Conflict Scene Exercise

Characters:
Dave- Mid-late twenties, lives alone in his own apartment, is in love with his best friend
Jackie.
Jackie- Mid-twenties, keeps going on dates with guys hoping to find “The One”, is best
friends with Dave and constantly goes to him for advice.

Setting:
Dave’s apartment, early afternoon on a Saturday.

The One
(DAVE is sitting at his kitchen counter on his laptop getting some work done when his cell
phone rings, he answers it)

DAVE
Hello?

JACKIE
(Offstage- on the other side of the phone)
Hi! Dave, I need to come over right now!

DAVE
Okay, so come over!

JACKIE
Good! Cause I’m already here!
(JACKIE knocks on the door)

DAVE
That’s so like you…
(Hangs up the phone, there’s more knocking on the door)
Coming!
(DAVE goes over to the door and opens it; JACKIE stands in the doorway holding two different
dresses)

JACKIE
(Moving past him and into his apartment)
I need your help bigtime!
(JACKIE goes to lay her dresses down neatly on the coffee table in front of the couch)

DAVE
(Before JACKIE even puts down her dresses and even before closing the front door)
The dark purple one.

JACKIE
(Turns around still holding her dresses)
What?

DAVE
The dark purple dress. You look the best in purple.

JACKIE
I haven’t even tried them on for you yet!

DAVE
Okay and?

JACKIE
(Putting down the dresses finally)
And I’m going to try them on for you and then you can give your opinion on which one is
best! Okay?
 DAVE
Okay…

JACKIE
Good! Now sit!
(JACKIE motions for DAVE to sit on the couch then takes the red dress and goes behind the
kitchen counter to start changing into it)

DAVE
So… who is it this week?

JACKIE
Oh, just this guy from work. He seems nice and asked to get drinks tonight at a fancy
restaurant, so we’ll see how it goes.

DAVE
Okay and does this guy from work have a name?

JACKIE
Yeah, his name is Dereck.

DAVE
Wasn’t Dereck last week’s date?

JACKIE
(Coming out from behind the kitchen counter in a gorgeous red dress)
No, you’re thinking of John who I met at a bar… sooo what do you think?

DAVE
(Stunned and in awe)
Wow…
 JACKIE
(showing it off a bit more before grabbing another dress)
You like it?

DAVE
(Still in awe)
Yeah… Yeah… I mean you look beautiful! It looks great on you!

JACKIE
Oh, stop it, it’s just a cheap dress… but you like it? Still think the purple dress would be
better?

DAVE
Try it on next and let’s see.

JACKIE
(JACKIE grabs the purple dress and heads back behind the counter)
Okay

DAVE
(A long silence as JACKIE is putting on her dress)
So… Dereck?

JACKIE
Yes, Dereck…

DAVE
You really think he’s going to be “The One”?
 JACKIE
(Coming out from behind the kitchen counter)
He’s pretty nice but I’m not sure yet…. Sooo what do you think of this one?

DAVE
(Stunned and in awe… again)
Wow…

JACKIE
You said that with the other one! Is it better? Is it worse? Give me a proper answer!

DAVE
Okay okay… It looks really amazing on you! Even better than the other one, I think you
should go with this dress.

JACKIE
(Questioning his decision)
You really think so?

DAVE
Yes Jackie!
(Jokingly)
I think this one fits you better too!

JACKIE
Dave!!

DAVE
Sorry sorry! But in all honesty this one does look better.
 JACKIE
Okay, I’ll go with this one than! Thank you so much for your help again! I should go and
finish getting ready.

DAVE
(Still in awe of her beauty)
Okay, no problem, I’m always happy to help!

JACKIE
(Collecting her red dress and going to leave)
I really really appreciate it! Talk to you later!

DAVE
Talk to you later!
(JACKIE goes to leave; DAVE in a whisper)
I’d be better for you…

JACKIE
(Turning back around)
What? Did you say something?

DAVE
Huh? No, no… Good luck with Dereck…

JACKIE
Okay… Thanks… Bye!

DAVE
Bye.

END SCENE