Playwriting Sample

AMERICAN ICONS

a black comedy about profits and perception

2 acts / 5 m, 3 f / run time approx. 100 min.

TIME & PLACE - The play takes in 1991 -- mostly at the executive offices of Matthews International, outside of Baltimore, Maryland. They manufacture, broker and otherwise purvey collectibles, both historical and manufactured.

THE SETTING - Basically a table, five office chairs, five phones and five computer terminals -- all mobile so they can be reconfigured to represent different offices at Matthews International.

WE PICK UP ON THE ACTION during the prologue (where a series of short monologues and brief encounters are utilized to define the characters and their particular world.)

AT THIS POINT WE SEE a single light on BENTLEY -- mid-thirties, Brooks Brothers look, the chief broker/account exec, ceramic division -- as he swivels his office chair around and addresses the audience.

BENTLEY

Though he is a little, well, coarse, working with Morty Matthews is never dull. Last month, for example, I went to him about our need for a new mass market product for the holidays. Something that will make Grandmothers's will ... something that will grace your home ... (light up on MORTY MATTHEWS -- age 50, Syms off-price look, the founder and energetic leader of the company -- as he swivels front)

MORTY

Not my home, I have a small apartment.

BENTLEY

Something your family will enjoy ...

MORTY

I have no family.

BENTLEY (patient)

At Christmas time, Christian families set out a creche.

MORTY

Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and a bunch of farm animals.

BENTLEY

Ours is going to be different -- world class designers ...

MORTY

Christmas market's swamped. How 'bout an Easter series?

BENTLEY

Bunnies?

MORTY

Ya know, at Christmas, you arrange that little scene on the mantle, right? What can you put out at Easter?

BENTLEY

Reproductions of Faberge eggs, would be very nice.

MORTY

You want mass market here, Bentley, or what? Think! Easter! Not just thousands, but tens of thousands of subscribers! What could people assemble on their mantles for Easter?

BENTLEY (thinks a moment, then)

Morty, no one's going to want to nail their own Christ to a cross.

MORTY (being patient)

Something to arrange on the mantle at Easter -- think!

BENTLEY

Display your own last supper?

MORTY

Now you're talkin'! There's what -- ten apostles?

BENTLEY

I think there were twelve.

MORTY

Whatever. Make it up from the Michelangelo painting and don't even have to pay a designer.

BENTLEY

It was Da Vinci.

MORTY

Bone China! And make your table from"giants cedars from the Holy Land!"

BENTLEY

There are no giant cedars left in the holy land.

MORTY

They don't know that!

BENTLEY

What about food?

MORTY

What about it?

BENTLEY

It was the last supper.

MORTY

It's for display, not for some kid to play house with!

BENTLEY

It was a Seder supper. He was Jewish ... at the time. (realizing:) Then again, you know what was on the table -- the wine chalice!

MORTY

There you are!

BENTLEY

The Grail! The Holy Grail!

MORTY (on a roll)

Subscribe now and we'll throw in the Holy Grail! In 10 carat gold plate! We offer a piece a year -- "complete your set before the 2000th anniversary of the Last Supper!" You getting this down? And, Bentley, check into the potential for lawn ornaments. They buy life size manger scenes that light up their lawns for Christmas, don't they?