Trust

Keith Railton

Cast

Isaac - thin, black hair, desperately trying to avoid a life of normality
Tom (Gary2 in Trust) - in it for the slim pickings of reflected hipness
Peter (Gary3 in Trust)
Stephanie (Jenny2 in Trust) - Isaac's partner in crime

Cast for Isaac's Play: Trust

Francis - stage lackey, good at shouting
Gary - unfortunate audience member
Jenny - Gary's girlfriend
Gary2
Gary3
The Police

Act One

Isaac et al are putting on a small play or 'happening', part of a series of shorts bundled together to be shown at the University. They are last on the bill. His play is called 'Trust'.

The audience is—for the time being—the University audience. The stage is the University stage. There is a great deal of preparation required to make Isaac's play work, as will be seen. Everything can be prepared beforehand, it is only necessary that it should look 'live' and authentic.

The stage is empty, there are no stage props required for Act One (Isaac's Trust). The curtain is up and ISAAC walks onstage. He stands DOWNSTAGE RIGHT. He addresses the audience in the slightly sneering and contemptuous manner he reserves for students and other poseurs.
ISAAC: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for attending our little production in this beautiful playhouse. I only hope that our performance can live up to our auspicious surroundings, and will be of some amusement to you all. So, without further ado, I will introduce the star of our show…

A spotlight searches the room seeking out—'lucky winner style'—the victim. It eventually falls on a man in some conveniently placed seat in the front two rows (so everyone can see him).

ISAAC: (stage whisper to OFFSTAGE RIGHT) Is that him? ...Are you sure?

ISAAC 'receives' confirmation and nods. He then faces the audience.

Francis, would you do the honours?

FRANCIS is situated at the back of the hall and approaches the man in the spotlight. Loudly, he asks his name, then walks over to the projector set just before the stage. He writes with a large black marker on a transparency, then places it on the projector. He turns it on. The following is projected onto a white screen hanging at the back of the stage:


ISAAC. Ahem.

FRANCIS: (mumbling loudly) Shit.

FRANCIS turns the transparency the right way up.

ISAAC: Gary! Hi! Would you please stand up and say hello to our lovely audience.

GARY stands. The spotlight is still on him. He is a plant, and must be very recognisable (makeup, wigs etc. can help out here). It is essential that this is not a face you would soon forget. He reluctantly stands and mumbles hello in a bizarre high voice.

ISAAC: Lovely. Perhaps you can turn around and give a little wave?

GARY turns around sheepishly and waves effeminately to the audience.

ISAAC: Do you have anyone here with you tonight?

GARY mumbles something.

ISAAC: What's that?

FRANCIS: (shouting) He says he's with his girlfriend!

ISAAC: I see. And does she have a name?

GARY: (mumbling) Jenny.

ISAAC cups a hand to his ear and leans forward.

FRANCIS: (shouting again) SHE'S CALLED JENNY!

ISAAC: Ah, the lovely Jenny.

As ISAAC says this, the SPOTLIGHT moves to JENNY who stands and gives a little wave.

ISAAC: (lecherously) Congratulations, Gary! (pause) You can sit down now.

GARY sits. SPOTLIGHT OFF.

ISAAC: As you're all no doubt aware, our lives are being constantly monitored by the electric eyes that are all around us: the speed camera on the motorway, the camcorder of the innocent bystanding eyewitness. On the Tube alone, there are over 2,000 CCTV cameras, and the number grows every day. As it happens, this very theatre [or whatever] has two such cameras. One is situated in the foyer, and the other is directly outside the entrance. Perhaps one of two of you observed them?

By whatever means (computer, slide projector, etc.) the screen cycles through a few snapshots purportedly from the CCTV cameras: people picking their noses, scratching their bums, boyfriends looking at other girls, etc. These can be prepared beforehand and need not be of actual audience members, but should look realistic. While they are being shown ISAAC wears a large grin and occasionally points to particularly rude/funny photos.

There is a slightly ominous pause while FRANCIS sets the GARY transparency back on the projector.

ISAAC: Technology! Such a delight to us in the modern world! How we adore it and worship it as we clutch our portable CD players to our hearts! But we are all too aware of the dire consequences that can arise if it not used responsibly. Aren't we? If it falls into the wrong hands…

At this moment, TOM enters STAGE RIGHT wearing a fairly decent imitation of GARY's clothes (not too good, but basically the right colours). He is also wearing a large black and white cardboard mask which has a clear picture of GARY's face on it. He stands CENTRE STAGE.

ISAAC: Say hello to the audience, Gary.

TOM as GARY2 waves and says hello in the same coy and embarrassed fashion as the original GARY from the audience.

ISAAC: Some people would like us to believe that technology like this is invasive and will ultimately lead to loss of freedom. I must disagree. I believe—and I'm sure Gary here concurs—

GARY2 nods vigorously.

—that technology can offer us greater freedom than ever!

As soon as ISAAC has said this, Peter dressed as another GARY (GARY3) enters STAGE LEFT. He stands approx. arm's length from GARY2 at CENTRE LEFT.

ISAAC: (arm outstretched showing off the two GARYs) Imagine being in two—or rather three—

SPOTLIGHT immediately on original GARY in the audience who is now angry and worried. He rubs his head and is unsure what expression to show.

—places at once!

SPOTLIGHT OFF.

ISAAC: (directed to the original Gary in the audience) Cheer up, Gary, it could be worse.

At this point, Stephanie enters from STAGE LEFT. She is wearing nothing except a mask of GARY's girlfriend JENNY. She also has 'JENNY' written on her stomach in large, black letters. She walks past the two GARYs and stands DOWNSTAGE CENTRE.

GARY: (shouted from the audience) Hey!

ISAAC: What's that? You've got nothing to be ashamed of, Gary! Jenny's got a lovely body!

GARY2 walks over to JENNY2 and holds her breasts, as if he is weighing them. GARY3 double takes extravagantly then walks over and grabs her bottom. At this, JENNY2 turns around and slaps GARY3. GARY2 grabs JENNY2's shoulder and spins her round to face him. He then brutally punches her to the stage floor where she lies prone. He then takes a large, adhesive picture of a grinning mouth from his pocket and sticks it over the mouth on his Garymask so it looks as though he is smiling triumphantly. To emphasise this, he clasps his hands together and waves them on either side on his face in typical, cartoonish winner-pose. He then proceeds to pose for the audience, pulling bodybuilder shapes, etc.

GARY: (shouted) Now just you fucking wait! You didn't get my permission for any of this!

ISAAC: Now, Gary. Are you sure? Are you quite certain of that?

A short sequence is projected on the screen. In it, a Garymasked figure signs a huge contract—heavy in ridiculous legalese—with a large marker pen. The name is scrawled and is unreadable. While this is being shown, GARY's 2 & 3 carry JENNY2 OFFSTAGE.

ISAAC: Technology. So powerful. But so open to abuse. Isn't that right, Gary?

GARY: (livid) Fuck off!

ISAAC: (studiously ignoring Gary) For example, imagine if the Government of this great land is allowed to implement its proposed nation-wide DNA database.

[While ISAAC speaks, a 'live' shot is shown on the screen. In it, GARY2 has entered the foyer/bar/whatever of the venue and is armed with a shotgun. He is holding the place up. He threatens the girl behind the counter, but she refuses his demands. He raises the gun and shoots her—the gunshot is clearly audible.

NB: The film can be prepared in advance and need not be well shot. The worse it looks, the better.]

ISAAC: DNA fingerprints are admissible as evidence to courts of law. In fact, so great is the faith society has in science, a DNA sample found at the scene of a crime is just about enough in many circumstances to secure a conviction. After all, technology is infallible.

GARY2 runs on from STAGE LEFT brandishing shotgun (realistic) and cartoonish 'swag bag'. His Garymask is spattered with blood. Shouts are heard OFFSTAGE. GARY2 quickly takes off his mask, to reveal another mask underneath. This has the outline of a man's face with a large question mark where the features should be. Fake-looking policemen run on from STAGE RIGHT. They look accusingly at GARY2 (now dressed as MYSTERY MAN). MYSTERY MAN points to GARY in the audience and the SPOTLIGHT falls on the original GARY.

The police race to GARY and drag him with real-looking force ONSTAGE. MYSTERY MAN has tip-toed OFFSTAGE in the meantime. Once the POLICE have him onstage, GARY is beaten unconscious. The HOUSE LIGHTS go up and JENNY runs ONSTAGE to check her boyfriend.

The curtain closes. There are raised voices and screams from behind. HOUSE LIGHTS go down. ISAAC, TOM as MYSTERY MAN, Peter as GARY3, and Stephanie in plain clothes with the JENNY2 mask walk on, bow quickly, and leave before the audience can react.