The Strange Letter

A short short drama in two acts.
  March 7, 2003

Cast of Characters:
Jack—a guy in his twenties
Vivienne—Jack’s mother
Samantha—Jack’s lover
Leonard—Jack’s lover
Princess—Jack’s bitch
Man in Black—a mysterious stranger
The Sphinx—a wise riddling sculpture
Assorted citizens—a mob
Monks—pass through humming and littering rose petals

ACT I

Jack alone in his room.  It’s a sparsely furnished shoebox: a chair, a desk, a narrow bed and a gun mounted on the wall.  No paintings or posters.  Jack is sitting in the chair, facing the audience, the light chiseling half of his face out of the darkness.

JACK:  I remember the day my father died...

The gun on the wall discharges suddenly, hitting Jack in the left temple.  Blood sputters from the illuminated side of Jack’s head.  He sits still for a couple of seconds, then softly falls over in a crumpled mass.

(Curtain.)

ACT II

…

(Curtain, applause.)

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