A Boy in the Girl's Bathroom - Adapted by me.
THERE’S A BOY IN THE GIRLS’ BATHROOM -LOUIS SACHER
Scene 1:
A classroom Bradley Chalkers sits dejectedly at the back whilst Mrs Ebbel teaches
Narration: Bradley Chalkers sat at his desk in the back of the room.
Narration: Last seat- last row. No one sat at the desk next to him or at the one in front of him. He was…(thinks)
Bradley: An island
Narration: If he could have he would have sat in the cupboard. He didn’t think Miss Ebbel would mind. In fact she’d probably like it better that way…so would everybody else for that matter. But his desk wouldn’t fit.
Miss E.: Class, I would like you all meet Jeff Fishkin, he has just moved here from Washington in America. Now, why don’t you tell the class a little about yourself Jeff?
(Jeff shrugs)
There’s no reason to be shy.
( Jeff mutters something under his breath)
Mrs E.: Have you ever been to the white house Jeff? I am sure the class would be very interested to hear about that?
Jeff: No I have never been there
Mrs. E: Oh well, OK let’s find you somewhere to sit…
Hmm, there’s only one space there. At the back?
Lori: Not next to Bradley!
Mrs. E: I’m sorry, but there’s no where else.
Jeff: It’s fine
Mrs. E.: Well, it’s just…no one really likes sitting… there.
Bradley: YUP. No one likes sitting next to me! (smile)
(Jeff sits and watches as Bradley rips up the sheet Mrs E. Has just handed him)
SCHOOL BELL RINGS
(Bradley is the last one ready, Jeff waits for him)
Jeff: Hi
I don’t mind sitting next to you…really.
(Bradley looks amazed)
Jeff: I have been to the white house, I could tell you about it?
Bradley: (thinks, and then-) Give me some money or I’ll spit on you.
(Bradley takes Jeffs bag from him and tips the contents onto the floor he picks up some money and leaves Jeff to pick his things up)
SCENE 2:
Narration: There are some kids- you can tell just by looking at them- who are good spitters, and that is probably the best way to describe Bradley Chalkers.
Narration: he was the oldest and toughest boy in the class, oldest because he had been in year 4 twice.
(Mrs. E. sees Bradley and walk’s over to him)
Mrs E.: Bradley!
Bradley: Who me? I didn’t do anything!
Mrs E.: Did you give my note to your mother?
Bradley: Huh? What note? You never gave me a note!
Mrs. E: Yes, Bradley ,I did. In fact I gave you two notes because you said the fist one was stolen?
Bradley: Oh yes, that’s right… Yes, I gave it to her a long time ago.
(Mrs E. Does not believe Bradley)
Mrs E.: Bradley, I think it is very important that your Mother comes to parents evening tomorrow.
Bradley: She can’t come… she’s sick.
Mrs E.: You didn’t give her the note did you?
Bradley: Call her doctor if you don’t believe me!
Mrs E.: The school has hired a new counsellor
I think it’s very important that your other meets her
Bradley: Oh, they already met, actually, they go bowling together.
Mrs. E.: Look Bradley I am trying to help…
Bradley: (Cutting in) Call the bowling alley if you don’t believe me!
Mrs E.: Ok Bradley, Whatever.
Narration: Bradley couldn’t help but think about what Jeff had said to him. He had actually been nice to Bradley, this confused him.
(Bradley spots Jeff still picking his things up off on the floor he goes over him and hands him back his money)
Bradley: Have you ever been to the white house?
Jeff: Well yes, but I already…
Bradley: Me too
BLACK OUT.
Scene 3:
Mrs. Chalkers: You’re home early
Bradley: Yeah, me and my friends raced home.
(Bradley goes to his room and begins playing with his toys)
Claudia: Mum wants you
Bradley: What does she want?
Claudia: She wants to talk to you. Tell your little toys you’ll be right back
Bradley: I wasn’t talking to them
Claudia: What were you doing then?
Bradley: I was arranging them. It’s a project for School. Call my teacher if you don’t believe me!
Claudia: (giggles) Well go on then, mum’s waiting.
(Bradley walks up to his mum)
Mrs C: So, how’s everything at school?
Bradley: Great! In fact, today I was elected class president.
Mrs C: Your test results are all good?
Bradley: Yes, I got my French test back today and I got another A. actually it was an A*
Mrs C: May I see it?
Bradley: No, Mrs Ebbel hung it on the wall, next to all my other A* tests.
Mrs C: Well… Mrs Ebbel just called. Why didn’t you tell me it was parents evening tomorrow?
Bradley: Did I not tell you?
Mrs C: I don’t think so Bradley.
Bradley: I did tell you, you said you couldn’t go. You must’ve forgot.
Mrs C: Well Mrs Ebbel thinks that it is important that I go.
Bradley: Yeah, that’s just her job. The more people she sees, the more money she makes.
Mrs C: Well I’ve made an appointment to see her tomorrow morning at 11.00.
Bradley: No! you cant go! It’s not fair
Mrs C: Hang on Bradley, what’s not fair?
Bradley: YOU PROMISED!
Mrs C: What did I promise? Bradley? What did I promise?
Narration: He didn’t answer. He couldn’t answer
Narration: Not until he had thought up what wasn’t fair and what she had promised him.
(Bradley’s father walks in an quietly speaks to his mother)
Mr C: So what’s all this nonsense about your mother breaking her promise?
Bradley: She promised she’d take me to the zoo and now she wont!
Mrs C: What! I never said I’d take you to the zoo!
Bradley: She did too!
Since there is no school tomorrow she said she’d take me to the zoo.
Mrs C: (To Mr C) I didn’t even know there was no school tomorrow until this afternoon.
Bradley: You Promised!
Mr C: OKAY, Janet What time is your appointment tomorrow with Bradley’s teacher?
Mrs C: Eleven o’clock
Mr C: Well then you can go and see Bradley’s teacher and still have time to go to the zoo?
Mrs C: But I never said I’d take him to the zoo!
Bradley: You did! And we have to go in the morning. We have to be at the zoo at Eleven O’ clock
Claudia: Why do you have to be at the zoo at eleven o’clock?
Bradley: Because that’s when they feed the lions.
(Claudia laughs)
Bradley: She promised she’d take me to see them feed the lions at eleven o’clock.
Mrs C: I-I don’t even know when they feed the lions!
Bradley: (helpfully) Eleven O’clock.
Mr C: Don’t lie to your mother.
Bradley: Really… they feed the lions at eleven o’clock
Mr C: I do not tolerate lying
Bradley: I’m not lying. Call the zoo if you don’t believe me!
Mr C: Don’t lie to your mother and don’t lie to me!
Bradley: Call the zoo!
Mr C: Your mother never said she promised to take you to the zoo.
Bradley: She’s lying
Narration: As soon as he’d said it he knew it was a mistake.
Mr C: (He has snapped) DON’T YOU EVR CALL YOUR MOTHER A LIAR. GET TO YOUR ROOM!
Bradley: (pleading) Just call the zoo.
Mrs C: Maybe I did tell him I’d take him to the zoo.
Bradley: See!
Mr C: I said. GO TO YOUR ROOM.
(Bradley turns and stomps off, turns round and shouts)
Bradley: CALL THE ZOO.
Scene 4:
Narration: That night Bradley lay in bed, worried.
Narration: Worried about what ‘that liar’ Mrs Ebbel was going to say to his mother. He tossed and turned, but eventually he drifted off to sleep…
Narration: But before he knew it…
Mrs C: I’m off to the parents evening Bradley.
( Bradley sits bolt upright and shouts)
Bradley: Mrs Ebbel is a liar! Don’t believe anything she tells you.
Mrs C: (Kisses Bradley on the forehead, Bradley wipes it and storms off) See you later!
(Mrs C sighs and then- Lighting change)
Mrs E: Hello Mrs Chalkers
Mrs C: Hello.
(There is an awkward silence, Mrs Chalkers tries to break it)
Mrs C: Deep down he really is a good boy.
Mrs E: I am sure he has a lot of good qualities. However, I have 28 other children in my class and I can’t spend all my time trying to help Bradley.
Mrs C: Well, what can I do?
Mrs E: The school has hired a new counsellor, I’d like Bradley to go see her once a week.
Mrs C: Anything to help My son.
Mrs E: Well I don’t know if she can help him, Bradley has very serious behavioural problems. Ok, let’s go.
Mrs C: Deep down, he really is a good boy.
(They go towards the counsellor’s office)
Mrs E: Hello?
(Carla’s desk is messy, Mrs C picks up a puppet from it at puts it on)
(Carla appears onstage)
Carla: Oh, hello. I’m Carla Davis (Puts her hand out for Mrs C to shake it, Mrs C takes the puppet off and then does so)
Carla: So, you’re Bradley Chalker’s Mother?
You would not believe the horror stories I’ve heard about him. I’ve been here less than 3 hours but it seems like every teacher here has dropped by to warn me about him.
Mrs C: Deep, deep down, he really is a…
Carla: I can’t wait to meet him. He sounds charming, just delightful.
BLACK OUT.
SCENE 5:
Narration: Jeff Fishkin was lost.
Narration: Hopelessly lost.The hall seemed so big to him.
Narration: He was on his way to see the school counsellor, she was going to ‘help him adjust to his new school environment’.
(to a pupil)
Jeff: Excuse me, can you tell me where the counsellor’s office is please?
(they point)
Jeff: Thank you very much
(Jeff walks and mimes opening a door, he timidly walks in, two girls are there faced away from him, one turns round)
Colleen: What are you doing in here?
Jeff: Huh?
(Melinda taps Lori and she turns round, shocked when she sees him)
Lori: THERE’S A BOY IN THE GIRLS BATHROOM!
(Jeff covers his face and runs out of the bathroom and into-)
Carla: Oh, sorry.
Jeff: (with Carla) sorry… But do you have any idea where the school counsellor is?
Carla: Well, that would be me, (she smiles), I’m Carla Davis. I’m glad you’ve found me. I was afraid you might get lost. (She leads him to her office) So, how do you like Red Hill school? I imagine it must be rather scary?
I think it’s scary, it seems so big! Any time I try to get anywhere I get so lost.
(Jeff smiles weakly)
Carla: It’s hard for me because I’m new here. Today is only my second day of school. I don’t know anybody. Nobody knows me, the other teachers all look at me strangely. It’s hard for me to make friends with them because they already have their own friends.
Jeff: I know what you mean.
Carla: Maybe you can help me?
Jeff: Me, how can I help you? I’m the one who needs help!
Carla: Well, maybe we can help each other. What do you think?
Jeff: How?
Carla: Well, we’re both new kids at school, we can share our experiences and learn from each other?
Jeff: (smiles) Okay Miss Davis.
Carla: Jeff… If we’re going to be friends, I want you to call me Carla. Not Miss Davis.
(Jeff laughs)
Carla: Do you think Carla is a funny name?
Jeff: Oh, no! I’ve just never called a teacher by their first name before, that’s all.
Carla: But we’re friends. Friends don’t call each other Miss Davis and Mr Fishkin do they?
Jeff: No, Some people in my class call me fish face.
Carla: Have you made any friends?
Jeff: I sort of made a friend, but I don’t like him.
Carla: How can he be your friend if you don’t like him?
Jeff: Nobody likes him. At first I felt sorry for him because no body wanted to sit next to him. The teacher said it in front of the whole class, ‘nobody likes sitting there’. It was like he wasn’t even there. It’s bad enough when anyone says something like that, but a teacher?
Carla: That must’ve hurt his feelings?
Jeff: No, he just smiled.
Carla: He may have been smiling on the outside, but do you think he was really smiling on the inside?
Jeff: I don’t know. I guess not. That’s why I tried to be friends with him. I told him I liked sitting next to him, but then he said, ‘give me some money or I’ll spit on you’.
Carla: What did you do?
Jeff: I gave him some money, well he took it from my bag. but I didn’t want him to spit on me so I let him. But then later he said ‘I’ll give you your money back to be my friend’ so I took it. I mean it was my money! So does that mean I have to be his friend even though he didn’t really give me anything?
Carla: What do you think friendship is?
Jeff: I don’t know. I mean, I know what it is, but I cant explain it.
Carla: Is it something you could buy? Could you go to the shops and get a bottle of milk, some eggs and a friend?
(Jeff Laughs)
Jeff: No. So does that mean I don’t have to be friends with him?
Carla: I won’t tell you what to do, all I can do is help you to think for yourself.
Jeff: I don’t even know if Bradley wants to be my friend
Today at break we hung around together, but we didn’t do anything. He acted like I wasn’t there.
Then, when it started to rain he ran around trying to push little kids into the mud.
Carla: Could you share your feeling with him?
That’s the real way to build up a friendship: by talking and being honest with each other. Like the way we’re talking and being honest now. That’s why we’re friends.
Jeff: But Bradley’s different than you and me
Carla: I think you’ll find that if you’re nice to Bradley, he’ll be nice to you. If you’re honest and friendly with him, he’ll b honest and friendly to you.
Jeff: Are you going to see Bradley too?
Carla: Yes, later today.
Jeff: can you help him?
Carla: I don’t know.
Jeff: I hope you can. I think he needs help more than me. You won’t tell him anything I’ve said will you?
Carla: No, that’s one of my most important rules. I never repeat anything anyone tells me here.
Jeff: never?
(She shakes her head)
Jeff: What about to other teachers?
Carla: Nope
Jeff: Nobody?
Carla: Nobody.
Jeff: ( takes a deep breath) Here goes, on the way here, I got a little lost and, um, accidentally went into the girl’s bathroom. (covers face with his hands)
LIGHTING CHANGE AND SCHOOL BELL CHANGES INTO-
Scene 6:
(Bradley is sitting on the floor eating his lunch other school children sit and talk)
Jeff: Hi.
Bradley: Oh, it’s you.
Jeff: What are you eating?
Bradley: Peanut budder sandidge… Wha’ bou’ you?
Jeff: Tuna.
Bradley: I hate tuna
Jeff: My mum makes it good. She chops apples in it.
Bradley: I hate apples.
(the scene then moves over to Colleen, Melinda and Lori)
Colleen: Oh my gosh, there he is! Look, there, it’s him!
Lori: Where?
Colleen: Don’t look at him, he’s right there, sitting next to Bradley Chalkers.
Lori: Bradley Chalkers, I think I’m going to throw up.
Colleen: (whispering) Don’t look!
Bradley: So what did the counsellor say to you?
Jeff: Nothing
Bradley: Is she mean and ugly?
Jeff: No, she was nice, you’ll like her.
Bradley: Me? I’m not going to see her, I haven’t done anything wrong.
Jeff: She helps you solve your problems.
Bradley: I don’t have any problems.
(Bradley bites into an apple)
Jeff: I thought you hated apples?
Bradley: That wasn’t an apple, it was a banana.
(Jeff notices the girls staring at him and blushes)
Melinda: Ooh I think he sees you
(Lori laughs)
Lori: C’mon lets go talk to him.
Colleen: No, please don’t go!
Bradley: What’s the matter?
Jeff: Uh, nothing. So, did I miss anything in class.
Bradley: Nope
(the girls giggle)
Lori: Colleen thinks you’re cute.
Jeff: Who?
Melinda: What’s your name?
Lori: Colleen wants to know.
(Lori and Melinda giggle again)
Bradley: He doesn’t have a name!
Lori: Eew, Bradley Chalkers! (holds her nose)
Bradley: Lori Loudmouth.
Melinda: We weren’t talking to you Bradley.
Bradley: Get out of here or I’ll punch your face in.
Melinda: You wouldn’t hit a girl
Bradley: Yeah, that’s what you think.
Melinda: We only wanted to know his name…
Lori & Melinda: And what he was doing in the girls bathroom!
(they laugh and run back to Colleen)
Bradley: You went into the girl’s bathroom?
Jeff: So what! Carla says-
Bradley: Me too! I go all the time! I like to make to scream.
SCHOOL BELL (Everybody leaves the stage leaving Bradley on his own)
Scene 7:
Teacher: Bradley Chalkers! What are you doing out of class!
Bradley: I got a hall pass!
Teacher: Let me see it.
(Bradley shows her the pass)
Where are you going?
Bradley: Library, to get a book.
Teacher: Ok.
Narration: He had lied, he wasn’t even allowed in the library.
( Bradley walks to Carla’s office, she is reading a book.)
Carla: Hello Bradley (she looks up) I’m Carla Davis. It’s a pleasure to see you today. (She holds out her hand, Bradley ignores it)
Carla: Aren’t you going to shake my hand?
Bradley: No, you’re too ugly.
Carla: I appreciate you coming to see me.
Bradley: I had to, Mrs Ebbel made me.
Carla: Well, I am still glad you came.
Bradley: I meant to go to the library, I came here by accident.
Carla: Oh, I don’t believe in accidents.
Bradley: You don’t believe in accidents?!
What about when you spill your milk?
Carla: Do you like milk?
Bradley: No, I hate it!
Carla: So, then maybe you spill it on purpose, you just think it’s an accident.
Bradley: (Stares at the floor) I don’t drink milk, I drink coffee.
Bradley: Your desk is messy.
Carla: I know. I don’t like clean things. Clean places are boring and depressing. They remind me of hospitals.
Bradley: Don’t you get in trouble?
Carla: Why should I?
(silence)
Bradley: I didn’t do anything wrong.
Carla: Nobody said you did.
Bradley: Well how come I have to be here then?
Carla: I was hoping you’d like it here. I was hoping we could be friends. Do you think we can?
Bradley: No.
Carla: Why not?
Bradley: Because I don’t like you.
Carla: I like you. I can like you can’t I? You don’t have to like me.
(Bradley squirms)
Carla: I was also hoping you’d be able to teach me things.
Bradley: You’re the teacher, not me.
Carla: So, that doesn’t matter. A teacher can often learn a lot more from students than a student can learn from a teacher. What do you want to teach me?
Bradley: (thinks) The elephant’s the biggest animal in the world, but it’s afraid of mice.
Carla: I wonder why that is.
Bradley: Because, if a mouse ran up an elephant’s trunk, it would get stuck and then the elephant wouldn’t be able to breathe and so it would die. That’s how most elephants die.
Carla: I see. Thank you for sharing that with me, you’re a very good teacher.
Narration: Carla actually seemed to believe him. He liked this.
Narration: For the rest of the meeting she believed everything he said.
Bradley: My parents only feed me dog food.
Narration: And when she asked him how it tasted he said…
Bradley: Delicious.
Bradley: Oh, and last night the president called me.
Carla: What did you talk about?
Bradley: Hats, (Carla looks puzzled) I asked him why he didn’t wear one.
(Carla Smiles)
Carla: Ok then Bradley, if you would like to draw me a picture, then I would be very grateful, some thing to remember this extraordinary conversation?
( He scribbles on the paper with a black crayon.)
Carla: Very nice.
Bradley: It’s a picture of night time.
Carla: It’s very good, may I have it?
Bradley: What for?
Carla: To hang up on my wall.
Bradley: You mean here?
Carla: Yes.
Bradley: No, it’s mine… You could make me give it to you?
Carla: No I couldn’t
Bradley: Sure you can, teachers do things like that all the time.
(Shakes her head)
Carla: I enjoyed our visit very much, thank you for sharing so much with me. ( holds out hand)
(He ignores her hand and rips up his picture as he walks away. Carla packs away her things)
FADE TO BLACKOUT
Scene 8:
Jeff: What do you wanna do?
Bradley: Nothing… Did the counsellor say anything stupid today?
Jeff: I like her. She said that I can like her even if you don’t. We can still be friends, we don’t have to agree on everything. Friendships are stronger when you have opinions to share.
Bradley: Did you tell her I hated her?
(Jeff nods)
Jeff: She didn’t believe me.
Bradley: She’s We-eird I’m not going to see her any more.
Jeff: She says you don’t have to, it’s your decision.
Bradley: That’s just one of her tricks
(Robbie enters holding a basket ball he throws it to another boy)
Robbie: Alright Fish nose.
Jeff: (to Bradley) Maybe they’ll let us play? Let’s ask them. ( Jeff goes forward)
Bradley: No ,I don’t want to… Oh look out it’s those stupid girls again.
Lori: Hello Jeff
Jeff: Hello
Melinda: Hi
Jeff: Hi
Colleen: Hi Jeff
Jeff: Hi
(the girls walk off)
Bradley: Why do you always say hi?
Jeff: I can’t help it.
Bradley: Let’s go beat them up? Girls are easy to beat up, you hit them once and they cry and run away.
Jeff: Not now.
Bradley: Why?
Jeff: Everyone will see us and we’ll get into trouble.
Bradley: You’re right, we’ll do it after school.
Jeff: I can’t, I have to do homework.
Bradley: Do you like doing homework?
Jeff: I don’t mind it too much.
Bradley: Do you think, if I do my homework, will Mrs Ebbel give me a gold star sticker?
Jeff: I’m not sure. She might!
Why don’t you come to my house after school, we could do our homework. I could help yo- You can help me if I don’t understand.
Bradley: Okay.
(Jeff smiles)
Bradley: But first we’ll beat up those girls (Jeff’s smile fades and they walk off together)
Narration: Just before the end of lunch someone knocked very gently on Carla’s door
Carla: Come in.
Colleen: Are you Mrs Davis?
Carla: Yes but I prefer to be called Carla.
Colleen: Do I have to tell you my name?
Carla: Not if you don’t want to-
Colleen: Colleen Verigold… I don’t know who to invite to my party.
Carla: You want me to tell you who to invite?
Colleen: Lori says you’re good at solving problems?
Carla: I just help her think for herself.
Colleen: I don’t know what to think! But if I invite Jeff I’ll need to invite another boy. I can’t invite Bradley.
Carla: Look, I need to give you a form for your parents to sign to say that you have permission to talk to me.
Colleen: That’s dumb!
Carla: It isn’t, some parents don’t want their children talking to adults they don’t know.
Colleen: (reluctantly) Okay. ( shuffles out)
Lori: Not Bradley, please tell me you didn’t invite Bradley?
Colleen: I didn’t invite anyone yet.
LIGHT CHANGE AS BRADLEY WALKS ON:
Scene 9:
Narration: Bradley was excited.
Narration: After school, he was going to Jeff’s house, going to Jeff’s house to do homework.
Narration: But the more he thought about the word homework, the less he liked the idea of doing it.
Bradley: Homework… Work that you do at home…
(Jeff walks onstage with his backpack)
Bradley: Hey
Jeff: Hi.
Bradley: Right, let’s go beat up those girls. We’ll wait till they come out of their lesson and we’ll sneak up behind them.
Jeff: …who?
Bradley: Those girls. We have to beat them up so they won’t say hello to you.
Jeff: We should probably go-
Bradley: LOOK! There they are.
(Bradley putts a finger to his lips)
Lori: Eww, Bradley Chalkers.
Bradley: Look who it is, the ugliest girl in school.
Melinda: Grow up Bradley.
Bradley: Make me.
Colleen: Hello Jeff.
Bradley: Stop saying hello to him!
Lori: It’s a free country.
Jeff: Hey..
Melinda: Now leave us alone Bradley.
Bradley: NO! (Shoves Melinda, She shoves him back and he falls over.)
Melinda: You started it.
Bradley: I’ll punch your face in.
(Melinda punches him, everyone stares in shock)
Bradley: Four against one, no fair. (runs off fighting tears)
BLACKOUT.
Scene 10:
(Claudia, Mrs C and Bradley are talking to Mrs E)
Mrs C: Well Bradley told me that Jeff Fishkin , was it? Punched him.
Bradley: Yes that’s right.
Claudia: (under her breath) tell tale.
Bradley: Shut up or I’ll give you 3 black eyes.
(Claudia laughs)
BELL RINGS.
Mrs E: Right, I’ll make sure somebody has a word with him.
Mrs C: Thank you.
(Bradley covers his eye as everyone leaves, Jeff comes in last)
(Claudia and Mrs C leave)
Mrs E: Right, home time. Off you go.
mrs c: Are you walking home with us?
Bradley: No, I’m waiting for someone.
Jeff: You wouldn’t believe it. I just got took to the office, they thought I was the one who gave you the black eye!
Bradley: What did you tell them?
Jeff: I told them that I was your best friend.
Bradley: Teachers are stupid.
(They walk outside)
Jeff: I have to go to the bathroom
Bradley: Which one?
Jeff: Boy’s
Oh okay.
( Jeff is stopped by three boys)
Robbie: Ey! Jeff.
Jeff: Me?
Brain: Jeff! Did you really give Bradley a black eye?
Curtis: Way to go Jeff… Wanna play basket ball with us?
Jeff: …um, okay sure (Smiles, they throw the basket ball to him and they run off)
Narration: Bradley waited and waited…
(Jeff comes back on with the other boys laughing)
Bradley: Hey Jeff!
Robbie: Get lost you monster.
Jeff: Yeah, chicken. (They laugh)
Bradley: (shouts after them) Why would anybody want to play basket ball! (to himself) It’s the worst game in the world.
Narration: Everything returned to normal. He hated everyone, everyone hated him. It was how he liked it.
( Bradley walks off. Carla’s office is set up)
Jeff: Hi Carla, I don’t need to see you anymore, I have lots of new friends now.
Carla: Well done , I am very proud of you.
Jeff: I’m not friends with Bradley any more. I gave him a black eye!
(Carla looks confused)
Jeff: He was annoying me, so I hit him… But anyway, now I have lots of friends. So I don’t think I need you anymore.
Carla: Well, feel free, any time you need to talk, I will be here.
( He walks out, bumping into Bradley coming in, they evil each other)
Bradley: Hi. Colleen says that she can’t come to see you because her parents don’t want your advice.
Carla: Oh, okay…But what happened to your-
Bradley: I punched myself in the eye.
Carla: Did it hurt?
Bradley: NO! Nobody can hurt me.
Carla: Why did you hit your self?
Bradley: Because I hate him.
Carla: Who?
Bradley: Everyone.
Carla: Bradley, you do like yourself don’t you?
Maybe you say you don’t like anyone else because you don’t like yourself?
Bradley: I like myself!
Carla: What do you like about yourself?
Bradley: I don’t want to talk, talking makes my eye hurt.
Carla: How are you doing at school?
Bradley: FINE. The tests are easy. I just get them wrong on purpose.
Carla: I think you would like good grades really? You’re afraid to try, because you think that even if you did you’d still fail.
Bradley: I’m not afraid of anything.
Carla: You’re afraid of yourself.
Bradley: I can’t talk, my eye hurts too much.
Carla: Okay… Would you like to draw a picture?
(Bradley nodds, he starts drawing)
Bradley: It’s a monster… it has a black eye too.(pause)
Carla, can monster’s be good?
Carla: Of course they can.
Bradley: But how does a monster stop being a monster?
Carla: Firstly, he has to realise that he isn’t a monster himself. That’s the first step.
Bradley: My monster’s a movie star on his planet. Everyone loves him.
Carla: He’s very handsome.
Bradley: Would you like it? I mean, I don’t want it anyway.
Carla: I’d love it. I shall stick it up right now.
Bradley: Okay I have to go now.
Carla: Thank you Bradley, see you next week.
(Bradley waits)
Carla: Yes Bradley? ( Her eyes light up and she holds out her hand) I very much enjoyed your visit Bradley, thank you for sharing so much with me.
(Bradley timidly shakes her hand and then quickly walks out of her office)
Scene 11:
Lori: Oi Jeff! Colleen wants a word.
Jeff: Quit bothering me.
Lori: Colleen just wanted to ask you-
Melinda: Let Colleen ask him.
Colleen: Would… woud you like to come to my… umm.
Jeff: I don’t want her asking me anything!
Lori: Ooooh, Jeff got angry, Jeff got angry, Jeff got angry.
Jeff: Shut up!
Melinda: No you!
(They raise their fists)
Melinda: Come on then.
Jeff: Go on hit me then.
Lori: Hit him then!
Melinda: You had this coming.
(Hit’s him)
BLACKOUT
(Jeff screams in pain)
End of act one.
Act 2:
Scene 1:
Carla: Bradley?
Bradley: (holds out his hand) It’s a pleasure seeing you today.
You wont believe what’s just happened. You won’t belieeeve it.
Okay, I’ll tell you.
Carla: I was hoping you would.
Bradley: Today, Jeff came into school with his eye all blue and black, like mine was. But everyone seemed to think it was me who’d given him a black eye. Jeff and all his friends were chasing me.
Carla: Did you give him the black eye?
Bradley: No… I can’t even beat up a girl. Melinda Birch Beat me up. Do you know her?
Carla: No
Bradley: You’d like her. She’s nice. I was going to hide in the library. But your office was nearer. You can’t even talk in the library!
Carla: Yes I know.
Bradley: Isn’t it amazing!
Carla: What’s that?
Bradley: All the different books… I wanted to take a book out. But Mrs Wilcott won’t let me. She thinks I’ll rip it up.
Carla: I know you wouldn’t do that. And after a while Mrs Wilcott will too.
Bradley: I’m trying to be good, but nobody will give me a chance.
Carla: They will, It just takes time.
Bradley: Do you ever play chess on your t-shirt?
( Carla laughs loudly)
Bradley: I like your t-shirt.
Carla: I like your socks…I hate socks that match. Hey, I’ve just thought. I know something you could do, and everyone would notice you were being good... Mrs Ebbel, your mum...
Bradley: What?
Carla: Homework.
Bradley: (pauses, he looks upset and covers his face) I can’t.
Carla: You can! You are most certainly clever enough. You can do anything you want to do.
Bradley: No, I can’t I can’t?
Carla: It’s not that difficult. I can help you?
Bradley: (Sobbing) I can’t.
Carla: (wipes his tears) Why can’t you?
Bradley: I don’t know what page we’re on.
Carla: (Whispering) Oh Bradley… Come here.
(They hug and Carla kisses him on the cheek)
BLACKOUT.
Scene 2:
( The children are milling around. Miss Ebbel is at the front.)
Narration: He’d done it. He’d done the homework.
Narration: It had been hard. But he’d done it. He was so proud. He had done his maths homework. Homework, him, Bradley?
( Bradley inhales deeply and walks towards Mrs Ebbel.)
Narration: Suddenly Bradley became very nervous. More and more nervous with every step. What if he’s got all the questions wrong? What if Carla hadn’t heard Mrs Ebbel right when she’s asked her what the homework was and he’d done the wrong thing.
Narration: His heart pounded and his homework shook in his hand.
Mrs E: Do you want something Bradley?
(Bradley looks at the sheet, puts it behind his back, rips it and scrunches it in his pocket. Bradley looks confused.)
Bradley: may I have your permission to go and see the councillor?
(Mrs E nods and Bradley goes centre stage, everybody else fades off and Carla appears behind him.)
Carla: Why did you rip it up?
Bradley: ( To himself) Why did I rip it up…
Bradley: Why… I don’t know why. I guess I was scared I got it wrong. You’re not angry are you?
Carla: (Giggles) Course not.
Bradley: I promise, I am going to do all my homework from now on.
Carla: That’s wonderful.
Bradley: Mrs Ebbel wants everyone to do a book report. That’s the next homework I’ll do.
Carla: Great.
Bradley: I don’t have a book ( looks upset)
Carla: Right, not to worry. She looks in her desk, here.
Bradley: What is it?
Carla: It’s a book. You’ll like it.
BELL RINGS.
Bradley: Do you want to have lunch with me?
Carla: I’d love to. But I can’t. I have a meeting with the school board. Enjoy the book. It’s my favourite.
(Bradley leaves reading the book, engrossed, he sits on the floor)
Narration: Bradley loved the book, it was funny, and it made him think about things. One thing was for certain, he couldn’t seem to put it down.
Mrs C: Oh, your reading. That’s good.
Bradley: It’s a good book.
Mrs C: I just got this letter from the concerned parents organisation. There’s some sort of problem with Miss Davis, your school counsellor.
(Bradley looks worried)
Mrs C: Do you have any complaints?
Claudia: Oh no, Bradley’s in love with her, she’s all he talks about… Look mum, he’s blushing, that proves he loves her.
Mrs C: It doesn’t prove anything. Stop teasing your brother.
Claudia: Where did you get the book Bradley?
Bradley: … Carla gave it to me-
Claudia: Carla got it for him!
Mrs C: I don’t care where he got the book, I’m just glad to see he’s reading it.
Claudia: The only reason he’s reading it is because his teacher gave it him. And he lurves her.
Bradley: She’s my counsellor not my teacher.
( Claudia laughs)
Bradley: (shouting) I am not in love with her!
Claudia: When are you going to marry her Bradley?
Bradley: Shut up! ( Claudia runs out giggling)
Mrs C: So, you haven’t got any complaints about her then? No? Good. I’m glad you like-
Claudia: Love.
Mrs C: I’m glad you like your counsellor.
(Walks out)
Narration: Bradley thought. If the Concerned Parents association found out Carla had kissed him, surely they’d fire her. It would all be his fault…
( movement sequence?)
Scene 3:
Bradley: Carla?
Carla: Yes Bradley?
Bradley: Can we have lunch together today?
(Carla suddenly becomes somewhat sad, not her normal self)
Carla: Oh, I’m sorry we can’t. I have to go to the head’s office.
Bradley: (Joking) What’s the matter, you get in trouble?
(Carla shrugs and walks out, Bradley sits down and carries on reading)
Robbie: Hey look, it’s reading.
Curtis: Didn’t know he knew how to read.
Brian: He can’t read.
(They Laugh)
Jeff: Whacha’reading?
(Bradley closes the book)
Brian: Give me the book, you can’t read anyway.
Bradley: No! ( holds up his fist)
Robbie: (backing away) Jeff! Come teach this idiot a lesson.
( Jeff steps up him and Bradley are now in the middle of all the boys)
Brian: Give me your book so you can fight him properly…I won’t break it. ( Bradley hands it to him)
Curtis: C’mon, get him Jeff.
Brian: Give him another black eye!
(Pause)
Bradley: Hello
Jeff: Hello Bradley.
( They hug, Robbie finally walks over to Bradley and puts his arm round him.)
Robbie: Wanna play Basket ball with us after school?
Bradley: I’m not very good…
Curtis: None of us are!
( Robbie throws him the ball)
Robbie: Come on then (smiles) Let’s go.
( Robbie, Curtis and Brian walk off, Jeff and Bradley follow behind slowly)
Bradley: How did you get your black eye?
Jeff: … Melinda
Bradley: (chuckles) She’s strong
Jeff: ( laughs) You can say that agiain!
Bradley: Oh! My book Brian Still has it.
Jeff: Oh ok, I’ll see you after school for basket ball I have to go somewhere.
(they smile at eachother)
Scene 4:
( Set for Carla’s office)
Jeff: Hi carla, I… oh.
( Carla is talking to Colleen.)
Carla: So, you two know each other? Come and join us if you like.
Jeff: Mrs Ebbel doesn’t know I’m here.
Colleen: I’m not meant to be here either… Jeff, I’m sorry for saying hello to you when you didn’t like it.
Jeff: That’s okay. I wouldn’t even mind if a monster said hello to me, I’d probably still say hello back.
(Colleen laughs)
Carla: Why Wouldn’t you say hello back? If you didn’t say hello back I think you’d have to wonder who was really the monster.
Jeff: Collen, you can say hello to me whenever you like.
Colleen: Jeff, would you like to come to my birthday party next Sunday?
Jeff: Yes please!
Colleen: You’re the only boy so far. I’ll invite one more… I think I know what to do.
BELL RINGS.
(All the children come onstage with their bags.)
(Colleen takes Bradley aside)
Colleen: Bradley… Would you like to go to my party? Jeff will be there.
Bradley: (nods violently) Yes, yes please.
Colleen: Good ( Goes back over to her friends)
Curtis: Bradley! Come on, you playing?
( The boys go offstage)
Melinda: is he coming?
Lori: Oh my god!
Melinda: It’ll be fun, Bradley’s not the same as he was. He’s really nice.
BLACKOUT.
Scene 5:
Bradley: Hello Carla, It’s a pleasure to see you today, I appreciate coming to see you (shake hands)
Carla: The pleasure’s all mine… So what’s new?
Bradley: What’s new with you?
Carla: Wow, nobody’s ever asked me that before.
Bradley: Can’t I ask you?
Carla: Of course you can… Hmm, let’s think. Oh, I bought a new shower curtain.
Bradley: What colour?
Carla: Yellow. My old one was a horrible brown and-
Bradley: Colleen asked me to her party! Jeff’s invited to, we’re the only boys. We play basketball together and all the other guys like me to now.
It’s all because of you’re help!
Carla: You did it Bradley, not me. (Bradley looks upset and starts crying)
Bradley: No you helped me.
Carla: Bradley. Bradley, what’s wrong?
Bradley: I’ve never been to a birthday party before, I don’t know what to do… Do I have to bring my own chair?
Carla: Why would?-
Bradley: For musical chairs? Oh I don’t know. I don’t know any of the games.
Carla: Bradley, Jeff and Colleen won’t stop being your friends just because you do something wrong at her party.
Bradley: Do I have to bring her a present?
Carla: You don’t have to do anything. Colleen invited you because she wants you there, to help her celebrate her birthday.
Bradley: What should I give her?
Carla: A gift from the heart.
Bradley: A shower curtain?
(Carla giggles)
Carla: if it comes from the heart.
(Carla holds out her hand)
Carla: I enjoyed your visit very much. Thank you for sharing so much with me.
Bradley: (smiles) The pleasure was mine.
(Bradley walks out and mimes opening a door to his house)
Bradley: Good afternoon mum. (Bradley gets out a peiceof paper and starts writing on it.)
Mrs C: What are you doing?
Bradley: my book report, I’m nearly finished.
Mrs C: Well done Bradley, you’re really trying hard.
(She hugs him)
Oh, Bradley, I’ve had another phone call from the concerned parents society, they want me to make sure you think that Miss Davis your counsellor is doing her job properly?
(Bradley nods enthusiastically, him mum leaves. Bradley carry’s on writing his report and then-)
Bradley: Finished!
LIGHT CHANGE
Carla: (Coming onstage with a packed box of her stuff) What’s that Bradley? (She goes over to him and starts reading)
Carla: Absolutely wonderful!
Bradley: Is it good?
Carla: You’ve captured every essence of the book… I’d like you to keep the book. It’s my present to you.
Bradley: I thought it was one of your favourite books?
Carla: It is. That’s why I want to give it to you. If I didn’t like it myself, it wouldn’t be much of a present would it?
Bradley: I wish I could give you a present.
Carla: You did.
Bradley: Did I? What was it?
Carla: The book report.
Bradley: But I have to give it to Mrs Ebbel.
Carla: No, it makes me very happy that you did such a wonderful job on it, that’s the present you gave me.
Bradley: Really?
Carla: it’s was the best present I’ve ever gotten.
( Carla’s eyes begin to water)
Bradley: Are you crying.
Carla: I have something to tell you Bradley. I hope you can listen to me without feeling scared or upset.
Narration: instantly Bradley felt very scared and upset.
Carla: Tomorrow is my last day at Red hill School.
Bradley: Huh?
Carla: I am so proud you’re a good boy now, your book report was excellent.
Bradley: You’re leaving?
Carla: I’ve been transferred. Colleens parents didn't like me talking to her without their permission, so they told the school... But I want to thank you Bradley. You’ve made my short stay here very special. I am so glad we got to know each other.
Bradley: You’re leaving?
Carla: We can still see each other, on Saturday I will-
Bradley: No, you can’t go. It’s not fair!
Carla: I have to.
Bradley: Will you stay if I’m rude and bad like before so you can stay make me good again?
Carla: You’re on your own now Bradley. ( She rights away tears) I know you’ll do wonderfully.
Bradley: it’s not fair! You tricked me!I HATE YOU!
Carla: I know you don’t mean that.
Bradley: I do, and I hate your stupid book. ( He throws the book at the floor and scrunches up the report, he sits down and cries)
Bradley: (sobbing) Go away I hate you.
Carla: I think it’s important we talk. That’s how friends solve their problems, they talk about them. That’s why we’ve become such good friends, we’ve learned to talk to each other.
Bradley: I’m not your friend, I’m not Jeff’s friend, I’m not going to Colleen’s party, I hate you!
Carla: Bradley, just listen. On Saturday I need someone to help me pack all of my things away. I would appreciate it very much if you’d help me? Then afterwards we could go to have lunch at a restaurant. Just us.
Narration: Bradley desperately wanted to hug her. But he couldn’t. He felt like his insides were being ripped apart.
Carla: it would be lots of fun, it would be a proper goodbye.
Bradley: (standing up and walking away)I have to go.
Carla: Maybe I’ll see you on Saturday. I should like that very much.
Narration: Bradley waited until the bell rang.
Narration: Then he went home, sick
BLACKOUT.
Scene 6:
(Bradley is sitting on the floor in the classroom)
Mrs E: Bradley.
Bradley: I went home sick yesterday… Call my mother if you don’t believe me.
Mrs E: I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your book report. It made me want to read the book.
Bradley: Huh?
Mrs E: Carla gave it to me yesterday.
Bradley: You gave me a gold star!
Narration: The star reminded him of Carla… He hated her.
BELL RINGS
Jeff: Hey Bradley!Want to play basket ball?
Oh, I said good bye to Carla this morning. She wanted to see you too…
( He walks past him)
Narration: Bradley didn’t want to play basketball atlunch, he didn’t want to do anything. He just wanted to be left alone.
(Bradley walks away)
Scene 7:
Narration: Before Bradley knew it, it was Saturday.
(Bradley is asleep)
Mr C: Bradley? I think we need a talk… Man to man.
Why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you? Maybe I can help?
Bradley: I have to go out. Mum Said have to go get some milk.
(Mr C nods, Bradley gets out of bed and Mr C gets Bradley’s coat for him, they start walking.)
Bradley: Dad? Can we stop off at school please?
(They walk up to the school and ring the bell)
Mrs E: Oh, hello Mr Chalkers, I think I have something for Bradley here (hands Bradley a letter)It’s from Carla.
“Dear Bradley,
I am sorry for hurting you. I didn’t mean to. If it makes it any better, you hurt me too when you didn’t come and see me on Friday or Saturday. I kept on hoping that I’d see your happy face walk throught the door.
I hope you didn’t mind that I gave your book report to Mrs Ebbel. It was too good to throw away.
I hope you went to Colleen’s Party. If you did I’m sure you enjoyed it. If you didn’t there will be lots more partys to go to. You are a very likeable, brilliant person. You will always be special to me.
It was a pleasure to know you.
I appreciated you coming to see me. Thank you for sharing so much with me.
I love you lots,
Carla
(Bradley runs and hugs his father so hard he almost knocks him over)
Narration: Bradley wanted to write a letter back to Carla. But he didn’t know what to say. The words simply hadn’t been invented yet…
BLACKOUT.
