American Deal

Cast:

3M, 1F

Synopsis:

IN DEVELOPMENT: Clive Jenkins. White. Married. A father. A writer with an MFA. An addict. A man who, sixteen years ago, gunned down a stranger, and still can’t figure out why. Clive’s most successful attempts to examine his life come when he puts pen to paper, pouring out his demons in stories he sends to his wife. Now, he’s got a chance at parole, and a six-figure book deal that might help him get it—if he can prove that he’s a changed man. After one "bad day," Clive thought he'd spend the rest of his life behind bars, but now he's been offered an AMERICAN DEAL. Or maybe that’s what his life has already been.

Characters:

ACTOR 1: Plays CLIVE JENKINS: Caucasian, quiet, intellectual, depressed, calm, covered in prison tattoos but only in places where we can't see them, and utterly, utterly charming with a smile that melts anyone and anything
ACTOR 2: Female, any ethnicity but African-American, plays EVA, Clive's wife, as well as Ghostly Mona, Woman, Clive's high school teacher (in V.O.), Clive's mother (in V.O.)
ACTOR 3: Caucasian, plays MURPH, the prison chaplain, as well as Fivey, Ghostly Derek, Man #1, Man, Literary Editor (in V.O.), Martin
ACTOR 4: African-American, plays WARREN MONROE, Clive's publisher; and BYRON JACKSON, the friend of Clive's victim; as well as Man #2, Clive's roommate (V.O.), Clive's former employer (V.O.), Passing Stranger, Byron Man
The guard is featured offstage only, and can be played by whichever male actor is not being used in the scene, or with sound cues. Same with INMATE in THE PRISON AND THE PEN story.