A play by Destinn P.
CHARACTERS: SMOOTH the Peach Tree, age 2.
STRAIGHT UP the Squirrel, age 2.
SETTING: The backyard of the President of the United States, Barack
Obama.
There is a swimming pool nearby and the White House.
TIME: Present day, summer at 1:00 in the afternoon on Saturday
AT RISE: Straight Up is lying down on a branch asleep. SMOOTH
is thinking
about his dream, meditating.
Scene 1:
SMOOTH
(Throws a peach at Straight Up the Squirrel) Hey, Straight Up! Wake up!
STRAIGHT UP
Uhhhg, what do you want?
SMOOTH
2
I have an idea.
STRAIGHT UP
Well, what is it?
SMOOTH
Maybe if I talk to you and practice, I?ll be the best motivational speaker
alive.
STRAIGHT UP
(he laughs) How you gonna be a motivational speaker if I can?t even
motivate you to holla at a girl?
SMOOTH
That?s why I wanna practice.
STRAIGHT UP
So that?s why you woke me up?
SMOOTH
C?mon, I?ll give you a peach.
STRAIGHT UP
(Disgusted look) Ohhhh no that?s okay. I?m fine.
SMOOTH
Ever since I motivated that bird, I?ve been determined to keep pursuing my
dream.
3
STRAIGHT UP
That?s great. I?m tired right now, buddy. Can we maybe do it later?
SMOOTH
Sure. Sorry for waking you.
STRAIGHT UP
(Aside) I paid a bird to act like he was sad and come talk to Smooth so
Smooth could ?motivate? him to not give up on life because if Smooth
motivates people, his sour peaches will turn sweet.
(To SMOOTH) It?s all right.
SMOOTH
Hey, Straight Up, one more thing.
STRAIGHT UP
What?s up?
SMOOTH
What?s your dream?
STRAIGHT UP
I?ll tell you when I wake up.
SMOOTH
4
No, I mean what?s your dream in life.
STRAIGHT UP
Uhhh, I?m tired, tell you later.
SMOOTH
Alright.
(End of scene)
Scene 2:
(Straight Up the Squirrel just woke up)
STRAIGHT UP
Hey Smooth, you up?
SMOOTH
Yesss sir. What’s up?
STRAIGHT UP
I?m gonna step out for a minute and get something to eat. I?ll be back in a
few.
SMOOTH
Why don?t you eat some of my peaches?
5
STRAIGHT UP
(gets nervous) Well, I mean?I?m a squirrel. I need some nuts in my life. I
can?t eat peaches all the time.
SMOOTH
I guess you do.
STRAIGHT UP
Want me to bring you some nuts?
SMOOTH
Naah. I?m alright. Think you could get me some water though?
STRAIGHT UP
No prob (leaves for 30 minutes, then returns).
SMOOTH
(Aside) While Straight Up was gone, Michelle came to me and took one of
my peaches and started eating it. But when she took her first bite, she spit
it out and shook her head. Then she said ?That?s it, we?re going to chop
this tree down!? Then she went back inside the house.
STRAIGHT UP
Here?s your water, buddy.
SMOOTH
6
Thanks.
STRAIGHT UP
(Notices something wrong about SMOOTH)
What?s got you so sad? I was only gone for 30 minutes.
SMOOTH
Nothing!
STRAIGHT UP
C?mon. I?m your best friend, you can tell me anything. Have some animals
been picking on you again?
SMOOTH
Naah. Look it?s nothing, okay?
I?ve just been thinking a lot. That?s it!
STRAIGHT UP
Thinking about what? What?s on your mind?
SMOOTH
Okay look, well my peaches are sweet right? Well why don?t other animals
come and eat them? I thought I would feel better once I did that, but really I
feel the same-lonely.
STRAIGHT UP
7
You?re not alone. You have me, and your peaches taste good. Watch, I?ma
show you (Straight Up eats one of SMOOTH?s disgusting peaches to try
and cheer him up. Straight Up does his best to try and keep a straight
face).
See, they?re delicious.
SMOOTH
(Aside) I am confused because I saw Michelle spit one out earlier and now
Straight Up is eating one and saying it?s good. Could my best friend be
lying to me?
(To Straight Up) Straight Up, are you lying to me?
STRAIGHT UP
(gets nervous) No! Why would you say that?
SMOOTH
Because when you were gone Michelle came out and ate one of my
peaches and spit it out like it was the worst thing she ever had. Your name
is Straight Up, right?
Well why don?t you be STRAIGHT UP with Me cause it?s obvious you?re
hiding something!
8
STRAIGHT UP
Okay, fine. I?ma be straight up with you. Those peaches of yours are nasty!
They?re the worst thing I?ve ever tasted, and you never motivated any bird. I
just paid him to act like you did.
SMOOTH
Well why did you lie, Straight Up?
Why would you lie to me about something like that? Why would my best
friend do me that way? Be straight up with me!
STRAIGHT UP
Okay, I?ma be Straight Up with you. I lied to you because I didn?t wanna
see you get your dream. I didn?t wanna see you pass me up in life because
My dream is to be loved just like you! My dream was to have a family and
raise them in this tree and have this tree all to ourselves. And if you got that
dream, my dream wouldn?t happen. And when my mom passed away right
in front of my eyes she told me to never let my dreams die, and I was
determined to do that.
SMOOTH
9
Straight Up, I feel so sorry for you. I never knew your mom passed away in
front of your eyes or any of that. I?m truly sorry, but what you did was
unforgivable. Did you know you put my life in danger by lying to me?
They?re going to kill me because you lied to me about my peaches!
I want you out!
STRAIGHT UP
I understand. What I did was wrong and selfish and I accept the
consequences. I?m sorry for all the trouble I caused you Smooth, I love you
and goodbye.
SMOOTH
(SMOOTH is crying) Before you go Straight Up, I want you to know that
you can still achieve your goals if you just put your mind to it. You?re a very
smart and wise squirrel. (As they?re talking a tree chopping man comes in
and starts to chop Smooth). Straight Up, don?t let your dreams die.
STRAIGHT UP
Nooooooo!!! (SMOOTH dies but as he dies sweet peaches emerge from
his branches).
THE END
110
