10-minute: The Backpack Play

Logline: When their son asks for a bulletproof backpack while back-to-school shopping, parents Rob and Angela must confront their fears and anxieties about the world we live in.

Synopsis: When Robert’s son Marcus comes home from school shopping with his mother, Angela, he’s very excited to show his father all his new school supplies - including his new “safety backpack.” When Marcus runs off into the other room, Rob confronts Angela for having forced their elementary-aged son to get such a morbid product. They debate the safety of schools in this age of gun violence, Rob insisting that such provisions are unnecessary. He accuses Angela of being hysterical until she reveals that she is not the one who picked out the backpack - Marcus did. Shattered by the news, Rob apologizes and consoles Angela as she describes the heartbreaking scene in which she realized that their son is all too aware of the world. Rob resolves to speak with Marcus about the backpack and as their son emerges from his bedroom, the parents share a powerful nonverbal moment before the boys go outside.

The Backpack is an incredibly powerful short script. Please reach out via email or contact form if interested in reading or producing. There is also a screenplay version of this story. This play is available on the New Play Exchange.