Samarah Grant

Lynn Nottage’s plays often take an honest look at cultures we don’t often see onstage. Write a one-page play about a group of people (perhaps you know them) whose stories you want to see onstage. 

Title: PTSD

Postdale Projects; Eight 16 story buildings.

Building 7. Stainless steel lobby door with bulletproof windows. After decades of cascaded glass smeared all over the ground, the city finally got a hint. Two building elevators, although one is usually always broken and they both tend to either smell of pee. The people of Postdale always know you gotta look before you step in. The smell of weed and cigarette smoke linger throughout the halls. The sound of heavy metal apartment doors echo through your hears along with late night yelling from the neighbors down the hall because someone is being disrespectful, which always leads to the same thing. Someone’s getting kicked out or leaving voluntarily. You can’t help but feel the animosity in the air on those nights. 

Andy, 33 year old Marines Vey, long wavy thick black hair that reaches down his back; always kept in a bun. A light skin Puerto rican that can tan real nice under a hot summer sun. Born and raised in Postdale projects.

Jeanette, 17 year old, just graduated highschool less than a month ago. Young beautiful dark skinned sister, out on the prowl. In her mind’s eye, she’s an adult now, and she’s not the only one who sees it that way. 

Act 1

It’s the week after the 4th of July. It’s a beautiful night and Jeanette is out past curfew. 

Earlier that day (Flashback)

Jeanette and her crew rean into Andy at the community pool. They clicked , or rather, she’s finally legal.    

Andy: Meet me at the park later tonight

Jeanette: Ok, don’t leave me hanging (spoken timidly)

Andy: Nah, never that. You got my math, just call me

They meet in the park (real time)

Hiding amongst the bushes, they start to make out. He begins kissing and caressing her in all her tender places. She submissively melts into his strong embrace. Suddenly fireworks pop off.(Pop, pop, pop,pop) Andy jumps at the sound and reacts combatively.

Jeanette: Relax, it's just fireworks.

Immediately after, gunshots ring off (pow, pow, pow, pow). Jeanette flinches and reacts defensively

Andy: Relax, it's just gunshots.