OneAct

Act 1 Scene 6

[LIGHTS UP]

EVERYONE is frozen, sitting in their spots. The LAWYERS are reading books. All the MONKEYS are playing loud hand games(or monkey in the middle if possible) except DANIEL, who is talking with the NEUROLOGIST. MR. BABEL is angrily starring down the MONKEYS. NARRATOR walks onstage with a big smile.

NARRATOR: While deciding, many debates occured with the jurors. Lots of them got angry, but this show is not about them. If it were, it would be called The Twelve Angry Jurors.(looks back to the entrance where the DICTIONARY  is now standing motioning for him to keep moving forward)The jury's final decision for this case was that the monkeys won.

NARRATOR exits. EVERYONE unfreezes.

JUDGE:(bangs gavel) The jury has come to a verdict.

EVERYONE jumps up and sits straight, paying attention.

JUDGE: The Monkeys have won the case!

EVERYONE cheers except the JUDGE, JOE, and MR. BABEL.

MR. BABEL:(walking up to JUDGE, swinging his cane in the air) This is abhorrent!

EVERYONE freezes. DICTIONARY walks out.

DICTIONARY: Abhorrent means to inspire disgust or loathing. It is an adjective. An example...(looks around, gestures to JOE) Fred's hair is abhorrent.(NARRATOR runs out and whispers in ear) Oh no!(to JOE) I'm so sorry.(gestures to FRED)Fred's hair is abhorrent.

NARRATOR scrunches their face up, but just shrugs and shakes their head. They walk offstage. EVERYONE unfreezes.

MR. BABEL: I want a re-count!

JUDGE:(calmly) That's not how this works, Mr. Babel, now please have a seat.

MR. BABEL angrily returns to his seat.

JUDGE:(not really wanting to do this) Now since Mr. Babel was going to have the Monkeys defenestrated, I suppose it's only fair that since they won, they get to defenestrate him.

All the MONKEYS look fine with this except DANIEL.

MRS. BABEL:(walks onstage) Please don't defenestrate my husband.

DANIEL:(run and hugs MRS. BABEL) Mrs. Babel!

MR. BABEL:(shocked) Mrs. Babel?!

JUDGE:(confused) Mrs. Babel?

DANIEL:(tugs MRS. BABEL'S hand, bringing her to a seat by MR. BABEL) How was the library for grease?

MRS. BABEL:(laughing) I think you mean The Library of Alexandria, in Greece, Daniel. It was really great, thank you for asking!

MR. BABEL:(stuttering)You...where...I...How?

MRS. BABEL:(nods) Yup. Okay, where'd you think I was this time?

MR. BABEL:(hugging MRS. BABEL) You...you were dead!

MRS. BABEL:(worried) Oh no! Honey! I'm right here. I'm alive.(stands MR.  BABEL up) Let's get you home.

MRS. BABEL leads MR. BABEL to the exit and then sadly walks back.

MRS. BABEL: I'm sorry everyone. Mr. Babel suffers from short-term memory loss.  After he forgets, his head is a bit empty and he ends up making up new memories. One time I was only gone for a day and he thought I was kidnapped. I was gone for a week this time.  That's how...whatever all of this is(gestures to the whole courtroom) happened.

DANIEL: Is Mr. Babel going to be okay?

MRS. BABEL: He'll be fine. I just have to help him remember, that's all.

DANEIL:(looking at the other MONKEYS) We can help with that! We can tell him about us jumping on the bed!(the MONKEYS all nod)

MRS. BABEL:(chuckles) That sounds great! You kids can come over and we can make cookies and tell Mr. Babel what he missed. In fact, why don't you all come over and have some cookies now.

EVERYONE cheers. They all start to file off the stage. The MONKEYS hang back.

PINKY:(pulls DANIEL to the side) How do you know Mrs. Babel so well?

DANIEL: She's my teacher.

MONKEYS: Ooooooooooooooh!

MRS. BABEL chuckles as she hurries EVERYONE out. NARRATOR and DICTIONARY walk out.

NARRATOR:(watching EVERYONE leave) Awww! That's so sweet! They even get to make cookies!

DICTIONARY:(nods) See how nice things turn out when you listen to instructions?

NARRATOR nods as MRS. BABEL hurries back in.

MRS. BABEL: Narrator! Dictionary! If you two would like to come make cookies with us, you are more than welcome!(exits)

DICTIONARY:(jumping up and down excited) WE GET TO MAKE COOKIES!!

DICTIONARY grabs NARRATOR'S hand and pulls him all the way off stage.

NARRATOR:(shouts while being pulled offstage) That's all for now folks!

[LIGHTS OUT]