Title: “The importance of forgiveness”.
Author: Silvina Carrasco
5 Characters:
- Amalia: 15 year old teenager. She has been fighting with her schoolmate Jose for a long time.
- Josefina: 15 year old teenager. She was a close friend of Amalia’s but has been estranged from her for years.
- María: Amalia’s schoolmate and friend.
- Rocío: Amalia and Josefina’s schoolmate.
- Fernanda: Amalia and Josefina’s schoolmate.
ACT I
Characters that intervene in this act: Amalia, María and Josefina.
Scenario: Dining room of the school.
(Amalia and Maria are talking).
-Maria: Are you going to Nacho’s party? It’s going to be great!
-Amalia: Is Josefina going?
-María: Uh, the usual question! Yes, surely Josefina is going, and what does that have to do with it?
-Amalia: Well, if she’s going I’m not going.
-María: But Amalia! You’re missing out on all the fun because you’re looking out for her. You’ve missed out on parties, contests and even trips because you don’t share with her. Why so much resentment?
-Amalia: It’s not resentment, I just don’t like her, I resent her dead fly attitude.
-María: I don’t know. Whatever it is that makes you so angry, she doesn’t even know about it and meanwhile you’re the one who misses out on all the good things.
(Josefina approaches the table.)
-Amalia: Speaking of dead gnats… (She stands up and leaves.)
-Josefina: (To Maria) Do you know what’s wrong with me?
(Maria shrugs her shoulders, implying that she doesn’t know).
ACT II
Characters that intervene in this act: Rocío, Fernanda and Josefina.
Scenario: School playground during recess.
-Fernanda: When Amalia and Josefina find out that the science teacher put them in the same work group…!
-Rocío: Yes, what a mess! Troya is going to burn!
-Fernanda: Why is it that they can’t stand each other?
-Rocío: I don’t know. To think they were such good friends when they were little.
-Fernanda: What do you mean, they were friends?!
-Rocío: Yes, didn’t you know? They were inseparable, like sisters. That’s why we all find it so strange that they get along like that now….
-Fernanda: Shhh, be quiet, Josefina is coming.
(Josefina joins the conversation)
-Josefina: Hello girls.
(Rocio and Fernanda get nervous)
-Fernanda: Hi Josefina.
(There is an uncomfortable silence)
-Josefina: Did I interrupt something?
-Rocio: No, no, we were just talking about the science paper. Did you know you’re in Amalia’s group?
-Josefina: How?
-Fernanda: Yes, we just saw the list.
-Josefina: (A little nervous) Mmm… Maybe I’d better tell her.
ACT III
Characters that intervene in this act: Josefina and Amalia.
Scene: A corner of the schoolyard.
(Amalia is sitting alone. Josefina approaches to talk to her)
- Josefina: Can I talk to you?
-Amalia: What do you want Josefina, isn’t the school big enough that you bump into me all the time?
-Josefina: I just wanted to tell you that we are going to work together on the science project.
-Amalia: How? I’m not going to work on anything with you.
-Josefina: But Amalia! What is your problem with me?
-Amalia: What’s my problem?
-Josefina: Yes, after being such good friends, how come we get along like this!
-Amalia: Well, I wonder the same thing. After being such good friends, how could you leave me alone? How could you prefer your new friends? How could you not care about my feelings?
-Josefina: (Surprised) Amalia… I didn’t know you felt this way.
-Amalia: Well, yes. We had promised never to separate and as soon as we started high school you made a new group of friends and left me aside.
-Josefina: But, I didn’t realize you saw it that way. I was just excited to start a new stage and meet new friends but I wanted them to be new friends for both of us… I didn’t want to separate from you either.
-Amalia: Of course! Now it’s my fault!
-Josefina: I swear it wasn’t with bad intentions, I just didn’t realize it. And since you started to move away and treat me badly, I thought you didn’t want to be my friend anymore.
-Amalia: It hurt me a lot that you took me out of your life.
-Josefina: Please forgive me. We both misinterpreted things, I didn’t want to cut you out of my life.
-Amalia: But you hurt my feelings.
-Josefina: We can’t stay angry about something that happened so long ago. Anger only complicates life for both of us and besides I want to be your friend again and share with you.
-Amalia: (agrees with Josefina, but it’s hard for her to give in) I don’t know if I can forgive you, you hurt me a lot.
-Josefina: You have always been very practical, think about what it adds to your life to stay angry… and what it subtracts.
-Amalia: The truth is, I’ve missed a lot of things by being angry with you… And it’s a little exhausting to be angry all the time.
-Josefina: Let’s leave that behind and start enjoying all the good things we are missing.
-Amalia: I think you are right. These years have not been as nice as I had dreamed, and that is because of the pain and resentment I have carried.
-Josefina: I already explained to you that I didn’t mean to hurt you and I already asked for forgiveness. Now it is your decision.
-Amalia: You also have to forgive me, I have also treated you very badly.
-Josefina: (Smiling) It’s clear to me: I forgive you, the anger stays in the past.
-Amalia: I forgive you too.
(They remain silent for a moment, like everyone who reconciles after a long time of fighting and doesn’t know what to say).
-Josefina: Shall we go look at the list?
-Amalia: Let’s go.
(They leave together, reconciled and relieved).
THE END