BUS RIDE OF YOUR LIFEBy Emer Halpenny
AGE: 7 – 12 years
GENDER: Most or all of the above parts can be adapted to be played by male or female.
CAST NUMBER: 7
RUNNING TIME: 12 minutes approximately.
REBECCA, a model/film star – vain, rude, unfriendly
SYLVIA, a bookworm, doesn’t like to mix with people, thinks everyone’s stupid
BETH, a worrier, very low self-esteem, thinks everyone’s against her
BUS DRIVER, very happy and jolly, nothing can bring him down.
ANGELICA, apparently very sweet but tells lies and is very false
PATTY, very talkative and over-confident, doesn’t listen, always interrupts
DIANE, a very angry teenager, shouts a lot and hates everyone
At a bus stop. PATTY enters and stands at the stop. She takes out her phone and calls someone, talking loudly.
PATTY Hi Amy? HI! Yeah, it’s me. How are you? (Without waiting for an answer) Wanna know how I feel? Bored! I’m sooo bored. Yeah, waiting at the bus stop. It’s taking ages. Thought I’d call you to pass the time. What do you mean you have work to do? (Her friend has gone- she looks at the phone) Huh!
(Enter BETH.)
BETH Excuse me…(She checks the times of the bus).
PATTY I’ve been waiting ages.
BETH I beg your pardon?
PATTY What bus are you waiting for?
BETH This one.
PATTY Hah! You’ll be waiting ages. Are you going into town?
BETH Um, I – em – I – I’d rather not say.
PATTY Oooooh, snooty aren’t we?
BETH I’m just minding my own business that’s all. (She stands next to PATTY in the queue)
(Enter ANGELICA)
ANGELICA Hello. Hello.
PATTY Hello. (BETH just nods)
ANGELICA Have you been waiting long?
PATTY Ages!
BETH No not long.
ANGELICA (to BETH) Oh, what a lovely coat.
BETH Thank you.
ANGELICA It’s a pity it’s last year’s fashion.
BETH Oh…
PATTY I like your coat.
ANGELICA Oh, this old rag? It only cost, like, about €500.
PATTY Really? I thought I saw the same ones in Penneys…
ANGELICA (changing the subject, quickly) Oh look, here comes someone else.
Enter SYLVIA, reading a book and not looking at anyone.
ANGELICA Hello.
SYLVIA Hello. (She continues to read)
PATTY I’m afraid you’re in for a long wait. I’ve been waiting ages.
SYLVIA (just nods – it is clear she doesn’t want to talk to them)
BETH (coughs, quietly. SYLVIA thinks she is trying to disturb her)
SYLVIA (to BETH) Do you mind? I’m really trying to concentrate on this book.
BETH I’m sorry…I was just – clearing my throat.
SYLVIA This book was written by the most intelligent woman in the world.
PATTY Oooooh. Well excuse us!
SYLVIA I’ll try to excuse you but you will all keep making noise!
ANGELICA Of course, we understand. We’ll be as quiet as mice.
SYLVIA Thank you. (She goes back to reading her book. ANGELICA makes a face behind her back. PATTY laughs loudly.)
BETH (worried) Oh dear.
(Enter REBECCA, the model. She looks everyone up and down, rolls her eyes and takes out her pocket mirror and studies herself. PATTY takes out her phone to call someone)
ANGELICA Are you waiting for the number 62?
REBECCA Are you talking to me?
(end of sample)
AGE: 7 – 12 years
GENDER: Most or all of the above parts can be adapted to be played by male or female.
CAST NUMBER: 7
RUNNING TIME: 12 minutes approximately.
REBECCA, a model/film star – vain, rude, unfriendly
SYLVIA, a bookworm, doesn’t like to mix with people, thinks everyone’s stupid
BETH, a worrier, very low self-esteem, thinks everyone’s against her
BUS DRIVER, very happy and jolly, nothing can bring him down.
ANGELICA, apparently very sweet but tells lies and is very false
PATTY, very talkative and over-confident, doesn’t listen, always interrupts
DIANE, a very angry teenager, shouts a lot and hates everyone
At a bus stop. PATTY enters and stands at the stop. She takes out her phone and calls someone, talking loudly.
PATTY Hi Amy? HI! Yeah, it’s me. How are you? (Without waiting for an answer) Wanna know how I feel? Bored! I’m sooo bored. Yeah, waiting at the bus stop. It’s taking ages. Thought I’d call you to pass the time. What do you mean you have work to do? (Her friend has gone- she looks at the phone) Huh!
(Enter BETH.)
BETH Excuse me…(She checks the times of the bus).
PATTY I’ve been waiting ages.
BETH I beg your pardon?
PATTY What bus are you waiting for?
BETH This one.
PATTY Hah! You’ll be waiting ages. Are you going into town?
BETH Um, I – em – I – I’d rather not say.
PATTY Oooooh, snooty aren’t we?
BETH I’m just minding my own business that’s all. (She stands next to PATTY in the queue)
(Enter ANGELICA)
ANGELICA Hello. Hello.
PATTY Hello. (BETH just nods)
ANGELICA Have you been waiting long?
PATTY Ages!
BETH No not long.
ANGELICA (to BETH) Oh, what a lovely coat.
BETH Thank you.
ANGELICA It’s a pity it’s last year’s fashion.
BETH Oh…
PATTY I like your coat.
ANGELICA Oh, this old rag? It only cost, like, about €500.
PATTY Really? I thought I saw the same ones in Penneys…
ANGELICA (changing the subject, quickly) Oh look, here comes someone else.
Enter SYLVIA, reading a book and not looking at anyone.
ANGELICA Hello.
SYLVIA Hello. (She continues to read)
PATTY I’m afraid you’re in for a long wait. I’ve been waiting ages.
SYLVIA (just nods – it is clear she doesn’t want to talk to them)
BETH (coughs, quietly. SYLVIA thinks she is trying to disturb her)
SYLVIA (to BETH) Do you mind? I’m really trying to concentrate on this book.
BETH I’m sorry…I was just – clearing my throat.
SYLVIA This book was written by the most intelligent woman in the world.
PATTY Oooooh. Well excuse us!
SYLVIA I’ll try to excuse you but you will all keep making noise!
ANGELICA Of course, we understand. We’ll be as quiet as mice.
SYLVIA Thank you. (She goes back to reading her book. ANGELICA makes a face behind her back. PATTY laughs loudly.)
BETH (worried) Oh dear.
(Enter REBECCA, the model. She looks everyone up and down, rolls her eyes and takes out her pocket mirror and studies herself. PATTY takes out her phone to call someone)
ANGELICA Are you waiting for the number 62?
REBECCA Are you talking to me?
(end of sample)