“The Waiting Room”
by D. M. Larson
A scene for 3 actors from the play "Death of an Insurance Salesman"
ISBN-13: 978-1518665547
(MAX enters a waiting room. Pete and Gil are sitting and waiting)
MAX
Where am I?
GIL
A waiting room.
MAX
What kind of waiting room?
GIL
I’m not sure.
PETE
Why is this taking so long?
GIL
He’s been here awhile.
PETE
I don’t understand why we’re just sitting here. There’s no receptionist, no sign in sheet, no intercom…
nothing!
MAX
Take it easy. We’ll figure this out.
PETE
Take it easy?! You just got here. I’ve been waiting here forever.
GIL
Not quite… see I was here before you and…
PETE
Shut up! I’m sick of hearing you talk.
GIL
Sorry.
PETE
Shut it!
MAX
Getting upset isn’t going to solve this. If we…
PETE
If we what? Get superpowers and walk through a wall or fly…
(Looks up and pauses. He stares silently. Max and Gil look too)
MAX
That’s weird.
GIL
There’s no ceiling. It just kind of goes up and up and up and…
PETE
Shut… up!
MAX
Whoa… it got darker.
GIL
Interesting.
(GIL goes over and shakes Max’s hand)
GIL (CONT.)
Nice to meet you, my name is Gil.
MAX
It got lighter again.
(Max smiles and shakes back)
MAX (CONT.)
Nice to meet you, Gil.
GIL
Lighter again.
PETE
What are you freaks doing?!
GIL
Darker.
MAX
We’re just examining our surroundings. Seeing if there are any clues that can help us get out of here.
(Max looks around)
PETE
It’s useless. We’ve tried everything.
MAX
So how did we get in here?
GIL
Good question.
MAX
You’d think there was a door or something. Did you see me come in?
GIL
You were just kind of there. Same with him.
MAX
I’m not sure where I came from either. What’s the last thing you remember?
PETE
Ralph… the insurance salesman… for some reason I just keep seeing Ralph.
GIL
Me too… he was selling me insurance.
MAX
That’s who I remember too… we were talking.
PETE
And Mindy… I remember Mindy.
MAX
Yes, Mindy too.
GIL
Who’s Mindy?
MAX
So we all remember Ralph.
PETE
I bet he did this to us. I knew he was no good.
GIL
He helped me.
PETE
What?
GIL
He helped me and my family. He made sure they were taken care of. I have this wonderful feeling that my family is safe and secure and have everything they need.
PETE
Except you.
GIL
Except me.
MAX
Wow, that mood ceiling is all over the place. What if we work together? What if we all try to make the ceiling as bright as possible?
PETE
What about making it as dark as possible?
MAX
I have a feeling making it lighter is better.
GIL
We can all be as nice as possible to each other and think good things.
PETE
Sure! Let’s all do a group hug! Ha! Forget it… how about we all punch each other and I take one of these chairs and beat you until you’re dead.
(PETE picks up a chair – GIL hides behind MAX)
MAX
Take it easy, Pete. Wait. Don’t come any closer. I don’t want to fight with you.
PETE
I am sick and tired of nothing happening. I want something to happen. I want out of here!
MAX
I understand what you’re saying. We all want out of here. We all want to find a way.
PETE
What is this place? Why are we all trapped here? Maybe this is some sort of test or challenge. Maybe this is a survivor kind of thing… last man standing. Winner takes all.
MAX
Yes, it does seem strange like a test or puzzle.
PETE
I hate not being in control. I’m always the one in control. I’m always the one with the plan who knows what to do. I hate this!
MAX
You’re a leader… I’m sorry if I tried to take that away from you. I’m really sorry.
(PETE throws down the chair and walks away)
PETE
I always had the answers. I always was the one everyone looked to. I was like a shepherd guiding my flock, leading everyone to a better life.
MAX
That’s what good leaders do.
(Max goes up to him and extends a hand)
MAX
Let’s start over, okay? My name’s Max… Max Schreck.
PETE
Pete… Pete Masters.
GIL
And I’m Gil… Gil Paulsen.
MAX
So Pete… what do you think we should do?
(PETE sighs and paces. He looks up at the ceiling and then down again. MAX motions to GIL to be quiet and let PETE think)
PETE
Ralph… what does Ralph have to do with all this? He’s what we all have in common.
MAX
You’re right… he is the strange connection we all have.
PETE
He did something to me.
MAX
I have this feeling he did something to me too.
PETE
Why can’t I remember?
GIL
He helped me.
PETE
But what if he didn’t. What if he lied to you and took all your insurance money for himself.
GIL
That would be pretty bad. My poor family.
(MAX touches his chest)
MAX
He shot me! I remember now. He shot me.
PETE
Yes! He shot me too.
GIL
He’s a killer? But he seemed so nice.
PETE
And devious.
MAX
I was supposed to stop him. I was supposed to be the one to stop him.
GIL
I hope my family is okay.
PETE
Maybe we’re waiting for him. Maybe we’re in this waiting room, waiting for him to arrive. Waiting for justice. We will be judge, jury and executioners. I can wait forever now… wait for his demise… wait for that moment his life ends and he comes here to face his sins.
(GIL looks at the ceiling and the room gets darker and darker under it is completely black)
END OF PLAY
***
(male and female versions)
"The Waiting Room" male version PDF https://sellfy.com/p/brJl/
Buy now
"The Waiting Room" female version PDF https://sellfy.com/p/AXab/
