Boys in Control Read Online Free PDF

get used to criticism, so say whatever you really feel about it. Okay?”
    “Okay,” said Wally.
    Caroline cleared her throat, held the tablet out in front of her, and began: “A Night to Forget,” she read.
    “Act one, scene one: A cottage on the beach. Ten o'clock at night. A couple is on their honeymoon.”
    JIM: Wasn't that a nice walk on the beach, honey?
    NANCY: Yes, it was. And wasn't the moon beautiful?
    JIM: Yes, it was.
    NANCY: I wonder what those strange marks were on the sand, though.
    JIM: Probably just a crab or some sort of seagull.
    NANCY: I suppose so.
She yawns.
    JIM: Well, I guess we should go to bed.
    NANCY: Yes, I'm very tired.
    JIM: I'll turn out the lights.
    NANCY: Wait a minute. What was that noise? It sounds like something trying to get in.
    JIM: Probably just the wind. I think you're imagining things.
    NANCY: I suppose so. Good night.
    JIM: Good night.
    They kiss.
    Wally found Caroline looking at him. He also felt his neck beginning to get red.
    “Okay so far?” asked Caroline.
    “I guess so,” said Wally.
    “Act one, scene two,” said Caroline. “Twelve o'clock at night. Jim and Nancy's bedroom. There is just enough moonlight coming in the window that the audience can see what's onstage.”
    NANCY: Jim! Jim! Wake up. I hear that noise again.
    JIM: Huh?
    NANCY: I hear it, and it's louder now! I really think someone's trying to get in.
    JIM: But we're the only ones on the beach. There aren't any other houses for miles around. Who would it be?
    NANCY: I don't know, but I think you should do something.
    JIM: Okay. I hear it now too. I'll go downstairs and check.
    There is a sloshing, thumping, scraping noise offstage.
N ANCY : Oh, Jim! Be careful!
    JIM: Don't fear, my love. I'll be okay.
    Nancy sits up in bed with one hand to her throat. Jim grabs a golf club and goes out into the hall in his pajamas. The noise gets louder and louder, and then there is a terrible yell from Jim.
    NANCY: Jim! Jim!
    There is a gurgling sound from downstairs and then the house is quiet. Nancy leaps out of bed and backs up against the wall, her eyes wide. When Jim does not come back, she runs over and locks the bedroom door and then she gets back in bed. Soon she is sound asleep.
    “What?” said Wally. “Her husband disappears and she just goes back to sleep?”
    Caroline thoughtfully tapped her pencil against her cheek. “Okay,” she said. “She'll lie there with her eyes wide open until morning.” Caroline made a note on her tablet, then began reading aloud again:
    Act one, scene three: Morning in the cottage. Nancy sits up in bed sobbing.
    NANCY: Jim! Jim! Where are you?
There is no answer. She gets out of bed and looks out the window. The sky is dark and brooding.
    NANCY: I know! I'll call the beach patrol. They will come over and help us.
She lifts up the telephone.
Oh, no! The line is dead!
    She puts on her robe and combs her hair. Then she takes another one of her husband's golf clubs and carefully opens the bedroom door.
    NANCY: Jim? Jim?
    She takes a step outside into the hall.
    NANCY: Jim? Jim?
    No answer. She screams. She puts her hands to her face. She screams again. She bends down and touches something on the floor. The floor and the stairs are covered with a thick green slime. Curtain falls. End of act one.
    Caroline closed her writing tablet and looked at Wally. “Well,” she said, “how did you like it?”
    “It stinks,” said Wally.
    “What?” cried Caroline.
    “You wanted me to be truthful,” said Wally.
    “But you have to say more than ‘It stinks,’ ” said Caroline. “This play has everything! It has romance and science fiction and suspense and mystery!”
    “It still stinks,” said Wally. And then, thinking that perhaps he sounded a bit harsh, he said, “Of course, I've only heard the first act. I probably shouldn't say anything until I've heard it all.”
    “Right,” said Caroline. “But what's the matter with it so far?”
    Wally shrugged. “They don't sound like