The Silent Truth

Many of the parts are very stereotypical with the stressed out director, his silly, blonde girlfriend who wants to be a star, actors who don’t get a long and a PR person who wants to bend the truth for the sake of publicity. The story takes an interesting turn as a reporter arrives from a Christian publication doing a story about the truth of Hollywood movie makers. A spiritual conversation takes place and it turns out, one of the actors has turned from their upbringing and ends up coming back to God.

12 actors (written as 6 male, 6 female, but some genders could be changed easily. Only 4 characters really need to be female.) About 35-45 mins.

Written By Warren Sager

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

NORMA: Speaks 678 words. Plays the damsel in distress in the film, a young lady from the midwest who has walked away from her Christian upbringing.

MARGARET: Speaks 649 words. A reporter from a Christian publication who is mistaken for a gossip columnist.

PERCIVAL: Speaks 631 words. The clapper on the set, also wants to be a writer and has a Christian background.

FIONA: Speaks 561 words. The P.R. person who tries to build publicity for the film.

R. J.: Speaks 479 words. The director, very temperamental, loud, dramatic and stressed.

WELLINGTON: Speaks 435 words. Plays the villain in the film, classically trained actor, all around nice guy who is sweet on Norma.

ANITA: 420 words. The make-up girl and a bit star struck.

HAROLD: 383 words. The hero in the film. Self-centered and egotistical.

ROXY: 356 words. J. R.’s girlfriend & stereotype ditzy blonde bombshell wanna be star.

JOE: 241 words. Camera man.

LESLIE: 162 words. Set manager, prop person, all around guy who does everything.

GERTRUDE: 162 words. Gossip columnist.

From the first scene:

R. J. (DIRECTOR)
CUT!!!
As soon as he yells, “cut” the two embracing, quickly separate. When they speak, they have funny voices, that you would not expect from leading actors.
NORMA (HEROINE)
Must you hold me so tight?
HAROLD (HERO)
We’re supposed to be IN LOVE!!
NORMA
Well… you’re no Valentino!
R. J. (DIRECTOR)
Where are the sparks?
The two actors quickly look at the director thinking he means that there are no sparks (chemistry) between them
R. J.
Dynamite is supposed to have sparks or a flame or something!
R. J. is an excitable and overly stressed director, always very dramatic and over the top.
LESLIE (PROP PERSON)
We’re working on it, R. J! We’re having some technical difficulties.
R. J.
(Mumbling to himself and then outburst)
Technical difficulties. The more time we spend, the more dough is wasted! The more times we shoot, the more dough is wasted! Do I look like I’m made of dough???
LESLIE
Sorry, R. J.!
R. J.
I’ll never get this movie made! For crying out loud!
HAROLD (HERO)
Speaking of that, R. J., how many more times are we going to shoot this scene?
R. J.
Please! I don’t need my actors complaining, too!
NORMA (HEROINE)
Surely you’ve shot enough to use some of that footage and then just add the dynamite later?
R. J.
Add the dynamite later? Add the dynamite later?!?! What do you think this is? Columbia?? Do you think I have all the resources of Warner Brothers at my disposal???
HAROLD
Are you kidding? This isn’t even United Artists!
WELLINGTON (VILLAIN)
And you’re no Mack Sennett!
R. J.
You want to go and work for United Artists?? Go right ahead! Stab me in the back while you’re at it!
NORMA
I think I would prefer MGM. You know, I had an audition over there once. They are very professional!
R. J.
Yes! Yes! We know all about your audition! You know as well as I do that Clara Bow is the only actress getting good parts over there!
NORMA
She’s at Paramount.
R. J.
(Ignores her)
Please… take your places for the top of this scene again!
Make up girl (Anita) runs on to powder them
NORMA
(To Harold)
Can you not grab me so hard?
HAROLD
I want it to look real.
NORMA
Well, there’s a right and wrong way to do it, and you do it the wrong way.
HAROLD
And I suppose Wellington does it the right way!
NORMA
He doesn’t leave bruises on my body!
HAROLD
How do you know?? Maybe your bruises are from him!
NORMA
Oh! You’re all wet!
WELLINGTON
I can show you how it’s done if you like, Harold.
HAROLD
I don’t need any villain to show me how to grab a tomato!
WELLINGTON
I’m a classically trained actor! And I happen to know a few things!
R. J.
Places! People! Please!
PERCIVAL (CLAPPER)
Quiet on the set!
The actors walk off grumbling
PERCIVAL (CLAPPER)
(Holds up a clapboard)
The Dastardly Deed, Scene 2, take 10! (Claps it down)
R. J.
Cue the music! Places! Aaaaaand… ACTION!
They repeat everything that they had done before and the piano is playing the fun ragtime music and when the villain comes on, instead of playing something dramatic, the pianist suddenly plays something cheerful and uplifting, perhaps even spiritual, like the Hallelujah Chorus.
R. J.
CUT!! What’s with the music??? That can’t be right! Play what you played last time!
If you want the piano player to respond, they could say they are sorry or something at this point. Meanwhile, continue on. Plus, every time they cut, the makeup girl runs on stage and powders the actors’ faces.
R. J.
Let’s try this again!
PERCIVAL
Quiet on the set! Places everybody!
Actors take their places
PERCIVAL
(Holds up a clapboard)
The Dastardly Deed, Scene 2, take 11! (Claps it down)
R. J.
Aaaaaannd…. Action!
They begin again and repeat the same scene. As the hero comes in, the piano player changes from the tune playing before and begins to play “Nearer My God To Thee” it goes on long enough for everyone to figure out what song it is…
R. J.
CUT! CUT! Is that “Nearer My God To Thee?” Why are you playing that?? That’s what they played when the Titanic was sinking! It’s probably an omen! This whole picture is going to sink! Can we please do this again and get it right this time?? No hymns! Just play the ragtime stuff. Now can we start again?? Places!
JOE (CAMERA MAN)
R. J., you know that the piano is not getting recorded on the film… the film can’t record sound. We have to add that live in the movie theaters.
R. J.
I know that! But I want inspiration! That’s why there is a piano! But I want the RIGHT inspiration! Now, can we please get back to work?
PERCIVAL
Lunch break!
R. J.
What?? You don’t call lunch break! I decide when we have a lunch break!
PERCIVAL
Sorry, R. J. I just thought…
R. J.
I don’t pay you to think!
R. J. pulls out his pocket watch and looks at it. Makes a face.
R. J.
Lunch break!
People start moving around
R. J.
Please don’t leave the set! I don’t want to have to wait for anybody!
PERCIVAL
R. J., I want to talk to you about my screenplay.
R. J.
Screenplay?! You’re a clapper not a writer!
PERCIVAL
I don’t want to be a clapper forever. Listen… it’s a great story. It’s called “Get Hip On My Story, You Goof.”
R. J. gives him a funny look.
PERCIVAL
You see, it’s about this guy who writes a screenplay and tries to get his director to read it.
R. J.
What? Is he a clapper, too?
PERCIVAL
Maybe. Not the point. The point is… his screenplay is called, “Get Hip On My Story, You Goof”. And he explains to the director that his story is all about a guy who writes a screenplay and tries to get his director to read it.. It’s called, “Get Hip On My Story, You Goof”.
R. J.
What? Who’s the goof?
PERCIVAL
Again. Not the point. So, the screenplay is about a guy who writes a screenplay and tries to get his director to read it… you see, it will be art imitating life because it’s about this guy who is trying to get his director to read his work.
R. J.
A story within a story within a story?
PERCIVAL
Who knows, we might rip a hole in the space-time continuum.
R. J. just stares at him for a beat
R. J.
Go away.
HAROLD
Hey Joe… wouldn’t that be something if film could have sound?
JOE
Baloney! That’ll be the day!
Leslie enters with a box of donuts.
LESLIE
DONUTS!!
Just about everyone moves toward the donuts. Fiona enters
FIONA
R. J.! Can I make an announcement?
R. J.
Listen up, people!
FIONA
Hi everyone! I’m Fiona, your public relations manager. I want you to all know about something. I have it on good authority that a reporter from a very popular rag sheet is going to be on set today.
NORMA
Swell! Is it Louella Parsons?
FIONA
I don’t know. I don’t think so. Do I look like I know everything??
JOE
Maybe that should be ‘anything’.
WELLINGTON
What rag?
FIONA
(Excited)
I don’t know… but I bet it’s the bee’s knees! So, when they arrive, I want all of you to put on your best! We need to promote this film and this is our chance to do that! Any good gossip is good buzz for our little picture.
WELLINGTON
Really Fiona? Gossip?
FIONA
Of course, Welly! Now, for starters, lets play up an on set romance between our leading players!
WELLINGTON
(Smiling)
You mean, between Norma and I?
FIONA
You’re the villain! We can’t have our leading lady dating the villain!
WELLINGTON
Well, Norma and Harold hate each other!
FIONA
I really don’t care. You’re actors aren’t you? Pretend! Nothing will push this film forward faster than a romance between our leading stars.
HAROLD
(Eating donut)
Well, I suppose I can do it if it is for the good of the movie. Hey! Lemon filled!
FIONA
That’s real keen of you, Howard.
HAROLD
It’s Harold.