FRANK’S ACCEPTANCE
By Maya R.J
CHARACTERS: FRANK, a senior in high school,
the Oldest child of five,18.
MILEY, a 9 year old girl, Frank's sister and the sibling he is closest to.
MOM, Frank's single mother.
HARVARD ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE, a representative of the Harvard Admissions Committee.
SETTINGS: Family computer room
AT RISE: FRANK and MILEY are on an old
computer.FRANK is sitting at the
computer and MILEY is leaning
over the side.FRANK has a
neutral face. MILEY is smiling
ear to ear.
FRANK
Okay, I think I have everything
(Takes a deep breath.)
Okay… okay.
MILEY
You double check?
FRANK
Triple and quadruple.
MILEY
Press apply!!
FRANK
Just… give me a second
MILEY
When you go to Harvard and you're rich, can you buy us a house?
FRANK
(Chuckling.)
I haven’t even applied yet! Don’t get your hopes up.
(MILEY takes the mouse out of his hand and clicks the button on the screen to apply.)
FRANK
Miley!
MILEY
(MILEY giggles.)
Now you have!
FRANK
(Sighs.)
Remember: don't tell mom
(MILEY nods.)
She’ll get mad if she hears I even thought about applying to Harvard.
MILEY
(Knocks her head to the side.) But why?
FRANK
(Sighs.)
I’ll tell you when you’re older…
Scene 2
SETTING Computer Room
AT RISE: MILEY is doing homework on the family’s only
old computer. FRANK walks in, just coming
home from work. He is in uniform.
FRANK
Miley, you want a sandwich? I brought a couple home from work.
MILEY
Yes dinner! I'm so hungryyyy.
(FRANK tosses her a sub/grider/hero sandwich, depending on where we want to set the show, and sits at the kitchen table MILEY is already sitting at.)
FRANK
So how was your day?
MILEY
Fine, Charlotte wouldn’t let me sit at her table today though…
FRANK;
That doesn’t sound nice, why?
MILEY
(MILEY is embarrassed)
‘Cause I got school lunch. They said they didn’t want “poor food” at their table. So they made me sit with Mike and Jolie.
FRANK
That’s so mean! I’m so sorry they did that to you! Here, it’s okay. That was really mean, it has nothing to do with you. Do you want someone to call Mrs. Belmont?
MILEY
No, no, no. Please don’t tell anyone. It’s fine. It's not that big of a deal, it’s fine.
FRANK
Okay, but next time I want you to stick up for yourself. Okay?
MILEY
Okay.
(A pause.}
But we played soccer at recess. And I scored more goals than anyone else.
FRANK
Hell yeah! Hive five superstar!
(They high five. A notification dings on FRANK’S phone.Frank looks at his phone. He looks shocked.)
FRANK
(Still looking at his phone.)
Hey Miley, can you go tell everyone that it’s time to eat?
(Miley runs off stage. The chair and table and sandwiches come off too, leaving Frank on an empty stage, still looking at his phone. A very serious man walks on stage, wearing a very serious suit and some very serious glasses. He does not acknowledge FRANK. While HARVARD ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE is talking, MOM walks in wearing scrubs. She cannot hear HARVARD ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE)
HARVARD ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE
Dear Frank Edwards,
We are delighted to inform you that the committee of admissions has admitted you the Class of 2028. Please accept our personal congratulations on your outstanding achievements.
In recent years, nearly twenty thousand students have applied for the six hundred and fifty places in the freshman class. Faced with many more talented and highly qualified candidates than it has room to admit, the Admissions Committee has taken great care to choose individuals that possess extraordinary academic, extracurricular, and personal strengths. In making each admissions decision, our Committee keeps in mind that the excellence of Harvard College depends most of all on the talent and promise of the people assembled there, particularly our students.
(MOM walks up to FRANK, still looking down at his phone, shocked. MOM tries to get FRANK’S ATTENTION)
In voting to offer your admission, our committee has demonstrated its firm belief that you can make important contributions
(MOM looks over FRANK’S shoulder to see what he's reading)
during your college years and beyond.
MOM
YOU GOT INTO TO HARVARD!?
(FRANK drops his phone.)
FRANK
Ah! Mom, you scared me!
MOM
YOU APPLIED TO HARVARD?!
FRANK
I—I–
MOM
Did you get aid?!
FRANK
I don’t know, let me see!
(FRANK picks his phone off the ground and starts scrolling to the aid section.)
MOM
So?
FRANK
… I got 10,000 dollars..
MOM
And how much does Harvard cost?
FRANK
(FRANK doesn’t want to say it.)
Fifty-Eight…
MOM
What about housing?
(Frank looks back down to the email, he's really sad
about all these big numbers.)
FRANK
Twenty thousand…
MOM
That means… 68,000, with textbooks and computers and—
FRANK
I KNOW!
(FRANK realizes he just yelled at his mother)
I’m sorry. I know.
(FRANK and MOM both look down. They both know FRANK can’t afford it.)
MOM
Honey, you know I can’t… you can’t… I'm sorry honey. I’m so, so—
(FRANK and MOM say sorry at the same time.)
FRANK
—Sorry.
(FRANK and MOM starting apologizing over each other, MOM is grieving over how she’s failed FRANK, depriving him of HARVARD. FRANK is apologizing for going behind her back.)
FRANK
I... I don't even…
(Looks up to MOM.)
How am I gonna tell Miley?
MOM
Your siblings know you applied to Harvard? Why would you ge their hopes up like that—
FRANK
—No it—
MOM
—Geez Frank! All five of them idolize you! How could you lead them on like that? They haven’t learned that this isn’t a fair world yet! Just let them hold on to that!
(MILEY enters.)
MILEY
Hear what? Why are you yelling?
(FRANK and MOM both look at eachother. There is silent
communication between their eyes. After a moment MOM
nods and exits to leave FRANK and MILEY alone.)
MILEY
What’s going on?
FRANK
I’m asking you right now to not scream, or go crazy, or even celebrate.
MILEY
Wait, why? Did something happen?
(FRANK takes a deep breath, obviously not knowing how to say this.)
FRANK
Do you remember when I applied for Harvard?
(Miley’s mouth drops.)
I got in.
MILEY
WHAT!!!! Omg omg omg!!!! I knew you would! I can’t wait to visit you in Massachusetts!!!! And eat fish and chips, and you’re gonna be rich! Can you buy me a car? Please, please, please, please!
FRANK
(Sighs.)
I can’t buy you a car. You can’t drive. You’re being unrealistic.
MILEY
I’m sorry. Why are you so mad?
FRANK
I’m not mad.
MILEY
…Okay.
FRANK
I’m sorry. I just…
(Miley waits patiently for him to finish his sentence, looking a bit confused. FRANK kneels down to get on her level.)
I can’t go.
MILEY
Why? What? You got in? I don't know what you're saying.
FRANK
Harvard costs a lot of money. And we just don’t have that.
(MILEY justs looks at him, not responding.)
What happened was that I filled out some paperwork, asking to have some money so I can go to Harvard. But they didn’t get me any, so I just can’t go without the money from them.
MILEY
But—
(FRANK shakes his head and stands up. MILEY hugs him as he takes a step to leave, making him stay. She looks up at him.)
MILEY
I'm tired of not being able to pay for things.
FRANK
I know. I know… It’s not fair.
(FRANK starts tearing up. So does MILEY.)
FRANK
You know what, I'll pick up a couple extra shifts, and I'll take everyone to McDonalds on Saturday. Does that sound fun?
MILEY
(Sniffles.)
Yes.
(She runs off stage.)
Frank:
(To himself.)
Be strong. Just… It's not a big deal. It’s not a big deal. It's fine.
(Pause.)
Ever since I was, probably around seven, I told myself I was going to go to Harvard. I was going to be the best of the best. I never actually told anyone this because I knew I would never be able to, and I was scared that if I told my mom or a teacher, they would tell me to get my head out of the clouds, to be realistic. I didn’t listen. I was convinced that I was going to defy every single obstacle against me. And I did. I defied every obstacle… Except one. Now I finally realized how stupid I was! Believing that if I joined enough clubs, if I studied enough, if I got valedictorian, that I could go to Harvard. It was never a question of if I could get in. How did I not realize that! How was I smart enough to get accepted into Harvard, but so, so stupid.
(FRANK walks to the computer and starts typing. HARVARD ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE walks onto the stage reading an email on a computer significantly better than FRANK’S computer. He is on the same part of stage where he stood before.)
FRANK
Dear Harvard Admissions Committee,
I am immensely grateful for the generous acceptance offer from Harvard College for the class of 2028. After long and serious consideration—
HARVARD ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE
—I have decided to decline the offer. I wanted to let you know as soon as I made my decision, and greatly appreciate your time and consideration of my potential. Warm Regards, Frank Edwards.
(End of play.)
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