"The Sun Also Rises" Twilight Zone Episode # 463

“The Sun Also Rises” Twilight Zone Episode. #463
A Play in Three Acts
by
Andrew Labuzienski

Intro to  Creative Writing
Prof. Dale Hrebik
Loyola University New Orleans
April 15, 2011

Characters:
Louis Seaman
Father Derrick “Dulphy” Sorin
Al Johnson
Marlo Lipschitz
Mr. Dunst
Waitress



Act I

Narrator
You’re traveling through another dimension--a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.  There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man.  It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.  It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge.  This is the dimension of the imagination.  It is an area we call the Twilight Zone. 

Setting
Inside of a car Parked in mall parking lot.  It is a hot summer day. The windows are up and the air conditioning is on high.  The car is filled with a dank smelling smoke.

Louis
Here you go man.  (Passes half finished joint to Marlo)

Marlo
Tank you mama san(In mock asian accent).

Louis
Oh, you very very welcome.(Both fold hands and mock bow to one another.  Lou takes a deep inhale and releases contents slowly.)  Hey can I ask you something?(Coughing)

Marlo
Um, yeah go for it.

Louis
Well, what I want to know is, what are we doing here at the mall? I mean, it’s summer, and we’ve already been here twice this week.  You know, it just kinda seems like all we do anymore is get high and go to the mall.  I mean, fuck man!

Marlo
No fucking way.  You are way off base.  Sometimes we get high and go to the movies.

Louis
Good point my young padawan.

Marlo
Well master, it just so happens that we are here because I need to pick up the first season of Glee.  My dad’s birthday is next week, and he eats that shit up. 

Louis
God I can’t stand that show. 

Marlo
Yeah I know, but he really loves it for some reason.  Plus I think Mama Schitz is gonna take him out to a real fancy dinner, probably over at Polito’s. 

Louis
Gooooood o’l Mama Schitz.

Marlo
Yeah dude. Here you go.(Passes joint.  They see Matt Petsche walking into the mall from a distance.)

Louis
Oh shit man.  There goes Petsche. 

Marlo
Damn.  I heard that after the Switch happened his sister went fucking crazy.

Louis
Yup.  She fucked her boyfriend using a wal-mart bag instead of a condom.  Pretty fucking crazy.

Marlo
Goddamn.  That is fucking foul!

Louis
Yeah.  They could have at least used a Target bag.

Marlo
Haha for real.  I guess some people just can’t handle the change.  Just the other day I heard Leonard Annis killed himself.  Jumped off of the parking garage on LaSalle Street.  The crazy thing was he filled all of his pockets with as many pennies as they could hold, so when he hit the ground, those just pennies flew everywhere.  I guess he probably wanted to make some innocent bystander feel like he just won the lottery.  I mean, we seem to be doing just fine.  We do the same things we did before.  The sun just sets in the East now. 

Louis

Yeah. Big fucking deal.  This town is boring as fuck no matter which direction the sun sets. 

Marlo
I bet California was pissed though.  No more sunsets for those bastards.

Louis
Yeah, but here nobody gives a fuck which part of a cornfield the sun sets on.(Pause.  Marlo rolls down the windows.)

Marlo
(Exhales cigarette smoke) You know, I had the best idea for a useless invention.  It’s a pretty good one.

Louis
No way.  Nothing could be more useless than the one we thought of last week.  An aircraft carrier to carry aircraft carriers on?  That was pretty fucking retarded.

Marlo
Oh yeah?

Louis
Definitely.

Marlo
This little doozie I thought up, let’s just say the name says it all.  It’s called.....the poop hammer.

Louis
Shit! that’s pretty fucking useless.

Marlo
Tell me about it.  Praise Raptor Jesus!  I was just sitting there and bam! Poop hammer just flew into my head!

Louis
Raptor Jesus works in mysterious ways.(They laugh.  Comfortable silence)

Marlo
So are we going into the mall or what?  My dad needs his fix of Glee or he’s gonna flip a shit.

Louis
Well as long as he doesn’t hit his shit with a hammer I think it’s all fine and dandy. 

Marlo
Maybe we’ll see Petsche in there stocking up on plastic bags for his sister.

Louis
Oh man, as enticing as that sounds I think I am going to have to pass.  I have to go do some shit.

Marlo
What the duck do you have to do?  It’s 4:30 on a tuesday in the summer.  You have no job, no girlfriend.  What could you be doing that’s better than walking around the mall with me laughing at the sad mall skanks.

Louis
You are quite the salesman, but I promised my mom I would do something for her.

Marlo
Alright man no worries.  Pick me up the same time tomorrow?

Louis
Yup.  Let me check my schedule.(Pretends to pull something out of his pocket and opens an imaginary planner.) Just as I thought.  2:30 sharp: a blunt and a trip to the dollar theatre.

Marlo
Thank you for opening up the slot.(Tips imaginary hat as he exits the car and says with respect)Doctor.

Louis
Good day to you doctor.(Marlo heads into the mall wobbly due to highness.)


Act II
Setting: In a dimly lighted 70’s style bowling alley.  Cigarette smoke in the air.  Noises of pins crashing in the background.  Characters situated by ball return.  Al is sitting.

Dulphy
I gotta strike!

Al
No. No you didn’t.

Dulphy
How the fuck would you know?  You are blind as a fucking bat.

Al
I may be blind, but my dad taught me one thing when I was little.  He told me if a priest ever tells you something, its’s probably not true.  Also I may be blind but I’m not fucking deaf.  You got a four, and your lucky I’m giving you a four cause you crossed the fucking line with your toe.

Dulphy
Fuck.  You know me too well.  I’ll go grab us a couple of beers. 

Al
Lying to a blind man.  What’s the matter with you Dulphy?  I can’t imagine what you tell those poor little bastards in Sunday school.  You probably tell em’ the world switched directions, just because of us damn sinners.  Or maybe the head honcho, changed the good o’l book, to include a nice little retroactive prophesy or two. 

Dulphy
Hey fuck you.  I have a job to do, and I try to do it.  That’s a little more than I can say for you.  All you do about it when somebody brings it up is say in your best Stevie Wonder voice, “Holy shit! What happened!?  The sun sets in the fucking east now?  Why didn’t anyone tell me!”  Your just a blind fucking joker.

Al
And what the hell are you?  That’s right.  Your just a blind joker wearing a collar pretending he CAN see.  And all you do is spend your sweet little congregation’s money on bowling, cigarettes, and brew. 

Dulphy
So I guess you don’t want a beer.

Al
Nah.  Think I’ll take that beer.  Whatever it takes to keep you honest.  Speaking of honesty what time are you heading out to dinner?

Dulphy
Oh shit! What time is it?

Al
How the fuck would I know. I’m blind you son of a bitch.

Dulphy
(Looks up at a clock.) God damnit.  I gotta run.  Do you wanna finish up my last few frames.

Al
No but I’ll go grab those pins you missed and shove em’ where the sacred light don’t shine.

Dulphy
Haven’t you learned anything? Cursing is a sin.  Five Hail Marys and ten Our Fathers, and may God have mercy on your wretched soul........(mumbles) you blind bastard.(Leaves bowling alley)

Al
Damn. He was my ride.


Act III
Setting: Mel’s Diner.  Stools circled around counter.  Waitresses with blue white hair.  Checkered floors.  Looks like something out of a bad movie.  Mickey Mouse clock next to a picture of Elvis with a fake signature.

Host
How many?

Dulphy
Two.

Host
Right this way father.(Leads him to two empty stools in between two families with young children.  He is still in his collar.  He waits, tearing up his napkin into small strips.)

Waitress
Hey Dulphy.  How you doing?

Dulphy
You know.  I haven’t been smite yet.

Waitress
That don’t mean it’s not coming sugar.  Anyhow, can I get you sum’in to drink?

Dulphy
Can you get me a black coffee, doll?

Waitress
Coming right up.(Dulphy tears at his napkin anxiously while he waits.  Louis enters, and sits down next to Dulphy.)
Louis
Hey father.

Dulphy
Hey Louie. How’s it hanging?

Louis
Slightly to the left padre.

Waitress
Here’s your coffee father.  What are you boys havin’ today?

Dulphy
I’ll get an order of The Wets, with a hardboiled egg and some rye toast.

Waitress
How bout you darlin’?

Louis
Can I get a tall stack of blueberry pancakes, three eggs scrambled, a side a bacon, some white toast, a side of hash browns, and a large coke please.  Oh and some chili cheese fries please?

Waitress
You got it baby.(Waitress leaves with menus.)

Dulphy
Damn boy.  You sure are hungry.

Louis
(Smirking) Yeah I worked up quite an appetite today at the mall.

Dulphy
I’ll bet you did.

Louis
So what’s new old man?

Dulphy
Not a whole lot.  Just got done bowling with Al. 

Louis
How’d you do?

Dulphy
I anointed my ball with some holy oil to give it a little more, you know, chutzpah.  Only got a 99 though, which that blind son of a bitch did not fail to notice.

Louis
Sounds like a rough day of saving lost souls.

Dulphy
Yeah well you know.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  What’d you get up to?  Probably something very productive, I’ll bet you’re very busy trying to make your mama proud.

Louis
Well at least I didn’t wash my balls with holy oil.(Man sitting next to Louis looks over inquisitively.)  Has the sun been getting to your head or are you always this sacrilege?

Dulphy
You know me, just God’s humble servant.  Even in these times, I gotta watch over my little flock.

Louis
Is that what you call em’ now?  How endearing.  You probably shouldn’t call the people who pay for your holy rolling at Regal Lanes, the dumbest animals on the Earth.  But I guess they’d have to be pretty dumb to keep you around as their shepherd.

Dulphy
Hey, those sheep are paying for your munchies.

Louis
Fantastic.  I’ll grant them all indulgences for all the crazy shit they’ve been doing lately.

Dulphy
Yeah, with what divine power do you plan on doing that?

Louis
Well, I get my power from Raptor Jesus, my Jurassic Lord and savior.  He is actually responsible for the whole sun thing you know.  They don’t talk about it on the news, but I have faith that this is all part of his plan.

Dulphy
Do you always have to do this shit whenever we meet?

Louis
All I’m saying is, that Raptor Jesus is no less believable than when you told your congregation that the Switch is just a test of faith.  Why can’t you just admit that nobody knows why it happened?  Science can’t explain it.  Catholicism can’t explain it.  If it was the Apocalypse or the Second Coming, why hasn’t it happened yet.  It’s been two and a half weeks since the Switch, and where is God? Oh I know, he’s probably toking it up with Raptor Jesus.

Dulphy
You’re a raging cynic just like your mother.  You just can’t believe in anything bigger than yourself.

Louis
That’s right, and you are God’s grace incarnate on Earth.  I’m so glad to see somebody got it right.(Family on Louis’ side leaves abruptly)

Dulphy
Nobody is perfect son.

Louis
Well padre, I guess I’m living proof huh?

Dulphy
You are just living proof that the Catholic church should allow contraceptives.

Louis
Yeah, obviously you are a pillar of the Catholic Doctrine.  I know you inspire me, dad.(There is a loud bang behind them at the entrance of Mel’s.  Everyone turns around abruptly.  The man has a remington hunting rifle in his hand)

Dulphy
Mr. Dunst what the FUCK are you doing!

Mr. Dunst
You lied to me and my family, FATHER.  You told us this was the work of God.  That he was finally coming to take us home!

Dulphy
Listen let’s put the gun down, and go talk about this somewhere else.  I think you misunderstood me.

Mr. Dunst
NO! Your words are LIES!  This isn’t God!  This is the DEVIL!  You made my sweet little  Jessica kill herself.  She was only seventeen, and now she is Gone!  I’m gonna show you and your bastard God’s will.

Dulphy
Don’t do anything rash Mr. Dunst.(Dunst shoulders his rifle, and looks down the barrel straight at Louis.)Son! (Dulphy leaps off of his stool as the rifle booms.  Dulphy falls in a pool of his fresh blood, as three men tackle Dunst.  Louis stares down in shock, his face lit by the glow of the sun setting in the East.

Narrator
The seed of doubt does not necessarily come with hellfire or deadly disasters. It has been lurking in remission all along, waiting for an opportunity, a scapegoat.  The human mind is a fragile place, and needs no Switch to uncover its darkest doubt, which has always been there secretly hiding.  The Switch caused no colossal consequence, in fact new generations could easily be brought up with their cowboys riding into the East, archiving the Switch to mere historical fact, however this could not be.  The deadly consequences came out of man’s imagination, and needs for answers, and truth.  The pity of it is that it cannot be attributed to the Twilight Zone.

Poker Night

Poker Night

A Play in Three Scenes

by

Tori Buckley

ENGL-A211-002, Intro to Creative Writing

Prof. Dale Hrebik

Loyola University New Orleans

April 15, 2011

Cast of Characters

Nigel

Meredith

Cary

Sharon 

ACT I

Stage is empty except for aluminum bleachers

TIME

The present.

SCENE I

NIGEL, who is wearing a t-shirt and shorts, repeatedly checks his wristwatch while looking around for his wife.  NIGEL makes a call on his cell phone, but hangs up after several rings with no answer.

NIGEL

[Under breath]  Dammit, Mere!  Where are you?

SHARON and CARY enter.  SHARON is wearing a visor, pastel-colored tank top, khaki capri pants, and sandals.  CARY is wearing a short-sleeve button down shirt, shorts, and loafers.  NIGEL puts on a smile and waves at the couple.

CARY

Hey, man!  [CARY shakes hands with NIGEL]   We still on for poker tonight?

NIGEL

You bet.  Hey, Sharon. [NIGEL greets her with a kiss on the cheek.]

SHARON

[Speaking rapidly] Hi, hon.  Where's Meredith?  She can’t miss the big game!  Never in a million years did I think the Owls would make it to the playoffs.  But, Coach has been working those boys so hard all season.  I don’t know about Christian, but when Mark gets home from practice for supper, that boy eats twice what Cary does.  I know he’s a growing boy, but I wasn’t expecting his appetite to explode for at least a few more years.  You always hear teenage boys will eat you into bankruptcy, but Mark’s only eleven!

[EXTRAS filter in while SHARON is talking and take a seat on the bleachers off to one side.]

NIGEL

I know exactly what you mean.  I’ve had to double all my recipes to have enough to fill Christian’s new appetite.  Meredith should be on her way… She had to go into the office.  She has a big case next week.

SHARON

I swear, that woman is always working!  I can never keep up with what she has going on.  She's lucky to have such an attentive husband, though.  I can't even get this big lug [playfully slaps CARY on the chest] to take out the garbage half the time.  Oh, and thanks for the fundraiser idea at the PTA meeting Wednesday.  Oh! Game’s starting!

NIGEL
Alright. Good to see you.

CARY

You better scrape together Christian's milk money.  You’re going to need everything you’ve got.  I've been kicking ass on Full Tilt all week.

NIGEL

Yeah, yeah.  We'll see.  The real world is very different from what happens inside your computer monitor [NIGEL takes a seat at the top of the bleachers in the middle.  SHARON & CARY sit on the bottom row off to the side.]

SCENE II

It is obviously well into the game, and all the parents are clapping and cheering.

SHARON

Go Owls!

NIGEL

Come on, Christian!

CARY

Run! Run!

[MEREDITH enters wearing a black coat jacket and pencil skirt with stilettos.  Her ankles wobble and her pace is slightly slowed as if her stilettos were sinking into the grass.  As the cheering dies down, MEREDITH begins to noisily climb the bleachers.  She squeezes past other parents on her way up where NIGEL is sitting.]

MEREDITH

[MEREDITH sits beside her husband and immediately begins picking at her shoes] Fucking grass. I don’t know how I’m ever going to get all this mud off these shoes. This is fucking ridiculous.

NIGEL

Nice to see you too, sweetheart.

MEREDITH

I knew it was too good to be true.  You don’t find Manolo’s on sale for only $450 and not have something go catastrophically wrong a week later.  Not when you’re me!  Do you know what fucking Robert Kirklen just did in the office?  That’s why I’m fucking la-

[Cheering ensues in the crowd again, and MEREDITH continues angrily motioning as she relays the story, although the audience can no longer hear her.]

MEREDITH

[As the cheering dies down] -fucking deal with it anymore!  If Kirklen tries to pull shit like this one more time, I swear to God, I’m out!

NIGEL

Maybe watching the game will take your mind off of work.  Christian is playing great today.  Watch.

[MEREDITH turns to face forward and watch the game, but after a few seconds starts typing an email on her phone.]

MEREDITH

[Soon after she finally looks up from her phone, MEREDITH quickly stands and starts cheering] Wooo! Run, run, run! Woohoo! You’ve got this, baby!

NIGEL

Mere… Meredith! [NIGEL tries to get her attention as she cheers] What are you doing? That’s not Christian. 

MEREDITH

What do you mean that’s not Christian?  He’s number 44.  Isn’t that 44 on the field?  I can’t fucking see a thing.  It’s so goddamn sunny out here.  Besides, I think I need to go get a Lasik tune up.  I’ve been noticing things are starting to get blurrier than usu-

NIGEL

Meredith! Just shut up!  Are you really so self-absorbed you don’t even recognize your own son anymore?

MEREDITH

[Starting to tear up] How could you say that?  Of course, I recognize him.  I just have so much on my mind… [MEREDITH begins crying]  This case is killing me.  I work my ass off to provide for you and Christian, you know?  Everything I do is for him!  How could you say I don’t know my son? I know my son…

NIGEL

[NIGEL leans over to console his wife]  I know, I know.  I’m sorry I lost my temper.  I know you love us.  I’m sorry.

The stage goes black as NIGEL holds a crying MEREDITH, and the curtain drops.

ACT II

The stage is divided in two. Stage right, very dimly lit, contains CARY and EXTRAS sitting around a poker table.  Stage left is a living room with a sofa and coffee table.  A wooden mini dry bar can be seen behind the sofa up against the wall.  MEREDITH and NIGEL are seen sitting on the sofa, and appear to be watching television.  A doorbell rings.  NIGEL rises, walks off stage, and comes back with Sharon in tow.  SHARON is carrying two bottles of wine, one in each hand.  

SHARON

[SHARON dances into the living room, and presents MEREDITH with the wine bottles exclaiming]  Here comes the party!  [To NIGEL]  You really better head over to my place soon!  I’m pretty sure Cary and the other guys have gotten started by now.  Besides, Meredith and I have some serious catching up to attend to!

NIGEL

Okay.  Well, I’ll make sure I’m not out too late. [He kisses MEREDITH on the forehead and exits the stage.]

SHARON

Ok, now tell me!

[MEREDITH gets up and walks to the mini-bar]

MEREDITH

Tell you what?

SHARON

What the hell was going on with you and Nigel at the game today!

[MEREDITH comes back to the sofa with two wine glasses and a wine cork, and begins to open one of the bottles of wine.]

MEREDITH

Well, it all started wi-

[The lights dim to a low glow on stage right, and stage left becomes brightly lit as NIGEL enters into CARY’s living room.  CARY is picking up cards and poker chips off of the table.]

CARY

You just missed the other guys.  Game wasn’t very long tonight.  I robbed ‘em of everything in an hour flat.

NIGEL

Good, I timed it just right then.  I was afraid I would end up having to play a hand.

CARY

I told you I’ve been practicing online.  Why do you doubt me? [pause]  While I’m in the kitchen can I get you a drink?

NIGEL

Yeah.  I need a stiff one after the day I’ve had. [CARY exits, and NIGEL raises his voice so CARY can hear him from the other room]  Meredith is unbelievable!  The only time she paid attention to the game today, she mistook Johnny Gibson for Christian.  I don’t know how I’ve put up with her shit for fifteen years. 

[CARY re-enters sipping his drink and hands a glass of scotch to NIGEL, who is standing directly in front of the poker table.  Their fingers touch as the glass is exchanged, and NIGEL lifts his head to meet CARY’s gaze.  The lights on stage right brighten, as those on stage left return to a low glow.  One of the bottles of wine is on its side on the coffee table, and SHARON is pouring wine from the second bottle into the two glasses.]

MEREDITH

Where the fuck would I be without you, Sharon?  My husband doesn’t get jack shit.  Did I ever tell you that he almost divorced me about three years ago, right after we moved here?  It was actually his idea that we hang out with you and Cary…only good idea the dumb bastard has ever had.  All I know is Nigel became a hell of a lot easier to tolerate when he came home from poker nights with Cary and the guys.  After a few months of testosterone-time [MEREDITH makes air quotes] and the whole divorce thing was just kind of forgotten…

[After Meredith’s air quotes, the lights on stage left slowly grow brighter to reach the same level as the lights spotlighting stage right.  CARY brings his hand up to NIGEL’s face and caresses his cheek.  Nigel leans in to kiss CARY.] 

SHARON

Men!  They’re so simple-minded and predictable.  That’s why they don’t understand us!  All it takes to keep them happy is a weekly poker game!

[CARY and NIGEL’s kiss grows more passionate, as NIGEL wipes aside the remaining cards off the poker table.  CARY and NIGEL lie on the table making out, while SHARON and MEREDITH clink their wine glasses and laugh together.]

Okay. Alright.

A Collection of Poems

by: Justen Cheney

I. Witch House

I had to call you back –

the numbers were still new

and I wasn’t sure which

house was yours.

I was sitting right out

front in my mother’s car

but I didn’t know the witch

house was yours.

Lying on a hammock

in your back-yard

where the sun still knew

how to shine,

I was mislead by voo

doo, while your father

peeked through the blinds

like the lady counting twenty

eight days passed, and

I had to call you back –

it was April fool’s. My

sense of humor

commandeered, and

saw us apart twenty-eight

more, but I didn’t know the witch

house was yours.

So I followed you down

to the basement while

your father slept alone,

and in the blackened white

dark we gave names

to the love that we birthed,

breathing fire like a

dragon that was yours.

And mine.

II. Journey into the Woods (Methuselah)

The rhythm of that tree

was quick to not be caught,

ripping down the creek,

and whispered in the dark.

He stood on all the shadows,

made King to those below him,

and grew in all the others

that did not grow to know him.

He sat among the gods,

shooting up towards the heavens,

perched eternally in that place,

with a glowing smile on his old, wise face.

And while his reaching arms

kindled a loving fire within,

those very flames, fed with poison,

were the beginnings to our end.

III. Felix Culpa

What muddied lens covers my day-to-day, resulting in a transparent that is bleak and ugly? In my exhausted haze, with little concern for conscious, I chased poisons around my parents’ sterile suburban town, constantly reassuring myself that Thoreau was right –

That this time tomorrow I’ll be in Austin, sitting by a fire singing, “I ain’t got no name.” And I will.

Rimbaud fed the darkness that feeds everything else, and together we fought the seas on that dizzy boat. I had enough money, so I threw myself a birthday party, but I just wound up pissed off because everyone was fucking in the attic; I had no one to fuck myself. And it was my birthday.

I got a lobotomy and sniffled in the shower.

Two days later, in north Mississippi, a drunken catfish assaulted me. I walked down the main strip, past the video store and fast food restaurants, never knowing that life could be so coincidentally ironic; the fortune cookie I got from the Chinese restaurant that my white, racist grandmother works in read: “a pleasant surprise is in store for you.” I chuckled.

That weekend I found myself in the rural fields of lost America, walking lackadaisical down the fence painted silly with colors and shapes. It rained the first day but it was all right, because you ended up in the tent with me and ole’ Japhy.

The next morning the sun came up and you called me your “planaroo,” and I laughed. It may have been the music, everywhere. Or the way the light hit your freckled eyes that day – or maybe it was just the MDMA,

but I combed my hair and stood up straight.

IV.

When the words betray the truth, it’s like

opening your eyes for life at the very end – or

diving head-first into a swimming pool with no water.

I lay at the bottom with shards of my back –

bone protruding through my mangled neck,

when the words betray the truth. It’s like

having every drop of your thick, warm blood

flow slowly to the drain at the center, after

diving head-first into a swimming pool with no water.

Paralyzed, I try to call for help, but even if I could,

no one would come. Not “if” they had warned me, but

“when” the words betray the truth. It’s like

believing in the rejuvenation one receives floating

weightless underneath, only to realize that you’re

diving head-first into a swimming pool with no water.

When you sit outside with me, crying on my shoulder,

you make a personal confession and invite me over. But

when the words betray the truth, it’s like

diving head-first into a swimming pool with no water.

V. Freedom

On the far side, desperation

is the breeding ground

for inseparable identities.

With your minds' mirror lost,

being is a sociopath,

or a violent psychopath,

with all the little possibilities

to sacrifice as martyrs.

My freedom is their Jesus;

creative fidelity, his holy word.

I can kick the tireless oppression

of boredom’s despotism with a

bottle of beer, and the inverted

triangle superimposed over

my face, always.

Remember what it feels like

yourself; remember the feeling

gives way to the despair, and

emerges as liberty. But if I die,

let compassion bury me.

VI.

Nickels and dimes, and spare –

changin’ the poor. I have,

and I’m rich, but I wasn’t before.

My body, my bread

you ate off the floor,

now you rest in a hole

somewhere in Hooverville,

and even now, even still,

you cling to your pride and

damn compassion as “charity.”

But if you had the sight to see,

you would lose your fear of me,

and you could know your pride

for what it is; it’s the dark that

hides the day, or the strong

feasting on it’s prey. It’s the KKK.

**disclaimer: this is part of a more ambitious ten poem collection (I ran out of time, but everyone knows how that goes). Hopefully they will be finished soon.

Disappointment with a Smile

Disappointment with a Smile

A Drama in Two Scenes

By

Rashad Michelle Patterson

Intro to Creative Writing

Prof. Dale Hrebik

Loyola University New Orleans

April 13, 2011

Characters:

Emma “EJ” Smith

Ellis Smith

Waiter

Host

Back story: Ellis and Emma Smith have been married for ten years. However what looks like the perfect marriage on the outside is one filled with lies and infidelity. Ellis has been having an affair for about three years now because he has come to think of his wife as no more than a trophy. Emma (also known as EJ) loves her husband very much, and has known about his infidelity from the beginning. She does not know how to handle the infidelity so she continues to play the naive homemaker that knows nothing at all. Now that Ellis has grown tired of what he considers “playing the field,” he wants to make his marriage work, and he is sure that the night of their tenth year anniversary is a good time to start.

Setting: Well lit fancy restaurant. A single table is set for two in a private corner. On the table are: the traditional white linen tablecloth, wine glasses, and dinnerware, but in the middle sits a lone pink rose. (EJ’s favorite flower)

Act I

Scene I

(Ellis arrives at the restaurant)

HOST:

Good evening sir. How may I help you?

ELLIS:

Reservation for E.J.Smith.

(Adjusts his collar and tie)

HOST:

(Looks at the reservation list)

Yes sir. I’ll show you to your table. Right this way.

(Host walks Ellis over to an empty table set for two.)

Is something wrong with the table arrangement sir?

ELLIS:

No the table is fine, but where is my wife?

HOST:

The lady called and said that she would be a few minutes late. She said that you should wait here for her, she won’t be long.

ELLIS:

Why would she call you and not me? (Checks his phone)Ok then. I’ll wait. (Sits down at the table)

HOST:
Your waiter will be right with you.

(Host walks away from the table as the waiter walks over.)

WAITER:

Good evening sir. What may I get you to drink?

ELLIS:

I’ll have a scotch on the rocks. (Pauses) On second thought make that a bottle of your best champagne.

WAITER:

Of course sir! Celebrating a special occasion?

ELLIS:

Yes. Today is my anniversary. My lovely wife and I have been married for ten years.

WAITER:

Congratulations sir! I’ll be right back with your champagne.

ELLIS:

Thank you.

(Waiter walks away)

ACT I

SCENE II

Ellis is still waiting for EJ to arrive; he is sitting at the table looking at the ring he bought her as an upgrade of her wedding ring.

HOST:

(Walks over to Ellis)

Sir this box came for you.

(Hands Ellis a box wrapped in black paper and a silver bow.)

ELLIS:

When did this get here?

HOST:

Just a few minutes ago sir. And might I say that is quite an extravagant ring. What’s the occasion?

ELLIS:

My wife and I are celebrating our ten-year wedding anniversary.

HOST:

Wow sir. Mind if I take a look?

ELLIS:

Please do!

HOST:

Did you get it engraved?

ELLIS:

(Snaps his fingers in disgust)

God dammit, I didn’t think to get the damn thing engraved.

HOST:

Well I am sure she is going to love it with or without it being engraved.

ELLIS:

Thank you. I’m sure she will. (Turns his attention to the box on the table) Did my wife tell you to bring this box to me?

HOST:

I’m sorry sir?

ELLIS:

Did my wife tell you to bring this box to me?

HOST:

Sir I don’t know your wife.

ELLIS:

Well then, did a very gorgeous, tall, light-skinned woman tell you to bring this box to me?

HOST:

I’m sorry sir, but I cannot tell you who asked me to bring this over here, that would be going against my orders.

ELLIS:

Well then I am sure it is from my wife. EJ tries to be clever. She planned this dinner and then sent this gift. It has to be from her because the box is wrapped in our wedding colors. (Chuckles)She’s trying to woo me. She is something. Truly something.

HOST:

Something special right sir?

Ellis opens the box and he notices an envelope written on in EJ’s handwriting.

The Host anticipates that Ellis’ gift will be just as nice as the gift he bought for EJ. The host is excited to see what is in the box that came for Ellis. When he sees two white envelopes, he walks away.

(As the Host is walking away the Waiter comes back to the table)

WAITER:

Your champagne sir.

(Pours a glass for Ellis)

ELLIS:

Thank you. Oh, you can leave the bottle; my wife will be here in a second.

WAITER:

Of course sir.

Ellis opens the envelope that is written on in EJ’s handwriting. As he starts reading it, the audience hears EJ’s voice as though she would be reading it to him instead of him reading it himself.

(EJ’s voice)

You made many promises that you never kept. The words of those promises I held close to my heart. I hoped one day you would remember because I never did forget the many times you told me you were going to do something, or we were going to do something. And you didn’t, we didn’t. That broke my heart and made me cry time and time again. But you never knew. Because in spite of the disappointment I smiled.

There were times I got upset. I said you would never keep your word. But then you would promise me something else. I’d believe you and smile a “happy” smile. And as time moved on I got more and more excited. And then the day comes. You never bring it up. Never mention it. Never tell me why it can’t happen. You go on like you never made a promise at all. Like it doesn’t exist. Like I don’t exist. I try not to talk about it. Not to think about it. I hope that you will remember. You never do. It doesn’t exist. It never existed. I’m sad. But I smile because you do.

I joke. I laugh. I play with you. But inside I cry. If only you could hear my heart crying “YOU PROMISED ME” over and over again. You promised me. You did. But I guess its okay. Because then you remember that you forgot and promise me another day. I fill with anticipation even when you say “soon.” I know that this time you will remember. No, you won’t forget.

Soon becomes tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes the next day. That day becomes next week. Next week becomes two weeks later. That turns into next month. Next month turns into the month after that. And then its ten years. And now it’s gone. I stopped pushing you to remember. It’s your promises. You should’ve remembered. But you didn’t. And yet I smiled.

But now…I’m sick of hiding. The smile is gone.

You broke ten years of promises, and then you broke your vows. And that broke my heart!

I want a divorce!

p.s. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

ELLIS:

What the hell? What promises? This has got to be some kind of joke. (Tosses the letter onto the table) Wait….She knew? How could she have known? There’s no way… (Scratches his head)Excuse me Host!

(Host walks over to the table)

HOST:

Yes sir?

ELLIS:

Who told you to bring me this shit?

HOST:

I am sorry sir?

ELLIS:

Stop acting like you don’t understand what the hell I am saying. You know damn well what I am asking, but I’ll ask you again. Who told you to bring me this shit?

HOST:

Sir please calm down. I’m just following orders. I was told to bring you this box and tell you to have a good evening.

ELLIS:

What the hell do you mean you are following orders? I thought I was the paying customer and you were supposed to do what the paying customer says. And seeing that I am the paying customer, I demand to know, who in the hell bought this box?

HOST:

Actually sir you are not the paying customer. Everything has already been paid for.

ELLIS:

What the hell do you mean it’s already paid for?

HOST:

The person who brought the box covered your bill. My orders were to bring you the box, and to tell you have a good evening. So have a good evening sir. (Smiles weakly and walks away.)

ELLIS:

What the hell is going on? This has got to be some kind of joke. EJ wouldn’t divorce me!

Ellis notices the second white envelope in the box. It is not written on, and it is much thicker than the envelope that EJ’s letter came in.

ELLIS:

Waiter!

(Waiter walks over to the table)

WAITER:

Yes sir?

ELLIS:

(Staring blankly at the envelope)

I think I’ll have that scotch now.