Monday, November 14, 2016

Writing Challenge 2016 #13 - Ticking Time Bomb


NWC #13- "Ticking Time Bomb " DUE Nov 14th at 8am

So many plays fail to ASK a dramatic question and then ANSWER it in a satisfying climax.
This play should not have that trouble.

The question? Will the bomb go off.
The tension builder? A loud and constant ticking
Some possible answers? Yes, it will. No, it won't. Yes, but we want it to.  No, but we wanted it to.

(My first thought probably would have gotten me investigated by the Secret Service, so best to leave that one alone, I think.)

(I had an idea for another Love Potion #9 scene, so I'm gonna run with that instead)

(In a way, the previous scenes set up a ticking bomb scenario metaphorically - first scene [tick], second scene [tick], this scene below [tick] - and, spoiler alert, scene Iwrote for Debauchery [boom]...)




LOVE POTION #9

(another scene)

AUGGIE tuning a newly restrung guitar; MICAH nearby.

                          AUGGIE
So -

AUGGIE strums a minor chord.

                          AUGGIE (cont'd)
Sad song...?

                          AUGGIE strums a major chord.

                          AUGGIE (cont'd)
Happy song.

                          MICAH
What do you think?

                          AUGGIE, pleased, smiles.

                          AUGGIE
Happy song it is.

AUGGIE strums a lively rhythm.

                          AUGGIE (cont'd)
Perky...?

AUGGIE strums a more laid back rhythm.

                          AUGGIE (cont'd)
Mellow.

                          MICAH
Perky.

                          AUGGIE
Admit it.  You like this.

                          MICAH
You're writing me a song.  Of course I like this.

                          AUGGIE
You and me.  Together in the morning.

                          MICAH
Yeah.

                          AUGGIE
Don't worry.  I won't tease you.  Much.

                          MICAH
You're gonna break me.  This, is gonna break me.

                          AUGGIE
I'll be gentle.

                          MICAH
Jesus.

                          Micah's PHONE rings.

                          AUGGIE
Saved by the bell.

                          MICAH
Hey, Jeffrey.  I'm putting you on speaker, what've you got.

JEFFREY walks in - he's in another place, not actually there, so AUGGIE and MICAH direct their attention to phone as JEFFREY wanders among them.

                          JEFFREY
So, that magic book I got the love potion from?

                          MICAH
Yeah?

                          JEFFREY
Turns out there's this whole chapter on ethics that I skipped over because, you know, I thought I had them already.

                          MICAH
Uh huh...

                          JEFFREY
And if I'm honest there was a warning at the front of the love potion recipe.

                          MICAH
And that warning was -

                          JEFFREY
Basically to read the ethics chapter first.

                          MICAH
Imagine that.

                          JEFFREY
Also to read the rather extensive end note for the spell.

                          MICAH
Which says -

                          JEFFREY
Basically the specific ethics tied to the love potion.  That you shouldn't use it on someone's who's not already in love with you.  A better use would be to enhance your own love and confidence in yourself as a person.

                          MICAH
So, not this situation.

                          JEFFREY
No.

                          MICAH
And for these many and various reasons, they happily offer up an antidote to get you out of any ethical quagmire in which you might have landed yourself.

                          JEFFREY
Yes.  And I was right.  Gathering all the ingredients is gonna take just a bit.

                          MICAH
A bit being - ?

                          JEFFREY
Like I said before, days.

                          AUGGIE
That's OK, Jeffrey.  We're cool with that.

                          MICAH
Fewer days is better.

                          JEFFREY
But an antidote that works just as well as the original potion - ?

                          MICAH
Is the primary objective, yes.

                          AUGGIE
Take your time.

                          JEFFREY
One other thing.

                          MICAH
Oh boy.

                          JEFFREY
No, not 'oh boy' - just a piece of advice from the book.

                          MICAH
Yeah?

                          JEFFREY
The antidote may remove the feelings, but it doesn't erase the memory of anything you may have done while under the influence.

                          MICAH
So you're saying - ?

                          JEFFREY
Anything you guys might - do, here, in the interim - you'll both be stuck with those memories.  Neither of you gets a free pass on this one.

                          MICAH
OK then.

                          JEFFREY
I'll do my best to make that interim as quick as possible for ya'.

                          AUGGIE
Thanks, Jeffrey.

                          MICAH
Yeah, thanks.

                          JEFFREY
More when I know more.

                          JEFFREY hangs up, walks away.

MICAH and AUGGIE are alone, again.


                          AUGGIE
So, what kind of memories can I talk you into making?

                          MICAH
August -

                          AUGGIE
You're not gonna shut me up this time.

(to be continued)

 

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