Free Better Places to Go by David-Matthew Barnes

him and holds him, cradling him while he weeps. She glances nervously at the door to the restroom, looks down at Ricardo, at the bus tickets and then towards the main entrance of the diner.
     
    Lights slowly fade to black.)

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
     
    David-Matthew Barnes is the bestselling author of ten novels, including the young adult novels Fifty Yards and Holding , The Marijuana Mermaids , Mesmerized , Swimming to Chicago , and Wonderland . He is also the author of Boys Like Me , a collection of short stories, and Roadside Attractions and Souvenir Boys , two collections of poetry. He has written over forty stage plays that have been performed in three languages in eight countries. He is the writer and director of the feature film Frozen Stars and the dramatic short film Threnody . His literary work has been featured in over one hundred publications including The Best Stage Scenes , The Best Men’s Stage Monologues , The Best Women’s Stage Monologues , The Comstock Review , and The Southeast Review . He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.davidmatthewbarnes.com.

NOW AVAILABLE FROM PINWHEEL PLAYS
     
    Please visit www.pinwheelplays.com to find out how to purchase or produce one of our scripts.
     
    A DARLING AMONG THE MAIDENS
    Cast: 6 women, 2 men
    In this delightful stage play for teens, four young women come-of-age at an all-girl Catholic boarding school. Rachel wants to become a nun and devote her life to God. Naomi has been expelled from numerous schools and Our Lady of Grace is her last chance. Mara is obsessed with two things: old movie stars and herself. Alisha struggles to escape the shadow of the lives of her parents. Having known her fair share of heartache, Sister Josephine is an unconventional nun who becomes a mentor to her students.
     
    FROZEN STARS
    Cast: 8 women, 8 men
    This Latino-flavored coming-of-age stage drama explores the lives of three young people as they struggle with personal and religious beliefs, peer pressure, family relationships, and the overwhelming power of love and friendship.
     
    SKY LINES
    Cast: 3 women
    Artistically inspired by the song Jackie's Strength as recorded by Tori Amos, this heartfelt play explores the lives of Venita, Maggie, and Sarah who live in a rundown apartment building in an unnamed American city. Venita is a black woman who has been ostracized from her family for marrying a white man named George. Maggie endures a loveless marriage and within ten years  gives birth to five children. Sarah desires a life of picture-perfect glamour and excitement and has married her high school sweetheart Jimmy. After a few brushes with reality, Sarah becomes dismayed with her predictable life and slips into a crippling depression. Over the course of 34 years, Venita, Maggie, and Sarah confront social and political issues as they fight to assert their identity and protect their friendship.
     
    WE NEVER MADE IT TO PARIS
    Cast: 2 men
    We Never Made it to Paris is a creative fusion of language, music, movement, dance, photography, and light. The story spans over the course of eighteen years in the lives of two men: Eros, a former model, and Bird, a former actor. Fearing real love doesn’t exist, Bird sabotages their young affair, only to realize years later they are soul mates.
     
    MONOLOGUES THAT KICK ASS
    A collection of over one hundred ass-kicking monologues for women and men.
     
    DEUCES: PLAYS FOR TWO ACTORS
    A collection of sixteen one-act and ten-minute plays featuring roles for two actors.
     
    YOU THINK YOU KNOW US: PLAYS FOR TEEN ACTORS
    A collection of ten one-act and ten-minute plays featuring roles for teen actors.