EMBOLISM - A 10-Minute Play

GEORGE, FERNANDO and JASON sit around a table. They are in the final stretches of an intense game of “UNO”. Pizza boxes and beer cans are strewn about. GEORGE is much closer to “Uno” than his friends, with only two cards in his hand. GEORGE begins to grin but tries to hide it.

 

FERNANDO: What? What is it?

 

GEORGE: Nothin’, nothin’.

 

JASON: C’mon, you smug bastard, what’ve you got?

 

FERNANDO: (Resigned.) I know what he’s got.

 

GEORGE: You don’t know until I’ve played it.

 

JASON: Wait, no, no! You already played a -!

    

    GEORGE slaps the card down on the pile.

 

GEORGE: Draw Four!

 

    FERNANDO and JASON throw their hands up in defeat before drawing four cards each.

 

JASON: How does this keep happening?

 

FERNANDO: God, it’s me, Fernando. Can you cut us a break?

 

GEORGE: Alright, alright, enough of the theatrics. Draw your cards and play on. “Uno”, by the way.

 

JASON & FERNANDO: (Mocking GEORGE’s accent.) “Uno”, by da way.

 

    GEORGE laughs at this.

 

GEORGE: Anybody want a beer or something? Pizza?

 

FERNANDO: You’re just stalling, now.

 

GEORGE: Nah, I’m serious. Gotta keep ya fed and watered.

 

JASON: Let’s finish the game and then I gotta head out. Early shift tomorrow. 

 

GEORGE: C’mon, we know how this one’s panning out. No need to race to the finish line.

 

JASON: It’s not over till it’s over, George.

 

GEORGE: Ain’t over till it’s over. Who’s servin’? (JASON raises his hand.) Oho, alright, then. Show me a comeback, would ya?

 

FERNANDO and JASON assess their cards. GEORGE leans back, comfortable in his great lead. His phone begins to ring but he silences it in his pocket.

 

FERNANDO: Do you have to take that?

 

GEORGE: Nah.

 

JASON: It’s okay, you can take it.

 

GEORGE: I already know who it is. I’m not talkin’ to him.

 

    JASON and FERNANDO exchange a glance.

 

FERNANDO: Could be important.

 

GEORGE: Oh, sure, important. For him. Not me. (GEORGE’s phone rings again.) Oh, persistent, aren’t we? (He silences it.) He could at least have the courtesy to ring during business hours.

 

    JASON and FERNANDO offer a half-hearted chuckle, but seem uncomfortable.

 

JASON: I don’t know, man. Maybe just see what it is? If he just asks for money again, you can hang up and be done with it.

 

FERNANDO: I agree. Not answering the phone is - (He shudders.) - well, you never know, right?

    

    GEORGE stands, takes his phone out of his pocket and holds it up.

 

GEORGE: Alright, if it’ll make you knuckleheads happy, I’ll pick up if he calls again. 

 

Pause. GEORGE shrugs and begins to put his phone away when it rings. He looks at the caller ID. His expression sobers.

 

JASON: What? What is it?

 

FERNANDO: It’s him, right?

 

GEORGE: It’s my sister.

 

JASON: Does she call for money, too?

 

GEORGE: No, I…

    

    GEORGE trails off. The phone continues to ring.

 

FERNANDO: Answer it for Christ’s sake!

 

    GEORGE snaps to and answers the phone.

 

GEORGE: Yeah, hello? (Pause.) Sorry, yeah, I’m busy. (Pause.) I said I’m sorry, alright? The world doesn’t revolve around -! (Pause.) Whaddya mean? (Pause.) I know what dead means, I mean how? (Pause.) No kiddin’. (Pause.) No kiddin’. (Pause.) Whaddya want me to say? It’s not like I have a eulogy planned! 

 

JASON tries to forfeit his cards and leave but FERNANDO gestures for him to stay. 

 

GEORGE: Good riddance. How’s that for a eulogy? (Pause.) Listen, I really don’t have time for this, okay? I’m hosting and - (Pause.) Alright, alright. Stop screaming. Listen. You moved back to the city with the family. I’m still in Florida. I can’t really do much of anything. I’m not the right person to be calling right now for help with this. (Pause.) Yeah. (Pause.) Alright, take it easy, would you? Don’t need you having a heart attack. (Pause.) Pulmonary whatever. Right, right. (Pause.) Bye. 

 

    GEORGE hangs up. Pause.

 

FERNANDO: Well? (Pause.) George!

 

GEORGE: Hm?

 

FERNANDO: What was that all about?

 

GEORGE: I, uh…

 

JASON: Who’s dead?

 

GEORGE: Dead. He’s dead. Dad’s dead. (Laughs.) And I thought it was him calling me. I was wondering why he didn’t call earlier. He couldn’t. Doesn’t need money from Junior where he’s going.

 

JASON: Jesus…do you need to be alone, or -?

 

GEORGE: Alone? What are you talking about “alone”? We’ve got a game to finish. Don’t try to chicken out now. You said it yourself, it isn’t over till it’s over.

 

    GEORGE sits back down and grabs his card. He gestures for the others to grab theirs.

 

FERNANDO: So, it was a pulmonary -?

 

GEORGE: Pulmonary embolism. Yes. Cured meats straight to the arteries for fifty-five years will do that to you. Now, who was next? Jason?

 

JASON: I’m sorry.

 

GEORGE: Sorry about what?

 

JASON: Your dad -

 

    GEORGE scoffs.

 

FERNANDO: It’s not nothing, your dad dying and -

 

GEORGE: My dad, my dad, my dad. Cut it out, would ya? Might as well have gotten a call asking to extend my car warranty. Would we be stopping the game for a moment of silence for that?

 

FERNANDO: I think we’re just trying to say it’s okay to take a second if you need it. We can always come back tomorrow to finish the game if you need some time. We know your dad was -

 

GEORGE: A greasy, good-for-nothing thug. Guys, seriously, it’s fine. (FERNANDO and JASON don’t seem so sure.) Remember that old cartoon where that big pencil came outta nowhere and erased Daffy Duck? (FERNANDO and JASON chuckle in spite of themselves and nod.) Consider the old man erased. 

 

JASON: But he was your father -

 

GEORGE: Who?

 

JASON starts to protest. FERNANDO holds out a hand and shakes his head. JASON clams up. Over the next few lines of dialogue, GEORGE’s accent starts to disappear and he becomes wrapped up in thought. His last card never leaves his hand.

 

FERNANDO: I think it was your turn, Jason.

 

JASON: Yeah.

 

GEORGE: It isn’t over yet. Like you said.

 

JASON: (Reviewing his cards.) Let’s see…yeah, I’m still in this.

 

    JASON throws down a card.

 

FERNANDO: Still here as well.

 

    FERNANDO throws down a card.

 

GEORGE: Well, I’ll be darned.

 

FERNANDO: What?

 

GEORGE: I could win this right now. (Pause. FERNANDO and JASON lean in.) But, I’ll tell you what. I’ve been at an unfair advantage this whole game. What, with all the “Draw Four” cards. I’ll let you both play a few hands, see if you can catch up.

 

JASON: If you can win the game now, you should - 

 

GEORGE: You’re my guests. I insist.

 

    JASON and FERNANDO share a glance. 

 

JASON: Okay. Thanks, man.

 

GEORGE: Don’t mention it.

 

    JASON and FERNANDO continue the game. JASON plays a hand, FERNANDO plays a hand.

 

JASON: (Putting down the next card.) Skip your turn, Fernando.

 

GEORGE: (Placid, but smiling.) Oh, gosh, things are heating up.

 

FERNANDO: Gosh?

 

JASON: George, you want to jump back in, or -?

 

GEORGE: No, thank you. Keep playing for a few more hands. 

 

JASON: Uh, sure. (He reviews his hand.) You know, I feel like we all really peaked in high school.

 

FERNANDO: (Laughs.) What the hell are you talking about?

 

JASON: I mean, look at us. Couple of young bucks on a Friday night and we’re playing Uno!

 

FERNANDO: Beer’s still the same, though.

 

JASON: Uh-uh. Not the same. Can I be honest with you guys? I don’t even like beer all that much anymore.

 

FERNANDO: (Mock offense.) Oh!

 

JASON: I’m serious! I swear it tasted better when we had to sneak it. George, remember that one time, jeez, we must’ve been fifteen, around the time we all first started hanging out. You were absolutely sure you could pass off as your dad at the liquor store? So, we swiped his license and snuck out and -

 

GEORGE: I don’t recall.

 

FERNANDO: (To JASON.) Dude.

 

JASON: That was stupid, sorry. It was just a story, I didn’t mean anything by it. George, I’m -

 

GEORGE: No, I don’t remember ever having to sneak out.

 

JASON: What do you mean? We snuck out all the -

 

FERNANDO: Whatever you say, George.

 

    FERNANDO eyes JASON.

 

JASON: Yeah, George. Whatever you say.

 

Small pause. FERNANDO and JASON try to regain their interest in the game but can’t. GEORGE begins fidgeting, tugging at his shirt and breathing erratically. 

 

GEORGE: Is it hot in here to anyone else? I think something’s wrong with the A.C. I’ve been meaning to have it looked at. Fernando, you’re a mechanic. Mind taking a look?

 

FERNANDO: I work on cars, George. You know that.

 

GEORGE: Right, right. Stupid me. It’s just stifling in here, isn’t it?

 

JASON: The temp’s fine, man. Just take a breath.

 

GEORGE: You’re right. You’re right, I should just - (He takes a quick breath.) Much better.

 

FERNANDO: George?

 

GEORGE: Hm?

 

FERNANDO: You feeling alright?

 

GEORGE: I feel fantastic. (His phone rings again. He silences it immediately.) Like I just stepped out of a shower. Like the top layer of my skin just peeled off. All the gunk and grime and dust that fell off me just swirling down the drain. I feel like a different person.

 

JASON: You sound like a different person.

 

    GEORGE begins pacing, unable to sit still, his eyes wide.

 

GEORGE: I don’t know why I did that…voice. It’s not who I am. At least, I don’t think so. I’m my own person, aren’t I? With my own voice. My voice. Right? (Pleading.) Guys?

 

FERNANDO: Of course.                                              JASON: Your own voice, yeah.

 

GEORGE: Where is this voice coming from? Who is George? George is somebody else’s name. Just someone being put out on the curb with the rest of the recycling. God, even that can be something useful. You make a new can or a new bottle or something. What do you make out of me?

 

FERNANDO: George, what are you talking -?

 

GEORGE: Don’t call me that! That’s not who I am. It isn’t who I have to be. All that’s gone, remember? I’m a new guy. Nice to meet you. I’m going to…going to get my shit together is what I’m going to do. None of that stuff in my past matters. The yelling, the screaming, the pushing, the slapping, the taunting, the threatening. That’s all gone! All up in a puff of smoke! The floodgates have been lifted. I can be anything I want to be. How’d it take my twenty-eight years to figure this out!? Get the beer out of here. No more drinking for me. (FERNANDO and JASON scramble to collect beer cans.) The pizza, too. That’s pepperoni. I want to go vegetarian.

 

JASON: Aw, c’mon, that’s - 

 

FERNANDO: Just do it.

 

FERNANDO and JASON remove the pizza boxes. This calms George a bit but he continues pacing and his eyes remain wild.

 

GEORGE: Thanks. Thank you.

 

FERNANDO and JASON get ahold of GEORGE and ease him into his chair. He flinches, but his friends prevent any violent movements.

 

JASON: Easy, easy.

 

GEORGE: Where am I?

 

JASON: We’re at your apartment.

 

FERNANDO: Hey, look at me. (GEORGE focuses on FERNANDO.) What do you want us to call you?

 

GEORGE: What?

 

FERNANDO: You’re a new guy, right? You want a new name?

 

    GEORGE eases up a little.

 

GEORGE: Call me…Jason.

 

JASON: The hell we will!

 

    The three laugh. This helps GEORGE’s breathing stabilize.

 

GEORGE: (Sobering.) I don’t know. George just doesn’t feel right, but it’s all I’ve got. All I’ve got is what he left me. (His accent starts to come back.) My inheritance. I can try and erase it all I want but those eraser shavings have to go somewhere. You can still see that pencil outline. It’s gray, but it’s there. God, when she said those words, “he’s dead”! I got butterflies! I wasn’t anything with Big George around! But now that he’s gone I don’t know what I am if I’m not influenced by him. The storm’s gone but it knocked all the trees down. What if I just turn into him? Accidentally. Like, I really forget how bad he was. What if I have a kid and I just keep letting the snake eat its own tail? Who can I be? Who am I without all the muck in my arteries?

 

FERNANDO: You’re our friend.

 

JASON: You might also be a poet. There was a lot of metaphor mixing just then.

 

FERNANDO: What we’re trying to say is that you can’t change stuff that’s already happened to you. Stuff that was out of your control. But much more of it is in your control than you realize. We’re your friends after all. Jason, if George Junior acted like Big George, would you even talk to him?

 

JASON: Me? Nah. I would’ve been scared you were like, one of “The Sopranos” or something. 

 

FERNANDO: So what if you’ve got the same name? So what if you've got the same accent? That’s not what makes a person who they are. Even if you feel like you’ve been stripped down and you’ve got nothing but what he left you, think about how what he put upon you shaped you into who you are now. If you didn’t deal with all that, sure you might be a different person, but you wouldn’t be you. We wouldn’t know you. And neither of us are willing to give you up and let him have the win. What could’ve been different isn’t important. What is is important and you’ve got so much more than I think he ever had.

 

JASON: Yeah. You’ve got me after all.

 

The three laugh. JASON pulls GEORGE to his feet and gives him a hug. FERNANDO joins in. Small pause.

 

GEORGE: Alright, alright. Stop crowding me. I’m fine.

 

JASON: You promise? We thought we lost you there for a second.

 

GEORGE: Promise.

 

FERNANDO: As for your name.

 

GEORGE: You know, you don’t gotta - 

 

FERNANDO: How about we just call you “G” for now?

 

GEORGE: Just “G”?

 

JASON: Hey, “G”, want to hang out? “G” and I grabbed dinner last night. Works for me.

 

GEORGE: Okay. Yeah, that works.

 

FERNANDO: Just until you think of something better.

 

GEORGE: Of course. 

 

JASON: So, G, you’ve got a game to win, don't you?

 

    GEORGE considers the card in his hand.

 

GEORGE: Guess I do, huh? (They all take their original positions around the table.) One thing first.

 

    GEORGE takes out his phone and dials his sister. She picks up almost instantly.

 

GEORGE: Hey, I - (Pause.) I know. I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry. (Pause.) I know. You’re right. (Pause.) I’ll come up and visit you soon. I promise. (Pause.) Alright, lots of love. Bye.

    

He hangs up.

 

JASON: Everything alright?

 

GEORGE: Yeah. (Deep breath.) Yeah. (He studies the last card on the pile and his eyes go wide.) Dammit. 

 

JASON: What? (GEORGE reaches for the pile, pulls another card.) No way.

 

GEORGE continues pulling cards as his hand gets larger.

 

GEORGE: You’ve gotta be kidding me!

 

JASON: I’m never going to get to go home.

 

GEORGE: (Getting a card he can play.) Finally!

 

    He plays his card. JASON plays his card. It’s FERNANDO’s turn. He smiles wide.

 

JASON: What are you smiling about?

 

FERNANDO: Oh, nothing.

 

GEORGE: “Nothing” my ass, he’s gonna make us -!

 

    FERNANDO slaps a card down.

 

FERNANDO: Draw Four!

 

The three laugh and groan.

END