| (A story of a boy who gets a closer view of realism, | | | | Put it this way Dennis, I'm no expert in such matters, |
| sincerity, honesty, and selfishness, and finds himself | | | | but those bills look as real as any one-hundred dollar bill |
| wanting) | | | | I've ever seen, and I've never seen a five-hundred |
| Act One | | | | dollar bill before, and I heard they do have bills at the |
| Of two Acts | | | | bank with higher denominations than one-hundred,...but I |
| The curtain is down, the lights go on: | | | | wonder if they are registered, I mean, no one carries |
| (Narrator, talks to the audience, and everyone can see | | | | around two five-hundred dollar bills, they are kind of like |
| the basement, and at present Dennis standing on top | | | | those Cashier Checks I think, people have them for |
| of stairs, about to walk down them:) in the basement, | | | | safety reasons, so no one can simply go cash them. |
| to the right of a flight of wooden steps (stairs, leading | | | | Lorimar said you found them in your grandfather's |
| down into the basement) to its back, is an old greenish | | | | wine cellar and you think they might belong to old man |
| fading painted door, it is the wine closet (private, Dennis' | | | | Beck. |
| grandfather's secret, or so undeclared anyhow, room | | | | (Everyone is quiet for the moment; a loud stillness fills |
| where he keeps his wine, and vodka (140-proof). It is | | | | the air.) |
| locked, with an old lock. A big gas furnace is to its left, | | | | Listen Dennis, if you don't know what to do with the |
| newer air ducks, are stretched along the large beams | | | | bills, I'll sell you my 1953, Oldsmobile, its cherry-you've |
| of the ceiling. After moving here in the summer of | | | | seen it, right over there. |
| 1957, shortly after, his grandfather (whom he and his | | | | (Tom points to the car, and Dennis is looking, his eyes |
| brother and mother live with), he brought the old house, | | | | are as wide as the light bulbs in the car. It would seem |
| built in the '30s, up-to-date; yet the basement has an air | | | | at this juncture, Dennis has put out of his mind the |
| of another time, not of the '60s, which is the present | | | | possibility that it is even his Grandfather's money, and |
| time, and you can sense and feel that. There are | | | | has planted a seed somewhere in his brain that it is his |
| windows in back of the closet, small windows and high, | | | | money now, you can see it in his face, he is now |
| a wooden table and several wooden chairs around | | | | holding the two bills as if they are his, and his alone, but |
| the table, are near the far east corner of the | | | | nod his head as if to say 'Ok,' and hands the bills over |
| basement, it is where his grandfather brings his family | | | | to Tom.) |
| guests on the weekend to drink his wine, and beer and | | | | Dennis |
| vodka. | | | | Ok, Tom, here are the bills, and the car is mine, when |
| No one is in the basement at present, but if they were, | | | | do I get it? I mean, I'm fifteen-years old, not sure if I can |
| you could hear the sound of feet above you, | | | | have it in my name. I really do like that car of yours, it |
| especially in the kitchen which is right over the wine | | | | shines like the dickens. |
| closet. You hear the click of the light switch; it is at the | | | | Tom |
| top of the staircase. Dennis is coming down stairs. You | | | | (there is a silence between the three of them) |
| can hear the old thin wooden steps produce a | | | | You will not find a better car for the price, Dennis. |
| crackling noise, the boards are not real firm. | | | | Dennis |
| Dennis is now by the wine closet door, he listens for | | | | I suppose. |
| foot steps above him, he hears none. This is the first | | | | Tom |
| time he has ever planned to do such a thing, his | | | | Well, do you have any second thoughts, I mean, are |
| brother has brought his friends down many times to | | | | you sure you want to make this deal, I don't want you |
| drink a few of his grandfather's beers, and he has | | | | coming back tomorrow and saying I did you wrong, or |
| never got caught, so he feels, what the heck, he can | | | | telling everyone I cheated you? Matter-of-fact, I will be |
| do it, and who will be the wiser. | | | | checking out the legal procedure tomorrow on how to |
| The air in the basement is cool, Dennis rubs his | | | | put a title card into the name of a minor, I doubt there |
| forearms, and there are some goose bumps, on them. | | | | will be any big problems. Here's a set of keys, keep |
| You can see, he is concentrating on the lock, he has | | | | them; since the car is yours, I got another I'll give them |
| planned for it. | | | | to you tomorrow. |
| Dennis did not ask for permission, rather he simply | | | | Dennis |
| picked the lock with a nail, that was flat on both ends | | | | I suppose so, I mean yes, yes I want the car, I gave |
| of the top of the nail, the top being the part the | | | | you the bills, I am just concerned about putting the title |
| hammer drives the nail into its destination. In his mind he | | | | card into my name, I don't have a license to drive, only |
| is most concerned with the old newspapers he knows | | | | a permit, next year I'll get my license, but I can drive |
| are on the shelves in the wine closet, he saw them | | | | with a license driver I suppose, maybe my brother Mike |
| several times throughout the years, he feels they must | | | | will ride with me. |
| had been there when grandpa bought the house from | | | | (Dennis is playing with the keys in his hand, as if he |
| Old Man Beck's family back in '57, when he passed on, | | | | was a big shot, and a smile is on his face now, he |
| and he wants to take and examine the papers closer, | | | | never owned such an item like this before.) |
| perhaps take one or two, and replace them with | | | | The two five-hundred dollar bills have already been |
| newer papers, he is unsure how it all will work out, but | | | | handed over, and Tom seems elated. Lorimar and |
| he has half of the plan set in his mind, and it all is going | | | | Dennis go over to the car and check it out. Lorimar |
| to happen today, in a moment time. And when he | | | | puts his hands on Dennis' shoulder, he is about two |
| does this, and he is now about to pick the lock, | | | | inches taller, and says something to the effect "How's |
| something unusual will happen in which he will have no | | | | it feel to be an owner of such a beautiful car," you can |
| warning, and thereafter he will have to cope with the | | | | faintly hear that. Tom has just walked back into the |
| rest of the day, and he will discover: realism may need | | | | house, you can see him now through the kitchen |
| to be looked at closer, as well as sincerity and | | | | window, he is showing the money the two bills to his |
| honesty, and selfishness, within in of course. This will all | | | | father, and his father is looking stern with a little |
| play a part in today's performance on earth's little | | | | mystery to his look as if to say, 'this can be trouble'. |
| stage. Furthermore, let me say, this will be the first time | | | | Tom has agreed to check out the process tomorrow |
| in his life he will have to confront his emotions with | | | | in transferring the title card over into Dennis' name, and |
| what surprise is going to happen, with actions and | | | | that very well might be part of the conversation, the |
| thinking. In essence, will he react to his emotions or his | | | | father, Joe is having with Tom, and his mother is |
| thinking; perhaps he doesn't know the difference, and | | | | walking into the living room, as if to say, this is men's |
| things at thirteen-years old, they are the same. The | | | | business, and she calls for her daughter, and they both |
| lesson may be, and of course it is always up to the | | | | go sit on a square wooden piano stool, as she gives |
| reader to pin point this dilemma, it is wise to react to | | | | her daughter lessons (the father's name is the same |
| our emotions vs. our thinking? Realizing of course, we | | | | as his son Joe Jr. who is twenty-one) he shakes his |
| have these emotions all day long, like a rollercoaster | | | | head a second time. |
| sometimes, and to react to them, may only mean, | | | | Scene Three |
| backtracking someplace along the line to straighten | | | | Inside the Dennis' Grandfather's house, 7:00 PM |
| things out. Well I must say much more, least I tell you | | | | (The phone rings, Dennis is in the living room, near the |
| the whole plot, theme and insight, and that would not | | | | phone, his grandfather is outside cutting his lilac bushes, |
| do. So I shall stop here and let the actors tell you the | | | | his mother, Elsie, picks up the phone, listens to the other |
| rest. | | | | person on the phone, her face seems to go through |
| Scene One | | | | several confusing emotions, as if she is trying to |
| The Basement, Dennis; the summer of 1962, 11:00 AM | | | | understand something, and she glances at Dennis a |
| Dennis | | | | few times. Her boyfriend Earnest is in the kitchen, her |
| (He is now playing with the lock of the door, as if it | | | | and he were having coffee, until the phone rang. She |
| was stuck, his devise, nail that is, is inside the keyhole, | | | | has a cigarette in her hands, takes a few puffs off it, |
| and he has twisted it this way and that way, and lo | | | | blows the smoke out, then hangs up the phone, looks |
| and behold, the door opens, he is humming, something | | | | at the clock, and goes out into the kitchen, she now is |
| like this 'hum...hum...mmm...' he sees the papers from the | | | | talking to Earnest, as if getting advise, she squints her |
| doorway, talks out loud to himself) | | | | eyes, looks through the two rooms to Dennis by the |
| Look, yes, I thought so, a 1951, the 'Saints' (baseball | | | | television in the living room. Then she calls him over to |
| players). Now they got the 'Twins,' big deal! | | | | the kitchen.) |
| (He switches on his flashlight, holds it on the dates of | | | | Mother (Elsie) |
| the papers) | | | | Dennis, come in here for a moment, I want to ask you |
| I'll take this one, grandpa will never know, it's got these | | | | something! |
| folds to it. | | | | (to Dennis) |
| (He pull the paper upward, then back, looks closer at it, | | | | Dennis |
| the paper is brownish, from age, then he spots | | | | (Dennis is nervous; he senses it has to do with the car) |
| something green...he looks closer, it is a bill... he looks | | | | What is it? |
| closer, a five-hundred dollar bill. He shuts his eyes, as if | | | | Mother (Elsie) |
| to clean them, and reopens them; to look again, to | | | | (Earnest is sitting down, Elsie is standing up) |
| insure what he sees is real, really real. And it is, it is | | | | I just got a phone call from Lorimar's father; he said |
| surely a $500-dollar bill. His face shows the expression | | | | something about two five-hundred dollar bills you found |
| of 'unreliability' that it can't be real; in essence, in this | | | | in grandpa's wine cellar, what about it? |
| matter, as if his sense and eyes are playing tricks on | | | | Dennis is acting somewhat as if he doesn't know |
| him.) | | | | anything of what she is saying, a tinge smug, he plays |
| Dennis | | | | with the keys in pocket a bit, but quietly. Standing in the |
| (anxiously) | | | | middle of the kitchen, almost dumbfounded, his mother |
| Now what! | | | | waiting for an explanation, and Earnest, drinking his |
| (He pulls the bill out from under the paper, folding it | | | | coffee, staying out of the predicament. Dennis wants |
| back somewhat, and puts it on the upper shelve for | | | | to say something but is unsure of what to say, he |
| the moment, he is working on the middle shelf, of three | | | | doesn't want to lose the car. |
| shelves. And as he pulls the paper out, under that he | | | | Mother (Elsie) |
| finds another five-hundred dollar bill. Again he holds the | | | | Well, I'm still waiting for an explanation! |
| flashlight onto the bill to make sure it is real, that it | | | | Dennis |
| reads what it reads, clearly, and it does. He shakes his | | | | (with a deep sigh) |
| head as if to say 'unbelievable', opens up his eyes | | | | I found them, two five-hundred dollar bills under the old |
| wider, as if say, 'now what', takes in a deep breath, but | | | | papers in grandpa's wine cellar. I wasn't robbing him, I |
| he again is more inclined to check the papers out, and | | | | doubt they even belong to him, I was looking for old |
| puts the $500-dollar bill with the first one on the upper | | | | papers, and I found them, and I asked Lorimar to look |
| shelf, and checks the new paper out he finds from the | | | | at them and see if they were real, and Tom came out |
| '40. He takes the papers, the one that reads the | | | | and said they were, so I bought his car, I mean I gave |
| 'Saints' and this new one. Grabs the two bills on the | | | | him the two bills for the car. |
| third shelf, hesitates a moment, listens to hear any | | | | The boy was of course not lying, nor was he sorry for |
| footsteps above him, all is clear.) | | | | taking the money, you could see it in his face, a tinge |
| Dennis | | | | bad in the sincerity area, and his mother was sure he |
| (he asks himself) | | | | was telling the truth, he was not know for lying, but |
| Heck, now what? | | | | now it seemed, she was unsure of the whole matter. |
| Sure, take it, grandpa doesn't even know it is there, | | | | She didn't see any 'I'm sorry,' in his face for taking what |
| was there. I bet old man Beck put it there, yaw sure | | | | did not belong to him; only perhaps sorry he got caught. |
| he did, it's not grandpa's, everyone around the | | | | Mother (Elsie) |
| neighborhood says old man Beck left a treasure. | | | | First of all, the money may very well be Grandpa's he |
| (He sighs, a long sigh, takes the money and puts it into | | | | hides it all over the house, and if it was Mr. Beck's, as |
| his top shirt pocket.) | | | | you told Lorimar's brother, it is still grandpa's because |
| Dennis | | | | you were snooping in his private closet, where you |
| I better get out of here before someone comes, lock it | | | | were not suppose to be; Tom is coming over with the |
| lock the door! | | | | two bills now, and he wants his car keys back, I guess |
| (He is really nervous now, and is having a hard time | | | | you even went a bought a car, without me knowing. |
| with the nail relocking the door, but he gets it done by | | | | (There is a knock on the door, Elsie puts out her hand |
| telling himself 'calm down' and completes his mission.) | | | | for the car keys, Dennis gives them to her, and she |
| Scene Two | | | | goes to the door to meet Tom who is doing the |
| Lorimar's house, two houses over from his, 11:30 AM | | | | knocking.) |
| You see the house, and a kitchen window, people | | | | Act Two |
| sitting and talking in the kitchen, it is Lorimar's family | | | | Of two Acts |
| eating brunch, so it seems. There is a green Oldsmobile | | | | The Reprieve (In the house, the next day, morning, the |
| parked by the garage, in back of the house, in the | | | | Grandfather was told the story by Elsie) |
| driveway, a 1953 model, two doors, it shines. Dennis is | | | | There has never been much of a liking between |
| standing at this moment in front of the back screened | | | | Dennis and his Grandfather, he took to Mike, his older |
| in doorway sees his friend Lorimar talking to the other | | | | brother, and seems throughout the years to simply |
| folks. Among them is the mother and father of | | | | endure Dennis, whereas, he appreciates Mike. |
| Lorimar, and his older brother Tom (Tom will soon | | | | Nonetheless, it really hasn't bothered Dennis all that |
| become involved with all this, and he notices his brother | | | | much, and in return that in itself may have bothered the |
| gone, and looks out the window, sees Dennis standing | | | | old Russian Bear, who came to America in 1916; |
| by the cement steps). It is a warm day, and he wipes | | | | Dennis, he just keeps his distance, throughout the |
| his brow, his two five-hundred dollar bills are in his top | | | | seasons, one by one. If anything, he is a little closer to |
| pocket, you can see the tips of them. He is mumbling | | | | his mother than perhaps his brother, whom is his senior |
| to himself, talking out loud says (and the audience can | | | | by two years. |
| hear this: "Am I a thief, or what?"; Lorimar looks out the | | | | He would like to shut the lid on this situation of the two |
| window, sees Dennis, nods his head as if to say, 'Wait | | | | bills and car but he knows it will have to be settled |
| a minute.' Now you don't see him, he has left the folks | | | | between him and grandpa, even if his mother makes |
| in the kitchen to meet with Dennis. | | | | peace with him over this. Old grandpa, fought in WWI, |
| Lorimar | | | | tougher than hard ice, and just as cold. He realizes it |
| (on the back cement steps of Lorimar's house) | | | | will perhaps be a turbulent day, with a little nastiness |
| What's up, you look nervous, or something? | | | | coming from his grandfather, he likes to swear for no |
| Dennis | | | | reasons, and this is a good reason to do just what he |
| (still in disbelief, he lets out a sigh) | | | | likes to do, so he his prepared to endure a mouth full |
| Look at what I found in my Grandpa's wine closet! | | | | of broken English, but he has lived through worse, in |
| (Lorimar steps down from the top third stair, almost | | | | this quiet infested forest of his. |
| falls off it, he starts to put forth his hands as if to grab | | | | It is morning, and Dennis has come down the stairs |
| them, and look closer at them, but stops himself, and | | | | from the Attic bedroom where he and his brother |
| just peers into them as if they were some | | | | sleep, he sees his grandfather, he is pacing the house, |
| archeological find, in an ancient grave.) | | | | walking from the front porch to the back pantry door. |
| Lorimar | | | | He stops suddenly, noticing Dennis, who has done |
| (his eyes and face rise with his forehead) | | | | nothing apparently: just standing there buttoning up his |
| Are they real? I mean I've never seen one before. | | | | shirt. Dennis, he notices his grandfather seems to know |
| Found them you say, aren't they your grandfather's? I | | | | something, and he is annoyed, but not as annoyed as |
| mean, maybe you better put them back before he | | | | Dennis would have expected him to be, after almost |
| notices they are gone. | | | | losing two five-hundred dollar bills, he is still convinced |
| Dennis | | | | they belonged to Mr. Beck, and feels he got the short |
| I don't know if they're real, I never saw one myself, | | | | end of the stick in this situation, having lost the bills and |
| they look real, don't they, I mean...I think they do. And I | | | | the car all in one day. |
| didn't steal them, I simple found them...I was looking for | | | | Scene One |
| old newspapers and, and-you know the rest... | | | | The next day, 9:00 AM, in the main area of the house |
| Lorimar | | | | Dennis' grandfather stops by him, Dennis says "Hello," |
| (he stares, thinking a moment) | | | | but it is so faint, I doubt his grandfather even heard him; |
| I'll get my brother Tom to look at them bills, he'll know | | | | in any case, if he did, he pretends not to have heard |
| for sure if they are real or not, he has a car business | | | | him. |
| in his front yard, sells cars, him and Joe, wait here I'll go | | | | Tony (Grandfather) |
| ask him to come out and take a look (he hesitates, | | | | So, I guess you like to snoop in my things, never mind |
| adds)...I'll be careful about it, so no one suspects a thing, | | | | my things stay out of them, or I'll throw you out of the |
| I'll just tell him, Dennis wants to have you look at | | | | house. Looking for papers, hogwash, you just snoop |
| something, and my ma and father will not be the wiser. | | | | like always. Now you lie, and steal. Don't let me ever |
| (Dennis sees in the window Lorimar talking to Tom | | | | catch you in there again! |
| now, his father is the closest to the window, coffee on | | | | (he walks away, but not heatedly as usual; surprising) |
| the table, curtains somewhat in the way. His father | | | | Dennis tries to say he is sorry, but it doesn't come out |
| leans over a tinge, trying to find out what the mystery | | | | right, more of an 'I...mmm sor... (then he quickly says it) |
| is all about, but trying not to be too suspicious, and | | | | sorry,' almost is a hush, and no sincerity to it, and then |
| Lorimar doesn't tell him anyhow what exactly Dennis | | | | he turns towards the kitchen and enters it... |
| has to show him. Now you see Lorimar and Tom in | | | | Both Dennis and Tony, are to the backs of one |
| the Pantry, next to the kitchen, and screened in door, | | | | another, perhaps they are much like one another; |
| he is explaining now what has happened, but you don't | | | | Dennis fades into the pantry and you hear the back |
| hear him saying anything but by their expressions, you | | | | door slam, and Tony walks out onto his front porch, |
| know this by heart.) | | | | and again, you hear the door slam behind him. |
| Tom | | | | Curtain |
| (Tom is looking at the two $500-bills in Dennis' hands. | | | | Act one written on the 22, and Act two written the 23 |
| Tom is about 23-years old, Lorimar is a year older than | | | | of May, 2008. |
| Dennis.) | | | | |