Just a Dream

Mohammed Laswad

It’s Just a Dream

CharactersLynda, a woman who is a house mom who takes care of her family.Mason, a man in Lynda’s dream who happens to look like her husband, Lance.George, Lynda’s son who works with his dad at the ranch.Lance, Lynda’s husband at the owner of the county ranch.James, a young man in Lynda’s dream who happens to not only be her rival but also looks like her son George.

SCENE 1It is a very dull night between 9:30 and 9:45. Lynda is washing the dishes. George and Lance are talking.

LANCEI’m all worn out.

GEORGEMe too dad, after all we’ve been working at our ranch for about… Wait how long have we been workin?

LANCEBout thirteen hours.

GEORGEReally, it didn’t feel that long. I’m going up to bed… Night dad… Night mom!

(Waves hand at Lance and Lynda.)

LYNDAGood night George!

(Lance grabs plate and sponge from Lynda’s hand.).

LANCEThat’s enough work for you today.

(Lance moves Lynda away from the sink and turns off the faucet.)

LANCE(Continued)

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Just a Dream

Harvest season’s really tiring. All you’ve been doin is plantin the carrots, plantin the cucumbers, plantin the beans, feedin the goddam chickens, milkin the cows, cooked us some nice stew, and now you’re washing the…

(Lynda interrupts)

LYNDAIt’s okay I got this…

(Lance interrupts)

LANCEEver since I met you at the county ranch competition twenty-two years, you never admit that you’re tired. You haven’t changed one bit.

LYNDAThe hell do you mean? I ain’t tired.

LANCEYou’s a tired woman. Now let me do the dishes and you go to bed.

(Lynda walks stage left.)

LYNDA(TO HERSELF)That Lance… always tryin to act all manly in front of me.

(Lynda walks into her bedroom and lies down on her bed)

LYNDA(CONTINUED)Thinks that because he a man he can just do the job for me. I can do the work by myself. I wish that I could be somewhere else for a little.

(Lynda lies down on bed and closes her eyes. Everything starts to change and Lynda’s dream starts.)

(Blackout)

Scene 2Lynda is dreaming. It’s just a dream.

(A crowd of people comes out of nowhere toward Lynda)

MAN FROM CROWDIt’s Jane! She came back to life! We gotta go tell Mason.

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Just a Dream

LYNDAGet away from me you rascals!

(The crowd moves away from Lynda.)

LYNDA(CONTINUED) Where am I? And who in the heck is Jane? Not me, I’m a hundred percent positive that my name is Lynda Muriel Buster.

(Someone who looks like Lance is wearing bright blue jeans and a red shirt and runs toward Lynda.)

LYNDA Ahh! Lance don’t get involved! I can take care of myself. I donts need no man to help me.

(Lynda attempts to run away but that person grabs her tightly and drags her away from the crowd.)

LYNDA(CONTINUED)Let go of me Lance!

(Slaps the MYSTERIOUS MAN in the face.)

MYSTERIOUS MANOww! That hurt! And I’m not Lance!

LYNDADon’t mess with a woman just because she a woman.

MYSTERIOUS MANShhh! That’s not important right now. Jane is that really you?

LYNDAFor Christ’s sake, I’m not Jane. My name is Lynda and I don’t know where I am or how I got here. So let go of me.

MYSTERIOUS MANAnd for Christ’s sake I’m not Lance. Are you sure you don’t know my name? Remember my name is Ma-ssss-onnn, Mason and your name is J-a-nnnee, Jan…

(Lynda smacks Mason in the face again.)

LYNDATalking to me like I’m stupid. Who do you think you are?

MASON

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Just a Dream

You look exactly like her! The blue eyes and short brown hair, there’s no way you can’t be her.

(Lynda gives Mason a tight glare.)

LYNDAYou’re not Mason, you’re my husband Lance! Wait if you think I’m that Jane woman that means…

(Lynda smacks Mason again.)

MASONWhat was that for?

LYNDAYou cheated on me! I thought we were soul mates!

(Begins to sob.)

MASONWhat? I’m confused. Who’s Lance?

LYNDADon’t think I’m stupid or something. You’re…

(Lynda looks at Mason carefully one more time.)

LYNDA(CONTINUED)Not Lance.

MASONI know I’m not him, but what made you change your mind about who I was.

LYNDALance always shaves the hair on his chin. Sorry, I thought you were him.

MASONI’m sorry too, for thinking you were my wife Jane. But now that I think about it, Jane isn’t crazy.

LYNDAWhat was that?!

(Mason scratches his head)

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Just a Dream

MASONNothing

(It gets silent for about five seconds.)

LYNDAI have a question for you, Mason.

MASONWhat is it?

LYNDAIf you thought that I was your wife, why were you so surprised to see me?

MASONWell…

(Mason sighs.)

MASONDidn’t you hear me when I said late wife.

LYNDANope.

MASONWell she’s dead.

(Lynda is feels bad.)

LYNDAI’m so sorry to ask.

MASONNo you’re fine. I’m stupid enough to think that she’d come back from the dead. Last time I checked Jesus brought people back to life. And last time I checked, Jesus didn’t bring her back to life. Anyway… where are you from?

LYNDAI’m from Branchville.

MASONBranch what?

LYNDABranchville.

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Just a Dream

MASONWhere’s that at?

LYNDAKansas.

MASONYou sure that it’s in Kansas? Because you are in Wilmington, Kansas and I never heard of any town called Branchville.

LYNDAI’m positive.

MASONI’ve heard about these kind of situations in the movies. If you look like my dead wife and claim that you’re from some time that doesn’t exist called Branchville then it must mean that you’re from from… a parallel world! My goodness, I just made the discovery of a lifeti…

(Lynda smacks Mason.)

MASON(CONTINUED)Goddamit! Don’t you get tired of smacking people?

LYNDAI never get tired at all.

(Mason whispers.)

MASONYou little piece of…

LYNDAWhat was that?

MASONNothing at all… Didn’t say anything… Didn’t say a word… My mouth was closed…

(Lynda immediately interrupts.)

LYNDANo it wasn’t.

(It is silent for about four seconds.)

MASONAnyway…

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Just a Dream

LYNDAHow did I get here? In this dump.

MASONI don’t know, you tell me.

LYNDAI don’t know. I was mad at Lance for thinking that I was tired because I was a woman and that was the last thing that happened.

(Mason puts his hands on Lynda’s shoulders.)

MASONI get it!

LYNDAI can take care of myself. I don’t’ need your ideas.

MASONSo you got tired, huh.

LYNDANo!

MASONWait for one second, okay.

LYNDAI said I didn’t get tired! Damn. Now he talkin like Lance.

MASONWhatever.

(Mason walks up to a person with a pair of symbols.)

MASONCan I borrow those?

MANSure.

(Man gives Mason the symbols.)

MASONThanks.

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Just a Dream

(Mason runs back to Lynda with the symbols behind his back.)

MASON(CONTINUED)Sorry for the wait.

LYNDAWhy’d you go over there?

MASONIt’s nothing.

(Lynda looks at where his hands are.)

LYNDAWatchya got behind your back?

MASON It’s a surprise.

LYNDAWhat kind of surprise?

MASONA really cool one.

LYNDAHow do I know that it’s not something bad.

MASONJust close your eyes.

LYNDAAlright.

(Lynda slowly closes her eyes.)

(Lance looks carefully to see if she’s peeking.)

MASONNo peeking!

LYNDAYou told me to close my eyes but you didn’t say that I couldn’t peek.

MASONIf you’re peeking that means that your eyes are not closed so…. CLOSE THEM!

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Just a Dream

(Lynda closes her eyes.)

MASONBetter not be peeking.

LYNDAI’m not so just hurry up!

(Mason puts a smirk on his face.)

MASONGet ready! Because you’re about to go back to your home!

(Mason hits Lynda with a symbol on each side of her head and she falls to the ground.)

LYNDAAHHHHHHH! That hurt!

MASONYou tired yet.

LYNDAYou little sewage rat. I never get tired.

MASONHow am I little when I’m all the way up here and you’re all the way down there.

(Mason compares his height to Lynda.)

LYNDA Cut the jokes.

MASONWasn’t trying to be funny. But anyway…

LYNDAShut up. Why’d you hit me?

MASONWhat do you mean?

LYNDAYou hit me with a freakin shovel!

MASON

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Just a Dream

Oh that. Remember you said that the last thing you remembered that happened back at you home was that you got tired… So I decided to hit you with a shovel

LYNDAVery smart of you Sherlock.

MASONI know right.

LYNDAI was being sarcastic.

MASONOh. Well anyway…

LYNDAAnyway what.

MASONDid you get tired.

LYNDADidn’t get tired but you’re damn sure I got hurt.

MASONThen we gottta think of something else.

(It is silent for about six seconds.)

LYNDAWell did you think of something?

MASONBingo!

LYNDAWhat is it?!

(Mason pulls a piece of paper from his back pocket.)

MASONYou see what this says?

LYNDAYeah, sure.

(Lynda reads the piece of paper.)

LYNDA(CONTINUED)

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Just a Dream

“Yearly… Wilmington… Competition… tests speed, strength,… and stamina… Will be held… At Mason’s county… RANCH! TOMMORROW!

MASONWhat do you think? Is my plan going to work?

LYNDA Forget that for a second. You have a COUNTY RANCH!

MASONYes I do. At the moment me and my son are working there.

(Lynda is silent for a brief nine seconds putting her hands on her head as if she was in a state of frustration.)

LYNDAI want to see your son.

MASONWell that escalated quickly.

LYNDADidn’t you hear my words. TAKE ME TO YOUR SON.

MASONHow do you know I have a son?

LYNDA Don’t ask.

MASONOkay, I’ll take you to my son. But on the way, I think I should show you around town, alright.

LYNDASure. Why not.

Scene 3

Mason and Lynda are walking around town.

MASONThis here is the art museum.

(Mason points to museum of art.)

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Just a Dream

LYNDAOkay. I don’t care.

(Mason sighs)

MASONThen let’s go to the Wonka Cola Factory.

LYNDAWhatever… Lets just get going so that I can see your son.

MASONWhy do you wanna see my son?

LYNDANone of your business.

MASONThe hell you mean none of my business, he’s my son.

LYNDAYou’re so annoying, let’s get away from this Wonka Donka place.

MASONIt’s called the Wonka Cola Factory.

LYNDAYeah, yeah. Lets get going.

(Mason and Lynda walk across the street.)

MASONThis is the…

LYNDACan we go?

MASONMaybe if you don’t interrupt me.

(Lynda looks back and forth between the Wonka Cola Factory and The museum of art.)

MASON(CONTINUED)Is something the matter… Hello. Hello. Earth to Lynda. HELLO!

(Lynda gets startled.)

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Just a Dream

LYNDADon’t scare me like that.

MASONYou were dazing off.

LYNDAWell you might not believe me but back home, we have an Art Museum and a Junka Cola Factory and they’re right across the street from each other, just like this place. If the places look familiar and the people look familiar then that means…

MASONHuh?

LYNDADoes that mean that you own the county ranch?

MASONYeah… but can I ask how you…

LYNDAYeah, let’s go there.

(Lynda jumps on the air.)

MASONHey, you know something?

LYNDAWhat?

(Points at her head.)

MASONYou’re crazy.

(Exit stage left.)

SCENE 5

(Lynda and Mason are at the county ranch.)

MASONWell here you ar…

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Just a Dream

LYNDAWhere’s your son? George!

MASONHis name is James.

LYNDAI don’t give a crap. Tell me where he is.

MASONOkay, okay. Calm down… JAMES!!

(James runs down to his dad.)

JAMESYo dad.

MASONJames, I want you to meet Lynda.

JAMESIt’s a pleasure to meet…

(James gives a look of shock at Lynda.)

JAMES(CONTINUED)MOM! YOU’RE BACK FROM THE DEAD!

MASONDamn. I forgot to explain. It’s a long story but she’s not your mother. Just introduce yourself.

(James is looking at Mason and Lynda in confusion.)

MASON(Continued)Now do what I told you to do.

JAMESIt’s a pleasure to meet you…Lynda.

LYNDAIt’s a pleasure to meet you.

MASONNow James, can you do me a favor?

JAMESSure.

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Just a Dream

MASONCan you feed the cows and chickens for me?

JAMESNo problem.

(James exits stage right to feed cows and chickens.)

MASONNow that that’s settled… Let me tell you one thing to never do.

LYNDAAnd what would that be…

MASONTo not tell anyone else about you being from another world or something like that, got it.

LYNDAOkay, gotcha.

MASONNow go get some rest.

LYNDAAlright, but where do I sleep?

MASONSee those horses over there?

LYNDAYeah.

MASONSecond door to the left. There should be a bed there.

LYNDA Thanks.

MASONNo problem.

(Lynda exits stage left to go to sleep.)

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Just a Dream

SCENE 6

(It is morning and Lynda wakes up after hearing the chickens.)

LYNDAUgh. Morning already?

(Lynda sniffs the air.)

LYNDA(CONTINUED) Eggs and toast!

(Lynda tracks down the smell of the food.)

MASONOh hey, you’re awake. You’ve been asleep for eleven hours.

LYNDAWhat! Eleven hours! I…

MASONThat’s not relevant at the moment. So just eat.

(Mason puts down a plate of eggs and toast with a glass of milk on the table.)

LYNDAThanks.

MASONNo problem. I like to cook.

(Lynda picks up spoon and eats eggs.)

LYNDAThis is… AMAZING!

MASONHurry up though.

LYNDAWhy?

MASONYou forgot what today is?

(Lynda does a face palm.)

LYNDAThe competition! Today is the day I go back home! Just shows how smart women can be!

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Just a Dream

MASONDon’t get your hopes up. I never said that your plan would work 100%.

(Lynda eats up her eggs and toast and drinks her glass of milk as if only a second past.)

LYNDAReady.

MASONThat was fast. You’re gonna be running, lifting, and horse riding!

LYNDAWhatever, let’s just go!

(Lynda grabs Mason’s hand to go to the competition.)

SCENE 7(Lynda and Mason are at the competition.)

COMMENTATOROkay everyone! Lets begin the games!

CROWDOOOHHHHHH!!!

MASONGo through there! You’re late!

(Lynda runs towards the gate but then turns around.)

LYNDAMason… Thanks for everything.

MASONNo problem.

(Lynda runs towards the gate.)

LYNDAJames!

(James turns around.)

JAMESYo Lynda! I’m gonna win, just so you know.

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Just a Dream

LYNDANaw. You bout to get schooled by this lady.

SCENE 8(Lynda and James are the final competitors.)

COMENTATORLooks like we have one heck of a tough women that made it to the finals! The final competitors are Lynda and everybody knows him, everybody loves him, it’s James!

LYNDAI’m winning this, James.

JAMESOver my dead body.

COMMETATORBring out the bull!

(A group of men bring out the bull, while two other men give Lynda and James ropes.)

COMENTATOR(CONTINUED)These two have gone through some intense stuff! They’ve gone through 100 push ups, 10 reps of suicides, horse-riding like never seen before! And now they must use ropes instead of capes and send the bull back to its den.

LYNDA Bring it on, bull!

(James gulps.)

LYNDA(CONTINUED)Why so nervous, James.

JAMESMy shirt is… RED!!!

(Bull chases James.)

JAMES(CONTINUED)Help!

COMENTATORIt seems like James is wearing red on the worst type of day! And now the bull is chasing him! What will Lynda do!

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Just a Dream

LYNDAWhat will Lynda do? I’ll put that bull in his place!

(Lynda takes red handkerchief from crowd.)

LYNDA Sorry, I need this.

JAMESAhhh!!

COMENTATORThe bull is still chasing James!

(Lynda gets the bull’s attention with the her red handkerchief. Bull comes charging.)

COMENTATORThe bull’s running towards Lynda! What is she thinking by exposing the red handkerchief?

(Lynda whips the bull with rope and runs toward the bull’s pit.)

LYNDACome and chase me you piece of crap!

COMENTATORLynda is provoking the bull’s anger!

LYNDAOpen the pit!

(The group of men open the pit. The bull gets trapped inside.)h

COMENTATOR AMAZING!! LYNDA HAS WON THE ANNUAL COUNTY COMPETITION!!

(Lynda goes to pick up James from the ground.)

JAMESThanks Lynda.

(Lynda talks exhaustingly) LYNDA

No probl…

(Lynda gasps for air and falls to the ground. A bright light  shines on Lynda’s face as she hears multiple voices.)

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Just a Dream

LANCELynda! Lynda!

GEORGEMom! Mom! Wake up!

(Lynda opens her eyes.)

LYNDALance? George?

(Lynda wakes up with enthusiasm.)

LYNDAIts you guys!!!!!! Sorry about that! I was in a town called Wilmington and I met a man named Mason who looked like you, Lance! And then there was this competition and I was lost and I saw his son James who looked like George and it was like awesome and i went feminist mode on James and he lost…

LANCEYou must have been really tired to have slept for fourteen hours and dreamt something you thought was real.

LYNDAHow many times do I have to tell you Lance. I donts get tired.

(Lance backs off.)

GEORGEMom, we thought you were in a coma or something and we’ve been trying to wake you up for three hours now.

LYNDAIt doesn’t matter… at least I’m with you guys!

END OF PLAY

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