PLAYHOUSE OF THE DAMNED

"The Rocket’s Dead Scare”

by Richard Nathan

The spotlight is up on our host, GUS THE GHOUL. Gus speaks to the audience:

                                                            GUS THE GHOUL
                                    Our next story is about the Fourth of July.
                                    You’ll get a big bang out of it. And if by
                                    some weird chance you don’t like it, would
                                    you say you did anyway? Would j’you lie
                                    for me? Would j’you? J’you lie for me?
                                    July Four? You may not like listening to
                                    it, but I have to say it! I call this story,
                                    “The Rocket’s Dead Scare.”

Gus exits. Lights come up on GEORGE, pacing the empty stage. Enter TOM, unseen by George. George looks at his watch.

                                                            TOM
                                    I told you I’d be on time. Don’t you
                                    trust me?

George spins around and sees Tom.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Sure. I trust you. It’s just that I’ve
                                    got a lot of deliveries to make today.

TOM
But none as big as mine, I’m sure.

GEORGE
Well, I’ve got lots of customers.

                                                            TOM
                                    I told you I wanted to buy all the fireworks
                                    you had on hand. I told you I’d pay top dollar.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Yeah. I’m glad you brought that up. You
                                    owe me two thousand dollars. In cash.

TOM
That’s a lot of money.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Well, I’ve got a lot of fireworks. And if you
                                    compare my prices with what the other guys
                                    charge, I got the cheapest stuff in town.

TOM
I don’t doubt it.

Tom reaches into his pocket and brings out a huge wad of cash. He holds it out to George, but George doesn’t take the money.

                                                            TOM
                                    Here. Two thousand dollars. In cash. Where
                                    are the fireworks?

GEORGE
You sure you’re not a cop?

TOM
A cop???

GEORGE
Fireworks are illegal in this state.

                                                            TOM
                                    I swear I’m not a cop. You can search me if
                                    want. You’d find I don’t have any hidden
                                    recording devices, no transmitters, no gun.
                                    All I’ve got it two thousand dollars.

George grabs the money.

GEORGE
Okay. They’re in the back of the truck.

George gestures up stage.

GEORGE
Where’s your truck? I’ve got thirty boxes.

TOM
I didn’t bring a truck.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    What are you gonna do? Blow ‘em up
                                    here?

George laughs, to show he’s joking. Tom grins.

TOM
One more question. Are they safe?

GEORGE
Safe?

TOM
Yeah. Safe.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    They’re fireworks! They explode! But if
                                    you follow the instructions, …

Tom takes a pack of cigarettes and a lighter out of his pocket. He puts a cigarette in his mouth and starts to light it.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Hey! Are you crazy? Never start a fire
                                    around fireworks!

Tom puts the lighter away.

TOM
Then how do you light the fuse?

                                                            GEORGE
                                    The only time you start a fire around
                                    fireworks is when you light the fuse.

TOM
I’ll keep that in mind.

GEORGE
You sure you’re not a cop?

                                                            TOM
                                    No. I’m not a cop. I’m a customer. I’m
                                    surprised you don’t recognize me. I’ve
                                    purchased from you before.

GEORGE
I got a lot of customers.

                                                            TOM
                                    You’d have a special reason to remember
                                    me. Five years ago. You remember.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    I don’t remember anything about five years
                                    ago.

                                                            TOM
                                    A faulty fuse. A cheap skyrocket that blew
                                    up prematurely. Two kids and their mother
                                    with first degree burns. And the father…
                                    the father killed.

GEORGE
That wasn’t me!

                                                            TOM
                                    No. It was me. I was the father. The one who
                                    died. The one you sold the faulty fireworks to.
                                    The one who was killed.

GEORGE
But… you’re alive.

                                                            TOM
                                    No. I’m dead. But I came back, just for you.
                                    Because there’s something I want you to see.

GEORGE
Something you want me to see?

Tom walks over to George, puts his arm around George’s shoulder, and starts to lead him upstage. George resists.

GEORGE
Look, I’ve got deliveries to make.

                                                            TOM
                                    No you don’t. It’s time for you to take a
                                    look at what you’re selling. A look at
                                    your fireworks. A look at how they
                                    explode.

GEORGE
I’ve seen lots of fireworks explode.

                                                            TOM
                                    But this time, I want you to have a close up
                                    view.

Tom grabs George by the shirt from as he brings out his lighter.

Blackout! A spotlight picks up GUS.

                                                            GUS
                                    And then the fireworks seller learned that all
                                    men are cremated equal.

THE END

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The author grants all internet users the righ to print these scripts for their own, personal, non-commercial use. No other use may be made without the author's permission. Without limiting the foregoing, the plays may not be staged without the author's express permission.

Send e-mail to the author at Richard-Nathan@att.net.