This audio recording of the play Only the Best Intentions by Alice Savage was created to help teachers and students working with the coursebook Her Own Worst Enemy, published by Alphabet Publishing. This book is part of the Integrated Skills Through Drama Series that guides students through the project of rehearsing and performing an original one-act play, written in natural language, with the English language learner in mind.

As they prepare, they study how to use intonation, emphasis, body language and gesture, fixed expressions and idioms, and rhetorical strategies to make meaning. They study pragmatics, the “hidden language” of how culture, context, and relationships, shape how we get what we want with words. And because they are working with a play instead of a textbook dialogue, they are analyzing natural conversation in authentic situations.

This Only the Best Intentions Audio Recording performed by professional actors and drama students provides one model of how to perform the roles which students can use to shape their own acting choices, whether they chose to imitate or deviate from the actors in the audio. Teachers can play the audio so students can hear the whole play or ask students to record their own performances and compare to this.

Subscribe to our podcast feed on SoundCloud or wherever you listen to podcasts. The scene-by-scene version will be coming soon!

Cast of Only the Best Intentions Audio Recording:

Gigi Curry – Viviana Collymore

Oscar Bao – Jackson Burnham

Fiona Curry – Molly Dill

Paulo Curry – Scott Tesh

Jaime Curry – Alexander Tate

Mimi Curry – Alice Savage

Baba Curry – Cyrus Shafiei

Recording, editing, production by Kaveh Shafiei

Scene 1 of the play Rising Water by Alice Savage.

Ajax Cooper (Alexander Tate) and his friend Magnus (Jackson Burnham) are waiting for the bus. Ajax is on his way to a job interview and is late as usual. Will he ever be as useful as his organized and studious friend, Magnus?

Quote of the Episode: Ajax: "Yeah, well I guess I'm lucky I live now! Cause if I lived in the future, I'd never be born!"

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Rising Water by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/itsd.

Scene 8 of the play Rising Water by Alice Savage.

The final scene. Ajax (Alexander Tate) has left the safety of the library to join the volunteers. Meanwhile his mother and feverish sister are trapped in the attic. Here's the exciting conclusion.

And remember if you're enjoying listening to this, think how much fun it would be to perform it. Details at www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/itsd

Quote of the Episode: Sarah: "No, I can't stay on the line. My battery is dying. This is my last call...Hello? Hello?"

Scenes 5 and 6 of the play Rising Water by Alice Savage.

Ajax (Alexander Tate) and Gordon (Scott Tesh) make their way to the library where it's safe. A lot of people are taking refuge there, but will they ever get back home or get help for Ivy (Viola Fowler) who is now delirious?

Quote of the Episode: Sara: "Ivy, we need to get out of here. They're evacuating the neighborhood."

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Rising Water by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/itsd

Scene 7 of the play Rising Water by Alice Savage.

Ajax (Alexander Tate) is increasingly frustrated as they seem unable to leave the library or help Ivy and Sara. Everyone is pitching in to help outside. Why can't a teenage boy lend a hand?

Quote of the Episode:

Mrs. Peele (Mollie Dill): "The world needs all kinds of people, don't you think? Some like books..Others just need adventure."

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Rising Water by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/itsd Be sure you're subscribed to our podcast so you won't miss the final scene. What will happen to Ajax out in the storm?

Scene 2 of the play Rising Water by Alice Savage.

Ajax's father, Gordon (Scott Tesh) and his mother, Sara, (Alice Savage) discuss the storm. As the flooding gets worse, and with Ajax not answering his phone, Gordon decides to go look for his son, somewhere in the city.

Quote of the Episode:

Gordon: "Who goes to a job interview in the middle of a flood?"

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Rising Water by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/itsd

Scene 3 of the play Rising Water by Alice Savage.

Ajax (Alexander Tate) shows up at his job interview with Petra (Viviana Collymore). Half an hour late. In the middle of a flood.

Quote of the Episode:

Petra: "I'm really sorry you came all this way, but if it helps, I'm impressed you made it!"

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Rising Water by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/itsd

Scene 4 of the play Rising Water by Alice Savage.

When Gordon (Scott Tesh) gets stuck in the flood while searching for Ajax (Alexander Tate), the script just may flip. But poor Sara (Alice Savage) is still trapped at home with a feverish daughter (Viola Fowler)

Quote of the Episode:

"I gotta go, Ajax. Just. Stay. Safe!"

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Rising Water by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/itsd

Scene 7 of the play Her Own Worst Enemy by Alice Savage.

Aida (Shini Meyer Wang) and her mother (Ione Meyer) are met at the airport by her father (Scott Tesh) after returning from her big audition. She still hasn't heard how she did, but it seems like she's made up her mind to be a macrobiolochemistist or whatever. Then the phone rings.

Quote of the Episode:

Laith: "I guess you can't know New York until you s

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Her Own Worst Enemy by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/integrated-skills-through-drama.

Scene 6 of the play Her Own Worst Enemy by Alice Savage.

As Aida (Shini Meyer Wang) sleeps after her audition at a famous performing arts school, her mother (Ione Meyer), father (Scott Tesh), Aunt Lily (Alice Savage), Uncle Ken (Kaveh Shafiel), and her friend Vanessa (Alice Llanos) appear in her dream to give her one last word of advice.

Quote of the Episode:

Ken: You are your own worst enemy. You should just do what you love. But I'm just your aunt's husband. What do I know?

For more information about this podcast, to find the other scenes, and to learn about the coursebook Her Own Worst Enemy by Alice Savage, visit www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com/integrated-skills-through-drama.