Skip to main content
Creative Writing
Quarter 2 Module 5
A Scene for a One-
Act Play
OBJECTIVE/S:
➢ identify the elements of a one-act play;
➢ analyze the basic steps in writing a script; and ➢
write at least one scene for one-act
play applying the various elements,
techniques, and literary devices.
PRETEST
1. Which is CORRECT about stage directions?
A.written as part of the spoken dialogue
B. written from the perspective of the director
C.describe the audience’s reaction toward the scene
D.describe scenery, action, and how characters speak
2. Which of the following refers to the unit of story that takes
place at a specific location and time?
A. Conflict B. Dialogue C. Scene
D. Theme
3. Which is TRUE about one-act play?
E. One situation or episode is presented.
F. It focuses on different types of conflict.
G.It presents more complicated layers of plot.
4. What allows the playwright to communicate important things to
the audience through his/her characters?
A.Dialogue B. Drama C. Essay D. Script
5. What is another name for script writer?
B. Antagonist B. Playwright C. Poet D.
Protagonist
6. What is a piece of writing that includes the settings, dialogue,
and actions that take place throughout your play?
C.Dialogue B. Drama C. Essay D. Script
7. Which is FALSE about theme in a play?
D.It refers to the play’s central idea.
E. It can be identified through dialogue and action.
F. It is the philosophy that forms the base of the story.
G.It always depends on the audience’s understanding after
8. What process does the author use to develop characters and
create images of the characters for the audience?
A.Characterization B. Plot C. Setting D.
Theme
9. Which is an example of a direct characterization?
B. Men are mesmerized by her beauty.
C.She has blue eyes and shiny black hair.
D.Even girls are envious on the way she carries herself.
E. Whenever she goes out, she made sure to look pleasant.
10. Which is an example of indirect characterization?
F. He is a good friend.
G.They are like bothers.
H.He is alone and distant from others.
I. He cried when his friend moved to another place.
For numbers 11-15, read the excerpt of drama and answer the following
questions. Write the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet.
Three Rats
by Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
SCENE:
The living room. A coffee-table in front of the sofa. On left side, a
large balcony through which the streetlights pour in. On a table near the
balcony are a telephone and a lamp. A floor-lamp beside the sofa.
Magazines on the tables. The room reveals the refined taste of the owners.
TIME: Evening, about nine o'clock. August.
GONZALO is seated on the sofa, reading the paper. GONZALO
is tall, with a compelling personality. About twenty-seven, he possesses a
and attractive charm, except for his piercing eyes which can flash with
contempt when the occasion demands.
NITA, his wife, comes in with a large tray, with a pot of coffee and two
cups, etc. NITA is an attractive woman of nineteen. She is rather short,
with laughing eyes and a gentle voice. Her expression is innocent, and
there is a subtle air of adolescence about her.
NITA: Here's the coffee, Gonzalo. (She sets the tray on the table.)
GONZALO: (Without lifting his eyes from the paper) Is it hot?
NITA: (Laughing) -- Boiling. (She pours a cup and gives it to him.) Here.
(He takes his cup, slowly sips it, without taking his eyes off the paper.)
You must be tired from your trip to Baguio.
GONZALO: Not at all, Nita.
NITA: Two whole weeks. Long enough for me. I was – lonely.
GONZALO: Were you? (Looks at her briefly.)
NITA: Of course, Gonzalo. I forgot to tell you. I dismissed the maid this
morning. I couldn't stand her insolent ways.
GONZALO: Cora insolent? I never noticed it. She was quite efficient, it
seems to
me – and we've had her for a good many years
NITA: (Laughing again). No, Gonzalo, remember? We got her when we
were married—and we have been married only seven months (She sits
beside her husband and puts her arm around him). Do you know that the
prices of canned goods have gone up? And it took me a long time before
I
could find the right pair of shoes to go with this dress. Luckily, I found
what I wanted at Rustan's. By the way, Menchu came this. afternoon and
brought me the towels.
11. What element is generally described in the scene?
A. Character B. Setting C.
Plot D. Theme
12. Which is FALSE about the characters in the play?
A. Nita is a young wife.
B. Cora is a main character.
C. Direct characterization is used to describe them.
D. The author uses dialogues to reveal their personality.
13. What does Gonzalo’s tone mean when he uttered the line, Were you?
A. He looked forward to rest.
B. He was pleased to hear Nita’s words.
C. He was suspicious of his wife’s concern.
D. He did not understand what Nita meant.
14. What is the use of stage directions in the excerpt?
A. Use to instruct the actors on what to do
B. Additional details to know the character more
C. Communication between the director and the actors
D. Hints given to the audience as to what will happen next
15. What personality trait of Nita is described in the last line?
A. She is a loving wife.
B. She is practical in spending.
C. She loves to spend for herself.
D. She prioritizes their basic needs.
Directions: Fill-in the web map with the elements of play. Explain on the blank
what happens +to a play if one element is missing.
What is a One-Act Play?
One-act play is a play that has only one act but may consist of one or
more scenes. Moreover, it focuses on one main action or problem, and
there’s no time to get into complicated layers of plot.
It is usually written in a concise manner. It revolves around one main
incident, and the characters are limited. It still has the dramatic structure
from exposition to resolution.
How to Write a One-Act Play
1. Choose a subject or story for a one act play. Decide what type of
drama you want to explore, and choose the theme, the play’s central idea.
• What is the play all about?
2. Develop the plot first before composing the dialogue. Keep the plot
simple for a one act play and it should move consistently throughout
the play.
• What is the conflict that the character has to face?
• What are the series of events that lead to the climax?
• How will the story end?
3. Create a character sketch beforehand using the technique,
Characterization.
Direct Characterization- the writer makes direct statements about a
character's personality and tells what the character
is like.
Sherry doesn't like pets.
She is a coward.
Indirect Characterization - the writer reveals a character’s personality
through thoughts, words, and actions
Jim muttered, "I'll go start the car," and ran away because
somebody tried to start a fight.
4. Generate the setting. The setting for a one act play will be one
scene. A scene is a shorter section of a play, usually occurs in one
location at a specific time. Though other one-act plays may create
more scenes.
5. Add significant stage directions. They are instructions in the
script of a play that tell actors how to enter, where to stand, when to
move, and so on. They are usually enclosed in parenthesis or
brackets.
Stage direction’s main purpose is to guide actors through their
movements onstage.
Onstage movement and positioning is called blocking. So,
stage right and stage left are the actor’s right and left, not the
audience’s. Center stage is simply the middle of the stage.
Meanwhile, Upstage refers to the part of the stage farthest
from the audience,
and Downstage is the part of the stage closest to the audience.
6. After you finished creating the dialogues, evaluate if they
sound natural.
7. Check on every detail including the grammatical structure.
8. Rewrite your draft to come up with the best script.
WANTED: A CHAPERON
By Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
CHARACTERS:
DON FRANCISCO (the father)
DOÑA PETRA (the mother)
NENA (their daughter)
ROBERTING (their son)
DOÑA DOLORES
FRED (her son)
FRANCISCO (the servant)
PABLO (the mayordomo)
TIME: One Sunday morning, at about eleven.
Below is an excerpt of a play.
SCENE: The living-room. Simply furnished. A window on the right. At
the rear, a corridor. A door on the left Sofa, chairs, etc. at the discretion of
the director.
When the curtain rises, DON FRANCISCO, about sixty, is seen sitting on
the sofa, smoking a cigar He wears a nice-looking lounging robe.
Presently ROBERTING, his twenty-year old son, good-looking, well-
dressed, enters. He wants to ask some. thing from his father, but before he
gathers enough courage, he maneuvers about the stage and clears his
throat several times before he finally approaches him.
ROBERTING (Clearing his throat). Ehem-ehem-ehem!
FRANCISCO (Looking up briefly). Ehem
ROBERTING. -Father-
FRANCISCO (Without looking at him). What?
ROBERTING. Father-
FRANCISCO. Well?
ROBERTING. Father-
FRANCISCO. Again?
ROBERTING. Well, you see it's like this-
FRANCISCO. Like what?
ROBERTING. It's not easy to explain, Father
FRANCISCO. If it isn't then come back when I'm through with the paper
ROBERTING. Better now, Father. It's about-money.
FRANCISCO. Money! What money?
ROBERTING. Well, you see-
FRANCISCO (imitating his tone). Well, you see-I'm busy!
ROBERTING. I need money.
FRANCISCO (Dropping the paper). Need money! Aren't you working
already? ROBERTING. Yes, but-it isn't enough.
What I can do
Directions: Think of a timely and relevant scenario that you can use in
writing a one-act play. Create an outline, and answer the prompt
questions given. Write your answer on separate sheets of paper.
Story
• What is the play all about?
Type of drama
Theme
Plot
• What is the conflict that the character has to face?
• What are the series of events that lead to the
climax?
• How will the story end?
Characters
• Describe using Direct Characterization
Setting
• Describe the setting (time, place, atmosphere)
• Only for one scene
What I have learned
Directions: Fill-in the blanks with the correct words to complete the idea about
One-Act Play. Choose your answer from the terms provided. Write your
answer on separate sheets of paper.
What’s More
Directions: Write one scene for one-act play based on the outline you made in
What I Can Do. Remember to apply the various elements, techniques, and
literary devices. Write your script on separate sheets of paper following the
template given.
Consider the rubric for scoring.
Rubric for Script Writing
Criteria 5 4 3 2 1
CHARACTERS are believable for the situation. They are well- developed and
have motivations for their actions.
EXPOSITION provides enough background on the characters
and setting for the play to make sense.
Has a CONFLICT that gets introduced in the INCITING INCIDENT
Tension/suspense increases through COMPLICATIONS in RISING ACTION.
Has a CLIMAX that is the highest point of suspense/tension or
a turning point.
FALLING ACTION ties up loose ends and possibly shows how
the conflict is won or lost.
The RESOLUTION gives the play an ending.
Formatted correctly:
Includes a title and list of characters
Character names in ALL CAPS at the beginning of the line of dialogue,
followed by a colon (:)
Character names in ALL CAPS in stage directions
Stage directions should be in parenthesis and, if typed, italicized.
Post Test
1. It is NOT a characteristic of a one-act play.
A. One situation or episode is presented.
B. It focuses on one main action or problem.
C. It is brief, condensed, and single in effect.
D. It presents more complicated layers of plot.
2. It refers to a shorter section of a play, usually occurs in one location at
a specific time.
E. Conflict
F. Dialogue
G. Scene
H. Theme
3. It is an INCORRECT idea about stage directions.
A. enclosed in brackets or parenthesis
B. describe scenery, action, and how characters speak
C. guide actors' movements on the stage, called blocking
D. written from the perspective of the audience facing the actor
4. It refers to the author of a play or script.
A. Antagonist B. Playwright C. Poet
D. Protagonist
5. It is a piece of writing in the form of drama.
B. Dialogue B. Drama C. Essay
D. Script
6. It refers to the exchange of spoken words between two or more
characters in a play.
7. It is the representation of traits, motives, and psychology of a character in
drama.
A. Characterization B. Plot C. Setting
D. Theme
8. It is an example of a direct characterization.
B. She was intelligent and rich.
C. Her luxurious life is envied by many.
D. She bought expensive and branded clothes.
E. She wore a ten-carat diamond necklace everywhere she went.
9. It is an example of indirect characterization.
F. Cj is a playful kid.
G. B. Jap is Cj’s older brother.
H. He warned the playmates not to bully him.
I. His mother said that Jap is a role model to his younger brother.
10. All are correct about the theme of a play, EXCEPT
A. It refers to the play’s central idea.
B. It can be identified through dialogue and action.
C. It is the philosophy that forms the base of the story.
D. It always depends on the audience’s understanding after
watching the entire performance.
For numbers 11-15, read the excerpt of drama and answer the
following questions. Write the letter of the correct answer on the paper.
The Dancers
by Alberto S. Florentino
SCENE:
The front yard of a poor family's dwelling on the out-skirts of the city.
The backdrop shows the front of a house: a doorway, a wide low
window, and three steps of adobe stones.
Two long wooden benches, one on each side. Downstage, an old rattan
chair probably salvaged from a nearby dump.
The street is to the left. The sound of children playing can be heard.
JUANITO, a thin gangling boy of 12, still in shorts, sits on the rattan
chair, balled up tightly like a bomb, looking despondently at the children
playing in the street.
NENITA, a growing girl of 17, sits on the long wooden bench at right, her
unshod feet resting on it. She is reading a copy of "Pilipino Komiks."
TONY, about 21, in denim pants and t-shirt, enters from the street. He
throws his cap through the window.
TONY: (to Juanito) Why aren't you playing with your friends.
JUANITO: (no answer)
TONY: Hey, what's the matter with you? (he nudges him)
TONY: (he flaunts the wad of paper money before him) Aren't you going
to ask
for money today?
JUANITO: No!
TONY: (he raps him on the head) All right, but don't shout at me.
JUANITO: (another grunt)
11. It is the element which is generally described in the scene.
A. Character B. Setting C. Plot D.
Theme
12. It is the only FALSE about the characters in the play.
A. They are orphans.
B. Juanito is the youngest.
C. Direct characterization is used to describe them.
D. The author uses dialogues to reveal their personality.
13. The line, looking despondently at the children playing in
the street, suggests that Juanito
A. was waiting for Tony.
B. was not in the mood to play.
C. was bullied by other children.
14. It is the use of stage directions in the excerpt.
A. Use to instruct the actors on what to do
B. Additional details to know the character more
C. Communication between the director and the actors
D. Hints given to the audience as to what will happen next
15. Downstage is the name of this part of the stage.
A. side of the stage
B. middle of the stage
C. closest to the audience
D. farthest from the audience
Copy of 5_Quarter2-Creative-Writing.pptx