Robert Curci

 

One Instant

 

Characters

                                                Angelina- Mother/Wife

                                                Donald- CEO of a motor company                                          

                                                Ralph- Neighbor/Lawyer                                             

Julia- Daughter

                                                Rodd-Son

                                               

 

Scene I

 

                                                                  Setting

Lights remain off.  The sounds of tires screech to a sudden halt.  Lights come on at a funeral.  Birds are chirping while the sky remains cloudless.  Angelina walks over to the casket. 

 

Angelina- (She looks up far into the deep blue sky.  She then begins yelling.)  Why! Why! Why did this happen, why was he taken from me?  It wasn’t supposed to be like this.  (Looks towards her two children.)  I need him. (Pause)  They need him.  (Tears begin to trickle down her face.  (She walks towards he kids. Ralph walks towards her and her kids.)

 

            Ralph- It’s going to be ok.

 

Angelina- How is it going to be ok?  Why did he get into that car to get bagels?  Every week I do it, what made him go that day?

 

Ralph- This isn’t your fault.  What happened happened and there is nothing you can do now.

 

Angelina - That’s where you are wrong.  There is plenty to do and you can help me.  Together we must find out why my husband had to die.  

 

(Lights go out scene ends.)

 

Scene 2

The Bus

 

Angelina – Julia, Rodd get ready for school your going to miss the bus.  (Beep Beep)       There it is, common lets go.

 

Rodd – Mom I don’t want to take the bus.  Dad always drove us.

 

Angelina – I know sweetie but can you take the bus for mommy.

 

Julia – See you later mom and don’t forget I have dance after school today.  (The kids exit)

 

Angelina – Damn it.  (Pause)  So much has changed in the last few weeks.  I don’t know how much longer I can hold myself together.  I got to be strong, if not for me then (Pause) for the kids.  (Knocking on the door) Come in.

 

Ralph – Good morning Angelina.  Just thought I would drop off your paper before I go to work, they delivered it to my house again. 

 

Angelina – Thank you but is that the only reason you came over?

 

Ralph – Well I have been thinking about what you said.  People believe your husband fell asleep at the wheel or was just reckless driving yet he hasn’t had one ticket in over 15 years. 

 

Angelina – What are you saying?

 

Ralph – Maybe this wasn’t his fault.  Well I’m already late so I should head off.  (Exits room)

 

Angelina – If it wasn’t his fault whose fault was it? (Lights go out scene ends)

 

Scene 3

The Phone Call

 

(Sounds of Phone ringing) 

Angelina – Hello?

 

Donald – Good afternoon.  I am the CEO of a huge automaker that sold your husband his vehicle.

 

Angelina – I’m sorry I don’t have much money to spend on donations right now.

 

Donald – Hehehe, no, no.  On behalf of everyone at my corporation I would like to apologize for the incident that happened with you husband.

 

Angelina – Wait why are you calling me, I don’t understand.

 

Donald – Ma’am his vehicle is currently under investigation.  We want are products to be safe and reliable.

 

Angelina – Are you saying his vehicle wasn’t safe? (Raises voice) Are you saying that this could have been prevented?

 

Donald – His crash was unpreventable and well I can see you are under a lot of stress so I will personally call you back at a better time.

 

Angelina – When will there be a better time after my (Donald hangs up the phone) hello? Hello? (Slams phone down.)

(Lights go out scene ends.)

   

    

Scene 4

The Situation

 

Julia – Hey mom.

 

Angelina – Hi, where is your brother.

 

Julia – I don’t know he never got on the bus after school.

 

Angelina – (Sounding worried) What do you mean he never got on the bus?

 

Julia – I’m going to watch tv. 

Angelina – Stay inside and don’t answer the door.  I’ll be right back. (Leaves House set. Brief black out. Lights go on at the school) 

 

Angelina –  (Yelling) Rodd.  Rodd.  There you are.  What are you doing here?

 

Rodd – I didn’t want to go home.  Dad used to pick us up.  I hate the bus.

 

Angelina – I understand that this is hard for you, and it’s also hard for me.  Lets go home we can talk their.  (Scene ends) 

 

            Scene 5 The discussion

           

(Sitting in the living room.)

            Angelina – I brought you some milk and cookies. 

 

            Rodd – Leave me alone.  (Puts his head on the pillow)

 

            Angelina – You have to take the bus to school.

 

            Rodd – I’m not taking the bus.

 

            Angelina – (Talking sarcastically) So you plan to ride your bike to school? 

 

            Rodd – Well since I can’t take the bus then I guess I can’t go to school.

 

            Angelina – You have to go to school.

 

Rodd – I don’t know anyone on the bus.  Everyone sits with their friends.  I have to sit in the front all by myself.  Only the bus driver say’s hi to me and he is scary looking.  

 

Angelina – You’re going to have to figure this out for yourself.  You have to go to school and you have to take the bus.  (Raises voice) End of discussion.  

            (Door bell rings) 

 

            Ralph – Hello.  How is everything going?

 

Angelina – Well things aren’t going that well.  Rodd refuses to take the bus to school and he doesn’t understand that he has no other way of getting there.  It’s no big deal, he just has to except change like the rest of us.

 

Ralph – Does he go to Pacific Elementary School? 

 

Angelina – Yea.  It’s about two miles down the road.

 

Ralph - I could drive him.  It’s not a problem at all.  I drive right past it everyday on my way to work.

 

Angelina – I don’t want to go out of your way.

 

Ralph – It’s not out of the way.  Don’t worry about it.  Why don’t you ask him and see what he thinks?

 

Angelina – Rodd can you come here for a minute?

 

Rodd – (Enters stage) What is it?

 

Angelina – I know you don’t want to take the bus so how would you feel if Ralph took you to school.

       

            Rodd – (Excited) Really? You would take me in your race car?

 

            Ralph – Well it’s not quite a race car but u can sit in shotgun.

 

            Rodd – Yea.  I can’t wait to tell my friends I get to ride in an NSX.  (Runs back                       upstairs off stage. End of scene)   

 

           

           

(Phone rings) Secretary – Hello this is Donald’s office, please hold.  (Brief Pause)

 

            Donald – Good morning. 

 

Angelina – Hey.  You’re a hard man to track down.  Were you enjoying a round of golf before work?

 

Donald – I don’t know who you are but I can’t imagine that’s any of your business.

 

Angelina – That’s all your about isn’t it.  Everything for you is nothing but business.  (Raises voice)  All you care about is the number of zeros in your bank account not the lives you affect and change.

 

Donald -  I don’t see what your getting at.  Do you mind telling me who this is?

 

Angelina – It’s amazing how fast we forget.  Only a few days ago you called me and now it’s like it never happened.     

 

Donald – O yes I recognize that attitude.  You were that wife of the reckless driver. 

 

Angelina – (Raises voice) How dare you.  My husband died that day and I want to know why.  You (interrupted).

 

Donald – The reason was told to you several times but if you must here it again then here it is.  He was driving way over the speed limit and crashed his car.  He was driving and he was the one pushing on the gas pedal.  I have a business meeting now so I must go.  Always a pleasure talking to you.

 

Angelina – This isn’t over, I’m (Donald hangs up) 

(Lights go off scene ends.)

 

Scene 6

The Case

 

(Ralph enter the room)  Ralph – Hey I think I got something.  Something good.  You talked to Donald once or twice right?

 

Angelina – Yea.

 

Ralph – Well did he mention anything about a problem they may have been having with the car?

 

Angelina – Actually the first time we talked he called me and said their was some type of investigation or something.  I don’t really know, I think he was talking about the crash.

 

Ralph – Hold on a second.  He said there is an investigation going on.  (Pauses) Did he say the word crash?

 

Angelina – Yes.  He said something like the crash was unpreventable. 

 

Ralph – Interesting.  Very interesting.

 

Angelina – I’m kind of lost here can you fill me in.

 

Ralph – Well this is simple.  He actually gave you everything you needed to know.  We might have a case against him. 

 

Angelina – A case.  What do you mean case.  Like a court case?

 

Ralph – Ok pay attention and follow along.  He said the car is under investigation.  Why would that be?

 

Angelina- They wanted to find the cause of the crash.  He said he wanted his customers to be safe.

 

Ralph – Exactly. Well what if during their investigation they found something.  Something that was wrong. Something that could have cost them a lot of money. 

 

Angelina – What do you think was wrong?

 

Ralph -  That doesn’t matter right now.  The fact is besides he had an investigation, you said he called it a crash not an accident correct.

 

Angelina – Yea.

 

Ralph -  Jon crashed his car.  Something happened that forced him to crash.  I’m going to make some phone calls to friends.  We might be able to be in court sooner than you think.  (Exits)

 

Angelina – A court case.  I don’t know if I want this.  I don’t know what I want. 

(Scene ends)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scene 7

Dinner       

 

Angelina – (Yells) Kids time for dinner.

 

Rodd – Hey mom.  Smells good in here.

 

Julia – (Looks at table filled with food and candles) Wow.  What’s all this?

 

Angelina – Well any minute Ralph should (Door bell rings) That must be him.

 

Ralph – Hello.  Sorry I didn’t bring anything I just came from work.

 

Angelina – You’re our guest tonight. 

 

(Everyone sits at the table) 

 

Julia – Mom. Ralph is sitting in dads seat.

 

Angelina – Ralph is the guest he can sit anywhere he wants.

 

Ralph – I’m sorry I’ll move. 

 

            Angelina – Don’t worry about it.  Let’s talk about what you have for the case. 

 

Ralph – I found out that their was an acceleration problem that only occurred once.  The only record of that was your husband’s crash. 

 

Angelina – What should we go after?

 

Ralph – We are going to go for money and for a recall on the faulty part.

 

Rodd – We could get money?  Does that mean we could get a new car?

 

Angelina – Keep dreaming.

 

Ralph – This wouldn’t be some pocket change.  You could potentially get millions.

 

Angelina – I’m not in this for the money I just want what happened, to never happened again.

 

Ralph – Well, (Ralph’s cell phone rings)  Hey Todd.  Did you find anything good.  Really?  Hahaha.  Well thanks a lot for this, I owe you one.  (Hangs up cell phone)

 

Angelina – Who was that?

 

Ralph – That was Todd he gave me some really good information.  I didn’t think he would find something so good.

 

Angelina – What did he find, what are you talking about?

 

Ralph – I had Todd look over the car to find something, anything that didn’t seem right.  Well he told me he found something that could potentially force the car to accelerate and disable the breaks.  (Takes a drink of wine) I would almost guarantee that’s what caused your husbands death.

 

Angelina – Kids can you please excuse us for a minute.  (Kids leave the set)

 

Ralph – What about desert?

 

Angelina – Look Ralph I appreciate everything you are doing for me but I think you’re going to far.  Talking about this case is ok at the right time but all I want is this fixed.  My kids didn’t need you bringing up Jon’s death.

 

Ralph – His death is the reason for this case.  I had to bring it up.  Without that we have nothing.

 

Angelina -  Well you didn’t have to bring it up in front of my kids and you don’t have to act like since he’s gone he is nothing more than another death in a case for you to solve.  You only knew him as a neighbor not as the person I loved.

(Ralph doesn’t know what to say.)  I think it would be best for you to go now.

 

Ralph – You have to understand something.  No matter what happens in this case, no matter how you life changes Jon is gone and he’s not coming back.  (Leaves the house.  Scene ends)

 

 

Scene 8 The Meeting

 

Donald – (In Donald’s office) Send her in now.

 

(Angelina enters the room)  So we finally meet face to face. 

 

Donald – Your lawyer called me earlier as you probably know.  He said we have a court case this week.  I don’t know what your after but I can guarantee you’re aren’t getting any of my money. 

 

Angelina - That’s fine by me.  I just want every car you sold with a problem fixed and I want you to feel responsible for a mans death.

 

Donald – People die everyday.  Eventually your time is just up.

 

Angelina – Well my husbands time wasn’t up and (Donald interrupts her) 

 

Donald – Doesn’t seem to look that way to me.

 

Angelina – (Begins yelling) We can argue all day and that’s fine by me.  Never underestimate your opponent.  (Walks towards door.  Stops and looks back at Donald.)  I’ll see you in court.

 

Scene 9 The Court

(Court case has already begun)

 

Donald – What happened was nothing more than a tragedy and I give my great apologies to his family but nothing could have been done and nothing will be done.

 

Ralph – Evidence shows that there is a faulty part which could force the vehicle to accelerate and disable the breaks.  That was the cause of my clients husbands death.  Donald always says you have to spend money to make money.  Well now he will have his chance to spend enough money to recall and fix every car that is a potential risk.  I rest my case.  (Sits down and takes a deep breath)

 

Angelina – How do you think we did? 

 

 

Ralph – We will find out very shortly.  I hope no matter what happens we can still be friends.  I’ve been a lawyer for a long time and sometimes I take my job too seriously.  I guess what I’m really trying to say is (Judge yells order in the court)

 

Donald – (Talks to himself) This is when we see that everything they have done was nothing more than a waste of time.

 

(Judge begins to read.)  This court believes that Angelina is rewarded no money.

 

Donald – (Speaks loudly)  Hahaha.  Saw that coming.  My pockets are far too deep for you to reach into.

 

Angelina – (Sad face)  I knew this wouldn’t work.

 

Ralph – (Looks angry)  Damn it. 

 

Judge – Settle down.  (Continues to read) Donald is responsible for a nation wide recall that will fix any and everything that could ever cause this malfunction to happen again.  This court is adjourned. 

 

Angelina – (Lifts her head slowly and begins to smile.) We did it.  I got all I ever wanted.

 

Conclusion

 

Angelina - After it happens, after your life changes in one instant you realize that what has happened cannot change.  You can’t change anything that happened but you can change things that haven’t happened.  Don’t dwell on old memories simply cherish them.  Work towards making new memories, good memories.  Remember loved ones as who they were.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Throughout life so many things get taken for granted after a while and once something is taken away, it’s hard to adapt.  If you refuse change, refuse to move on, refuse to accept life’s twists and turns, one sad day far down the road you will look back on your life and realize that maybe you didn’t have to be so miserable for so long.  For me I understand what I must do.  I have two kids to raise and then there is the whole issue with Ralph.  Who knows what instant will affect me next, but no matter what it is I know I can deal with it.