EllaGirl

**The Big Addiction** Class: Mr.Batt & Mrs.Ferhani  SETTING 1: This play takes place in a small, hot, and dense office room in Brooklyn New York. There are five chairs and in the center is a long conference desk. In the front of the room is the projector the air conditioner is on high and every one is tired and has no clue why they’re all scrunched together. //(The middle-aged man/boss is standing up while giving his speech, and has the look of enthusiasm, and excitement on his face.)//

CHARACTERS: 1.JACK- The owner of the tobacco company/boss 2.LEO- Main character/worker in Tobacco Company 3.MARIO- Young teen gullible and under the influence 4.GUARD- Looks out for angry people that wants to get to the press 5.GUARD DOGS- Scare people away and make the job easy for the guard 6.INSPECTOR- Not really the inspector he is working for the government 7.WORKERS- (only two people)One or two lines 8.PRESS(-only 2 ) very hard to be tricked. **__Scene 1__**

JACK- We just came up with a new product! It is called smo smokers.

WORKER 1- //(Whispering low/wondering what he is talking about one worker calls out)// I think this already an idea that came from some other person thats NOT YOU.

JACK-Quiet!-//(The voices slowly fade)// Good.

LEO- Smo smokers ? Why did you choose us out of all people to sell your product?

JACK- I chose you because you are the best advertisement sales men in the entire factory. This is my first product in this industry and I want smo smokes to go worldwide.

LEO-That’s not safe nor is it healthy,and i know that it is not even a new product. I really think that ... //(Rudely interrupted)//

JACK- //(Frustrated, loud)// Listen I am the highest power figure here and what I say goes. The audience that I am targeting is young teens because if they start smoking now, this early in their life they will never be able to quit. //(Chuckles evil laugh )// NOW GO, sell my product and advertise it to the whole world. I want new articles, Posters, commercials, anything you can find. Just do whatever it takes to get smo smokers noticed! Oh and just a heads up, 8th grade kids from the Belmont school are coming for career day. This will help us advertise are product, and fast we have no time to lose.

LEO- Well …

JACK- Why don’t you talk to me after this meeting if you want to ask so many questions? //(Speaking to all)// Meeting dismissed.

(//Everyone in the office leaves, the two main characters are standing in the middle of the office ,and they exchange a look of hate. The moment get's more awkward and Leo waits for Jack to say something first .)//

LEO- //(Talking really fast. Just so that he can get his full thoughts out before getting interrupted again)// I think that you should really think about what kind of drug this is, and how it can take the lives of many people. Its not just about the money. //(Pauses to take a deep breath and to slow down his talking)// this is the real world, you can just go around harming a lot of innocent people that are clueless to the different possibilities of what could happen to them. //(Waits for Jack to say something but he hears nothing and continues, disappointed at his reaction)// they don't know how much they will suffer and the ones that they love and care about will suffer too. How sad is it going to be to see horrible things happen to all these people? (screaming at this point )**DOES THAT NOT BOTHER YOU**? **Do you even care? Are you even listening to me!**

JACK- (takes a deep breath calming down his tone of voice, still with a lot of anger )Money doesn’t just fall out of the sky. You know that right? I can’t imagine that you of all people would disagree. I took you in when you didn’t have a job. (most dramatic pause . slow and meaning full ) I payed you for all of the hours you worked. All of my hard work ,and this is how you’re going to repay me. All I ask from you is that you do me this one favor and sell this product smo smokers. Do you not want to get payed at all? You do remember where you were when I first saw you. I believed in you. //(Getting louder)// I’m the one who gave you a home, a place to stay. Or did you forget everything I’ve done for you ? Do you want to lose your job, and go back to living in the streets where I should have left you in the first place?

LEO- //(His head dropped low, he didn’t know what to say he opened his mouth and the words just didn’t seem to come out. he sniffs as a gesture to show he is crying . He felt nothing but shame and fear of what might happen next. the look of shame hanged on his face .)//

JACK- //(Change of voice/kind and forgiving fake voice more like sarcastic. Jack walks up to Leo and rests his hand on his shoulders as a kind gesture.)// You’re a good guy, a sweet, nice, good guy. I wouldn't like to see something bad happen to your family. //(Dramatic pause)// Would you?

LEO- //(Wipes his eyes and struggles to get some words out manages to say this very firm and very assertive)// I don’t owe you anything .You gave me a job because you were short on workers. //(Sniffing)//

JACK- I have no more time to spend here I said all you need to here. This is your time to be making MY money! So go right ahead and tell EVERYONE about my one little selfish act and you will go right back to where you came from and have nothing to support your wife that i introduced you to at this jod and your new born baby. See if I will have any second thoughts witch I know I wont. You know what? Since i'm so nice, I’ll give you until tomorrow to decide your final answer. (//Mumbles under his breath and walks of stage)// After all I do for him? //(sound of the door slamming on a cd and and leaves off stage . )//

LEO- //(Stays in the room and has the look of surprise. Lights turn off and end of scene 1)//

**__Scene 2__** //(The next day the 8th graders come and are ready to learn about the new product and how it’s like to be a sales person. what they don’t know is that the product could kill them.thee is entusiasm on every ones face .)//

JACK- Welcome to the industry here you will learn how to be a sales person and you will learn of all the different products possible and how to get new ideas.

MARIO- //(Razes his hand)//

LEO-Yes umm... //(Reads his name tag)// Mario.

MARIO- Are we going to learn about how great smo smokers is? And how it is the best thing since chocolate was discovered? And how I smoke everyday because ...//(interrupted)//

LEO- //(Stutters)// Well...

VOICE- //(From the back, in the distance)// what is in smo smokers anyways?

LEO- //(Thinking to self, stage whisper to the audience)// I can't do this anymore I don’t care if I loose my job. These kids can't go there whole life smoking ok i'm going to tell them. I have to. //(Facing the children with the look of confection)// I have to tell you something that you probably didn't know.

MARIO- This smo smoker is filled with all different types of toxins and stuff that can actually harm us for the rest of our lives right?

JACK- //(Confused)// Where did you hear that?

MARIO- //(Sneaky)// I didn't hear it from anyone, but now I know that it's true.

JACK- //(Stutters)// Okay...Let's move on.

//(The tour guide moves on, JACK stay back to talk to MARIO)//

JACK- //(Threatening MARIO)// Listen kid, if the press finds out about this then your going to regret it.

MARIO- //(Backing off)// Yeah okay, man whatever. Don't sweat it.

JACK- //(Rushing to the front of the group)// Okay guys now here we (voice fades into the distances)

(LEO runs up to MARIO)

LEO- Hey kid, how'd you know all those facts about tobacco? You know your pretty smart.

MARIO- Thanks you know us kids know what your trying to do. Trying to get us hooked while was young so that that we'll stay hooked for the rest of our lives. But then you get scared and thinking that we could learn how to quit. So you manipulate the nicotine levels to keep us hooked. Do you even know what your product could do to us?

LEO-That's what I said but then I got threatened to lose my job if I said anything to the press.

MARIO- Yeah he just threatened me right now. We should go to the press and say something anyway.

LEO- You knows what kid? You got a deal.

**Scene 3**

LEO-I know ! we can start by inviting the press to have a conference meeting with the "tobacco company"(makes the gesture of quotation marks with sarcasm ) and the trap them in this room once they arrive !

MARIO- What are we going to say to them? What if they don't even believe us!

LEO- We will figure something out, but for now we just need to get there.

(It was very quiet and there was nothing left to say, they just stood and exchanged looks. When the press finally arrives.) GUARD- (In a nice calm voice) What are you here for ?

PRESS - Umm, we need to talk to the tobacco company right away.

GUARD- I don’t think you can right now. Please walk away and don't come back.

GUARD DOGS- //(Barking and growling sound track CD fadeing off from off stage loud and thretening to both mario and leo.)//

PRESS- We came here because we were called out here for a conference meeting.

GUARD- No one mentioned that to me but i'm sorry for your inconvenience.

PRESS-//(already mad and unhappy walking up to Leo and Mario verry demanding)//

PRESS- Umm, excuse me what are you doing here? we thought this was a conference for the smo smokers company.

LEO- If you could just listen to what i have to say it will only take one second of your time !

PRESS- //(Walking towards the back of the room/of stage door )//

LEO- //(talking really fast so the press can here what he has to say before they leave)// My boss is selling tobacco to children less than 16 years of age and he is exploiting workers and does not care about other people except for himself! He's even saying that he is the one who made up that product when actually he just renamed it !

PRESS-Well, we cant do any thing for you if you don't have any proof.(//continue walking towards the door but very slow.)//

LEO- //(Annoyed)// I don't have any proof, but cant you just get some one to spy on him? Someone like an inspector or some thing?

MARIO- That’s perfect!! An inspector, he will never know that the inspector is working for the press!

LEO- Yea and we have not even had our annual inspection so he will never suspect anything! //(The next day the inspector walks in and is ready to see what the press is asking him to look for. He is scared but is trying not to show it on his face.)//

JACK- //(nervous)// Umm, what are you doing here?

INSPECTOR- I'm is here for your inspection of course. Are you going to just stand there or are you going to show me around?

JACK- Of course I’m going to show you around. //(Trying to stall)// Umm so how was your day today and why did you come here without notice?

INSPECTOR- I’m not here to play games with you just show me around! //(Starts walking gives him self a tour. Jack follows right after him.)// Everything seems to be fine. Now I just have a question for you.

JACK- Yea what is it?

INSPECTOR- Who is your target audience?

JACK- //(stuttering)// Umm. Well. You see. I’m just selling my tobacco to. Umm

//(A group of 8th grade kids walk in and are happy and ready for the tore)//

INSPECTOR-Who is they?

JACK- //(screaming in a loud voice, not angry but scared.)// Um...there just here on a tore, for there career day is all!!

INSPECTOR- Well let me just ask them. Walks up to the group of kids and kindly and welcoming) has this man ever sold or tried selling any of you all his tobacco? //(There is a moment of silence)// This is very important for people to speak up no one will get in trouble. //(Hands start to raise one by one until every hand I finally in the air.//

INSPECTOR-You is a criminal you know that right?

JACK-You, you can’t do this. No one will ever believe you and you don't even have any proof!

INSPECTOR- Actually I have all the proof I need. //(Cameras come out of the side curtains, reporters with microphones and Americas Most Wanted come out and policemen are surrounding him.// //Puts his hands up and his knees to the ground. Leo comes out of the curtain and leans over to Jack)//

LEO- Now what was that you said that know one would believe me?

JACK-How could you? //(Hangs his head in shame)//

LEO- //(turns his head to Mario and smiles. as a sign of victory.looks back at jack)// I' m goimg to sue you for all you have ! The government will give all the money to me, i'm going to keep only one third of the money, and give the rest to children that suffer from diseases that they got from smoking. I'm going to take your job and make all the employes be truth riders. Telling the truth about tobacco and making shore that no one ever smokes without knowing the many dangers of how it can harm them. Everyone has to chose there own life stile and together we will make shore they know witch path they’re willing to take and how fare it’s going to take them in life. //(looking at police men, in a sarcastic voice )// take him away boys!

//(The police men take him away )//

END OF SEAN