I'm supposed to do this more.
I'm suppose to build up a "following" so people will buy my book(s) and attend my plays.
So... I guess I'll just keep trying.
Did I mention I have a book?
This is August. And August now means playwright challenge. That is: 31 Plays In 31 Days. For the month of August I have committed to writing a play a day for each month of August. Thirty-on plays. Fortunately they don't have to be 31 full-length plays. Can you imagine? I can't. Minimum of one page, that's the expectation. Though, I've never written a one-page play. All of the plays I wrote in last year's challenge were three pages to ten pages. Probably averaging around 6 pages. But I didn't do the math, so don't hold me to it.
Today being the 9th of August were almost a third of the way through. I've already written today's play, titled "Bite The Bullet." I've added it below. It's short - three pages - and rough. But that's the idea. Write them now and go back later and build on the ones that seem the most interesting.
So, enjoy. Oh, and go buy my book. I mentioned I had a book, yes?
Bite The Bullet Earl
T. Roske
Balle: Male, 30s to 50s.
Kugel: Male, 30s to 50s.
(Lights
up. Balle and Kugel are sitting on a bench. They are dressed in slacks and
shirts, no jackets. Kugel fidgets uncomfortably.)
KUGEL
I feel sick. Don’t you
feel sick?
BALLE
No. I’m good.
KUGEL
Good? I don’t know how
you can feel good. Any moment I might throw up.
BALLE
That’s a common enough
reaction.
KUGEL
Oh? And you would know
this because...?
BALLE
I’ve heard about it.
Second hand admittedly, but it seems like a natural reaction.
KUGEL
But you don’t feel this
way.
BALLE
No.... No I don’t. I
guess I’ve heard enough talk about it that I’m sort of prepared. And I’ve
witnessed a few.
KUGEL
You. You have?
BALLE
Yeah....
KUGEL
I’ve never had the
desire to witness an execution by firing squad.
BALLE
I didn’t say I wanted
to see them. Sometimes you don’t have a choice.
KUGEL
And to think some
people willingly attend. They know someone is going to get shot by a half dozen
rifles and that’s exactly why they
attend.
BALLE
They attend for
different reasons. I’m sure that some enjoy the violence. But others might
attend to witness justice being carried out.
KUGEL
(Sarcasm)
Justice.
BALLE
Hey, we may not like it
but this is how things go. We drew the short straw and so now it’s time to suck
it up.
KUGEL
Well maybe it’s easy
for you to deal with this but look at me. I’m shaking, I’m nervous. I couldn’t
sleep last night and barely ate this morning. I don’t want to go out there.
BALLE
No one ever wants to go
out there. It’s not meant to be a pleasure trip down the canal. It’s a
sanctioned act of violence by the government that rules us all. Were are all
just tokens on a game board. And some of us get sacrificed for - at least I
hope it’s for - the greater good.
KUGEL
I just can’t believe
this is happening to me, that’s all.
BALLE
It’s not the kind of
thing you can solve on a normal day let alone after a night of restless sleep
and on an empty stomach. You’re just going to have to step out there, toes on
the line, and accept it.
KUGEL
What of my family?
BALLE
What of them? They’ll
have to accept this, too. Perhaps, one day, there won’t be a need for all this
violence and they’ll find better ways to met out punishment. We won’t be around
to see it, but future generations might.
KUGEL
You think it’ll take
that long for change to occur?
BALLE
Change is like the
ocean beating at the shore. Over time it will carve away the land and create a
new coastline. And that’s what countries are like. Well... of course there are
the cataclysmic changes, like earthquakes. But they aren’t as common.
KUGEL
We could use an
earthquake now.
BALLE
It’d still be too late
for us.
KUGEL
I really never thought
I’d be in this situation. I thought being in an office would protect me. And
then they came in, not even a knock on the door, and just handed me the
envelope and walked away. I wished I’d called in sick that day.
BALLE
They would have come to
your home then. There is no escaping it when your name comes up.
(Beat)
Look, I can only share
the advice I’ve been told, but here’s what you can try. When it’s your turn,
keep your chin up but don’t look at the crowd. Look through them, think of
something pleasant - a picnic with your wife and children, or some dream vacation
you’d always wished you’d taken. You have one responsibility out there. Attend
to it and no other.
KUGEL
Don’t look at the
crowd. Focus on what I have to do. Be absolutely hilarious if I tripped walking
out there.
BALLE
Then don’t trip. Don’t
give the crowd something to laugh at you about.
(Beat)
You doing better?
KUGEL
Yes. No. Yes. There’s
nothing for it but to go through with it. I just wish I could be braver. Or
just brave.
BALLE
Well, if it’s of any
consolation, I’m sure the prisoner is feeling the same way.
KUGEL
At least for him
this’ll be over. I’ll have to live with my actions.
BALLE
At least we only have
to do it once.
KUGEL
So they promise.
(A
bell rings in the distance.)
BALLE
It’s time. Ready for
this.
KUGEL
I’ll probably never be
ready for this.
BALLE
And that might be the
best thing about you. Come on, jackets.
(They
pick up and put on their military jackets.)
BALLE
(Cont.)
Don’t forget your
rifle.
KUGEL
(Picking
up his rifle.)
And give the crowd
something to laugh at. No way.
BALLE
There’s the spirit. Aim
true.
(The
form up, rifles on their shoulders.)
KUGEL
Aim true.
(They
march off stage.)
(Lights
down.)
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