Monastery

By Francis Bass

A couple decades in the future higher education has evolved, and Academic Campuses (sometimes referred to as “monasteries”) offer an affordable, though longer and more intensive, alternative to universities. In this hour-long play, the student editors of the Marietta Academic Campus’s literary journal, The MAC, meet just before the start of Summer to finish up the latest issue, and to celebrate their success. As the play continues, a hypothetical conversation about graduating early and starting up a magazine outside the monastery turns into a spirited argument.

Cast is 3F, 2M.

This publication also includes an afterword by the author, in which he describes his own arguments with himself about college, and the outlining process for the play.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Francis Bass
• Release date: Sep 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370282548

Francis Bass

Francis Bass is a writer of science fiction and fantasy. His work has appeared in RECKONING, ELECTRIC LITERATURE, and others. He lives in Philadelphia.

Book preview

Monastery

Copyright © 2016 by Francis Bass

All rights reserved.

This play is copyright protected. All rights, including rights to performance of any kind, are strictly reserved, unless written permission is granted by the author. For inquiries concerning performance rights, contact Francis Bass at [e-mail].

Cover font HVD Bodedo by Hannes von Döhren.

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Table of Contents

Characters and Setting

Play

Afterword

Characters

ALEXIS GREENE

Female. 22.

CARLOS TOMA

Male. 22. Hispanic.

MAGGIE JONES

Female. 22.

REBECCA JONES

Her older sister. 24.

WILLIAM GRAY

Male. 23.

Setting

2036 AD. The Marietta Academic Campus, a fictional campus in Marietta, Georgia. It is early May.

Set: The office of The Mac literary magazine, a space borrowed from the academic campus. It occupies half or less of the stage, at center. Upstage center is the desk of ALEXIS GREENE, editor-in-chief. At left are the desks of MAGGIE JONES, drama editor, and CARLOS TOMA, translation editor. At right are the desks of REBECCA JONES, fiction editor, and WILLIAM GRAY, poetry editor. Each desk has a chair. Upstage left is the door, which leads directly outside. The interior is lit, while the rest of the stage is dark.

BECCA and WILLIAM enter left, talking.

WILLIAM

Waters is appropriately named.

BECCA

What? He’s transparent?

WILLIAM

No, he tastes like nothing.

They arrive at the door, and WILLIAM opens it. As they enter, WILLIAM hits the light switch.

Especially following up Mayor. And especially going against Keen. The guy just looks like dry bread.

BECCA

I still think he’s gonna win.

WILLIAM glances around the office.

WILLIAM

We’re the first ones here. That’s a first.

BECCA

Well, it’s not really a real meeting.

WILLIAM goes to his seat, BECCA goes to hers. WILLIAM moves his chair around so he and BECCA are facing one another.

WILLIAM

Still, I would’ve thought Alex would be here at least.

BECCA

I think she’s doing something …

WILLIAM

Well, that seems probable. I think most everybody is doing something.

BECCA

No, I mean she has a thing. Maybe a meeting with her advisor?

WILLIAM

Ah. That kind of something.

BECCA

Smart-ass.

WILLIAM

If I don’t critique your choice of words, who will?

CARLOS enters left, with a backpack.

BECCA

My writing group? Alex?

WILLIAM

Yes, but will they do so unsolicited?

BECCA

No. But you could say that’s an advantage they have over you.

CARLOS enters the office.

WILLIAM

Hello Carlos.

CARLOS

Hi.

He sits at his desk, takes a laptop from his bag, and places it on the desk. He opens it, and begins using it.

BECCA

Eyeing the laptop.

You still have work to do?

CARLOS

Beat.

Yes? Do you not?

BECCA

Not for The Mac.

CARLOS

Oh, no this isn’t for—no, I’m done with that. I just figured I’d get some work done on other things while I’m here.

BECCA

What other things?

CARLOS

Scholarships.

BECCA

Oh. I should really apply for some of those.

Beat. To WILLIAM.

Have you applied for … any scholarships?

WILLIAM

Not recently. The Poet’s Award I always do, but that was—

BECCA

That was in fall, right?

WILLIAM

Yes.

Pause.

BECCA

Surprised that Alex isn’t here.

WILLIAM nods. BECCA takes out her phone, and stares at it for a few moments.

Will, did we run out of coffee?

WILLIAM

No. At the apartment?

BECCA

Uh-huh.

WILLIAM

No.

BECCA

Okay.

WILLIAM

Why?

BECCA

I have it on my grocery list with three question marks.

WILLIAM

Better to get it anyway.

BECCA

Probably right. Not like it’s gonna spoil if we have too much of it.