Silver Award Group —Troop 65878
Tara Dombrowski, Jackie Hall, Sammy Vanderhoof, Julianne Molinari, and Valeria Saro
Leader Peggy Austin
E-mail: peggyaustin@Verizon.net
Phone #: (908)-755-0140
Silver Award Project Description:
As Jackie Hall, Sammy Vanderhoof, Tara Dombrowski, Valeria Saro, and Julianne Molinari from Troop 65878, strategized how to achieve their Silver Award—the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn they discovered something important, much of their community is in cyberspace. The Silver Award is an opportunity for a Cadette Girl Scout is a leader who is organized, determined, and dedicated to improving her community.
But how would this group improve their virtual community? How could they make it safer? What a daunting task.
This innovative group felt strongly that their message would have to come from the voices of peers be taken in earnest. The girls came together to write a realistic script about being safe online in order to earn their Silver Award. The Girl Scouts remarked, “We figured that it would be more educational if girls acted out the script themselves. We and have asked Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey to post it on this blog so it could be viewed by a large audience online.” People can also share the link with other friends beyond their immediate community.
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey welcomes our guests on this blog:
Silver Award Group —Troop 65878 and presents:
Internet Safety SkitWritten by Silver Award group:
Tara Dombrowski, Jackie Hall, Sammy Vanderhoof, Julianne Molinari, and Valeria Saro
DIRECTIONS: PLEASE SHARE THIS SCRIPT BY ACTING IT OUT TO OTHER AUDIENCES. THANK YOU!
CHARACTERS:
ALEX She is the victim in the story. She gives into peer pressure easily even though she knows what she is doing might not be a good thing to do.
LAUREN Although she means no harm to anybody, she can be pushy with her friends without thinking of the consequences of her actions
ALEX’S MOM She may seem a bit strange for a mother, but she has the most life experience and always knows what the right thing to do is.
ANNA/CARL He is the antagonist (bad guy) in the story. He can be creepy at times.
OFFICER JENNY The highest in command of the police force, she is the most respected officer in the whole town.
OFFICERS 1&2 They are Officer Jenny’s loyal subordinates.
GIRLS 1-4 The girls only appear in the first scene. They are an exaggeratedly girly group of girls that are always texting each other no matter how close they are and love talking about the latest Facebook gossip. They are also the most popular girls in the school.
SCHOOL BUS This is a person dressed up in a school bus costume to escort the girls to school
SCHOOL KIDS Extras. They walk around in the back ground and ride the bus along with the other characters.
SCENE 1
(Lauren and Alex are sitting at a lunch table in the school cafeteria eavesdropping on the five girls that are sitting at another table nearby, talking to each other about Facebook.)
GIRL 1 Oh my gosh, did you hear that Chrissie is in a relationship with Johnny?
GIRL 2 No way! He’s so out of her league.
GIRL 3 What are you talking about? They’re perfect for each other
GIRL 2 Where did you hear that?
GIRL 3 Facebook! Where else? Didn’t you see Chrissie’s wall? They had a really long conversation.
GIRL 4 Wait, did you update your Facebook? The new version is so fast and cool.
GIRL 1 OMG! Did you see what Kevin posted? Woah, he’s so cool.
GIRL 3 No way! He’s so not!
(Lauren and Alex switch their attention to each other)
LAUREN Alex, do you have a Facebook?
ALEX No, I don’t.
LAUREN Why? It’s so much fun! You can see what people are up to, talk to friends, and play games too! Farmville’s the best game ever!
ALEX My mom says it’s dangerous.
LAUREN What in the world could be so dangerous about talking to friends?
ALEX I’m not entirely sure. She said something about there being bad people on the internet. They’ll trick you into doing things you shouldn’t do.
LAUREN Well I think your mom is just exaggerating. She probably watches way too much TV.
ALEX I don’t know, Lauren. I think she might be right about this.
LAUREN You mean like she was right about the rat with dog ears that barked?
ALEX It was sniffing a piece of cheese! What did you expect from somebody who has never seen a Chihuahua before?
LAUREN I’m just trying to point out that your mother has been wrong before. Has anything happened to me? No, nothing at all has happened to me.
ALEX Not yet.
LAUREN Look, if you’re careful, like me, nothing should happen to you, like me, and you’ll be having a blast for the rest of your life, like me. Just talk to her and see if she’s changed her mind, okay?
ALEX Well, I suppose it can’t hurt.
LAUREN Good, but when you do make a Facebook, the first thing you got to do is friend me. Got that?
ALEX Yeah, okay.
SCENE 2
(Alex comes home to see her mom trying to balance a pot on her head)
ALEX Mom, I’m ho- What are you doing?
ALEX’S MOM Hi sweetie! I read an article about a great chef who balanced three pots on his head for a whole hour! It must be the mark of a great chef.
ALEX Okay? I’m not sure what to say about that.
MOM How was your day? Did you learn anything cool in school today?
ALEX Well we learned about the Oregon Trail and stuff… but it was kind of boring.
MOM Boring!? (The pot falls off her head) That was my favorite lesson when I was in school! It’s important to know about.
ALEX I guess so…
MOM You seem troubled by something. Do you want to talk about it?
ALEX It’s nothing, really. It’s just… I was wondering if maybe I could make a Facebook.
MOM I don’t think you’re really ready for one quite yet. There are a lot of risks that come with having a Facebook. What if something happened to you? No, I think you should wait until you’re a little older.
ALEX I’m thirteen years old, mom. I think I’m ready to make my own decisions. All my friends have one and nothing happened to them.
MOM Honey, you say you’re thirteen like it means that you’re a full grown adult! You’re still just a kid. Kids can get in trouble without even realizing it.
ALEX I’m not a kid, I’m a teenager now. And I’m much more mature than all the other kids in my class who do have a Facebook.
MOM Alex, saying you’re a teenager doesn’t help. Teens get into more trouble than kids do because they think exactly like you are right now, thinking that they’re more mature than everybody else. You know this is for your own safety. I just don’t want you to get hurt.
ALEX But I won’t-
MOM Alex, please do me a favor and don’t make a Facebook, not now.
ALEX But- oh… fine. (Alex goes up stairs to her room, closes the door and calls Lauren) Hi Lauren, what’s up?
LAUREN Nothing much. Did you talk to your mom about making a Facebook?
ALEX Yeah, she said I was too immature for it. I can’t make one until I’m older. Whatever.
LAUREN No! You have to make one. If you don’t I’ll- I’ll-I’ll stop being your friend!
ALEX But-
LAUREN No butts! Facebook is safe and if I have one you can have one. It’s fun and social and-and- and- it’s amazing!
ALEX Come on, can’t you wait just a year or two? I’m sure by then I’ll be allowed to have one.
LAUREN No! By then, it might not even be popular anymore.
ALEX Lauren, I don’t think that Facebook is going to suddenly stop being popular next year.
LAUREN It’s definitely possible! Just look at MySpace. Nobody has a MySpace anymore. It’s just useless now.
ALEX Yeah but that lasted at least five years didn’t it?
LAUREN Well you never know how long Facebook is going to last. I’m sure people will start getting sick of it soon and go to something else, like Google Plus or whatever it is.
ALEX Then I’ll make a Google Plus instead.
LAUREN No! I said it once and I won’t say it again! If you don’t make a Facebook I won’t be your friend. Goodbye! (Lauren hangs up)
ALEX (Alex looks at the phone) Actually, she did say it again. (She sighs) Well, I suppose it really can’t hurt to at least see what it’s all about. (She turns on her computer) Yeah, what could go wrong? (She goes to Facebook.com and creates an account. She friends Lauren)
SCENE 3
(The next day at school, Lauren runs up to Alex who is at her locker)
LAUREN I got your friend request! You made a Facebook!
ALEX Yeah I did! But it’s just to see what the website really is. My mom doesn’t know about it. I’m scared she’s going to find out.
LAUREN Don’t worry, your mom won’t find out. It isn’t like anyone will tell her. Maybe she will change her mind later and then you can tell her so it won’t matter.
ALEX You’re right, there’s nothing to worry about. (The school bell rings) I guess I’ll see you at lunch
LAUREN Yup! See ya! (Lauren walks away)
(Girl 4 walks up to Alex)
GIRL 4 Hey, I saw your pictures on Facebook
ALEX Yeah, they were from my vacation a couple years ago
GIRL 4 I could tell! You looked so young. See you later! (She walks away)
ALEX Wow, no popular kid has ever talked to me before. Hmm, maybe this Facebook thing is pretty useful.
SCENE 4
(Later that night in Alex’s room, Alex goes on to Facebook. A chat box pops up in the bottom right corner of the screen. The following dialogue is expressed through chat, but it may be easier for the audience if it is read aloud as well as typed.)
ANNA Hey, I’m Anna remember me?
ALEX Um, no, how do you know me? I don’t remember anybody named Anna.
ANNA I was on your bus when we were in elementary school, don’t you remember?
ALEX Not really.
ANNA Well I guess you wouldn’t. It was a couple years ago, and I didn’t really talk much.
ALEX Oh wait, I think I might remember. You sat at the front of the bus right? You were the quiet kid?
ANNA Yep, that was me alright.
ALEX Cool, I heard you moved away to… New York was it?
ANNA Yeah, I live in downtown Manhattan now
ALEX Lucky! I’m still at 12 Candy Land Ave. in New Jersey. It’s so boring here. =P
ANNA Oh, but I liked it there too! Listen, I gotta go do homework, ‘kay? Talk to you later.
ALEX Okay, bye.
SCENE 5
(The next morning in Alex’s room, Alex is still asleep)
MOM (She sneaks into Alex’s room quietly, then pulls the blankets off of Alex) Time for school honey!
ALEX Ugh, give me five more minutes, mom.
MOM But you’ll be late for school! And the waffles will get cold too.
ALEX (She sighs) Fine, fine.
MOM Get up! Brush your teeth! Wash your fanny!
ALEX Yeah, yeah I will- Wait, what?
MOM Just kidding. But please brush your teeth.
ALEX Fine, I’ll be downstairs in a bit. (Alex gets ready for school in her room and the bathroom)
MOM Alex! The bus is here!
ALEX Oh no! Don’t leave without me!!!
(She grabs her backpack and runs to the school bus waiting right outside her driveway.)
SCENE 6
(Lauren, Alex, and a few other school kids trail behind the school bus actor, pretending to ride the bus)
LAUREN Good morning sleepy head!
ALEX Hey Lauren, how’s it going?
LAUREN Fine, thanks for asking.
ALEX Hey, guess what!
LAUREN What?
ALEX I talked to Anna last night on Facebook.
LAUREN Anna? Who’s Anna?
ALEX Oh she was on our bus a few years ago. She moved to New York though.
LAUREN I don’t remember anybody named Anna.
ALEX Well she was super quiet and always sat near the front of the bus so you wouldn’t have noticed her.
LAUTREN Whatever.
ALEX Hey, Lauren?
LAUREN Yeah?
ALEX Is it just me, or has that car been following us for a while?
LAUREN What car?
ALEX That car back there. It’s been following the bus since I got on.
LAUREN Oh that black one. Yeah, but it could just be a parent dropping off a kid at school.
ALEX I guess so… but it’s still creepy.
(The bus reaches the school and Alex and Lauren look back to see that the car has disappeared)
LAUREN The car’s gone… Weird.
ALEX Let’s just forget about it and go to class.
(The kids “get off” the bus and enter the school)
SCENE 7
(After school on the bus ride home)
ALEX Hey Lauren, this is my stop. Bye!
LAUREN Okay, see you later!
(Alex walks into her house)
ALEX Hi Mom!
MOM Hi Alex! I made your favorite food for dinner.
ALEX PIZZZZZZA!!!
MOM Yup! But first you have to finish all of your homework, okay?
ALEX Aw man. Okay, I’ll be in my room.
(Alex goes to her room and chats with Anna on Facebook)
ALEX Hi Anna, what’s up?
ANNA Nothing really, how’s about you?
ALEX Well, this weird black car was following my bus on our way to school.
ANNA Really? That’s creepy. Why do you think it was following you?
ALEX I don’t know. It stopped following us after we got to school, but my friend Lauren said that it was probably just dropping a kid off.
ANNA Yeah that makes sense. Well, I gotta go to sleep
ALEX At 3:30 in the afternoon?
ANNA Yeah… I went to sleep late last night and I’m super tired
ALEX Well, okay… Bye!
SCENE 8
(It’s morning time. Alex’s mom is calling to her from the kitchen)
MOM Baby girl! A package came for you!
ALEX (Alex shouts from her room) Really? Who is it from?
MOM I don’t know, there’s no return address. (The phone rings) Come look at it while I answer the phone, honey.
ALEX Okay, I’ll bring it back upstairs. (Alex goes downstairs, grabs the package, and goes back upstairs. She opens the package and screams.)
MOM (She comes up running with a spatula in her hand, hair tied back with a bandana, and with a dirty apron on) What’s wrong?!
ALEX Uh… There was a spider.
MOM Well, where is it?
ALEX (Alex slaps her desk) … I killed it
MOM … Well wash your hands. What was in the package?
ALEX There was a, uh… a pillow pet from Lauren for our… friendship anniversary… our “friendaversary”.
MOM Oh, how sweet of her! You should get her something in return.
ALEX Yeah, let’s stop by Claire’s later… (Pause) Weren’t you talking on the phone just now?
MOM Yes I was.
ALEX Then how in the world did you get in that apron so fast?
MOM It was a short conversation. Can I see your pillow pet?
ALEX What? Oh the pillow pet, um… Well you see, the pillow pet is… eh… I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!! (She runs out of the room with hands in her pockets)
MOM She can be so strange sometimes. I wonder who she gets it from (She walks out of the room playing with her spatula)
(Alex goes in the bathroom, locks the door behind her, and pulls a picture out of her pocket. It is a picture of her walking home from school with a note that says, “You look great in that shirt, Alex! You should wear it more often. Here’s a treat. I thought they tasted great so I saved one for you =).”)
ALEX (She pulls out her phone and calls Lauren) Come on Lauren… answer already! (Her tummy rumbles and she looks at the box with candy) Well I am hungry, and dinner’s not for a few more hours. Why not? (She eats the candy)
LAUREN Hey, what’s up?
ALEX Lauren! You’re not going to believe what just happened.
LAUREN What? What happened?! Did Chrissie and Johnny break up?!
ALEX Huh? No! Well, I don’t really know. It’s much more serious than that. I got this creepy package in the mail. There wasn’t a return address on it so I don’t know who sent it. It was a picture of me walking home from school and some candy.
LAUREN WOW! You have no idea who it’s from? That’s weird. Can you tell when the photo was taken? You didn’t eat the candy, right?
ALEX Woah, woah, woah! One question at a time!
LAUREN Well answer them!
ALEX Okay, okay! Sheesh. I have no idea who it’s from, I think the photo was taken yesterday afternoon when I was walking home from school.
LAUREN Oh, Alex, that’s dangerous! Don’t you know anything? You’re not supposed to eat candy from strangers! (She sighs in disapproval) Wait, wasn’t that creepy car following us yesterday morning?
ALEX Oh yeah, it was! Do you think that maybe it’s all connected somehow?
LAUREN I sure hope not. Listen, I’ve got to go to dance class now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, ‘kay?
ALEX Fine. Bye, Lauren.
LAUREN Bye.
SCENE 9
(The next morning in Alex’s room, Alex is sick in her bed)
MOM (She walks into Alex’s room) Here you go, honey. (She hands Alex the soup) Eat up!
ALEX (Alex coughs) Thanks, Mom.
MOM Ok, I’ll let you rest.
ALEX I wonder what got me sick. Maybe it was that candy.
MOM What candy?
ALEX Oh! Uh –uh the candy from the candy from last Halloween, in the candy drawer.
MOM Oh, honey. You know that candy is stale! Don’t eat that again!
ALEX Alright, I won’t sorry, Mom.
SCENE 10
(The next day, Alex is lying in bed with her laptop. The following is a Facebook conversation)
ALEX Hi, Anna.
ANNA GUESS WHAT?
ALEX WHAT?
ANNA My family is visiting New Jersey! Want to meet up at the mall?
ALEX Oh, really? Sure! When?
ANNA Meet me tomorrow at eight. It’s a Friday so it’s okay to meet at night.
ALEX Sounds great! I’ll see you there!
(Friday, 7:30pm at Alex’s house
Alex is trying to sneak out)
MOM Where are you going Missy?
ALEX Me? Oh, um, I’m going to Lauren’s house. We’re working on a science project.
MOM This late at night?
ALEX Well, it’s due tomorrow and she was busy all afternoon.
MOM Alright, Do you need me to drive you?
ALEX No, it’s okay! It’s right around the corner so I should be fine.
MOM Alright sweetie. Be safe. Keep your phone on!
ALEX Okay! Bye Mom!
MOM Bye sweetie!
SCENE 11
(Alex is walking up to the mall when she sees Carl in a hood waiting in the parking lot. Carl has a very manly appearance and uses a high pitched voice that sounds like an attempt at a girl’s voice)
CARL Hey Alex! I’m over here!
ALEX Who are you?
CARL It’s me! Anna! You know, from Facebook. I know I don’t look like you thought I would, I’ve changed a lot since, uh, fifth grade.
ALEX I’ll say. You look a lot manlier than I had expected…
CARL Maybe, but we’re still friends, right?
ALEX Uhhhhh. I’ve got to go… My mom is waiting for me!
CARL But you just got here!
ALEX Yeah. Sorry! Dinner time!
CARL Come on! Hang out with me! I know we don’t know each other very well, but we could be great friends.
ALEX What the heck man-thing…girl? What are you?
CARL I am your father!! I’m just joking. Ha, I guess you’ve figured out that I’m a man. My name’s actually Carl. (He starts taking off disguise)
ALEX Whoa, whoa, keep that on! Help! HELP!
ANNA Sh, no. Don’t scream! (He grabs Alex and Alex blacks out from fear)
MOM Hmmmmm, Alex isn’t home yet. And it’s now 10:30 pm. I should call her. (She calls Alex but there’s no answer) Why isn’t that girl answering her phone? I told her to leave it on. Oh well, I’ll just call Lauren. (She calls Lauren)
LAUREN Hi Mrs. Flowers. What’s up?
Mummy Hi Lauren, can I speak to Alex?
LAUREN Huh? Alex? She’s not here.
MOM But Alex told me she was going to work on a project with you.
LAUREN Uh, nope. She was never here. We… we aren’t even in the same science class.
MOM She lied to me?! Where could she be then? Where do you think she is?
LAUREN I have no idea Mrs. Flowers; maybe you should call the police.
MOM Wait, maybe there are clues in her room to find out where she is.
LAUREN Good idea Mrs. Flowers you could be on the police force.
MOM Uh, thanks. I’ll call you back with news soon. (She hangs up, goes to Alex’s room, searches for evidence, and finds that the computer is logged on to facebook. She checks the conversation calls Lauren back)
MOM LAUREN! Who is Anna?
LAUREN She’s a girl that Alex met on Facebook. She used to live near you and supposedly rode the bus with Alex.
MOM I don’t remember any girl named Anna. Wait a second, this package, it has a picture of her! There’s no pillow pet in here! She was lying to me all this time!
LAUREN Oh yeah, she told me about that.
MOM WHAT? You knew about this?
LAUREN I thought- I thought she would tell you!
MOM This isn’t good. We need to call the police now.
LAUREN Can’t we just go to the mall ourselves and go look for her?
MOM No, when this sort of thing happens, we need to call the police to deal with it. They’ll know exactly what to do. (She picks up the phone and dials 911)
MOM Hello?
OFFICER JENNY Hello this is the police. How may I help you?
MOM My daughter’s gone missing! Alex, my daughter, Alex Flowers, said she was working on a project with her friend, Lauren, but I just called Lauren and she says that she hasn’t seen Alex all day. (She starts talking really quickly) Apparently she was going to see a friend named Anna at the mall, but she’s never mentioned anybody named Anna at home, and I’ve never met anybody named Anna. And now I’m afraid she’s hurt and in trouble and-
OFFICER JENNY – Calm down, Miss. Calm down. We’ll get right on it. I’m sending my squad over to the mall right now. Can you meet me there in ten minutes? We’ll need a picture.
MOM Of course. I’ll be right there.
OFFICER JENNY The police will be there first to look for anything suspicious.
SCENE 12
(At the mall, Mrs. Flowers looks for police mobiles and goes up to Officer Jenny)
MOM Are you here to search for my daughter?
OFFICER JENNY Yes Ma’am. Did you bring the picture?
MOM Yes Officer, here you go.
OFFICER JENNY Thank you. It will help us to find her a lot fast-
OFFICER 1 Officer Jenny! We found this guy behind the mall with a girl…The girl is unconscious. We have him here to interrogate.
MOM WHERE’S ALEX???
OFFICER JENNY Calm down, ma’am, we’ll handle the questioning. Now, sir, where’s the girl?
CARL How should I know?
OFFICER JENNY Sir, we’ll find out if you took her even if you lie. I recommend you tell us the truth now before you get into big trouble.
CARL I don’t know what you’re talking about.
OFFICER 2 Officer Jenny! The girl behind the mall looks like Alex in the picture.
OFFICER JENNY Well now, do you have anything to say to me?
CARL Can I go now?
OFFICER JENNY Let’s go around the mall and how this girl is doing. (They all go around the mall and see that Alex fell on a bed of flowers)
OFFICER JENNY Is this your daughter?
MOM Alex!
OFFICER JENNY Get her into the police car fellas. She’ll need to go the emergency room.
OFFICERS 1 & 2 Yes sir!
CARL Well I sure didn’t do it.
OFFICER JENNY There’s enough evidence to know for sure that it was you. But we’ll have to take you over to the police station for a proper interrogation anyways. We’ll also have to wait for Alex to wake up to ask her a couple of questions.
OFFICER 1 You’re under arrest, sir.
SCENE 13
(Alex’s mom is waiting next to Alex’s bed in the Emergency Room)
ALEX (Alex wakes up) Wha- where am I? Mom? (She turns to see her mom sitting on a chair nervously) MOM! I’m so sorry!
MOM Alex! You’re okay! Don’t ever do that to me again!
ALEX I know and I’m so sorry!
CARL (He pops up in a corner of the hospital room) All I wanted was a flat screen TV!
MOM Wait, where did you come from?
OFFICER JENNY What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense!
MOM Where are all of you people coming from?! Oh whatever, I’m just glad you’re safe!
ALEX I’m sorry. I promise not to do it again. I’m so sorry. I’M SORRY! (Alex starts to cry)
MOM It’s ok, it’s ok, I’m just glad you’re safe. Be more careful and never be afraid to tell me what’s happening, ok?
ALEX Ok, mommy! I will! Promise! (She runs up and hugs her mom)
(Lauren comes running up on stage through the hospital door)
LAUREN (Out of breath) What happened? Is Alex okay? (She looks at Alex hugging her mom from the hospital bed and gets confused) What did I miss?
(Curtains close with Alex and her mom hugging, Carl being put into the police car by Officer 1 and Officer 2, and Lauren looking confused)
THE END
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CHARACTERS:
ALEX She is the victim in the story. She gives into peer pressure easily even though she knows what she is doing might not be a good thing to do.
LAUREN Although she means no harm to anybody, she can be pushy with her friends without thinking of the consequences of her actions
ALEX’S MOM She may seem a bit strange for a mother, but she has the most life experience and always knows what the right thing to do is.
ANNA/CARL He is the antagonist (bad guy) in the story. He can be creepy at times.
OFFICER JENNY The highest in command of the police force, she is the most respected officer in the whole town.
OFFICERS 1&2 They are Officer Jenny’s loyal subordinates.
GIRLS 1-4 The girls only appear in the first scene. They are an exaggeratedly girly group of girls that are always texting each other no matter how close they are and love talking about the latest Facebook gossip. They are also the most popular girls in the school.
SCHOOL BUS This is a person dressed up in a school bus costume to escort the girls to school
SCHOOL KIDS Extras. They walk around in the back ground and ride the bus along with the other characters.
SCENE 1
(Lauren and Alex are sitting at a lunch table in the school cafeteria eavesdropping on the five girls that are sitting at another table nearby, talking to each other about Facebook.)
GIRL 1 Oh my gosh, did you hear that Chrissie is in a relationship with Johnny?
GIRL 2 No way! He’s so out of her league.
GIRL 3 What are you talking about? They’re perfect for each other
GIRL 2 Where did you hear that?
GIRL 3 Facebook! Where else? Didn’t you see Chrissie’s wall? They had a really long conversation.
GIRL 4 Wait, did you update your Facebook? The new version is so fast and cool.
GIRL 1 OMG! Did you see what Kevin posted? Woah, he’s so cool.
GIRL 3 No way! He’s so not!
(Lauren and Alex switch their attention to each other)
LAUREN Alex, do you have a Facebook?
ALEX No, I don’t.
LAUREN Why? It’s so much fun! You can see what people are up to, talk to friends, and play games too! Farmville’s the best game ever!
ALEX My mom says it’s dangerous.
LAUREN What in the world could be so dangerous about talking to friends?
ALEX I’m not entirely sure. She said something about there being bad people on the internet. They’ll trick you into doing things you shouldn’t do.
LAUREN Well I think your mom is just exaggerating. She probably watches way too much TV.
ALEX I don’t know, Lauren. I think she might be right about this.
LAUREN You mean like she was right about the rat with dog ears that barked?
ALEX It was sniffing a piece of cheese! What did you expect from somebody who has never seen a Chihuahua before?
LAUREN I’m just trying to point out that your mother has been wrong before. Has anything happened to me? No, nothing at all has happened to me.
ALEX Not yet.
LAUREN Look, if you’re careful, like me, nothing should happen to you, like me, and you’ll be having a blast for the rest of your life, like me. Just talk to her and see if she’s changed her mind, okay?
ALEX Well, I suppose it can’t hurt.
LAUREN Good, but when you do make a Facebook, the first thing you got to do is friend me. Got that?
ALEX Yeah, okay.
SCENE 2
(Alex comes home to see her mom trying to balance a pot on her head)
ALEX Mom, I’m ho- What are you doing?
ALEX’S MOM Hi sweetie! I read an article about a great chef who balanced three pots on his head for a whole hour! It must be the mark of a great chef.
ALEX Okay? I’m not sure what to say about that.
MOM How was your day? Did you learn anything cool in school today?
ALEX Well we learned about the Oregon Trail and stuff… but it was kind of boring.
MOM Boring!? (The pot falls off her head) That was my favorite lesson when I was in school! It’s important to know about.
ALEX I guess so…
MOM You seem troubled by something. Do you want to talk about it?
ALEX It’s nothing, really. It’s just… I was wondering if maybe I could make a Facebook.
MOM I don’t think you’re really ready for one quite yet. There are a lot of risks that come with having a Facebook. What if something happened to you? No, I think you should wait until you’re a little older.
ALEX I’m thirteen years old, mom. I think I’m ready to make my own decisions. All my friends have one and nothing happened to them.
MOM Honey, you say you’re thirteen like it means that you’re a full grown adult! You’re still just a kid. Kids can get in trouble without even realizing it.
ALEX I’m not a kid, I’m a teenager now. And I’m much more mature than all the other kids in my class who do have a Facebook.
MOM Alex, saying you’re a teenager doesn’t help. Teens get into more trouble than kids do because they think exactly like you are right now, thinking that they’re more mature than everybody else. You know this is for your own safety. I just don’t want you to get hurt.
ALEX But I won’t-
MOM Alex, please do me a favor and don’t make a Facebook, not now.
ALEX But- oh… fine. (Alex goes up stairs to her room, closes the door and calls Lauren) Hi Lauren, what’s up?
LAUREN Nothing much. Did you talk to your mom about making a Facebook?
ALEX Yeah, she said I was too immature for it. I can’t make one until I’m older. Whatever.
LAUREN No! You have to make one. If you don’t I’ll- I’ll-I’ll stop being your friend!
ALEX But-
LAUREN No butts! Facebook is safe and if I have one you can have one. It’s fun and social and-and- and- it’s amazing!
ALEX Come on, can’t you wait just a year or two? I’m sure by then I’ll be allowed to have one.
LAUREN No! By then, it might not even be popular anymore.
ALEX Lauren, I don’t think that Facebook is going to suddenly stop being popular next year.
LAUREN It’s definitely possible! Just look at MySpace. Nobody has a MySpace anymore. It’s just useless now.
ALEX Yeah but that lasted at least five years didn’t it?
LAUREN Well you never know how long Facebook is going to last. I’m sure people will start getting sick of it soon and go to something else, like Google Plus or whatever it is.
ALEX Then I’ll make a Google Plus instead.
LAUREN No! I said it once and I won’t say it again! If you don’t make a Facebook I won’t be your friend. Goodbye! (Lauren hangs up)
ALEX (Alex looks at the phone) Actually, she did say it again. (She sighs) Well, I suppose it really can’t hurt to at least see what it’s all about. (She turns on her computer) Yeah, what could go wrong? (She goes to Facebook.com and creates an account. She friends Lauren)
SCENE 3
(The next day at school, Lauren runs up to Alex who is at her locker)
LAUREN I got your friend request! You made a Facebook!
ALEX Yeah I did! But it’s just to see what the website really is. My mom doesn’t know about it. I’m scared she’s going to find out.
LAUREN Don’t worry, your mom won’t find out. It isn’t like anyone will tell her. Maybe she will change her mind later and then you can tell her so it won’t matter.
ALEX You’re right, there’s nothing to worry about. (The school bell rings) I guess I’ll see you at lunch
LAUREN Yup! See ya! (Lauren walks away)
(Girl 4 walks up to Alex)
GIRL 4 Hey, I saw your pictures on Facebook
ALEX Yeah, they were from my vacation a couple years ago
GIRL 4 I could tell! You looked so young. See you later! (She walks away)
ALEX Wow, no popular kid has ever talked to me before. Hmm, maybe this Facebook thing is pretty useful.
SCENE 4
(Later that night in Alex’s room, Alex goes on to Facebook. A chat box pops up in the bottom right corner of the screen. The following dialogue is expressed through chat, but it may be easier for the audience if it is read aloud as well as typed.)
ANNA Hey, I’m Anna remember me?
ALEX Um, no, how do you know me? I don’t remember anybody named Anna.
ANNA I was on your bus when we were in elementary school, don’t you remember?
ALEX Not really.
ANNA Well I guess you wouldn’t. It was a couple years ago, and I didn’t really talk much.
ALEX Oh wait, I think I might remember. You sat at the front of the bus right? You were the quiet kid?
ANNA Yep, that was me alright.
ALEX Cool, I heard you moved away to… New York was it?
ANNA Yeah, I live in downtown Manhattan now
ALEX Lucky! I’m still at 12 Candy Land Ave. in New Jersey. It’s so boring here. =P
ANNA Oh, but I liked it there too! Listen, I gotta go do homework, ‘kay? Talk to you later.
ALEX Okay, bye.
SCENE 5
(The next morning in Alex’s room, Alex is still asleep)
MOM (She sneaks into Alex’s room quietly, then pulls the blankets off of Alex) Time for school honey!
ALEX Ugh, give me five more minutes, mom.
MOM But you’ll be late for school! And the waffles will get cold too.
ALEX (She sighs) Fine, fine.
MOM Get up! Brush your teeth! Wash your fanny!
ALEX Yeah, yeah I will- Wait, what?
MOM Just kidding. But please brush your teeth.
ALEX Fine, I’ll be downstairs in a bit. (Alex gets ready for school in her room and the bathroom)
MOM Alex! The bus is here!
ALEX Oh no! Don’t leave without me!!!
(She grabs her backpack and runs to the school bus waiting right outside her driveway.)
SCENE 6
(Lauren, Alex, and a few other school kids trail behind the school bus actor, pretending to ride the bus)
LAUREN Good morning sleepy head!
ALEX Hey Lauren, how’s it going?
LAUREN Fine, thanks for asking.
ALEX Hey, guess what!
LAUREN What?
ALEX I talked to Anna last night on Facebook.
LAUREN Anna? Who’s Anna?
ALEX Oh she was on our bus a few years ago. She moved to New York though.
LAUREN I don’t remember anybody named Anna.
ALEX Well she was super quiet and always sat near the front of the bus so you wouldn’t have noticed her.
LAUTREN Whatever.
ALEX Hey, Lauren?
LAUREN Yeah?
ALEX Is it just me, or has that car been following us for a while?
LAUREN What car?
ALEX That car back there. It’s been following the bus since I got on.
LAUREN Oh that black one. Yeah, but it could just be a parent dropping off a kid at school.
ALEX I guess so… but it’s still creepy.
(The bus reaches the school and Alex and Lauren look back to see that the car has disappeared)
LAUREN The car’s gone… Weird.
ALEX Let’s just forget about it and go to class.
(The kids “get off” the bus and enter the school)
SCENE 7
(After school on the bus ride home)
ALEX Hey Lauren, this is my stop. Bye!
LAUREN Okay, see you later!
(Alex walks into her house)
ALEX Hi Mom!
MOM Hi Alex! I made your favorite food for dinner.
ALEX PIZZZZZZA!!!
MOM Yup! But first you have to finish all of your homework, okay?
ALEX Aw man. Okay, I’ll be in my room.
(Alex goes to her room and chats with Anna on Facebook)
ALEX Hi Anna, what’s up?
ANNA Nothing really, how’s about you?
ALEX Well, this weird black car was following my bus on our way to school.
ANNA Really? That’s creepy. Why do you think it was following you?
ALEX I don’t know. It stopped following us after we got to school, but my friend Lauren said that it was probably just dropping a kid off.
ANNA Yeah that makes sense. Well, I gotta go to sleep
ALEX At 3:30 in the afternoon?
ANNA Yeah… I went to sleep late last night and I’m super tired
ALEX Well, okay… Bye!
SCENE 8
(It’s morning time. Alex’s mom is calling to her from the kitchen)
MOM Baby girl! A package came for you!
ALEX (Alex shouts from her room) Really? Who is it from?
MOM I don’t know, there’s no return address. (The phone rings) Come look at it while I answer the phone, honey.
ALEX Okay, I’ll bring it back upstairs. (Alex goes downstairs, grabs the package, and goes back upstairs. She opens the package and screams.)
MOM (She comes up running with a spatula in her hand, hair tied back with a bandana, and with a dirty apron on) What’s wrong?!
ALEX Uh… There was a spider.
MOM Well, where is it?
ALEX (Alex slaps her desk) … I killed it
MOM … Well wash your hands. What was in the package?
ALEX There was a, uh… a pillow pet from Lauren for our… friendship anniversary… our “friendaversary”.
MOM Oh, how sweet of her! You should get her something in return.
ALEX Yeah, let’s stop by Claire’s later… (Pause) Weren’t you talking on the phone just now?
MOM Yes I was.
ALEX Then how in the world did you get in that apron so fast?
MOM It was a short conversation. Can I see your pillow pet?
ALEX What? Oh the pillow pet, um… Well you see, the pillow pet is… eh… I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!! (She runs out of the room with hands in her pockets)
MOM She can be so strange sometimes. I wonder who she gets it from (She walks out of the room playing with her spatula)
(Alex goes in the bathroom, locks the door behind her, and pulls a picture out of her pocket. It is a picture of her walking home from school with a note that says, “You look great in that shirt, Alex! You should wear it more often. Here’s a treat. I thought they tasted great so I saved one for you =).”)
ALEX (She pulls out her phone and calls Lauren) Come on Lauren… answer already! (Her tummy rumbles and she looks at the box with candy) Well I am hungry, and dinner’s not for a few more hours. Why not? (She eats the candy)
LAUREN Hey, what’s up?
ALEX Lauren! You’re not going to believe what just happened.
LAUREN What? What happened?! Did Chrissie and Johnny break up?!
ALEX Huh? No! Well, I don’t really know. It’s much more serious than that. I got this creepy package in the mail. There wasn’t a return address on it so I don’t know who sent it. It was a picture of me walking home from school and some candy.
LAUREN WOW! You have no idea who it’s from? That’s weird. Can you tell when the photo was taken? You didn’t eat the candy, right?
ALEX Woah, woah, woah! One question at a time!
LAUREN Well answer them!
ALEX Okay, okay! Sheesh. I have no idea who it’s from, I think the photo was taken yesterday afternoon when I was walking home from school.
LAUREN Oh, Alex, that’s dangerous! Don’t you know anything? You’re not supposed to eat candy from strangers! (She sighs in disapproval) Wait, wasn’t that creepy car following us yesterday morning?
ALEX Oh yeah, it was! Do you think that maybe it’s all connected somehow?
LAUREN I sure hope not. Listen, I’ve got to go to dance class now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, ‘kay?
ALEX Fine. Bye, Lauren.
LAUREN Bye.
SCENE 9
(The next morning in Alex’s room, Alex is sick in her bed)
MOM (She walks into Alex’s room) Here you go, honey. (She hands Alex the soup) Eat up!
ALEX (Alex coughs) Thanks, Mom.
MOM Ok, I’ll let you rest.
ALEX I wonder what got me sick. Maybe it was that candy.
MOM What candy?
ALEX Oh! Uh –uh the candy from the candy from last Halloween, in the candy drawer.
MOM Oh, honey. You know that candy is stale! Don’t eat that again!
ALEX Alright, I won’t sorry, Mom.
SCENE 10
(The next day, Alex is lying in bed with her laptop. The following is a Facebook conversation)
ALEX Hi, Anna.
ANNA GUESS WHAT?
ALEX WHAT?
ANNA My family is visiting New Jersey! Want to meet up at the mall?
ALEX Oh, really? Sure! When?
ANNA Meet me tomorrow at eight. It’s a Friday so it’s okay to meet at night.
ALEX Sounds great! I’ll see you there!
(Friday, 7:30pm at Alex’s house
Alex is trying to sneak out)
MOM Where are you going Missy?
ALEX Me? Oh, um, I’m going to Lauren’s house. We’re working on a science project.
MOM This late at night?
ALEX Well, it’s due tomorrow and she was busy all afternoon.
MOM Alright, Do you need me to drive you?
ALEX No, it’s okay! It’s right around the corner so I should be fine.
MOM Alright sweetie. Be safe. Keep your phone on!
ALEX Okay! Bye Mom!
MOM Bye sweetie!
SCENE 11
(Alex is walking up to the mall when she sees Carl in a hood waiting in the parking lot. Carl has a very manly appearance and uses a high pitched voice that sounds like an attempt at a girl’s voice)
CARL Hey Alex! I’m over here!
ALEX Who are you?
CARL It’s me! Anna! You know, from Facebook. I know I don’t look like you thought I would, I’ve changed a lot since, uh, fifth grade.
ALEX I’ll say. You look a lot manlier than I had expected…
CARL Maybe, but we’re still friends, right?
ALEX Uhhhhh. I’ve got to go… My mom is waiting for me!
CARL But you just got here!
ALEX Yeah. Sorry! Dinner time!
CARL Come on! Hang out with me! I know we don’t know each other very well, but we could be great friends.
ALEX What the heck man-thing…girl? What are you?
CARL I am your father!! I’m just joking. Ha, I guess you’ve figured out that I’m a man. My name’s actually Carl. (He starts taking off disguise)
ALEX Whoa, whoa, keep that on! Help! HELP!
ANNA Sh, no. Don’t scream! (He grabs Alex and Alex blacks out from fear)
MOM Hmmmmm, Alex isn’t home yet. And it’s now 10:30 pm. I should call her. (She calls Alex but there’s no answer) Why isn’t that girl answering her phone? I told her to leave it on. Oh well, I’ll just call Lauren. (She calls Lauren)
LAUREN Hi Mrs. Flowers. What’s up?
Mummy Hi Lauren, can I speak to Alex?
LAUREN Huh? Alex? She’s not here.
MOM But Alex told me she was going to work on a project with you.
LAUREN Uh, nope. She was never here. We… we aren’t even in the same science class.
MOM She lied to me?! Where could she be then? Where do you think she is?
LAUREN I have no idea Mrs. Flowers; maybe you should call the police.
MOM Wait, maybe there are clues in her room to find out where she is.
LAUREN Good idea Mrs. Flowers you could be on the police force.
MOM Uh, thanks. I’ll call you back with news soon. (She hangs up, goes to Alex’s room, searches for evidence, and finds that the computer is logged on to facebook. She checks the conversation calls Lauren back)
MOM LAUREN! Who is Anna?
LAUREN She’s a girl that Alex met on Facebook. She used to live near you and supposedly rode the bus with Alex.
MOM I don’t remember any girl named Anna. Wait a second, this package, it has a picture of her! There’s no pillow pet in here! She was lying to me all this time!
LAUREN Oh yeah, she told me about that.
MOM WHAT? You knew about this?
LAUREN I thought- I thought she would tell you!
MOM This isn’t good. We need to call the police now.
LAUREN Can’t we just go to the mall ourselves and go look for her?
MOM No, when this sort of thing happens, we need to call the police to deal with it. They’ll know exactly what to do. (She picks up the phone and dials 911)
MOM Hello?
OFFICER JENNY Hello this is the police. How may I help you?
MOM My daughter’s gone missing! Alex, my daughter, Alex Flowers, said she was working on a project with her friend, Lauren, but I just called Lauren and she says that she hasn’t seen Alex all day. (She starts talking really quickly) Apparently she was going to see a friend named Anna at the mall, but she’s never mentioned anybody named Anna at home, and I’ve never met anybody named Anna. And now I’m afraid she’s hurt and in trouble and-
OFFICER JENNY – Calm down, Miss. Calm down. We’ll get right on it. I’m sending my squad over to the mall right now. Can you meet me there in ten minutes? We’ll need a picture.
MOM Of course. I’ll be right there.
OFFICER JENNY The police will be there first to look for anything suspicious.
SCENE 12
(At the mall, Mrs. Flowers looks for police mobiles and goes up to Officer Jenny)
MOM Are you here to search for my daughter?
OFFICER JENNY Yes Ma’am. Did you bring the picture?
MOM Yes Officer, here you go.
OFFICER JENNY Thank you. It will help us to find her a lot fast-
OFFICER 1 Officer Jenny! We found this guy behind the mall with a girl…The girl is unconscious. We have him here to interrogate.
MOM WHERE’S ALEX???
OFFICER JENNY Calm down, ma’am, we’ll handle the questioning. Now, sir, where’s the girl?
CARL How should I know?
OFFICER JENNY Sir, we’ll find out if you took her even if you lie. I recommend you tell us the truth now before you get into big trouble.
CARL I don’t know what you’re talking about.
OFFICER 2 Officer Jenny! The girl behind the mall looks like Alex in the picture.
OFFICER JENNY Well now, do you have anything to say to me?
CARL Can I go now?
OFFICER JENNY Let’s go around the mall and how this girl is doing. (They all go around the mall and see that Alex fell on a bed of flowers)
OFFICER JENNY Is this your daughter?
MOM Alex!
OFFICER JENNY Get her into the police car fellas. She’ll need to go the emergency room.
OFFICERS 1 & 2 Yes sir!
CARL Well I sure didn’t do it.
OFFICER JENNY There’s enough evidence to know for sure that it was you. But we’ll have to take you over to the police station for a proper interrogation anyways. We’ll also have to wait for Alex to wake up to ask her a couple of questions.
OFFICER 1 You’re under arrest, sir.
SCENE 13
(Alex’s mom is waiting next to Alex’s bed in the Emergency Room)
ALEX (Alex wakes up) Wha- where am I? Mom? (She turns to see her mom sitting on a chair nervously) MOM! I’m so sorry!
MOM Alex! You’re okay! Don’t ever do that to me again!
ALEX I know and I’m so sorry!
CARL (He pops up in a corner of the hospital room) All I wanted was a flat screen TV!
MOM Wait, where did you come from?
OFFICER JENNY What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense!
MOM Where are all of you people coming from?! Oh whatever, I’m just glad you’re safe!
ALEX I’m sorry. I promise not to do it again. I’m so sorry. I’M SORRY! (Alex starts to cry)
MOM It’s ok, it’s ok, I’m just glad you’re safe. Be more careful and never be afraid to tell me what’s happening, ok?
ALEX Ok, mommy! I will! Promise! (She runs up and hugs her mom)
(Lauren comes running up on stage through the hospital door)
LAUREN (Out of breath) What happened? Is Alex okay? (She looks at Alex hugging her mom from the hospital bed and gets confused) What did I miss?
(Curtains close with Alex and her mom hugging, Carl being put into the police car by Officer 1 and Officer 2, and Lauren looking confused)
