"What's the pointe?"
Scene 1
At a dance school, 2 friends (17 & 18 yrs old)
Alice and Danielle sitting in a changing room.
Mother and Daughter (11 year old daughter and 36 year
old mum) Sharon (Mum) Emma (Daughter) talking with the dance teacher
Girl waiting in the waiting room ready to teach, Megan
(23 years old)
Alice: 3 weeks until our audition Dani! So excited
Danielle: I know I cannot wait. This party tomorrow
night is the last time I'm drinking until after the audition
Alice: oh yeah me too, alcohol isn't good for your
voice so 3 weeks of no alcohol will be fine i'm sure we can cope (Laughing
together)
Danielle: It's crazy though isn't it, we are growing
up. We have been going to this dance school since we were 3 years old and we
could potentially be leaving this place to go off to drama schools
Alice: I know its crazy, God what is Miss Jenkins
going to do without us! Losing 2 seniors, might as well kill her now!
Danielle: bless her
(lights go down on changing room section of the stage
and then go up on Mother and daughter - Sharon and Emma talking to Miss
Jenkins)
Sharon: okay so I want to push Emma to do as much as
she can through the dance school and do all the classes she can plus all
festivals and competitions and do as much as possible
Miss J: Okay, well make sure you don't tire her out
she's 10 years old and she needs to still focus on school work, its good you
have a passion for what your daughter enjoys doing but you need to think about
the strain on Emma. How do you feel about all this Emma…?
(Emma goes to speak)
Sharon: She's fine, she can do it all
Miss J: if you say so, but please don't tire the poor
girl out and make sure she has time for her studies
Sharon: I want my daughter to be a star and she is
going to be a star one day so i need to make sure she does as much as possible
to get better and better, don't you think thats right that she does all these
extra classes and performances?
Miss J: yes to an extent but she needs time to play as
well as work
Sharon: This is play, she loves it. I pay for it all
she should love it.
Emma: Can I say something…
Miss J: Whats that Emma?
Emma: I am quite tired already I don't want to do too
much more
Sharon: She doesn't know what she's talking about! You
need to do all this flower to get better you want to be a star don't you?
Emma: I guess so
Sharon: Yes mother I do want to be a star. For
goodness sake stop slouching and stand up, no one wants to hire a hunchback now
come on you've got a singing lesson then a drama lesson to go to. Thank you for
this Talk Miss Jenkins
Miss Jenkins: You're welcome…I guess
( Lights down on them and up on Megan in the waiting
room, she's sitting on her phone)
Danielle: Alright Meg
Megan: Oh hiya Danielle, how you doing today?
Danielle: Not too bad thank you, i'm
looking forward to your lesson we always can't wait for your thursday
lessons you work us so hard and help us so much and its always so fun!
Megan: Aw thanks Dani thats really lovely, but between
me and you I 'm not sure how long I'm going to be staying here…
Danielle: What?! What do you mean are you leaving?!
Megan: Possibly, i've been offered a job abroad
Danielle: Wow thats amazing! but such a massive thing
to go and do! You've got a boyfriend haven't you?
Megan: Yeah Phil we've been together for 2 years now
Danielle: Wow, you guys are seriously perfect for each
other though, how long will it be that you are away for?
Megan: 6 months…
Danielle: 6 months?! Jeeez! how does Phil feel?
Megan: I haven't told him yet because I don't know
what to do
Danielle: come on talk to Dani
Megan: It's just my life is here, he is the love of my
life! But 6 months away from each other is such a long time that I don't think
I could do that, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! I've heard he
might propose to me soon which I would say yes to but 6 months which could possibly
roll to a year is way too long to be away from him. Ugh I don't what to do
Danielle: Well you obviously love him, and you are
thinking of more reasons not to go than to go…
Megan: Thats true, but if we truly love each other 6
months apart shouldn't jeopardise our relationship if we love each other
Danielle: I know but you are going to be in a foreign
country and away from him like thats a hard thing to do!
Megan: I don't know what to do, this is a life
changing thing to happen to me
Danielle: But how will Phil see this? He loves the
bones of you, you are his world and 6 months will really take it's toll on you
both
Megan: I just need to think about it more. Thanks for
this chat Danielle. Now go get your kit on and I'll see you in there we are
starting in 10 mins.
Lights go down on the stage
Party Scene: Scene 2
Danielle is talking to group of 2 girls and Alice
comes running up to Daniellie
Alice: Dani! I've found you! Oh my isn't this such a
good party!
Danielle: Yeah it is good i'm enjoying it
Alice: How can you? you're not drinking! come on get
it down ya neck girl (Offers her bottle of vodka)
Danielle: I'm not feeling alcohol bit of a headache.
But i'm still having a good time I don't need alcohol to have a good time
Alice: Come on! Live a bit! Please I love drunk Dani!
Danielle: Fine I will have a bit!
Alice: Thats the spirit girl
Danielle: Maybe having a few won't be a bad idea I
want to talk to that guy over there
Alice: Who who who?!
Danielle: Tom… I literally fancy him so much
Alice: Omg look he's giving you the eyes! Get in their
Dan
Danielle: Jeez i'm just so nervous. Ok give me the
bottle please (Takes big swig of drink)
Alice: Okay take it easy Dani
Danielle: It will calm my nerves
Alice: Okay come to the toilet with me then we will
powder our nose and top up our lipstick
Danielle and Alice walk to go off to the toilet and
pass Megan with Phil talking
Phil: It's a good party isn't it
Megan: Yeah it is isn't it
Phil: You look beautiful by the way
Megan: Awh thank you honey (They kiss)
Phil: There is something chewing you, what’s wrong
Megan: Just a lot going on at the school like pushy
mums and what not just had a long week
Phil: Yeah I get you, its such a hands on job I admire
your dedication to it Meg
Megan: You're so lovely and understanding. Thank you.
Phil: Of course well I support you 100% with
everything so anything you want to talk about I will be there
Megan: Thank you
Phil: Are you sure thats all there is to it?
Megan: Well there is something else that has cropped
up
Phil: Whats that?
Megan: Well i've been offered a job
Phil: Thats amazing! Where is it?
Megan: Thats the thing… I would be away for 6 month on
a cruise
Phil stays silent
Megan: Please say something
Phil: are you going to do it?
Megan: I don't know its 6 months, but then this is
such a big opportunity
Phil: What about us?
Megan: I know thats the thing I don't want to be away
from you for that long
Phil: You know I support you in everything you do, but
i'm not sure if I can with this
Megan: But you just said that you support me 100% with
everything I do?
Phil: I know but not this
Megan: Why not?
Phil: Because its 6 months Meg, I love you and I can't
be without you for 6 months. You know what I was planning on doing?
Megan: You know I love you too but please don't guilt
trip me. And what were you planning?
Phil: I am not guilt tripping you! ugh you know what
forget it!
Megan: No tell me, I knew you would be upset about
this but I thought you would at least be supportive. I haven't even made a
decision but looking the way you have reacted has given me a better idea of
what I'm thinking of doing.
Phil: I just can't let you leave, Meg you are my world
and you belong in it and I can't let you leave me for 6 months have you thought
of what it will do to me? and what do you mean?
Megan: You are being so selfish. I just wanted you to
be at least happy for me and then we could be adults and talk about it properly
and see what happens from there but the way you are reacting makes me want to
go if you are going to be like that.
Phil: Fine you go then, leave me and I won't propose
to you Megan..
Megan: (Shocked) What?! You were going to
propose to me?
Phil: Yeah but it doesn't matter now because you are
leaving me for 6 months
Megan: I don't know what to say
Phil: There is nothing to say. It seems you have
already made your decision. I don't know if we can do this anymore
Megan: Please don't do this here we will talk about it
more later please
Phil: I don't think anything you can say will make
this better because I know you want to go, See you later Meg.
Phil exits leaving Megan speechless
Lights back to Alice
and Danellie
Alice: Right there he is, go over there and talk to
him
Danielle: (Staggering
slightly) Okay I’m going. (Trips into
chair) Who that there?
Alice: Stand up straight and take it easy. (To her self) God who’s stupid ideas was
this to get her to talk to him. (Alice
then goes and talks to other people)
Danielle: Okay I can do this…(Goes up to Tom) Hey Tom
Tom: Oh hey Danielle, you ok?
Danielle: I am great thank you, how are you? Great
party isn’t it
Tom: I’m good, yeah it is a great party… So are you
here on your own?
Danielle: No I came with my friend Alice… but oh I
think shes gone
Tom: Well looks like we are on our own together then,
my friends have ditched me. Say, I’m going home on my own tonight so if you
wanted to, you can come with me … You’re looking great tonight by the way
Danielle: Oh thank you, and sure that would be good
thank you. Want so I can get a lift home?
Tom: No to stay with me…
Danielle: Sure okay… (Tom goes to Kiss her)
Lights go down on the
stage.
At Sharon and
Emma’s house – Scene 3
At Sharon and Emma’s
house and Sharon is pushing Emma too far with her performing and Emma lets out
a little bit of how she feels but is still very contained.
Sharon: Emma come on its time to go to Ballet. Right have
you been practicing your pirouettes ready for today? I asked Miss Jenkins what
you were struggling with and she said pirouettes so I said I would make sure
you practice. Emma are you even listening to me?
Emma: Yes mum
Sharon: I don’t feel you respect me Emma. I do so much for
you and push you to do all these things and I don’t feel you appreciate what I
do.
Emma: I do mum
Sharon: You have an exam in 3 weeks and you need to be on
top form for it. I expect you to come out with a Distinction in it otherwise I
will be really disappointed.
Emma: The ballet exam is really difficult…RAD is the hardest
dance board so even a Merit would be really good. That’s what Miss Jenkins
said.
Sharon: I do not care what Miss Jenkins said. I want you to
come out with a Distinction. You bloody well should seeing how much money I pay
for your training!
Emma: Mum stop!
Sharon: Excuse me?
Emma: Just please lay off the pressure please I…I’m finding
it difficult to keep up. I am always tired.
Sharon: I don’t want to talk about this. If you are tired go
to bed earlier, but all I am doing is make sure you have every experience
possible and be the star you want to be. I would have failed as a parent if you
don’t come out on top.
Emma: Lets go to dance I cant do this with you now.
Scene 4
Megan and Phil are
talking on the phone. One half of the stage lit with Megan on the Phone, the
other half lit with Phil.
Megan: Hey you
Phil: Hi
Megan: Please talk to me. I haven’t seen you or spoken to
you for almost a week since the party. I need us to sort this with you.
Phil: You want to go and take the job, but I think it will
be too hard for us to not see each other for 6 months… do you not agree that is
a crazy amount of time?
Megan: Yes but if we truly love each other we can make it
work surely?
Phil: Yes but I can’t cope without you for 6 months its too
long. So I am going to let you go so you can go off and do your thing. You know
I’m so proud of you just I wont be able to deal with it.
Megan: (Starting to
cry) Please Phil we can do this and work through it. Please don’t leave me.
Phil: I’m letting you go Meg. You can do what you have
always wanted to do. Speak to you soon, I love you.
He hangs up leaving
Megan speechless.
Scene 5
Its 2 days before
Alice and Danielle’s audition and Danielle is looking at a positive pregnancy
test
Danielle: Shit. Oh shit. This can’t be right. This has got to be wrong.
I’m pretty sure we were careful. But then again I can’t even remeber
Scene 6
Alice and Danielle are
waiting at the station for their
Alice : I’m so nervous
Danielle: Same
Alice: but I’m excited as well
Danielle: yep
Alice: I’m totally gonna nail it I can feel it
Danielle: mmhhmm
Alice: : Whats the matter with you?
Danielle: Nothing
Alice: is it because your nervous and you don’t want
to talk? Because I don’t want you like this all day you will just stress me out
Danielle: just leave it yeah
Alice : no because this is a big day and if you go to
the audition like that you won’t get in take It from me, I know how it works
Danielle: Its not that its just ugh you won't
understand
Alice: Okay whatever I have no time for you today if
you are going to be like that.
Oh my god look over there, that girl she's in
our year, do you remember her she dropped out of college and now she is
pregnant, you must be stupid to get pregnant at this age. 17 wow I couldn't do
it. such a shame.
Danielle: Well you never know she could have done all
the right things and one of the little guy just get through
Alice: Still I wouldn't keep it. Like has she thought
about it finically? she is not going to have a life for the next 18 years
Danielle: Leave her alone will you, you don't know how
she feels or what she is going through
Alice: seriously what is wrong with you today
Danielle: nothing just leave it out will you
Alice: well at least tell me whats going as I said
it’s a big day for me, I mean us, I mean come on whose likely to get in me or
you… oh, sorry I din’t mean it like that
Danielle: yes you did you have always thought that
youre better than me and have always put me down I want to do well its just I
have a lot going on
Alice: I’m sorry it came our wrong I don’t know Its
just your attitude right now I just don’t understand why you can’t just try and
be happy about this audition this could change our lives. Oh look the train
should be here in 3 minutes
Danielle: i can't do it
Alice: What?
Danielle: I can't get on the train
Alice: oh come stop being a drama queen you will be
fine once you get in there just keep calm, take deep breaths and…
Danielle: … i'm Pregnant
Alice: i'm sorry come again
Danielle: I'm pregnant…knocked up… up the duff how
else would you like me to say it?
Alice: Yeah alright…just, are you sure?
Danielle: No i just said it for a laugh, yes i'm sure!
Alice: I can't believe it. is that why you've been all
tense about today because you are pregnant?
Danielle: Yeah i just don't know what to do.
Performing is my life and all that I have ever wanted to do and now i'm
carrying a child, like what do i even do? do i get rid of it? but then if i do
get rid of it and go to the audition and don't get in here or anywhere else then
I have got rid of a life, but if i do get in what the hell am I supposed to do?
Alice please help me
Alice: Okay one thing at a time babe. You are
pregnant. so whose the father?!
Danielle: Seriously?
Alice: Okay yeah sorry, right tell me that one later
then. Well maybe if you go the audition today see how it goes and maybe the
decision of what happens with drama school will make you come to a decision
about keeping the baby.
Danielle: I guess. I just want to go to drama school
so bad, but I wouldn't forgive myself for getting rid of it
Alice: Go to the audition today, see what happens and
see what the outcome is and maybe that will influence your decision rather than
decide right now
Danielle: It's just such a big decision Al
Alice: Dani i know, but you've got to do this audition
for you and see what the outcome is and maybe then it will influences your
decision.
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