Drama Devised & (Directed Actors) Group Piece - "The Misunderstanding"

Theme: 'WHO ARE MY FAMILY'

Intro of my Script

A mother remarried a few years back, due to a misunderstanding and other triggers, when her child was still a baby. Since then, she never told her daughter about it, so from the girl’s point of view, she assumes that the father she has been living with is her biological father. However, one day when the girl is alone at home, she tries to use her mother’s computer to play games. She then happens to view the folders of videos that her real father has taped for her.

Then, she has to go for CIP at an old folks home. She meets a nurse and a patient there, which, so happens to be the guy she saw on her mother’s computer. He shows her a significant necklace, which he treasures a lot.

Back home, the girl asks her mother the truth and mother admits. Mother takes out a similar necklace, just like the one he Dad has. Mother and Girl then, go to the Old Folks’ Home to look for her real father, hoping to clear things up. However, they were a step too late and he had already died.

Characters: Girl, Mum, Dad, Grandmother and Nurse.

Extra Behind the scenes characters: Step-Father.

Costumes: Girl as the character (Colourful kids Colour)

Mum: Normal Clothing

Dad: Normal Clothing & Hospital Clothing

Venues: 1) At Home

2) Old Folks Home

Props: Scene 1
1 Table and 2 chairs and some food.

Scene 2
2 Mattresses (1 Red & 1 Blue), 1 side table and 1 Writing Pad.

Scene 3

1 Red Mattress, 1 side table, A Laptop with some Videos installed.

Scene 4
Broom, A cup and Jug, A Bed and Necklace (Dad’s).

Scene 5
The other Matching Necklace with Mum, 1 side table, A Laptop with some Videos installed.

Scene 6
A Bed. Dad’s Matching Necklace, Documents that nurse is doing, A Letter.

Characters Analysis:

Girl: She is the protagonist in this play. A mature, caring and sweet-looking 11year old girl, with no siblings and is currently living under the same roof with her mum and step-father (which she thinks is her Dad). However despite her young age, she is able to accept and deal with the true facts of life. She has a very curious personality and is interested in almost everything. Through the life story, we see the journey of her- in search of her real family member.

Mum: A professional yet caring 37 year old mother, who works in a bank with her current husband. She has remarried, yet has never ever told her daughter about her real father. She treats her work and family equal, however when it comes to matters of the heart, she is a little more relaxed, as she does not want the episode of her ex-marriage to happen again.

Dad: 40 year old man, suffering from cancer and currently staying in the Old Folks home after daughter was born and wife remarried. He holds regret over his moment of folly in his younger days. He treasures kinship and loves his family a lot. Till today, he longs forgiveness from his family members, which would give him a peace of mind.

Grandmother: Father’s mother (Girl’s paternal grandmother). She is very strict with family members; however she has their interests at heart.

Nurse: A polite and sweet-looking women in her mid twenties, who works in the Old Folks Home.

Extra Behind the scenes characters: Step-Father: Treats the girl as his own daughter.

Scene 1
Grandmother gets agitated over her daughter-in-law, not wanting to eat the food she prepared. She runs out and gets knocked over by a car, accidentally, and passed away. Due to this, we see the couple quarreling over his mother’s death. However, he has misunderstood the truth.

Move props (table, chair and plates) on stage.

Mum:	WHAT! Bread AGAIN?!! Runs away to vomit.
Grandmother:	Yes, breakfast…. Just eat ah, don’t be fussy. Young people nowadays are so fortunate. Remember the days of World War2 when we didn’t even have enough food to eat.
Mum:	YES YES YES. Thanks, I have no appetite.
Grandmother:	Eat a little or it will really go to waste..
Mum:	I will have it later. Gives a weird look at the food and runs away to vomit.
Grandmother:	How rude!! I can’t stand this anymore… I make breakfast early in the morning for the family without fail and this is what I get! She did not even bother to taste the food. What kind of attitude is this? Is my food that bad? I GIVE UP!! Stomps out of the house. *Ambulance sound is heard. Grandmother is dead.

Black Out.

Dad:	Just look at what you have done. You must be happy now. Oh there’s no reason why you should have done that.
Mum:	I don’t know.. I really don’t. It was not done on purpose… The sight of food makes me vomit.
Dad:	VOMIT?!! WHY? Mum must have thought you did not appreciate her kind deeds. You should have shown some respect at least.
Mum:	It was not my fault… I didn’t mean to…
Dad:	Oh great. Now, it is not your fault. Who’s it then? Look, you don’t have to explain nor do you have to beg me to stay, I said I’m leaving, and I’m really leaving this cruel home. If you still value how mum treated you in the past, come for her funeral. Walks a few steps out of the house
Mum:	I’m 2months pregnant!! *Turns her back towards her husband…….. Sobbing

Black Out STAIGHT AWAY!
After 3seconds, Lights back on totally.

Scene 2
This scene shows the life of both parties after the quarrels and all that happened.

Lights dims and stage is total dark. Move props (Table (Facing the audiences) and writing pads, chair and 2 mattresses) on stage.

Dad:	(Writing Letters) Dear Child,……….*Coughs This is your 7th letter. You will read this when you are 7 years old. I’m sorry I can’t take care of you and your mother. I just found out that I’m suffering from………….. Keeps Coughing. Your mum is kind enough to let me move back here despite everything that has happened. Promise me you will take care of yourself and the family.
Mum:	Sleeping

Lights dims and stage is total dark.
After 3seconds, Lights back on totally.

Scene 3
Girl is alone at home and she starts to fiddle with her mother’s computer, trying to find games to play. However, she sees folders of videos that her biological father has taped for her.

Mum:	I’m going out for a while with your Dad. Be good.
Girl:	OKAYS!!
Mum:	*Leaves the house
Girl:	F-R-E-E-D-O-M!

Girl goes into mum’s room trying to find her mother computer to play with and is excited when she suddenly sees it!!

Girl:	Ooo.. Here is it! PLAY TIME! Let’s see what mum has in here. *Clicks
Girl:	There’s password. Wells, let’s try Mum’s birthday. *Clicks NO? How about Dad’s birthday? *Clicks NO? AH HA! It must be my birthday then! *Clicks YES, IT IS!
Girl:	Great, now let’s look for games. There isn’t……*Clicks..hmms, wait what’s this? “Lessons From Dad” COMPUTER GOES ON TO THE 1st LESSON THAT DAD RECORDED. ABCs, 123s?

DOOR BELL RINGS, Girl offs the computer and hurries to open the door.

Girl	Mum, I’m going to the Old Folks Home for my CIP. I’ll be back for dinner.
Mum	Sure. See you later.

Scene 4
Girl goes to the OLD FOLKS HOME for CIP.

Girl sweeps the floor.
Nurse is busy with some documents.

Dad:	Girl….. Can you pour me a cup of water? *Coughs
Girl:	Sure. *Thinks and murmurs to herself. How come he looks like the man I saw on mum’s computer?
Dad:	Pardon?
Girl:	OH, OH.. NO, Nothing? *Smiles I was just thinking where your family members are?
Dad:	*Sighs My family? Don’t mention. I wronged them.
Girl:	I see…. So, how long have you been staying here?
Dad:	Since my wife remarried.. I had cancer and have been recuperating here since…
Girl:	What do you mean?
Dad:	It’s a long story; I don’t really want to talk about it. *Holds the necklace in his palms and show his palms. This is all I’m left with. *Coughs and goes to sleep.

Girl walks around, as well as, towards the nurse.

Girl:

He looks like the man in the computer, BUT.. he said he wife remarried and mum never ever did remarry. Something’s fishy.. I better ask mum.

Girl talks to the nurse.

Girl:	Excuse me; do you have any idea of the background of that man?
Nurse:	He has been with us since a few years ago. He was a cancer patient and is one of the lucky survivors of it, oh but, still recovering through.
Girl:	Where are his family members?
Nurse:	Oh little girl, he is here because he doesn’t have a family and home.
Girl:	He’s so pitiful… I mean... The way he looks at me… He seems as if he was going to cry.
Nurse:	I have seen worst cases, compared to him, his is not as bad.
Girl:	Uh, okay…. I’v got to make a move. Thanks for everything.
Nurse:	Sure, I’ll see you again next week. Have a nice weekend.
Girl:	You too!!

Scene 5
BACK HOME, girl asks her mother the truth and mother admits.
Red Mattress is laid out.

Girl:	Mum, I need to confess something.
Mum:	Yes?
Girl:	I played with your computer and I saw the folder “Lessons From Dad”. Who are my family?
Mum:	You, Dad, and me, of course.
Girl:	Dad? Then what about the computer?
Mum:	Gets stern & suspicious- Why are you asking all this?
Girl:	OH.. umms, nothing much Mum. It’s just that I have a project on “Family Tree”. Thanks. *Walks away & goes into her room.
Mum:	You are acting weird. What’s wrong? You can share….
Girl:	Mum, I’m sorry. I think I found out the truth about Dad. Cause.. The man I saw in the computer looks like a man in the Old Folks Home I went just now.
Girl:	Dad’s in the Old Folks Home, right? Mum….
Mum:	*With Sorrows. The TRUTH hurts but… Y-E-S, I must say he’s your real Dad. I’m Sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I wanted to give you a perfect family. I didn’t want you to know that your Dad is a different person, a person you have never lived with at all. I thought it would be better this way. Your dad did video tape things for you and… I meant to show you the video when you were older. BUT NOW……. He loves you…. Shall we watch the remaining videos he recorded?

Both Mum & Girl watch the videos. Till the LAST video, it showed a NECKLACE.

(LEFT STAGE)

Girl: Mum: Girl: Mum: Girl:

There’s a necklace. It’s with me. Dad left it for you. (Goes to the side table to get the necklace) (Looks at it with a smile) Sweet Heart, will you forgive us? I know all I’m saying now won’t seem to help at all…. BUT… Mum…….. Actually, I don’t blame it against you two. I admit when I first knew it myself, I was really taken aback. BUT…I have learnt to accept it. Shall we visit dad to tell him we have forgiven him?

Black Out.

Scene 6
Mother and Girl go to the Old Folks’ Home to look for her real father. However, they were a little too late and he had already died.

Mum:	Where’s the patient?
Nurse:	You came a little too late, I’m sorry….. he just passed away peacefully a few minutes ago. Are you his family members? These are his belongings. *Hands over the necklace and a letter.
Girl:	How can it be? DAD!!!!! I haven’t even gotten the chance to call him DAD. THE NECKLACE!! It’s the same shape. Dad must have given this to me to signify something, and THIS is it.
Girl and Mum:	*Sobs

Lights dims and stage is total dark.

Girl (Taking the letter out of her pocket):

This was Dad’s final letter *WITH THE LETTER- READS “Dear Child, By the time you are 10, you will read this letter. This is the last letter I can write. I am suffering from cancer and the doctor said I do not have much time left. Maybe, it is my retribution. Those years, It was my entire fault, if it wasn’t for my misunderstanding, all these would not have happened. I’m really sorry towards both your mother and you. I know I should have found out more first, and not be so rash. If your mother remarries, I won’t blame her, so long you two are happy. Lastly, I beg for your forgiveness. Always with love, Your Dad.

Blackout

Devised Group Piece – “Because I said so”

Drama Devised Group Piece – “Because I said so”
28th July 2007, Saturday

Sophie Chew 306, Michelle Chern 305,
Samantha Whang 303, Leslie Chung 305

Characters:
1. John (Romeo) POOR
2. Renee (Juliet) RICH
3. Catherine (Romeo’s Mother) POOR
4. Madeleine (Juliet’s Mother) RICH

Non-Acting characters:
1. Pamela (John’s ex-girlfriend)
2. Robin (Juliet’s fiance in which her parents have arranged for her to marry)

Time Limit: 8 ½ mins

Scene 1 (JOHN & RENEE)
: At a wedding dinner, John is looking for his ex-girlfriend Pamela, and accidentally bumps into Renee, spilling the drink he has in his hand all over her. She gets angry at first, but when she looks up to see who she is about to scream at, she stops halfway when she sees John. They start flirting with each other until Renee’s mother calls for her. Renee leaves immediately but she accidentally leaves her handbag behind which is picked up by John.

Scene 2 (JOHN, RENEE, MADELEINE)
: The stage is divided into two halves with a divider. On one side, we have John’s room, and Renee’s on the other. They are talking on the phone and Renee thanks John for coming all the way to return her handbag when Madeleine suddenly comes knocking rapidly on her door.

Renee hides her phone but leaves it on so that John can hear what is going on. Madeleine comes in, demanding to know whom the boy who came over was. Renee gets a tongue lashing from her mother who demands that Renee never see John again, as she has a commitment to Robin. Madeleine informs Renee that she is to be married to Robin two days later.

Scene 3 (JOHN, RENEE, CATHERINE)
: Immediately after Madeleine storms out of Renee’s room, Renee starts crying into the phone, declaring her never-ending love for John, and wanting very badly to see him and not have to marry Robin, whom her heart does not beat for. He stops her halfway, informing her that his father has come into the room. He hides the phone but leaves it on so that Renee can hear what is going on.

Catherine comes in, demanding to know why he did not come home for dinner. Both of them get into a fight, and when Catherine leaves the room, John confirms plans to run away with Renee, out of teenage angst against their parents. The young couple makes their plans to run away together and elope. Renee agrees to meet at 1.15am, but John mistakenly hears it for 1.50am.

Scene 4 (RENEE)
: Renee is waiting impatiently for John at 1.15am, wondering to herself where John could be, and thinking of all the reasons why he wouldn’t want to meet up with her, and why he wouldn’t love her. She gets paranoid, and keeps talking to herself until it is 1.30am, and she is convinced that he doesn’t love her anymore, and has never truly loved her in the first place. She attempts to kill herself by overdosing Panadol with Alcohol. She drops to the floor and remains stationary.

Scene 5 (JOHN)
: John walks in at 1.50am, checking his watch and reassuring that he’s on time, 1.50am. He notices Renee lying on the floor and quickly assumes that she has killed herself. He takes the bottle of alcohol from her hand and quickly consumes it along with the remaining Panadol pills Renee has not finished and he dies.

Scene 6 (CATHERINE & MADELEINE)
(JOHN & RENEE ARE DEAD)
: Catherine and Madeleine walk in, searching for John and Renee. They meet and start talking until they find out each other’s identity. They start cursing and swearing at each other when they realize the truth about their children running away together. Catherine happens to look at the back and notices two bodies lying side by side, and walks towards them. Both mothers are devastated and end up crying together.

Devised Monologue: Singaporeans

Finding a sit.
Holding a cup of coffee.

WHAT?!! NOT AGAIN!!… Look around and found a sit to sit down, yet with a few packets of tissues on it already.. Phew!! It’s a good thing I managed to get a sit among the many packets of tissues.

Sipping Coffee.
My goodness, not again.. Always using tissue packets to chop seats.
These Singaporeans, only know how to do these things. Look around you, dirty tables here and there with food all over their tables. Turn around and look at the queues, we really have no sense of queuing up. There isn’t even a straight line.


However, this is a typical scene you see in coffee shops nowadays, either you bear with it OR you don’t go there. BUT, I suggest we just try to adapt to the environment.

no sense of………. Lucky no smoking alr…


You really don’t know what’s up next on their Trademark- “Kiasu-ism” list, and when you know, you probably get a shock out of your life. From a packet of to____________________________________. Anything is possible.

As a country, we seem like a little perfect child, compared to the other big “brothers” in the world. However, it does not always seem like how it is. Yes, I was once told that Singapore is the country Walt Disney would have liked to create: clean, fun, pleasant, and with hidden security guards lurking behind the façade to lead you away if you step one inch out of line. This is kind of true, but at least the line is a little broader in Singapore than it is in Disneyland.

Yes, we claim that we are developed countries, yet we behave like a third world country, sadly… like an adult behaviour it’s own shoe size!!
As a local myself, sometimes pondering on our behaviours, I find that Singaporeans are really ironical, perhaps, CONTRIDICTING!!
I mean, Look,
1 . Nite - Sleep with air-con, Day - Bath with heater on

2. Day - Cannot Wake up, Nite - Cannot Sleep

7. Half of Sg ppl dunno how to speak the country's language (malay)

9. There are also quite a few high-tech barbaric singaporean
in sg - They know how to use state-of-the art equipment,
use 3g mobile phone and powerful computers but they
dunno how to use a simple dustbin or a toilet.

10. Sg ppl rush to buy Hello kitty, the other side busy killing
stray cats

12. Cigarettes - Convienent to buy, not convienent to smoke

13. Private Cars - Cheaper and Cheaper to buy, harder and
harder to Maintain

15. Education - Teach Less Learn More.