Maryland Literary Review

Characters
BOB GAMBLE	A director; about forty
JIM GAPP	A would-be actor; mid-twenties
MAN	A fellow who may or may not be an actor; about forty

Scene

A room

Time

The Present

The lights rise to reveal a man seated on a stool. In his hand is a thin sheaf of papers at which he’s staring down thoughtfully. Fortyish dressed all in black, the man has about him the aura of an outlaw an artist–or maybe both. His name is BOB GAMBLE. After a moment he stirs.

I’m gonna show you just how wrong a turn it was.

GAMBLE

All right, let’s see what we got. Who’s up?

(Checks his papers and calls out)

Gapp? Jim Gapp?

Timidly, out comes JIM GAPP. Young and rather sincere-looking, GAPP is a denim shirt and jeans. He carries himself awkwardly, uncertainly, and we get the impression he’s somewhat out of his element in this setting.

GAMBLE (CONT’D)

Jim Gapp?

GAPP

Yes sir

GAMBLE

Bob Gamble

(They shake hands)

You all set to go?

GAPP

I think so

GAMBLE

Good, good.

(With a glance down)

Says here you’re a truck driver?

GAPP

Used to be. Now I’m a full-time Thespian

GAMBLE

Well, I don’t care about your sex life. Let’s see if you can act.

(Baffled silence from GAPP)

That was a joke.

GAPP

Oh. Yes

(Offers a weak chuckle)

GAMBLE

So you’ve read your lines?

GAPP

Yes sir.

GAMBLE

Got ’em memorized frontwards and backwards?

GAPP

I dunno about backwards…

GAMBLE

Frontwards’ll do. Let me review the setup here just to make sure we’re on the same page.

GAPP

GAMBLE

Your wife, the woman that’s your sole reason for living, the woman that you adore more than you could ever hope to express in words, has been fooling around on you, right? Banging some other guy.

GAPP

Banging him, yes

GAMBLE

There’s no valid reason for it, least as far as you’re concerned, but
that’s just how it is.

GAPP

Right

GAMBLE

At first, you couldn’t even get your mind around a reality that’s so
crushing, so devastating…

GAPP

Uh huh.

GAMBLE

But now you finally have, and you sure as hell don’t like it.

GAPP

Don’t like it a little bit.

GAMBLE

So you’re gonna confront the no-good son of a bitch that’s been making whoopee with the one and only true love of your life.

GAPP

Yes sir.

GAMBLE

And for the purposes of this audition, I’m gonna play that other guy.

GAPP

Gotcha.

GAMBLE

Good. So let’s do it. Let’s see if we can boil up some real tension now, OK?

GAPP

OK.

(A silence as GAPP looks around, fidgeting)

GAMBLE

Go ahead.

GAPP

Where should I stand?

GAMBLE

I don’t care where you stand. It’s up to you. Stand on your head if you like–but just go ahead and hit it.

GAPP nods, takes a breath and attempts to work himself into character, for what it’s worth. His acting will prove to be wooden and amateurish

GAPP
(In character; semi-sinister)

I thought I might find you here.

GAMBLE
(Cocky)

Guess you thought right, ’cause here I am. Do I know you, pal?

GAPP
(Shakes his head)

We’re about to get acquainted.

GAMBLE

Who the hell are you?

GAPP

Who the hell do you think I am?

GAMBLE

I think you’re a guy that made a wrong turn and got lost.

GAPP

Yeah?

GAMBLE

And I think maybe you best turn around and go back to where you belong.

GAPP

Oh, there’s been a wrong turn all right, only I didn’t make it. You did.

(Moves toward GAMBLE)

GAMBLE

(Shakes his head, waves his hand and abandons his character)

No no no no no.

GAPP

What’s the matter?

GAMBLE

It’s not working.

GAPP

What’s not working?

GAMBLE

Jim, I could see you acting.

GAPP

Well, I, I was acting.

GAMBLE

But I don’t wanna see it.

GAPP

What do you mean?

GAMBLE

Acting, Jim, has gotta be natural.

(Pause)

And believable. If I can see you acting, you’re not really acting.

GAPP

I’m not?

GAMBLE

No, in that case, you’re just acting like you’re acting.

GAPP

Acting like I’m…

GAMBLE

Natural and smooth and convincing, Jim. That’s the ticket. That’s what we’re after.

GAPP

Natural and…

GAMBLE

You wanna just melt into your role.

GAPP

You want me to melt?

GAMBLE

Into your role, yes.

GAPP

I dunno if I can melt.

GAMBLE

You don’t have to right this second. Tell you what, why don’t you go on back out and have a seat. We’ll talk in a little while.

GAPP

Go on back out?

GAMBLE

And have a seat. We’ll talk

GAPP

I could probably learn to melt.

GAMBLE

We’ll talk about it.

Dejected, GAPP nods and trudges back offstage in the same direction whence he came.

On his stool, GAMBLE takes a moment to collect himself. He sighs, stretches his shoulders, scratches his nose and consults his papers.

GAMBLE (CONT’D)
(To himself)

Let’s see, who’s next? What do we got?

Now, without a word, a very intense-looking MAN walks out. About the same age as GAMBLE, the MAN is wearing a disheveled suit, his tie askew. Both his hair and his eyes (which are fixed on GAMBLE) are wild. He seems genuinely menacing.

GAMBLE (CONT’D)
(Notices him)

Yes?

(No response)

Can I help you?

(No response)

Are you on my list?

MAN

You’re on my list, chief. That’s all that matters.

Puzzled, GAMBLE blinks and half-smiles.

MAN (CONT’D)

I thought I might find you here.

GAMBLE

Oh.

(Refocuses)

OK. Uhhhhh…

(Finds his place in the script)

Guess you thought right, ’cause here I am. Do I know you, pal?

MAN

We’re about to get acquainted.

GAMBLE

Who the hell are you?

MAN

I’m the Easter Bunny. I’m the Sheik of Araby. I’m Casper the Friendly Ghost.

GAMBLE

I, uh… I think you’re a guy that made a wrong turn and got lost.

MAN

Hey, I don’t give a goddam what you think.

(Pause)

Lost!… We’re gonna find out who’s lost, you bastard.

GAMBLE
(Out of character)

You’re a little off-script, but that’s OK. I like it. I love it.

(Stands up)

Hold your last thought.

(Takes a few steps toward what we presume is the waiting area; calls out)

Jim? Hey, Jim? Jim!

Soon GAPP reappears, meek and slightly confused as usual.

GAMBLE (CONT’D)
(To the MAN)

Go ahead.

MAN

What, you think this is a joke?

GAMBLE

No, I don’t think it’s a joke.

(To GAPP)

This is improv, Jim. You familiar with improv?

GAPP

I dunno.

GAMBLE

You just make stuff up. Make it up on the fly.

(To the MAN)

I think maybe you’re a joke.

MAN
(With cold detachment)

Here’s the part I don’t get. What in the name of God did she ever see in you? You don’t look like much; that guy over there’s better-looking than you are.

(Indicates GAPP, who just shrugs in bewilderment)

It can’t be your money. What I hear, you don’t have two cents to rub together.

GAMBLE

Yeah, but I got credit cards galore.

MAN

And it can’t be your wit either, ’cause you’re a total dumbass.

GAMBLE

Maybe I’m a sexual superman. Maybe I’m hung like a goddam horse.

MAN

Such disrespect. Not for me, but for her.

GAMBLE

It is what it is.

MAN
(Moves closer to GAMBLE)

You must’ve tricked her somehow. Did you trick her? Did you drug her?

GAMBLE

I tricked her, I drugged her, and then I screwed her.

MAN

She deserves better. Maggie deserves so much better.

GAMBLE
(Startled by the name)

Maggie?

MAN

Maggie. My wife.

GAMBLE
(Shocked)

Maggie’s married?

MAN

She’s my wife, reckon that makes her married.

GAMBLE
(Alarmed)

Whoa. How was I…Wait a second. She never said one word–

MAN

I’m through talking, chief.

(Points the gun)

GAMBLE

NOW HOLD ON JUST ONE SECOND–

MAN

Do me a small favor, would you?

GAMBLE
(Desperate)

What is it? Name it. I’ll do anything!

MAN

Die like a dog.

The MAN fires three shots into GAMBLE’s midsection. Reacting, GAMBLE topples backwards and lies face-up on the floor, groaning softly and writhing in agony.

Now the MAN goes over to GAPP, who stands frozen in place. Gun still in hand, the MAN stares for a long moment into GAPP’s wide, stricken eyes. The MAN then shoves the gun back into his suit and quickly exits.

Overwhelmed, GAPP slowly approaches GAMBLE in the stunned manner of one who has just had direct contact with God. He is humbled, awed and transported. He speaks partly to GAMBLE, who’s still sprawled on his back, and partly to himself.

GAPP
(Subdued)

Oh my God. That was fantastic. That was… incredible! I had no idea it could be like that. All these years of telling myself if I worked at it, really worked at it, I could become an actor… Man, I was delusional.

(Chuckles sadly)

I’d be driving down the highway in my truck, you know, and sometimes I’d run through scenes in my head, play out different parts I’d memorized. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” “Houston, we have a problem.” “You talking to me?” I thought if only I had the courage and the willpower to pursue my dream… Well, what’s it matter what I thought? There’s just no substitute for talent.

(Sighs)

I’ll go back to being a truck driver. It’s not art, but it’s good, solid, steady work. And it pays the bills. Let somebody else “take” meetings and have an agent and win the awards.

(Straight down at GAMBLE)

I want to thank you, Mr. Gamble, for giving me an education. Education can be painful, but it’s a necessary part of life.

(Pause)

Take care of yourself.

(Turns to go, then stops and turns back to GAMBLE, who continues to writhe on the floor)

Break a leg!

ExitsBlackout