Why Should I Have to Fix Things I Didn't Create or Contrive?

Sundance
by Megan Leach

[Curtains open, blank stage.  Cassandra Adler is in the audience]


Josh Allister: [walks on stage, with camera, films the audience]  Sundance film festival, here I come.  [lowers the camera, looks at the audience].  Stay right there, don’t move a muscle…Just act natural.  Yeah.


Cassandra: [dressed in Graduation gown and cap.  jumps out of her seat, runs down the aisle] Josh!  Put that camera away! [jumps on stage]


Josh: But I don’t want to miss…[cut off]


Cassandra: [takes the camera] I don’t care, we’re gonna be late!


[scene change, Cassandra and Josh stay on.  Run Crew, dressed in black, carry on a podium and chairs.  One member of the crew takes the camera from Cassandra, while another hands Josh a graduation gown and cap.  Josh pulls on  and sits down in a chair next to Cassandra]


Principal: Class of  2009, You’re lives start now.  From here, you will face challenges and hardship.  May lessons you’ve learned at Mark Jacobson High School, drive you through further learning and beyond.  Now, to hand out the Diplomas.  [pulls out stack of booklets] Brian Aaronson. [Brian gets diploma] Jared Abluke.  Torrey Addison. Cassandra Adler.  [Cassandra Waits by podium]  Janice Akinston.  Joshua Allister [Josh gets his diploma, pulled offstage by Cassandra]
[blackout]


[scene:  blank stage]


Josh: [on stage alone, with camera] The big break.  That one line that makes audiences around the globe fall for you.  Those that define the actor, and the director.  Matthew Broderick, “Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t look around, you might miss it.”  [Actors: Seline, Roger, come on.  Reuben, holding a mic stick and Headphones, Jackson, holding a light, Candace off to the side].  That finishing line put Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, on the Map.  How about this one. "My Mama always said, 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.'" [Josh turns, starts filming Seline and Roger].  You getting the idea?  That one line…can make you an idol.


Seline: Carl, you know I love you.


Roger:  THEN WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?!


Seline: I can’t handle…you…your-


Josh: CUT!


Seline:  WHAT NOW?!


Josh:  I don’t believe it.


Roger:  We’ve gone over this one hundred friggin’ times, what more do you want from us Josh?


Josh: You, you’re fine, Seline…I don’t believe it.  His addiction is KILLING you for crying out loud!  You just caught him stealing from the cash you made, dancing all last night.  You’re tired, but tonight, you’ll be dancing, in that skimpy little top and that short skitr.  You’ll prostitute yourself to stay alive…and he’s taking it!  You’re Furious!


Seline:  yeah, just not at him.


Josh:  You’re also hurt…tortured.  Make me believe it.  FROM THE TOP!


Candace: Positive, act 4, scene 2, take 6.


Josh: [aside]  That one big break, that one line that will put me on the map.  Make me the next Oliver Stone, Michael Moore, Clint Eastwood, Darren Aronofosky. 


Seline:  Carl…I can’t handle it, anymore [slowly curls on the floor, crying.]


Josh:  [aside] Make me legit.  I can pay off my school loans, I can move to Europe and buy a nice house, live with a wonderful wife and a dog.  A couple of kids, and just do this forever.  Make films…


Roger:  Baby, I’ll change, I’ll get clean…I promise…I will. 


Josh:  [aside] I won’t be nothing, I’ll make it, and everyone who said this was a fantasy will be watching me on the silver screen.  I’ll prove myself, prove to them.


Seline:  No…Carl…No.


Roger:  No What, baby?


Josh:  [aside] No, it’s all vanity, it’s all for a title I’ll never have, I’ll never be good enough!  Goddamn it!


Seline:  Carl…I’m positive.


Roger:  What?


Seline:  Carl I’m so sorry.


Josh:  [aside] Sorry for wanting to prove them wrong, sorry for being a mediocre film school joke, sorry for being a freaking statistic!


Roger:  Jess, No…it’s not possible, no…


Seline:  I’m…so…sorry.


Josh:[aside] For never amounting to anything.  For going through school, my sanity relying on a friggin CUT! [Cast and crew of production look at Josh with confusion.  Josh realizes he was talking aloud] That was…Perfect.  Alright, we’re all done for today!  Good job guys! [cast and crew smile, and start packing up.]


Jackson:  [Leaving the stage, turns and yells for Josh] Hey, Boss?


Josh: Yeah Jackson?


Jackson:  The crew’s headin’ down to the bar for a drink, you in?


Josh:  All of you?


Jackson:  haha, yep, all of us, even Candace.  She takes a larger like a man I’ll tell you.


Josh:  Yeah I’ll be right there [Looks at the audience] To consume alcohol to an addictive extent is to be gluttonous.  To thereby be violent due to a chemical unbalance is to commit crime.  Enter the chokehold of the second and seventh rings of the inferno.  Welcome, to ante-hell. [walks off stage blackout[


[scene: set again, Josh sitting in a director’s chair, camera in front of him, a flask in his hand.  Cast and Crew surround him.]


Candace:  Positive, Act 7, scene 2, take 3.

Roger:  How?


Seline: [taking pill]  How what?


Roger:  How?


Seline:  How What?


Roger:  How?


Seline:  HOW WHAT?!


Roger:  How’d you get it?


Seline:  Please, Carl, not right now…


Roger:  HOW THE HELL DID YOU END UP H-I FRIGGIN’ V POSITIVE.


Josh:  [aside] I went out for a drink with the guys…it felt good…I got hammered…didn’t stop.  Now I go every night…I can’t stand being sober…it makes my skin itch.


Seline:  Straws.


Roger:  Straws?!


Josh:  Straws.  Needles.


Seline:  Needles


Roger:  NEEDLES?!


Josh:  [aside] Straws, needles, intercourse.


Seline:  Sex


Roger: SEX?!


Seline:  I DON’T KNOW HOW!  Alright Carl, I don’t friggin’ know!


Josh: [aside] Except you do know…try something once, it feels good, you try again.  You keep trying until it doesn’t get you off, and then you move on, or you use more.  You keep going, keep feeling good, until you don’t feel at all.  [Takes sip from flask]  And then you loose yourself.


Roger:  WHORE!


Josh: CUT! [blackout]

[ Scene Bar The Stage is cut, on one half, there is the bar, on the other half, there’s the bathroom. Josh, Candace, Reuben and Jackson are all sharing a drink in the bar.  Dealer, Ratt and Scrub are in the bathroom, doing cocaine.]


Candace:  Hey Josh, the film’s going great, ain’t it, the actors are finally getting it!  Fewer takes, fewer problems.


Josh:  Its about freaking time.


Reuben:  Haha, I’ll drink to that Boss-man.  [they clink glasses]


Josh:  [takes a sip before getting up]  I’ll be right back.  [Enters bathroom.  Ratt and Scrub stop snorting and look up, sneering at Josh.]


Dealer:  You buyin’?


Josh:  I’m pissing.  [walks to urinal]


Ratt:  [snickers]  he’s clean.


Scrub:   How do you know?


Ratt:  He doesn’t have the devil’s mark.


Dealer:  One line…free.  A sample, if you will.  About a nickel’s value.


Josh:  Thanks, but I’d rather take 5 dollars and run.


Dealer:  [drawing up a line]  oh but sir, I insist.   You know, there is an existing race of recreational cocaine use…you ARE safe.


Josh:  I got friends out there.


Dealer:  Then Why must we delay…come on…it’s free.


Josh:  William S. Burroughs, in a book titled Naked Lunch wrote that “The junk merchant does not sell his product to the consumer, he sells the consumer to the product. He does not improve and simplify his merchandise. He degrades and simplifies the client.” And the statement holds true. [kneels to take the line]  As I dipped my head low, I heard the a chorus of snickers arise from the dingy bathroom of Forlonger’s Pub, and I believe I felt my very sobriety ripped from my chest as each white granule entered my nostril. [gets up, leaves bathroom] As I left that bathroom, I had made a pact with the devil, I had passed Ante-hell, and entered Dante’s inferno.


Candace:  Hey, Josh!  What took you so long?


Dealer and Josh: My fly got jammed.


[scene: on the set, the bathroom from the pub is still on stage, Dealer is alone in bathroom.  Josh works on set.]


Roger:  Jess are you okay?


Seline:  Yeah…why?


Roger: you look pale.


Josh:  I am pale.


Seline:  [coughs]  I think I just have a cold


Roger: A COLD?!  Couldn’t that kill you?


Josh:  It is Killing me.


Seline:  Don’t be silly…I don’t have AIDS…just HIV.


Roger:   How are your T-Cells


Josh and Seline:  …Low.


Roger:  You aren’t working tonight.


Seline:  but, Carl, I have to!  How else will we pay the bills.


Roger:  We’ll manage, you can’t work.


Seline:  I can…


Roger:  No!


Josh:  CUT!  [Goes to the bathroom  Dealer smiles as Josh throws 10 dollars on the table, jittering.  Dealer begins to draw him a line.]  FASTER GODDAMN IT!


Dealer:  Impatient, are we?  [steps from lines]


Josh:  No, just needy [bends down to take them.]


Dealer:  I don’t just sell lines.  On a basis of customer convenience.  [displays a small bag of cocaine] I sell decks.


Josh: Convenience?


Dealer:  Hot shots on wall street don’t always have time for a visit…Shame really, it gets lonely…but, they pay well.  And investors are always loyal to their brokers.  Especially when some can…kill you  [kneads the bag of cocaine.]


Josh:  [hands the dealer another $10, indicates to where his line once was.  Dealer begins to draw another two, Josh looks at audience.]  The choice to buy a bag or not to buy, takes little thought when you’re in a state of desperation.  You think of things like…What if he’s sick one day…what if he can’t make it?  Need could rip you apart, yet that bag is security.  At a second’s notice, everything gets faster, more exciting.  Being sober makes me itch, being high makes me alive.  [turned to take line] Being alive may always dominate over an itching corpse. [nods to dealer]  How much?


Dealer:  $100.  [exchange money and deck]  Pleasure doing business with you…[begins to say “Joshua”, Josh cuts him off]


Josh:  Junkie.  [Storms out of the bathroom, the bathroom is taken off stage.  Josh sits back down at the camera] ACTION! [ blackout]


[scene: office:  Producer: Jackal Meadows and Josh sit on opposite sides of the desk]

Meadows:  Josh, I’ve seen the script, I’ve seen what’s been done…and I’m sorry…I don’t see you as a good investment.  I’m pulling out.


Josh:  What, What, Why?


Meadows:  I’m not seeing the direction, or in anyway benefiting from what’s been done, and what will be done.  Now I’ve invested over a million dollars into this production thus far alone.  I cannot comfortably follow our model of four million dollars.


Josh:  You can’t…


Meadows:  I can…and I am.


Josh: [aside]  This is when being a director, stops being about the passion, and starts being about the business.  When your investors start pulling out, you call on anything you can to get them back in…Anything.  [Turns to Jackal]  Mr. Meadows, I am willing to do…anything, ANYTHING, for you to give me a second chance.  Change the storyline, change the actors…anything.  Please, Mr. Meadows.  I’m desperate.  [Aside]  When you cannot woo them with your skill, you flatter them by kneeling behind and kissing their first class ass.  Grovel, beg…anything.  The producer is the owner of the casino.  When the games do not break you…he will.


Meadows:  [Begins writing on pad of paper]  one chance…  [tears paper off, turns to checkbook]  one, single chance, Joshua.  [hands Josh check and list of demands]  That’s all I’m giving you. 


Josh:  [taking papers carefully]  Thank you, Mr. Meadows, thank you so, so much…You won’t regret it. [begins to walk off stage]


[Dealer comes on stage, stands beside Meadows]


Dealer & Meadows:  Pleasure doing business with you, Joshua.


Josh:  [Stops on the edge of the stage]  Junkie. [blackout]

[scene bathroom,  Ratt, Breaker and Dealer in the bathroom]


Josh:  [Walks into bathroom, stops, seeing Breaker]  Where’s Scrub?


Ratt:  Overdosed last night behind Cipe.


Josh:  The nightclub?


Ratt:  Yeah…


Josh:  Why?  What was he doing there?  How did he even get in?


Dealer:  New location.  Moving there,  bigger group to tackle, higher margins…you know how it is.  If I’m not in the men’s room, check the women’s…They’ll let you in…sluts are too high to know any different.


Josh:  Who’s the new guy?


Ratt:  Breaker.  [Josh and Breaker shake hands.]  Breaker, Josh.


Josh:  Pleasure.


Breaker:  He clean?


Ratt:  Hell no.


Josh:  Right…[looks at dealer]  Double it.  {Hands him $200]


Dealer:  Settling in?


Josh:  What the hell does it matter, just give me the stuff man!  [grabs wallet]  Give me 10 [throws a $50 dollar bill on the table.]


Breaker:  He doesn’t look it, but he definitely is.


Ratt:  told you.


Josh: [aside]  The original promise my dealer had made about recreational drug use was nothing but a lie.  He couldn’t have been more wrong if he told me the sky was yellow.  As he spilled each 50 pure white milligrams onto the clean mirrored surface,  I felt a childlike excitement grow, mounting as each clump of snow fell onto it’s own reflection, splattering outwards, I found a juvenile anticipation mount within me, knowing in a few seconds, the infantile sugar high would befall me.


Dealer:  All set, [begins saying Joshua again]


Josh:  Junkie. [begins taking his lines]


Dealer:  [laughs]  Do you know why you’re my favorite customer, Joshua?


Josh:  [sniffs loudly]  No, why would that be?


Dealer:  You amuse me.


Josh:  Yes, consider me your own private clown.  [sniffs]  As long as you supply me, you control me.


Dealer:  [Laughs again]  You’re a funny kind of customer,  Joshua…for one, you insist in being called a Junkie.


Josh:  [sniffs loudly]  Hilarious.


Dealer:  Second, you’re digging a hole you have no way to get out of, and you don’t seem do take care.


Josh:  [sniffs loudly]  Again, it’s goddamn hilarious.


Dealer:  Yes, It is, Joshua.  So, why do you do it?  You intrigue me. educate me.


Josh:  Well [sniffs loudly]  The way I see it…You cannot escape your biology.  Try anything you want, your biology decides addiction.  [sniffs loudly]  There are people out there, who are immune to HIV…There are people who cannot get drunk.  The best thing [sniffs]  To do, is to play your cards, and, once you’re in the deck, play your hand, until you win, or bust.


Dealer:  Why do Junkies continually believe in fate?


Josh:  [sniffs] I did not say it was fate. I said it was biology.  Genetics over God.  [Sniffs].  My parents gave me a death wish when they chose Conception over a condom.


Dealer:  Respectable philosophy.


Josh:  [sniffs]  Death and What kills you are both, conveniently, hereditary. [takes his last line and stands up, holding his hand out to receive his decks from Dealer]


Ratt:  Whoa,  Scrub just overdosed and his parents and Grandparents are both alive.


Josh:  The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.


Ratt:  What do you mean?


Josh:  He’s an idiot for giving into biology and they’re morons for not ending it much sooner.  [nods to Dealer, beginning to walk off stage]  See you around.


Dealer:  Pleasure doing business with you [Begins saying “Joshua“, josh cuts him off.]


Josh:  Junkie.

[blackout]

[scene: the set  Josh stands in front of all the cast and crew, with the additions of Mark, Jason and Christian, 3 new actors.]


Seline: Who are they [points to Mark, Jason and Christian]


Josh:  To keep money coming from our producer, we have to change up the storyline just a bit.  So, Seline, you will be having an active affair with Mark,  I suggest you get to know each other.  Roger, you, will rob a bank, Christian will be your accomplice.  Jason, you will be a cop that shoots Roger.  The new plotline is, Seline, you get fired, therefore no money for your medication, so you become Mark’s whore.  Roger, you rob a bank for money for her meds.  Roger gets shot…it’s all in the script.  [hands out new scripts]


Seline:  [skimming new lines]  What?!  [looking at Josh]  What the hell is this?!


Josh: [aside] Prostitution.


Roger:  What happened to the original?  The script we agreed to do.


Josh:  Investors threatened to pull out…we had to do some changes if we even wanted to finish.


Seline:  Who’s movie are you finishing now?  Huh Josh?

Josh:  Guys, it’s still our movie…


Seline:  Josh, That’s a pile of bull crap and you friggin’ know it!  [stands]  I’m going for a walk…[exits stage]


Josh:  [looks at crew]  …Diva.  [crew just shakes head, all people on stage dispersing, leaving Josh alone once more.  He goes into his pocket, pulling out a bag of cocaine and his cell phone.  He sits on the floor, pulling out his wallet.  He makes a “bump” of cocaine on the screen of his cell phone.  He rolls a dollar bill from his wallet, and takes the drug, snorting loudly.  Lights fade out.]

[scene, Cipe nightclub,  Dancers are raving on one half of stage, Dealer, Ratt and Breaker are in the bathroom (other half of stage) Josh is struggling through crowd, trying to get to the bathroom]


Ratt:  He’s late.


Dealer:  You’re fast.


Ratt:  He’s dying.


Dealer:  You’re fast.


Ratt:  I’m telling you, when he enters those doors, he’ll be desperate as hell, draw his lines now man.


Breaker:  Ratt, shut up before he gets pissed.


Dealer:  No one’s getting angry…we’re all friends here.


Josh:  [bursts in]  10 lines! [throws a $50 at Dealer]  NOW!  GODDAMN IT! NOW!


Ratt:   Told you.


Dealer: [irritated] Take your smack and shut up. [Ratt grumbles, beginning to tourniquet off his arm, while Breaker holds a lighter under a spoon]


Josh:  [intrigued, taking deep breaths] Smack?
 

Dealer:  Heroin, twice the money, twice as fast.


Josh:  Fast?


Ratt:  very [grabs prepared syringe from Breaker] Instant.  [injects heroin]


Dealer:  [Finishes preparing the lines, offering the mirror to Josh, noticing Josh’s interest]  Interested?


Josh:  [gratefully takes his mirror while nodding.]  Curious.  [sits on the floor,  rolling a dollar and taking down his first line.]


Dealer:  [Smiles]  Buy your usual two decks, and I’ll throw in a toke for 10.


Josh:  [Sniffs]  You wont just let me try it here?  [Sniffs again]


Dealer:  I may be you’re dealer, but if I can help it, I refuse to be your murderer.  Bad for business.


Josh:  [sniffs]  That’s comforting, I guess.  [sniffs]


Dealer:  I take care of my investments.


Josh:  [Sniffs, laughs]  Investments?  You’re high.  [sniffs]


Dealer:  I provide excellent prices and the highest purity percentage in central LA.   I get paid back, when you buy, and provide repeat business.  Yes, Joshua, you are an investment.


Josh:  [sniff]  like I said…comforting [sniff]


Breaker:  It is [smiles wide]  He’s like Jesus and we are his sheep.  The good shepherd, he is.


Josh:  [laughs]  Shouldn’t you know by now I don’t believe in that rubbish?  [Sniffs]  He’s no better than the wolf that spares the strong.  [stands up and hands the mirror to Dealer, smiling while getting his wallet.]  And we, good men, are nothing but sheep. [Hands Dealer $220 dollars]


Dealer:   Joshua…you do not cease to intrigue me with your ways.  If you are nothing by a sheep, why do you not try to move higher up on the food chain?  [hands him 2 decks of cocaine and a ‘kit’ of heroin, involving a single toke, syringe and rubber piping.] 


Josh:  If I am a sheep, being a carnivore would give me indigestion.  [dealer and josh laugh] 


Dealer:  you are, my favorite customer, Joshua.  Personally, I don’t want you to be a junkie.


Josh:  But, that would be bad for business.


Dealer:  Yes, Yes.  Well, Pleasure doing business with you…


Josh:  Junkie.


Dealer:  Junkie.  [Josh walks off stage, blackout]


[Scene:  Josh’s bedroom, Josh lay alone, in bed, fingering the ‘kit’ of heroin]

Josh:  After the desperate glamour the heroin was given during my withdrawal, I now held an apprehension for injecting the drug into my veins.  While cocaine can be held at bay and used recreationally, when you do heroin, it’s all over.  Instant addiction.  As the piston moves down against the amber liquid, you’ve started the countdown.  T-Minus, 10 seconds to live.  [phone rings, Josh answers]  Hello?  [Cassandra stands on the edge of the stage]


Cassandra:  Hi…is this Josh Allister?


Josh:  Uh, yeah? 


Cassandra:  Oh my god, It’s really you…Josh, It’s me…Cassie.


Josh:  [instantly gains interest]  Cassandra?


Cassandra:  Yeah!  Oh, I haven’t talked to you since high school!


Josh:  I know…it’s been a long time. [falls silent]  So…how you been, god, I don’t even remember what you did in college.


Cassandra:  [laughing]  Hah, well, my director friend.  I went to Yale for law…criminal…and I’ve been extremely well off since graduation…even got my own house.


Josh:  Wow…


Cassandra:  Yeah…it’s amazing…what about you?


Josh:  Graduated from Emerson with a degree in media production.


Cassandra:  Like you dreamed.


Josh:  yeah…funny, they didn’t tell me about being dirt broke after it…anyway, I moved out west, living in an apartment in LA and, working on my first film.


Cassandra:  Wow, that’s amazing!  What’s it- [josh jumps in]


Josh:  cassie, I’m sorry, I have another call, can you hold on a second?


Cassandra:  yeah…be quick!


Josh:  I will [pulls away from phone, hit’s a button]  Hello?  [Jackal Meadows appears on stage beside Cassandra]


Meadows:  Joshua?


Josh:  Speaking.


Meadows:  Jackal Meadows…your producer…


Josh:  oh, oh I’m sorry, Hello Mr. Meadows.  How can I help you?


Meadows:  Just checking in on my investment, I would like to schedule a meeting with you, see how the film is coming, and where it’s going.  I trust you’re using my money frugally…and meeting my demands.


Josh:  Yes, Mr.  Meadows…Very frugally.  [Aside]  In fact, $220 of your money is on my dresser…right now.  [nods in phone]  When would you like to schedule the meeting?


Meadows:  How are you for tomorrow, 2 o’clock.


Josh:  Wide open.


Meadows:  How about we meet for lunch, and then head to my office for the film and review?

Josh:  Sounds excellent.


Meadows:  Wonderful.  Well, that’s all I called for.  See you tomorrow at 2.


Josh:  Yes Mr. Meadows.


Meadows:  It’s been a pleasure, Joshua.  [hangs up, walks off stage]


Josh:  It’s junkie goddamn it.  [goes back to conversation with Cassandra]  Cassie?


Cassandra:  I’m still here.


Josh:  Oh, thank god, that was my producer… Jackal Meadows.


Cassandra:  THE Jackal Meadows?!


Josh:  Yes, THE Jackal Meadows.


Cassandra:  How the hell did you score him.


Josh:  haha, groveling…lots, and lots…of groveling.  The guy shits lavender.


Cassandra:  [Laughs]  5 years, and you haven’t changed one bit, Joshua Allister.


Josh:  Neither have you Cassandra Adler.


Cassandra:  Oh!  I haven’t told you yet!


Josh: What?  What haven’t you told me?


Cassandra:  I’m…not Cassandra Adler anymore.  I got married this past May…I’m now…Cassandra Beckett.


Josh:  Oh?  Wow, that’s…wow.  Married All ready?


Cassandra:  Yeah…I met him at a bar while visiting Boston with a friend from school.  Went to see the Sox.  And…we just hit it off.


Josh:  Wow, that’s, that’s great, Cass.  Really, Really Great.


Cassandra:  Yeah…Oh, it’s almost midnight here, I should go…court in the morning.


Josh:  So, you’re a defense attorney…right?


Cassandra:  Precisely.  Hey, why don’t I come out there one time, when I’m free, I have a vacation coming up…maybe we could hook up, and relive years 2005 through 2009.


Josh:  I’d Like that.

Cassandra:  Yeah…so, Keep in touch?


Josh:  Definitely.


Cassandra:  awesome…talk to you later, Josh Awkward.


Josh:  Talk to you later Cassandra Anaconda.  [They hang up, Cassandra leaves stage.] Funny…how all apprehension that revolves around the use of a narcotic suddenly disappears when you learn that the girl you loved for 5 years is married.  And you have a meeting with your boss in about 16 hours [Josh tears open the Heroin ‘kit’, tying off his arm with the rubber piping, pouring the powder into the spoon.  Blackout occurs as he begins lighting a lighter]


[scene:  Set.  Crew, and Roger, Christian and Jason for actors.  Bathroom scene is up on half of the stage.  Ratt and Dealer.  Ratt preparing a large toke of heroin.]


Candace:  Hey Josh- you ok?  You don’t look so well.  Pale.


Josh:  Yeah, I’m fine…ACTION!


Candace:  Positive, act 12, scene 3.  Take one.


Christian:  You sure about this?


Josh and Roger:  no.


Roger:  But it has to be done.  Jared, don’t bail on me now.


Christian:  Armed robbery is HUGE, Carl…huge.


Roger:  Yeah, and if we don’t…Jess will die.


Josh:  I am dead…


Roger: Ready…One…Two…Three[ Christian and roger run foreword with guns aimed at the audience]  NOBODY MOVE!  EVERYBODY ON THE GROUND!


Christian:  NOW! STAY ON THE GROUND!


Josh:  Ring Around The Rosie


Ratt:  [injects heroin, sighs in relief]  Boss, you’ve got to try this some time…it’s amazing.


Roger:  [holds pillowcase out to audience]  TAKE THE BAG AND FILL IT!  TAKE THE GODDAMN BAG!


Christian:  HURRY UP CARL!


Dealer: I see what it does to you…my friend…my sheep.


Ratt:  [deep breath]  The good Shepherd.


Christian: [hears sirens]  GODDAMN IT!  CARL FORGET IT!  LETS GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!


Josh:  It’s too late.


Roger:  HURRY UP AND FILL IT!


Josh:  Pockets full of posies.


Ratt:  I’m thirsty…can I borrow a buck for a beer?


Josh:  There’s no way out.


Dealer:  [pulls out a wad of cash, hands Ratt a $5]  Knock yourself out…you owe me.


Ratt:  [Stands up]  Thanks, buddy.


Josh:  The Vicious cycle has begun.


Christian:  Carl!  I’m outta here!  [runs off stage,  Roger starts turning around]


Roger:  GODDAMN IT!


Jason:  [Runs on stage, aims gun at Roger]  FREEZE!  [Shoots at Roger]


Josh:  Ashes…Ashes…

Ratt:  [Stumbles]  Boss?  I think I…[Ratt and Roger both fall, Ratt overdosing, Roger wounded.]


Josh:  We all fall down [Dealer and Josh both walk off stage, blackout]

[Scene:  Jackal Meadow’s Office]


Meadows:  How are you feeling, Joshua?  You don’t look so good?


Josh:  Eh…just tired…trying to get this film finished so we can start editing.  Sundance is coming closer and closer.


Meadows:  Yes it is…How did the actors handle our changes?


Josh:  Not bad…some temper tantrums…but they aren’t quitting.


Meadows:  And why would they?  The chance for hitting it big is much too great to pass up.


Josh:  Well it’s not like they’re getting paid much.


Meadows:  They should be happy they’re getting paid at all…ever heard of community theater?  This is ten times that.


Josh:  Yeah I guess.


Meadows:  You don’t seem convinced.


Josh:  sorry, like I said, just tired.


Meadows:  Yes…well, Joshua…I’ve seen what you have so far, read your script, and I must say, I a very pleased.  [begins writing in checkbook]  Here is your next installment.  I trust you will spend it wisely.  [hands Josh the Check]


Josh:  Yes, Mr.  Meadows.  [Meadows and Josh stand up, shaking hands.]


Meadows:  It’s been a pleasure Joshua.


Josh:  Pleasure…Mr. Meadows.  [Begins walking offstage]  Junkie.  [Blackout]

[Scene bathroom of Forlonger‘s pub, Dealer, Breaker and Jones]


Breaker:  That…happened quick…nothing could have been done?


Dealer:  I don’t know your tolerance levels, I can’t tell you to stop.


Breaker:  yeah…


Josh:  [walks in, rather calmly, hands Dealer $50]  Back home eh? 10 lines…wait…where’s Ratt?


Dealer:  You have a rather nice composure today.


Josh:  The smack hasn’t worn off yet…where’s Ratt?


Dealer:  Yeah, first time you can get even 12 hours out of it.


Josh:  Where the hell is Ratt?


Dealer: [hesitates]  He…overdosed this afternoon.


Josh:  What?!


Dealer:  It wasn’t anything I could control, I’m not god, Joshua.


Josh:  What the hell?!  No Control?!  You have ALL the control!


Dealer:  No, I have all the trust, every time you inhale your powder you trust that I didn’t cut it with friggin’ Draino.  You order, I deliver. If Ratt took too much and fell on the floor getting a beer,  I have no fault.  [forces the mirror into Joshua’s hand]  The only duty I have at that point is to get the hell out, and find a new local before spoiled ass junkies seek revenge.


Josh:  [Remains silent, starts taking his lines, sniffs loudly]


Dealer:  So, Joshua, have anything to retort, about how I’m a murderer.  How I Killed Ratt?


Josh:  [sniffs]  this is the first time I’ve seen you pissed.  [sniff]


Dealer:   Accuse me of murder, It happens.


Josh:  [sniffs]  Understandable.  [sniffs]


Jones:  Why doesn’t he look like a Junkie?


Breaker:  We don’t know.


Dealer:  believe me, He does…Junkie’s written across his chest in Smack-saturated blood.


Josh:  [Sniff] Thanks


Dealer:  Honesty never killed a man.


Josh:  But…Smack did. [Finishes his lines, stand up, handing the mirror to Dealer]  Price for a deck?


Dealer:  230.


Josh:  [laughing]  a bit more than double that of coke…[grabs his wallet]  2 for 1 [hands Dealer $430]


Dealer:  Some people charge $300  a gram, consider yourself lucky…[counts money, then hands over the decks]


Josh:  I’d be careful before calling myself lucky…


Dealer:  Suit yourself…As always, It’s been a pleasure.


Josh:  Yes, yes it has.  [walks off stage, blackout]


[scene, Josh’s apartment, he’s snorting ‘bumps’ off the screen of his phone, on the floor.]  Cassandra’s coming today…the first time I’ve seen her since High school.  The girl I told myself I was going to marry.  Who’s married to another man.  [Sniffs]  Tragic, isn’t it? [hears a knock at the door, seals his bag of cocaine, and puts everything in his pockets.]  COMING!  [Goes to door, opens it, Cassandra jumps on him, embracing him in a warm hug.]


Cassandra: JOSH!  Oh My God!  It’s been such a long time!


Josh: CASSIE!  Oh man I missed you!


Cassandra:  Well, you could have called too, it’s not that difficult.


Josh:  Didn’t know your number.


Cassandra:  Right.  So…this is the place, eh?

Josh:  Yep, welcome to my humble abode.


Cassandra:  Its cute, perfect for you…the brooding artist, living in the apartment, off of the tiny filmmaker’s salary…


Josh:  Or the government…


Cassandra:  Josh, you’re on welfare?


Josh:  There’s no money in the business until It hits theaters…and then that’s not even guaranteed.  I either live off what the producer gives me…or the dole.


Cassandra:  Oh…


Josh:  don’t pity me for it, I’m doing what I love…


Cassandra:  No, You just said in High school…


Josh:  we said a lot of things in high school.  [laughs]  A Lot of things.


Cassandra:  [laughs]  Remember how we were gonna be mimes and join a gypsy caravan?


Josh:  Uh, Yeah!  And how you would act in the strangest pornos ever!


Cassandra:  Only if you wrote them.


Josh:  Only I could write an insane porno.


Cassandra:  Haha yeah.  Remember how you would end up being the cliché druggie filmmaker?


Josh:  Yeah…  I do… [Aside]  And I did.


Cassandra:  So, I still haven’t heard of this movie!  Tell me about it.


Josh: Alright, hey, you want coffee?


Cassandra:  Yes!  You know me and caffeine.


Josh:  Haha, Yes I do.  [moves to the kitchen, and starts a pot of coffee]  Anyway…the movie.  It’s called Positive, and deals with…


Cassandra:  Drugs, STI’s, Violence?


Josh:  Uh…all of the above?  For some reason I think you’ve already had your coffee.


Cassandra:  Two cups, I want more…So, How do Drug, STI’s and Violence tie into this huge film that’s gonna gross multi millions?


Josh:  [pouring coffee]  Well, Boy and girl are flat broke, girl’s a stripper, boy’s addicted to coke.  Girl gets HIV in ways she’s not sure how.  [Passes Cassandra her mug, reaching into his pocket, pulling out his bag of cocaine, putting it on the counter absentmindedly as he leaves to get cream and sugar.  Cassandra grabs bag of cocaine looking at it analytically]  Girl gets too sick to work, starts prostituting herself as some guy’s mistress.  Then, the boy goes to rob a bank to keep being able to afford girl’s HIV- [Cassandra interjects as josh comes back with cream and sugar]


Cassandra:  What’s this?


Josh:  Oh…Nothing… [holds out hand to get it back]


Cassandra:  Is it something I should know about?  Josh?



Josh:  It’s medicine…I’m…sick.


Cassandra:  Where’s your prescription?  And you’re on welfare…how do you have enough health insurance to even get this?


Josh:  I just do, Alright!  Cass, give me my fucking powder!


Cassandra:  Powder?!  Is that what this is?


Josh:  Physically, yes…it’s in the powder form, you went to fucking college, where the fuck did your tuition go if you can’t tell me that it’s a white powder…


Cassandra: NARCOTIC!


Josh: NO!


Cassandra:  JOSH!  WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!


Josh:  [hesitates, starts labored breathing]  It’s…medicine… [begins getting emotional]  Why the hell won’t you believe me?


Cassandra: [calming down] Cause I know you, Josh.  Now, honestly, tell me what this is.


Josh:  [breaks down]  What the hell, Cass…it’s junk…ALRIGHT?  I’m a junkie…a no good welfare…junkie.


Cassandra:  How long?


Josh:  [laughs] 2 inches.


Cassandra:  Goddamn it Josh you know what I’m talking about!


Josh:  A few months…


Cassandra:  Why?


Josh: [dead, robot-like ] try something once, it feels good, you try again.  You keep trying until it doesn’t get you off, and then you move on, or you use more.  You keep going, keep feeling good, until you don’t feel at all.  And then you loose yourself…success.


Cassandra:  Josh, you’re not lost…you’re Josh Allister, my best friend.  You’re right here!  You’re not a junkie, you’re not dead. 


Josh:  My parents gave me a death wish when they chose Conception over a condom.  I’m dying…goddamn I’m dead.


Cassandra:  Josh!  No!  listen to me!  You’re not dead, you’re not dying, you’re my best goddamn friend, alright.  We’ve known each other for 9 years


Josh: 4, only 4.  You’ve been gone and out of my life for the past 5 years.  You don’t know me anymore.


Cassandra:  Josh, stop being ridiculous.  I know you, you haven’t changed…


Josh:  DRUGS CHANGE EVERYTHING!


Cassandra:  DRUGS CHANGE NOTHING!  You’re still the boy I loved in high school.


Josh:  Loved?!  Funny, cause you’re name’s not…Cassandra Allister…now is it?!  No…it’s Cassandra goddamn Beckett.


Cassandra:  Is that what the hell this is about, ‘cause I’m married?!


Josh:  No…Just…  DAMN IT!


Cassandra:  Josh…I don’t know what to do…


Josh:  Then don’t do anything…


Cassandra:  I can’t just sit by and watch you destroy yourself and you Know it!


Josh:  Don’t…do anything…


Cassandra:  But…


Josh:  no…this thing is keeping me alive through this goddamn film.


Cassandra:  I thought you were excited about it…


Josh:  it’s goddamn prostitution!  My producer canned my first idea…I’m his own private sex slave.


Cassandra:  Josh…I’m…I’m so…[beeper goes off]  I’m sorry, I gotta go.  Some meeting.


Josh:  Just go.


Cassandra:  be safe?


Josh:  Whatever.


Cassandra:  I love you.


Josh:  …you too.  [Cassandra walks off stage.]  I’m a goddamn idiot.  [blackout]

[scene On Set, all of crew, Seline and Mark]


Mark:  I want you…


Seline:  Tim…I.


Mark:  shhh…don’t speak.  Just, feel.


Seline:  TIM! 


Mark:  What baby?


Seline:  I’m sick…


Mark:  And twisted…for keeping me waiting…c’mon…


Seline:  No…Tim…I’m positive…HIV…


Mark:  What?


Seline:  [getting emotional]  I’m sorry.


Mark:  WHORE!  [slaps Seline]


Josh: CUT!  Next scene.


[run crew moves a bed on stage, Mark exits, Roger enters, hospital wear, laying on bed]


Candace:  Positive,  Act 15, scene 7, take one.


Seline:  Carl…How bad is it?


Roger:  They say…it’s pretty bad…but, I think they just want to see how much they can get from a guy without insurance.


Seline:  [smiles]  Carl…[hugs him]


Roger:  [groaning in a little discomfort]  I love you…baby.  I wish I could have gotten the money…I’m really sorry.


Seline:  I’m just happy you’re ok.


Roger:  [starts breathing heavy]  yeah…me…too…[starts gasping for air.]


Seline:  Carl?


Roger:  I’m [Wheeze] Ok.  [Wheeze]  Pro-mise.


Seline:  HELP!  ANYONE!  GET A NURSE! SOMEBODY!  [Roger starts breathing more and more shallow]  NURSE!  DOCTOR!  [Carl falls still]  no… CARL!  CARL WAKE UP!  [actors as Doctors run in, start trying to resuscitate Roger] Why…


Doctor:  Miss, you’re going have to leave…


Seline:  Don’t make me leave him!


Josh:  CUT!  [Stands up]  Well guys…that was the last scene.


Seline:  of the day?


Josh: of, EVER!  Congrats guys!


Cast and Crew:  WOOOO!


Candace:  Everyone, Crew’s going to ForLonger’s for a beer!  Everyone’s welcome!


Josh:  Now…spend the next 2 months in editing and you all will be getting a phone call when we make it to SUNDANCE BABY!


Jackson: EVERYONE!  LETS GO!  [everyone runs off stage] [blackout]


[scene- editing room]


Josh:  Editing, the most painful part of making any film.  Anything you film is engraved on the 8 millimeter reel that is your heart.  You really don’t want to cut anything…but you have to.  [bends over and takes a line of cocaine]  And in one instance, I had never been more thankful to be a junkie.  [cuts and pastes film]  And…it’s…Done.  It’s really, done.  [Aside]  As any artist can tell you, finishing a work feels like no other.  Such completion, such definition.  An artist can be asked ‘how do you know when you’re done.’  Such a definition seems beyond comprehension.  Jackson Pollock summed it up right.  “How do you know when you’re done having sex”? [Prepares syringe]  This would go to the mail at Sundance tomorrow.  But now [ties off arm]  I celebrate.  [blackout]


[scene bathroom of Cipe  Josh, Dealer, Breaker and Jones]


Josh:  So you got the old place back? [sniff]


Dealer:  Yep.  So, you haven’t been around as frequently recently, what’s been up?


Josh:  Finishing up my movie…


Jones:  You make films?


Breaker:  Yep, he went to college for it.


Jones:  You went to college?


Josh:  [sniffs, nods] Emerson in Boston.


Jones:  Whoa…that’s like…across the country.


Josh:  yeah…all 3000 miles.


Jones:  wow.


Josh:  [sniffs, finishing his mirror]  Hey, Dealer.


Dealer:  yes, Joshua.


Josh:  always wondered why you kept 2 henchmen around at all times.  [gestures towards Jones and Breaker]


Dealer:  henchmen would imply that they are useful…[laughs]  they’re nothing but Junkies.


Josh:  So why do you keep them around?


Dealer:  They’re like pets…keep me from being lonely.


Josh:  Sheep.


Dealer:  I am the Good Shepherd.


Josh:  you’re cocky.


Dealer:  [laughs]  Thank the flock [nods to Breaker and Jones]

Josh:  haha.  Ok, gimme, 2 of each [hands Dealer $660]


Dealer:  You planning on not seeing me for a bit?  Stocking up?  [gets decks]


Josh:  Haha, no, I’m gonna need it.  Until I get the yes or no from the festivals, I’m gonna be a nervous wreck.


Dealer:  [handing Josh the drugs]  Just don’t die on me…remember, I like you.


Josh:  yeah, yeah…See you later, Jones, Breaker, Dealer.


Dealer:  Pleasure…[josh cuts him off]


Josh: Ah!  What’s my name.


Dealer:  [smiles]  Junkie.


[blackout on bathroom  run crew takes it off.]


Josh:  I can’t explain why my goal was to get Dealer to call me Junkie.  Maybe his anonymity made me jealous.  Maybe I wanted to forget that I was some deadbeat film maker, and loose my own identity.  Maybe I wanted to forget where I came from.  Maybe I wanted to loose myself.  [Begins tying his arm off, and preparing a syringe, Makes a bump on the screen of his cell phone, snorts it]  When I was a kid, I loved Halloween, the anonymity, the ability to be something and have not one person know who you were.  That’s what I get out of being known as Junkie.  I am not Joshua Allister, I have not failed at my dream.  I am not awaiting some rejection letter.  I am a junkie, I have succeeded at getting a high, I have received my acceptance into addiction.  [snorts another bump]  When you’re an addict, you’ve won.  [injects prepared syringe]  Or, maybe, you’ve lost.


Seline:  [on phone, walks across stage]  Dad, Josh sent the film into Sundance!  I’m gonna be a star!  No…we haven’t been accepted yet, but… What do you mean?  [Josh takes another bump, preparing another syringe


Jackson: [on phone, walks across stage] Mom, we finally finished production and josh sent us into Sundance.  No…I don’t have a real job yet…Mom, this is what I love- [Josh takes another bump]


Candace: [on phone, walks across stage]  No…Brooke I haven’t found a husband, I’ve been too busy working.  Well, I mean, there’s one guy…but…[Josh snorts another bump]


Reuben: [on phone, walks across stage]  No, dad, we haven’t been accepted yet, but Josh says there’s a good chance [Josh sniffs again]


Roger:  [on phone, walks across stage] Yeah, Carson…I know…I’m sorry.  If We get in, I’ll take you to make up for it…I love you too. [Josh takes a bump]


Meadows:  [on phone, walks across stage]   I really don’t know if I’ll get my money’s worth.  Josh has potential, the film can work, but, you know, I just don’t know.  [Josh Injects a very large dose of heroin, alone on stage]


Dealer:  [walks on stage handing a phone to Josh]  You’re my favorite customer…[Josh takes phone, beginning to shake]


Cassandra: Hello? [appears on the edge of the stage]


Josh:  [shaking, becoming emotional]  Cassie, I’m so sorry.


Cassandra:  Josh?


Josh:  I’m so, so sorry.


Cassandra:  Josh are you ok?


Josh:  Cassie I made a mistake.


Cassandra:  Josh?  It’s Ok, we all make mistakes.


Josh:  no, no it’s not ok.


Cassandra:  Shh…yes…it’s Ok…


Josh:  Can you come here, Cassie?


Cassandra:  Yes Josh, I’ll come right now.  I’ll be right there.


Josh:  Can you be here now?


Cassandra:  yes I can josh.


Josh:  please hurry…


Cassandra:  I am Josh, I am.


Josh:  thank you, cassie.


Cassandra:  I’m leaving right now…[Cassandra leaves the stage]


Josh:  Thank you cassie. [hangs up phone, curls in a ball]  I’m sorry, I’m sorry.  I’m just a stupid junkie.  I’m sorry.


Cassandra:  [appears on other side of the stage]  Josh, A letter from Sundance was under the door.  Josh?


Josh:  I’m sorry, I’m sorry.  [Cassandra rushes to Josh] 


Cassandra:  Josh, I’m here, I’m here.  Look what came, a letter from Sundance.


Josh:  I’m sorry Cassie, so sorry. 


Cassandra:  No, josh, look!


Josh:  [Realizes the letter]  Can you open it?  Please Cassie?


Cassandra:  Yes I can, Josh.  [opens letter]  JOSH!  JOSH!  YOU GOT IN!  YOU’RE IN SUNDANCE!


Josh:  [starts shivering, and having trouble breathing] That’s nice…thank you Cassie…I’m tired.


Cassandra: [sees cocaine and heroin]  No, no, no, no.  No josh, don’t go to sleep!


Josh:  goodnight Cassie…love you.  [closes eyes…stops breathing]


Cassandra:  Josh…JOSH!  Oh God [Pulls out phone]  Hello? 911?  I need an ambulance!  Hold on Josh, oh please god, Hold on!  [blackout]


[scene, Sundance film festival, rows of seats, backs to the audience, appear before a screen.  Cast, Crew of Positive, even techies of the show, sit in the seats, Cassandra standing up front]


Dealer:  [walks on stage, stands beside Cassandra]  Shame…isn’t it…that he can’t be here…his dream.


Cassandra:  How did you know Josh?


Dealer:  I knew him in ways that not many people did.  [lights dim, Cassandra and Dealer sit down in the front row.]


Production Screen:  [black, white lettering comes up]  In Loving Memory of Joshua Allister.  1990-2014.  [all lights go down]  [end]