THE MONSTER IN THE CLOSET
A ten-minute play
By
Stephyn O
Rock Point School
CHARACTERS: JIMMY, Eight years old HOWARD and MARTHA’S son.
HOWARD, 30’s, JIMMY’S father
MARTHA, 30’s , JIMMY’S mother
MONSTER IN CLOSET, Never to be seen. The closet should give off a red light from its shudders and cracks when it speaks and be able to open and close.
SCENE: Jimmy’s Room
AT RISE: It’s Jimmy’s room, its very dark and there’s a small light coming from the door on the east side, a child’s grumbling can be heard.
(HOWARD walks by and sees JIMMY hiding under the blanket and shaking, he shakes his head disapprovingly.)
HOWARD
You know, son, some day when you get over this fear of the dark, you’ll thank me for taking your silly night-light.
(HOWARD puts his hand in his pocket and takes out a small clown-faced night-light.)
I don’t even get why you need this thing, I think its scarier then the dark.
(He slides it back in his pocket as MARTHA approaches the door.)
MARTHA
Goodnight Jimmy, your father and I love you very much.
JIMMY
(JIMMY screams at them under the covers)
If you really loved me, you’d give me my night-light!
(HOWARD and MARTHA look at each other close the door.)
(No sound is heard for a few moments; JIMMY silently pokes his face out from the covers and looks at the closet.)
(THE CLOSET lets out a red, threatening, light, startling JIMMY under the covers again.)
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET
Yah Jimmy, don’t be a baby. I mean you have me for company and you know I’ll always be here for you. In fact, why don’t you step inside so we can talk?
(The closet doors burst open; all that can bee seen is the red light.)
(JIMMY bends over the side of the bed, grabs a toy and chucks it in the closet. The closet doors slam shut.)
JIMMY
Take that you…you…you big stupid poop head!!!
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET
Now, now Jimmy, it’s not nice to throw stuff at your friends, especially when those friends can pick their teeth with your bones. Hahahahahaha!
(Closet Slams open for a mere moment and we see something get thrown into Jimmy’s bed before slamming shut.)
(JIMMY slowly picks up what flew onto his bed. It’s the toy he threw, though now it has been chewed up and broken.)
MONSTER IN CLOSET
(Sniffing noises)
PEE YEW!!! You know what I smell Jimmy … your fear… or your closet. It smells terrible in here and it’s more than just me. You need to do laundry you little brat. I’m having friends over soon and I don’t want you dirty underwear stinking up the place!
JIMMY
No! It’s my closet I can do what I want with it!
(Closet flies open and a pair of dirty underwear flies out and lands on Jimmy’s head)
Ok that’s it! Mom, Dad, help me!
(Jimmy’s door bursts open with HOWARD holding a tennis racket to beat off what ever has frightened his son. MARTHA stands directly behind him.)
(They look around to see nothing there and they’re faces are instantly full of tired anger.)
(HOWARD lowers the tennis racket.)
HOWARD
Jimmy, it was just a nightmare.
JIMMY
But Dad there’s a monster in my closet!
HOWARD
No buts.
MARTHA
Oh, Howard don’t be harsh on the boy it was his first night with out a night light he’s obviously gonna be scared of the dark .
HOWARD
Fine fine, but when I was his age I use to sleep out in the cold wilderness lying around while bears would stare at me-
MARTHA
Yah, yah, yah. Well, now you sleep with me and I want my foot massage. If you even want to see me in the bed tonight then get to the room and stop patronizing our son.
HOWARD
(Sigh)
I’ll get the rose oil.
(He leaves the room defeated.)
Martha
Goodnight, Jimmy, I love you.
(She closes the door and leaves.)
JIMMY
You know if you eat me then…um…uh my parents are going to call the police and you’re going to be arrested and taken to Alcatraz or Shawshank or something.
MONSTER IN CLOSET
(No sound though Red light shines through cracks)
Jimmy Jimmy, Jimmy, you and I both know your parents wouldn’t that your closet ate you. They’ll probably just think you finally ran away, like you always threaten you will.
(Closet doors burst open revealing red light)
JIMMY
(Looks at the light and begins to cry as he feels himself being slowly pulled towards it off his bed, As he falls off his bed he grabs a old shoe he sees under his bed and chucks it as hard as he can into the light.)
Take that you big bully!
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET
(Closet doors slam shut)
OWWWW!!!! You little brat you just hit me in the eye! You’re lucky you have that night light on or I swear I’d go out there and kick your little as…wait a second…You don’t have your night light, do ya? OH BOY! OH BOY!
(Closet doors smash open very hard, rattling them in their frames and making a huge amount of noise. A loud sucking sound comes from the closet)
(The closet is pulling JIMMY harder and faster then before.)
Hahahahahaha!!!! Give up Jimmy! You’re gonna be my midnight snack one way or another!
JIMMY
Mom! Dad! Tom Cruise! Anyone! Help me please!!!!!!!!!
(Jimmy’s door suddenly bursts open. Both his parents are there, dressed in pajamas, sporting football helmets and armor. MARTHA is holding a hockey stick and HOWARD is holding a tennis racket.)
HOWARD
Don’t worry, Jimmy, I’m here to save you!
(Howard proceeds to put his tennis racket out like a sword and charge into
the closet)
DIE FOUL BEAST!!!!!!
MARTHA
I’m right behind you honey!
(She charges into the closet with a hockey stick!)
FOR NARNIA!!!
Jimmy
Yah Mom and Dad go get him!
(Sounds of fighting are heard then a yelp and a loud squeal.)
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET
(The closet opens wide, the red light on)
Yum, yum, yum. Now that’s what I call home cooking!
(Closet Closes)
Oh wait one more thing, BURP!
(The night-light that was in his father pocket shoots out of the closet into JIMMY’s hands.)
JIMMY
(JIMMY silently gets out of bed, winks at the audience, and plugs in his night light and goes to sleep.)
THE END!
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