The January People’s Choice Award Goes to……..
The people have spoken… The January People’s Choice Award goes to Karen T. Hartline for her short play, ANYTHING HELPS, presented as a staged reading at Monday Night PlayGround on January 15, at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Congratulations, Karen!
Courtesy of Ms. Hartline, we’re pleased to share the first two pages from the award-winning script. Enjoy!
Anything Helps
By Karen T. Hartline
Character Breakdown
* Jeremy – African American – Early 20’s – Reserved, smart, hipster, not particularly charismatic.
* Mo – African American – 60’s – Homeless beggar, Very outspoken, negative, opinionated.
The following characters can be played by ONE MAN and ONE WOMAN. Each character can be differentiated with different hats and coats:
* Woman #1-5
* Man #1-4
————–
A city street corner. JEREMY is standing in a fluorescent vest, wearing a backpack and holding a clip board. MO, dirty and disheveled is sitting on a nearby bench holding a sign made out of a cardboard box that says “Anything Helps.” He shakes a paper cup with change each time someone passes. WOMAN #1 enters, walking briskly.
JEREMY
Excuse me, do you care about the environment?
MO
Anything helps… God Bless.
WOMAN #1 continues walking without stopping, ignoring both of them. After a moment, MAN #1 passes in the other direction.
MO
Anything helps… God bless.
JEREMY
Excuse me, do you care about the environment?
MAN #1
To Jeremy, barely
Sorry, I’m running late…
MAN #1 keeps walking and exits. WOMAN #2 passes.
JEREMY
Excuse me, do you care about the environment-
WOMAN #2
To Jeremy
Get a life, asshole.
MO
God bless…
Beat, the to JEREMY
Same day as me.
JEREMY
You talking to me?
MO
I said, you having the same kinda day as me.
JEREMY
Oh. Yeah, I guess so.
MO
This my corner, you know.
JEREMY
What?
MO
I said, this is my corner.
JEREMY
Oh. I don’t want money, I just-
MO
That don’t mean nothing to these people. You bothering them, then I gotta bother them. That ain’t working for me. Shit…
JEREMY ignores MO. WOMAN #3 passes.
JEREMY
Excuse me, do you care about the environment?
She continues walking without acknowledging either of them.
MO
See? She so focused on ignoring you, she ain’t even bother with me.
JEREMY
Okay, well, I’m just trying to do my job.
MO
“Your job.” What job is that? Coming out here bothering people? People pay you to do
that? Shoot. They should pay me. I’m out here every day bothering people for free!
Join us for the next Monday Night PlayGround on Monday, February 19, at Berkeley Rep and choose your own favorite. Click here for more info.