The next several plays I’ll publish haven’t been produced, but the first four are scheduled for a production later in 2019 here in Oaxaca. They’ve already been translated into Spanish. These are also plays that were written at various times over the past 25 years. “Totally Committed” was written in 2001.
These plays fall into the standard play format meaning the characters have names and genders and locations are given. Unlike the previous 10-minute plays I published, each line of dialogue isn’t limited to five words. Your basic normal plays. đ
Synopsis: A celibate woman goes back on her promise of sexual activity upon her engagement.
CHARACTERS
Stevie, female
Jordan, male
Note: Actors can be any age, just so long as itâs believable that the female has had a sexual life and has been celibate for almost a decade. Diverse casting is encouraged.
TIME: 2001
SETTING:Â Stevieâs apartment. The only necessary set piece is a couch (or a bed if the play is set in the bedroom).
1.
(Lights up on JORDAN and STEVIE, some clothes off, kissing and groping. Jazz plays in the b.g. STEVIE moans)
JORDAN: Oh, yeah. Feels good. Feels sooo goooood.
STEVIE: Jordan, stop.
JORDAN: Canât stop.
STEVIE: Please stop.
JORDAN: Donât wanna stop. (STEVIE pushes JORDAN with such force that he rolls across the floor) What?!!
STEVIE: (covering her breasts with her shirt) I canât.
JORDAN: You have to.
STEVIE: I do not.
JORDAN: But, you promised.
STEVIE: My promise to the Lord is stronger.
JORDAN: If he were sitting here with the raging stiffo I have, heâd be saying, âStevie, grabbeth thy rod and leadeth me to salvation. Giveth me salvation. Stroketh me to ejaculation.â
2.
STEVIE: This is no joking matter.
JORDAN: Whoâs joking? You canât leave me in this condition.
STEVIE: I felt a shooting pain. It was a sign.
JORDAN: It was pleasure. The intense kind. You just canât tell the difference after all these VIE: I know the difference. It started when you touched me down there.
JORDAN: Down there could use a little touching. Iâm surprised your clit hasnât divorced you for neglect.
STEVIE: I take my vow very seriously. And so does my clit.
JORDAN: Is that why your hand made a bee-line for my dick?
STEVIE: Iâm not immune to temptation. Just because Iâm celibate doesnât mean Iâm not human.
JORDAN: Stevie, you havenât masturbated in nine years. I question your humanness.
STEVIE: I pray. Especially when itâs throbbing like it is now. Pray with me.
JORDAN: Let me do a laying of the hands. Isnât that what Jesus did to relieve to pain?
STEVIE: I know Jesus. Youâre not Jesus.
3.
(JORDAN plays a sexy song on his phone)
STEVIE: I donât think thatâs a good idea.
JORDAN: We always dance to this song.
STEVIE: This is different.
JORDAN: What about the ring?
STEVIE: Itâs beautiful.
JORDAN: Itâs commitment.
STEVIE: Yes, it is.
JORDAN: So?
STEVIE: I just donât think we should dance, Jordan.
JORDAN: Forget the music, then. Talk to me. Donât look at me like that. That ring is supposed to be my ticket to the Promised Land.
STEVIE: Iâve had a change of heart.
JORDAN: You had what, Cruella?
STEVIE: Donât be mean.
JORDAN: When did you have this revelation?
4.
STEVIE: The other day. And I owe it all to you, sweetheart.
JORDAN: Donât blame me for your fit of temporary insanity.
STEVIE: Iâm not crazy. This is about fulfillment. Our fulfillment.
JORDAN: (Taking her in his arms) Then let me start fulfilling.
STEVIE: Iâm talking spiritual.
JORDAN: Excuse me, but Iâve had enough spirit to fill ten heavens. You promised me some sex and I want it now!
STEVIE: God will forgive you for that lie.
JORDAN: Did I say intercourse? Did I?
STEVIE: No, but I naturally thought so.
JORDAN: Sex is comprised of many activities, if you recall. None of which Iâve been able to enjoy for sexâI mean, sixâmonths. Six agonizingly loooong months.
STEVIE: I never forced you into anything.
JORDAN: Granted, but you did say that once we were totally committed to each other, we could commence with touching, caressing and kissing, right?
STEVIE: Yes.
5.
JORDAN: Baby, Iâm tired of taking matters into my own hand. Iâve had the patience of, ofâ
STEVIE: Job.
JORDAN: Yeah, Job. And Iâd say that ring you accepted tonightâaccepted willingly, I might addâthatâs about as totally committed as two people can get, wouldnât you say?
STEVIE: Why are you questioning me like a criminal?
JORDAN: Because what youâre doing to me is a crime. Do you agree with my last statement?
STEVIE: Yes, I do, Mister Mason.
JORDAN: Very funny. Listen, if you go back on this, whatâs next?
STEVIE: Like what?
JORDAN: Before your conditionâ
STEVIE: Celibacy is not a condition. Itâs a privilege.
JORDAN: Fine. Before your privilege, what was your favorite thing about sex?
STEVIE: You know.
JORDAN: Humor me.
6.
STEVIE: Oral sex.
JORDAN: What if you decide next year that itâs disgusting?
STEVIE: Never happen. You donât know how much I loved it.
JORDAN: See, you said loved. Past tense. Youâve already changed your mind.
STEVIE: Oh, sweetheart, I canât wait for the moment we put our mouths to work.
JORDAN: This is torture. To love someone more than the world and not be able to touch them.
STEVIE: Itâll be worth the wait. Youâll see. Besides, weâre more than just sex, arenât we?
JORDAN: Itâs not natural to suppress these feelings.
STEVIE: Itâs what made you so special, though. You saw beyond the physical.
JORDAN: Everybody told me I was nuts to go along with this, but I said, âNope, I know what Iâm doing. We have a pact. Appetizers before the âI do,â the main course after.â Baby, I havenât eaten a full meal in six months and Iâm hungry.
STEVIE: Oh, but how good that first mouthful is going to taste. And all the ones after it. Listen, I know itâs hard. (giggles) Sorry. You said you understood why I wanted to wait.
7.
JORDAN: Easy for you. Youâre not human, remember?
STEVIE: Thatâs not true.
JORDAN: Anybody who can go ten years without sex…
STEVIE: I told you I pray.
JORDAN: I know, I know. Which means youâve questioned your decision.
STEVIE: Not giving in has made me stronger.
JORDAN: Lucky me. You promised physical contact when we committed. Youâve changed your mind without consulting me, and now I have to suffer until we get married.
STEVIE: Itâll be easier for you if you see it as something besides suffering.
JORDAN: Letâs elope. Tonight. Thereâs got to be a state close by that will marry us.
STEVIE: No. Weâre sticking to our plan. Jordan?
JORDAN: (pouting) What?
STEVIE: You say you understand my faith, but do you?
JORDAN: Something about being used by men.
8.
STEVIE: Bingo. And the solution was the commitment I made to Jesus Christ. I know that whomever Iâm destined to share my life with will see this greatness that surrounds me, and enlarges itself every moment of my life. Selah.
JORDAN: Jesus never went back on his word.
STEVIE: Is something else bothering you? About us, I mean.
JORDAN: Not a thing. You know youâre the only woman Iâve ever wanted to marry. Ever.
STEVIE: Then whatâs another six months compared to decades together?
JORDAN: What about kissing? Kissing is not a bad thing.
STEVIE: Itâs a wonderful thing. One of the most intimate acts two people can share.
JORDAN: How about one teeny, tiny kiss to commemorate our commitment?
STEVIE: Just one? I donât know.
JORDAN: I know you have a heart.
STEVIE: Well, it is a special occasion.
(They kiss. Jordan caresses her breast. She puts her hand near his penis, but instantly pulls it away and ends the kiss)
You said just a kiss.
9.
JORDAN: Your hand was on a journey, too.
STEVIE: God, but youâre a great kisser.
JORDAN: I want to sleep with you tonight.
STEVIE: Jordan.
JORDAN: I mean just sleep.
STEVIE: And you wonder why I insist on no contact. Look where this is heading.
JORDAN: But, just now, the kiss, you liked it. Loved it, even. You canât tell me you can turn it off until the wedding just like that.
STEVIE: I must avoid the temptation.
JORDAN: I want the real reason you changed your mind.
STEVIE: About two years ago I met this guy, a real ladiesâ man so I was shocked when he stuck around. Weâd been dating about seven months when he said heâd finally found the woman he wanted buried next to him.
JORDAN: How romantic.
STEVIE: It was the way he said it.
JORDAN: Whatever.
10.
STEVIE: Anyway, we kissed and before I knew it, his head was between my legs.
JORDAN: You were naked?! With a man?!
STEVIE: Quit making fun. I was ashamed of my behavior and stopped it right away. I told him thereâd be no more until the wedding and that was the last time I saw him. I shouldnât be surprised, really. My point is, just because you say youâre committed, it doesnât mean…
JORDAN: But, I gave you a ring.
STEVIE: If you can wait until the wedding, then Iâll know you were sincere. Thereâs no better way to show your love.
JORDAN: Physical contact between two people as they grow closer is completely natural. More, itâs totally essential.
STEVIE: What you say makes perfect sense. The answer is still no.
JORDAN: Then I want my ring back.
STEVIE: Youâre not serious.
JORDAN: Iâm not leaving without it.
STEVIE: What has happened to you?
JORDAN: Me? Youâre the one denying us an essential element in our relationship.
11.
STEVIE: Leaving would be the biggest mistake of your life.
JORDAN: I canât live with this new arrangement.
STEVIE: Are you really leaving?
JORDAN: No contact?
(STEVIE shakes her head. JORDAN opens the door)
STEVIE: See, I was right. Youâre just like all the others.
JORDAN: None of the others stayed this long. Or gave you a ring.
STEVIE: No, but they left just the same. (long pause) Iâm going to bed. Alone. Will I hear from you tomorrow? (pause) I love you, Jordan. Youâre very special. In my eyes and His.
JORDAN: Yeah, youâre special, too.
STEVIE: Itâll be worth it, youâll see. Just put your faith in the Lord.
(JORDAN kisses her cheek and leaves. STEVIE leans against the door and slides to a crouching position. She closes her eyes and puts her hands on her breasts as the lights fade to black)
THE END
You can request the Spanish translation of this script by emailing me at mjinoaxaca@gmail.com.