One Shot Deal

What is the true price of a free ride?

by Lee Summers

One Shot Deal by Lee Summers asks: “What is the true price of a free ride?”

Author’s note: This play works best as a fast-moving bureaucratic machine. Costumes can be minimal to all black. While MAURICE is a “Cosby Kid” – all characters (except MAURICE) are encouraged to use a range of regional and colloquial character accents ranging from Brooklyn, Jewish, Latin, Indian, Caribbean, Southern and others. TEDDY, MAURICE’S over-the-top-gay best friend appears as iPhone text messages, projected and/or spoken by the actor playing TEDDY/HECTOR.

Time/Place

Summer, present day – dirty part of town in a large city; a sidewalk; a public assistance office’s lobby; a crowded waiting room and a cubicle.

Stage

Two uncomfortable chairs.

Props

Stage and personal props include two folding chairs (any uncomfortable chairs) an iPhone, several light blue and yellow letter-sized pieces of paper. ANDREW COHEN’S desk and computer and all other (previously mentioned) props and locations can be mimed or creatively suggested.

Cast Size: 6

3 Identifying Females

3 Identifying Males

CHARACTERS:

# Female Characters

3

Woman 1

… SECURITY GUARD #1, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… WINDOW WOMAN #1, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… CROWD VOICE #2, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… CASE WORKER #2, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… ANGRY WOMAN #1, a twenty-year-old African American Female

… ANGRY WOMAN #4, a thirty-year-old African American Female

Woman 2

… CROWD VOICE #1, a thirty-year-old Hispanic Female

… CASE WORKER #1, a thirty-year-old Middle Eastern Female

… CASE WORKER #4, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… ANGRY WOMAN #5, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… BUTCH LATINA (lesbian), A twenty-year-old Hispanic Female

Woman 3

… CASE WORKER #3, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… ANGRY WOMAN #3, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… CROWD VOICE #3, a thirty-year-old African American Female

… SECURITY GUARD #2, a forty-year-old African American Female

… ANGRY WOMAN    #2, a thirty-year-old African American Female

# Male Characters

3

Man 1

… MAURICE ROBERSON, a twenty-year-old African American gay male

Man 2

… HECTOR RODRIGUEZ, a twenty-year-old Hispanic male

… TEDDY, a twenty-year-old African American  gay male’s voice over

… MAURICE’S COLLEGE PROFESSOR, a thirty-year-old foreign male

… CROWD VOICE #4, a twenty-year-old urban male

… WINDOW MAN #2, a forty-year-old Caribbean male

Man 3

… WINDOW MAN #1, a thirty-five-year-old White hippy case worker

… ANDREW COHEN, a twenty-year-old White/Jewish case worker

# Gender-non-specific Characters

None

Approximate Running Time (e.g., 2 hours, 20 minutes)

10 minutes

Adult Content: Be specific about the nature of the adult content. (e.g., “Nudity, strong language.”)

Strong language

Formerly Published by: Indie Theater Now