Well, Christmas is coming up! :D I've got most of my library drawer filled with c.d.s, many of which are Christmas themed. My sisters and I are playing Christmas music. I'm worrying about how to get all my Christmas presents ready for my friends and family. I went to a Christmas cantata last night (so beautiful!). This week we held our first Christmas play practice (I know-we're starting excruciatingly late!), and I suddenly realized how curt I had made the character Kristen. Wow! She sounds almost rude a lot of the time (Secret: I also often feel like a fool when I'm acting in front of people. That is, until the big night. Then I'm generally fine on stage. I know. I'm crazy!).
Anyway, someone contacted me from this website who wanted to know more about my play Christmas Time. And so, to celebrate the coming of December, and thus Christmas, I'm posting some of the excerpts from Christmas Time.
I hope that you all enjoy!
Introduction to the characters: Fiona Stop is a time-obsessed business woman who is always on time-to the second. Marcus MacDonald is her fiancee (who she occasionally seems to have no time for doing things with). Janet Darby-she is the comic relief! Janet is Fiona's secretary, who always manages to be late, succeeding in annoying Fiona excessively! Henry Carls is Marcus's friend. There are other characters, but these are the main ones, so we'll move on to the script excerpts!
So, this excerpt is from scene three. Fiona and Marcus are at a restaurant, and Waitresses Emma and Emily are taking care of their orders. Marcus is asking Fiona about her holiday plans.
Marcus: I was wondering what days you were taking off this year for Christmas and New Years.
Fiona: I'm taking Christmas Day off, and possibly New Year's Day, because Janet will probably insist having it off as we'll, and it is too hard being my own secretary. (Waitresses come back and set water down on table and take out note pads)
Waitress Emily: What do you want to order?
Marcus: (to Waitress Emily as she scribbles down order) I would like Spicy Lasagna and Double-berry Spinach Salad, please. (back to Fiona) No other days?
Waitress Emma: And you, ma'am?
Fiona: (as Emma scribbles down order) I would like the Southern Bean Taco Salad and Strawberry Sweetness Smoothie, thank you! (looks at Emma) Did you say you are in training? (Emma nods) Are you fast yet?
Waitress Emma: I don't really know.
Fiona: Well, you can experiment with us.
If you enjoyed that, then you can probably see why we had a riot doing this play last year!
This next excerpt is from scene six. Fiona is lying on the floor. What is wrong with her? Janet the faithful arrives...late. This is from when she first dashes into the office. (I love Janet! Actually, I love all my eccentric characters. Gossips, chatterboxes, vain people, etc.. They're what make writing these plays fun!!!!)
Janet: (racing in and not looking around; speaking hurriedly) Sorry I'm late. I was stuck in traffic on the way here, and when I got in, I noticed that the answering machine was blinking, and it was a message from your only client coming today saying she is out of town because her first granddaughter was born last night, so she decided to go away for Christmas, and (suddenly breaks off and notices Fiona is not at desk; Janet blinks and looks amazed; in astonished tone) Fiona - late? This is impossible! She didn't take today off, did she? (steps around front of desk, and spots Fiona; Janet screams) Fiona! Fiona! Is she dead? (Janet kneels down next to Fiona; franticly and hysterically) Fiona, are you dead? She's not answering! She must be!
I'll cut off there, so if you ever see the play performed, it won't all be an old hat to ya!
Here's another excerpt of Fiona. She is not dead, thanks to her instruction manual for Janet to use in an emergency, which contained the instructions "Call 9-1-1". She's not very happy as she is making this phone call from the hospital.
Fiona: (signing) Fine. I'll take today off. (Pulls out cell phone and "dials"; waits) Janet? Yes, I'm alive. Take today off, and I'll see you at the Christmas program. What happened? ________(intentional editing here; I don't want you to know what happens to her incase you ever see/read it!______See you later. Bye.
And now, to finish off my excerpts. Of course, we have to finish off with one of Janet. I love this moment of the play!!!
Fiona: (as they are "leaving" church by going behind curtain on left of stage; to Janet) Thank you for the invitation, Janet. And Merry Christmas (hands Janet a gift bag).
Janet: Thank you! Merry Christmas! (Marcus and Fiona leave; Janet opens present) Yes, I guessed it!
Henry: What?
Janet: She gave me another watch for Christmas!
Well, I hope that you enjoyed that little peek into the Christmas play from last year! Next time I do some excerpts, maybe I'll do some from the play I wrote for Christmas this year, if there is any interest in more excerpts.
I've got to go. Tons of stuff, so little time.
"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" (exclamation mark at end is mine, instead the original period. That's the way I think of it). Phillipians 4:4
God bless ya'll!
Indi Raine