by Andre Harden
A huge win in the lottery brings a new set of trappings for Bob, but his unhappy lifestyle doesn't change a bit. (This script is mostly mime, with just a couple of small speaking parts.)
Bob
Voice of Jeffrey (Bob's boss)
Voice of Judy (former girlfriend)
Voice of Gus (friend)
Human alarm clock
Secretary
Quiet in sparse room. A man sleeps under a DINGY SHEET.
An ALARM CLOCK sits on a CARDBOARD BOX. It goes off
shrieking.
The man wakes up panicked, rolls on the BED and slams his
fist down on the alarm clock. He rests a moment on the bed
then -
Grumbling, he gets out of bed and pulls on a RAGGED HOUSECOAT.
He crosses to TABLE where he stubs his toe on the CRATE that
serves as his chair.
Really DEAD FLOWERS sit in a GLASS on the table.
He pulls some SALTINE CRACKERS from a rumpled PLASTIC SLEEVE
and eats. He chokes on his food and takes a drink from the
flower glass. He eats some more and bites his tongue. Sick
of eating he get gets up and moves to:
His LITTLE TV, and turns it on. He angrily fiddles with the
RABBIT EARS. Unable to get a picture he bangs on the TV.
Meanwhile his PHONE rings. And Rings.
The ANSWERING MACHINE picks up.
MACHINE
Bob's House. I'm busy. Leave a
message.
Frustrated with the reception, the man pulls his ATARI out
and tries to power it up.
BOSS
Hi, Bob. It's Jeffrey, from the
office. Uh, kind of missed you at
work on Friday. Uh, I guess we can
talk about it Monday.
Bob bangs on the failed Atari.
Phone Rings. And Rings.
The answering machine picks up.
MACHINE
Bob's House. I'm busy. Leave a
message.
JUDY
Hi Bob, It's Judy. I just called to
dump you. Sorry so early. You don't
need to call me back.
Bob sits for a beat then rises, discards the ragged housecoat
and tosses himself back onto bed. His head WHACKS against
the HEAD BOARD. He tries to rub it before blacking out.
Phone Rings. And Rings.
The answering machine picks up.
MACHINE
Bob's House. I'm busy. Leave a
message.
DUDE
Hey Dude, It's Gus! We just got the
6-49 buddy! Your share's one million
dollars! Happy Days are coming buddy!
FADE
STRIKE AND RESET DURING SONG
TWO WEEKS LATER
FADE IN:
Quiet in sparse room. A man sleeps under a DUVET COVER.
A MUSICIAN stands beside his bed looking at his WATCH. He
suddenly begins to shriek out music on a HARMONICA.
The man wakes up panicked, rolls on the bed and slams his
fist into the harmonica player. He rests a moment on the
bed then -
Grumbling, he gets out of bed and pulls on a LUXURIANT SMOKING
JACKET.
He crosses to table where he stubs his toe on his BEAUTIFUL
CHAIR.
Really dead flowers sit in a LOVELY VASE on the LOVELY
TABLECLOTHED table.
He pulls some FANCY POP-TARTS from a CRISP PACKAGE and eats.
He chokes on his food and takes a drink from the lovely vase.
He eats some more and bites his tongue. Sick of eating he
gets up and moves to:
His HUGE TV, and turns it on. He angrily fiddles with the
CABLE CORD. Unable to get a picture he bangs on the TV.
Meanwhile his phone rings and his SECRETARY immediately picks
it up.
SECRETARY
Bob's House. He's busy. Can I take
a message?
Frustrated with the reception, the man pulls his TOP OF THE
LINE GAME MACHINE out and tries to power it up.
Secretary nods and listens to the phone.
SECRETARY
Um, Bob. It's Jeffrey, from the
office. He kind of missed you at
work on Friday.
Bob growls.
SECRETARY
(to phone)
Uh, I guess you'll have to talk about
it on Monday.
The secretary hangs up. Bob bangs on the failed game system.
Phone Rings and the Secretary picks it up.
SECRETARYJUDY
Bob's House. He's busy. Can I take
a message?
She nods while Bob fiddles with the machine. She hangs up.
MARTHA
Um Bob, It's Martha. She just called
to dump you. Sorry.
(beat)
You don't need to call her back.
Bob sits for a beat then rises, discards his smoking jacket
and tosses himself back onto bed. His head WHACKS against
the BRASS BARS. He tries to rub it before blacking out.
FADE OUT:
...........................................................................................
© This script is copyright by Andre Harden and requires a fee
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http://www.escape.ca/~aharden/sketches