Ethan Lipton : Luther Sample

7/31/2019 Ethan Lipton : Luther Sample

1/22

LUTHER

(20-page sample)

A play by

Ethan Lipton

5.27.12

Ethan Lipton131 Imlay St. 4th FlBrooklyn, NY [email protected]


2/22

Character Breakdown

Marjorie Forman, a freelancer -- early 40s

Luther Shaw Forman, a veteran of war -- mid 20s

Walter Forman, a businessman -- mid 40s

Tom, a caterer - early 30s

Morris McHenry, a stranger - early 40s

Captain James, a policeman - mid 40s

Phil and Julie, business people, played by puppets - mid 30s

Police Officer, played by a puppet - early 20s

Frank Leibowitz, a legal advocate, played by a puppet - mid 50s

Note: Tom and Captain James should be played by the same actor.One actor should play all four of the puppet characters.


3/22

SCENE 1.

A loft that seems to have been built out of a cave.Industrial yet homey, its greatest asset is a window thatoffers a half-obscured view of a shining, far-away city.

On the couch sleeps LUTHER SHAW FORMAN, a scarred, tattooed,terrier of a man, bundled up as small as can be.

MARJORIE FORMAN, a freshly showered genius of early middleage, enters in a bathrobe, toting a bottle of lotion. Shesits on the couch at Luthers feet and lathers up her legs.

MARJORIEWalter? Am I wearing my blackdress with the notches in thesleeves, or the green wraparound?

WALTER (O.S.)

I like both of those dresses.

MARJORIEMaybe the green one.

WALTER (O.S.)Yeah, wear the green one. Itsvery approachable, that one.

Enter WALTER FORMAN, a charmer with a recent paunch,wrestling his tie.

WALTER (CONTD)

(the tie)Is this thing too smudgy?

MARJORIEI cant see without my glasses.

Walter moves in closer.

MARJORIE (CONTD)Meh.

WALTER

Nobodys going to notice that.

MARJORIEAnd who cares if they do?

WALTERIm wearing it.

MARJORIEHoney?


4/22

WALTERYeah?

MARJORIEI think Luther would like to come

with us to the party tonight.

WALTER(skipping that)

Hey, you asked your brother aboutwatching him when we go out of town,right?

MARJORIEOh, yeah, he cant do it.

WALTERWhat?

MARJORIEHis in-laws are going to be herethat same week.

WALTEROh, god.

MARJORIESucks, huh?

WALTERWhen did you find this out?

MARJORIEYesterday, when I talked to Billy.

WALTERYou just talked to Billy yesterday?

MARJORIEYeah. Do you still want me to askRick and Jessica?

WALTER

We cant ask Rick and Jessica now.We leave in eight days.

MARJORIESo?

WALTERSo we barely know them, its rude.If we wanted to ask them, we shouldhave done it weeks ago.

2.


5/22

MARJORIEWell, but we didnt.

WALTERBecause you said youd rather ask

your brother first.

MARJORIEWhich I did.

Dreaming on the couch, Luther endures a sort of huffingtremor. Walter takes off his tie, mangles it.

MARJORIE (CONTD)Why did you say Rick and Jessica

would be a good backup plan if younever intended to use them?

WALTERRick and Jessica would be a goodbackup plan, assuming we could givethem some notice. Its not like oneof us got hit by a car.

Walter exits to the back.

MARJORIEI could not have less of an idea

what that means.

WALTER (O.S.)

Its not an emergency, okay? Youvebeen talking about taking thisvacation for years. We cant call upRick and Jessica now and say, Heyguys, sorry but we just got attackedby a sudden trip to Cava Lup, canyou bail us out?

MARJORIE(an old wound)

There is nothing morally wrong withwanting to take a vacation.

Walter re-enters with a different tie, and begins to tie it.

WALTERThats not what Im saying.

3.


6/22

MARJORIEIf we lived in a civilized society

where 80% of our income didnt goto rent, we might even take oneevery decade-

WALTERHoney?

MARJORIEI am so tired of you trying to make

me feel bad for wanting to go awaywith my husband for one fuckingweek of my life.

WALTERI wasnt trying to make you feelbad-

MARJORIEOh, that was you making me feel good?

WALTER-for wanting to go on vacation! I

was trying to make you feel bad fornot calling your brother three

weeks ago, when you said you weregoing to do it! And Im sorry.

MARJORIEMaybe I shouldnt go tonight.

WALTERMarjorie-

MARJORIEI mean, I never cared about yourstupid work party to begin with,but I really dont care about itnow, after you make me feel likecrap for not having called mybrother in six months in advance?When I have been...? Its a lot,

Walter.(re: everything at home)This is a lot.

WALTER(sympathetic)

I know.

4.


7/22

MARJORIEI called Billy as soon as I got thechance.

WALTER

I know you did.

MARJORIEAnd did you know I havent left theapartment in two days just tryingto finish all these fuckingfuckaloo projects?

WALTERNo, I didnt. But I should have.

(going to her)See, this is why I cant come homeafter work if were going to go out

for the night. As soon as I get onthat train, all the blood rushesout of my head and I turn into atotal moron, and by the time I walkthrough the door all I want to dois crawl into bed.

MARJORIEAnd that would be so terrible?

WALTERNo.

Walter takes her hand and rests his forehead against hers.

MARJORIEYou smell hungry.

WALTERI am.

MARJORIEWhatd you have for lunch?

WALTER

Turkey sandwich.

MARJORIEThats it?

WALTERI thought about getting some pretzels.Just couldnt decide which ones. Whatabout you guys?

5.


8/22

MARJORIECereal, with yogurt and blueberries.

WALTERAnd?

MARJORIEAnd, I was just so busy working,and Lu said he wasnt that hungry.

WALTEROkay, but honey, you guys have toeat more than cereal and yogurt.

MARJORIEI know.

WALTER

How was he?

MARJORIEGood. Spent most of the morningreading. Did his treadmill and hisrope and his meditation.

WALTERNice.

MARJORIEWorked on his puzzle, we did thattogether.

WALTERHows his skin?

MARJORIEBetter. Still itchy, but not soinflamed.

(after a moment)Why do you want me to go to thisparty?

WALTER

Because A) Its at the corporateestate, which is supposed to be superweird. And B) It might be fun.

MARJORIEReally? You think of those peopleas being fun?

6.


9/22

WALTERYeah, theyre fun. In a worky kindof way.

MARJORIE

Maybe we shouldnt be togetheranymore.

WALTEROh, Jesus fucking Christ, Marjorie.

MARJORIEWe dont even like the same kindsof people.

WALTERWe do so like the same kinds of people!

Luther groans in his sleep.

WALTER (CONTD)Case in point. And just so youknow, those work people, who youthink are so awful, all happen tolike you very much.

MARJORIEI didnt say they were awful. Ijust get bored with always beingthe one in charge of curiosity. I

mean, none of those people ever

asks me anything about myself. Notthat Id have anything to say, butit might be nice to be asked.

WALTERHoney, they dont ask you aboutyourself because you are smart andbeautiful, and they are nervous andinsecure.

MARJORIERight.

WALTERIts true. Most people are nervousand insecure. Were two of ourfavorite people, and we get nervousand insecure 30 times a day.

7.

(MORE)


10/22

But if you know that about peopleand you try to help them overcomeit, and everyone is helping eachother out with their nervousinsecurity, then theres a chancefor something kind and generous and

wonderful to happen between people.

MARJORIE(after a moment)

Maybe Billys in-laws want to stayhere with Luther when they come totown.

WALTERMaybe thats the most ingeniousidea Ive ever heard.

MARJORIE

You think?

WALTERYes, Billys in-laws are crazy aboutLuther. Dont you rememberThanksgiving, Fred and Luther wereplaying chess all day? They couldntget enough of each other. And Fredsaid hed always wanted to adopt asoldier, they just didnt allow it intheir building.

MARJORIE

That is so disgusting to me.

WALTERI know, it shouldnt even be legal.

MARJORIEIm going to find out the name oftheir landlord and start crank-calling that son of a-

WALTEROkay, but can we wait until after

they take care of Luther for theweek?

MARJORIEIll talk to Billy in the morning.

WALTERExcellent! See that? Everythingsgoing to work out perfectly.

8.

WALTER (CONT'D)


11/22

MARJORIEReally? Even though we didnt planit all a year in advance?

WALTER

I know, technically it shouldnt bepossible, but somehow this time itmay work out.

MARJORIEThis time, Walter, or most times?

WALTERNo, most times I do the planningand nobody has to worry.

MARJORIEOh, you dont worry when you do the

planning?

WALTERI worry less.

MARJORIEAnd what do you think would happenif you tried not to worry at all?

WALTERSadly, I would burst into flames.

MARJORIE

Ill go put on some clothes.

Marjorie goes off to the bedroom.

WALTERThank you, honey. For callingBilly, and for going with metonight. I really appreciate it.

MARJORIE (O.S.)Youre welcome. And thank you forletting me bring Luther to the

party.

Luther has another tremor.

WALTERMarjorie? Do you really thinkthats a good idea?

9.


12/22

MARJORIE (O.S.)Yes. The poor guy is dying to goout. And hes been so good lately,he really has been a perfectgentleman.

Marjorie returns, wearing the black dress with notches.

MARJORIE (CONTD)And I think he deserves it. Dontyou?

WALTERI mean, honey, I would give him the

world if we could. Im just notsure its about deserving.

MARJORIE

Well, I am. Besides, he loves parties.

WALTERI dont think he loves parties.

MARJORIEHe loves our parties.

WALTERHere, with people he knows, smallgatherings.

MARJORIE

We never let him do anything, Walter.

WALTERBecause we discovered that hespsychotically oversensitive,Marjorie. Thats why we came up

with that policy.

MARJORIENo, we came up with that policybecause he was psychoticallyoversensitive. We have no idea what

hed be like if we took him outbecause its been so long since wevetried. I mean, its almost like wepunish him now for having beenunpredictable then; like we decidedhed stay that way forever, when thetruth is he has changed, in so many

ways. When we brought him home hewouldnt even eat with us. He neverslept when we were here.

10.

(MORE)


13/22

He wouldnt look you in the eye forthe first six months, now hes madlyin love with you. I just wonder if

maybe he needs our encouragement, inaddition to our...concern.

WALTERAnd, so, what? How would thatwork, Id watch him?

MARJORIEOr I will, I dont mind.

WALTERBut youre the one who never getsto socialize.

MARJORIEIll be socializing with Luther,

well do it together. And if hedoesnt want to go, he doesnt haveto go. Only if he wants to go.

WALTERIt would be nice if we could go outnow and then as a family.

MARJORIEWouldnt it?

WALTERLuther? Hey, buddy?

MARJORIEWait.

Marjorie squirts lotion onto her hands, and, sneaking herhands up the leg of Luthers pants, rubs some into his calves.

WALTERDont scare him.

MARJORIEShhh, he loves it.

Luther twitches, then begins to enjoy it. Walter gets somelotion and joins Marjorie, each one lathering up a leg.

LUTHERFuh-fuh-fuh-fuh...

So pleased is the still sleeping Luther that he turns overand begins rubbing their hands with his head.

11.

MARJORIE (CONT'D)


14/22

MARJORIELuther? Luther?

LUTHER(opening his eyes)

Mm-hm?

MARJORIEWould you like to go with us to theparty tonight?

LUTHERYeah. Thatd be nice.

12.


15/22

SCENE 2.

The corporate estate: a hi-tech combination of Sheboygan andBoca Raton. A good time threatens to break out at any moment.

Marjorie and Luther take in the scene, Luther now lookingsharp in a suit. He chews gum. Both drink cocktails.

MARJORIECan you believe this place?

LUTHERIt reminds me of a palace.

MARJORIEOr a doll-house. Have you ever seenanything so tacky?

LUTHEROh, uh...no.

MARJORIEAnd look at these people. Where dothey come from?

LUTHERWhere?

MARJORIENo, I mean, how did they get here?

In life? Is this what they werehoping for? Is this what they

wanted it all to add up to?

LUTHERYes.

MARJORIEIt is, isnt it?

LUTHERThis is just what they wanted.

MARJORIE(toasting)

To them, and their domination ofour world.

They clink glasses and drink.

LUTHERWhered you put your gum?

13.


16/22

Marjorie holds out her hand. Luther drops his gum in it,straight from his mouth.

MARJORIEWhat kind of palace? You said it

reminded you of a palace.

LUTHEROne I stayed in during the war.

MARJORIESo this was a real palace.

LUTHERYeah.

MARJORIEI thought it might be a made-up

palace.

LUTHERNo, it was a real palace.

MARJORIEAnd what was it like, this palace?

LUTHEROld, and big. Maybe twice as bigas this place. Every room had acanopy over the bed and a view ofthe river. It was built right next

to a river, and every room had aview. At night the stars wouldshine so bright, you could seetheir reflections in the water.

MARJORIEIt sounds lovely.

LUTHERIt was.

MARJORIE

I didnt know they let soldiersstay in palaces.

LUTHERWe sort of insisted.

Luther finishes his drink in a gulp.

14.


17/22

MARJORIE(suddenly scared of him,for him, maybe both)

Should we...maybe...do you want togo home?

LUTHERWhy?

MARJORIESo you dont have to deal with allthese people.

LUTHERWhats wrong with them?

MARJORIEWell, theyre crazy, for one.

LUTHERWhat makes you say that?

MARJORIEBecause Ive talked to them.

LUTHERNot since we got here.

MARJORIEBefore, at other events, okay? Andbelieve me, theres always a price

to pay.

LUTHERSuch as?

MARJORIEBoredom. Condescension. Nausea.

LUTHERPeople cant make you nauseous,Marjorie.

MARJORIETake a whiff. Go on, take a whiff,tell me what you smell.

Luther inhales.

LUTHERIs that pork?

15.


18/22

MARJORIEYes it is. And do you know whereits coming from?

LUTHER

The appetizers?

MARJORIEThe people.

LUTHERCome on.

MARJORIEThats what these people are

wearing these days.

LUTHER

Thats crazy.

MARJORIEThats what Im saying, okay? Wedont want to be here, do we?

LUTHERWould you like to go home,Marjorie?

MARJORIEIts too much, right? The smell?

LUTHERI like it.

MARJORIEIts like somebody put a pair ofdirty panties in the trunk of anOldsmobile and left them to stewfor the summer.

LUTHERI dont know. It makes everyoneseem more human to me.

MARJORIEIts pork, Luther. Theyre pigpeople.

LUTHERLets go home, okay?

MARJORIEAre you sure?

16.


19/22

LUTHERYeah. I was just as worried abouttalking to these crazy people asyou were.

MARJORIEWorried? Wait, worried? I wasntworried. I was disinterestedmaybe, and nauseous. Were youworried? Why were you worried?

LUTHERI mean, I havent been around this

many strangers in years. How wouldI even know what to say?

MARJORIEWell, look, all you do...all you do

is ask them how theyre doing. Orwhat theyre doing, even better,they all love to talk about whatthey do. And then if you start toget nervous, you just remindyourself that theyre just asnervous and insecure as you are.And you try to help them, okay? Yoube your kind, wonderful, lovingself, and you be there for them.

LUTHERYou do it.

MARJORIEI have done it, many times.

LUTHERBut you cant do it anymore?

MARJORIENo, of course I can.

LUTHERSo do it.

MARJORIEYou do it.

LUTHERCan I?

MARJORIECan you what?

17.


20/22


21/22

PHILWhy didnt I think of it sooner?

JULIEBecause you were too busy banging

your head against the wall.

WALTERWell, listen, Phil, there arenttoo many guarantees in this world-

PHILThats so true!

WALTERBut the way I see it-

PHIL

I know!

WALTERKnow what?

PHILSorry, I cut you off. Go on?

WALTEROh, well, all was going to say is,the way I see it, you dont have

much to lose.

PHILYes.

JULIEPoetry.

PHILThat does it, Im sending out anemail on Monday.

JULIEWalter, when are you going to get

promoted already?

PHILScrew the promotion, they ought toname a holiday after this guy.

Walter scans the room, looking a little bored.

JULIEWho needs another drink?

19.


22/22

WALTEROh, I guess.

PHILNow, tell me about this thing

youre doing with spreadsheets.

Walter exits with Phil and Julie.

Loitering by the kitchen, Luther takes a glass of wine from atray held by TOM, a caterer, who is also loitering.

LUTHERDo you mind?

TOMThats what theyre here for.

LUTHERSo...

(clears his throat)...what do you do?

TOMIm a doctor.

LUTHERReally?

TOMYeah.

LUTHERWhat kind of medicine do youpractice?

TOMCaterology.

LUTHERIm not familiar with that.

TOM

Its the practice of catering.

LUTHERSounds like a pretty specializedfield.

20.

Ethan Lipton : Luther Sample

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