An episode for the Time Travel web series
Johnny visits the future where everyone prefers to live in virtual reality.
To read the play click the "read more" link
The characters:
Johnny - the criminal
Leo - a male
Receptionist - not a very attractive female
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Johnny visits the future where everyone prefers to live in virtual reality.
To read the play click the "read more" link
The characters:
Johnny - the criminal
Leo - a male
Receptionist - not a very attractive female
________________________________________
Lights on.
Johnny enters holding his gun at the ready.
Leo wears headset and goggles. He waltzes as if with a lady, leads
her to sit down, goes gets imaginary drinks, brings them back, offers her one,
drinks the other, talks to her small talk.
Johnny comes close, follows him for a bit, examines him.
Leo
(to Johnny)
Not
now Smith! Can’t you see I have a guest!
Johnny
Are
you crazy?
Leo
Smith,
leave this room immediately or you can look for another position!
Johnny
points a gun at Leo
How
about now?
Leo
Put the ladle
away. I don’t have time to taste your cooking. I’m entertaining a lady friend! On the second thought, you
may bring us a tray of pastries.
Johnny looks around puzzled, then pulls the goggles off Leo’s head.
Leo looks around, disappointed and upset.
Leo
Why
did you do this to me! Interrupted my reality!
Johnny
sweeps his arm around
THIS
is reality! This dump!
Leo
Who
would want to be here! It’s dreadful!
Johnny
I’m
from out of town, so I need you to be my guide HERE.
Leo
Could
you please pick someone else?
Johnny
You’re the first
one I came upon, so you’ll have to do.
Unless you want a bullet!
Leo
Okay, fine. What
would you like to do first?
Johnny
You tell me. I
just arrived here. I guess I need an apartment and some money.
Leo
I see. Then we
need to go to the city hall. But
I’ll have to put the goggles back on, otherwise I won’t find my way, everything
looks so different…
Johnny looks through Leo’s goggles
Johnny
It’s
all black! I don’t see anything!
Leo takes the goggles back
Leo
That’s because
you need a brain chip implanted.
Let’s go get you registered for one right away!
Johnny
I don’t want a
brain implant!
Leo
How can you not!
You can’t enjoy life without it! In fact, I don’t think it’s even allowed any
more, not having one. We can’t have miserable people running around outside of
our collective reality! They would be dangerous! Like you! Exactly like you!
Johnny
You mean
everyone here has to wear one of them things and act stupid?
Leo
Nothing stupid
about it! That’s how you live the lifestyle you want! Find perfect love!
Johnny
Does anyone
around here do it for real? Live the life they want with a real live person?
Leo
No-o-o. Well, maybe the President…
Johnny
Do you people
get married, have kids?
Leo
Yes, of course!
I’m courting Miss Paisley. Where is she? Did you scare her away?
Johnny
There was no one
here.
Leo
(disappointed)
Oh… Great! Thanks for ruining my
relationship!
Johnny
You didn’t know
she wasn’t real?
Leo
No, of course
not! We don’t risk finding out things like that!
Johnny
You never take
off the goggles and look?
Leo
No! Why take a
chance on messing with something that works! Now it’s ruined, thanks to you!
Johnny
You’ll meet
another one.
Leo
But I’ve become
very attached to Miss Paisley! I was going to propose!
Johnny
You were going
to marry her not knowing if she exists!
Leo
Why yes! Why
not!
Johnny
What about
having kids?
Leo
Sure, we would
have had kids.
Johnny
Imaginary kids?
Leo
So! Your point
is?
Johnny
You people
should all die out!
Leo
Not at all.
There are couples who are real with real kids.
Johnny
Do they live
together without the goggles?
Leo
Oh, no! A man
could never be happy with someone just being herself! One needs so much more! A
perfect wife should be beautiful, sexy, intelligent, romantic, passionate,
adventurous, understanding, obedient… No one is that great in real life! Plus,
who could be happy in a dump like this? We all want to live in mansions!
Johnny
So when you put
the goggles on you think you live in a mansion?
Leo
That’s right!
Johnny
Hmm. Do you have
a pool in your mansion?
Leo
Yes of course.
Johnny
Let’s go.
Leo
Where?
Johnny
Put these on. I
want to see you swim in your pool.
Leo
(leading Johnny around the stage in a series of turns)
Fine. Will you
let me take my clothes off so I don’t get wet?
Johnny
No. Swim in your
clothes. Oh, and make sure to dive in.
They stop. Leo dives hands forward, then makes swimming motions,
turns around unto his back, huffs, puffs. Climbs out of virtual pool, shivers
as if he is cold in wet clothes.
Johnny
All
right. Now lead me to the City Hall.
Leo
I’m
all wet! At least let me change my clothes?
Johnny
Nope.
Let’s go.
They leave the stage.
Lights out
Lights on
City hall. Receptionist is sitting at her desk, wearing goggles,
filing her nails.
Receptionist
How
can I help you?
Johnny
What
do I look like to you?
Receptionist
Oh,
Mr. Allsome! Could I have your autograph please?
Johnny
Sure baby. But I
want you to describe me first.
Receptionist
All right.
You’re about 6’5”, slim, athletic, have gorgeous tan. You have big blue eyes
and wavy golden hair just past your shoulders. Your shirt is unbuttoned,
showing your six-pack. You’re a wearing a crocodile tooth necklace and tan
shorts revealing your muscular thighs covered with scars…
Johnny
Would you like
to go fuck right now?
Receptionist
I so would! But
my boyfriend would be super angry if I did!
Johnny
Who is your
boyfriend?
Receptionist
The Batman.
Johnny
I see. Too bad…
I mean for me, I’m sure you’re very happy… Say honey, how about getting me an
apartment and some money.
Receptionist
Aren’t you
filthy rich and live in a huge mansion?
Johnny
I am, I do, of
course. But I want to live in your town for a little while, incognito. I’m
tired of all the paparazzis. And I lost my wallet on the way here with all my
wads of cash, credit cards, and my ID.
Receptionist
That’s fine.
I’ll just scan your money chip in your arm…
Johnny
I’m afraid that
chip got bitten through last time I wrestled a crocodile.
Receptionist
Then I’ll scan
your brain chip…
Johnny
(grins)
You see, I hit
my head, so now it don’t work either.
Receptionist
Oh you poor
baby! You must feel awful with your brain chip not working! Let me get you to a
specialist right away to get it fixed!
Johnny
No
hurry. I’m enjoying so much what I’m seeing, I don’t need a chip.
Receptionist
Really!
Johnny
Oh
yeah! I don’t think the chip could improve the view any better.
Receptionist
Thank
you! I sure wish I were single and available.
Johnny
Why don’t you
get me an apartment real quick and help me celebrate moving in? Wouldn’t take
long and no one should know.
Receptionist
But my boyfriend
has this habit of swooping in through the window every time I try something
like that. He always thinks I need to be rescued, whenever I moan.
Johnny
I’ll keep your
mouth so full, you won’t be able to moan. How about it?
Receptionist
Oh… Okay. But
the keys are all locked away. I can’t get one unless I scan your chip. We’ll
have to get it fixed or replaced before we can do anything else. There is
an opening this afternoon, would
it work for you? I don’t suppose you’ll need an anesthesiologist, pain doesn’t
phase you, right?
Johnny
How much pain
are we talking about?
Receptionist
Well, you’re
pretty much all done with the pain when they drilled your skull. Now there’s hardly any pain at all just
to troubleshoot through the hole…
Johnny
Actually this
afternoon is inconvenient for me.
Receptionist
Would you like
to make an appointment for another day?
Johnny
I have a
terribly busy schedule. I’ll pass for now.
Receptionist
Okay, come back
when you have your schedule all figured out!
Johnny
I don’t suppose
you’d consider having lunch with me in a perfectly safe public restaurant?
Receptionist
I’d be
delighted! There is a wonderful little place right around the corner!
Receptionist gets up and leads Johnny around the stage, making a
couple of turns, then brings him back to her desk.
Receptionist
Look, isn’t it
cute? And there is an empty table by the window with the view of the ocean!
Johnny
I
just remembered something important I must do right now… Sorry.
Johnny runs out
Lights out
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