New World Order:
( An all-silent play)
Characters
MAN (older wearing a suit and tie)
WOMAN (his protege, or secretary, wearing dress)
YOUNG MAN (early 20’s, jeans and sweatshirt and back pack)
EXTRAS: judge, cops, waitress, Ups guy
Lights up on half the stage as a courtroom where the 3 of them sit with Man on the end, Woman next to him, and Young Man next to her in a row with more seats all facing the audience. There is a judge facing to the actors right, asleep. There are at least two cops, one near the judge, and one behind the seats and they are wearing shades standing very still. The Man and the Woman are facing the audience with their heads turned to their right, and every movement they make, they never stop looking right. The Young Man is looking all around, nervous. The other half of the stage is set as a city backdrop with 3-seated bus set up facing the audience, basic chairs, a bus driver elevated facing near the audience, overweight, with head phones on. There is a door into a coffee house, and outside there is one small table with one small chair. Action.
MAN
sneezes
WOMAN
sneezes
YOUNG MAN
hiccups (he smiles big, gets no response, and then frowns)
pause.
MAN
jerks an arm
WOMAN
jerks an arm
YOUNG MAN
sees them, and then sits on his hand
pause.
MAN
gets up quickly and gets dizzy visibly
WOMAN
does the same right after him
YOUNG MAN
(tries not to get bothered) he stretches, then slowly gets up, not dizzy, shrugs his shoulders. does the they walk out to the bus, and stand waiting.
MAN
checks his watch
WOMAN
checks her watch
YOUNG MAN
watches them, then looks directly up at the sky
pause. They get on the bus.
MAN
sits in the aisle seat
WOMAN
sits right behind him
YOUNG MAN
stands in the aisle
pause. They get off the bus.
MAN
goes into coffee house
WOMAN
goes into same coffee house
YOUNG MAN
sits outside
pause. They meet up. They walk in place like walking down the street. Man in lead, Woman following him, Young Man looking all around, nervously following her.
MAN
checks his phone
WOMAN
checks her phone
YOUNG MAN
looks in the mirror on the side of the building, shocked, he runs off the stage in a panic.
Man and Woman march off stage. The 3 come back on stage one following the other and sit back down in the courtroom where they were in the beginning.
YOUNG MAN
tries to keep looking right, but too preoccupied
MAN
sneezes
WOMAN
sneezes
YOUNG MAN
tries to sneeze, almost sneezes, waits for it, then sneezes (he smiles, looks back to his right following the Man and the Woman)
pause.
MAN
jerks an arm
WOMAN
jerks an arm
YOUNG MAN
jerks a leg, then tries holding it still, waits for it, then jerks an arm
pause.
MAN
stands up quickly and gets dizzy
WOMAN
stands up quickly and gets dizzy
YOUNG MAN
stands and doesn’t get dizzy, then jumps and up down from sitting to standing, then gets dizzy (smiles slightly)
pause. They wait for the bus.
MAN
sits in aisle seat
WOMAN
sits directly behind him
YOUNG MAN
sits directly behind her
Bus driver turns on the radio. It is the first noise in the play. It is static the whole time, but right when the 3 exit the bus, it becomes clear music.
MAN
goes into coffee house
WOMAN
goes into coffee house
YOUNG MAN
holds the door for her then goes into coffee house
They come out of the coffee house, and walk in place like walking down the street.
MAN
checks his phone
WOMAN
checks her phone third one
YOUNG MAN
pulls out his hand and checks it, then back into his pocket, again his hand, then finally, his phone, and he checks it. He sees something on the phone about him, screams silently and runs off stage.
Man and Woman march off stage. Back to beginning, sitting side by side.
YOUNG MAN
picks up his chair and moves it into the aisle to be first in the row. He sneezes.
MAN and WOMAN
turn their heads and stare at him
YOUNG MAN
raises his eyebrows
Then the lights start flashing, sirens go off, judge hits mallet and screams order, order! cop comes out with sign that says Out of Order, and he walks back and forth across the stage. judge screams Order, order. Waitress comes up to the Young Man: May I take your order? Wild stage. Ups guy comes up to Young Man: Here is your order, sir. Judge screams, Order, order! Young Man in front of line now becomes overwhelmed and confused, and he goes back to where he was sitting then everyone runs away and there is peace and calm. Back to beginning. All three are staring right,
MAN
sneezes
WOMAN
sneezes
YOUNG MAN
(very serious now, and in line) sneezes
Pause.
MAN
jerks an arm
WOMAN
jerks an arm
YOUNG MAN
jerks an arm
pause..
MAN
stands quickly and gets dizzy
WOMAN
does the same
YOUNG MAN
does the same
They all checks their watches one after the other, then resume looking right waiting for the bus. They get on the bus and ride one in front of the other. They ride the bus, all 3 looking right. The Young Man turns his head and looks out into audience. Lights out. The end.
property of Daze