DRAMATIC WORK
by Serena Norr
CHARACTERS
BEN: 25, Dreams to work at Stocked, HQ
MAC: 55, CEO of Stocked, HQ
BETTY: 30, Stocked Mom, College Student, Best Friend, etc. Assumes all roles and easily confirms to fit any part at Stocked, HQ
2–3 VARIOUS PEOPLE: Any age or gender; interchangeable to be various stocked figures
TIME: Present.
SETTING: Stocked, HQ
Stocked, HQ. Bright warehouse designated by mini rooms. There is movement with people walking around, creating scenes. MAC walks to the center and looks ahead at a camera.
MAC
Welcome to Stocked, HQ! Home of the largest supplier of stock images in the country. Yes, the country. We used to be in competition with those “other” guys but we have long since proven that we are the best.
Want a happy family hiking scene?
The VARIOUS PEOPLE transform into a family hiking and smiling.
What about changing your tire?
The VARIOUS PEOPLE transform and pretend to change a tire.
And of course no stock library would be complete without a birthday party.
The VARIOUS PEOPLE transform and create a birthday scene.
As you can see, we can create anything you desire for your websites, corporate catalogs, brochures, flyers. The world really is your oyster at Stocked. Call us today to reserve a VIP package with unlimited images.
BEN walks to MAC. He is dressed immaculately: hair slicked back, pristine, neat and clean. All-American of sorts.
BEN
(nervous)
Excuse me. Is this Stocked, HQ?
MAC
(points to a sign)
Of course this Stocked, HQ! What do you want?
BEN
(pulls out a piece of paper)
Thanks! Do you know where Mac Daniels is?
MAC
You’re speaking to him. And you are?
BEN
(goes to shake his hand)
Oh, Mr. Daniels. What an honor. What a real honor. I’m Ben. Benjamin Givens. I have an interview with you. To be a stock image.
MAC
(looks him up and down)
And you don’t know who I am? The President, Founder, and Visionary of Stocked! Quite frankly, I’m offended.
BEN
Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I never saw your face. But I know you… your work… you’ve been a huge influence on my life. Your stock images. I’ve wanted to be Stocked since I was six. I used to practice around the house.
(Demonstrates)
Child who reads. Then College Kid reading. And now a Young Man who reads. I can do more than reading though. I have a range. Do you want to see my Firefighter?
MAC
How old are you?
BEN
25. 26 next week actually.
MAC
Oh, no, no, no. I only want them young. To mold what’s possible. You’re way past your prime.
BEN
But you called me. Or someone did… and people want a range of images. Images of people of different ages and I can play younger. My mom always said that I looked at least five years younger… so you can say I’m 20 or 19 or 18. Please, I need this.
MAC
Need, huh? Well, what I need is for you to leave. I’m shooting a TV commercial and need to get back to it… need to get back to what matters. What the real people need.
BEN
I’m what people need! I’m an all-American pure-bred male. No tattoos; no body fat; I have all my hair. You can mold me. Do with me what you like.
MAC
I see. Well, let’s do a test.
BEN
A test?
MAC
Don’t get too excited. To see how you perform; how many downloads you get.
Betty? Where is Betty?
BETTY walks to the center. She stares ahead, lifeless.
BEN
(to BETTY)
Hi.
MAC
No need for that. Now, let’s see. Let’s do the happy homemaker. Betty is so good at that. Ben, you work on the stock market and are coming home to a warm apple pie made by Betty.
VARIOUS PEOPLE come out and place an apron on BETTY and a jacket on BEN. They give him a pipe.
Ok. Go on. Show me how you’d Stock the look.
BEN assumes the role as BETTY transforms into the housewife. She is smiling as she looks ahead, mixing a batter. One of the PEOPLE gets close to take her
picture.
MAC
Betty, dear. To your left. The camera is to your left.
BETTY continues to look ahead. She turns her head to her left and continues to smile.
MAC
There you go. That’s a good girl. Go on! Show me. Show me everything!
BEN gets closer to BETTY.
BEN
(gives BETTY a kiss on the cheek)
Hello, dear. How was your day?
MAC
No talking! You’re a stock image, remember. Not an actor!
BEN
Right. Sorry.
BEN assumes the position, standing next to BETTY.
MAC
Put your arms around her.
BEN listens; BETTY remains lifeless.
Good. Now, lean in. Get close.
.
BEN listens. A VAIOUS PERSON walks over to MAC and whispers in his ear.
MAC
Pause the look. Goddamn fire in the candle-making room. Betty… just… be Betty.
A VARIOUS PERSON and MAC leave. BEN loosens his tie and moves away from BETTY.
BEN
So…umm…how long have you been at Stocked?
BETTY continues to look ahead.
BEN
That long, huh? Well, it seems like a great place to work. To become all these different people. A real challenge. More than any actor could do, to be everyone for everyone. I hope I can show Mac my Firefighter look. I’ve been practicing that one for weeks.
BEN transforms into a firefighter.
BEN
Pretty good, huh!
BETTY
(slow and low)
Help.
BEN
What? What was that?
BETTY
Help me. Help us…all of us.
BEN looks around. The VARIOUS PEOPLE are transforming into different scenes before his eyes. Everyone seems happy.
BEN
Look at that! A post office. A barker shop. This place… what a dream.
BETTY
(turns her body towards BEN)
Please help me. Help us.
BEN
I don’t understand. Help you from what?
MAC returns in a fury.
BEN
Is everything ok?
MAC
Why wouldn’t it be?
BEN
A fire–
MAC
Small fires are easy to put out. It’s only the big ones you can’t extinguish.
(looking at BETTY)
MAC
Betty…you moved. Turn back. Where you’re supposed to be. BETTY moves her body back.
BEN
This seems like a really nice place to work; to become all these different people every day. I know I can do it.
MAC
This is hard work: to transform into who you’re not. Long hours, constant smiling. Not everyone is up for this kind of work.
BEN
I am. I can be anything. A firefighter, a lawyer, a football player. I can do anything. I can be anyone. I’ve been practicing my whole life to be something other than who I am.
A VARIOUS PERSON comes out and whispers into MAC’s ear.
MAC
Motherfucker! What the hell is going on around here? He leaves in a rush with a VARIOUS PERSON.
BETTY
Help me now! Now’s your chance.
BEN
I don’t know what you’re talking about. What am I helping you from?
VARIOUS PEOPLE come up to BETTY.
VARIOUS PERSON 2
I made 4,000 downloads last month.
VARIOUS PERSON 1
I made 6,000.
VARIOUS PERSON 2
I’m still better than you. I can be more people.
VARIOUS PERSON 1
I can be anyone! You sucked at being the Mom.
The VARIOUS PEOPLE claw at each other. BEN tries to break it up.
BEN
Whoa, slow down! Don’t do that to each other.
(to BETTY)
Help me out over here!
BETTY
There’s a door. I think. To the left. Or is it to the right where the light hits the fan? Remi used to tell us. Just find the door and you’ll be free.
VARIOUS PERSON 2
When I reach a million he’s going to praise me. He’s going to love me.
VARIOUS PERSON 1
No one ever got a million.
VARIOUS PERSON 2
Remi did.
VARIOUS PERSON 1
Don’t mention that name.
BEN
Whose Remi?
VARIOUS PERSON 1
And she’s close. Aren’t you, Betty? To a million. To being the real prize.
BEN
You almost have a million downloads? Shit, you’re amazing!
VARIOUS PERSON 2
She’s his favorite so of course she has that many. He gives her all the roles.
BETTY
Follow the light and when you follow the light, you’ll be free. You don’t have to smile anymore; you don’t have to shift; you don’t have to pretend. I’m coming, Remi. I’m coming back to you.
BETTY starts to walk to a wall. She is touching the wall, trying to find an opening.
BEN
What are you doing?
BETTY
I have to follow the light. I have to find myself: the self I left out there. A self that is sad and scared and lonely. A self that doesn’t smile on command. A self that is real.
BEN
Real? Aren’t you real?
BETTY
Listen to me. Not everything is what it seems. Smiles and happy people contained in squares. Forced happiness in fake scenes. Don’t you see, I can’t be a baker who smiles when my cake is burning.
BEN
But what you do here, it helps people. It makes people feel lighter. Feel warmth. It did that for me.
VARIOUS PEOPLE continue to shriek and fight. BETTY finds a door and walks through.
BETTY
Don’t forget! Don’t forget where this is when you’re ready to leave.
MAC comes back, furious.
MAC
What the hell is going on here? Are you animals? Scratches all over your face? You can’t work today…that might take weeks to heal. Get to your rooms. You disgust me.
VARIOUS PEOPLE lower their heads and walk away.
MAC
(to BEN)
You think you have what it takes?
BEN
Yes, just tell me. Tell me who I have to be.
MAC
You love all that reading, huh? Let’s try you in the librarian scene. College campus, reading. You look up at Betty and smile. Long and hard. Betty? Where the hell is Betty?
BEN looks over at the door. MAC follows and runs to the door.
BEN
I don’t know. She said something about following the light.
MAC
Oh, no, no, no! Betty! Betty!
MAC runs to the wall and screams ‘Betty. After taking a moment, MAC eventually claps and VARIOUS PEOPLE come out.
MAC
Get it together, Mac. 1.7 billion downloads. They need you. The people want more. Show me the library. Lean in, breathe down their neck; show me your lust.
BEN and VARIOUS PEOPLE transform.
BEN
Lust? At a library?
MAC
No talking! Remember you’re a Stock image. Smile, gesticulate, perform.
BEN
11
Perform. Right.
BEN assumes the position and leans in close to VARIOUS PEOPLE. BEN glances over the wall where BETTY left. He brushes off the feeling and becomes static, smiling as cameras flash and MAC looks on.
MAC
Closer. Get closer. Come on. Create the fucking scene; be the fucking library. Power, revenge, glory. I need to see that; I need to see that in your smile.
BEN tries to take direction.
MAC
If this bullshit doesn’t get at least 10,000 downloads, you’re out. Do you hear me? And that goes for all of you. You’re out and you’ll never be downloaded again.
BEN takes the direction, assuming the role. It is off and slightly creepy as the cameras flash in front of his eyes. He becomes Stocked; frozen in a moment. Frozen in time.
THE END
This story originally appeared in Stonecoast Review Issue 19. Support local booksellers and independent publishers by ordering a print copy of the magazine.
Photo by Wilhelm Gunkel.