October 26, 2026 · daily scene
The Wrong Costume
Given circumstances
- Character
- Parent
- Setting
- Your son's bedroom, costume laid out on the bed, streetlights orange through the window.
- The moment before
- You laid out the dinosaur costume an hour ago. He just walked in wearing something you've never seen before.
- Scene partner
- Your eight-year-old son, standing in the doorway holding a different costume
Direction
You're trying to stay calm for his sake, but something is very wrong and you can feel it. Don't let him see you're frightened until the last line.
Script
Buddy, where did you get that?
SONThe man at the door gave it to me.
What man? When? I've been home all afternoon, nobody rang the bell.
SONHe said you told him to come. He knew my name.
Take it off. Right now. We're not going trick-or-treating tonight.
SONBut he's waiting outside. He said he's coming with us.
Go to my room. Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone except me. Do you understand? Not for anyone.
Written for Act It Up. Free to rehearse and perform for practice, classes and self-tapes.
Record this scene with a teleprompter and a scene partner who reads the other lines.
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