Title of the work: “Foolish bets”.
Author: Manuel Martinez
4 characters:
- MIGUEL- 16 years old, daring and wayward. He spends all his time challenging Dani in absurd challenges. Friend of Dani, Lorenzo and Elena.
- DANI- 16 years old, spends all his time challenging Miguel in absurd challenges. Friend of Miguel, Lorenzo and Elena.
- LORENZO- 16 years old, more prudent than Miguel and Dani. Friend of these two and Elena.
- ELENA- 16 years old, she is the smartest of the group and the most sensible. Friend of Miguel, Lorenzo and Dani.
ACT I
(Characters that intervene in this act Miguel, Lorenzo, Dani and Elena)
In the courtyard of a high school, at recess Lorenzo and Dani look at Miguel who is holding his breath.
Dani: Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven.
Lorenzo: He’s going to make it, it looks like he’s going to make it. You’ll see…..
Dani: Forty-eight, forty-nine, I don’t think he’s going to make it, fifty….
Miguel takes a sharp intake of breath.
Dani: And fifty, sorry, but you haven’t managed to beat my record of fifty-four seconds without breathing.
They all laugh. Elena approaches them.
Elena: What are you doing?
Dani: Nothing, here’s Miguel who tried to beat me and couldn’t do it.
Miguel: Well, but it was very close.
Elena: Surpass you in what?
Lorenzo: Holding your breath as long as possible.
Elena: Is that how you spend your time?
Lorenzo: No, not me. It’s them.
Elena: But you applaud them, you’re not better than them either. And why do you do it?
Dani: To see who is better.
Elena: Better at what?
Michael: At doing stupid things.
Miguel and Dani laugh out loud.
Miguel: Dani, I bet you can’t throw yourself down the hill in a garbage can.
Dani: I am, aren’t I? you’ll see, I am.
Dani and Miguel leave the yard.
Elena: But what fools, if they go on like that they’re going to get hurt.
Lorenzo: You’re telling all the truth.
Elena: You know what we’re going to do, we’re going to teach them a lesson. And you are going to help me.
Act II
(Characters that intervene in this act Miguel, Lorenzo, Dani and Elena)
Kitchen of Lorenzo’s house. Lorenzo, Dani and Miguel sitting on high stools around the kitchen table.
Lorenzo: The challenges you do are childish.
Dani: Yes? and this is coming from someone who doesn’t dare to do any of them.
Miguel: That’s right.
Lorenzo: Because you only do stupid things. What fun is it to see who can hit a book the hardest or who can hold his breath the longest? That’s nonsense.
Dani: You can say what you want, but you don’t have the courage to do anything like that.
Lorenzo: Whatever you say, but I propose another challenge, but this time it will be a challenge for men.
Miguel: Let’s see what challenge is that, superman.
Miguel and Dani laugh out loud. Lorenzo takes out from under the table a glass with a yellowish liquid and puts it on the table.
Miguel (in an ironic tone): Uhhh, how strong, you want us to drink a glass of soda.
Dani (in an ironic tone): My God, Lorenzo, that’s horrible.
Lorenzo: It’s not soda. In this glass there is half bleach and half water. If the mixture is fifty percent each, nothing will happen, but if there is a single drop more of one of the two liquids, it will burn the throat of whoever drinks it. Come on, who dares?
Dani and Miguel’s faces become very serious. Dani holds the glass nervously until he puts it back on the table.
Dani: Come on Miguel, show Lorenzo that you are not a quitter.
Miguel: And why don’t you prove it to him?
Dani: Because I made the last bet, besides I have to go now.
Miguel: Yes, I had to go too. Look, Lorenzo, let’s leave it for another day. That test is just another nonsense.
Miguel and Dani leave the room, but Elena cuts them off as they leave.
Elena: Where are you going?
Miguel: We were just leaving, Elena.
Dani: Yes, we have to go.
Miguel and Dani leave the room.
Act III
(Characters that intervene in this act Miguel, Lorenzo, Dani and Elena)
In the courtyard of the Institute, Lorenzo is leaning against the wall with a sad look on his face. Dani and Miguel approach him
Miguel: Man, Dani, look who’s here, if it isn’t the super macho guy.
Dani: That’s right Miguel, watch out for Lorenzo, he’s really dangerous.
Lorenzo (in a serious tone): Shut up, please.
Miguel: What for Lorenzo? It was a joke.
Lorenzo: You haven’t heard, have you?
Dani: No, what’s up?
Lorenzo: Elena…
Michael: What happened to Elena?
Lorenzo: The other day, at my house, the glass I left on the table. Elena drank it, and….
(Lorenzo starts crying)
Michael: And what happened to her?
Lorenzo: Well, an ambulance took her away, but….
Dani: But what? What happened to her?
Lorenzo shakes his head. Dani and Miguel start crying in surprise.
Dani: It can’t be.
Miguel: Why?
Elena approaches them without being seen by Miguel and Daniel.
Elena: Of course, you are very bold and you cry at the slightest thing.
Miguel and Daniel look at her in surprise.
Michael: Elena!
Dani: Elena, you’re alive.
Elena: Yes, more alive than your brains, you fools. I asked Lorenzo for help, so you could see the stupid bets you were making.
Michael: You’ve gone too far, what a scare.
Elena: Well, that’s what had to happen, we had to give you a scare, so that you would stop doing that nonsense.
Dani: Of course, you’ve taken away our desire to make bets.
Elena and Lorenzo look at each other and smile.
The end.