THE MISADVENTURES OF SARA AND DINA
SCENARIO ONE: PEER PRESSURE
(Phone rings)
DINA:
Hello?
SARA:
(Sounds as if about to die) Dina, its me…
DINA:
Sara, whets wrong, you sound awful? Are you ok?
SARA:
I am so sick… I think I have food poisoning.
DINA:
(Honestly concerned) That’s awful, can I help? Do you need me to go
to the pharmacy? Can I bring you anything?
SARA:
No, that’s ok; my mom is taking good care of me. But I do need to ask
a favor.
DINA:
Anything.
SARA:
Well, you know my philosophy professor, Dr. Ikram?
DINA:
Sure, I had him last year.
SARA:
(Whining) Well, I have a paper due for him tomorrow, and I haven’t
had a chance to get it done… and now I am so sick, I just won’t be able to do it on
time!
DINA:
Well, can’t you ask him for an extension? You are so sick and all.
SARA:
I don’t think he will let me have one.
DINA:
You have to ask, he’s an ok guy, he will understand.
SARA:
I don’t think so…
DINA:
At least ask.
SARA:
No, I know he won’t give me more time.
DINA:
(Starting to understand) Why not?
SARA:
He just won’t!
DINA:
When did he assign the paper?
SARA:
A while back…
DINA:
Sara!
SARA:
Ok, it was six weeks ago…
DINA:
Sara! You should have gotten it done by now.
SARA:
(Pleading) I know, I know. But things have been busy, and …
DINA:
(Realization) And you have been seeing Sam for the past month!
SARA:
Dina, please don’t be mad at me. You’re my best friend, I need your
help.
DINA:
What can I do/
SARA:
Well, you had his class before… maybe… I was hoping…
DINA:
What?
SARA:
Please, I was hoping, this once, that you could write the paper for me?
DINA:
(Shocked) Sara!
NARRATOR: What would you do? Which response would you give?
1.
I don’t like this situation. Its cheating... but I will, for you, this once.
2.
I can’t, I’m sorry… I would help if I could, but this could get us both
into trouble.
NARRATOR: Lets see what can happen if Dina agrees to help:
PROF:
That’s all for today class. Oh, Sara, can I speak to you for a minute?
SARA:
(No idea what’s wrong) Yes?
PROF:
Sara, I am a bit concerned by this paper that you turned in two weeks
ago. Now, I am not accusing anyone of anything, but I have to say that the writing
style of this paper is quite different from the other papers you have turned in before.
SARA:
Well, uh… I have been seeing someone in the Writing Center, to
improve my skills… maybe that’s what you are seeing?
PROF:
I think that’s great that you want to improve. So who are you
working with up there?
SARA:
Um, I can’t remember her name…she American… Dr….
PROF:
You don’t remember her name?
SARA:
Sorry, it’s slipped my mind. Do you have a directory, maybe I will
recognize it?
PROF:
(Starting to doubt) Never mind. Let me ask you a question or two –
You write here that some modern philosophers broke with the traditions of the
ancients. Can you tell me a few of the names that you listed here?
SARA:
Gee, it’s been a while since I wrote that…
PROF:
Just give me one name you wrote about in this paper.
SARA:
Um… Aristotle?
PROF:
Sara, who wrote this paper? Not only is the style totally different, the
quality is quite a bit better than your papers.
SARA:
I did.
PROF:
Sara!
SARA:
(Running out) I am not feeling well; I have to go to the bathroom.
PROF:
(Shouting after her) I am going to have to report this to Academic
Affairs.
NARRATOR: Later that day…
SARA:
(Self-righteous) Dina! Professor Ikram knows I did not write that
paper. Why didn’t you make it sound more like my work?
DINA:
(Shocked) What? You asked me to do your work, because you were
lazy –
SARA:
I was sick!
DINA:
(Really angry now) Not for six weeks! You beg me to help you, to do
your work, to cheat for you, and then you have the nerve to yell at me because I
helped you.
SARA:
I am going to tell the professor it was you!
DINA:
What?
SARA:
And I am not your friend anymore. You are not a good friend! No
more friends, no more parties, I am going to tell everyone not to call you, not to
study you, not to even talk to you.
NARRATOR: How would you feel now? What obligations do you owe to a friend?