Grey and Hopeless

A little scene I made about the world and economy.

[Colleague John walks into Jason’s office who is sitting at his desk looking out the window gloomily]

John: Afternoon, Jason. This quarter’s results are in and you’re in front as usual. Here’s your paycheck for the week and [Gets cut off]

Jason: What does it matter?

John: Pardon?

Jason: This stuff doesn’t matter. It never has. Just something we do to get money…money for what? Money to make our lives that much more comfortable so we can’t see that this world is full of bullshit.

John: Do I get the sense that something is bothering you, Jason?

Jason: It’s nothing.

John: Well now, it’s something if you are talking down on money

Jason: Fine. Fine. Everything just seems… grey and hopeless.

John: Grey and hopeless? For god’s sake what do you mean? You get one of the best salaries here, you have a lovely wife…well, A wife. A nice two room apartment and a little stuffed monkey that loves you.

Jason: Oh don’t give me that. Money’s useless in the world we live in. It’s chased after so much that the value is pretty much as expensive as a 99 cent can of tea at the store. Do you know how much that tea costs, John?

John: [Pause as if it’s a rhetorical question then answers] I’m guessing it’d be 99 cents

Jason: Wrong! Sure that’s what the can says but when you bring it up to the cash register to get it, it’s almost a dollar and thirty cents. You know why, John?

John: Sales tax?

Jason: Exactly! They promise 99 cents but those b******s hit you with something bigger.

John: No offense, Jason, but where the hell are you going with this tea price?

Jason: What I’m saying is that the world is messed up. It’s full of deceptions and lies. Politicians are so pathetic to the point where you can’t hate them anymore. No one is looking after the common man’s interest, their BEST interest. Chaos, that’s what this world has lead up to.[Walks over to window and looks out]

John: [confused] How?

Jason: I’m saying the world is greedy, John! It’s all about self gain, and power, and money. It’s the name of the game and people do what it takes to win it. And you know who wins, John? No one. The result of it is that the middle man, and even worse the poor, are stuck in horrible shape. Their greediness and ego has lead this country right down the shithole. Bills are almost impossible to pay because everyone’s trying to get the money to pay their own bills. It’s a damn cycle, John. Prices go up because other people need the money to pay for the raised prices of other products.

John: Well I see your point. But how come your down in the dumps about this now?

Jason: Because I realized that no one cares for anyone anymore. No one cares about what you need or want. It’s what they want. The thought makes me sick. My wife is cheating on me with some Russian strip mailgram guy because he has a bigger… personality. Self gain. Who cares about how others feel? I do.

John: Damnit you’re right, Jason. The economy, the egocentric power quenching b******s running the country, it makes sense. [Sarcasm, overdramatic and sits on chair]

Jason: There’s nothing to do. Nothing to stop it, it’s too strong to stop. Everyone is out for their own interest. Just imagine how many people pass a homeless man just sitting on the corner sidewalk just asking for change. His clothes are dirty and ragged up, skin is dirty. His smell is repulsive and his teeth are gone along with his hair. How many people pass this man without a second glance? He’s a nobody to them. But there’s life in his eyes. But not that of a child’s. No, his eyes were full of reality and truth of the world. The truth is no one cares or gives a damn about your feelings. At the end of the day, it just matters that you get that check so you can do whatever you want with it.

John: You put it in harsh perspective, man. [Stands up]

Jason: Yes, well, it’s truth.

John: Since you put it like that, does that mean you don’t want your check that has a bonus on it. I mean, I can take it if you don’t want it. You’ll be helping The Cause.

Jason: Hell no, give me that check. I’m saving up for a new car and then saving up for my birthday party at the Strip Club. [Jason snatches check form John’s hands]

 

End Scene

Author's Note

This is my first screenplay/stageplay so do be gentle.

Reviews

[Jazique]

Errors: "Jason: Fine. Fine. Everything just seems… grey and hopeless." sentence replace the period with Fine, with a ",", "You get one of the best salaries here, you have a lovely wife…" sentence instead of "," after "here" write ";", "middle man, and even worse the poor, are stuck in horrible shape." make "man" "men", "Their greediness and ego has lead this country right down the shithole." make "lead" "leaded", " your down in the dumps about this now?" make "your" "you're", "He’s a nobody to them but, there’s life in his eye. But not that of a child’s." put "," after "But" and make it lower case while getting rid of the period before it and any other errors not sure how to fix but your writing stage plays were great as usual and as a first ever screenplay I still give it an "A" as a reader in enjoyment. Your stage play is so truthful I mean the world is selfish and it always has been. I've even drawn my own conclusion that the old empires and civilizations had fallen and disappeared due to their own greed or the greed of others. You play was truly a spoken word even the ending being so truthful for their are many of us who talk a big talk and complain about the world were in and the things we should do about it but, when it comes down to it we continue our days with the same old routines with learning, working and collecting the pay at the end of the day of a lost world. Wonderful job and keep up the incredible writings.

[Kira]

My wife is cheating on me with some Russian strip mailgram guy because he has a bigger… personality.

I literally laughed out loud here. And then the end. And kind of everywhere, actually.

[Liz-z]

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THIS! I mean, it's just perfectly written! It's funny how he rambles on about greediness, but then contradicts himself completely!!! UGH FANTASTIC! Truly genius! I found this so incredibly entertaining! Perfect script! Totally adding to favorites. Yes, it was that good! :D BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!

[Brittany]

hahaha I love this. Amen (:

[Zachary_James]

wow

[Closed Account]

I love this. It's very true, but the ending surprised me a little. I didn't think he'd take the check lol
You wrote this really well. Great job(: