End of Scene 3
The End
(The secretary is seated at her desk. On her shirt is a big sign that reads `Ms. Smart'. Terry's shirt is labeled, too. The Principal's name, Mr. Bumbleton, is on the front of his shirt. Terry and the principal shake hands in the doorway to his office. Terry leaves. Mr. Bumbleton stands in the doorway and listens to the conversation between Terry and Ms. Smart.)
Terry: Wow! Was that ever confusing. Are you going to explain the rest?
Ms. Smart: Certainly. I think this is what he wants me to explain to you: You probably already know that here at Unusual School each person either tells the truth or lies. All the time. We call the people who always tell the truth Brights, and we call the ones who lie all of the time Braves. Since you want to come to this school...
Terry: Well, I just moved here. I don't think I want to come to this school. I just moved into the district. I have to.
Ms. Smart: Well, sure, okay. Since you are here, the first thing that you have to do when you come to this school is figure out who all the Brights are and who all the Braves are. Then it's not confusing at all to be here.
Terry: That's simple enough. I'll just ask them.
Ms. Smart: Of course. Just remember that whatever they tell you, if it is a Bright talking, the statement is true, and if it is a Brave, whatever it is they say is false.
Mr. Bumbleton: If you believe everything she says, you will make mistakes. You can't get reliable information from just anyone in Unusual School--especially from this person. She lies!
Ms. Smart: Well, er, yes. Of course, Mr. Bumbleton, of course you would remind him of that. Good luck, Terry.
End of Scene
Ms. Boss: Students, please. I don't want to see anyone sitting in their seats right now. And I want everyone to all talk at once. (Students move quickly to their seats and sit down quietly. The desks are arranged so that the students sit in pairs.)
Ms. Boss: As most of you haven't noticed, we do not have any new students in our class. His name is not Terry, and he does not want to get acquainted with you. I don't want you to answer any of the questions that he asks you. Would everyone please close their books and stop reading.
Terry: (to audience) Oh brother. I thought just the kids were Brights and Braves. But clearly this teacher must be a Brave. What about Mr. Bumbleton and Ms. Smart? I have a lot to figure out. I better get started. (Approaches the desk where Jan and Mike are sitting.)
Terry: Boy, this sure is a hard project I have to do here. Can you help me out at all?
Jan: Braves always say that they are Brights.
Terry: That makes sense. I'll remember that.
Mike: Well, if I was a Brave, I wouldn't say I was a Bright.
Terry: (scribbles something in a notebook) Gee, you two, thanks a lot. (Moves over to the desk that Pat and Denise share.) Say, I was wondering if you could help me with. . .
Pat: She says she's a Brave. Don't believe her.
Denise: Oh you lie all the time!
Terry: (writes in the notebook) Hey, thanks a lot! Talk to you later. (Continues on to the desk where John and Emily are sitting.) Well, who do we have here?
John: One Bright, one Brave.
Emily: Don't believe it. He always lies.
Terry: (writes in his notebook) Thanks for the help. Catch you after while. (Moves on to Billy and Susan's desk.) So, who sits here?
Billy: Exactly one of us is a Brave.
Terry: And which one is that?
(Billy and Susan both speak at the same time.)
Billy: (pointing to Susan) Her.
Susan: (pointing to Billy) Him.
Terry: I see. (writes in his notebook) Thanks a lot. See you later. (Terry goes over to the desk where Sandra and Pete are sitting. Neither one of them look up from their books.) Ummm, I wonder if I could ask you two a couple of questions.
Sandra: We're busy. Go away.
Terry: Oh, no, you don't understand. You see, I'm new here, and didn't you hear the teacher when she said that....
Pete: Didn't you hear what Sandra said. She said she doesn't want to talk to you. Go away!
Terry: Oh, please, it won't take but an instant. I'm new here, and I really have to find out whether the two of you are Brights or Braves.
Pete: OK, OK, then, we're both Braves. Now leave us alone!
Terry: (writes in notebook) Whew! That was a hard one. It's been, uh, nice, uh, I mean, maybe we can talk again sometime. Later. (Terry leaves and goes to the desk of Dan and Alice.) Hi there, uh...
Alice: We're both the same kind.
Terry: I wonder what I am supposed to make of that.
Alice: If I am a Brave, then so is he.
Terry: Oh, I see. Thanks. (Writes in the notebook.) Now, whose next? (Goes over to Mark and Pam.) Hi. Which of you two is the type that would claim to be a Bright?
Mark and Pam: (They both raise their hands.)
Terry: Oh, I see. (Writes in notebook.) Thanks, you two. I guess there's only a few people left to check with. (Goes over to the table with Tony and Becky.)
Terry: Good morning! Can you tell me anything about yourselves?
Tony: She's the only Brave at this desk.
Becky: No, he is.
Terry: (writes in notebook) Thanks an awful lot, you two. Only one more desk to visit. (Walks over to Tom and Connie.)
(Tom and Connie answer exactly together to each of Terry's questions.)
Terry: Are you Brights?
Tom and Connie: Yes!
Terry: Are you Braves?
Tom and Connie: No!
Terry: Are you lying?
Tom and Connie: No!
Terry: Is your partner lying?
Tom and Connie: Yes!
Terry: Is somebody lying?
Tom: No!
Connie: Yes!
Terry: (writes in notebook) Well, I think that does it! It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. This school is pretty fun. I think I want to stay here for sure. I wonder what I am supposed to do next.
Ms. Boss: Terry, I don't want you to come over here, and I don't want to see that list either.
Terry: Ok, sure. (He closes up the notebook and starts to sit down, then pauses. . .) Oops! I mean, I'm sorry. (Hurries over to Ms. Boss and shows her the list.)
Ms. Boss: (Looking at the paper.) This is completely wrong. You shouldn't go back to the office with it. I don't want you to listen to what I say, because it is not important. You cannot influence whether you will become a Bright or a Brave. If the next thing that you say is true, from that moment on you will be a Brave. If the next thing that you say is not true, you will become a Bright. Now, you must stay here and not go back to the office. (Terry pauses and thinks. Then he leaves the classroom.)
End of Scene 2.
Terry: In this building, there can only be 11 Brights and 10 Braves.
Mr. Bumbleton:
And I see you have not yet decided which one you
will be.
(Terry and Mr. Bumbleton laugh and shake hands
triumphantly.)
End of Scene 3
The End