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This past Tuesday, I got to hear the first reading of my short play The World is Watching, which will premiere this coming March as part of RROAPS 2014.  As always, the first read-through is so pivotal, and the responses that came afterwards were particularly encouraging.  The play is rife with references to science-fiction and dystopian literature, drawing particular inspiration from my favorite book, George Orwell’s 1984 (hence the names “Julia” and “Winston”).

Now that the first hurdle is out of the way, it’s time to get serious, and that may mean some hefty rewrites.  As the great Dr. Mark Charney and I discussed during a meeting, the play has the potential to be made wonderfully messy and idiosyncratic; right now it’s almost too neat, so letting it explode out of its bounds could be a lot of fun.  Until then, here’s a clip from the original:

(Lights up on JULIA, sitting in front of Tube, bedecked in a stunning dress, primping.  The VOICEOVER plays as the lights come up.)

VOICEOVER: At work.  At play.  At home.  Watch and be watched all day, any day, completely free.  At Oceana Digital, we bring the world to you and you to the world, so you can see what it’s really all about.  So go on: let loose.  Do what feels right.  And remember: the world is watching!

(JULIA finishes primping.  She speaks directly to Tube.)

JULIA: Do you like it?  Don’t be bashful.  You can look.  I see you looking out the corner of my eye sometimes.  You don’t have to be so sly.  It’s not like that stupid old fart would notice, anyway.  He only has eyes for that fat, blonde, Swedish mountain of a whore from down the street.  Never mind, though.  Go on, tell me honestly: how do I look?

(She presents herself.  Naturally, Tube does not speak.)

Mm.  Your silence says it all.

(Winston enters.)

WINSTON: Beautiful morning and here you are.  Why am I not surprised?

JULIA: I don’t know why you would be –

WINSTON: Great Scott, what are you wearing?

JULIA: You don’t recognize it?

WINSTON: What’s the occasion?

JULIA: Of course you don’t.  First time I’ve worn it in a decade.

WINSTON: I suppose you’re dressing up for it, aren’t you? You know, there’s nothing to look at in that stupid thing.  Billions of people all over the world and not a one worth watching.

JULIA: Shows how much you know.

WINSTON: Just last night I could’ve sat and watched an entire orgy out in rural Bolivia, but I didn’t because it would’ve been the fourth time.

JULIA: Of course you went straight for the porn, so typical –

WINSTON: And I guess you’re snooping on the neighbors, per usual?

JULIA: It’s not snooping when everyone can see everyone else.  There are people looking at us right now, aren’t there?

WINSTON: Are there?

JULIA: No.  Of course not.  Because we’re dull.  You’re dull.  I mean, look at you.

WINSTON (Walking away.): I tell you, I’m done with Oceana and that box and all the bull.  It’s all fake to me now.

JULIA: Whatever.  Where are you going?

WINSTON: I’m having a seat on the porch.  Outside, in the real world.  You can join me if you’d like.

(He exits.)

JULIA (Shouting after him.): You’re only going out so you can ogle that Ingrid Bitcherson down the street!

WINSTON (Offstage.): What?

JULIA Mind your own business!

(To Tube.)

The “real” world.  What does he know about real?  He sits in an office all day clicking a button and jerking off to selfish, bitchy, gets-everything-she-wants Ingrid.  It’s pathetic.  There’s no passion, no zest.  No blood and thunder, no pomp and circumstance.  What kind of reality is that?  It’s nothing.  It’s empty, and sad.  Not like what you and I have.  But never mind.  I have plans…

(She retrieves a knife from somewhere on her person.)

Nice, huh?  I thought about a gun, but this is much more sophisticated and feminine, don’t you think?  It’ll make for a better scene, too.  Think I’ll do it right here, that way we get all the angles.

(She looks at the cameras surrounding the room and then back at Tube.)

Do you think I should do it, though?  I don’t know.  It’s just, I’ve only ever seen it done, and even though that’s usually all you need to figure it out, I just feel…  Do you want me to?  I’ll do it if you want me to…  Or I won’t do it if you don’t want me to.  Do you want me to?

(Per usual, Tube does not respond.)

You’ve been awfully quiet lately.  But then I guess that’s typical you.  One day you can’t get enough of me – like the day I dropped the teacup on my toe.  Everyone from Boise to Beijing popped in to look.  And then the next day, nothing.  Zip.  Nada.  Like being carried on the wings of an eagle and then getting dropped.  Oh well.  I suppose it was just a lesson.  You giveth and you taketh away…