New Beginnings – 3 Players
3 cast members · Comedy
New Beginnings – 3 Players
New Beginnings – 3 Players · Simon Law
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New Beginnings
Published by scriptsandsketches.com
Isabel and Patricia are home for the summer holidays, but their excitement turns to dismay when their mother reveals they won't be attending Ringmere, but St Clare's instead. The sisters navigate their feelings about the change, revealing their personalities and sibling dynamics in a comedic dinner conversation.
Group
Characters: ISABEL, PATRICIA, MOTHER
Isabel and Patricia are home for the summer holidays after attending Redroofs boarding school. They are at the dinner table with their mother.
PATRICIA:
(Running into the dining room) Come on Izzy, you’re so slow!
You couldn’t catch a cold!
You couldn’t catch a cold!
ISABEL:
Well, I can catch you alright, you’ve got two left feet! Haha! Got you, you’re ‘IT’ slowcoach!
MOTHER:
Do come and sit down please the pair of you, your father and I have something very important to discuss over dinner. Brussels Isabel?
ISABEL:
Oooh yes please Mother.
PATRICIA:
Oh no! Not brussels for Izzy .. they make her ..
MOTHER:
Patricia!
PATRICIA:
Sorry Mother
MOTHER:
Now then girls, we have something to talk to you both about. It’s about your new boarding school .. now then, Daddy and I have ...
PATRICIA:
Oh, it’s going to be such fun at Ringmere, we’ll be with all our friends from Redroofs and ...
ISABEL:
.. and we’ll play hockey and have our own bedroom and study, I can’t wait!
MOTHER:
Girls, please would you just listen for a moment
PATRICIA:
(Not listening) Neither can I. Oh, I do hope the food is as good, I’ve heard it’s scrumptious! Frances told me it was a really exclusive school, you know, only girls with rich parents go there we’ll fit in so well
MOTHER:
Well, that’s what we wanted to talk to you both about, now then .. Daddy and I were discussing it and ...
ISABEL:
(Not listening) .. Yes, and Mary told me that we have to wear evening wear for dinner, how elegant!
MOTHER:
Look, girls, please listen .. you’re not going to …….
PATRICIA:
We know Mother, we’re not going to see our friends over the Summer hols as we’re going on holiday … really it’s fine. Mother, why are pulling that weird face, you look like a squirrel! What on earth’s the matter? Don’t you like the brussels?
ISABEL:
I’ll have them!!
PATRICIA:
Yeah! I don’t thinks so Izzy!! Would you like me to ask the maid to make something else for you?
MOTHER:
(Forcefully) I’ve been trying to tell you both, Daddy and I have talked about it and we’ve decided … that you’re not going to Ringmere ... you’re going to .. St Clare’s! ISABEL & PATRICIA: (Silence) What? Mother you’re not serious, please tell us you’re joking, St Clare’s, NO, please!
PATRICIA:
But St Clare's is just not right for us, all our friends are going to Ringmere, St Clare’s … it’s well, … it’s common!
ISABEL:
Oh, Mother please let us go to Ringmere with Mary and Frances, at St Clare’s they’re all horrid, ugly and stupid!
MOTHER:
They most certainly are not! Anyway, Ringmere is rather a snobbish school and I won’t have my two daughters coming home turning their noses up at everything and everyone! We think you’ve been rather .. well .. spoilt at Redroofs.
ISABEL:
… we are not ‘spoilt or snobs’ Mother!
PATRICIA:
(Quietly to Isabel) What’s a ‘snob’ Izzy?
ISABEL:
Well it’s not us, that’s for sure, but it means we think we’re better than others, you know .. above them, and we’re not .. Mother we’re not!!
PATRICIA:
But at St Clare’s they have dormitories of 12 girls .. all in the same room, I can’t imagine how horrid that would be!
ISABEL:
.. and there are no maids! How would we survive without a maid? And … they don’t even play Hockey at St Clare’s they play .. Lacrosse!! … Catching the ball in a net instead of hitting it!
MOTHER:
Your father says St Clare’s is a sensible school, and it will do you both good to be a little more, well, .. ‘down to earth’ for once
PATRICIA:
(to each other) A ‘sensible’ school? Hmmf!
ISABEL:
Well, I’m going right up to Daddy now and ask HIM, anyway who wants to go to a sensible school? I know I don’t want to .. and I shan’t!
PATRICIA:
And neither will I, (To Daddy) Daddy pleeease! We’d be so unhappy!!
ISABEL:
(Gasps) Daddy! How can you be so cruel? Well, we shan’t try at all at St Clare’s and there’s an end to it! (starts to sob)
MOTHER:
Isabel, how dare you talk to your father like that, now say you’re sorry at once!
PATRICIA:
Daddy, Isabel didn’t mean that, she’s just upset.
MOTHER:
Isabel O’Sullivan … mmm? ….
ISABEL:
Sorry Daddy. (On their own) I never thought Mummy and Daddy would be so hard, never. We should have some say in the matter, I feel like I want to run away!
PATRICIA:
Don’t be silly Izzy, you know we can’t, anyway it’s cowardly to run away, we shall have to go to St Clare’s, but how I shall hate it!
ISABEL:
We’ll both hate it. And what’s more I’m going to turn my nose up at everything there! I’m not going to let them think we’re babies of twelve, just come from a silly prep school, I’ll soon let them know that we were head girls, and tennis and hockey captains!
MOTHER:
Now then girls, you’re just going to have to get used to it. At St Clare’s you won’t be ‘top dogs’ anymore, you’ve both got too used to being the best at everything and Daddy and I think that you’d be less, well, .. conceited if you go to a different type of school.
PATRICIA:
But Mother, how can you say we’re are conceited! We’re not a bit like that. We can’t help knowing that we’re good at almost everything, as well as being pretty .. and quite amusing!
ISABEL:
Actually Patty, it does sound a bit conceited when you talk like that. We’d better not say too much when we get to St Clare’s
PATRICIA:
Excuse me! I’m going to say whatever I wish when we get there, and you’re going to back me up. People are going to know who we are and what we can do! Even the mistresses will sit up and take notice. (With as stern face) The O’Sullivan twins are SOMEBODIES! And don’t you forget it Isabel!
ISABEL:
(Nodding her head) I won’t forget it, I’ll back you up. (Grinning to herself) Phew! St Clare’s is in for a few surprises next term!
MOTHER:
Girls, finish your dinner please, you’re going to St Clare’s and that’s that! Now you two both promise you’ll behave when you get there.
PATRICIA:
Alright, we’ll go to St Clare’s, and … I promise I’ll be good!
MOTHER:
Isabel?
ISABEL:
And so will I! May we be excused please?
MOTHER:
Yes of course.
PATRICIA:
Thank you. (Both girls exit fingers crossed behind their backs visible only to the audience)
ISABEL:
(To each other) St Clare’s is in for a few surprises next term!
MOTHER:
Well, that wasn’t so bad after all, thank goodness! (Sips her water)
