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ReceptionA play for three actors by
D. M. Larson from freedrama.net |
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INT. ROOM. DAY.
James wanders nervously. He keeps checking his phone.
JAMES
There's no reception in here.
Mindy shrugs.
MINDY
So, who cares?
JAMES
What if someone needs to reach me?
MINDY
Like who?
JAMES
My kids, my boss, my ex...
MINDY
You're ex? (laughs) Geez... relax.
JAMES
Why aren't you upset? You're stuck in here too.
MINDY
There's worse places to be stuck.
JAMES
Like where? Name one.
MINDY
The "It's a Small World" ride at Dizzyland. Once through is bad enough, but being stuck in there with that song playing over and over. Why couldn't they write a longer version of the song for that ride?!
James
You were obviously scarred by the experience.
MINDY
Dizzyland destroyed me inside. I'll never be the same.
She flops down in a chair and covers her face.
JAMES
You're serious?
She lifts her head and smiles.
MINDY
Nope.
JAMES
Those life size cartoon characters are creepy though.
MINDY
There's something really sexy about some of them though.
JAMES
Uh, no. Not really.
MINDY
Something about Goofy and those big pants of his. What is he hiding?
JAMES
You've got problems.
MINDY
What about the princesses? Aren't they hot?
JAMES
I guess the little mermaid is kind of... well...
MINDY
Sexy?
James's phone beeps.
JAMES
I got a text.
MINDY
What does it say?
Mindy leans on his to look. James gives her a funny
look and moves away but she moves with him.
JAMES
"Please wait."
MINDY
That's it?
James tries dialing then looks at phone in frustration.
JAMES
No reception again.
MINDY
So enjoy a few minutes of peace and quiet. When is the
last time you just sat and did nothing?
JAMES
Why would I want to do that?
MINDY
It's relaxing.
JAMES
Relaxing?
MINDY
You don't know what that means do you?
JAMES
I wonder if I'm in the wrong place.
James goes toward the door.
MINDY
They're locked. I've tried them already.
James tries door and it is locked.
JAMES
Why is it locked?
MINDY
No clue but they all are.
James
You check that one. I'll check this one over here.
James runs off and Mindy sits and relaxes.
JAMES (Cont.)
Locked. What about your door?
MINDY
Locked too.
James looks at his phone again.
JAMES
Why can't I get a signal?
Wonders around holding up phone. Mindy goes up to him
and takes phone.
MINDY
Stop messing with your phone.
JAMES
Give it back.
MINDY
No.
JAMES
Come on. That's my work phone.
MINDY
So if we lose it, does that mean you don't have to work
anymore?
JAMES
That's not funny.
MINDY
If you can sit and do absolutely nothing for five minutes,
then I'll give it back.
JAMES
Why would I do that?
MINDY
Because otherwise I'm going to break your phone.
She holds it like she is going to throw it.
JAMES
Don't you dare.
MINDY
Sit. Sit and relax for five minutes and you can have it
back.
JAMES
5 seconds maybe.
MINDY
You can't sit still and do nothing?
JAMES
Do I have a choice?
MINDY
Everyone has choices.
JAMES
Mine appear limited.
Suddenly his phone rings. He rushes for it but she
holds him back. She answers it.
MINDY
Hello... no, he's not here right now. Can I take a
message?
James struggles to get it and Mindy keeps it away.
JAMES
Give it here.
He manages to get it away from her and puts the phone to his
ear.
JAMES (CONT.)
Hello?! Hello. Hello, hello. Uh, they hung up.
MINDY
Maybe I did that. Is that was the big red "end" button
does?
JAMES
And the number was "private". Great. I can't call
them back.
MINDY
No cell service anyway.
JAMES
So how did that call get through? Where were you
standing?
James rushes over to where she was standing.
MINDY
Try standing like I was too.
James does a mocking pose of her.
MINDY (CONT.)
Do I really stand like that?
JAMES
Maybe.
James looks at his phone in frustration and then puts it in
his pocket and sits. Mindy goes up behind him and rubs his shoulders.
MINDY
So why do you think we both got asked to be here?
JAMES
I don't know. Why are you rubbing my back?
MINDY
Why not?
JAMES
Why not.
James is relaxing. Mindy leans down next to his ear.
MINDY
Maybe they know I'm attracted to you.
James jumps up.
JAMES
What?
MINDY
Huh?
JAMES
You said...
MINDY
What?
JAMES
Are you?
MINDY
Maybe we should change the subject.
JAMES
No, you said you're attracted to me.
MINDY
Did I?
JAMES
Yes.
MINDY
I guess I did.
JAMES
So you are?
MINDY
What?
JAMES
Stop that!
MINDY
You're so cute when you get mad. You get this funny
little fussy face.
She mocks his mad look.
JAMES
When did this happen? The attraction?
MINDY
A few years ago.
JAMES
A few years!
MINDY
There was this one meeting we were both at. You had
just been promoted and you got up in front of everyone and did this big
speech. And every time you looked at me, your eyes stopped on me a moment
longer than everyone else. And you'd stumble on your words a
little. Maybe it was that low cut shirt I was wearing that day?
JAMES
Really? I... uh... don't remember... I mean... maybe...
MINDY
Or maybe it was that really short skirt of mine and I was
sitting like this.
She does a sexy sit.
JAMES
Gee... I... uh... well, I...
MINDY
Stuttering. Too cute.
JAMES
Wow... I... never knew you liked me.
MINDY
It's not important.
JAMES
Not important?
MINDY
Look... I didn't think it would work out. So I didn't
say anything.
JAMES
Why wouldn't it work?
MINDY
Never mind.
JAMES
Please tell me.
MINDY
No.
There is a buzzing.
JAMES
Is that your phone?
MINDY
Oh... yeah...
Mindy looks at it and then puts it back in her pocket.
JAMES
Wait. What did it say?
MINDY
None of your business.
JAMES
How come you're getting messages and I'm not?
MINDY
I have a better phone?
JAMES
No. I have one of the best.
MINDY
That's because you're soooo important. You need the
best.
JAMES
Wait? Now you're not being nice at all. What
happened?
MINDY
Nothing. Can we change the subject again?
MINDY puts her hand on her pocket where her phone is and looks worried.
Suddenly, Pete burst through one of the doors. James
quickly realizes the door is open and runs for it.
JAMES
Don't let it shut!
Pete is on his phone and gives James an annoyed look as James
runs past him. The door slams loudly as James gets to it. He pounds on
the door and yanks on it.
MINDY
It doesn't open from the inside remember.
JAMES
I almost got it.
Pete is looking at his phone.
PETE
No reception? It was fine out there.
Pete heads for the door.
JAMES
It's locked.
Pete ignores James and tries it anyway. Pete returns
PETE
Hmmm. That's strange.
JAMES
Tell me about it.
PETE
You're James right? Don't you work on the 10th floor
with Mindy? Marketing or something?
JAMES
Marketing, yes. Come up any time and I can give you a
tour.
PETE
Very nice. He's a nice man isn't he?
Pete walks close to Mindy.
MINDY
What's that supposed to mean?
PETE
You like nice men.
MINDY
Then how'd I end up with you?
Pete has a flash of anger that suddenly worries James.
But then Pete calms down and gives James a big smile.
JAMES
You two know each other?
PETE
I thought I was her boyfriend but maybe a lot of guys think
that.
MINDY
You know that's not true.
PETE
She has a reputation on my floor.
MINDY
I've never been with anyone else.
JAMES
I've never seen her with any guys.
PETE
Come down to my floor some time. She gets around.
MINDY
What? You probably just spread that around to make me
sound more exciting for you.
PETE
Did that make any sense?
MINDY
Of all people to be stuck with. This is just great.
PETE
But you have Mr. 10th Floor Executive here.
MINDY
And it was a lot nicer when it was just the two of us.
PETE
I'll bet it was.
JAMES
Wait a minute... it wasn't like that.
MINDY
What if it was?
JAMES
Hey!
MINDY
It's okay James. He needs to know.
PETE
Know what?
JAMES
Wait. This got weird really fast. What is going on?
PETE
She's playing games as usual.
MINDY
Me? You're the king of games. I've never felt so
manipulated in my life. I'm tired of being your plaything.
PETE
That's all you're good for.
Pete grabs Mindy by the arm.
MINDY
Let go!
JAMES
Stop!
James goes up to them but Pete turns on him and pushes him
away violently. Mindy runs to her purse. Pete turns on Mindy but
she has pulled a gun.
PETE
What are you doing?
MINDY
Putting a stop to this.
PETE
You won't shoot.
Pete slowly goes up to her. Mindy points the gun and
starts shaking.
MINDY
I will.
Mindy starts crying as Pete moves in. James watches not
sure what to do. Pete is close and Mindy raises the gun to fire. Pete
smacks the gun away out of her hands and grabs her angrily. Mindy breaks
away and runs for a door. James runs and grabs Pete.
JAMES
Leave her alone.
Pete violently grabs James and then throws him to the
ground. Pete runs after Mindy. We see Pete and Mindy's shadows on
the back wall. Pete starts hitting Mindy and she is screaming.
James goes for the gun. He gets up and raises at Pete.
JAMES (CONT.)
Stop!
Pete doesn't. His attack gets worse. Mindy
screams louder. James raises the gun and fires. Silence. Then
Mindy cries. James goes to her and helps her back to the chair. She
falls to the floor and James bends down by her and holds her.
MINDY
Thank you. Thank you for helping me.
JAMES
I couldn't let him hurt you. I... I didn't know how
else to stop him.
MINDY
You did the right thing. You did what I wanted to
do. I knew you would.
James suddenly backs away.
JAMES
You knew I would do that?
MINDY
Of any other person in my life, you are the bravest, the
strongest... the one who would defend someone in trouble. I saw how you
were at work. Always doing the right thing. Always helping those in
trouble. Defending what was right even if it meant standing up against
people more powerful than you.
JAMES
But this... this is different...
MINDY
Not really. I knew you'd be the same way here too.
JAMES
You... you set this up?
MINDY
It's the only way I knew how to stop him.
JAMES
I killed him.
MINDY
It's self-defense. You protected me.
JAMES
I'll be ruined.
MINDY
No, you'll be a hero.
JAMES
We need to run.
MINDY
I want to go too.
JAMES
Where can we go?
MINDY
Anywhere. Anywhere you want... as long as it's away
from here.
Mindy types something in her phone. James looks around
nervously. A door buzzes open. James helps Mindy up and they
go. James' phone is left behind from one of his falls. It
starts ringing.
END OF SCRIPT
