SceneBy.com presents:

"The Conference"
A scene by: Judith Donato

This free duet acting scene script ("The Conference" by Judith Donato) is copyrighted material and is reprinted with the author’s permission exclusively on SceneBy.com for educational purposes, only. 

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SCENE TYPE:  Drama

CHARACTERS:
Sandy – female, 22-35
Tom – male, 22-35

ACTION:    Tom’s just come in from work and finds Sandy sitting alone in the kitchen.
********************

INT. KITCHEN - NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA
TOM
So how’d it go?

SANDY
It went.

TOM
What’s that mean?

SANDY
He’s a freakin’ Einstein.  Must get
it from your side.

TOM
(INDICATES HER BEER) 
Is that your first?

SANDY
My one and only.

TOM
Sorry I’m late.   Where is he?  In
his room?

SANDY
At my dad’s.

TOM
So what’d she say?

SANDY
What do you want to hear?

TOM
Dammit, Sandy – I said I was sorry. 
What the hell did she say?

SANDY
Call her – find out yourself.

He gets a beer from the fridge.
TOM
Look, the foreman’s all over my
ass on this new site.  I got
electricians voting to strike and a
crew who can’t tell a shovel from a
jackhammer.  I wanted to come, but
Petty woulda fired me, I swear to
God.  My personal time’s shot.  You
know I’da been there, if I could.

SANDY
She thinks he needs “counseling”.

TOM
What the hell’s that mean?  He’s just
a kid.

SANDY
She kept talkin’ about his issues.

TOM
What kind of issues?

SANDY
Want a list?

TOM
Knock it the hell off!  I don’t need
this shit!  The guys begged me to go
to “Champs”…  I got money on
tonight’s game…

SANDY
You got money on Tommy?  What are
the odds, Tom, we can fix it – he
can win the big game?

TOM
Nothing’s wrong!

SANDY
(TEARS) 
They want him to move him to a
special school.
TOM
(SITS)
Jesus…

SANDY
You should have seen that guidance
counselor – sitting there like she
was freakin’ first lady – askin’ me
if there was trouble at home.  Do
you hit me?

TOM
Is she nuts?

SANDY
Is there an alcohol problem?

TOM
Damn her!

SANDY
Is Tommy exposed to violence…

TOM
What did you say?

SANDY
Nothing.

TOM
You didn’t set her straight?

SANDY
They already made up their minds. 
He doesn’t fit in.  He scares the
other kids.  Yesterday he threw
something at a little girl.  They
said they can’t handle him.

TOM
He’s seven years old!  It’s their
job to handle him.

SANDY
It’s not their job!  It’s our job! 
I can’t do it alone!  I’m sick of
doin’ it alone!

TOM
Now it’s my fault I got a job?!  My
fault I got to put food on
the table?!  They can’t handle one
little kid so they pawn it off on
us.  They get paid to teach!   And if
they can’t do their job, they should
get their ass handed to them. 
That’s the real world!
He shoves his beer back on the table and gets up.

TOM (CONT'D)
But they got that – what’s it
called?  That crap that can’t get
them fired.  They want to come here? 
See what it’s like to have five
extra bucks in your pocket if you’re
lucky at the end of the week?  To
hell with them!  To hell with all of
them! 

He grabs his coat and opens the door.
TOM (CONT'D)
I’m goin’ to “Champs”.  

He slams out.  Sandy has a blank stare and lights another cigarette as tears glisten in her eyes.
********************
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