The Parent Trap
Two-hander · Comedy, Drama
The Parent Trap
The Parent Trap · Adapted from the Screenplay by Simon Law
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The Parent Trap
Published by scriptsandsketches.com
Twins ANNIE and HALLIE, separated at birth, meet at summer camp and uncover their family secrets, leading to a heartwarming revelation about their identities.
Duologue
Characters: ANNIE, HALLIE
Twins ANNIE and HALLIE are strangers until coincidence unites them. The preteen girls' divorced parents, Nick and Elizabeth, are living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, each with one child. After meeting at Summer Camp, American HALLIE and British-raised ANNIE engineer an identity swap.
HALLIE:
(in flannel p.j.'s and a sweat-shirt, pinning up postcards and photos above her bed) screams, trying to salvage them.
ANNIE:
(in matching sweater and pants, rushing to the door) bolts it shut.
HALLIE:
Thanks.
ANNIE:
Any of your pictures ruined?
HALLIE:
(holding torn photo) Only the beautiful Leo DiCaprio.
ANNIE:
Oh, your boyfriend?
HALLIE:
(shows her photo) Yeah, right. You've never heard of Leonardo DiCaprio?
ANNIE:
I've heard of Leonardo Da Vinci.
HALLIE:
How far away is London anyway?
ANNIE:
From here - six thousand miles. But sometimes, it seems much further. How far away is your home?
HALLIE:
California’s way at the other end of the country. (shows her photo) Actually, here's a picture of my house.
ANNIE:
Wow! It's beautiful!
HALLIE:
We've got this incredible porch that wraps around the whole house with rocking chairs and a hammock and stables back thataway... and this great pool with a sliding board...
ANNIE:
How cool. (points to the back of a man) Who's that?
HALLIE:
Oh, that's my Dad... He didn't know I was taking a picture or he would've turned around. He's kinda like my best friend. We do everything together.
What's the matter?
What's the matter?
ANNIE:
(pulling down her sleeves) It's chilly in here, that's all.
HALLIE:
(crosses to her trunk and takes out a bag of Oreos, sees ANNIE watching her) Want one?
ANNIE:
Sure. I love Oreos. At home, I eat them with peanut butter.
HALLIE:
(stops, surprised) You do? That's so weird. So do I.
ANNIE:
You're kidding? Most people find that totally disgusting.
HALLIE:
I know. I don't get it.
ANNIE:
Me neither.
HALLIE:
What's your dad like? I mean, is he the kind of father you can talk to or is he one of those workaholic types that says, “I'll talk to you later, honey”, but never really does? I hate that.
ANNIE:
I don't have a father, actually. I mean, I had one, once, I suppose, but my parents divorced years ago. My mother never even mentions him. It's like he evaporated into thin air or something.
HALLIE:
It's scary the way nobody stays together anymore.
ANNIE:
Tell me about it.
HALLIE:
How old are you?
ANNIE:
(her mouth full) I'll be twelve on October 11th.
HALLIE:
(chokes) So will I.
ANNIE:
Your birthday's October 11th?
HALLIE:
(nods) How weird is that?
Very. (then, realizing) Hey, it stopped raining. Want to get a popsicle or something?
Very. (then, realizing) Hey, it stopped raining. Want to get a popsicle or something?
ANNIE:
(walking to HALLIE and looking her up and down, really studying her, biting on her locket) What's the matter?
HALLIE, what's your mother like?
HALLIE, what's your mother like?
HALLIE:
I never met her. ... but I know she was really beautiful.
ANNIE:
How do you know that?
HALLIE:
Because my Dad had this old picture of her in his sock drawer, it’s ripped down the middle so he gave it to me to keep. I'm really thirsty, you sure you don't want to go to the canteen and get something to drink?
ANNIE:
Will you stop thinking about your stomach at a time like this!
HALLIE:
At a time like what?
ANNIE:
Don't you realize what's happening?!? Don't you find it peculiar that we both look so much alike and have the same birthday and … (putting it all together) What are you rummaging in your trunk for?
HALLIE:
(turns, holding PHOTO to her chest) This. It's the picture of my Mom. And it's ripped, too.
ANNIE:
(a little spooked) Right down the middle?
HALLIE:
(nods, nervously) Right down the middle.
ANNIE:
(rushing to her trunk, wildly tossing out her things, pulls out a small box, opens it and carefully takes out her RIPPED PHOTOGRAPH) This is so freaky. Okay. on the count of three, we'll show them to each other, okay?
HALLIE/ANNIE:
(at the same time) One... two... (they put their PHOTOS together) Three!
HALLIE:
(biting her nails) That's my Dad ...
ANNIE:
That is my Mom …
HALLIE:
(the girls stare at the photo, then at each other. A formality of strangeness settles on them. They both reach for their lockets)
ANNIE:
That's the lunch bell.
HALLIE:
I'm not so hungry anymore. So if your Mom is my Mom and my Dad is your Dad ... and we're both born on October 11th, then you and I are... like ... sisters.
ANNIE:
Sisters?!? HALLIE, we're twins!!! (Frozen, ANNIE laughs then tears come to her eyes. HALLIE's eyes fill up and soon tears streak her cheeks. They put their arms around each other and embrace, sobbing. They pull apart, look at each other, smile, then begin to laugh)
