The Miss Understanding
A scene in the style of Comedy of Manners (for Drama class)

Act 2 Scene 1

Characters:
Breanna -- Wealthy Woman from Paris
Daniella -- Another Wealthy Woman
Christophero -- Daniella’s brother and, to some extent, servant
Alexander -- A handsome bachelor
Kalexander -- A charming governor who is almost deaf

*author's note: This play is in the style of Comedy of Manners. If you are not familiar with this style, you may want to research it so you don't hate my play just because of the style which was not up to me.*

Breanna and Daniella are in the music room having tea.

Breanna: I knew from the moment we first met we would be the best of almost-friendly acquaintances.

Daniella: I, too, felt a certain not-quite-indifferent vibe toward you upon our introduction. I feel it is time to leave. I shall give Alexander your greetings.

Breanna: puts down her teacup Perhaps you didn’t hear me correctly when I told you that Alexander has agreed to marry me.

Daniella: How can I hear anything you say, my dear, when your outfit is making it so hard to hear?

Breanna: Daniella, my darling, perhaps your hair, thin as it is, has covered your ears, making it impossible for you to hear me say that Alexander is mine and mine alone.

Daniella: Sure enough, I can hear Alexander calling my name as we speak.

Breanna: You must be mistaken, for I hear my lover calling my own name.

Daniella: calling I’m coming, darling! begins to get up

Enter Christophero

Christophero: Madame Daniella, Alexander requests you stay until he can appear. He will be coming shortly.

Breanna: Well it was nice meeting you Daniella. Perhaps I will be so lucky as to be not haunted by so ghastly a face in my dreams. Exits

Daniella: That woman is mad, Christophero. She claims that Alexander promised his hand in marriage to her! Surely you have seen no such thing, Christophero?

Christophero: I have not, Madame. I have seen Madame Breanna with a strange man from the government, however.

Daniella: gasps The Government? Oh no! She must have been getting marriage papers to wed

Alexander! This is terrible! I must speak to him at once! Exits.

Enter Breanna and Kalexander

Breanna: Where is Daniella?

Christophero: She has gone to look for Alexander.

Breanna: laughs The fool. He’s here with me now. Right darling?

Kalexander: What was that? I’m sorry, but I’m hard of hearing. Rather deaf, I’m afraid.

Breanna: loudly I said that you are

Alexander!

Kalexander: Oh yes, that surely is me, darling.

Breanna: Well of course. And you love me, not that poorly educated temptress Daniella, right, darling?

Kalexander: Of course, darling! I love you passionately! takes her in arms

Christophero: But, Madame Breanna--

Breanna: No time, Christophero. Where did

Daniella go? I simply must set her straight.

Christophero: But, Madame, that is--

Breanna: Oh, never mind, Christophero. We shall discover her ourselves, right dear?

Kalexander: Hmm?

Breanna: loudly Right darling!?

Kalexander: Oh yes, of course.

Breanna and Kalexander exit leaving

Christophero alone on stage

Christophero: But that wasn’t Alexander... that was the government man. But Daniella thinks

Breanna is going to marry... Oh no, I must find them at once!

Christophero exits just missing Alexander and

Daniella who enter through another door

Daniella: in tears How could you?

Alexander: But I’ve only left you for a few moments!

Daniella: And in that time you’ve been making plans to marry Breanna!

Alexander: Breanna? Why Daniella that’s ridiculous.

Daniella: I fully well know that it’s ridiculous you blasphemous polygamist! You planned to use me as your mistress!

Alexander: Darling! I planned no such thing!

Daniella: Am I not even good enough to be your mistress, then?

Alexander: That is not what I meant, Darling. Surely you are mistaken. Come and lie down on the couch--

Daniella: No. Alexander, I cannot see you anymore. Exits

Alexander: Wait! Darling...

Alexander exits following Daniella out as

Breanna enters through another door

Breanna: Oh! Where has that man gotten to? He may be charming but his head may as well be a leaden weight.

Enter Daniella who is still in tears

Breanna: Did Alexander tell you the bad news, my dear? I see that you are taking it very badly.
Daniella: No... you are mistaken. When I told

Alexander about your delusions we laughed so hard that it brought tears to our eyes.

Breanna: That is impossible. I was with Alexander until just 30 seconds ago. You, obviously, have not spoken to him at all. You are mad, my dear.

Daniella: No, I’m afraid it is you who is mad, sweetheart, for Alexander has only just left me 2 seconds ago.

Breanna: That is correct, he left you and any moment he’ll come here for me.

Enter Christophero at a run. He is so out of breath he cannot speak.

Christophero: Madame... I...

Daniella: Say it quickly, Christophero.

Breanna: Have you come to tell Daniella that

Alexander has chosen me?

Christophero: No... I... Madame...

Daniella: Then have you come to announce

Alexander’s plans to marry me?

Christophero: No... I just... he--

Daniella and Breanna: at the same time What is it then!?

Christophero: I... just...

Enter Kalexander and Alexander

Daniella: Alexander!

Breanna: Alexander!
Daniella grabs Alexander as Breanna grabs

Kalexander. Both girls stare at each other in bewilderment.

Christophero: He... I... ughhhh... faints

Scene