The Drama Project (original) (raw)

Here is a one-act that I recently completed titled "Ennui Biorythm". Any comments and/or critiques are welcome.

MARK

Okay, so all of the orders are entered. I'm just going to...

(sound of the fax machine pumping out more paper)

(pause) check the fax.

RAFIQ

It never fails, does it?

MARK

Ugh, I do not have time for this.

WILSON

Yeah, especially since this system is from the stone ages.

JAIME

Why is it that when I press something, there is a lag of twenty seconds before it actually does something.
WILSON

You know, it would be a really good torture tactic to make terrorists have to use this system.

MARK

They definitely wouldn't ever get any attacks planned.

JAIME

Or completed, for that matter.
ELLIE

What time is it? What is the conspiracy with not having any clocks in this office?

MARK

It's quarter till. You do have a clock on your computer.

ELLIE

Yeah, but I've trained myself not to look at that one. It's five minutes fast. I can't take all that false hope.

JAIME

Why don't you just set it to the correct time?

ELLIE

It already takes for ever just to enter data on this thing. I'm afraid that if I actually try to change a setting, that this thing will self-destruct.

WILSON

You never know.
MARK

Good point. Just do what Wilson does, have a clock on your desk.

JAIME

I don't have any room with all of this paper work.

(Phone rings)

This is Jaime, how can I help you? Hey Charlie, what do you need? How many orders? Okay, by when? I can't make any promises...

WILSON

Uh, oh. That sounds like corporate needs more documents.

ELLIE

Why do they always manage to call right before five o'clock?

MARK

Because they know that if they just ask Jaime to do it, she can't say no.

RAFIQ

Yeah, but they don't have to listen to her bitch about it the whole time.

MARK

Exactly.

JAIME

(Continuing)

All right, I'll fax those over as soon as I have them. You have a good evening too.

(Hangs up phone)

Bastard! I have fifteen minutes left and you need the documents for ten orders? A little notice would have been nice.

MARK

Notice? Corporate doesn't understand that word. They want everything yesterday.

RAFIQ

There you go egging her on.
MARK

Well, it is bull that they get to go home promptly at five o'clock and we have to struggle just to leave by five fifteen.

RAFIQ
That's just the nature of the beast.

(More papers come over the fax.)

JAIME

Well, I'll be out in the files.

(JAIME exits.)

ELLIE

Have fun with that.
MARK

Will that fax machine ever stop. Come on people, just place your order tomorrow.

WILSON

Yeah, but they probably have a boss that wants them to have that order in by five.

MARK
Good point.

(Intercom begins beeping.)
TERRI

Wilson! Hows that stock report coming?
WILSON

Uh, Terri, I'm just putting the final touches on it now. I'll copy you on the email.

TERRI

Great, Wilson.

(Intercom hangs up.)
RAFIQ

Why does she insist using the intercom us, when she's ten feet away? This office is not that big.

WILSON

Using the intercom makes her feel important. Yes, ten more minutes! And send.

MARK

I hate this system! It just erased an entire order for no reason. I can't take this anymore.

RAFIQ

Sorry Mark, I feel your pain. I lose about two orders a day for no apparent reason.

(JAIME enters with a stack of papers.)

JAIME

All right, I just have to fax these off real quick and then I can get back to those returns.

(Walks to the fax machine and begins faxing the documents.)
RAFIQ

I cannot be late for my daughter's parent-teacher conference.

ELLIE

How is she doing this year?

RAFIQ

Pretty well, I think. This is why I'm going to the conference. To make sure.

MARK

She's a good kid, I'm sure she's doing fine.

RAFIQ

Yes, but this is her first year of high school. I want to make sure she stays a good kid.

ELLIE

You and Hadiyah have done a good job.

RAFIQ

I know. Muna is such a great daughter. I still worry. The world is much smaller and more dangerous than ever.

ELLIE

I know. What with all of the school shootings and bomb threats. It seems like no one is safe anywhere anymore.

WILSON

Yeah, but were we ever? I mean think of September 11th.

JAIME

(Still faxing.)

Oh no, here we go again.

WILSON

No, it's not here we go again. Just hear me out on this one.

MARK

Wilson generally has an interesting perspective on things, lets hear him out.

RAFIQ

If you are going to say anything ignorant, just warn me now.

WILSON

Now hold on, wait a minute. I was just going to say that those people were probably working and drinking their coffee, completely unsuspecting of what was about to happen to them. If you can get killed while just doing your everyday thing, something as simple as working, how safe are we?

RAFIQ

Yes, but do you know how many people around the world have to worry and think about safety every minute of everyday?

WILSON

Yes, and that only furthers my point. We were living in some alternate universe thinking that we are somehow immune from what the real world is like.

JAIME

That's a valid point, but what are we supposed to do, walk around all huddled with fear?

RAFIQ

No. Fear is what they want you to fear.

WILSON

I'm not sure. I don't think any of us are.

JAIME

I already have enough to worry about, with the price of gas going up, my property taxes going up, the fact I'm going to have no social security. I don't know, my fears are just a little bit more immediate.

(Finally finishes faxing.)

Yes! Finally done, with five minutes to spare.

(Takes papers and returns to her desk.)

MARK

Finally, I think the barrage of orders is over.

RAFIQ

Why did you have to say that?

(Fax begins spitting out more papers.)

MARK

Damn! I just jinxed myself. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

ELLIE

Hey Wilson, can we turn off the phones a little early?

WILSON

No.

JAIME

You've just got to love Wilson, such a benevolent supervisor.

WILSON

I heard that.

JAIME

I know.
MARK

Wilson, how are the cooking classes going?

WILSON

Well I have one tonight. So far, it's not too bad. It just sucks cooking for one though.

MARK

If you get your skills up, you might not be cooking for just one for very long.

RAFIQ

Wilson is on the market again. This is a very scary thought.

ELLIE

Well you're much better to work with since the divorce.

WILSON

Thank? I think?

(Pops his head over his computer.)

Uh, Jaime, why is your screen blank?

(Intercom begins beeping.)

JAIME

Yes, saved by the bell.

WILSON

Yes, Terri?

TERRI

Could I see you in my office for a sec?

WILSON
Sure thing.
TERRI

Thanks.

(Intercom hangs up.)

MARK

Uh oh, what does the dragon lady want?

WILSON

(Rising from his desk and heading to the door DSC.)

Could you please not refer to your boss and mine as the “dragon lady”?

(WILSON exits.)

ELLIE

He is so loyal to her. No matter what harebrained idea she comes with, he's always on board.

RAFIQ

Actually, he nods and says yes to all of her ideas but only enacts the ones that he thinks will actually work.

MARK

This is true.

JAIME

Can you believe that Brenda left him.

ELLIE

Actually, yes, I can.

MARK

I'm with Ellie on that one. He's a workaholic. All work and no play makes Wilson a dull boy.

RAFIQ

I think we should all take him out one night. To cheer him up.

JAIME

That sounds like a good idea on paper. Does anyone really want to hang out with Wilson outside of work though?

MARK

Wilson's not a bad guy once you get to know him. He's just hard on you because you're new.

ELLIE

He wants to see if you're really going to work.

RAFIQ

And see if you'll stay. We've all been through it.

JAIME

So he's not normally this uptight?

RAFIQ

No one said that. He just likes to pick on the newbies.

MARK

You're certainly not doing yourself any favors either.

ELLIE

Just do your job. If you complain about how things works, he'll think you're looking for another job.

RAFIQ

He's paranoid about losing employees.

MARK

Yes!! It's go time, baby!

(All turn off their computers and begin gathering their things to go.)

(WILSON emerges from DSC)

WILSON

Well kids, same bat time, same bat place tomorrow?

MARK

You know it.

ALL

Have a good night, Wilson!

(All exit as WILSON walks to his desk and turns of his computer. The lights dim. As he gathers his things and turns off the office “lights”, the stage goes black.)

THE END