The Friendship Group
By Matthew
Character breakdown (3M 2F):
RACHEL
Sarah’s best friend
ROBIN
An aspiring Chess grandmaster
SAM
Tennis Prodigy
SARAH
Single and looking to mingle
BARTENDER
Mans the coffee shop
SETTING:
Inside a coffee shop
Downtown London
TIME:
2003: Early Autumn
September 15th: 3pm
SCENE 1: Inside a local coffee shop.
AT RISE: Sam is about to order a coffee at the counter. Sarah is near the entrance to the coffee shop. Robin is currently sitting down reading a chess book. Rachel is about to enter the coffee shop.
SAM
Hello, I would like a large cappuccino for myself. How much would that be?
BARTENDER
That’ll be 4 pounds please. Nice weather today, eh?
SAM
Yes, not bad at all thanks. My friend will arrive shortly I believe. Are there any free tables around?
BARTENDER
Yes there are. Feel free to grab one which is not currently being used.
SAM
Awesome! I’ll go ahead and do that.
(Goes and sits down at a coffee table and continues sipping his Cappuccino)
SAM
Hmm, I wonder where my friend is.
(Checks the time and sees that his friend is now 15 minutes late)
SARAH
(Sam accidentally drops the coffee cup on Sarah’s skirt when she walks past)
Hey! What’s the big idea spilling the coffee on my clothes! Do you have no sense of respect?
SAM
Oh dear! I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to do that at all!
SARAH
How could you! You’ve ruined one of my favourite dresses!
SAM
I’m so sorry once again. Let me clear that up for you and I can give you the money to buy a new dress.
SARAH
That’s great thanks; (mutters to herself) man how annoying.
SAM
(Gets out £30 from his wallet)
Here you go! Hopefully that will cover the costs of your dress.
SARAH
Hey 30 quid is not enough! This dress was at least hundred pounds in the past, give me a break will you!
SAM
Hey, this is all the money I can give you. Hope that is okay
SARAH
This is completely out of order! Damn you!
(Throws a fist at Sam)
(Robin looks up from his book he is reading and tries to break up the fight)
ROBIN
This is crazy will you guys cut it out, this is not worth getting into a fight about or even an argument.
(Robin manages to split up Sarah and Sam)
Can you guys agree to disagree on this, thanks.
SARAH
I’m so sorry but I don’t know what overcame me there, is like a wild beast possessed me or something.
SAM
I agree, I can’t believe that you threw a punch at me! So frustrating, hopefully we can agree not to do that again.
(Sarah and Sam shake hands and agree not to fight again)
SARAH
(Looks at the chess book on the table)
I didn’t know you like chess!
ROBIN
Yes I very much do; why? Do you like chess?
SARAH
(Sarah shakes her head slowly)
No unfortunately I don’t however my best friend Rachel is really into chess as well.
(As they continue talking, Rachel walks into the coffee shop)
(Sarah looks at Rachel)
SARAH
No way! We were talking about you just now Rachel, how about the fact that you really enjoy Chess?
RACHEL
Hello Sarah! Wow that’s amazing! Is there another chess fan here?
SARAH
Yes there is, Robin meet Rachel.
(Sarah quickly introduces Robin to Rachel, they both proceed to shake hands)
RACHEL
Hello there! Would you like to play a chess game Robin.
ROBIN
Yes, of course!
(Robin goes ahead and sets up a chess board with pieces on them, Rachel and Robin sit down to play chess)
1 hour later:
RACHEL
Wow! You’re really something, you’re amazing at chess as well!
ROBIN
Thank you, I have been playing for a while.
SAM
You are really something Robin, I haven’t seen anyone play chess this good for a while. However tennis is more my thing. By the way I don’t think we have met before my name is Sam.
ROBIN
Pleased to meet you!
SARAH
I’m also pleased to meet you as well!
RACHEL
Hey! Let’s all exchange numbers; I’m new to the city.
SAM
Sure! Sounds good, we can all connect later.
(Everyone swaps mobile phone numbers)
SCENE 2: Inside a local coffee shop. Sam and Robin has just left half an hour ago. Rachel and Sarah is left in the shop
AT RISE: Rachel and Sarah are in a deep conversation.
SARAH
By the way, I don’t trust that guy Sam, he split coffee over me. What do you think?
RACHEL
He seems fine to me; it was probably an accident.
SARAH
Probably I agree, but still, I don’t trust the guy.
RACHEL
Fair enough, I do fancy the guy a little though, what do you think?
SARAH
Well, he is indeed an attractive guy! What more can I say?
RACHEL
I want to ask him out, would that be okay with you Sarah?
SARAH
Of course! Please go ahead.
SCENE 3: They all meet up in the local park it’s the day after and it is a sunny day.
AT RISE: The four characters Sam, Rachel, Sarah and Robin are all there
SAM
Hello! How is everyone?
RACHEL
I’m good, how is everybody else?
ROBIN
Good thanks. I was surprised at your level chess ability Rachel. It’s not often that I see girls like you play chess so well!
RACHEL
What you’re saying is ridiculous in my opinion. Girls and boys are and should be equally good at chess. Have you ever seen the Queen’s gambit before?
ROBIN
That’s very true actually; I shouldn’t really generalise it that way. However, it stands the case that I think that male chess players play better than female chess players.
RACHEL
Wow! What a generalisation! I’ll have to agree to disagree here!
ROBIN
Fair enough, let’s do that then.
A little while later. Sarah and Robin have left the scene
RACHEL
Hello! How are you doing Sam?
SAM
I’m good, you?
RACHEL
I’m not too bad at all, I wanted to let you know that I have a crush on you. Can I go out with you?
SAM
Wow
RACHEL
What do you mean by saying wow?
SAM
It’s not every day that such a pretty girl would ask me out. I say yes!
RACHEL
Yay! Thank you; I really appreciate it
(Rachel kisses Sam for a while)
SCENE 4: Rachel bumps into Sarah on the street after Sam and Rachel decided that they were going out.
AT RISE: Sarah looks angry, Rachel is walking by and sees Sarah.
RACHEL
Hello Sarah, how are you? It’s been a while! Why the bothered look?
(Sarah approaches Rachel and slaps Rachel across the face)
SARAH
How could you! How could you date Sam; I had a crush on him also!
RACHEL
But you said I could ask him out and you would be fine with that; did you forget?
SARAH
I didn’t say that and if I did it was a joke; I didn’t believe that you would go ahead and go out with him!
(Sarah starts sobbing)
RACHEL
Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about this. I hope that you will forgive me, I didn’t meant to upset you like this. Please understand.
SARAH
What? Understand what? You’re vile and you know it.
RACHEL
Please Sarah: I don’t mean this, and I don’t want to fall out with you, please.
SARAH
I don’t like this; I really don’t like this!
(Sarah calms down a lot over a timespan of a couple of minutes)
RACHEL
Are you ok; you seem stressed.
SARAH
Yes, I feel a lot better now. Sometimes my feelings cloud my judgement; I do however want to forgive you; I apologise for my wrong behaviour.
RACHEL
Thank you for your understanding and next time I will be more careful with my own actions too.
SARAH
Thank you, and hopefully will see you with the group next time when you’re available.
SCENE 5: Rachel enters a coffee shop on a date with Sam.
ON RISE: Rachel is sitting around a coffee table with Sam on the other side. They both have ordered coffees and look like they’re starting a conversation.
RACHEL
Hey Sam, we have to talk about something.
SAM
Is everything ok? I hope its nothing bad.
RACHEL
I’m unsure if its right for us to see each other, hope you understand.
SAM
Wait, I don’t understand your meaning
RACHEL
I cannot go out with you anymore; I do hope that you understand.
SAM
Hang on; I don’t really understand! It was going so well between us and now its ending; can you tell me at least why you’re ending our relationship!
RACHEL
I don’t need to tell you anything nor am I obliged to.
SAM
Come on! Please tell me I want a reason!
(Sam starts sobbing and Rachel leaves the scene)
SCENE 6: Rachel meets up with Sarah in a coffee shop the following day.
ON RISE: Rachel and Sarah are appearing to be having a serious discussion
SARAH
Thank you so much Rachel for doing that, you didn’t have to break up with Sam for me you know.
RACHEL
I know but I thought it was for the best; I won’t let anyone, or anything stand in the way of our friendship.
SARAH
Aww thank you so much!
(Sarah embraces Rachel in a deep hug)
RACHEL
I believe that friendship is important and without friendship it would not be possible to be human. Thank you for your friendship and you really mean a lot to me.
SARAH
Thank you a lot Rachel! I’m glad I mean that much to you.
RACHEL
Although Sam is no longer around, I’m still friends with Robin, want to get lunch with us sometime?
SARAH
Sure! Sounds like a great idea! Let’s go ahead and do that.
RACHEL
So I’ll text you about it later today?
SARAH
Sounds great! Please let me know.
(Both characters exit the play and the play ends)
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