ACT 1

Scene 1

NARRATOR JANE

When I was little, I didn’t like other kids much. I always just had one friend and that was all I needed. My first friend was named Ben. He lived down the street from me in a house that was nicer than mine but also emptier. When we started school, we’d walk there together.

Young Jane and Ben enter. They are wearing raincoats and boots and holding hands. The jump across stage, splashing in puddles. Young Jane and Ben continue to act out what Jane narrator says.

NARRATOR JANE

The best days were the rainy ones because we’d wear our boots and we’d jump from puddle to puddle. Sometimes we’d play a game where we weren’t allowed to touch the ground. We’d drive everyone crazy, jumping from rocks to sticks. When we crossed the street we’d have to hold our breath.

Young Ben and Jane exit on the opposite side from the one they entered on.

NARRATOR JANE

When you’re a kid, everything complicated is simple and everything simple is complicated. I never thought about growing up, it seemed so far away that it would be a million years before I had to. I never thought things would change.

Young Ben and Young Jane enter again. Ben is holding a bandana. He ties it around Jane like a blindfold. He then spins her around and runs off. Jane raises her arms to chase after Ben.

JANE

Marco!

BEN

Polo

JANE

Marco!

BEN

Polo

Ben runs off stage.

JANE

Marco!

BEN

(From off stage) Polo!

JANE

Marco!

BEN

(As though his voice is coming from far away)

Polo…

JANE

Marco!

No response

JANE
(Louder)

Marco!

No response

JANE
(Upset)

Marco?! Marco?!

Jane pulls off blind fold.

JANE

Ben?

END SCENE

Scene opens on a park. There is a playground and other children are playing on it. Jane is sitting in the grass, weaving a daisy chain. She has daisies in her hair. She looks sad. None of the other kids are including her. There are several bushes next to her.

NARRATOR JANE

They told me Ben moved away. I never even said good bye. He was there one day and gone the next. I missed him, but I knew I’d see him again someday, so I waited.

BEN

From the bushes, so the audience can’t see him.

Polo

Jane looks up but sees no one.

BEN
In a stage whisper

Hey! Jane!

JANE

Uncertainly

Ben?

BEN
In a stage whisper

Yes. Aren’t you going to catch me? I said polo.

Jane gets up and looks at the bush uncertainly.

JANE

Marco?

BEN

Polo

Jane reaches into the bush and Ben emerges.

JANE

Oh! It is you! I knew you’d come back. But Ben, why were you hiding from me?

BEN

You have to catch me, that’s how the game works. It’s not really fair, you weren’t blindfolded.

JANE

Oh Ben!

Jane hugs Ben. Ben pushes her off.

BEN

Get off. You’re such a girl.

Jane pushes him.

JANE

Tag, not it.

Jane takes off in the opposite direction. Ben runs after her. The two continue to play.

END SCENE

Scene 3

Scene opens on the park again only now its evening. Margaret, Jane’s mother enters. Jane is sitting alone weaving daisy chains. She seems to be talking to someone and every now and then she laughs.

MARGARET

Jane! Dinnertime!

JANE

(To her mother) Mommy! (To the air) Bye for now I guess.

Jane joins her mother and the two begin walking home. Jane skips and avoids all cracks in the sidewalk.

MARGARET

Who was it you were talking to in the park?

JANE

Benny! He came and we played tag, then we played dragons, then we played pirates. I won. He walked the plank. I made him daisy chain too. He liked that.

Jane pauses for breathe.

MARGARET

Ben moved away Jane. You know that. Who were you really talking to?

JANE

It’s Ben! He’s back!

Margaret looks unconvinced. The two head home in silence. Jane continues to skip. Back at their house, we see Jane, her parents having dinner. After dinner, all exit. Jane enters again brushing her teeth and wearing pajamas. Jane gets into bed, her mother enters. Margaret kisses Jane and tucks her in. She sits at the foot of the bed.

MARGARET

Jane, I know you miss Ben, but he lives far away now. You can write him a letter if you like.

JANE

Softly

It was him in the park.

MARGARET

What?

JANE

Yawns

Never mind, goodnight

Margaret leaves, turning off the light. Jane closes her eyes. Ben enters.

BEN

Pssst

Jane sits up in bed.

JANE

Ben!

Ben jumps up on the bed and begins hopping up and down.

JANE

What are you doing here?

BEN

Jumping!

JANE

Aren’t your parents worried?

BEN

No…

JANE

Ben, how come my mother couldn’t see you?

BEN

I don’t know. I guess a lot of people don’t see me.

JANE

Can your parents see you?

BEN

I’m not sure… look can I sleep here tonight?

JANE

Alright. I have a sleeping bag somewhere.

Jane gets out an old sleeping bag from her closet. Ben climbs in and Jane goes back to bed. Blackout.

END SCENE

Scene 4

Scene opens on Jane’s kitchen. Her mother and father are sitting at the table. Ted is reading the paper.

MARGARET

Honey, I’m worried about Jane

TED

Whatever for?

MARGARET

Maybe I’m just being silly. When I came to pick her up at the park, she was talking to the air, like a crazy person.

TED

She was probably just playing a game. You know how kids are.

MARGARET

Yes, but when I asked what she was up to, she said she was playing with Ben.

TED

Ben’s her best friend. I’m sure she’ll get over it when she makes some new friends.

MARGARET

I suppose so…

END SCENE

Scene 5

Scene opens. It is the next morning. Jane is sitting on her bed in her pajamas. Ben is sitting beside her. Margaret is getting out clothes from the closet.

JANE

What’s going on?

MARGARET

Annie Prewett and her mother are coming over.

JANE

Annie who?

MARGARET

Prewett. She’s been in you class three years now.

Jane frowns

MARGARET

Don’t look at me like that. It’ll be fun.

Jane continues to sulk. Margaret lays a dress on the bed.

MARGARET

Why is your sleeping bag out?

JANE

Ben slept there

MARGARET
Exasperated

Of course he did! Get dressed; they’ll be here before you know it.

Margaret exits.

END SCENE

Scene 6

Scene opens on the living room. Margaret is fussing with Jane’s hair. Ben is also hovering on stage, near Jane. Doorbell rings. Margaret answers the door. Nancy and Annie Prewett enter.

MARGARET

Hello Mrs. Prewett, hello Annie, I’m sure you know Jane.

Margaret gestures to Jane. Jane makes a face.

MARGARET

I’m sure you two will have lots of fun together.

Margaret and Nancy go into the kitchen, which is also on stage.

ANNIE

Hi

JANE

Hi.

Ben whispers something in Jane’s ear.

JANE

A bird died in my yard. It’s under the swings. Want to see?

ANNIE

Alright

Annie, Jane and Ben exit. Margaret and Nancy watch them go.

NANCY

I’m surprised we’ve never had Janie over. Annie is always having lots of little friends over to play.

MARGARET

Jane’s a little shy. To tell you the truth, I’ve been worried about her.

NANCY

Really, how so?

MARGARET

Well, Jane has this friend named Ben, only no one else can see him. She was talking to him in the park yesterday. He slept in her sleeping bag last night.

NANCY

Is that all? Lots of kids have imaginary friends. Annie had one called Mr. Nobody. He was a camel. I’m sure it’s just a phase.

MARGARET

Is that so? Well, that’s fine then.

Annie screams off stage. Annie runs on. She is covered in mud and twigs.

ANNIE

Mommy!

Annie cries in her mothers arms.

NANCY

What happened?

MARGARET

Jane?

Jane enters. She has a smudge on her face but looks otherwise completely composed. Ben is beside her, holding a muddy stick.

MARGARET

Jane, what happened?

JANE

It was Ben’s idea.

ANNIE

Sobbing

They ganged up on me!

JANE

We were just playing.

Ben laughs.

NANCY

This is quite enough of this. I’m taking my daughter home.

Annie and Nancy exit. Ben sticks his tongue out at them. Jane laughs.

MARGARET

I’ve had about enough of this Ben person!

Ben stands behind Margaret, make faces and mouthing along with her. Jane laughs.

MARGARET

This isn’t funny!

Ben continues making faces, even sillier ones. Jane laughs harder.

MARGARET

Stop it! You hear me! Go to your room, I don’t want to hear any more about this.

Jane and Ben exit.

END SCENE

Scene 7

Scene opens on a classroom. Children are working on art projects at desks. Miss Clark, the teacher, is sitting at her desk. Jane is wearing red yarn hair ribbons and Ben and Jane have drawn war paint on their faces using finger paint. Jane is working hard on a picture and Ben is sitting on the desk beside her.

BEN

It needs more blood!

JANE

Concentrating

You’re right.

Jane adds more red paint.

BEN

Now more teeth. GRRR.

Ben does dinosaur motions with his hands.

MISS CLARK

Can I have everyone’s attention please? It’s time for show-and-tell. Can everyone come sit on the rug?

Students come forward eagerly.

MISS CLARK

Sarah, you’re first today. What have you brought to show us?

A blonde girl with curly pigtails comes to the front of the class.

SARAH

Ok, so this is my dolly and her name is Petunia and I play with her sometimes and I love her…

Ben pulls the girl in front of himself hair.

GIRL

Own! (Turnsaround) Miss Clark! Jane pulled my hair!

JANE

Laughing

It wasn’t me!

MISS CLARK
Jane, this is your warning. Quiet down, does anyone have any questions for Sarah?

BEN

I hope pirates get her.

MISS CLARK

Alright Jane, it’s your turn.

Jane comes to the front and Sarah takes her seat.

JANE

I drew this picture. It’s a t-rex killing a stellasaurus and eating it. A t-rex is like a really big dinosaur except they have a lot of legs. About a million I think. Ben told me.

MISS CLARK

Jane, what happened to your face?

JANE

That’s my battle paint for fighting Indian’s and T-rexes.

MISS CLARK

Alright… anyone have any questions?

One boy raises his hand.

MISS CLARK

Go ahead Tommy.

TOMMY

Why are you so stupid?

MISS CLARK

Tommy! This is your warning!

JANE

It’s alright. I bed a t-rex eats him anyway.

Jane returns to her seat. Jack gets up to present. Tommy makes a face at Ben and Ben makes a face back.

JACK

This is my baseball. I got it at a game.

Jack’s voice fades into the background. Ben begins singing to himself. He is absent mindedly coloring with crayons and eating the ends of them. Several students, including Tommy, shush him. Ben begins throwing crayons at Tommy.

TOMMY

Hey! Miss Clark, Jane’s throwing crayons.

MISS CLARK

Jane, can you come with me please?

Miss Clark leads Jane away from the rest of the class. Ben follows.

MISS CLARK

Sit in timeout until recess.

Jane sits in the chair. Ben sits at her feet and begins tying her shoe laces together. Jane kicks him.

BEN

School is balls. Let leave.

JANE

And go where?

BEN

I don’t know. Anywhere.

JANE

We’ll get in trouble.

BEN

We’ll have to be stealthy.

JANE

I’m not very stealthy…

BEN

I am. Let’s go.

Jane glances at the rest of the class.

JANE

Ok.

The two creep off stage. They have to creep by the class who aren’t paying attention. Once they have, they break into a run. They run outside holding hands and run far away.

JANE

Out of breath

Where are we?

BEN

I’m not sure

JANE

We’ve discovered a new land.

BEN

It seems so.

JANE

Look a swing!

BEN

We discovered a swing too!

Jane and Ben swing together on the swing.

JANE

How long have we been here?

BEN

Maybe a week or two.

JANE

I wonder if anyone is looking for us.

BEN

They’ll never find us, we’re cleverly hidden.

The two continue to swing.

JANE

Looking off stage

Oh no! It’s my mother

BEN

Hide!

JANE

She looks angry

BEN

Run!

Margaret enters.

MARGARET

Jane!

Margaret is angry and upset.

JANE

How did you find me?

MARGARET

The school called. They said you ran away. Is that true?

JANE

I guess. Ben said-

MARGARET

I don’t ever want to hear that name again! Get in the car!

Jane and Ben get in.

MARGARET

Tell Ben to go away and never come back.

JANE

No!

MARGARET

Say it!

JANE

Sobbing

NO!

MARGARET

You can’t run away from school. Tell Ben.

JANE

Go away. (Sobs) and never… never come back.

BEN

What?

JANE

GO!

Ben gets out of the car and goes to sit on the swing alone. Jane continues to cry. When she gets home, she lies on her bed with her face in her pillow. After a minute, Ben enters through the window. He climbs in and lies beside her. He puts his hand on her shoulder.

JANE NARRATOR

I never told anymore about Ben again. He was always there though. Sometimes I think other kids saw him, maybe that’s why they kept there distance. It didn’t matter, I didn’t need anyone else, I had Ben.

END SCENE