THE GAMES WE PLAY

Cast:

Player A- a beautiful Hawken co-ed

Player B- a beautiful Hawken co-ed

Tennis Ball- dressed in electric yellow, the voice of Player A & Player B

Setting: Hawken Tennis Courts

Background: Two BFFs are enjoying a friendly game of tennis after a long day of classes at Hawken School in bucolic Gates Mills, Ohio. The sun is shining, the sky is blue. All is right with the world.

A conversation takes place during the casual hitting session. The players do not speak, just go through the motions of hitting a tennis ball with their rackets (imaginary) The Ball gently floats back and forth between Player A and Player B, magically endowed with the voice of the player which hit it last. The Ball is the voice of the players as the conversation ensues.

Player A: Serves Ball (serving motion)

Ball: while floating toward Player B: “I’m so excited for the weekend”

Player B: returns ball (forhand motion)

Ball: while floating toward Player A: “Me too, it’s going to be so much fun”

Player A: returns ball (forehand motion)

Ball: while floating toward Player B: “I’m going to the movies”

Player B: returns ball (backhand motion)

Ball: while floating toward Player A: “Me too! What are you going to wear?’

Player A: returns ball (hitting motion)

Ball: while floating toward Player B: “ I think Alfonso likes red… so I think I will wear a red dress”

Player B: returns ball (stronger hitting motion)

Ball: while floating to Player A: “Alfonso who?”

Player A: returns ball (yet stronger hitting motion)

Ball: while moving toward Player B, faster than before,: “There is only one Alfonso at Hawken School. “

Player B: returns ball (with sharp hitting motion)

Ball: while catapulting toward Player A; “ Yes there is only one Alfonso, and I am going out with him. He texted me!!!”

Player A: returns ball (with hard defensive stoke)

Ball: while moving fast toward Player B : “Well he Facebook chatted me!!!! I am going

with him”

Player B: returns ball (with fierce motion)

Ball: showing fatigue while being shot across the court toward Player A: “ Everyone

Knows that Alfonso and I are “talking””.

Player A: returns ball (angry hitting motion)

Ball: while moving out of control back towards Player B” “Well everybody at Hawken

calls me Alfonso when I walk by at lunch”

Player B: returns ball (with violent motion)

Ball: barely able to stay afloat; rocketing back toward Player A: “Well Alfonso leaves

love letters in my locker”

Player A: returns ball (with all her might)

Ball: moving back across the court towards Player B : “ You are not my BFF anymore, I

Cannot believe you could take my Alfonso!”

Ball: Suddenly stopping in revolt, out of breath and barely standing: “I quit!!!!

This is exhausting. And by the way, Why isn’t anyone mad at Alfonso?????”

Player A and Player B experience a grand realization. They meet at the net, smile and leave the court arm in arm.

The curtain closes.