CHARACTERS
ALICE, a struggling artist who is trying to establish how she feels about her own work, while dealing with the realities of what her family and teachers expect of her. She strongly adheres to her values.

MOTHER, also known as JILL, a working mother that is very concerned with how things appear, but she sincerely loves her family. She works in advertising and is in her mid to late 30's.

FATHER, aka JIM, Alice's hard-working father who is values hard-work and tangible benefits above all else (grades and money). He is explosive. He works in computer consulting and is in his mid forties.

MS.PEDANTE, Alice's very strict art teacher. She is a struggling artist who has been broken and become bitter by years of teaching, rather than becoming a "great success".

ACT I
SCENE 1

The theater goes to black and the sound of distant rain can be heard, it grows louder and louder until the sound of wind is added in, then far off from back stage left thunder. The sound of rain is loud, like "cats and dogs" directly overhead and then the thunder grows louder and louder, it should feel like it is directly overhead. The thunder fades off audience side right, the rain fades, but still can be heard. Intermittengly, inaudible voices are mixed in with the sound of the thunder. The voice is ALICE's from one of her monologues, which has been altered/sped up and mixed around with the sound of the rain and thunder..

A beat after the last raindrop can be heard falling, the lights come up onstage. There is a table with four chairs stage center at which MOTHER, FATHER and ALICE are seated eating dinner. The family eats as they talk.

FATHER (to Mother)
So, Jill, should we tell Alice about our idea?

MOTHER
I think we should Jim. Why don't you?

FATHER
Well, Alice we had a little idea about this upcoming summer vacation, it is your last summer before you go to college and we thought you might want to do something special--

MOTHER (finishing and excited)
We were thinking you might like to do something different than just be here at home with us and we have been looking at alternative options and found something we think you would like… it's a little camp--

ALICE
Camp? Why?

MOTHER and FATHER exchange worried glances because they have the alterior motive of sending ALICE there so that she may attain some social skills.

MOTHER
Because I went to camp and I loved it and we think it would be a wonderful opportunity for you.

ALICE
I don't think--

MOTHER
And it is not just any camp, honey, it's an art camp. So you can go and paint all day and meet other people your age who have the same interests as you.

FATHER
Your mother and I have done a lot of researching and, well, this is the most exclusive arts camp in the Northeast. We even secured an interview for you.

ALICE
Excuse me?

MOTHER

Getting an interview with them is very competitive.

ALICE
You haven't even ask me if I want to go.

MOTHER
Well, of course you want to go.

ALICE
I don't know.

FATHER
Why don't you just think about this, just consider it for a moment.

ALICE
I don't think I want to

MOTHER
This would be a great opportunity for you to expand your horizons, to-

ALICE
Mother, you are not listening to me. I don't want to go.

FATHER
Alice, just think about it. You don't have to decide right now.

The family sits and eats in silence for a moment Then ALICE mumbles under her breath.

ALICE
I am not going to camp.

MOTHER
Alice, I think you should just consider this. It would provide you with opportunities to experience new things. And it is beautifully situated in the Poconos. Remember when we used to go to the Poconos on vacation. You loved it there. I think it will be very inspirational for you.

ALICE
Mother, you sound like a brochure.

MOTHER
Dear, you can at least consider it.

ALICE
Why should I? I don't ask you to do things you don't want to do.

FATHER
Alice, stop being defensive about this.

ALICE
Why can't you leave me alone and just allow me to make my own decisions?

MOTHER and FATHER shared confused looks at this jump in the conversation.

FATHER
Alice, please do not shout at the dinner table.

ALICE
I am not shouting.

ALICE glares at him for a half moment, then looks down and continues eating her food.

MOTHER
I don't understand what the problem is. You love art so we are providing you with an chance to paint and draw all day and meet other kids who are just like you.

ALICE (harshly)
Mother, I'm not going.

FATHER
Alice, don't talk to your mother that way and from now on I think you should leave that negative attitude when you come to dinner. Your mother and I would like to have a nice, relaxing meal with our family after a long day of work and-

ALICE
I am sorry that I ruined you dinner. Maybe I just shouldn't eat here anymore.

ALICE gets up and exits.

FATHER
Alice come back here.

The sound of a door slam.

MOTHER
You shouldn't have said that.

FATHER
I- She- she just makes things very, very hard.

MOTHER
I know it seems like she makes things hard, but you shouldn't have yelled at her.

They eat for a moment.

FATHER
I didn't yell.

MOTHER has a growing look of concern on her face.

MOTHER
Yes, you did and if we yell at her than she won't be open to us.

FATHER
Open to us? She won't listen to us, don't be euphemistic about it.

MOTHER
Well, maybe she would listen, if you didn't yell at her.

FATHER
I wasn't yelling at her.

MOTHER
Yes, you were.

FATHER eats and thinks for a moment.

FATHER
Well, I wouldn't yell, if I wasn't upset.

FATHER continues talking on his own tangent.

FATHER
I just don't understand where she is coming from. I mean we give her everything she could possibly want and all we ask is for a little civility. This is really the last thing I need in my day.

MOTHER
In your day? How do you think I like this? She hates me, she seems to hate everyone. Maybe that is normal, hell, I don't know. I have never done this before.

FATHER
It's not normal. I don't like it. But what can we do?

MOTHER
Jim do you realize she doesn't have any friends. Do you think it's my fault? I know she is going to blame this all on me on day. Everyone always blames everything on the Mother and now I am the mother!

FATHER reacts to MOTHER.

FATHER
Jill, Jill, stop it, calm down.

MOTHER
There seems to be nothing I can do about her. And she won't let me help. She won't even talk to me.

FATHER and MOTHER are dealing with ALICE'S inability to socialize and lack of communication with them as if it is their problem that they can fix or help fix. ALICE believes that they are meddling and that her issues have nothing to do with them. She would prefer if they left her alone entirely. All they want is to be included in her life.

FATHER
It's probably just her age. It's a very awkward time and maybe we just need to keep reminding ourselves of that.

MOTHER
I know.

Lights fade to black.

SCENE 2 ALICE'S DREAM NUMERO UNO

Scene change. Lights come up on ALICE sitting on her bed, in her pajamas in her room. There is a bed, a bed side table and a canvas with paints. ALICE is sitting up drawing. There is a knock from offstage.

FATHER
Alice?

ALICE
Yes.

FATHER
Can I come in?
ALICE
No.

FATHER (He holds himself back)
Uh, ok. I can respect that. Lights out kiddo.

ALICE
Ok.

FATHER
Goodnight, Alice.

ALICE (after a beat, she decides to say good night)
Night, Dad.

As ALICE starts to fall asleep, the lights dim and an image comes up behind her.
FILM #1

ALICE wakes up from her dream, she turns the television off and gets out a pad and a pen and begins drawing fervently.