INT. GONER'S SUITE - MORNING
Goner is sitting on a chair eating a
bowl of cereal; he has his cellphone beside him. He is wearing a dirty
t-shirt and has the television tuned to a news channel. He is keeping
an eye on the news waiting to see if anything is going on.
Goner's cellphone rings and he answers it. He sees Mags' name in the view.
GONER:
Yo Maggie!
CUT TO close up on Maggie's face. She has phone jack and mic on.
MAGGIE:
Hey Gondy!
CUT TO Goner in his apartment.
GONER:
What can I do you for this morning?
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
I need a favour.
GONER:
It's your quarter.
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
(background SFX what appears to be sword swings and gurgling sounds)
I am kind of in a jam at the moment and I need someone who is close by to help me out of this.
GONER:
No need to ask. Where are you hiding at?
MAGGIE: (V.O.)
(SFX rapid gun fire)
Two blocks down from you. Near the Tunnel Gate. Go to Nexus 7.
20130922
Ticking Away
Max sat on the floor, his legs crossed and the sound of several clicks
ticking around him. His eyes closed and his breathing slow and
rhythmic, as several black-flies buzzed about the room adding to the
ambiance of the clocks.
Occasionally his eyes opened and he recited lyrics of an old song as if saying them as a chant, his mantra. Then he closed his eyes and remained quiet without moving. A sentinel on duty, waiting for the proper moment to act.
His cellphone chimed.
"Max." Mags' voice was somewhere distant. "We're in position."
Max opened his eyes and tapped the cellphone off. He stood up covered in sweat and he nodded.
Occasionally his eyes opened and he recited lyrics of an old song as if saying them as a chant, his mantra. Then he closed his eyes and remained quiet without moving. A sentinel on duty, waiting for the proper moment to act.
His cellphone chimed.
"Max." Mags' voice was somewhere distant. "We're in position."
Max opened his eyes and tapped the cellphone off. He stood up covered in sweat and he nodded.
Mortif'd
Mags backed away from the door. Her hands behind her signaling for Aqua
to find someplace to hide quickly. Aqua turned to Suki and motioned
for her to back away as well and both girls quietly went into the next
room. Suki didn't need to ask questions, she was a soldier that
understood the rules of warfare.
"Well Mortif," Mags said; she was backing away to where her katana was sitting. "What brings you here?"
"You know why I am here," Mortif said. He stepped into the room and glanced around. "I owe you for what you gave me those many years ago."
"I'm touched," Mags said sweetly. "And after all these years you never forgot me."
"How could I!" Mortif roared. He couldn't control his anger. "You scarred me for life!"
Mags let out a little sigh before replying, "You know you should let bygones be bygones. That's all water under the bridge for me."
"Not for me, Wench," the demonic beast said. His nostrils flaring and the veins in his neck were beginning to show. "I've hunted you down for these many years and now I have time to extract my revenge."
"Revenge?" Mags repeated. "I shall say something poetic at your banishment."
Mortif let out a huge laugh and as he did several smaller demons came in from behind him. Mags grabbed her katana and smiled a sweet smile, like a warm sun after a cold wintery night.
Suki took out her Godhammer while Aqua donned her gauntlets. It looked like this girl's night out was going to be postponed on account of an old nemesis.
"Well Mortif," Mags said; she was backing away to where her katana was sitting. "What brings you here?"
"You know why I am here," Mortif said. He stepped into the room and glanced around. "I owe you for what you gave me those many years ago."
"I'm touched," Mags said sweetly. "And after all these years you never forgot me."
"How could I!" Mortif roared. He couldn't control his anger. "You scarred me for life!"
Mags let out a little sigh before replying, "You know you should let bygones be bygones. That's all water under the bridge for me."
"Not for me, Wench," the demonic beast said. His nostrils flaring and the veins in his neck were beginning to show. "I've hunted you down for these many years and now I have time to extract my revenge."
"Revenge?" Mags repeated. "I shall say something poetic at your banishment."
Mortif let out a huge laugh and as he did several smaller demons came in from behind him. Mags grabbed her katana and smiled a sweet smile, like a warm sun after a cold wintery night.
Suki took out her Godhammer while Aqua donned her gauntlets. It looked like this girl's night out was going to be postponed on account of an old nemesis.
Second Hand Imagery
The summer sun disappeared beyond the horizon making the twilight sky a purplish landscape. Max sat on a park bench watching as the twilight blended with the evening, and the stars began to appear as if they were being summoned.
A lamppost began to hum to life nearby, as electricity began to build and brought forth the glow a few seconds later. Lighting up the area around him, he felt like he was Jimmy Durante at the moment.
Max cracked off a smile. The magic was beginning again.
In the distance he could hear the sirens of police cars, intermixed with a fire truck and not to be outdone by a fire alarm ringing somewhere close by. He took a sip from his styrofoam cup of java, and then brought a smoke to his lips.
After taking a long puff, he exhaled smoke and watched the patterns shift into an image. He stared at the smoke making out the scene and then he nodded. He flicked the cigarette butt across the pathway and stood up. He had a job to do.
20130921
Sometimes
Max lay face down on the asphalt, a pool of blood spreading out around him water from a reservoir. Frank was the first one there; he turned over Max to see the gaping wound in his chest.
"Christ on a pony," Frank stated. He tried to stop the blood from escaping Max's body by slamming his palm over the wound, but to no avail.
"Oh no," Angst said. "This can't be happening. Not now." Angst turned her eyes from Max's body; she saw Suki approaching and went to her, to shield the young girl. Even though Suki had seen a lot, Angst didn't want her to see Max this way.
"It's not stopping!" Frank cried out in vain. Blood covered his hands so that it looked like he was wearing red surgical gloves. "Someone get Maggie! NOW!!!"
"It's no use, Frank. He's gone," Goner said after checking Max's pulse.
"He c-c-an't be," Suki yelled. "He's Max!"
"Now, now, child," Angst said in a motherly tone towards Suki. Angst herded Suki off to one side and you could hear the sobs coming from her. A river of tears began to flow and it spread like a contagion as Angst, Goner and now Frank seemed to be caught in its snare.
Max's lifeless eyes where staring up at the heavens, and with a wave of his hand Frank closed them.
"Cut!" a voice shouted out. "THAT WAS AWESOME! It's a wrap!"
Max's eyes fluttered open. He saw Frank, Goner, Angst, and Suki standing around him; beyond that he saw two dozen other bodies now moving about. All seemed to be in a state of celebrating something that just happened.
"That's it boys and girls," the voice said. "We've done all we could do, now it's up for the editors and FX crew to work their magic."
He didn't know what happened. He stared down at the gaping wound in his chest, his finger examining the wound, and he brought his finger up to his nose to smell. Sugary red syrup.
"Let me help you up, buddy,"Frank said to him as he offered his hand. "I think that scene has Oscar written all over it!"
"Denver," Suki said as she came over to Frank. "Are you going to The Den for the wrap party?"
"I'll be over later, Lon-Rii. Need to shower and get this shit off me."
Max sat there and looked around, a dumbfounded look on his face.
"What do you think Aaron?" Frank asked him. "You think we'll get a nomination this time around?"
"Christ on a pony," Frank stated. He tried to stop the blood from escaping Max's body by slamming his palm over the wound, but to no avail.
"Oh no," Angst said. "This can't be happening. Not now." Angst turned her eyes from Max's body; she saw Suki approaching and went to her, to shield the young girl. Even though Suki had seen a lot, Angst didn't want her to see Max this way.
"It's not stopping!" Frank cried out in vain. Blood covered his hands so that it looked like he was wearing red surgical gloves. "Someone get Maggie! NOW!!!"
"It's no use, Frank. He's gone," Goner said after checking Max's pulse.
"He c-c-an't be," Suki yelled. "He's Max!"
"Now, now, child," Angst said in a motherly tone towards Suki. Angst herded Suki off to one side and you could hear the sobs coming from her. A river of tears began to flow and it spread like a contagion as Angst, Goner and now Frank seemed to be caught in its snare.
Max's lifeless eyes where staring up at the heavens, and with a wave of his hand Frank closed them.
"Cut!" a voice shouted out. "THAT WAS AWESOME! It's a wrap!"
Max's eyes fluttered open. He saw Frank, Goner, Angst, and Suki standing around him; beyond that he saw two dozen other bodies now moving about. All seemed to be in a state of celebrating something that just happened.
"That's it boys and girls," the voice said. "We've done all we could do, now it's up for the editors and FX crew to work their magic."
He didn't know what happened. He stared down at the gaping wound in his chest, his finger examining the wound, and he brought his finger up to his nose to smell. Sugary red syrup.
"Let me help you up, buddy,"Frank said to him as he offered his hand. "I think that scene has Oscar written all over it!"
"Denver," Suki said as she came over to Frank. "Are you going to The Den for the wrap party?"
"I'll be over later, Lon-Rii. Need to shower and get this shit off me."
Max sat there and looked around, a dumbfounded look on his face.
"What do you think Aaron?" Frank asked him. "You think we'll get a nomination this time around?"
Do You Feel That?
Max stepped out from his apartment, stopped and looked up at the morning sky; he saw the three red blinking eyes flying overhead. He was dressed in a pressed white t-shirt and had on khakis and nice brown dress shoes. His hair was cut and styled much akin to a James Dean movie.
He tipped a wave to the blinking eyes and then moved merrily on his way, whistling a tune. The sun was rising and the birds were singing, as if in unison and in a very Disneyesque way. Max shuddered slightly but still held his composure.
He walked with a spring in his step and a smile upon his face.
"Morning Max," the newspaper vendor said to him. The vendor had just opened his stand, and was laying out the newspapers in neat stacks, alphabetical order.
"Morning," Max acknowledged as he flipped a dollar coin onto the stand and took a paper. He tucked it underneath his arm.
"You going to the Renewal event?" the vendor ask. "It promises to be the grandest one yet."
"You'd have to be some sort of nut to miss it!" Max exclaimed excitedly. "I heard the morning announcer declare it was going to be quite the event this afternoon."
Max continued down the street; he passed by other shops and buildings and waved at shop keepers and passersby with friendly greetings. When no one seemed to notice and the three eyes had passed over the city, Max ducked down an alley. He made sure it was dark and that there was a balcony overhead.
He fished out a bent cigarette from the the fold in his pants and put it to his lips.
After he took a puff he fished out a cellphone and hit a speed-dial number.
"Professor, you got to get me the fuck out of here!" he said in a whispered voice. "One more day here and I will go on a rampage like this reality has never seen!"
"Now Max," the Professor's voice came through the phone among the static. "We are working on it at our end. Hold on!"
The Hunger
INT. FRANK'S CAR - EVENING
FRANK is driving down a busy street. MAX is riding shotgun. ANGST is sleeping in the backseat.
FRANK is dressed in a dark suit and a loose tie over a neon yellow shirt. MAX has a t-shirt that declares SUBMIT on it. He is dressed in khakis, and has a cigarette dangling from his lips. ANGST is covered up in with a blanket in the back seat.
FRANK
Well. What do you want to do this evening?
MAX
I really don't know. It's feels like years since I haven't done anything in a while. Feels weird not doing anything.
FRANK
You wanna shoot some pool?
MAX
Nah.
FRANK
Catch a game at the arena. The Blues are in town this evening.
MAX
Not my cup of action.
FRANK
How about a movie?
MAX
I really don't want to subject myself to another reality at the moment.
FRANK
You're a heck of a date.
MAX taps FRANK's shoulder and points to the BURGER REDUX restaurant that is up ahead.
MAX
I could go for a tasty burger though.
FRANK
(laughing)
Anything you want JULES.
FRANK is driving down a busy street. MAX is riding shotgun. ANGST is sleeping in the backseat.
FRANK is dressed in a dark suit and a loose tie over a neon yellow shirt. MAX has a t-shirt that declares SUBMIT on it. He is dressed in khakis, and has a cigarette dangling from his lips. ANGST is covered up in with a blanket in the back seat.
FRANK
Well. What do you want to do this evening?
MAX
I really don't know. It's feels like years since I haven't done anything in a while. Feels weird not doing anything.
FRANK
You wanna shoot some pool?
MAX
Nah.
FRANK
Catch a game at the arena. The Blues are in town this evening.
MAX
Not my cup of action.
FRANK
How about a movie?
MAX
I really don't want to subject myself to another reality at the moment.
FRANK
You're a heck of a date.
MAX taps FRANK's shoulder and points to the BURGER REDUX restaurant that is up ahead.
MAX
I could go for a tasty burger though.
FRANK
(laughing)
Anything you want JULES.
Infinity Radio
"Staff meeting," Angst called out as she walked through the room. She cuffed Goner on the side of the head. "That means you too Gonzo!"
"Oh geez, do we have to?" Goner replied. He set the pile of vinyl on the edge of his desk. "What's the gripe this time around?"
"Don't know. Don't care," Angst replied. She continued to walk through the office proclaiming the news from the head honcho.
Frank was by the coffee maker, pouring himself a fresh cup of java. Max came out of the booth and stopped to get a cup.
"You know what this is about?" Max asked.
"Don't have a clue," replied Frank. "Ain't you on the air?"
"Well, I'm a clone," Max said with a wink. "So I can get away with it."
"Playing some taped, eh?" Frank asked.
"A good disc-slinger never reveals his trade secrets," Max said...
20130920
The Hellcat
There was a rap at the door.
The doorman turned towards the door and was about to slide the peep-hole open to see who it was, his gun drawn in case it was danger. He didn't realize what hit him and sent him down on the floor.
Maggie kicked the door open and charged in, her katana swung and she caught the other doorman off guard. Sending his head one way while his body fell another.
She was a hellcat unleashed and she was showing no mercy. Her hair alive and looked as if it was on fire, her eyes seemed radiant with the intensity of hate.
"You wanted me," she shouted. "You got me!"
Jester's Wild
Maggie flipped the card over and looked at it and smiled; she dropped it onto the table with a flourish.
"Read 'em and weep, fellows," she declared after the card landed on the top of the other cards on the table.
"Well now," Frank replied. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in disbelief. "You must be one of the luckiest people on this planet."
"It has to be magic," Goner stated. He picked up the discarded card and stared at it, flipping the card and rubbing it. "You know she's more than she seems to be."
"Sore loser are we, Gondi?" Maggie asked as she began to rake in her chips.
"Read 'em and weep, fellows," she declared after the card landed on the top of the other cards on the table.
"Well now," Frank replied. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in disbelief. "You must be one of the luckiest people on this planet."
"It has to be magic," Goner stated. He picked up the discarded card and stared at it, flipping the card and rubbing it. "You know she's more than she seems to be."
"Sore loser are we, Gondi?" Maggie asked as she began to rake in her chips.
A Cafe Mission
Max sat at a table just outside the cafe, sipping a coffee and watching
the smoke drift from his cigarette and across the table. David Bowie was
singing about changes from a car passing by. Max smiled. His cellphone
sat on the table beside a package of smokes.
"You waiting for someone?" someone asked which took Max from the daydream he was about to enter and back into the fold.
"No," Max replied; he looked up into the eyes of an elderly nun. "Not really."
"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked. "This cafe is ever so busy and I saw you sitting alone. Hope you don't mind me imposing."
Being the gentleman he stood up and pulled out the chair for the nun. She sat down and gave him a nod.
"No imposing at all," Max replied. He sat down and took a long puff from his cigarette. "Hope you don't mind. It's a ritualistic habit of mine."
"No problem," the elderly sister replied with a disapproving smile.
Max gave her a I-know-something-you-don't-know wink.
"You waiting for someone?" someone asked which took Max from the daydream he was about to enter and back into the fold.
"No," Max replied; he looked up into the eyes of an elderly nun. "Not really."
"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked. "This cafe is ever so busy and I saw you sitting alone. Hope you don't mind me imposing."
Being the gentleman he stood up and pulled out the chair for the nun. She sat down and gave him a nod.
"No imposing at all," Max replied. He sat down and took a long puff from his cigarette. "Hope you don't mind. It's a ritualistic habit of mine."
"No problem," the elderly sister replied with a disapproving smile.
Max gave her a I-know-something-you-don't-know wink.
20130919
The Play's the Thing
TAKING THE BY
a very stupid short play in one act
by
Control
Cast of Characters
Max (wearing a jeans & a bright yellow t-shirt that says CHOOSE)
Maggie (wearing a futuristic robe like the kind in 'Logan's Run')
Frank (wearing a Victorian-era suit complete with Bowler)
Goner (wearing 1970's clothing along with a brimmed hat)
Angst (in a cheerleader Go Team outfit complete with pom poms)
and Mumbles
CURTAIN OPENS
[SCENE: A coffee house. There are several low tables and comfy chairs about and also a long table running with 6 chairs. MAGGIE, FRANK and GONER are seated at the long table.]
MAGGIE is sipping tea. FRANK is hovering over a crossword puzzle. GONER has a gameboy he's playing with. Once MAX enters they will put things down.
There are other customers sitting at tables in the background. MAX enters from stage right; he is tapping his cellphone screen.
MAGGIE: Hi lover.
MAX (leans forward and kisses Maggie's cheek then looks around): You see Danny Glover?
MAGGIE: You silly fool.
FRANK: What's the scoop?
MAX: I've just received word from the Professor. He has another assignment for us.
MAGGIE: Oh really now? We just got back from one of the levels of Hell and now he wants us to go off on another merry adventure.
FRANK: You think you had it easy?
GONER: We had our share of excitement as well.
MAX: I told the Professor we would take a pass on this one. I still need to get the bugs out of the system.
GONER: You ate a bug.
MAX (doing a Brando voice): I ate a bug.
MAGGIE: (laughing) Oh that's funny.
SERVER (coming over to table with a coffee pot): Refills?
FRANK (holding mug up for SERVER): Why do you ask a question that you already know the answer to?
MAGGIE (putting hand to shield mouth and talking to SERVER): Next time bring an intravenous and stick the needle in Frank's arm.
The SERVER pours Frank a cup and then continues on with the others around the table.
GONER: That sucks.
FRANK: What does?
GONER: We've haven't truly had time to really sit down and have a night just to get reacquainted again.
MAX (still doing Brando voice): The horror. The horror.
MAGGIE: Well I guess that is one of the reasons why Max took the by.
ANGST (entering from the left): So this is where everyone is hiding?
MAX: Well maybe.
FRANK (pulls out a seat for Angst): You thought we were lost?
ANGST: You never really can be sure these days.
GONER: Not really at all.
ANGST: Have you guys seen Mumbles?
MAX: Mumbles?
MAGGIE: Whose Mumbles?
FRANK (looking at Max & Maggie): Mumbles. The one who saved your sorry asses a few months ago.
MAX (looking confused): Come again?
GONER (leans forward): If it wasn't for Mumbles man, you wouldn't be here.
MAGGIE (looking at Max): Ummm honey.
MAX: You don't need to tell me.
MUMBLES (pops out from the right) April Fools!
FRANK, ANGST & GONER break out in a hearty laugh
CURTAIN
a very stupid short play in one act
by
Control
Cast of Characters
Max (wearing a jeans & a bright yellow t-shirt that says CHOOSE)
Maggie (wearing a futuristic robe like the kind in 'Logan's Run')
Frank (wearing a Victorian-era suit complete with Bowler)
Goner (wearing 1970's clothing along with a brimmed hat)
Angst (in a cheerleader Go Team outfit complete with pom poms)
and Mumbles
CURTAIN OPENS
[SCENE: A coffee house. There are several low tables and comfy chairs about and also a long table running with 6 chairs. MAGGIE, FRANK and GONER are seated at the long table.]
MAGGIE is sipping tea. FRANK is hovering over a crossword puzzle. GONER has a gameboy he's playing with. Once MAX enters they will put things down.
There are other customers sitting at tables in the background. MAX enters from stage right; he is tapping his cellphone screen.
MAGGIE: Hi lover.
MAX (leans forward and kisses Maggie's cheek then looks around): You see Danny Glover?
MAGGIE: You silly fool.
FRANK: What's the scoop?
MAX: I've just received word from the Professor. He has another assignment for us.
MAGGIE: Oh really now? We just got back from one of the levels of Hell and now he wants us to go off on another merry adventure.
FRANK: You think you had it easy?
GONER: We had our share of excitement as well.
MAX: I told the Professor we would take a pass on this one. I still need to get the bugs out of the system.
GONER: You ate a bug.
MAX (doing a Brando voice): I ate a bug.
MAGGIE: (laughing) Oh that's funny.
SERVER (coming over to table with a coffee pot): Refills?
FRANK (holding mug up for SERVER): Why do you ask a question that you already know the answer to?
MAGGIE (putting hand to shield mouth and talking to SERVER): Next time bring an intravenous and stick the needle in Frank's arm.
The SERVER pours Frank a cup and then continues on with the others around the table.
GONER: That sucks.
FRANK: What does?
GONER: We've haven't truly had time to really sit down and have a night just to get reacquainted again.
MAX (still doing Brando voice): The horror. The horror.
MAGGIE: Well I guess that is one of the reasons why Max took the by.
ANGST (entering from the left): So this is where everyone is hiding?
MAX: Well maybe.
FRANK (pulls out a seat for Angst): You thought we were lost?
ANGST: You never really can be sure these days.
GONER: Not really at all.
ANGST: Have you guys seen Mumbles?
MAX: Mumbles?
MAGGIE: Whose Mumbles?
FRANK (looking at Max & Maggie): Mumbles. The one who saved your sorry asses a few months ago.
MAX (looking confused): Come again?
GONER (leans forward): If it wasn't for Mumbles man, you wouldn't be here.
MAGGIE (looking at Max): Ummm honey.
MAX: You don't need to tell me.
MUMBLES (pops out from the right) April Fools!
FRANK, ANGST & GONER break out in a hearty laugh
CURTAIN
20130918
Running Like Fire in the Wind
INT. ALLEYWAY - EVENING
MAGS runs into the shot, not looking behind her, she is running at full speed. A few more seconds and we can see why. Hundreds of dog-sized spiders are clamoring after her. Like a massive moving wave of sheer terror.
We see MAGS pick up her cellphone. She hits a number with her thumb and brings it to her face.
MAGS:
Professor.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Yes?
MAGS:
Can you help me out here. I'm in kind of a bind.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Hold on.
MAGS:
Well I can, but I don't think those behind me will.
PROFESSOR:
Very well.
MAGS runs into the shot, not looking behind her, she is running at full speed. A few more seconds and we can see why. Hundreds of dog-sized spiders are clamoring after her. Like a massive moving wave of sheer terror.
We see MAGS pick up her cellphone. She hits a number with her thumb and brings it to her face.
MAGS:
Professor.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Yes?
MAGS:
Can you help me out here. I'm in kind of a bind.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Hold on.
MAGS:
Well I can, but I don't think those behind me will.
PROFESSOR:
Very well.
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