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Finishing Sentences by Scott Giessler play script cover

Finishing Sentences

by Scott Giessler

After being arrested for vandalizing a classmate's car and perpetrating criminal harassment, Kendra serves her community service at a summer camp looking after a frequently bullied kid.

Her journey through this surreal summer camp exposes Kendra to her own raw underbelly. Taking the perspective of the bully, the play forces us to consider the human side of the people we often dismiss.

Recommended for High Schools and Middle Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 35 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
18 Characters
4 M 6 F 8 Any Gender
Easily expandable
Productions
Produced by 10+ schools
Licensed by schools and youth theatres around the world
Set
Simple set
Length
44 pages
Free Excerpt

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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

18 Characters

  • 4 Males
  • 6 Females
  • 8 Any Gender
  • Easily expandable

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.”

Women

  • Kendra Female 195 lines
    An unrepentant bully. Takes a shine to Isabelle.
  • Isabelle Female 64 lines
    A sunny kid with a wild imagination, and problem of her own.
  • Innocence Female 11 lines
    Kendra’s sense of truth and kindness.
  • Conscience Female 16 lines
    Kendra’s sense of right and wrong.
  • Denial Female 17 lines
    Kendra’s impulse to cover over her past.
  • Rage Female 26 lines
    Kendra’s anger and spite.

Men

  • Nat Male 92 lines
    Kendra’s uncle. Has an idea to help her straighten herself out.
  • Lucien Male 42 lines
    Another counsellor at camp. A kind soul.
  • Curmudgeon Male 10 lines
    Knows the exact right way to do everything at camp. Several Monologues.
  • Love Male 18 lines
    Kendra’s memories of her old boyfriend.

Either

  • Judge Any gender 17 lines
    Unimpressed with Kendra’s actions and attitude.
  • Red Warrior Any gender 2 lines
    The first challenger in Color War.
  • Frawley the Wise (Blue Warrior) Any gender 9 lines
    The second challenger in Color War.
  • Ref Any gender 6 lines
    Adjudicates the Burnball Match.
  • Kid Any gender
  • Police Officer Any gender 0 lines
  • Kitchen Worker Any gender 0 lines
  • Blue Team Members Any gender 2 lines
  • Red Team Members Any gender 1 line
  • Campers (guys and girls) Any gender 4 lines
  • Counselors Any gender 15 lines

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