday afternoons.

LIZ: Well, I like it.  Besides it's the thought that counts.

BROOKLYN: (Puts hat on Kendra.) But what was she thinking?

LIZ: She looks like a girl in love.

KENDRA:  Shut up, Liz.

BROOKLYN: Am I missing something here?

KENDRA: No! (Takes off hat.) My grandmother sent me the hat for my birthday next week.  

BROOKLYN: Wait a minute.  Don't try and change the subject.  What are we talking about here?

KENDRA: Hats.  We're talking about hats.  It's time to go.  (KENDRA exits in a huff/embarrassed.)

LIZ: Ah, young love! (LIZ sighs loudly and exits.)

BROOKLYN: What's going on?

KELLY: We've been eating a lot of yogurt lately.

BROOKLYN: And?  Come on, Kell, tell me.

KELLY: Well, okay.  Kendra met this really cute guy at the yogurt shop last week so we went back again, and again, and again.  

BROOKLYN: Oh, yeah? 

KELLY: Yeah.  

BROOKLYN: All right, Kendra!

KELLY: He goes to Grant.  He plays quarterback.  And he's coming to watch her game today.

 BROOKLYN: This I gotta see. (SHE exits.)

KELLY:  Aren't you coming, Catherine? (KELLY exits.)

CATHERINE: I've got homework.

(When others are gone, Catherine turns on classical music.  She puts on the hat in front of the mirror and sways to music.  She picks up scarf and dances to music until she stumbles.  She massages her leg.  She puts her head down.  MISS GREEN enters and turns off the radio.  She only notices Catherine as CATHERINE stands up.)

MISS G.:Oh, I'm sorry, Catherine.  I thought everyone was at the soccer game.  Don't you want to watch?   It should be an exciting game.  St. Mary's is our school rival.

CATHERINE:  Yes, I know, but I don't know anything about soccer.

MISS G.:You could go just to enjoy the companionship of the other  girls.   

CATHERINE:  I like to be alone.

MISS G.:How are you getting along at West Hills?  The girls are being friendly, aren't they?

CATHERINE:  Everything is fine, Miss Green.

MISS G.:Is there anything you'd like to talk about?

CATHERINE:  No, really, everything is fine.

MISS G.:Your aunt wrote to me.  She wanted to know how you're adjusting to West Hills.

CATHERINE:(Resentful.)  Aunt Caroline wrote to you about me?  Behind my back? 

MISS G.:She's concerned.  She says that you haven't answered any of her letters.

CATHERINE: I don't know what to write about.  She's a stranger. I've only seen her twice in my whole life, once when I was a baby and then at  . . . the funeral.  

MISS G.:Writing is a good way to get to know someone.  Pen pals often say they feel like they know their pen pal better than people they see everyday.  

CATHERINE:  I don't want a pen pal.  

MISS G.:Yes, well, perhaps you can't be friends with your aunt; but,  Catherine, have you considered that she will be your guardian until you're twenty-one.  You'll have to have some contact with her. 

CATHERINE: I have a lawyer.  She can contact him.

MISS G.:Oh, Catherine, don't you think you should at least give your aunt a chance? (Silence.) Your aunt says that you'll be staying with her in Paris over Christmas vacation.  Isn't that exciting?  

CATHERINE:  I don't want to celebrate Christmas in Paris or anywhere else.  I'm staying here.  

MISS G.:But, Catherine, you'll have a wonderful time.  She's going to take you to see the Russian ballet perform The Nutcracker.  

CATHERINE:  No!!  No ballet.  And I'm not decorating a tree, running around singing Christmas carols like everything's wonderful.  Everything is not wonderful! (Speaks softly.)  Joy to the World!

MISS G.:Catherine.

CATHERINE:  I'll call my lawyer.  I'm not going.  

MISS G.:All right.  I didn't mean to upset you.  We'll talk later.  I'd better get down to the field.  Are you sure you won't come?

(Catherine shakes her head and Miss Green exits.  Catherine buries her head in her pillow.)

(BLACKOUT)

END OF SCENE 4

ACT I Scene 5

AT RISE: The same evening, after the soccer game.  The sounds of victory can be heard in the hallway.  LIZ still in her team uniform arrives with a girl (Randy) in a St. Mary's soccer  uniform who is carrying a sleeping bag.  CATHERINE is sitting on the bed in her robe.

JV GIRLS: (Girls circle room, chant, wave pompons, and exit.)  West Hills rules!

LIZ:  Hey, Catherine, we won!

CATHERINE:  So I hear.  Did you take prisoners? 

LIZ:  Sorry.  This is Kendra's cousin, Randy Phillips.  She goes to St. Mary's as you can see.  

CATHERINE:  Hi!  Is she a hostage?

LIZ:  No, Randy decided to sleepover for Kendra's birthday tomorrow.

RANDY: Kendra's down in the foyer talking to some guy named Lance.

LIZ: A bunch of us are sleeping on the floor.  Miss G. said it would be all right.  You don't mind, do you Catheriine?

CATHERINE:  No.

LIZ:  I'll be right back.(She exits.)

CATHERINE:  I'm surprised that you and your cousin don't go to the same school.

RANDY: I wanted to come to West Hills Secondary, but my parents said it would be too expensive.  St. Mary's has a family discount.  The fifth girl gets to go free and that's me.  

(BETH, BELLE, TANYA and TINA enter carrying pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags.  They are dressed in nightwear and TINA has goo on her face.)

TINA:  Have you seen the gorgeous hunk of perfection talking to Kendra.  He's oozing with muscles.  They're holding hands.  Do you suppose this means that he will invite her to the Harvest Dance?  I love the Harvest Dance, the elaborate decorations, the divine attire, . . . 

RANDY: The boys!  

(FONTAINE, KELLY, and BROOKLYN enter carrying pop, jalapeno chips, and a cake box.) 

TANYA:  You got a birthday cake! 

KELLY:  Kind of.  They were out of "Happy Birthday".

TANYA:  I've got candles in my room.(TANYA jumps up.)

KELLY:  We got some.

TANYA:  Let's see the cake.(TANYA opens the cake box.)  "Congratulations?" 

RANDY: How appropriate.

KELLY:  Sorry about that, Randy.  It was unintentional, really.

RANDY: Yeah, right!

FONTAINE: You don't think we would invite the high point scorer for the other team to our victory party, now do you?

RANDY: (Teasing.)  Wouldn't you just!

BELLE:   It really is a birthday party for Kendra.

FONTAINE: Don't get all worked up, Beth.  She knows we're teasing.

BELLE: It's strange having cousins on rival teams.

BELLE: Kind of like the war between the North and the South all over again. 

FONTAINE: Yeah, I thought your coach was going to lose it when they were bickering.

RANDY: Our coach?  Sister Teresa?

FONTAINE: Yeah, when Kelly made that goal in the second half.

RANDY: When the defender scored?  It looked pretty straight forward to me.  I couldn't figure out why Sister Teresa kept blowing the whistle. 

FONTAINE: She was blowing the whistle at Kendra.  It was perfect.

BELLE: Why?   What happened?   We couldn't tell from the stands either.

BROOKLYN:  Spread out and we'll demonstrate. (BROOKLYN puts  a towel/scarf over her head and has a whistle.)  You be Kendra and Randy.  I'll be Sister Teresa.  (KELLY and FONTAINE play ball around the room.  KELLY kicks the ball.)

KELLY:  Score for West Hills!

FONTAINE: (FONTAINE stands next to BROOKLYN, but with her back to her and shouts.) We really kicked your butt, Phillips!

BROOKLYN: Blows whistle repeatedly and everyone laughs.)

RANDY: Sister Teresa is old-fashioned.

BELLE: Not at all.  I think it is a perfectly revolting expression.  I'm surprised that Kendra would use it.

RANDY: She has three brothers.  She's a tomboy.

KELLY: Not anymore!  She's "in love".

FONTAINE: Kendra?  With one of those boys she's talking to down in the lobby?

(One of the GIRLS starts singing "Happy Birthday" and others join in as KENDRA comes in.  She hugs Randy and they sit beside each other.)

BELLE:  It looks like the war is over.

FONTAINE: Hey, how can you two kick each other's BUNS all over the soccer field and then sit there like butter wouldn't melt in your mouths?.  

RANDY: Family forgiveness.

BELLE: A soccer game is nothing.  One time my uncle bet my dad he could beat him home.  Only my uncle had stolen my dad's radiator cap and his car stalled right on the railway tracks right when the noon train was blowing its whistle. 

BROOKLYN:  Did the train hit it?

BELLE:  No, they pushed it off the tracks.  Daddy said he didn't know he was so strong until they saw that train headed right for them.

BROOKLYN:  I would have punched him one.

BELLE:  He didn't have to.  Daddy's girl friend was riding in his car.  After she stopped screaming hysterically, she beat Uncle Terry over the head with her purse until he was bleeding in several places.

RANDY: That sounds like something my Uncle Mike would do.

KENDRA: Randy, please don't tell any stories about Uncle Michael.

BROOKLYN:  This sounds interesting.  

KENDRA: Randy!

BROOKLYN:  Come on, Randy dish the dirt.

RANDY: Yeah, Kendra, he's our most illustrious relative.

KENDRA: Well, at least tell something that doesn't involve women.

BROOKLYN: This gets better and better.

RANDY: You mean I can't tell them about the time he streaked the PTA meeting?

KENDRA: RANDY!

BROOKLYN: Kendra, I'm shocked.  I never would have guessed you had someone like that in your family.

KENDRA:  Randy, I'm going to get you for this!

BROOKLYN: (SHE blocks the pillow KENDRA throws.) Not yet.  Tell us more.

RANDY:  Once he sold my grandfather's car and after the police brought it back someone shot two bullets through the living room window.

BELLE:  Whoa!

BROOKLYN:  So did this guy end up in jail or what?

KENDRA: (Mumbles.)  He's a priest.

BROOKLYN:  What?

RANDY:  He became a priest.

BROOKLYN:  No?!

RANDY:  Yes!

BELLE:  Randy Phillips, you made that up just to tease Brooklyn didn't you?

RANDY:  Not a word.  Just ask Ken.

KENDRA:  Believe me:  No one was more surprised than my grandparents.  

RANDY:  What about you, Catherine?  Every family has at least one crazy relative.

CATHERINE:  Not mine.

RANDY:  Come on, tell all.

CATHERINE:  I have nothing to tell.(CATHERINE exits.)

RANDY:  I didn't mean to offend her.

KENDRA:  She's kind of touchy about her family.  Her parents are too busy to even write her.

KELLY:  But her aunt writes, doesn't she?

BELLE:   Those blue letters?

KENDRA:  Almost every week.  Let's change the subject.  She might come back.

PERSON nearest door speaks: Here she comes.  No, it's Liz.

(LIZ enters.)

KENDRA:  Liz!

LIZ:  That's me!

KENDRA:  Where have you been?

LIZ:  I've been preparing a little birthday surprise.

KENDRA:  I told you not to get me a present.

LIZ:  Oh, you'll like this one.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

(As LIZ shouts LANCE and PAUL come in dressed in girls' pajamas and hairnets.  The girls all scream and laugh.)

VOICES: Oh, my word!  How did you get in?  Liz, are you crazy? (ad lib)

BELLE:(Frantic.)  Quiet!  Quiet!  Miss G. will hear.

TINA:  This is so funny!

PAUL:  You look pretty funny