Imaginary Script

By: Corinne Gahan

Imaginary Friend (Italy)- Jaquelyn Shannon

Italy Stunt Double-Ola Staszczynski

Father- Loren Jones

Approx. running time 30 min.

The audience walks in on a bare stage with boxes up against the walls. (Sarah) is found in the middle of
the stage in a straightjacket. The music is ominous tones that fill empty space, so subtle that you might
not even notice the music but it creates an sense of suspense in the air. (Sarah) is going on with her daily
life in the padded room. (Sarah) is not crazy but the straightjacket does not help her case. House lights
go down and (Sarah) begins to sing in the tone of When You Wish Upon a Star; but the lyrics have
changed.

Sarah:
Makes no difference who you are
When you wish upon a star.
She brings to those and sees you through.
She’ll come to you.
Lights Fade Out

Scene 1 The Move In

The Father and Sarah are moving into another place do to the Father’s business. The town is a
small town located in South Bend, Michigan. It is known for its beautiful Victorian style houses and being
next to Lake Michigan. The town is small and full of little owned shops. The Father and daughter move
into the top floor of one of these beautiful houses. It is a “fixer-upper” but the beautiful antique wood
makes up for it.

Lights up, Father Enters carrying boxes

Father:
Here we are! Come check it out.
Sarah Enters, dialogue continues on an off stage as they get more items.

Sarah:
It smells weird in here

Father:
Whats that?
 Sarah:
It smells weird.

Father:
Well, that’s because it’s been empty for a while. You know you could have grabbed a box.

Sarah:
I have my backpack.

Father:
There are more boxes, so if you could set your bag down that would be fantastic!

Father exits to get more boxes

So if you could help me…

Sarah:
Yeah I’m coming blah blah blah. Sarah Exits.

Offstage

Father:
Yeah yeah yeah. Alright let’s see here…Here you go! Alright only take one.

Sarah:
Sarah Enters. You said take a box so I took A box!

Father:
Oh no! I dropped something.

Sarah:
Not my bedding!

Father:
Enters. What? I don’t know if I saw your bedding. Scootch. I don’t know.

Sarah:
Runs off to check DAD! I CANT BELIEVE YOU DROPPED MY *enters* cardboard tube!

Father:

Ok so, I have to run up to the new office real fast to get some stuff caught up and get ready for
tomorrow alright?

Sarah make a fart noise through the tube.

Sarah:
Do you have to do that today?

Father:
Yeah because I start tomorrow I need to.. I just gotta figure out what’s going on. I gotta meet a few
people… to let them know that I am here finally.
 Sarah:
Why do you have to do that today?

Father:
Because I’m in charge of this new department and I gotta get things set up so it’s a smooth transition.
It’ll only be like 20 minutes.

Sarah:
*Unpacks blankets* You know you always try and go make it a smooth transition. It’s never a smooth
transition.

Father:
It’s always a smooth transition.

Sarah:
It’s never, because you always come home and you’re upset.

Father:
I won’t come home and be upset, alright? *Puts blanket over her head* That’s why we moved here
alright?

Sarah:
Ahhh get off me dad! You’re weird!

Father:
He exits to get a box. Alright help me with these boxes! What’s this one?

Sarah:
A box!

Father:
It says bedding on it.

Sarah:
Really!?

Father:
No.. *enters* Kitchen. Well I will stop at the grocery store after the office; is there anything you want?

Sarah starts going through the boxes

Sarah:
Well we got our waffle maker. So Waffles? Peaches? Cherries, whip cream.. What in the world is this?

Father:
It’s my old radio.

Sarah:
No its not.

Father:
 Yeah it was in my old office back in Brookfield. What’s wrong?

Sarah:
It’s a dinosaur, it has to be as old as you are!

Father:
Older!

Sarah:
NOO!! Does it still play music?

Father:
Yeah.. Let’s see here. *Sarah shakes it* Don’t do that you’ll break it!

Music starts Find a Friend by Tom Petty, Sarah gives a look of accomplishment

He starts to exit Alright I am heading out. Waffles? Peaches?

Sarah:
Cherries?

Father:
Cherries, got it!

Sarah:
A Puppy?

Father:
Waffles, Peaches, Cherries and No puppy, Got it!!

Father exits and Sarah is left alone she plays with the radio and the song switches to Wildflowers by Tom
Petty. Sarah examines the new house and begins to find ways to entertain herself. She is going through
the boxes and discovers a ball. She then goes for her cardboard tube and lines an empty box on the floor.

Sarah:
This is it folks, this is Sarah’s last chance. If she scores this shot she will win the 100 MILLION DOLLARS!!

She shoots and misses. The ball rolls off stage. Sarah in her immediate disappointment doesn’t go after
the ball and continues to unpack. Then the ball rolls back on stage. Sarah rolls the ball back and the ball
returns bouncing back on stage. Suspecting that her father is there she runs to the end of the stage and
yells “gotcha!” but realizes no one is there. She rolls the ball back to see if it will return but it doesn’t so
she goes back to unpacking

Lights Down

Scene 2- The interaction

Lights up, it is night time. Father enters with groceries and take out.

Father:
Alright I’m back! Hello? Sarah..
Sarah jumps out and scares her father.

Jesus!.... Alright I have some groceries for tomorrow, do you mind putting those up?

Sarah grunts and starts to take the groceries

Oh I know it’s the worst thing ever! Also look what I got?

Sarah:
Chinese!!!!

Father:
Chinese yes!! I got orange chicken for you and sweet and sour pork for me!

Father starts to set food on the floor and discovers his watch isn’t on and looks for it.

Father:
How was your day?

Sarah:
Good! You said you would only be gone for 20 minutes. It was like 3 hours.

Father:
That’s because I went all the way to china to get our dinner. Have you seen my watch?

Sarah:
Is it in a box?

Father:
I don’t know. I thought I set it on the ledge… Did you move it?

Sarah:
No… Did you take it to work?

Father:
I don’t think so… I will check tomorrow morning. Come out, Come eat!

Sarah:
Go unpack the groceries Sarah! Don’t unpack the groceries Sarah! Come eat Sarah.

They sit together

Father:
So I was thinking, tomorrow we could take a walk around and check out the town.

Sarah:
I don’t know, it sounds like a lot of work.

Father:
It’s a walk.

Sarah:
Who goes for walks anymore?
 Father:
We will apparently, tomorrow!

Sarah:
I did not agree to that….Oh you know what we should do though? Get Caramel Apples!

Father:
Don’t you think that’s a lot of work?

Sarah:
Nope.

Father:
So walking to walk is a lot of a work but walking to get caramel apples is not work?

Sarah:
Not if we drive there!

Father:
The town is only a mile long

Sarah:
A mile? Ugh no, never mind we can just stay here. Maybe you can just bring me stuff and I will stay here
forever.

Father:
Are you ok?

Sarah:
Yeah

Father:
You’re acting weird, did anything happen today?

Sarah:
We moved here that’s what happened…Dad what’s the creepiest thing that has ever happened to you?

Father:
The creepiest well….(tells story)

Why do you ask? What happened today?

Sarah:
Nothing!

Father:
Sorry, I didn’t mean to push. I apologize.

Sarah starts to clean up food

Sarah:
Are we done?
Sarah exits for a moment with food and Father is left alone to reflect for a moment.

Father:
Ok well I have to go to bed, I have to get up at 5 tomorrow and then on my break I will come back and
we will go get caramel apples.

Sarah:
You’re always working

Father:
Well I have to go to work to pay for stuff. You should get to bed soon too!

Father exits

Sarah goes through boxes to find her nightgown and puts it on. She goes over to a mirror in the room
and starts to take her hair down to braid it.

Father:
Have you seen my toothbrush Sarah?

Emily:
No, look in the box under the sink.

She looks back in the mirror and the Italy is there mirroring her movements, at first going unnoticed.
Suddenly Italy takes a step forward which startles Sarah but they are still in mirroring movements Sarah
reaches forward and they touch their fingers together. Sarah runs back in fear but Italy tries to comfort
by showing the ball that was seen earlier. Italy lets the ball roll to Sarah’s feet. Sarah picks up the ball
and holds it out to Italy. Italy then comes through the window hesitantly.

Father:
I can’t find it Sarah!

Emily:
I don’t know, dad!

The two start to play ball together and seem to be having a good time.

Father:

Sarah, it’s time for bed!

Italy goes stone cold and walks directly out of the room. Emily is left standing in confusion.

Lights Out

Scene 3-

Lights up

Father enters and spends his time preparing to go to work and looking for his watch. Until he discovers a
music box left behind on the ledge where he originally put his watch. He opens and plays it. It play’s
“When You Wish Upon a Star.” We see on his face the enjoyment of this music box and that it might be
a gift to give to Sarah. He goes off stage with the music box to finish getting ready.

Sarah comes in and walks across the stage. Italy mirrors her movements on the other side of the tarp.
Sarah notices and has Italy mirror her movements. She convinces Italy to come out from behind the
curtain and they play for a while.

The father enters and is upstage being preoccupied while Sarah tries to get her father’s attention.

Father:
Have you seen my watch Sarah, I still can’t find it.

Sarah:
No I haven’t, Hey dad come over here! I want you to meet someone.

Father:
Alright.

Sarah:
I want you to meet my friend.

Father:
You met a friend? Who?

Sarah:
Well she hasn’t told me her name yet. She is a little shy.

Father:
Ok where is she?

Sarah:
What do you mean? She is right here.

Father:
Sarah.

Sarah:
What?

Father:
Sarah not this again.

Sarah:
Don’t be rude, this is not funny!

Father:
You said you were ok with the move this time.

Sarah:
I am ok with the move, I have a friend now.

Father:
 It’s not funny.

Sarah:
I’m not laughing

Father:
I know it’s hard moving to another town but you can’t keep doing this. What? Is this place not good
enough?

Sarah:
I’m not saying that, I finally have a friend and-

Father:
Sarah, I don’t have time for this. Get your stuff unpacked and take care of your room.

Lights fade to show time has passed. Sarah is just living in her room reading while her dad comes home
and gets settled. At some point he will take out the music box and admire it. While this happens Italy will
appear in the background the lights flicker. The dad notices the lights flicker and moves the chair to fix
the light bulb. Italy throws a bunch of papers which catches the father’s attention. He gets down and
Italy and him barely miss each other as they cross paths. Italy is going to the music box while the father
goes to pick up papers. Italy opens the music box which the music catches the fathers attention, Italy
quickly shuts it. The father goes to the music box and decided to give it to his daughter. He goes up to her
room.

Father:
Can I come in?

Tries to make Sarah laugh

I wanted to say that I am sorry for this morning.

Sarah:
You were pretty mean.

Father:
I was pretty mean, I don’t necessarily realize how difficult, it is, for you…on how much we had to
move…..But in order to gain your forgiveness, and love your dad again! I found something for you
*Presents music box* and that is a father making amends. Do you forgive me?

Sarah:
Ok I do! I know it’s hard.

Sarah opens music box. Italy appears behind the tarp. No one notices her at this point.

Father:
You like it?

Sarah:
I’ve never had anything like this before.

Father:
 I found it here actually.

Sarah:
Here?

Father:
Yeah!

Sarah:
No,

Father:
Yeah, probably something the old owners just left.

Sarah:
I’m sorry dad, that sometimes I can be a little hostile.

Father:
You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t….*discovers watch* What is this?

Sarah:
Your watch!!

Father:
I know it’s my watch.. It’s broken.

Sarah:
I didn’t do that..

Father:
It’s in your room. I have been looking for it for a day in a half.

Sarah:
I said I didn’t know where your…. I didn’t have it!

Father:
You have it in your room, I haven’t even been in here yet!

Sarah:
I’ve been in here for like-

Father:
This is for this morning isn’t it?

Sarah:
I didn’t do it. I swear! I swear!

Father:
I don’t want to talk to you right now.

Sarah:
Come on!
 Father:
This was petty.. No! I want you to stay in your room for the rest of the night! You are grounded.

Sarah notices Italy behind the tarp.

Sarah:

This was you wasn’t it? Are you serious? Why would you do this? You know, my life was just fine before
you came into the picture. You need to leave!

Lights Dim to night scene. Only bedroom is lit slightly leaving the rest dark. Ola will be facing the wall
bouncing the ball in the same repetitive fashion. This slowly wakes Sarah up. Sarah goes searching for
the noise and sees Italy (ola) bouncing the ball.

Sarah:

What are you doing?......(no response) I thought I told you to leave.

Italy (Ola) slowly turns around and begins to alligator walk toward Sarah. Sarah runs into her room and
covers herself with the blanket (meanwhile knocking over the music box making a creepier version of it
playing). When Italy (Ola) enters her room she gets up and walks over to Sarah’s bed. Sarah gets up and
covers Italy (Ola) with her blanket and runs out of the room. When she runs out of the room the boxes
explode from the booth window and we see Italy standing in the booth.

Sarah:

DAD!!!

Lights go out (Sarah exits toward the tarp). From the box eruption the lights are now broken by Italy and
are turning on and off. The Father enters looking and calling out for Sarah stumbling over boxes. Italy is
behind him doing the alligator walk. The father goes into the bedroom to look for Emily and discovers the
music box, While Italy continues to walk in the direction of the tarp and exits. Sarah Screams off stage

Sarah:

Dad?!

Father:

Sarah!?

Father goes towards the curtain and is pulled in where blood is splattered all over the tarp insinuating his
death along with his own screams.

Lights finally calm down and raise as Sarah re-enters covered in blood. There will be a moment where
she will just live in the space. Lights will go out long enough for her to put on the straight jacket and
Lights will come back up where we will see her in the middle (back before the play started) This time her
arms will be undone and she will sing the song.

Sarah:
Makes no difference who you are
When you wish upon a star.
 She brings to those and sees you through.
She’ll come to you.

Italy will appear either around the pillar or through the tarp. This will scare Sarah to go into a total melt
down forcing people to take her off stage.

End of Play.