Well, I asked on twitter and you guys asked me to post this play all at once...
So without further ado...
I present my pride and joy...
A script entitled "Monsters in the Light"
I really hope you all enjoy and that you leave some thoughts in the comments! :)
Love y'all!
~ Cody Roecker @ Roecker Reviews <3
Monsters In The Light
By Cody Roecker
Dramatis Personae
ATLAS is a fifth grader, who goes to church every Sunday and is completely content in life.
VIOLET is a fifth grader whose mother is on her deathbed and has been for years, her childhood has been shattered.
MRS. BEAUSOLIEL is a forty year old woman who gives the children an assignment to draw a monster.
lights up on the teacher's side of the classroom
MRS B: (narrating) One day I told my class that we would all be drawing monsters. I told them I wanted them to draw whatever came to mind when they heard the word 'monster'. I told them that I didn't want them talking to their neighbors because I didn't want others to influence their drawings. I was very curious to see what the students had drawn and come up with. I had done this for many years now and I always enjoyed seeing what these kids could think up. Some could draw so some of the monsters were actually scary! Some couldn't, but that kept it interesting. After everything I had seen, and after all my years of teaching, nothing could have ever prepared me for this.
lights up on kids side of classroom
ATLAS: I drew a monster with three eyes, four arms, and furry purple hair! He's scary, don't you think?
VIOLET: He looks like Randall and Sully from Monsters Inc! He's not scary he's cute!
ATLAS: No he's not! He's terrifying! monster noise
VIOLET: Whatever you say. To me he looks huggable and lovable. If I saw him one day, I would talk to him and ask him to be my friend. Sully was nice, so why can't this guy be kind too?
ATLAS: Well.. He eats kids like us! He could never become our friend. He's so scary because he eats kids!
VIOLET: Sully always scared kids until he realized that they had hearts and lives to. He was a nice monster because he changed his ways, so your monster can too!
ATLAS: My monster’s name is Rhysanderous! He's also part dinosaur. They cannot be tamed, they are all evil carnivorous beasts. Would you trust him?
VIOLET: No.. but he can be better. Not everyone who looks evil is actually evil.. They may look horrible but could be super kind if treated right. You should always give everyone a chance, at least one chance.
ATLAS: Whatever you say.. I don't agree but there is no point arguing with you. If you aren't scared of Rhysanderous, then what did you draw?
VIOLET: I drew... I don't want to say... You'll think it's stupid.
ATLAS: No I won't, I'm sure it's not stupid.
VIOLET: Promise?
ATLAS: Pinky Swear.
The Kids link pinkies
VIOLET: shows the other kid her drawing of a beautiful angel.
ATLAS: snickers That is NOT scary.
VIOLET: You promised you wouldn't say it was stupid!
ATLAS: I'm sorry. I didn't meant to laugh...but why would you think an angel is scary? Angels are the kindest beings ever! My Dad is my angel. He always takes care of me when I am sick. He is the best angel of them all! We learned about angels in my church service. That's how I know my Dad is an angel. I learned about Gabriel and all of the other wonderful angels that help God perform miracles! There is nothing scary about angels!
VIOLET: That's where you are wrong! Angels are the scariest of them all!
ATLAS: Why would you say that? Don't you go to church?
VIOLET: I used to, with my mom, but then we stopped going because she got sick and sicker and now she is too sick to go. I even prayed to God to send angels down to heal my mom. But the angels were never sent. My mom is still sick, and she continues to get sicker. Why won't God send the angels down for my mom? Is she not as good as Mary was?
ATLAS: I was always told that things happen for a reason. God may disguise a good thing with something that looks bad. Your mom may be sick, but maybe it's saving her from something worse. She will get better if you continue to pray!
VIOLET: How can you say that?!? My mom is dying! She has been like this for over a year now! How can you say that there is something worse than death? Why would you say that? (begins to sniffle)
ATLAS: I am so sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset, I was trying to encourage you. Our bible verse last week said "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. He has the plans for your life, and for your moms, and it will all be okay in the end.
VIOLET: But what if she dies? I will never be okay if she dies. I love her so much and I don't think I could live without her. She is my favorite person.
ATLAS: If she dies, then that is what God had intended to happen. Even if it doesn't seem okay now, it will be. At least, that is what our pastor always tells us.
VIOLET: I can't believe you would say such a thing! My mom will not die! Not because of God and his angels! I refuse to be told that if my mom dies it's because he WANTED my mother to die.
ATLAS: That's not what I said.. I was just...
VIOLET: STOP TALKING!
ATLAS: I'm sorry.
VIOLET: *beat* So am I, I didn't mean to yell. I just love my mom and I don't want to think about her dying.
ATLAS: Would you like to change the topic?
VIOLET: Yes please. Thank you.
ATLAS: Can you tell me why you chose to draw an angel, so I can try to understand?
VIOLET: Yeah! Where do I even begin? Give me a second.. Hmm.. Okay. The angel. This is going back to when I went to church. One day in Sunday School I learned about Satan and how he became who he was. And well, I learned about how he has another name, Lucifer, and how he used to be God's most trusted angel, but then he started doing horrible things. He wanted to be above God and rule on his throne. Because of this he was brought down to the realm of the dead. He used to be the most TRUSTED angel of all, and he betrayed that trust so quickly.
beat
Anyone can betray anyone. What's worse is now he can disguise himself as anybody or anything he wants to. He can look like the nicest person and ruin our lives by persuading us to do horrible and bad things.
sighs
That is why I drew an angel, because nobody would expect a monster to hide in the light.
ATLAS: I... I don't know what to say. My Dad would never be like that... (beat) I know that story but I never thought about it that way. I knew all of that, but not under that light. I guess, I just believe that I will never give in to that temptation.
VIOLET: That's what you don't understand! He can trick you! He's smart! He deceives! He will disguise himself as an angel, one not yet fallen, and he will ruin your life!
ATLAS: I will never believe that! Never! God is too strong to allow Satan to win. He will never win as long as God is on my side. His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me!
VIOLET: You just aren't listening... (raises hand) Mrs. B? Can I be moved to a new seat? He was making fun of my drawing!
ATLAS: I was not!
VIOLET: He was! He laughed!
ATLAS: No I didn't!
VIOLET: Yes you did!
ATLAS: No!
VIOLET: Yes!
This turns into a fight, where they begin to get physical when the teacher finally gets up and hurries over
MRS B: ENOUGH! Calm down you two! Why are you fighting? You know you shouldn't hit anyone!
simultaneously speaking
VIOLET: He laughed at my monster and then told me that God wanted my Mother to die!
ATLAS: She said that my drawing wasn't scary and that Satan was going to ruin my life!
MRS B: ONE AT A TIME.. please. Ladies first.
VIOLET: Thank you. The drawing wasn't scary..
TEACHER: Now, that is not okay. (picks up the paper) Now that is plenty scary! Tell Atlas you're sorry.
VIOLET: I'm sorry...
ATLAS: I forgive you.... I guess.
*Mrs B shifts her attention to Violet*
VIOLET: Anyways, I was afraid to show him my drawing, because I knew he would laugh at me, and then he pinky swore and then I told him and he laughed! And then we started talking about angels and why I drew one and he told me that things happen for a reason and blah blah blah.. He said that if my mother died, it was because she was supposed to die! I don't want my mommy to die! (sobs)
MRS B: It's okay sweetheart, everything will be okay. (shifts to Kid 1) You should not have said that mister! Just because you go to church does not give you the right to tell her what God is going to do! You should never tell someone that their mother is going to die! No matter what you believe that is NOT okay! Apologize!
ATLAS humphs
MRS B: NOW!
ATLAS: I am sorry that I said your Mom was going to die because of God thinking it was the right time!... Can I tell my side of the story now?
MRS B: resigned Yes, go ahead.
ATLAS: She told me that Satan was a fallen angel, which I already knew, but that there was no escaping him because he disguises himself as a perfect nightmare. We would never know that he was there because he looks so perfect, as perfect as an angel. Because of that, she said I couldn't escape him. She said that Satan was going to ruin my life and make me do bad things!
MRS B: Violet, did you say that?
VIOLET: Yes, Mrs B
MRS B: That is unacceptable! You need to apologize to him immediately! That kind of talk is unacceptable in this classroom.
VIOLET: BUT..
MRS B: Don't argue with me, Violet, or I will have to send you to the principal’s office for disruption of class.
VIOLET: FINE! I am sorry.
ATLAS: I accept your apology
MRS B: Is everything good now?
the Kids shake their heads yes
MRS B: Okay. I'm trusting you guys to get along for the rest of class. I have papers to grade, and I would very much appreciate it if I didn’t have to get up again, okay?
KIDS: Yes, Mrs B.
MRS B: Thank you.
TEACHER walks back her desk
ATLAS: I am sorry I got so mad at you.
VIOLET: So am I. You are allowed to believe what you want. I'm sorry that it is different than what I believe.
ATLAS: That's alright, we all have different opinions and that's okay. As long as we don't rub our opinions in others faces, it doesn't matter. That's what my Dad always says.
VIOLET: Sorry about that...
ATLAS: It's alright.
VIOLET: Can we still be friends?
ATLAS: Yeah! Of course! Can you tell me more about your angel?
VIOLET: Well, I drew him so he looks completely nice and pretty. He has flawless wings, and a yellow halo around his head. His face is completely perfect. I want him to look as perfect as possible. I drew him at my house and my Mom said he put up a nice facade. I'm not sure what that word means exactly, but I think it means a fake smile type thing.
ATLAS: That's super interesting. Can you draw me a copy so I can show my mom?
VIOLET: Of course! I love sharing my artwork with other people! I hope your mom likes it!
Kids walk out as Lights down on the children's part of the classroom
MRS B: narrating By the end of the class the girl had drawn the boy a copy of the angel. When he walked into his house he saw his favorite person in the world, his father. He had always looked up to his father and admired him immensely. He was a strong man, and the boy always wanted to be like him when he grew up. What he saw his father do was a different story. He walked in on his father screaming and yelling at his mother unspeakable words and slurs. His Father turned when he heard the boy close the door. He apologized to his son, but it was too late, the angelic facade the boy had once believed, had shattered. It revealed the flawed, broken man underneath. The boy ran to his room in tears. His perfect angel was no longer. It broke the boy's heart into a million little pieces.
Lights up on the children's part of the classroom
Kids walk back in
MRS B: Good afternoon children! We are working on poetry today just like we have been for the past few days. If you have any questions you can ask me, but you are free to work on your own otherwise. Teacher sits at her desk
VIOLET: Hey Atlas, What did your mom think?
ATLAS: I don't want to talk about it.
VIOLET: Did something bad happen?
ATLAS: I said I didn't want to talk about it!
MRS B: narrating Being a teacher I overheard this conversation. I wasn't sure what had happened, and the students weren't likely to share the details with me, but I could tell that something had changed in that little boy.
VIOLET: Fine. I just wanted to know what she thought of my angel!
ATLAS: I know. I didn't get to show it to her, I'll show it to her tonight. I apologize for snapping at you.
MRS B: narrating The boy went home and had quickly forgotten the mistake his father had made. He was eager to show his parents the angel that the girl had drawn. When he walked in the door, he witnessed his father yelling at his mother once again. The facade, by now, was fully lifted. The boy thought he could forgive his father like God tells him to, but after two times, he knew that the people that act the best in the light, can actually be the worst when behind closed doors.
beat
MRS B: narrating Each night he went home the yelling got worse, and louder, and soon enough they didn't even stop when he walked in. He would walk to his room and shut the door and weep.
beat
MRS B: So now that you guys have your monsters all finished, I want you to write me something that expresses why you drew what you did. As we have been practicing poetry lately, I would prefer a poem.
KIDS: Okay!
MRS B: Get writing! I believe in you all, and I cannot wait to see what you come up with! I will collect it at the end of class.
VIOLET: Hi, Atlas, did you ever get to show your mom my--
ATLAS: No. Here it is. She wouldn’t want to see it anyways.
VIOLET: But- I-
ATLAS: TAKE IT
VIOLET: Why, Atlas? What did I do?
ATLAS: You did nothing, Violet, you did nothing.
VIOLET: What happened?
ATLAS: I don’t want to talk about it, V. Please drop it.
VIOLET: But Atlas…
ATLAS: Please drop it. forcefully
VIOLET: Fine.
MRS B: narrating I asked the children to write poems, and what I received from them the next day I never expected. I knew that Violet’s poem would be sad, but I would have never thought Atlas’s poem would be what it was. The poem was titled Monster.
ATLAS comes out to read his poem
ATLAS:
Yesterday, When I was younger
We were asked to draw a monster
So I drew a creature
With three eyes, four arms, and furry hair
My friend next to me
She drew an angel
I didn't understand
We were taught that monsters
Were just fictional stories
Used to spark fear
Into the hearts of little children
An angel just didn't match that description
If I was asked to draw a monster today
I would not draw what I did back then
I would draw anxiety, depression
and all the real monsters of the world
I would draw an angel
Because the worst of monsters
Disguise themselves as
Everything we could ever wish for
The real monsters are right in front of us
They hide in plain sight
Because nobody would expect a monster
To hide in the light
ATLAS returns to his seat
MRS B: narrating His poem broke my heart. The girl showed him the cruelties of the world that he had once been oblivious of. He went from thinking of a monster as something furry and angry, to an angel, something of perfection. The girl was to blame.
beat
MRS B: narrating It took me many months to realize that it was not the girl's fault that this facade of a perfect life had fallen. We got a phone call a little while after I received the poem. I swear I could hear that little boys heart shatter from a million miles away. He had admired his father so much because to him, his father was perfect, someone he strived to be like. But he learned his father was deeply flawed and he grew up because of it. I learned from this young boy that the real monsters... the real monsters hide in the light.
Fade to black
