Daisy Dimapilis Scenes From a Breakout Room

Scenes from a Breakout Room

Jessica Wang

Bare stage, no props. Three students stand in a row, heads poking through square cardboard cut-outs. DAN has pajama pants sticking out the bottom; EMMA is wearing jeans; and RUPERT is just in underwear. MAESTRA enters.

MAESTRA: Scarlett? Are you there? Silence. Three students look awkward.

MAESTRA: Scarlett? ¿Estás con nosotros? EMMA: She hasn’t really been participating. DAN: Yeah, she just keeps her camera of and doesn’t say anything. A beat. SCARLETT wanders on stage, a black square of cardboard labeled “SCARLETT B.” covering her face. She drags a bed with her and proceeds to recline on it. SCARLETT: Yeah? Maestra? I’m here.

MAESTRA: Is it possible for you to turn your camera on? SCARLETT: Oh, no puedo, I’m having WiFi issues. You know, my connection? It’s not very good. SCARLETT begins to apply nail polish to her pinky fnger.

MAESTRA: Okay, but I need you guys to be participating. That’s why we have the breakout rooms. Okay, Scarlett? RUPERT (aside): Is there a way I can break out of this room?

MAESTRA (loudly): Rupert, I can’t hear you. YOU’RE MUTED!

The four students wince. RUPERT: Oh, I was just saying maybe she can participate by staying unmuted. Unless her connection is that bad. MAESTRA: Excelente idea. Scarlett, can you do that? SCARLETT: HUH? WHAT DID YOU SAY? I CAN’T HEAR YOU VERY WELL.

MAESTRA: CAN YOU STAY UNMUTED?

Four students wince.

SCARLETT: Oh yeah, sure I can do that. MAESTRA: Guay. I need you to be participating, okay? This is for the discussion so you can learn and have interaction. RUPERT (aside): Oh, is that what they’re saying now? SCARLETT (unconvincingly): Oh yeah, por supuesto, Maestra. MAESTRA: Vale.

MAESTRA exits.

EMMA: Alright, let’s get back to the project. SCARLETT farts loudly. Silence. SCARLETT: Know what? Maybe I’ll just mute myself.