Isabella Fernandez & Sara Zavala

Ms. Bunosky

English 3 Honors, Block 4

27 September 2019

Friend or Foe?

Act 1

It’s September 28th of 2019, on a chilly winter morning, in St. John Baptiste Catholic high-school, located
on a small city called Montara, north of San Francisco in California. Mary a smart and determined girl, is
faced with a thought-provoking situation, should she cheat on the SAT? Cowered by fear, she makes the
foolish mistake of cheating. But the guilt is eating her up inside, and she consults it with her longtime best-
friend Alice. Now, both their minds are clouded over with fear. Alice is now faced with the situation of
telling her mentors, or keeping quiet. Which she ultimately decides its best to rat out her friend. Mary,
devastated and filled with betrayal, now must affront her actions of cheating.

Curtain.

The school’s long hallway.

The hallway is busy with students heading to their classes. The wide windows, and glass entry doors make
up for a breathtaking view of the city buildings. The windows provide light which beams through the entirety
of the main hallway. If you were to look north, you would encounter the school’s entrance, and where the
classrooms are situated throughout the length of the hallway.

Mary and Alice, at a normal pace, make their way down the hallway. They are both sleep-deprived and
stressed for the upcoming SAT exams, next week. As Mary begins to discuss the possibility of herself
cheating on the SAT, she hastened her pace and lowered her voice. There are too many people for their
conversation to be overheard. Mary rants on about her desire to cheat, Alice keeps quiet.

Mary, with a considerable amount of enthuthiasm: Oh Alice imagine all the possibilities, if I were to cheat
on the Math section, everything would be so much easier. My score would be impeccable, my teachers
would adore me for scoring such a high grade, universities would fight to have me. Not to mention my
parents, I can only begin to imagine their faces and expressions when I tell them their daughter got a near
perfect score... I know what you must be thinking Alice, with a mocking tone, ‘how can I dare do such
thing’, but it is only for my greater good. Alice you must promise me you will tell nobody of my intended
acts.

Alice: Sure, I promise Mary. As she crossed her fingers behind her back.

As the week passed by, Alice spent her time pulling all-nighters, taking practice SATs, and working to
improve her score. Meanwhile, Mary did not prepare at all. After all, she was planning on cheating. Seeing
Mary slack off while Alice spent her time studying, slowly started to aggravate her. When the time came
for the exam, Alice was practically a walking zombie, the dark circles clearly evident under her eyes, and
her posture slightly hunched over. She was exhausted. It angered her to see Mary so worry-free and joyful.
It became clear that Alice was becoming unsure whether to keep Mary’s plan a secret.

When the SATs were over, Mary left the exam room with a gleaming smile, she had successfully cheated
on the test. Meanwhile, Alice wasn’t feeling too sure about her answers when turning the test in.

THE CURTAIN FALLS

A well lit classroom.

There are two big windows on the left side of the room, light pours into the room, but in a dim, gloomy way.
On the right side of the room, a door stands leading to the exit of the classroom. In the front of the room is
the teachers’ desk, piled with books. And on the center, the desks reside. The classroom is now empty,
except for a young girl standing on the back of the classroom, where she awaits a friend of hers.

Mary is standing at the back of the classroom, her back to the wall, and her mind lost in her thoughts. The
door opens and a girl enters, flushed from what seems to be the result of a sprint.

Alice, with a sheer feel of fear and preoccupation she speaks: Mary! I’m here, what is the matter? With
intrigued thought. You had me so worried over the phone, you wouldn’t tell me what was wrong, I-

Mary, with disgust, and feel of betrayal: Oh, don’t you dare come here with your acting and nickering! Now
with composure: You know quite well what is wrong.

Alice, in nervousness, acts dumb: I don’t understand, what are you talking about Mary?

The ambience is now tense.

Mary, with an air of superiority: You told the teachers I cheated on the SAT!

Alice - she knows what she did was wrong: Mary, I am so sorry I know what I did was wrong, but I just
couldn’t keep quiet on a matter so serious! We both criticize the people who take the easy path
academically. I found it so unlike you that you were actually considering cheating on the SAT, and I
couldn’t keep quiet! Please forgive me.

Mary, in awe: How can you ask for forgiveness after you have destroyed my future. Now I don’t know
what will happen with my life.

Mary sits on the desk near her, as she rests her head in her arms in defeat.

Alice, with slight guilt and compassion in her voice: I am so sorry Mary. I can’t even begin to ask for
your forgiveness, but I thought I was doing the right thing. But now you must face your consequences.
Come on, let’s go with the principal.

Mary stands up and walks out the door, located on the right side of the classroom with Alice.
 THE CURTAIN FALLS

Act 2

The principal’s office, now serving as Mary’s interrogation room.

A spacious, four-walled room, inhabits a wide desk with two chairs upfront. There are diplomas and
academic achievements hanging on the walls. The place is in dim light, for the window on the right doesn’t
deliver much light. The room is empty except for the principal sitting in his chair. He seems to be busy with
paperwork, but acknowledges the entrance of Mary.

Principal Brown: Come on in Mary. He then proceeds to make a gesture to Mary, indicating for her to
come in, and sit.

Mary, nervous and barely maintaining her breath, enters the room and sits on the chair, in front of the
intimidating desk. She admires all of the achievements hanging from the wall.

Principal Brown: I suppose you are aware why you have been called to my office, correct? He takes of his
reading glasses giving him a more authoritative air.

Mary, twitching in her seat, manages to choke out: I-I think s-so s-sir. She places her hands on her lap,
and looks down in shame. Suddenly, she vainly regrets her decision to cheat.

Principal Brown, sighes and shakes his head slightly. I am very disappointed in you Mary. You were a
good, promising student with a bright future ahead of you. What influenced you to make this decision?

Mary, barely keeping composure, feels her eyes slowly starting to tear up. She is at a loss of words. As if
opening her eyes to the situation, she realizes the gravity of what she has done. She wrecked her future.
Trying to speak, her voice trembles: I-I..

Principal Brown: Look, we have already notified your parents of this. These accusations are very serious,
and we will start an investigation towards it. As of right now, you are suspended until further notice.
Please leave school grounds immediately.

THE CURTAIN FALLS

Act 3

Shock, fear, and shame all crossed Mary’s mind. She can just barely manage to nod slowly, and stand from
the chair she was sitting in, across from Principal Brown. As she makes her way to the door, she feels
disgusted at herself. What has she done? She says goodbye to Principal Brown, and leaves his office. As
she walks through the halls of her high-school, she can’t help but think if this might be her last time walking
through them. As she walks alongside her classmates, the busy hallway flows to and fro as normal. Mary
reaches her locker, and while opening the lock, catches a glimpse of Alice, standing at the corner, they
make eye-contact. Mary feels so stupid, she thought they were best friends. How foolish could I be? She
thought to herself. Friends don’t rat out friends. She quickly finishes grabbing the rest of her books, and
stuffing them in her backpack abruptly, closes her locker again. Aggravated, and still bewildered she storms
out of St. John Baptist Catholic high school.

One week passed by. Principal Brown found incriminating evidence against Mary, he called in a meeting
with Mary and her parents.

Principal Brown’s office.

Once again Mary finds herself in the intimidating four-walled room. The window on the shines light towards
the wide desk. The principal’s desk was now clear of paperwork, and the chairs were situated in their usual
place. The academic achievements reminded Mary of the past she once had and could have continued, but
now long gone.

Principal Brown was sitting on his chair of considerable size, as he awaits the entrance of Mr. and Mrs.
Jonathan as well as Mary’s presence.

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan arrive at the office, with a considerable amount of concern portrayed on their faces.

Principal Brown: Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan, we have spoken briefly on the phone. You know what this is
about. This is a very serious matter. Please do sit.

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan sit down on the chairs in front of the desk in nervousness, as Mary decides to keep
standing.

Mr. Jonathan: Yes, yes we are aware. Thank you Principal Brown for your concern and involvement. With
a loud, and disappointed sigh, he looked over at Mary. He didn’t even recognize her anymore. They never
thought she would be capable of doing something like this. They always thought of their daughter as a
studious and well-behaved little girl. And now they fear she has ruined her future.

Principal Brown: Well, of course. It’s my job after all. He said, and offered a sympathetic half smile to
them. Now, I must share with you what the school council has decided. I regret to inform you that the
council has decided to expel Mary Jonathan.

Shocked, Mary put her hand to her mouth: Exp-pell-ed?

Mary’s mother, Mrs. Jonathan looks like she is on the verge of tears. How could her daughter be capable
of such a thing like this? What did they do wrong? She thought to herself. Mr. Jonathan looking more
angered than disappointed, stands up and paces around the room.

Mr. Jonathan: No, no please Mr. Brown. There must be something you can do. He ran his hands through
his hair, exasperated. As he walked back and forth around the small, four-walled office. Then he began
again: Her future will be ruined!
Mr. Brown: I wish I could, I really do. He sighed. But we have found evidence that incriminates Mary
severely. Footage from the time Mary took the test, from the exam room. She was caught taking out a small
paper with the answers to the math section of the SAT. There is nothing more I can do than offer you a
quiet and unnoticed expulsion, Mary. And I wish all of you luck, especially explaining this to your next
school. If you have any more questions, please ask now.

Mary’s father, overcome with anger and shock, stormed out of the room. Mary’s mother, with bewildered
shame for her daughter, slowly stood up from the chair and left stopping at the door frame.

Mrs. Jonathan: Thank you, Principal Brown we have no further questions. . She said as she finally left the
room.

Mary left the room last, her eyes fixed on the ground, too ashamed to look up to the Principal or her parents.

THE CURTAIN FALLS.