The December People’s Choice Award goes to…
The people have spoken… The December People’s Choice Award goes to Jessica June Rowe for her play The Deal, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on December 12th live at the Broadwater Second Stage and simulcast via Vimeo Livestream. Congratulations, Jessica!
Courtesy of Jessica we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!
The Deal
by
Jessica June Rowe
THE SETTING
A city street corner.
THE CHARACTERS
JACK — Male, any age, here to do business. Suspicious by nature, but passionate about his
wares. Heavy jacket with pockets inside.
RHONDA — Female, any age. A client of Jack’s.
NEIL — Male, dad of two small children, desperately in need of help. Wears a nice button-up
shirt under a nice jacket.
JACK stands on an empty streetcorner, singing
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” quietly to himself.
RHONDA enters. She walks faux-casually over to Jack
and stops right next to him.
RHONDA
Jack
JACK
Rhonda.
A beat. She surreptitiously passes him an open envelope.
Jack checks it, counting the cash inside. Rhonda waits
impatiently, rubbing her arms against the cold.
JACK
You doing okay?
RHONDA
Happy and fucking bright, Jack. (beat) I’m settled up, right?
He shoves the envelope into his pocket and passes her a
small bag.
JACK
Yeah, man. All good. See you next week.
RHONDA
Whatever.
She exits without looking back.
Jack shakes his head. He begins singing/whistling again.
NEIL enters. He looks over his shoulder and fidgets
nervously. He stops close to Jack—but not too close. Jack
stops singing, eying up this stranger.
NEIL
… Hello, uh. Hi.
Jack gives him a long, assessing look.
JACK
… Hey.
A long beat. Neil gathers his courage.
NEIL
It’s cold out tonight.
JACK
… It’s December, man.
NEIL
Yes, yes, of course. (beat) Think there’s, uh, chance of a… white Christmas this year?
JACK
Do I look like a weatherman to you or something?
NEIL
No! No! I meant, uh. (clears throat) That song you were singing. You seem to be in a…
festive mood. You know?
JACK
(turning away) I don’t know what you’re talking about.
NEIL
Hey, hey, no, please—I need your help.
JACK
You don’t need nothing, man, just go home.
NEIL
(desperate) Chris sent me!
JACK
(skeptical) Chris who?
NEIL
Chris…topher?
JACK
Nuh-uh, I’m out.
NEIL
Okay, okay, I didn’t get his last name! He’s a friend of a friend (of a friend), but! I heard I’d
find someone who could help me on the corner of Walnut and 34th Street, and here I am,
and here … (deep breath) here you are.
JACK
(considering) Here we are.
NEIL
Yeah. So, uh… can you?
JACK
I can do lots of things.
NEIL
I meant help me.
JACK
And I mean you gotta be more specific.
NEIL
Okay, uh, I need to something to… cheer me up. Something only a guy like you might be able to get me.
JACK
How in the hell is that more specific?
NEIL
I’m sorry! I don’t know how this works. This is my first time doing anything like this—
JACK
Wow, really?
NEIL
I thought being vague and innuendo-y was part of the deal.
JACK
That’s now how I deal.
NEIL
Please. Are you gonna help me or not? My kids—(need me to have this)
JACK
(cutting him off) Don’t bring family into this, man. You’re doing this for you.
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