A Story to Be Told: A Short 10 Min Play

By Malcolm Smith

The Story of a young girl and how love, life and sacrifice aren’t as easy as you think

Lights up on a stool with an old dusty book on top of it, a person walks onstage and looks at audience, as is making sure everyone is in attendance. Once they are satisfied, the lights change

and she opens her book, sits down, flips to the first page, and begins…

Narrator: (To audience, not from book) Hello, make yourselves comfortable. I have brought a story to tell you. As this story unfolds I encourage you to look deeper and I think you’ll be surprised at what you find. I guess the beginning is a good place to start. (Stage begins to assemble) This story takes place in ( insert setting) in a small tailor shop. This is a story about sacrifice, human nature, and about how one choice changed a girl’s life forever. (Begins to read) It was a beautiful sunny day, as Lana arrived at the tailor shop, ready to try on the dress, but not seeing him anywhere, she called out with a…

Lana: Hello? (Not seeing the tailor she walks over to the dress, caressing it with wonder, then the Tailor enters carrying a spool of thread)

Tailor: Hello?

Lana: (Startled) Hi

Tailor: You must be Lana

Lana: Yes

Tailor: Nice to meet you, I’m Jonah

Lana: John. Is that it? (Pointing at the dress)

Jonah: Yes

Lana: It looks so beautiful, it must have taken you forever

(Jonah goes to the desk and begins working on the dress, Lana fights to contain her happiness over the dress)

Jonah: Is this your first time in the capitol Lana

Lana: (Enthusiastic) Oh yes. I can’t stop looking around. All the beautiful buildings, the parks, all the people; I swear I can’t look at anything long enough

Jonah: It’s very busy this time of year, tomorrow it will be even more crowded (pause) Are you here alone?

Lana: Yes my family was unable to come

Jonah: You family? (Goes and retrieves the dress, Lana follows)

Lana: My mother’s dead. So my father, I have two brothers, younger than me. Their working the farm and so they couldn’t come. John said he would videotape the ceremony tomorrow so my father can watch. I only wish I would be around to give it to him

(Jonah takes dress back to desk and works, while Lana wanders and looks out a window)

Lana: Oh you can see the fountain from here. There it is… and the monument. And that’s where the motorcade will stop. Oh and that’s where we’ll be standing. This is exciting

Jonah: Are you ready for tomorrow, the wedding?

Lana: I think so. We practice every day. In the morning and in the evening; John has taught me how to hold the flowers and how to bow before the crowd. I’m very nervous

Jonah: That’s’ understandable

Lana: John is very strict; he insists that everything be just right.

Jonah: I should know, he’s my brother after all.

Lana: Oh. Can I tell you something? Sometimes after supper, I rehearse in my room. I want to make sure I don’t make a mistake. I hold the flowers just like so

A spotlight appears onstage, Lana walks into it and acts out the instructions as she says them.

I take two steps forward, then bow before the people. Then I take three more steps, and throw the flowers into their waiting arms

Jonah enters spotlight, a little too close to Lana

Jonah: I’m sure you’ll be fine

The moment is over, lights back to normal

Lana: The dress looks lovely, do you make a lot of dresses

Jonah: (Obviously disappointed) Not like this

Lana: Is this the first one that…

Jonah: No, I made one two years ago, for a wedding

Lana: Another wedding dress

Jonah: When the Prince Simon got married. The brides name was Julia

Lana: Oh… I saw that on television, on the news. I remember her. You made that dress?

Jonah: Yes I did

Lana: It was very pretty and this one is just like it. It’s an honor to wear this dress

Jonah: It’s only a dress

Lana: No it’s an honor (Lana looks away, very frustrated)

Jonah: …. (Looking away also)Are you… are you sure you want to do this

Lana: Do what?

Jonah: The wedding, giving up who you are?

Lana: Well, what do you mean?

Jonah: It’s just that, well it’s not for everyone

Lana:

Do you think … I’m not?

Jonah: No…

Lana: You think I’m not good enough

Jonah: No, Lana (Takes her hands in his)

Lana: (Throwing his hands away) this is an honor for me, the most important this I have ever done

Jonah: Yes, I just

Lana: I am here for my family. I have always heard of patriots, freedom fighters. I always wanted to do something for my family, even something small, like this

Jonah: Yes

Lana: I was deeply moved when he asked me to marry him

Jonah: Yes I’m sorry, I just thought… never mind

(Lana wanders around for a moment)

Lana: Did, did you know her?

Jonah: Who?

Lana: The girl at the other wedding

Jonah: Yes

Lana: Was she nervous?

Jonah:Very nervous.

Lana: Was she….? No, that would be silly. She was a beautiful singer, and I’m just a country

girl.

TAILOR

Actually, she was much like you, yes.

SARAH

But she had to stand up and sing before all those people and I’m just here to carry

flowers.

TAILOR

(finished sewing)

It’s a big job, Sarah. You are representing all of us. It’s only natural to be nervous