The November People’s Choice Award goes to…
The people have spoken… The November People’s Choice Award goes to Lina Patel for her play Karma, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on November 14th live at the Broadwater Second Stage and simulcast via Vimeo Livestream. Congratulations, Lina!
Courtesy of Lina we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!
Karma
by
Lina Patel
LANI: washed out former advertising executive on the lam.
JED: an unhoused person, her new buddy.
DEVYN: Lani’s assistant from the firm.
PLACE: A nice house with a pool in a Los Angeles suburb.
TIME: Now.
(Blue light: A pool. Two people float on floaties. An old cart nearby is stuffed with newspapers, clothes, bags of stuff. Jed, shaggy and jacketed, reads from a scrap of newspaper.)
JED – “Why not have Thanksgiving around the swimming pool?”
LANI – In the swimming pool.
JED – (Squints at paper.) Yeah. “In.” (Reads) “What a great idea!”
LANI – Just brilliant. (Calls toward house) Brilliant, huh, Devyn?
DEVYN (OFFSTAGE) – THE POLICE ARE ON THEIR WAY. LANI? WHY ARE YOU HERE?
LANI (calling back) – Come on out, Devyn. Come see your ad – IRL. LOL. YOLO –
JED – Hey, uh – Lani? Should we go –
LANI – Don’t worry, Devyn didn’t call the police. Go on.
JED – Okay, you’re the boss. (reads) “You could make it a tradition.” (reading:) “Ha-ha-ha-ha!”
LANI (laughing uproariously) – Ha ha ha ha!
JED – “Make new fun-filled precious memories! A new way to celebrate a cherished holiday.”
LANI – Good Lord with that prose – and Devyn, how about a thesaurus! Hey, c’mon out!
(DEVYN pokes her head out.)
DEVYN – My husband’s upset and the kids. Well, the kids want to join you in there but they’re eight and four. We put on Looney Tunes Thanksgiving, which they were supposed to watch after dinner- our guests will be here soon, please just go!
(Devyn quickly goes back inside. Lani indicates to Jed to keep reading from the ad.)
JED – “Just because you always gather around the formal dining room” –
LANI – Or the kiddie table!
JED – “doesn’t mean that’s the only way to do it.”
LANI (calling) – You forgot the kids, Devyn! You’re a mom, for Chrissake.
JED – Hey. This was a good idea. Relaxing.
LANI – I’m full of ‘em. Ideas. (calls) Isn’t that right, Devyn?
JED – You really her boss?
LANI – Was. I was her boss.
JED – Til your, uh, ah… (embarrassed)
LANI – You can say it: breakdown.
Join us for the next Monday Night PlayGround on December 12th! For more info, click here!