BACK HANGIN 4'2m1f A lesson on tenacity from 12 stories up ETHEL -- Help! Burglar! Help! Robber! Help! Ralph, where are you? RALPH -- (crumple newspaper) What is it now, Ethel? You're always so dramatic! ETHEL -- There's a burglar on the ledge outside the window. RALPH -- A burglar? On the twelveth floor? Right. ETHEL -- Well, look for yourself. He's out there. I just saw him! RALPH -- (window slides) Oh, hi, Steve. My wife thought you were a burglar. It's not a burglar, Ethel. Come meet our new neighbor, Steve. STEVE -- How do you do? ETHEL -- Hi, nice to meet you. RALPH -- Can I get back to my newspaper now? (Crumple newspaper) ETHEL -- If you're not a burglar, Steve, what ARE you doing out on the ledge? STEVE -- I'm going to jump. ETHEL -- Oh, don't do that. We're twelve stories up. You could hurt yourself. STEVE -- That's the idea. ETHEL -- Ralph! Stop him! Ralph! He's going to jump! RALPH -- (crumple newspaper) What is it now Ethel? You're always so dramatic. ETHEL -- He's going to jump! RALPH -- He's not going to jump. He could kill himself doing that. ETHEL & STEVE -- That's the idea. ETHEL -- Stop him, Ralph! RALPH -- You really going to jump, Steve? STEVE -- I'm giving it careful consideration. RALPH -- What is it? Did you get fired from your job? STEVE -- No. I quit. RALPH -- What did you do for a living? STEVE -- I'm a lawyer. RALPH -- A lawyer?! Go ahead and jump. ETHEL -- No! Ralph! Steve! Please don't jump! He was just kidding, weren't you, Ralph. RALPH -- Right. Just kidding. (crumple newspaper) ETHEL -- So, Steve, let's talk about it. Why do you want you end it all? STEVE -- I only became a lawyer to please my parents. But I've always wanted to be a writer. RALPH -- A writer, huh!? Go ahead and.... ETHEL -- Ralph! Hush! So, Steve, we still don't know why you want to jump. STEVE -- Well, I sent writing samples to all the TV networks and movie studios. Finally, FOX called me and asked me to write a pilot for a sitcom. So, of course, I turned in my resignation to my law firm and moved out here to Hollywood. But since I moved out here I've had writer's block for a month. Now, I've got no job, no income, no savings. It's hopeless. ETHEL -- Are you a Christian, Steve? STEVE -- I was real close to the Lord when I was in school, but when I started law school, I just drifted away from Him. ETHEL -- Remember the story of Job, Steve? STEVE -- Yeah. He lost his wealth, his family, his friends, everything. So? ETHEL -- How did the story end? STEVE -- He ended up with more wealth and happiness than before. So? ETHEL -- So.... help me out here, Ralph. RALPH -- Remember the story of Jacob's youngest son, Joseph? STEVE -- Yeah. His brothers sold him as a slave, then he spent a long time in jail for a crime he didn't commit. RALPH -- And he ended up... STEVE -- ...he ended up as the second most powerful man in Egypt. I suppose this is all leading somewhere? RALPH -- What do Job and Joseph they have in common? ETHEL -- They both never stopped trusting in the Lord. RALPH -- Even though it SEEMED hopeless, they hung in there. STEVE -- Oh. So, you think I should just trust in the Lord and I can move back home and get my job back at the law firm? RALPH -- Or you might ask the Lord to give you some ideas for your script. STEVE -- You think so? RALPH -- He came through for Joseph and Job, why wouldn't he come through for you? STEVE -- Okay, Lord, you know I need to pay the rent. Help me, please. Help me to hang in there. RALPH -- Please, Steve, come on in off the ledge, let's talk about it. STEVE -- Oh, you don't have to talk me out of jumping anymore, Ralph. The Lord just gave me a great idea for a sitcom! It's about a guy who's standing on a ledge, about to jump, and is befriended by the old couple next door. ETHEL -- Who you calling old?! STEVE -- Sorry. But isn't it great? As soon as I put my trust in the Lord again, my waiting and worrying were over. RALPH -- Do me a favor, would you, kid? STEVE -- Sure. Anything. RALPH -- Don't tell anybody that I talked a lawyer out of jumping. ©2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |