Just One Picture Characters: Abigail - an older 20-something Marisa - an older 20-something, Abigail’s friend Jessica - a teenager Mark, Julian, Tessa - passerby on the street Setting: A busy city street, near a large, colorful mural on the side of a building MARISA Oh wow, what a beautiful mural! We have to take a picture. (ABIGAIL glances at her phone to see the time, looking a little annoyed) ABIGAIL We’re really short on time and these lunch reservations were super hard to get, I’m not sure… MARISA Oh come on, it’s one picture. It’ll take like 3 seconds! ABIGAIL Ugh, fine. Just one picture, though. MARISA Just one picture. Let me just ask someone to take it… (ABIGAIL walks over to the wall as MARISA glances around the busy street, where lots of people are walking by. She notices a teenage girl, JESSICA, and stops her.) MARISA Hi! Would you mind taking a quick picture of me and my friend? JESSICA Oh my gosh, of course! No problem at all! MARISA Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. (She hands JESSICA her phone. JESSICA looks down at it doubtfully.) JESSICA Oh, you don’t have the iPhone XVI? It’s really the only way I take pictures now. MARISA Oh, uh, no, I haven’t gotten around to buying it yet. (JESSICA sighs, gathers herself, and smiles bravely.) JESSICA You know what, it’s okay. You seem super nice, so I can make an exception. (MARISA looks confused but smiles gratefully.) MARISA Oh, well, thank you so much, again. (They walk over to where ABIGAIL is waiting next to the mural. ABIGAIL and MARISA put their arms around each other and smile. JESSICA raises the phone and takes a picture, then looks at it critically. ABIGAIL and MARISA start to walk over to her.) ABIGAIL Thanks for helping out. JESSICA Actually you know, no offense, it just looks a little awkward. Do you just want to take another one really quick? ABIGAIL We actually really don’t have the time-- MARISA (cutting her off) Yes, that would be great. Just one more would be great. JESSICA Awesome. OK, this time, why don’t you (she gestures at ABIGAIL)--what’s your name? ABIGAIL Uh, it’s Abigail. JESSICA Abigail, why don’t you, like, sort of squat down in front. (They walk back to the wall and ABIGAIL looks annoyed, but MARISA gives her a meaningful look and nods encouragingly. ABIGAIL crouches slowly into an awkward squat.) JESSICA Awesome, this looks great. So now smile, but not totally. Keep your mouth closed. Smile like you have a secret, or like you’re thinking something really deep and meaningful. (She takes a couple pictures, moving around to get different angles, crouching and standing on her tiptoes. She looks very professional, and ABIGAIL and MARISA stay in their position, looking bemused.) JESSICA Oh, this looks great. So nice. ABIGAIL (reaching out for the phone) Great, thank you again. We should really-- JESSICA Now let’s try it with serious faces, like pensive, really deep thoughts. MARISA Should Abigail stay squatting, or--? ABIGAIL Seriously? JESSICA Yeah, let’s keep that for now. And you--what’s your name? MARISA Marisa! JESSICA Okay Marisa, you just sort of lean back against the wall, put one foot up against it. Be casual but also serious. (She takes more pictures as a crowd starts to gather around them. A couple onlookers offer suggestions, like “Have her lean a little to the right,” and “Try a higher angle.” JESSICA starts to change up the shots more frequently now; bright pop music starts playing from somewhere, like a real photoshoot.) JESSICA Now turn around and face the wall, look up at it. Marisa, take your hair down! Now look at each other and laugh! Yes, so cute! (She looks around the crowd and grabs a few onlookers, MARK, JULIAN, and TESSA.) Just jump in there to fill out the shot. Be natural! Talk with each other, just have fun with it! (ABIGAIL and MARISA look more and more awkward until ABIGAIL finally steps out.) ABIGAIL Oh my god, OK, enough! (the music cuts off) (JESSICA takes a few last pictures, then sighs and hands her the phone.) JESSICA Yeah, so, I took a few, to be honest with you the lighting wasn’t that great. (MARISA and ABIGAIL look down at the phone and their jaws drop open. The photos are perfectly shot, crystal clear, and flattering from every angle.) MARISA No, no, these are great, like, literally perfect. Wow. Thank you? ABIGAIL Yeah, so uh, thanks again. (They start to walk away, but JESSICA catches up to them) JESSICA I’m actually free for the next couple hours if you guys need help with filters, or cropping, or a caption or anything. MARISA Oh no, I don’t even have Instagram. (JESSICA gapes at her, almost speechless. The crowd from before, still hanging out behind her, gasps in unison.) JESSICA What--why--what did I just waste all my time for?? THE END