Written by Joe Janes
10/27/09
282 of 365
CAST
Christopher, 18
Charlsey, 40s
Danielle, 18
(Lights up on Danielle tied to a chair. She is unconscious. She comes to and realizes she is restrained. She starts to struggle. From the shadows, she hears Christopher’s sinister voice.)
CHRISTOPHER
Struggling is useless.
DANIELLE
Who are you? Why are you doing this?
CHRISTOPHER (mockingly)
Who are you? Why are you doing this?
DANIELLE
What do you want?
(Christopher emerges from the shadows behind her with a knife. He holds it tightly to her throat and whispers in her ear.)
CHRISTOPHER
I want you to die. But not quickly. Slowly. Painfully. While I watch the life drain from your arteries. Doesn’t it want to make you scream? Go ahead, scream. Scream your head off. There’s no one home and the neighbors live to far away. Scream.
(She screams. He laughs. She screams more. His laugh grows louder. Suddenly, we hear a light switch flick and the room becomes very well lit and Charlsey is poking her head in the door. Christopher puts his hand over Danielle’s mouth.)
CHARLSEY
Christopher?
CHRISTOPHER
Mom!
CHARLSEY
I heard rough housing. What the heck are you doing in here?
CHRISTOPHER
What are you doing here? I thought you had PTA.
CHARLSEY
Oh, everyone’s so scared about swine flu, they cancelled it. Fine with me, let me tell you. Who’s your friend?
CHRISTOPHER
Oh, this is Danielle. Mom, Danielle. Danielle, this is my mother.
CHARLSEY
Oh, you can call me Charlsey. I think you’ll find I’m a “cool” mom. Right, Christopher?
CHRISTOPHER
Very cool?
CHARLSEY
You kids want any alcohol? I’d rather you drink under my roof than out there lords knows where with who knows what.
CHRISTOPHER
We’re a little busy here, Mom.
(Danielle bites Christopher’s hand. He lets go of her.)
DANIELLE
Your son is trying to kill me! Please call the police!
CHARLESY
What the devil? What kind of game are you two playing?
CHRISTOPHER
It’s not a game, Mom.
DANIELLE
He’s trying to kill me. He drugged me at school and I woke up here tied to this chair.
CHARLSEY
Oh, my. This is just like that TV show!
CHRISTOPHER
“Dexter”?
CHARLSEY
No… What’s the name of that show?... It’s on the television… That handsome boy who likes to kill people.
DANIELLE
I think that’s “Dexter.”
CHARLSEY
No, no, no… “Magnum, PI”!
CHRISTOPHER
Magnum didn’t kill people.
CHARLSEY
He didn’t?
DANIELLE
No. He solved crimes while wearing khaki shorts.
CHARLSEY
Oh, those shorts. He sure killed me a thousand times wearing those shorts.
CHRISTOPHER
Mom. We’re really busy…
DANIELLE
Call the police, please…
CHARLSEY
Oh, I wouldn’t want to do that. I’m the “cool” mom. I also have a little (she imitates toking a joint) if you want some. (She winks.) I get it from the mailman. He's so nice. Okay, I’ll leave you two alone. Let me know if you need anything. Nice meeting you, Danielle.
DANIELLE
Thanks… Charlsey.
(She exits. Christopher holds a knife to Danielle, but isn’t feeling it. He shakes out his body and tries to get back in the mood. He tries the knife, again. Nothing. Ah! The lights. He goes over to the door and turns out the lights.)
CHRISTOPHER (sinister voice)
Well, Danielle-
DANIELLE
Is this your first time?
CHRISTOPHER
What? No! Why do you ask that?
DANIELLE
You don’t seem like you know what you’re doing.
CHRISTOPHER
I know what I’m doing. I know what I’m doing. I’ve done this a lot. I’ve run through this a lot.
DANIELLE
You’ve run through this?
CHRISTOPHER
A true artist practices, hello.
DANIELLE
But you’ve never done this with a real live girl before.
CHRISTOPHER
No. But I’ve seen pictures. And movies. “Dexter” and “Magnum.” I know what I’m doing.
DANIELLE
Really? Well, then, come on. Do me. Let’s do it. Get that knife to workin’, big boy.
CHRISTOPHER
Hey, I’ll do it when I feel like it.
DANIELLE
Then let’s do it.
CHRISTOPHER
I don’t feel like it. Maybe you’re not my type.
DANIELLE
I was your type when you drugged my Coke Zero.
CHRISTOPHER
Just because you were easy to drug doesn’t make you my type.
DANIELLE
You going to stab me with that thing or what?
CHRISTOPHER
What!
(He storms off. Danielle is relieved and she tries to untie herself. Charlsey flicks on the lights as she re-enters with a tray of snacks.)
CHARLSEY
I brought you two snacks. We have some Ritz Crackers with Cheez Whiz, some little sausages with toothpicks and some dry roasted peanuts. Where’d Christopher go?
DANIELLE
He changed his mind about killing me. He went for a walk or something.
CHARLSEY
Oh. I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Would you like a snack?
DANIELLE
Could you untie me?
(Charlsey sets down the tray and quickly unties Danielle. Danielle rubs her wrists as Charlsey sits down near hear and eats a cracker.)
DANIELLE
I think I’ll skip the snacks and just head home, Charlsey-
(Charlsey, without looking, quickly produces a knife and points it at Danielle who sits back down.)
CHARLSEY
Sit down, Danielle.
DANIELLE
But, but, why?
CHARLSEY
My son’s not done with you and I have to live up to my reputation for him. I’m the “cool” mom. Peanut?
(She offers Danielle a peanut. She slowly takes it. Lights fade.)
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