Sunday, June 9, 2013

Everybody's Got Something to Hide (Except Me and My Monkey Paw)

*NOTE-I wrote this during my Sophomore year at Blackburn College, hence the completely different format from Zeus and Hera. According to the saved date, it was an Assignment for a Dec. 8th, 09 class. I ended up winning 1st place in a writing contest on campus for Drama a year later...won $140 and got to see Twiztid at Pop's*


Characters

Cassandra-20 year old girl

Malcolm-Strange Man in his 50’s

Policeman #1

Policeman #2 (Alex)

 

Setting-Living Room

Time-present day, at night

 

{The scene opens up to a girl on a couch in her living room. She appears to be watching TV, as a remote is in one hand, the other propping up her head. She obviously does not like what is on, and instead flips channels to find the show to quench her boredom, but she is finding no such luck}

Cassandra-God! I am so bored. Why isn’t there anything on TV tonight?

{She clicks the remote a few times}

Cassandra-I’ve all ready seen that.

{She clicks it a few more times}

Cassandra-That movie is so stupid when it’s “edited for television.”

{She turns off the T.V.}

Cassandra-Why can’t there be anything exciting to do around here?!?

{Someone rings the doorbell. Cassandra looks at the door for a moment, sighs, gets up and walks over to the door. }

{She opens the door and sees a middle aged man with a somewhat large bag by his side}

Malcolm-Hello.

Cassandra-{uneasy} Hi…

Malcolm-I’m here to offer to you which is in itself a once in a lifetime opportunity. Interested?

Cassandra-No. {Slams the door, locks it}

{She takes one step towards the couch, but then the doorbell rings again. She turns toward the door, unlocks it and opens to the same old man}

Cassandra-{annoyed} Yes?

Malcolm-I’m here to offer to you which is in itself a once in a lifetime opportunity. Are you interested?

Cassandra-NO! {about to slam the door again, but he stops it with his foot}

Malcolm -Would you like to buy a monkey paw? Very cheap.

Cassandra-Ew, God no! Why would I want something like that? {closing her front door}

Malcolm-{stops the door from closing on his face again} Wait, wait, wait. It’s not just any monkey paw…

Cassandra-{interrupts; in a sarcastic tone}-yeah, ‘cause nowadays EVERYBODY selling monkey paws.

Malcolm-{sighs, then continues} As I was saying, this isn’t just any monkey paw; it is a wishing monkey paw.

{pause}

Cassandra-I’m sorry, what? I spaced out for a few seconds.

Malcolm-{sighs again, hand touching temple, to himself} God, how is she even able to breathe on her own? {aloud}  This, my dear, is a very special monkey paw. {He goes into his bag and pulls a monkey paw out} This is a WISHING Monkey Paw. Three wishes for whatever your heart desires.

Cassandra-So, three wishes, all for me?

Malcolm-Yes.

Cassandra-And it’s all thanks to the gross monkey hand.

Malcolm-Monkey paw, but yes.

{pause}

Cassandra-This sounds familiar.

Malcolm-{shocked} What?

Cassandra-I said, “This sounds familiar.” I think I read a story like this in school.

Malcolm-{still shocked, and a little worried} Uh…No you haven’t!

Cassandra-Yeah, I did. I remember now, well, sorta. We were reading “The Monkey’s Paw” for English class, but that was when Kelly broke up with Kyle and I had to give all my attention to her. Luckily, she told me The Simpsons did a Treehouse of Horrors episode with the story, so I just watched that. Turns out, I lucked out with it anyways. My English teacher had to cancel all her classes that week-her baby came early. But yeah, I know what you’re doing.

Malcolm-{sheepishly} You do?

Cassandra-You’re trying to get me to make wishes for myself, ‘cause I worked so hard for finals! That’s so sweet of you.

Malcolm-Uh…yeah, sure. Why not…

{Cassandra grabs the paw out of his hands}

Malcolm-Hey, you gotta pay…

{Cassandra closes and locks the door}

Malcolm-…for that!

Cassandra-Okay, what should I wish for. Hmm…

{She thinks, while playing with the monkey paw.}

Cassandra-Oh, I know! {closes her eyes} I wish I had a large cheese pizza, cooked to be crispy, but not too crispy, in a pizza box delivered to my house right now.

{doorbell rings}

Cassandra-Yay! The pizza’s here.

{Cassandra puts the monkey paw on the couch, walks to and opens the door. Malcolm’s still there, but is now holding a pizza box.}

Malcolm-You still have to pay for that paw.

Cassandra-Hey! Give me my pizza. I wished for that!

{Cassandra grabs the pizza and walks over to the couch, but leaves the door open, letting Malcolm able to come in}

Malcolm-That was your first wish? Pizza?

{Cassandra sits down, opens the box, looks in and sighs}

Cassandra-They didn’t cut it the way I like it! I wanted square pieces and I got triangle slices.

{Cassandra pouts, but shrugs it off and takes a slice and eats it}

Cassandra-That is sooo good!

Malcolm-Pizza? Are you freaking kidding me?

Cassandra-{looks to Malcolm, innocently} What? I was really hungry.

Malcolm-You do realize that this {he picks up the monkey paw from the couch} can get you ANYTHING? And when I mean anything, I mean anything! Riches, love, expensive clothes…you name it can give it to you.

Cassandra-{grabs the paw from Malcolm} I wish I had a 20 oz. bottle of Diet Coke.

{she waits a moment, gets up from the couch, and goes through Malcolm’s bag---while it’s still on his shoulder.}

Malcolm-Hey, get out of that!

{She finds her Diet Coke and finally leaves his bag alone.}

Cassandra-Ew, it’s warm. Oh well, I’ll just get a cup of ice from the kitchen.

{Cassandra leaves for the kitchen(offstage). Malcolm is getting angry}

Malcolm-{aloud}A SODA? {to himself}The girl can wish for anything in the world, and you wish for a SODA!

{He takes a slice of pizza}

Malcolm-{yelling to Cassandra in the kitchen} You know, most normal people wish for money, jewels, fame, or… {He takes a bite of the pizza} Well, this is really good pizza, I’ll give her that…

{Cassandra returns with a cup of ice}

Cassandra-YAY! Now I can enjoy my pizza.

Malcolm-Look, you got one more wish left. May I suggest World Peace? End Hunger? {watches her staring at her pizza before she eats it} at least one half of a brain? {to himself} So at least you’d have half of one instead of none at all.

Cassandra-{takes a drink} You know what? You’re right. I am going to wish for something other than myself.

Malcolm-{to himself} Finally.

Cassandra-I wish you would go away.

Malcolm-Wait, What?!?

{Then two policemen come running into the house, taking Malcolm and his bag, dragging him out the door}

Policeman #1-Alright scumbag, you’re coming with us. And trust me, with all the evidence we got piled on you, you’ll be locked up in solitary confinement for a long,long time.

Policeman #2-Yeah.

Policeman#1-{annoyed} Way to add to the conversation, Alex.

Malcolm-{screaming while being dragged} All I wanted was to sell monkey paws! {Malcolm and the Two Policemen exit out the door.}

Cassandra-Finally, some peace and quiet.

{Cassandra walks over to the door, with her pizza in hand, locks it and sits back on the couch. She takes a bite of her pizza, picks up the remote, and turns on the TV.}

Cassandra-Yay! There having a Charmed marathon! I love that show. Those girls are always getting in trouble with magic.
(LIGHTS OUT)

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