Here is a play a wrote for my Chinese Class. It is a modern adaption of Cinderella. We performed the play and Suyan played Cinderella and I played the prince. The stepmother was played by another class mate whose name escapes me, but she was physically perfect for the role. She was tall, skinny. sharp facial features and quick and strong willed. But her heart wasn’t really into the play unfortunately. Suyan on the other hand killed her monologue and I felt really happy with out performance. I did just okay. I should have rehearsed more than I did. But I guess towards the end of the class, me heart also wasnt in it, depsite having written this thing.
場景設定：雜亂的家用廚房。🧹灰姑娘在擦地，👠繼母不耐煩地旁觀。
角色：🎙️旁白 👠繼母 🧹灰姑娘 🧚♀️仙女教母
🎙️旁白：很久以前……
Narrator: Long ago…
👠繼母：（惱怒）灰姑娘！妳碰過我的手機嗎？
Stepmother (angry): Cinderella! Have you touched my phone?
🎙️旁白：（幽默）好吧，也沒那麼久之前……
Narrator (humorous): Well, okay… not that long ago…
👠繼母：妳太慢了，快點刷！
Stepmother: You’re too slow—scrub faster!
🎙️旁白：一個失去母親、被父親拋棄，寄人籬下的女孩。
Narrator: A girl who lost her mother, was abandoned by her father, and left in the care of her stepmother.
〈🧹灰姑娘因手痠而短暫停頓，停止擦地〉
(Cinderella pauses briefly, stops scrubbing.)
👠繼母：灰姑娘！我怎麼沒聽到刷地的聲音？
Stepmother: Cinderella! Why don’t I hear you scrubbing?
🎙️旁白：於是灰姑娘又刷了起來——
Narrator: And so she scrubbed—
👠繼母：更用力！
Stepmother: Harder!
〈🧹灰姑娘更用力地擦地〉
(Cinderella scrubs even harder.)
🎙️旁白：她繼續刷——
Narrator: She kept scrubbing—
👠繼母：妳要再快一點。
Stepmother: Faster!
🎙️旁白：她不停地刷——
Narrator: She never stopped—
👠繼母：我說，再快點！
Stepmother: I said, faster!
🎙️旁白：（戲劇性停頓）終於她累昏了過去。
Narrator (dramatic pause): Until one day, she collapsed from exhaustion.
〈🧹灰姑娘倒下，刷子掉落在地上〉
(Cinderella falls; the brush drops.)
🎙️旁白：然後，女孩眼前出現了一道幻象……
Narrator: Then, a vision appeared before the girl…
〈LIGHTS UP：柔和魔法光；🧚♀️仙女教母現身〉
(Lights up on a soft magical glow; the Fairy Godmother appears.)
🧚♀️仙女：（由輕轉強）灰姑娘……灰姑娘……灰姑娘！
Fairy Godmother (growing stronger): Cinderella… Cinderella… Cinderella!
🧹灰姑娘：呃？對不起，對不起……等等……是誰在那？你是誰？
Cinderella: Uh? Sorry, sorry… wait… who’s there? Who are you?
🧚♀️仙女：（溫暖）別害怕，孩子，妳可以放下刷子了。我是妳的仙女教母。
Fairy Godmother (warm): Don’t be afraid, child. You may put down the brush. I am your Fairy Godmother.
🧹灰姑娘：（困惑）我的……仙女教母？
Cinderella (confused): My… Fairy Godmother?
🧚♀️仙女：對——我是來幫助妳的。
Fairy Godmother: Your Fairy Godmother—I’m here to help you.
🧹灰姑娘：（興奮）妳是仙女？所以我有三個願望囉？
Cinderella (excited): You’re a fairy? So I get three wishes?
🧚♀️仙女：（輕笑）不是，親愛的——那是神燈精靈。
Fairy Godmother (light laugh): No, dear—that’s a genie.
🧹灰姑娘：（失望）噢……
Cinderella (disappointed): Oh…
🧚♀️仙女：但我可以給妳比願望更珍貴的東西，比如：伸出援手
〈🧚♀️仙女伸手將🧹灰姑娘拉起〉
Fairy Godmother: But I can give you something more precious than wishes: a helping hand.
(She reaches out and lifts Cinderella.)
🧹灰姑娘：（俏皮）好吧，說來聽聽。
Cinderella (playful): Alright, I’m ready—tell me.
🧚♀️仙女：（嚴肅獨白）
灰姑娘，妳失去了美麗的禮服，只能穿著僕人的破衣服。
妳失去了母親，被父親拋棄，世界上沒有一個朋友。
妳得不停地擦地，直到雙手起泡流血，還有永遠做不完的工作。
妳已經失去了所有希望和尊嚴。
Fairy Godmother (solemn):
Cinderella, you lost your beautiful gown and wear only servant’s rags.
You lost your mother, were abandoned by your father, and have no friends in this world.
You must scrub until your hands blister and bleed, and your work is never done.
You have lost all hope and dignity.
〈🧚♀️仙女語氣轉為鼓舞且嚴肅〉
(Her tone shifts to inspiring and resolute.)
🧚♀️仙女：是時候做出改變了！
妳必須離開這個悲慘的地方，逃離繼母的壓迫。
往東走兩英里，到一家咖啡廳去。
我已和老闆說好，他欠我人情，會提供妳全職工作、食宿與薪資。
妳可以留在這裡，困在熟悉卻痛苦的日子裡，或者踏上未知旅程，自己掌控命運。
選擇權在妳手中。
Fairy Godmother: It’s time for change!
You must leave this misery and your stepmother’s oppression.
Walk two miles east to a coffee shop.
I’ve spoken to the owner—he owes me a favor and will give you full-time work, room, board, and pay.
You can stay trapped in familiar suffering, or embark on the unknown and shape your own destiny.
The choice is yours.
〈🧹灰姑娘猶豫，最終緩緩放下刷子〉
(Cinderella hesitates, then slowly sets down her brush.)
🧹灰姑娘：（輕聲但堅定）我要走自己的路！
Cinderella (soft but firm): I will carve my own path!
🧚♀️仙女：很好！去吧，灰姑娘——剩下的就看妳自己的了。
Fairy Godmother: Excellent! Go, Cinderella—your future is in your hands.
〈SFX 魔杖閃光；🧚♀️仙女在魔法光芒中消失〉
(SFX: Wand sparkles; the Fairy Godmother vanishes in light.)
☕ 場景二：Café
場景設定：一間現代風格的咖啡廳，窗外透著晨光。灰姑娘正在學習使用咖啡機。老闆在櫃檯後擦杯子。
角色：🧹灰姑娘 👨🍳老闆 🎙️旁白 👑王子
🎙️旁白：幾週後，灰姑娘在咖啡廳裡工作。
Narrator: A few weeks later, Cinderella is working at the café.
👨🍳老闆：嘿，小姑娘——打奶泡時要小心角度。
Boss: Hey kid—watch your angle when frothing the milk.
🧹灰姑娘：是！對不起，我再試一次。
Cinderella: Yes! Sorry, I’ll try again.
〈門鈴聲🔔，👑王子走進咖啡廳，低調打扮但氣質不凡〉
(Door bell rings, the Prince enters in casual clothes but with noble bearing.)
👑王子：（輕聲）一杯卡布奇諾，拜託。
Prince (softly): One cappuccino, please.
〈🧹灰姑娘看到👑王子，愣住幾秒，然後迅速忙起來〉
(Cinderella pauses, recognizing something, then busily starts preparing the drink.)
👑王子：（看著她，微笑）你是新來的？
Prince (smiling): Are you new here?
🧹灰姑娘：（緊張）呃，是的……今天是我第二週。
Cinderella (nervous): Uh, yes… this is my second week.
👑王子：（好奇）我好像見過妳……妳住在城西嗎？
Prince (curious): You look familiar… do you live on the west side?
🧹灰姑娘：嗯……我以前住在那邊。
Cinderella: Mmm… I used to live over there.
👑王子：（頷首）原來如此。
Prince (nodding): I see.
〈🧹灰姑娘將卡布奇諾遞上，👑王子接過，微笑道謝〉
(Cinderella hands him the cappuccino; he takes it, smiling.)
👑王子：謝謝，做得很好。
Prince: Thanks, that’s really good.
🧹灰姑娘：（小聲）不客氣……
Cinderella (quietly): You’re welcome…
🎙️旁白：他們的眼神交會了幾秒，然後王子走向窗邊的位子坐下。
Narrator: Their eyes met for a moment, and then the Prince went to sit by the window.
👨🍳老闆：（輕拍她的肩）妳做得不錯，他可是這附近最挑剔的客人。
Boss (patting her shoulder): Nicely done. He’s one of the pickiest customers around.
〈🧹灰姑娘偷看👑王子，他也剛好回頭一瞥，兩人微笑〉
(Cinderella glances over. The Prince happens to glance back. They both smile.)
🎙️旁白：有些故事不需要玻璃鞋……只需要一杯熱咖啡。
Narrator: Some stories don’t need glass slippers… just a warm cup of coffee.
📝 場景三：Cinderella: The Interview
場景設定：咖啡店內，灰姑娘正在忙著製作咖啡，繼母忽然出現欲面試。
角色：🧹灰姑娘 👠繼母
🧹灰姑娘：歡迎光臨（正在忙著做咖啡）
Cinderella: Welcome (while busy making coffee)
👠繼母：你好，我今天有約面試
Stepmother: Hello, I have an interview today.
〈灰姑娘抬起頭，看見繼母震驚，空氣安靜〉
(Cinderella looks up, shocked; the air is quiet.)
👠繼母：不好意思，我走錯了
Stepmother: Sorry, I must have walked into the wrong place.
🧹灰姑娘：等等！你怎麼找到我的？
Cinderella: Wait! How did you find me?
👠繼母：沒有，我是來這裡面試的。
Stepmother: No, I came here for an interview.
🧹灰姑娘：你？來應徵這份工作？
Cinderella: You? Here for this job?
👠繼母：是的。
Stepmother: Yes.
🧹灰姑娘：妳知道這裡是哪裡嗎？
Cinderella: Do you know what position this is for?
👠繼母：當然知道啊，這是一家咖啡店。
Stepmother: Of course, this is a coffee shop.
🧹灰姑娘：妳有錢到可以買下一百家咖啡店，妳幹嘛想來這裡上班？
Cinderella: You could buy a hundred coffee shops—why would you want to work in one?
👠繼母：嗯……我現在什麼都沒有了。
Stepmother: I don’t. Well… not anymore.
🧹灰姑娘：噢……（停頓，語氣轉冷）好吧，請坐，我們開始面試。
Cinderella: I see… (pauses, voice colder) Well, please have a seat. Let’s start the interview.
〈繼母遲疑，但還是坐下〉
(The stepmother hesitates, but sits down.)
🧹灰姑娘：那麼，妳可以告訴我妳過去有什麼相關的客服經驗嗎？
Cinderella: So, could you please tell me about any relevant customer service experience?
👠繼母：嗯……我曾經主持過一次超過兩百位皇室賓客的宴會。我負責迎賓、確保需求，以及整場活動安排……
Stepmother: Well… I once hosted a gala event for over 200 royal guests. I welcomed them, made sure their needs were attended to, and organized the event…
🧹灰姑娘：恩…真有趣……我記得那些都是我做的。
Cinderella: Interesting… I seem to recall I was the one polishing the silverware and sending out the invitations.
👠繼母（結巴）：喔…是啊，那個……我……
Stepmother (stuttering): Yes, well I…
🧹灰姑娘（打斷）：好吧，下一題。優點缺點？
Cinderella (interrupting): Okay, next—strengths and weaknesses?
〈繼母沉默片刻〉
(Stepmother is silent for a moment.)
👠繼母：我是個有團隊精神的人。
Stepmother: I’m a team player.
〈灰姑娘大聲嗤之〉
(Cinderella scoffs loudly.)
👠繼母：呃，缺點的話……我有時候可能會有點沒耐性。
Stepmother: Uh… as for weaknesses, I can sometimes be a bit impatient.
🧹灰姑娘：嗯…說來聽聽。比如，有沒有一次妳真的表現出沒耐性的時候？
Cinderella: Hmm. Tell me more. For example, was there ever a time you truly showed impatience?
〈繼母支吾，說不出話〉
(Stepmother hesitates, speechless.)
🧹灰姑娘：拜託！這種例子應該不難想吧？
Cinderella: Come on! That’s not hard to think of, is it?
👠繼母（不耐）：好吧，聽著……我根本沒資格站在妳面前來求這份工作。
Stepmother (impatient): Fine, listen… I have no right to stand here and ask for this job.
🧹灰姑娘：妳說得沒錯。
Cinderella: You’re right.
👠繼母：但或許……今天在這裡遇見妳，是命運的安排？
Stepmother: But maybe… meeting you here today was destiny?
🧹灰姑娘：那神明一定很恨我。
Cinderella: Then the gods must hate me.
〈…接下來的轉變和雇用將會在後段補上…〉
👠繼母（低頭，抬頭看她）：聽我說……對不起。
Stepmother (looking down, then up): Listen… I’m sorry.
〈灰姑娘沉思〉
(Cinderella is silent, deep in thought.)
🧹灰姑娘：妳知道嗎……我真的以為我早就放下了。可是看到妳站在我面前，就讓我覺得……挫折……
Cinderella: You know… I really thought I had moved on. But seeing you in front of me… it just makes me… frustrated…
🧹灰姑娘（自言自語）：哈哈……看來我花了那麼多時間去做心理諮商根本沒用。我還是對妳感到噁心。現在妳還闖進我唯一的安全空間—我的咖啡店！
Cinderella (to herself): Haha… all those therapy sessions were for nothing. I still feel disgusted by you. And now you’ve intruded into my one safe space—my coffee shop!
👠繼母：我會離開的。
Stepmother: I’ll leave.
🧹灰姑娘：我還沒說完……
Cinderella: I’m not done yet…
〈繼母靦腆坐下〉
(Stepmother bashfully sits back down.)
🧹灰姑娘：我需要一個媽媽的時候，妳卻只給了我一個惡霸。我的手和膝蓋到現在還有傷疤，那些是我無數小時跪在地上刷地板留下的。我需要的是愛，而妳給我的只有恨。妳這個自私又邪惡的女人！看到妳，我真的覺得噁心。
Cinderella: When I needed a mother, you gave me a bully. My hands and knees still bear scars from the countless hours I spent kneeling to scrub the floors. I needed love, and all you gave me was hate. You selfish, evil woman! Seeing you makes me sick.
〈長時間沉默〉
(A long silence.)
🧹灰姑娘：可是……我還是忍不住覺得妳很可憐……跟我一樣。
Cinderella: And yet… I can’t help feeling sorry for you… like me.
🧹灰姑娘：就像我一樣……妳也被我爸爸拋下了……被迫自己面對一切……
Cinderella: Just like me… you were abandoned by my father… forced to face everything alone…
🧹灰姑娘：被丟給誰照顧……（意識到）……妳就是我！
Cinderella: Left in the care of someone… (realizing)… you’re me!
〈繼母露出驚訝〉
(Stepmother shows a look of surprise.)
🧹灰姑娘（自言自語）：但問題是……我要變成一個無情的繼母，還是要伸出援手？
Cinderella (to herself): But the question is… will I become a heartless stepmother, or extend a helping hand?
〈她安靜思考〉
(She thinks quietly.)
🧹灰姑娘：妳被錄取了。
Cinderella: You’re hired.
👠繼母（如釋重負）：謝謝妳！真的…我…謝謝妳…謝、謝妳…
Stepmother (with relieved sigh): Thank you! Really… I… thank you… th-thank you…
🧹灰姑娘（打斷）：妳現在能開始上班嗎？我需要人幫忙打烊。
Cinderella (interrupting): Can you start now? I need help closing up.
👠繼母：當然，當然……
Stepmother: Of course, of course…
🧹灰姑娘（把圍裙丟給她）：拿去…穿上它。
Cinderella (handing the apron): Here… put this on.
〈繼母笨拙地穿圍裙〉
(Stepmother fumbles with the apron.)
🧹灰姑娘：把垃圾倒掉，換個新的垃圾袋。把桌子擦乾淨，然後把椅子放到桌子上。開始吧。
Cinderella: Dump the trash, replace the bag. Wipe down the tables, then put the chairs on top. Go.
👠繼母：好的，老闆……馬上來……（她開始動作）
Stepmother: Yes, boss… right away… (she begins to work)
〈灰姑娘走向門口，但在門邊停下，注意到掃把〉
(Cinderella walks to the door, then stops by the broom.)
🧹灰姑娘：對了，還有一件事……（遞掃把）掃地。
Cinderella: Oh, one more thing… (hands the broom) Sweep the floor.
［場景結束］
As you can see, I used the word adaption very loosely. I basically just stole the characters. I feel like the last scene ends too suddenly. I wanted them to have more time to argue and really work through their past but I was afraid of giving my classmates too many lines and to be honest, writting this dialogue was very difficult for me. I have a new respect for writters that make dialogue feel natural.