the glimmer - act 3 - a work-in-progress #5

! ! ! ! ! THE GLIMMER - ACT 3

AT RISE: Mike sitting at the table, drinking. A KNOCK at the door.

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Come in...

! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER MARITZA - she stops, looks around)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I’m looking for George.. do you know George?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

George? George? - I know a George - he lives around here...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Do you know where?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Why, right next door - but he practically lives here - we’re good buddies - come in, sweetness - George will be here soon - he just went up for some parts..! ! ! ! ! ! (Puts glass down, gets up)What’s your name?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks around - then comes in further)

Maritza - I used to be George’s friend..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Michael, Maritza - Maritza, Mike - has a ring to it! Sit down, sit down - we’ll wait for old George.. drink?! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

No, thank you..

! ! ! ! ! ! (They both sit down at the table)

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2014

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Picks up his glass)

Don’t mind if I do!

! ! ! ! ! ! (Drinks - an awkward pause)

You look familiar - I’ve seen you before..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I used to be George’s girlfriend..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh, yes - I’ve seen your picture - the gypsy girl!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

But I’m not Romanian - my mother’s from Honduras, my father from El Salvador - I’m Honduran and Salvadoran..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh.. South American, huh?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Central American - I’m not legal, but I made my way up here, put myself through college, and now I got a degree..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Not legal, not legal.. well, when you’re young and beautiful, who needs to be legal, that’s what I say!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Well.. I’d like to be legal...

! ! ! ! ! ! (Another awkward pause)

! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

What do you do, Michael?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Mike! - do? - what do I do?.. why.. I’m a writer..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Oh? - what do you write?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Novels...!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Any published?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Several..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I read a lot of novels - maybe I’ve heard of one of yours - tell me a title!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, drinks)

I can’t.. actually I’m a ghost writer.. I get paid tons of money to write other people’s stories, but I can’t tell you what they’re called - it’s part of the deal.. let’s just say my client used to work for MI6 and I have to travel back and forth to London a lot - he was known as a spymaster - Cold War, that time - I actually fly a triangle and stop in old East Berlin, where I have contacts with former Stasi agents - East German intelligence service - brutal men, but they’re willing to talk...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Oh, spy novels! - but if you make a lot of money, why are you living here, in this, this..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Hovel? - a dive is what it is.. the reason.. yes, the reason I live here.. is to get the feel of the.. squalid circumstances of my protagonist, to live his character, search for his voice.. that’s why I squint, pretending I’m half-blind - I want to experience the.. je ne seis quoi of his life...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Isn’t that French?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Most certainly..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

But you must live somewhere else, if you have money..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, I do maintain a three-story townhouse, up behind us on Hawk Hill - living the solitary life of a writer - but with a sweeping view of the Bay! - and of course, the pool, the Olympic pool - though, it’s often quite lonely - no one to swim with...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Well, I’m very glad to meet you, Mike, Mike..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

I write under a pen name - a nom de plume..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Maybe I’ve heard of you..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

I doubt it - I keep a very low profile..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Try me..


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Hart.. Hart Crane...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

You’re right, never heard of you..! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

See..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

If you can’t tell me the title of your latest book, at least tell me the name of the hero..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

The protagonist is called.. Polidari..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

But that sounds neither British or German..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Polidari is his code name - he’s very deep - a mole - a mole’s mole! - in the Foreign Service of, of.. but I better say no more.. except that during the week he’s Hermann, a common worker living in a Berlin flat much like this - but on the weekends, he operates from a secret cave in the Bavarian Alps - as Polidari, master spy! - a cave previously occupied only by.. Neanderthals... ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Sounds deep..

! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks around)

Is George coming soon?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Any minute.. and what about you? - what do you do?


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I graduated from college - but I can’t seem to find a job..! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

So sorry.. then you must be around.. twenty-two..! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I just turned twenty-three.. and you? - do you mind my asking?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Of course not! - let’s just say - I won’t see the near side of thirty, again..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Don’t you mean, the far side?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, it’s some distance...! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at her)Let me guess.. a degree in English.. or Art History?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Actually, it’s in Industrial Design..! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Hmm.. sounds like an actual skill.. maybe I can do something for you! - I used to work at The Accelerator - and I’ve still got contacts, important contacts! - ever heard of The Accelerator?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Don’t they do some kind of research there?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Yes, pretty important stuff - and a great place to work! - if you don’t mind a little radiation..


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Radiation?! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Very low doses.. actually good for the skin! - keeps it fresh and smooth - lot of people don’t know that - and, it acts as a powerful aphrodisiac!! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

It does?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

We used to have a saying at work: “Keep it in your pants, man!” - ha-ha! - an inside joke.. but perhaps I’m getting a little too coarse, a little too familiar...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

No, I think I get it...

! ! ! ! ! ! (Another awkward pause - ENTER LIL from the ! ! ! ! ! ! kitchen)! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

! ! ! ! ! ! (To Maritza)Hello..! ! ! ! ! ! (To Mike)Hello, Hart..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Mum’s the word, Lil - mum’s the word!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

I couldn’t help but overhear..! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Hello, I’m Maritza - who are you?


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

This is my life partner! - my soul mate! - my fellow wanderer, with whom I travel - wild

and free! - through this, this..!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

! ! ! ! ! ! (Interrupting him)Wife - I’m his wife - the old-fashioned kind..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Oh, so you’re married!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Apparently...! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

! ! ! ! ! ! (To Mike)I’m fixing dinner - red beans and rice - will you be taking dinner here, or will you be dining in solitary repast at Hawk Hill - on quail and wild salmon?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh, why don’t I just stay down here - do as Polidari does - dine on noodles! - perhaps Maritza will join us - and George, when he gets here...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Fettuccine, or angel hair?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Kraft dinner with catsup! - and iceberg lettuce and great goblets of wine! - Chianti!! ! ! ! ! ! (To Maritza).. Classico...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Is my liege referring to the bottle of Gallo in the cupboard?

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (To Maritza)An earthy wine - bitter, yet sweet - with a touch of.. the Alps!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

I’ll get the help to start preparing the great feast...! ! ! ! ! ! (LIL EXITS into the kitchen - another awkward ! ! ! ! ! ! pause)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE! ! ! ! !So, what else do you do, Maritza - besides search for a job?! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I’m also something of an activist, fighting for a more equal distribution of wealth - if young people like me have no career, no future - how can any of us build a future as a country?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Distribution of wealth? - you talking communism, Maritza? - the proletariat, bourgeoise, all that crap?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I’m talking about regular people leading regular lives - like you and me, George and Lil..!! !! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Not Lil - she’s of the ruling class, believe me...

! ! ! ! ! ! (A quick KNOCK on the door and ENTER ! ! ! ! ! ! George, paper bag in hand - he stands and ! ! ! ! ! ! stares at Maritza)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Hello, George..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Hello.. Maritza...! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

How have you been? - why haven’t you called, or written?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Because I’m done with you, bitch!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

! ! ! ! ! ! (Rising)

Well, it’s time to boil some water.. Mike, go down to the servant’s quarters and tell the head butler we’ll need our best china, crystal - and a large bottle of catsup..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

The butler? - sure, Lil..! ! ! ! ! ! (Rising)If I can just find the stairs!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Past the drawing room, at the end of the second hallway..

! ! ! ! ! ! (LIL and MIKE EXIT into the kitchen - Maritza ! ! ! ! ! ! and George stare off)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZADid you have to call me that? - in front of them...!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Sorry, it’s a guy thing...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Well, I didn’t appreciate it!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

What happened to dudeface from the Leadership Camp?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

He was just a friend...


! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Led you down the wrong path, huh?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Don’t be so juvenile...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

At least I’m not a stalker!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Who’s a stalker?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Who followed me here? - what do you want from me?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I don’t know...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Well, go home!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I don’t have a home...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

I thought you were living with your parents..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Well, I couldn’t take it anymore! - and I don’t have a job!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Is that my problem? - I have a job - and a future!! ! ! ! ! ! (Raising the bag, shaking the parts)

In the shop!


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

What shop?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

What shop, what shop! ! ! ! ! ! ! (George goes to the kitchen entrance, calls ! ! ! ! ! ! inside)Mike.. Mike! - I’m going out to the shop now, see if these parts work - can you meet me out there?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

George?

! ! ! ! ! ! (GEORGE EXITS with the bag of parts, out the! ! ! ! ! ! front door - ENTER MIKE from the kitchen)

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

What’s got into him? - we’re going to eat dinner!

! ! ! ! ! ! (EXITS out the front door. A pause, ENTER LIL ! ! ! ! ! ! from the kitchen - she sits down at the table)

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

These men - it’s all about work..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Do they have a shop out there?

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Yes, they make electronic things - it’s Mike’s shop, actually, but he wants to pass it on to George..! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! (An awkward pause)

! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Do you also live up on Hawk Hill? - I mean when you’re not down here, researching the novel..

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Researching the novel? - oh.. oh, yes, we live down here only on weekdays, pretending to be poor and drunk all the time - it’s really not that hard...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

The je ne seis quoi!!! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

What’s that - a wine?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Oh, I don’t know what it is.. my, your Mike is a work of art!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Yes, after God made Mike, he broke the mold and threw the pieces in the heavenly dumpster..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

And I guess, after all that radiation exposure, your husband must be quite a sexual dynamo!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Well, yes, Mike could power a city of ten-thousand, with his energy...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

How exciting!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Quite.

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I have nowhere to live, now.. I sleep on the couch at my sister’s, but her significant other doesn’t like it...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Well, men can be territorial...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

It’s her girlfriend, Billie...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)How modern...

! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER MIKE and GEORGE through the front ! ! ! ! ! ! door - George has some electronic parts in his ! ! ! ! ! ! hands, Mike has a roll of plans in hand)

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGEI don’t know why these don’t fit together...

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKEHere, let me lay the plans out on the table...

! ! ! ! ! ! (He pushes a bottle to the side, unrolls the ! ! ! ! ! ! plans, lays them out on the table - he and ! ! ! ! ! ! George bend over the plans)

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking over their shoulders at the plans)Who drew these?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

I did...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

They’re pretty good...

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Squinting closely at the plans)Can you see what’s wrong, George?

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Mike had a drafting class in high school...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Peering at the plans)According to what I see, these parts should go together...! ! ! ! ! ! (Tries to fit the parts together - they don’t fit) They won’t go!

! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE! ! ! ! ! ! (Squinting at the parts)Well, why not!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

I don’t know!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

What kind of part is that, in your left hand?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Holding up part)This? - oh, it’s technical name is a retroverted 435 high-voltage capacitor - but we just call it the Schnooker...! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

And what’s the other part?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Holding up the other part)The technical name for this, is, is..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Interrupting).. we call it the veevlewootzer...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

It’s another guy thing.. but if they can’t go together, the component won’t work, the radar system won’t work, and we..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Interrupting again).. we’ll lose this bid and we’ll be screwed...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Well, let me see those parts.. I had a college class in making technical drawings...! ! ! ! ! ! (George reluctantly gives her the parts - she ! ! ! ! ! ! takes them over to the table, looks at the plans, ! ! ! ! ! ! matches up the parts with the plans)It looks like.. the reason the.. Schnooker won’t connect with the.. Veevlewootzer is because.. someone drew both parts upside down and backwards...! ! ! ! ! ! (She straightens back up, holds up the parts)Now, if you just put them this way..! ! ! ! ! ! (She twists the parts around and locks them in ! ! ! ! ! ! place).. they’ll lock...! ! ! ! ! ! (She hands the locked parts back to George)

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Upside down and backwards, huh?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

I need a drink...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pours himself a drink from the bottle on the ! ! ! ! ! ! table)Who needs a drink? ! ! ! ! ! ! (Chugs it. Maritza bends over the blueprints)


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZAOverall, these drawings are pretty good.. but, I see a few more questionable areas.. you know, I could clean these plans up for you, if you want.. maybe suggest a few shortcuts, get you some savings.. I mean, I don’t know how to build things, but I do know how to make good technical drawings...

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Hmmmph...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Why don’t you make some kind of deal with her, Mike...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Oh, I don’t know if I could work with her..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Work? - who said work?

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

You said you wanted to grow the business...

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, that’s true, I guess.. how much would you want?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

As an employee of your business?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

I’m thinking minimum wage..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I’m thinking living wage..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

What’s a living wage?! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Enough money to live like a person should live.. twenty-five an hour..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Twenty-five! - do I look like I’m made out of money?

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

If he was, he’d be made out of nickels...

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

My bid for the job is only six-thousand!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Fred’s bid is bigger than your bid!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Lil.. let’s not go there...

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Why don’t I go out to the shop with you two, so I can get a look at the project..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh, I don’t know if we want you out there..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

It’s a guy thing - it’s kind of our man cave...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Inhabited by two Neanderthals - Schnooker and Veevlewootzer - they’ve come down from the Alps to forage for bids..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses - to Maritza)I’m sorry I said the b-word..


! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Oh, we women are used to the b-word! - aren’t we, Mike?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)All right, all right! - I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Lil..

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Oh, the s-word - we like the s-word!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

We’ll go out to the shop after dinner.. now, let’s sit down and talk...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

I’ll see how the help are coming along..! ! ! ! ! ! (LIL EXITS into the kitchen - the others sit ! ! ! ! ! ! down at the table- an awkward pause)

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGEWhat should we talk about?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

How about the re-distribution of wealth?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh, more Communist crap! - who’s got wealth? - do I have wealth? - I’m renting this little place from George’s mother!!! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

What about Hawk Hill, and your ghost-writing, and the servants downstairs, and, and..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)It’s all.. a lie.. a great big lie! - I’m just a retired old geezer who was trying to get at a pretty young thing!.. there, I said it! - so, what do you want me to do? - sublet the attic to the homeless? - I’ll bet I can fit thirteen up there..


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

It’s not about the homeless - they have their own problems!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Then who is it about?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

It’s about.. young people like me - and George - they call us Millennials! - we’re your future! - but we can’t find work! - you Boomers need to get out of the way!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

But George turned down a job - my old job! - didn’t you, George!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)

No.. there was no job, Mike, no job offer... The Accelerator automated your job, I just didn’t have the heart to tell you.. on your work-bench sat a pint-size robot on tracks, with electronic eyes and a carbide saw in its head - who they didn’t have to pay! - and Blackwell told me, next to him they were going to put a robot on Fred’s old work-table, as soon as he retired - and more robots! - as soon as all you Boomers retire..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)

Boomers.. so, now we’re the old folk.. well, it’s still our world! - and we’re not going anywhere! - we’re the only ones who know what to do, with our experience! - and we got our own problems! - being replaced by thinking vacuum cleaners.. figures... well, if you want to re-distribute the wealth, you’d better start with George - he’s the one going to inherit this duplex..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

! ! ! ! ! ! (To George)

You are?

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Well, I’m an only child..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Why not go after him? - he’ll be worth a couple hundred thousand, after his mother passes...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Actually..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, aren’t you? - this place is paid for, isn’t it?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Yes, but, but.. it isn’t her only place...

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

What do you mean?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Mother.. also owns a six-plex, and three other rentals, across town..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, you’re going to be worth a million, then! - you don’t need the shop!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

I do need the shop, right now - I have no money! - and I want to help you out, Mike..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Help? - I don’t need any help!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

This is true, George? - you’re going to have money?


! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Yes, but it will be mine, all mine - I want it all for me!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, then looks down at the blueprint)But, you know, this could become the blueprint for the future of our nation...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

What do you mean?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Squinting at the blueprint)Yeah?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Mike - you get Social Security, do you?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

So.. I earned it, I paid into it!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

But, it’s under-funded - and we Millennials are going to have to struggle to keep it afloat, so you keep your benefits, let alone we get any - there are a lot of you retirees, Mike - almost as many as us Millennials - and we can’t find any jobs! - a lot of you Boomers are still working into retirement, and the generation below you is taking our entry-level jobs - that’s a problem!! !! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

As long as I keep getting my Social Security, I don’t see a problem...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

She may be right, Mike - it’s a new world, now - your world is dying..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

My world is not dying!!


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Mike, do you drive?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

(Pauses)I can’t..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

So, you walk everywhere..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Unless Lil takes me somewhere..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Where do you walk to?! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, it’s four blocks to the liquor store one way, and three blocks to the Safeway the other..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

So, your world is seven blocks long and one block wide..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

You could say that..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

And this duplex is the center of your universe..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulls out a smart phone, hold it up).. but with this smart phone, I am the center of the universe - I have access to everybody, access to all knowledge - I am Copernicus!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Who?

! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

We Millennials were raised knowing technology - while you Boomers had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the tech age - but for us, it’s all in our genes! - we can help each other, your generation and my generation - but in order for all this to work, for you Boomers to have your golden pond years, and us Millennials to have a job and start our careers, start our lives - in order that our generation is not wasted, and our nation remains viable and competitive - we need a new compact between your generation and my generation - we need generational equity!! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Derisively)Generational equity! Modern Communism! Share the wealth? Who’s got wealth? Talk to George - he’ll save you!! ! ! ! ! ! (Derisively) Share the wealth!! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Share the burden!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)

Are you in on this, too, George?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

It’s only fair, Mike..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

But, I’m just trying to start a little business - and I’ve already hired the two of you! - what do you want?! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

If we’re going to start a business, we’re probably going to need more room than an old garage..

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

We?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

I could ask Mother about expanding the garage, maybe move a wall or two out..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Who said we?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

And we’re going to need a computer - maybe a MacBook laptop..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

A computer? - what’s wrong with the Simplex?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

That old typewriter? - you told me your dad bought it in 1938..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

That’s more medieval than the Islamic Caliphate!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

The who?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Look, Maritza’s right - we’ve got to operate in the twenty-first century, if we’re going to be competitive..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

The what century? - oh, right..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Maybe CAD!

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Feeling maligned)Who’s a cad!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Computer Assisted Design!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

And a 3-D printer - that way we can layer models of our designs first, and then see if the pieces work together!! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

See if the Schnooker locks into the Veevlewootzer!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Clever design that, Mike - reverse engineering so our competitors can’t copy it!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, yeah..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

And we’ll have to advertise, if we want to continue getting bids!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Bids? - I’ll just call ‘ol Dave at LBL..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

But what if Dave awards the bid to someone else? - like Fred!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, Fred doesn’t know that much about electronics..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

And what if Dave leaves LBL? - or dies?


! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh, Dave wouldn’t do that - he wouldn’t die on me..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

We all die, man..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh.. well, I guess that’s true - then we’ll put up a big ad, on that billboard on the way into town!! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Nobody uses billboards anymore - we’ll advertise on Google!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Who-gle?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

The Internet - and we’ll all network!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Start a Facebook page for the business, join Linked-In - start a blog, and a Twitter account - we’ll follow the all trends!! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

We’ll lead the trends!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

We’ll be the trend!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Wait a minute.. wait-a-minute! Trends, blogs, Twitters - CADS, Linked-book, Face-in - and MAC computers? - we don’t need no stinkin’ computer! See that machine over there? - I built it with my own hands, using my tools and my gut feelings - and it still works!


! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Yeah, but you told me it’s thirty years old, has tubes and wires - and a plug!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Not exactly cutting edge!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

But, but..! ! ! ! ! ! (Picking up the parts).. what about Schnooker and little Veevlewootzer? - them I understand!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

We just want to make them better..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Make them competitive!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Make us competitive!

! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER LIL from the kitchen)

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Mike, could you toss the salad?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Toss.. the salad?

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

I know I’m challenging your culinary skills..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)

Lil.. come here, sit down - let’s all sit down - we gotta talk..


! ! ! ! ! ! (They all sit down at the table)

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Now.. this is serious stuff.. we’re starting a business here! - you, George are the main worker - and you, Maritza, I guess are the chief designer - and me.. why I guess I’m the brains behind it all.. we’re in this together!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Brains, huh? - then what role could I play?! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Why, LIL, you’re going to be our bookkeeper!!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Just your bookkeeper?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Our chief financial officer!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

And we’re going to need a backer! - six-thousand will only get us through a couple of months.. now, where are we going to get some real money?

! ! ! ! ! ! (They all look at each other)

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pausing)

Well, Mother’s been throwing all her rents into an account.. I suppose I could ask her for some money - I’m her only child, and she kind of owes me..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Oh, she owes you, all right! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Sweeping his arm at the bridge)She owes you for not jumping off that bridge - now, she still has a son!

! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking up at the bridge - then at George)You were going to jump off that bridge?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Merely a.. psychological experiment - I was just pushing myself to focus on what is really important in this life..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Why would you want to jump off a bridge?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Why? Why?

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Seems it was about some girl..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

What girl?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Yeah, what girl, George?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Oh, forget it! - it’s all past.. now, look - we’re going to need a name for our company!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

How about.. Mike’s Electronics? - that’s name recognition..

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Then what about Mike’s Folly?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

No, we need something big, but not too technical..


! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Something catchy!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

How about..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Interrupting her)

The Glimmer.. yes, The Glimmer - we’ll call it The Glimmer Company!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Hmmm.. maybe just The Glimmer..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Sounds more hip!

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

What is hip?

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

The Glimmer.. I like the sound of it..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

The Glimmer, it is then!! ! ! ! ! ! (Grabbing the bottle)A toast! - this calls for a toast! - and a poem! - you got that Hart Crane poem with you, George?

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Hart Crane.. sounds familiar...

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Reaching into his back pocket, pulling out a ! ! ! ! ! ! small, folded pamphlet) I always have Hart Crane with me..


! ! ! ! ! ! (Leafs through pamphlet, stops, reads from ! ! ! ! ! ! “The Bridge”)“Again the traffic lights that skim thy swiftUnfractioned idiom, immaculate sigh of stars,Beading thy path--condense eternity:And we have seen night lifted in thine arms.”

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

“.. night lifted in thine arms..” means it’s almost time for the sunset...

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Oh, I’m sure it means more than that..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Go figure..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Well, it looks like we’re starting a company!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

But, I still need a place to live..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, why don’t you stay with George!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Open mouth, insert foot..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Oh, Mother would never let anyone stay overnight - and she doesn’t even know you - besides, I don’t know if I want to be that close, again..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Well, let’s not consider my feelings, since I’m just a commodity!

! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Look, Maritza, why don’t you just stay with us, until you make some money and figure out what you want to do..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKEWell, I guess you could stay in our extra bedroom - what I call Lil’s sewing room..

! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! LILWhat I call my get-away-from-Mike room..

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

Well.. if you don’t mind - just for awhile! - would that give you enough space, George?

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Jeez, I don’t know..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Way to take a stand, George!

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

Take a stand? - well, well, all right.. let’s go meet Mother, Maritza! - there!

! ! ! ! ! ! MARITZA

I’d like to meet Mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! GEORGE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Taking her by the arm)Then, let’s do it!! ! ! ! ! ! (Leading Maritza to the door)See you two tomorrow! - after I bring back, Maritza, of course..

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Of course..

! ! ! ! ! ! (GEORGE and MARITZA EXIT)

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, it’s just the two of us, Lil! Why don ‘t we toast the sunset - and our new company, our new tenant, and our new future!! ! ! ! ! ! (Pours two drinks)Might even see our company’s namesake - The Glimmer!! ! ! ! ! ! (Mike sweeps open the curtains - we see the ! ! ! ! ! ! bridge silhouetted by the sunset) There it is - the glimmer!

! ! ! ! ! ! (Lifts his glass, toasts)

To the glimmer!

! ! ! ! ! ! (Starts to drink - grabs his arm) ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Mike.. do we always have to toast, always have to drink?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Well, sure.. of course we do!

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

No, we don’t.. why don’t we put our glasses down, and you put the bottle up, way up in the cupboard, high on a shelf...

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Well, okay, I guess - if that’s what you want, Lil..! ! ! ! ! ! (Puts his glass down, puts the bottle up on a ! ! ! ! ! ! shelf as high as he can reach)Now what?

! ! ! ! ! ! LILMike, let’s just be together.. let’s watch the glimmer..

! ! ! ! ! ! (MIke pauses, then puts his arm around her, ! ! ! ! ! ! slowly draws her close, as the golden glimmer ! ! ! ! ! ! slowly lights up their faces)

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKEThis isn’t that bad..


! ! ! ! ! ! LILIt’s quite good..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch the glimmer)Mike, tonight.. push our beds together?

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

Okay.. I will.. if you’ll buy that big brass bed tomorrow..

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

I can do that..

! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch the sunset, as the golden glimmer! ! ! ! ! ! slowly fades on their faces)

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKE

I still don’t know what the hell that poem means..

! ! ! ! ! ! LIL

Maybe it means, “Up off the mat..”

! ! ! ! ! ! MIKEWhy.. I think you’re right, Lil!! ! ! ! ! ! (Shouting up at the bridge, the sunset, the ! ! ! ! ! ! whole !world)Up off the mat, boy! Up off the mat!! ! ! ! ! ! (As the sunset and the glimmer fade)That’s some real poerty...! ! ! ! ! ! (The glimmer FADES to black)

! ! ! ! ! ! CURTAIN

! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! !


the glimmer - act 3 - a work-in-progress #5

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