Jen Gone Bad

[~Tropical Punch 19~]

Jen Gone Bad

SCENE 1 (Jen is in the cafeteria sitting at the table alone. Some druggies come over to her table)

Molly. Hey Jennifer, what’s shaking?
Jennifer. (skittish) Um, not much guys.
Molly. Where’s your sidekick?
Jennifer. Chrissy? She moved to Cincinnati.
Molly. Oh too bad. Hey listen, me and the gang have been checking you out lately and we kind of think you would be an asset to our posse.
Jennifer. Um, gee thanks for thinking of me, but I’m really fine in my group.
Molly. What group Jen? You don’t have a group. You are all by yourself. You need some friends.
Jennifer. Well, I don’t know I like being alone.
Molly. Right, sure you do. (hands her a slip of paper) Listen, here is my number. Call me I you ca\hange your mind okay?
Jennifer. (fake smile) Sure thing guys bye.

(all day Jennifer thinks how she is “all alnoe” and doesn’t belong in a group)

SCENE 2 (Jennifer enters the living room, where Mallory is sitting on the coach watching TV)

Mallory. Hey Jen, how was your day?
Jennifer. (sits down next to Mallory) It was okay. Mal, can I ask you a question?
Mallory. Sure thing. What is it?
Jennifer. Well, in Junior high school did you belong to a certain “group”.
Mallory. Actually I did. I was in the popular group, I wasn’t the most popular girl but I was defiantly up there. Why?
Jennifer. I was just wondering.
(Jen gets up and finds Alex)
Jennifer. Alex, I have a question.
Alex. Okay, Jen we’ve talked about this. You shouldn’t ask for help on your homework you need to think for yourself, broaden your horizons…
Jennifer. Alex! It is not about homework.
Alex. Oh, okay shoot then, as long as it isn’t matters of the heart.
Jennifer. No, no it’s not. That. I was wondering, what social group were you a part of in school?
Alex. Um, let me see… The Young republicans club, Economics Club, Math Olympiad, Reagan Lovers…
Jennifer. Okay I got the point. Was Mom or Dad in any clubs?
(Steven walks in)
Steve. Did I hear something about clubs?
Jennifer. Yeah. What groups were you and Mom in school?
Steven. I was in the Recycling Club, and the Liberals…
Alex. Dad! What have we talked about? Do not use the word liberal in this home. Especially in front of the child (puts hands on Jen) She doesn’t need to be exposed to that type of word.
Steven. Anyway, I was in a few more clubs too. Your mom was a cheerleader so she had her own little group there.
Jennifer. Okay thanks Dad.

SCENE 3 (the next day…Jen is at school and runs into Molly and her gang)

Jennifer. Hey Molly. (Waves her down)
Molly. Oh hey!
Jennifer. Hey. Listen, I was thinking about what you said yesterday, and I gave it a lot of thought and I decided to join your group. I would have called but it got kind of late.
Molly. Oh that’s wonderful Jen! I’m so glad you decided to be one of us! Let me introduce you to the rest of the pack. This is Jeremy, Alice, and Misty.
Jennifer. (waves) hey.
Alice. Well, Jen now that you are one of us you need to act like us. Here are the rules.
Jennifer. Rules?
Alice. Yeah. We have rules. Rule 1. you must wear black, or dark colors always. Rule 2. Never ever talk to someone that is “popular” and Rule 3. You must always help one of your group members out, you need to be there for them. Got it?
Jennifer. (hesitant) Yeah, sure.
Jeremy. Here you go.(throws Jen a pack of cigarettes)
Jennifer. Oh, no thanks I don’t smoke.
All. *Laughs*
Molly. You really should it relieves a lot of stress.

SCENE 4 (Jennifer and Molly meet outside)

Molly. Did you try it yet?
Jennifer. The cigarettes? No.
Molly. Oh come on try it.
Jennifer. I don’t know.
Molly. It’s not that bad.
Jennifer. Fine. (Pulls out pack,a nd lights it up) *coughs *
Molly. Don’t inhale! Exhale!
Jennifer. Hey this isn’t too bad actually.

SCENE 5 (Mallory is talking to Alex in the kitchen)

Mallory. Hasn’t Jen been acting weird lately?
Alex. Yes! The way she dresses is really freaking me out.
Mallory. I know, black, how dull!
Alex. I wonder if she is depressed.
Mallory. Who knows? (glances at the chair) Hey look here is her purse, maybe we can find out what is going on with her.
Alex. Oh yeah like she is going to have some information on her life in there.
Mallory. Alex, a girl’s life is piled up in a purse. It’s the facts of life.
Alex. Whatever. But hey if she catches you digging through her property, I will not be blamed because you are the one doing it.
Mallory. Fine, fine. (picks up purse)
Alex. I bet ya there is nothing in there except for lip-gloss, and lotion.
Mallory. Oh yeah? (shows him a pack of cigarettes)
Alex. No, that can’t be hers!
Mallory. I can’t believe this my little sister is hanging out with the loser pot heads. This is awful.
Elyse. (walks in) What’s awful?
Both. Nothing!
Elyse. Right.
Mallory. It was just that Jen’s purse spilled, and um we were picking it up for her. So it was awful that that happened.
Elyse Whatever. I am going out for a jog bye.
Both. Bye Mom!
Alex. Wow that was close.
Mallory. Yeah thanks for making me lie.
Alex. Hey you decided to look through the purse.
Mallory. Listen, Alex, don’t tell Mom and Dad about this. I will talk to Jen and try to resolve things and if I can’t then we will tell. Okay?
Alex. Sounds good.

SCENE 6 (Mallory enters Jen’s room)
Jennifer. (quickly puts out cigarette) Hi.
Mallory. Jen I can’t believe you are acting this way.
Jennifer. I am not acting a certain way.
Mallory. Yes you are. You are not the same Jen we all know and love. I mean you are smoking.
Jennifer. How dare you accuse me of smoking Mallory! I don’t smoke.
Mallory. Oh yeah? Than how come I found this in your purse, and it smells like smoke in here?
Jennifer. (appalled) You went through my purse?
Mallory. Only because I was concerned about you and thought maybe your purse held a clue to why you were acting so weird.
Jennifer. Mom and dad don’t know do they?
Mallory. Not unless you continue to act this way.
Jennifer. That’s not fair! (crosses arms)
Mallory. Jen, why are you doing this? It’s not you.
Jennifer. Because I don’t belong to a group and I felt very left out. Molly and her pack were really nice and offred to take me under their wing.
Mallory. You were so desperate you had to join the druggies?
Jennifer. Maybe.
Mallory. You should have come to me. I can quickly help you find a group that you would enjoy. I know you don’t enjoy the group you are in, you just felt so insecure alone you had to join something. Right?
Jennifer. Yeah. So you will really help me find a group?
Mallory. Sure will.
Jennifer. Thanks.
Mallory. Jen, you haven’t done any drugs have you?
Jennifer. Nah, I wouldn’t stoop that low. Truth is I’m glad you caught me, those cigarettes were giving me a nasty cough- not good for my singing voice.
Mallory. Oh jen! (throws pillow at her)

THE END!

[bttf4444]

Great story! It really does go to show that, underneath everything, the siblings really do love each other.