Written as a character study.
Character: Melissa Anne Crawley
Play: Standing Above Pajaro
MELISSA ANNE CRAWLEY is facing the audience behind a table where she’s being interviewed by the Watsonville Sheriff about the disappearance of her son, BOBBY JR.
MELISSA
Where do you want me to start? Okay. From the beginning. Okay. My name is Melissa Anne Crawley. I was born… truthfully, I don’t really know. My parents, well the ones that found me, think I’m 40. They picked my birthday on May 20th, 1890. Why are you looking at me like that? My eyes. Yes, they are really that blue. I know that everything else about me looks like I’m Mexican, but as far as I know I’m from here in Watsonville, not Mexico. The only time I left this city was when my late husband, Robert, returned from the war in the Philippines to the old Ord Barracks, down in Monterey. We stayed there until my parents passed, and that’s when we moved back to work in their store. The same one I run now with my son, Bobby Jr. Anyways, when Robert returned from war, he wasn’t the same person I married. He didn’t have such a bad temper before he left. I guess that’s what war does to a person. Let’s just say that I quickly learned how not to say anything back or question anything he said. Anyways, he passed on a few years back. Like father like son, Bobby got the same temper and quick-draw reflexes. We tried to make the best of it running the store. But Bobby was always out with his friends though. Teenagers. But that was good. I got to sing out loud. Something that I never got to do when Robert was alive, or when Bobby was around. They said I had a terrible voice and was tone-deaf. But in those moments alone, either singing to myself, or making up stories, I felt alive. I also got to read the old books that my parents had. I didn’t get to go to school so I could help out with the store, but they taught me how to read and write. They probably knew that I’d take over the store for them. But this was something I kept from my husband and son. That I knew how to read and write… well, I made them think that I just knew the basics. I needed to keep some things for me, I suppose. But I wasn’t stupid. No matter, how much they told me that. I wasn’t. I had a family and responsibilities. I didn’t have a need for fancy clothes or anything. And I would keep my hair in a bun, just like this. Robert thought that it was improper to let my hair down. Even when Robert had already passed, Bobby caught me with my hair down and he scolded me for it. He said that’s the way those girls at that Filipino Club down in Palm Beach had their hair when they danced with those Goo-goos, that’s what Bobby called them, those Filipino workers and they would drive them crazy. He said that it wasn’t enough that they were taking away the real American’s jobs, but they were taking their women too. I didn’t know what to believe, but he’s my son and I have to believe that he was right, right? I just wished that sometimes he would…. The night of the 30th? I was at home. Above the store. I heard a lot of commotion going on outside. I knew from the last couple of days that the whole town of Watsonville was after those Filipino field workers. Bobby would tell me some of the things they would do to them. I knew it was wrong, but… I just stayed home and let things play out. Can I ask you something? Is it true that a Filipino was killed at the Murphy Ranch? Oh. What was his name? Oh my. No. I didn’t know Fermin Tobera. Oh. Excuse me. I was just thinking about Bobby. No. No, I don’t know where he is. Do you think he had something to do with this killing? Of course. Still under investigation. Please let me know if you find my son. Can I go now?
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Ostara's Rave
Here's a link to another script I wrote for Bindlestiff Studio's production of Good Friday: Carpool to Hell. It's called Ostara's Rave. Even though this didn't get produced, I'm really happy to have it staged in a workshop. Plus, I got pretty good reaction to it from the cast.
The biggest lesson I learned was the ability to form a story from doing research on the origins of Easter. I wrote this in total of about 3 hours. 2 hours of research and notes and another hour of writing. When I get time, hopefully I'll do a proper re-write.
Enjoy :)
http://www.uptil3.com/scripts/Ostara's Rave.pdf
The biggest lesson I learned was the ability to form a story from doing research on the origins of Easter. I wrote this in total of about 3 hours. 2 hours of research and notes and another hour of writing. When I get time, hopefully I'll do a proper re-write.
Enjoy :)
http://www.uptil3.com/scripts/Ostara's Rave.pdf
Call of Duty: God's Army
CALL OF DUTY: GOD’S ARMY
v.2 3/25/09
Produced by Bindlestiff Studios
Good Friday: Carpool to Hell
April 9-11, 2009
Thick House, San Francisco, CA
Original Cast:
Lola - Sarita Ocon
Grandchild - 4/9-10, Kat Evasco & 4/11, Joe Cascasan
Directed by Judith Ferrer
CALL OF DUTY: GOD’S ARMY
by conrad panganiban
directed by Judith Ferrer
Characters:
Lola – Older. Catholic.
Grandchild – the grandchild of Lola
INT.BEDROOM.NIGHT
Lights fade up to dim as GRANDCHILD is holding the Wii video game controllers and playing a game. Two people are both DSL&R facing the audience. They are the human sound effects.
LOLA's voice is heard off-stage.
LOLA
What's all this noise?
Lights up as LOLA enters GRANDCHILD's bedroom.
LOLA
Hoy! Why are you not sleeping yet? You have to wake up early for Easter Mass.
GRANDCHILD
Lola. Just a few more minutes. I'm almost done.
LOLA
You go to sleep now!
GRANDCHILD
Almost done.
LOLA
Is that a rosary on the screen?
GRANDCHILD
Yes, Lola. It's a new game called CALL OF DUTY: GOD's ARMY.
GRANDCHILD is making the sign of the cross with the controller.
LOLA
Now what are you doing?
GRANDCHILD
I'm converting the Pagans.
LOLA
Oh... Who is that running at you? They look mad.
GRANDCHILD
Wait. You're distracting me.
LOLA
Are they throwing rocks at you?
GRANDCHILD
Switching to the Cross.
GRANDCHILD makes the motion like she/he is hitting the rocks like a tennis racket from Wii Sports.
LOLA
Ay! Move that way! No the other way! Watch out over there! Ay-ya!
GRANDCHILD
Lola! Look what you made me do! I died!
LOLA
Well, if you moved that way, you're not going to die.
GRANDCHILD
You think you can do better.
GRANDCHILD and LOLA pause and stare at each other.
LOLA
Give me.
GRANDCHILD gives the controls to LOLA.
GRANDCHILD
Press the A button.
LOLA
Which one is A.
GRANDCHILD
The one on top.
LOLA
Now how do you move?
GRANDCHILD
With the other controller. With your thumb.
LOLA
Like this?
GRANDCHILD
There you go. Now go over to those people.
LOLA
They look like from a Pilipino Village. They look nice.
GRANDCHILD
Nah. That's fear. Okay, now convert them with the sign of the cross.
LOLA makes the sign of the cross with the controller.
LOLA
Bless you. Bless you. Amen. Bless you. This is easy. Oh oh, here comes the pagans again.
GRANDCHILD
Press the B button. It's the trigger. Good. That's the cross weapon. Now, hit back the rocks!
LOLA hits the rocks away like she's playing Wii Tennis.
LOLA
I'm pretending it's a slipper. Hayop! Take that! Who are those other people coming that way?
GRANDCHILD
They're called the Mayans.
LOLA
How do I convert them?
GRANDCHILD
You can't. You have to kill them.
LOLA
What?
GRANDCHILD
Switch to the Holy Water weapon! Now, sprinkle the water on them.
LOLA makes the motion of sprinkling the holy water on them.
GRANDCHILD
See. They're melting!
LOLA
What's that hopping around?
GRANDCHILD
Easter bunnies! Switch to Holy Smoke!
LOLA makes the motion of making the holy smoke... smoke.
LOLA
They're falling asleep. Now what do I do?
GRANDCHILD
You have to stab them.
LOLA
But that's some more killing.
GRANDCHILD
It's okay Lola. It's all in the name of the Father.
LOLA
Oh, okay.
GRANDCHILD
Switch to the knife and start stabbing them!
LOLA starts stabbing the controller down. Victory music is heard from sound effect people.
GRANDCHILD
You did it Lola! You converted the world and killed all the Heathens!
LOLA
That was fun. I'm glad that it's ONLY a video game.
LOLA and GRANDCHILD face at the audience with the look of knowing that it really isn't just a video game.
LOLA
Wait a minute? Who are they?
HOUSE LIGHTS are turned on.
GRANDCHILD
It’s Bindlestiff’s Good Friday Audience.
LOLA
Oh my.
GRANDCHILD
Convert them Lola! Yeah!
LOLA goes back to playing the game and starts to make the motions to the members of the audience.
END
v.2 3/25/09
Produced by Bindlestiff Studios
Good Friday: Carpool to Hell
April 9-11, 2009
Thick House, San Francisco, CA
Original Cast:
Lola - Sarita Ocon
Grandchild - 4/9-10, Kat Evasco & 4/11, Joe Cascasan
Directed by Judith Ferrer
CALL OF DUTY: GOD’S ARMY
by conrad panganiban
directed by Judith Ferrer
Characters:
Lola – Older. Catholic.
Grandchild – the grandchild of Lola
INT.BEDROOM.NIGHT
Lights fade up to dim as GRANDCHILD is holding the Wii video game controllers and playing a game. Two people are both DSL&R facing the audience. They are the human sound effects.
LOLA's voice is heard off-stage.
LOLA
What's all this noise?
Lights up as LOLA enters GRANDCHILD's bedroom.
LOLA
Hoy! Why are you not sleeping yet? You have to wake up early for Easter Mass.
GRANDCHILD
Lola. Just a few more minutes. I'm almost done.
LOLA
You go to sleep now!
GRANDCHILD
Almost done.
LOLA
Is that a rosary on the screen?
GRANDCHILD
Yes, Lola. It's a new game called CALL OF DUTY: GOD's ARMY.
GRANDCHILD is making the sign of the cross with the controller.
LOLA
Now what are you doing?
GRANDCHILD
I'm converting the Pagans.
LOLA
Oh... Who is that running at you? They look mad.
GRANDCHILD
Wait. You're distracting me.
LOLA
Are they throwing rocks at you?
GRANDCHILD
Switching to the Cross.
GRANDCHILD makes the motion like she/he is hitting the rocks like a tennis racket from Wii Sports.
LOLA
Ay! Move that way! No the other way! Watch out over there! Ay-ya!
GRANDCHILD
Lola! Look what you made me do! I died!
LOLA
Well, if you moved that way, you're not going to die.
GRANDCHILD
You think you can do better.
GRANDCHILD and LOLA pause and stare at each other.
LOLA
Give me.
GRANDCHILD gives the controls to LOLA.
GRANDCHILD
Press the A button.
LOLA
Which one is A.
GRANDCHILD
The one on top.
LOLA
Now how do you move?
GRANDCHILD
With the other controller. With your thumb.
LOLA
Like this?
GRANDCHILD
There you go. Now go over to those people.
LOLA
They look like from a Pilipino Village. They look nice.
GRANDCHILD
Nah. That's fear. Okay, now convert them with the sign of the cross.
LOLA makes the sign of the cross with the controller.
LOLA
Bless you. Bless you. Amen. Bless you. This is easy. Oh oh, here comes the pagans again.
GRANDCHILD
Press the B button. It's the trigger. Good. That's the cross weapon. Now, hit back the rocks!
LOLA hits the rocks away like she's playing Wii Tennis.
LOLA
I'm pretending it's a slipper. Hayop! Take that! Who are those other people coming that way?
GRANDCHILD
They're called the Mayans.
LOLA
How do I convert them?
GRANDCHILD
You can't. You have to kill them.
LOLA
What?
GRANDCHILD
Switch to the Holy Water weapon! Now, sprinkle the water on them.
LOLA makes the motion of sprinkling the holy water on them.
GRANDCHILD
See. They're melting!
LOLA
What's that hopping around?
GRANDCHILD
Easter bunnies! Switch to Holy Smoke!
LOLA makes the motion of making the holy smoke... smoke.
LOLA
They're falling asleep. Now what do I do?
GRANDCHILD
You have to stab them.
LOLA
But that's some more killing.
GRANDCHILD
It's okay Lola. It's all in the name of the Father.
LOLA
Oh, okay.
GRANDCHILD
Switch to the knife and start stabbing them!
LOLA starts stabbing the controller down. Victory music is heard from sound effect people.
GRANDCHILD
You did it Lola! You converted the world and killed all the Heathens!
LOLA
That was fun. I'm glad that it's ONLY a video game.
LOLA and GRANDCHILD face at the audience with the look of knowing that it really isn't just a video game.
LOLA
Wait a minute? Who are they?
HOUSE LIGHTS are turned on.
GRANDCHILD
It’s Bindlestiff’s Good Friday Audience.
LOLA
Oh my.
GRANDCHILD
Convert them Lola! Yeah!
LOLA goes back to playing the game and starts to make the motions to the members of the audience.
END
Obama's Press Conference
Just a couple of new scripts that I've written for Bindlestiff Studio's sketch comedy show
Good Friday: Carpool to Hell
April 9-11, 2009
Thick House, San Francisco, CA
OBAMA PRESS CONFERNECE
by conrad panganiban
v1 03/30/2009
Original Cast
Obama - Franz Jundis
Trent – Dianne Chui
Rosary Sox – Terry Alabata
Jejomar – Jocelyne Ampon
directed by Judith Ferrer
Characters:
Obama
Trent – reporter, Fox News
Rosary Sox – reporter, ChristianScienceMonitor.com
Jejomar – Union City Pic-and-Save
INT. PRESSROOM. DAY
PRES. OBAMA is center stage standing on chair. A row of reporters are facing the audience asking questions.
OBAMA
I want to thank you all for coming to this Easter Press Conference. For all the Christians viewing this. Happy Easter. To everyone else. Yes We Can. Now, I’ll start with some questions.
PRESS CORP raise their hands.
OBAMA
You. Trent McBlue.
TRENT
Trent McBlue, Fox News. How do you respond to the recent Harris Poll saying that you rank as the number one hero in America above Jesus Christ.
OBAMA
Look… I uhh… I’ve said all along… while I was campaigning… that I should not be compared to uh… Jesus Christ. I am Barack Obama. Not Jesus Christ. Obama. Barack Obama.
PRESS CORP raise their hands.
OBAMA
You. Rosary Sox McHanus.
ROSARY SOX
Rosary Sox McHanus, ChristianScienceMonitor .com, President Obama. What would you like to say to the people who voted for you on how you should deal with the CEO’s on Wall Street?
OBAMA
Well, I say to them… that uh… Change has come to America, so that means that… uh… these unscrupulous CEO’s won’t get the same treatment as before. But, I’ll do what I can to save people’s jobs.
ROSARY SOX
So then, you are willing to be their Savior?
OBAMA
Again. Look… I’m not a Savior. But the people who have abused their corporate responsibilities will be dealt with.
TRENT
Are you saying that your Father will put the plague on their houses?
OBAMA
My father? Look… I don’t know how to say this any other way, but I’m not Jesus. Now, let’s get to more serious issues…
PRESS CORP raise their hands.
OBAMA
You. Jejomar Franks. I hope this is a serious question for these serious times... which I will respond with a serious answer.
JEJOMAR
Yes, Mr. President. Jejomar Franks, Union City Pic-and-Save. What are your goals for your upcoming trip to the Middle East?
OBAMA
I will uh… tell them that uh… the American people want peace in their region.
JEJOMAR
So you’d be like the Prince of Peace… Like Jesus.
OBAMA
Look… uh… look. I just said I want to be able to organize a peaceful solution.
ROSARY SOX
Jesus was a community organizer too. He got 12 people to follow him, but you got a whole nation to follow you. It’s like you are the Messiah.
OBAMA
Look. I am not the Messiah. I am not Jesus. I am not Sam I Am. I am who I am. And that’s all that I am!
TRENT
Amen!
ROSARY SOX
Halleluia!
JEJOMAR
Popeye?
OBAMA
I give up! I Bless You and the United States of America. Good Night.
END
Good Friday: Carpool to Hell
April 9-11, 2009
Thick House, San Francisco, CA
OBAMA PRESS CONFERNECE
by conrad panganiban
v1 03/30/2009
Original Cast
Obama - Franz Jundis
Trent – Dianne Chui
Rosary Sox – Terry Alabata
Jejomar – Jocelyne Ampon
directed by Judith Ferrer
Characters:
Obama
Trent – reporter, Fox News
Rosary Sox – reporter, ChristianScienceMonitor.com
Jejomar – Union City Pic-and-Save
INT. PRESSROOM. DAY
PRES. OBAMA is center stage standing on chair. A row of reporters are facing the audience asking questions.
OBAMA
I want to thank you all for coming to this Easter Press Conference. For all the Christians viewing this. Happy Easter. To everyone else. Yes We Can. Now, I’ll start with some questions.
PRESS CORP raise their hands.
OBAMA
You. Trent McBlue.
TRENT
Trent McBlue, Fox News. How do you respond to the recent Harris Poll saying that you rank as the number one hero in America above Jesus Christ.
OBAMA
Look… I uhh… I’ve said all along… while I was campaigning… that I should not be compared to uh… Jesus Christ. I am Barack Obama. Not Jesus Christ. Obama. Barack Obama.
PRESS CORP raise their hands.
OBAMA
You. Rosary Sox McHanus.
ROSARY SOX
Rosary Sox McHanus, ChristianScienceMonitor .com, President Obama. What would you like to say to the people who voted for you on how you should deal with the CEO’s on Wall Street?
OBAMA
Well, I say to them… that uh… Change has come to America, so that means that… uh… these unscrupulous CEO’s won’t get the same treatment as before. But, I’ll do what I can to save people’s jobs.
ROSARY SOX
So then, you are willing to be their Savior?
OBAMA
Again. Look… I’m not a Savior. But the people who have abused their corporate responsibilities will be dealt with.
TRENT
Are you saying that your Father will put the plague on their houses?
OBAMA
My father? Look… I don’t know how to say this any other way, but I’m not Jesus. Now, let’s get to more serious issues…
PRESS CORP raise their hands.
OBAMA
You. Jejomar Franks. I hope this is a serious question for these serious times... which I will respond with a serious answer.
JEJOMAR
Yes, Mr. President. Jejomar Franks, Union City Pic-and-Save. What are your goals for your upcoming trip to the Middle East?
OBAMA
I will uh… tell them that uh… the American people want peace in their region.
JEJOMAR
So you’d be like the Prince of Peace… Like Jesus.
OBAMA
Look… uh… look. I just said I want to be able to organize a peaceful solution.
ROSARY SOX
Jesus was a community organizer too. He got 12 people to follow him, but you got a whole nation to follow you. It’s like you are the Messiah.
OBAMA
Look. I am not the Messiah. I am not Jesus. I am not Sam I Am. I am who I am. And that’s all that I am!
TRENT
Amen!
ROSARY SOX
Halleluia!
JEJOMAR
Popeye?
OBAMA
I give up! I Bless You and the United States of America. Good Night.
END
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