Frank: A Play by Mariah M.
Characters:
Frank
Felicia
Student 1
Student 2
Student 3 (Stefani)
Robyn
Mrs. Kitsh
Caveman 1
Caveman 2
Caveman 3
Scene One
(Frank is sitting on the floor against the back wall in an empty stage.)
Frank: (crying, head in hands.) I wish…someone understood.
(A pebble appears in the middle of the stage.)
Frank: A pebble. The walls between reality…and here. Are breaking.
(Giant rock tumbles onto stage. Something crashes. Destruction noises.)
Frank: The code 8875962 whisker.
(Frank is pulled offstage by invisible current.)
Scene 2
(In Frank’s living room. There is a sofa, chair in the back. Felicia is on the couch. The doorbell rings.)
Felicia: Oh my. At this hour, it better be God-awful important.
(Felicia opens door. Woman near the same age stands there.)
Felicia: Robyn! (They hug.)
Robyn: Oh dear Felicia, it’s been a while. I’m utterly sorry. I was just driving through and my car was running out of…whatever. And there’s a storm in New York in the area I’m headed (She points). I left Maryland late and you were the only person I know within an hour…when I realized…the trouble.
Felicia: I don’t mind, of course you can stay the night! I tucked Frank in, you’ll be surprised how much he has grown. Greg, that’s my new boyfriend is out of town and I’ve absolutely nothing to do. Lord, I’ve missed you.
Robyn: Frank, how old is he now?
Felicia: (She smiles.) He is 8.
Robyn: And how is he? (Felicia’s face becomes sad.)
Felicia: Actually, not so well. He’s being bullied and he keeps going on about this voidy place where he “escapes” to when he’s sad. He says it’s his “away from reality and time. My own place. What will be the price?”
Robyn: What? (She jumps up.) What are you talking about, honey?
Felicia: I overhead him saying that to himself while going to the bathroom last night. (Felicia grabs Robyn’s hand) I’m scared Robs, My little boy! I’m so (she whispers the next line) so scared.
Scene 3
(Frank’s classroom. He is daydreaming and his teacher is grimacing and pacing back and forth in the front of the room.)
Mrs. Kitsh: Frank? Ahem…Frank!
(Frank wakes in a high-pitched voice.)
Frank: Yes, Ms. Kitsh?
Mrs. Kitsh: Why do you think history is recorded? Why do we need to know it? Why are you in this room learning these things? Do you care? (Teacher crosses arms.) Do you? (Teacher stomps feet.)
Frank: Well you see…um…I care about learning. This classroom is useful for those who are not beyond…uhhh…time is a very strange thing you see. History is like guidelines. Guidelines are edited by effects. And history is changed by umm….time travelers! Like me! Well soon. I can escape time. I cannot travel through time…yet.
(Multiple classmates shout at the moment they hear this.)
Student 1: Nerd!
Student 2: Dweeb!
Student 3: Nimrod!
Student 1: Student tres dude, that’s a dorky insult. Maybe you should go kiss Frank!
1 & 2: Oooooh…and…they can have
Student 1: An exotic summer romance
Student 2: And have mutant babies!
(Mrs. Kitsh slowly steps onto a desk.)
Mrs. Kitsh: ENOUGH! Uno and dos, stay with me. Everyone else (She pauses and puts her finger on her chin to think and falls off the desk onto her face.)
LEAVE!
(The class cheers and runs from the room.)
Mrs. Kitsh: I am very disappointed in you two. You know Frank has his issues.
Student 2: No fair! He smells funny. Like sulfur and dust! Like old things. old diseases and nasty stuff.
Mrs. Kitsh: Ahem! Those are of the past. (She puts her hands on her hips.) The. Past.
Scene 4
(The school playground. Swing set is in the middle of the stage. Students are climbing on towers made of cardboard boxes. Student 3 and Frank are on the swingset. Students 1 & 2 walk across the stage. Students part to different sides while the bullies walk through. They fall silent. When Students 1 & 2 have passed all students leave the stage except for Frank and Student 3.)
Student 3: You know my mom has been on the jury a lot. Trials that lasted hundreds of days.
Frank: And? (Frank is angry, turns away.)
Student 3: She taught me something.
Frank: (Still angry, but mildly interested, turns to face Student 3.) Yeah? What?
Student 3: I’m sorry. All my life I’ve been popular (He sighs dramatically). God knows why and I’m sorry. You opened up a new world to me. I believe…everything?
Frank: You believe…me?
Student 3: (Smiles) Jury duty. Mama taught me how to tell when people lie. And you…can escape time! That’s cool!
Frank: Yeah well…it’s ain’t good for nothing. Everyone thinks I’m crazy.
Student 3: (Stands up) I’m sorry Frank, but why aren’t you trying to change things! Frank, you have got to be strong! Get up! (Frank stands.) Now what does your mother think?
Frank: (mumbling) Brain damage.
Student 3: You have none! What are you gonna do?
Frank: I don’t know!
Student 3: Figure it out!
Frank: Well I could…
Student 3: Spit it out!
Frank: I could take her with me.
Student 3: You could?
Frank: Yeah. I guess.
Student 3: Could you take me?
Frank: Yeah…yeah I could. (smiles) Thanks!
Student 3: You know my name? It isn’t Student Tres.
(Frank is surprised)
Student 3: It’s Stefani.
Frank: Hey, come here Stefani.
Student 3: I am here. (She jumps in the air and lands on the ground in a thud.)
Frank: Riiiiiight.
Student 3: Anyway.
Frank: You’re my only real friend.
Student 3: I like goldfish. (Stefani runs away)
Frank: Oh dea. OH DEAR. My mom. My mommy. Why am I here? I need to take her to my special place! She’s waiting for me! (Frank runs offstage)
Scene 5
(Frank’s house. Frank’s mom sits alone on the couch on the phone with pencil and paper in one hand)
Felicia: Yes. Yes that’s right, Frank Dekorccini. No (She pauses). Deceased. Yes. That’s right. (pauses) Mmhmmm. Gotcha.
(pauses to listen. Nods off and on. Frank runs through the front door. Phone falls out of Felicia’s hand. Felicia stands up and hugs Frank.)
Felicia: You owe me an explanation young man!
Frank: Mommy, I’m so sorry. I know. But listen.
Felicia: No, Sir!!!
Frank: It’s not…
(Felicia interrupts)
Felicia: You need to understand.
Frank: We’ve got to
(Felicia interrupts again)
Felicia: Frank Roberto Clyde Angus Dekorccini!
(Frank drops to the ground and silences)
Frank: Yes, mother?
Felicia: Why are you two hours late?
Frank: Well, after school I made a friend. She…She believed me about my place. Her name is Stefani and she likes goldfish!!
Felicia: Awww (smiles)…honey, that’s great! (Straightens) I mean, This was a huge mistake!!!!
Frank: Well I’m sorry. But listen. I need to know will you do something with me?
Felicia: Anything.
Frank: Come with me. Come to my place. I know we can do it, I know!
Felicia: Honey, please. It’s not real!
Frank: Then, think of this as a chance to prove me wrong. (He makes a sad puppy dog face) Mommy, please!
Felicia: Well I guess it can’t hurt dear. Now let’s get this over with.
Frank: Ok, we need to clear up this space.
(They push the furniture against the walls.)
Frank: Well go see Mom, I discovered a formula to travel through time. But…
Felicia: But what?
Frank: (Jumps) I’m missing a component, Mom. And I don’t know what it is. But, without the component, the formula took me to my place. And when my life is falling apart it eases me. Being there. My true home.
Felicia: This…(Felicia’s voice goes soft and breaks) is nonsense.
Frank: (Weak and sad) Well fine. Show me. Sit down and hold my hand.
(They sit down cross-legged facing each other.)
Frank: The entry and exit code have the same numbers but different words. I can’t say it out loud, but I can write it down for you to see. And then – THEN we’ll say it out loud and hold hands. And (spreads out his hands dramatically) BAZOOM! (pauses) Do you have any paper? And a pencil?
(Felicia hands Frank paper and pencil. Frank scribbles something down and hands it to Felicia to read.)
Frank: Are you ready?
Felicia: (Angrily) Whatever.
Frank: No, (sighs) really Mom, you have to make yourself ready. Just imagine.
(Felicia waits to respond. She closes her eyes and hold Frank’s hands)
Felicia: I’m ready.
Frank: Ok, so at the count of three…(he smiles) you know what to do.
Felicia: (she smiles) Yes, I do.
Frank: Ok, 1…2…3!
Felicia/
Frank: (Together) 8875962 WHOLLOPZING!
(Lights fade to black, the stage is barely visible. Frank and Felicia scream and something crashes.)
Felicia: Oh my god, Frank!
Frank: Mom, this isn’t supposed to happen!
Felicia: Oh whatever, you’re not crazy!
Frank: We should already be there! But Mommy, I can sense it! We’re moving! Through TIME!
Felicia: Oh, but honey, you’re sane! You’re a genius!
Frank: (Annoyed) Well, duh! (He pauses) Anyway, I haven’t figured out the component! But it’s here! It’s clear! But what is it?
(Something crashes again)
Felicia: (Sobbing) Oh my little boy! I’m so proud of you!
Frank: It’s not important, Mom. The component –
(Felicia interrupts)
Felicia: It’s love Frank, Love!
(Something crashes again)
Frank: Mom?
Felicia: Yes, Frank?
Frank: Mommy?
Felicia: What is it, honey?
Frank: Love?
Felicia: I’m sure! Where do you think you got your genius brain from? The sky?
(Something crashes)
Frank: But Mommy? (pauses) Where are we going?
Felicia: Oh my god! Frank?
Frank: Yes?
Felicia: Where are we going?
(The lights come back on. The set is in a cave. Three very hairy cavemen lumber across the stage.)
Caveman 1: Oooohagra!
(Caveman 2 pushes Caveman 1 to the floor. Caveman 3 runs around in circles screaming.)
Caveman 2: Aaah! Oooh! Uhh! Eee! Aaah! Oooh!
Caveman 3: (high-pitched) Laaaa! Laaa! Lah! Noooo!
THE END