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Show TRAMBONE (In CHARACTERS order of appearance) Katy Stevensncncnnen A 12-year-old. Dressed in cut-offs and shirt Elizabeth Stevens.....Katy’s mother. Dressed in house dress and apron Katy’s father. Dressed in business suit Robert Stevens Katy’s sister. Dressed in casual suit Joni Stevens Dressed in slacks and sport coat Neil Todd Milner As the curtain rises, the telephone rings three times. On the third ring Katy comes in and answers it. Mrs. Stevens enters. Katy: (Lifts the receiver) Hello, Stevens residence. No, she isn't. Yes, I’ll tell her you called. Goodbye. Mrs. Stevens: Who was that? It surely wasn’t one of your friends. You were too polite. Katy: That was Todd Milner. He wanted Joni. Mrs. Stevens: What did he want? Joni had better not be running around with him. Katy: Joni likes him. In fact, I’d say she loves him. Mrs. Stevens: In love? She is no more in love with him than . than I am. She doesn’t know what she wants. During the next portions of the play Mr. Stevens comes home, and he and Mrs. Stevens discuss Joni and Todd. Joni enters. An argument follows; it seems that Mrs. Stevens disapproves of Todd. Joni has asked him to come over to study, but Mrs. Stevens refuses to let him in her house. Todd comes; he enters. Joni: (As Katy exits) Todd, I’ve decided we have to tell them right away. Todd: Joni, we can’t tell them yet. What are you going to say? (They sit on the couch) You can’t just go up to them and say, “Oh, guess what? I guess I forgot to tell you. I’m married.” That would go over really rare. - months is too long. Let’s tell them tonight. I want to be Mrs. Todd Milner always. Todd: Joni, think sensibly. We have just two months. We can't tell them we’ve been married for three months. They'll have it annulled. Joni: I don’t care. I love you, and I’m not going to wait any longer. Todd: (Circles her shoulder) Joni, please listen to me. I love you too. But I don’t want to see you hurt. Don’t you understand? Joni: Sure, I understand. I want to be with you all the time, not just when I can sneak away. Todd: (Kisses her forehead) Sure, sweetie. Look, we'll figure something out. (He kisses her softly. Mrs. Stevens enters). Mrs. Stevens: (Coughs. The couple separate in a hurry) I can plainly see that you are not getting much homework done. If I may suggest something, I think you had better concentrate more on your school work. Joni: Yes, mother. (Mrs. Stevens exits) See what I mean? Todd: I believe I’ll not be around the day you tell her. Joni: Oh, no, you don’t. You'll be right here when she finds out. Todd: Let’s run away and send them a telegram. Joni: Oh, come on now. (Kisses him) You're not afraid, are you? Todd: (Kisses her) Whoops, better watch that. Your mother may be watching. (Shrugs and kisses her again) Joni: Let’s tell them tonight. Please? Katy: Sure, go ahead and tell them. (Hums wedding march) Joni: Why, you nosy little ... Katy, what made you do a thing like that? Katy: HABIT, pure habit, my dear sister. (She exits, humming song.) Todd: If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Oh hell! Joni: Now we have to tell them. . . right now. Mrs. Stevens: Tell who what? Joni: Oh, mother, we were just discussing our history project. Mrs. Stevens: I think that Todd had better leave. You are not doing homework. You are just making fun of me. (To Todd) Now you go, and don’t you come back. Leave my daughter alone. You are not to see her again. Ever! Go—go, go! Joni: Mother, Todd never has to leave. We are married. He's my husband. Don’t you understand? Mrs. Stevens: You’re what? (She screams) Robert, come in here. Mr. Stevens: (Enters) What in the hell is going on in this house? What do you want, Elizabeth? Joni: Oh Todd. I want to get it over with. Mother threatened to make me stay away from you. Todd: Don’t worry, honey. We'll figure something out. Give me some time to think it all out. In two months you'll be eighteen. We can tell them then, and they can’t do anything about it. Joni: Todd, you don’t listen. Mother won’t let me see you. Two Joni: Father, Todd and I are married. Todd: Mr. Stevens, I can explain. Joni and I are happy, and we want a chance to say our piece. If the wedding is annulled, we will just get married as soon as she is eighteen. My parents approve of this, and I’m sure they will help us. We don’t need your help if you don’t want to help us. 42 43 |