Here we Come-Play Script

In the play, Here We Come, Miss Begg is determined to get her students to behave as they board a plane to Reykjavik. Unfortunately, as the crew begins to give safety instructions to the passengers, Lizzie begins to panic and the other students turn against her. When a flight attendant assists her, all her worst fears about flying come true. Will they make it to their destination alive? Buckle up for this very short comedy!

Barbara Henderson is a German-born novelist and playwright and has lived in Scotland since 1991. She acquired an MA in English Language and Literature, a husband, three children and a shaggy dog along the way. She now teaches drama, although if you dig deep in her past you will find that she has earned her crust as a puppeteer, relief librarian and receptionist among others. Barbara is the author of Fir for Luck and Crystal-Kite, shortlisted Punch, both historical novels for children, and children’s eco-thriller Wilderness Wars, all published by Cranachan. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and has won several national and international short story competitions. She lives in Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland.

Excerpt from the play:

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Miss Begg
Lizzie
Friend
Attendant at desk
Attendant 2
Sammy
Mac
Lena
Donnie
Anna
Cabin Crew 1
Cabin Crew 2
Cabin Crew 2
Pilot
Derren
Nicki
Ollie
Helen

Here We Come
By Barbara Henderson

Scene 1

Miss Begg
Right this way! Passports, passports! Oi, behave back there.

(Bit of jostling at the back. Into freeze frame. Lizzie edges backwards.)

Lizzie
I don’t feel good about this. Not good at all. I can’t, I just can’t. (hyperventilates)

Friend
(drags her forward) Come on!

Attendant at desk
Your flight BA54 to Reykjavik is now ready for boarding. If we could ask families with small children to board first, please.

(Kids look at each other. There is a moment of hesitation. Then all kids go down on knees and pretend to be much younger than they are, shuffling forward.)

Miss Begg
Ahem. All mine.

Attendant
School trip?

Miss Begg
(relieved to be admitting it) That’s right.

Attendant
(hesitates) All right then. Fine. Passport…passport
(scans)

Attendant 2
Another queue on this side please. Hand luggage only. May I see your passport? May I see your passport …?

(Kids ushered through offstage. Lizzie and friend left.)

Attendant 2
Passport!

Lizzie
I’m s-scared of fffly… (shakes too much to hand it over. Friend grabs it off her and shows it and pushes Lizzie through.)

Scene 2: Plane

(Pupils enter, carrying chairs with them and arranging them into plane seats)

Sammy
I get to sit at the front! Cool!

Mac
I love the window seat! Come on; let me have the window seat!

Lena
No! Your boarding pass says Aisle! Tough luck!

Mac
(to Donnie) I hate her!

Donnie
What makes you think I care? Iceland here I come!

Anna
Budge up?

Miss Begg
This is not a school bus! You don’t budge up. You simply sit in the seat your boarding pass tells you. Is that understood?

Everyone
Yes Miss Begg.

(2 seats at front stay empty. Miss Begg counts heads frantically.)

Cabin Crew 1
Prepare for door closing.