Pyramids and Poison (Part 2)

This stage script is based on my own personal experiences of a Multi Level Marketing company that almost destroyed everything I held dear to me. If anyone reading this is a member of such a scheme, take heed!

You can read part 1 here - https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/pyramids-and-poison-part-1%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}

For reference:

SL - STAGE LEFT / SR - STAGE RIGHT / CS - CENTRE STAGE / US - UPSTAGE

Cast

Victoria — Narcissistic team leader. Loves money.

Daisy — Victoria’s assistant. Wants to be like Victoria.

Rosey — Recruit. Has Multiple Sclerosis. Enjoys Champagne.

Jackie — Recruit. Rosey’s mum. Vulnerable.

Simon — Newbie recruit. Married to Janice. Over enthusiastic.

Janice — Newbie recruit. Married to Simon. Shy and self-conscious.

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Scene 2 Inside Rosey’s living room.

Inside a living room. Wine glasses and bottles on small table USR. ROSEY (solemn) sits with glass of wine CS, in mobility chair beside tall circular table covered in flowers, framed picture of JACKIE sits on top, which rotates. Barry Manilow ‘can’t smile without you’ plays in the background. DAISY and JANICE both wearing black, enter SL holding hands. Both walk to ROSEY and each rest a hand on her shoulder.

Rosey: (sobs) She bloody loved Barry. (pause) It’s just not fair.

Daisy: (Empathetic) We’re both so sorry babes. She was one in a million, wasn’t she Janice (JANICE nods in sympathy) Why don’t you go and grab Rosey another drink love.

Rosey: Thanks Janice (pause) I’m so pleased that you too are a couple now (JANICE and DAISY smile at each other affectionately) That Simon was total crap. And as for bloody Victoria (gulps drink, hands empty glass to JANICE) Well, she always gets what she wants doesn’t she.

Janice: (Smiles back) I know that now. I’ll just get you that drink.

(JANICE walks to table USR and pours wine into glass. Doorbell sounds.)

Daisy: Talk of the devil (looks around SL. Shouts) It’s open.

(VICTORIA enters SL wearing a red suit with red heels and dark black sunglasses, hair down. Her boobs are noticeably larger and she has plasters around her mouth. SIMON follows behind in a blue suit, holding a bottle of champagne.)

Victoria: Oh. It’s so quaint and everything, isn’t it Simey wimey. (walks to ROSEY) Aww look here she is. (Exaggerated empathy) I’m so sorry about your mum Rosey. She was one in a million and so good for business and everything as well (ROSEY scowls. VICTORIA turns to SIMON. Talks rapidly) Give her the champagne luvvy It’ll make her feel better and oh and hello Daisy duck quack quack (Laughs manically) I see your girlfriends here (looks at JANICE USR. JANICE turns to VICTORIA and smiles sarcastically) well they say it’s always the shy ones don’t they (giggles) and it all worked out for the best anyway didn’t it luvvy. I’ve got my Simey and you’ve got your Daisy. Oh , and before you all ask, it turns out I am extremely allergic to Botox hence the face (points to mouth) Anyway I must dash now as I have a very important business meeting, oh and don’t forget that I want to see all of you at the companies power positivity meeting and disco next week. (looks down at ROSEY) You will come Rosey won’t you luvvy it’ll help you forget about your mum and there’ll be plenty of free bubbly (ROSEY looks stunned at VICTORIA’S insensitivity) Come on then lover boy lets go and make some delicious money babes. Byesy bye everyone (SIMON and VICTORIA quickly exit SL)

(JANICE walks to ROSEY and DAISY CS. Hands ROSEY glass of wine. Silence)

Rosey: (gulps wine. Shouts) That fucking greedy bitch. It’s her fault. All of it. (Frowns at DAISY and JANICE) If mum had never met her she would still be alive now. All those fucking empty promises and lies. (imitates VICTORIA’S voice) Oh Jackie luvvy you’re such a good seller. Oh Jackie, soon you’ll be able to buy Rosey a proper house with everything she needs to make her life easier. Keep selling those Pyramids Jackie and you can take Rosey to America to see the specialist Doctors. She might even walk again luvvy. (Gulps wine. DAISY looks at Janice awkwardly)

Daisy: (looks guilty) I’m so sorry Rosey. So very sorry. If I had known the effect the business was going to have on her I would have tried to stop /

Rosey: (shouting) And what did she leave me in her will (looks at DAISY, scowls) Well I’ll tell you shall I (takes a gulp of wine) All she had left was a garage full of fucking glowing pyramids with batteries in. She cashed in her pension, re-mortgaged the house and it even got so bad she started selling her fucking jewellery.

Daisy: I ‘m so sorry. I /

Rosey: Empty fucking promises Daisy. Empty fucking promises. (DAISY looks at JANICE who looks upset) And you knew didn’t you.

Daisy: (sobs) I just didn’t think /

Rosey: Well it’s too bloody late now. The stress saw to that with a bloody great bastard heart attack and that’s that.

(DAISY starts crying and JANICE takes her in her arms to comfort her)

Rosey: Oh pack it in Daisy (pause) Let’s face it. We’re all as guilty as each other. The chance of a life without money worries, endless holidays in the Seychelles and mansion houses. I mean, who wouldn’t want that (takes a drink) I know I still bloody do.

Daisy: (snivels) So, what next

Rosey: Oh stop blubbing Daisy (pause) it really doesn’t suit you. (Grabs champagne from table and holds it) Large pop (DAISY and JANICE both jump) Victoria next That’s what (looks at JANICE and DAISY with a wry smile) Champagne girls.

Scene 3. At the disco.

(Theatre darkens. All characters exit SL. The Electric Light Orchestra’s ‘Evil Woman’ begins to fade in over speakers. Gets gradually louder. Stage floor begins flashing different colours. A disco glitter ball in the shape of a pyramid lights up above stage CS. VICTORIA is dancing underneath wearing a fully red sequin dress and red boots. ROSEY is in mobility chair SR drinking wine. DAISY and JANICE are dancing together SL)

Victoria: (Looks at ROSEY. Shouts) Come on Rosey. Come and join us luvvy. It’ll help you get over it babes. Life goes on and all that jazz.

Rosey: (grins. Shouts) Yeah. Not for you though Vicky (pause) luvvy.

Victoria: (Shouts) What. I can’t hear you luvvy (points fingers to ears. Keeps dancing)

(ROSEY keeps smiling. DAISY and JANICE dance closer to VICTORIA. JANICE trips up and knocks into VICTORIA. She has a hidden syringe in her hand which goes into VICTORIA’S leg)

Janice: (Shouts) Whoops. Sorry Victoria.

Victoria: (Shouts) Oh. Steady on Janice. Go and wobble over there luvvy (shrieks with laughter)

(JANICE hands DAISY syringe. DAISY puts in cleavage then takes JANICE’S hand and pirouettes her around)

(VICTORIA’S face becomes serious and she puts her hand to head. Stops dancing then collapses to the floor. SIMON enters holding two glasses of champagne SR in White suit. ROSEY looks at his suit and rolls eyes. SIMON notices VICTORIA on the ground and runs to her. Lifts her up by the shoulders from floor and slaps her face)

Simon (Screaming) Help (pause, Looks panicked) Somebody Help. Please.

(Music Continues. JANICE and DAISY keep dancing. ROSEY drinks wine. SIMON keeps trying to revive VICTORIA. Lights and music fade simultaneously)

(Scene 4) Bright summers day. On the Patio of a mansion.

One year later. On patio. Bright summers day. Birds singing. DAISY stands CS beside table on which rest two red books, bottle of Champagne, 6 flute glasses. She is wearing a red suit, sunglasses, and heels. Hair is in a bun with red chopsticks. DAISY’S mobile rings. The ringtone is ‘murder on the dancefloor’ by Sophie Ellis-Bextor)

Daisy: (answers) Ok Janice babes, bring them out (pause) and don’t worry, they’ll be putty in our hands. Oh, and babes (pause) I love you.

(JANICE enters SL wearing a white power dress suit and dark sunglasses. She is followed by three young couples all holding red bags with a gold pyramid on the front)

Man 1: Oh my god, just look at this place everyone. It’s unbelievable.

Woman 2: (shrieks. Points) Look. Look there’s a huge jacuzzi over there.

Man 2: And did you see that Porsche nine eleven in the driveway.

Man 3: Prefer a Lambo myself, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers.

(Helicopter can be heard in the distance, getting louder)

Woman 3: Bloody Beyonce’s boobs, look at that outhouse (points ahead then slaps MAN 3 on the chest

Woman 2: (looks at JANICE) Excuse me. (Raises voice over approaching helicopter sound) I heard that the last owner of this place died from some sort of freak allergic reaction to Botox. I that really true.

Janice: (pause. Then smiles. Raises voice) I’m afraid so yes. Her name was Victoria and, actually, she wasn’t the owner of this place at all. It belongs to the company.

(helicopter becomes extremely loud)

Man 1: What the hell. It’s going to land (shouts) Look. (Points to Outhouse roof) There’s a fucking landing pad on top of the outhouse.

Woman 1: (Excited) Oh, I wonder who it is. Maybe it’s somebody famous.

(helicopter lands and sound decreases)

Man 2: (Shouts) Look. There’s a ramp coming out of it down to the pad.

Woman 2: (shouts) Oh my goodness. It’s not what’s his name is it. You know (turns to MAN 2) That Space guy. You know. Oh, what’s his name.

Janice: (laughs) Ah, No not quite Stephen Hawkins. But she is out of this world (pause) Look everybody. Here she comes.

(ROSEY enters in mobility scooter DS, Wearing an expensive suit and designer sunglasses)

Janice: (Looks to guests) Everybody. (smiles widely) This is Rosey (ROSEY waves) and Rosey is going to help make all of you rich (pause) So (JANICE smiles and winks at ROSEY) shall we.

(JANICE ushers everyone towards DAISY. SIMON enters US dressed in a waiters suit He approaches guests with a tray of Champagne)

Daisy: Oh. Good boy Simey wimey. You’ll get that Ferrari soon. I promise babes (SIMON grunts. Looks at ground)

(everyone takes a glass of champagne)

Daisy: (Shouts) Ok everybody. My name is Daisy, and welcome to the wonderful world of pyramids. This time next year you’ll be millionaires. (raises glass) Cheers.

Everyone: (shouts) Cheers

(everyone clinks glasses together. Lights down)

(End)

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Originally published at https://medium.com/@sloomon32/pyramids-and-poison-part-2-68a1755884d0