Question

Read this excerpt from a play. JUNE and SYLVIO speak to MR. TELLER in the driveway of their farmhouse. It is raining hard, and they all carry umbrellas. A dog sits on the steps of the house. JUNE: We didn’t think you’d be coming back for the puppy. MR. TELLER: I said I would when I dropped the puppy off. SYLVIO: Yes, but that was months ago. We thought you’d be back for the puppy in a couple days. Now she’s a full-grown dog. We have raised her ourselves, we built her her own doghouse, and we love her. MR. TELLER: But she’s my dog. I only dropped her off at your house for safekeeping since I had to go out of town on business. Now I’m back and I want my dog back. SYLVIO: I don’t know, Mr. Teller. We love Lucy like our own. We want to keep her. What is the conflict of the play? It’s raining at June and Sylvio’s farmhouse. Mr. Teller is the owner of Lucy, the puppy. Mr. Teller wants his dog, Lucy, back. Lucy was a puppy at first but is now a dog.

Answer 1

The conflict of this play is that Mr. Teller wants his puppy back. We know this because June says to Mr. Teller that they didn't think he would come to take the puppy back home. Mr. Teller says he told them he'd come back when he dropped the puppy off. 

Answer 2

The conflict is that both parties want the dog. Mr. Teller is the rightful owner but Lucy and Sylvio kept the dog for months and unfortunately got attached thinking that Mr. Teller wasn't coming back for the dog.