Werner Trieschmann

Holy Work

(photo by Shannon Frazeur)

Cast

• MADILYN — late 40s, black

• JOHN —  early 20s, white

• CARLTON — security guard, mid 30s, white

• JESSE — late teens, early 20s, smarter than he's letting on, black

• LAURA — early 20s, extremely shy and slightly retarded, white

• REVEREND MIKE — 40s to 50s, white
   

Time
 Now

 Place
Back room of a bank serving as a process center for the direct mail of   Reverend Mike.

 Setting
A small, spare, windowless cinder block room. In the center of the room is  a long, plain table. There are four metal chairs. Two colored plastic   baskets and  a letter opener are on the table in front of each chair. On the  floor at one end of the table are bulging bags of mail. On the opposite   end is a wooden stool where CARLTON, the security guard, sits to watch  the employees open the mail. Four hospital gowns hang on a free standing coat rack. Other elements such as a coffee pot, security camera,  etc. can be suggested or offstage.

 Note:  Statements such as "cross on the floor" or "money on the floor"   are made to CARLTON so he is aware before employees bend down to   pick up the item off the floor. This is done as a security measure to make   sure employees aren't stuffing bills in their shoes or up their sleeves, etc.

Also, the business with statements of "cross on the floor" and other  similar statements to CARLTON should not interrupt the flow of the action. Actors shouldn't pause for these and should let them happen naturally on  top of what is already occurring.
 

*****

          MADILYN is sipping a cup of  coffee and looking at the bags of mail. CARLTON, the security guard, is bent down over the table scratching on three lottery tickets.

MADILYN
  I'm going to wear a corsage, a white corsage with carnations. He likes carnations.  Did you know that, Carlton?  

          CARLTON, caught up in his lottery tickets, doesn't look up.  

MADILYN
   On TV, he's practically swallowed in white carnations.  They stand out next to his dark blue suits. I've got my dress laid out on the bed.  As soon as we're done here, I'll go home and get ready.  So what's the count?  

CARLTON
      (Still working on his tickets)
  Fifteen bags.            

MADILYN
  Of course we'd have fifteen bags today.  And Amanda is out again.  I'm gonna really push them.  Everybody at the church can't wait for tonight.  He'll have a  triumphant return.  The civic center is being prepared with flowers and banners. The choir will sing his favorite hymns. I'll be on the front row with my dress and corsage.  He'll need our support.

CARLTON
  Maybe he'll come here.

MADILYN
  No.  The office has been trying to reach him all week. He's off alone somewhere working on his message.  But he's knows what goes on this room.   

CARLTON
  He does.

MADILYN
  Oh yes.  He knows about you and me and Jesse and Laura.  Nothing gets by that man.  We need to worry about our work and let him worry about his.  That's the best way to please him.   

CARLTON
  Hey.  I won.

MADILYN
  No you didn't.

CARLTON
  A dollar.

MADILYN
  You lost that dollar, Carlton.  You handed it to the government.  

       Pause.

  Fifteen.  Looks like full bags, too.   

CARLTON
       (Holding up the scratch ticket)
  See.  Madilyn, look.  Three pots of gold.   

MADILYN
  You could have sown a faith seed.  You could have gone to the civic center tonight and put that dollar in the collection plate.

CARLTON
  I can take this ticket and buy another ticket and win the jackpot.  

MADILYN
  Ever seen a dog chasing its tail?  Circle, circle, circle.  

CARLTON
  The Reverend has lots of money.

MADILYN
  That's right.  What's your point?    

CARLTON
  I like playing.

MADILYN
  You reap what you sow, Carlton.  You familiar with that Bible lesson?  You want me to tell you what you'll reap with that lottery  ticket?  Misery.  Lottery winners commit suicide every day.     

CARLTON
  I'd buy a boat.

MADILYN
  You're scratchin' those tickets to get yourself out of here.  Daydreaming.  I'm here to tell you that you better pay attention.  Are you listening?  You aren't a good listener.  Carlton?  

CARLTON
  Yes ma'am.

MADILYN
  Carlton, here's where happiness is.  Right here.  Workin' this job.  Coming in and having coffee and sittin' down to work.  You got a mind to do somethin' else?

CARLTON
  No.

MADILYN
  Cause if you want to leave, take off.  If we're holding you back, don't hesitate.  Let's be honest, it don't take much brains to do what you do.  You know that, right?

CARLTON
  I didn't say I didn't like my job.

MADILYN
  I can find your replacement before the day is out.  

CARLTON
  I'm not going anywhere, Madilyn.

MADILYN
  Good to hear, Carlton.  I guess my attitude about this job is entirely  different from yours.  This job saved me from the gutter.  The devil    had me with both hands. You know it was God's miracle that I got here.  I came in the bank 'cause I was high and lookin' for a place to sleep.  I walked into this room by mistake and that was it.  There were a couple old ladies opening mail. Chatting, happy.  Back    then you could walk right in, believe it or not.  They let me sit down  and work. Didn't ask me any questions, didn't want to know where I came from or where I'dbeen. Just accepted me.  Just let a black woman — a black junkie, even — come in.  Eight years ago.

CARLTON
  It would be a lot better if this room had a window.  

MADILYN
  This temp they've stuck us with.  You're watching him close?

CARLTON
  Yeah.  

MADILYN
  Keep your eye out.  

CARLTON
  You don't like him?

MADILYN
  I don't like it when they make us take these temps.

       There is a buzzing sound.  MADILYN looks up at a screen above her head and then punches a button on the wall near the rack of hospital gowns.

CARLTON
  Do you think if they gave us a window we could see the water?  

MADILYN
  I don't think Amanda is coming back.  

CARLTON
  The water is right over there.  

MADILYN
  We're never getting a window.  Besides, you can't see the water    from here.   

         JESSE and LAURA walk in. Having done this before, they walk over to the wall and grab their hospital gowns. JESSE empties his pockets of a wallet and keys and hands them to CARLTON. LAURA puts her backpack down. Both put on gowns, roll up their sleeves and walk over to the table.

MADILYN
  Oooh.  This is bad coffee, Carlton.  Almost as bad as AA coffee.

       MADILYN keeps sipping the coffee.  

MADILYN
  Good morning, Jesse.  Laura, Amanda's baby is sick again.  Ear infection.  I told her what to expect.  I've never been blessed with a  baby, but even I know they spend their first year at the doctor.  Anyway, we'll have that temp from Arrow, who is already a little late.  

JESSE
  How many?

MADILYN
  Fifteen.  As I'm sure you remember Jesse, tonight the Reverend is at the civic center.  Which means that we can't go late, which means that I'll have to be on the line.  Jesse, are those dark circles under your eyes? (JESSE nods)     You were out late last night.  Carousin'.  Probably with a girl.

JESSE
  I had to study.  

MADILYN
  We doubt that story, don't we, Laura?  

LAURA
  Don't ask me.  

MADILYN
  I know it was a girl.

LAURA
  I like Jesse.  Jesse James.  

MADILYN
  Well since you need to wake up, Jesse, why don't  you put the mail in the baskets please?  Thank you very much.  
  
       JESSE  pulls out the mail out of  one of the bags and puts piles in  the baskets.  As soon as he puts some in LAURA's basket, she starts to work. She opens the letters, pulls out the paper and the money inside and puts them in separate piles. Almost every letter she opens has money in it.  When JESSE sits down, he does the same thing.  

       The buzzing sound goes off and MADILYN looks up at the screen.  

MADILYN
  Here's our temp.  Late.

       MADILYN pushes another button and speaks through an intercom  system.

MADILYN
  Can I help you?

JOHN
           (Off stage)
  Yeah.  It's John.  From Arrow.  

       MADILYN punches a button and there is another buzz.

MADILYN
  I'm just trying to get your blood going today, Jesse.  Maybe you'll  think twice about staying out so late.

       JOHN SMITHE walks in.
       
MADILYN
       (To JOHN)
  Stop right there please.
       
JOHN
  Morning.

MADILYN
  Almost good afternoon.  Please be aware that we start at 7:30.
 
JOHN
  The bus was . . .  yeah, sorry.

MADILYN
  Your social security number is?

JOHN
  I gave it to you yesterday, didn't I?

MADILYN
  Please give me your social security number, John.  

JOHN
  432961337.

MADILYN
  Remember to put empty the contents of your pockets.  Any wallet, keys, combs.  Put them here.  Didn't I tell you not to wear long sleeve shirts?

JOHN
  You did?    

MADILYN
  Yes I did.  I prefer the men to wear short sleeves so they don't have to roll them up.  Here's your gown.
  
       MADILYN hands JOHN the hospital gown. JOHN starts to put  on the gown but then just stares at LAURA and JESSE who are silently opening the mail.

LAURA
          (To CARLTON)
  Cross on the floor.

JESSE
          (To CARLTON)
  Ten on the floor.

       CARLTON nods at LAURA and then JESSE and then they pick up the items that have fallen out of their envelopes.

MADILYN
  John?  John?  Turn around so I can tie up the gown. (JOHN turns)  Thank you, John.  

LAURA
  Oops.  Cross on the floor.

MADILYN
  Now get on the line please.  We're already behind.

       MADILYN walks to the table and pulls out the two center chairs. JOHN follows her and sits down.  

JESSE
  Cross on the floor.

MADILYN
        (To JOHN)
  Remember to take one envelope, open it with the letter opener and put the money or checks in one stack and the letter and envelope in other stack.  How many checks did we have yesterday? We never get many checks.  I've been told most of  those don't clear the bank.   

       MADILYN and JOHN start to work. Now they are all opening  envelopes and separating the money from the other materials.

MADILYN
  Laura, yesterday you opened the letter with the most money, didn't   you?

       LAURA smiles and nods her head.  

MADILYN
  How much did it have?

LAURA
  Seven hundred dollar bills.
       
JOHN
  Did she get to keep it?

MADILYN
  Our temps always make that joke and it's never funny.  Please keep your elbows above the table at all times. Remember if something falls out while you are opening it, you need to tell Carlton.

JESSE
  Cross on the floor.

MADILYN
  I thought we had gone through the batch with the crosses in them. They have a mind to fall out.

       Now JOHN, MADILYN, JESSE and LAURA are opening mail.  There is a moment where they do nothing but rip into envelopes and separate the contents.
      
MADILYN
  Laura, I'm worried about Amanda.  (To JOHN) One of our regulars on the line — the one you're replacing — has a sick baby.    

       JOHN has stopped opening and is reading a letter in one of his envelopes.

LAURA
  I miss Amanda.  Amanda banana.

MADILYN
        (To LAURA)  
  But she didn't think about the consequences.  Now she's in a  tough spot.  If she can't make it to work, I'm gonna have to let her  go.  

LAURA
  She has to feed her baby.

MADILYN
       (Noticing that JOHN is not opening mail)
  John, please don't read the letters.  We don't have time.

       JOHN gets up from his chair and walks out in front of the table. He is holding the letter in his hand.  He reads the letter directly to the audience.

JOHN
  Rev. Mike I wrote you five times —

MADILYN
        (To LAURA)
  I know Amanda has to feed her baby.  But do you understand that that's no help to me?  To us?   

JOHN
            (Standing and reading)
  — I didn't get no answer.  You forgot me like the Lord has Rev.   Mike.  I'm down on Claim street in apartment number 45.   

MADILYN
  You have to be ready for a baby.  When you have a baby, that's  your one and only job.  You can't do anything else.  

JOHN
  My husband hits me and my baby is lost on drugs.  

LAURA
  Babies smell good.  

JOHN
  He's lost, Rev. Mike.  All I got for you this time is three dollars.  

MADILYN
  Laura, you have to watch out.  You think you'd be getting a gift from God but it would be from the devil instead.

JOHN
           (Reading another letter)
  Rev. Mike I wrote to you in jail, but I didn't hear nothin' from you.  I  told you about bein' hit and you didn't say nothin'.

MADILYN
  You got security with this job.  You can have a baby and then lose everything else.  

JOHN
           (Reading another letter) 
  I got shot in the back and can't work.  The police don't care nothin'  'bout me.  Rev. I need money.  Can you send me some?  

MADILYN
  I'm sure your mother would be quite upset.  Do you remember  what she told you about being a special girl?

LAURA
  She had two babies.  

JOHN
  Everyday I watch you on TV.  My TV is broke now.  Pray for me for a new TV.  I'm giving you ten dollars.  I also want a new car too.
 
MADILYN
  John.  John.  

JOHN
  Yes?

MADILYN
  What did I say to you about reading the letters?  

JOHN
  Well, I . . . this woman —   

MADILYN
  If it happens again, I will send you home and won't sign your temp card.
                                  
       JOHN returns to his seat and starts to open mail.  

MADILYN
  Carlton, can you get us some more mail please? Thank you.  

       CARLTON reluctantly gets up and starts to distribute the mail.

MADILYN
  The crosses aren't as bad as the prayer rugs.  Remember those, Jesse?  Reverend Mike sometimes sends out little square prayer    rugs and they fall out all the time.

       CARLTON picks out of the  mailbag a red brick with an  envelope stuck to the top.
       
MADILYN
  Laura, I'm going to pick you up at six tonight so we can get a good seat.  So please be sure you're ready by six.

CARLTON
       (Giving the brick to MADILYN)    
  Another one.

MADILYN
  Oh dear.  (To LAURA)  I want to be right in front so we don't miss a    thing.  

JOHN
  What's that?

MADILYN
  That is some ignorant soul's idea of being clever.  They put our return envelope on top of a brick so we have to pay for postage.

JESSE
  Cross on the floor.
       
MADILYN
  We get about three or four of these a month.  Some of them cut up other mail and send it back to us.  Some put dirt, food in the     envelope.

JESSE
  Yeah, remember those baby snakes!

LAURA
  Gross, gross.

JESSE
  Made Madilyn jump out of her seat!  One of 'em was still alive!

MADILYN
  They were worms, Jesse.  The world is full of sad, sick people.

  Looks like we're making progress.  What do you think, Carlton?  Is this another five or six hours of work?

CARLTON
  I'd say five.  Jesse is going fast.

MADILYN
      (Standing and stretching)
  Yes he is.  Thank you for your hard work, Jesse.  So can Laura and I pick you up to go hear the Reverend tonight?  Surely you can take time away from your books for one night.

JESSE
  How long's it gonna be?

MADILYN
  Long enough to make a difference.  So you'll be ready at six?    (JESSE reluctantly nods his head) What about you, John?  

JOHN
  I, ah —

MADILYN
  The reverend has a way of cutting right to your heart.  

JOHN
  I'm busy.  

MADILYN
  Oh really.  Busy with what exactly?

JOHN
  Work.

MADILYN
  I'm afraid to tell you that once we're done at about four, this office will be closed.

JOHN
  I'm a painter.  I've got projects I need to work on.

MADILYN
  An artist. That is different, isn't it?  What kind of art is it?

JOHN
  Self-portraits.  My work isn't very commercial, I mean, it doesn't    sell.  Obviously.

MADILYN
  I've often thought we could use some art in this room.  We don't  have any windows.  It would be nice to have a painting in here,  wouldn't it, Carlton?

CARLTON
  Yeah.  A painting of a boat.

MADILYN
  Carlton.  I'm thinking we need a painting of the Reverend.  A nice big portrait of him in his dark blue suit.  That would be     something.  And I don't think it would be too distracting.

JOHN
  That's not the kind of paintings I do.

MADILYN
  You'll come tonight, John, and see the Reverend up close.  That'll help you get an idea of what he looks like.  But you've probably    seen him on TV.

JOHN
  He hasn't been on lately.

MADILYN
  You'll come tonight so it will help you with your painting.  These baskets are getting full, Carlton, will you please empty them, thank you.  

       CARLTON picks up the baskets with envelopes and walks off stage.

MADILYN
  Wait until you see the Reverend in person, John.  It's like ... electricity.  You can feel as soon as he steps into the room.  And his voice and even the way he stands and stares.  

LAURA
  Cross on the floor.

       CARLTON walks back in with empty baskets and puts them on the table.

MADILYN
  You know I've been talking to the office and they've been getting  letters from the Reverend. Handwritten letters just like the gospels    that outline his plan for his ministry and for what is going to happen to the world. They say there are amazing revelations in those letters.  That's what we're going to hear about tonight.    He's going to tell us what to expect.  You came at just the right time, John.

JOHN
  I'm can't go.

MADILYN
  Well, that's your loss, isn't it?  Everyone,  we're supposed to take our 15 minute break in five minutes but I'd like to keep on working.  Thank you.

JOHN
           (To JESSE)
  Why was he in jail?  
  
JESSE
  Like I have no idea.
     
MADILYN
  Name me one religious leader who hasn't been in jail.   

JOHN
  What did he do?

MADILYN
  They said they put the Reverend in jail for a number of reasons.   Of course they always have reasons to jail believers.  I read about it but I knew it wasn't the whole truth.  

JOHN
  Did it have something to do with this money?

MADILYN
  John, please keep opening mail.

JESSE
  Money on the floor.   

JOHN
  He's a televangelist.  All this money, all this cash, it's going to the Reverend.

MADILYN
  It's going to his ministry.  

JOHN
  What kind of ministry could he have?  He's been to jail.   

MADILYN
  Jesse, Laura, stop for a moment please.  Jesse, stop.  Thank you.

JESSE
  Man, we're never gonna get done.

       JESSE and LAURA stop opening  mail.

MADILYN
  Here's one of the Reverend's ministries.  Here's Jesse and Laura and Carlton. Here I am.  We're happy the Reverend is sending out mail. That keeps us off the streets. That means we have beds and food.  Isn't that right?

JOHN
  But don't you read the letters?  

MADILYN
  The Reverend is a man of God and been quite good to us. He has kept his faith with us and we'll keep our faith with him.  This is a family.  Laura, you couldn't work anywhere else, could you?

LAURA
  Madilyn.  Don't talk about  me.

MADILYN
  John, we don't have time for this today. You were told when you took this job that you would be working  for an evangelical organization.  

JOHN
  Right, but I didn't —

MADILYN
  You worked here yesterday and saw what went on.  You could have stayed home but you didn't.  

JOHN
  This was the only temp job left.  If I don't work, I've got to leave the city and go home.

MADILYN
  Are you staying?  What's your answer, John?  

JOHN
  There's nothing else.  

MADILYN
  All right.  Step out here.  

       MADILYN steps out in front of the table.

MADILYN
  Come here, John.  

       JOHN steps out in front of the table.

MADILYN
  Carlton, search him.

CARLTON
  I've watched him.  He's clean.

JOHN
  I didn't take anything.

MADILYN
  How do we know all this talk hasn't been his way of distracting us?   Search him.  (To JESSE, LAURA) OK, go ahead.  

       JESSE and LAURA go back to opening envelopes.

CARLTON
  Put your arms out.

       JOHN puts his arms out and CARLTON  starts patting him down.

MADILYN
  You believe in the Lord?  Are you a Christian?

       JOHN doesn't answer.

MADILYN
  You are.  You can't hide it.  So what's wrong with this work?  You don't think they're doing the same thing in the Catholic church?  Or in the Methodist church?  You made your choice yesterday.  

CARLTON
  Told ya.  He's got nothin'.

MADILYN
  All right.  Thank you, Carlton.

       MADILYN walks back and sits down at the table.

MADILYN
  Come on, John.  Let's finish.  

       JOHN hesitates for a moment  and then returns to the table.
       He starts to open up envelopes.  There is a moment when  everybody is silently working.

MADILYN
  Carlton, I'm in the mood for more coffee.  Would you make some please? Thank you.

  Laura, do you have a dress for tonight? (LAURA shakes her head yes)  I do too.  I have a carnation corsage I'm going to wear.    I know the Reverend will notice.  You can't get anything past that  man.  He sees and knows all.

JOHN
            (To CARLTON)
  What did you do with the letters?

LAURA
         (Holding out a large stack of money she's  just pulled out of an envelope)
  Madilyn.  Look, look!

CARLTON
        (To JOHN)
  Dumpster.  

MADILYN
  Laura, how much have you . . .  good Lord . . .  

LAURA
   One hundred . . . two hundred . . . three hundred . . .

MADILYN
  Save that letter.  We've got to send that to the office.   

JESSE
          (Now holding up an envelope with money)
  Madilyn.  Carlton.  Here's five hundred!  


       The buzzer goes off.

MARILYN
       (Now holding up her own wad of cash)
  Look at this!  I've got two hundred here.
  
LAURA
  . . . eight hundred . . . nine hundred . . . one thousand.

MADILYN
  This is a good day for the office.  

       The buzzer goes off again. Everybody stops.

MADILYN
  Well, who . . . Carlton?  Are we expecting . . .

       MARILYN walks over to the screen.

MADILYN
       (Stunned)
  I can't . . .

       MADILYN punches the buzzer.  REVEREND MIKE, who is wearing a suit but looks nervous and exhausted, walks in.  

MADILYN
  Reverend Mike.  Nobody from the office told me.  They didn't say a thing.  This is amazing.   Praise the Lord.   We just do our work and never need any thanks.  

       REVEREND MIKE starts to look around.  He goes over to the hospital gowns.

MADILYN
  I'm Madilyn Grange, the supervisor.  Those are our gowns, for security and you can see everybody wears one.  That's our security guard, Carlton.  Oh sorry, I'm nervous.  You don't know what this means to me.  You've saved my life.  You did.  We could have put up a banner.  I'll be at the civic center tonight.  

       REVEREND MIKE walks over to the table.  He looks at the letters and the money.

MADILYN
  This is Jesse and Laura.  They've been with us for about two years now.  Right before you came in, they opened envelopes with fifteen hundred dollars.  

JOHN
           (To REV. MIKE)
  This is —

MADILYN
  That's John, he's our temp because one of our regulars has a  sick child.  You don't know what this means.  

REV MIKE
  I've been walkin' . . .

MADILYN
  You look worn out, Reverend.  You want to sit down for moment.

REV. MIKE
  . . . around the city . . . in a circle . . .

MADILYN
  We've had quite a morning already.  

JOHN
           (To REV. MIKE)
  Have you seen these letters?  

MADILYN
  As soon as we're done, the whole office is going to civic center.

JOHN
  They're illiterate.  They're sending in their life savings.     

MADILYN
  John.  Please be quiet.  The Reverend understands what's in the     letters.

JOHN
  Did they send them to you when you were in jail?

       REV. MIKE takes one of the piles and throws it on the floor.

REV. MIKE
  No!  No!

       REV. MIKE picks up the table and throws it down on the floor.  Money and envelopes fly.

REV. MIKE
  No more!  No more of this work!  No more of this work.  

JOHN
  Cross on the floor.

MADILYN
  The office didn't inform me —

REV. MIKE
  The office?  I'm the office!  My name on the letters.  My face . . . no more money changers.  Forgive me.  Shut this down.

MADILYN
                                                    (Down on the floor frantically picking up envelopes) 
  Reverend.  We can't . . . just stop.  We have bags left.   We can't —
     
REV. MIKE
  Stop it.  Stop it!  Are you listening?   What's your name?

       MADILYN doesn't respond.

REV. MIKE
  What's your name?  What's her name?  

MADILYN
  I know you know me.  I know the office has told you about me.  

REV.  MIKE
     (To JOHN)
  You.  Terminate the lease.  Return this mail.  You'll do it?

JOHN
  I'm just a temp.

REV. MIKE
  So is this.  I let it get out of hand.  I thought . . . no more.  God     forgive me.

       REV. MIKE  walks out.  Everybody stands still for a moment.  JESSE starts look for  the money. When he finds some, he stuffs it in his pockets.

MADILYN
  Jesse.  Jesse.  Let's put this back together.  We've got ten bags left   to . . . .  Jesse, that's not yours.  Carlton.  

       CARLTON now is doing the  same thing.  LAURA is also picking up money.

CARLTON
  Jesse, start going through those bags.  You, me, Laura gonna split   it even.  

JESSE
  Just like Christmas.   

LAURA
          (Laughing)
  Baby shoes.  Baby clothes.  

       Powerless, MADILYN and JOHN watch them grab the money.  

JOHN
  Madilyn.  Will you sign my temp card?

       Lights dim to black.   
 

          THE END