WHAT S IN THE BOX? By Jason Newkirk. Copyright MMXIV by Jason Newkirk All Rights Reserved Heuer Publishing LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Transcription

1 WHAT S IN THE BOX? TEN-MINUTE PLAY By Jason Newkirk All Rights Reserved Heuer Publishing LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa The writing of plays is a means of livelihood. Unlawful use of a playwright s work deprives the creator of his or her rightful income. The playwright is compensated on the full purchase price and the right of performance can only be secured through purchase of at least three (3) copies of this work. PERFORMANCES ARE LIMITED TO ONE VENUE FOR ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. The possession of this script without direct purchase from the publisher confers no right or license to produce this work publicly or in private, for gain or charity. On all programs and advertising this notice must appear: "Produced by special arrangement with Heuer Publishing LLC of Cedar Rapids, Iowa." This dramatic work is fully protected by copyright. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission of the publisher. Copying (by any means) or performing a copyrighted work without permission constitutes an infringement of copyright. The right of performance is not transferable and is strictly forbidden in cases where scripts are borrowed or purchased second hand from a third party. All rights including, but not limited to the professional, motion picture, radio, television, videotape, broadcast, recitation, lecturing, tabloid, publication, and reading are reserved. COPYING OR REPRODUCING ALL OR ANY PART OF THIS BOOK IN ANY MANNER IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY LAW. PUBLISHED BY HEUER PUBLISHING LLC P.O. BOX 248 CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA TOLL FREE (800) FAX (319)

2 WHAT S IN THE BOX? By Jason Newkirk SYNOPSIS: To what extent will one go to satisfy their curiosity? This refreshing play, about the journey to find truth, is perfect for all actors. But remember, curiosity killed the cat. So, What s In The Box? CAST OF CHARACTERS (2 either; gender flexible) PERSON 1 (m/f)... (59 lines) PERSON 2 (m/f)... (59 lines) TIME: The Present PLACE: Anywhere NOTE: The scene should have a relatively fast pace. 2

3 AT RISE: Person 1 enters, as Person 2 sits, and holds a box. PERSON 1: Hey! What s in the box? PERSON 1: So, you re just sitting here holding a box? PERSON 2: Yup. PERSON 1: Makes sense. PERSON 2 smiles as PERSON 1 sits next to PERSON 2. PERSON 1 tries to peer into the box. Hey, what s in the box? PERSON 2: I told you nothing. PERSON 1: Right. So you re really sitting here, just holding a box? PERSON 2: Yup. PERSON 1: Alright, just checking. Just wanted to see what you were up too. So, what do you have in that box? PERSON 2: I told you nothing. Is it really so important? PERSON 1: A-ha! PERSON 1: You said, is it really so important! PERSON 2: So? PERSON 1: Because if nothing were in that box, you wouldn t have said that. PERSON 1: You wouldn t have said, is it really so important. By saying is it really so important, you are stating, that you are not just sitting here holding a box, for no apparent reason, you are stating that you do in fact, have a reason, that you are holding a box, and in fact that there is something inside that box. So what s in the box? PERSON 2: Nothing PERSON 1: So you aren t going to tell me? PERSON 2: I told you. PERSON 1: Fine PERSON 2: Fine. PERSON 1: Cause, I actually didn t even want to know 3

4 PERSON 2: Know what? PERSON 1: What s in the box? PERSON 2: Stop PERSON 1: What s in the box? PERSON 2: Nothing PERSON 1: What s in that box? PERSON 2: Nothing is in this box. And besides, what s so important, if there were? PERSON 1: Stop it! PERSON 1: You re doing it again? PERSON 1: Keeping secrets from me. PERSON 2: Huh? PERSON 1: I ask, hey what s in the box, you said nothing, and then you say later in this conversation what s so important, meaning something is obviously in the box, you don t want me to see. Right? PERSON 2: Huh? PERSON 1: Oh stop playing stupid. You have now told me twice now, that you do have something in that box, and you don t want me to see it. You know what s in the box. This is really ridiculous, why won t you let me see what is in the box? What are you hiding? PERSON 1: That s it. Fine! You know what. You can keep whatever is inside the box, I really, I actually don t even care anymore. So whatever it is, fine, because I don t care. PERSON 2: Good. PERSON 1: Are you kidding me? Are you freaking kidding me? Good? That s what you have to say? PERSON 1: I say, I don t care anymore, and all you have to say is good? PERSON 2: I guess? PERSON 1: You guess? PERSON 2: I suppose? PERSON 1: You suppose? 4

5 PERSON 1: What! You know what! So you re saying that you don t care anymore? Is that what it is? You just don t care anymore. After all this time, and you just don t care. PERSON 2: I didn t say? PERSON 1: Well, that s what you said. PERSON 2: I did? PERSON 1: Yes! PERSON 2: When? PERSON 1: You said it by not speaking PERSON 2: How? PERSON 1: I told you, by not speaking! PERSON 2: What did I say? PERSON 1: Nothing at all! That s the problem! Now tell me what s in the box! PERSON 1: You re really pathetic. Did you know that? PERSON 2: I am? PERSON 1: Totally pathetic, as a matter of fact, I can t even look at you anymore, you and that stupid box. PERSON 2: Fine PERSON 1: Fine! I can t see you anymore. (Shuts eyes.) I can t see you anymore. I can t see you and I can t hear you. (Puts fingers in ears.) Nope can t hear you. LA LA LA. If this is the way you want it, I m going to give you what you asked for. LA LA LA. Oh where are you? Where are you and that box? Are you here? I don t know because I can t freaking see you anymore! LA LA LA (Opens eyes.) What s in the box? PERSON 1: You re driving me crazy! Is that your plan? PERSON 2: What plan? PERSON 1: The plan to drive me crazy. Cause it s not going to work, if that s your plan. Your stupid drive me crazy plan is most definitely not working on me. PERSON 2: OK. PERSON 1: I m going crazy here, and all you need to do, is to tell me, what s in the box! (Screams out of frustration. Then recovers.) Ok, 5

6 let s start over, all over, maybe I was a little rude, after all I do have the tendency to get that way. Right? PERSON 2: Right. PERSON 1: You re not supposed to agree with me! So, now you think I m rude? PERSON 1: You just called me rude! PERSON 2: I did not PERSON 1: You did to! PERSON 2: When? PERSON 1: When you said right. PERSON 2: What do you want me to say? PERSON 1: Anything but that! Because now I know you think I m rude. And look who s talking when you re the one sitting their being rude, when you re the one not showing me what s in the box. How rude is that? You re like the rudest person, I even know! PERSON 2: Huh? PERSON 1: Fine whatever! I don t have time for this. (Sweetly.) So, now can I pretty please see what s inside your box? PERSON 2: No. PERSON 1: I even asked politely. What is with you? Come on. PERSON 2: No. PERSON 1: Pretty please, with a freaking cherry? Is that how you want me to ask? Is that good enough for you? With a freaking cherry on top? You re such an idiot, did you know that? A big freaking idiot! Only an idiot would sit here and not tell me what s inside a box. Do you know how stupid you look here? Just sitting here holding a box. Everyone is watching you right now, and they are thinking wow, what a jerk, what a stupid jerk that person is, just sitting there holding a freaking box. You re really the most pathetic person I know. Get a life. PERSON 2: Ok. PERSON 2 gets up. 6

7 PERSON 1: Wait! Where do you think you re going? I thought you had to sit here, and keep whatever is in the box, a big secret. You just can t just get up and walk away from me. What do you think you re doing? PERSON 2: Getting a life. PERSON 1: Fine, go, I don t care. I don t want someone around, who keeps secrets from me. PERSON 2: Ok PERSON 1: Ok! Get going, bye. Are you going to take the box with you? PERSON 2: Nope. PERSON 1: You re not going to take the box? PERSON 2: No. PERSON 1: After all of this, and you re just going to leave the box. PERSON 2: Yup. PERSON 1: You know as soon as you leave, I m going to open it. And you re going to feel really dumb, that you started all of this for no apparent reason. You know that right? PERSON 2: If you say so. PERSON 1: Oh get out of here! I don t have time for this. PERSON 2: Ok. PERSON 1: Wait, before you go, what s in the box? PERSON 1: This is your last chance, what s in the box? PERSON 2: Nothing PERSON 1: This is your very last chance. What s in the box? PERSON 1: Very, very last chance, and I ll be totally done. As in no more ever! What s in the box? PERSON 2 gets up and gives the box to PERSON 1. PERSON 1: Stop you aren t actually leaving are you? PERSON 2: Yup PERSON 1: Serious? You re leaving me, when you started all of this? What are you doing why are you giving me this? 7

8 PERSON 2: Curiosity killed the cat. PERSON 1: Oh, you re cute. Real cute. Yeah, keep walking. What a waste of a time. Mister, I m just sitting here holding a box. Mister, I can t trust you, when you tell me lies! Don t need him anyway. Hey! You can t leave me here, this is your box! I don t even know what s in it! Remember, your non trusting judgmental self wouldn t tell me, what in the box. You know what forget it. I don t even freaking care, Mr. Curiosity killed the cat Starts to walk away. Runs back. Opens box. PERSON 2 enters. PERSON 2: What s in the box? PERSON 1: (Opens box and shows to audience.) Nothing. BLACKOUT. THE END 8