Cast and Characters:
Sarah - Pam Barnhart - On the outside looks like a normal American girl. Both of her parents are alcoholics.
Nick - Carlos - A friend of Pam's
DuLani - Mr. Strickland - An overworked, underpaid suburban High School teacher
Tracy - Students - Average High School students
Tracy - Nurse - A hospital floor nurse
Sarah, Nick - Mr. And Mrs. Barnhart (Pam's Parents) - Drunks, not really good parents
DuLani - Mr. Scott - Children's Services worker
Act I
Scene 1
(Spilt scene. One half shows Carlos's room, the other shows Pam's room. Both are working on their group English plays which they received minimal help from their group on. Pam spontaneously decides to call Carlos, [Make sure that Pam dials a seven digit number])
Carlos: (The phone rings and he picks it up) Hello?
Pam: Hello. Is Carlos there?
Carlos: You're speaking to him.
Pam: Oh. Hi Carlos its Pam.
Carlos: Oh. Hi Pam. Whats up?
Pam: Oh. Not much.. I'm just kind of bored and my parents are kind of pissing me off.
Carlos: Oh.. They're breathing down your back like every parent does.
Pam: Not exactly.. They're not even here.
Carlos: So whats your problem with your parents?
Pam: There never here!
Carlos: Never?
Pam: Never. The only time I see them is in the morning when I say good-bye to them.
Carlos: Geez.. That's pretty bad.
Pam: Yeah. I know. I've been getting to be a pretty good cook lately. Do you know what my favorite channel is?
Carlos: Nope.
Pam: I bet you were thinking the food channel.. But actually it's PBS.... Wan can cook really is a cool show.
Carlos: Well. I hate to say it but I have to get back to work on this English play. I've got get these revisions done. Talk to you later.
Pam: Talk to you later. Bye.
Carlos: Bye.
(Both hang up)
Scene 2
(A classroom scene, Student is sitting paying attention taking notes, Carlos has The Chosen and open, but, a World Civ book is placed inside it, Pam is sitting down with the closed book on her page.)
Mr. Strickland: So, how many of you don't know anything about World War Two?
(Pam and Carlos raise their hands)
Mr. Strickland: Well World War Two started when... (Voice fades but he continues to draw on the board.)
Carlos: Hey, Pam, how about them Cowboys? (Pauses for her but she doesn't answer.) Y'know, I blew 25 bucks on the Steelers... that was my entire Magic collection, too!
Pam: Quit, already. I'm already failing this class and I've got twenty-five work hours that are due tomorrow.
Carlos: Oh. All right. (He begins to pay attention to Mr. Strickland)
Mr. Strickland: And that's how the Battle of the Bulge was won. Remember that General Slimfast's tactics played a very important role. (Looks at clock and realizes time) Oops! Time to go. Remember, your sixteen-paragraph essay on Daniel's toe fungus is due tomorrow. (Pauses) Pam can you stay a moment?
(Classroom, students, including Carlos, leave the room. Mr. Strickland closes the door behind the students and starts talking while he walks back to his desk.)
Mr. Strickland: (Apprehensively) Pam, I know you haven't been doing very well in school lately. Is there anything wrong?
Pam: (Nervously protecting her parents) No... Um... Everything's been fine, I've just, um, had some trouble understanding the material lately, um, you know science isn't my best subject.
Mr. Strickland: (Sensing her nervousness, and hinting that there might be problems at home) Are you sure you don't need any extra help?
Pam: (Still nervous but attempting to show confidence) No, but thank you.
Mr. Strickland: You know you look a little pale. Maybe you should see the school nurse.
Pam: Thank you, I'll do that. I have to get to class. (Standing up and edging toward door) Can I go?
Mr. Strickland: Yes. Just remember you need to work a little harder on your science.
(Pam exits, and Mr. Strickland goes back to work)
Scene 3
(Outside the room, Carlos appears to be waiting for Pam, and Student, is in the background)
Carlos: So what was that about Pam?
Pam: Not much just a little talk about my grades. (Somewhat disgusted Pam walks off)
(Carlos moves toward Student)
Carlos: Hey do you know whats up with her?
Student: No, but I'd stay out of her business. It's rude to invade someone's privacy.
(Student walks off as Pam walks on, like she is rushing to another class and collapses, Student doesn't notice.)
Carlos: (Running over to Pam) Pam? Pam? Are you all right? (Louder and more forcefully) PAM? (She is unresponsive to all his pleas) PAM? (To the audience, voicing his thoughts) I've to get help. (He runs off stage)
Scene 4
(Pam is lying in a hospital bed, unconscious. The familiar beep, beep of an EKG Sinus rhythm is present, a nurse appears to be checking how she is doing as Carlos walks in)
Nurse: (Noticing Carlos has entered) She's unconscious, Only family is allowed to visit.
Carlos: (Shy) Oh.. Ok.. (Hesitantly walks out, Nurse follows him in a minute, after Nurse walks out Carlos walks back in, sits down and just watches Pam. Time passes and the Nurse comes in to check on Pam, and she sees Carlos but ignores him, the Nurse leaves then Pam wakes up)
Pam: (surprised Carlos is sitting near her) Carlos?
Carlos: Pam? I was wondering when you were going to wake up.
Pam: Shoot. Must have been that chicken last night. I knew I should have cooked it longer, especially considering how long it sat at the bottom of the refrigerator.
Carlos: Why were you cooking?
Pam: Well I think it was from Mr. Strickland's glaring stare.
Carlos: Ha. Ha. (Said like he knows it is a bad joke.) No, I meant why were you cooking the chicken?
Pam: (She knows the game they're playing) Oh... The chicken. (Hesitant, protecting here parents) Um.. Well. (Pauses, considering to tell Carlos the truth) It is kind of because, well, last night my parents were at the bar, getting drunk.
Carlos: Were they at the bar last week, when you were in here?
Pam: (Hesitant, shaking head yes) Yeah. They were.
Carlos: Have you told anyone else?
Pam: (Quickly but Gently) No.
Carlos: (Getting uncomfortable with the subject, voice fades) What do you think about that episode of Friends?
Pam: The one when Ross sees Marcel again?
Carlos: (Voice fading) Yeah thats the one.
Scene 5
(Waiting room where Pam's parents are waiting, nurse walks in)
Mrs. Barnhart: (Standing up quickly, showing motherly instinct) Is she all right?
Nurse: She is sick, she seems to have some food poising.
Mr. Barnhart: (Drunkenly) Ahh. Pam will be fine she's probably just faking. Now, I've got to go get me a beer, I've got to keep up to my 12-pack a day.
Nurse: (Disturbed by Mr. Barnhart's comments) Would you like to see her?
Mrs. Barnhart: I would like to but, we've got a date at a bar with some friends.
(Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart leave, a moment later Carlos walks in)
Carlos: (Shy) Um.. I need to talk to you about something.
Nurse: What is it?
Carlos: (Still Shy) Um.. It's Pam's (Pauses to consider if he is doing the right thing) , um, parents. They kind of leave her home a lot, to go the bar, without enough food. She doesn't cook the food she has right and then she gets sick.
Nurse: Is this true?
Carlos: Well, it's what she said.
Nurse: Don't worry son. You've done the right thing. (She walks out with the definite purpose to call Children's Services.)
Scene 6
(The same waiting room later in the day, Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart are sitting down, in a minute the Nurse comes in with Mr. Scott)
Nurse: Mr. Scott here are Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart. (She exits)
Mr. Scott: (He waits on until the Nurse exits and then he makes sure the door is closed.) Hello Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart. (Shakes their hands) I'm Mr. Scott with Children's Services. (Getting right to the point) It has been called to our attention, Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart, by someone, that you are unfit parents.
Mrs. Barnhart: Thats Not True! We've always treated her right. We take her on expensive vacations and we always buy her the best of everything.
Mr. Scott: Well we believe that it is in Pam's interests that she be temporarily be placed in foster care.
Mrs. Barnhart: (To Mr. Scott) You can't do that! (To Mr. Barnhart) Can they do that?
Mr. Scott: Yes we can.
Mr. Barnhart: (Angrily) You won't get away with this. (Making empty threats) I've got friends in high places. And I know some really good lawyers, that could have your license revoked in and hour, they also happen to develop photos.
Mr. Scott: I'll have the papers filled out later and mailed to you. You'll have to take the rest up with Judge Wapner.
Scene 7
(Pam's hospital room. Pam is in bed and Carlos walks in and sits down.)
Pam: (Angrily) You did what?
Carlos: (Calmly) I told the nurse about your parents.
Pam: I can't believe you did that!
Carlos: Did what?
Pam: Told the nurse, I thought you knew that all of that was supposed to be between just us.
Scene 8
(Empty Stage)
Narrator: Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart went to Alcoholics Anonymous and later regained custody of their daughter. During that period, Pam and Carlos's relationship weakened and eventually disintegrated. The Barnharts have been going to a rehab program and they are on their way to recovery.