Writer’s Block

By Breic (2018)

Setting: A small room; 3 chairs at a table. There are 3 people sitting in these chairs. There’s an overflowing waste bin in the corner of the room.

Characters:

    Lucy - friend of Thomas, casual clothes.

    Thomas- Main attempted writer, a jacket over casual clothes

    John- friend of Lucy; doesn’t really know Thomas, casual clothes

    Examiner - Proctor of Writer’s Contest

SCENE ONE

Thomas sits with his head in his hands. Lucy is pacing in a circle around him.

THOMAS: [groans] How can I ever get to move forward with you pacing around me?

LUCY [irritated]: Relax! Maybe if you could forward in the first place, we wouldn’t be in this situation! [Lucy stops and sighs.] The deadline for the Young Writers of Ireland Contest is in 15 minutes, and you simply don’t have enough. You need to focus...[Lucy spaces out for a moment.] And I may just have an idea. Focus! [Lucy begins pacing again, slowly speeding up] There are so many sources around, on how to focus, on how to relax properly!

JOHN: Maybe you should tone it down a little Luc-

LUCY: SILENCE! I am off to prepare!

Lucy exits stage right. A moment of silence.

JOHN: So, uh…How’s your day been?

THOMAS: [sighs] …It’s been alright, I suppose. There are worse things that I could be doing. I think that Lucy’s getting a bit manic about this tho-

Lucy enters stage right, carrying a tea (water).

LUCY: Now then, a nice cup of tea will do well, surely? [Lucy smiles sweetly]

THOMAS: [slightly disturbed] O…kay. [Thomas sips the tea (water)] Wow, this is actually quite good. I suppose I should get to work then, shouldn’t I? [Thomas sets the tea down next to the edge of the table]

JOHN: Thomas, you should probably-

Thomas knocks the tea (water) over onto himself. Thomas screams, as if it were very hot.

Lucy: NO! Get yourself cleaned up quickly!

Thomas takes off his jacket, panicked

LUCY: Alright, time for Plan B! [Lucy gives earbuds to Thomas] Music! Many people, including myself, are helped greatly by this wonderful little thing!

Thomas puts earbuds in. A moment of silence. Thomas starts humming to the tune of “Africa” by Toto.

THOMAS: [singing] It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you! There’s nothing that a 100 men or more could never do!

LUCY: Stop, Stop, STOP! [Lucy pulls the earbuds out.] Well, we’re on my last fall-back plan! I hope it’s worth it…[Lucy turns on rain sounds] White noise, the joy of many. I just hope this works.

Lucy looks down at her phone. Thomas looks down at his page for a moment and then slumps. John heads this and looks at Lucy.

JOHN: Uh, Lucy?

LUCY: [Looks up] THOMAS!

Thomas looks up, bewildered

LUCY: I can’t believe how hard it is to work with you! Every time you-

Examiner enters stage right. Thomas, Lucy, and John look at him with wide eyes.

EXAMINER: Paper is due now.

Seinfeld theme plays.