Starter Scene
characters
- ONE STOOL JAMES CLIENT, DRESSED IN ALL BLACK, BEANIE
- ONE STOOL MATT NFP LEADER, EYEGLASSESS, HAWAIIAN SHIRT
- ONE STOOL CARLOS FUNDER, CELLPHONE ALWAYS IN HANDS
- ONE STOOL AMY ELECTED OFFICIAL, BUSINESS SUIT
- ONE STOOL ANGELA JOURNALIST, NOTEPAD
- ONE STOOL BELINDA YOUNG NEW LEADER, HIP AND COOL
ACT I The Read, ALL ON SEPARATE STOOLS, SPOTLIGHTED ONLY WHEN SPEAKING
Scene I
SPOTLIGHT CARLOS
CARLOS
ON CELLPHONE, SHUFFLING PAPERS.
For year 2 of the grant what will you be spending on Supplies?
CARLOS
ON CELLPHONE, SHUFFLING PAPERS.
Yes, I just spoke with them.
CARLOS
ON CELLPHONE, SHUFFLING PAPERS.
TALKING OUT LOUD TO SELF
Hey man, have you checked out this group?
I’m sorry, I had one more question about your budget, I’m sorry, you have two clients in your office?
SPOTLIGHT MATT
MATT
WITH GLASSES ON
I believe we submitted that report. Certainly, certainly, what time period? Certainly. We are in the last month of this fiscal year, and the audit will not be for a month or two, so I guess we’ll just go back to prior fiscal year and then give you what we have to-date. For the one site, and the for the whole organization? Certainly. By program? And then with Outcomes. Certainly, certainly.
SPOTLIGHT AMY AND ANGELA
AMY
WITH FLASH CAMERA IN FACE
Whatever idiots like Beck or Palin say, it is about the size of government! I mean,everyone wants government to downsize, we can be more efficient, leverage the nonprofit sector, for sure.
ANGELA
WITH NOTEPAD
But, what if government is the mechanism that regulates our greed, and demands our attention. Doesn’t Barney Frank say it is what we do together for things we cannot achieve alone? Roads, mental health services, education, health care.
AMY
WITH FLASH CAMERA IN FACE
Partisan questions are not helpful. This is about getting back to our roots and building community through community based organizations.
ANGELA
WITH NOTEPAD
What about our future?
Aren’t they the same.
Hmm, our past was full of horses, slavery and no electricity. I thought we, you, were about shaping a brighter future, a real future— complete with electricity and working social safety nets.
SPOTLIGHT JAMES
JAMES
How do I get a bed for tonight?
Song #1: ALL/CHORUS
FADE TO BLACK
ACT II Relationships
SCENE I
MATT AND JAMES WALK BY EACH OTHER IN AN OFFICE LOBBY.
MATT
Hey JAMES, how are you? I have not seen you in awhile. You been staying out of trouble? You look a little heavy, you must still be behaving.
JAMES
Me, oh, same all, same all.
MATT
Can I help you with your resume? You thinking about work? Wow, excellent (Looking at the paper James has handed him) . Did you clean up your record at Homeless Court, too?
(MATT is looking up but concurrently typing a text to CARLOS to check status of the grant.)
(PHONE RINGS, MATT looks at James, shrugs shoulders and mouths “I am sorry”, flashes 5 fingers, mouths “5 minutes, brother, please?”.
JAMES walks away.
MATT (On the phone)
What? My father is what? I know, I know, but I did not think.
I will come immediately.
(Turning to Staffer 2 at the Front Desk)
I am so sorry, I have to, I cannot…tell James I’ll circle back.
FADE TO BLACK
SCENE 2
Song #2: BAR, WITH BACKGROUND BAND PLAYING
This Town’s Red, Willie Pettus, via MP4
MATT (Takes a big gulp of beer)BELINDA (another nonprofit leader, sips her beverage)
SCENE 3
Song #3: BAR, MATT RIDING HIS BICYCLE HOME FROM WORK
Ride My Bike, Jenn Guitart, via Youtube
MATT (Takes a big gulp of beer)BELINDA (another nonprofit leader, sips her beverage)
ACT II
ACT III The Decision
HENRY
ON CELLPHONE, SHUFFLING PAPERS.
Hello, appreciate you letting me to speakerphone my notes on the Docket. I apologize for not being able to attend the Board Meeting.
Client
Nonprofit person
CARLOS
ON CELLPHONE, SHUFFLING PAPERS.
Yes, good news, we will fund you.
MATT
WITH GLASSES ON
Oh, wow, excellent.
JAMES
How do I get a bed for tonight?
JAMES
ON A TRENDY STREET A CLIENT ZIGZAGS ACROSS THE STREET.
FROM A SEDUCTIVELY LIT RESTAURANT, A COUPLE WALKS OUT.
