1st Pres Kids Scene
Nick, Alice, Ashley, Jenny, Taylor, Bailey, Chandler, Shannon, Alex, Morgan, Rowan, Quinn, London, Billie, Riley, Lane, Hunter.
NICK: (entering) I can’t believe this is happening. When did you hear about it?
ALICE: I just found out.
NICK: It’s not fair.
ALICE: I know.
NICK: She didn’t even tell us.
ALICE: She didn’t want to hurt our feelings.
NICK: Well she did. This is awful.
ALICE: I know, I know. . . but there’s nothing we can do about it.
ASHLEY: (entering) Did you hear?
ALICE: We heard.
ASHLEY: It stinks.
NICK: Tell me about it.
ALICE: (looking offstage) Here she comes.
NICK: I’m leaving.
ALICE: (stopping him) Nick, stop that. She can’t help it.
JENNY: (entering) Hi guys . . . What’s . . . ? (but she sees that something’s wrong) . . . What’s going on?
NICK: Maybe you should tell us.
ASHLEY: Nick. . .
JENNY: What?
ALICE: We just heard. . . . I’m so sorry, Jenny.
JENNY: Oh. That.
NICK: How could you do this?
JENNY: It’s not my fault. My dad got transferred. It’s his job. He can’t help it.
NICK: So why do you have to go?
ASHLEY: Nick!
JENNY: I’m his daughter. That’s sort of required. When you move you take your family with you.
NICK: It’s not fair.
ALICE: I’m so sorry, Jenny.
JENNY: I feel terrible about it. My little sister’s been crying all morning.
ASHLEY: How about you?
JENNY: I’m still in shock. I’ve got so much. . . the school, our church group. . . all of you.
NICK: I wasn’t thinking about you. I’m sorry.
JENNY: That’s okay. I guess nobody’s very happy. . . but Dad says our new town is great. . . lots of kids. . . a good school. He says we’ll make friends in no time.
ALICE: Parents always say things like that.
JENNY: But this time. . . I hope they’re right.
SHANNON: (running in) JENNY! Is it true?
RILEY: (entering) There you are. I just heard that. . .
ASHLEY: We all heard.
BAILEY: (running in with all the others) Hey guys, did you hear that Jenny’s gonna leave us? (Bailey sees Jenny.) Oh. I guess you did.
JENNY: Stop making it sound like it’s my fault.
ALEX: So when are you leaving?
JENNY: Tomorrow.
NICK: What about our choir? You and I were singing the leads in the concert.
JENNY: Ashley’s a good singer. She can do it.
NICK: It won’t be the same.
ASHLEY: Thanks.
NICK: I mean. . .you know. . . without you, Jenny.
JENNY: You think this doesn’t bother me?
MORGAN: Can I have your bicycle?
ALICE: Morgan!
MORGAN: Just asking.
JENNY: (laughing) I think I’ll take my bike with me, Morgan.
TAYLOR: What about the cross-country team? You’re the best.
JENNY: I guess I’ll run somewhere else.
BAILEY: I’m gonna miss you. (runs to hug Jenny
JENNY: I’m going to miss you too, Bailey. I’ll miss all of you. But these things happen.
ASHLEY: Hey guys, we’re doing this all wrong. We’re just going to lose one friend. Jenny’s going to lose all of us. We need to think about her.
NICK: (walking away from the group) I can’t.
ASHLEY: Nick!
NICK: I’m sorry. . . but we’ve been friends ever since we were little kids. We play on the same ball teams. . .we go to the same camps . . . we’re in the same classes. Remember we had plans for the summer? We were gonna the swim team?
JENNY: Nick, I . . . I mean, what am I supposed to do? My family’s moving away. I can’t help that.
ASHLEY: Would you just think about Jenny for once?
NICK: I’m sorry. She’s. . . you know . . . my best friend.
JENNY: We’re still best friends, Nick.
NICK: It’s not the same.
JENNY: You know. . . I knew this was going to happen. And I mean it. . . it makes me feel kinda good that you all feel this way. . . Look. Can we sit down? Can we just sit down a minute?
LANE: I guess. Come on, guys. (they find places to sit, with Jenny at the center)
JENNY: I really hadn’t planned on saying goodbye this soon, but since you’re all here. . .
ALICE: If you’re gonna make me cry, I’m gonna leave.
ASHLEY: Alice, you’re a wimp.
ALICE: Thanks. What’s that in your eye?
ASHLEY: (wiping her eyes) I was just sweating. It’s hot in here.
CHANDLER: Sure you were.
JENNY: Look. . . I’ve thought about this. . . about how to say goodbye. I think I have and idea.
ROWAN: What idea?
JENNY: I don’t even know if it’ll work, but I hope so. Okay. Everybody comfy?
QUINN: (adjusting) I think I sat on something.
LONDON: That was me.
QUINN: Oh.
JENNY: Okay. Now everybody stay right here. (she stands)
BILLIE: Where are you going?
JENNY: I’ll be right back! (and she hurries off)
HUNTER: I have no idea what’s going on.
CHANDLER: I think all this is making her weird.
ALICE: (to Nick) Stop making her feel so bad, Nick.
NICK: Me? She’s the one who’s leaving?
ALICE: But just think how she feels.
TAYLOR: I wonder when she’s coming back.
JENNY: (popping in, holding a large shopping bag) Stop wondering! I’m back! (as she again takes her seat in the middle of the group)
MORGAN: What’s in the sack?
JENNY: I’ll show you.
MORGAN: Like Christmas!
JENNY: Not quite. (reaches into the sack) Billie. . . London… .this is for you. (hands them two Barbie dolls)
HUNTER: Your Barbies!
ALICE: Jenny, you can’t give away your Barbies!
JENNY: I’m getting pretty old for dolls, Alice. (pulling something from the bag, to Riley, Lane and Hunter) . . and you three get my favorite CD’s.
LONDON: Wow!
NICK: What are you doing, Jenny?
JENNY: Just leaving some farewell gifts. Quinn and Rowan, these are for you. . (handing them small trophies)
ROWAN and QUINN: Thanks!
ASHLEY: Jenny! What are you doing? Those are you trophies for cross-country.
JENNY: I know.
ASHLEY: But you won those! They’re special to you!
JENNY: And that’s why I’m giving them away. Who’d want a gift that wasn’t special? Alex, Morgan, and Chandler, these are for you. (hands them each a picture)
NICK: Those are the pictures of our concert! We all signed them. You can’t give those away, Jenny!
JENNY: Yes, in fact I can. I’ve enjoyed looking at them and now it’s time to pass them along to someone else.
NICK: She’s lost her mind.
ALICE: Nick!
JENNY: Excuse me while I continue to lose my mind. (handing things out all those other than Nick, Alice and Ashley)
NICK: The bracelets we made at camp! Jenny, you can’t give those away.
ASHLEY: Seriously, girl . . . are you feeling okay? I mean, it’s us who ought to be giving things to you.
JENNY: That reminds me, Ashley . . .(pulling something from the bag) . . .Here. This is for you.
ASHLEY: (looking at it) The cross you got for confirmation.
NICK: You can’t give away your cross! God’ll get mad!
JENNY: God has more crosses, Nick. And Alice, this is for you . . .
ALICE: (staring at it) Your friendship ring. No way! Jenny, your grandma gave you that! I can’t take that.
JENNY: Yes you can, Alice. And you will. You’re a very special friend to me and I want to make sure you never forget me. (looking around the group) I’ve given you all something very special. . . something very precious to me . . . so you’ll remember me when I’m gone.
(Nick gets up and walks some distance away. . .upset. . . not looking at Jenny)
ALICE: What’s the matter, Nick?
NICK: Nothing.
JENNY: Nick? (he doesn’t answer) Nick?
NICK: I don’t want anything from you, Jenny. Don’t give me anything.
ALICE: Come on, Nick. Lighten up.
NICK: Just say goodbye then . . . I don’t know. . . just say goodbye.
JENNY: (walks over to where Nick is standing, talking to his back) Remember the cave?
ASHLEY: Huh?
JENNY: Nick, remember the cave back behind your house where we used to play?
NICK: (a beat, then) Yeah. Yeah, I remember.
JENNY: And remember what we’d sneak into the cave?
ALICE: What? I didn’t know about this.
JENNY: That’s because it was our secret place. Remember what we’d sneak out of your mom’s refrigerator?
NICK: Twinkies. . .
JENNY: . . .and?
NICK: And chocolate milk. We’d sneak Twinkies and chocolate milk.
JENNY: I’m glad you remembered. (she moves to her bag and removes a package of Twinkies and a small carton of chocolate milk) I have something for you.
ASHLEY: Boy, he got ripped off.
ALICE: Ashley!
ASHLEY: Sorry.
JENNY: I want you to remember, Nick. (he turns and takes the Twinkie and the milk) Every time you eat or drink these things I want you to remember me.
ALICE: But it’s so simple.
JENNY: Yes. Yes, it is. It’s so simple. So simple that you’ll do it again and again. . . to remember me.
ALICE: I don’t get it.
NICK: (a long beat, then) I do. Thanks, Jenny.
JENNY: Sometimes a memory’s not enough. . . Sometimes we need something real . . .something we can hold in our hands to remember the things we love.
ALICE: But Jenny, you gave away the best stuff you had. . . the most important things, and . . .
JENNY: . . . and what would it have meant to you unless I gave you my very best?
LONDON: (looking off, then) Jenny! Your mom’s at the door.
JENNY: Oh darn. So quick. I wish I had time to hug you all.
NICK: Then I’ll stand in for all of us. (he hugs Jenny)
JENNY: (moving toward the door, stopping at the exit) . . . don’t forget . . . Remember me. (she exits)