The Waiting Room | Teen Ink

The Waiting Room

April 27, 2014
By _Emmm SILVER, Burlington, Other
_Emmm SILVER, Burlington, Other
7 articles 1 photo 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them.”
- Charles Simic


Characters
Rose- Mother
Carly- Expecting teen mother
Suzy- Young Child
Doctor- Doctor
Carson- Athlete


ROSE:

Can I go back and see him? Will he be okay?

CARLY:

What do I do, what's my mother going to say?

SUZY:

Is it going to hurt, am I gunna cry?

ROSE:

I guess I'll just wait here

CARLY:

I guess I'll just lie.

SUZY:

I don't want to go back there, I don't want to at all, I was just playing soccer, why did I fall?

ROSE:

Doctor, why can't I just see him, maybe one last good bye?

CARSON:

Just came from Rugby, got hit in the eye

ALL:

This waiting can stop, this nightmare can end, I'm so anxious already, i can no longer pretend

SUZY:

Are you ready for me?

ROSE:

Is he almost done? Please move it faster, I must see my son. He was fine just one hour ago, yet now here I sit

CARSON:

yeah let's get this moving I can't stand this one bit.

All:

Yes, move this along as quick as you can, my anxiety's rising

CARLY:

This wasn't the plan

DOCTOR:

I'm sorry to say this, but you'll have to sit tight, not too much longer, don't put up a fight.

All:

But we can't cause we're anxious, we can't just sit tight, so move it along we we'll put up a fight

CARSON:

Don't do this to us, I can't wait anymore,

SUZY:

Yes, this is the worst, my foot is so sore.

DOCTOR:

So it seems like this wait, will go on for some time,

All:

SOME TIME as in what? Doctor this is a crime! I can't wait anymore, please let this be done

ROSE:

Can you give me update, please check on my son

SUZY:

Her son can just wait! But this leg it can not,

CARSON:

NO! her leg can wait do you see what I've got

CARLY:

Please doctor please, I have somewhere to be, I can't wait around I have someone to see.

DOCTOR:

Okay, It seems I have a few names to go back, lets see here, is there a Carly Vonmack?

CARLY:

Oh yes doctor yes, umm that's me umm yes, So I just walk back here.. okay I'm ready I guess

Carly walks off stage

CARSON:

So are we all next?

SUZY:

Yeah, I got here first!

ROSE:

Yeah. Is it time for us now

ALL:

This is the WORST.

DOCTOR:

Okay Stop. There's one more name on this list, it says... Suzy-

SUZY:

That's me! oh coming, I'm coming I can't wait to be free.

Suzy leaves stage

CARSON:

Now is it me,

ROSE:

Or my son john, I haven't seen him in hours, where has he gone

DOCTOR:

okay now lets see, are you Carson-

CARSON:

Yes me, I'm Carson lets go, let's go or I'll flee

Carson leaves stage with Doctor

Doctor returns back to the waiting room

ROSE:

Oh doctor please, I'm the only one here, just let me go back and I won't shed a tear.

DOCTOR:

Okay are you Rose? Just follow me on,

ROSE:

Oh please be okay, oh please my dear john.

Carly re-enters stage

CARLY:

Well what can you say, please give me a sign. I need to know now

DOCTOR:

Ma'am you'll be just fine

Suzy enters stage

Suzy:

I need to know too, will I be okay?

Carson enters stage

CARSON:

Yeah I'm with her, what's with this delay?

ALL:

Again now we wait, we anxiously stand, awaiting our fate, doctor you must understand?

SUZY:

Biting our nails,

CARSON:

Pacing the floor.

ROSE:

Sitting in silence,

CARLY:

I can't wait anymore.

All:

I can hardly breathe now, I just want to be free, I can't take this right now, oh anxious me.


The author's comments:
A poetic script of 4 unfamiliar characters who anxiously sit in a hospital waiting room, each with their own story to tell.

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This article has 2 comments.


_Emmm SILVER said...
on Nov. 4 2014 at 8:06 pm
_Emmm SILVER, Burlington, Other
7 articles 1 photo 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them.”
- Charles Simic

Sorry I'm late to the response, but thanks so much for the feedback, it means a lot!  It was originally part of an anthology, all with the underlying theme of anxiety. 

ktcat SILVER said...
on Jul. 31 2014 at 8:13 pm
ktcat SILVER, Great Neck, New York
8 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Not all those who wander are lost." ~J.R.R Tolkien

Cute script! Y'know, I can see this extending to the length of a one-act (I know that TeenInk sets limits on length). You should keep working on this; it's got loads of potential. I think that this would read very well. Maybe inject a little action, instead of walking characters on and offstage? Is there any underlying story that you meant to tell?  Highly entertaining - keep at it!