Drama scene for from play act, “Sleepless Nights” wherein Carlotta talks to her mother about the possibility of going back into music.

CARLOTTA: I shouldn’t complain…

BRENDA: That’s right.

CARLOTTA: I wasn’t though, I wasn’t complaining about my current circumstances. I know I have a good life with Tom. It’s a wonderful life.

BRENDA: And you’re a good wife, too.

CARLOTTA: I’m okay, let’s not exaggerate.

Carlotta pours more tea in her mother’s mug.

BRENDA: Thank you, dear, that’s enough.

CARLOTTA: I still can’t help but wonder how life would have been, had I not walked away from music, I was close to even being offered a record deal.

BRENDA: (Beat.) Are you happy?

CARLOTTA: Yes.

BRENDA: (Nonchalantly.) Why should it matter?

CARLOTTA: I think about it.

BRENDA: What for?

CARLOTTA: I miss playing music, the way it made me feel.

BRENDA: What I recall is that you were always frustrated, angry, or depressed. We were getting worried about you at one point but ever since you met Tom and found a career, you’ve been different, carefree. More yourself, I’d say.

CARLOTTA: It was creative frustration. That was normal, maybe I was more emotional, but now I feel like I’m walking in another body sometimes, as if I’m watching myself, and sometimes, when I have a moment to myself, I don’t like who I’m seeing, becoming.

BRENDA: Can’t tell you how many sleepless nights you’d given me. Whenever you’d call I had to be your therapist..sometimes I’d dread you phoning, forgive me but it’s true. That’s what I remember most during those years.

CARLOTTA: What about the music?

BRENDA: MUSIC?

CARLOTTA: MY music!

BRENDA: …What about it?

CARLOTTA: Never mind.

BRENDA: What?

CARLOTTA: I asked you a question and you…(Sighs.)

BRENDA: About your music…

CARLOTTA: Yes.

BRENDA: What do you want me to say Carlotta?

CARLOTTA: Did you like any of it?

BRENDA: Of course I did, but –

CARLOTTA: Why didn’t you ever tell me?

BRENDA: Sure I did.

CARLOTTA: No. You never did. Not once. I had some of the most gifted composers telling me they loved my work but you, you never once encouraged my playing!

BRENDA: Who paid for your tutoring?

CARLOTTA: Dad!

BRENDA: Right. Well, it was OUR decision.

CARLOTTA: I had to beg and plead.

BRENDA: It wasn’t my fault the Academy rejected you.

CARLOTTA: That’s cause…you don’t understand the process.

BRENDA: What process is that? You auditioned and they said no. What more of a process is there than that?

CARLOTTA: That’s not it.

BRENDA: Let’s not–

CARLOTTA: Sometimes you have to audition more than once!

BRENDA: Is that so? Glenda’s kid got in.

CARLOTTA: Who the hell is Glenda?

BRENDA: Not Glenda, Geraldine. Geraldine’s daughter, whatever the hell her name is, SHE got in.

CARLOTTA: That girl?

BRENDA: I remember. For the violin! She was accepted on her violin playing skills, as I recall.

CARLOTTA: What do you want me to say?

BRENDA: Nothing, I’m just telling you.

CARLOTTA: WHAT are you telling me exactly?

BRENDA: Why did she get in and you didn’t?

CARLOTTA: Maybe because she had been playing the violin since she was two years old, and maybe because her family has connections.

BRENDA: Connections? What sort of connections are you referring to?

CARLOTTA: Doesn’t matter. My point is that she was an easy fit. I’m an outsider. Get it?

BRENDA: That is why you didn’t receive acceptance?

CARLOTTA: You and Dad never understood music or really looked into the lives of other musicians. And you don’t understand how those schools do things.

BRENDA: What difference does it all make?

CARLOTTA: I was invited to audition again! They told me to come back the following semester to try again.

BRENDA: And did you?

CARLOTTA: NO!

To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:

In the one act eplay, Sleepless Nights,mother and daughter go head to head with their differences of opinion when it comes to having a family of one’s own or following one’s creative passions. 2 Women. Drama.

Purchase ePlay