Drama Devised Group Piece – “Cycles”

CAST:

Part I (The Office)
The Boss, Elizabeth Wong (Michelle)
The Secretary, Jennifer Lee (Leslie)
The New Intern – Amelia Lim (Samantha)

Part II (The Home)
The Mother-in-Law, Mrs. Wong Snr (Sophie)
The Daughter-in-Law, Elizabeth Wong (Michelle)
The Daughters, Zelda (Leslie) and
Zoey (Samantha)


Part I Scene 1

[Lights fade in. It is 8 in the morning and Newbie (N) is going through the mail at her desk on stage R. The Secretary (S) appears behind her.]

S: Hey!

[N jumps in fright.]

N: What are you doing here?

S: It’s eight o’clock. I’m here to work.

N: Oh. Right.

[awkward silence]

S: So! What’s in the mail? Anything for me?

N: [rifles through] Nothing much…electricity bill, invitations, bank statements…the usual.

S: You look ill.

N: [hurriedly] It’s nothing. Stress, I suppose.

S: Ah. So, how’re you finding working here? You’ve been here…let’s see. A month?

N: Yes. It’s…ehm…very enriching. I’ve learnt a lot.

S: Like how to use a coffee machine without spraying boiling water all over the kitchen?

N: [looks embarrassed] Don’t remind me!

[Suddenly they pause. Footsteps are heard. They quickly rush back to their seats.]

[The Boss (B) enters from upstage L. She stalks in, places her bag on the desk, and proceeds to open a few files as though checking documents. Suddenly she frowns and marches over to N’s table.]

B: You there. [gestures to N]

N: Yes ma’am? Do you need something?

B: Where’s my coffee?

N: Right here. [picks up a mug from the table and passes it to her]

B: Hmm. [takes a sip]

How many spoons of sugar did you put inside?

N: Two, like you said.

B: Two? I told you to put in only one!

N: I’m so sorry, Mrs. Wong – I’ll make you another cup-

B: NO! [slams mug on table] Do you have any idea what you’ve done? I’m not supposed to consume more than two teaspoons of sugar a day!

N: Mrs. Wong, ma’am, I’m really sorry-

B: And it’s not just the sugar. The whole thing tastes like dishwater! Are you hopeless or what? Must I teach you how to do every single thing?

N: Ma’am, I’m so sorry, please forgive me, it won’t happen again-

B: It had better not! I mean, good Lord, you’re a university graduate! I didn’t hire you for your absolute idiocy! And yet you can’t even do something so simple…

[B’s rant is interrupted by her mobile phone ringing.]

B: [over the phone, in a sugary sweet voice]

Yes? Why, hello Mr. Newman. Is there anything I can do? Yes? Your daughter’s wedding? At the Plaza on the 24th? [gestures to S to take the message down] Why, that’s absolutely lovely. I shall call you back soon and let you know. Thank you so much. No, thank you. See you soon.

ends call

B: Where was I? Oh, yes. Your…skills. Or should I say lack of them.

N: Please, ma’am…with all due respect, I’m sure you told me to put in two spoons.

B: Who do you think you are, challenging me?

N: I didn’t mean it that way, ma’am-

B: [holds up her hand to silence her]

You’d better not have. I do not tolerate incompetence or impertinence in my employees, Amelia. And you have just demonstrated to me how adept you are at both.

Count yourself lucky, my dear. I’m in a charitable mood today. I will allow you to make me another cup of coffee. And this time, you will count every single grain that you put inside. Is that clear?

N: Yes, Mrs. Wong.

B: Good.

[B walks back to her desk. N sighs and begins to make another cup.]


Part I Scene 2

[S walks over to N’s desk.]

S: Sorry you had to experience that.

N: Is she always like that?

S: Almost always. To be frank with you, you got off lightly.

N: I did? You mean that’s considered light?

S: By her usual standards, yes.

N: Oh my.

S: Yup. [winces] Nothing compared to the one she gave me once.

N: Ouch.

S: You’ll get used to it, though. You have to if you want to keep your job.

N: It doesn’t sound pleasant.

I’m so glad you’re here, Jen. You’ve been so nice to me. [moves a bit closer]

S: Umm, thank you.

N: No, really. I bet we’ll become as close as sisters.[moves even closer and giggles]

S: Umm, okay. That would be, umm, nice. [looks a bit uncomfortable.]

I, umm, have to get back to work now. Nice talking to you.

N: My pleasure. [smiles to herself]


Part I Scene 3

B: JENNIFER!

S: Yes, Mrs. Wong?

B: Where are the reports on the investments I asked you for?

S: Umm, I’m not done, ma’am. I’m really sorry. I’ll get them finished by the end of today.

B: That long? How much time have you spent on these so far?

S: About two days. I’ve finished five of the seven reports you asked for.

B: Only? You should have finished yesterday!

S: No offence intended, ma’am, but with all due respect you also asked me to run quite a number of errands for you as well-

B: Ones that you can’t even finish? What is wrong with this company? Are all my employees really so idiotic? I expected better of you, Jennifer! Especially after that hopeless intern and my coffee this morning-

S: [to herself] It wasn’t really her fault.

B: What did you say?

S: Nothing, Mrs. Wong.

B: Don’t lie to me! I heard you. You were commenting on the intern, weren’t you?

S: [looks defiant] And so what if I was?

B: How dare you! I’m your boss! And you…a mere secretary! How ungrateful can you get? I’ve been so tolerant of all your mistakes these past few years, I’ve overlooked your mistakes and paid out your salary each month-

S: Which is no more than a smidgen of what you earn! I have the same qualifications as you do, Mrs. Wong. Just like you, I’m a graduate. Just like you, I worked hard to get my degree. We’re both educated women – I’m worth just as much as you are!

B: I think my patience has made you conceited, Jennifer. Let me make this clear: you will be quiet and do whatever I expect you to. Do not think that having the same qualifications makes you my equal. I am your boss and you work for me. That is the fundamental difference that you obviously seem to have forgotten. [In the background, the phone starts ringing.]

S: The only difference between us is that I don’t have a rich husband like yours.

B: [pauses] What exactly are you trying to imply?

S: Don’t think I don’t know that if not for your husband, you would be the one working for me instead. A rich, powerful husband certainly has his uses, doesn’t he?

B: You little- [raises her hand to slap S]

[Just then, the phone stops ringing and goes into answerphone mode. The message plays out to the entire office.]

Voiceover: Mrs. Wong, this is Claire Tham from the Singapore General Hospital. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. Your husband has been in a car accident and has suffered severe head trauma…he’s in a critical condition and on life support….I’m very sorry. Please call me back as soon as you get this message. Thank you.

[Blackout.]

[During the transition from Part I to Part II, the following voiceover plays in the darkened room:]

Transition Voiceover: Dear friends, we are gathered here today to remember and celebrate the life of Mr. Lionel Wong. He was a kind and hardworking boss, a doting father and a loving husband…[fades off as Amazing Grace plays in the background.]


Part II Scene 1

[Lights fade in. The scene has changed to that of the Wong family household. Elizabeth Wong (EW), Zoey (ZO) and Zelda (ZE) are sitting on the couch. EW is trying to talk to her children.]

EW: Is Grandma around, dears?

[ZO says “no”. ZE shakes her head, not looking up from her book. EW heaves a sigh of relief and is about to say something when her Mother –in –law, Mrs. Wong Snr. (MW) walks in.]

MW: Hello, darlings!

ZO: GRANDMA! [runs to her]

ZE: Hey, Gran.

MW: Why don’t you go get us something to drink, Elizabeth? Your children look so thirsty. Haven’t you been giving them enough water? It’s very bad for children to get dehydrated. Didn’t you know this?

[ZO and ZE shout out their ‘orders’.]

EW: What?

MW: It’s the least you could do to make up for all the hours at the office you spent neglecting them. [“Jokingly” to the children] Sometimes I think your mother loves her work more than she loves you.
[To Elizabeth] Well, what are you waiting for?

[Elizabeth exits and enters again quickly with the drinks. As she re-enters with the drinks in hand, she spills some on MW.]

MW: You careless- [sighs] That was one of my best cheongsams! Look at you. You can’t even carry a glass of water without spilling it!

EW: I’m sorry – I’ll get it laundered for you-

MW: You, touch my cheongsam? You’d probably make the stain worse! Good grief. What do they teach you women nowadays? If I had been your mother…I must say, it’s quite shameful! You’re a grown woman. And you can’t even balance a glass of water. I tell you…

[ZE stands up.]

ZE: Gran, may I be excused?

MW: Such good manners. [softly, to EW] She certainly didn’t learn those from you.

Run along, dear. We’ll let your mother clean up. [smirks and leads the children out of the room, leaving EW alone. Lights fade out.]


Part II Scene 2

[Lights fade in for the next scene. MW, ZO and ZE are on the couch at home.]

ZO: I miss Daddy, grandma.

MW: So do I.

ZE: When’s mom coming home?

MW: Your mother is a very busy woman.

ZE: She’s always busy. [MW smirks.]

ZO: I want mummy.

MW: [Abruptly] Let’s do something different.

ZE: I’m hungry.

MW: Well, then, I can go get you something to eat. What would you like?

ZE: Have we got any cookies?

MW: Sure, darling. You can have anything you want when Grandma’s around.

ZO: Not like mummy. She never lets me eat sweets before dinner!

MW: Don’t worry. You can have as many as you want, dear. Remember, Grandma loves you!

[Fade out.]


Part II Scene 3

[ Lights fade in., Elizabeth Wong enters. Mrs. Wong Snr., is sitting at the other end of the room. She is holding one of her deceased son’s possessions – a shirt.]

[Awkward silence. Both parties stare at each other for a while. Elizabeth puts her briefcase on a chair. Mrs. Wong looks at her.]

MW: You look fine.

EW: [Sarcastically] I feel great. I mean-

MW: You feel great?

EW: No- I didn’t mean it that way-

MW: So what do you really mean? My son died less than a week ago, and you feel great? [EW tries to say something but MW cuts in.] I knew from the start you were a phony.

EW: What? I-

MW: You only married my son for his money and don’t think I don’t know it. All along, it was his money and prestige you wanted! The only reason you might be disappointed now is that I didn’t die before him – or even with him.

EW: That’s what you think! I loved him, I really did-

MW: You did? You don’t still love him now? What a surprise. For someone who pledged to love my son till the day he died and even after his death, through sickness and health, through riches and poverty? For someone whose husband just died, you look remarkably composed.

EW: Just because I don’t show emotion doesn’t mean I don’t feel it. You don’t know half of what I’ve been through.

[Just then, Zelda comes in. She is busy messaging on her cell phone. Both of the older women stare at her.]

EW: Hi, darling.

ZE: [not looking up from her hand phone] Mmmm.

MW: Hello, dear. Are you feeling all right? Would you like a drink?

ZE: No thanks gran. I’m all right.

MW: All right then. Go and get changed. We’re going out for dinner.

EW: Go out? Why can’t we eat at home?

MW: There’s nothing to eat at home. And no one [looks at EW] to cook it.

ZE: Aww, I miss Dad’s cooking.

MW: Yes, don’t we all? [shoots another look at EW]

[From the back, footsteps of a child running are heard.]

ZO: MUMMMYYYYYYYYY! WHAT’S FOR DINNER?

[Zoey skips into the room.]

MW: Go get changed, sweetheart. We’re going out to eat.

ZO: Oh-kay!

[EW, ZO and ZE walk towards the door. ZO and ZE walk ahead, with ZO irritating ZE and trying to distract her from her hand phone. As EW tries to leave, MW stops her.]

MW: Who said anything about you going?

EW: I’m their mother!

MW: A mother who can’t sew, or cook, or even care for her children?

EW: But I provide for them! I worked all those long nights so I could put food on the table-

MW: Food alone will not sustain your children. Love will. And obviously, you haven’t been giving too much of that.

[Just then, the children come in. They are dressed and ready to go out.]

MW: Oh, hello, darlings. I’ll go get the car.

[MW, ZO and ZE begin walking towards the exit.]

EW: [under her breath] It’s no wonder your husband left you.

[MW continues walking but at the last minute she turns around.]

MW: It’s no wonder ‘your’ husband would rather have died than live with you.

Have fun alone, dear.

[She walks out, leaving EW alone in the room. Lights fade out.]