Welcomeby Richard Stuart Dixon
© Richard Stuart Dixon, 2003
(Note: Performance of this play requires the author’s permission. Please contact Good School Plays for details.)
Production Notes:
• running time: approx. 45 minutes.
• style: post-structural melodrama
• suitable for general audiences
• 26 characters (16 female, 10 male)
• black-box staging (no set required)
Summary of Script Content:
• “ Rain – An Act of Union” is the story of a high school student trapped by cultural expectations embedded in language.
(This play was first performed on March 27, 30, & 31, and April 2 & 3, 2003 at Gleneagle Secondary School in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.)
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Scene 17
CHARACTERS:
Thompson Marlowe, 42, CEO of Tradex, father of Rain and Katrina
Emily Marlowe, 39, lawyer, mother of Rain and Katrina
Rain Marlowe, 16, male, a student at Checker Academy
Katrina Marlowe, 14, Rain’s sister
Meredith Pearce, 16, girlfriend of Rain Marlowe
Sasha Miranovski, 16, male, a student at Checker Academy
Johnny Ramirez , 15, friend of Rain Marlowe
Isabella LaFortune, 15, Johnny’s girlfriend
Philip Bland, 17, a student at Checker Academy
Jason Amelio, 15, a student at Checker Academy
Mercy Trail, 16, a student at Checker Academy
Bethany Tranquille, 15, a student at Checker Academy
Dolores Look, 50, principal of Checker Academy
Miss Maria Costello, 38, a history/English teacher at Checker Academy
Mr. Dewy King, 36, a physical education teacher at Checker Academy
Mrs. Ursula Nickel, 49, a counsellor at Checker Academy
Tracy Rawlings, 24, female, security supervisor for Tradex
Sheila Lockhart, 32, security guard at Tradex
Delilah Feldman, 25, security guard at Tradex
Jacob Steele, 45, warehouse worker at Tradex, father of Summer Steele
Anna Steele, 42, janitor at Tradex, mother of Summer Steele
Summer Steele, 16, their daughter, a student at Checker Academy
Tiffany Dela Cruz, 37, supervisor of a Tradex cafeteria
Geraldine Delmonico, 52, worker in the Tradex cafeteria
Maxim Kubota, 20, worker in the Tradex cafeteria
Bernie Tork, 21, co-worker of Jacob Steele
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 1:
(The auditorium at Checker Academy. PRINCIPAL LOOK addresses the school. SUMMER STEELE watches along with the other STUDENTS.)
PRINCIPAL LOOK
At Checker Academy, excellence. Facility millenium equipped. Motivated staff. Just think proud parents. Try co-curricular: there’s enrichment. Measurable outcomes. Thanks to CPD, Co-committee, N-PAC nominees. I’m proud of that. Attendance linked to grades. Achieve. Principal I am. Look. What research supports. Are you challenged? Together forward. Make the best. Potential. Thank you and have a semester.
(PRINCIPAL LOOK and the STUDENTS freeze.)
SUMMER STEELE
(Addressing the AUDIENCE)
School is a cube called Checker Academy. Inside, more cubes. The principal makes phrases that might mean something to someone somewhere who is not me. I am taught by rules I did not make and I learn by books I did not write. The cubes of time are stacked on my head, one on top of the other, through the scheduled days, weeks, terms, semesters. If only I had someone. Now to go home up and down blocks and into a cul-de-sac.
(PRINCIPAL LOOK and the STUDENTS exit. SUMMER remains on stage, walking.)
End of Scene 1.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 2:
(The STEELE’S house in the cul-de sac. SUMMER stops walking and watches her father JACOB and mother ANNA enter and sit.)
ANNA STEELE
We’re lucky, Summer, to live in a cul-de-sac.
JACOB STEELE
Gotta admit it’s not far from the mart.
ANNA STEELE
Your father moved three hundred pallets.
JACOB STEELE
In the warehouse. At Tradex, my job.
SUMMER STEELE
And what did you move, Mom?
ANNA STEELE
The mop. Now its motorized. At Tradex. It’s how I get pay.
JACOB STEELE
We work, Summer. And hard.
ANNA STEELE
That way we can make the payments.
JACOB STEELE
On this place. This place in the cul-de-sac.
SUMMER STEELE
I know.
ANNA STEELE
Now you work and get pay.
JACOB STEELE
You’re lucky.
ANNA STEELE
The warehouse cafeteria.
JACOB STEELE
Down at Tradex. Like me and Mom.
SUMMER STEELE
I’m lucky.
ANNA STEELE
Work hard and one day you’ll have a place.
JACOB STEELE
In a cul-de-sac.
ANNA STEELE
We’d be so proud.
SUMMER STEELE
I know.
(ANNA and JACOB freeze. Summer addresses the AUDIENCE.)
SUMMER STEELE
Mom and Dad say the same words over and over. They do the same things over and over. They live by rules they did not make and no longer learn anything. One day they stopped seeing me and hearing me. Now I’m alone. Here I go across the asphalt grid to the Tradex hive.
(ANNA and JACOB exit. SUMMER remains on stage, walking.)
End of Scene 2.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 3:
(The Tradex Cafeteria. SUMMER stops walking and watches TIFFANY DELA CRUZ, GERALDINE DELMONICO, and MAXIM KUBOTA enter.)
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
You be cooking this shift, Summer.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
I showed her the fryers, Ms. Dela Cruz.
MAXIM KUBOTA
She don’t do the patty dabs right.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
Maxim’s ticked.
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
Too many dabs?
MAXIM KUBOTA
Three with the mustard. Should be two.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
She knows to pull the cages and end her cycle when the beep sounds.
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
You dab two, Summer. There’s a system.
SUMMER STEELE
Sorry. I’ll dab two.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
I checked her out on the salter. I’d give her three on a scale of five.
MAXIM KUBOTA
She don’t wanna wear the latex.
SUMMER STEELE
I wash my hands.
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
Gotta wear the latex. If there’s allergies, go to vinyl.
SUMMER STEELE
Understood.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
Your dad and mom work good.
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
Ya. They good on work and so should you be.
MAXIM KUBOTA
She gotta too good for the caff way.
SUMMER STEELE
It’s not that. I try to do good always.
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
Leave her be, Maxim Kubota. Your eyes is on her good in the flesh way.
MAXIM KUBOTA
Naw. She screws up good I gotta do her mess is all.
(MAXIM, TIFFANY, and GERALDINE freeze.)
SUMMER STEELE
(Addressing the AUDIENCE.)
For minimum pay I twist and turn with Geraldine and Maxim in the Tradex cafeteria. Mrs. Dela Cruz barks and growls for better production. Maxim’s eyes are on my outsides but he has no mind for my insides. I am expected to complete my cycle and beep. The food is thoughtless. At eight I get a break and take ten at a table. The security is there then close with coffee and copspeak.
(MAXIM, TIFFANY, and GERALDINE exit and TRACY RAWLINGS, SHEILA LOCKHART, and DELILAH FELDMANN, the securityguards, enter.)
TRACY RAWLINGS
You check the five one oh, Sheila?
SHEILA LOCKHART
Yup. Negative, Tracy. Can’t track. The perp’s exit vector not traceable.
DELILAH FELDMANN
Not traceable, Tracy. I wrote up the eight ten form like always.
TRACY RAWLINGS
Damn.
(To SUMMER)
Hey, kid. You a witness? You witness a perp got a torn ligament maybe from a two story freefall?
SUMMER STEELE
No, officer.
SHEILA LOCKHART
You gotta limp, kid? You move good or bad?
DELILAH FELDMANN
Show us, kid. Maybe you the perp.
TRACY RAWLINGS
Could be you. The perp’s gotta be someone who takes the fall.
SUMMER STEELE
I just want to rest in this bit of time.
SHEILA LOCKHART
Don’t rest, kid. Walk. We see if you got a limp.
DELILAH FELDMANN
Maybe you take the fall when you try to walk.
TRACY RAWLINGS
If you’re the perp you’ll get eight, maybe ten.
SUMMER STEELE
(Summer walks for them.)
See? No limp. I won’t take the fall. Please let me have my break.
TRACY RAWLINGS
We give you a break, kid. You walk. A coupla steps. Then you fall.
SHEILA LOCKHART
We give breaks to perps and see them fall.
DELILAH FELDMANN
You’ll fall, kid. Can’t go on walking the way you do.
(The SECURITY GUARDS freeze.)
SUMMER STEELE
(Addressing the AUDIENCE.)
The security at Tradex are full of bully. They try to strip-search my mind. Their strip tease goes on break after break. At eight to ten I end my shift and limp onto the perpetual transit vectored to hit the cul-de-sac.
(The SECURITY GUARDS exit. SUMMER remains on stage, walking.)
End of Scene 3.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 4:
(THE STEELE’S house in the cul-de-sac. SUMMER stops walking and watches as her parents enter and sit.)
ANNA STEELE
Honey you’re home. Dad’s got a boy in mind.
JACOB STEELE
He’s Tradex personnel. A good man. And no woman.
ANNA STEELE
His name is Bernie Tork, 22. He works. He’s five on a scale of five.
JACOB STEELE
He works for me. You could work for him. He might want you.
ANNA STEELE
To watch a date movie.
JACOB STEELE
A date move to help you move up your cul-de-sac move-in date.
SUMMER STEELE
Yes, Dad.
(JACOB and ANNA freeze. SUMMER addresses the AUDIENCE.)
SUMMER STEELE
They want me to have a boy who works. This is their way to make me not all one alone. Bernie Tork is on the loveseat.
(JACOB and ANNA exit, and BERNIE TORK enters and sits.)
BERNIE TORK
I’m Bernie. I work. Do you work?
SUMMER STEELE
No. I am broken.
BERNIE TORK
Give me a break.
SUMMER STEELE
Then you’ll fall and I don’t want that.
BERNIE TORK
It’s time for me to fall for a girl.
SUMMER STEELE
To fall, you must first break. If you fall for me, we will both be broken.
BERNIE TORK
I can’t work if I’m broken. You can’t work for me if you’re broken.
SUMMER STEELE
You see, we won’t work.
BERNIE TORK
I think I want to fall for you anyway.
SUMMER STEELE
No. You’re lonely. That’s all.
BERNIE TORK
We’ll see. Your dad said you’d work for me. We’ll see if a date movie works.
SUMMER STEELE
No.
(BERNIE freezes. SUMMER addresses the AUDIENCE.)
SUMMER STEELE
Bernie is lonely. I’m lonely. When one lonely joins another lonely, there’s twice as much lonely. My own lonely is lonely enough, so I do what I can to stop Bernie from falling for me alone. In the morning, I walk solo to Checker Academy, which is for me a so lonely place.
(BERNIE exits. SUMMER remains on stage, walking.)
End of Scene 4.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 5:
(The auditorium at Checker Academy. SUMMER stops walking and watches as PRINCIPAL LOOK, TEACHERS, COUNSELLOR, and STUDENTS, including RAIN MARLOWE and his friends, enter.)
PRINCIPAL LOOK
Congrats to the cheer and dance volleyball zone third place how proud we are. Staff meeting Monday mandatory to attend to our collaborationist agenda. Checker Academy tops in bottom third of upper B scores on government examination of our success in meeting the measurable median of mandatory goals this year. Counsellors are available. A reminder that branding illiteracy is our mission. Three cheers to student council for purchasing a giant plush bird which some lucky athlete will enter through a large zippered slit, thus bringing a high degree of lifelike animation to our new mascot Checker the Woodpecker. And finally, let’s celebrate the farsighted vision through which we strain to focus on the immediate future.
(The STUDENTS chat without listening to each other.)
PHILIP BLAND
Didja dooda sine men.
JASON AMELIO
Wanna car real bad. If I got a car I get to put a girl in and go make the payments.
MERCY TRAIL
Nice top. You get a new do. No shoes and she’d be short. His gel is junk. Look at her. Cow.
BETHANY TRANQUILLE
Nunna yor biznizz I said. She was on me good for working moves on her brother.
(The students make “ewww” sounds as if something is gross.)
PHILIP BLAND
I didden dooda werk.
JASON AMELIO
I got an uncle says his civic’s mine for 2000 soons he got the down pay on a beemer.
MERCY TRAIL
She’s got a disorder just look at her. You should pluck. For a slut she’s nice. Bag.
BETHANY TRANQUILLE
I say what I want with her brother is a friend but she don’t wanna listen.
(PHILIP, MERCY and JASON laugh as though something is funny.)
PHILIP BLAND
I gotta dooda dum math.
JASON AMELIO
I wanna be having the uncle civic so bad. It’s four on a scale of five. A girl see me in the seat and I put her in and get lucky.
MERCY TRAIL
She’s got B.O. I gotta do labs with the dandruff guy in chem. Gross legs. Should shave. Pig.
BETHANY TRANQUILLE
He’s a guy is all and guys all go for me it’s not my fault.
(PHILIP, MERCY, and JASON whoop as though something is party. The teachers speak but no one listens.)
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
In 1847 we were suddenly thrust together by an Act of Union.
MR. DEWY KING
A clean mind and a healthy body. Give me ten. You’re a boy and a fat boy too.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
The transitive verb is a tool that invites an Act of Union in which a subject enforces itself on an object.
MR. DEWY KING
Take your strip and shower. Do the laps. No dribbling in the halls.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
If only we could observe the Act of Union between the poet and the page.
MR. DEWY KING
You got to work out and get clean. Hit the bag hard. Hustle, hump and win.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
Explain the politics of the Act of Union, being sure to include a fetus statement.
(All freeze. SUMMER addresses the AUDIENCE.)
SUMMER STEELE
Those in the Checker Academy speak without hearing and say more than they know. Their words are birds that fly out of their mouths carrying tiny heart-written messages of truth in their beaks for those who take the time to read the fine print. The counsellor takes my time but cannot catch my bird words.
(The COUNSELLOR speaks)
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
Uh-huh. Hmmm. Uh-huh. I’m listening. Yes. Uh-huh. Then what. Oh. Yes. Mmmm. Right. Right. And so. Did you. Uh-huh. I am listening. I see. I see. Yes. Uh-huh. Tell me more. Tell me. Yes. More. And more. Tell. Good. Good. Right. Right. There’s the bell. I’ll listen some more next week.
(The COUNSELLOR becomes still.)
SUMMER STEELE
One day a boy I don’t know becomes a boy I know.
(All exit except SUMMER, RAIN MARLOWE, MEREDITH, SASHA, JOHNNY, and ISABELLA. RAIN leaves the group and goes to SUMMER.)
RAIN MARLOWE
I have a garden.
SUMMER STEELE
What?
RAIN MARLOWE
A garden. Nothing much. A few herbs. A flower or two.
SUMMER STEELE
Why tell me?
RAIN MARLOWE
My garden is a simple place. Things grow. Checker Academy is a complicated place. Nothing grows.
SUMMER STEELE
Oh.
RAIN MARLOWE
My name is Rain. Like the stuff that falls from heaven.
SUMMER STEELE
Did you fall from heaven?
RAIN MARLOWE
Everyone takes the fall from heaven.
SUMMER STEELE
When we fall we break.
RAIN MARLOWE
Yes. It’s a long fall.
SUMMER STEELE
I’m broken.
RAIN MARLOWE
Are you.
(MEREDITH PEARCE joins them.)
MEREDITH PEARCE
Who is this Rain.
RAIN MARLOWE
I don’t know.
SUMMER STEELE
Summer.
(RAIN goes back to the group.)
MEREDITH PEARCE
I am the girlfriend.
SUMMER STEELE
Understood.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Rain is in my cul-de-sac.
SUMMER STEELE
Understood.
MEREDITH PEARCE
If you work moves I will break you.
SUMMER STEELE
I’m already broken.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Stay that way.
(SASHA MIRANOVSKI joins MEREDITH and SUMMER)
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Who is this Meredith.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Summer. She’s got a disorder just look at her.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Summer. I’ve got a disorder just look at me.
SUMMER STEELE
You don’t work.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Sasha. Don’t stay that way. Your eyes are on her good in the flesh way.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
I want to work Summer.
MEREDITH PEARCE
I want you to work Summer.
SUMMER STEELE
I Summer don’t want you to work Summer.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Summer Summer Summer. Rain is in my cul-de-sac. Stay broken.
SUMMER STEELE
I will work Sasha moves Meredith.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Good. You gotta do his mess is all.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Summer you gotta do the date movie.
SUMMER STEELE
Sasha yes I gotta work that way. It’s a movie date.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Say eight to ten. I want that bit of time with Summer Meredith.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Take your time Sasha.
(MEREDITH goes to RAIN. JOHNNY and ISABELLA go to SASHA and SUMMER.)
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Is this Summer.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Yes she is working for me.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Summer. Isabella works for me.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Summer. Johnny did with me the date movie. Now we work.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Rain says Summer fell from heaven Sasha.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Summer. Meredith’s eyes are on you bad in the clash way.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Meredith keeps Summer from Rain so Summer is working for me.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
So Sasha Summer and Meredith clash in the bad way.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Johnny’s eyes are on me good in the best way.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Summer. Your eyes are on good in the lost way.
(JOHNNY watches SUMMER.)
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Johnny. Johnny. Where are your eyes.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
(JOHNNY watches ISABELLA.)
Isabella.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Stay that way, Johnny.
(SASHA, JOHNNY, and ISABELLA go back to RAIN and MEREDITH.)
SUMMER STEELE
(Addressing the AUDIENCE.)
I took the fall and now I’m broken because I did not fall into Rain’s garden.
(MEREDITH, SASHA, JOHHNY, and ISABELLA exit. RAIN goes to SUMMER.)
RAIN MARLOWE
Come and see my garden Summer.
SUMMER STEELE
Meredith’s eyes are on me bad in the clash way.
RAIN MARLOWE
My garden Summer. Come and see. It’s simple.
SUMMER STEELE
Rain. I will take my bit of time in the garden.
(RAIN exits with SUMMER.)
End of Scene 5.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 6:
(The estate of THOMPSON and EMILY MARLOWE. THOMPSON, EMILY, and KATRINA MARLOWE enter.)
THOMPSON MARLOWE
Where is our boy Rain?
EMILY MARLOWE
In his garden with Summer.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
Summer.
EMILY MARLOWE
Her father moves pallets in a warehouse at Tradex.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
What does her mother move.
EMILY MARLOWE
A motorized mop at Tradex.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
What does Summer move.
EMILY MARLOWE
Summer moves Rain.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
Rain is our boy. He works for us.
EMILY MARLOWE
You are CEO of Tradex. You are five on a scale of five.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
You are a Tradex lawyer. You are four on a scale of five.
EMILY MARLOWE
The mother and father of Summer are Tradex workers.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
They are one on a scale of five. Summer will not work for Rain.
EMILY MARLOWE
There cannot be an Act of Union.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
There cannot be a fetus statement.
EMILY MARLOWE
We will explain the politics to Rain.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
We will subject him to our will even if he objects.
EMILY MARLOWE
Summer will soon know Katrina is simple. That will help us work our will.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
Katrina the good. Our eyes are on you in the way.
(THOMPSON and EMILY exit as RAIN and SUMMER enter. KATRINA goes to them.)
RAIN MARLOWE
Katrina. Summer, Katrina is my sister.
KATRINA MARLOWE
I am simple.
SUMMER STEELE
Katrina. Rain’s garden is simple.
KATRINA MARLOWE
I fell in Rain’s garden.
RAIN MARLOWE
She didn’t break.
KATRINA MARLOWE
I feed the birds in Rain’s garden. He gives me seeds to place in their beaks.
SUMMER STEELE
Words are birds carrying heart-written messages of truth.
RAIN MARLOWE
We are reading the fine print in this bit of time.
KATRINA MARLOWE
What time is it Rain.
RAIN MARLOWE
Summer time.
SUMMER STEELE
I am resting in my bit of time.
KATRINA MARLOWE
Is this love?
RAIN MARLOWE
Yes Katrina.
SUMMER STEELE
Rain. I love.
RAIN MARLOWE
In this your bit of time you are not broken Summer.
KATRINA MARLOWE
We are in the garden.
SUMMER STEELE
So simple.
(THOMPSON and EMILY MARLOWE enter.)
THOMPSON MARLOWE
Rain. We must ask Summer to leave the garden.
EMILY MARLOWE
The garden is for you and someone somewhere who is not her.
RAIN MARLOWE
And Katrina.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
Katrina go to your corner.
EMILY MARLOWE
You did not help us work our will.
(KATRINA exits.)
SUMMER STEELE
Goodbye. Rain.
(SUMMER exits.)
RAIN MARLOWE
I knew you would banish Summer from the garden.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
She is one on a scale of five.
EMILY MARLOWE
She can work for Tradex but she can never work for you.
(THOMPSON and EMILY MARLOWE exit.)
End of Scene 6.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 7:
(MEREDITH PEARCE enters. RAIN goes to her.)
RAIN MARLOWE
Meredith. Summer was in my garden.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Making moves.
RAIN MARLOWE
No.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Yes. Making moves. She did not stay broken.
RAIN MARLOWE
No.
MEREDITH PEARCE
I am the girlfriend.
RAIN MARLOWE
Mistake.
MEREDITH PEARCE
What about the Act of Union.
RAIN MARLOWE
I am sorry. It was wrong.
MEREDITH PEARCE
I fell for you.
RAIN MARLOWE
I am sorry.
MEREDITH PEARCE
You subjected me to your will. I was enforced upon. I object.
RAIN MARLOWE
We were not in the garden.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Garden or not I will break Summer.
(MEREDITH and RAIN exit in opposite directions.)
End of Scene 7.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 8:
(THE STEELE’S house in the cul-de-sac. SUMMER enters and addresses the AUDIENCE.)
SUMMER STEELE
I cannot have Rain. I sit in the cul-de-sac and wait for Sasha to make his date movie moves.
(JACOB and ANNA enter with BERNIE TORK.)
JACOB STEELE
Who do you wait for Summer.
ANNA STEELE
Bernie wants to be on the loveseat.
JACOB STEELE
You want to be on the loveseat with Bernie.
SUMMER STEELE
I am waiting for the boy Sasha. We are doing the date movie.
BERNIE TORK
I want to do the date movie with you Summer.
SUMMER STEELE
You know we don’t work.
BERNIE TORK
Do you and Sasha work.
SUMMER STEELE
Nobody works.
JACOB STEELE
Bernie works for me at Tradex.
ANNA STEELE
I work at Tradex. You work at Tradex.
JACOB STEELE
You’re lucky we all work at Tradex.
BERNIE TORK
Tradex. Tradex. Tradex. Tradex. You see we all work. Do the date movie with me.
SUMMER STEELE
No. You think you fall for me, but you are only lonely.
(SUMMER walks away from them.)
BERNIE TORK
(To JACOB and ANNA.)
I have the civic. I make the payments. I am on the loveseat but she won’t let me put her in and get lucky.
JACOB STEELE
We are sorry.
ANNA STEELE
She is wrong.
BERNIE TORK
I fell for her but I am alone and lonely. There is no Act of Union.
JACOB STEELE
We are sorry.
ANNA STEELE
She is wrong.
(JACOB, ANNA, and BERNIE exit. SUMMER remains on stage.)
End of Scene 8.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 9:
(The cafeteria at TRADEX. SASHA MIRANOVSKI enters. SUMMER addresses the AUDIENCE.)
SUMMER STEELE
Sasha’s civic takes me to the date movie and on to the Tradex cafeteria for deep fry from the cages.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
Summer. The date movie date is working.
SUMMER STEELE
You get your bit of time.
(TIFFANY DELA CRUZ, GERALDINE DELMONICO, and MAXIM KUBOTA enter.)
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
You not be cooking this shift Summer. You be making moves on this boy.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
You show him how you work Summer. Boy on the fryers she’s four on a scale of five.
MAXIM KUBOTA
Boy be careful. She dabs three. It’s supposed to be two. I’m the one that’s gotta do her mess.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI:
She cooks for you but she works for me.
MAXIM KUBOTA
But I gotta do her mess. She don’t wear the latex.
SUMMER STEELE
I wash my hands.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
Maxim’s ticked. His eyes is on him in the clash way.
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
The boy’s eyes is on her in the flesh way. Someone’s gonna break.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
(To MAXIM.)
Get out of my bit of time.
MAXIM KUBOTA
You’re outta time.
(MAXIM and SASHA struggle as the others draw back. TRACY RAWLINGS, SHEILA LOCKHART, and DELILAH FELDMANN enter.)
TRACY RAWLINGS
We got a one on one.
SHEILA LOCKHART
We got to pull the perps apart.
DELILAH FELDMANN
We got to break them up.
(SHEILA and DELILAH pull MAXIM and SASHA apart and hold them. SUMMER stands between them.)
TRACY RAWLINGS
This is an illegal Act of Union.
SHEILA LOCKHART
A two story free-for-all with a traceable vector.
DELILAH FELDMANN
You two better got a story.
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
Their eyes were on her in the flesh way.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
Their eyes were on each other in the clash way.
MAXIM KUBOTA
I got to do her mess. He don’t.
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
He got into my bit of time with her.
TRACY RAWLINGS
She’s the perp.
(SHEILA and DELILAH release MAXIM and SASHA and take SUMMER by the arms.)
SUMMER STEELE
I wash my hands.
(All exit except SUMMER and the SECURITY GUARDS.)
TRACY RAWLINGS
What is your story.
SUMMER STEELE
I can’t explain.
TRACY RAWLINGS
Can’t explain what.
SUMMER STEELE
I can’t explain the politics of the Act of Union.
(The SECURITY GUARDS exit, with SUMMER under arrest.)
End of Scene 9.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 10:
(Checker Academy.PHILIP, MERCY, BETHANY, and JASON enter with the two TEACHERS for their lessons. The COUNSELLOR listens.)
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
The French and English were thrust together on the Plains of Abraham.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
Thrust together in the pain of Abraham.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
Abraham was ninety-nine on a scale of one hundred. He performed an Act of Union.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
Abraham ninety-nine and active.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
He produced a race of kings.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
The kings raced into production.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
French Louis and English George.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
English George French Louis.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
Race into production and thrust together on the Plains of Abraham.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
A race of kings.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
Their boys Montcalm and Wolfe took the fall.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
Howl like a Wolfe and fall most calm.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
From Abraham’s pain was born our nation.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
Our nation was born from pain.
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
The pain of the Act of Union. Where is Summer.
PHILIP BLAND
She diden dooda sine men.
JASON AMELIO
She can’t get lucky if she’s not in the seat.
MERCY TRAIL
She’s got a disorder. She was plucked.
BETHANY TRANQUILLE
She must have made moves on someone’s brother.
MR. DEWY KING
I am Mr. King your coach. Today we will produce a race.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
We will produce a race for Mr. King.
MR. DEWY KING
The race will produce a winner.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
Win her and lose her.
MR. DEWY KING
The boys will race the boys. The girls will race the girls.
THE TWO FEMALE STUDENTS
Try to win boys.
THE TWO MALE STUDENTS
Try to win girls.
MR. DEWY KING
You will race across the plains. Some will take the fall.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
Who will win the race across the plains for Mr. King.
MR. DEWY KING
You will all work hard to be the winner for Mr. King. Where is Summer.
PHILIP BLAND
She diden dooda werk.
JASON AMELIO
She got no civic pride to ride.
MERCY TRAIL
She’s an object. She’s been enforced.
BETHANY TRANQUILLE
She must have moved some brother somewhere to make a move on some other brother.
(The four STUDENTS and two TEACHERS exit. SUMMER enters and goes to the COUNSELLOR.)
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
I’m listening.
SUMMER STEELE
I wash my hands.
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
Uh-huh. Go on.
SUMMER STEELE
I will not wear the latex.
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
Uh-huh. Say more.
SUMMER STEELE
I will not work at Tradex.
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
I see, um-hmmm. Tell me more.
SUMMER STEELE
I will not learn at Checker Academy.
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
Go on. Tell me more and more.
SUMMER STEELE
I will not live in a cul-de-sac.
I will not let Sasha make moves on me.
I will not let Maxim make moves on me.
I will not take the fall.
I will not break.
I will not complete my cycle and beep.
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
There’s the bell. I won’t listen again next week because you will be gone.
(The COUNSELLOR exits. SUMMER exits.)
End of Scene 10.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 11:
(PRINICPAL LOOK enters and speaks to the AUDIENCE .)
PRINCIPAL LOOK
Your bit of time at Checker the best four cubes of your memory you will want to recall the ones who made you different cherished friends and foes file together every fall from the cul-de-sacs we vector into the cube and try to get lucky in an act of union on a scale of five A to E let’s hope for the A or the staff will come down hard on your head sadly there are those few who fail us and fall who must be plucked and flushed from the toilet of secondary education. Good luck Summer in the sewer where you and your kind swim against the stinking waste that comes from the rest of us.
(PRINCIPAL LOOK exits.)
End of Scene 11.
Return to Scene List
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 12:
(SUMMER enters. JOHNNY RAMIREZ and ISABELLA LAFORTUNE enter.)
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Summer. You have fallen out of Checker Academy.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Johnny is why I stay at Checker. He breaks my fall.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Summer. We know the Tradex parents of Rain banished you from his garden.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
His parents put you low on their scale but Rain’s eyes were on you in the best way.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Rain does not have to race for Mr. King.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
When Rain is in his garden he is not a mess that must be done.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
He’s simple in the garden with his simple sister Katrina.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Rain left his garden to come to Checker Academy where his eyes fell upon Meredith in the flesh way.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
He made himself subject to her object and enforced his will upon her. They both fell.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
In that bit of time she thought she was the girlfriend. Now she knows she is the fallen woman.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Now she knows that you are the girl who is Rain’s friend. You are the heaven he seeks.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
So she seeks to make Rain leave his garden and fall again by breaking you.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
In this bit of time we place before you this.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
The weakness of Meredith is stronger than Checker Academy. It is stronger than Tradex. It is the strength of the broken heart.
(JOHNNY and ISABELLA exit. SUMMER exits.)
End of Scene 12.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 13:
(RAIN’s garden. RAIN enters and sits. KATRINA enters and goes to him.)
KATRINA MARLOWE
Rain why do you not move.
RAIN MARLOWE
I must stay in the garden until I know.
KATRINA MARLOWE
What must you know.
RAIN MARLOWE
How to make something difficult into something simple.
KATRINA MARLOWE
I’m simple. So was the girl who was in the garden. What is difficult.
RAIN MARLOWE
All of us alone are simple but put together we are difficult. It is the politics of the Act of Union.
KATRINA MARLOWE
Mother and Father are difficult.
RAIN MARLOWE
Very difficult. The explanation of the politics of their union includes two fetus statements. You and I.
KATRINA MARLOWE
I saw you sleeping.
RAIN MARLOWE
I’m very tired.
KATRINA MARLOWE
You said a name in your sleep. Meredith.
RAIN MARLOWE
I dreamed I had broken her heart. I dreamed she fell the long final fall.
(THOMPSON and EMILY MARLOWE enter.)
EMILY MARLOWE
The girl Summer is no longer on the scale.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
She does not complete her cycle and beep at Tradex.
EMILY MARLOWE
She is no longer checked at Checker Academy.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
So you see Rain Summer was not the someone somewhere who was for you.
EMILY MARLOWE
You got lucky Rain.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
We banished her from the garden just in time.
EMILY MARLOWE
She went from low on the scale to off the scale and the scale is everything.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
The scale makes Tradex and Tradex makes your mother and me and even Checker Academy. And Rain Tradex makes the garden.
EMILY MARLOWE
Do you think there would be a garden without Tradex.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
Only by being five out of five on the Tradex scale can we make the payments for the garden.
EMILY MARLOWE
You and Katrina are safe in the garden because of Tradex.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
And Katrina is simple.
EMILY MARLOWE
She needs the garden to be safe.
THOMPSON MARLOWE
So Rain go and find someone somewhere who is five out of five on the Tradex scale and perform the politics of the Act of Union.
EMILY MARLOWE
Then when you make a fetus statement, you will be able to make the payments on a garden.
(THOMPSON and EMILY MARLOWE exit.)
KATRINA MARLOWE
I am simply a fetus statement.
RAIN MARLOWE
Katrina soon we will have to leave the garden.
(RAIN and KATRINA exit.)
End of Scene 13.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 14:
(Outside the Tradex hive. MEREDITH enters and waits. BERNIE TORK enters.)
MEREDITH PEARCE
You are Bernie Tork. You work for Summer’s father at Tradex.
BERNIE TORK
I lift pallets. With a fork. All day. You know Summer.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Yes. I know Summer. And I know your eyes are on Summer in the lonely way.
BERNIE TORK
I fell for Summer but she will not fall for me. Now I’m broken.
MEREDITH PEARCE
I know what it is like to fall. I know what it’s like to break.
BERNIE TORK
Who did you fall for.
MEREDITH PEARCE
A boy called Rain. He was my subject but I was only his object.
BERNIE TORK
Summer is my subject.
MEREDITH PEARCE
And you are only her object.
BERNIE TORK
Not even an object. Less than that.
MEREDITH PEARCE
You are alone. I am alone. We are both broken. Our hearts.
BERNIE TORK
I don’t want to make the payments. I don’t want the cul-de-sac. I don’t want the civic.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Then you are ready for the final Act of Union.
BERNIE TORK
Yes. And you.
MEREDITH PEARCE
I am ready. Your civic will work.
BERNIE TORK
How.
MEREDITH PEARCE
We will vector your civic to the cul-de-sac of Summer.
BERNIE TORK
To the cul-de-sac of Summer.
MEREDITH PEARCE
Summer will be inside the house cube. We will be inside the civic cube. With a hose.
BERNIE TORK
A hose.
MEREDITH PEARCE
A hose from the civic exhaust to the civic inside.
BERNIE TORK
The exhaust will be inside the civic and we will become exhausted and take the long fall.
MEREDITH PEARCE
The long final fall. We will become two objects in the civic object. Then Summer and Rain’s eyes will be on us in the pain way. Then they will see how they made two loving subjects into cold hard objects.
BERNIE TORK
Then they will learn about alone.
MEREDITH PEARCE
They will learn about two alone in the final Act of Union with the objectionable world.
(MEREDITH and BERNIE exit.)
End of Scene 14.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 15:
(The STEELE’S house in the cul-de-sac. JACOB and ANNA STEELE enter and sit. SUMMER enters.)
ANNA STEELE
You don’t work any more Summer.
JACOB STEELE
No Checker Academy. No Tradex. No Bernie Tork.
SUMMER STEELE
I wash my hands.
ANNA STEELE
You could have had the cul-de-sac. Now you are not even on the scale.
SUMMER STEELE
I’m the perp. I have been plucked.
JACOB STEELE
Bernie Tork works for me. You could have worked for him.
SUMMER STEELE
You say the same words over and over. You don’t hear me. You don’t see me.
ANNA STEELE
Listen. I am listening. Summer I listen and I hear an engine running.
JACOB STEELE
There is an engine running outside our cube.
SUMMER STEELE
It is the sound of Bernie Tork’s civic.
ANNA STEELE
Why does Bernie Tork sit in the seat with the engine running.
JACOB STEELE
Summer go to the civic and see if Bernie’s in the seat.
SUMMER STEELE
I will go and tell Bernie I have washed my hands.
(SUMMER exits.)
ANNA STEELE
Maybe we will get lucky. Maybe Bernie will get her in the civic.
JACOB STEELE
Bernie works for me. Summer works for Bernie. He makes the payments.
(SUMMER enters)
SUMMER STEELE
Bernie and Meredith are in the civic locked with a hose.
ANNA STEELE
With a hose.
SUMMER STEELE
The exhaust is inside the civic. Bernie and Meredith are blue.
JACOB STEELE
(Rising.)
We must smash the civic windows with a Tradex hammer.
SUMMER STEELE
Too late. Bernie and Meredith have had their bit of time. They have stopped working. They have washed their hands and gone home.
(ANNA, JACOB, and SUMMER remain on stage.)
End of Scene 15.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 16:
(Multiple simultaneous settings. All the CAST enter except SUMMER, KATRINA, and RAIN. The CAST form tableaux based on their group affiliations.)
PRINCIPAL LOOK
Counsellors are available classes as usual if you have concerns they will be dealt with it is difficult I know for one so young and full of premise there is a risk of copy-cat so be alert no need for an assembly read this handout in the first block some may milk this for negative attention as always time will heal in a week we have sent condolences and flowers there will be a memorial in the yearbook these things sadly occur from time to time life goes on at Checker Academy adversity makes us stranger.
(PRINCIPAL LOOK exits.)
TIFFANY DELA CRUZ
Bernie be always first one in at eight for ten do you remember he was a hard worker and liked his deep fry.
GERALDINE DELMONICO
His eyes were on Summer in the longing way she didn’t object in time she was too far into her cycle to beep.
MAXIM KUBOTA
Me and Sasha tried to do her mess for her and Bernie too now he’s dead she don’t dab no one’s patty right.
(TIFFANY, GERALDINE, and MAXIM exit.)
TRACY RAWLINGS
Two stories took a freefall in a civic. She’s the perp for sure but they put the hose in themselves so she walks.
SHEILA LOCKHART
She makes moves on men but don’t let ‘em do her mess now Bernie’s blue in a body bag and she ain’t even on the scale.
DELILAH FELDMANN
The other stiff’s a kid from Checker Academy must’ve been ticked when the perp made moves on her boy got the motive to take the final fall.
(TRACY, SHEILA, and DELILAH exit.)
MISS MARIA COSTELLO
Do not go gentle into that good night wrote the drunken poet Dylan Thomas and as we ponder this Act of Union between the poet and the page so too we ponder the two spurned lovers thrust together in the blue haze of exhaust in a breathtaking Act of Union of the highest dramatic order a gotterdammerung if you will of rejection and revenge.
PHILIP, JASON, MERCY, and BETHANY
Gently thrust together in that good night as two lovers in the blue haze of exhaustion.
PHILIP BLAND
I diden dooda sine men I go tooda service to say bye Meredith.
JASON AMELIO
The civic’s up for 2000 it’s a death car kinda cool but weird at night maybe look over and see her in the seat all blue.
MERCY TRAIL
She wouldn’t even go to the service and they done it outside her place because of her everyone knows that. Witch.
BETHANY TRANQUILLE
She better not make moves on my brother maybe she’ll move I hope so.
MR. DEWY KING
Sometimes you don’t hit the bag hard enough. You don’t hustle, you don’t hump, and you don’t win. But you got to go clean your mind and your body and get right back in there and hit, hustle, hump, and win. I don’t want to find any of youse sitting in a civic with a blue face.
THE FOUR STUDENTS
Clean mind. Clean body. Hit, hustle, hump, and win.
(MISS COSTELLO, MR. KING, PHILIP, JASON, MERCY and BETHANY exit.)
SASHA MIRANOVSKI
(To the COUNSELLOR)
Summer’s over for me she’s not on the scale Meredith wanted me to work her and Meredith’s dead none of the guys want to work Summer she’s the perp she’s poison.
MRS. URSULA NICKEL
Yes. I’m listening. Tell me all about it. Yes. Go on. Uh-huh. Tell me more. I’m listening. There’s the bell. I’ll listen again next week.
(SASHA and MRS. NICKEL exit.)
THOMPSON MARLOWE
We at Tradex regret the loss of one of our workers Bernie Tork 22. Even though only one on the scale of five, he worked and worked all alone and we will miss his skills with the fork.
EMILY MARLOWE
Tradex was in no way responsible for his tragic passing and is indemnified against any claims to that effect. We request that next-of-kin should he have any clean out his locker to make way for the trainee.
(THOMPSON and EMILY exit.)
JACOB STEELE
Bernie Tork was like a son he worked for me my daughter should have worked for him.
ANNA STEELE
I was listening Summer I heard Bernie’s engine first try to remember that I know you’re angry may I call you dear.
(ANNA and JACOB exit.)
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
In this sad bit of time I am deeply thankful for you my Isabella. My eyes will always be on you in the best way.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Johnny what can have happened to Summer and Rain.
JOHNNY RAMIREZ
Perhaps Summer and Rain are together helping a garden grow.
ISABELLA LAFORTUNE
Summer and Rain in an Act of Union making the soil damp and warm and ready for renewal.
(JOHNNY and ISABELLA exit.)
End of Scene 16.
Summer Rain – An Act of Union by Richard Stuart Dixon, Good School Plays.
Scene 17:
(Somewhere beyond the cubes, hives, cul-de-sacs and asphalt grid. RAIN, SUMMER, and KATRINA enter.)
KATRINA MARLOWE
Will I ever go back to the garden Rain.
RAIN MARLOWE
No Katrina we will find a new garden.
SUMMER STEELE
We have washed our hands Katrina and we’ll keep washing them until the stains are gone.
RAIN MARLOWE
Then when we touch the warm damp soil perhaps life will reward us with life.
KATRINA MARLOWE
My life will always be simple.
SUMMER STEELE
(to the AUDIENCE.)
Our words are birds carrying heart-written messages of truth. If we have the courage to listen, each bird gives to us freely the simple beauty of its message. If we are brave enough to speak and to hear, we are no longer alone. The garden is the place where words fly free as birds and their messages become the fruit of our redemption.
End of Play.