Games People Play-Drama Skit

Games People Play-Drama Skit

Themes: Marriage; games people play in marriage; compromise; selfishness
Categories: Valentine's Day, Love & Marriage 
Summary:

Mike becomes suspicious when he comes home to find his wife Lisa dressed to "please," cooking his favorite meal, and offering to watch ESPN during dinner. Lisa is equally suspicious when Mike presents her with a bouquet of flowers, puts his dirty clothes in the hamper, and wants to talk and listen to every detail of her life recently. Truth is, they both want something: Mike wants to go on a fishing trip with buddies, and Lisa wants a weekend away with her gal pals.  Fearing the other will disapprove, they play mind games with each other to try and get their way instead of communicating openly.   When their schemes are finally discovered and the truth comes out, they realize being open with each other is a lot easier than playing games. We think they’ve learned their lesson, but in the end, they resort to old tricks. 

 
 
Style: Comedy

$10.00
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Characters: 4 (2 Male, 2 Female)
Length: 8-10 minutes
 
Excerpt (Sample)

Setting: A living room.

As the scene opens, Lisa holds up a hand-held mirror and fixes a few hairs that might be out of place. She is dressed nicely, as a woman trying to please her husband. Sitting near her is a woman with a sign around her neck that reads: “Lisa’s Conscience.” (She will be referred to LC for short)

Lisa:

There, that should do it.  (puts down the mirror)

LC:

You look mah-velous!

Lisa:

I should.  I’ve spent the last hour and a half getting ready.

LC:

Did you remember the perfume?

Lisa:

(smells her wrists) Chanel No. 5—his favorite.

LC:

Did you shave your legs?

Lisa:

Of course.

LC:

And I see you’re wearing the earrings he gave you for your anniversary last year. Nice touch.

Lisa:

(smiling) Thanks. I thought so too.

LC:

And you’re wearing the red underwear, right?

Lisa:

I couldn’t pull this off without them.

LC:

(smiles wickedly) You are so bad!

Lisa:

(also smiles wickedly) I am, aren’t I? (pause, sighs, then her smile fades) I am bad! What am I doing? I should just come out and ask him instead of playing all these stupid games. He’s my husband; he’ll understand.

LC:

Will he?

Lisa:

Of course he will. He knows how much stress I’ve been under lately and how much I really need this time away with the girls.

LC:

For a whole weekend? You can’t come out and ask for that without buttering him up a little first.  Otherwise, he might say “no.”

Lisa:

(relaxing) You’re right.  What was I thinking?  I need to check on dinner, and get the rolls in the oven.  He’ll be home any minute.

LC:

You’re doing the right thing. Trust me.

They exit and after a moment Mike enters carrying a briefcase and a big bouquet of flowers. Behind him is a man who wears a sign that says: “Mike’s conscience.” (Referred to as MC for short) After Mike enters he puts down the briefcase.

Mike:

(holding the flowers up to MC) Did I get a big enough bouquet or should I have sprung for the roses? (panics) Of course I should have gotten the roses!  (hits himself in the head with his other hand) Stupid, stupid, stupid!

MC:

Relax! She’ll love the flowers, any flowers. It’s the thought that counts.  Isn’t that what she’s always saying?  

Mike:

(calming down) You’re right.  She’ll love them simply because I was thinking of her.  

MC:

Did you put on some extra cologne?

Mike:

Yeah, I did it in the car, remember?

MC:

Oh, right.  Hey, did you pick up your socks this morning and put them in the hamper? You know she likes it when you do that.

Mike:

Yeah.  I made sure every shirt, sock, and pair of dirty underwear was where it belonged.  I even threw my wrappers and potato chip bag away this morning, and put my dirty plate in the dishwasher.  She’ll be thrilled.

MC:

You must want to go on this fishing trip pretty bad.

Mike:

(smiling) I do.  I can’t wait to try out those new poles I got.  (pauses, then smile fades) Of course, that would mean leaving Lisa home with the kids all by herself for the whole weekend. The timing isn’t so great. (shoulders sag a little, head down, the flowers drop down to his side)  Maybe I should forget this whole thing.

MC:

(getting defensive, makes Mike look him in the eyes) Hey! Don’t you say crazy things like that, you hear me!  You’ve been working hard too!

Mike:

Maybe I should just ask her instead of playing games with her like this.  She’s an understanding woman.

MC:

(with sarcasm) Sure she is, just like that Saturday last month when she understood how much you needed a round of golf. 

Mike:

(pursing his lips) We ended up shopping for curtains all day instead. 

MC:

Didn’t she say something the other night about needing new lamps for the living room?

Mike:

(straightening up, bringing the flowers higher) You’re right. I deserve this trip away, and if I have to play mind games with her.…

MC:

(quickly corrects him) Romance her…

Mike:

(smiles) Right…romance her into it, then, so be it.

MC:

She’ll be putty in your hands.

MC stands behind Mike. Mike hides the flowers behind his back and calls out to Lisa

Mike

Honey, I’m home!

Lisa enters with LC behind her

Mike:

(obviously impressed) Wow! Look at you!

Lisa:

(does a circle turn so Mike can see all of her) You like?

Mike:

(grinning) Mikey likey very much!

Lisa:

I’m glad you approve. (greets Mike affectionately) Mmm, you smell nice. You know I can’t resist you when you wear Giorgio Armani.

MC:

That’s the idea.

Mike:

(holds out the flowers for her) Surprise!

Lisa:

(excited) Flowers! It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten a bouquet like this. (smells them) What’s the occasion?

Mike:

No occasion. I was just thinking of you today and wanted you to know it.

Lisa:

That is so sweet! Thank you.

Lisa turns to speak to LC. As she does so, the other characters act as if they don’t hear anything. Mike makes himself comfortable, sitting down. MC stands behind or sits near him.

Lisa:

(to LC) He’s wearing cologne and he brought me flowers.  I can’t go through with this. 

LC:

You’ve got to.

Lisa:

But I feel so guilty.

LC:

(looks at Mike who is grinning) He’s up to something.

Lisa:

What do you mean?

LC:

Think about it.

Lisa:

(pause, thinking) The last time he did something like this he told me his mother was coming to visit for a week.

LC:

Exactly!

Lisa:

What should I do?

LC:

Don’t let him distract you from your main purpose.  Stay in control.  Keep your eye on the prize.

Lisa:

Got it.  If he can play this game, so can I.  

Lisa turns her attention back to Mike, as she sits down next to him. She cradles the flowers in her lap.

Lisa:

Thanks again for the flowers.  They’re beautiful.  You’re so thoughtful.

Mike:

You’re beautiful.  (sniffing the air) And speaking of thoughtful, do I smell pot roast?

Lisa:

Yes.

Mike:

And home-made rolls?

Lisa:

Your favorite.

Mike:

You sure do know the way to a man’s heart.

Lisa:

(running her fingers up his arm) I do indeed.  You should see what I have planned for dessert. (gives him a “knowing look” then lays her head on Mike’s shoulder)

Mike:

I can’t wait!

MC:

(looks at Lisa suspiciously) She’s up to something.

As with LC, the other characters act as if they hear nothing

Mike:

What are you talking about? This is a perfect evening.

MC:

It’s a little too perfect, don’t you think?  Where are the kids?

Mike:

(to Lisa) Honey, where are the kids?

Lisa:

They’re spending the night with my parents.  

MC:

See?

Mike:

Get out of here! (raises his head high, very arrogant & self-assured) She’s obviously just craving some “one-on-one” time with her very handsome and studly husband.

MC raises his eyebrows questioningly at Mike

Mike:

(thinks about it for a moment, then his posture “falls”) Okay, she’s up to something. What should I do?