Story Assignment

Auld Lang Syne

Act I

            It is a cold night outside the somewhat populated superstore. The windows are covered with Christmas decorations, the walls strewn about with lights. In front of the store stands one dark figure in a worn grey hoodie and an empty can. She is Alma, a teenage homeless girl. She takes a deep breath, hoping to get some money for a warm meal or a place to stay the night. So far, even during the time of selflessness and giving, she has wound up with nothing. Suddenly, a large woman and her obnoxious child exit the superstore with bags full of gifts in hand. Alma holds the can out with a warm, yet desperate, smile on her face. However, the woman ignores Alma and walks over to a bell-ringer from the Salvation Army who is standing down the sidewalk. The woman hands over a handful of cash and places it in the already incredibly full bucket of money. Alma feels hurt and is even more insulted when the woman’s child sticks his tongue out at Alma. The woman and the kid walk by again, the kid knocking the can from Alma’s hand. Alma picks up the can, almost throwing it, but sighs and lowers the can instead. As she sighs, a cloud of smoke escapes her mouth. She shivers, pulls the hood over her head, and figures she should leave the front of the store. She won’t be getting any cash with that bell-ringer there.

Act II

            We see a quiet neighborhood. The houses are done up with flashing colorful lights, the trees outside decorated with wonderfully expensive looking garlands, and front yards are covered with fake inflatable snowmen and Santas. Alma walks down the sidewalk, kicking her still empty can. It is getting late and still no one has given her money. She stops, seeing a business man walking down the street with a cigarette in his mouth. She goes and picks up the can, holding it out to him as he passes by. The man walks by Alma and tosses the cigarette in her can. He runs up his drive and enters his house, slamming the door behind him. Alma is speechless, in shock. She shakes in anger, squeezing the can, and throws it to the ground. In a fury she pulls down the Christmas lights from his house. They pop off and explode, some burning out. She grabs some that are attached to a tree outside his yard, but they are battery operated and not plugged in. She pulls them from the tree, the tree breaking in half. She falls to the ground, making her embarrassed and angrier. She sobs as she pulls the top half of the tree and the lights attached to it down the street. She picks up her can and walks down the sidewalk, quietly sobbing.

Act III

            Alma reaches a condemned building, the windows boarded up and tape around the door. Still pulling the tree and lights, she grabs the base of the tree and smashes the door down. Her heart is full of such sadness and anger, that she terrifies a small child sitting in the building. Immediately she feels hurt as the kid looks up at her with his wide scared eyes. She takes a breath, removing her hoodie, and pulls in the tree and lights. She props up the tree against a wall, twirling the lights around its branches, and sits down in front of it. She takes off her hat, opening her arms to the small boy. He cautiously walks over to her, finally sitting in her arms. She brushes her hair off behind her ear, her face now free and open. They smile, happy even if it is only in this moment. The lights on the tree blink as they hold each other as the snow softly begins to fall outside.

Act I
Scene I: Alma is introduced. She is homeless and has no money. She is standing outside a superstore.
Scene II: Woman gives money to bell-ringer. Woman's child is rude to Alma.
Scene III: Alma leaves the front of the store.

Act II
Scene I: Alma is walking down sidewalk of neighborhood.
Scene II: Alma begs for money from businessman. Businessman tosses cigarette into her money can and runs inside his home. 

Scene III: Alma explodes in anger and frustration, pulling down the man's Christmas lights and stealing his tree.
Scene IV: Alma drags lights and tree down sidewalk.

Act III:
Scene I: Alma breaks into condemned building. She scares child inside.
Scene II: Alma puts up tree and lights, offers small boy a hug.
Scene III: Alma and boy hold each other. Alma smiles.