Still More 10-Minute Plays

I’VE GOT A BUN
MASON has been cast in a newly-discovered, never-before-seen play by the world-class absurdist LaSalle Montclare.

On the first day of rehearsal, he learns that Montclare’s estate is insisting the play be performed exactly as Montclare wrote it. Not a word can be changed.
Problem is, Montclare was a terrible typist. Which is why the play opens with Mason
holding his costar at gunpoint and saying, “I’ve got a bun.”

Mason can’t believe they’re going to perform the play as written, typos and all, but JOHN,
his director, says the estate will pull production rights if they don’t.
And Mason is even more astounded when he hears that his next line is “Come out or I’ll hoot.”

Montclare worked on a typewriter, in the pre-computer age.
Was he the brilliant satirist his legacy claims he was...
or just a lousy typist?

1M / 1W

The 10-minute version of MARK MY WORMS

VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS
Lawyer Roger Ellis (30s) arrives at Mrs. Mendelson’s (90s) door with a document
from her husband, Julius, demanding she stop contacting him.
Imagine John’s surprise when he learns Julius is dead.

Seems that Julius, wanting to teach his wife a lesson, and arranged this legal action
before he died.
And Roger’s coworkers, knowing he has a personal hatred of mediums,
gave him this job as a joke.

It would all be so simple if Mrs. Mendelson agreed to stop contacting Julius.
But she won’t because she doesn’t know how to program her VDR.
So Roger has to return the next day, with another legal document.
Which is when he’s told that Mrs. Mendelson’s is talking not only to Julius,
but also Roger’s dead mother.
“Who, by the way, wants to know, did you ever marry that nice girl you were seeing? Yvette.”

Roger knows Mrs. Mendelson can’t be in contact with the dead.
Then why, each time he returns with yet another legal document,
does she know more and more about his childhood?

1 W / 1 M

The 10-minute version of JUST ASKING

X-LESS
At a press conference, President Trump announces his newest executive order:
He’s deleting x from the alphabet. “It’s time to make the American language great again.”

This will create jobs, get rid of foreign prefixes like ex-, and, perhaps best of all,
nothing will ever again have to be explained to the American people.

Of course it also means he’ll never be an excellent, exceptional, or extraordinary president,
he won’t excel, and he won’t be extolled or exalted.

It is possible he didn’t completely think this through?

“Who knew the American language was so complicated?”

3 M OR: 2 M / 1 W OR: 1 M / 2 W

THE TURN-AROUND
LESTER loves his guns. He has his own firing range in back of his house
and he’s the head of his state’s NRA chapter.
Too bad his nearest neighbor, ROBERT, doesn’t feel the same way.
They’ve had major differences regarding Second-Amendment gun rights over the years.

Which is why Lester is less-than-pleased to find Robert at his front door one day.
But Robert isn’t here to have another argument about gun rights.
Quite the opposite - he’s here to tell Lester that he’s been won over:
Everyone has the right to own a weapon for self-defense.

And Robert has just acquired his weapon of choice - Anthrax.

2M

"addresses one of today’s hot button issues from a wickedly humorous point-of-view."
- Heidi Sutton, TBR Newsmedia

ART ATTACK
When BRENDAN and DIANE visit an art gallery to experience the latest work of the minimalist artist
that Brendan’s been raving about for the last three days, Diane is less than impressed by what she sees.

Which leads to Brendan pointing out that Diane is always negative about... Everything.
Which leads to Diane pointing out that Brendan always thinks he knows Everything.
Especially when it comes to art.

And it takes only a few more exchanges before they’re arguing about... well, everything.
When they walk out, they’re still arguing – about their relationship as well as about art.

A few minutes later, LORI, the gallery owner returns, with MIKE, who’s helping her prepare the gallery
for a new show.
And they have a Very Different (and much shorter) conversation about what is art.
And what isn’t.

2M / 2W

BRUNO SAW THE DOCTOR
Nick (early 20’s) is sitting in a coffee shop working on his laptop when he gets a text: “How’s Bruno?”
Nick has no idea who Bruno is, but, liking a goof as much as the next person, he texts back: “Bruno is fine.”

He’s more annoyed than amused by the next text: “Did Bruno see The Doctor?”
Texting back for the final time, he responds “Bruno saw the doctor. Doctor said he’s good to go.”
And that, as far as Nick is concerned, is the end of it.

Until, soon after, two men enter the coffee shop, settle themselves at Nick’s table, and start asking Nick questions.
About Bruno.
Think Black Helicopters and deep-cover Code Names.

When the men discover that Nick knows (no, really, he doesn’t) that Bruno saw The Doctor,
got the pastries, the napkins, and the tablecloth, and is ready for the Picnic,
they decide they have no choice but to call The Sandman.
“Don’t bother to run,” they warn Nick as they leave. “The Sandman will find you.”

Alone again, Nick isn’t sure exactly what just happened. Or what he should do next.
Which is when another man enters the coffee shop and sits down at Nick’s table.
“I’m Bruno. Tell me everything.”

4M or 2M / 2W

The 10-minute version of HOW'S BRUNO?