The Election 2016: Trump vs. Hillary by Elizabeth A. Mathieu
This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent
ACT 1
Scene 1
SETTING: Living room of Randy and Debra Mason’s home is Stage Right, the Kitchen is set back on Stage Left, with a counter dividing the kitchen from the dining table which is parallel to the audience in the foreground of Stage Left. A hallway between the two rooms is set back from Center Stage, leading to the bedrooms and bathroom offstage. A door at far Stage Right off the living room leads to the exterior of the house. In the living room is a couch, centered, facing the audience, surrounded by two armchairs. All seats face the T.V., so when the actors are watching it, they are facing the audience.
AT RISE: DEBRA ENTERS quickly from the door at STAGE RIGHT with a bag of groceries kicking the front door behind her and crossing the Living Room (Stage Right) to the Kitchen (Stage Left). She places the bag on the kitchen counter and kicks off her dress shoes while stumbling back to Stage Right to turn on the TV in the living room. The volume is too low so she looks around for the remote control, moving pillows and blankets on the couch.
DEBRA
Randy, can’t you ever leave the remote control on the coffee table?
(No one is in the house but DEBRA. When she finds
the remote she quickly increases the volume.
TV news theme music fills the room then mixes
with another theme music for Breaking News, as
DEBRA pauses to stare at the T.V.)
(NEWS THEME MUSIC UP)
NEWS ANCHOR FEMALE (V.O.)
Ivanka Trump will be speaking in the next hour…
DEBRA
That’s not breaking news, everything is breaking news these days… Ivanka Trump speaks, Breaking News!… Donald Trump just arrived in his limousine, Breaking News!…
(NEWS THEME MUSIC UP)
NEWS ANCHOR FEMALE (V.O.)
Hopefully her bright, glowing personality will shed some light on the shadow that some say has hung over this Republican Convention –- kicked off by chaos on the convention floor when the Never Trump movement was overruled by the party leadership to unbind the delegates in a roll call -- and eclipsed last night, in a speech by rival Ted Cruz, who was shamed out of the convention hall when he failed to endorse Donald Trump, suggesting instead that the delegates should ‘vote their conscience’…
(DEBRA sticks the remote on the coffee table as if hoping to glue it in place, then crosses Stage Right to unpack the groceries onto the counter. The TV plays loudly as she preps a meal.)
NEWS ANCHOR FEMALE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
But if you are one of the participants inside the hall tonight, you might feel the love and happiness surrounding you in what Trump might call a lovefest. His most ardent supporters are filling the hall with music, dancing with excitement as they await the acceptance speech from their nominee. Ivanka Trump will introduce her father, who is expected to bring home his theme of “Making America Great Again,” “Make America Safe Again,” and tonight, “Make America One Again”… all populist themes that have inspired this crowd at rallies across the country. But, has this convention reached out beyond his base, or done enough to heal the fractures within the party? Have the speakers inspired voters beyond the reaches of this convention hall? We will find out on election day. Meanwhile, anti-Hillary rhetoric has been passionately met with cries to ‘Lock Her Up.’ The convention has undoubtedly fired up its base with speakers who have set the stage for Trump’s plans to deport illegal immigrants. And no one can deny the emotional grief of a mother who lost her only son in Benghazi, and the group of
NEWS ANCHOR FEMALE (V.O.) (CONT’D)
parents who have lost their children thru the actions of illegal immigrants. The Arizona Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, who is up for re-
election, took stage to represent Trump’s tough stance on deporting illegal immigrants, a position that has been at the root of his rise in the polls, from mass deportation and banning
Muslims, to building a wall at the southern border. This is
the night it all comes together for the nominee, a nominee who has been highly controversial, highly provocative, and highly surprising to be the one still standing from a field of 16 Republican candidates -- the nominee, Donald J. Trump, who is about to make his acceptance speech in front of this crowd of fiercely loyal followers.
(A ring tone echoes from DEBRA’s purse as she answers to talk to her son, MITCHELL.)
DEBRA
Hi Mitchell honey, you’re on the train? The Convention is on, did you see last night, Ted Cruz temporarily hijacked the convention!
(beat)
I’m glad you’ve been watching… in between your homework, I know.
I think he was a last minute invite, or I heard something about how he convinced them to let him speak. Trump thought he was being nice to him I guess, but Cruz actually managed to trump Trump at his own convention.
(beat)
I know! So ballsy of Cruz to stand up there and speak his mind in front of the mob. I thought they would have his head for it!
Breaking news, breaking news!! His daughter, Ivanka, is going to speak!
(beat)
Yes, she seems to be one of his better features… but we will see... Okay, I’m getting dinner ready, I’ll see you soon.
(DEBRA turns to see RANDY
ENTER the door STAGE RIGHT.)
DEBRA (CONT’D)
Yes, dad’s home. He’ll meet you at the train when you get there.
(RANDY puts his keys down
on the table beside the door
and waves hello, turning to the TV,
standing in place in front of it.)
DEBRA (CONT’D)
Okay sweetie, we will see you in a bit.
(RANDY sits on the couch. DEBRA
ends the call)
DEBRA
Don’t get too comfortable, you have to run down to the train station.
RANDY
I know, I’m just trying to relax for a minute, spend some time with my girl.
(RANDY sits on the sofa, tapping on it
for DEBRA to sit beside him)
DEBRA
Oh, I thought you might have meant your favorite newscaster.
RANDY
Her?... No, you know my girls are on the other channel…
DEBRA
Oh yes, my favorite channel of right-wing bombshells.
RANDY
I can’t help it if my channel has hotter smart women than your channel with their liberal elitist snobs.
DEBRA
Hah! Snobs… you’re the ones who are snobs.
RANDY
Well, give me the remote and let’s decide who’s channel is better…
(RANDY gets frisky with DEBRA as he
pretends to look around her for the remote,
but he ends up kissing her as she giggles and
lays her down on the couch.)
(A knock is heard on the entry door,
STAGE RIGHT, as JEANETTE ENTERS without
pause. She is carrying a plate of
appetizers… as DEBRA and RANDY stand
from the couch like two teenagers.)
JEANETTE
Is Mitchell home yet?
RANDY
Okay!… I guess that’s my cue… just gotta hit the bathroom first.
DEBRA
Just a few more minutes… What would you like to drink, mom? A glass of white wine?
JEANETTE
(JEANETTE sets the plate of appetizers
on the coffee table)
Oh, that sounds good…
(JEANETTE crosses STAGE LEFT to get a glass of wine after DEBRA pours 2 glasses. JEANETTE takes a big sip, then DEBRA and JEANETTE slow walk to the couch STAGE RIGHT. JEANETTE is a little wobbly.)
DEBRA
Careful, mom.
JEANETTE
I needed that… but I’m stumbling after one sip!
DEBRA
Well, that was one heckuva sip!
(they laugh)
Darn, it doesn’t look like there’s going to be a coup at the Republican Convention!
JEANETTE
They had their chance to vote Trump out but now they’re stuck with him.
(They put down their wine glasses
then collapse on the couch)
Whewwww, we made it!
DEBRA
Yup, all in one piece! Well, the Swamp tried to dump Trump, but it’s tough ‘cuz the people nominated who they want -- despite all the hemming and hawing, the Never Trump movement just couldn’t stop the will of his people.
RANDY
(to JEANETTE)
Hi mom… Okay, I’m heading down to the train station.
(he fills his hands with appetizers)
Are they yelling “Lock her up” yet? That’s my favorite part.
JEANETTE
No… and that chant is so adolescent.
RANDY
Don’t be surprised if it happens again tonight.
JEANETTE
Nothing surprises me now that he’s in charge.
DEBRA
Hold on, they’re talking about it now.
NEWS ANCHOR FEMALE (V.O.)
Never before at a convention have we heard chanting like “Lock her up” about the candidate from the opposing party, this in regard to Hillary Clinton’s email controversy. The
crowd has been inspired by some fiery speeches, one of which we have a clip for you from Evangelical leader, Jerry Falwell, Jr.
RANDY
Oh, this is good… he’s telling that joke about how his father said that he had a dream the Clinton’s daughter was interviewing him, and he said the three biggest threats to the country were: Osama, Obama, and yo’ mama!
(the only one laughing)
Osama, Obama and Yo’ Mama…!
(cheering to TV)
You’re fired, Hillary! You’re fired!!
DEBRA
Can you please explain, how does that make America ‘one again’?…
(DEBRA tries to push RANDY toward the door STAGE RIGHT)
Go get Mitch. Please go get Mitchell... Ahhhhh…
JEANETTE
Do you want me to pick up Mitchell?
(standing, slowly)
RANDY
No, I’m fine, mah… sit down, I’ve got it covered.
(Just then, college-aged MITCHELL ENTERS
the door STAGE RIGHT, plopping down a
backpack at the and pulling up his shirt
to wipe sweat from his face.)
MITCHELL
Damn, it’s hot outside! I know you don’t believe in global warming, dad, but it’s like 100 degrees out there in Ohio.
(DEBRA crosses to STAGE LEFT to
get him a towel)
DEBRA
I was drenched when I got in, you would have thought it was raining.
(DEBRA crosses to STAGE RIGHT
to hand him the towel)
Did you walk from the train?
JEANETTE
Oh, dear Mitchell, sit down here beside me.
(MITCHELL sits beside JEANETTE, giving
her a hug. DEBRA sits on the other side of him, holding his hand. JEANETTE takes a hold of
the other. RANDY puts his shoes in the closet
and gets himself a beer from the fridge, STAGE LEFT)
MITCHELL
Danny’s father did pickup, I hitched a ride. It was nice to get into his Tesla with the AC blasting! What a sweet ride.
RANDY
I’d rather drive my pickup than live the life of an elite.
DEBRA
Oh Randy…
(changing subject)
Was it a mad house in the city with the Convention going on there? Must be exciting!
MITCHELL
It was crazy, lots of people going everywhere. The train was packed.
(RANDY takes off shoes and puts them
in the closet near the door)
RANDY
I should have tried to go, dammit. History, right in our back yard and I’m missing it.
MITCHELL
The train passed by the Convention Hall, it was cool seeing all the protestors and everything.
RANDY
(behind couch)
Damn protestors… They’re paid by Hillary and Bernie people just to show up. You won’t see them at the Democratic Convention.
JEANETTE
Protestors?
MITCHELL
Bernie doesn’t pay the protestors, dad. That’s just conspiracy theories. Do you believe everything Trump says?
RANDY
It’s a proven fact.
DEBRA
They make it sound like someone is paying all of them, maybe some of them, but how could all those people get paid?
RANDY
That’s how they get it started, son. They pay a few groups to get the rest of them out there, they beef it up on the Twitter and get them all out there.
MITCHELL
They beef it up on The Twitter, is that it, dad?
DEBRA
The Twitter, oh my God, Randy, if your man Trump is King of Twitterland you better polish up on the lingo.
MITCHELL
Don’t you think sometimes people have grievances that they just want to express without getting paid for it? Don’t you remember Vietnam?