Party Trick - An Autism Awareness Sketch

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*Sorry for the long post*
I wrote an autism awareness comedic sketch a few months ago and I've only had reactions from neurotypicals. I was wondering if other actually autistic people would like it. It's a sketch for the sketch comedy show Studio C (hasn't been sent in) and it also references Doctor Who. What do you guys think? Any suggestions for improvement?

Fade in:

ISABELLE (V.O)
Disclaimer: The following sketch was written by Isabelle Jolley (Hey, that’s me! Oh. Ahem.) to spread awareness and dispel common misconceptions of challenges I and many others face in a lighthearted way. This sketch was not written by someone without these challenges. This sketch was not written by a doctor, although it has the Doctor in it. This sketch was not written by a Zygon, although it…

Her voice gradually fades out.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - PARTY
The CAST is dancing on center stage to loud party music and flashing lights. The camera focuses on a girl (ISABELLE) standing by the wall, watching the cast dance. She is wearing headphones, a Doctor Who shirt, and fidgeting with a sensory ring on her finger. The host of the party, JERICHO, walks up to her, striking up a conversation. They have to yell to be heard above the music.

JERICHO
(Yelling)
Hey, Isabelle! Are you not liking my music?

ISABELLE
(Yelling)
Oh, no. I love it! Why?

JERICHO
(Yelling)
I just noticed you’re wearing headphones, so I thought you didn’t.

ISABELLE
(Yelling)
Oh, yeah. They’re noise-canceling.

JERICHO
(Yelling)
Oh, okay.

He turns to leave, but then, confused, turns back.

JERICHO (CONT’D)
(Yelling)
But… you just said…

ISABELLE
(Yelling)
Oh, I have autism so noises can be a bit overwhelming for me.

JERICHO
(Yelling)
Oh, really? You don’t look autistic.

ISABELLE
(Yelling)
That’s not really a complime-

JERICHO
(Interrupting, yelling
at the cast.)
Hey, guys! Turn that music off. Isabelle is autistic! It’s hurting her!

ISABELLE
No, it’s okay. I-

The music and lights are turned off and everyone starts gathering around Jericho and Isabelle, talking over each other.

ISABELLE (CONT’D)
Seriously, it’s okay. I don’t need you guys to-

GABBY
I didn’t know you were autistic.

CARL
What is it like?

DALTON
Can I see some of your art?

GARET
That’s artistic.

DALTON
Oh.

ISABELLE
Guys-

KIRI
I’m so sorry to hear that.

TORI
I have a nephew who’s autistic.

ISABELLE
Guys-

KIRI
You are so brave.

JERICHO
Do you have superpowers?

ALETA
Are you a genius?

ISABELLE
(Shouting)
Guys!

Everyone falls silent.

ISABELLE (CONT’D)
One at a time! Please.

TORI
My nephew has autism and can’t speak. How come you can speak and he can’t?

ISABELLE
(Taking off her headphones)
Not all people with autism are nonverbal. Have you heard of Temple Grandin?

CARL
Oh! Isn’t that the guy in the wheelchair who speaks with a computer?

ISABELLE
She is not Stephan Hawking.

ALETA
Wasn’t he a genius? Ooh! Are you a genius?

EVERYONE
Ooh! What can you do?

DALTON
(Mishearing, talking
over everyone)
Venus is my favorite planet, too.

GABBY
(To Dalton)
What?

ISABELLE
No, guys! That’s a common misconception. Not everyone is a Rain Man or Sheldon. Those are stereotypes.

Everyone gets disappointed at this.

ISABELLE
Why are you disappointed about that?

CARL
(Uncomfortable)
So, are you, like, um…

ISABELLE
Am I what?

CARL
(Uncomfortable)
You know… (Under his breath) Stupid?

ISABELLE
(Unoffended)
No, I’m not stupid.

CARL
(Holding up his
hands)
That's not what I said!!

ISABELLE
(Confused)
Yes, it is.

TORI
My nephew is obsessed with trains. I think they call it his ‘special interest.’ Which is your favorite model?

ISABELLE
I don’t really like trains. My special interest is Doctor Who. (Points at her shirt, smiling) Seasons 1 through 7 to be exact. And I really like that we’re talking about this-

GABBY
So, what is it like having autism?

GARET
Do you get to park in the handicapped spot?

ISABELLE
(Confused)
I don’t need it… No, my brain just takes in too much information and can get overloaded with loud noises or stupid questions.

KIRI
Oh my Goodness. That must be so hard for you. You are such an inspiration.

ISABELLE
I’ve inspired you to be autistic?

KIRI
(Smiling)
Yes. (Confused) Wait, what?

ISABELLE
Look, guys. Asperger’s is really diverse and-

GARET
Aspergers? I thought you said you had autism.

ISABELLE
Asperger’s Syndrome is on the autism spectrum. It’s still a part of me.

ALETA
So it can be cured?

ISABELLE
No- I mean it’s a part of who I am. It makes me me.

JERICHO
(Pointing to her as if
he learned something)
It makes you me.

ISABELLE
(Smiling)
Exactl- (Confused) Wait.

GARET
How come we didn’t know you were autistic earlier?

ISABELLE
(Jokingly, chuckling)
Well, I wasn’t here earlier.

Everyone just gives her blank or confused looks. She clears her throat, embarrassed.

ISABELLE
(Embarrassed)
Okay. Well, I, uh, usually tend to mask when I’m out in public.

ALETA
Like in 2020? Everyone masked in public.

ISABELLE
No, masking as in hiding my traits.

CARL
Isn’t that lying? I thought autistic people can’t lie.

ISABELLE
(Confused)
That is not true. Anyway, masking isn’t really lying, it’s suppressing your traits to fit in with neurotypicals.

ALETA
Big words. Not interested. But you don’t even look autistic. Why should we believe you?

TORI
Yeah, you don’t look like my nephew.

ISABELLE
What does autism look like?

ALETA
(Flustered)
Well… um… uh…

TORI
(Under her breath)
My nephew?

ISABELLE
See? Autism only affects the brain, not the appearances.

TORI
What about those who can’t speak, like my neph-

ISABELLE
(Frustrated, interrupting)
Everyone is different! I’m not your nephew! Autism is a spectrum.

DALTON
I’m confused. Are we talking about a streaming service?

GARET
No, I think we’re talking about the light spectrum now.

ISABELLE
No, I mean it affects everyone differently.

JERICHO
(Pointing to her as if
he learned something)
So, everyone is autistic.

ISABELLE
(Rubbing her forehead)
No, I-

TORI
That makes so much sense!

ISABELLE
No it doesn’t.

CARL
I heard people with autism don’t have empathy.

ISABELLE
What about that time I was crying with you over an ASPCA commercial?

CARL
(Embarrassed)
Don’t say that out loud!

GABBY
I mean, who doesn’t?

Everyone verbally relates to this.

GARET
Why are you doing that?

ISABELLE
Doing what?

GARET
(Pointing at her hand)
That.

Isabelle is still fidgeting with her sensory ring.

GABBY
Oh, wait! I know this! It’s called stemming!

ALETA
That’s what I do to my plants!

ISABELLE
Well, stimming.

GABBY
What?

ISABELLE
It’s short for ‘self-stimulatory behavior’. It’s just how we get rid of extra energy or cope in different situations.

TORI
Like rocking and hand-flapping? (Demonstrates) My ne-

Isabelle stares at her with warning eyes.

TORI
Sorry.

ISABELLE
There are other forms of stimming, too. Like humming, bouncing, pac-

KIRI
Are you steaming because you’re overstimulated?

DALTON
(Very confused,
almost disgusted)
Oversaturated?

TORI
(To Dalton,
confused)
What?

JERICHO
Do you need to leave? Is this too much?

ISABELLE
No, it’s fi-

CARL
Guys, we’re making her overwhelmed!

TORI
What do we do?

ALETA
(To TORI)
You’re always talking about your nephew. How do you not know?

Tori looks at her confused. Everyone starts talking over each other while trying to ‘help’ Isabelle.

GABBY
Guys, she’s not okay.

ISABELLE
You do know I can speak for myself?

DALTON
She’s talking to herself! Is that bad?

Isabelle starts to stim again but Carl stops her.

CARL
(Worried)
We have to stop her stealing!

ISABELLE
If it’s not hurting anyone, don’t stop it- Wait, I’m not-

KIRI
(Interrupting)
You’re going to be okay.

ALETA
(Concerned)
Let’s help you get outside, okay?

Isabelle
(Putting on her headphones)
Guys, I’m fine-

GARET
Is doubting herself a bad sign?

TORI
I think she’s close to a meltdow-

The TARDIS sound interrupts her. They all turn to see the eleventh Doctor, played by JASON, enter. He is holding a machine that looks very much like the machine that goes ‘ding’.

JASON
Isabelle, I need your help! A Zygon’s gotten loose in the studio, and you’re the only one who can tell who’s real and who’s an alien.

Everyone stares at him, shocked.

DALTON
A what?

TORI
(To Isabelle)
You know the Doctor?

ISABELLE
(Smiling)
I told you, my special interest is Doctor Who. (Points at her shirt)

TORI
(Confused)
But-

JASON
I’ve been able to track down the Zygon with my very trusty machine that goes ‘ding’. Took me ages to find it. Almost dropped it in a black hole, not to mention-

ISABELLE
Doctor.

JASON
(Dramatic)
Anyway, it tracked the Zygon to this very room. It’s one of us.

ISABELLE
(Casual, shrugging)
Well, that’s easy. It’s Dalton.

EVERYONE
What?

Everyone turns towards Dalton.

DALTON
(Unconvincingly)
Wh-what?

ISABELLE
(Shrugging)
Dalton isn’t usually this hard of hearing. And besides, he has suction cups on his fingers so it’s pretty obvious.

She holds up his hand to show the suction cups.

EVERYONE
Dalton!

Jason starts taking him offstage.

JASON
Good eye, Isabelle. Saved the planet once again. (Pause to point at her) Nice shirt.

ISABELLE
(Shrugging, smiling)
Thank you.

DALTON
I don’t even suck on fingers, what are you talking about?

JASON
Right, come on, Zygon. Let’s get you where you belong.

He does the Doctor’s ‘trademark’ twirl to wink at the cast, making Isabelle smile.

JASON (CONT’D)
Geronimo.

Jason pulls Dalton offstage as Isabelle waves. Most of the cast stays silent, mouths open, as they process.

ISABELLE
(Waving)
Bye!

KIRI
(Quietly)
Bye, Dalton.

Gabby nudges her and reminds her:

GABBY
He’s not the real Dalton.

CARL
How did you do that?

ISABELLE
(Shrugging)
Never assume the abilities of someone with autism.

Everyone is silent for a moment.

GARET
Man, when I grow up I want to be autistic.

ISABELLE
(Confused)
You what?

TORI
So… Where is the real Dalton?

Everyone looks around, suddenly worried.

FADE OUT

I guess that I, personally, an Aspie, would be uncomfortable in that conversation. It sounds like the Autistic is the center of too much attention.

I would prefer to be in a conversation like that that was discrete and away from the action. And I don't think I could cope with an on-going conversation on that topic that involved more than one or two people.

The way you put all the common stereotypes in one conversation made me laugh.


Here was a youtube autism advocacy video from over a decade ago that was also done in a lighthearted fashion that was very popular when I first joined Wrong Planet. I have not seen it posted in a long time. Some references are dated but it is still all to relevent.

I've never seen that video before and I can see why it was so popular. This video by Smile Squad Comedy is what triggered the creative spike I needed to write my sketch: https://youtu.be/sFIR5Qerg7Y?si=KzpX86cMn-WFwlvD

I wanted to make a sketch about autism that could be done on stage instead of with multiple cuts like in YouTube videos. Mostly because I want to write for Studio C (which this sketch was).

I remember watching this video when it was first posted here. I really like this video.

I wonder if the Smile Squad Comedy saw the older video. There were some common lines.

Back on topic, do you guys have any suggestions on how to improve my sketch? Anything you want added in or taken out?