Out of Juice
By Stephen Freeto
4-15-2018
Characters
OOJ 1-(Dazed
and Confused)
OOJ2-(No
Dialogue-Just mumbles)
OOJ3- (The
“woke” one)
Juicer 1
(Also plays Juicer 2 and Juicer 3 with minor costume changes)
Setting
In a dystopian near future, electricity is scarce yet
everyone is still addicted to their cell phones. Only the privileged (Juicers)
have access to electricity for charging phones and portable devices.
Electricity rations are available once a month for the downtrodden (OOJ-out of
juicers). Cell phone technology allows
for sharing of a charge by placing phones back to back (concept/patent
pending). Few OOJ make it through the month with “juice”; many beg and borrow
the juice from others.
On busy street corners, the OOJ approach Juicers to “bum
some juice”
Scene
A street
corner by a parking garage with foot traffic on a side walk. An extension cord
power strip with tattered iphone cords is plugged into a “dead” wall outlet.
Outlets are randomly activated each month to provide some “juice” to those who
do not pay for full access to electricity.
OOJ1 and
OOJ2 sit/lay on the ground with their cell phone in hand. Both are slightly
trembling or shaking. Aware but not quite alert.
OOJ3
standing and pacing around the street sign waiting for a Juicer to approach.
Even though their phone doesn’t have juice, they keep looking at the screen.
OOJ 3 (looking at phone)
Dead Again?
This can’t be true. What did I do to deserve this? FML
OOJ2 (Disturbed and awakened by OOJ3)
(Mumbling
incoherently)
OOJ1 (awakened and in a state of
confusion)
Momma don’t
let your babies grow up to be cowboys
OOJ3 (annoyed by the presence of the
bums)
Shut your
mouths. Go back to sleep mode, assholes.
OOJ1 (Confused)
You’re the asshole?
No, I’m the asshole.
OOJ3 (noticing Juicer 3 approaching.
Brushing dirt dust off shoulders, tucking in shirt)
Ok, Ok, Ok.
Juicer 3 (approaching OOJ3 and walking
swiftly to avoid an interaction and continues walking through the stage to
switch costumes into OOJ2. Waves hand in front of OOJ3)
No.
OOJ3 (attempting to be polite, proper,
and persuasive-in a fake English accent)
Excuse me
king sir. Would you happen to have a little juice I can have…(Juicer 3 passes
by without looking up). Thank you for your consideration. May god bless your
phone…Hope you die.
OOJ2 (continuing to lay around)
(Mumbling
incoherently)
OOJ1 (Sitting straight up)
Steve Jobs
did 9-11! Why do I need iOS125? So many bugs…(goes back to sleep)
OOJ3 (motioning to the wall outlet and
power strip)
If it wasn’t
for the chance that fucking thing would turn back on, I would be gone. You
zeroes.
OOJ2 bends
down to fiddle with the powerstrip and misses Juicer 2 walk by
Juicer 2 (approaching and startled by
the pile of OOJ’s)
Before you
even ask, I’m at 42% and I won’t make it the rest of the month. Sorry
(continues walking)
OOJ1 (holding up a copy of Hitchhikers
Guide to the Galaxy)
42? That’s
the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.
OOJ3 (missing the chance to ask for
juice and kicks at OOJ1)
Damn it.
That was my chance to get a little juice. I coulda totally gotten some. If you
two can just let me handle the interactions, I swear to you that I will split
the juice with you. Let me do my thing. I really need this, it’s a life or
death situation. Nothing is more important.
OOJ2 (covers up under a blanket)
(Mumbling
incoherently)
OOJ1 (deciding to comply and also gets
under a blanket)
I’ll be Sonny
and you better be Cher.
OOJ3 (noticing Juicer 1 approaching)
Alright,
alright. (taking a deep breath)
Juicer 1 (walking straight up to OOJ3)
Before you
even say anything. I have worked hard to earn and keep my juice.
OOJ3 (humble)
I just need
a little bit. It’s a life or death situation. I need some juice to...
Juicer 1 (holding his phone out and
giving up some juice)
Today is
your lucky day. I’ve learned that life isn’t about success, money, juice, and
materialism. Life is about building each other up, offering a helping hand,
sharing kindness, and creating a circle of support. Take a little juice, share
it with your family (pointing at the lumps under the blankets).
OOJ3 (surprised. Quickly grabbing his
phone and mating it with Juice 1)
Wow. Thank
you so much. You don’t know how important this is to me. I appreciate your
kindness and will remember this moment the rest of my days. You have given me
life.
The mating of the phone and the juice
sharing is quick process.
Juicer 1 (taking his phone back.
Feeling proud to have helped save a life)
What was
this life or death situation?
OOJ3 (getting his phone turned on and
pushing buttons)
Oh, I need
to poke my friends on facebook.
-blackout-
