NIGHTMARE COURT

A Child Sues His Nightmare...but the Nightmare won't go down so easily.

 

Nightmare Court – By: Daniel Rodriguez

 

COURTROOM

An ominous and empty courtoom. Horrific
sounds fill the air. The light gets dim
and the theme transitions to horror or
a potential nightmare atmosphere.

VOICE
Welcome to a unique hell. Every day, things, dreadful
monsters, born through the darkness, spring to life and
torture the innocent. Driving grown men insane, and sending
children to the bathroom...in their beds. Your days are
numbered.

A light shines where the judge should
be. There is a figure sitting in the
chair.

The Chair turns around, and the judge
is...a child?

CLYDE
I am Clyde Sagnier, I am ten years old, and I mean business.
This is my court!

Clyde slams the mallet!

Lights out.

Corny "Inspirational Daytime Judge tv
Show" music starts.

VOICE
In a world, where the bad think they can rule. One man,
haunted by nightmares decides to fight back. Evil monsters
beware, justice is about to be served!

Spectacular light show insues then
lights go on.

CLYDE
(Tries to scat a wannabe theme song)

Nightmare walks in.

Clyde stops scatting, and presses a
button, a sign apears that says "BOO"
(it tells the audiance to boo the
nightmare).

Clyde goes back to scatting.

VOICE
The Laughing Child, he is being charged with two counts of
nightmares and causing Clyde to be afraid of the dark. The
Nightmare however is countersuing claiming that he is being
discriminated against by the Judge.

CLYDE
Order! I want order. I know he will be found guilty but...

NIGHTMARE
Oh come on! This is prejudice.

CLYDE
Shut it!

NIGHTMARE
Make me!

CLYDE
Guilty!

NIGHTMARE
But... that's not fair.

CLYDE
Next case mysterious voice person.

NIGHTMARE
You have to let me defend myself!

CLYDE
Say's who?

NIGHTMARE
So you are nothing but a cheater then!

CLYDE
I am not!

NIGHTMARE
Are too!

VOICE
Give the man a chance.

CLYDE
What? You too? Fine! Fine...fine.

VOICE
Ahem... and now... presenting, standing taller than any one!
He is the coolest stuffed teddy bear in the world. He kicks
butt daily, and nightly. You love him, you can't hate him,
The Golden Bear!

Clyde presses a button, a sign says
"Applause"

"We Will Rock You" Starts to play as
Teddy makes his way to the courtroom.

CLYDE
Teddy!

TEDDY
Hello Clyde. And how are you doing on this fancy night?

CLYDE
I am doing good. I got my own courtroom!

TEDDY
I can see.

CLYDE
Isn't it awesome?

TEDDY
I like it. It is nice.

CLYDE
Nice? How about "it kicks butt!"?

TEDDY
Same old Clyde.

CLYDE
So how have you been?

TEDDY
I have been good.

The talking is very back and forth,
Nightmare looks Dumbfounded. (He has
become "chopped liver")

CLYDE
So did I tell you, I am going to Sam's house for a sleep
over!

TEDDY
Sounds fun? Can I tag along?

CLYDE
I don't know.

TEDDY
I get it, you don't want him to know you use stuffed animals.

CLYDE
It's not that!

TEDDY
So how is he doing?

CLYDE
Oh he is doing great. Yesterday, his father went out, and
they went shopping for toys!

TEDDY
Oh how cool.

CLYDE
So we are going to get to play with them this weekend!

NIGHTMARE
Excuse me?

CLYDE
And they got cable at their house so we can stay up watching
cartoons all night!

NIGHTMARE
Pardon me but...

CLYDE
So, um, do you think you can beat him up?

NIGHTMARE
Beat me up? I thought we were going to have a trial.

CLYDE
Can you be quiet, you are ebing rude, me and my friend are
having a conversation!

NIGHTMARE
But I thought we were...

CLYDE
Say one more word and I will find you guilty.

NIGHTMARE
You can't do that!

CLYDE
That's it, I find you...

NIGHTMARE
But the voice dude said...

CLYDE
He is not my dad.

NIGHTMARE
I don't care if he is santa clause, this is not being fair on
me.

CLYDE
Well no one likes you, and I find you...

TEDDY
Clyde.

CLYDE
Yes?

TEDDY
Let's have a trial. Be fair on the poor guy.

CLYDE
The poor guy? What are you friends with him now?

TEDDY
No.

CLYDE
Then why are you taking his side over mine? It is so not
fair. Here I am, bringing you to kick his butt, and you are
taking his side? Where is the justice. This is my courtroom!
I can do whatever I want!

TEDDY
Just hear him out. This is supposed to be a court, and...

CLYDE
My dad told me justice is a blind bi...

TEDDY
Clyde!

CLYDE
What? He was telling me how it cheated him out of his new car
and thousands of dollars when he didn't do anything wrong but
had a drink or two. So why can't my justice be a blind B
word?

TEDDY
Because, this is your house, and your mother always taught
you manners. Right?

CLYDE
I hate manners!

TEDDY
And to be polite to your guests, right?

CLYDE
I guess so.

TEDDY
Besides, I think I can kick his butt.

CLYDE
Oh, then procede with your opening statement!

TEDDY
Ladies and Gentleman of the Clyde. I am just a humble teddy
bear, brought to life because of some boys imagination,
however, I am here to bring to justice, as blind of a B word
she may be.

CLYDE
You can cuss in here, I don't mind.

TEDDY
I would rather not. Swearing is not something I am pleased to
do. As I was saying, I am here today, or this night more
precisely to bring to justice, this one Laughing Child, has
been charged with causing Clyde some scary nights, and... Um,
should I really say this?

CLYDE
Go ahead. There is no one here but us.

TEDDY
Ahem, and for causing Clyde to "wet the bed years after he
has been toilet trained..."

NIGHTMARE
(Cracks up laughing) What a loser!

CLYDE
Guilt....

NIGHTMARE
I take it back!

CLYDE
Laugh again. I dare you.

NIGHTMARE
Sorry.

CLYDE
Sorry what?

NIGHTMARE
Sorry...Clyde?

CLYDE
Say "Sorry Awesome Clyde, the dude that hoolds the power to
my fate..."

NIGHTMARE
Sorry awesome Clyde, dude who holds his power... something
something.

TEDDY
Can I go on?

CLYDE
Sure.

TEDDY
Clyde has accused you, and you stand tried. The punishment,
should be be guilty, which I will prove, will be to the
depths of the abyss that is Clydes imagination. And to stay
there!

CLYDE
Good enough for me. Is this the part where I bang the gavel
and call it a...

NIGHTMARE
Wait!

CLYDE
Ugh, what is up with you and trying to stop me. It is not as
if your existence is on the line... oh wait it is.

NIGHTMARE
Not funny.

CLYDE
I think it is dreadfully funny.

NIGHTMARE
This is the part where I get to say my part.

CLYDE
What?

NIGHTMARE
Yes.

CLYDE
No.

NIGHTMARE
Why not.

CLYDE
I am bored, and I am tired and I want to go to sleep.

NIGHTMARE
You are asleep you nitwit!

CLYDE
Oh.

NIGHTMARE
Ha, ha, I won.

Clyde sticks out his tongue.

NIGHTMARE
Ladies and gentlemen of... Do I have to say this?

CLYDE
Of the Clyde... yes you do.

NIGHTMARE
Of the Clyde. I am here not just to fight for my right to
exist but to acuse you Clyde! And so you stand accused.

CLYDE
Me?

NIGHTMARE
Yes. You who claim me to be nothing more of a nightmare to
you. And yet here I am, with a purpose of my own, and for
that very purpose you hate agianst me and wish to deny my
right to exist.

CLYDE
And what right do you have to exist?

NIGHTMARE
It's mine!

CLYDE
Um...procede.

NIGHTMARE
Thank you. You have hounded me out from my home, and are
acusing me, because of my very being, and are threatening to
punish me and harm me when I have done nothing wrong. I
accuse you and I demand you not only apologize but give in.

CLYDE
Give in?

NIGHTMARE
To my demands that I be allowed to exist as I will.

CLYDE
(shutters)

NIGHTMARE
I so bet you wish you could wake up right now.

CLYDE
...yes.

TEDDY
Don't worry. I can handle him. I will protect you.

CLYDE
Hurt him!

TEDDY
Um, this is a trial not a hardcore match.

CLYDE
But... shoot, why didn't I dream of a wrestling event!?

TEDDY
I only have one witness your honor.

CLYDE
And that is?

TEDDY
You? This is your show. You are the one putting him on trial.

CLYDE
Oh yeah!

Clyde, hops down from his podium, and
comes to the witness stand.

TEDDY
You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth... So help you
Clyde?

CLYDE
So help me, myself.

TEDDY
Take a seat.

CLYDE
Thank you.

TEDDY
So, tell me what happened?

CLYDE
Well, it all started a few weeks ago, I was an innocent child
who never did no harm. Well anyways, for no cause at all,
when I was in my dream land, he came and ruined what would
have been a perfectly good dream...

TEDDY
And how did he do that?

CLYDE
He chased me down a dark corridor. It was dark, and it was
scary. I ran into a wall, and no matter how hard I tried, the
wall wouldn't disapear. He kept laughing at a really loud and
scary pitch. And then he attacked me.

TEDDY
So he attacked you?

CLYDE
Yes he did!

TEDDY
And then?

CLYDE
And then I woke up.

TEDDY
Did you wake up any special way?

CLYDE
Yes... he... made... me... wet my bed!

TEDDY
How dare he!

CLYDE
That's right! How dare he!

Clyde points up and a "boo" sign
apears. Nightmare looks on as if he did
nothing wrong.

NIGHTMARE
Objection!

CLYDE
You can't object!

NIGHTMARE
But...

CLYDE
No judge, that means he can't rule on your objection.

NIGHTMARE
But you are the judge.

CLYDE
I am the witness. Do you see a judge up there?

NIGHTMARE
...no.

CLYDE
Take that. And you think you are so smart.

TEDDY
Continue.

CLYDE
Then last weekend, I had another dream. In this dream, I was
swimming and a giant head... his face to be precise was
creaping up from under the water. As I ran out of the
pool...the house turned into his face... he kept coming.

TEDDY
And so he gave you amother nightmare.

CLYDE
Yes he did.

TEDDY
How dare he!

CLYDE
How dare he!

NIGHTMARE
Can I cross examine?

CLYDE
What?

NIGHTMARE
Um, I get to cross examine you.

CLYDE
Why?

NIGHTMARE
Because that guy on telivision does it all the time.

CLYDE
Curse you telivision.

NIGHTMARE
Exactly. Mr. Teddy stand back.

The lights slowly darken...ominously.

NIGHTMARE
So, can you state your name?

CLYDE
Um, Clyde Sagnier. Why do you want me to say my...

NIGHTMARE
Silence!

CLYDE
I don't like you.

NIGHTMARE
Hush, when I talk, you respond. That is how this works. Do
you understand?

CLYDE
Teddy?

NIGHTMARE
Teddy can't help you now. Do you understand?

Silence

NIGHTMARE
Good boy. Now, why did you create me?

CLYDE
I created you?

NIGHTMARE
Yes, you created me. Why? Why would you create me, bring me
into existence, for the sole sake of shunning me and trying
to cause my demise.

CLYDE
I didn't.

NIGHTMARE
Yes you did. Now don't you think that is cruel?

CLYDE
What is?

NIGHTMARE
That I would be born from your darkness, for the purpose of
you tormenting me.

CLYDE
But you torment me.

NIGHTMARE
Do I? Or perhaps you torment me.

CLYDE
I do not!

NIGHTMARE
Then what is the purpose of this trial if not to try and
destroy me?

CLYDE
But you...

NIGHTMARE
I didn't ask for reasoning. Now, I want you to apologize.

TEDDY
What?

NIGHTMARE
I want an apology.

TEDDY
Don't do it!

NIGHTMARE
You keep out of this.

CLYDE
(scared)
I'm sorry?

NIGHTMARE
(laughing)

The scene becomes obscure, as if... its
becoming a nightmare!

CLYDE
What is happening?

NIGHTMARE
You are in my world now.

CLYDE
Teddy... help!

Nightmare slowly ascends to the Judges
seat, Clyde now forced to take the
ground level, while the Nightmare has
the seat of power, and the elevation.

NIGHTMARE
You dare try to send me into the abyss? Me? That was created
from your mind? No, it is I who shall rise, not fall. This
dream has just begun and now I am in control, this is my
courtroom now. Bow before me!

Clyde almost is pushed to the floor. He
gets on his knees and pushes to get up.
It's a battle of will.

CLYDE
Teddy, where are you?

NIGHTMARE
Cry to your beloved teddy bear!

Nightmare spontanoisly relises Teddy is
gone...Teddy pops up from behind
Nightmare and they begin to struggle.

TEDDY
Clyde...the gavel!

Teddy and Nightmare fall off the top,
the judges seat now vacant.

Clyde and Nightmare now look, the
judge's seat (the position of power) is
now vacant. They both run for it.

NIGHTMARE
Do not touch it!

An aura bears down on Clyde, Clyde
however is able to grab the gavel.

NIGHTMARE
No!

CLYDE
(trying to find the strength)
I find... you...guilty!

The gavel slams and lights, and sound
go out.

Lights on, Nightmare is back in his
defendant spot, now with handcuffs on
him, he has been beaten.

CLYDE
I sentance you, to return to the darkness and to never
return!

NIGHTMARE
You created me once, you honestly think I won't come back?

TEDDY
Come on, let's go.

Teddy and Nightmare exit.

CLYDE
What now? Teddy!

Teddy enters.

TEDDY
Yes?

CLYDE
What do I do now?

TEDDY
(Weakly starts scatting the drama beat)

Pause.

CLYDE
What?

TEDDY
Ahem.... (Tries again, hoping Clyde picks it up.)

CLYDE
Oh!
(starts the scat)
Finish it voice dude.
(does the beat)

VOICE
The Defendant has been found guilty and is now on his way to
return from whence he came.

Clyde stops, leans back on his chair,
and rests.

VOICE
These are the stories from the mind of Clyde Sagnier. Real
trails, real results.

CLYDE
I am Clyde Sagnier...dont mess with me.

Corny music and lights out.

END

Reviews

[deeps]

I really enjoyed this write, I found it quite intesreting and powerful here and there.
Very well written.

[lawrence bear]

cool stuff, i really enjoyed this read. interesting stories you have here. I will read more, but later.