The Scenario
(a two act suspense drama)

Writing Sample: 

(Present day.  Halloween around 11pm.  Typical brownstone apartment in the West Village near Christopher Street, New York City.  Brick fireplace, kitchenette with bar in living room.  New sofa and armchair, matching.  A chess set on a coffee table, entertainment unit, including TV and stereo, scripts and books in a bookcase near fireplace.  On the bar is a set of fancy glasses.  There is one door leading to the outside hallway and a hallway off the kitchenette that leads to back bedroom and bath.  The apartment is immaculate and stylish.

At opening, the TV is on.  The graveyard sequence from NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is barely heard as STEVE enters from bedroom/bathroom hall.  He has a white cape, J.F.K. mask and crown over his arm.  He throws them onto the sofa, anxiously looks at his watch, paces watching the TV.   Phone rings.  Turns TV off and answers phone.)

                                                            STEVE

                        (On phone)

Hey.  Where are you?  I thought you were coming right back here after you got your costume.  The parade’s over.  I can’t believe you…..……………  Don’t sound upset with me.  We…………….  What?  ……..  Brian’s back?  ……….  Alright!   Didn’t I tell you he’d come back today!  …………….   Okay.  Okay, so you told me.  ………………..  How long ago did he leave?  ……………..  You’re not sure?  ………….Why didn’t you call me as soon as he left? …….………..   Are you crying?  He didn’t hurt you, did he?  ……….  Good.  Okay.  …..…..  Yes, I’m ready for him.  I’ve been ready….   What?….

 

(Exits into the off stage kitchen as he talks.  Cabinet door opens.  The rattle of pans.)

 

                                                            STEVE (continued)

Just like we planned assuming you laid everything out like we…………..  Good. 

 

(Cabinet door slams.  Enters the living room.)

 

                                                            STEVE (continued)

Everything’s ready to go.  …………………..  Let’s go over it once more.  You didn’t tell him about us.  …………..  Good.  Absolutely nothing, right?  ………….  Good.  And how about…………….  That works.  …………….. 

 

(Apartment buzzer goes off)

 

                                                            STEVE (continued)

Jesus.  Hold on.  …………  It’s the buzzer, hold on.  ……….I won’t hang up.  Just hold on.

                        (To buzzer)

Who is it?

 

                                                            BRIAN

It’s me, shit head!

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Acting surprised)

Brian?

                                                            BRIAN

Trick or treat!

 

                                                            STEVE

Uh, hold on, man, I got to…  Just hold on a minute.

                        (To phone)

He’s here.   ……………….  

                        (Insistent buzzer)

Hey, man, I’m sorry.

                        (Hits the buzzer to let him through the “downstairs” door)

After tonight.  It’ll be no more Brian.  Got to go.  …………..

(STEVE throws his costume into the back room)

What?  ……………  I know he’s a liar.  ……..  I know he’ll say anything to…. 

(Listens at door again.  Unlocks it and carefully opens it just a bit.)

I promise, I’ll stick to the plan.  Don’t worry.  ………………  Yes, no matter what he says.  …………  I gotta go.  He’s down the hall.

(Flips all the lights off.  Low sensuous voice.)

What?  ……………  Sarah, he’s outside the door.  ….... 

 

(Listens to phone.  Smiles.  He hangs up.  STEVE hides.  The light from the hallway shines in as the door slowly opens. 

 

BRIAN enters with a cane, barely able to stand.  He is wearing a Nixon mask.  He closes the door and staggers to the center of the room.  Looks around.)

 

                                                            BRIAN

Trick or treat, shit head.

(No response.  He walks around the room relying on the cane)

Hey, Steve!  Where the hell are—

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Jumps out from hiding.  Yells)

Ah!

 

(BRIAN loses his balance and falls.)

 

                                                            BRIAN

Oh, shit!

 

(STEVE quickly turns on the lights and sees BRIAN struggling to get up.)

 

                                                            STEVE

Oh, shit!  Shit.  Oh, man.  Brian.  (ad lib)

 

(STEVE helps BRIAN stand.  He staggers a bit and gets his balance, relying on a cane.  Extreme multiple sclerosis. 

 

STEVE freezes, at a loss for words at the sight of his friend.  There is an awkward silence.  BRIAN, ignoring the shocked face on his friend, hands him a brown bag bottle of Jack Daniels)

 

                                                            BRIAN

                        (Speech slurred.)

Why don’t you pour us a couple?

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Shocked)

Brian….

 

                                                            BRIAN

You never could take stage directions.  I’ll pour.

 

                        (BRIAN grabs two glass glasses from the bar.)

 

                                                            STEVE

Oh, man, I had no idea that….

 

                                                            BRIAN

Don’t say a word, buddy.

 

(BRIAN pours out two glasses, hands STEVE one)

 

                                                            BRIAN (continued)

                        (Hands STEVE a glass)

Here’s to us. 

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Trying to regain composure)

Damn…. few are like us.

 

                                                            BRIAN

And they’re dead.

 

                                                            STEVE

Here, here.

 

(They drink.  BRIAN downs his drink, tops his up.)

 

                                                            BRIAN

Ah, the elixir of the gods.

 

                                                            STEVE 

Yeah, uh……  You're looking...

 

                                                            BRIAN

                        (With humor)

I'm looking like shit. 

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Awkward laugh)

Yeah, well...  I didn't think you'd be so bad so soon.  God, Brian.  I mean...  I just meant...  Now don't take offense, but...  One year.  Man, you took me by surprise. 

 

(BRIAN staggers around the apartment looking at pictures, furniture, etc.)

 

                                                            BRIAN

Yeah, well.  Some people are lucky.  And some people…

                        (Starts to laugh)

You should see the look on your face.

 

                                                            STEVE

You son of a bitch. 

(Starting to be relieved.  Starts to laugh.)

You're joking, aren't you?  Aren't you?

 

                                                            BRIAN

(Get very serious look on his face.)

No, Steve, I'm not joking.

 

(STEVE stops laughing.  BRIAN cracks up)

 

                                                            BRIAN (continued)

There you go again.  I could keep you going all night.  You are the most gullible person I ever met.

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Unsure what to expect)

Brian?

 

                                                            BRIAN

Trick or treat.  Yes, I'm joking.  It's okay. 

 

                                                            STEVE

But... the cane?

 

                                    BRIAN

Da da!

(BRIAN drops cane. Still has a limp, but his illness is not such an extreme.)

I need it, yes, but mostly for stairs and when I get tired, but…. 

                        (STEVE looks concerned)

Steve, you are a riot.  I haven't laughed this hard in months.

 

                                                            STEVE

Well, uh, I'm glad.  I mean, I'm glad you're laughing now, but not that you haven't laughed so hard in months.  That's what I mean.

 

                                                            BRIAN

                        (Still laughing.)

Would you stop it?  I've got M.S.  Live with it.  I do.  

                        (Bitter)

And don't feel sorry for me.  Cause I don't. 

 

                                                            STEVE

I don't.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Let's drop it.

 

                                                            STEVE

It’s dropped.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Okay.

 

                                                            STEVE

Okay.  Man, it’s good to see you.

 

(STEVE starts to hug BRIAN, then pulls back, they shake hands.)

 

                                                            BRIAN

Look at this place.  And this chess set.  Hand carved.  Nice.  Real nice.  Must have set you back…

 

                                                            STEVE

Well, no, I mean…

 

                                                            BRIAN

You get this on that coffee shop job?

 

                                                            STEVE

I quit that job, I…

 

                                                            BRIAN

We’re you working now?

 

                                                            STEVE

Well, soaps…

 

                                                            BRIAN

Soaps!

 

                                                            STEVE

One national….

 

                                                            BRIAN

A national commercial! 

 

                                                            STEVE

Yeah, but…

 

                                                            BRIAN

Bet that put your old man in a good mood, eh?  His wayward “actor” son’s face all over the nation!  Can’t lie about who you are anymore, can he? 

                        (STEVE shrugs)

My friend’s got bucks now.  Living the high life. 

                        (Bouncing on sofa)

And check out this sofa!  And a matching chair! 

                        (Cold stare at STEVE)

A national.  Yeah?

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Laughs awkwardly)

Yeah.  Chevy Blazer.  Flew me and this chimpanzee out to New Mexico to drive up the side of a mesa.  Sure could handle a stick shift. 

 

                                                            BRIAN

You or the chimp?

 

                                                            STEVE

They did some shots with us in a covered wagon, then the Blazer, then standing on top looking out across the desert.

 

                                                            BRIAN

What the hell kind of message is that?

 

                                                            STEVE

I don’t know.  Darwin's theory of evolution maybe?  Man evolves from ape.  Wagon evolves to Blazer.  They're talking about doing a whole series of this evolution stuff.  I think the next one involves me and my mate, I don’t know, swinging through trees or something.  Anyway…

 

                                                            BRIAN

And you're the spokesperson?

 

                                                            STEVE

Looks that way. 

 

                                                            BRIAN

Yeah?

 

                                                            STEVE

Yeah. 

 

                                                            BRIAN

You got a good agent? 

 

                                                            STEVE

Yeah.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Marcy?

 

                                                            STEVE

Yeah.  Marcy.

 

                                                            BRIAN

She pick you up after my play closed?

                        (STEVE shrugs)

I wondered who’d fill my slot.

 

                                                            STEVE

She only handles actors now, not playwrights, but…  You must've seen the commercial?

 

                                                            BRIAN

Don't own a T.V. 

 

                                                            STEVE

Oh.  Kind of odd not having a TV living out in L.A.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Just own a van.

 

                                                            STEVE

Yeah, but…

 

                                                            BRIAN

I live out of the van.

 

                                                            STEVE

But L.A., I thought…

 

                                                            BRIAN

Don’t worry, buddy, I won’t be living out of that van much longer.

 

                                                            STEVE

Yeah.  What are you planning on…

 

(BRIAN takes the court jester staff leaning on the fireplace.)

 

                                                            BRIAN

I wondered what happened to this. 

                        (Swings it around)

Ah ha!  The court jester!  The master manipulator!

 

                                                            STEVE

You wrote the play.  Take it. 

 

                                                            BRIAN

                        (Replaces his cane with the staff)

It probably goes with me now more than ever.

 

                                                            STEVE

How about another round of Jack?  I’ll get some ice.

 

                                                            BRIAN

(Looks at photographs on wall)

Picture doesn’t do Sarah justice, does it? 

 

(STEVE exits to kitchen to get ice.  Speaks from off stage.)

 

                                                            STEVE

No, no, not at all.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Think I might go back to her place and crash there tonight. 

 

                                                            STEVE

You’re welcome to stay here.  You like my sofa, don’t you?

 

                                                            BRIAN

No, man, a night with you.  A night with Sarah?

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Enters with ice tray)

I thought after a year you guys…

 

                                                            BRIAN

She still has the hots for my body, you know? 

 

                                                            STEVE

Yeah?

 

                                                            BRIAN

Yeah. 

 

(STEVE fixes drinks not responding.  Without BRIAN seeing he pours water in his glass and none in BRIAN’S.)

 

                                                            BRIAN (continued)

(Referring to a series of framed photos on the mantel)

I forgot about the cast photos. 

                        (Looks hard at photo)

He was just a kid, wasn’t he?

 

                                                            STEVE

Who?

                        (BRIAN gives him a knowing look)

Jessie?  Yeah.  He was just a kid.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Sarah talked about him a lot tonight.  How good he was in my play.  How he could have had a great career.  She won’t accept he killed himself.  Kind of obsessed on it really.  Was asking me more questions about what happened that night after the show.

 

                                                            STEVE

                        (Hands glass to BRIAN.  Toasts.)

To Sarah.

 

                                                            BRIAN

To Sarah. 

 

                        (They clink glasses and drink)

 

                                                            STEVE

What’d you tell her?

 

                                                            BRIAN

                        (Raises glass)

To the days before fire.

 

                                                            STEVE

I don’t get it.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Days of innocence.  Prometheus, you know, the days before he was chained to a rock. 

                        (Refers to the jester staff in his hand)

Vultures eating out his liver…

                                                            STEVE

Oh…

 

                                                            BRIAN

Days before fire.

                        (Drinks)

 

                                                            STEVE

Right. 

                        (Drinks quickly)

So what did you… tell her.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Close.  They were so close.

 

                                                            STEVE

I suppose foster homes can bring a brother and sister together more than…

                                                            BRIAN

You know, I got this idea for a new play.

 

                                                            STEVE

That's great!

 

                                                            BRIAN

Great.

 

                                                            STEVE

Tell me about it.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Maybe you can help me write it.

 

                                                            STEVE

Naw, I'll leave that up to you.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Naw, I think I’ll let you help me write it.

                        (Turns to chess board)

Looks like you’ve got a chess game going here. 

 

                                                            STEVE

So what’s the idea?

 

                                                            BRIAN

Who you playing with?

 

                                                            STEVE

Don’t keep me in suspense.

 

                                                            BRIAN

You black or white?

 

                                                            STEVE

I…  that’s not a game really.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Sarah always plays black.  One move.  One poke, she’d say when we were living together.  Needless to say, the games took a long time to finish.  Then when Jessie moved in that all ended, of course.

 

                                                            STEVE

Right.

 

                                                            BRIAN

Looks like one of her moves right here.  She always liked to setup her black knight, then…

                        (Picks up the white king)

Crush the white king.  That used to be me.  It’s her move, isn’t it?

 

                                                            STEVE

She plays.  Sometimes.

 

                                                            BRIAN

You guys must be good friends?

 

                                                            STEVE

We play occasionally.

 

                                                            BRIAN

She was always a better player than the both of us.

                        (Points to board)

She must come over here a lot for you to get this far in the game. 

 

                                                            STEVE

You hungry?

 

                                                            BRIAN

She even taught me that knight-king move.  Taught me most of her moves. 

 

                                                            STEVE

I’ve got some Halloween cookies…

                                                            BRIAN

You and Sarah like playing together?

 

                                                            STEVE

We just play chess.