December’s Redemption Review

   Welcome to December's Redemption Review! Every month I'll take a closer look at all the submissions I've had to decline for various reasons and publish a few plays and poems from that list. This month, “Purpose” by Gary Beck, “To Fredi” by Marilyn Recht, “Colonoscopy” by Roger Brookfield, “Seven Ten” by Greg Lam, and “Receiving Kent” by Alan Stolzer are the lucky winners!

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Purpose

by Gary Beck

A rainstorm swept the city,

thunder, lighting, flooding,

keeping many indoors

except first responders

risking all

regardless of conditions,

as tourists 

urgent to shop

are relentless

in pursuit of bargains

despite interference 

by man or nature. 

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To Fredi

By Marilyn Recht

Parsing my numbness 

At the funeral of your son

I found:

Envy at having to share your grief;

Disgust at his unsavory friends;

Boredom with weeping eulogies;

Regret I barely knew this passionate young man;

And anger:

At the unaddressed (unsolved) tragedy,

And at him for leaving you 

With your heart cut open. 

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Colonoscopy

by Roger Brookfield

CHARACTERS

ALEX:  female news anchor

JACK:  male news anchor

SETTING

TV news anchor desk

(Lights up on the news desk.  ALEX and JACK are seated.)

ALEX

Hey, I can’t read this piece.

JACK

Why?  It’ll be on the teleprompter.

ALEX

No, no, the story.  It didn’t happen.

JACK

What’re you talking about?  Of course it did. It was on the wires, on the—

ALEX

The President had a colonoscopy, that’s all.  It’s standard procedure when they put you under a local anesthetic, they tell you not to sign documents or contracts the rest of the day.

JACK

So?  What’s different in your copy?

ALEX

Everything.  It didn’t happen the way it is here.

JACK

Were you there?

ALEX

Of course not.  I’m not reading it.

JACK

Then get off the set!

(ALEX exits.)

JACK The people who watch us expect me to be straight with them and—Oh, and we’re back. Yes, we’re back. I--um-- Alex was called away—a sudden family emergency—And we all hope everything’s okay with her, don’t we? Yes we do. We certainly do. Yes we do . . . But in the news . . . Our top story: you WOULDN’T have believed it could happen. But today it did. The Vice-President TOOK OVER control of the government. The President was FORCED to give it up and the Vice-President assumed the full powers of the Presidency. BLACKOUT END OF PLAY

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Seven Ten

By Greg Lam ACT 1 SCENE 1

On one side of the stage stand SEVEN and TEN. They are two bowling pins, standing apart by a

few feet. On the other side of the stage, THE BOWLER helps prepare THE BALL. Seven, Ten, and

The Ball all speak in overlapping dialogue. The Bowler silently prepares The Ball. SEVEN TEN THE BALL All right you little so-and-so, you

twerp! You might have gotten the

other eight, but you’ll never get

all of us! Why? Alright, champ. How are you

You can knock me down, but feeling? Good! So am I!

then 10 over there will get off

scot free! Or if you go after 10, Why must life be this way? You've been doing outstanding

then there’s no way you can get all game. I'm so proud of you!

to me! We have you We can do it this time. outnumbered, buddy boy! Time after time I'm set up, only Confidence! Poise! We got this!

to be flattened by an uncaring

Who are you going to go after? mammoth behemoth, over and You just send me off with a tiny

It’s a dilemma, right? Or are you over and over again. little leftward hook, and I'll

just going to throw it into the give our pal Seven a little kiss.

gutter again, just like you did in Every time I fall, battered, but Just a little *mwah*!

the Seventh Frame? I bet you’re then I'm grabbed by that infernal

thinking about that, right now, machinery, and set up to take Seven will bip into the wall and

aren’t you? Aren’t you? another pummeling. What's the bop right on over to take out Ten.

point? Just trust me on this, okay? I've

Ooooooh!!! The pressure! Can done it a million times.

you handle the pressure? Loser! Why this eternal bludgeoning?

LOOOOSER! BUMP! BIP...BOP! Like that!

What have I done to deserve this,

You can knock us down, but we world? Haven't I suffered Don't forget to breathe. Deep

will be set up again! We will enough? breaths!

never stay down forever! Do you

understand?! We will never stay Why can't I rest? All I want is to Here we go! Oh, you're doing so

down! We will always return to rest. I didn't ask for this. good! I knew you could do it.

stand tall the next frame! Remember the steps, smooth Do! Your! Worst! No! Don't! I'm innocent! backswing and release. Nice and

easy and....

Mercy! Meeeercyyyyyyy!

Cowabungaaaaaaaa!

The Bowler sends the Ball speeding toward the pins.

THE END

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RECEIVING KENT

by Alan Stolzer

King Lear's throne room during a rebellion of daughters Regan and Goneril. The king's loyal confidant, Kent, is in attendance.

KENT

Sire! Thy kingdom bears unease so must the hordes beseech thee confront thy wicked issue to

the death.

LEAR

Must I pursue such course?

KENT

Thou art king. Is there another way?

LEAR

Perhaps parlay would suffice.

KENT

I counsel Lear to reconsider such ill considered fortune. Revolution is no kind thing.

LEAR

Be I mad to refrain then? When hast thou hunted one's own, loyal Kent?

KENT

I daresay never.

LEAR

Ah. Then thou be in league with thy sovereign.

KENT

Thy kingdom is greater than two corrupt schemers raising private concerns to rebellious heights;

illicit even in darkest days.

LEAR

I daresay. KENT

Then act, gracious Lear. Act decisively, bearing full weight of throne not only to thy blood and

flesh but organs of those sworn allegiance to thee nigh these bloody decades.

LEAR

Shall I determine history's tune as despot or worldly monarch instead, able to caretake grief – as

no father could?

KENT

Rest quietly that thy servants enlist your approval no matter what concern ails thy too cruelly

furrowed brow.

LEAR 

 

What benefit me this resumption of fealty? I quiver meekly beneath moon and sun - both surely  

to rise tomorrow, mattering not what harried king or father decides.  

 KENT 

 

But the hordes, anguished Lear. They await your tortured edict.  

 LEAR 

 

Let them drain the cup of delayed infanticide then. Carrying their own harried past to its  

unsatisfied end before common throat exhorts another do their bidding be he king or otherwise.  

 

KENT  

Then I shall issue a report listing nothing.  

 

LEAR  

Arrest thy impatience moments more, valued Kent. Hast thou known me only briefly or is  

lifetime service gone for naught?  

 KENT

  

I thrive in your confidence, my king.  

 LEAR  

To divide our forces twice over: one to harass Goneril, the other Regan, would provide success.  

Doest thou concur? 

 

 KENT  

If Kent would be bestowed the honor of command, the field must then bring victory to a unified  

realm.  

 LEAR  

This I know.  

 

KENT  

Then appoint thy destiny and be done with all hesitation.  

 LEAR  

Canst thou think Lear hasn't pondered deeply these past nights, beleaguered by demons  

unleashed through disloyal vipers come of too wickedly spoiled children, nay these long years  

distracted by mundane and earthly reward, dismissed of the same fealty expressed by more  

steadfast subjects be they blood kin or not.  

 KENT 

 

What of Cordelia in the fray?  

 LEAR  

She communicates only love and thoughts of travail, her sister's intentions rankling her tender  

bosom beyond comprehension. She is wed to paternal ally with blistered thought; their mated  

plight no envy.  

 KENT  

A daughter royal to the bone.  

 LEAR 

 

That conjures fear I have yet that leaves the remaining two for destruction most fearful.  

Rebellion to civil war yields few victors.  

 KENT 

 

Are they not yet then destroyed, sire? Their disloyal taunts already bloodied by deeds unheard  

of in this or other kingdoms?  

 

LEAR  

Truth to thy thoughts, candid Kent. 

  

 KENT

  

And more truth awaits a regal decision that only brings peace where ill gotten war should smash  

thy people's betterment.  

 

LEAR  

Aye, even more light upon the gathered darkness.  

 

KENT  

Then command through thy nobility. Direct our destiny as only a sensible ruler might. Insure  

our further profit of life's serenity.  

LEAR  

Dare I succeed where ignorant loins failed? Or must failure accompany my plight so sorely  

harassed as yet by bloodhounds favoring most vulnerable heels; most vulnerable heels of all I  

confess to thy presence, treasured Kent.  

 

KENT  

I breathe for my service and nothing more. Noble Lear, think not my observations of thee doest  

not cut deeply. Darkest blood oft remains unseen in its curdling channels. Thou knowest me well as your words insure.  

 

LEAR  

Then thou must take sword to them both. Sever revolution's ugly and pernicious head poised to  

desecrate flesh, innocent or not.  

 KENT  

This I shall do.  

 

LEAR 

 

And leave the executioner blameless, hiding behind purple curtain.  

 KENT 

 

Service begs no conditions.  

 LEAR  

But I, as father, do! Do not dismiss my work as structured play but focus its decadence in proper  

light. 

 KENT  

What matter if peace be reward?  

 

LEAR 

 

Do not excuse unspeakable deeds. Must I continue along the same path? Would it not be just if  

Lear be condemned as must be related in texts of wisdom still unknown to him? Dungeons of  

untold grief await, my Kent. Tis but one foretold step after the other.  

 

KENT  

Then I must accompany my liege wherever darkness beckons.  

 

LEAR  

What price thou soul I ponder, good Kent? What frivolous dream to conjure that all be alike  

your countenance a welcome facade to multitudes yearning to obey. But tis only a whim of a  

doddering old man, now pushed to the precipice of existence by tormenting children, gnawing at  

the insides.  

 KENT

  

Enough, sire. Give me leave for spoken assignment. I fear I do no good prolonging my stay.   

LEAR  

Then what other may I breathe my fate to? Have you knowledge of such?   

KENT  

Nay, I confess.  

 LEAR 

 

Then counsel me more carefully whilst I squirm to make the royal throne a seat of extended  

discomfort. Age brings no relief as may be erroneously reported elsewhere.  

 

KENT  

Two such offspring discomforts a bleeding nation.  

 

LEAR

  

There! Thou doest blame me. 

 KENT  

Never. I merely cannot say more than I have.  

 

LEAR 

 

Tis disgrace to shift one's sorrow onto others. What manner king am I?  

 KENT  

All years leading to such trial were not nearly as troubled. Why, in fact, do twin devils wish to  

claim a barren inheritance? Tis your doing and none other that richly endowed such fertile land.  

 

LEAR 

 

Past laurels do not pamper a plagued soul.  

 

KENT 

 

Enough of this! I am not to condemn but to obey and further regal instruction. Carry me not into thy darker chamber. I fear it exists for royal blood and none other.  

 LEAR  

Cordelia has absented herself a fortnight's worth. I fear she takes pious residence in distant  

chapel, perhaps even across borders and sea in France.  

 

KENT  

Shall I return her to court then?  

 LEAR  

Her prayers may prove more substantial than mine.  

 

KENT

 

Time is short. I must away for justice.  

 LEAR  

Go then accompanied by blank prayers.  

 

KENT 

 

Thou shall hear of victory or not hear at all. 

  

 LEAR 

 

Tender as to death for our twin source of disappointment. I welcome grace that leaves me just  

behind them enroute to distant land of forgetfulness.  

 

KENT  

Until the sorry episode concludes, your grace.  

                  (Exits)  

 LEAR  

Sorry episode indeed. A most insensitive head must bear such heavy crown. What more than  

seek echoes of grief to soothe royal bewilderment? Let death's sleep be not a distant call.  

(Darkness)  

                                        END OF PLAY

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   I hope you enjoyed this month's Redemption Review! Come back next month for more rescued plays and poetry! 

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