Cast of Characters : Narrator #1: Narrator #2: Narrator #3: Mrs. Rodgers: Mr. Rodgers: Wears cleaning clothes; is very silly but also very sweet Dressed in all black, highlights the actions of Dressed in all black, highlights the actions of Dressed in all black, highlights the actions of Wears a dress, is friendlier than husband Wears a suit, is very serious
ACT I Scene 1 INT. Family Room. sits on the edge of DOWNSTAGE LEFT and sits on the edge of DOWNSTAGE RIGHT. pantomimes all of the activities that are described in the narration with exaggerated enthusiasm. Amedlia Bedelia, I made a list for your since I will be gone on your first day of work. Mr. Rodgers and I will be back later. Goodbye! I like those two. They are nice folks who live in this really big house. I shall like to work here. made great pies, so she decided to make a lemon meringue pie to surprise the Rodgers when they came home. [Kitchen is on STAGE LEFT.] went into the kitchen and used a little of this and a little bit of that as she mixed and rolled the pie crust. She put the pit into the oven and then began to read the list of things left for her to do. Let s see -- first, change the towels in the green bathroom. These towels are so lovely, though, I wonder why they would need to be changed? [Bathroom is on STAGE RIGHT.] knew she had to do the jobs on the list, so she found some scissors and cut and snipped and cut some more to change the towels. Now...they were shapes. The second job on the list says to dust the furniture. I think I should undust the furniture, but oh well, I will do as they say! [Living room is UPSTAGE CENTER.] (CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2. found a box with dusting powder inside and she thought it was special powder to dust with, so she poured it all over the furniture. All.over.it. This furniture--this room!--smells so lovely with all this special dust all over it, it s no wonder they wanted to be dust the furniture! Next on the list is to draw the drapes. What a funny request...and I m not a very good artist, but I shall try to make a good picture! [Sits on the floor in front of the furniture and draws a picture, looking very determined and focused, tongue sticking out in concentration.] Amelia had fun drawing the drapes [looks over at Amelia drawing]..too much fun. She then checked on her fourth job. [Puts drawing down on the table.] The list says..."when you are finished, put out the lights." Oh, duh, easy, I ll just hang them on the clothesline. Amelia, you re getting smarter by the minute! Oh, I better go check on my pie in the oven! Amelia took out her pie and...wow, it looks good, don t you think so? Yeah, she actually did something right! But then, she checked the next thing on her list. It says to measure two cups of rice. Duh, my tape measure! The two cups are 4 1/2 inches. What a strange job for me to do! [Speaking to the rice cups.] Back into the bag you go! Oh boy. Well, two jobs left on the list. How hard can they be? It says here the meat market delivered a steak and chicken. I have to trim the fat and dress the chicken before I put them in the fridge. (CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3. Amelia had a little too much fun decorating the fat with ribbons and lace. She also took too much time coordinating the dress for the chicken. Uh oh...and the Rodgers are back...i m not staying for this catastrophe. I m with you! [Both narrators exit from STAGE RIGHT as MR. RODGERS and enter STAGE LEFT.] MR. RODGERS, why are all the light bulbs outside on the clothesline? [MR. RODGERS crosses to bathroom.] The list said to put all the lights out, but it didn t say to bring them back in., you should have drawn the drapes because the sun fades the furniture. And, oh my goodness, what is this filth on my furniture? I did draw a really good picture of the drapes for you. OH, and I used the special dusting powder on all of the furniture. [MR. RODGERS enters into the living room.] MR. RODGERS I was washing my hands and I see the towels...have changed. Yes, they really do look different! Do you like the change? Did I chaaaange them enough? [giving up on the conversation] I am going to cook dinner now. Where is the rice you measured? The cups were 4 1/2 inches, but the rice is back in the box! (CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4. [rubbing her temples as she enters the kitchen.] I will get the steak and chicken out then. OH MY GOODNESS! Why is this steak covered in ribbon and this chicken dressed like a girl?! Don t they look just SO adorable?! I did just want the list said to do; trim the fat and dress the chicken! [Narrators enter again, both standing on DOWNSTAGE LEFT.] We re back...because, you see, Mrs. Rodgers was just about to fire, but then, she smelled something wonderful coming from the kitchen. Amelia, did you bake...a pie? I bake lovely pies. I wanted to make something special for you when you came home! Mrs. Rodgers forgot all about the ridiculous things did just from one little lemon pie! Mrs. Rodgers learned to write her lists differently for Amelia in the future, and Amelia agreed to work for them forever. Yeah...good luck with that Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers! [NARRATORS EXIT AS LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK.]