A one act play

Setting
A camp for troubled teens. Present day. Or close enough.

Characters
JESS, 16. Queer. Puts up walls and burns down bridges (and towns).
WENDY, late 40s or early 50s. A shell of (self) hatred. Head counselor at the camp.
RAYLEIGH, 17. Weaker than she looks. Stronger than she feels.
CONNOR, 17. Worried about who he’ll become.

Summary
Three young adults struggle to hold on to their sense of self at a camp for troubled teens while going head-to-head with a counselor far more broken than she lets on.

 

Lights up on JESS sitting on a swivel chair in front of a large but organized desk. The chair on the other side of the desk is empty. Jess spins from side to side on the chair, kicks her foot against the desk, reaches for a picture frame that’s facing away from her, picks it up to examine it, then jumps when she hears a knock at the door behind her. She hastily returns the picture frame to its place on the desk as WENDY enters.

 

WENDY

Jessica! Hello. I’m sorry if I’ve kept you waiting.

JESS

Jess.

WENDY

I’m sorry?

JESS

It’s Jess.

Wendy walks around the desk and sits down across from Jess.

WENDY

Of course. You can be called whatever you want here.

Just let the counsellors know.

JESS

Really? Whatever I want?

WENDY

Within reason. Of course.

JESS

Of course.

Wendy picks up a file from her desk, glances over it while she speaks to Jess.

WENDY

Do you know why you’re here, Jess?

JESS

My parents sent me.

WENDY

Yes. But why did they send you, do you think?

JESS

Because I’m not performing to their preferences?

Wendy finally looks up at Jess.

WENDY

We’re here to help you, Jess.

We’re not the enemy.

JESS

And how exactly do you plan on helping me here?

WENDY

Encouragement. Guidance.

JESS

Manual labor?

WENDY

Our purpose here is to give you a greater sense of purpose.
So yes. Everyone at the camp helps with daily chores and maintaining the grounds.

JESS

And that’s meant to turn me straight by…?

WENDY

We’re not trying to turn you straight, Jess.
You’re just looking for meaning in all the wrong places.

JESS

How is a place like this even still around?

WENDY

If there weren’t parents who cared as much about their children as yours do, you’re right.
We probably wouldn’t be around.
Not after the Governor stopped allowing tax dollars to fund our mission.

… [Click here to purchase a copy of the magazine]