INDUBITABLY!
TEN MINUTE GRAMMAR PLAY
By Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
All Rights Reserved
Heuer Publishing LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The writing of plays is a means of livelihood. Unlawful use of a playwright’s
work deprives the creator of his or her rightful income. The playwright is
compensated on the full purchase price and the right of performance can only
be secured through purchase of at least seven (7) copies of this work.
PERFORMANCES ARE LIMITED TO ONE VENUE FOR ONE YEAR
FROM DATE OF PURCHASE.
The possession of this script without direct purchase from the publisher confers
no right or license to produce this work publicly or in private, for gain or
charity. On all programs and advertising this notice must appear: "Produced
by special arrangement with Heuer Publishing LLC of Cedar Rapids, Iowa."
This dramatic work is fully protected by copyright. No part of this work may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of
the publisher. Copying (by any means) or performing a copyrighted work without
permission constitutes an infringement of copyright.
The right of performance is not transferable and is strictly forbidden in cases
where scripts are borrowed or purchased second hand from a third party. All rights
including, but not limited to the professional, motion picture, radio, television,
videotape, broadcast, recitation, lecturing, tabloid, publication, and reading are
reserved.
COPYING OR REPRODUCING ALL OR ANY PART OF THIS BOOK IN
ANY MANNER IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY LAW.
PUBLISHED BY
HEUER PUBLISHING LLC
P.O. BOX 248 • CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA 52406
TOLL FREE (800) 950-7529 • FAX (319) 368-8011
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
INDUBITABLY!
By Donna Latham
Synopsis: As Jewel labors over the manuscript of her whodunit, Gram rides
a stationary bike. Gramps and Bill excitedly enter, anxious to depart for their
trek to the climbing wall. Although Jewel is intrigued, Gram is fretful.
Gramps assures her that he that will “absolutely, positively, indubitably
exercise extreme caution.” Jewel tells Bill that she is counting on him to
describe his climbing experience in great detail when he returns, so she can
use it in her novel. Bill urges her to go with them, but Jewel is “sincerely
motivated” to finish her latest chapter. Bill assures Gram that he’ll be “as
careful as humanly possible.” Addie takes offense at the word “humanly.”
Bill clarifies that he is simply using an adverb. “You go, Bill - - you know
your grammar!” cries Jewel. Addie responds, “We all know our Gramma!”
as she points to Gram. The family discusses that adverbs are parts of speech
that modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs; they provide lively
examples. Gramps attempts to calm Gram by assuring her of his stamina.
When Addie tests him, Gramps marches around the stage and even performs
several push-ups before limping off. With Gramps and Bill gone, Gram
expresses that she would “never, ever” undertake climbing. However,
Jewel’s vivid, adverb-ridden descriptions inspire Gram, who quotes Eleanor
Roosevelt: “You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” Jewel and
Gram dash off to join the climbing adventure. Waving Jewel’s boa, Addie
declares, “I absolutely, positively have no doubt we can find a nice ledge to
rappel from!” Roscoe concurs: “Indubitably!”
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(3 MEN, 3 WOMEN, FLEXIBLE)
JEWEL (F) ........................a vibrant, inquisitive, and studious student
GRAM (F).........................her kind, gentle, and nurturing grandmother
GRAMPS (M)...................her courtly, proper grandfather, a retired British
brigadier general
BILL (M) ..........................her up-for-anything younger brother
ADDIE (M/F)....................their lovable lug of a talking dog
ROSCOE (M/F) ................their pet parrot
-2THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
The Stratford Family
A tightly knit intergenerational family, the Stratfords are an energetic,
verbally adept bunch. The family dynamic is chatty, nurturing, and
supportive; together, they tackle problems that arise in their ongoing
adventures with the English language. As Gramps says, "English is quite a
sticky wicket of a language to master!"
Gramps is a retired British brigadier general, devoted to his bride, Gram, a
kind, nurturing soul. Gramps is a lover of history and literature, while Gram
enjoys tending to her garden and whipping up new recipes in the kitchen. A
still-vigorous pair, Gramps and Gram remain young at heart with the
presence of their grandchildren. Jewel, an industrious teenager, is a multitalented multi-tasker! She aspires to be the next J.K. Rowling and is
currently writing a whodunit. Bill, her spontaneous younger brother, is up for
anything! Thoroughly living in the moment, he is not actively planning for
the future, as Jewel is. In fact, he is consumed these days with teaching
Roscoe, the world's most bashful parrot, to talk. Add a lovable, loyal talking
dog, Addie, to the mix and the family is complete!
SETTING
The play uses a fixed set, with a cozy kitchen and an adjoining living room
area. At left, is the kitchen, with a table and four chairs. The kitchen includes
a stove, sink, and several cabinets. At right, is a living room area, with a sofa
with several pillows, coffee table, and wing chair. Windows appear at
opposite sides of the stage; curtains hang from rods. In Indubitably! Roscoe
the bird appears onstage in his birdcage, although he may be off stage in
other plays.
Staging Suggestions:
Jewel is visibly struggling to perfect her writing; her laptop is opened on the
table, and she wears a feather boa as she envisions herself in the role of her
detective, Madame Carlotta. Jewel allows her characters to "speak" as she
indistinguishably reads aloud her writing; she is extremely animated. Have
fun with costuming Gramps in an outlandish pair of Bermuda shorts; perhaps
he also wears suspenders. When Addie leads Gramps and Bill in a march
around the stage, encourage the actors portraying Bill and Addie to march
-3THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
with crisp, precise movements. Challenge the actor portraying Gramps to
communicate a bit of weariness to the audience, as he limps and holds his
back when the other characters are not looking at him. You may wish to
have Jewel and Gram join in the march. During Jewel’s adverb-ridden
speech in which she inspires Gram to join the climb, invite the performer
who portrays Gram to express an increasingly growing interest in Jewel’s
words. In this play, Roscoe is most effectively played by a prop bird, while
an off stage actor voices his lines. For the curtain call, have the performers
crisply march in, lead by Addie (who holds Roscoe.)
PROPS
White feather boa
Pencil
Laptop
Birdcage with bell and prop bird
Small stationary bike
Bandana
Water bottle
Beret
Two climbing (or similar) helmets
-4THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
AT RISE:
JEWEL is seated at a table in a cozy kitchen. She wears a white
feather boa draped across her shoulders and has a pencil wedged
behind one ear. She stares with great intent at her laptop, which is
opened on the table. As JEWEL works at her laptop, GRAM huffs and
puffs on a small stationary bike. GRAM is clad in a sweat suit with a
bandana wrapped around her neck. She wears tennis shoes and has
a water bottle nearby. JEWEL mutters indistinguishably to herself as
she reads aloud what she has written; she gesticulates dramatically
and appears to be speaking, in character, to someone. Then, she
leaps up and jubilantly cries, “Yes!” as she winds the boa around her
neck.
GRAM: (Panting.) You certainly seem to be progressing steadily on
your whodunit, dear.
JEWEL: (Smiles.) I’m really excited about my latest chapter, Gram. I
want to wrap it up by next weekend, so I can dramatically read it
at the bookshop’s open mic.
GRAM: (Panting.) I can scarcely wait to hear about Madame
Carlotta’s latest escapades with that rapscallion Matthew Milton.
ADDIE: (Enters, wearing a beret, and strides with great determination
to ROSCOE’s cage. ADDIE uses appropriate dialects and
gestures as she attempts different greetings in French, Spanish,
Italian, German, and Japanese. She sweeps off her beret and
bows with a flourish.) Bonjour! (Pauses.) ¡Hola! (Pauses.) Buon
giorno! Guten Tag! Konichiwa!
JEWEL: What’s up, Addie, girl?
ADDIE: I’m desperately attempting another approach with Roscoe.
Maybe the little guy is multilingual and would rather say “hello” in
a language other than English. So I said “hello” in French,
Spanish, Italian, German, and Japanese - - but still no luck.
(Plops on the sofa in resignation and covers her face with her
beret.)
ROSCOE: (Flutters in cage with an off stage SFX; off stage voice.)
Brwk, brwk, brwk!
All laugh.
-5THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
ADDIE: (Takes off beret and lifts head.) I think he’s speaking chicken!
GRAMPS: (He enters with BILL. GRAMPS is dressed in plaid
Bermuda shorts, a polo shirt, high-top sneakers with knee-high
white socks, and a helmet. BILL wears sweat pants, a tee shirt,
and tennis shoes; he carries a helmet, which he places on the
kitchen table.) Huzzah! (Inhales deeply and thumps chest.) We
are nearly ready to depart, lovely ladies!
BILL: (Excited.) We’re finally tackling the new climbing wall at the
park district. Does this rock or what?
JEWEL: (Flutters her boa at him.) It rocks!
BILL: I’m so incredibly pumped for this that I’m about to leap out of
my skin!
ADDIE: (Jumps up, shrieks, covers eyes with paws, and dashes
behind sofa.) Eeek! Don’t do that, Billy Boy!
ROSCOE: (Flutters in cage with an off stage SFX; off stage voice.)
Brwk, brwk, brwk!
GRAM: (Fretting; takes a sip from her water bottle and fans herself
with bandana.) Oh, dear, oh, dear, oh, dear. I must honestly
admit that I’m not terribly thrilled with your undertaking.
GRAMPS: (Crossing to her and placing an arm around her shoulder.)
Now, now, my dearest, please don’t fret needlessly. I absolutely,
positively, indubitably pledge that we will exercise extreme
caution, today and always.
BILL: Don’t worry, Gram. It’s safety first! We’ll faithfully wear our
helmets and always use the proper gear.
GRAMPS: We’ll be securely fastened into our harnesses, and a
veteran climbing guide will competently control the belay ropes.
BILL: My friend, Nick Longo, told me that the very coolest part is
when you’re suspended, floating in the air. (Dramatically mimes
floating, as GRAM responds fretfully and JEWEL reacts with
great interest.)
ADDIE: (Peeks out from behind sofa.) Eeek! I’m shuddering here!
JEWEL: It sounds amazingly exciting and wonderfully adventurous - and it’s giving me a great idea! (Adjusts boa.) As you know, in my
novel, Madame Carlotta has diligently pursued the diabolically
clever Matthew Milton through a sandstorm in Egypt.
-6THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
BILL: (Bows.) Thanks to my fantastic idea!
JEWEL: (Crosses to BILL and excitedly grabs his arm.) Well, I’m
counting on you again, Bill! When you return later, I need you to
specifically describe, in great detail, what the climbing wall is like.
BILL: I’ll do my best - - but why?
JEWEL: Wouldn’t it be terribly thrilling to have Madame Carlotta
boldly pursue Matthew Milton up a mountain?
GRAM: Oh, Jewel, I utterly love that idea!
BILL: (Nods.) I’m down with it!
GRAMPS: (Waving.) Now, if you will kindly excuse us, lovely ladies,
Bill and I must depart, posthaste, to embark on our climb.
BILL: Jewel, are you completely sure you don’t want to go with us?
JEWEL: Thanks, but I’m sincerely motivated to finish this chapter
now. I’d like to read it at the FFWA’s open mic next week.
GRAMPS: FFWA?
JEWEL: Future Fiction Writers of America!
GRAMPS: (Nods.) Right-o!
GRAM: (Fretting to a greater degree.) Goodness gracious, my, oh,
my.
BILL: (Crosses to GRAM.) You have my word - - cross my heart - (Does so.) that I’ll be as careful as humanly possible.
ADDIE: (Coming out from behind sofa in a snit.) Humpf! Humans,
humans, humans!
BILL: (Pets ADDIE’s head.) No offense, girl - - I’m just using an
adverb.
JEWEL: (Laughs.) You go, Bill - - you know your grammar!
ADDIE: (Puzzled.) We all know our Gramma! (Assumes pointer’s
stance and points to GRAM.)
BILL: GramMAR, Addie. I used an adverb - - humanly.
JEWEL: Adverbs are parts of speech used to modify - - or
describe - - verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
GRAM: They tell how, where, and when.
GRAMPS: (Strides to center with great intent.) For example, Bill and I
will valiantly scale the rock wall. (BILL grabs ADDIE’s beret,
places it on his head at a rakish angle, and mimes valiantly
scaling the wall, as he imitates a dashing hero.) Valiantly is an
-7THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
adverb that modifies, or tells more about, the verb scale. It tells
how we shall scale the wall.
GRAM: (Points to self.) And I shall truly worry - - truly being the
adverb that tells how I shall worry, which is the verb.
GRAMPS: Oh, my dearest, you really mustn’t worry! I respectfully
remind you that I’m hale and hearty and fit as a fiddle. Although
I’m certainly not attired as such at the moment, (Lightly taps
helmet.) in my bygone days, I was a brigadier general in Her
Majesty’s Army. (Stands proudly in a military stance.)
ADDIE: (Ordering GRAMPS, in military fashion.) Ten-HUT!
(GRAMPS briskly salutes, and ADDIE leads a march around
stage, as GRAMPS and BILL fall into step behind her.) Left, left,
left, right, left!
ROSCOE: Awk!
ADDIE, GRAMP, AND BILL: (Marching.) Left, left, left, right, left!
ROSCOE: Awk!
ADDIE: Everybody! Left, left, left, right, oooops! (She stumbles, as,
domino-fashion, GRAMPS and BILL fall out of step; then, she
addresses the audience.) You’d think I have two left feet.
(Glances down, flaps left “legs”.) Wait a second - - I do! (To
GRAMPS.) Ten-HUT! Drop and give me 40!
GRAMPS: (Slowly eases himself down and begins to do push-ups.)
Will merely 3 suffice, Addie? I simply must preserve my strength
for the climbing wall.
GRAM: (Helps GRAMPS up.) I am fully aware that you’re fit, dear,
but - - mercy me! - - you surely understand what a worrywart I
can be.
BILL: Don’t sweat it, Gram. I’ve got his back, and I’ll watch him like a
hawk!
ROSCOE: (Flutters in cage with an off stage SFX; off stage voice.)
Awwk! Cheep, cheep!
GRAMPS: I, in return, will absolutely, positively, indubitably protect
my comrade on our height-scaling jaunt. (He and BILL exchange
salutes and resume marching, as they begin to slowly exit.)
GRAM: Do be careful, you two!
BILL: (Runs back for helmet.) We’ll be majorly careful; I promise!
-8THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
GRAMPS peeks back to make sure no one is watching and limps a
bit, as he exits holding his aching back.
ADDIE: Jewel, let me see if I thoroughly understand this adverb thing.
Gramps just strung up a bunch of adverbs - - absolutely,
positively, indubitably, right? Then, Bill used that slang word,
majorly. So - - does this mean that all adverbs end in –ly?
JEWEL: That’s a great question! Many adverbs do end in –ly, but not
all of them. Consider words that tell how - - such as fast and
well - - and those that tell where - - such as here, inside, and
near.
GRAM: Those that tell when include words such as again, yesterday,
tonight, and tomorrow.
ADDIE: Got it!
GRAM: (Climbs back on stationary bike.) I must admit, girls, rockclimbing is an activity I’d never, ever undertake. I’ll stick to my
water aerobics and stationary bike, thank you very much.
During JEWEL’s next speech, ADDIE hams it up as she acts out
JEWEL’s descriptions. GRAM gradually stops riding the bike, gets
lost in JEWEL’s descriptions, and grows increasingly enthusiastic.
JEWEL: Are you serious, Gram? I think it would be staggeringly
exhilarating! Think of the sense of accomplishment! (Really
getting into it.) Courageously rappelling down a rock face,
dexterously grasping ledges, weightlessly dangling in space,
athletically hoisting ourselves upwards, ever upwards! Oh, the
thrills, the chills - ADDIE: (Tumbling down; raising all four “legs” in the air and shaking
them.) The spills!
GRAM: (Leaping from the bike.) Whatever are we waiting for, Jewel?
Remember what the infinitely wise Eleanor Roosevelt said: “You
must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
JEWEL: I was hoping you’d come around, Gram. We can’t let the
guys have all the fun! See ya, Roscoe! Bye, Addie! (Wraps her
feather boa around ADDIE’s shoulders as she exits arm-in-arm
with GRAM.)
-9THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
ADDIE: (A beat; then approaching ROSCOE’s cage.) Hey, Roscoe,
my great-great-uncle Bertram was a St. Bernard. You should
have seen how he very courageously rescued people stranded in
the mountains.
ROSCOE: (Off stage voice.) Awwk!
ADDIE: I know precisely what you mean, Roscoe! I wish we could go
with everybody, too - - but it’s one of those things we truly
(Making “air” quotation marks.) “cannot do.” No pets allowed!
ROSCOE: (Off stage voice.) Awwk!
ADDIE: (Looks around and smiles.) Hey, the coast is clear now. Why
don’t I let you out to stretch your wings, little guy? (She opens the
door of ROSCOE’s cage and then removes the boa and studies it
deviously. She turns to grin at the audience.) I have absolutely,
positively no doubt that we can find a nice ledge to rappel from!
(She waves the boa overhead like a lasso.) Yee-HAH!
ROSCOE: (Rings his cage bell with an off stage SFX; off stage
voice.) Awwwwk, (British accent.) indubitably!
CURTAIN.
THE END
- 10 THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
MINI-LESSON: ADVERBS
Where? Here! When? Now! Immediately - - explore adverbs.
Definition:
One of the parts of speech, an adverb is a word that modifies - - or describes
- - a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Typically, an adverb modifies a
verb more frequently than it does an adjective or another adverb. Adverbs
tell how, where, or when.
Examples: Adverbs Modifying Verbs
o Gram faithfully rides her bike. (Faithfully tells how Gram rides.)
o Addie snoozes anywhere. (Anywhere tells where Addie snoozes.)
o Gramps responded immediately. (Immediately tells when Gramps
responded.)
Examples: Adverbs Modifying Adjectives
o Addie is an amazingly chatty pooch. (Amazingly describes chatty.)
o We were quite tired. (Quite describes tired.)
o It’s too rainy to play softball. (Too describes rainy.)
Examples: Adverbs Modifying Other Adverbs
o Roscoe speaks somewhat loudly. (Somewhat describes loudly.)
o Luis draws rather skillfully. (Rather describes skillfully.)
o The day flew incredibly quickly. (Incredibly describes quickly.)
- 11 THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.
Indubitably! by Donna Latham
Copyright © MMV by Donna Latham
MINI-TEST
Directions: Read each sentence from the play Indubitably! Underline the
adverb once and the word it modifies twice. See the sample.
Sample:
Jewel, are you completely sure you don’t want to go with us?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
I’m really excited about my latest chapter, Gram.
I’m desperately attempting another approach with Roscoe.
Oh, Jewel, I utterly love that idea!
I think it would be staggeringly exhilarating!
Remember what the infinitely wise Eleanor Roosevelt said.
You should have seen how he very courageously rescued people
stranded in the mountains.
Answers:
1. I’m really excited about my latest chapter, Gram.
2. I’m desperately attempting another approach with Roscoe.
3. Oh, Jewel, I utterly love that idea!
4. I think it would be staggeringly exhilarating!
5. Remember what the infinitely wise Eleanor Roosevelt said.
6. You should have seen how he very courageously rescued people
stranded in the mountains.
Activity:
o Adverb Actions: Play this game in a group. Select one person to
portray the Performer. Have the Performer face the group and
suggest an action, such as brushing teeth, eating a sandwich,
dancing, singing, etc. Then have each member of the group take
turns in providing the Performer with an adverb, such as clumsily,
delicately, loudly, etc. Using each adverb, the Performer role-plays
the action - - descriptively! Continue until everyone has had a turn
as the Performer
Read All About It:
Dearly, Nearly, Insincerely: What Is an Adverb?, by Brian P. Clearly,
illustrated by Brian Gable. Learner, 2003. Fun for any age, this extremely
energetic exploration of the adverb presents vivid and humorously
illustrated rhymes - - deftly including the part of speech.
- 12 THIS SCRIPT IS PROVIDED AS A COURTESY FOR INTERNET READING.
NO PERFORMANCE RIGHTS CONVEYED.