Scene 1: School - Treasure and Juliet
(Treasure and Juliet meet in the school hallway.)
Treasure: Hi Juliet, it’s so good to see you. How were the holidays?
Juliet: Hey Treasure. I missed you so much. I didn’t get to do anything during the holidays. I was sad to know you couldn’t come visit me.
Treasure: Yeah, I ended up visiting my grandmother. I’m sorry I couldn’t come.
Juliet: It’s okay. How was it though?
Treasure: It was fun. We went to the arcade with my uncle and cousins. And my grandmother is always nice—she makes me food all the time.
Juliet: Were you able to do the essay we were supposed to do?
Treasure: Yes, I did it while at my grandmother’s. Did you?
Juliet: Yes. I had all the time in the world.
(Both laugh as the teacher enters.)
Teacher: Good morning, everyone. Please take out your essays from the holidays. I’ll collect them from the first row and distribute them back to the last row.
(The teacher collects and redistributes the essays. Juliet receives Treasure’s essay.)
Juliet: I have your paper.
(Juliet reads Treasure’s essay eagerly.)
Scene 2: Juliet and Lorraine
(Juliet and Lorraine chat in the school hallway.)
Juliet: I was proofreading Treasure’s essay. She wrote that she wants to leave your family and buy a house far away. She even said she’d run away if she has to.
Lorraine: Are you serious? With what money?
Juliet: She said she’ll use her inheritance when she turns 18.
Lorraine: Is she crazy? What makes her think my mom will let her have that money? And how does she know about it?
Juliet: I don’t know, but that’s what she wrote.
Scene 3: Lorraine and Treasure
(Lorraine confronts Treasure.)
Lorraine: Are you crazy? What are these things I’m hearing?
Treasure: What are you talking about now, Lorraine?
Lorraine: Juliet told me about your essay.
Treasure: Did I write anything offensive? I don’t understand.
Lorraine: You said you want to leave us and buy a house and car in a better neighborhood.
Treasure: Yes, that’s the truth. I want that for myself. Am I wrong for wanting better for myself?
Lorraine: I’m going to tell my mom. You’re going to be in trouble.
Treasure: For what?
Lorraine: You’ll see.
Scene 4: Treasure and Juliet
(Treasure speaks with Juliet.)
Treasure: Juliet, why did you tell Lorraine about my essay? Did I do something wrong?
Juliet: Your aunt has done so much for you. Why would you want to leave them?
Treasure: You don’t live with us. You don’t know how they treat me. I don’t think you have the right to speak for them. I don’t like that you shared my honest feelings. And now you’re making me feel bad.
Juliet: I understand. You’re right. I shouldn’t have told her. I’m sorry.
Treasure: It’s okay.
Scene 5: Lorraine and Hope
(Lorraine and Hope discuss at home.)
Lorraine: I have to tell you something from school today.
Hope: What happened?
Lorraine: Remember the essays? Treasure’s friend Juliet told me that Treasure wrote she’s going to use her inheritance to leave us, buy a house and car, and live on her own.
Hope: Does she know how much houses cost? She’s crazy. She’s not going anywhere. She’ll stay here until she dies.
Lorraine: Exactly. Who does she think she is?
Scene 6: Lorraine and Grace
(Lorraine and Grace talk at home.)
Grace: How was school today?
Lorraine: It was good. We submitted our essays. Guess what happened?
Grace: What happened?
Lorraine: Remember Treasure did her essay while at her grandmother’s? She wrote that when she turns 18, she’ll get her inheritance, buy a house and a car, and leave us. She said if you stop her, she’ll run away.
Grace: What? Where did she get that from? I hate that grandmother of hers. She’s feeding her lies. Where is she? Go call her.
Scene 7: Grace and Treasure
(Grace confronts Treasure.)
Grace: What did your grandmother say to you? Why is she feeding you lies? What did you tell her?
Treasure: I didn’t tell her anything.
Grace: She’s lying to you. There’s no money your mother left you. She was poor, and you’ll be poor too. You think you can afford a nice car and house? Forget it. You’ll live here until you die. You’re useless and a snake for telling others our business. You irritate me.
Treasure: You’ve said enough hurtful things. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of you.
Scene 8: Conclusion
(Treasure, devastated, goes to her bedroom. She prepares to take pills but finds a brown envelope under her mother’s mattress.)
Treasure: (Opening the envelope) What is this?
(She discovers papers revealing that the house is legally hers and that her mother saved money for her.)
Treasure: (To herself) I can’t believe it. I have to go to the social worker.
(Treasure takes the papers to the social workers’ office. Her aunt and cousins are informed they must leave within a month. Though they continue to mistreat her, Treasure remains unbothered, knowing they will be gone for good.)
