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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