MYSTERY OF THE GANGSTER GHOST
ACT 1 SCENE 5 - SEEING BEYOND WITH MAYA FANTASMA
(Curtain opens and on the stage is simple with a chair and a
backdrop. The backdrop is a large display with writing on it
saying Seeing Beyond with Maya Fantasma. The lights show
dimly on the backdrop giving it an eerie appearance. JAQUE
and VERA are in the audience sitting near the DR corner of
the stage. The light suddenly gets very bright then a
blackout. Spooky music plays. There is a ghostly sounding
ANNOUNCER. MAYA enters in the darkness as the ANNOUNCER
speaks)
ANNOUNCER
Welcome to Seeing Beyond with Maya
Fantasma. All you are about to see
is real. There are no tricks, no
games, no acting involved. Maya
Fantasma can really speak with the dead.
(Lights slowly come on. MAYA is in her seat, ready)
MAYA
Hello, I’m Maya Fantasma. It’s a
pleasure to be here tonight. The
spiritual activity here is intense.
If there are times when I appear to
be strained or overwhelmed please
bare with me. Occasionally, the
spirits are anxious to speak and
their essences overpower me.
Tonight will be one of those nights.
(She stands dramatically)
Let’s get started.
(She goes up to one audience member DL)
I feel drawn here. Something has
brought me to you. I see someone
about your height, though slightly
shorter, wishing to talk to you. He
has the same color hair as you.
(Waves her hand at audience member)
No, don’t interrupt. Let me finish.
I must not disrupt the connection.
(She closes her eyes a moment and touches the audience
members head)
He died from a blackening of the
chest, could be a heart attack...
could be a disease, it’s hard to see.
(She backs away)
Wait. He wishes to speak. The dead
speak in pictures, so I must
interpret them for you. He says you
always didn’t get along but he
still loves you. He says he is
sorry about the time he tipped over
the outhouse with you inside.
(Looks at audience member)
Could this be your brother or
cousin or something?
(The audience member says no most likely)
Maybe your father? Grandfather? Uncle?
(No positive response)
Well, this spirit is sorry anyway.
(She quickly moves on to another audience member DC. As she
heads to another, she sees SADIE near JAQUE and VERA. SADIE
points at VERA excitedly)
SADIE
It’s her! It’s actually her! This
is that woman! Did you bring her
here to me? What’s she doing with
your friend? What is this all about?!
(MAYA tries to ignore her and continues)
MAYA
I sense another presence. She
wishes to speak to you. She has
gray hair and is slightly shorter.
She died peacefully, but you were
worried she didn’t. She...
(SADIE cries out in frustration. MAYA gives her a worried
look. JAQUE and VERA and rest of the actor audience don’t
notice SADIE)
MAYA (CONT.)
She wants you to know she is near
you always. She watches over your
children as well.
SADIE
Where does she come up with this
stuff? The ghost here is yours
truly... and I got a bone to pick
with this one. Over here, Ms. Fantasma.
(MAYA gives SADIE a worried look again then moves on)
MAYA
So many spirits trying to speak.
(SADIE jumps up excitedly and points to VERA)
SADIE
Me next! Over here!
MAYA
I sense another spirit.
(She goes L again)
SADIE
No, this way. Come on.
MAYA
Someone really wants to speak. I am
being drawn...
SADIE
Please. I’m dying to talk to her.
(MAYA speaks to an audience member)
MAYA
You lost a pet recently?
SADIE
A pet?! Oh come on. Let’s channel
some people.
(MAYA is on the verge of screaming at SADIE but controls herself)
MAYA
Within the last ten years you lost
this family pet? Twenty maybe? Thirty?
(Keeps going until she gets a positive response. If not, go
to a person nearby and try again)
MAYA (CONT.)
The pet wishes to let you know that
she is okay and is waiting for you.
SADIE
Maybe if I meow or bark or
something...
(Waves)
Come on, over here.
(SADIE starts barking, meowing, oinking)
MAYA
I must... I must, go.
SADIE
What are you scared of? Come on. Do your thing.
MAYA
Excuse me everyone. The spirits
grow to strong. I must break and meditate.
(Backs to exit)
I will return in a moment.
SADIE
She acts she saw a ghost or something.
(MAYA exits. VERA stands)
VERA
This is ridiculous. Let’s go. She’s
obviously a fake.
JAQUE
We still have time to kill before
our reservation at the Bee’s Knees.
I think it’s kind of funny.
VERA
I want to go... now. Something
weird is going on here.
SADIE
You bet it is, dumb dora.
(SADIE pokes VERA’S arm)
VERA
Ah! What was that?
JAQUE
Vera... take it easy. People are looking.
VERA
But I felt something poke me.
JAQUE
But there’s nobody there.
VERA
I felt it, I really did.
SADIE
So you can feel me, huh? Can you
hear me too?!
(SADIE pokes VERA again. VERA looks around but doesn’t see SADIE)
VERA
It just happened again. And this
time I thought I heard something.
JAQUE
Um... do you believe in ghosts?
VERA
There’s no such thing.
(VERA says this more to convince herself than JAQUE)
SADIE
Vera? Vera? Can you hear me?
(Screams)
Vera?!
VERA
Did you hear that? Sounds like
someone said my name. That’s
it. I’m leaving.
SADIE
You’re not getting out of here that easily.
(Sadie grabs Vera’s purse from under her chair and and hides
it under an audience members chair)
VERA
It’s gone!
JAQUE
What?
VERA
My purse is gone.
JAQUE
Maybe you left it in the bathroom.
(They exit. SADIE talks to audience as she retrieves purse
and places it in VERA’s chair)
SADIE
Have you ever looked all over the
house and tired to find your purse
or your car keys? Then suddenly you
find them in plain sight. Now you
know how this happens.
(MAYA peeks out, sees SADIE and disappears again)
SADIE (CONT.)
That’s it. I’m going to get her
back out here.
(SADIE runs up and back to where MAYA is. SADIE follows MAYA
back out on stage)
MAYA
I’m sorry, Sadie. It’s been a long
time since I’ve spoken to a spirit.
It overwhelmed me.
SADIE
Look, I need you because I heard
you’re the best. All the spirits
tell me if anyone can help me you can.
(MAYA pulls SADIE aside and does a stage whisper)
MAYA
I haven’t seen a ghost in ten
years. I’ve lost it.
SADIE
Obviously you haven’t. I’m here
aren’t I?
MAYA
Yes, yes you are.
SADIE
You channeled me the other night.
Please do it again. You helped
John, which I will be forever
thankful to you for. But I have
unfinished business too. I need you.
(Sees JAQUE and VERA returning)
SADIE (CONT.)
Here she is. Let’s do it.
