The Rise of a Prince

Cast (in order of appearance): William, 2 friends, a bunch of schoolchildren, 4 thugs, William’s mother, taxi cab driver.

Lights all off except for spotlight on William, centerstage. His head is down so there are dramatic shadows on his face.

William: It’s all different now. Everything. I know you are in a hurry, trying to watch 30 plays in an hour and all… but I’ll keep it short; I’ll just take a minute, just sit right there, and I’ll tell you how I rose to princehood in a small town in California. It all started in West Philadelphia, home sweet home…

Lights on. A school bell rings. The schoolchildren and two friends enter from backstage toward William. The school children romp around and walk past him out of the stage on the other side.

William: Finally, school’s up!

Friend 1: Hey William! Wanna shoot some hoops?

Friend 2: We were just bouncin’ to the school courts.

William: You guys know I’m always up for that. But just wait until you get served.

Friend 1: Alright, lets go 2 on 1 then.

William: Bring it.

They go to the courts aside, and shoot a few baskets. Then, William tries to drive and back off, lays the shot, but at the same time, the 4 thugs are walking in and gets hit by the ball. He catches it up and starts dribbling to the three friends.

Head Thug: Did you throw this ball at me?

William: I was just shooting—

Head Thug: I said, did you throw this ball at me?

William: Yes, but it wa—

Thug 1: Nobody messes with us! Nobody!

Thug 2: You’re really asking for it!

William cowers in fear. The two other friends run off, and William is beaten. Lights off.

The thugs leave, and William remains on the floor. Spotlight.

William: It was painful, but it wasn’t that bad. Just a few cuts, just a few bruises; and I was gonna show them next time, I’d learned. But I learned too late.

William limps out backstage. Wait a few seconds, lights back on.

William: I’m home!

He limps onstage again

William’s Mother: Oh my god… Oh my god, oh my god! What happened to you?!

William: It was just a little fight. I got scratched up a bit, yeah, but—

Mother: I can’t let my baby go through this! I’m terrified, now! West Philly too rough for my baby!

William: But—

Mother: Shh! No buts! You’re going to live with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air!

William: Please, my friends…

Mother: you’ll like it there. Don’t worry.

William: Fine…

Lights off but the spotlight.

William: So, I’m here. California, California… Across the country from the city I call home. I couldn’t believe it.

Lights on again. Taxi driver gets onstage. He wears sunglasses and gold chains.

William: There’s my cab… I guess it’s time to meet the family—woah! This guy is dope!

Taxicab driver: Fuck yeah, you know I’m the freshest! Check the plate. Check it.



Taxicab driver: Fuck yeah.

William: Maybe this won’t be too bad.

Cabbie: So you’re new here, homes?

William: Yeah, straight outta Philly.

Cabbie: Well, I am the king of fresh. I see some real potential in you to be my loyal prince. We got a while to get there, lets talk a bit.

William: And so, I arrived around 7 or 8, and I yelled to the cabbie, “yo homes, smell ya later!” I looked at my kingdom and I was finally there, to settle my throne as the Prince of Bel Air.