February People's Choice Award

The people have spoken... In our most competitive voting yet, with $479 in donations tallied for the six short plays presented at last night's Monday Night PlayGround "Math Night" at Berkeley Rep, the February People's Choice Award goes to PlayGround writer William Bivins for his original short play, Symmetrical Smack-Down. Congratulations, Bill!

Courtesy of Mr. Bivins, we're pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script.  Enjoy!

Symmetrical Smack-Down

by William Bivins

Cast Breakdown:

Napalm – Male, 20s-30s. any race. Professional wrestler.

El Chupacabro – Male, 50s, any race, but with preference for Latino. Professional wrestler.

Raquel – Female, 20s, any race, but with preference for Latina. Sports writer; El Chupacabro's daughter.

Marion – Female, 40s-50s, any race. Reference librarian.

Setting:

A cafe table and two chairs.

The DING of a bell, as in a wrestling match. Napalm and El Chupacabro enter, stand at either end of the stage facing the audience. They are dressed in the costumes of professional wrestlers and are full of bluster.

NAPALM

I am Napalm, the fire-bomber. I leave behind me a wake of devastation. El Chupacabro is my sworn enemy. Today I will OBLITERATE HIM!

EL CHUPACABRO

I am El Chupacabro. Destroyer of men. Inflicter of pain. Napalm is my sworn enemy. Today he will TASTE MY WRATH!

DING. Marion and Raquel enter, stand on either side of the table and chairs, facing the audience.

RAQUEL

(To audience.) I’m Raquel. I am a sports writer and daughter of a professional wrestler. Marion is my

girlfriend of three years. Today I will find out if she’s willing to fight for me.

MARION

(To audience.) I am Marion. I’m a reference librarian. Do not laugh. Today I am angry with Raquel for reasons I’d rather not discuss.

DING. The two women sit at the table across from each other.

MARION

Your hair could use some attention.

RAQUEL

You got something you want to say to me?

MARION

Why would you think I have anything to say to you?

RAQUEL

You've been crabby all morning.

MARION

Have I? I haven’t noticed. Where is the waiter? The service here is abysmal.

RAQUEL

Let’s pretend we’re breaking up.

MARION

You want to break up?

RAQUEL

I want to pretend to break up. Kind of a game.

MARION

Okay. You start.

RAQUEL

Marion, I’m breaking up with you.

MARION

How do I react?

RAQUEL

I don’t know. Shock, anger, indifference.

MARION

I choose indifference.

RAQUEL

You do?

MARION

We’re just pretending, aren’t we?

RAQUEL

Yeah, but why indifference?

MARION

What happens next?

RAQUEL

You ask me why I’m breaking up with you.

MARION

Why are you breaking up with me?

DING. The two women freeze. The two fighters face off with each other.

_______

Join us for the next Monday Night PlayGround at Berkeley Rep on Monday, March 18, 2013 at 8pm and choose your own favorite! For more info, click here.