© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg.

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© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 2

 About the Author…
Donald Arneson has been a teacher, a magazine editor, and a
writer of fiction and drama. He has published two children's
books, Arnie, Knight of the Day and Doing Something Nice, Inc.
and Other Short Plays for Kids. In addition, he has written five
plays. Golden Wedding was the winner of the Mid-West
Playwrights' Program and was produced at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison and The Prior Lake Players Community
Theater. Turkeys of a Feather was a runner-up at Midland
Community Theatre McLaren Competition and received praise
from Dale Wasserman (Man of La Mancha). Finnegan's
Wake was a winner of the Brooklyn Repertory Theatre
Playwriting Contest, plus having a reading at the Playwrights'
Center. Also it received an honorable mention from Ohio State U., Newark's Annual New
Play Contest and was a winner of the Renegade Theatre of Duluth‟s New Works Festival,
where it was given a staged reading. Two other plays are The Glass Ceiling, a play about a
play within a play that is about the restrictive ceiling that keeps women in their place
and Happy Hour which takes place at Eden Garden Senior Retirement Haven at that time of
day treasured by the elderly residents when they gather for a drink (only one allowed) and
sing to piano music.

Thank the Author…

Do you love this play as much as we do? If your group performs this piece, be sure to credit
Donald Arneson and Drama Notebook in your program and advertising. You may also wish
to make Corinna‟s day by dropping her a line or sending pictures of your production!

Contact Donald Arneson at: donaldarneson@mac.com

About the play…

Idols is a one-act play for teens and was a winner of the
Words Players Theatre's 6th Annual Original Short Play
Contest of plays submitted from all over the U.S.A.
Set in the hallway of a high school, the idols in question are
Rocky and Valerie, portrayed in glorified, glamorous poses
by two pedestaled manikins, and are the center of attention
for passing students. The two elites, however, maintain
their haughty, aloof superiority throughout. Being ignored
by their idols is especially hurtful to Becky, in love with
Rocky, and Arthur, enthralled by Valerie. The two students
are ridiculed by other students until they erupt from their
captivation and stand up to their detractors –– and their
idols.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 3

 Idols
By Donald Arneson

CHARACTERS

BECKY
JILL
TERRI
SUE
KIM
NANCY
VALERIE, a manikin
ROCKY, a manikin
ARTHUR
STEVE
MARK
PAUL
BRAD
OTHER STUDENTS as needed.

SETTING: A school. Present time.

NOTE: The idols, which are non-speaking parts, could be played by manikins or students frozen
in place. Additional, non-speaking student parts could be added if students are available, but
that is not essential.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 4

 Idols
By Donald Arneson

At rise, all of the students are on stage frozen in walking/running

positions, some in the process of texting. The set should suggest the
interior of a high school: lockers to suggest a hallway, desks to suggest a
classroom, and a goal post or anything to suggest an athletic field.

At stage center on platforms are two manikins, one dressed as the All-
American, clean-cut, football hero, perhaps wearing a football uniform or,
at least, a letter sweater. He is the school‟s male idol. His name is Rocky.
Beside him, also in athletic uniform such as a letter sweater or a
cheerleading outfit is Valerie, Miss Everything. They are in glorified,
glamorous poses.

On cue, with the ringing of the passing bell, all, except the two heroes,
come to life. They are all passing back and forth in the between-classes
stampede. They shout, wave to each other, drop books, push, scream,
laugh, squeal, whistle, struggle with lockers, all the normal activities. If
there is a shortage of actors, they could go off-stage and re-enter to
repeat their passage.

Finally the stage is left to the two manikins. After a moment, BECKY and
JILL enter stage right. (All entrances are right; all exits, left.)

JILL
Hurry up! We‟re gonna be late for lunch –– my favorite class!

BECKY
(with a long face.) I don‟t care. I‟m never going to eat again!

JILL
What‟s the matter?

(BECKY stops by Rocky, looks up and swoons. JILL looks up at Rocky but
does not swoon.)

JILL
Oh, him! Still crushing on him, huh? (Sarcastically.) Big Rocky! Rock-head. He doesn‟t even see
you. C‟mon, Becky, he doesn‟t care about anybody but himself. Forget him! Let‟s go to lunch.

BECKY
I can‟t! I just can‟t! I‟m going to die.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 5

JILL
Can‟t you wait until after lunch?

BECKY
I‟m serious! (Falls at Rocky‟s feet.) I‟m going to stay right here until he talks to me. Until he
says he loves me. I‟m never going to eat again. I‟ll never leave him. Ever!

JILL
(growing impatient, looks offstage.) C‟mon, Becky! The line‟s gonna be a mile long.

BECKY
Not long ago he loved me. What happened? What did I do wrong? (Looks up at Rocky
pleadingly.) Oh, Rocky, what did I do? Talk to me! Say you love me!

JILL
I think they got pizza today. (Sniffs.) Gosh, Becky, let‟s go!

BECKY
Jill, what‟s the matter with me? Don‟t I look pretty enough?

JILL
Sure, but boys are weird. Who knows what‟s goin‟ on inside that thick skull of his? All he thinks
about is sports and how many girls faint over him. So c‟mon! There are more important things
to think about. (Pauses; sniffs deeply.) Like pizza!

BECKY
(adamantly.) No! I‟m not leaving my Rocky. (Wraps her arms around his feet.) Oh, Rocky, I‟d
die for you. Can‟t you talk to me? Just one little word? Rocky! (Kisses his feet.)

JILL
(indicates Valerie.) He‟s got bird-brain here to keep him company. She‟s all he can think about –
– that is, except football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, track, skateboarding, skiing,
weight-lifting… (Pauses.) and himself. Himself, above all.

BECKY
Huh! What does she have that I don‟t?

JILL
Nothing. Absolutely nothing! All she‟s got is brains, looks and money –– lots of dinero. C‟mon,
my pizza‟s gonna get cold.

BECKY
Oh, you don‟t even like pizza.

JILL
Yeah, but I like to slip it under people just before they sit down.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 6

BECKY
Jill! Well, you better not do that to my Rocky-honey.

JILL
Huh! He‟s so stuck-up he‟d never notice. Besides, I could never get that close to him.

BECKY
Don‟t you talk that way about Rocky! (Suddenly catches fire.) Jill, I hate you! You‟re so mean to
him, always calling him names and things. Leave me alone!

JILL
(shocked.) Fine! Be that way! Good-bye! (Exits left.)

(BECKY, not knowing what to do, wanders for a moment, then slumps
down behind Rocky, covers her face, and sobs quietly. TERRI, SUE, KIM,
and NANCY enter stage right. They are chatty and very casual until they
see Rocky; then they swoon.)

TERRI
Oh, Rocky!

SUE
Oh, he‟s so –– so –– hot! Hi, Rocky.

KIM
Classy! Oh, sooooo classy! (Does several cartwheels, ending with the splits at his feet.) Hi,
Rock. (Waits for a response.) Hey, Rocky. Hi! (Reacts to his silent indifference.) Gee! What‟s the
matter? Can‟t you say something?

NANCY
What a hunk! I just love him!

KIM
Are you going to the dance tonight, Rocky? Huh? Huh? Of course you are. You always go.
You‟re the main attraction.

TERRI
(screams.) Oh, Rocky! Can I have a dance? Huh? Huh? Please! Just one! Please! Oh, Rocky!
Please! Please!

SUE and KIM

(in unison as they jump up and down with glee.) Me too! Me too!

TERRI
C‟mon, you guys! I asked him first.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 7

NANCY
I wanna dance too! Gosh!

KIM
Oh, c‟mon, Nancy! He‟d never dance with you.

NANCY
Why not?

KIM
Well, just „cause; that‟s why. You know. Gosh, Nancy.

NANCY
But why?

KIM
Get serious, kid.

NANCY
He would to! He‟d dance with me before he‟d dance with you!

KIM
Oh, c‟mon, Nancy! (Laughs derisively.) Dance with you before me? Get serious!

NANCY
He would!

(KIM shakes her head taunting NANCY.)

NANCY
Yes, he would! Yes, he would!

KIM
No, he wouldn‟t!

NANCY
Yes, he would!

KIM
(continues to shake her head.) Uh-uh. Wouldn‟t. No way!

(NANCY screams as KIM offers a superior smile, then exits left crying.)

KIM
(turns to Rocky.) Boy, she sure breaks up easy, doesn‟t she, eh, Rocky? (Slinks close to Rocky.)
Gee, Rocky, you sure look cool today. Great outfit. You really know how to dress. (Touches his
sleeve.)

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 8

BECKY
(leaps up from behind Rocky.) Get away from him!

KIM
(shocked, jumps back.) Hey! (Recovering.) Hey, I was just––

BECKY
You were contaminating him! My Rocky!

KIM
Your Rocky?

SUE
(to the others.) Oh, it‟s that strange Becky. She went completely bananas after Rocky dumped
her.

BECKY
He did not dump me!

SUE
(knowingly.) Oh, yes he did.

BECKY
Did not!

SUE
Did!

BECKY
He still loves me!

SUE
Ha!

BECKY
He does! He certainly doesn‟t love you! (To the others in turn.) Or you! Or you! Or you! He
doesn‟t even know you guys exist.

SUE
Does too!

BECKY
Does not!

KIM
He loves me!

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 9

TERRI
Me! Me!

NANCY
Me! Oh, Rocky, please say you love me.

TERRI
Rocky, no! Me!

(They fight each other to get in the best position for Rocky to see them,
continuing to scream, “Me! Me!“ Rocky, honey, say you love me!” etc.
After a bell rings, they exit fighting, all except BECKY, who falls down at
Rocky‟s feet.)

BECKY
Oh, Rocky, what am I going to do? Won‟t you talk to me? Say something. Just grunt a little.
Please! (Curls up at Rocky‟s feet.)

(Enter STEVE and ARTHUR. After a few paces, ARTHUR grabs STEVE.)

ARTHUR
Wait!

STEVE
What?

ARTHUR
(points, his hand shaking.) There‟s Valerie.

STEVE
Oh. Yeah. She‟s with that creep, Rocky.

ARTHUR
Gosh, she‟s beautiful!

STEVE
Yeah.

ARTHUR
She‟s the best girl in the entire school.

STEVE
Yeah. Hey, let‟s go.

ARTHUR
No.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 10

STEVE
(tugs at Arthur.) C‟mon!

ARTHUR
No, she might see me.

STEVE
So what?

ARTHUR
She‟ll think I‟m a dope.

STEVE
Why?

ARTHUR
„Cause I am.

STEVE
She‟ll think you are if you keep acting like one.

ARTHUR
That‟s why I don‟t want her to see me.

STEVE
Do you like her?

ARTHUR
Yeah! She‟s just –– She‟s so–– Gosh, man! She‟s super!

STEVE
Then why don‟t you go over and talk to her?

ARTHUR
„Cause she‟d think I was a dope or something.

STEVE
Gosh! (Tries to think how to make his point.) Okay! Listen! If you don‟t talk to her, she‟ll never
know you even exist, dopey or not.

ARTHUR
I‟m scared.

STEVE
She‟s just a girl.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 11

ARTHUR
Just!? She‟s THE girl! The one and only.

STEVE
Gee! Hey, don‟t be such a–– such a–– such a dope!

ARTHUR
I can‟t help it. When I get next to her, I freeze.

STEVE
Man! You‟re something else! Well, I‟m going. You coming?

ARTHUR
(entranced, staring at Valerie.) I can‟t move.

STEVE
(throws up his hands in disgust.) Stay then. I gotta get ready for football practice. (Exits left.)

(Enter MARK, PAUL and BRAD, who is carrying a football. They all notice
Valerie at the same time and erupt in a cacophony of adlibs, such as:
“Oh, Valerie!” “Wow, man, what a chick!” “Valerie, honey!”, etc.)

BRAD
(cradles the football and swivel-hips around Valerie.) Hey, look, Val, I‟m going for a touchdown.
(Circles ARTHUR several times, stiff-arming him and poking the ball in his face.)

MARK and PAUL laugh and shout, “Look out, Arthur!” “Don‟t fall over your
feet, Arthur!” and any other adlibs. BRAD runs at ARTHUR as if to tackle
him, causing ARTHUR to jump back and fall down. More laughter.)

MARK
Hey, Valerie, honey, how ya doin‟? (Runs behind ARTHUR, who is getting up and pushes him
down, provoking more laughter. Motions to BRAD.) Hey, Brad, gimme a pass.

(MARK runs a pass pattern. BRAD throws the ball. MARK catches it and
zigzags for a touchdown, after which he pretends to spike the ball and
does a dance. PAUL runs to MARK and they slap hands.)

PAUL
Yeah, man!

(BRAD crosses to the others, pushing ARTHUR down again on the way.)

BRAD
Hey, Arthur, you wanna play?

(ARTHUR shakes his head no.)

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 12

BRAD
C‟mon, Arthur, run out for a pass. Hey, Val, you wanna see Arthur go out for a pass?

ARTHUR
No! No! Come on! I don‟t want her to laugh at me.

MARK
Why not, Arthur? Everybody else does. (Laughs loudly.)

PAUL
Afraid you‟ll fall down, huh, Arthur?

MARK
Run, Arthur! Run! (Fakes a pass.)

(ARTHUR ducks and all laugh.)

BRAD
Hey, Val! Watch ol‟ twinkle toes.

MARK
Okay, Arthur, here it comes. (Cocks the ball for a pass.) Run straight down, cut left, hook back,
cut left again, hook right and jump. On three. Hut, hut, hut. (Fades back.) Hey, get going,
Arthur.

PAUL
Arrrrr-thur, Arrrrr-thur. He‟s thur a good football player.

BRAD
Arrrrr-thur! Arrrrr-thur! He‟s our man! If he can‟t do it, no one can! Rah! Rah! Arthur!

MARK
Hey, Arthur, you gonna let Valerie think you can‟t do it? Hey, Valerie, what do you think of ol‟
Arthur? Isn‟t he something?

PAUL
Here, Arthur, this is how you do it. (Runs a short pattern and catches MARK‟s pass.) See?
Simple. Okay. Your turn. Only run long. I wanna test my arm.

BRAD
Val‟s really enjoying this. Look at her giggling.

ARTHUR
No!

BRAD
(moves closer to Valerie.) Hey, what‟d you say? Funny, isn‟t he?

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 13

ARTHUR
(appalled.) Oh, she‟s laughing at me!

BRAD
No! She‟s giggling. There‟s a difference.

(ARTHUR runs off stage left.)

PAUL
(cocks his arm.) Way back, Arthur. Keep going. Keep going. That a way! Back! Back! Hey! He‟s
out of sight.

MARK
Poor Arthur. Out-of-sight Arthur.

BRAD
Old way-back Arthur.

ALL
Push „em back! Push „em back! Way back! Push „em back! Push „em back! Way back!

(During this BECKY rises and approaches the boys from the rear.
Suddenly she rushes PAUL, tackles him and begins pounding him.)

BECKY
You crumb-bum!

(PAUL tries to ward off BECKY‟s blows.)

PAUL
Hey! What‟s goin‟ on? Stop!

(MARK grabs her, but she swings around, slugs him and knocks him
down.)

MARK
Holy cow! (Holds his injured nose.)

BECKY
(to BRAD.) You want some, too?

(BECKY brandishes her fists and BRAD backs off.)

MARK
(hysterically.) I‟m bleeding! Help! She killed me!

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 14

BECKY
Good!

(PAUL starts to rise, but BECKY pushes him down.)

BECKY
You guys are real creeps, ganging up on Arthur. That‟s great. You aren‟t any better than he is.
You just stick together and tell each other how great you are „cause no one else will. Then you
find someone to make fun of in front of Miss Bird-brain here, so she‟ll think you‟re great. You‟re
creeps. (Turns to Valerie.) Hey, Valerie, they‟re creeps, right? (Silence.) She never says
anything. She‟s too busy thinking of her pretty face. (To Valerie.) Hey, Valerie, what do you
think of the star football players? They‟re really great, huh? I mean for creeps. (Waits for an
answer. Nothing. Walks closer to Valerie.) Hey, you wanna hear something funny? Let me tell
you what I saw these three goof-offs doing the other day.

BRAD
What? Where?

BECKY
A couple days ago in the parking lot. The principal caught you. I saw it.

MARK
Where were you?

BECKY
I was watching from the shop. (To Valerie with great excitement.) Hey, Valerie, this is great!

PAUL
(jumps up.) No! Stop! Don‟t tell her!

BRAD
(points at BECKY.) Let‟s get her!

MARK
Yeah. You can never trust a girl who takes industrial arts.

(They chase her around the stage, finally trapping her, and begin closing
in. She pushes one of them down to escape the circle and runs. They
chase but she continues to elude them, escaping from their grasp,
tripping them, and pushing them into each other. It is a slapstick chase
scene. Eventually she runs to Rocky for help.)

BECKY
Rocky, protect me! (Slowly the BOYS close in on BECKY.) You better watch out or Rocky‟ll take
care of you –– all of you!

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 15

BRAD
Ha!

PAUL
He doesn‟t know you exist.

BRAD
He‟s all show.

MARK
And blow!

BECKY
You can‟t talk that way. I won‟t stand for it!

PAUL
He‟s just a pretty boy with an empty head. He‟d mess up his hair and he wouldn‟t want to do
that –– not for a girl.

(While BECKY is off-guard, BRAD grabs her and pulls her away from
Rocky.)

BECKY
Rocky! Help!

MARK
Grab her hands! She‟s got a really wicked right.

PAUL
And her feet. She can kick like a mule.

BECKY
Rocky! Save me!

(BECKY struggles, but the BOYS are getting the best of her. Just then
ARTHUR rushes on from stage right, screaming and flailing his arms. The
noise and action so upsets the BOYS that they release BECKY. ARTHUR
crouches like a boxer.)

ARTHUR
Okay! I‟ll take you on! One at a time or all three at once. I don‟t care. C‟mon, you guys. Let‟s
see how tough you really are.

PAUL
Hey, Arthur, I thought you went out for a pass.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 16

ARTHUR
I caught it. I‟m going for a touchdown. Okay! C‟mon! (Steps closer.)

BECKY
(pleadingly.) Rocky! Aren‟t you going to do anything?

ARTHUR
Ah, forget that dummy, Becky. There are enough dummies right here.

BECKY
He‟s lost in a world of his own. He doesn‟t even see us.

ARTHUR
I know it. It‟s the same with Valerie. She‟s only in love with one person.

BECKY
Herself?

ARTHUR
Right! She acts like a stuffed doll or something.

BECKY
So does he! Ugh! What did I see in him?

ARTHUR
What did I see in her?

BECKY
Yeah! (Assumes a boxer‟s pose like Arthur‟s.) Okay, Arthur, let‟s take care of these guys.

PAUL
I‟m going out for a pass. (Exits with the ball.)

MARK
Hey, me too! (Exits.)

BRAD
Hey, you guys! Wait! I can‟t throw you a pass. You‟ve got the ball.

(Exits with BECKY and ARTHUR in hot pursuit.)

CURTAIN

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com Idols pg. 17

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