One Act Play: Mini Musical

 Language of the Wordless Souls

Scene 1

Background – Inside of a Newspaper company office

Lights- White

Jason: The funds aren’t looking good, Daniel. (worried)

In a table, Jason, the newspaper company, holds and looks at a clipboard/chart of the company’s profit during the past few months.

Jason: You can’t keep writing about a cat getting stuck in a tree or two dogs fighting, we need something interesting, something big. (Expecting)

Daniel: I know but it’s not that easy. This town’s so quiet. I can even hear the rats running away from a cat right now.

Jason: Funny but I’m not joking. (Throws the clipboard/chart in the table)

Daniel: And so am I.

Jason: You better find something interesting, man. Or else people won’t be reading our papers!

Curtains close.

Scene 1 End

Scene 2

Curtains open- cue for background change.

Background- Outside of a Newspaper Company Building

Daniel will be in the middle of the stage.

Extra #5 is on the right side of the stage while Extra #4 is on standby backstage.

Policemen chatting at the Upper Stage Left.

Daniel: Seriously, just what am I going to be writing about? (Cue to start Underground by Cody Fry song; volume is still mild) It’s not as if finding inspiration is that easy.(cue to change lights into yellow; start to put the volume on high)

Background- black screen

Underground by Cody Fry

Spotlight on Daniel

I woke up underground (Extra girl #1 (Shalomie) waves at her friend Extra girl #2 (Chloe) and walks pass by him)

Not a light, not a sound

I threw my voice into the dark

But the dark had no remark

Just repeated what I said

Claustrophobic at first

Struck by hunger and thirst

I stood up and looked around

There was nothing to be found

Just a world I couldn’t see

And I heard, “Whoo”

I can’t see you now

I’ll find my way underground

Then his song is interrupted by a loud crash and yelling from a nearby factory

Spotlight turn off

Background- Outside of a Newspaper Company

After the last line of the song (I’ll find my way underground), count 3 seconds to play the sound effects of the loud crash.

After just after the sound effects, Christian & Salado at the backstage will shout, “What are you doing ?! Work!”

Daniel: Huh? Bingo.

Curtains close.

Scene 2 End

Scene 3

Light-orange

Before the curtains open, there should be a table at the middle.

Curtains open- cue for background change

Background- Inside the factory

Cue for At the End of the Day performance

Once the song starts to play, Extra girls #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, & #6 will go out and try to move the box towards the other end of the stage

At The End of The Day

At the end of the day you're another day older

And that's all you can say for the life of the poor

It's a struggle, it's a war

And there's nothing that anyone's giving

One more day standing about, what is it for?

One day less to be living

At the end of the day you're another day colder

And the shirt on your back doesn't keep out the chill

And the righteous hurry past

They don't hear the little ones crying

And the plague is coming on fast, ready to kill

One day nearer to dying

At the end of the day there's another day dawning

And the sun in the morning is waiting to rise

Like the waves crash on the sand

Like a storm that'll break any second

There's a hunger in the land

There's a reckoning still to be reckoned and

There's gonna be hell to pay

At the end of the day

End of the Performance

Lights-white

The girls will continue their work at the side. Then, Daniel suddenly walks in the stage.

Daniel: Did you guys see that? This isn’t right, these people deserve justice! We can write about this! I need to know more! (Character to Audience; runs back to the backstage)

Cue for the butler (Markus)to get inside the stage

Extra #2: Excuse me sir, is there any chance I can get my pay? I just need some for food for my family!

Extra #3: I have also been working past the allotted these past few months! It’s been months since you’ve paid us! May we ask for our pay?

Markus: Peasants! If you all don’t pick yourselves up, this factory is going to crash, and you all be going to the streets!

Markus takes a deep sigh and begins to walk towards the exit to go to his car.

Curtains close.

Scene 3 End

Scene 4

Background- outside or in the streets

Lights-white

Markus: Stupid! They don’t even know how to work properly without training! Imbeciles!

Cue for glass breaking sound effect.

Markus: Who’s there?!

Daniel goes out from the backstage (nervous)

Daniel: Oh… Uh… Me, sir… just… uhm…

Markus: Another day, another peasant. What do you want?!

Daniel: Oh, uhm… There’s this… uh… I… have a job… uhm…

Markus: Hold on a second… Fine posture and quite… hmm…

Daniel: yes?

Markus: Ah! You must be here for the training!

Daniel: Training? Ah yes! For the training! Exactly!

Markus: Ah being a being a butler for years really gets you. I need someone to takeover once I retire. Here’s the address of the mansion. Your apprenticeship starts tomorrow at 6. Farewell now.

Markus exits and goes to the backstage

Daniel: That was unexpected. Well, at least now I can lay low with them and find out more!

Curtains close.

Scene 4 End

Rising Action part I:

Scene 1

Background- Inside the mansion

Lights- white

Markus: You’re surprisingly early.

Markus is wiping off his watch while looking at Daniel.

Daniel: Yeah …

Markus: Good. No one can really show you around at the moment, but I believe you can make coffee, correct?

Daniel: Yes.

Marcus: Then, make a latte with 1:3 milk to coffee ratio, 2 pumps vanilla,2 pumps of caramel, and some ginseng tea leaves on top.

Markus starts walking away

Daniel: Wait- What? (worried)

Curtains close

Scene 1 End

Scene 2

Lights- red

No background

Cue to start the music, “They’re Only Human”

Extra #4 & #5 goes out and acts like scrubbing the floor with towels

They’re Only Human

Look at how they crawl around

Upon the Ground

Like little Ants

Yes, but how they fascinate,

Confusing fate

With what is merely Chance

Miguel and Gabriela Garcia get outside the stage

Isn’t it a laugh?

Isn’t it a shame?

Thinking there is someone in Heaven to blame

Yes, but even while blaming fate for the lives that they lead,

They hope for the lives that they need

Living every Day ‘til the Day they die

Never getting Answers

Yet still asking why

Going through the Motions as if there will be a reward

While we stay eternally bored!

They’re only Human

Standing still

Doomed to live pushing boulders uphill

Only Human, after all

So they give and they take

Hoping someone will help break their Fall

They will pray, curse, live die

Never knowing their Truth is another Man’s Lie

Eat, sleep, love, hate

Like a Leaf blowing in the Wind

Watch them all vacillate!

They’re only Human

They can’t see

All the Years they could give you and me

Only Human, after all

So they give and we take ‘Til their silly Hearts break

Looking down from above I’m intrigued by their Love

After the Performance, the couple is already sitting at their table. The wife took a sip of her coffee and shouted.

Gabriela Garcia: WHAT THE HELL? WHAT IS THIS? WHO MADE THIS COFFEE? MARKUS! MARKUS!

Miguel Garcia: Oh my, did you know a workforce upnorth is going on strike? Interesting fools.

Markus & Daniel comes in

Gabriela Garcia: What is this? Is this even coffee? Who made this? (annoyed)

Everyone looks at each other

Daniel: uhm, me.

Gabriela: God, who put you here?! You can’t even make a simple coffee?!

Markus: I’m sorry. This is my newly found apprentice. With the hectic schedule, I was not able to-

Miguel Garcia: So it’s our fault now? Is that what you’re trying to say?

Markus: No-

Miguel Garcia: Of course a person like you would deny that. Hmm, why don’t we go somewhere fun? A place that can let you guys understand our power.

Daniel: sir?

Miguel Garcia:(stands up from his chair) So that you’ll understand not to mess up because of the power we hold.

Gabriela Garcia: What? You’re going there again? Stop wasting our money! How am I going to buy more necklaces and rings if you’re going to lose?

Miguel: Then I would just make sure not to lose. Besides, what’s our business is for if we don’t play and use our money with it. Come on, boys!

As Miguel and Daniel goes out to the backstage, Gabriela called Markus

Markus: Ma’am?

Gabriela: Keep an eye on that kid, he doesn’t feel right.

Markus: Understood.

Curtains Close.

Scene 2 End

Rising Action part II:

Scene 1

Lights- yellow

Background- Inside a gambling den

Table at the center with 2-layered cloth with a chair

Extra #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, & #7 are at the sides

In the Gambling Den,

Extra (Lawrence): Please, ma’am can’t you read me my fortune? My future? I just need to see if my future is any great than this hellpit of a life! I’m tired of living in the streets, is my future any different?

Margaret (Keisha): (Arranging her cards at the table) And what does that have to do with me?

Extra (Lawrence): … What?

Margaret (Keisha): Oh, you heard me just right, darling. What does that have to do with me? It only has something to do with me if there’s money involved. Pay.

Miguel together with his butler and Daniel is seen to have arrived at the place. Miguel, Daniel, & Markus go onto the stage and act as if looking around. Miguel and Markus look as if they already know the place. Daniel keeps looking around (Lights focus on the three on them)

Margaret sees this and calls them out,

Margaret: My, my, my! Look who do we have here?

Miguel: (ignores and proceeds in walking)

Margaret: Are you sure you don’t want to have your fortune read, Mr. Miguel Garcia? The richest man in town! So pocket full, you must have eaten a lot of different kinds of foods too, no? While people, like this young man right here, (Puts an arm around Lawrence’ neck) begs and begs for such every day! Ha!

Markus (Butler): What is your point, peasant? Shut it!

Margaret: Oh, I’m silent, I’m silent! Don’t worry, sweetie ! I won’t be in your way for so long because you’ll be tempted to come to this table. But let me guess, you have too much on your plate, right sir? The financial problems of your dear business, your people who can’t even think straight, and of course, the demands of your wife !

Miguel, out of boredom, goes near the table.

Miguel: Humor me.

Margaret: Take what resonates, leave what doesn’t. Hmm.. Let me see.. You sir is no ordinary man. Filled with riches but my, business is not enough, is it?

Cue for friends on the other side performance

You just want to be free, hop from place to place

But freedom takes green

It's the green, it's the green, it's the green you need

And when I look into your future it's the green that I see

On you little man, I don't want wanna waste much time

You've been pushed 'round all your life

You've been pushed 'round by your mother

And your sister and your brother

And if you was married you'd be pushed 'round by your wife

But in your future the you I see

Is exactly the man you always wanted to be

Shake my hand, come on boys

Won't you shake a poor sinner's hand?

Yes (Change lights to pink), are you ready?

(Are you ready?)

Are you ready?

Transformation central

Transformation central

Transformation central

Transformation central

Transformafication central, can you feel it?

You're changing, you're changing, you're changing alright

I hope you're satisfied, but if you ain't don't blame me

You can blame my friends on the other side

After the performance

Extra (Lawrence): He cheated! No! My money! No! I still have a family!

Margaret: Bye-Bye!

Margaret stays at the side with the Extras.

Daniel: Did he cheat?

Miguel Garcia: Cheat? Do you know who I am? It’s not cheating… It’s power. (Smirks or grins) What are the both of you looking at! Let’s play more!

Curtains close.

Scene 1 End

Scene 2

Lights- white

Background- inside a room

Table and chair at the center

Daniel: They use people for their money! While people at their factory work every day, they’re out here! Exploiting anyone they can to soothe their boredom! I need to write this down, the public must know about this!

Daniel is seen writing. Then, the butler came inside the said room without him noticing and saw what he is writing.

Markus: What do you think you’re doing? (Grabs his papers on the table.) Traitor. We can never trust you again.

Daniel: Do you not see, fool? Do you not see? Just because you rose-up you forgot your origins.

Markus: Lowly fiends belong in the gutter.

Daniel: YOU ARE BEING USED!

Markus: I certainly am not.

Daniel: Don’t you get it?

Miguel Garcia enters the room

Miguel: Don’t get what?

With the papers at hand, Markus excused himself.

Daniel: You abuse, you exploit. This will be stopped. The people are free!

Miguel Garcia: (Pushes Daniel to the other side of the room) Then, you shall never see the light of day ever again.

Curtains close.

Scene 3.1

Lights-white

Markus: (reads the paper he took from Daniel) What have I become? Partnering with corrupt and abusive masters, I have even become abusive to my fellow people. He is right. This must end!

Background- outside of the nEwspaper company

Markus: Please! Sir! You must accept our request to publish this story! We have to go to the police as well!

Jason examines the papers and looks at Markus

Jason: Police? What for?

Markus: Please help us publish that! Please sir, the story must be told. And your friend really needs your help.

Curtains close.

Scene 3 End

Scene 4

Background- inside a room

Lights- yellow

Miguel beating up Daniel.

Daniel: Kill me, but the truth will never die.

Miguel: Yes, they will only be buried with you.

Miguel was about to deliver a knife in Daniel’s stomach.

(Police suddenly burst in)

Police #1: Hands-up !

Police #2: Mr. Garcia you are under arrest for Fraud, Embezzlement & Attempted Murder.

Curtains Close

Scene 4 End

Falling Action – Elite Couple loses in Court; they go to jail.

Denouement - Five years later, Journalist & Publisher are rich.

Extra #1 and Extra #2 are seen walking in the stage, seemingly in a hurried pace. That is, until Extra #1 suddenly stops, grabbing the newspaper in their hands so hard it’s nearly crumpled.

Extra #1: (In Extreme Shock) Oh my lord…!

Extra #2, who had been walking in front of them, notices Extra #1 talking to themself. They turn around to look at them, hands on their waist in a judgmental, annoyed manner.

Extra #2: Good god, could you hurry up? The train will leave in five minutes and we can’t be late for work or Markus might –

Extra #1: (Interrupting Extra #2 Midway) Hold on, I don’t think we should even go to work today.

Extra #2: What?

Extra #1: Here, read this.

Extra #1 shoves the newspaper in Extra #2’s face. Even more annoyed – but more curious now – Extra #2 gets the paper from their grip and reads it properly.

Extra #2: Is this real? Are those bastards finally…?

Extra #1: Of course, it’s real, I’ve been reading papers from this publisher for years. They’ve never lied.

All of a sudden, extras begin walking up on stage. They are carrying papers with them, throwing them up in the air and on the ground out of shock from what they have read.

Extra #3: They lost the trial?1

Extra #4: YEHEY!

Extra #5: I can’t believe Miguel and Gabriella are going to jail!

After Extra #6 says their line, Gabriella and Miguel enter the stage. They are angry and scowling as they walk up to the very front of the audience. It is clearly, obviously shown that they are in handcuffs.

Gabriella: Ugh! Why did this have to happen?! You should’ve killed that damned peasant!

Miguel: And be charged for manslaughter?! Are you insane?!

Gabriella: Hmph! At least it wouldn’t have been me…!

Miguel: Hah-?!

An extra appears before Miguel can finish his sentence. They are the guard in charge of the couple, taking them away as they continue arguing with each other. The extras from before spectate as they are being led down the stage.

Five Years Later…

(SET A VERSION – SETH)

The Journalist, Daniel, enters the stage. There is a table with drinks on it and the Publisher, Jason, is seen smiling as he sits on a chair awaiting him. Daniel sits beside him, pouring a drink of his own.

Daniel: It’s been a while, huh?

Jason: Certainly has. How’ve you been?

Daniel: Richer than I’ve ever been for sure. I don’t know what to do with all this… money.

Jason: Heh, here’s to hoping we don’t end up becoming the same people we wrote about years ago.

Daniel: If I do, then shoot me – I wouldn’t stop you at all.

Daniel laughs as Jason raises his glass.

Cue ‘The Story of Tonight’

(SET B VERSION – RE-ANNE)

The Journalist, Daniel, enters the stage. There is a table with drinks on it and the Publisher, Jason, is seen smiling as he sits on a chair awaiting him. Daniel sits beside him, pouring a drink of his own.

Daniel: It’s been a while, huh?

Jason: Certainly has. How’ve you been?

Daniel: Richer than I’ve ever been for sure. I don’t know what to do with all this… money.

Jason: Heh, here’s to hoping we don’t end up becoming the same people we wrote about years ago.

Daniel: If I do, then shoot me – I wouldn’t stop you at all.

Daniel laughs as Jason raises his glass. Suddenly, the Butler, Markus, enters.

Markus: Did I disturb you two?

Jason: Not at all! Come here.

Daniel: God, to think we have that ratty couple’s butler on our side! Was I that good?

Markus: Ew, you’re flattering yourself. I just… realized there were better people out there.

Cue ‘Soldier, Poet, King’

(Sung by the Extras as Daniel, Markus, and Jason are drinking to symbolize that these characters form a Soldier, Poet, and a King).