What Color by Casey Bell

This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

When the curtains open it is dark.

It is the living room of Rosalyn.

There is a slight silence. Soon it is broken

BRENT: How long do we have to hide?

LISA: Be quiet Brent, you're going to ruin everything.

BRENT: He's not even here yet. What's taking them so long just to get
here?

LISA: Be quiet Brent. Be patient.

RHONDA: Please be quiet Brent, we don’t want to ruin the surprise.

BRENT: I'm just tired of waiting.

RHONDA: Well, we all have been waiting, but you’re the only one
complaining.

WESLEY: We have been waiting here pretty long.

BRENT: Thank you, Wesley.

LISA: They will be here any minute, now please shut up.

RHONDA: Please be quiet before you ruin the surprise.

BRENT: I don’t want to wait anymore.

WESLEY: Me neither.

LISA: Patience is a virtue.

BRENT: What’s a virtue?

RHONDA: Quiet please.

WESLEY: What is a virtue?

ROSALYN: Would ya’ll shut the hell up!

Everyone gets quiet.

A car door is heard.

ROSALYN: See, they’re here. Now everyone shut up.

BRENT: No one was talking.

LISA: You’re talking now.

BRENT: But no one was talking when she said everyone shut up.

RHONDA: Quiet please.

BRENT: I was just saying-

ROSALYN: SHUT UP!

Hazel and Aaron can be heard from off-stage.

Hazel is purposely speaking loudly as to warn everyone inside the
house

HAZEL: (Off) Aaron, we are here. We are finally here at mother’s
house.

AARON: (Off) Why are you talking like that?

HAZEL: (Off) Why, what do you mean, Aaron? How am I talking? All I
said was that we are home now. We are getting out of the car and
about to approach the door.

AARON: (Off) Thanks for telling me what we are doing, because
otherwise I wouldn’t have known.

HAZEL: (Off) Oh, Aaron you are such the comedian, Aaron.

Hazel overdramatically laughs

AARON: (Off) Can we just go inside?

HAZEL: (Off) Of course, Aaron. We are about to enter mom’s house.
Do you remember living here? Do you miss it, Aaron?

AARON: (Off) Not really, could you just open the door already?

HAZEL: (Off) Okay, I am about to take the key and unlock the door, so
that I can open it, so that we can enter the house.

AARON: (Off) Thanks for the instructions; you think you could just
open it?

HAZEL: (Off) What is the rush, Aaron? I am opening the door now. I
am putting the key in the door, and I am about to unlock the door. I
am now unlocking the door. I just unlocked the door. I will now turn
the doorknob and open the door.

AARON: (Off) Would you just open the damn door?

HAZEL: (Off) Aaron, what is with the potty mouth?

AARON: (Off) Why are you taking two years to open the door?

HAZEL: (Off) Patience is a virtue, Aaron. Okay, here I go. I am
opening the door.

BRENT: Would she hurry the hell up?

HAZEL: (Off) Here I go.

She opens the door and turns on the lights

Everyone jumps out and yells, Surprise!

AARON: Oh, hell no.

After seeing his reaction everyone hesitantly sings the Happy Birthday
song.

Once they are done, they cheer

AARON: Why did you do this? You know I hate parties.

HAZEL: I told you mother.

ROSALYN: Oh, please, it’s not like we do this every year. Aaron,
baby, I’m your mother and if I decide to throw you a party, I will
do it and you will like it.

Rosalyn hugs Aaron

AARON: Thanks, mom. But please don’t do this again.

LISA: Hey Birthday boy. Or as you say Birth Anniversary.

AARON: Lisa, you’re supposed to be my friend. How come you didn’t
stop this party from happening?

LISA: I made many suggestions, but they were ignored. Wesley, come
over here and say hi.

WESLEY: Happy Birthday, Aaron.

AARON: Thank you, Wes-man. How old are you now?

WESLEY: Twelve.

AARON: Already; weren’t you six years old last week?

LISA: It sure seems like it. They grow up so quickly.

WESLEY: Mom, can I go back over there with Brent. He said he’s
going to teach me how to play spades.

LISA: Spades? You’re too young for that.

WESLEY: Please mom.

LISA: Go ahead.

Wesley runs towards Brent

LISA: I don’t understand how you and Brent became friends. He is
completely your opposite. And I don’t like his attitude. He’s a
bad influence on Wesley, and yet Wesley admires him.

AARON: Wesley admires any man that cares to spend time with him. So,
how’s Ricky doing? Is he spending more time with him?

LISA: No. I think I’m going to have to get a DNA test just to prove
to Ricky that Wesley is indeed his son.

AARON: Is Maury still on the air?

LISA: Ha, ha, funny.

AARON: I’m sorry that you’re in this situation.

LISA: Don’t be; I got myself into this situation. I guess I’m
going to have to get myself out of it. Enough about me. How are you
feeling? Do you feel a year older?

AARON: No. But I am really annoyed about this party.

LISA: Aaron, what is wrong with you? Why do you hate celebrating your
Birthday?

AARON: I do not mind celebrating my Birth Anniversary. I just don’t
like parties. I’m into simplicity. Just mail me a greeting card
with a gift card in it and I’m satisfied.

LISA: Well, your mother went through a lot trouble just to put this
party together. You should at least pretend to enjoy it.

AARON: A lot of trouble she didn’t have to go through. She knows I
don’t like parties.

Rhonda walks towards Aaron

RHONDA: Hey, Birthday boy.

AARON: Hey, momma Green.

Rhonda and Aaron hug

RHONDA: And how are you doing today?

AARON: I’m doing fine.

RHONDA: Just for the record, I reminded your mother how much you hate
parties, but she ignored me. So please don’t be upset with me.

AARON: Thanks, momma Green.

RHONDA: Lisa, baby, are you aware that Brent is teaching my grandson
how to play spades?

LISA: Yes, mother.

RHONDA: And you’re okay with that?

LISA: No, but Wesley needs a male figure in his life.

RHONDA: What’s wrong with Aaron?

LISA: Wesley loves Aaron, but he admires Brent. For whatever reason I
think he wants to be like him.

RHONDA: Well, I think Brent is a horrible influence on Wesley.

LISA: Mother, I really don’t want to do this now.

RHONDA: Okay, we’ll do it later. Well, Happy Birthday Aaron. And
try to enjoy this party; your mother did a lot work just to have this
party.

AARON: I’ll try, momma Green.

HAZEL: Hey, can we get some music going here?

Rosalyn turns on the stereo

ROSALYN: Is this good enough for you?

HAZEL: Yeah, that’s fine.

Hazel dances over to Aaron

HAZEL: Happy Birthday brother.

AARON: Thank you, sister.

HAZEL: Not that it’s important or anything, but I thought I let you
know, I told mother not to do this.

AARON: Do what?

HAZEL: I told her not to have a party, but she was very persistent.

AARON: Thanks, Hazel.

HAZEL: No problem. But try your best to enjoy it. You know, be
grateful, appreciate it, she did a lot of work.

AARON: Okay.

Hazel dances away from Aaron. Brent walks towards him

AARON: Hey man, how are you?

BRENT: I’m good, yo. Happy Birthday, man.

AARON: Thank you.

BRENT: Just for the record, dog. I told your mother how much you hate
parties, but she is very stubborn. I see where you get it.

AARON: Not funny. So, how are you doing?

BRENT: I’m good man.

AARON: Seriously?

Aaron looks him in his eyes
AARON: You’ve been good?

BRENT: Yeah, man. I’ve been clean.

AARON: How long?

BRENT: Three months.

AARON: That’s good.

BRENT: Yeah, the program has really helped me.

AARON: Are you staying away from your old crew?

BRENT: Yeah, man. I don’t hang around them no more.

AARON: That’s good. Well, thanks for coming, despite of.

BRENT: No problem, man. And try to enjoy it. Your mother went
through a lot just to have this little shin-ding.

AARON: I’ll try.

HAZEL: Mom, do you want me to take the food out of the kitchen?

ROSALYN: Not yet. I think it’s time to open presents.

Everyone cheers

AARON: No, that’s not necessary. I’ll just bring them all home
and then I’ll send out thank you cards.

ROSALYN: Aaron, you can’t be serious. Stop fooling around; it’s
time to open your gifts. Now, sit on the couch and everyone gather
‘round.

Rosalyn turns off stereo

HAZEL: Here you go.

Hazel hands him two greeting cards

HAZEL: The other one is from daddy. He gave it to me before he left
on his business trip.

AARON: Thank you.

Aaron opens the envelope and reads the front of card

AARON: To a very special brother on a very special day.

Aaron opens the card

AARON: Ooh, money.

Aaron continues to read the card

AARON: Wishing you a wonderful day and hoping much happiness in the
years to come. Happy Birthday. Thank you, Hazel. It’s beautiful,
especially the gift inside.

HAZEL: Well, you know what they say; it’s not what’s on the
outside that counts, but what’s on the inside.

AARON: Especially if there is a lot of it.

ROSALYN: This is from me to you, baby.

AARON: Thank you, mom.

Aaron goes to open the gift

ROSALYN: Wait, read the card first.

AARON: Do I really have to read all these cards? There are six of
you. I don’t think the audience wants hear all that.

ROSALYN: Go ahead and just open the gift.

Aaron opens the gift

AARON: Oh, thank you. I’ll start reading this tonight.

BRENT: What book is it?

AARON: T. D. Jakes Speaks to Men. Thanks again.

RHONDA: I’m next. Here you go, Aaron.

AARON: Thank you, momma Green

Aaron opens the gift

It is a colorful shirt and tie set
AARON: Wow, these are very bright.

RHONDA: Do you like them? You’re always wearing dry and gray
colors. You never wear anything bright and lovely. So, I thought I
buy you some colorful attire.

AARON: They sure are colorful, maybe too colorful. Thank you. I will
cherish them forever.

Aaron speaks to himself

AARON: But I’ll never wear them.

BRENT: It’s my turn man. Here ya go.

Brent hands him a card

AARON: Is there money in this thing?

BRENT: No man, something better than money.

Aaron opens the card

AARON: A gift card for a liquor store?

BRENT: Not just any liquor store, it’s from Spirits, the best liquor
store in this state.

AARON: But I don’t drink alcohol.

BRENT: But I thought maybe you could try something different. You
know, go and experiment with different drinks.

AARON: No. You can have it.

Aaron hands the gift card to him

BRENT: No, man, I can’t take it back. It’s your gift.

AARON: But I can’t do anything with it. You should have gotten me
something I could use, man.

ROSALYN: Aaron, why are you being so ungrateful? When someone gets
you a gift you always thank them. It’s not about the gift; it’s
the simple fact that they got you one. Remember, it’s the thought
that counts.

AARON: Well, there was no thought in it.

HAZEL: Aaron you’re being rude.

AARON: This is all ya’ll fault. You shouldn’t have thrown this
party to begin with.

LISA: Shut up, Aaron; open my gift.

Lisa hands him the gift

Aaron opens the gift

AARON: Wow, this is awesome.

WESLEY: Whoa, the new iPod which features the same multi-touch screen
technology as iPhone. You can scroll through your songs and videos
with a simple flick. It also has Cover Flow, which means you can flip
through your library by album artwork. Plus, you can surf the web with
Wi-Fi and also browse the web using Safari and watch YouTube videos on
the gorgeous 3.5-inch widescreen display.

AARON: Goodness, did you want it?

WESLEY: Yeah, can I have it?

LISA: Wesley, no. It’s his birthday gift.

AARON: How about this, any time you come to visit, I will allow you to
use it. How does that sound?

WESLEY: That’s totally tubular dude.

AARON: Apparently, you’ve been watching Teenage Mutant Ninja
Turtles. Well, I think that is all the gifts.

WESLEY: No, I have a gift for you.

AARON: Oh really?

WESLEY: Yes, here you go.

Wesley hands him the gift

AARON: Wow, this is pretty big. What is it?

WESLEY: You have to open it to figure that out.

AARON: Okay.

[End of Extract]