1

The Game

By

Year 11 Drama 2011

2011

Cast of Characters Alex Smith Wrath (Red, Sin) Jeff Young Jack Parker (Wrath/Red, Human) Ellyse Sharp Sloth (Grey, Sin) Sarah Scotland Mary (Grey/Sloth, Human) Helen Hodges-Huckstadt Lust (Blue, Sin) Sara MacPherson-Bruce Jessica McKinely (Lust/Blue, Human) Jess Barancewicz Envy (Green, Sin) Peter Zurcher Cain Flynn (Green/Envy, Human) Nathan Fernandez Pride (Purple, Sin) Tash Lowe Claire (Purple/Pride, Human) Michael Wilkinson Greed (Yellow, Sin) Cassie Cullen Veronica (Yellow/Greed, Human) Amelia Green Gluttony (Orange, Sin) Sanita Omari Georgia (Gluttony/Orange, Human)

Scene Time

ACT I Scene 1 Six of the seven sins are already seated at the table when the lights come up, sharing a drink. All are dressed in their corresponding colours. In the centre of the table is a scattered pile of pictures. Pride is seated at the head of the table, wearing less colour than the others. Sloth stumbles slowly in from stage right, evidently she is late. PRIDE Sloth, you're late... As usual. SLOTH (Slumping lazily in her chair) Why should I care? - I don't even want to be here. WRATH (gets angry at sloth for no apparent reason) Well, if you don't want to be here, than why bother?! Why waste our time? SLOTH Wrath, I don't want to fight. I'm too tired. Let's just get this over with. PRIDE Fine. As I'm sure you all are aware, it's that time of the year again. (He smiles broadly as he stares around the table.) That time of the year in which we all put our individual... Skills against each other to decide which is, indeed, the deadliest sin of them all. Sloth looks slightly interested now, but doesn't sit up in her chair. The other sins lean forward, eager to listen to this year's plan. PRIDE We each get one human subject of our own choosing in which to tempt them with our particular vice. Now, I'm sure you all remember my player from last year, Ms. Claire Donaldson, whom I get to keep as per the rules. Pride pulls out her picture from his pocket and then places it on the table. As he mentions her, she stands up on SL Pit, and a light appears on her. I trust you have all chosen yours?

Light on Claire fades out and she sits back down. WRATH I've chosen mine - really bad tempered. Should be easy enough. Jack stands SR Pit. A light appears on him as he's fixing his jacket. LUST Just as easy as his fiancee? Jessica joins Jack in the light, taking control of his jacket. Light fades out as they sit down. ENVY What? I wanted Jack's girl! She's the best one! GREED Oh shut up envy! This isn't fair. I can't just choose one. They should all be mine! All other sins look at Greed with strong disapproval. Come on, You at least have to let me take these two. Georgia and Veronica stand up, one on either side of the pit. I've been trying to pick between them all day, but I just have to have them both! ENVY But that would be cheating! PRIDE It hardly matters how many Greed gets. I think it's fairly obvious who's going to win this year. After all, it's not about how many you have. It's about the skills you have obtained over experience, such as those I possess. Now, the whole 'competition' angle is cute, but what say we spare you all the embarrassment and just declare me the winner now? GREED Come off it, Pride, power is in numbers... It's about time I won, anyway. What about you, Gluttony? WRATH The rules aren't there to be broken, Greed! GLUTTONY

Well, I'll take the drug addict. Light out on Georgia. You can have the dealer. Light out on Veronica. ENVY Well, Lust, I guess you've got the fiancee... Well then, I'll have... Him. Envy reluctantly picks up a picture and looks at it. SL Pit light up on Cain for only a moment, before going off again. WRATH And of course, we're left with Sloth. Wrath bangs her hand on the table. Sloth wakes up and is handed a pile of pictures. I'll assume you haven't even considered anyone yet, so take your pick. SLOTH Oh, fine. I'll have this one. Sloth picks up a picture out of random selection and looks at it. Mary stands up SR Pit and a brief light is put upon her before going back down. LUST Where do we want to play, Pride? GLUTTONY It should be in a restaurant! With poker machines and an open bar and an all you can eat buffet...

GREED What about the Vatican? LUST NO! I mean... No. The restaurant sounds good. GLUTTONY Well, Pride, what's your choice? It's your call anyway. PRIDE I've chosen somewhere that will play on all of our strengths.

ENVY Oh, where? PRIDE The nightclub that Ms. Donaldson inherited during our last game, of course. The perfect place for this kind of activity. All of the sins mumble amongst each other before Pride interrupts. Well, now that we have agreed on my choice... Let the games begin. Pride snaps his fingers. The humans and sins move into position, all except Greed, Gluttony and Sloth. Transition Scene (Scene 2) Planning against Pride Greed and Gluttony meet up on the black blocks, stage left. They speak in hushed tones, as though they aren't supposed to be where they are. GREED Alright, look, Pride has won this thing too many times. GLUTTONY I agree - if he wins this year he's going to start thinking he owns the joint. I say we team up. Al least that way, someone other than Lord Fantastico can get something out of it. GREED It's a good thing then, I suppose, that our two people go together so well. GLUTTONY Yes. If we help each other, it should be easy enough to turn them to our side. But it says this one isn't on the list, and she's underage. How's she going to get in? GREED Perhaps we need a third... Greed thinks for a moment, then calls to Sloth. Say, Sloth, could you join us for a minute? Sloth stumbles onto the scene.

SLOTH This had better be good. GREED We need your help - you need to force your girl, the bouncer, to let Gluttony's girl through, no matter what. SLOTH Why should I? Honestly, I really can't be GLUTTONY Bothered? Well, it's to help beat Pride. SLOTH But it's too much effort... GREED Even to beat Pride? Sloth yawns in defeat (I'm not entirely sure how to do that, though... Good luck Ellyse.) SLOTH Fine... I'll do it. Can I go now? Greed nods and Sloth makes her way out of the light. GREED Now, let's get out of here before the others see us. GLUTTONY Right. See you club, Greed. They walk their separate ways. Lights out. Scene Three - The Game itself. Lights are up on the stage, where Claire and Mary are now talking. Their respective sins are with them. CLAIRE Okay, you've got one job tonight. Can you at least manage that? Mary nods CLAIRE Alright, here's the list. If someone's not on the list, they go somewhere else. That's it. MARY

Okay... Yep, got it. CLAIRE Alright. Good. Just remember, a club's only as good as its opening night, so this has to run perfectly! MARY (talking to character offstage) Name? Sorry, lady. Not on the list. SLOTH What? Oh, come on, there's plenty of space in there. She wouldn't have hurt anyone... Pride clicks her fingers. All but Pride and Sloth freeze. PRIDE SLOTH We'll see... Sloth clicks her fingers. All unfreeze. SLOTH Look, this is supposed to be a nightclub. People come here to have fun. Just let him in, he looks tame enough. MARY Name? Not on the list. Sorry bro. Sloth sighs. Lights up on Jack/Jessica walking towards the night club. JACK What the hell are you wearing, Jessica? JESSICA What? What's wrong with this? JACK It's a night club. You know what sort of people go to night clubs. JESSICA Hey, I'm just showing off my assets. WRATH WHOA! Hold up! Wrath snaps her fingers. Jack and Jessica freeze. Good luck, Sloth... You're going to need it.

WRATH What the Hell are you trying here? LUST What? WRATH Look at her! Look what she's wearing- or what she isn't, I might as well say. This is hardly fair game. LUST What's the matter with you? She's just... Showing off her assets. WRATH I can only hope that he gives her what she deserves. Mimes slitting throat LUST Let's just keep it going, shall we? We'll see how this... Plays out. WRATH Fine. Wrath snaps once more to unfreeze. JACK Why did you even drag me here? You know I hate nightclubs. JESSICA Oh, come on- it's opening night. It'll be... A fun, new experience. They approach Mary, who's sitting down on the edge of the stage. MARY Names? JESSICA Jack Parker and Jessica McKinley. Mary glances at the list. MARY You're fine - go on in. SLOTH You didn't have to do that. MARY

Yes, I did. As Jack and Jessica are getting settled, this stuff happens. PRIDE Wrath... Envy. They both acknowledge him with a nod and meet him at the table as Envy is walking up to the bouncer. MARY Name? CAIN Cain Flynn. Mary looks up at Cain, the list face down next to her. MARY *Sigh* Alright, fine. Go on in. Jessica notices Cain as soon as he walks in and makes an effort to make herself look more attractive. Greed and gluttony also approach Mary, who lets them in with no questions whatsoever. Sloth gives a satisfied nod to the other sins nearby, who notice it but brush it off. Claire directs her attention over to Jack, who's checking his watch and looking around nervously. CLAIRE (Taking Wrath by the arm or something) Excuse me, Sir, did I overhear you mention that you are somehow unhappy? JACK This just isn't my type of scene. CLAIRE Well, I guarantee that all of that is going to change tonight. Let me show you around. JACK No, no. I'm fine right where I am, thank you. CLAIRE (Ignores) No, I insist, come with me. You'll thank yourself that you did. Claire starts to lead Jack off when he catches a glimpse of Cain staring at his wife. He breaks

free and turns back to Jessica. JACK For the love of God Jessica, put something on. He gives her his jacket and proceeds to walk off with Claire. Lust and Envy are left in that part of the club, alone. They exchange glances. THESE NEXT SCENES ALL START WITH THE SAME LINE, AND ALSO FINISH WITH THE SAME LINE. Lust and Envy CLAIRE (Slaps hand on the bar) Who is she? I'm pretty sure she's not on the list! Jessica and Cain exchange glances LUST He's been following you, you know. Why not go and find out why? Maybe he's interested if you know what I'm talking about. JESSICA No, I shouldn't. I'm getting married. LUST All the more reason! Once you've said 'I do' you'll be forever stuck with Mr. Grumpy. Come on, there's nothing wrong with saying 'hi'. JESSICA I don't think so. He is pretty cute, though. LUST There you go. JESSICA But no, I shouldn't... I'm engaged. LUST Oh go on, live a little. While you still can! Jessica gives in and walks over to talk to Cain. She sits next to him. JESSICA So, I noticed that you've been following me. CAIN Uh... Hi.

10

JESSICA Yeah. Hi. You've been following me... Why? CAIN I... I;m not sure... ENVY Oh come on! This could be your chance! You could finally get Jack's girl! Cain tries to ignore her. ENVY You know you're jealous of him... Why not turn the tables? Make him the jealous one! CAIN (Giving in) Okay, fine. I've been following you. JESSICA But why? CAIN Well, because you're a beautiful woman... and I've never had the courage to talk to you before. JESSICA Oh, you're sweet. What's your name? CAIN Cain. I'm Cain. JESSICA I'm Jessica... But I guess you already know that, right? CAIN Yes. Yes, I do. JESSICA Do you like my name, Cain? CAIN Yeah... it's very nice. LUST Hmm... Let's see what else he likes. JESSICA Well, what else do you like? Cain's eyes widen as it's obvious he;s being put on the spot. He thinks.

11

CAIN Umm.... Your eyes are beautiful? JESSICA (Laughs) HA! That's a classic. What else? CAIN You've got nice... hair? And that colour suits you? JESSICA Oh my goodness, you don't know how to do this, do you? You know what? Let's just skip this bit. Seriously, it's the most boring part, after all. CAIN Skip? Skip to what?! JESSICA To what, he says! I like you a lot, Cain, you're cute. (Offers her hand) Here... follow me, I'll show you what I mean. Cain hesitates. ENVY Oh go on, you fool! CAIN (Taking her hand) Alright (Still uneasy) They exit, leaving their sins behind. ENVY Hang on, does that mean that I won? Gluttony and Greed walk out and join them. GREED Actually, while those two were off... doing what they were doing, our subjects had a little exchange. GLUTTONY And I think you'll find that we led ours astray before you. LUST No offense, but I find that quite hard to believe. GLUTTONY Very well - let's take it back, shall we? Greed claps his hands or clicks, and the next

12

scene begins.

Greed and Gluttony CLAIRE (Slaps hand on the bar) Who is she? I'm pretty sure she's not on the list! Georgia sits down at the bar, a short distance away from Veronica. Gluttony orders a drink and drinks it in one go. Georgia turns to Mary. GEORGIA Just... Just a water, thank you. GLUTTONY Water? Who goes to a night club for water? Gluttony opens the drink menu How about a vodka? GEORGIA Vodka? Georgia thinks for a minute. Gluttony nods and signals her to do it. No. I can't. I have work tomorrow and then IGLUTTONY Oh, come ON. How often do you get to go to an opening night? Look, it's a club. People expect you to have a little fun. GEORGIA But what about wGLUTTONY You can worry about work when you get there. Now, come on. One drink won't hurt you. GEORGIA Why not? (to bartender) Make it a vodka. GLUTTONY Oh, and you'll want to get a few packs of peanuts or something as well. You shouldn't drink on an empty stomach. (Smiles)

13

GEORGIA Right, right. (to bartender) And can I have two packs of peanuts with that? Gluttony sits back and takes a sip of her drink while she watches her victim indulge. She nods at greed, satisfied with her work. This sparks an idea in greed. GREED Wow. Hey, over there. VERONICA What? GREED That one. Going to town on the peanuts. She's just giving in to whatever passes her ears. You could make a good profit off her. VERONICA Well, I just made a deal with some bloke who's getting his wallet. GREED Look at her, you'd get whatever you want from someone like that. VERONICA Well... GREED Come on, just start high and go down each time. Start at say, 150 a pill? VERONICA 150? Didn't you say it only cost 80 bucks for the pack? GREED Hey, 80 bucks to us could be 1000 to a moron. You want to be rich, don't you? VERONICA Alright. Fine. Veronica walks over to the Georgia, trying to silently catch her attention in between drinks. Eventually, he decides he has to say something. VERONICA (To Georgia) Hey.

14

Georgia looks at Veronica whilst sipping from her drink. Gluttony gestures to Sloth to pour Georgia another drink. She reluctantly does so while the following exchange occurs. VERONICA You look like the sort of person that likes to enjoy the finer pleasures in life. GEORGIA What do you mean? VERONICA Well, I'm just saying... (takes out small bag of pills) I was going to keep this for myself, but... I have a feeling you'd enjoy it more. GEORGIA I don't know... GLUTTONY (Mocking Georgia) I don't know! I don't know! Come on, take it. It'll be fun. GEORGIA But... I... GLUTTONY Come on, it's right there! And she's the one offering. Just take it. GEORGIA (To Veronica) Well, if you're offering. She goes to take the bag. Veronica pulls it away just as she's about to take it. VERONICA Hey, this stuff isn't free, you know. Georgia retracts her hand. GLUTTONY What are you doing? Pay her. GEORGIA How much? VERONICA What have you got?

15

GEORGIA Come on, just give me a price. Veronica inspects the bag. VERONICA Well... GREED (whispering) Start high, make a deal. She thinks. VERONICA $250 a pop. Georgia excitedly gets out her wallet, but soon looks distressed. GEORGIA I... I don't have that much. VERONICA Alright, you know what? You look nice, I'll give you a deal. You give me $200 and I give you one of the best times of your life. GLUTTONY Go on. Do it. It's the best. The best. GEORGIA If it's the best. They exchange moneys and such, and Veronica starts to leave the club. VERONICA Thank you, my friend. And enjoy. A slap and a scream are heard as Georgia takes the pill. She chokes, but ignores it. Veronica runs out. JACK No, enough! (A slap is heard, followed by a scream) Transition part GLUTTONY Yes! That means I won! GREED What? No, I won!

16

Sloth and Pride walk out PRIDE Maybe one of us won? SLOTH Can't we just go home? PRIDE No way - we need to find out who the winner is, first! Let's take a look Time rewinds. Sloth and Pride Duo CLAIRE (Slaps hand on the bar) Who is she? I'm pretty sure she's not on the list! MARY Does it even matter? She isn't hurting anyone. CLAIRE I said everything had to be perfect, Mary. MARY Come on, it's one person! CLAIRE Honestly, Mary, I ask you to do one little thing. MARY (Begins to fall asleep) Everything's fine... Just relax. CLAIRE (Slams her hand on the table again) How can I relax?! I'd better not see you slack off again or you're gone! SLOTH Just ignore her, you're doing great... PRIDE Don't be too angry - you can make this work! You're perfect. You can still make this night brilliant. CLAIRE Don't even bother anymore. I can do it myself! Seems like I'm the only one good enough for the job! JACK No, enough! (A slap is heard, followed by a scream)

17

PRIDE Well, look at that beaming pride. Looks like I won again. SLOTH Who cares? At least we can go back to sleep now. Lust, Envy and Wrath join the other sins. LUST Actually, Pride, I beg to differ. Remember, it was the lustful Jessica who committed the first crime. ENVY No! It was mine! He agreed to go with her! It was my doing! WRATH Well, mine got pretty fired up. A lot happened while you were worrying about your perfect club, Pride. A lot happened. Yes - A lot. PRIDE Fine! One last look at the past, and that's it! Time rewinds one last time The Trio - Final part CLAIRE (Slaps hand on the bar) Who is she? I'm pretty sure she's not on the list!

LUST

18

ACT I Scene 1: Middle Section- Wrath and Lust Lust and Envy walk back on stage after having being at it... very obviously at it, and Jack (And wrath) notice. JACK Jessica... What are you... What are you doing with him? JESSICA It's nothing of your concern, Jack. JACK Jessica, tell me what happened. I swear, if youCAIN Oh, I see. You're just jealous because we... Found a room. They exchange a look. Wrath stands up, shocked. WRATH WHAT?! Hold it! Humans freeze. Wrath and Envy turn to Lust. WRATH What?! How did you- You won?! LUST Well yes, it would seem that way. Wrath gives a frustrated sigh and slams her fist on the table. ENVY Well, look who's jealous now. WRATH Don't even, Envy! Look, Lust, I know you fixed this. Look at what she was wearing. You can't have won, you had to haveThe humans unfreeze. JACK Cheated! You cheated on me?! JESSICA (insincere) Well, I'm sorry.

19

They stop because it's Hammertime. LUST You know what? I'm not sorry. I have nothing to apologize for. I won this year, fair and square. WRATH Ugh! You... You just make me soUnfreeze. JACK Angry! But why should I be surprised? It was all in your little dress, wasn't it? But no, I trusted you and then youCAIN Hey! Leave her alone - that's no way to talk to my girl. JESSICA Your girl? No. You see the ring? I may be yours for a few minutes in the coat room, but I'm going to be married. I'll be his for the rest of my life. Humans Freeze at Envy's command. ENVY Wait, She's not even leaving him? But... I thought Humans unfreeze. CAIN We had something? JESSCIA We never had anything. Not even for a minute. CAIN Are you sure? Humans freeze. LUST Yes, I'm sure. Humans unfreeze. Cain goes to leave, defeated. JACK Hang on... Let's be reasonable. Why don't we have a chat outside? Sort this all out like gentlemen? Cain shrugs and leaves, and is followed by Jack, who reaches for a glass bottle. A smash is heard

20

from offstage, and fighting starts. He then walks back on in a rush and pulls Jessica out of the club. JACK We're going. Now. JESSICA But I want to stay JACK No, enough! (He slaps Jessica; she screams) We're leaving! FINAL SCENE Lust is sitting at the head of the table now, because she won, but the sins are still disputing the matter. WRATH (Slams hand down on table) This isn't fair! I should have won! I had complete control over Jack. He would've torched the place like that if I'd told him to. LUST (Cuts wrath off) I'm sorry, Wrath, but my person fell into sin first; I won fair and square. And I did it in style. ENVY (Sulking) But I wanted to win! I haven't won in years.... it's not fair. If I had the fiancee, I would have won! PRIDE Come on, guys, Lust won this time around. But I must admit, I most certainly think that I should have won again as my human was overly proud right from the start. Besides, you all have to accept that I gave a fine performance this year. WRATH The only reason yours was so high and mighty is because she played last year! SLOTH (puts head up, sleepily) Who cares, honestly! We all did our job. All of them fell into sin, so can we all just go now? I'm so over this. GREED

21

Fine, but I'm choosing first next year, I want the best chance of winning. GLUTTONY I still don't see why I can't choose two. it seems fair enough. PRIDE Greed, you will choose when your turn comes around. Gluttony, you may not have two next year. And that's final. ENVY Can we go yet? I need to go and plan for next year. SLOTH Can't we make a new rule though, first? Can we make sure we don't kill any more humans? It's rather depressing when you think about it... LUST You forget, Sloth, that what ends up killing them is beyond our powers. Our duty merely lies in bringing out the fatal flaw in these people. Show them who they really are before they take their final breaths. People will die in the process, but that is an occupational hazard that none of us can prevent. As this year's triumphant party and therefore the leader for the next annum, I'll stand to uphold the tradition of our games, even if it means we kill a thousand humans in the process. PRIDE But LUST No. I think we're done here. Lust snaps her fingers. All of the other sins freeze. I'll see you all next year. Lust saunters off the stage, laughing quietly to herself as the lights fade out, leaving the other sins frozen.

22

END