1SCENE TWO
"The Geek Can Dance"
(GEEKS are sitting a table with lab equipment and papers strewn across it. THEY are working as the final bell rings. ALANA approaches.)
ALANA: You're going to be here Monday, right?
PATTY: Why wouldn't I?
ALANA: I don't know. Just make sure you're here. And early, so I can copy your paper before class. And write in complete sentences. Mrs. Winters needs to think we read the chapter.
PATTY: Why don't you just do it over the weekend?
ALANA: Because the Star Squad has a competition. Duh. So that means that Melissa and Jennifer need answers too. You other people can manage that, right?
(TINA and APRIL nod, and begin working on new sheets of paper. PATTY watches ALANA walk away, and then takes the papers from them.)
PATTY: What are you guys doing?
TINA: An extra copy of the homework for the Star Squad. Are your ears incapacitated?
APRIL: And the last time they borrowed our copies, we got them back with glitter all over them and Mrs. Winters could totally tell they had them.
PATTY: Why do you call them that?
APRIL: What?
PATTY: "The Star Squad". They have names you know.
TINA: Yeah, but it's easier just to call them that because everyone knows them from that dance troupe.
PATTY: Well I think it's dumb that just because they can dance everyone treats them like they're celebrities.
APRIL: Well they practically are! They have all those competitions, and trophies, and costumes and makeup and routines. And they deserve it. They're really good.
PATTY: They're just as good as us!
TINA: No. Patty, we're horrible.
PATTY: Tina, we could be good if dancing was important.
APRIL: I'm pretty sure we couldn't.
PATTY: You think so, April? This is exactly what Alana does!
(PATTY jumps up and spins multiple times, progressing around the table. She falls over at the far corner and knocks items off the table. SHE brushes herself off, looking embarrassed.)
TINA: Not quite.
PATTY: Shut up.
APRIL: You're just jealous because they took your Science Fair project picture off the bulletin board in the hallway.
PATTY: Well it wouldn't have been so bad if it wouldn't have been covered by that article from the paper about the Star Squad winning that stupid trip to Six Flags at that competition!
TINA: You want to go to Six Flags?
PATTY: NO!
TINA: Well so-rry! You're yelling at us and stuff about the Star Squad and we were just doing our work.
APRIL: Yeah, Patty, you're being weird.
PATTY: (picking up the instrument and papers) Sorry. It's just unfair.
APRIL: Well, we can't dance so there isn't anything we can do about it.
(ALL slump. Suddenly, PATTY raises her head and grabs TINA and APRIL's hands.)
PATTY: Wait. What if we outlast the Star Squad?
APRIL: How?
PATTY: Do you guys remember what Mrs. Winters taught us about energy in Science?
TINA: What about it?
PATTY: About how if you have more, you can spend more?
APRIL and TINA: Yeah…
PATTY: Well if we can get a lot of energy, we can burn a lot of energy. So what gives us lots of energy?
APRIL: Carbohydrates!
PATTY: And what has lots of carbohydrates in it?
TINA: (shuffling her papers) My notes say bread, pasta, rice, cereal, and potatoes.
APRIL: We can get those really easy at home.
PATTY: So if we can outlast the Star Squad, we can beat them at their own game while using our own game!
ALL: Science!
TINA: How are we going to tell the Star Squad we want to have a dance-off?
APRIL: (Taking out a cell phone)Here's my phone. Alana's number should be in there. (She hands the phone to TINA.)
TINA: Oh, no, this was Patty's idea. (She hands the phone to PATTY.)
(A phone is heard ringing offstage. The ringing suddenly stops, replaced by ALANA's voice as if she had answered.)
ALANA: Hello?
PATTY: Uh, hello?
ALANA: Who is this?
PATTY: We're.. ummm… we're…
(SHE looks to Tina and APRIL. APRIL begins to shuffle through her papers. TINA thinks for a moment, then jumps up and whispers into PATTY's free ear.)
PATTY: We're the Science Sisters, and we're going to take you down!
(SHE hangs up the phone excitedly. THEY high-five each and congratulate each other when the phone rings again.)
PATTY: Hello?
ALANA: Okay, listen up you little freak. I don't know who you are or why you think you're any sort of good, but I think you're calling out the Star Squad. Is that right?
PATTY: You're right. We might not have the training and practice that you have, but we know what makes someone dance better.
TINA: SCIENTIFICALLY!
ALANA: What? Who is that?
PATTY: One of our team members.
ALANA: Whatever. So when do you want the Star Squad to show you who's actually worth watching?
PATTY: This Sunday. Three o'clock.
ALANA: Where at, poser?
PATTY: The lot next to the supermarket. There's lot of space there.
ALANA: Fine. See you there. Wait, you never told me who you were.
PATTY: Someone you would never expect. Goodbye.
(SHE hangs up the phone. APRIL and TINA chatter excitedly while gathering the papers. PATTY puts the equipment "away" and THEY begin to leave.)
APRIL: Wait!
(PATTY and TINA turn to face her.)
APRIL: What are we going to wear?
TINA: Don't worry April. I already thought of that.
(ALL exit. Lights down. The scene changes to "wall". The GEEKS enter nervously from stage right.)
APRIL: This is dark. And creepy. And dirty. And what if they don't show up? What if the cops come? What if our costumes are ugly?
TINA: Hey!
APRIL: Sorry! I'm just nervous. Are you sure this is going to work?
PATTY: It's scientifically proven to work.
TINA: Here. Put on your not-ugly costume.