In the Spring of 2021, my sister asked me to help put a play together with some of the students from a local school. The school is part of the Acorn school system and known for putting the responsibility for education squarely in the hands of the student. It was one of the student's desires to put a play on and to have a major role. Other students soon joined in.
I was excited for the opportunity and began working with the students on an idea. I suggested we cover bullying. What came out is the following.
For a video of the play, check out the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqLjHu4FVUQ&t=601s
WHEN I WAS A BULLY
ACT I - The Betrayal
SCENE 1
Karen and Lola are walking to school amidst a small crowd of students. They walk through the open doors on their way to the posterboard.
Karen: OH MY GOSH! I can’t wait to see if I got the lead in the ballet!! D’you think I’m gonna get it?
Lola: Yeah!
Karen: Bro, I have been preparing so hard for this. If I don’t get it, I’m gonna die… And then my Dad’s gonna kill me!
Lola: Don’t worry about it.
Karen: I’m glad you didn’t apply for the role. You TOTALLY would have gotten it. You’re good at everything!
Lola: Yeah…
Karen rushes to the posterboard with Lola lagging behind. Karen stares in disbelief as she sees the name at the top of the board. It’s Lola. Then Lola looks at it and looks down, expecting Karen to get upset.
Lola: Wow…. so… um…
Karen: (like a bomb ready to explode) What… the... hell….
Lola: Sorry Karen, I should have told you. I didn’t think I’d actually get it ----
Karen: Um… Lola? How could you do this? (Pause) I mean you know how much this means to me… You know how much my Dad wanted me to get this. Just tell the teacher you quit.
Lola: (getting scared) Ok. But what if she still doesn’t give it to you?
Karen looks in shock at what Lola just said. Then she shakes her head and walks away.
SCENE 2
Karen is leaning against the back of the school. Her arms are folded across her chest and she is tapping her feet. Brooke looks at her across the way with a drink in her hand. She is holding her breath. Suddenly she takes a deep breath and walks forward triumphantly as if she has just made a big decision.
Brooke: Hey Karen? Um… how’s it going? Uh… hey look! I got a drink for you! It’s Yoohoo! I know you love yoohoo -
Karen looks at her for a quick second and grabs the drink from her hand. She quickly takes the straw from the side and jams it into the container. Then she swiftly dispatches with half of it before throwing it towards the garbage can but misses it entirely.
Brooke: Woops, you missed! Haha, I’ll get that for you.
Brooke quickly runs over to the drink waste and throws it in the trash bin, then rejoins Karen.
Brooke: Uh… Karen, is everything ok?
Karen: (giving Brooke a quick glance then looking away) It’s Lola. She… (Karen makes a grimace then looks around with great anger in her face). That… (Karen grunts loudly). That…. BETRAYER!!!! She took my freaking part! She KNEW that if SHE APPLIED FOR IT, SHE WOULD GET IT!!! I can’t believe her! She TOTALLY betrayed me.
Brooke: (looking down, then looking at Karen with a sidelong glance) Oh man, I’m sorry Karen. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?
Karen: (looks at Brooke up and down) Listen, I know you’ve been trying to be my friend for a while but it’s not gonna happen. I hate to break this to you, but you’re really weird. And look at what you’re wearing!
Brooke looks down at her clothes ashamed.
Brooke: I’m sorry. I’ll go.
Karen just stares straight ahead.
Brooke: (starts to walk away) I’m sorry you feel so bad Karen. I’ll leave you alone.
Karen: (looks at Brooke for a second) No wait!
Brooke stops and turns back to Karen.
Karen: Listen, I’ll give you a chance.
Brooke: (jumps up and down, putting her hands under her chin) Really? Oh Karen, you won’t regret it!
Karen: (leans forward off the school’s back wall) Shut up before I change my mind...
Brooke looks downward again then up slightly at Karen.
Karen: Get that dumb look off your face! (pause as Brooke tries to look reasonable) Alright. Now. The first order of business. We’re gonna make sure Lola doesn’t get that part!
Karen and Brooke walk away together.
ACT II Bringing Lola down
SCENE 3
Young Lola is twirling like a ballerina in the hallway at church when Young Karen walks up to her.
Young Karen: That’s weird. What are you doing?
Young Lola: I’m twirling… obviously…
Young Karen: But you’re in the middle of the hallway.
Young Lola: So what? I can twirl anywhere. I’m going to be a ballerina.
Young Karen: That’s what I wanna be!
Young Lola: We can both be ballerinas! Let me see YOU try?
Young Karen: What, here?
Young Lola: Yeah, duh, there’s nobody around…
Young Karen: (looks around suspiciously) Ok, I guess.
Young Karen begins to twirl. She twirls but falls down.
Young Lola: That’s ok, you’ll get it next time. Ok, now on 3. You have to do it 4 times in a row! 1…. 2…. 3….
Both Lola and Karen begin to twirl but get very dizzy and fall on the ground laughing. Then they sit up.
Young Karen: Hey what’s your name? I’m Karen.
Young Lola: Hey Karen. I’m Lola. Let’s be friends
Young Karen: Sounds like a good idea.
They both shake hands.
SCENE 4
Karen and Brooke wait for Lola outside the theatre hall where the ballet practice will be held. Lola comes walking down the hallway. When she sees Karen, she becomes distressed.
Karen: (giving a fake smile) Hey Lola.
Lola: Hey Karen. Hey Brooke.
Karen: I see you’re ready for your ballet lesson.
Lola: Yeah.
Karen: So you got the big part. I guess I should tell you to break a leg, huh?
Brooke: Then you wouldn’t get the part! Cuz your leg would be broken...
Lola: Listen guys, I gotta go.
Karen: (sarcastically) Ok, have fun!
Brooke : Yeah, have fun, Lola!
Lola looks back hesitantly then walks through the doors.
SCENE 5
Lola and Brian are practicing their dance moves on stage while the Teacher gives them direction!
Teacher: That’s right Brian. But remember to keep your chin up! And Lola? I want more panache from you, ok?
Lola: Yes, Mr. Engelwood.
Teacher: Alright people. Now, you have an hour left to practice if you’d like. I’ll see you Wednesday!
Lola + Brian: Yes, Mr. Engelwood.
The Teacher leaves. Karen and Brooke are peeking in through the doorway. They sneakily take seats when they see the Teacher is gone.
Brian: Hey Lola, what’s the matter? You’re not on your game today.
Lola: Oh, it’s nothing. I’ll try a bit harder…
Karen: Do you think that’s gonna help?
Brooke: Yeah! That won’t help!
Lola looks down embarrassed.
Karen: One of these days you’re bound to slip up.
Brooke: Yeah! A really big slip! Cuz you’re slimy!
Brian watches everything that goes on.
Brian: (to Karen) Uh, aren’t you guys friends? Why are you being such a jerk?
Karen: I’m not the one who’s a jerk here.
Brooke: Yeah!
Karen: Miss Lola thinks she is perfect at everything she does and…
Brian: Hey Karen. You better check yourself before you wreck yourself. You’re turning into a real Karen!
Karen: Ugh, shut up, loser.
Brian: You can leave now. Or maybe I’ll get a teacher and you can explain yourself.
Karen and Brooke huff and puff for a few seconds but then stand up and leave the theatre hall. Brian resumes his practice.
Lola: Hey, thanks a lot.
Brian: No problem.
SCENE 6
Karen is at home. Her father is busy behind his computer. She walks up to him.
Karen: Um. Hey Dad?
Dad: Karen, I’m busy. What is it?
Karen: Oh nothing much. I was wondering how you’d feel if I didn’t get that part in the ballet after all.
Dad: (looking up from his computer, shocked) WHAT!? Not get the part? How…? (Dad starts searching for his coffee mug) Where’s my coffee? (finds it) It’s empty. I must get some more. (stands up and starts to walk past Karen but stops in front of her and starts to compare his height to hers) Wow, you’re getting taller everyday! What d’you mean you won’t get the part?
Karen: Uh… well....
Dad: Karen, if you don’t get that part, I’m not sending you to that nice ballet school. There must be SOMETHING you’re good at! Now that’s all. Don’t disappoint me!
Karen: Yes, Dad.
Dad: Good, now I’m off to get my coffee and you’re off to do whatever… uh… whatever it is you do…
Karen stands there sullenly as she watches him leave.
ACT III Broken Parts
SCENE 7
Lola is walking back home from school. Karen is standing around the corner waiting for her. There is a small crowd of kids hanging around. Lola walks around the corner and sees Karen.
Karen: Hey Lola, betrayed anyone recently?
Lola: What are you talking about? I just didn’t tell you I tried for the part! And I got it fair and square!
Karen: You LIED to me about applying. You knew you would get it!
Lola: Karen. (Pause) I can’t believe I was your friend all these years and you’re willing to harass me like this.
Karen just stares at Lola menacingly. Lola turns to go.
Lola: Just leave me alone.
Lola walks away.
Karen: Hey! Where are you going? (Karen grabs Lola’s arm)
Lola: Get off of me!
Karen keeps holding her arm as Lola struggles to remove it from her grip. Lola then tugs herself away from her and Karen, seeing that she might fall, lets go of her grip. Lola falls backward onto a rock, thereby breaking her shoulder. She begins to howl in pain. When Karen realizes what she’s done, she runs away in terror.
SCENE 8
Karen wanders around and makes her way into a clearing in the woods (in the middle of the stage). She is terrified at what she has done to her former friend and starts to question herself.
Karen: (still pacing around) Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. (She starts biting her nails. She finds a tree stump and kneels down before it. She thinks of what she did to Vera and puts her hands flat on either side of her head) Oh no. Oh no. OH NO!!!
Suddenly two individuals representing Karen’s Better Nature and Fallen Nature come into the scene. They begin to fight each other. As Karen’s heart sinks into despair and resentment, Fallen Nature gets the advantage in combat. As her heart lifts up to feelings of repentance, asking God for help, Better Nature gets the edge in the fight.
Karen: Oh God, please help me! I messed up! I really messed up!
Better Nature gets the upper hand.
Karen: I just was so ANGRY WITH her… Who wouldn’t be?
Fallen Nature gets the upper hand.
Karen: How can I say that? She was my friend and I hurt her.
Better Nature gets the upper hand.
Karen: I wanted to be a ballerina but… I feel like she took that chance away from me. My Dad won’t send me to that school. And I feel like I’ll never be as good as her.
Fallen Nature gets the upper hand.
A memory of something Lola said comes to Karen. From offstage we hear the voice of Lola.
Lola: I can’t believe I was your friend all these years.
Karen: Oh God, I lost my friend. (Karen starts to cry.) Every time I hurt her, I felt bad. Please forgive me. I want to change!
Better Nature wins in the battle with Fallen Nature.
Karen: Please help me to make it up to her. Maybe I can be her friend once again!
SCENE 9
Karen walks to Lola’s house with a nervous step. When she reaches the door, she rings the bell. [DING DONG] goes the bell.
Lola is inside. She has a cast and sling on her shoulder and arm. She walks up to the door and looks through the side window. When she sees Karen, she looks down and sighs.
Lola: I don’t want to see you!
Karen: Lola? Please, I want to talk to you.
Reluctantly, Lola opens the door.
Lola: (muffled) What?
Karen: Lola, I know what I did to you was wrong.
Lola: Well, you got what you wanted. Now my shoulder’s broken and I can’t be in the play.
Karen: I have been the worst friend to you. You didn’t deserve that… at all.
Lola looks down and begins to cry.
Karen: Lola, I’m so sorry. I know we may not be friends anymore, but I’m going to do what I can to make it up to you.
Lola: I don’t know.
Lola tries to push the tears away from her eyes with balled up fists.
Karen: I’m not asking you to forgive me. But here… (Karen presents an envelope from her pocket) ...this is the first of many - it’s for your medical bills.
Lola: (still crying takes the bill) Ok. Listen, I don’t know if I can talk right now.
Karen: Ok, well, I’ll leave you alone. (Karen looks at Lola for a second and starts to cry herself.) Ok, Goodbye.
Lola: Bye. (Lola watches as Karen walks away, then closes the door)
--- THE END ---
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