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BUBBLE WRAP

__________

A Play in One Act

by

Clara Allison

School: DeKalb School of the Arts

Phone: 770-876-9916

Email: Claraallison21@gmail.com
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Cast of Characters

EZRA MARTIN: A 13 year old boy in his 7th grade year of

middle school.

ANTHONY GILES: A 13 year old boy in his 7th grade year of

middle school, friend of Ezras.

NOLAN STEEL: A 13 year old boy in his 7th grade year of

middle school, also friend of Ezras.

REAGAN MARTIN: Ezras 14 year old sister, in her 8th grade

year of middle school.

Scene

A standard, present day middle school classroom.

Time

The present.
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ACT I

Scene 1

SETTING: It Monday morning at

school for Anthony
and Nolan. A
standard classroom
is on stage, with
bored looking
students filling in
the desks behind
Anthony and Nolan,
keeping themselves
busy with a book or
phone.

AT RISE: Anthony and Nolan

walk in from stage
right and sit down
in the desks at the
front of the stage,
leaving one desk
between them empty.
They drop their
backpacks on the
ground and slouch
into their chairs.

ANTHONY

(Talking to no one in particular)

Ezra, can I copy your Algebra? I completely forgot-

(He turns around to face an empty desk besides

him; the one Ezra would normally be in. Nolan
is also staring at the empty desk. The two boys
lock eyes, obviously confused.)
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Okay thats weird.

NOLAN

I cant remember a time when Ezra wasnt here before us. You
know, always wanting to start on the work before everyone
else to look good for the teachers.

ANTHONY

Yeah, but regardless the teachers still worship him. Maybe

hes late, but I honestly dont care. My ear almost fell off
from listening to him whine so much yesterday. Im afraid
Im starting to get sick of that boy.

(In a mocking voice)

Oh! Im so tired! I have so much to do! No one is gonna

listen! Nolan, dude, I about smacked him.

NOLAN

Yeah, I know, hes been like that. Its not like we can know
though. I mean with his dad and everything-

ANTHONY

It not like that should be an excuse? Plenty of people live

lives like that, but dont moan and whine all day long about
it. Have you ever realized how demanding that boy is? All
Ive heard for the past week is about how stressed he is
about his grades when the boy literally has straight As! I
cant even pull a B in Ms. Kesslers class! Why should he
get to mope when he has no actual reason to? Maybe he should
ask his dad for a drink to take the edge off!

NOLAN

(Shocked)

Anthony-

ANTHONY

Okay fine. But if you were there to witness his whining, you
would say the same thing. I dont understand why he has to
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be so negative about everything; he never tries to see the

bright side of things He just puts everyone down.

NOLAN

(Distracted, scribbling something into a

notebook)

So Ive heard.

ANTHONY

(Turning towards NOLAN in his desk)

Please tell me youve noticed? I dont want everyone coming

after me like Im the criminal when his sensitive little
feelings get hurt.

NOLAN

Okay, so its obvious hes been stressed or something. Its

annoying, I can see that. But can we be mad at him? Hes
still dealing with his depression and dad-

ANTHONY

Yes?! I get that hes having a hard time, but we all are in
this school! Its not like it makes him different from
anyone else, he does five hours of homework, so do we! How
are you not sick of him yet?

NOLAN

I know, like, its been hard to be around him lately. But

Im not sick of him-

ANTHONY

I just dont understand how you tolerate it, man. Im tired

of his griping.

NOLAN

Well, be glad he isnt here then.

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ANTHONY

(Taking a book out of his backpack and

opening it.)

Sure am. At least now I can enjoy a day without hearing him
sigh all the time.

(REAGAN then comes onto stage, obviously

distraught, and approaches the boys)

Speak of the devil. Its his sister.

REAGAN

Hey guys. Where can I get your homework? Im bringing it to

Ezra.

NOLAN

(Pointing to a table on stage right, Anthony

looks at REAGAN and rolls his eyes)

Uh huh, yeah, its right over there.

(REAGAN walks over to the table and picks up a

few papers, looking at them. NOLAN turns to
ANTHONY)

He must be sick then. Flus going around I think.

ANTHONY

(Looking up from his school work, then

directing his eyes to REAGAN)

I doubt it; Ezra would never miss school for a cold, you
know how he is about that stuff.

(REAGAN is now walking back, about to exit stage right.)

ANTHONY

Hey, uh, Reagan?

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(REAGAN stops in front of the boys)

Whats up with Ezra? Down with something?

REAGAN

(Hesitating)

Well, Im assuming you havent heard. Hes in the hospital,

a psych ward to be precise. Yesterday, after school he
tried to kill himself. Im not sure when hell be back,
though. Sorry to break the news to you guys. No one really
knows yet so wed appreciate if you could keep this quiet.

(REAGAN then hurries off stage with Ezras homework. NOLAN

and ANTHONY both look shocked and turn towards each other,
not knowing what to do.)

(BLACKOUT)

(END OF SCENE)

Act I

Scene 2

SETTING: We are back at school with

ANTHONY and NOLAN. It is now a
week later.

AT RISE: ANTHONY and NOLAN are sitting

in their desks, writing in
notebooks. From stage right,
EZRA walks into the classroom
with an arm cast and backpack.
He pauses before ANTHONY and
NOLAN.

EZRA
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Hey guys.

(ANTHONY and NOLAN suddenly look up from their

work and see EZRA. Their eyes grow big. EZRA
walks around NOLAN and sits in the desk between
the other two boys.)

NOLAN

Oh my God, Ezra! How are you I mean how are you feeling?
Are you okay?

EZRA

Better, I mean, well-

ANTHONY

(Interrupting and turning towards EZRA,

putting his hands on his face)

Look, Ezra, man, Im so sorry, I never wanted this to-

EZRA

Dont- Its okay. I know it mustve been scary.

NOLAN

And you think we were only scared? We were terrified.

ANTHONY

I never wouldve expected someone like you to be depressed.

You always seemed so happy as a kid, but no one could tell
what was going on this year. I wish you had told us, or I
couldve knew to at least try and help you.

EZRA

I didnt think it mattered all that much, and I never

expected it to get to this point, either. I probably
shouldve said something

ANTHONY
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(Looking down)

I feel like its my fault. I was the one always pushing you
around, giving you a hard time, thinking you were just being
a jerk. I cant imagine what wouldve happened if you had
You know.

EZRA

(Making eye contact with ANTHONY and NOLAN)

The second my feet left that bridge, I regretted it. It all

seemed like too much. My father never around, Reagan off to
high school next year, and all of the pressure from school.
I couldnt take it.

NOLAN

I shouldve said something. I watched you be miserable for

days on end, and I still didnt do anything.

EZRA

(Rolling his eyes)

Well, Im as far as I know Im getting better. Growing or

something.

ANTHONY

Well, how do you feel about being back?

EZRA

Feels like its been years. How much did I miss?

ANTHONY

Not a lot, guest speaker on Thursday.

NOLAN

Okay, it is a lot of work, though I dont want to upset you

but-
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EZRA

Dont worry about upsetting me; I already know Ill be

swarmed with work. Dont feel like either of you have to put
bubble wrap around everything you say, I can deal with
myself.

ANTHONY

Were only trying to see if youll be alright. If I were you

I know very well I wouldnt go back.

EZRA

No one said I wanted to go back, but Im smart enough to at

least stop this from keeping me from getting back into my
life.

(Looking partially disgusted and partially

confused)

God, I feel like an inspirational speaker ew.

(The three boys chuckle)

Look, did Ms. Kessler ever assign that project she was
talking about?

NOLAN

Unfortunately.

EZRA

Great.

ANTHONY

I doubt shell make you do it, you have an excused absence.

EZRA

Ive still have to do it if I want to keep my A.

NOLAN
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Well help you with it then. Well come by tomorrow and

bring pizza or something. And movies.

EZRA

(Smiling)

Id appreciate it. I missed our study groups.

ANTHONY

Im happy to see you like your old self. Or your new self.

EZRA

I am too.

(CURTAIN)

(END OF SCENE)
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