LAST CHANCE A DRAMA IN ONE ACT

B y T y r o n e B u t l e r

Copyright © MMVII by Tyrone Butler All Rights Reserved

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BY TYRONE BUTLER

LAST CHANCE By Tyrone Butler

SYNOPSIS: Last Chance deals with the devastating effect a negative home

and neighborhood has on its young people. In Last Chance, the main

character, Punkie, has an enormous responsibility, she is mother and father

to her six brothers and sisters. Her father is not in the home and her drug-

addicted mother is very seldom at home.

After a friend is gunned down in a drive-by, Punkie discovers that the

shooters were targeting her fiancé, Chucky, in revenge over a drug deal gone

bad. To escape her life in her neighborhood and home, Punkie decides that

her last chance for a better life is education. Last Chance is a solid message

play that proves to young people that if they choose education, they will

succeed.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

(4 MEN, 6 WOMEN) PUNKIE..........................................Street-wise teenager in neighborhood,

yet frustrated seventeen year old female. (150 Lines)

TRINA ............................................Ten year old girl who looks up to Punkie. (30 Lines)

CHUCKY........................................Punkie’s eighteen-year-old boyfriend – drug dealer. (20 Lines)

MISTER..........................................Nervous politician from classic side of town seeking votes in a low-income neighborhood. (31Lines)

*REVEREND .................................The uninvolved or indifferent neighborhood minister. (14 Lines)

MAMA............................................Punkie’s thirty-four year old alcoholic mother. (10 Lines)

MADAM BUTTERFLY.................Sassy lady in Punkie’s dream. Pretends to see Punkie’s future in her crystal ball. (38 Lines)

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LAST CHANCE

SUZETTE .......................................Punkie’s preteen sister. (12 Lines) CRYSTA.........................................Another sister younger than Suzette. (8

Lines) JAMOL ...........................................Punkie’s brother, younger than Crysta.

(5 Lines) *NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE.......Teenagers *Can be played by actress or actor

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

SCENE ONE: Neighborhood Street, afternoon. SCENE TWO: Room in Punkie’s House, minutes later. SCENE THREE: Neighborhood Street, night, the same day. SCENE FOUR: Fortune Teller’s Parlor, minutes later. SCENE FIVE: Neighborhood Street, minutes later.

PRODUCTION NOTES THE SET SCENE ONE, THREE, and FIVE, the neighborhood street, can be performed on a bare stage. SCENE TWO can also be performed on a bare stage with one block as a chair for Mama. Also, two blocks can be used as a table with the crystal ball on top and chair for Fortune Teller in SCENE FOUR. LIGHTING/SOUND General lighting and one time there are flashing police and ambulance lights. The only sounds are shots fired from blank guns, ambulance and police sirens, a car with raised motor fastly approaching, and heavy winds OFFSTAGE. COSTUMES Present day attire for Punkie, Trina, Suzett, Crysta, and Jamol. Reverend – dark suit and collar. Chucky – streety. Mister – suit and tie. Mama, like a hooker, and Fortune Teller as seen in movies

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BY TYRONE BUTLER

MUSIC Mood music as desired. FLEXIBLE CASTING Reverend and neighborhood people can be played by men or women.

PROPS

BROUGHT ON, SCENE ONE: Textbooks, PUNKIE; Bookbag, TRINA; Currency, CHUCKY; Pocket camera; MISTER ON STAGE, SCENE TWO: Comb; Multi-colored wig; Shoulder bag, MAMA BROUGHT ON, SCENE TWO: Textbooks, PUNKIE BROUGHT ON, SCENE THREE: Tiny box with engagement ring, CHUCKY; Cellular phones (2), one each for PUNKIE and CHUCKY; Small box (flyers in box), MISTER ON STAGE, SCENE FOUR: Crystal ball, MADAM BUTTERFLY BROUGHT ON, SCENE FOUR: Four baby dolls and baby stroller, PUNKIE

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LAST CHANCE

ACT ONE, SCENE 1 SETTING: A tough, inner city street. Afternoon. AT RISE: Prior to curtains rising, a loud explosion is heard followed by Trina quacking and moving about like a duck. The curtains rise, revealing Punkie carrying school books and wearing a smut stained white lab jacket, walking home from school. PUNKIE: (Spots her little friend, Trina, sitting on the curb, quacking

and acting like a duck, with book-bag strapped to her back. Punkie, already irritated, snaps.) Trina, what are you doing?

TRINA: (Snaps back.) What does it look like I’m doing, Punkie? PUNKIE: (Grabs Trina's arm.) Didn’t I tell you about always being so

smart with me? TRINA: Punkie, stop it. You’re hurting me. PUNKIE: (Lets go.) Then, watch your mouth. TRINA: You hollered at me! PUNKIE: (Snaps.) So? TRINA: (Feelings hurt.) I was just quacking like a duck to calm my

nerves. PUNKIE: (Stares briefly at Trina, then calms.) I’m sorry, Trina.

Maybe I should quack like a duck and calm my nerves, too. TRINA: What’s wrong, Punkie? Did something bad happen to you in

school today? PUNKIE: I don’t know why I’m even still in school, Trina. Something

bad is always happening to me at that place. TRINA: What happened? PUNKIE: (Sighs and points at the smut stain on her jacket.) I mixed

water with the wrong chemicals and blew up the chemistry lab. TRINA: (Shocked.) The chemistry lab? (Punkie nods.) Like boom? PUNKIE: Boom. TRINA: Did you get hurt, Punkie? PUNKIE: No. Nobody did. But, I messed up the lab pretty bad,

though. My lab jacket, too.

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TRINA: I’m sorry, Punkie. PUNKIE: Me, too. But, the way my teacher got on me, you would’ve

thought I did it on purpose. I mean, I didn’t know you weren’t suppose to mix water with those chemicals.

TRINA: Well, I bet I know what will cheer you right on up, Punkie. PUNKIE: What? TRINA: I’ve decided on what I’m going to be when I grow up. PUNKIE: (Suspicious.) What is it this time, Trina? TRINA: When I grow up, I’m going to go to college. PUNKIE: (Smiles.) That’s good. TRINA: And, when I graduate . . . I’m going to be a substitute school

teacher. PUNKIE: What? TRINA: And, at night, I’m going to work at a junkyard. And… PUNKIE: (Interrupts.) That’s stupid, Trina. TRINA: (Feelings hurt.) But, what I was going to say, Punkie, was

when I grow up, I want to be like you, too. PUNKIE: (Touched.) Me? TRINA: (Nods.) I want to be just like you. Tough. PUNKIE: (Shakes her head.) No, you don’t, Trina. TRINA: Why not? PUNKIE: Because, even I don’t want to be like me. Believe me, if I

could, I’d be like you. All those A’s you make. TRINA: (Pleased.) Really, Punkie? Like me? PUNKIE: Look, Trina, if you want to get out from down here, like I

wish I could, after you graduate from college, you better be a regular school teacher and own a junkyard. Okay?

TRINA: Okay, Punkie. Now, it’s your turn. Tell me what you want to be.

PUNKIE: The way things are going for me at school, you may have to give me a job at your junkyard.

TRINA: Okay, Punkie. I’ll make you my head junkyard person. PUNKIE: (Smiles.) Thanks, Trina. TRINA: You’re welcome. PUNKIE: Come on, Trina. Let’s go. Your grandmama is probably

looking out the window for you right now.

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TRINA: Okay. (Before they start off, Trina spots Chucky. He enters counting money.) Punkie, there’s your boyfriend.

CHUCKY: (Punkie is elated to see him. They walk up behind Chucky. He senses someone behind him and turns.) Oh, hey, Punkie Baby. (He quickly puts the money in his pocket.)

PUNKIE: (Responds mushy.) Hey, Chucky. TRINA: (Mocks Punkie.) Hey, Chucky. (Punkie rolls her eyes at

Trina.) CHUCKY: Trina? You ready? (Trina and Chucky box around until

Trina socks him in the stomach. He falls and pretends he’s hurt. This annoys Punkie.)

TRINA: Gotcha. You want some more? CHUCKY: Noooo. You win. PUNKIE: (As Chucky stands, Punkie brushes Trina aside.) Trina, go

buy yourself some ice cream. TRINA: Ice cream? PUNKIE: Yes, ice cream. TRINA: But I don’t want… PUNKIE: (Speaks firmly.) Go! CHUCKY: Noo, she doesn’t have to leave. I have to go, anyway. PUNKIE: Already? But, we haven’t hardly spent any time together in

over three weeks. CHUCKY: I know. But, I’ve been a little busy lately, and right now I

have to go pick up a package. PUNKIE: (Disappointed.) Then, when am I going to see you? CHUCKY: What about later on? PUNKIE: (Happy.) Tonight? (He nods.) What time? CHUCKY: Mmm, seven? PUNKIE: You promise? CHUCKY: I promise. PUNKIE: (Emphasizes.) Okay, I’ll see you at seven now. CHUCKY: Okay. (He kisses her on the jaw.) Bye, Punkie Baby. PUNKIE: (Responds mushy.) Bye, Chucky. (Chucky smiles and

pats Trina on the head and exits.) TRINA: (Waves and speaks as Chucky exits.) He sure is a fine man,

Punkie Baby.

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PUNKIE: Trina, sometimes you sure do say some grown up things, just to be ten years old. You know that? (Trina places her hands at her waist and switches hard over to one side and blinks her eyes.) Come on here, girl. (Trina laughs out. Seconds later, a nervous man enters, from behind them, and calls out to Punkie.)

MISTER: Hey, you, big girl, come here. PUNKIE: Me? MISTER: (Snaps.) Yes, you, girl. What’s wrong with you people

down here? PUNKIE: Girl? You people? Stand over there for a minute, Trina. I

have a little bit of business to attend to. (Trina obeys, but, bit-by-bit, she inches back over to Punkie and the man. Punkie’s toughness pleases Trina. Punkie approaches him with a cold stare. Mister becomes frightened and tightens up.) Listen, Mister. I am not “YOU PEOPLE.” My name is Punkie, and I’m not a “girl.” I am a young lady. You understand?

MISTER: Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I do apologize, “young lady.”

PUNKIE: That’s better. Now, what do you want? MISTER: I want to help you people . . . Oh, I mean, I want to help

you all clean up this neighborhood down here. PUNKIE: Well, get a broom. MISTER: No, no. I don’t mean like that. I mean, I will make this a

better neighborhood, in which to live, if you help me get elected. PUNKIE: Elected? MISTER: Yes. PUNKIE: Elected to what? MISTER: The Board of Commission. I want to be the Commissioner

for our area. PUNKIE: Our area? (Mister nods.) You live down here? MISTER: (Hesitates.) Well . . . yes. PUNKIE: But, I’ve never seen you down here before. MISTER: Well, I don’t actually live down . . . here. I live in the

district. But, when I’m elected, you are going to see me down here a lot.

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PUNKIE: Look, Mister, you know it, and I know it, too, if you get elected, you’re not coming down here and do anything. (Punkie walks away, but stops when he calls to Punkie.)

MISTER: But, young lady, I have no reason to lie to you. Now do I? PUNKIE: (Turns to him.) To get elected. And, then, you’ll do just

like all of the others. Disappear, and we won’t see you down here again. Until the next election, that is.

MISTER: No. I’m different. PUNKIE: Different? I’ve heard that one before. MISTER: Okay. To prove to you that I’m not like all of the others,

this Saturday I’m going to come down here and give you all a fish fry.

PUNKIE: A fish fry? (He nods.) For what? MISTER: To get the people down here together and find out what

you all need. And, no matter what it is or what it costs, when I am elected, I’ll get it done. I’ll put that in writing, too.

PUNKIE: (Studies him briefly.) In writing? MISTER: That’s right, in writing. And, I will give everybody a copy of

it, too, with my signature on it. It will be like a legal contract. PUNKIE: With your signature? MISTER: That’s right, I’ll sign it. So, now will you help me? PUNKIE: Well, that depends on what you want me to do? MISTER: For right now, all I need for you to do is just let me take a

picture of you. (Pulls out a small camera.) PUNKIE: A picture of me? (He nods.) For what? MISTER: To put on my campaign poster. PUNKIE: For what? MISTER: To show that I have support from somebody that lives

down here. That’ll get people down here to vote for me. That’s what your picture will do. You know how that works, don’t you?

PUNKIE: Yeah. You’re trying to trick me. MISTER: No, no, nooo. That’s not it at all. PUNKIE: Okay, then, why can't you just wait and take the picture

Saturday, at the fish fry, after you sign the contract? MISTER: Because I want to have the posters already made up by

then, so I can post them all around the neighborhood. The election is just thirty days away, you know.

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PUNKIE: Oh. MISTER: Well? PUNKIE: (Hunches her shoulder nonchalantly.) Well . . . okay. TRINA: May I? MISTER: Sure. Stand right there next to Peanut. PUNKIE: (Snaps and Mister tightens up again.) My name is Punkie.

(Punkie spells her name out loud.) P-u-n-k-i-e. MISTER: (Nervously speaks.) Oh, sorry, Punkie. (Punkie and Trina

pose and Mister snaps the picture.) Thanks. I really do appreciate this. (Mister holds up camera to Punkie.) And you will not regret doing this. Because, when I get through improving this neighborhood, there are going to be two kinds of people in this city, the ones that live down here and the ones that wish they lived down here. (He shakes their hands, waves and exits.)

TRINA: You believe him, Punkie? PUNKIE: (Punkie, hopefully, looks about the neighborhood.) Well, if

he shows up Saturday, with the contract, and signs it, maybe. Come on. (As they start out, Trina spots Chucky. He is not seen.)

TRINA: (Straining to see, points downstage.) Punkie, isn’t that Chucky over there with the drug boys? (Punkie, disappointed, looks and slowly nods her head.)

BLACKOUT. END OF SCENE ONE.

ACT ONE, SCENE 2 SETTING: A shabby looking room in Punkie’s house, AT RISE: Minutes later. Same day. Punkie's mother is sitting at the dresser holding and styling her loud multi-colored wig, dressed like a hooker. She is wearing a stocking cap. PUNKIE: (Enters and speaks.) Hey, Mama.

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MAMA: (Speaks without looking at Punkie.) Hey. PUNKIE: Where’s everybody? MAMA: Backyard. PUNKIE: Oh. (Punkie notices her mother preparing to go out.

Punkie, calmly and cautiously, questions her.) Mama, you going out again?

MAMA: (Irritated by the question.) Why? PUNKIE: Cause . . . I have to study. MAMA: Well, study then. PUNKIE: But, I can’t study and baby-sit them, too. MAMA: Why not? You been doing it. PUNKIE: I know. But, last night they made so much noise I couldn’t

study, and I got in trouble at school today. MAMA: Again? (Punkie nods.) What kind of trouble? PUNKIE: I blew up the chemistry lab. MAMA: You did what?! PUNKIE: I blew up the lab. But if I had had time to study last night it

wouldn’t have happened. I would’ve known what to do and what not to do. (Mama laughs loudly as she returns to styling the wig. Disappointed in her mother, Punkie becomes sad.) Mama, I could’ve been killed.

MAMA: (Notices Punkie, and stops laughing.) Aaaa, Punkie, you don't have to get all emotional. Just take care of business whenever I'm not here.

PUNKIE: How? MAMA: Punkie, when I’m not here you are in charge of your brother

and sisters. And, when they act up, just make ‘em go to bed early. And, if they don’t go, you beat ‘em. Beat ‘em good, too. I mean it.

PUNKIE: Yes, Ma’am. MAMA: (Mama looks at her watch.) Ooo, I’m late. (She quickly

places the wig on her head, stuffs her bra, grabs her shoulder bag and looks at herself briefly in the imaginary mirror, and starts off.) Oh, and Punkie, I left something out for you to cook. (Mama starts

off, again, but suddenly stops.) Punkie, did you really blow up the lab?

PUNKIE: Yes, Ma’am. (Mama laughs big as she twists, hurriedly, off.)

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BLACKOUT. END OF SCENE TWO.

ACT ONE, SCENE 3 SETTING: Sidewalk in front of Punkie's house. AT RISE: Night. Same day. Punkie is standing outside looking for Chucky. Moments later, her brother and sisters run out, screaming Punkie’s name. PUNKIE’S BROTHER AND SISTERS: Punkie, can we go play with

Trina? PUNKIE: No. Trina is probably in her house studying. CRYSTA: No, she’s not, Punkie. PUNKIE: How do you know, Crysta? CRYSTA: (Points.) Because, she’s on her front porch playing with

her dolls. (Punkie looks. Trina is not seen.) See’er? PUNKIE: Yeah, I see’er. (Hesitates.) Well, okay, but just for a little

while. But, Suzette, don’t let Crysta and Jamol run in and out of Trina’s grandmama’s house. Okay?

SUZETTE: Okay. PUNKIE: Okay. Go on. (The children yell, happily, and run off.

Punkie watches them until they exit and then, looks down the street away from them.) I wonder where Chucky is? (She looks at her watch.) It’s after seven. It’s almost eight. (She pulls out her cell phone and dials and waits.) Chucky, where are you? (Just then Chucky walks up behind her holding his cell phone to his ear.)

CHUCKY: (High-spirited.) Behind you, Punkie B-a-b-y. PUNKIE: (Disappointed, she places the phone back and turns to

him.) You’re late.

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CHUCKY: I know, and I’m sorry. (Puts his phone up.) But, that package I went to pick up wasn’t ready. So, I had to go back and get it a few minutes ago.

PUNKIE: Would this package have anything do to with you being over there with the drug boys today?

CHUCKY: Where? PUNKIE: Over by the church? CHUCKY: (Thinks.) Ohhh. PUNKIE: Well? CHUCKY: Well, what? We were just talking. PUNKIE: About what? CHUCKY: About the package I was on my way to pick up for you.

(Chucky smiles and pulls out a tiny box and hands it to her.) This. PUNKIE: (Curious.) What is it? CHUCKY: Open it and see. PUNKIE: (Opens it.) An engagement ring! Mine? (He nods. She

screams, sheds tears of joy, and quickly places the ring on her finger.) It’s my right size, too. (She screams again.)

CHUCKY: (Steps away and pretends his feelings are hurt.) See. You don’t have any faith in me. I told you I was through with selling drugs.

PUNKIE: Oh, I’m sorry, Chucky. But, when I saw you over there I thought you had gone back on your word again. I apologize. Okay?

CHUCKY: (Still pretending to be hurt.) Apology accepted. I guess. (Chucky rolls his eyes at her and, laughs out.)

PUNKIE: Chucky, you’re so silly. (Punkie gives him a little love pat on the shoulder, and steps away admiring the ring. Seconds later, she screams to the top of her voice.) I’m engaged. It’s so beautiful, Chucky. I love it. When do you want to get married?

CHUCKY: Whenever you say, because I got plans for us, and they don’t include living down here either.

PUNKIE: (Elated.) Really? You mean you are going to take me out from down here? (He nods.) Oh, Chucky, I love you. (Punkie rushes to him and they embrace with great passion. At that moment, Punkie’s siblings run up pointing and laughing at them.)

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SUZETTE: Ooo, Punkie, I’m going to tell Mama. (Embarrassed, Punkie quickly breaks away.)

PUNKIE: (Yells at her.) Shut up, Suzette. Mama knows about Chucky. (Her brother and sisters giggle as Punkie tries to play it off.) Trina gone in the house?

SUZETTE: No. (At that moment, a car with a loud muffler sound and raised engine is heard fastly approaching.)

CHUCKY: (Yells.) Come on. (Chucky, hurriedly, pushes Punkie and her siblings into their house as gun shots ring out. A child’s painful scream rings out. Chucky runs off. Seconds later, after the shooting stops and the street is cleared, Punkie peeps out and whispers.)

PUNKIE: Chucky. (Just then, the Reverend rushes by. Punkie calls out.) Reverend.

REVEREND: Somebody’s been shot. PUNKIE: Who? (The Reverend hurries on. Worried, Punkie

questions herself.) Chucky? (At that moment, Punkie's mother enters looking dazed. Punkie calls to her.) Mama, hurry up. It’s been a shooting. (Mama walks away from Punkie. Punkie runs behind and calls out.) Mama. (Mama walks on. At that moment, police and ambulance sirens are heard approaching accompanied by flashing lights. Moments later, the sirens stop, but the flashing

lights continue. Mama exits.) Mama. (Just then, Mister appears carrying a small box. He calls out.)

MISTER: You there. (Not knowing who the other is, they carefully and slowly approach each other.)

PUNKIE: (Moments later, Punkie recognizes him.) Oh, Mister. MISTER: (Recognizes her.) Punkie. What’s going on? PUNKIE: Somebody’s been shot. MISTER: (Stiffens and drops the box.) Shot? PUNKIE: Relax, Mister. It’s over. MISTER: Oh. (Mister relaxes, picks up the box and all of a sudden

appears brave.) Now, that’s the kind of stuff I’m going to send the police down here to stop. (Mister remembers.) Oh. (Mister hands the box to her.) Here.

PUNKIE: What’s this?

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MISTER: Some flyers about the fish fry. I was looking for you and your little friend, Gina, (Punkie frowns.) to pass them out for me tomorrow. But, you know what, (Mister looks about.) with all these people moving about, you and Gina could pass some out tonight.

PUNKIE: No, not tonight. (Hands the box back to him.) MISTER: Why not? PUNKIE: (Punkie points to where Mama exited.) I have to get my

mama out of the crack house.   

Thank you for reading this free excerpt from Last Chance by Tyrone J. Butler. For performance rights and/or a complete copy of the 

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