QUIZ SCRIPT

Start of scene

Getting comfortable.

Brain: Falling asleep is –

Oh, socks feel funny. Better take em off. Okay back in bed.

Brain: Checklist. Lunch packed. Bag packed. Alarm set, Alarm is set. Okay – we are good to go.

Close eyes. Get comfortable. Muscle activity slowing down. Brain waves slowing down.

Subconscious enters

Hey Sub!

Subconscious: Sup?

Got any ideas for some dreams?

Subconscious: A few.

Wait what is this?

Brain: What? What’s wrong?

What the heck is Subconscious doing?

Brain: Going over the periodic table.

That can’t be good.

Brain: No, it is fine. It is good in fact.

What? How?

BRAIN: Quiz tomorrow on the first twenty-five elements of the periodic table. Just have to list them off in order. Easy peasy!

Oh. (unsure) Okay. It is kind of annoying though.

SUBCONSCIOUS: (big breath in and out) Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon, Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon, Phosphorus, Chlorine, Argon, Potassium, Calcium.

It’s kind of catchy!

(After I just said it's kind of catchy)

With Subconscious:

Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon, Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon, Phosphorus, Chlorine, Argon, Potassium, Calcium

Brain: See – we got this!

Wait – listen!

(While Subconscious is talking)

Brain: What?

Listen!

Brain: What? (Again)

Aren’t there some missing?

Brain: What are you talking about?

You said the quiz is on the first twenty-five elements of the periodic table.

Brain: Yeah.

Some are missing!

Brain: What!

Count!

(After I just said count)

With Subconscious

Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon, Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon, Phosphorus, Chlorine, Argon, Potassium, Calcium.

Brain: Nineteen!

See!

IRRATIONAL THINKING: (to BODY) Get out of bed and get a calculator. (gesturing to ELLIS) Why are you just sitting there! This is a catastrophe!

Okay. Where is the calculator?

IRRATIONAL THINKING: How are we even going to pass this quiz if you can't find a calculator. Geez!

(Panicked) I don't see it. Ah no! Releasing adrenaline and cortisol!

IRRATIONAL THINKING: That isn't right. We are going to fail! There goes the Chemistry average!

Pupils dilating!

IRRATIONAL THINKING: If we can't remember twenty-five elements of the periodic table - how will we ever pass the exam!

I can’t see anything!

Subconscious: Carbonation! Fizzy drinks!

My mouth is dry!

IRRATIONAL THINKING: Might as well be! We'll never get into University with a seventy-six!

Oh no!

Brain: What?

Heartbeat accelerating! Starting to sweat here!

BRAIN: Who was talking about English?

I think I am going to cry!

BRAIN: Body - come on! Don't do this.

But he's right! (indicating IRRATIONAL THINKING) We are going to fail. We're going to have to go to summer school. Life is over.

BRAIN: Body - you don't want this, right?

French Fries do sound kind of good right now.

Brain: No! You can fix this.

No I can't!

Subconscious: Shakespeare. (Little break)

Muscles relaxing. Heart rate decreasing.

Subconscious: Ice cream.

Breathe in, one, two, three, four.

IRRATIONAL THINKING: Well, maybe. Or you'll just -

And out, one, two, three, four. Breathe in one, two, three, four.

IRRATIONAL THINKING: (starts backing out through the door) When the quiz is marked, I'll be back. (makes dramatic exit)

Breathe out.

BRAIN: Okay - ready to try this again?

Okay.

BRAIN, SUBCONSCIOUS, ELLIS: Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron. Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon.

BRAIN, SUBCONSCIOUS, BODY, and ELLIS: (doing a movement or dance to the rhythm of the list of elements) Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron. Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon.

Brain: I knew we knew this!

BRAIN, SUBCONSCIOUS, BODY, and ELLIS: (doing a movement or dance to the rhythm of the list of elements) Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine, Argon, Potassium, Calcium!

BRAIN and ELLIS: Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron. Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Fluorine, Neon.

BRAIN, BODY and ELLIS: Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Silicon, Phosphorus, Sulfur, Chlorine, Aragon, Potassium, Calcium, Scandium, Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese.

(After me, brain and Ellis said those elements)

BRAIN, BODY, SUBCONSCIOUS, and ELLIS: And Iron!

BRAIN: Okay - got this, now we can go to sleep.

Feeling more relaxed.

BRAIN: Checklist. Lunch packed. Bag packed. Alarm set.

BODY: Muscle activity slowing down. (BRAIN and BODY yawn) Brain waves slowing down.

BRAIN: (speaking as if falling asleep) We got this.

BODY: Calmer brain wave pattern. No eye movement. Breathing slows (yawns) and body temperature drops.

(Right after I said temperature drops) (Appear sleeping but not lying down)

REM sleep.