The Proposal- A play

The Proposal

SCENE- Entry hall in CHERYL and HARRISON’s grand home. It is late evening.

The hall is brightly lit and impeccably furnished, made for people who had the money for extravagant taste. A large crystal chandelier dangles, a centerpiece for the sweeping staircases on either side.

[CHERYL descends the stairs wearing a long black gown and pearls, just as HARRISON enters through the doors carrying a black briefcase and smaller bag.]

CHERYL: Just getting home now I see.

HARRISON: And where are you off to?

[CHERYL brushes the question off as if he never asked and continues down the stairs.]

HARRISON: I’m talking to you.

[HARRISON grabs CHERYL’s arm as she passes, trying to get her attention. She turns and looks at his hand, and then him.]

CHERYL: (in a wild burst of emotion) You’re never home anymore! All you do is work and go out with your friends. You expect me to be okay with the fact that the only time I see you is when I’m sleeping? (HARRISON removes his hand.)

CHERYL: Well I’m not. I haven’t been for a while. You want me to be here at home and attend the socialites parties and be your trophy. I don’t think I can do that for you anymore. I’m sorry I can’t be the one you want, all this time I’ve been trying to be. (She turns a bit angry.) And to think I had been doing that. For what? People always talk, “Why they’ve been dating for 12 years and not a ring in sight.” “Why does she stay with him?” “What is it that she does while he works all day?” I don’t want to be that girl- no woman!- anymore!

[HARRISON stares at her, astonished. She’s never shown him this much emotion before. CHERYL turns around and pats her face as if an unseen tear had fallen. Her makeup was still perfectly intact.]

HARRISON: I never meant to hurt you, you know that. I haven’t been with friends either. All those nights, I was at the office.

CHERYL: For what? The secretary you just hired? Or maybe a new client?

[HARRISON ducks his head and shakes it incredulously. He turns and sets his bags on the ground, kneeling to look through them. CHERYL watches indignant that he hadn’t listened to her at all. She had just about had enough.]

HARRISON: No, I stayed for you. (He swivels holding a large black velvet box and watches and CHERYL’s eyes and mouth open wide.) You see, I put in those extra hours for so long to not compromise our future by buying this. It’s taken so long because I needed it to be perfect for the perfect woman in my life. (He opens the box.)

[Inside the box are a set of earrings, a necklace, and a large diamond ring. They sparkle with class and expense. The earrings center diamonds are the size of a pinky nail, offset are a swirl of tiny diamonds, they aren’t blingy but they are perfect. The necklace has one pendant similar to the earrings but larger. The ring holds a large circular diamond with a band inlaid with diamonds. It is the most perfect thing CHERYL has ever laid eyes on. Her eyes well up.]

HARRISON: CHERYL, will you marry me? Even though the time it’s taken me to say those words, you are the brightest light in my life. I love you and don’t want you to go. (His eyes well up as CHERYL nods and collapses into his arms.)

Beyonce As A Politician

This was a fun assignment because we were taking someone who normally plays a completely separate role in society and place them in a different one. I took the pop star Beyonce and transformed her into a hard-working politician. It probably would've helped if I included her name in the poem...

The crowd cheered

as the professionally

dress woman finished

her speech. "Thank

you, your support 

never fails," she 

graciously says.

As she exits off

the stage cameras

flash with her

picture being taken.

But the cameras

do not tell the

stress marked in

her eyes. The

tiredness weighing

down her step.

She wants whats

best for her people.

So vote for her!

My Name

This was a short funny little blurb we wrote about in class about our names. We all have an interesting story involved with our names and people are always making mistakes on mine. Some of those mistakes make for a good story though!

     My parents thought they were being creative when they named Elisa. My mother's boss' daughter was named Elisa, but that sounded to French to them. In order to "Americanize" it, they changed the ending -e to an -a. And in doing that they ruined any correct pronunciation possibilities. Over the years I have been called: Eliza, Alisa, Elise, Elyse, Alisha, Alisia, LiLi, and Alicia. Some of these are no where near my real name and some of them deserve an A for effort. But in actuality, all you have to do is sound my name and you will pronounce it right. There's no silent vowels or tricky spelling. It is Elisa.

Why I Am Not a Poet

This was an assignment where you had to choose something you were not and write about it. It's a little confusing at first because you really have to think of something you're not good at. Being the non-creative person I am, I came up with why I'm not a poet. If I could go back I would change it to why I'm not an athlete.

Kids around me

writing quickly

I wish I was a

poet. But I am

not. I wish I

could write those

beautiful words,

performed

with style and sass.

"It may not always be

your best. They can't

all be winners," the

teacher says. I sigh,

and look back at

the blank paper.

I may be here,

and my pencil

may be moving, but

I am not a poet

Never have been,

Never will be.

Tiger

This was a descriptive poem that was supposed to include all five senses. We did these based of a picture and the person who was read our poem was supposed to try to find the picture. I doubt anyone was able to get the correct picture but I would've gone back and included some more description next time around.

People see me as unhappy

But I do not live badly

My cinnamon skin

Has not been made thin

The cool fall breeze

does not chill me

Your stinging comments do not faze

I, myself, live in an innocent daze.

The smell and rustle

of a palm trees bustle

Are what show me delight

in the dead of the night

The feeling of cool bamboo floors

Have often held the cure

for my small tired feet

and soothe me into peaceful sleep

You way call me unhappy

But I'm still carefree, after all,

A tiger does not lose sleep

Over the opinion of sheep.

Short poems

These were some short poems we came up with in class. I might have come up with a better haiku if I went back but I love cats so it works. I liked these four the best because some were funny and some were serious.


Haiku
Cat , why are you glad
You have the perfect cat life
Sniff your green cat nip

Clerihew
One Direction
I give you my affection
My heart belongs to
Five guys that belong in a zoo

Acrostic
A girl without many friendS
With more books than them toO
Knocked out because she didn't have a creW
Wishing everyone would learn to bE
A lonely girl, wanting to be like you and I
Down not forever. She's not the one who jumpeD

ABC
Awaken back
Can't duck everytime from
giving her innocence justice
Keep learning, mistakes never
omit punishment.
Queens realize some things
underestimate victory
Why x-perience yearning zealousy?

Vingette

This assignment was to recall a memory that says something about you and describe it with as much detail as possible. This memory was my first time on my favorite roller coaster Screamin' Over California in California Advenureland. I love the thrill of roller coasters and would ride them until my head spun.

            I remember the clicking of the roller coaster harnesses as they lowered. Giddy with excitement, I smiled cheekily at my dad, the only adult I could persuade on going with me. It was my first time riding “Screamin’ over California” in Disneyland’s neighbor and partner California Adventureland. My heart was running as fast as a racehorse, my breath came in short, small breaths. The roller coaster was a bright orange that shouted speed and the white glistened in the hot sun.

            There was a whoosh as the roller coaster was released from the loading zone to the place where the take off would take place. We coasted down the tracks to where we came to stop, clicking the whole way there. There was a jolt as the coaster came to a complete stop. You could taste the anticipation in the air as the countdown began.

            I found myself counting down mentally with the whiney cartoon voice that voiced them. I strained against the harness wanting to be flying down the tracks already. Finally the time came. The roller coaster shot as fast as a silver bullet down the tracks. I swear it was going to break the sound barrier it was going so fast.

I remember the whole reason I begged and stretched to be tall enough to ride that roller coaster. It was that loop, the loop outlining the Mickey Mouse head that convinced me. I had never been on a roller coaster with a loop before in my short life and I was absolutely convinced that this was the one. As we flew down the tracks, I remember regretting getting on that ride. Every hill we climbed just to fly down again I regretted that decision. But by the time the camera flash took our picture and the roller coaster came to a stop, I was ready to go again. And I did… Three more times.