Wrote this a while back but have done some editing and bringing it back being that it's almost Christmas.
THE VISIT
Molly Rigby, 88, senior citizen
David Grey, 20-something reporterPaul Seaton, camera man
SETTING: Recreation hall of a senior's residence. A few seniors are dozing, some in wheelchairs, others are in regular chairs.
AT RISE: A reporter (DAVID) enters the room in preparation for an interview with MOLLY RIGBY, who claims to have communicated with whom she believes to be, Santa Claus
DAVID enters the room, taking notes and practicing his introduction
DAVID
"We're here at the Happy Hollows Seniors Home to interview resident, Molly Rigby, who claims to have been visited by old Saint Nick, himself. Come Christmas Eve, Molly has stated she will be leaving on an extended trip…”
PAUL enters, holding a TV camera
PAUL
So…what’s the story, here? I mean, it’s Christmas Eve! Couldn’t this one have waited?
DAVID
Hey – it’s not my decision! The brass wants us to do a “feel-good” story and interview an old granny claiming to have met the real Santa Claus,
PAUL
Yeah and the tooth fairy is alive and well. Is she like…’all there’ if you get my drift?
DAVID
Who knows. It's one of those seniors sleeping over there.
DAVID approaches the trio, gently shaking each woman.
DAVID
Um…’scuse me… Misses… Ladies…Hello? Molly? Which one of you is Molly?
MOLLY stirs, sits upright
MOLLY
Who wants to know? That a TV camera? You’re another one of those TV wisenheimer news guys! Take a hike! I’m sleeping
DAVID
Really – this will only take a few minutes. The world wants – needs - to know if it’s true!
MOLLY
Like I said – make like the wind and blow away
MOLLY goes back to sleep. DAVID shakes her gently.
DAVID
Paul - this is the lucky lady we were discussing who’s met Santa
MOLLY
I was having such a nice dream ‘til your friend here came along and popped it
PAUL
Meet Dave Grey, Molly, the reporter that's made WGMZ the number one station in the market
DAVE
I'm sure Molly doesn't care about those things
MOLLY
You're like all the others. You think I’m a little ‘cuckoo’ in the ‘woo-coo.’ Well I’m not, you know! Oh ‘ye of little faith!
DAVID
If you’ll stand next to me right over here and we’ll do the interview…
MOLLY
I know what I saw and no one’s gonna tell me diff’rent. Now let me go back to sleep so’s I can be rested when he comes for me
DAVID
It’ll only take a few minutes and then we’ll be gone. Come on, Molly! It’s Christmas Eve! A time for miracles. Don’t you want to share your good luck with everyone?
MOLLY
Think you're the first reporter to doubt me? I may be old and crotchety but I’m not crazy! Okay – go for it but only because you’ll be the last. Hey - watch where you put that microphone.
DAVID
We’ll do the interview and then we’ll be outta your hair. Really
MOLLY
Better make it fast ‘cause I’m expecting my special visitor real soon now
PAUL
Guess a family member is taking you home, being that it's Christmas Eve?
MOLLY
I suppose you could call him that being that we’re very close friends now. He’ll be coming for me in a big, big sleigh that flies faster than the speed of light. We’re gonna go up, up and fly high in the sky. Just him and me and …
DAVID
(snickering)
This special ‘friend’ of yours… would he, like… be dressed all in red with a long white beard and wearing black shiny boots and white gloves?
MOLLY
Last time he was here, told me t’pack a couple of things for our long trip just the two of us is gonna take. and he'd be 'round to get me on Christmas Eve. Tonight is Christmas Eve, right?
PAUL
(laughing)
This… friend of yours, would he…like…have big white wings and wear a halo or was he dressed in black and carry a big sickle…
DAVID
…don’t mind him. Thinks he’s funny. When did this… ‘friend’ first show up?
MOLLY
Can we sit down? I wanna save my strength for tonight. Yeah - he first dropped in ‘bout a month ago. ‘Why me?’ I asked him. ‘Why not you’, he says. Can’t argue with that logic…
DAVID
How'd you know he was the real one? I mean, there are a lot of people claiming to be Santa this time of year
MOLLY
…and y’know what else he said? ‘Molly - you never stopped believing in me.’ That’s what my friend told me., ‘Cause I believe!
DAVID
How do you get in touch with him?
MOLLY
I don’t get in touch with him, silly! He sends me messages
DAVID
How’d I know you were gonna say that?
MOLLY
Only I can receive his messages (points to head) – right here
PAUL
Oh fer… We’re wasting time. Let’s wrap up.
MOLLY
You think I’m crazy and hear voices, don’t you? I know-what- I-know! Wanna hear how we became friends? Last Christmas Eve at this very time, I sent him a letter asking if I could go along t’help deliver toys? I mean, being that I’m 88 years of age, who knows if I’ll even be around next year so I told him in my letter that it was now or never
PAUL
This man…your friend answered your letter? Did it have a stamp and a post-mark?
MOLLY
Always with the questions – and doubts. You young people can’t accept that people can be nice to each other for no reason. I didn’t bother checking for a post mark. I don’t hav’ta because -
DAVID
- I know. You believe. You have to admit that there are a lot of phonies running cons at this time of the year
MOLLY
Oh ye of little faith, sonny boy! He never has asked me for anything. Not one cent! Wanna know how he introduced himself?
DAVID
By telephone and he asked you to make a donation to his toy campaign?
MOLLY
Found him sitting on the end of my bed, watching Seinfeld re-runs and laughing his head off. That old fart has a good sense of humor, y’know! Suppose he has to what with all the doubters he meets. I mean - you can imagine how shocked I was t’see a stranger watchin’ TV in my room. ‘
DAVID
He told you that he was Santa and you believed him?
MOLLY
You sound like all the rest and they doubted me, too. Why wouldn’t I?
DAVID
You hav’ta understand that it's not everyone who gets a visit from Santa in person
PAUL
We almost finished, here? I’d like to make it home to open gifts with my kids
MOLLY
Told me he was gonna take me away on his sleigh, t’stay with him...forever! Me! Molly Rigby, going t’ live with Santa Claus and his elves. I just couldn't believe it!
DAVID
Me neither. So, you took him up on his offer?
MOLLY
Are you serious? Wouldn't everyone?
DAVID
Are you're telling me that you went for a ride with…
MOLLY
…Santa Claus? You bet'cha your perfectly sprayed hair, I did
DAVID
(laughing)
And I suppose there were the reindeer parked on the roof, or maybe outside your bedroom window? How does an elderly lady – no disrespect intended – climb into a sleigh? I see you use a walker
MOLLY
Somehow - and I don't know how he did it - I found myself floating in the air, right out of the window. It was one of those high tech sleighs with flashing lights…
DAVID
A…high…tech sleigh? Led by high tech reindeer too, I guess?
MOLLY
Now that I think about it - their antlers did look like antennas…and the sleigh had colored flashing lights all around
DAVID
And was this…Santa… on the - small-ishside with a big head, large black eyes and grey-ish white skin color?
MOLLY
Could be but then I'm color-blind. D’ya wanna meet him?
DAVID
Him – who? You mean, Santa? Why not? If nothing else it’ll make a good Christmas story and we can expose a holiday phony
MOLLY
Now you hav’ta promise me that you won’t try recording us leaving. Santa doesn’t like publicity or anything. He’s a very simple, private man
DAVID
Yeah…course…no recording… Right Paul?
MOLLY
Promise me you won’t! Y’a gotta promise!
DAVID
I promise. Ready, Paul?
PAUL
We’re leaving? I’m ready when you are
DAVID
To capture the moment that Molly, here, leaves the rest home for the North Pole
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