The January People’s Choice Award goes to…

The people have spoken… The January’s People’s Choice Award goes to Carl Andrew Johnson for his play Othello: Lies and Consequences, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on January 27th live at the David Brower Center and simulcast via Vimeo Livestream. Congratulations, Carl!

Courtesy of Carl, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!

Othello: Lies and Consequences
by
Carl Andrew Johnson

CAST

IAGO
Male, late 40s, Italian. Calculating and controlled, but barely holding it together.

GHOST of EMILIA
Female, late 20s, Italian. Iago’s late wife. Warm and forgiving.

GHOST of RODERIGO
Male, early 20s, Italian. Bitter. Just bitter.

INT. PAROLE HEARING ROOM – DAY

A table sits center stage. Behind the table and facing the audience sits IAGO. Behind him and to either side stand the ghosts of EMILIA and RODERIGO. IAGO is unaware of their presence.

IAGO
Good evening members of the Venetian parole board. For the record my name is Iago, former officer of the Venetian Army. Now… a convict.

IAGO
So how did I end up here? I was convicted of the following charges: the murder of Roderigo –

RODERIGO waves to the audience with an exaggerated smile.

IAGO
The murder of my beloved wife, Emilia –

EMILIA performs an exaggerated curtsey.

IAGO
The attempted murder of Michael Cassio, and my implication in the unfortunate deaths of General Othello and his wife, Desdemona.

EMILIA
Well, at least he’s honest about it.

RODERIGO
I’ve never known him to be honest. But we’ll see.

HE pauses, listening as if being asked a question from the invisible parole board.

IAGO
Do I know the purpose of this hearing? I’m here so you can assess whether I deserve a chance at parole, and if I’m no longer a threat to society. To see if I’ve been rehabilitated. And if 20 years is enough punishment for my crimes.

EMILIA
I’m hoping they offer him parole. And I’m hoping he’s changed.

RODERIGO
He’s either changed into a better person or a better liar.

IAGO
Why did I commit these crimes? I’ve been thinking about that for the last 20 years.

IAGO
Jealousy. Ambition. Insecurity. I felt I’d been wronged and overlooked. I couldn’t accept others getting things I felt they didn’t deserve. I’d always thought of myself as a clever man. But how clever is a man who never considered the cost of his actions? A dead wife and dead friends.

RODERIGO
He knew the cost. He just didn’t think he’d be the one paying the price. Sounds like the guy just couldn’t handle being second best.

EMILIA
People act out when they feel unseen. That’s not an excuse. But it is… an explanation.

RODERIGO
But do you think he actually feels any remorse?

IAGO can not hear RODERIGO but senses the question.

IAGO
(responding to parole board)
Do I feel remorse? Yes. My actions cost Venice a great general. I destroyed Roderigo and Desdemona’s family. And my wife…

IAGO looks down and wipes his eye as if about to cry.

IAGO
I loved my wife. I’ll never hear her laugh again. Never see her smile. Never taste her cooking again. (He pauses.) Ehhh… not the best, but it was better than prison food.

RODERIGO
I’ve tasted your cooking.

EMILIA
And…?

RODERIGO
Good thing ghosts don’t have to eat.

IAGO
Despite her cooking she always had a warm meal ready when I came home. She loved me. And I’m ashamed of how I repaid that love.

EMILIA puts her arms around IAGO’S shoulders, but he can’t feel her touch.

Join us for the next Monday Night PlayGround on February 17th. For more info, click here!