School Work-Science Fiction Play Script

School Work is science-fiction play that takes place in a middle school. Lack of government funding means that schools are closing and being turned into factories. Students are being forced to work in these factories making an unidentifiable object and the slave-driving overlords are extraterrestrials! This comedy explores the value of education and forced labor without targeting or offending any particular group in our own society (unless you’re an alien).

Elizabeth Rapoza first began writing plays for and with children over 30 years ago. The first thing she noticed was that there were few plays for children with rewarding roles for every actor. Liz felt that each student deserved (and frequently paid) to have the same experience, she began “Backyard Dramatics”, a youth self-scripting curriculum. In these workshops, student actors create plots and characters based on stories invented by the students. These are then carefully scripted by Ms. Rapoza and performed by the students. Liz’s plays are kid and audience tested across the country and around the globe. Her youth play, “Perstephanie Goes Underground” won the Boston Public Schools Short Play Development Award. Her adult radio comedy “The Amazing Adventures of Pajamazon” was a in winner in Mae West Fest of Seattle’s search for the Ultimate Female Protagonist. Her plays have been performed at venues such as SlamBoston and the Factory Theater Boston. In addition, Liz is a professional actor, dancer, musician/vocalist, puppeteer and costumer. She has taught college theater courses since 2003 and currently teaches at Cape Cod Community College. Contact Liz at: [email protected].

Excerpt from the play:

CAST OF CHARACTERS

TEACHER/GEEBO (m or f)
ANNOUNCER/CHOOZHDEE (m or f)
DYLAN (m)
CHRIS (m)
ANDREW (m)
MICK (m)
LIANNE (f)
SHELBY (f)
ROBERTA (f)

SETS AND COSTUMES:
The setting for Scene 1 is a middle school classroom. Desks are arranged in rows with a teacher desk and chair at the head of the classroom. Scene 2 is set outside of the school building and be performed in front of the closed curtain. Scene 3 is the area formerly the classroom, desks now replaced with tables. Chairs can be removed or placed in a row upstage. Students actors are playing students and can dress as themselves. Students playing aliens can where nondescript clothing in a single color.

SCENE 1: A middle school classroom on a Monday

(STUDENTS sit at their desks talking and fooling around) (TEACHER enters and stands behind her desk)

TEACHER
Please quiet down for the afternoon assignments.

(STUDENTS quiet down. A bell rings)

ANNOUNCER
Good afternoon Garfield Middle School. Today was a wonderful day for teaching and learning at our spotlight school. Now for the news…because the government no longer has any money to fund education, our school has been bought out by an independent corporation. I regret to say, there will be no more school.

(Some STUDENTS cheer)

Some of you may be thinking that this is a good thing, but let me assure you, it’s not. The corporation that bought all of the schools is going to turn them into factories and you are going to be the workers.

(STUDENTS groan)

Enjoy tonight because starting tomorrow, you’ll all be working hard to help the economy recover!

(STUDENTS react with confusion and dismay)

TEACHER
Before you all start complaining, let me tell you that there will be an aptitude test. After that, I’ll collect all of your books which will then be destroyed.

DYLAN 
(With confidence) Dude, I’ll totally ace the attitude test.

TEACHER
(Snapping testily) Not attitude test you id…(Taking a deep breath to compose herself) an aptitude test. (Under her breath) Gloopy!

DYLAN 
What was that?

TEACHER
Just shut it rahbskee!

DYLAN 
Dude, my name’s not Rob.

TEACHER
And my name’s not Dude! It’s Mr./Ms. LeBlanc!

CHRIS
Hey! What about our football game?

ANDREW
Yeah! We’re in the finals!

LIANNE
You’re not in the finals. You’re in last place.

CHRIS
Well that’s pretty final.

TEACHER
Neechkt! Neechkt!

ANDREW
(Mocking the TEACHER) Neechkt! Neechkt!…Neekcht! Neechkt!

TEACHER
Stop that!

MICK
(Raising hand) Do we really have to give up our books?

TEACHER
Yes!

SHELBY
I can’t give up my books! I haven’t finished my homework!

TEACHER
There is no more homework, only work.

ROBERTA
Oh, yeah? And what if we refuse to work? There’s a law against kid’s working. You can’t make us.

TEACHER
They have changed the law. If you refuse to work, there will be consequences. (Evil laugh) Heh heh heh heh heh.