A FRIEND IN NEED © By Bruce Pomerantz 5687 W. Bavarian Pass Fridley, MN 55432 Phone: 763-574-2330 Email: [email protected] SYNOPSIS Bryce, a co-worker of Darlene’s, volunteers to stay one evening with Val, her convalescing husband, so she can have a night out with a girlfriend. But the tables turn when Bryce ends up recuperating from a broken leg and arm at the couple’s home and Bryce’s parents insinuate themselves into the house, also. BIOGRAPHY Bruce Pomerantz, a retired librarian, is undergoing his second young adulthood and doing things he was too scared to do the first time around. FRIEND IN NEED CAST OF CHARACTERS AND SET Darlene Arnold A woman in her early 30s; Val’s wife. Val Arnold Short for Valentine. Darlene’s husband, of similar age, using a wheelchair due to a recent bone marrow transplant to cure idiopathic anemia. He is the Target’s a product management and sourcing for men’s wear. Consequently, while at home convalescing, he dresses a refined casual. Bryce Morrow Darlene’s friend, age 27. Bryce is overly earnest because he is uncertain of himself and appreciates any kindness shown him. Father Morrow 66 years old, Bryce’s dad Mother Morrow 64 years old, Bryce’s mom Case Manager Of any age or gender. Can be doubled by anyone but Bryce and Darlene Formatting note: Lines ending in / indicate the speaker is to be interrupted by the next actor. MOTHER pronounces Bryce’s name as the two syllable diminutive Bry-cee FATHER has a habitual stance of putting his hands in his rear pants pockets when standing and in his front pockets when walking or sitting. BRYCE, identical to Father, has a habitual stance of putting his hands in his rear pants pockets when standing, even if it is only his good hand when a cast on the other arm prevents that movement. Identical to Father, he puts his hands in his front pockets when walking or sitting. VAL uses a wheelchair, sometimes as a walker inside the house. For trips out of the house, a collapsed wheelchair is propped on the wall with the front door. Val has an oxygen tank near him, which he may use either when he anticipates physical exertion or afterwards. SET FOR SCENE 1 Bryce’s office cubicle. This can be a minimal set with just a desk and chair and a hint of cubicle walls set up in front of what will be the main setting, the Arnold’s house. SET FOR ACTS 2,3,5 THROUGH 18: THE ARNOLD’S LIVING ROOM Most of the action occurs in a contemporary suburban well-furnished living room that includes a dining room table, a hospital bed, a television, sofa-bed, lamp table, folding snack table, mini-refrigerator, microwave, and toaster/oven on a make-shift counter or credenza. On the snack table is a stack of board games arranged haphazardly. On the lamp table are several magazines. A clothing rack is in the living room with new and diverse outer wear, such as overcoats and parkas. A front door is center stage back. Stage right of the living room is an entrance to an off-stage kitchen, which is also an unseen three steps down from the living room. Stage left of the living room is a guest room. Its furnishings include a bed, books on bookshelves, a small desk with several magazines, and a doorway that leads to a bathroom. The beginning of a stairway to an offstage second floor should be visible. A sliding patio door stage front permits an actor to walk from the dining room to a patio with chairs. A very large, almost industrial-size propane grill is set so that it is just beyond the roof eave. A large tree branch is on the portion of the roof that is just above the grill. Perhaps five or six inches of the tree branch stretches beyond the roof line. SET FOR SCENE 4 Two-person hospital room. SET FOR SCENES 19 AND 20: BRYCE’S APARTMENT A small, one-bedroom apartment. The kitchen and living room areas are demarcated by furnishings, which include a dilapidated sofa bed and a small desk. SET FOR SCENE 21 The location is an airport lobby. This can be a minimal set with Bryce’s luggage, airplane sounds, lobby noise, and boarding announcements informing the audience of the setting. In SCENE 14, theaters have permission to substitute contemporary prominent late-night talk show hosts and actors for the names in the script. The book about ants that is referenced in Scene 14 exists as described by Mother and Father. It is The Ants by Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson, first published in 1990. It currently retails for approximately $140, in case the production company wants to include it as a prop. INTERMISSION ISSUE At approximately two hours, the play can be done without intermission. However, if an intermission is desired, the optimum time is at the end of scenes 10 or 11. CHRONOLOGY OF MORROW FAMILY To aid placing Mother, Father and Bryce in context YEAR EVENT AGE 1953 Father born 1955 Mother born 1975 Mother and Father marry Mother age 20 Father age 22 1992 Bryce born Mother age 37 Father age 39 1999 Bryce and feature cartoon films Bryce age 7 about ants. (Scene 14) 2000 25th Anniversary of Mother and Bryce age 8 Father (Scene 14) Mother age 45 “The Ants: book given to Bryce Father age 46 (Scene 14) 2019 Friend in Need Takes Place Bryce age 27 Mother age 64 Father age 66 Page 1 of 120 A FRIEND IN NEED SCENE 1 The scene begins at Bryce’s cubicle with Bryce, back to the cubicle opening, in deep concentration pouring over papers and typing on his computer on Friday, June 30. DARLENE Hey, there Bryce. (BRYCE jumps up slightly from chair in fright and turns toward the sound) DARLENE (Continues) (Jumps back in surprise to Bryce’s reaction.) Goodness! BRYCE Oh, hi, Darlene. Yeah. Sorry about that. The people around me know to signal with a tap or a small sound to warn me they’re about to disrupt my concentration. Otherwise, I go WHOOPS! DARLENE I’ll certainly remember that for next time. BRYCE I’m happy to hear there will be a next time. I’d hate to have scared you off from visiting for all time because of my, uh, my uh, I don’t know what to call it other than “jumping.” It’s just that I’m so focused that I block everything out and so when a noise penetrates, it’s like Inspector Clouseau responding to an attack by Cato only my defense is to jump. DARLENE Inspector Clouseau? BRYCE Peter Sellers in the second “Pink Panther” movie, “A Shot in the Dark.” It came out in 1964. DARLENE That was way before my time. BRYCE Yeah, well neither of us were born yet but it’s available on D-V-D if not Netflix. Clouseau has a valet named Cato who he instructed to surprise him with attacks to keep Clouseau’s skills sharp at reacting quickly to danger. Should I have said “Who”? No. Whom. It should be “He instructed Cato to surprise him.” But that takes out the need for Page 2 of 120 a “whom”. (DARLENE has difficulty following Bryce’s train of thought.) BRYCE (Continues) (Misinterpreting Darlene’s silence as criticism But originally, I should have said “Whom”. “Clouseau has a valet named Cato WHOM he instructed to surprise him.” That’s better, right? DARLENE Yes. It’s perfect. BRYCE It’s nice of you to stop by. Want to go for a coffee? Actually, given the temperature today, an offer of ice cream would make more sense. You scream and I scream for ice cream? DARLENE Actually, and I realize it’s really short notice, but I came to ask a favor if you’re not busy this Saturday night. BRYCE Tomorrow? Sure, glad to do it. DARLENE But I haven’t even told you what the favor is. BRYCE You need a favor and I’m available. What’s to question? DARLENE If this is going to interfere with the long weekend/ BRYCE But it’s not a long weekend. July Fourth is this Tuesday, not Monday. DARLENE You’re planning to work Monday? BRYCE I would have driven to see my parents; it’s just a day’s drive to just south of St. Louis. But they’re on a cruise. It’s not that I don’t have other things to do but I’m in the habit of fitting everything into a weekend so it’s not as if I needed the extra time off. And I will have the Fourth for activities. So, everything is okey dokey. Page 3 of 120 DARLENE You’re smart taking advantage of the office being so quiet that you can get caught up on lots of things. Before you accept, you’d better hear what the favor is. Val had a bout of vertigo last night/ BRYCE On top of his other sickness? Poor guy. DARLENE We think it was just a one-off thing. He’s mule-headed and probably brought it on by overextending himself on his physical therapy. The doctor doesn’t want Val to be alone until they can fit him in on Monday for a thorough examination. I had planned to go out with my friend Shirley for a girls’ night out.