ELWOOD
SCENE I
SETTING: Luxurious room at a Hotel. ELWOOD (EL) enters dressed in country style overalls. Moving about the room, EL examines the room and its high priced items in awe & excitement.
EL - This is awesome. (picking up a cup) Is this.. It is! A gold plated cup.
BELLHOP - (depositing a beat up duffle bag on bed.) Will there be anything else sir?
EL- No...yes. Where can I get some nice clothes?
BELLHOP - Fourth Avenue has a whole chain of stores that carry the finest tailors. Shall I arrange a limousine sir?
EL - A limo? Awesome..I mean, yes. A limousine will do nicely.
BELLHOP - Very good sir. (he hesitates, awaiting a tip. El realizes this and tips him) Thank you sir. (he exits)
SCENE II
SETTING: City street, a store front of an expensive suit shop. People walking on sidewalk. Majority dressed nice. EL enters street from suit store, dressed in expensive suit.
EL - Now that's much better. Why my dad never wore these, even when his business partners came over to discuss the year's profits...it was embarrassing. Every quarter they'd send him nice gifts in gratitude for what he was doing, and he'd always donate them to somebody. Why not enjoy the things we earn? It makes us who we are.
(walks down street, looking at people. Begins to turn head up, away, etc in annoyance at those not dressed nice)
I mean, look at them, the haves and those that want it. Then there are those who never will. (laughs to self). At least I know where I stood, and took it. (heads on down the street)
Mr. De-vil - [dressed in nice three-piece suit, walking cane/staff, top hat]
(notices El walking by, thinks for moment) Looks like I just made a new friend. (catches up with El) By the look of you I'd say you are in...banking...no...stocks. (stops as El shakes his head) Wait, don't tell me. (looks him over) Real estate.
EL - Vineyards primarily, that's my father's though. I own an online PodCasting station, Joker Productions, but the market is so saturated, it's barely earning any money.
Mr. D - Really? (looks El over carefully) Run off with your father's credit card did we?
EL - No, I would never steal.
Mr. D - Hey, no judgement here. (pulls out a stack of credit cards) Credit Cards are my fifth source of income. (hands El one) Here, this one has about seven hundred left on it. Just toss it when its full, and don't spend more than two-hundred at once.
EL - I can't accept this.
Mr. D - It's mine, and it's a gift. Think of it as a "Welcome to the neighborhood" gift. (El accepts the card) There you go. So, how about we have a little fun (leads El along) So, what did bring you to the city then?
EL - All my life my dad has had a say over my stocks. I mean, he knows his stuff, and if he's not sure he will say so and seek out people who do; and he's always done right...
Mr. D - Hang on, hang on. It sounds like you are starting in the middle. Let's start with who your father is; what does he do?
EL - Well, my father started the Vineyard before me and my brother were born. He invested in all the latest technology to make it efficient; and marketing tactics which allowed him to sign on with dozens of wineries and apple productions. Once me and my brother were born, we took on the trade, earning shares in the company.
Mr. D - Which is how you came to have your own money, you cashed in your shares.
EL- Yes, but my father refused to do so. He said it was too soon. That I should wait. So, I forged his signature and cashed them in. I got them for less then what they were worth two months ago, but...I still walked away with nearly seven digits.
Mr. D - Nice. (pause) Since this is your first day in the city, how about I treat you to some fun and entertainment. A buddy of mine runs a club just up the street. I can get us in for free and lunch at a reasonable price.
EL - (over eager) Girls too? I mean...I'm in.
[Arrive at club. Hip hop style music playing. People are dancing, laughing, etc. Mr De-vil waves El in, leads to back table]
Mr. D - El, this is Mr. Anderson. He's the owner of this club. Mr Anderson, this is my new friend, Elwood, El. He's fresh from the country, and his pockets are burning.
Mr. Anderson - I see. Well, El, these are my friends (two ladies step up to El) Treat them right; as a gentleman, and have a good time. (girls lead El away; off stage)
Mr A - (to Mr. D) So who is he?
Mr D - The son of some rich Vineyard owner. Cashed in a chunk, if not all, of his father's stocks.
Mr. A - We robbing him?
Mr D - (considers idea) Nah, but may as well help him to allow me to enjoy it; here and at other such establishments.
Mr. A - This game of yours is gonna came back on you someday.
Mr. - Hasn't yet. Besides, I always ensure they have fun. It's easier to talk them into buying things that way. Why buy one Smart Phone when two can allow us to stay in touch. (two laugh)
NARRATION by Mr De-vil
(addressing audience) And that's just what I inspired El to do. I made sure he had all kinds of the back alley, big city, life fun. Girls, recreational drugs, gambling, drinking...and that was just the warm up. By the third month, we were into the harder drugs. Who needed water when you had Moonshine. And the parties... (laughs). The hangovers we had...you did not want to ask questions the next morning.
(pause, watch El walk back on stage, leading some girls and a group of guys/party goers. The bar cheers when they see El)
I did admire how El fell into the role of the night party life, and especially the number of friends he made. Although, it just made my job that much easier.
One surprising aspect though was El's ability to pick the winning horses at the tracks. Nine times out of ten, he had the picks just by scanning the betting slips. (chuckles) My rent is now paid off for the next three years. I have three sets of designer suits, with matching watches, couplings, and rings. And once the paperwork is finalized, a down payment on a new sports car. Compliments of El.
(loud cheering from crowed, Mr. D looks)
Hey hey hey, wait for me.
(he hurries into crowd to join in drinking game).
EL- (stumbles out of crowed, laughing. GIRL comes, helps him) You win this round Michael. Next one is mine though.
GIRL - Slow down there El. It's only 2 AM.
EL - Ow..don't get on that again. It's only eighty proof anyways.
GIRL - Still. Hey, let's go see that orchard you talked about. I never seen one before.
EL - It's a Vineyard. And...not...I can't face it. Not after...(voices in crowd chant Michael, Michael...) Hey! I said I had the next round. (El hurries back into crowed)
GIRL - (to audience) I really like El. He is a good guy; and the few occasions I could get him to talk about his home, I could see this longing to go there, but something is holding him back. I could tell it was eating him alive. My only prayer was that I could get him to talk about it before it was too late. These guys, this life, it's fun an' all, but it'll turn on you.
(pause as chanting rises, El, El, El...)
I did get him to talk about his dad once; of how he'd take anybody in, feed them, give them a place to sleep, and a job. No questions asked. As long as you did your share of work, you had a place to sleep and a hot meal. People like that... too few of them are left.
Mr A - (to Girl) Hey, what are you doin' out here? El needs his lucky charm.
GIRL- Sorry Mr. Anderson. (hurries in, head hunched, flinches reflexively as moves past Mr. A)
MR. ANDERSON - (to audience) Girls. We love em, but... (pause as cheering rises momentarily) I have to hand it to Mr. De-vil. He takes the long, round-about, way, but he's great for business. He kept El in the party life for another nine solid months..with an ugly stint of uncertainty towards the end (mimics slitting throat), but, El bounced back. But, like all good things, El's luck--money that is--ran out.
(crowed turns ugly, demands for him to buy more drinks, food, etc)
(yelling at crowd) Either kill him or throw him out!
[Crowed grabs El, drags across stage, throws out of Club. GIRL hurries to him]
GIRL - Oh El, I told you to stay away. That crowed ain't got no sympathy. (Mr Anderson calls from inside the club) I'm coming. El, go home. Please, don't become us. You have a family. Cherish them.
SONG: "Baby Come Home" or "I wanna go home"
[El pulls out cell phone. Hear dial tone, keys dialed, ringing, then voice mail: "You've reached the voice mail of Raymond and Sons Vineyard. Our regular business hours are from 9 to 5. But, please leave a message." (beep)]
EL - Umm...dad....I....this is Elwood. I...um...(sighs). I messed up. I thought I could handle this big city party life. I don't even know how I lived this long. But, I want to come home. I'll pay back all the money I took, with interest. I'll work along side the field hands. Anything Just...(sighs). I'll be on the next train out tomorrow afternoon. I know I messed up; that I cost you, the company, the share holders, everybody, a lot of money. (God, I hope I didn't cost anybody their job, or their homes). But, if it's okay; if I am still welcome there, put a white ribbon in the old crabapple tree in the south-east corner of the back field--the one by the tracks. That way I'll know if I'm welcome there. If not...if I do not see a white ribbon, I'll keep on going. I'll find work...somewhere. Umm....dad...I just really (voicemail beeps. El hangs up)
SCENE III
SETTING: DAD & OLDER BROTHER talking, Vineyard in background
BROTHER - He had his chance. He took his share, and mine, and yours, and ran off with it to live in the city. Spitting on what you built.
DAD- That money belonged to a lot of people.
BROTHER - All the more reason to tell him no. He choose the party life; left us to clean up the mess--for nearly two years--and now he expects to just come on back and what? Do it again? Did you forget how close we came to losing everything Dad? The stock holders...
DAD - They trusted me when I said it will be okay, and they listened to me, as I knew they would, because I've built a foundation of trust with them. Going off half cocked, acting on anger--not thinking--is not how this company, this family, is run.
BROTHER - Dad, I now you love Elwood, he's my little brother, and I'll always care for him, but you're always stressing that we have to learn from our mistakes. El is not stupid. I'm sure he's scared, but he has to solve this for himself.
(Leaves. Dad looks at white strip of cloth in hand with uncertainty.)
SCENE IV
SETTING: Interior of a train car. Hear train noises: whistle, clanking of wheels on tracks, occasional crossing dings in background. 3-to-4 other passengers and MAN 1(seated nearest to audience) are seated randomly. Each reading, working, or napping in seat. ELWOOD is in seat, moving, twitching impatiently, with unease. Occasionally gets up, paces asile, sits back down.
CONDUCTOR - Next stop, Middle Town, one minute.
EL - Excuse me sir. The next stop after Middle Town is Vineyard Grove. Right?
CONDUCTOR - Yes sir. Once we leave Middle Town, it will be about a five minute ride. If that is your stop, I'd advise you to collect your possessions now sir.
EL - Yes, of, of course. Thank you.
CONDUCTOR - You're welcome sir. (he leaves car, voice fading for stop to be in 30 seconds)
[Hear brakes applying. Passengers lean forward slightly as train comes to stop. Hear CONDUCTOR cautioning people to watch step. Seconds later, hear train whistle, train slowly begins to build speed]
EL - (continues pacing, acts of unease. Is now glancing at window--toward audience--where MAN 1 is sitting. This continues on for roughly one minute)
MAN 1 - Young man, is everything okay?
EL - Hah? Oh, yes. Sorry. (sits down. Is back up pacing, glancing at same window moments later)
MAN 1 - Young man, are you sure everything is okay? Can I call someone for you?
EL - Hah? Oh, yes, I mean no. I'm...sorry. (sits in seat again. Is back up moments later again, pacing, glancing at window)
MAN 1 - Young man!
CONDUCTOR - Vineyard Grove, two minutes.
EL - (sitting by MAN 1, unable to look out window) Sir, please, look out the window.
MAN 1 - What? Why?
EL - Please. There is an old orchard coming up here; around the bend.
MAN 1 - Okay...yes. The old apple orchard. They grow mostly grapes now. So?
EL - Please, theres an old crab apple tree in the south-east corner of the field; right by the tracks. Please, tell me if you see a white ribbon tied to the tree.
MAN 1 - What? Why?
EL - Just...please. Tell me if you see a white ribbon tide to the tree.
MAN 1 - Fine. Okay.
EL - (can barely sit still. Can't bring himself to look at window) Well?
MAN 1 - Hang on. We're entering the curve now. (pause) Okay, I can see...yes, there's the split rail fence...I don't see...
EL - What? Is there a white ribbon tied to the crab apple tree or not?
MAN 1 - No, I don't see "a" white ribbon. (pause, El slumps into seat. Hangs head) All I see is a tree tree full of white ribbons. They're all along the fence, and the tracks too.
EL - What?! (climbs over Passenger to look out widow, knocking him to floor. Starts laughing with joy)
MAN 1 - Hey! Get off me. (gets to feet, looking at El like boy lost his mind) What? What does that mean?
CONDUCTOR - Vineyard Grove! 30 seconds. Please gather your possessions.
EL - (grabbing MAN 1, hugging him, shaking his hand, etc) It means all is forgiven! I'm gonna do right this time. I'll pay back everything. I'll do right. Just you wait.
[hear train's brakes applying. Passengers gently rock forward. EL hurries off train--off stage--hear him crying out with joy; calling "Father, I'm back!"]
Play written by J. Tschudy. Contact him at jtlogan5170@gmail. com, which is monitored by his parents.
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