Color Me Blind Read online



  Color Me Blind

  By

  Justin Blasdel

  Justin Blasdel

  02-09-11

  Version 1

  [email protected]

  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?