Friends Getting on With Each Other
Playwriting, Prosper Fingal, May 2021
A Play by Glen, Stephen, Fergal, Claire, Darren, Sonya, Ruaidhri, John and Patrick
Jacinta, aged 18.
Is an actor and shopkeeper by profession, she’s a very nice woman, she doesn’t cook but she does like gardening.
She likes play-acting, she’s funny, and she likes to do practical jokes.
Paul, aged 19.
He has a good job, he’s a cool dude, he wears lovely ties sometimes dickie-bows, sunglasses and a cap on his head.
He likes to fix cars; he can take a laugh.
Alexa
She’s a machine and she talks to you. She likes to go for coffee with her friends. She talks like a robot or a radio.
Sinead
She’s a friend of Alexa and Jacinta.
Our two characters are trying to decide what they want to cook for dinner, but they can’t agree on what to cook.
The action takes place in the kitchen. Jacinta and Paul are on holidays in Spain. Paul needed a break from his work as a mechanic. Jacinta needed a break from her work as an actor and shopkeeper.
Act 1
Scene 1
JACINTA
What will we cook Paul?
PAUL
Chilli Con Carne with rice.
JACINTA
Can we cook something else please?
PAUL
Shall we cook spaghetti bolognese with pasta?
JACINTA
Can we cook something else?
PAUL
I don’t know as I have already recommended chilli con carne.
JACINTA
We can do some potatoes in the garden for dinner.
PAUL
We could cook potatoes and chops.
JACINTA
That sounds good!
ALEXA
We could have broccoli, and carrots and cabbage as well.
PAUL
That sounds delicious!
JACINTA
I’m going for a meal and a few drinks with a friend – Sinead.
PAUL
I’m hungry too – what about me?
ALEXA
Go out and meet up with good friends and join them and have a good evening.
Scene 2
Jacinta meets up with her friend Sinead on the beach.
JACINTA
Would you like a drink Sinead?
SINEAD
Yes please.
JACINTA
Oh yeah! I’d like a bottle of wine and a Baileys.
SINEAD
Let’s have the wine with our dinner.
JACINTA
We’ll have the Baileys after.
The wine came first before the dinner. All of a sudden there was lightning and rain. They had to go inside to the restaurant.
SINEAD
Let’s get into the restaurant.
JACINTA
We have to hurry.
When SINEAD and JACINTA go back into the restaurant, they see PAUL and ALEXA sitting at a table. ALEXA is an electronic device, but she has hair – a ‘hot robot’!
SINEAD
I love her a lot!
PAUL
I love you SINEAD.
Alexa spoke to everybody. Alexa speaks like a programmed robot.
ALEXA
It’s good for you to meet up with different people in the community and go out.
PAUL
Let’s go out for a walk in the fresh air.
JACINTA
Yes, you can.
SINEAD
It’s too late to go for a walk! I’m very annoyed!
JACINTA
Alexa is only a radio – don’t be getting so upset Sinead.
SINEAD
Alexa’s getting too much attention!
PAUL
Sinead is not too happy about Alexa – she’s a ‘hot bot’.
ALEXA
Go out for a drink and meet up with different people in the community.
Scene 3
A drive-in movie night. The movie is the Jungle Book. All the characters are at the movie. They are on a bus.
JACINTA
Where is the snacks?
SINEAD
I’d love to have everything… coffee … magnum …popcorn …hot-dogs …
PAUL
We need to get the tickets and I’d like to have Ferrero Rocher and a cappuccino … a latte … and a glass of wine!
ALEXA
Give it up!!!
Scene 4
There is an alarm sound. They had to evacuate the building. They feel ashamed because they had not been nice to each other – the fright brings them all together.
Sinead
I’m going to have a word with them all as there is going to be severe consequences!
Paul
I’m not happy.
Jacinta
I would love to go out for a cup of tea but we don’t have enough money to go out.
Alexa
To everybody
Hiya – how are you? I hope you are doing well.
Paul
I hope everybody’s okay.
Security Guard
You are all banned from coming to the cinema but I might give you one more chance. You have to say sorry for setting off the alarm and you all have to shake hands.
Alexa
No, we are not shaking hands – Oh no … we’re not! Because we are not supposed to be shaking hands.
All of the group touch each other’s elbows. They have a chat. They are talking about what they might do in the future.
