Color Me Blind
By
Justin Blasdel
Justin Blasdel
02-09-11
Version 1
justin_blasdel@yahoo.com
Characters
Naomi Boyd; Early 20’s, Troubled and Lost
Jerry; Early 30’s, a worthless nothing
Color; Traveler of the Otherlife
Bobby; Musician of the Human Spirit
General Deed; Warrior of Ages
Marry Lauper; Neon Beauty
Doctor Vision; Anti-Humanist
Time
Winter and then within an eternally stretched out moment.
Place
Down a street alley, and then the Afterlife…maybe.
PRODUCTION NOTES: I realize that I have specified many SFX and light cues. I prefer that the SFX be followed as closely as possible, but the light cues can be manipulated or changed to fit your specific needs.
ACT I, SCENE I
It’s a cold, cruel winter in the city. The taste of despair and misery is fragrant upon the chilly night wind, and the only miniscule hint of hope in this barren urban land is the few fluorescent lights that dot the frozen streets.
SFX: One gunshot, followed by three more.
JERRY (OS)
Fuck you, blue! You ain’t ever takin’ me down!
JERRY enters, helping NAOMI walk.
JERRY is a cosmic mistake; doomed to screw up HIS and everyone else’s life. Especially NAOMI's.
NAOMI is the focus of this story. SHE was born under a terrible omen at midnight, and bad luck adopted HER at a young age. SHE’s incredibly creative, but unfortunately equally rebellious. SHE wants to do the good thing, but hasn’t yet found anyone worthy of HER time.
SHE also has a bleeding bullet wound in HER abdomen. A mortal one.
JERRY looks back to see if any cops are following THEM.
JERRY
I…don’t see ‘em. We lost ‘em.
NAOMI
Baby.
JERRY
Fucking blues. Think they can take me down?! Huh?!
NAOMI
Baby.
JERRY
What?!
NAOMI
Put me down. I gotta…I gotta sit. I can’t run no more.
JERRY
Come on, Naomi! We gotta go!
NAOMI
I can’t!
JERRY
Shhh! Shut the fuck up. [beat] Fine. Whatever. Sit down and bleed on the street.
JERRY puts NAOMI on the ground. NAOMI tries to hold in HER life’s blood, and JERRY keeps a good handle on HIS pistol.
NAOMI
I’m bleeding out. Jerry.
JERRY
[not paying attention] What?
NAOMI
Jerry!
JERRY
[whispering] Shut the fuck up. What?
NAOMI
I need a doctor.
JERRY looks at the wound.
JERRY
Damn. I mean, you good. You good. For real. We gotta go.
NAOMI
I need a doctor.
JERRY
You said that, bitch. Get up and go! We find a doctor later. Fix you up good.
NAOMI
I can’t feel my toes.
JERRY
You just cold. We…gotta…GO! Now! Get up, bitch!
NAOMI
Give me something. Some…blow, or…some horse. Something to make me go.
JERRY searches HIS jacket.
JERRY
I-I-I got nothing. Just…just push through the pain. Okay?
NAOMI
Push through the pain? Push through the pain?!
NAOMI starts to cough and convulse.
SFX: Police Sirens.
JERRY
Shit!
In a split moment, JERRY has to make a hard decision. Stay with HIS woman and probably end up in jail, or make a run for it. HE makes the wise choice.
NAOMI
Jerry…help.
JERRY
Naomi, you one crazy woman. But I always remember the good times we had.
NAOMI
What?
JERRY goes at full sprint and exits.
NAOMI
What? You’re leaving me here?...Jerry! Jerry!...You [coughs]…you son of a bitch! I hope you fucking[coughs]…fucking[coughs]…Oh, my god. Oh, my god. I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die. [cries] That...son…of…a…my arm’s numb. My arm’s numb.
NAOMI gently falls towards a deep sleep pushed by HER blood loss.
SFX: Gun shots in the distance. Sirens.
NAOMI
What’s…what’s…gonna happen…to…me?
NAOMI passes out.
SFX: Sirens fade away.
The lights dim down to darkness.
END ACT I, SCENE I
ACT I, SCENE II
Nothingness. Darkness. Purgatory.
SFX: Heart beating.
Red light flashes with the beat of the heart.
NAOMI is lying on the ground where SHE was left.
NAOMI
Jerry. [beat] Jerrrrry! [beat] You fucker! Why'd you leave me? I'm shot, and you left me. JERRY!
SHE stands up. Apparently, HER body no longer reacts to the blood loss. This is not the alley SHE last remembered. This is somewhere new. SHE feels the gut wound, and it still stings.
NAOMI
Shit. Where am I? [beat] Hello? Hey, where am I? This ain't no hospital. [beat] Where the hell am I?!
Soft laughter can be heard all around.
NAOMI
Who's that? Someone messing with me? If you are, you should know I gotta...gotta...
NAOMI searches for a knife in HER pockets, but it isn't there.
NAOMI
[to HERSELF] Shit. They took my knife. [to laughter] I gotta man who'll rip your head off and shit down your throat if you don't stop fucking with me!
COLOR (OS)
The same man who left you to die? You mean that one? I'm not worried.
NAOMI
Well...Well...
Laugther from all around again.
NAOMI
To hell with him. I'll rip off your head and--
COLOR (OS)
Please, please. No more cursing. Besides...
COLOR enters, and the lights stop beating red.
SFX: The heart beat stops.
COLOR is like NAOMI's guardian angel...if guardian angels were generally weird and imperfect. COLOR is relaxed, casual, yet very in tune with the souls in HIS keep.
COLOR
I know you're better than that.
NAOMI
What?
COLOR
You're better than that. Using words like "shit", "fuck", and so on. Come on, Naomi, you were declared a premature genius in the fifth grade. I know you know how to speak like a lady.
NAOMI
Who the hell are you?
COLOR
Your guardian.
NAOMI
My guardian?
COLOR
Your guardian.
NAOMI
My...guardian?
COLOR
Hmm. That last echo took awhile to come back. I should look into that.
NAOMI
What do you mean you're my guardian?
COLOR
That's exactly what I mean. I'm your guardian. Let's try the echo thing again.
NAOMI punches COLOR in the stomach and puts HIM in an arm lock.
COLOR
Ow! How rude!
NAOMI
Okay, guardian. I'm gonna ask you some questions, and you're going to answer them. Got it?
COLOR
/> Actually, you got me.
NAOMI
Got it!
COLOR
Yes, I "got it."
NAOMI
Where am I?
COLOR
Welllll.....I could tell you, but you'll only hurt me more.
NAOMI pulls up on COLOR's arm.
NAOMI
Where am I?!
COLOR
Purgatory! You're in purgatory.
NAOMI lets go of COLOR. HE stretches HIS arm as if HE was never in pain.
NAOMI
I'm in purgatory?
COLOR
Yes. Pur-ga-tory. Purgatory. You’re in purgatory.
NAOMI
You mean...I'm dead? I'm dead?!
COLOR
I don't know. Do you feel dead?
Beat.
NAOMI
Who are you?
COLOR
That's an easy question to answer. The name's Color.
NAOMI
Color?
COLOR
Color.
NAOMI
Color.
COLOR
Color.
NAOMI
That's what I said.
COLOR
I know, I know. I just wanted you to know that you were saying it right.
NAOMI
Stop screwing with my head, Mr. Color.
COLOR
It's just Color. No mister. Do I look like a mister? I hope not.
NAOMI
Am I dead?
COLOR
I already answered that question. Try something else.
NAOMI
You answer me or I'll--
COLOR claps HIS hands.
SFX: Heat beat.
The red light flashes with the heart beat. NAOMI’s pain returns strong.
COLOR
You'll do what? Hurt me? As if you could. No, what you'll do is listen. I'm not here to harm you. And as I said before, I'm your guardian, and I'm here to guard you. What you're probably thinking right now is "How is he doing that, and why can't I move?" Actually, I know that's what you're thinking. Mind reading. One of the many abilities of being a guardian. I also know that below that question, you have another question that needs answering even more. And that is--
COLOR claps. The lights return to normal.
SFX: Heart beat stops.
COLOR
"Am I dreaming?"
Beat.
NAOMI
Am I?
COLOR
I don't know.
NAOMI
You don't know? You said I'm in purgatory! If this isn’t some messed up dream, then I must be dead, right?!
COLOR
You see! You are smart. Thank you for finally using that noodle of yours for something other than a trip. The reason why I don't know if you're dead or dreaming is because you don't have to be dead or dreaming to be here.
NAOMI
But...it's purgatory.
COLOR
Weeeeeeeeeell, that's just what we call "here". We get people from all different times, time zones, dimensions, it's all mixed up in one big reality. It's a mess to tell you the truth, but I call it home.
NAOMI
Then why am I here?
COLOR
Because you belong here. When you don't belong here, you'll leave. I still belong here.
NAOMI
But--
SFX: phone rings.
COLOR
Hold that thought one moment.
COLOR walks away a little bit, and a man wearing a sign walks out and stands by HIM. The sign says "PHONE". COLOR grabs the man's hand and listens to it as if it were a phone.
COLOR
Uh-huh...Uh-huh...Uh-huh...could you...
COLOR takes out a pad and a pencil and starts writing down things.
COLOR
Repeat that?...Uh-huh...Uh-huh...Greaaaat. Thanks a bunch.
COLOR gives the man's hand back. The man fake coughs, and COLOR knows what must be done. HE takes out a few dollar bills and gives it to the man.
COLOR
Don't spend it all in one place.
Man exits. COLOR walks back over to NAOMI.
COLOR
Got some news for you.
NAOMI
I'm crazy?