new scene, 1st draft as always

11


(DR. X exits. The CRIMEFIGHTERS and LISA arrive at the slain couple. It is a crime scene now. They all put on rubber gloves as they enter. The dummies of the previous scene are replaced by CARSON and ED.)

SALLY
Welcome to your first crime scene.

LISA
It’s – not like I thought.

SALLY
It never is.

JAZMIN
Dr. X entered through the window as is his custom. He stood here.

NINA
I’m standing where Dr. X stood. I’m breathing the same air. It feels—I don’t know. I feel alive.

JAZMIN
The doctor is efficient. I’ll say that. Comes in. Kills ‘em. Goes out.

NINA
It makes me shiver.

SALLY
Any clues?

JAZMIN
Nothing.

LISA
(standing over the dead couple
Look at his eyelashes. He reminds me of—

JAZMIN
Who?

LISA
No one. Never mind. I shouldn’t think of it anyway.

NINA
You can’t help what you think.

LISA
Can’t I?

SALLY
Get some carpet samples.

NINA
I’ll take samples of where I’m standing.

JAZMIN
I have a sink full of dishes at home. Why do I always think of that at a crime scene?

SALLY
I always think of the Commissioner.

NINA
I think of nothing but Dr. X.

LISA
They were very much in love.

(The CRIMEFIGHTERS gather around the dead bodies.)

SALLY
They were?

JAZMIN
Were they?

LISA
The way they’re holding each other.

NINA
I don’t see it.

LISA
Look how close they were. Breathing on each other until they stopped. Oh, yeah, there is no doubt. They were very much in love.

(A flashback: The couple, ED and CARSON, come alive. CARSON in bed. ED moving around.)

CARSON
Come to bed.

ED
I’m coming.

CARSON
Did you lock the window?

ED
Yesss. I always lock the window.

CARSON
Did you lock the window tonight?

ED
I said I locked the window.

CARSON
Ok. Ok. Don’t get bent out of shape.

ED
I’m not.

CARSON
Are you sure I’m the one you want to spend the rest of your life with?

ED
I’m sure.

CARSON
Are you sure you’re sure?

ED
Yes.

CARSON
I’m sure too.

ED
Let’s go to sleep.

CARSON
Ok. Hold me.

(They hold one another.)

CARSON
Our life is good.

ED
I think so.

CARSON
Me too.

ED
You were really good at Trivial Pursuit tonight.

(But CARSON is asleep. ED closes his eyes. Light shift. They are dead again. The CRIMEFIGHTERS and LISA sigh.)

LISA
It makes you think.

SALLY and JAZMIN
Yeah.

LISA
Oh, well.

NINA
What’s wrong with me? I don’t feel anything.

SALLY
Why did I ever break it off with the Commissioner?

NINA
I think I don’t feel anything.

LISA
I think I’m going to cry.

JAZMIN
I’m going to be late to my date. But I ran out of fabric softener. Should I go get the fabric softener and be a little later and then carry it around on the date? Or should I just go without it and have clothes that aren’t as soft?

LISA
I can’t stand this.

NINA
Does Dr. X hate love? I think I hate love to. Do I? Is that possible? I am just like the Doctor, deep down or even on the surface too? I look at them and I don’t care. I am empty.

SALLY
I think I’m going to call the Commissioner and say we should give it another shot.

LISA
I got to go.

JAZMIN
Are you going?

LISA
I got to go. I can’t wait another second. I’m sorry. I have to go.

(The CRIMEFIGHTERS watch her go.)

JAZMIN
Where are the body bags? I can’t look at these anymore.

two more explanations of WGA strike

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRHlpEmr0w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a37uqd5vTw

The other side is really unsupportable, isn't it?

more on Isherwood, thanks to JJW for pointing it out

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robbie-baitz/all-the-views-fit-to-prin_b_72637.html

open letter to the internet and those who try to push it on me

Stop making new funny/interesting/important videos available on
youtube. I can't watch them at work and I won't watch them at home.

Sincerely,
Adam

P.S. Same thing with podcasts.

Local Story by Kristen Palmer in L.A.

Tickets now available:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/24219

The most important question of our times

Do you own all of my published work?

http://www.amazon.com/by-Adam-Szymkowicz/lm/R3K2ERA2M01VQ1/ref=cm_lmt_dtpa_f_1_rdssss2/105-7949491-4188433?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=listmania-center&pf_rd_r=17PM0RSTW3X5BGFXZCD2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=253462201&pf_rd_i=0822221365

free music from genius Kyle Jarrow and his friend who I don't know

http://www.hoteluniverse.org/krakow.html

insight from Marisa

But writers today may see no benefit in continuing to fail toward success as playwrights when an easy living as a writer on a television series seems within reach. Young writers who win some acclaim for a first or second play will probably continue to head west before they have had time to develop, which means the theater is potentially losing important voices before they mature. -Charles Isherwood I read a fair number of NY Times reviews, and it's no secret to the theatre blogging community that Charles Isherwood isn't, exactly, the most supportive of critical voices in the realm of new plays and new/young playwrights. I can't defend the validity of his criticism first hand (I'm not seeing those productions), but you have to acknowledge the culpability of the NY Times of driving talented young writers into the warm and moneyed embrace of acceptance and a fat paycheck on the other coast.

blog of note from Callie

I’ve come to realize as an artist, my brain is frequently negotiating its way around impulses and ideas that are difficult to articulate, but that there is something gained in the attempt at articulation. And the more I engage publicly in discussions on the big issues, the more I am convinced that a hesitancy to and even lack of skill in contributing to these conversations is one of the main reasons women are not produced more. and But back to women playwrights in general. The hopeful thing is, there is much ground to be gained and so we can steer the discussion. We have reviewers at the New Yorker and the New York Times taking women like Theresa Rebeck to task for writing watered-down Mamet. As a woman audience member, I was struck by the deft way she threw light on the complexities of female family relationships and obligations in caring for elderly parents in MAURITIUS. Rebeck hit such perfect notes of the sacrifice and despair and fear and entitlement and resentment shared by the sisters in the play. Not one male reviewer parsed those issues out of her play.

support the Writers Guild, Sign the petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/WGA/petition.html