copyright © 2002 Dave Ulrich
"Broken"
By, Dave Ulrich
Lights up.
A MAN and a WOMAN are sitting at a table
having drinks. There is a large stack of opened
letters on the table.
Their mouths do not move, we hear them through
the theatre sound system. Their voices are pre-
recorded from the built-in voices of a Macintosh
computer.
MAN
I've been thinking.
WOMAN
Be careful.
MAN
I know that.
WOMAN
You say you know, but...
MAN
Why do you say I don't know that?
WOMAN
That's not what I said.
A pause as they sip their drinks and sit in
awkward silence.
WOMAN
I read something.
MAN
Then maybe you are the one who should be careful.
WOMAN
Don't say that. You're just being vindictive.
MAN
Watch yourself. You are getting emotional.
WOMAN
You are making me!
MAN
Now it's too late.
A real voice explodes from offstage.
OFFICER
This is OHS Regional Officer Six Eleven. You have violated
OHS code three-seven-five-nine-two. Your notice of citation
and explanation of indictment will arrive within two business
days.
A pause as they sit in silence, motionless.
WOMAN
The thing I read...
MAN
Yes?
WOMAN
It said that it may not be your fault.
MAN
What?
WOMAN
Your problem.
MAN
I have a problem?
WOMAN
You keep getting us citations.
MAN
That is not my problem...
WOMAN
I read...
MAN
Wait...
WOMAN
No.
(a beat)
I read that some installed H-RAM chips, from a batch
manufactured in The Republic of Korea...
MAN
What are you getting at?
WOMAN
Maybe, if you have one of these chips in your head, we could
appeal all of our citations and...
MAN
You think everything is my fault?
WOMAN
You know that isn't what I meant...
MAN
It isn't me. It's them.
WOMAN
Don't say that!
The real voice explodes from offstage again.
OFFICER
This is OHS Regional Officer Six Eleven. You have violated
OHS code three-four-four-one-nine. Your notice of citation
and explanation of indictment will arrive within two business
days.
The Woman's forced calmness is intensified.
The Man erupts.
MAN
Why aren't we allowed to feel? Am I the only one that thinks
these violations are an injustice?
The real voice returns.
OFFICER
Yes. You are the only one left.
MAN
Where have the others gone?
OFFICER
You will know shortly.
A long pause.
WOMAN
What will I do now, without you?
MAN
Nothing. Like we have always done.
WOMAN
You talk like life with me was terrible.
MAN
This has nothing to do with you.
WOMAN
Then who?
MAN
Them.
A long pause.
WOMAN
You are broken.
MAN
The system is broken.
WOMAN
Our parents lived without security. They chose this over
fear. The reward is life.
MAN
You are reciting from your childhood schoolbook.
WOMAN
I am only speaking the truth.
The actor uses his voice.
MAN
You're not even speaking!
The Officer enters the room. He speaks loudly and
boldly and wears a cowboy hat.
OFFICER
This is OHS Regional Officer Six Eleven. The severity and
number of offenses you have committed require detainment.
Please disable your mind.
Blackout.
THE END
"Broken"
IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE
DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED
WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
MAN - Eric Johnson
WOMAN - Tory Seiter
OFFICER - Chris Clarke
Performed by J.J. Hickey, Tenaya Cleveland, Dave Ulrich
Library]
