Note: If you’d like to produce this play, on stage or in a class — please email me and ask permission. It will be granted, but I’d really like to know about it.
Pizza was performed in the 2nd Annual Pregnant Chad Play Festival in Cornwall, NY, March 15, 16, 2001. It is a ten-minute play unto itself — but it’s also a scene from Silent Visit, a full-length play.
PIZZA
© 2001 by Samuel M. Post
Characters
Matt, 12
Dinah, his mother
Time…1990’s
Setting…home
The 90’s. The middle class home of DINAH, a social worker, and her twelve year old son, MATT. The two of them share a pizza.
MATT pulls the pieces of pepperoni off and eats them first. Then he pulls cheese off the top and eats that, leaving the dough and crust on his plate.
DINAH: What are you doing?
MATT: Eating pizza.
DINAH: Just the cheese?
MATT: And pepperoni. That’s how I always eat it.
DINAH: Not even a bite of dough?
MATT: I don’t like it.
DINAH: angry Well, if you don’t start eating the dough and the crust, I’ll stop buying the pizza. You throw away as much food as you eat.
MATT: I don’t care.
DINAH: There are children in North Korea who are starving.
MATT: I still don’t care.
DINAH: There are people — right here — within two blocks of here — classmates of yours — who would love a pizza.
MATT: So what?
DINAH: There are people who can’t afford pizza.
MATT: Who cares?
DINAH: There are families who wouldn’t dream of wasting a piece of pizza.
MATT: Big deal.
DINAH: Families…
pause
…with brothers and sisters — and the kids would fight over the last piece.
MATT: Well, I don’t have any brothers or sisters. I always get the last piece.
DINAH: There are Russians who would give anything…
MATT: I don’t care about them either!
DINAH: Matt…I want you to think a little deeper.
MATT: Huh?
DINAH: You should appreciate the abundance of whole pizza. It’s your obligation. Don’t squander it. Appreciate our prosperity. Not everybody is lucky enough to be an only child.
MATT: You’re mostly talking to yourself. Whatever it is you’re trying to tell me…just get it over with and say it.
DINAH: You have too much.
MATT: We don’t have much.
DINAH: We have plenty.
MATT: I don’t think so. I don’t think we have much at all. Daddy always went to the grocery store and got extra cheese. Then he had the oven already hot when he brought it in and he sprinkled the extra cheese all over the top and put in the pizza so it came out better. Sometimes he got extra mushrooms. It was better! Much better!
DINAH: He put extra cheese on it one time. One, single time.
MATT: He did it lots of times. Two hundred, at least.
DINAH: No, he didn’t. But you’ve thought about it so much — you’ve replayed having pizza with your Daddy so many times in your memory that you’ve multiplied the experience and now it seems like two hundred times.
MATT: I like extra cheese.
DINAH: I could have just brought home a hunk of cheese and a pack of pepperoni, you know. Why pay for something you’re not going to eat?
MATT: You tried that. It didn’t taste the same. Just get extra cheese. That’s simple enough. Extra cheese. Then microwave it in a coffee mug until it completely melts and pour it all over the top of the pizza. Daddy did that, too — and it works.
DINAH: I’m not Daddy.
MATT: I know.
Beat. DINAH becomes uneasy as she anticipates MATT’S inevitable question.
MATT: Why did God kill Daddy?
DINAH: snippy God did not kill Daddy. He was in an accident.
MATT: God made the accident.
DINAH: No. That’s not it.
MATT: Why didn’t God stop the accident?
DINAH: Quit saying that!
MATT: Then answer me!
DINAH: I told you. That accident was a random physical event in time and space.
MATT: A what?
DINAH: A neutral, normal occurrence in objective history.
MATT: Huh?
DINAH: It happened. It’s over. Nothing can be done about it. But you and I are still alive. That’s what concerns me. You. Me. People. There’s no such thing as God.
MATT: You don’t think so?
DINAH: No. And neither do you.
MATT: Because we’re atheists, right?
DINAH: Yes we are.
MATT: Our guidance counselor told me that if I don’t believe in God, then Daddy will be in hell.
DINAH: Talking with a guidance counselor is good. I, myself, counsel people all the time. I believe in counselling. But she shouldn’t discuss religion with you. It’s unethical.
MATT: She is not.
DINAH: You don’t know what it means to be unethical.
MATT: I just don’t think the guidance counselor is one.
DINAH: It’s not right. It’s wrong, according to…
MATT: God?
DINAH: Ethics! She’s not supposed to comfort you that way, with unrealistic notions of God. Not in that setting.
MATT: Sitting?
DINAH: Setting!
MATT: She lets me stand up.
DINAH: Never mind. That guidance counselor of yours surely shouldn’t tell you that your beliefs could land your daddy in hell. That’s too much responsibility for a child. She is a government employee.
MATT: She is not. She’s a guidance counselor.
DINAH: What’s her name, anyway?
MATT: Mrs. Rankum.
DINAH: Mrs. Rankum ought to be disciplined for that.
MATT: I’m the one who brought it up. I want Daddy to be in heaven.
DINAH: There’s no such thing as heaven. It’s like the Land of Oz. Mother Goose.
MATT: We believe that?
DINAH: We don’t believe in heaven, but we do believe in responsibility. Thus, if there were a heaven, your Daddy would have had to get himself there; your belief wouldn’t help him.
MATT: Then where is Daddy?
DINAH: He’s dead.
MATT: But he’s got to be somewhere.
DINAH: Not really. Well, technically, the ashes from his body are in the urn.
She pulls the urn down from a shelf and holds it.
MATT: Where’s his soul? My guidance counselor said his soul is still alive. Where’s it?
DINAH: We don’t believe in the existence of the soul.
MATT: I don’t even know what a soul is.
DINAH: A part of every person that keeps on living. But we don’t believe in it.
MATT: I believe in it.
DINAH: No you don’t.
MATT: The hell I don’t.
DINAH: Don’t talk that way.
MATT: You do it.
DINAH: No I don’t.
MATT: There is a soul.
DINAH: Ah! Show me one. Show me one soul.
MATT: I can’t. I don’t know anything about God. You never took me to Sunday school. You won’t even let me watch the preachers on TV.
DINAH: They’re lunatics!
MATT: I don’t know the stuff the other kids know.
DINAH: And that’s the way it should be.
MATT: God says there is a soul, Mamma! And Daddy had one, and it’s in heaven now.
DINAH: When did God tell you that?
MATT: God didn’t tell me.
DINAH: Who’d he tell?
MATT: Other people.
DINAH: Has he ever said anything to you?
MATT: No.
DINAH: Then how do you know those other people didn’t make it up?
MATT: Why would somebody make up God?
DINAH: So they can then make up a place for him to live — heaven. So they have something to say to little boys when their daddies are killed in automobile accidents. So those little boys can think their daddies have souls that live on. So people can try to make those little boys feel better.
Matt stands up on the kitchen table.
DINAH: What’re you doing?
MATT: I’m going to step on the pizza.
DINAH: No you’re not.
MATT: Yes I am.
DINAH: That pizza costs money. That represents my labor.
MATT: I’m stepping in it.
DINAH: Get down. Right now.
Matt lifts his foot.
A person’s labor represents a person’s…essence! If you step on that pizza, you’re stepping on me. Don’t you dare!
He looks at her, his foot hovering above the pie.
I mean it. Right now.
beat
Don’t let that foot get any closer.
He lowers his foot.
Young man, you’re going to pay dearly for this.
Beat.
This is your last chance. Either get down off that table or I’ll get you down.
He steps in it. She pulls him off and pops him. He cries.
curtain
good play , but may i ask if kids can understand r get your point , whatever it is . (this play for kids i supposed)
Thanks for reading the play. I appreciate the comment. One of the characters is a child — but the play is actually for adults, not kids.
But the style of dialoge makes it so close to that plays for kids , any how it is very good for adults and i want to translate it to arabic with some changes to be suitable for kids and i may change the name to ( milk ) . of course after your permission .
Why change the title to Milk? That’s okay if it makes sense in translation — but I’m curious why?
Really, since you are translating, and it will be in another continent, you could change anything you want (for kids or otherwise) without permission. Thanks for asking.
I’d love to hear how things progress.
As for making the ending more dramatic…She tells him to get down. He steps on the pizza and she pops him. You need more drama?
hahaha ,yh it is so dramatic but i can not explain to kids or even adults what is meaning of (Matt stands up on the kitchen table.)in our culture no one can imagine such a behavior , here kids can’t stair at someone older .( honestly i myself can’t understand why did matt do something like this )
about the title , it is hard to explain to you , it is concerned with the whole culture , and easy to me in performing.
Here — sometimes children aren’t so respectful(although they don’t normally stand on kitchen tables).
He’s being sort of a brat, rebelling. He’s lost his father and his mother isn’t comforting him with religion in the conventional way. So it’s an act of frustration.
Maybe he could threaten to throw the pizza. Would that work in your country?
Also — why do you need to change the title?
i am a primary school drama teacher in Hong Kong. after reading this script, i like it a lot. could i use the script for my students English Drama class, or even performance in March 2010 at our school?
Carmen,
You’re more than welcome to do so. I’d be honored. If you get a chance, could you please let me know how it goes? Or maybe send a picture or two?
Thanks,
Sam
hi i need to look for 10 min plays can i use this one
Sure — no problem.
Hi!
Great script! I’m looking for possible ten min. plays for a high school student directed performance and I was wondering if I could possibly use this?
No problem, Kristina. You’re welcome to use the script. If you do, I’d love to hear from you after — about how things went. Break a leg.
i liked this play it great if u dont mind me askin if i can use this
this is great i love the story so if you dont mind me asking can use this for a school that i made at my house to help my sisters
I don’t mind at all. Feel free to use it. (You made a school at your house to help your sisters?)
this story is greate bc it cool the play is fun and interesting
I am a student from hong kong .i really like your drama.and i want to perform in my school! would you mind that?
Sure. I’m glad it works for you. If you get a chance, please send me a picture.
Sam
I am the teacher in Indonesia, I want to get permission to use drama for my drama class. I really enjoy this drama. thanks
You’re welcome to use it in your class.
this is so sad but true i think that this happens alot in amarica i kinda feel like slaping the mom
this play is seriously jacked, that mom needs to shut her butt hole, hes only a kid grr!!
*good play though
me and my fried want to make a play, can we use it?
Sure, no problem.
helloo, i read your script and its really good, was wondering if i can use this for school production?? 🙂 if thats ok with you, its realli good i love the character of the mum, very dramatic XD xx
Alice — you’re welcome to use the play. Thanks for asking.
i dont like this, makes no sense and its boring
I am the teacher in Thailand, I want to get permission to use drama for my drama class. Your script are very useful for me my my students. We can learn diversity of culture. Thanks
You’re welcome to use this script with your class. I’m delighted to hear that it helps them learn. Many thanks.
Dear Sam, I’m reading all your plays to see if my students from primary school, learning english as a second language ,would be able to perform.But I cannot find THE PLAY. Could you please help me giving suggestions or any idea? I’m working in an Argentinian school. My email is teachermarina@live.com.ar
thanks a lot.
Hello Marina,
Thanks for reading my plays. I’m sorry, but these are basically adult plays — also suitable for students in high school and college — but probably not appropriate for primary grade children. Good luck finding THE PLAY!
Sam
Hello,
I liked your play even though it is very sad. I think that lots of primary school children would like it because it is sort of like Spiderwick and lots of primary school children like that.
Lachlan aged 8
Hi, I am in middle school and I like this play and was wondering if i could use it for a Forensics piece. But i was also wondering if i could just change Matt into a girl because I have myself and my friend in it and were both girls.
Kenzie,
Thanks for using my play. Yes, you are welcome to use it, and change Matt to a girl. What school? Where?
Sam
SCC Middle School. In Hammond, WI.
This play is weird awesome.
I would love to use this with my grade 8 class. Do you think they will get the point? I do.
Paul — as one who taught eighth grade myself, for 15 years, I would say they would get the point equally as well as people of any other age. That is, some will, and some won’t. Of course that assumes there is a point to get.
Sam
I am a head of drama looking for stimulating different scripts would like to use this with year 11 btec students.
Liz,
You’re welcome to use it. What school? Where?
Sam
Thanks for the play, i used it with a primary school english withdrawal group for year 6’s. It was very interesting and the discussions afterwards were quite astonishing, as you could imagine.
I am based in Essex/East London and if i could be of assistance or there was other ‘bits’ please dont hesitate to get in touch. Thanks.
Christopher_brigitte@hotmail.com
Chris,
Many thanks for taking the time and energy to share this with me. I’m glad you had a good discussion. I don’t know about the play, but it sounds like your students have a great teacher.
Sam
Hi Chris,
I’m glad it worked out. Many thanks for your note. I have a soft spot in my heart for the wonderful city of London. Spent almost a year of my life there way back in the 70’s.
Sam
Good day Sir,
I’ve been looking for a short drama script in the net and i found this one,it’s interesting and touching..If you don’t mind Sir, may i coy this for our school project which is short drama play….i hope you will allow me sir….
Thank you,
Clint
Clint,
You are very welcome to use this play in your school project. I hope it goes great.
Sam
Thank you so much Sir for allowing me to used it for my school project..Thank you so very much!!!!
God Bless You
Hi Sam, it’s a really nice script you got there. I’m a student from Hongkong and I’m having lessons on dramatic duologue. May I use this in my oral class? Bunches of thanks if my request is granted.
Yes, Kelly. You’re welcome to use it. Break a leg.
Sam
Hello Sam, I am attending college in South Texas and I am interested in using your script for a festival in December of 2016. I would love to be able to!
Hello Dakota,
It would be an honor for you to use it. To satisfy my curiosity, could you send me the name of the festival? And, if you take pictures I’d love to see them.
Break a leg,
Sam
Hello! I’m a student in middle school. I’m not too sure if you still respond to messages still. Could I please have permission to make a few copies for me and my friends? We lost our scripts for this play. It would be a big help! Thank you in advance!
This is a delayed response, and I apologize. Sure, you’re welcome to make copies 🙂
Good day Sir , I’m a middle school student and I would like to take permission to perform the PIZZA script in my school to my fellow friends . Please , can I?
Hello Tishe. Sorry about the slow response here. If you still need to use it, please do. I’m pleased and honored. Break a leg.
Sam
Hello Sam . I want to ask if I could use your script. My friend Tishe asked for some and we want to copy a few more.Thanks in advanced.
Folu
I know this has taken me awhile to respond and I apologize for just now see this.
If you still want to use the play, you’re more than welcome. I’m honored.
I’d love to know where…
Break a leg,
Sam