Mattar and Rachlin 1

Abraham Rachlin and Simon Mattar

Storer
English 3H, Block 4
10/2/19
To Forgive and to Forget

Prologue
In our modern-day society, appearance and attitude is crucial to being able to fit in. Nowadays,
it is more important to be able to fit in then to be yourself. The setting of this play starts in the
protagonists’ house. He suffers from something that is seen commonly in the United States and in
our current society: bullying, as well as cyber bullying. Real problems end up occurring due to
these kinds of thoughts and actions, such as suicide and clinical depression. It is something that
typical teenagers see daily but do nothing to stop, since it makes them look “uncool”. In fact,
most teenagers join so they are not seen as weird. This issue causes many kids to feel like they
are powerless and lonely, which is where this play opens.
Abraham, a short, nerdy junior, is a nice person.be able to fit in, but due to his shy nature, no one
wants to talk to him. He is a 4.5 GPA student who has a lot of problems making friends and is
socially awkward. He normally wears tucked in polos with khaki pants, with glasses. He is a
victim of bullying.
On the contrary is 4-star football phenomenon named Simon. Everybody at the school wants to
be like Simon. He has all the girls surrounding him wherever he goes. He was homecoming king
and he wears his football jersey every day to remind people of who he is. Even though he lives
an ideal life at school, his home life is a nightmare. His parents yell at him due to the fact he is
not living up to his father’s legacy.
Act I: Scene I
Simon just finished practice and is driving home from school. He gets home and has no
homework because all of his classes are easy. He is bored and has nothing to do so he texts Abe:
Simon: Hey Abe.
Abe: What do you want now?
Simon: I just wanted to let you know that your fit looked pretty nice today.
Abe: Oh really, thank you Simon.
Simon: Sike! You thought. You wear the same stupid clothes every day that you get from
Walmart. And on top of that, you are ugly as hell. See you tomorrow loser.
Abe: I’m so tired of Simon! He doesn’t leave me alone. I never did anything to him. Like, I just
mind my own business every day and he takes joy in making me miserable. Why can’t I just be
left alone?
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Abraham stands up and examines himself in the mirror; looking for any little imperfection on his
body. He looks at his clothes. The same old khakis and polo that he’s been wearing for the past
two years. He tears up and ponders on how pathetic his life is. He thinks of how he has no
friends, he thinks of how he gets bullied every day, and he thinks about how much easier his life
would be if he just gave up and let in.
He runs to go shower and he just lays there, sobbing, in defeat.
Act I: Scene II
Simon lives in a three-story home in the nicer part of town. It is a gated community with a very
nice pool and tennis courts. His house had high ceilings and marble tiles It had 6 bedrooms, a
movie theater, and spa room. Simon was infamously known for throwing the most epic parties
there. That same night, Simon sits down at dinner with his mom and his dad in the dining room.
It is just them three. They were talking about school as they were eating.
Simon’s dad is 6 foot 4 inches and 259 pounds. He had a full ride to Alabama for football and
played in the NFL for 12 years. He was a 10x Pro-Bowler.
Simon’s dad brings up the topic of his son’s recruiting.
Simon’s Dad: Son, what offers do you have now?
Simon: Right now, I just have three offers: Iowa State, Cal, and Air Force.
Simon’s Dad: That’s it! Son you are terrible! My freshman year I already had 20 DI offers. My
first one was from Alabama.
Simon: I am sorry dad. I am trying my best.
Simon’s Dad: “Well then, your best isn’t good enough. You will NEVER live up to my
expectations. You will barely even play in college. I won 3 Super Bowl Rings in the NFL.
Simon: I’m sorry dad.
Simon gets up from the table and begins crying but doesn’t show it to his dad. He heads to his
bedroom for the rest of the night. He locks the door to make sure his dad does not come in.
Act II: Scene I
It is now the next day at school. The lunch area is a very open area with multiple tables spread
all over the concrete area. Trees and blushing green and spread around symmetrically. Abe sits
in an area where not many people sit. It is separated from where most people are. Abraham is
sitting alone, eating his lunch when he is approached by Simon and his friends.
Simon walks straight up to Abraham.
Simon: What’s up nerd! Whatchu got there, pizza? Trynna give me some?
Abe tries to scoot down to table.
Abe: No, Simon. This is mine! I’m really hungry. I haven’t had anything to eat since yesterday!
Simon turns around to his friends and laughs.
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Simon: Ah, that’s funny cuz I don’t remember asking if you wanted to give me some. Gimme
some foo.
Abraham tries to get up and walk away but is held down.
Simon: Woah, woah, woah! Where do you think you’re going?
He snaps and his friends come closer.
Abraham: Away from you guys! I’m just chilling here, and you guys won’t leave me alone. I can
give you some if you want some, but I can’t give you all of it.
Simon starts laughing at what Abraham just said. He encourages everyone else to laugh, as well.
Simon: Alright boys. Looks like we gettin lunch for free! Take his pizza.
They all start to hit him and beat him up to take his pizza.
Simon: Dang, your clutch. ‘Preciate it foo. We eatin good tonight boys!
They leave him there on the floor, beaten.
Act II: Scene II
Abraham stays on the floor for a little before he gets up. He checks if he has any blood, but
luckily does not. He then starts walking to class to avoid any suspicion of the event that just
occurred.
He walks into class. This class is a small class, consisting of just twenty people. He sits closer
towards the back so he has more privacy and can sit with his own thoughts. He does not have
any friends in this class, so no one asked him if he was ok or anything since he looks depressed.
Simon sits in the front of the classroom. He sees his teacher, Mr. Roddy. He is a young teacher,
the youngest in the school. He wears a dress shirt with dress pants every day. Mr. Roddy notices
him, beaten and looking sad. He calls him over to his desk.
Mr. Roddy: Abraham, can you come here please?
Abraham: Walks over to his desk. Hey, Mr. Roddy.
Mr. Roddy: You ok? You look sad and you were late to class.
Abe turns, and notices Simon is looking right at him, hoping that he does not “snitch” on him.
Abe: Yeah, I’m fine Mr. Roddy. Don’t trip.
Act II: Scene III
He then starts to walk back to his desk. Just to his luck, Simon ended up moving seats closer
towards his. Abraham sits down and notices Simon trying to tell him something.
Simon: Did you just snitch on me? Cuz you know what we do to rats, right?
Abe takes a second to respond, hoping the right words come out.
Abe: Of course not. I’m not a rat. I would never snitch on you.
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He says this, nervous of what would come of his comments. He looks down at his phone hoping
Simon stops talking to him.
Simon: That’s what I like to hear, Abe. Don’t even think about snitchin’ when I’m not here cuz
I’ll definitely find out.
Act II: Scene IV
The bell rings and class is dismissed. Abraham is walking home, hoping to forget everything that
happened in this horrible day. It is a nice neighborhood, only three blocks away from the
campus. It is a calm place full of grass and trees. Just as he is approaching his house, he sees a
car pull in next to him rapidly. It’s Simon and his jock friends. They followed him from the
school.
Simon: Hey Abe. What’s up?
Abraham: Tries not to look at them when he talks. Everything’s pretty good. Why?
Simon: Good cuz I’m about to change that right quick. He opens his car door and comes out.
You trynna send me the homework for Roddy’s class?
Abraham: Reluctantly shakes his head. No, I am going to get in trouble sooner or later.
Simon: Starts to mock what he said. I didn’t ask for your opinion. It ain’t an option. I want it by
tonight when I get home from practice. You understand me twig?
Abraham: His eyes start to tear up. Yeah, I get you.
Simon: Bet. Starts walking towards his car. Tonight. Turns around to his friends. Turn me up
then!
Abe goes home and is sitting on his bed.
Abe: I can’t do this anymore. My whole life I have been sucking up to this guy and he has
controlled my life. It's just not fair. I need to stand up for myself. I must find help. There must be
someone there for me.
Abe goes to sleep.
Act III: Scene I
The next day, Abe gets to school early to escape his daily interaction with Simon. He enters Mr.
Roddy’s classroom.
Abe: Hey Mr. Roddy, is it okay if I can to you about something real quick?
Mr. Roddy: Of course, Abe. What do you need?
Abe: I don’t want to do this, but I just can’t take it anymore. Simon has been bullying me every
single day for the past 3 years. He’s taken my homework, my food, and most importantly, my
dignity. He constantly beats me up for not listening to him. He makes me consider suicide at
times. I just can’t take it anymore.
Abe begins to tear up.
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Abe: I just thought that someone like you could help me. Never mind, this whole thing is stupid,
I should have never said anything.
Mr. Roddy: No Abe, you have come to the right person. Do not be ashamed. I am here to help.
We will get through this together.
Abe: Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to me.
Mr. Roddy: Principal Jensen and I will take Simon out of class today and discuss his punishment.
Abe exits the classroom in hope for a new life.
Act IV: Scene I
After school that day, Simon encounters Abe walking to his house.
Simon: Abe, come here.
Abe: Oh no.
Simon: I need to talk to you. I was pulled out of class today and I was told that I was finna be
suspended for 3 days. They said that I was bullying someone.
Abe: I wonder who it was.
Simon: Abe, I know it was you. Don’t play dumb with me.
Abe: Please don’t hurt me, please.
Simon: Abe they told me everything that you said; the mental and physical struggles that I put
you through. They said that you thought about committing suicide. If you really did, I couldn’t
live with myself. The truth is that I bully you because I need to feel good about myself. I feel so
much pressure from my father on how I will never live up to his expectations and never be as
great as he was. At school is the only time that I feel like I am important. I am so sorry for being
so mean to you.
Abe: Simon, that’s all I needed to hear from you. I have been waiting to hear that for the past
three years. I forgive you Simon. I forgive you.
Simon: Thank you Abe. I appreciate it.
All of senior year, Abe and Simon were best friends. Every day, they ate lunch together. Abe
would go to his football games and Simon would go to his academic decathlon. Eventually, they
went separate ways in college; Abe went to Stanford and Simon ended up playing football at
Alabama.