A Headset Drama

A Headset Drama

Written April-June, 2004
by Kat Lai

Based loosely on personal experience. Please read the disclaimer before continuing.

Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6

Scene 2: Dealing with the Talkies

(Action continues on stage)

SM: What the hell? (flips pages frantically) Where does that come in?

LX: Where does what come in?

SM: Uhhh... Paul? Jen? Anyone? Can you tell me where we are?

SR: Page 10. Jones' big monologue about serving the family for umpteen years. He's somewhere in the middle of it.

SM: Well, what script is he performing from, because it sure as hell isn't this one.

SL: Yeah, dude never could get his lines right.

SM: I have a sound cue near the end of this. How the hell am I supposed to know where to call it if I don't know what the hell he's saying??

SL: It's okay, Richard. Relax.

SR: Yeah. He's not word-perfect, but the intent's the same. He's around the part where he's expounding on the abuses of the former Forrester matriarch.

SM: Oh, okay... ummmm...

SR: Okay, he's back on script. "Goddamn woman never thanked me for..."

SM: Awesome. Found it. Thanks, Jen! Phil, stand by for sound cue 4.

SQ: Standing by, baby!

SL: Thank goodness we're not doing Shakespeare, eh?

SM: Shhhhhh!

SL: Sorry.

SM: Shhhh!!!! Mikes OFF! (Silence as Jones continues his lines.) Okay. Sound 4.... Go. (doorbell sounds) Good. And there goes Jones. And there's Helen right on cue. Excellent. Okay, Heather, you have a light cue coming up on the next page.

LX: Yep. Waiting for your command, great leader.

SM: And Paul?

SL: Yeah?

SM: Talk during a cue standby again, and I'm going to ignite your ass after the show.

SL: You'll have to catch me first.

LX: Shut up, Paul.

SL: What? I just...

SQ: Paul!

SL: Well, he didn't have to...

SR: God's sake, Paul! Just apologize already!

SL: Okay, okay! Sorry, Richard. Won't happen again.

SM: It better not. And that goes for all of you too.

SR: We know.

LX: Got it.

SQ: Yep.

SM: Good. Now, mikes off. I gotta listen to this. (Silence as action continues.) Okay, Lights 6, standby.

LX: Standing by. (Helen exits. Jeannie turns thoughtfully and fingers the table.)

SM: Lights, Go. Lemme know when she's off.

SL: .... Okay, Jeannie's off. (gives thumbs up to Jeannie as she passes by. She smiles and mouths "thank you".)

SR: Tommy and Jonathan are on.... and they're in place.

SM: Thanks. Lights 7, Go.

LX: I'm gone.

SM: Okay, this is the "verbal duel" scene, so we've got a bit of a break. Next cue is in five pages.

SQ: Awesome.

SM: That don't mean you can talk needlessly, guys! That means you, Paul!

SL: What? I forget once, and...

LX: Uh, Paul? You talked all through the freaking dress rehearsal.

SL: Not all the way through!

LX: Well, far too much anyway. If you don't want to watch the play, bring crosswords or something. But for the love of God, shut UP!

SQ: Word, dude. Talk about your verbal diarrhea.

SM: Aaaand, what did I just say?

LX: Oh, heh. Sorry... Shutting up.

SQ: Sorry.

SL: Irony, thy name is...
SM: SSHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Snickering from SR, LX and SQ.)
SM: Crap, guys. Thanks a bunch. I've lost my place. Jen, are you keeping track? Where are we?

SR: Page 12. Tommy's doing the speech that starts, "You have no clue what it's like to be me, okay? No fucking clue."

SM: Got it. Thanks. Phil, you've got a light cue coming up in a couple of minutes.

SQ: Thanks.

SM: This time, I'm not screwing around, guys. Mikes off unless absolutely necessary.

LX: Okay.

SQ: Got it.
(Lisa approaches SR, braceket caught in hair. She mouths, "Help!")
SR: Oop! Stage Right off. Costume crisis.

SM: Thanks.
(Mikes off as scene progresses on stage.)

Continue to Scene Three

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