WALK TOWARDS THE LIGHT

by Bernie Drew

Short Film
Email: [email protected]

SONGS   PLAYS   SKETCHES   MOVIES


WALK TOWARDS THE LIGHT   (DRAMA)  WRITTEN BY  T.C.SELWAY


SET IN SYDNEY. A SYSTEM OF TUNNELS AND BUNKERS, UNDER THE CITY OF SYDNEY, BUILT FOR GENERAL MacARTHUR, DURING WW2.


TWO CHARACTERS:

THE JUDGE :   ARROGANT.  WEALTHY.

ELTON :   A DISPUTATIOUS, STREET SCAVENGER.



THE JUDGE IS LOST IN THE TUNNEL SYSTEM DUE TO AN ACCIDENT.



THE SCENE OPENS WITH ELTON READING A NEWSPAPER BY A SINGLE
TABLE LAMP, DRINKING A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE.  THE REST OF THE SET
IS IN DARKNESS.  THE SET CONSISTS OF NORMAL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES PLUS FOUR OR MORE SKELETONS. 

  
















JUDGE :                 HELP, HELP, IS THERE ANYONE THERE?  (PAUSE)
                           HELP, IS ANYBODY THERE?

ELTON :                 (PICKS UP A TORCH FROM THE TABLE AND OPENS
                           THE STEEL DOOR)   WALK TOWARDS THE LIGHT
                           (A DISHEVELLED WELL DRESSED MAN ENTERS, HE IS
                           DISTRESSED AND DISORIENTED)

JUDGE :                 THANK GOD I FOUND YOU!

ELTON :                 (LOOKS AT THE JUDGE, REALISING HE IS A MAN OF
                           WEALTH)  I FOUND YOU!  YOU DID NOT FIND ME, I
                           AM NOT LOST!

JUDGE :                 (BECOMING ORIENTATED)  WHERE AM I?

ELTON :                 HERE.

JUDGE :                 WHERE IS HERE?

ELTON :                 HERE IS WHERE YOU ARE, AS OPPOSED TO WHERE
                           YOU ARE NOT!

JUDGE :                 (HIS EYES ADJUSTING TO THE LIGHT)  WHO ARE
                           YOU?

ELTON :                 (BECOMING ANNOYED AT THE INTRUSION AND AT
                           THE JUDGE’S POMPOSITY)  MY NAME IS ELTON,
                           WHAT IS YOURS?

JUDGE :                 (IGNORING THE QUESTION)  WHAT IS THIS PLACE?

ELTON :                 IT’S A BUNKER!

JUDGE :                 BUNKER?

ELTON :                 YES, A BUNKER. PART OF A UNDERGROUND SYSTEM
                           BUILT FOR GENERAL MacARTHUR DURING THE
                           PENDING JAPANESE INVASION OF AUSTRALIA IN
                           WW2.

JUDGE :                 (NOTICING THAT ELTON IS DRESSED IN RAGS)  MY
                           GOD, YOU’RE A TRAMP!

ELTON :                 NO. ACCORDING TO THE DICTIONARY, I’M A
                           DERELICT. ACCORDING TO SOCIETY, I’M HOMELESS,
                           AND ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT, I’M A
                           BURDEN.  BUT, ACCORDING TO YOU, I’M YOUR
                           SAVIOR, BUT LOGICALLY, I’M A TROGLODYTE, AND
                           WHAT IS YOUR STATION IN LIFE?

JUDGE :                 I AM A JUDGE, ON THE SUPREME COURT BENCH.

ELTON :                 GOOD LORD!  WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

JUDGE :                 I DON’T KNOW. I’M TRYING TO FATHOM THAT OUT.
                           I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FOR A FAMILY
                           CELEBRATION WHEN A FLASH FLOOD SWEPT ME AND
                           MY CAR OFF A SMALL BRIDGE INTO A STORM WATER
                           CHANNEL, THE REST IS JUST A BLUR. I MUST HAVE
                           BEEN WALKING THROUGH THESE (TRYING TO FOCUS
                           ON HIS WATCH) TUNNELS FOR HOURS. WHAT IS
                           THE TIME?

ELTON :                 I DON’T KNOW, I’VE DISREGARDED TIME. FOR ME
                           THERE IS ONLY NIGHT AND DAY AND ON MOST
                           OCCASIONS THAT’S IRRELEVANT TOO.

JUDGE :                 (HIS EYES BECOMING ACCUSTOMED TO THE LIGHT,
                           NOTICING THE SKELETONS)  GOOD LORD!  DID YOU
                           DO THIS?

ELTON :                 OH NO!  YOU DID, WELL, SOCIETY DID. (GOING TO
                           THE CUPBOARD, TAKING OFF HIS RAGGED COAT AND
                           PUTTING ON A SHEIK SMOKING JACKET)

JUDGE :                 DON’T BE ABSURD!  HOW DID THESE.…PEOPLE DIE?


ELTON :                 AH!  YOUR HONOR!   THE QUESTION SHOULD BE,
                           “WHY DID THESE PEOPLE DIE”?  (GOING TO THE
                           FIRST SKELETON)  YOU WILL NOTICE WHAT LOOKS
                           LIKE A BULLET HOLE, AND INDEED IT IS.  HE PUT
                           A PISTOL TO HIS HEAD AND BLEW THE PAIN AWAY!

JUDGE :                 SUICIDE!!   DID HE SUFFER FROM SOME SORT OF
                            TERMINAL AFFLICTION?

ELTON :                  IT WOULD SEEM HE DID. ALTHOUGH IT WASN’T
                            MEDICAL, IT WAS SOCIAL.

JUDGE :                  HE DIED OF A SOCIAL DISEASE?

ELTON :                  I APPRECIATE YOUR LEVITY, ALTHOUGH I DOUBT HE
                            WOULD.  GEORGE, THAT WAS HIS NAME.  GEORGE
                            WAS ONE OF THOSE “PILLARS OF SOCIETY”, A
                            SUCCESSFUL BUSINESMAN.  THE BEST HOUSE IN
                            THE BEST STREET IN THE BEST SUBURB.  HIS TWO
                            CHILDREN ENSCONCED IN THE BEST PRIVATE
                            SCHOOLS.  HIS WIFE A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY.
                            HIMSELF A ROTARIAN.  LIFE WAS ROSY.  HIS
                            PROGNOSIS WAS TO GROW OLD AND FAT
                            GRACEFULLY, AND DIE OF A CARDIAC ARREST.
                            TILL ONE FATEFUL DAY, WHEN HIS CHILDREN’S
                            HYPNOTHERAPIST ACCUSED HIM OF MOLESTING
                            ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS.  DISCOVERED,
                            EVIDENTLY UNDER “REGRESSIVE THERAPY”, A
                            HEINOUS ACT HE WAS MOST CERTAINLY NOT
                            GUILTY OF; ENTER TRIAL BY MEDIA, THOSE
                            JARGONOUGHTS OF THE DAILY JOURNALS, WHAT
                            DO THEY CALL THEMSELVES?  “VERBAPHILES”,
                            FACTAPHOBICS WOULD BE A MORE ACCURATE
                            DESCRIPTION.

JUDGE :                  YOU HAVE A DISLIKE FOR JOURNALISTS!

ELTON :                  I HAVE A DISDAIN FOR JOURNALISTS.

JUDGE :                  THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO IN SOCIETY.

ELTON :                  SO DID THE RATS THAT ATE THE FLESH OFF THE
                            BONES OF MY FRIENDS.
                            (ELTON GOES TO THE FRIDGE AND TAKES OUT
                            ANOTHER BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AND FILLS ONE
                            GLASS)

JUDGE :                  YET I NOTICE YOU’RE READING A NEWSPAPER!

ELTON :                  I TREAT THEM AS NOVELTIES, AMUSEMENT.  THE
                             TRUTH IS IN WHAT THEY DON’T WRITE AS
                             OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY DO WRITE.  SOME MIGHT
                             CALL IT “READING BETWEEN THE LINES”  THEIR
                             SCRIPTED CRUCIFIXIONS OF OUR CYNOSURES CAN
                             BE QUITE AMUSING.  THE PAPERS DON’T PRINT
                             NEWS ANYMORE, THEY PRINT GOSSIP.  I DON’T
                             BLAME THE JOURNALISTS FOR THIS, NOR THE
                             EDITORS, IT’S THE DESPOTS THAT OWN THE
                             NEWSPAPERS, THEY DICTATE WHAT THEY PRINT.

JUDGE :                   WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER PEOPLE?

ELTON :                   THIS IS MARY.  SHE STARVED TO DEATH, AT
                             LEAST I THINK SHE DID.  THE RATS MAY HAVE
                             EATEN HER ALIVE.

JUDGE :                   GOOD LORD!

ELTON :                   SHE HAD ALZHEIMER DISEASE, SHE LOST HER
                             WAY IN THE TUNNELS.  WHEN I EVENTUALLY
                             FOUND HER MANY MONTHS LATER SHE WAS LIKE
                             THIS.  IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE WHERE
                             THE RATS HAD GNAWED AT HER BONES.

JUDGE :                   I THINK I’LL DECLINE THE INVITATION.

ELTON :                   YES, UNFORTUNATELY I COULDN’T.  THIS IS
                             JACK.  TACITURN IN LIFE, EVEN MORE SO IN
                             DEATH.  HE COMMITTED UXORICIDE.

JUDGE :                    HE WHAT?

ELTON :                    HE KILLED HIS WIFE.

JUDGE :                    DID HE MURDER HER?

ELTON :                    YOUR LAW WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT, BUT
                              NO, IT WAS CULPABLE HOMICIDE.  SHE SUFFERED
                              FROM A INSIDIOUS TERMINAL DISEASE, ‘CANCER’
                              SHE CHOSE TO DIE AS SHE LIVED, WITH
                              DIGNITY RATHER THAN IN DEGRADATION,
                              WAITING FOR THE DISEASE TO RUN IT’S
                              COURSE.HE SIMPLY COMPLIED WITH HER WISHES.
                             
JUDGE :                     EUPHEMISTICALLY CALLED EUTHANASIA, STILL
                               MURDER IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.

ELTON :                     AND IN THE EYES OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE
                               CHURCH.  BUT HOW CAN A MAN WHO LOVES HIS
                               WIFE SO DEARLY WATCH HER SUFFER SO MUCH
                               FOR SO LONG?  IF IT WERE AN ANIMAL WE
                               WOULD BE DUTY BOUND TO PUT IT OUT OF IT’S
                               MISERY.  EVEN THE LAW WOULD FROWN UPON
                               US IF WE DID NOT.  AH, BUT A HUMAN MUST
                               LIVE OUT IT’S DAYS IN AGONY AND
                               DEGENERATION.  AS FOR JACK HIMSELF, HE DIED
                               OF A BROKEN HEART.

JUDGE :                     PEOPLE DON’T DIE OF A BROKEN HEART.

ELTON :                     NO?  HE SLASHED HIS WRISTS AND BLED TO
                               DEATH, BUT HE DIED OF A BROKEN HEART.  I
                               SAT IN THIS VERY CHAIR AND WATCHED HIM
                               DIE.

JUDGE :                     AND YOU DID NOTHING TO HELP HIM?

ELTON :                     I DID NOTHING TO HINDER HIM.  I MADE A
                               CONSCIENCE DECISION, JUST LIKE HE DID WITH
                               HIS WIFE.  THIS IS GEORGE, OUR PATRIARCH,
                               PROUD BUT NOT ARROGANT, CONTENTIOUS BUT
                               NOT TRUCULENT, STUBBORN BUT NOT
                               INTRANSIGENT.  ALCOHOL DIDN’T KILL HIM,
                               ALTHOUGH HE WAS ALWAYS DRUNK, TOBACCO
                               DIDN’T KILL HIM THOUGH HE SMOKED
                               INCESSANTLY.  HE HAD NO PAST, HE HAD NO
                               FUTURE, HE TAUGHT US ALL HOW TO LIVE OFF
                               THE STREETS.  HE HELD NO GRUDGES AND
                               HARBORED NO HATE.  HE JUST DIED OF OLD
                               AGE, GOD LOVE HIM.  IF THE MEEK ARE TO
                               INHERIT THE EARTH, THE LORD MUST HAVE A
                               LARGE SLICE OF IT FOR GEORGE.
                               (ELTON POURS HIMSELF A GLASS OF
                               CHAMPAGNE)

JUDGE :                     AT LEAST YOU COULD HAVE THE GOOD MANNERS
                                TO OFFER ME A DRINK.

ELTON :                      AND WOULD YOU OFFER ME A DRINK IF I WAS
                                AT YOUR HOME?  WOULD YOU INVITE ME INTO
                                YOUR PLACE AND INTRODUCE ME TO YOUR
                                FRIENDS, OR WOULD YOU CALL THE POLICE AND
                                HAVE ME REMOVED, UNDER THREAT OF
                                INCARCERATION? (TAKING A SIP OF HIS
                                CHAMPAGNE)  QUITE NICE, BUT I DON’T THINK
                                YOU COULD AFFORD THIS.

JUDGE :                      I CAN AFFORD IT, BUT HOW CAN YOU?

ELTON :                      I CAN AFFORD IT BECAUSE I HAVE IT.  OH I
                                DIDN’T BUY IT, I ACQUIRED IT.  ONE CASE OF
                                DON PERIGNON!

JUDGE :                      YOU ACQUIRED IT?  YOU STOLE IT.

ELTON :                      JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS JUDGE?  NO, I
                                FOUND IT IN A RUBBISH SKIP.

JUDGE :                      I DON’T BELIEVE YOU.  WHO WOULD THROW
                                A CASE OF CHAMPAGNE AWAY?

ELTON :                      HOW DELIGHTFULLY NAÏVE, I WILL EXPLAIN.
                                A BOTTLE SHOP IS BURGLED. THE OWNER
                                DECIDES THE INSURANCE COMPANY CAN BUY
                                HIM A CASE OF CHAMPAGNE TO ALLEVIATE THE
                                STRESS OF BEING ROBBED, SO HE ADDS IT TO
                                THE INVENTORY OF STOLEN GOODS.  HE THEN
                                PLACES THE CASE OF CHAMPAGNE IN THE
                                RUBBISH SKIP TO BE RETRIEVED AT A LATER
                                STAGE.  I INTERCEDE, I FIND IT, I KEEP IT.

JUDGE :                      THAT’S THEFT BY FINDING.

ELTON :                      NO ONE LIKES A HYPOCRITE. ER, WHAT’S YOUR
                                NAME?

JUDGE :                      EDWARD LONGWORTH JONES.

ELTON :                      (SMILING TO HIMSELF)  YES, WHY WOULDN’T
                                 IT BE, NO ONE LIKES A HYPOCRITE (SLIGHT
                                 PAUSE) TED.  THEFT BY FINDING?   WHEN ARE
                                 YOU GOING TO GIVE THIS COUNTRY BACK TO
                                 THE ABORIGINES?  OUR PREDECESSORS STOLE
                                 IT FROM THEM, UNDER THE PRETENCE OF
                                 DISCOVERY.  DISCOVERY?  THE ABORIGINES
                                 KNEW IT WAS HERE.

JUDGE :                       THAT’S DIFFERENT.

ELTON :                       IT’S ALWAYS DIFFERENT WHEN THE RICH ROB
                                 THE POOR.  YOU MAKE LAWS TO JUSTIFY IT
                                 THEN YOU HIRE THUGS TO ENFORCE THEM.

JUDGE :                       THUGS?

ELTON :                       I BELIEVE YOU CALL THEM ‘POLICE’ , TED.

JUDGE :                       I DON’T LIKE BEING CALLED TED!

ELTON :                       I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU LIKE.  NOW TED, YOU
                                 HAVE A WATCH ON YOUR WRIST.

JUDGE :                       YES.

ELTON :                       WHAT BRAND IS IT?

JUDGE :                       A ROLEX, WHY?

ELTON :                       YES, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A ROLEX.  WELL,
                                 I’LL GIVE YOU A GLASS OF WHAT YOU “SELF
                                 ACCLAIMED ELITE” CALL BUCKS FIZZ! FOR
                                 YOUR WATCH.

JUDGE :                       DON’T BE ABSURD, IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE
                                 WATCH.  IT WAS A GIFT FROM MY FATHER ON
                                 GRADUATING FROM UNIVERSITY.

ELTON :                       LIKE YOUR COURT, THIS COURT HAS NO ROOM
                                 FOR SENTIMENT.

JUDGE :                       IS THIS A COURT?

ELTON :                       THE WHOLE WORLD IS A COURT AND ALL IT’S
                                 PEOPLES ARE JUDGES.  THERE IS MORE
                                 JUSTICE IN THE STREETS THAN IN YOUR
                                 COURTS.  THE PEOPLE DISPENSE JUSTICE, YOU
                                 PANDER TO IT.

JUDGE :                       THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT TAKE THE LAW INTO
                                 THEIR OWN HANDS.

ELTON :                       WHO BETTER?  YOUR SYSTEM PERSECUTES THE
                                 DESTITUTE AND INDULGES THE RICH.  THE
                                 POOR GET LAW, THE AFFLUENT GET JUSTICE.
                                 (ELTON PICKS UP A GLASS FROM A SHELF,
                                 EMPTIES THE CONTENTS ON THE FLOOR,
                                 HOLDS IT TO THE LIGHT, THEN CLEANS IT
                                 WITH AN OLD RAG.  HE POURS THE JUDGE A
                                 DRINK)  HAVE A DRINK YOUR HONOR, IF YOU
                                 DARE.  (THE JUDGE LOOKS AT ELTON, THEN AT
                                 THE CHAMPAGNE)  NO ONE WILL KNOW EXCEPT
                                 ME, AND WHO WOULD TAKE MY WORD OVER
                                 THAT OF A JUDGE  (THE JUDGE DRINKS THE
                                 CHAMPAGNE)  APART FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE
                                 STREETS?

JUDGE :                       AND YOU WILL TELL THEM.

ELTON :                       NO. I AM AN INVISIBLE INDIGENT.  NOBODY
                                 WILL LISTEN TO ME. (POURING THE JUDGE
                                 ANOTHER DRINK)  EXCEPT MY ERSTWHILE
                                 CONTEMPORARIES. (POINTING TO THE
                                 SKELETONS)  AND WHO COULD THEY TELL?

JUDGE :                       WHEN YOU FINALLY SHOW ME THE WAY OUT
                                 OF HERE I WILL CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE
                                 AUTHORITIES TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR (ELTON
                                 INTERJECTS)

ELTON :                       NO.  NO, YOU WILL NOT DO THAT.

JUDGE :                       WHY NOT?

ELTON :                       MANY REASONS.  NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE
                                 YOU, IT WOULD RUIN YOUR CAREER, AND MOST
                                 OF ALL I DON’T WANT TO JOIN YOUR SOCIETY
                                 OF UNDER ACHIEVERS.  I MUCH PREFER THE
                                 LIFE OF A RECLUSE, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, I
                                 WANT FOR NOTHING.  BUT YOU AND YOUR
                                 KIND WANT FOR EVERYTHING.

JUDGE :                       ME AND MY KIND?  WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE
                                 ME?

ELTON :                       I MIGHT ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION.  TO
                                 BE JUDGED BY ONES PEERS!  BUT YOU AND I
                                 ARE NOT EQUALS, OUR CLASS SYSTEM IS
                                 BASED ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE. I
                                 LIVE LIKE THIS BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO, YOU
                                 LIVE LIKE YOU DO BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE TO!
                                 YOU ARE SHACKLED BY YOUR WEALTH JUST AS
                                 THE POOR ARE SHACKLED BY THEIR POVERTY.

JUDGE :                       YOU’RE HIDING FROM REALITY.

ELTON :                       NO, I’M ESCAPING FROM IT.  (GIVING THE
                                 JUDGE THE BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE AND
                                 OPENING ANOTHER FOR HIMSELF)  DID YOU
                                 MARRY A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN TED?

JUDGE :                       AS A MATTER OF FACT I DID, WHY DO YOU
                                 ASK?

ELTON :                       DID SHE MARRY YOU BECAUSE SHE WAS IN
                                 LOVE WITH YOU OR BECAUSE SHE WAS IN
                                 LOVE WITH YOUR MONEY?

JUDGE :                       THAT QUESTION IS BENEATH CONTEMPT.

ELTON :                       YES IT PROBABLY IS.  I SHALL WITHDRAW
                                 THE QUESTION, BUT I SHALL SAY THIS, I
                                 ASK CONTEMPTOUS QUESTIONS AS A
                                 PASTIME, YOU DO IT FOR A LIVING.  DO YOU
                                 HAVE AN EXPENSIVE CAR?

JUDGE :                       I HAVE SEVERAL EXPENSIVE CARS.

ELTON :                       (SMILES)  DO YOU HAVE A GRAND HOME?

JUDGE :                        I DO.

ELTON :                        WE’RE STRANGE CREATURES AREN’T WE?  WE
                                  SURROUND OURSELVES WITH OPULENCE THEN
                                  WE SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIVES TRYING TO
                                  DEFEND IT, AND OF COURSE, IF WE CAN’T
                                  DEFEND IT SOMEONE WILL TAKE IT FROM US.

JUDGE :                        THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE TO PROTECT US.


ELTON :                        NO, THEY ARE THERE TO PROTECT YOU NOT
                                  ME.  THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MEN MADE
                                  THE LAWS AND THE WOMEN MADE THE
                                  MORALS AND THE MORALS WERE ALWAYS
                                  WORTH MORE THAN THE LAWS.  BUT NOW
                                  IT WOULD SEEM MORALS HAVE BECOME
                                  REDUNDANT, THE TRUTH SURPLUS TO
                                  REQUIREMENTS, AND ETHICS IS A MYTHICAL
                                  FIGURE FROM A GREEK TRAGEDY.  JUSTICE
                                  MAY BE BLIND BUT FOR THE AVERAGE PLEBE
                                  SHE’S ALSO DEAF.

JUDGE :                        IT IS THE COURTS POLICY TO BE JUST.

ELTON :                        IT MAY BE IT’S POLICY, BUT IT IS RARELY
                                  IT’S PRACTICE.

JUDGE :                        I’M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE LISTENING TO
                                  YOU VENT YOUR SPLEEN.

ELTON :                        YES YOU ARE.

JUDGE :                        I MOST CERTAINLY AM NOT.

ELTON :                        TELL ME, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO AVOID IT?

JUDGE :                        (LOOKING AT THE DOOR)  I’LL …

ELTON :                        LEAVE?

JUDGE :                        YOU CAN’T KEEP ME HERE.

ELTON :                        NOR DO I WANT TO.  IN FACT, I WANT
                                  YOU TO GO NOW, YOU’RE TRESPASSING.
                                  PERHAPS I SHOULD CALL THE POLICE AND
                                  HAVE YOU EJECTED. (LAUGHING)

JUDGE :                        I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GET OUT OF HERE,
                                  AS YOU WELL KNOW.  THIS SYSTEM IS A
                                  MAZE.

ELTON :                        JUST LIKE YOUR LEGAL SYSTEM.  MAY I
                                  QUOTE A HACKNEYED EXPRESSION?
                                  “IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE”
                                  YET YOU PETTIFOGGERS GO TO UNIVERSITY
                                  FOR FIVE YEARS TO STUDY IT, BUT THE
                                  AVERAGE MAN IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW. HOW?
                                  BY OSMOSIS?  YET YOU WANT ME TO LEAD
                                  YOU OUT OF HERE PRO BONO.  MY FEE IS
                                  FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS, TAKE IT OR
                                  LEAVE IT.

JUDGE :                        THAT’S EXTORTION.

ELTON :                        IT IS INDEED, AND THAT IS THE STATUS
                                  QUO SET BY YOUR FRATERNITY.

JUDGE :                        (THINKS)  I DON’T HAVE THAT SORT OF
                                  MONEY ON ME.

ELTON :                        I KNOW. YOUR SORT LIVE OFF OF THE
                                  PLASTIC WHICH IS REPLENISHED BY THE
                                  GOVERNMENT, WHICH IN TURN IS
                                  SEQUESTERED FROM THE WORKING PEOPLE
                                  TO KEEP YOU IN A STYLE YOU’RE
                                  ACCUSTOMED TO, WHICH KEEPS THEM IN A
                                  STYLE THAT YOU WANT THEM TO BECOME
                                  ACCUSTOMED TO.

JUDGE :                        I WILL WRITE YOU A  IOU

ELTON :                        (LAUGHING)  WOULD YOU ACCEPT A FIVE
                                  THOUSAND DOLLAR IOU FROM ME?

JUDGE :                          PROBABLY NOT.

ELTON :                          NO.  THEN WHY SHOULD I ACCEPT ONE FROM
                                    YOU?

JUDGE :                          I HONOR MY DEBTS.

ELTON :                          I ONLY HAVE YOUR WORD FOR THAT, AND
                                    YOUR WORD MIGHT MEAN SOMETHING TO
                                    YOU, BUT TO ME IT MEANS NOTHING.

JUDGE :                          YOU INSULT ME SIR!

ELTON :                          AH!  INDIGNATION, THE FIRST BASTION OF
                                    THE GUILTY.

JUDGE :                          WE SEEM TO HAVE REACHED AN IMPASSE.

ELTON :                          PERHAPS NOT.

JUDGE :                          COULD I USE THIS WATCH AS SURETY?
                                    (GIVING ELTON THE WATCH)

ELTON :                          I DOUBT IT, IT HAS A INSCRIPTION ON THE
                                    BACK, AND IF YOU DON’T HONOR YOUR
                                    PLEDGE I COULD NEVER SELL IT.  (ELTON,
                                    HANDING THE WATCH BACK)

JUDGE :                          YOU CAN’T STAY IN HERE FOREVER, I COULD
                                    FOLLOW YOU OUT NEXT TIME YOU LEAVE.

ELTON :                          (GOING TO THE LIGHT SWITCH)  I DON’T
                                    NEED A LIGHT TO FIND MY WAY OUT OF
                                    HERE (TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS) DO YOU?
                                    (TURNING THE LIGHTS BACK ON)

JUDGE :                          (PAUSE)  THEN WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?

ELTON :                          DO YOU HAVE $5000.00?

JUDGE :                          I HAVE MUCH MORE, MY FAMILY IS VERY
                                    WEALTHY.

ELTON :                          THEN WHY DID YOU GO INTO LAW IF NOT
                                    FOR THE MONEY?  POWER?  YET HERE YOU
                                    HAVE NO MONEY AND NO POWER, THE TWO
                                    MOST IMPORTANT POSSESSIONS IN YOUR
                                    LIFE… YOU NO LONGER POSSESS.  YOU MUST
                                    FEEL LIKE SAMSON WITHOUT HIS HAIR.

JUDGE :                          ARE YOU GLOATING?

ELTON :                          YES, JUST AS YOU HAVE GLOATED AT OTHER
                                    UNFORTUNATES THAT HAVE STOOD BEFORE
                                    YOU ARMED ONLY WITH THE TRUTH.  BUT
                                    THE TRUTH IS AN ORPHAN IN A COURT OF
                                    LAW. IT’S LIKE SHOUTING IN A CEMETERY,
                                    NO MATTER HOW LOUD YOU SHOUT NOBODY
                                    LISTENS.

JUDGE :                          YOU’RE ENJOYING THIS.

ELTON :                          OH YES, NOW YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO
                                    STAND IN FRONT OF A MAN WHO HAS THE
                                    POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH OVER YOU, JUST
                                    AS YOU HAVE BEFORE.

JUDGE :                          WE DON’T EXECUTE FELLONS ANYMORE.

ELTON :                          METOPHORICALLY SPEAKING TED.

JUDGE :                          WHAT IS IT YOU WANT FROM ME?

ELTON :                          THERE IS ONLY ONE THING IN THIS
                                    NOISOME DYSTOPIA THAT I YEARN FOR.

JUDGE :                          NAME IT AND IT’S YOURS.

ELTON :                          YOUR ABSENCE.

JUDGE :                          THEN SHOW ME THE WAY OUT!  (ELTON
                                    LOOKS AT THE JUDGE)  PLEASE!

ELTON :                          (ELTON THROWS A LIGHT SWITCH AND
                                    OPENS THE DOOR)  WALK TOWARDS THE
                                    LIGHT.  (THE JUDGE EXITS. ELTON CLOSES
                                    THE DOOR AND RESUMES HIS SEAT. THE
                                    STAGE FADES TO BLACK)
                                                        






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