4/24/17
Common Cents
A.M. Hounchell
2120 SW Potomac Dr. #8
Topeka, Ks 66611
785-250-4533
2017 (c)
Characters:
Chuck, 30 something, dirty dude
Amy, 6 year old
Brandon, 14 year old
Ethel, 89 years old
Setting: An arcade at a movie theater. In front of a Ms. Pac-Man Machine. Ms. Pac-Man is a yellow and black arcade machine that features a titular pie shaped creature eating power pellets and avoiding ghosts. Present.
Scene 1:
(LIGHTS COME UP ON ETHEL, WALKING WITH AN OXYGEN TANK. CHUCK IS PLAYING THE MS. PACMAN MACHINE)
ETHEL
Took me half my breath to convince the home to drop me here instead of Big Lots and Brandon isn’t even here. I'm stuck here. I hate being old. I can’t walk good. I can’t breathe. And there’s no movies for me.
(WISHFUL GLANCE TOWARDS THE MS. PAC-MAN MACHINE)
CHUCK
But Ethel being older doesn’t make you lesser. You have many memories of the past, and your memories have lots of value to the people around you.
ETHEL
If it isn’t Chuck. What, have you been waiting for me or something?
CHUCK
I wasn’t going to let my friend feel unwanted.
ETHEL
We aren’t friends. You’re just some guy who bothers everyone who comes in here.
CHUCK
That isn’t very nice.
ETHEL
Fine, I’ll play your game. At least it’ll give me something to do. What were you saying?
CHUCK
Your memories have value to the people around you.
ETHEL
Yes, that's right. (Pause) What do you know about the people around me? I can't have value if people never see me. Even now, I’m starting to think you’re the only person who can see me.
CHUCK
That's a good point, but your opinions have value to me. Otherwise, why would I choose to talk to you? Why are we friends?
ETHEL
We aren’t friends. What’s so great about being old? You don’t have any friends or family, what could you know about people not wanting to see you? People are avoiding me, because they are afraid that the slightest touch will kill me.
CHUCK
You know so much and you can give that knowledge to others, so they can live life to the fullest.
ETHEL
After all these years, and you still don’t get people. I’m old, not stupid.
CHUCK
But, you don’t smell like a teenager anymore.
ETHEL
I stopped smelling like a teenager when I turned twenty. Now I smell like dust and wet socks.
CHUCK
Well, you can reach the controls of a Ms. Pac-Man machine.
ETHEL
I’ve been able to do that since the damn things came out.
CHUCK
You’ve experienced so much, it makes your remaining experiences richer and fuller. Even after you die, everyone will be better off. I’ll certainly be better off when you are dead.
ETHEL
(ETHEL STARES AT CHUCK)
How long have you been waiting for me? What do you want? Are you trying to take my soul? Are you trying to kill me?
CHUCK
No. No. No. You’re in no danger. If I wanted to take your soul with me, I’d have done it by now. I am here to tell you to live life to the fullest, not hurt you. No one should hurt you. People should help repair you.
ETHEL (CALM)
I may be plugged into this oxygen tank, but I’m not a machine. You can’t just unplug me and plug me back in. I’m not an arcade machine.
CHUCK
No one said you were. I meant it more in a figurative sense though.
ETHEL
So, I should be figuratively unplugged? Why can't you just leave me alone? I don’t understand what you want? Who are you? What do you want from me?
CHUCK
Are you okay, Ethel? I'm (pause) just trying it help. With the right amount of love and care, even people can be healed. I could even come visit you, if you wanted (PAUSE) or whatever. I know you are probably lonely at that horable place.
ETHEL
Is that you, Brandon? I haven’t seen you in so long. I thought you were here to take me away. Can we get ice cream together like when you were a boy? Remember when we used to play Ms. Pac-Man and eat ice cream? The home doesn't even have ice cream.
CHUCK (FROWNING)
I… I… missed you too. Maybe next time I come to see you, I can bring you ice cream.
ETHEL
I haven’t seen you for so long. When do you think you’ll visit me again? You are a good boy.
CHUCK
Yeah, you taught me that. Do you have two quarters? We can play Ms. Pac-Man together for old time’s sake. Then we can get ice cream like you and Brandon used to.
ETHEL (LOOKING AROUND)
You aren’t Brandon. I don’t know who you are. How did I get here? Are you here to take me back home? I want to go home. When did I get here?
CHUCK
Snap out of it Ethel. They just dropped you off.
ETHEL
Who? Who are they?
(ETHEL NOW FOCUSING)
Do you know my grandson?
CHUCK
No, but you can introduce me to him. He seems like a nice boy.
ETHEL
He’s my best friend. We play this game all the time.
CHUCK
Well, we can play the game until he gets here, I’m sure that it won’t be long. He’s probably on his way.
(ETHEL REACHES INTO HER POCKETBOOK AND GRABS TWO QUARTERS)
ETHEL
Why don’t we play the game together for old time’s sake?
(ETHEL TAKES A STEP FORWARD AND HER BREATHING SLOWS AND SHE BEGINS FALLING TO THE FLOOR)
CHUCK
Why don’t we sit down instead? We can play the machine in a minute. In the game of life, there’s always (PAUSE) time to take a breather.
ETHEL
I love you. Take the quarters, okay? You can’t start the game and I’ll be over there in a minute.
(CHUCK SMILES, BUT ETHEL CONTINUES SINKING TO THE GROUND UNTIL SHE IS COMPLETELY MOTIONLESS)
CHUCK
I love you too. (PAUSE) Ma'am? Hello? (SHOUTING) I don’t know what to do. Someone help.
(CHUCK CLUTCHES THE TWO QUARTERS BETWEEN HIS FINGERS AND FADE TO BLACK)
Scene 2:
Same arcade.
Same machine.
Later the same day
(LIGHTS COME UP ON AMY. TOO SHORT TO REACH THE CONTROLS OF THE MACHINE)
AMY
Why can’t I reach this? Why is she called Ms. Pac-Man? Can’t she just be called Pac-Lady? Or Pac-Woman? Pac-Girl? Why does she wear a bow?
(CHUCK SLIPS OUT FROM BEYOND THE ARCADE MACHINE, CARRYING A STEP STOOL)
CHUCK
Fret not. Soon you will be tall enough to continue. But being short is nothing to scoff at. It has so many advantageous.
AMY
I hate it. We come in here like everyday and I never get to play. Mom says we have to be early, but I never get to play the machine. I just want to play. Look how pretty she is on the machine. I hate being short! I hate everything.
CHUCK
Hatred is easy to feel, but one as young as yourself should not feel it. As for your earlier assessment of why she cannot just be Pac-Lady, isn’t it nice to know that more people prefer Ms. Pac-Man?
AMY
I don’t know what an assessment is.
CHUCK
It means she’s strong, but she never has to say it. She’s tough, just like you, Jessica.
AMY
My name isn’t Jessica. It’s Amy. You don’t have to talk down to me. I’m older than you.
CHUCK
Everyone is a Jessica in the eyes of the arcade. (UNDER BREATH) Damn.
(CHUCK SETS THE STEP STOOL IN FRONT OF THE MACHINE)
CHUCK (Continued)
When you are ready, you can step up and play the machine.
AMY
My mom says cursing is bad. She also says never to trust strangers.
CHUCK
Everyone's a stranger at some point. I’m trying to help you. We can even be friends, if you’d like. That way we aren’t strangers.
AMY
Why are you helping me? No one helps me!
CHUCK
That can’t be true. Someone cared to bring you here. Someone bought the clothes you are wearing. Didn’t they?
AMY
Yeah. I guess, but I still never get to play the game. I want to run from the theater ghost!
CHUCK
You mean the ghosts in the game?
AMY
No. The ghost. Like a real ghost.
CHUCK
They aren’t haunting the arcade. They're in a better place. Everyone gets to be in a better place eventually.
AMY
I’m not in better place. This isn’t fair!
CHUCK
In the arcade, everyone is equal. Once you have a quarter, your life has meaning to the arcade. If you wish to play Ms. Pac-Man, then you matter.
AMY
Okay? Do you have a quarter? I want to play the machine, because I matter.
(CHUCK HANDS ONE OF THE QUARTERS TO AMY AND CHUCK WAITS FOR A RESPONSE)
CHUCK
It’s no problem. I live to help those seeking refuge from the storm inside. Even if it means being lost in a maze for a moment or two.
AMY
It’s sunny outside, okay. Be quiet. I’m winning the game.
CHUCK
It isn’t possible to win Ms. Pac-Man. Since it is a maze game, you can only play it. No matter what, you’ll end up losing.
AMY
I get it, you know big words. Stop being a weirdo, now please.
CHUCK
That isn’t very nice.
AMY
I don’t know you, so I don't need to be nice.
CHUCK
You should show appreciation to those who do nice things for you. Otherwise you may never have the joy of being a good person.
AMY
I appreciate it. Bye now!
CHUCK
Don’t you feel bad? Can’t you try to be thankful.
AMY
I’m busy.
(CHUCK GLANCES DOWN AND DISAPPEARS BACK BEHIND THE MACHINE. CUT TO BLACK)
Scene 3:
Later in the week
Same arcade
Same machine
(LIGHTS COME UP ON BRANDON PLAYING MS. PAC-MAN)
BRANDON
Seriously? I can only get to the point where they meet. I just want to see their stupid kid! God! I hate this stupid place. I hate everything. Nothing in this stupid arcade every changes! I bet this is the same shit from when they first opend.
(BRANDON PUNCHES THE MACHINE AND CHUCK STEPS FROM BEHIND THE ARCADE MACHINE WITH A QUARTER CLUTCHED BETWEEN HIS FINGERS)
CHUCK
I’ve been watching you, kid.
BRANDON
That’s hardly creepy at all. It wouldn’t be hard to watch me, I’m here all the time. Just sucking at Ms. Pac-Man and eating free popcorn.
CHUCK
I understand. I know you’re a young'un, but you gotta remember that you can’t rush love. You aren’t going to be coming to this theater all on your own for very long.
BRANDON
I’m always here alone, since after.
CHUCK
When you are in the arcade, you are never really alone. You surrounded by the memories, hopes, and aspirations of everyone who's ever been inside.
BRANDON
Are you high? You can be honest.
CHUCK
I just want you to live life to the fullest and enjoy moments as they happen.
BRANDON
The moments where a stranger talks to me? My mom already dropped me off here on my lonesome. Do you think it makes me happy that I have to pass time by playing a thirty year old game? Don’t you think I want an XBox?
CHUCK
My point is, just enjoy playing the game. Life’s a game and you can’t play it to win. Unfortunately, even in life you can never know when things will change for better or worse. You can’t outrun your ghosts, you can only slow them down.
BRANDON
Like the ghost of my grandmother, who died right there? Do you think that’s funny?
CHUCK
No. It isn’t funny. (CHUCKLES)
BRANDON
We used to play this stupid game, and now she’s gone forever. I should have visited her more, but instead I stayed away because I hated seeing her die. Now, Ms. Pac-Man gets to keep me company.
CHUCK
I’m sorry. I was just trying to make you feel better.
BRANDON
Well, you failed. (PAUSE) Why can’t you just leave me alone, you creep? I’m calling the police.
CHUCK
Brandon. Brandon. Brandon.
BRANDON
How the hell do you know my name?
CHUCK
How does anyone know anyone’s name, Brandon? I guessed it randomly and hoped it was right. I know life is scary. Things seem crappy sometimes. I know that your home life is…
BRANDON
Don’t talk about my parents. You don’t know anything about them.
CHUCK
Calm down. I’m just trying to help.
BRANDON
You don’t know anything about me. You don’t know what it feels like to slowly become part of this arcade.
CHUCK
Uh-huh.
BRANDON
You don’t know what it feels like to be more of a ghost than someone you’ve already lost. Do you have a catchy saying for that? Do you have a magical solution?
CHUCK
No… but I know that was your last quarter. It was your last chance to get things right.
BRANDON
Thanks for reminding me.
(BRANDON PUTS HIS HEAD DOWN AND CHUCK PLACES THE LAST QUARTER ONTO THE MACHINE)
CHUCK
Good luck. Sorry I ruined everything.
(CHUCK STARTS TO VANISH BEHIND THE MACHINE AGAIN. BRANDON LIFTS HIS HEAD TO LOOK AT THE QUARTER)
BRANDON
Are you good at this?
CHUCK
I spend most of my time here like you. I'd like to think I know this machine better than anyone.
BRANDON
Want to help me?
CHUCK
Are you sure? You might not make it further.
BRANDON
I sure as hell won't make it further without you. You gave me another chance, the least I can do is make it count.
CHUCK
Are you sure it won’t hurt you more?
BRANDON
I think it’s what my grandma would have wanted.
(CHUCK STANDS BEHIND BRANDON AS HE PLAYS A NEW GAME, BOTH HAPPY AND A SLOW FADE TO BLACK)
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