Green = Metaphor Yellow = Simile Red = Imagery Pink = Pun Purple = Apostrophe Blue = Personification Dark Green = Hyperbole Dark Blue = Oxymoron Teal = Paradox
Trackbeth by Abby Anderson, Sadie Beaumont, Gaby Berman, Ally Doyle, and Kaelie Macaulay
SCENE 1: The Beginnings Thalia Thane, a member of the track team at Mira Costa, reports the details of their most recent track meet to Daisy Duncan, the team captain. The troublemaking Michaela Macdonwald was Costa's fastest runner, but decided to transfer to Redondo Union. This leaves her varsity spot open to the talented Mackenna Macbeth.
[DAISY DUNCAN is stretching, THALIA THANE runs up to her]
DAISY How was the meet, Thalia?
THALIA I wasn’t sure that we would win at first- Redondo and Costa both performed well and were at even playing fields. Michaela Macdonwald, as always, stepped up her game to help Costa win; her PR is fast, but she’s a poor sport.
DAISY Oh, yeah, I’ve seen her cut off the girls behind her on purpose during the race.
THALIA But, Mackenna Macbeth also pulled through, she sprinted past everyone and won the mile! She is as quick as lightning.
DAISY Wow! What an impressive feat for a JV athlete! She’s awfully good!
THALIA We crushed them thanks to Mackenna! And in the 800 meter, MacKenna came back twice as strong as before and faster than everyone! I think she wanted to break the school record today.
DAISY She should take the open varsity spot since Michaela is transferring to Redondo this week- that was her last meet. Mackenna Macbeth should be rewarded for her loyalty to the team and superior speed! It’s not easy to compete with those girls.
THALIA Of course you would know, as varsity team captain. Anyway, I’ll tell her the good news.
SCENE 2: A Visit to the Trainer A new trainer who is far from normal arrives at Mira Costa, and presents Mackenna and her best friend Bailey Banquo with prophecies explaining their fates. According to the trainer, Mackenna will get a spot on the varsity team and become team captain, and Bailey's younger sisters will become team captains. The trainer disappears before she can explain the details of the vague prophecies. Thalia reveals to Mackenna that she has been given Michaela's varsity spot, opening the possibility that the prophecies can be true. Mackenna and Bailey discuss what may result from their fates.
[Enter TRAINER]
TRAINER Once there was a girl, skinny and pretty. Her charming face did not mask insolence, as she’s the meanest kid in the city. To those unknown she seems of innocence. She first rejects my generous service, Insulting thirty-two years of training. That foul runner makes her teammates nervous. If only her good looks were sustaining.
[Enter MACKENNA MACBETH and BAILEY BANQUO]
MACKENNA Hi- oh [Aside] That’s not my normal trainer. Weird. [To TRAINER] Could you please roll out my leg? My name’s Mac-
TRAINER Mackenna Macbeth. How are you?
MACKENNA [Aside] How did she know my name? [To TRAINER] Today has been weird; even though I did well at the meet, I feel uneasy. It was bright and sunny earlier, but in the blink of an eye,the sun hid behind the clouds and the fog covered the ground. It hung in the air and droplets of water clung to my shirt.
TRAINER Your wins were very impressive, nonetheless. First place in both the mile and half mile! It's a very challenging feat.
MACKENNA Thank you, but I’m super sore now, even though I wasn’t earlier.
TRAINER I'll roll you out! Mackenna Macbeth, junior varsity runner.
MACKENNA Yes.I’ve been on JV ever since the seniors graduated last year.
TRAINER Mackenna Macbeth, varsity runner.
MACKENNA Varsity? Are you sure? There are so many deserving girls for the spot, and Michaela is our best varsity runner!
TRAINER Mackenna Macbeth, varsity captain.
MACKENNA What are you talking about?
TRAINER [To BAILEY] And Bailey Banquo, always second behind your best friend. You will be happier, and although you aren’t as lucky, your younger sisters will become varsity captain one after the other.
BAILEY [To MACKENNA] We should be happy with these predictions! What if they actually come true? That would be amazing!
MACKENNA [To TRAINER] But these predictions are unbelievable! Getting on to varsity is difficult enough! But team captain… [To TRAINER] Tell me more!
[She turns, but TRAINER is gone]
[Enter THALIA]
THALIA Have you heard the news? Coach said she’s been so impressed with your performances lately that you’ll replace Michaela!
MACKENNA Why would I replace Michaela? She's our best runner.
THALIA She’s transferring to Redondo! But, I’m so excited for you.
MACKENNA [Aside] What the trainer told me came true! Could this mean that I will become varsity team captain one day?
THALIA Congrats Mackenna! We’ll see you later at practice!
[THALIA exits]
BAILEY [To MACKENNA] The trainer was right, if you believe what the weird, but strangely nice, trainer said. That means you'll be team captain one day!
MACKENNA [To BAILEY] But she may be lying. Then again, she predicted that I would be on varsity, and now I am!
BAILEY [To MACKENNA] But we must be careful, it was a pretty vague statement, people may tell the truth and they may seem honest, but they could betray us.
MACKENNA [To herself] This can’t be both good and bad; what she told me was good, and now I’m part of varsity, and that alone is amazing! So why am I thinking of doing something horrible to Daisy, our own beloved captain? If what the trainer said is true, then maybe I can fulfill the prophecy without pulling any strings. What is destined to happen, will happen. Right?
BAILEY [To MACKENNA] Come on! You can’t be late on your first day of varsity practice!
SCENE 3: Team Meeting Daisy acknowledges Mackenna's performances in the last meet, and reveals that Maddy Malcolm will take her position as team captain when she graduates. This upsets Mackenna, as she is not next in line for authority.
DAISY And last but definitely not least, thank you Mackenna Macbeth, our newest addition to the varsity team, for pulling through and helping us win at the meet! MACKENNA Thank you Daisy, I wouldn’t be able to do this without your amazing leadership as our team captain! I am so honored to race alongside you!
DAISY Speaking of team captains, after what seemed like years of deliberation, I have decided who will fill my position when I graduate next year.
Now give it up for your future team captain, Maddy Malcolm! Now that that’s covered, you can all leave for your run. Allons-y!
[Applause]
[Exit everyone except MACKENNA]
MACKENNA Wait, what? This can’t be. Maddy will not get in the way of the trainer’s prophecy. I need to become team captain. How will I get into my dream university if Maddy takes the position that I deserve. In order to become team captain I now have to step over Maddy and Daisy. Cameras, stop flashing, do not capture my darkest and most terrible desires. If someone is going to get injured, let it happen before the next meet.
SCENE 4: Calling Mom Mrs. Macbeth, Mackenna's mother, is elated at the discovery of her daughter's successful future. She convinces a doubtful Mackenna to go through with the plan, and injure Daisy so that she can fill her position as team captain.
[On the phone]
MRS. MACBETH Mackenna, that’s wonderful!Congratulations, my sweet daughter.
MACKENNA Thanks Mom! It was really weird, the new trainer predicted that I would become a varsity runner, and I did!
MRS. MACBETH Wow, that's funny.
MACKENNA But there’s more, she also predicted that I would become varsity team captain!! The only thing is that Daisy doesn't graduate until next year.
MRS.MACBETH Remember what I always tell you: don't run over obstacles and failures; run them down.
MACKENNA Mmhm. My immediate reaction was to injure Daisy, but now I don't think that I should.
MRS. MACBETH You need to become team captain, now. Injure your current captain soon, or else you’ll RUN out of time! But seriously, remember the quote and run down your obstacles… or even HURDLE them! HA!
MACKENNA Mom stop, this is serious. Daisy is the team captain, and she is as loyal and kind as the day is long.
MRS. MACBETH Yes, but I fear that you are as well. You must be able to sacrifice your friendships in order to succeed in life.
MACKENNA But Mom! Daisy is a gem, rare and precious. I can’t do anything to harm her! She is making our team better than I could ever dream of.
MRS. MACBETH Time, rewind and unage me now, and fill me from head to toe with youthful rebelliousness! Mackenna Macbeth, you need to understand that you need this position to enhance your college applications, without it you will be a mediocre student, unable to stand out.You were a JV runner, and now you’re on varsity. And even better, you will become varsity team captain. Don’t let me down, Mackenna.