ACT I

Scene 1

SETTING:                                          Mid-afternoon on a summer day. A playground littered with children, running around, swinging on swings and climbing on the jungle gym.

AT RISE:                                            Two boys, Toby and Nicolas are standing near the  jungle gym. Other children are occupying the swings as watchful mothers sit on benches nearby.

TOBY (grumbling)

The swings are AWLAYS taken when we get here!

                                    (NICHOLAS pats TOBY on the head.)

NICHOLAS

It’s okay. Look! We have the jungle gym to play on. Let’s go pl-

                                    (TOBY slaps NICHOLAS’ hand off his head.)

TOBY (interrupts)

DON’T…DO…THAT! DON’T! DON’T!

NICHOLAS (Surprised)

Toby?

TOBY (points at NICHOLAS)

Just BECAUSE you had a growth spurt in the last few days, don’t YOU think that you can boss ME around!

NICHOLAS

But… Toby, I…

TOBY (Interrupts)

I don’t LIKE milk! Even though, mom says it’s supposed to be good for you and stuff but… but… it comes from COWS! COWS! I don’t even know where it comes from on the cow. Billy Jefferson says its cow spit but if that’s true-

NICHOLAS (Shouts)

Toby!

(NICHOLAS grabs TOBY by the shoulders to force TOBY to look at him but TOBY shrugs NICHOLAS off and continues ranting.)

TOBY

IF that is true then, then, why is it white!? IT’S WHITE! How can that be good for you if it’s WHITE!? YUCK! I can’t even stand the look of it, let alone the taste.

NICHOLAS

Toby…

TOBY

My mom always says-

                        (Toby puts one hand on his hips and raises his voice, impersonating his mother.)

TOBY

‘TOOOOOOBIIEEE! Drink your milk and become big and strong.’

NICHOLAS (sighs)

Toooobby…

TOBY

She just wants me big and strong so I’ll take out the garbage more… I bet you love milk, Nick. I bet you drink it every day!

                                                                        NICHOLAS (Laughing)

I do…

TOBY

But you’re NOT so cool. LOOK! LOOK! I have a loose tooth! Do you? NO! I didn’t think so! I can pull it out if I want to… but I’d rather just let it hang.

NICHOLAS

TOBY!? Earth to Toby!

TOBY

You know, mom said to wait and let it fall out and I think she’s right… I… you know… let it fall out on it’s own…

(NICHOLAS pushes TOBY causing him to fall over landing on the bottom on the jungle gym slide.)

                                    TOBY (standing)

NICK!

(NICHOLAS pushes TOBY down again. This time TOBY just stays down.)

NICHOLAS (smiling)

Drink chocolate milk. It tastes better.

TOBY

But… It STILL comes from those weird parts on a cow…

                        (As TOBY remains sitting on the bottom of the slide, a girl comes sliding down                             and runs into TOBY. She has braided pig tails and is carrying a teddy bear.)

POLLY

THEY ARE CALLED UTTERS! Can you shut up?! AND MOVE!

                        (POLLY kicks TOBY who pushes back in protest.)

TOBY

OUCH! You’re not the boss of me!

NICHOLAS (Surprised)

Utters…? What the heck are those?

(NICHOLAS holds out hand to help TOBY up. But TOBY refuses and still struggles with POLLY on the slide. POLLY kicks TOBY again.)

POLLY

I DON’T KNNOOWW! It’s just what they ARE called. Stupid little boys, get out of my WAY!

(POLLY finally kicks TOBY hard enough to push him off the slide. TOBY lays on the ground face down.)

TOBY(Talking as his head faces the ground)

I’M NOT SMALL!

NICHOLAS (Chuckles)

She didn’t call you small. She called you stupid. You didn’t have to kick him…

(NICHOLAS holds out a hand to help POLLY up from the slide. POLLY refuses his hand and stands up from the slide and brushes herself and her teddy bear off.)

POLLY

What are you looking at!? And he wasn’t moving so I MOVED him! Hmpf! You are both in my way of playing!

                                    (POLLY measures NICHOLAS up and down. She wears an evil smile.)

POLLY

Who ARE you? His bodyguard? And are you wearing OVERALLS!? What are you, a child?

                                    (NICHOLAS looks down, blushing and his clothing choice.)

NICHOLAS (Blushing)

Well… Ahh… I AM a kid… You are too! You’re carrying a teddy bear. You’re a kid if I’ve ever seen one!

POLLY(Growls)

I AM NO CHILD! And you leave Sir Henry out of this!

(POLLY hides her bear behind her back and takes a step back bumping into TOBY. TOBY groans and starts to get up.)

TOBY (Getting up)

MY TOOF! IT FINALLY CAME OUT! LOOK! LOOK! LOOK!

                        (TOBY holds out his tooth in his hands to show NICHOLAS.)

POLLY

That… IS… GROSS…!

                        (TOBY holds the tooth closer to POLLY.)

POLLY(Gasps)

STOP!

                        (POLLY holds up teddy bear as a shield. TOBY continues to tease.)

POLLY

STOP OR IMMA GONNA SCREAM!

NICHOLAS

Come on, Toby. Leave her alone.

(NICHOLAS tries to pull TOBY away from the frantic POLLY but TOBY brushes NICHOLAS off.)

TOBY

Like I care! Look! LOOK! Little girl are you scared of a little toof!?

NICHOLAS

Toby, you should be careful… She is taller than you…

TOBY(Yells)

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON!

(POLLY inhales then pauses. She looks at both the boys to see if they are paying attention. Then she screams. Both boys cover their ears.)

NICHOLAS

Look what you did!

TOBY

Whatever! Are you her boyfriend now!?

NICHOLAS (blushing)

What!? N-No! I just want you two to get along! That’s all…

                        (POLLY stops screaming she smiles then smacks TOBY with her teddy bear.)

POLLY (smiling)

Stupid boys!

(POLLY kicks TOBY in the shin, shoots an evil glare at NICHOLAS then runs off to play on the jungle gym.)

TOBY (Rubs shin)

ACK! What the heck was that about!? Why didn’t she kick you?

NICHOLAS

Because I’m the tallest. Look! The swings are finally open.

                        (The two boys run from the jungle gym to the swings. POLLY is left by herself                             to play on the slide.)

NICHOLAS

I thought my overalls were cool…

BLACK OUT

END OF SCENE