The Overheard Conversation, Essay Example

Characters:                                                     

Setting (place, time, etc.):  A table at Grinders Café about noon.

The scene is a round table in Grinder’s Café.  The area is not crowded, this table is the only one occupied.  Students pass by in a slow, steady stream.  Some stop at Grinders and then go on.  There is consistent background noise from the café and from passing students.

(As the lights come up, we see Breanne seated at the round table, studying.  Wendy and Nicky enter the area and move quickly to the table, calling out to Breanne.  They greet and hug one another.)

Wendy

We saw you in class.

Breanne

Earlier?  I thought I saw you go by the door.

Wendy

Yes, in what was it?  Mueller Hall. We walked by the door.

Nicky

Yeah, we walked by the door and you were sitting there, in class.

Wendy

It’s fall break this week, right? So are you going home this weekend?

Breanne

Actually I’m going to Detroit.

Wendy

Oh, okay.  Have you been home since you’ve been here?

Breanne

I went to Camp Awanna once since I came, but that was, like, for a day.

Wendy

Are they as good as good as Starbuck’s here?

Breanne

They have a good variety, but not quite like Starbuck’s.

Wendy

Do you have a Starbuck’s here in town?

Breanne

Yeah, there’s one within walking distance, so if you need it, its right there.

Wendy

And you really do sometimes, you’re like your mother.

(They all laugh, Breanne for politeness.)

Do they have apple cider?  Do you want apple cider Nicky?

Breanne

Yeah, I think they do.

Wendy

Can we get you anything?

(Breanne shakes her head no and sits back

down at the table.  Wendy and Nicky go to

the café counter.  Brent enters area and goes

approaches table.)

Brent

Hi, Breanna.

(Breanna stands and hugs Brent)

Breanne

Oh! Hi, how are you?

Brent

Good, good.  How have you been?

Breanne

Studying, busy.  I saw that movie.

Brent

Oh, did you?  Did you like it?

Breanne

Yeah, it was good.

Brent

Do you want anything?

Breanne

No thanks.

(Brent goes to café counter.  Breanna sits

and resumes studying.  All three return with

drinks in hand.)

Brent

(To Breanna)

You know, Paula just graduated from here.  She did her internship in public relations, in New York.

(All three sit down)

Wendy

So you’re a public relations major?

Breanne

Yeah.

Wendy

What are you studying?

Breanne

Graphic design, the book is hard to read.  It’s just weird to read about graphic design in a book.

Brent

So is everything like how you thought it would be?

Breanne

Sort of and sort of not.  There is a lot of work and things are pretty different because I am still trying to settle in.  Last night I was up till 5 a.m. finishing homework.

Wendy

For your graphic design class?

Breanne

No, for my biology lab later today.  It’s hard because I always wait until the last minute to get things done.  No one gets on you like in high school and at home to do your homework so…

Nicky

So what is Core about?  Is it just like to help adjust or do you actually learn and study?