The Toast

A two-person dramedy scene, written for Sides. About 1 min.

The night before the wedding, rehearsing the father’s toast.

You read

A kitchen, the night before the wedding. Ray holds index cards. Lena sits on the counter.
Ray
“Lena was always a determined child.”
Lena
Dad. Determined is what you say about a dog that won’t stop digging.
Ray
You were a dog that wouldn’t stop digging.
Lena
Thank you.
Ray
“When she was seven, she ran away to the end of the driveway.”
Lena
Do not tell that story.
Ray
Everybody loves that story.
Lena
Everybody you’ve told it to. Which is everybody.
Ray
“Her mother would have...” “Her mother would have...”
Lena
You can skip that one.
Ray
No. I wrote it. I’m saying it. It’s the cards. The writing’s too small.
Lena
It’s your writing.
Ray
I know whose writing it is.
Lena gently takes the cards from him.
Lena
Say it to me. Not the card. Just say it.
Ray
She’d have liked him. That’s all it says. She’d have liked him, and she’d have been too loud at this wedding, and you’d have been mortified.
Lena
I would have been so mortified.
Ray
So I’m going to be loud. For both of us. Fair warning.
Lena
Lead with the driveway. Then do that.

Written for Sides.

More scenes to rehearse