FIREWORKS by Ralph J. Marchesano CAST : - BILLY (early-30's, muscular, tattoos on both arms) - The WITNESSES (an assortment of 6 adults of random age, sex, race, etc.) - BILLY'S GRANDMOTHER - YOUNG BILLY (mid-teens) - The FORTUNE TELLER - The PRIEST - The EXECUTIONER TIME : The PRESENT, as well as FLASHBACK SEQUENCES of BILLY'S youth. SETTING : A DARKLY LIT and barren stage containing only the following: Seven plain wooden CHAIRS, all facing the AUDIENCE, one of which is separated several feet from the other six. Above the solo chair hangs a WORKING ANALOG CLOCK, set at twenty minutes to twelve. The clock TICKS AUDIBLY throughout the production. At a point furthest from the solo chair (across stage) is a RED METAL HANDLE protruding from a GRAY BOX. (AT RISE : BILLY, wearing a tank-top shirt, his garish tattoos visible, is seated in the solo chair. The WITNESSES sit in the other six chairs, fidgeting, looking slowly in every direction except where BILLY sits) (The CLOCK TICKS STEADILY in the BACKGROUND) (Only the HEADS and UPPER-TORSOS of those on stage are dimly lit and visible to the AUDIENCE) BILLY (speaking to AUDIENCE, oblivious to the WITNESSES) Jesus, what a night. (He looks quickly at the WITNESSES, then up to the CLOCK) Twenty to midnight. Time flies when you're having fun. (He snickers, shakes his head then SIGHS LOUDLY) Sorry, Grandma. (The LIGHTS on the WITNESSES FADE OUT as CARNIVAL MUSIC begins to play softly in the BACKGROUND) (LIGHT appears opposite BILLY where his GRANDMOTHER and YOUNG BILLY stand) BILLY (watching the scene before him) I was a pretty good-looking kid. YOUNG BILLY Grandma, this carnival is great! Thanks for taking me. (The GRANDMOTHER caresses YOUNG BILLY'S cheek) GRANDMOTHER All work and no play, Billy. The Lord provides these diversions so we may temporarily forget the ills and pressures of the world. YOUNG BILLY (pointing, excited) Look! Over there! Let's go inside. (The GRANDMOTHER grabs the back of YOUNG BILLY'S shirt before he has a chance to scoot off) GRANDMOTHER You'll have none of that heathen mumbo jumbo. YOUNG BILLY (pleading) Come on, please, Grams. It's only a quarter. Let's go inside and hear about our future. GRANDMOTHER No, Billy. And that's final! Our fate is in the Lord's hands. He'll provide for our future...and everlasting life! (She removes a change purse from her dress pocket, opens it and hands him a coin) GRANDMOTHER Take this quarter and get some cotton candy instead. The Son of God will provide for your future...not some devilish gypsy woman. YOUNG BILLY (running off stage) Thanks, Grams! GRANDMOTHER (calling out to the exiting YOUNG BILLY) And make sure you buy cotton candy with that quarter. Stay away from that gypsy woman, Billy. (The GRANDMOTHER exits as the LIGHT FADES OUT on her spot) BILLY Yeah, I really loved that carnival. The rides, the sideshows, the freaks...everything. (The LIGHT returns to the spot where the GRANDMOTHER last stood. In her place are YOUNG BILLY and the FORTUNE TELLER) FORTUNE TELLER So, boy, you've come inside my tent even though your grandmother thinks it unwise. (YOUNG BILLY, startled momentarily, takes an involuntary step backward) YOUNG BILLY How did you know?...You couldn't have heard--- FORTUNE TELLER I know everything...William. YOUNG BILLY How did you know my--- FORTUNE TELLER But everyone calls you Billy. (She holds her palm up to him) FORTUNE TELLER Give me the quarter. (He holds the quarter over her open palm. In one motion she snatches the coin and grabs his hand, examining his palm) FORTUNE TELLER I see many things...troubling things. (YOUNG BILLY attempts to break free of her hold but she yanks him nearer) YOUNG BILLY What kind of things? FORTUNE TELLER Things too frightening to tell such a young boy. (Fearfully, YOUNG BILLY jerks his hand from her hold and turns to leave) YOUNG BILLY Grams was right, you do the devil's work here. FORTUNE TELLER The fireworks, Billy. (He stops and turns slowly toward her) YOUNG BILLY The...what? FORTUNE TELLER The fireworks. Always remember the fireworks. When the time comes, you will know what I mean. It will be the only thing to ease the pain...and make the journey bearable. (YOUNG BILLY exits as the FORTUNE TELLER stares at the coin in her open palm) FORTUNE TELLER The fireworks. (The LIGHT on the FORTUNE TELLER FADES to BLACK and RE-LIGHTS the WITNESSES) BILLY The fireworks. (He shakes his head slowly) That old bitch knew...how did she know!? (One of the WITNESSES clears his throat, glances quickly over to BILLY then casts his eyes downward) (BILLY looks quickly over to him then up at the CLOCK, which reads ten minutes to twelve) BILLY Ten fucking minutes. Let's get the show on the road. (He glances casually over to the WITNESSES) BILLY Bet they'd rather be anyplace else but here tonight. Hey, I guess they gotta do what they gotta do. (He closes his eyes then lowers his head) BILLY The fireworks. (The LIGHTS over the WITNESSES FADES and a LIGHT appears on the GRANDMOTHER and YOUNG BILLY. They are looking up towards the "sky.") (The SOUND of FIREWORKS EXPLODING are heard in the BACKGROUND) YOUNG BILLY Look, Grandma! All the colors! I've never seen reds and blues like that...never! GRANDMOTHER It's the Lord's rainbow, Billy. (She looks down at him and watches as he marvels at the fireworks display) GRANDMOTHER The cotton candy? Didn't you get it? (YOUNG BILLY nervously looks at her) YOUNG BILLY I, er, I ate it all ready, Grams. (She studies him for an extended moment then casts her eyes toward the sky) GRANDMOTHER Watch the fireworks, boy. (The LIGHT FADES from YOUNG BILLY and the GRANDMOTHER and RE-LIGHTS over the WITNESSES) BILLY (loudly) Where the fuck is he?! Let's get going! (A FEMALE WITNESS lets out a startled cry. BILLY looks over to her, offering her a menacing stare) BILLY (to the FEMALE WITNESS) Quite down, lady. (snickering) You're breaking my concentration...I gotta think. (The LIGHTS above the WITNESSES FADE OUT and a LIGHT appears over the GRANDMOTHER) (The GRANDMOTHER'S hands are up defensively in front of her, sheer panic and fear on her face) GRANDMOTHER (crying, pleading) Lord, Jesus, save me! No, Billy, no! The devil owns your soul! Jesus, save my baby! (She lets out a LOUD SCREAM as the LIGHT above her FADES OUT and RE-LIGHTS above the WITNESSES) (BILLY is still staring at the spot where his GRANDMOTHER just was) BILLY (slowly nodding his head affirmatively) Yeah, Grams. The drugs. A hell like you could never imagine. I'd almost welcome the devil if I had the choice. (A PRIEST, carrying a BIBLE and ROSARY BEADS, quietly enters and stands next to BILLY, who is unaware of his presence) PRIEST (quietly, softly) May the Lord, Jesus Christ, in all his mercy find it in his heart--- (BILLY turns suddenly towards the PRIEST) BILLY Huh? What are you--- (panicking, he looks up at the CLOCK, which reads one minute to twelve) It's not time! Look! It's not midnight yet! Get lost! Get the fuck outta here! (The PRIEST continues to MUMBLE a PRAYER SOFTLY) (The WITNESSES begin to STIR UNCOMFORTABLY) (A LIGHT appears over the GRAY BOX with the RED METAL HANDLE. The EXECUTIONER enters and stands near it. He is attired in a DARK SUIT with a BLACK HOOD covering his head) EXECUTIONER (solemnly) It is time, Billy. (BILLY SQUIRMS VIOLENTLY in his seat, panic and fear on his face) BILLY Not yet! I still have a few seconds! FORTUNE TELLER (O.S.) The fireworks. Always remember the fireworks. When the time comes, you will know what I mean. It will be the only thing to ease the pain...and make the journey bearable. (BILLY turns, pleading to the PRIEST) BILLY Will I see them, Father? PRIEST (confused) Who, my son? BILLY The fireworks. (The PRIEST places a consoling hand on BILLY'S shoulder) PRIEST Just close your eyes and beg the Lord's forgiveness, son. (BILLY begins to SHAKE his head VIOLENTLY and looks over to the EXECUTIONER) BILLY (to the EXECUTIONER) Wait! Not yet! EXECUTIONER It is midnight. FORTUNE TELLER (O.S.) Remember the fireworks, Billy. (EVERYONE looks over to the EXECUTIONER, who places his hand on the HANDLE) (A FEMALE WITNESS SCREAMS LOUDLY, as the EXECUTIONER suddenly JERKS the HANDLE DOWNWARD) BILLY Nooooooooo! (A BLINDING, GLARING LIGHT FLOODS the STAGE as the AUDIENCE SEES : -BILLY GYRATING WILDLY in his seat, his face CONTORTED in AGONIZING PAIN. His WRISTS and ANKLES are secured to the chair with HEAVY LEATHER STRAPS. -The WITNESSES SCREAMING, MOANING and turning away from BILLY. -The PRIEST turning his back to BILLY, as only the EXECUTIONER continues to watch him) (The EXECUTIONER raises the HANDLE and there is suddenly an EERIE SILENCE. BILLY'S lifeless body is slumped in his seat) (Suddenly, the SOUNDS of the FIREWORKS are HEARD in the BACKGROUND. EVERYONE looks up, hearing the sound, but not certain as to its source or meaning. The FIREWORKS continue for several more seconds then stop) EXECUTIONER (to the WITNESSES) Your job is done. You have witnessed his execution...and may all return to your homes. (The WITNESSES remain seated, unable to move immediately) (Suddenly, the STAGE goes COMPLETELY BLACK as the CLOCK continues to TICK LOUDLY) -The End-