THEATER OF
THRILLS AND HIGH ADVENTURE!
"Throckmorton Kane, American Spy, Returns!"
by Richard Nathan
Before the lights come up, a voice introduces the story:
VOICE
He works for an intelligence agency so
secret that it has no name. Those few
who know him, know him as Throckmorton
Kane, American Spy!!!
Lights come up on the reception area of Dr. Baumstark's medical office. The receptionist, LUNA CRESCENT, sits behind her desk.. There is a phone and a book on her desk. The phone rings and she picks it up and speaks into it.
LUNA
Dr. Baumstark's office.... Are you a patient
of Dr. Baumstarks's?.... I'm sorry, the
Doctor can't see any new patients now.
Would you like to be put on the waiting
list? .... All right, thank you very much.
She hangs up the phone. Enter THROCKMORTON KANE, American Spy. He looks around the reception area to make sure no one else is here.
KANE
Good afternoon. My name is Throckmorton
Kane.
LUNA
Are you a patient of Dr. Baumstark's?
KANE
No, I work for the government.
LUNA
I'll tell the Doctor you're here.
She reaches for the phone, but Kane puts his hand on top of it, keeping it from her.
KANE
It is urgent that I speak with you about the
Doctor. Privately.
LUNA
Do you have some form of identification?
KANE
No.
LUNA
What part of the government do you work for?
KANE
It's so secret, it has no name.
LUNA
Dr. Baumstark is a medical doctor. I think you
need a psychiatrist.
KANE
Luna, we don't have a lot of time.
LUNA
How did you know my name?
KANE
Your name is Luna Crescent. You are 28 years
old. You are currently single. You have been
working for Dr. Baumstark for almost one year!
LUNA
You're a stalker!
KANE
I am a government spy! We have reason to believe
that Dr. Baumstark is engaged in very dangerous
experiments.
LUNA
A crazy stalker. Take your hand off that phone or
I'll scream!
KANE
What changes have you noticed lately in the
behavior of Dr. Henry Firth?
This strikes home. For the first time, Luna begins to believe Kane may really be what he claims to be.
LUNA
It's true. Lately Henry has been acting strangely.
Very strangely.
KANE
Tell me everything!
LUNA
Henry came to work for Dr. Baumstark about
a month ago. He seemed like such a shy,
soft-spoken man. I would have sworn he had a
crush on me, but was too timid to say anything.
But lately, he's always been so angry, high strung...
Yesterday, he cursed at me!
KANE
What about his strength? Have you noticed...
Before Kane can finish his question, DR. HENRY FIRTH ENTERS. He is not a large man, not someone you would expect to be muscular. He is extremely irritable.
FIRTH
Who are you? What are you doing here?
KANE
You must be Dr. Firth. Henry Frith. My name
is Kane. Throckmorton Kane. I was hoping to see
you.
FIRTH
I don't have time to see any patients. Get out
here! Find another doctor!
KANE
I want to see you. I've heard things... I think
you can help me.
Firth grabs Kane by the front of his shirt. Although Kane is a much larger man, Firth is able to move him easily.
FIRTH
What have you heard! Tell me! Tell me
before I kill you!!!
Enter DR. BAUMSTARK. He speaks with a thick German accent.
BAUMSTARK
What is this commotion?
Baumstark recognizes Kane.
BAUMSTARK
Is that....? Ah! Unless I am very much
mistaken, you are Throckmorton Kane,
American Spy. I had been warned you
might visit me.
KANE
I don't know what you are talking about.
BAUMSTARK
Henry, rip off his head.
Henry hesitates.
HENRY
Please. Don't make me kill anyone.
Baumstark reaches into his jacket and takes out a remote control device. He presses a key on the device and Henry crumples in pain.
HENRY
Owwwwww!
BAUMSTARK
Henry, you know how this works. You do what I
tell you, or I
inflict such pain as you cannot imagine!
Kane reaches into his jacket and draws a gun. He aims it at Baumstark.
KANE
Drop that device!
Henry grabs the gun away from Kane. .
BAUMSTARK
Henry has been conditioned to protect me
at any cost. Now tell me what you know,
Mr. Kane.
KANE
I'm not conditioned, Dr. Baumstark. I won't
obey you.
BAUMSTARK
I think you will. Henry, kill Miss Crescent.
HENRY
Please....
BAUMSTARK
The last time I caused you pain at level two. Do
you want to experience level nine?
HENRY
No! I'll do it! I'll kill her! Just stop the pain!
KANE
Stop! I'll tell you what I know. You have
developed a formula that turns ordinary
muscle into superhuman muscles, though it causes
emotional instability in the users. Still, the Red
Chinese have offered billions for the formula.
BAUMSTARK
You are well informed.
KANE
There is one thing I don't understand. Why would
anyone agree to submit to this horror?
BAUMSTARK
Because there is an endless supply of weak
men who long to be strong men. Isn't that
so, Henry.
HENRY
No. I hate this!
BAUMSTARK
But you wanted to be strong. You said you
thought it would impress Miss Crescent!
HENRY
No! Don't tell them!!!
Henry turns toward Baumstart. Baumstark presses a key on his device. Henry writhes in agony.
HENRY
Owwwww!
Henry lets go of Luna. She grabs the phone from the desk and throws it at Baumstark, making Baumstark drop the device. Henry quickly makes a decision. He hands Kane's gun back to Kane. Meanwhile, Luna fights with Baumstark for the device.
HENRY
Kill me! Please.
BAUMSTARK
No!
HENRY
Kill me, or he'll make me kill you and Luna!
Baumstark gets the device away from Luna. Kane shoots Henry. He has to use six bullets before Henry falls.
BAUMSTARK
No!!!!
Kane punches Baumstark in the gut. Baumstark crumples to the floor. Luna sadly crosses to Henry's body. She kneels and runs her fingers over his cheek.
LUNA
He thought he was a weak man. But he wasn't.
KANE
I will see that he is buried with full military honors.
LUNA
He would have liked that.
BLACKOUT!
THE END
Click here to go to more
THEATER OF THRILLS AND HIGH ADVENTURE!
scripts
© 2005 by Richard Nathan. All rights reserved
The author grants all internet uses 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.