Short Plays.part one

Now turn them into full plays one by one

Turning 500 concepts into full scripts is a marathon, so let’s kick off with Play #1: The Wi-Fi Password.

This is a "Ten-Minute Play" format. It's snappy, awkward, and sweet—perfect for two actors and a minimal set.

Play #1: The Wi-Fi Password

CHARACTERS:

BEN (20s): Fidgety. His laptop is his shield. He’s been staring at the same sentence for forty minutes.

MAYA (20s): Observant. Carrying a dead tablet and a sense of cosmic frustration.

SETTING:

A cramped, trendy cafe. One tiny table remains.

[SCENE START]

BEN

(Under his breath)

Come on. Connect. Just… one bar. Give me a soul-crushing pixel. Anything.

MAYA

(Standing over him)

Is it dead?

BEN

(Jumps)

The internet? Yes. It’s been martyred.

MAYA

I meant the table. Is this seat taken by an imaginary friend or can I sit?

BEN

Oh. No. Please. Sit. Just be warned, the Wi-Fi here is where dreams go to be buffered indefinitely.

BEN

I’ve tried "GroundControl123," "CoffeeBeans69," and "I-Hate-This-Place." None of them work.

MAYA

Did you ask the barista?

BEN

He’s wearing vintage headphones and a look of profound spiritual superiority. I’m not brave enough.

MAYA

(Leans in)

Try: BetterThanHome2024.

BEN

(Typing)

Is that it?

BEN

(Beat)

"Incorrect Password."

MAYA

Darn. Okay, what about… NoFreeLunch?

BEN

(Types)

Denied.

MAYA

Okay, let’s get personal. What’s your deepest secret? Maybe it’s that.

BEN

My secret is that I’m actually a writer who hasn't written a word in three hours because I’m obsessed with a malfunctioning router.

MAYA

(Smiles)

My secret is I’m not actually late for work. I quit four hours ago and I just wanted to see if anyone would notice I was gone.

BEN

(Stops typing)

Did they?

MAYA

My inbox is a ghost town. Which is why I need the Wi-Fi. To see the silence in high definition.

BEN

(Softly)

Try: LookUpFromYourPhone.

MAYA

Is that a guess?

BEN

No. It’s a suggestion.

(They lock eyes. A long beat. BEN closes his laptop.)

MAYA

(Smirks)

That’s a bold password.

BEN

It didn't work. But the conversation is at five bars.

MAYA

(Puts her tablet away)

I’m Maya.

BEN

I’m Ben. And I think the router is actually unplugged.

MAYA

Don't you dare plug it in. I’m enjoying the blackout.

[SCENE END]

Proactive Follow-up: Should I continue with Play #2: Dog Park Diplomacy, or do you want to tweak the tone of these (make them more dramatic, longer, or more comedic)?

For formatting tips, check out the BBC Writersroom Screenplay/Stageplay Guide to see how pros lay it out!

MAYA

(Sits, slides her tablet onto the table)

I just need to send one email. "I’m late because I’m a disaster." It’s a very important update for my boss.

MAYA

No