PATCHWORK

____________________
A Play in Three Acts
By
SOPHIE D. FOUTS

111 Wilshire Circle

Waxahachie, TX 75165
(214)608-3013
sophiefouts@gmail.com
Cast of Characters
Unpublished work 2015 Sophie D. Fouts

Adeline:

A 10 year old girl.

Patchless Man:

A mysterious middle aged man.

Pip:

Adelines best friend.

Gregor:

Member of Adelines posse.

Zachary:

Adelines arch nemesis.

Lady Singer:

Adelines middle aged mom.

Lord Singer:

Adelines middle aged father.

Haggerty:

Maid of the Singers house.

Scene
Various locations in the fictional, whimsical town of
Chiffon.

Time
Late noon.

ACT I
SCENE 1
FADE IN:
SETTING:
We open up in a field outside of a
small town. The ground looks like
the crisscross pattern of sewn
fabric. A tree sits upon a lonely
hill swaying slightly with a gentle
breeze. The sun is warm on the
skin.
AT RISE:
A girl sits under the tree
accepting its shade. She gazes at
the town with a smile on her lips.
She takes notice of us.

ADELINE
(aside)
Hallo, my name is Adeline! What are you doing
out here on this fine day? You must be a traveler I
bet! Are you traveling to Chiffon? No? Well, you
should. Its a lovely town, but a lots changed
recently actually.
I used to be a regular kid just like you. I had a
loving mother and father who adored me. I would go to the
candy store whenever I wanted. I would play with my friends.
We would go to the park and race by the railroad tracks. It
was really quite a life honestly. The town loved me;
everyone loved each other. It was magnificent, but the most
thing everyone loved in our town was our patches.

Patches, patches, patches everywhere! Everyone would go

to the store out to by the next new patch. We would sew them
on our clothes, and there were so many different kinds.
There were these ones with yellow and green stripes and then

there was these blue and orange ones with spots. It was
splendid! Every patch was so exquisitely made.
And the more patches you had, the more popular you became,
and I was lucky to have four patches on my clothes. Four
patches! And I was so proud of them, but you see I didnt
know that my patches came at a cost. Now I no longer wear my
patches. Would you like for me to tell the tale? Well, it
began by the rail road tracks just before noon . . .
SCENE 2
SETTING:
The scene opens up by a railroad
platform. People mill about in
colonial attire that is patches
together with brilliant colors. The
clock reads 11:50 am, ten minutes
before the noon train.
AT RISE:
We some kids playing with a ball by
the tracks Adeline is one of them.

PIP
(shouting)
Come on Adeline! Showem wot youve got!

We see Adeline race forward in a brilliantly patched,

whimsical dress. She kicks the ball and it lands in the
net.
PIP
Ya, did it!
GREGOR
(ecstatic)
Good show, Adeline!

ADELINE
(smiles)
Did ya ever have any doubt!

The goalie comes over looking angry. Throwing the ball to

the ground
ZACHARY
(angry)
No, fair! Ya cheated ya bloody chick!
ADELINE
(aside)
Zachary Ruther, if you could think of the sweetest most
pleasant thing upon the face of this earth Zachary Ruther
was its exact opposite.
PIP
(rolls eyes)
Aw, grow up Zach! Adeline won fair and square we all saw it.
GREGOR
Yeah, youre just ticked that you got beat by a girl
with more patches than you!
ZACHARY
(fuming)
The. Name. Is. Zachary!
ADELINE
Why are you always such a pain in the rear? So, my father
got elected chairman, big whoop!
ZACHARY
(sneer)
If he hadnt gotten elected, you wouldn't even have that
fourth patch on your clothes. You dont deserve even one of

them.
ADELINE
(narrows eyes)
Alright, why dont we settle this the old fashioned way
then? You beat me in a race when the noon train comes, and
you get to tell the whole town that youre better than
Adeline Singer and you get my candy stash.

Pip and Gregor cover their mouths in astonishment. Zachary

smiles evilly at Adelines offer. He was one of the fastest
runners in Chiffon.

ZACHARY
You got yourself a deal you little stitch.

Adeline and Zachary spit on their hands and shake to seal

the deal. They hear the train whistle in the distance, and
the runners take their mark a 100 meters from the station
platform.
PIP
(shouts)
As soon as the train passes you, you can begin runnin!
GREGOR
(shouts)
Come on, Adeline!

Adeline and Zachary stand poised to begin their race. The

train comes roaring from behind them.
PIP
(shouts)
Go!

Zachary and Adeline take off running. Zachary easily out

distances Adeline. He was in the clear, but for some reason
he skids to a stop. Adeline overtakes the stilled Zach, and
touches the platforms edge.
ADELINE
(shouts)
Ha! I beat ya, ya bloody coward! Why are you all staring at
me like a bloomin codfish?
PATCHLESS MAN
(clears throat)
Adeline turns around to see that everyone on the platform
and her friends were not indeed staring at her. They were
staring at someone above her. Adeline turns around and sees
a tall, handsome chocolate bearded man with a bowler hat on
looking at her. He didnt have a single patch on his
clothes.
PATCHLESS MAN
Nice race.

ACT II
SCENE 1
SETTING:
We open up in the Singers
Victorian patched living room.
AT RISE:
Adeline is sitting over by the
window looking earnestly outside.
Lady Singer is sitting on the
coach. A maid enters with tea.

HAGGERTY
Here you go your, ladyship.

LADY SINGER
Thank you, Haggerty. Adeline? Adeline? Adeline!
ADELINE
(jumps)
Yes, mum?
LADY SINGER
Its tea time, dear.
ADELINE
Aw, mum, I dont want tea. Cant I look out the window a
little more?
LADY SINGER
No. No matter how strange he is, I dont want you scratching
to get a glance at him. Now come have tea with me. Your
father will be home soon, and he will tell us about the
stranger.
Mother and daughter sip on their tea. The door opens and
enters Lord Singer. Haggerty takes his coat.
HAGGERTY
How was your day, yer lordship.
LORD SINGER
Positively dreadful, Haggerty. Margaret!
ADELINE
(shouts)
Papa!
LORD SINGER
Ah, how is my little patch doing?
ADELINE
I beat Zachary Ruther in a race yesterday!
LORD SINGER
Wise of you to put that little brute in his place.
8

ADELINE
(curious)
Papa, have you figured out who that Patchless Man is?

Lord Singers face darkens in the split second she mentions

the Patchless Man. He sets her down on the ground.
LORD SINGER
(stern)
Adeline I want you to go up to your room.
ADELINE
But, papaLORD SINGER
(sharp)
Adeline!
ADELINE
(sad)
Yes, papa.

Adeline hangs her head and walks out of the room, but she
stays right outside the closed door listening in on the
conversation.

ADELINE
(aside)
Wot? I know I should be going to my room, but somethings
afoot around here and I want to know wots wot.
LADY SINGER
(concern)
What have you and the council found dear?

LORD SINGER
(anger)
Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Its like he materialized out
of thin air! We asked the other stations if they had seen
anyone matching his description, but they were as shocked as
we were.
LADY SINGER
(wonder)
To have no patches . . . How could he live without them?
LORD SINGER
(anger)
I dont know, but its men like him that threaten our
society! Can you imagine what people would do? Theyd go
running around the street with no patches on, whole
garments!
LADY SINGER
No!
LORD SINGER
Yes, my dear! It would be absolute chaos, but dont worry.
The council and I have a plan . . .

Adeline strained to listen as the conversation continued at

a whisper, when there was a soft tap on the door. Adeline
opens the door and finds Pip and Gregor standing there.
PIP
(whisper)
Adeline, were going to follow the man to the park! Do you
want to come?
ADELINE
(eyes wide)
Are you crazy!

10

GREGOR
(beg)
Please, we want you to come with us!

Adeline looks at the door to the parlor were her parents

are talking.
ADELINE
(sigh)
Alright.
SCENE 2
SETTING:
The Brocade Gardens.
AT RISE:
Adeline, Pip, and
standing behind a
the Patchless Man
be sketching in a

Gregor are
bush looking at
who appeared to
notebook.

PIP
(whisper)
Hes weird!
GREGOR
Not a single patch . . .
ADELINE
(mutter)
He certainly doesnt look dangerous.
PIP
Wot?

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ADELINE
Nothing.
GREGOR
Go and talk to him!
ADELINE
(surprise)
Wot! Why do I have to go ta-

GREGOR
I want to see what he has to say!
PIP
I heard he has sharp teeth!
ADELINE
Well, why dont you go?

PIP & GREGOR

(usion)
Because you're the bravest!

ADELINE
(aside)
Now I know wot yer thinkin, Why would Adeline Singer dare give
into peer pressure? Well, these guys are me mates I cant let
them down.

Adeline stalks up behind the Patchless Man. Looking over his

shoulders from another bush at his drawing. Her friends watch
from a distance. The snapping of a twig announces Adelines
presence to the man. Gregor and Pip squeak ducking behind their
bushes.

PATCHLESS MAN
(smile)
What are you doing behind the bushes?

12

ADELINE
(red-faced)
Well, I, uh . . . Well, why arent you wearing any patches!?

Adeline covers her mouth at the rudeness of her words. She

expects the man to be angry, but he burst into a jovial laughter.

ADELINE
(dumbstruck)
Everyone wears them! So, why dont you?

PATCHLESS MAN
(laugh)
I dont need them.

ADELINE
(aside)
What an odd thing to say. Not needing patches? They were the very
fabric of our society. Patches showed how wealthy you were.
Patches showed what class you were. Whether you were a newsmaker,
a shoemaker, or a candle maker. They were everything.
(to Patchless Man)
How come you dont need them?

PATCHLESS MAN
Why, I make my own clothes.

ADELINE
Make your own clothes?

PATCHLESS MAN
Yes, would you like to see my sketches?

13

The Patchless Man begins to flip through the pages of the sketch
pad showing Adeline drawings of clothes she had never imagined or
thought possible in her entire life.

PATCHLESS MAN
Would you like me to make you one?

ADELINE
A dress without patches?

PATCHLESS MAN
Yes, no patches whatsoever. You dont need to have them.

ADELINE
I love my patches though!

PATCHLESS MAN
(shrug)
It doesnt mean you need them.

ADELINE
(aside)
Simple words, but they had a profound effect on me. To keep
something I had known my entire life or to move on and try
something new. Those dresses did look awfully
beautiful . . .
LADY SINGER
(shout)
Adeline! Adeline, where are you?!
ADELINE
(shout)
Over here, Mummy!

Lady Singer emerges onto the set, and she freezes as soon

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as she sees her daughter with the Patchless Man.

LADY SINGER
(stern)
Adeline, come here at once. You are never to talk to that
man again!
ADELINE
(stunned)
Why not?
LADY SINGER
Because he doesnt wear any patches.
ADELINE
(aside)
But then I looked at her, and then I looked at him. He seemed
very comfortable in his own clothes that didnt have any patches.
My mum didnt seem too comfortable at all. She had nine patches.
It didnt make any sense. He waved at us as we walked away.

ACT III

SCENE 1
SETTING:
The streets of Chiffon.
AT RISE:
Adeline enters followed by Gregor
and Pip the former looking upset
the latter looking concerned.

15

PIP
Yer bloody mad, girl!
ADELINE
(shout)
I dont care! I have to see him!
GREGOR
(shout)
Yer parents will bloomin skin ya!

ADELINE
I dont care.
PIP
But, AdelineADELINE
(angry)
I said I dont care!

Pip and Gregor are startled by the harshness of their

friends retort. The friends look at each other uncertainly.

PIP
Fine. Have it yer way.

Pip and Gregor exit. Leaving Adeline alone upon the stage.

ADELINE
(aside)
I didnt mean to be harsh withem. In truth, theyre the

16

only real friends I have, but the words of the Patchless man
have been swirling and swirling in my head, and Id be
jinxed if I didnt see him again today. Therefore, I go to
call upon him in the park and he is not there! I race to see
if he is at his apartment, but he is not there, only a small
vacancy sign is. Disturbed I raced back home to ask my
mother of his whereabouts.
LADY SINGER
Oh, your father and the city council made him go away.
ADELINE
(dismay)
Go away!
LADY SINGER
Yes! A man like that does not belong in Chiffon.
ADELINE
(aside)
I wandered around town for the rest of the day, until I found
myself once again on the steps of the man's apartment.

I sat there, wishing that the man with no patches was still
around, when out of the corner of my eye I spied the suitcase the
man had been carrying with him. It had been hidden from behind
the hedge, and you only could have seen it from my angle. I
hadn't gotten a good look at the case before, but it appeared to
be made out of worn brown leather with golden latches.

I dragged it out and opened it. Inside was the most gorgeous

17

dress I had ever seen!

It was a fern green dress with laced sleeves and neckline. Little
ruby-red bows were used to pull up the sleeves and tie them off.
Another bow rested on the collar. Patterns of little navy hearts
and stars paraded across the fabric.

There was a note attached to it, and it said, Wear with pride.

I ran home as quickly as I could and put it on. It fit perfectly.

The man had made me a dress with no patches. I did not care what
others thought. I had never felt so free in my patchless dress.

I left my home and walked courageously throughout Chiffon.

Everyone was astonished!

GREGOR
Where are your patches?

ADELINE
(smile)
I dont need them.

18

PIP
Can you make us some?

ADELINE
(aside)
I wasnt sure if I could, but then I looked inside of the
suitcase. There were more clothes!

Another note said, Give freely.

I passed out the clothes in the case, and it would not stop! The
clothes just kept on coming and coming.

I showed everyone that we did not need patches anymore. The

patchless man had given us new clothes!

Pretty soon everyone was wearing the whole clothes that he had
made for us. It was as if each outfit had been tailored for that
specific person.

There were still people who resented it, my father, mother, and

19

Zachary Ruther included. They tried to make us put back on our

old clothes, but our new ones wouldnt come off.

You will still see a few people walking around town with their
patches bound to their clothes.

I pity them.

They are still being offered this free gift, but they refuse to
accept it, which is peculiar because why would you not accept
something that is meant to help you?

All the while I am still thankful for the patchless man and the
gift the he has given me.

FADE OUT:
THE END

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