Ten Minute Play--FIRST DRAFT

ROGER—a struggling artist is wandering the garbage strewn street looking for inspiration for his next piece of art. Spying a drunk sitting on the street corner—ASHBURN, he strikes inspiration.

ASHBURN
[Squinting up at ROGER]
What chu looking at fool? Never seen a man down on his luck?

ROGER
[Readjusting his art utensils in his arms]
Nothing. It’s just that, I’m an artist and I was looking for inspiration for my next art piece and when I saw you, I just thought ‘wow, now there’s a story that speaks’.

ASHBURN
[Sarcastic]
Really? You think that an old drunk ex-CIA agent is worth painting?

ROGER
[Sitting down on curb next to ASHBURN]
Yeah. You know, you got a story that just speaks—that tells of hard times.

ASHBURN
[Looks confused]
So you say I gots a face that speaks?
ROGER
[Nods]

ASHBURN
So if I let you paint me, do I get some money—or at least half your earning when you make it big?

ROGER
[Chuckles]
Well, I doubt I will ever make it big—or if I do, I won’t be alive to see it—but if I do, sure, maybe I will.

ASHBURN
[Seems to consider ROGER’S words]
Awhh sure. You can paint me if that’s what you want to do.

ROGER
Great.
[Starts to set up painting easel]
So you’re an ex-CIA agent?

ASHBURN
Yeah…

ROGER
[Uncapping jars of paint]
You’re not anymore? What happened?—you look too young to have retired.

ASHBURN
[Looks off into the distance, preparing himself to tell an epic tale]
Once upon a time…when I was just a young man, I was working in the CIA. Then one day as I did my usual work—no I’m not telling you what really goes on in the CIA—I saw the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on. Her hair was a deep chestnut brown and her skin smooth as the petals of a white rose.

ROGER
[Watches as ROGER’S eyes get glassy with tears]
What was her name?

ASHBURN
Her name was Sophie and she could figure a code out in five minutes while you hadn’t even started because you were too busy staring into her doe-like brown eyes.

ROGER
[Starts to paint]

ASHBURN
Of course, fool that I am, I fell in love with her, but then I got sent on a mission to Paris—no I ain’t telling you what that mission was!—and I didn’t see her for a very long time.

ROGER
How was Paris? What was it like?

ASHBURN
Lonely—because I missed Sophie. I planned to propose to him once I got back to the States.
ROGER
Did you? Propose to her?

ASHBURN
Now hold one! So I was in Paris, and my dear Sophie decides to surprise me by coming to visit. Well, she saw me talking to a lady co-worker and thinks something is going on between us. So she screams at me, calls me names, throws caviar in my face and leaves!

ROGER
So she just left? She didn’t give you time to explain?

ASHBURN
She just left.

ROGER
So you never got the chance to propose?

ASHBURN
Nope. And I was so thorn up I couldn’t concentrate on my work anymore—plus, I knew once I got back to the U.S. again, I wouldn’t be able to handle going to work and seeing Sophie there again. So I quit.

ROGER
I’m sorry, how long ago was this?

ASHBURN
Two years.

ROGER
That’s bad a turn of luck man.

ASHBURN
But you know what? It’s okay now—because you have found me and you will make me millions off your paining of me. It will be called “A…A…
[Raises he beer bottle in excitement for naming his painting]“A painting of a Drunken Ex-CIA Agent.”

ROGER
[Trying not to dampen ASHBURN’S excitement]
Wow. That’s really great.

ASHBURN
Perfection…

ROGER
That it is.

ASHBURN
So what’s your story, Mr. Starving Artist?

ROGER
Oh just the usual story. I want to become an artist, my parents don’t support me. I go on my own; I fail at making a living. So here I am painting ex-CIA Agents.

ASHBURN
You mean you’ve painted other ex-CIA agents? I’m not the first one?
[Looks disappointed]

ROGER
No no no no! You are the first ex-CIA agent I’ve ever painted.

ASHBURN
Well, good.
[Eyes a fancy gold watch on ROGER’S wrist. Points at it.]
But that’s a pretty fancy watch you got there.

ROGER
[Snaps]
Sit still.

ASHBURN
Where’d chu get it?

ROGER
My grandfather gave it to me before he died.

ASHBURN
[Sounds skeptical, leans forward to examine watch.]
Really? Because I saw a watch just like that in Paris—some large business owner had it. It was stolen, that’s why I was in Paris—trying to find that watch.

ROGER
Well, I got it from my grandfather.

ASHBURN
It’s supposed to be one of a kind, and that looks a lot like the one that was stolen. If you just let me see it to make sure it’s not the one stolen…

ROGER
No, you’re a homeless bum! If I let you see it, you’re just gonna run off with!

ASHBURN

Just let me see it man!

ROGER
I’m sorry; I can’t let you see it.

ASHBURN
[Stands up and whistles]
I’m not really a homeless drunken ex-CIA agent, I’m been trying to catch your worthless butt for awhile now.

ROGER
[Snaps]
Sit down! What are you going?

[Fifteen secret agents come running out and surround ROGER and ASHBURN]

ASHBURN
[Losses drunken slur]
Boys, I got him.

ROGER
[Paints sloppily]
What the hell is going on? What’s this?

ASHBURN
You under arrest for processing a stolen watch. You have the right to remain silent.

ROGER
[Yells]
I didn’t steal this watch!

RANDOM COP
We’ll remember you said that mister.

[A girl with dark brown hair makes her way through the crowd of officers]

SOPHIE
Well done, Ashburn—and very touching story.

ASHBURN
Well, I’ve been tracking him for quite a while now, since I was in Paris.


[ROGER gets the watch taken off of him and handcuffed. An officer hands ASHBURN the watch.]
RANDOM COP
[Sarcastically]
That’s a nice painting of you Ashburn. I think we should keep it in the office

[The group of cops and agents all move to stand behind ROGER’S painting.]

ASHBURN
[Leans into painting to get a closer look at the painting.]
Shut up.
[Turns his attention to look at watch]
Well, this is the watch that was stolen. It has the inscription on it which was described by the business owner.

SOPHIE
Let’s put this loser away!

ROGER
[Struggles against the cops]
I didn’t steal it! My grandfather must have--I'LL SUE YA!

ASHBURN
Let’s go Sophie, have some dinner.

SOPHIE
[Take’s ASHBURN’S hand and they walk away.]
Although, I think I would really like that painting of you…

------------QUESTIONS---------------
1. What are some good things about my play? What are some things that I need to imporve on?
2. My ending is really cheesy and I feel like it doesn't have good transition into the ending, what can I to make it better?