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ACT ONE
AT RISE:
BINKY comes in leading CHARLIE who
wears ill-fitting street clothes.
CHARLIE does not move or respond as he
sits on the bench. DUKE, a male
orderly who peppers his speech with
"man" and "baby" regardless of sex or
age, stops for a coffee.
DUKE
Last cup of coffee tastes as bad as the first. This place is
a dump. Good thing they're closing it down!
BINKY
Now Charlie, you gotta sit down right here and hold tight to
your ID bracelet and they'll put you on the right bus just as
soon as it gets here.
DUKE
Binky baby, this dude does not hear you.
BINKY
Lay off. He's having a bad enough day without you.
DUKE
He's having a bad day, I'm having a bad day. The whole
world's having a bad day and I don't just mean hair, thank-
you.
BINKY
This has been Charlie's home since he was a kid.
DUKE
Home is out to lunch baby. Closing down this dump is doing us
all a big favor. Blow this tomb up, build another shopping
center cause if there's one thing this world needs its
another place to shop! Hey, here's my man Leo! Good to see
you this moving day, Leo. What's happening?
LEO
(LEO shuffles in speaking his rhymes)
Moving day. Oh boy, Moving Day, oh boy. Budget cuts,
dislocation, reallocation, not recreation, moving day, oh
boy, amen.
DUKE
Amen, brother. What's happening to Leo?
BINKY
Leo's going up north with me and Charlie to Glenside.
DUKE
All right Leo! Charlie my man, you got a friend. Glenside's
not too bad, but it's a little too cold and a little too high
up in those mountains, thank you. Both of you'll like it just
fine -- especially with Binky there.
BINKY
Lots of evergreens up there, Charlie.
DUKE
Christmas trees everywhere, my man. Christmas everyday.
LEO
Needle trees, sure to please, Christmas trees, thank you,
moving day, Oh boy, amen.
DUKE
Needles, trees, sure to please -- you sure are on top of it
Mr. Leo -- maybe we should run him for Governor, or
President! Yeah, President of all these United States.
BINKY
Don't make fun of him, Duke.
DUKE
I'm not making fun of him, baby, cause Leo makes a lot more
sense than most people I know.
BINKY
Just treat him with some respect. Charlie and Glenna too.
They've all have a long ride on that bus today.
DUKE
Shhhhhh!
(DUKE pulls her away from CHARLIE and LEO)
BINKY
What are you doing?
DUKE
You can't be telling this dude no lies.
BINKY
I just said --
DUKE
You just said something that is a lie!
BINKY
You mean Glenna's not going with Charlie ?
DUKE
The doc tried, let me tell you that woman is one hip goddess,
but she can't change life once it has gotten into those
computers. My man Charlie is still going to Glenside., but
his lady is heading south with me and Doctor Lee to Fairview.
BINKY
You're kidding me.
DUKE
I don't kid about love, baby.
BINKY
How could they split them up, they're practically married.
DUKE
"Practically" is good enough for you and me and Doctor Lee --
but practically is not good enough for some who are real
particular about the particulars when it doesn't follow the
rules. Practically speaking, the rules suck.
BINKY
What are we going to do
DUKE
Ain't no "we" about it, honey. The doing is over.
BINKY
Did anyone tell Charlie?
DUKE
Not me, baby. I don't like to receive bad news and I
certainly won't give it.
BINKY
Do you think Glenna knows?
DUKE
Hard to tell.I think so. She's been hiding all morning and
she knows how to hide in this old tomb better than anybody.
I've been looking, but I can't find her anywhere.
LEO
Moving Day, Charlie. Relocation, celebration, up north,
evergreens, Charlie, moving day, where's Glenna Charlie? Oh,
boy, amen.
(At the sound of GLENNA's name, CHARLIE looks up
and stands, then slumps back down again.)
DUKE
I'm gonna lose my job if I lose that girl and much as I hate
this whole mess I hate that unemployment line more. I better
check that day room again.
(DUKE runs off and LEO starts dancing around and
chanting as CHARLIE grows more agitated.)
LEO
Glenn-ah, Glenn-ah, do surrend-ah...going up north to be
togeth-uh! Glen-ah, Glenn-ah, do surrend-ah...going up north
to be togeth-uh!
BINKY
You just relax, Charlie. That bus will be here soon and you
and Leo will be in your own new rooms before bedtime.
(DUKE comes running in breathless)
What's up?
DUKE
(running in breathless)
She's not in the day room so I'm in deep trouble.
LEO
Moving Day, Charlie, moving day, Charlie, Amen.
DUKE
I checked every wing that's open in this place twice. What am
I supposed to do now ?
BINKY
You'll find her, Duke. Just keep calm and think.
DUKE
When I worked for the meat packing plant I didn't ask where
the beef was going?
BINKY
These are people, good people and you know it.
DUKE
Why should I start worrying about these "good" people now.
BINKY
No matter whatever you say -- you care about them.
DUKE
Caring is a whole lot of trouble and pain, Binky, baby, let
me tell you. I know all about caring and I don't like it.
BINKY
You care about Glenna and Charlie too. We all do. We'll find
her and -- Doctor Lee!
DOCTOR LEE
(running in very upset)
I was just down at reception and now they're saying they
can't find Miss MacElroy.
DUKE
This is not a good day, no way.
BINKY
She hasn't been feeling well all week. I think Miss MacElroy
practically started this place and maybe she just doesn't
want to leave it.
DOCTOR LEE
What about Glenna?
DUKE
I just told Binky, here, I know she's hiding, and she's
hiding real good.
DOCTOR LEE
If anything could go wrong today it is. Duke, would you check
the kitchen in "C" wing again.
DUKE
We cleared that wing yesterday, Doc it's empty.
DOCTOR LEE
Please Duke, Glenna might be hiding there.
DUKE
I looked everywhere, Doc. I swear I did.
DOCTOR LEE
I know you did but I just a feeling she knows what's
happening.
DUKE
Say no more, I know the score, right Leo!
LEO
Moving day and the score's no more, moving day, oh, boy,
amen.
DUKE
I'm on my way. (exits)
DOCTOR LEE
Here Charlie, you just make yourself comfortable and look out
the window. I know that bus is late now but you'll be all
settled in your new home by tonight.
BINKY
Isn't that just what I told you Charlie? Now you might not
always believe me, but you know Doctor Lee doesn't lie.
LEO
Moving Day, Charlie. Evergreens, up north, relocation,
expectation, mad migration, holy, holy, amen.
BINKY
Glenna knows every inch of this place, you know.
DOCTOR LEE
You don't have to remind me. I hate all this moving people
around like they're numbers in a book. They're flesh and
blood. I hate being a part of it. It goes against every
reason I went in to medicine. (pause) They've been together a
long time haven't they?
BINKY
Longer than most people I know are together.
DOCTOR LEE
This place probably didn't know what to do with them then and
to tell you the truth, I don't think we can do much more for
them now. But at least they have each other. If they move
them to two different places I hate to think what'll happen
to them.
LEO
Moving Day, Charlie, relocation, expectation, mad migration,
holy, holy, amen.
BINKY
They aren't married you know.
DOCTOR LEE
Oh, please, I come from a family where some people are
engaged for twenty years and others elope on the third date.
Those two people care about each other. They're married in my
eyes -- I'll let God worry about the rest.
BINKY
My brother's not married to the women he lives with and they
don't even like each other half as much as those two. Whether
they can say it or not, you can see how much they care.
DOCTOR LEE
There is no category to keep them together unless they are
married. Those are the rules and those rules stink.
LEO
Moving Day, Charlie, Bureaucratic bullshit, Charlie, no
ticket, no shirt Charlie, the check is in the mail and I'll
be back with the cash in a flash, amen.
BINKY
Nobody blames you, Doctor Lee. But somebody's got to tell
Charlie.
DOCTOR LEE
Charlie, I want to ask your forgiveness. I tried to make them
understand about you and Glenna. But it's hard to explain
your kind of love to people who sit in front of computers all
day long & live by rules and regulations. I don't know what
happened inside your head that made you stop being a part of
my world, but I know you're a part of Glenna's. I can see it
in your eyes when she comes into the room and starts to dance
for you. Because she is dancing for you Charlie. No one else.
When she stops in front of your chair and kisses you gently
on your forehead, she's kissing the only person that means
anything to her in this world. You two have a great love --
more than most people will ever have in this life.You and
Glenna are family no matter what anyone else says. And if I
ran this crazy system, you and Glenna would never be apart.
BINKY
Glenna!
Suddenly the air is filled with music
as GLENNA appears in her makeshift
dancing outfit and tennis sneakers.
CHARLIE'S face comes alive watching
her and she kisses him on the forehead
when she finishes.
DUKE
Good to see Glenna dancing again, huh?
(bus horn beeps)
DOCTOR LEE
Everything was okay?
DUKE
Sort of. Maybe this is something important.
(DUKE hands DOCTOR LEE some papers)
DOCTOR LEE
These are Miss MacElroy's transfer papers.
DUKE
Miss MacElroy passed away Doc. She was still in her favorite
nightgown. Looked real peaceful,too. I covered her up and
closed her eyes. This is her identification bracelet. She was
supposed to go up north on that bus with Leo and Charlie. She
could still go, if you get my drift.
DOCTOR LEE
Sooner or later they'll figure out the switch.
DUKE
Computers good for something. By the time they get those
records straight, they'll be just as crazy about Glenna and
Charlie as we are. (Pause) Wanna give it a try?
After a pause, DOCTOR LEE goes to
GLENNA who is sitting next to CHARLIE
and takes her wrist band off.
DOCTOR LEE
I don't know how much of this you will really understand,
Glenna, or how much of it I do. But I don't think anyone will
care Glenna Franks died in her sleep on the day she was to be
transferred, or even surprised when Miss Flora MacElroy
starts to dance after years of sitting in her room playing
solitaire. But sometimes the rules need to be bent so that
the right people get to where they should be going.
(DOCTOR LEE puts the new identification bracelet
on GLENNA)
Congratulations Glenna and Charlie. This is the best wedding
present we can give you.
BINKY
Hip, Hip, hooray!
DUKE
Aw right, Doc, you did fine.
(Bus horn blasts again)
Now we gotta get these people out of here before we all get
our ass in a sling.
(Suddenly GLENNA stops and takes off her shoes.)
Now what'cha want to go and do that for, baby?
(GLENNA hands the shoes to DOCTOR LEE )
DOCTOR LEE
Thanks, Glenna. I'm sorry I can't go with you but I'll see
you again, I promise. We'll both see you, won't we Duke?
DUKE
You betcha. Now let's move it!
LEO
Moving day, Charlie, dancing, prancing, Donner and Blitzen,
holy, holy, amen.
BINKY
What do I say when they ask why she doesn't have any shoes?
DUKE
You'll think of something, baby, you always do.
(BINKY leads off GLENNA and DUKE takes CHARLIE)
DOCTOR LEE
Come on Leo, it's time to go.
(DOCTOR LEE puts the dancing shoe under her arm
and leads off LEO)
LEO
Moving Day, Charlie, Glenna, Duke, Doc and Binky. Moving day
and we're moving out. Moving day's coming and there's green
trees up north and Christmas everyday, today, tomorrow,
moving day, oh, boy, amen.
DOCTOR LEE
Amen, Leo. Amen.
END OF PLAY
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Script created with Final Draft
© 1998 Halem Studios
Last updated September 1998
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