Title: Digital family

By Ryan, Terry, Aaron, Jake, Ben

Setting: A family living room, modern and cozy, with a large, soft sofa center stage. A
coffee table holds tablets, smartphones, a laptop, and a few scattered books. On one
side, there's a bookshelf filled with family photos and board games with dust. A large
window with slightly drawn curtains lets in the moonlight, casting gentle shadows.
Characters:

 Anna(Ryan): A mother in her late 40s, concerned about her family's disconnect.
 Jack(Aaron): Anna's husband, early 50s, a dedicated worker who struggles to
balance work and family life.
 Nina(Jake): Their teenage daughter, 16, self-conscious and deeply affected by
social media.
 David(Benjamin): Their 12-year-old son, energetic and enthusiastic about video
games.
 Grandma(Terry): Anna's mother, 70s, wise and nostalgic, offers traditional advice
in a digital age.

Scene 1: The Evening

(Sounds of clicking keyboards and videogame gun sound, occasional notification dings,
and muted chatter fill the room. The family is scattered, each engrossed in their devices.
Anna stands at the kitchen doorway, observing silently. She steps forward, shaked her
head, gathering her resolve.)

Anna: (clapping her hands) Family meeting guys! Can we all gather around, please?
(The family reacts with mild irritation but looks up.)
Jack: (still focused on his phone) Just one sec, finishing an important email.
Nina: (thumbs flying over her phone screen) Mom, I'm in the middle of planning
something with friends.
David: (glued to his tablet) Hold on, Mom, almost done with this round, im winning!
Grandma Rose: (smiling with gentle humor) Oh, the marvels of modern conversation. In
my day, we'd gather around the table and talk about stuff instead.
Anna: (sighs deeply) We used to have so much fun together. Remember board game
nights? And those picnics?
Nina: (rolling her eyes) Board games? Seriously, Mom, that's ancient.
David: Boring and long.
Anna: (steps back decisively, moves to the router, and flicks the off switch) Well, maybe
a little nostalgia is what we need right now, huh?
(Devices beep and the lights on the router fade out. A hush falls over the room as the
family processes this abrupt disconnect.)

Scene 2: Confrontation and Revelation

(The family reluctantly puts down their devices and moves toward the center, forming
an uneven circle. Anna stands firm, signaling that this moment matters.)

Jack: (with mild annoyance) Anna, really, the Wi-Fi? What's this about?
Anna: It's about us. We’re all together yet always apart. I miss our talks. I miss our
family time.
Nina: (gestures to her phone, now silent) It's just... everything happens online, Mom. If
I’m not part of it, I feel left out.
David: (chiming in) Yeah, all my friends... they talk while gaming. It’s how we hang out.
Grandma Rose: (nodding thoughtfully) But are you truly present, my dears? Find the
balance, that’s the trick of life, both past, and present.
Anna: Exactly. We can enjoy our online lives, but they shouldn’t replace what we have
here. I want us to reconnect.
Jack: (sighs, softening) You’re right dear. I’ve been buried in work emails and deadlines.
Maybe, we do need this.
(They pause, reflecting on her words. Anna reaches for an old board game(UNO) from
the shelf, hesitates, and then sets it down gently on the table.)
Nina: (tentatively) I suppose... we could give it a try. Just tonight.
David: (shrugging but with a grin) If it means I get to beat everyone, I’m in.
(Anna unfolds the game board. The family awkwardly begins shuffling the cards, the
tension gradually melting as they start playing.)

Scene 3: Reconnection
(As the game progresses, laughter breaks the silence, and a newfound ease envelops the
room. The focus shifts from digital to personal, their faces illuminated more by smiles
than by screens.)
Anna: (smiling) See? This isn’t so bad, is it?
Jack: (laughing) I’d forgotten how competitive you are, Anna. And how much I enjoy it.
Nina: (laughing at a move she’s made) Okay, okay, I admit it’s fun. It gives me a
different..feeling.
David: (excitedly) I’m gonna win this! Watch out!
Grandma Rose: (beaming, deeply content

As the game continues, they laugh and play, teasing each other in good spirits.
Nina: (smiling as she discard her cards) I actually forgot how to play this, but it’s kind of
fun once you get into it.
David: (grinning, leaning in) I’m still gonna beat all of you! Just watch. Grandma, you
better be ready!
Grandma Rose: (playfully defensive) Oh, don’t underestimate me, young man haha, i’ve
got skills in this.

The family laughs together, finally starting to relax. The atmosphere in the room shifts to
one of warmth and genuine enjoyment.

Scene 4: Reflection and Resolution

They finish the game, and Anna takes a deep breath, looking around the room at her
family. There’s a quiet moment, each of them lost in their thoughts, reflecting on the
night.

Anna: (softly, breaking the silence) This is all I wanted. To have a moment with each of
you, face-to-face, without any screens between us.
Jack: (nodding thoughtfully) It feels different, doesn’t it? Good, though. I can’t
remember the last time I saw everyone’s faces all together like this.
Nina: (looking down at her phone, which she’s barely touched during the game) Maybe
I’ve been... too caught up in my phone. I feel like I miss so much when I’m online all the
time.
David: (shrugs) I mean, games are fun, but... this was different. I forgot we even had
these old games.
Grandma Rose: (smiling, placing a hand on David’s shoulder) And just think, you’ll have
these memories to carry with you. Life is always changing, but family... family will always
be by your side.

Anna stands up and pulls out a small photo album from the bookshelf, dusting it off and
opening it on the table.

Anna: Look at this! Remember this beach trip? We played volleyball until the sun went
down.

The family gathers around, looking at the photos and sharing memories. The
atmosphere has shifted to a quiet and comforting one.
Nina: (pointing to a picture) Oh, I remember that day! I got burnt so bad by the sun, but
it was worth it. We had so much fun.
David: (laughing) Yeah! And Dad lost the car keys, so we had to wait forever for a ride
home!
Jack: (chuckling) Guilty as charged. But I wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.
(He looks at Anna.) Thanks for reminding us what truly matters.

They sit together, looking through the album. Grandma reaches over and squeezes
Anna’s hand.

Grandma Rose: You did good, dear. Sometimes, a little nudge in the right direction is all
it takes.

Scene 5: New Traditions

Anna smiles, and the family lingers together, no one in a hurry to grab their devices.
David looks up with a new idea.

David: Hey, can we do this again sometime? Like, every week? Maybe... game night or
something?
Anna: (smiling warmly) I’d love that. We can make it a new tradition. How about every
Saturday night?
Nina: (nodding) I think I can handle that. Just don’t be surprised if I beat all of you next
time.
Jack: (laughing) You’re on! Saturday nights it is, then.

They all smile, feeling the warmth of their togetherness.

As the scene fades, the family remains close, their devices forgotten on the coffee table.
The lights slowly dim as the family continues talking and laughing together, leaving the
stage with a sense of renewed connection and commitment to each other.

The end