Before performing this script, you must first request permission at pocolocoplayers@yahoo.com or http://www.geocities.com/pocolocoplayers/request.html
The script may be printed and copied for free. If you decide to perform the play and charge admission, the requirements are below: 1. All programs, posters, etc. should have the author's name (D. M. Bocaz-Larson) and something that tells about the Freedrama.com website such as "Produced by special arrangement with www.freedrama.com". When you complete the production, mail a copy of the program to the royalty address listed below. 2. There is a $20 royalty for using the play for up to two performances. If you perform the play three or more times, the royalty is just $10 per performance. The royalty payment must be sent via http://www.paypal.com. Or you may send a check to: D. M. Bocaz-Larson, 1721 Encino Ave., Grants, NM 87020. Please no purchase orders. NOTE: The play may not be reproduced or published in any form without written permission from the author. Thank you for selecting my script. I hope you enjoy it. Sincerely, D. M. Bocaz-Larson
Cast of Characters
TANDE lost person with only an address and no memory of anything else
SLEEPER a person to be feared who is the only one who can guide TANDE
TERRY a friendly and concerned person who befriends TANDE
SHOUTER an angry individual who is annoyed easily
HYPE quick to get into other peoples business
WHINER complains about everything and everyone
SWEET an overly friendly person who is upset by harsh words
DOWNER willing to cast a dark shadow on any situation
Scene 1
(Lights in this play are dim to show darkness. A
blue tint to the lights might add to the effect.
On stage are several cots with people sleeping on
them. TANDE enters cautiously among the sleeping
people. He reaches about center and is distracted by
a sudden loud snore behind him. This causes him to
run into a cot, C)
SLEEPER
Who that? What's with knockin' my bed?
SHOUTER
Quiet!
SLEEPER
You quiet yourself.
TANDE
I'm sorry. Please go back to sleep.
SLEEPER
Don't you start tellin' me what to do. You done plenty already.
TANDE
It was an accident.
SHOUTER
Will you shut up?!
HYPE
Who's yellin'?
WHINER
Hey, man. Go to sleep. There's other people around here ya' know.
SLEEPER
Yeah, I know. So shut your trap.
TANDE
Please, all of you, go back to sleep.
TERRY
Who's the fancy talker? I bet he wears a tie?
SLEEPER
I don't see none on him. He lucky. I would a used it to strangle him.
TANDE
I'm sorry. I just need a place to sleep.
SLEEPER
There ain't none here.
TERRY
You got two cots. Why don't you give him one?
SLEEPER
What with you? You take a likin' to him?
TERRY
Well, he ain't got no tie.
SLEEPER
And I ain't got no cot. So go somewhere else.
TANDE
I'll go. It's okay.
SWEET
You can always sleep with me, honey, I got lots of room.
DOWNER
What're you talkin' about? You're the one who needs two cots.
SWEET
Careful what you say, I might cry.
WHINER
Oh, man. Last time she cry, she wouldn't shut up all night.
TANDE
Everyone, please. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble.
SLEEPER
You too late. You already did. Now, you have to pay.
SWEET
(Almost a whisper)
Be gentle with him.
SLEEPER
Shut up, woman!
SHOUTER
Why don't you?! I'm tryin' to sleep here.
(Silence. SLEEPER crosses to SHOUTER's bed, DR. He
stands over him a moment)
What do you want?!
SLEEPER
No one mouths off at me.
SHOUTER
Too late, I already did.
(In a quick motion, SLEEPER tips the cot, kicks
SHOUTER, and pins him to the floor with his foot.
TANDE tries to escape L during this but is caught
by HYPE and WHINER. HYPE and WHINER
push TANDE roughly into a sitting position on
a cot, DL. Once again everything is still again)
SLEEPER
What you say to me, boy?
SHOUTER
Nothin', nothin' at all.
SLEEPER
And what you say to me later?
SHOUTER
Nothin'.
HYPE
(Holding TANDE)
We got this one.
WHINER
What you gonna do with him?
SLEEPER
(Crosses to TANDE, grabs his face roughly and
makes TANDE look up at him)
Does I scare you?
TANDE
(Softly)
Yes.
SLEEPER
(Smiles, still holding him, looking into his eyes)
It's that look I love. I loves it more than women. And you's got it.
(He roughly releases TANDE. Others leave him
alone and go to the corners to converse. SLEEPER
sits on his cot. TERRY goes to TANDE)
TERRY
Hi, there.
TANDE
Hi.
TERRY
My name's Terry.
(Holds out hand. They shake)
TANDE
Tande.
TERRY
I think Sleeper likes you.
TANDE
I think you're wrong.
TERRY
He's not as bad as he looks. He's really a cat deep down.
TANDE
Yeah, with long claws, long teeth, and rabies.
TERRY
Oh, youre funny. I like you.
TANDE
(Brushing off the unwanted intimacy)
Where am I?
DOWNER
(Joins them)
You're down, man. You're at the end of existence.
TERRY
He exaggerates.
DOWNER
You eg-za-der-dates if you's sayin' otherwise.
TANDE
I was told to come here. At least, I think so.
(Takes out paper)
Here's the address.
(TERRY is silent when he sees paper)
DOWNER
That's bad man. Real bad.
TANDE
What is?
DOWNER
That place.
TANDE
Then this isn't it?
DOWNER
This place is far from it, man. This is Disneyland to that.
TANDE
Maybe I shouldn't go.
TERRY
You have to.
TANDE
Who will take me there, then?
TERRY
(No longer cheerful)
Sleeper can take you.
TANDE
Sleeper? Why him?
DOWNER
That's a bad place. Only Sleeper goes there.
(To TERRY)
They say he's from that neighborhood.
TERRY
If that's possible.
TANDE
Can it be that bad?
DOWNER
Where you comin' from, man? Don't you know nothin' about this neighborhood?
TANDE
This is all new to me.
DOWNER
It better be unnew and fast or you's gonna lose yourself here.
TERRY
That place where you're going...
TANDE
Yeah?
TERRY
It's dangerous... cops don't even go there.
DOWNER
And when Sleeper goes, he don't bring no one back.
TERRY
You didn't have to tell him that.
DOWNER
It's the truth, ain't it?
TANDE
I'm free, aren't I? I just won't go. I'll stay here. That's easy enough.
DOWNER
You forget. Sleeper won't let you. You're stuck.
TANDE
Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
DOWNER
Hey, he catches on quick.
TERRY
Not quick enough I'm afraid.
TANDE
Won't Sleeper help me through?
DOWNER
Sleeper? Help? Those words don't go, man. Sleeper would sooner see you hurt than helped. That's his way.
TANDE
I may as well go alone then.
TERRY
Sleeper would go anyway. Its his job. You may as well go with him.
DOWNER
You stick with Sleeper in that neighborhood, man. You'll be glad you did. With them the way they are there, he'll be your best friend.
TANDE
I don't understand any of this. What is this stupid address? I don't want to go, but what else can I do? There's nothing behind me. There's nothing here. The only thing I have is this address.
DOWNER
Keep what you got. It could be worse
but not much.
(Moment of silence. SLEEPER gets up and puts on a
jacket. SLEEPER crosses over to them. DOWNER sees
him and crosses away. TANDE and TERRY notice
SLEEPER when DOWNER leaves)
SLEEPER
(To TANDE)
You comin'?
(TANDE looks to TERRY pleadingly)
TERRY
You'd better go.
(TERRY gets up and crosses away)
SLEEPER
Show me your paper.
TANDE
Paper?
SLEEPER
(Louder and sharper)
The address!
(TANDE quickly gives it to him)
SLEEPER
(Laughs darkly)
Bad place. What's a fancy talkin' little wuss like you doin' in a neighborhood like this?
TANDE
Someone gave me the address. I don't remember them saying anything else.
SLEEPER
Probably better that way.
TANDE
What is this place anyway?
SLEEPER
That depends on you.
TANDE
What is that supposed to mean?
SLEEPER
(Laughs)
You see. What that they say. "Patience is a..." What's that word?
TANDE
"Virtue."
SLEEPER
Yeah. You got to get yourself some of that.
TANDE
I thought I had plenty before this.
SLEEPER
You find you got a lot less after.
(Starts R)
It's time.
TERRY
(Goes up to TANDE)
Keep safe.
SLEEPER
I ain't got the time!
TERRY
You'd better go.
TANDE
Good-bye. Perhaps I'll be back this way again.
(TERRY smiles sadly)
SLEEPER
You comin'?
(TANDE follows SLEEPER off R. TERRY watches
sadly. DOWNER glances reluctantly, but turns away.
Lights fade to black)