Progression 2: Exercise 2.2 - "The Scene"

Progression 2: Exercise 2.2 “The Scene”

Gibran Sheikh, Ann Lim, Joshua Steele, Perla Lopez

Professor Macklin

3 October 2012

Note: The message of the following scene is to not text while driving, as these to actions do not mix and is a probable cause of accidents and sometimes death. This scene is meant to inform people about the dangers of texting while driving.

Cast: Joshua, Perla, Ann (Narrator, Pedestrian/Waitress), Gibran (Dad)

Narrator: It is a breezy afternoon in the streets of downtown Los Angeles, a Chinese restaurant with a big LED sign hanging on the door, flashes the word ‘OPEN’. Joshua, A young man enters the restaurant. He is dressed in his half-length pants and a casual T-shirt. The restaurant is packed with customers. Luckily, Joshua finds an empty table, sits down and ordered his meal from a young, pretty waitress. Cell phone rings. Joshua fumbles with his cell phone in his backpack as he exits the noisy restaurant to answer the call.

Joshua: Hello? This is Joshua.

Perla: Hey Joshua, what’s up? Are you free to come to my party tonight? It’s going to be awesome. Everyone's going to be there and we are all going to have so much fun partying the whole night.

Joshua: Alright, yeah I'll be there! That sounds cool!

Perla: Yeah, my parents aren’t coming back from their vacation until next week, so this party is going to be great. You better come!

Joshua: Yeah, yeah I’ll be there. What time does it start?

Narrator: Joshua, cradles the cell phone to his shoulders as he takes out a pen and a piece of paper.

Perla: It starts at ten! If you want you can come a bit earlier to help set up some of the tables for food and drinks. I’d really appreciate it. Oh and my address is 18110 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91325.

Joshua: Uh, sure. I’ll be there by nine then to help you set up and stuff.

Narrator: Joshua notes down the information of the party on his sheet of paper clumsily.

Perla: Okay cool, I’ll see you later.

Joshua: Okay, bye.

Narrator: Joshua hangs up his cell phone and reenters the restaurant. Time passes after Joshua finishes his lunch, he has now gone home to get dressed for the party. It is now around 7 in the evening, Joshua is lounging lazily on a big, comfy sofa in the living room, texting non-stop using his cell phone.

Dad: Joshua, I see you texting all the time, every single day! Put away your phone! You have been relying too much on it! Don’t you have any homework to do? Or didn't you have some chores to finish?

Narrator: Joshua starts to frown and gets impatient with his father.

Joshua: Dad, it’s Friday! Perla is having a party at her house tonight and I have got to be there. I am just texting to find out who will be going to the party, and of course I finished the chores, and I already washed the dishes!

Dad: (Sighs) Oh, alright. What time are you leaving, then? Are you going to drive there, because you know I just got the car washed and I don't want any scratches or even the slightest bit of dirt to get on it.

Joshua: I will be leaving at 8.30pm and yes, I am going to drive, and don't worry about the car it'll be fine.

Dad: Oh, alright. Make sure you don’t text while driving, I'm more concerned about you than the car. Oh, and don't ever take your eyes off the road! That's really dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt! (Shakes head while looking at Joshua who doesn’t look like he cares, and is still busy texting on the cell phone.) Look Joshua, I don't want anything bad to happen to you, are you listening?

Joshua: Yeah, yeah, Dad. I'll be fine, don't worry too much about me.

Dad: Well, be careful, I'll be in the kitchen getting something to eat. (Goes to kitchen.)

Narrator:  It is now 8:35pm. Noticing how time has passed by very quickly, Joshua gets up, and in a hurry grabs his car keys and his wallet. he quickly examines himself, looking at a full-body mirror, just to make sure that he looks good in his brand new plaid shirt from GAP. He dashes out the door to get to his car, without saying good-bye to his father, who is in the kitchen, asleep. Joshua starts his car, backs out of his drive way and makes his way to Perla's house. The ringtone of text messages sounds. Without a second thought, Joshua grabs his cell phone and begins to respond to his text messages.

Joshua: Oh man, I don't want to be late to help Perla out with the party, her house is nearly a half hour from here. I better tell her that I'll be there as fast as I can.

Narrator: Joshua creates his text. All of a sudden, *BANG!* An accident happened. A biker was hit by Joshua’s car.  In extreme panic and shock, Joshua looks up to see blood on his windshield.

Joshua: (Shocked) Oh my gosh, what was that?!

Narrator: Joshua exits his car door, and makes his way to the front of the car. He looks down, seeing something horrible. The nice, young waitress who took his order today lay dead in front of him.

Joshua: (Sobbing) Oh no! What have I done?!

End Scene