Birds of A Feather

Vivian Watts

Summary

A teen and her mother have an argument about the teens’ friends.  Her older sister is able to lovingly get the same point across without an argument.

Characters

Alexa – a teenager
Denise – her older sister
Mom (a voice from offstage)

Script

(Setting: The bedroom of the older sister. Denise is sitting at a makeup table in front of a mirror, fixing her hair and applying makeup. Alexa storms in from offstage.)
Mom’s voice from offstage:  And don’t even THINK about coming back downstairs until you’re ready to listen to REASON!!
Denise:  Little disagreement with Mom?
Alexa:  Aaarrggghh!  She drives me CRAZY sometimes!    AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!
Denise:  Don’t hold back so much on expressing your feelings, Sis!
(Both chuckle)
Denise:  So, what was your argument about this time?
Alexa:  What is it ALWAYS about?
Denise:  I don’t know…your hair, your clothes, your grades, your room, your friends, your boyfriends, your…
Alexa:  Okay!  Okay!  So Mom and I don’t always see things the same way.  Anyway, today’s topic was {in a mocking tone} ‘Birds of a feather flock together’ and how much Mom dislikes Rachel and Diane.
Denise:  Rachel and Diane…those are the two poor little colorblind girls, right?
Alexa:  Colorblind?
Denise:  Yeah – colorblind.  Everything they wear is black so I just figured they couldn’t see the whole rainbow or something.
Alexa (dryly):  Ha. Ha.  They happen to be very artistic.  Black is an expression of their, um, well, it shows how they, um, well…oh I don’t really know why they dress like that.  But they’re really nice girls.
Denise:  Oh, yeah. Nice.  That’s just the word I was thinking of.  NOT.
Alexa:  I know, I know.  They’re nothing like my old friends back in Nebraska.  But it’s HARD to make new friends in a new town.  Mom just picked us up and moved us here without even getting our opinion about it.  It’s either Rachel and Diane or I’ll have to sit home alone the rest of my life!
Denise:  Oh, baby girl, I know it’s hard.  It’s been hard for me, too.  But you know what?
Alexa:  What?  Are you going to lecture me like Mom too?
Denise:  No lecture, I promise.  I was just going to say that I want to see you happy.  And I don’t really and truly think that Rachel and Diane are the kind of friends that are going to help you be happy.  I really think they’re depressing and they’re going to drag you down with them.  And I love you too much to watch that happening without saying something to you about it.
Alexa: You know, you’re really saying the same thing Mom’s saying, but for some reason I can admit to you that you’re right and I can’t admit to Mom that she’s right.  Why is that?
Denise:  I think it’s because Mom’s so scared for you that she forgets to say “I love you” when she’s on your case.  But she does love you, you know.
Alexa:  I know.  Okay…now it’s my turn to tell you something.  I really love you and I really hate that eye shadow you’re wearing.
Denise (picks up hair brush; stands and goes after Alexa while mimicking Alexa’s earlier behavior):  AARRRGGHHH!
(Both run offstage in a “chase” – laughing.)
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© Vivian Watts, all rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. She may be contacted at: fullopeace@aol.com