Monster Under the Bed

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6 characters, 3F, 3M. Approximately 10 minutes running time. A little girl fears there is a monster under her bed.

When little Molly is afraid to go to sleep because there might be a monster under her bed, her siblings tease her, and her parents give her a bell to ring if she gets scared. The ‘monster’ turns out to be real, but he’s not what everyone expects!

This adorable script includes discussion questions and director’s notes on casting and set design.

Debra A. Cole is a celebrated humanities teacher, youth theatre director, and children’s playwright with degrees in journalism, art history, and elementary education. She understands the needs of young performers and their directors and creates pieces that encourage engaging discussion, creative thought, and quirky playfulness. Her goal is that young performers discover the power and delight that theatre brings to actors and audiences alike.

Visit her website:

www.debraacole-playwright.com

Excerpt from the play:

CHARACTERS

MOLLY — (F) young girl who is afraid of a monster under her bed
MATT — (M) monster who resides under Molly’s bed – sometimes invisible – working on juggling
BEN — (M) older brother who teases Molly
GRACE — (F) older sister who tries to help Molly
MOM — (F) kind and loving – tries to be helpful
DAD — (M) no nonsense approach to problems

(The action takes place in modern day in the bedroom of the little girl.)

(Lights come up with Molly being tucked into bed by her parents. The lights are low from a single bedside lamp. The lamp should be a colorful lamp. Next to the lamp is a small bell. Her room is filled with bright colors, stuffed animals, and children’s artwork. Molly looks worried, and her parents are trying to make her feel better.)

DAD
Enough is enough, Molly. For the last time, there is no such thing as a monster under your bed.

MOM
(scolding Dad but trying to stay calm) Sweetie, Molly is really struggling. Maybe the tough Dad approach is not the way to handle this.

DAD
Well, when I was Molly’s age, I just went to sleep. No drinks, no snacks, no stories, and NO LOOKING UNDER THE BED to make sure there wasn’t a monster!

MOM
Molly is not you, sweetie. Remember, Ben and Grace went through this when they were little, and now they are just fine. It’s not that unusual at her age to be scared. We all have fears. You know how I feel about jugglers… they are just creepy! (looking to Molly) Do you want us to look one more time, sweet girl?

MOLLY
(worried) Yes, please.

DAD
(takes a deep breath and looks under the bed on his hands and knees) NOPE! Nothing. Well… I do see a few pairs of doll shoes and gum wrappers scattered around, but other than that… all clear!

MOM
See? Nothing to worry about. (deep breath) Now what did we say to do if you heard anything that made you worry or feel scared?

MOLLY
I can ring the bell.
(Mom grabs the bell next to the bedside table.)

MOM
Exactly. Just ring this bell, and we will check on you.

MOLLY
(rings bell over and over again) Like this?

DAD
(clearly not happy) THIS is a very bad idea.

MOM
(puts hand on bell to stop it from making noise) Yes, just like that. (kisses Molly on the forehead and places the bell back on the desk) Goodnight, sweet girl.
(Mom and Dad exits stage right off stage leaving Molly by herself with the table light still on.)

MOLLY
(pulling the covers up under her chin) I can do this. There is no such thing as a monster under my bed.
(Suddenly, there is knock on the bedroom door. Ben peeks in and addresses Molly.)

BEN
You asleep yet, squirt?

MOLLY
Not yet.
(Ben enter Molly’s bedroom. He is clearly up to no good.)

BEN
I don’t know how you do it.

MOLLY
(suspiciously) Do what?

BEN
Sleep knowing a monster lives underneath your bed.

MOLLY
STOP IT, Ben! Mom and Dad said there is no such thing as a monster under my bed.

BEN
(walking around the room examining toys as he goes) Sure, moms and dads are supposed to say that. I think it’s part of the parent training they receive when they bring a kid home. (using adult voice) “Here are you diapers. Here are your bottles. Oh, and here is your parent guidebook that lists all the LIES you should tell your kid to make them feel better.”

MOLLY
Stop trying to scare me! Mom said you were scared when you were my age too.

BEN
Me? Scared? I don’t think so.
(Grace can be seen peering into Molly’s room and overhears Ben’s comments.)

BEN
(CONT.) I hear monsters only live under beds of girls.

GRACE
(entering room) What are you telling her, Ben?

BEN
(casually) Oh, nothing. Just that monsters only live under the beds of girls.

GRACE
Funny, Ben. I seem to remember you were pretty sure a monster named “Frank” lived underneath your bed as a kid. And last time I checked, you were a boy. (sits down next to Molly on the bed)

BEN
Frank? (nervously) I don’t remember anything about a Frank.

MOLLY
(looks worried again) Frank? Monsters under the bed have names?

BEN
(scolding in a joking manner) Look what you did, Grace! You made our baby sister even more scared. Way to go! Wait a minute… I seem to remember a story about YOU being afraid of a monster under YOUR bed. What was his name…?

(Grace looks nervous.)

Mike? No…. Gary? No…. Oh, I remember the story, his name was Todd. (laughs to himself)

MOLLY
(nervously) Todd?

GRACE
(shaking her head) I know, Todd isn’t a very scary name, but neither is the name Frank, but YOU (looking at Ben) were pretty scared of him!

MOLLY
You guys aren’t scared now! What did you do?

BEN
Easy! We just rang that bell back when we were little.

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