It All Started That Time

^{Photo of my property}

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Description of the piece: A writer, immersed in his work, decides to meet a young girl who is an admirer of his career. Both have different personalities, but in the end, they agree on something that will make them a little more committed.

Main characters: Alice and Maurice.

Extra characters: Coffee shop waiter.

Scenarios: Coffee shop and forest.

Acts: Two.

(The curtain opens. Alice and Maurice are tasting delicious coffee in a coffee shop in the city's center. She watches him, takes a sip of her coffee, and then smiles. He feels he shouldn't be there, he prefers to be at home and continue with his writing. Alice breaks the silence and they begin to have another kind of talk).

ALICE: (Whispers) I liked you better before when you were writing horror.

MAURICE: (Looks up and fixes her eyes on Alice's) Excuse me?

ALICE: Yes, your horror stories were fascinating; how you described the atmosphere, the characters, and their emotions. You were quite a master at creating tension and crafting different ways and means of suspending your readers, but now with all this romantic drama, I'm not saying you're not good at it, just that... (strokes his chin as he thinks about his next sentence) you're not the same.

MAURICE: (looks at her in amazement and smiles) I completely agree with you.

ALICE: Really?

MAURICE: Yes, look, it's the publishing house that forces me to create stories for a specific audience. I don't want it, but it's what I have for now (sighs at the end).

ALICE: I think you repress your true potential (slides her fingers gently over Maurice's straight, black hair).

(There is a few seconds of calm and tension. A waiter enters the scene).

WAITER: Excuse me. Here's your slice of chocolate strawberry shortcake, enjoy!

(Alice and Maurice thanked in unison).

ALICE: As I was saying, thanks to your previous writings I have allowed myself to get to know you. I know we have only communicated through social networks for a while and today we barely know each other in person, but I feel that for months now you have been very important in my life (takes Maurice's hand gently).

(Suddenly the song 'Lovesong' by The Cure sounds setting the place).

MAURICE: (Exhales slowly and whispers) What do you want to tell me, Alice?

ALICE: I don't want you to lose your essence. You stood out with those dark, macabre, and mysterious stories. When I read them, I felt that it was you whispering them in my ear. Is it possible to feel something for someone you only know by his letters? Do you think I'm crazy and that all this is just a feeling of admiration for you?

(Alice lowers her gaze, but Maurice looks at her with understanding).

MAURICE: (Smiles) No, I don't think you're crazy. You understand me better than those idiots at the publishing house. You make me remember to go back to my origins; that which made me passionate about writing and not just see it as a trade that makes money. I appreciate you so much, Alice, that's why I came; even though I was half-hearted and nervous, I wanted to meet you and feel those words of encouragement in person.

ALICE: (Blushes and tries to cover laughter with her other hand) Let me take you to a place, you'll fall in love with that place as much as I did, it will even inspire you to fight for what you want. Shall we schedule another appointment for three days from now?

MAURICE: (Squeezes Alice's hand) Sounds perfect to me.

(The lights go out and the curtain closes).

(The curtain opens. The lights pierce the treetops with unspeakable tones. The hum of the wind emits a melody worthy of a calm concert. The colors of the flowers seem to change as the sweet gusts dance with them. The multitude of pines conveys an incomparable peace, letting one admire a spectacular view of a lake that looks like a mystical well where the fairies pour out their talents).

MAURICE: (Exclaims in an enthusiastic voice) Alice, this is too beautiful!

ALICE: (Smiles) I always come here when I'm feeling distressed or stressed. I knew you'd like it too.

MAURICE: You were right all along. All I longed for was to do what I loved, and when that was taken away, I became a sort of remote-controlled toy (a tear escaped from her right eye).

ALICE: I know you'll find your way back soon. Take a good look at this landscape full of strange colors and sounds stimulating you to calm down. Let your thoughts drift through the atmosphere and the beauty.

(There was a pause of silence. Mauricio approaches Alice and looks into her eyes. She blushes but stands her ground. Their faces move slowly closer. They both close their eyes as they wait for the warmth of the kiss, but a squirrel comes out of the bushes and interrupts the moment. Only gasps are heard).

MAURICE: (Smiles and gasps) a kiss interrupted by a squirrel, typical!

(Alice takes Maurice gently by the face and kisses him. The humming is now songs with romantic lyrics from the 70s. The colors in the surroundings exploded like fireworks. The sky changed color as the passion grew).

ALICE: (Murmurs) Typical shouldn't be wasting a kiss.

MAURICE: I'm glad one of us is the more determined.

(They continue kissing. The lights slowly go out and the curtain closes).

THE END

The logos and title image were taken from freepng and the separators were created by me in PowerPoint.