Beginning, Middle, End
June 6th, 2020
Beginning, Middle, End.
Dramatic Writing 101—Short Play Final Assignment—4/24/20
Dramatis Personae:
Prof: mid-40’s.
Student: early-20’s.
Note: “...” indicates a pause, or not knowing what to say.
The Prof’s office. Minimalist: a few posters, stacks of unruly papers, a few pictures of family and children. Student, under finals distress, sits across.
STUDENT
I know.
I know my assignment’s late.
PROF
That’s alright. Do you need an extension?
STUDENT
Yes. Of my brain.
PROF
Say more.
STUDENT
I think I forgot how to write.
I don’t even know if I knew how to before.
PROF
You can. You just seem a bit blocked.
STUDENT
But I don’t feel blocked. You know how when people say they’re blocked they feel like the blank page is staring at them? I feel like it’s staring through me, or like, over me. Like I think it’s talking to me but it turns out it was just saying hello to someone behind me? Which I don’t know if you’ve had that experience, but it’s pretty embarrassing.
PROF
I think you’re making it more complicated than it has to be.
Underneath it all, a story is what?
A beginning, a middle, and end.
Yes?
STUDENT
Sure.
PROF
So can you tell me one?
STUDENT
Right now?
PROF
Yes. With a beginning, a middle, and end.
STUDENT
Okay…
I went to the deli.
I asked for a sesame bagel.
They didn’t have a sesame bagel.
PROF
There you go. Beginning, middle, end, you just did it. Story.
STUDENT
No. It’s not the end. I know it’s not that cut and dry, you know it’s not that cut and dry.
PROF
This is what I have to offer. Take it or leave it.
STUDENT
You can only teach structure because you can’t teach skill.
PROF
…
STUDENT
It’s not your fault. I just always wanted to say that.
PROF
There’s your ending then.
“You told the deli worker off for not having a sesame bagel, and now you feel better.”
Now go write it.
STUDENT
…?
PROF
You told it. Now go write it. With you and me in it.
I want to read this play.
STUDENT
Ok…
Tomorrow?
PROF
In my mailbox. As early as you can.
Okay?
STUDENT
Ok.
Student gets up and goes to the door.
The End.