Six Years Old, Yet Still My Finest Work.

One or None, Take Your Pick!
(A Moral Play)
Written by James and Jaylani
First Published 1999

Characters:
Boy
Loyalty
Influence
Temptation


Scene 1
Boy and Influence are discussing their Friday night plans during lunch break at their high school.

Boy: Wow! It’s going to be a mega rage tonight, Influence.

Influence: Yeah I’m just so glad my parents have gone out of town for the weekend.

Boy: And left you to look after the house!

Influence: I just hope they don’t come home early and walk into the back shed.

Boy: Why?

Influence: Because it’s going to be the “love shack”!

Boy: I see you’ve planned for everything. Are you taking anyone?

Influence: Yeah I picked up this great blonde with the longest legs you’ll see. Are you still attached to that Loyalty girl?

Boy: Yeah we’re still together

Influence: Has she given you anything yet?

Boy flinches at the sound of the question but then, acting, sits up in a macho stance and replies.

Boy: Yeah she gives me heaps
(Trying to disguise the truth)
I can get some whenever I want!

Influence: Yeah sure whatever you reckon.

Boy: It’s true!!!

Influence: Ten bucks says you won’t get any tonight!

Boy: Your on!

End of scene 1


Scene 2
The scene begins with Loyalty and Boy knocking at the door of Influence’s house. The door opens and there is Influence.

Influence: Hey Boy, who have you got here?

Boy: Influence this is Loyalty , Loyalty this is Influence.

Influence: Oh. Hi. Come in, come in! Welcome to my party! Drinks are in the kitchen , the food is out on the patio, there’s dancing in the lounge room and for later on there is my love shack down the back.
(He winks cheekily)

Loyalty and Boy walk into the kitchen to get some drinks. Loyalty and Boy then head towards the dance floor and start to dance.

End of scene 2


Scene 3
Loyalty and Boy are standing in front of the “Love Shack” in each others arms kissing passionately. Boy is just about to open the door when loyalty pulls away.

Loyalty: Oh no, I almost forgot it’s almost eleven.

Boy: (Dreamily) Yeah it’s going to be a long party!

Loyalty: Not for me, my mother has set a curfew! I’ve got to get home!

Boy: (shocked) but the party has only just started!

Loyalty: I’m sorry Boy but I really need to go or else I my mum may not ever let me go out with you again. I’m sorry. Cya, Love You!!!

Boy: (Sighing) Yeah sure, Cya

Loyalty exits. Boy is left standing in shock.

End of scene 3


Scene 4
Boy is standing on the patio drinking a beer and looking depressed as he watches other guys go into the Love Shack with their girls. Influence sees him moping around and comes over. Temptation is standing in the corner watching others dancing.

Influence: So where’s your girl loverboy?

Boy: (Bluntly) Gone Home
(Boy hands influence a ten dollar note)
Here

Influence: What’s this for?

Boy: It’s yours. I didn’t get laid, so you win the bet!

Influence: Hey, don’t get too hasty. The night is still young my friend!

Boy: Exactly, that is why it is so embarrassing!

Influence: Look you are going to have to learn to take advantage of situations such as these. (Gesturing with his head) See the blonde in the corner over there on her own?

Boy: yeah

Influence: (Suggestively) Name’s Temptation. A friend of mine and an old flame. She’s single and she’s looking for a nice guy. Not bad eh?

Boy: Yes, very nice
(Then realising Influence’s motive)
Hey, I hope your not suggesting that I should go after her!

Influence: Why not? You're looking for some action aren’t you?

Boy: Yeah but—

Influence: Then trust me, she is the girl to give it to you and I’m sure she has developed in more ways then one since when she was with me. What more could you ask for, she’s sexy, beautiful, she’s a nice girl and she’s available!

Boy: I’m sure she is great but your forgetting that I’m with Loyalty.

Influence: Forget Loyalty, you can’t stay in a relationship that doesn’t please both parties.

Boy: I like Loyalty a lot though and she is so kind and I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

Influence: Oh look don’t be such a pussy! Look, just because when you break up you won’t have the title “Boyfriend & Girlfriend” doesn’t mean you can’t be friends which is just about all you are at the moment. I’m sure she won’t mind that much, she probably doesn’t want a serious relationship anyway!

Boy: I don’t know, I just don’t know

Influence: Well look, even if you don’t want Temptation, could you do us a favour and introduce yourself and keep her company because she’s looking a bit left out. I’ve got to get back to my girl and my party. You could perhaps introduce her to some people and even better still, some reasonable single guys, please?

Boy: Oh I spose

Influence: Thanks and by the way if you want to crash here tonight the guest room is yours.

Influence exits. Boy wanders over to Temptation.

Boy: Hello

Temptation: Hi

Boy: I’m Boy and you I think are Temptation?

Temptation: That’s right, how did you know me?

Boy: I’m Influence’s friend and he saw you looking lonely and sent me on a rescue mission.

Temptation: Well thankyou

Boy: He would have sent himself but he was too busy.

Temptation: That’s all right you seem a capable rescuer and hopefully by the end of the night I may be able to say I at least know two people at this party.

Boy: I should hope to get to know you as well. Would you like a drink?

Temptation: Yes please

Boy walks to the other side of the stage gets two beers and returns giving one to Temptation. They both take a seat next to each other on a sofa in the living room and continue their conversation.

Temptation: So what part of the world are you from?

The scene freezes there.

End of scene 4


Scene 5
This scene is set a few hours later. Both Boy and Temptation have had a few drinks and are well past sober. The scene starts with them both standing together laughing at nothing in particular in front of the door to the guest room. Still laughing they stagger through the door and close it behind them.

End of scene 5


Scene 6
The scene is set the next day mid-mourning. Boy awakes in Influence's guest room. He leans over and grabs a note on the bedside cabinet. It has Temptations phone number on it. He gets out of bed and walks out into the kitchen. He finds Influence at the breakfast bar eating some cereal.

Influence: Wakey wakey. How did it go last night?

Boy: I’d say it went all right!

Influence: I’d say it went all right as well since I went to check if your room was vacant and I found you two and you were pretty busy.

Boy: You perve

Influence: Hey I didn’t hang around I was busy finding a room for me and me blonde!

Boy: Did you find one?

Influence: The only one free was my parents room so we had to be careful not to make a mess. So who are you going to dump and who are you going to ask out?

Boy: Well I have been thinking. I could probably manage them both at the time being.

Influence: (chuckling) Oh you naughty boy!

Boy: I was thinking that since your parents will be still away that I could invite Temptation over to watch a video tonight here.

Influence: That’s a great idea. I’ll bring a girl as well and we’ll make a night of it!

End of Scene 6


Scene 7
The scene is in Influence’s lounge room. The TV is on and a video playing. Boy and Temptation are on one couch hugging and kissing while Influence and his partner are on another. The doorbell rings and Influence answers the door. At the door is Loyalty.

Loyalty: Hello Influence

Influence: (shocked) um hi Loyalty

Loyalty: I went to Boy’s house but he wasn’t there so I came to see what you guys were up to and to apologise for leaving the party so early last night. So, can I come in or are you just going to leave me standing here all night?

Influence: (Worried) Um well it is bit messy and I don’t think it is fit for a lady’s observation.

Loyalty: (Jokingly) Don’t be silly let me in!

Loyalty barges past and walks into the lounge room to find Boy with Temptation. Boy looks up and there is a shocked silence. Eventually Loyalty walks up and slaps boy over the face.

Loyalty: You Bastard!

Temptation: (asks Loyalty) Who are you?

Loyalty: I’m his girlfriend!

Loyalty storms out crying. Temptation turns to Boy.

Temptation: You had a girlfriend and you didn’t tell me? You lying son of a bitch!!!

Temptation slaps Boy herself then storms out as well.

The End