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...presents... "Temporary Paralysis: A One-Act Play"
Jake Edward Kara
__//////\ -cDc- CULT OF THE DEAD COW -cDc- /\\\\\\__
__ Grand Imperial Dynasty __
Est. 1984 \\\\\\/ cDc paramedia: texXxt 413-09/09/2008 \////// Est. 1984
ACT I Scene 1
LIGHTS UP
VICTOR HOLDEN is sitting in an enormous bathtub among
mountains of bubbles, being fed grapes by TINA, talking on
the phone with RICK SAX, whose voice we hear through
speakers.
VICTOR
So what’s the word on “Dance
or Die?”
RICK
You read my mind, Victor
baby, you read my mind.
VICTOR
Did I get the part?
RICK
Better!
VICTOR
What do you mean?
RICK
You got the teacher.
VICTOR
What!? I was made for that
lead!
RICK
Vicky, Vicky, Vicky, the pay
is the same!
VICTOR
Money? You think this is
about money? It’s always
about money with you people.
RICK
You people? What’s that
supposed to mean?
VICTOR
I’m an artist, Rick. I
can’t just play any role. I
have to feel the role, I have
to live it. I have to be it.
I’ve played this role since I
was twentythree.
RICK
And you’re fif— not twentythree,
Vic. You can’t play
sixteen year olds anymore.
VICTOR
Who’d they give the part to?
RICK
Timmy Cooper
VICTOR
Timmy who? The oatmeal kid?
RICK
That was ten years ago Vic.
VICTOR
That’s not the point. He’s a
hack, he’s a sellout. I can
act circles around –RICK
Victor, Victor, Victor . . .
We both know you’re a legend.
Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy
Stewart, Victor Holden. But
let’s face it, all the talent
in the world can’t buy youth.
I think it could be really
good for your career if –
Victor throws his phone in the bathwater.
VICTOR
Can’t buy youth? Can’t buy
youth. Do you believe that?
Tina puts down the bowl of grapes and runs her fingers
through Victor’s hair.
VICTOR
Not now – get me the
classifieds. Let’s see what
youth is going for these days.
LIGHTS DOWN
ACT I Scene 2
LIGHTS UP
Victor is speaking with TOFER in a parking lot. Tofer is
smoking a joint and looking around nervously.
VICTOR
So this stuff will make me
look like I’m a kid again?
TOFER
Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course.
VICTOR
How do I know you’re legit?
*Tofer takes a drag and offers the joint to Victor who waves
it away. Tofer leans in and whispers to Victor.*
TOFER
You know Chip Slater?
VICTOR
From “Driving 2 Fast?” Of
course. That little runt
stole my –
TOFER
Well how old do you think he
is?
VICTOR
Twentyfive,
twentyeight?
TOFER
Haha. Double that, then add a
bunch. He used to be known as
Paul Newman.
VICTOR
But—
TOFER
Ever notice when the old man
stopped acting? Who was on
the cover of seventeen the
next week?
Victor looks it up on his cell phone.
VICTOR
Well I’ll be damned. Give me
all you’ve got of that stuff.
TOFER
Woah woah, one bottle should
be plenty – it can have some
serious side effects.
VICTOR
Can the lecture for the
junkies, just give me
everything you’ve got.
TOFER
You don’t understand man, drymouth,
facial paralysis –
*Victor pulls out a wad of cash. Tofer takes the money and
hands Victor a carton of pills.*
LIGHTS DOWN
ACT 1 Scene 3
*Hospital sounds are heard as the stage is still black.
Heavy breathing, machines, heartbeats, blips of heart
meters.*
LIGHTS UP
*Victor is in a hospital bed, covered in casts. Rick enters
with THE DOCTOR.*
DOCTOR
The police report said he was
reaching in the back of his
car for a water bottle on the
freeway on his way to an
audition when he lost control
of the vehicle. You were the
most recent call in his phone
so we figured we’d leave the
decision up to you.
The doctor exits.
RICK
Hey Victor baby. Can you
hear me? . . . I guess not.
They want to know if we
should pull the plug on you,
Victor babe. I guess they
gotta make room around here,
and it’s been almost a week
already. . . Okay, Vic, I
don’t want to off you if
you’re in there somewhere, so
I came up with a system. I
saw it in a movie or
something. Just blink once
if you can hear me, and twice
if you cant.
*Rick stares at the eyes inside the cast. They do not move.*
RICK
Come on Vic, don’t make this
any harder than it has to be.
Just let me know if you’re in
there. . .
*Rick takes the cast off Victor’s face to better see him.*
*Victor looks very youthful.*
RICK
Holy Hell! You look great!
We can definitely work with
this. . . I heard there is
some real artsy flick up for
bid about some vegetable who
defies the odds to climb
mount Everest in a hospital
bed pulled by Sherpas. . .
Yeah, “Frozen Veggies,”
something like that. Yes,
this is beautiful. Vic,
we’re back on top!
*Rick kisses Vic and walks out, already dialing his phone.
He walks past the doctor who is walking in.*
DOCTOR
So have you made a decis—
RICK
Doc, this is a human life.
What kind of monster are you?
Of course we’re not going to
pull the plug!
~LIGHTS DOWN~
___________ BLATTA---NON EST---VACCA ___________
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