The Remote
 | Drama
by Dave Marsh
September 18, 2007
|
A drama about obeying your parents
Director's Notes:
I love old Twilight Zone episodes. So, I wrote this drama as if the
mom has a magical remote. It's pretty wacky but gets it's point across.
BTW, I borrowed the ending from the Simpsons...
Cast:
Beth: Mom
Diane: Beth's daughter
Rod Serling: Someone talking into a mike.
Props:
A remote
Boombox (prop only)
3 songs (1 heavy metal, 1 Johnny Mathis or the like, and 1 Beatles)
Twilight Zone theme (you can find this on the net)
Couch (or 2 chairs put together)
Setting:
Inside a family room.
(LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE)
(Beth is lying on a couch, exhausted. She has the tv remote in her hand and is
watching a show. Diane enters with boombox in hand blaring some heavy metal
music)
Beth: Diane? DIANE!!!
Diane: What?
Beth: Would you please turn that off?
Diane: Why?
Beth: Because I ASKED YOU TO!
Diane: (exasperated) Whatever. (turns it off)
Beth: Honestly, young lady, I work my fingers to the bone for you and all I ask for is a
little peace and quiet.
Diane: Doesn’t look like you’re working to me.
Beth: What? Do you have any idea what I’ve done all day? I’ve done 4 loads of
laundry, cleaned the house from top to bottom, drove you and Tina over to the mall,
picked you two up from the mall, made dinner and gave Timmy a bath.
Diane: Is that it?
Beth: Is that it? You don’t appreciate anything I do.
Diane: Whatever.
Beth: Argh! Would you stop (accidentally pushes remote. Diane freezes.)
Beth: Wha? Diane? (walks around her and as she looks at the remote, it dawns on her
that the remote must be magical) Oh wow. What is going on?
Narrator: (Plays twilight zone theme) Beth Raymond, an ordinary mother in an
ordinary suburban house on an extraordinary day. Yes, today is different. Today is
Mother’s day. But not any Mother’s day but Mother’s Day in the Twilight Zone.
Beth: Okay so I said ‘Stop’ and I must have hit the stop button. Hmmm. I wonder
what would happen if I hit rewind?
Diane: (Diane backs up to where she started…)
Beth: Cool! Now, let’s start over. No, wait. Let’s program the remote for something a
little different. (sits down on couch) And, GO!
Diane: (Diane walks in listening to Johnny Mathis)
Beth: Diane?
Diane: Yes, mother?
Beth: Would you please turn that off?
Diane: Why of course, dear mother. (turns it off)
Beth: Thank you.
Diane: No, mother, thank you. Thank you for everything you do! Thank you for
driving us and thank you for washing clothes and cleaning and loving us! Ohhh,
mother!
Beth: Um, no problem honey. Do you want to watch TV with me?
Diane: Oh no, mother, I wouldn’t think of barging in on your quiet time. But perhaps
you would like me, your humble daughter, to read a poem I wrote about how wonderful
you are!
Beth: Uh, sure.
Diane: Mother, mother, how great you are.
You are so wonderful, a shining star.
You are my mother, oh yes, my mother!
There is no other, my mother…
Beth: Stop! (Beth presses the remote and Diane freezes.) Mother is getting ill! This
isn’t what I wanted. I don’t want some sort of sweetening-sick zombie-daughter. I just
want her to obey me. Hmmm, okay, last try. (presses some buttons – Diane goes back
to where she was.)
Beth: Okay, GO!
Diane: (Enters listening to the Beatles)
Beth: Diane?
Diane: Yeah?
Beth: Would you please turn that off?
Diane: (turns it off) What, don’t like the Beatles?
Beth: I was always a Monkee’s fan.
Dave: (Joking) Ah, mom, I can’t take you anywhere!
Beth: Sue me.
Diane: Tough day, eh?
Beth: Yeah. Some Mother’s day.
Diane: Well, how about we just sit here and hang out, eat some ice cream and just
watch some TV?
Beth: That would be great.
Diane: Cool. I have a couple of hours before Zog from the planet Zygorf picks me up
in his space craft.
Beth: (looks at Diane, then at the remote, then at the audience).
Beth: Eh, close enough.
(twilight zone theme)
(LIGHTS FADE OUT)
END
(c) 1999 Dave Marsh
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.