.

 

 

CHARACTERS

 

TOP MOSTLY                     game show host

 

VANNA GREY                    Top’s co-host, frail and senile

 

ANNOUNCER

 

JOAN                                     a woman with cerebral palsy, contestant

 

KATE                                    deaf woman, contestant

 

TRISHA                                middle aged autistic, mildly retarded woman, contestant

 

DAVID                                  young blind man, contestant

 

 

 

                                                (game show set, in darkness)

 

 

 

                                                                                ANNOUNCER

                                                                (in hushed dramatic voice)

You are about to witness a battle of wills, a test of strength, nerves, and the sheer drive to overcome; three contestants will be pitted head-to-head, and only one will emerge victorious; this is.....DISABILITY FACTOR!  And now, your host, Top Mostly.

 

                                                                (enter TOP MOSTLY)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Good evening everyone.  I’m Top Mostly and welcome to Disability Factor, the show where we challenge the disabled to prove their value to society, and at the same time win cash and prizes!  Now let me introduce my co-host, Vanna Grey.

 

(VANNA GREY hobbles onto stage, a frail old woman in skimpy sequined dress and 3” heels; when VANNA is not otherwise occupied, she tends to wander about confusedly on stage as if lost)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

How are you today, Vanna?

 

                                                                                VANNA GREY

Are you my son?  Do you--

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Now before we meet our four contestants we need to let the audience in on a little secret!

 

ANNOUNCER

(Hushed whisper) The other contestants don’t know it, but one of our contestants today isn’t actually disabled. 

(Canned laughter)

 

TOP MOSTLY

(Laughing)  That’s right, so see if you can spot the fake!  Isn’t that a clever joke, Vanna?

 

VANNA 

I see an angel!  Your eyes...!  I’m ready!

 

ANNOUNCER

And now let’s introduce our contestants!

 

                                                                (enter Joan)

 

                                                                                ANNOUNCER

Joan is 32 and from Grand Rapids, Illinois.  Joan has cerebral palsy!

                                                                (enter KATE)

Kate is 39, mostly deaf, and a decent lip-reader!  She’s from Flagstaff, Arizona.

                                                                (enter Trisha)

Trisha is 42, and comes from Atlanta, Georgia.  She’s autistic and mildly retarded!

                                                                (enter David)

David is 29.  He’s blind as a bat, and interestingly comes from Bat capitol of the world, Austin, Texas.

 

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Great, great.  Welcome to you all.  So we all know the rules, right?  You compete for points in a series of challenges.  The winner is the one... DONKEY DICK! LABIA!  L--L--LABIA! ...the one with the most points at the end.  Everyone ready?  (turns his head so Kate can’t see his lips) How we doing there Kate?

                                                               

                                                                (No response)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Dynamite!  Now lets see what you’re competing for!

 

(VANNA GREY holds up home euthanasia set. It’s a gun with a silencer)

 

                                                                                ANNOUNCER

Today’s Grand Prize is  the WhisperRest 900 home euthanasia kit.  “WhisperRest, when all you want to do is die!”

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Wow, great prize.  BITCH!  SLUT!  COCK-SUCKER! So Joan, I’ve heard you’re a collector.  What is it you collect?

 

                                                                                JOAN

Stamps.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Why do you do that?  CUNT!

 

                                                                                JOAN

My grandmother gave me her stamp collection when I was 12.  Since then--

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

I suppose we all need a reason to get up in the morning.  CUNT!  Now, our first challenge is for you Joan.  It’s called “Draw, Pardner!”

(VANNA GREY slowly, painfully bringing on easel with drawing paper and marker; while she is doing this TOP MOSTLY:)

“Draw...Pardner”?...Hehe.

                                                                (Mimes drawing a gun with his finger and firing at Joan.)

Bang!

(Joan flinches.  TOP MOSTLY blows end of finger and laughs)

So your job, Joan, is to draw what I tell you to so that someone in the audience can guess what it is before time runs out.  Ok?  Alright, your word is...

                                                                (whispers in her ear)

Now...GO!

 

(Joan starts drawing, but her hand is so unsteady that she can’t really draw anything clearly)

 

Come on Joan!  You can do it; just try harder!

 

                                                                                AUDIENCE MEMBERS

                                                                (planted)

a snake! the Nile River!  cosmic rays!  the Champs Elysses!  silly string!  fallopian tubes!  the political boundary between the Czech Republic and Slovakia!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Time’s up!

 

                                                                                AUDIENCE MEMBER

SPAGHETTI!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Oh, that’s right!  The word was spaghetti!  But I’m sorry Joan, time ran out. BITCH!  Back you go.  So, Trisha our next challenge is for you.

(Walks over to Trisha’s podium, puts his hand on the podium familiarly.)

Trisha, you’re an avid golfer, is that right?

 

                                                                                TRISHA

34.  Oh, yes.  I like golf. 

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

34?  Sorry?

 

                                                                                TRISHA

5.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

5 what?

 

                                                                                TRISHA

4.  Letters.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

4 letters?  Well yes golf does have 4 letters but I wasn’t asking you that!  Now if you would pay attention please--

 

                                                                                TRISHA

                                                                (beginning to cry)

86.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Stop that.

 

                                                                                TRISHA

8.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

I said stop.

 

                                                                                TRISHA

9.

 

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

You know what?  I think you’re disqualified.  What do you think Vanna?

 

                                                                                TRISHA

53.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Yes, sorry Trisha. ANAL SEEPAGE!   Vanna agrees. You’ve lost that round.

 

                                                                                TRISHA

57.

                                                                               

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

So, David, your turn.  Your challenge, David, is to.....run the obstacle course!!  Now David here’s how this works.

                                                                (Vanna begins clearing the middle of the stage.)

The stage is being cleared right now, David, and an obstacle course is being set up. 

                                                                (Pulling David to R of middle stage)

I’m going to talk you through it, and you have to finish in the time allowed.  And remember, David, that you can’t knock over any of the obstacles.  Okay, are you ready?

 

                                                                                DAVID

Yes.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Good, let’s go.

(There is no obstacle course set up at all.  The stage is clear.  During the following, DAVID follows TOP MOSTLY’s directions, bending, stepping over, around, under, obstacles that are not there.)

Okay, take three steps toward me.  STOP!  Good.  Now you need to kind of turn sideways, no the other way.  Now shuffle to the side a bit--lower your head!  Bend over a little.  Now step forward, but step high, you’re stepping over something.  FEL--...FELLATIO!  Good.. [etc....]  Oh, so sorry David!  You’re out of time!  Here come out this way, now back you go. 

                                                                (Puts David back behind his podium)

On to the next contestant.  So, Kate, I’ve heard you’re deaf.

 

(no response; Kate’s not looking at him; someone taps her on shoulder)

 

                KATE

What?  Were you talking to me?

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

                                                                (louder, emphatically)

I’ve heard you’re deaf.

 

                                                                                KATE

You’ve murdered Seth?

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

I’ve heard you’re deaf!

 

                                                                                KATE

You’ve got bad breath?  Yeah I know, but--

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

So, Kate, are you ready for your challenge?

 

                                                                                KATE

Yes, spaghetti does irritate my bowels!

 

                TOP MOSTLY

Shut up.

 

                                                                                KATE

Buttercup?

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

                                                                (puts hand in front of mouth)

I’m going to kill you.

 

                                                                (KATE smiles warmly)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

                                                                (hand still in front of mouth)

I’m going to kill you, and eat your spleen.  And then kill your dog, and eat it, too.

 

(long pause, KATE still smiling, TM’s hand stays over his mouth, finally:)

 

                                                                                KATE

My turn now, huh?

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

                                                                (taking hand away from mouth)

Yes, Kate!  Can you........name that tune??!

 

(Stars and Stripes Forever plays; KATE fiddles with hearing aid)

 

                                                                                KATE

Stars and Stripes Forever!

 

                                                                (TM is dumbstruck and silent.)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

So sorry, Kate, but the title of the song is THE Stars and Stripes Forever.

 

(VANNA GREY, still hobbling confusedly about, slips and falls; this has been somewhat expected during the skit b/c she walks very unsteadily in the heels she’s wearing; she lays silent and motionless where she fell and no one [except maybe one or two of the contestants] seems to notice)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Well, we’re at the end of our first half, and the scores are all tied at 0.  Now when we have a tie we go into what we call our Mercifully Sudden Death round.  FUCKER! SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT PISS I’ll ask you some questions and the first one to buzz in and get a question right will go on to play for that euthanasia kit!  Okay, are you ready?  Hands on your buzzers.  Question 1.  What is the color of bread?

 

(Joan tries to buzz but her hand is trembling too much.  DAVID buzzes.)

 

                                                                                DAVID

White!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

No sorry.

 

                                                                (Joan still trying to buzz.)

 

                                                                                TRISHA

Brown. 5.

                                                               

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Hmm, Vanna, can we accept that?

 

                                                                (VANNA moans)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Yes, I’m sorry, Trisha, but we can’t accept “brown 5”.  The correct answer is brown.

 

                                                                                KATE

What’s going on?

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Next question: Complete this quote by Charles Rennie Mackintosh: “Art is the flower, life is the....what?”

 

                                                                                KATE

                                                                (buzzing)

Umm, what are we doing now?

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Wrong, answer, Kate.  Sorry.

 

                                                                (time elapses, David ponders, Trisha counts letters, Joan trying to buzz)

 

                                                                                JOAN

                                                                (finally able to buzz)

Green leaf!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

That’s right, Joan!  “Art is the flower, life is the green leaf.”  Joan, you’re going to play for our Grand Prize!  But before we let the other three go, lets see what parting gift we have for them.

 

                                                                                ANNOUNCER

Kate, Trisha, and  David, you’ll each receive 600 dollars!  Just enough to make you ineligible for the Supplemental Security Income you’ve come to rely on!

 

                                                                                DAVID

But we’ll lose our health benefits!

 

                                                                                ANNOUNCER 

Right!  But your other parting gift will help with that!  You’ll also receive a lifetime supply of Oxycontin.  “Oxycontin; for those days when you’d rather feel nothing at all!”

 

(exit KATE, TRISHA and David)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

VULVA!  CUNNILINGUS!  H--H--HOOKER!  Now, Joan.  Here’s our final challenge.  Are you ready?

 

                                                                                JOAN

Yes.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Feeling pretty confident?

 

                                                                                JOAN

Yes.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Need to go to the bathroom?

 

                                                                                JOAN

Just did.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Ok.  Come over here Joan.  PENIS!  Now, Joan, do you want that home euthanasia kit?

 

                                                                                JOAN

Oh, yes! Mamma would be so happy!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Well it’s yours, Joan, if you can just do this.  You’ll have one minute, Joan, to...replace this watch battery!  Everything you need is right here, a jeweler’s loupe, screwdrivers, the new battery--be careful now it’s Swiss.  Seems pretty easy, right?  Pretty straightforward?

 

                                                                (Joan begins to speak, TOP MOSTLY cuts her off.)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

The only catch, Joan, is that you’ll be doing this....

                                                                (HEADPHONE-MIKED FLUNKY brings on cage)

...in a cage full of killer bees!!!

                                                                (putting Joan in cage)

Okay Joan, we’ll start the timer when you say you’re ready.

 

                                                                                JOAN

I’m ready.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Okay, then.  Go!

 

(Dramatic time-is-running-out music.  Joan fumbles about with the watch in the cage, while swatting feebly at bees that try to attack her.  She drops things, fumbles about, eventually is overcome by the bees and collapses against one wall of the cage.)

 

 

                                                                                JOAN

Help!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Oh, sorry, Joan. You should have tried harder. Guess you won’t be taking home that euthanasia kit after all. 

 

                                                                                JOAN

Help me.

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Well, that’s our show for tonight! 

 

                                                                                ANNOUNCER

But before we go, were you able to spot our disabled fake? Let’s bring all our contestants out again (they all troop out) and take a vote!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

What do you think audience?  Applaud if you think David is our disabled fake.  (holds hand over David’s head)  Now applaud if you think Joan is the fake.  (holds hand over Joan’s head)  What about Trisha?  (holds hand over Trisha’s head)  And who thinks Kate is the fake? (holds hand over Kate’s head)

 

(if audience isn’t playing along [i.e. not applauding, or applauding for everyone, etc., TOP MOSTLY should go back and demand a show of hands for each one])

 

So the audience thinks that ________ is the fake!  SPHINCTER; R-- R-- RIM JOB!  Will the real fake please step forward?

 

(TRISHA steps forward.)

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

                                                                (adlib)

Oh!  The audience was (right/wrong)!  Trisha was our fake!

 

                                                                                TRISHA

                                                                (adlib)

Absolutely, Top.  (But I’m surprised anybody could tell./I knew no one would be able to tell.)  I watched Rain Man sixteen times.   I’m really hoping for an Emmy....

 

                                                                                JOAN

(still slumped against cage wall, covered with bees, holds up watch, no one pays attention)

I did it! Can I come out now?

 

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Well, let’s have a hand for Trisha; great job, and good luck to you!  DYKE!

 

                                                                                AUDIENCE MEMBER

Hey, Top Mostly!  You’re a fake, too!  (makes loud barking sound)  That’s not how people with Tourette’s talk!  (barking sound)

 

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

Shut up you--FORESKIN SMEGMA LICK-MY-SCROTUM....

 

(TOP MOSTLY yells profanities uncontrollably at audience member, who makes barking sounds back at him)

 

                                                                                ANNOUNCER

                                                                (theme music starts)

Disability Factor is a production of MFC networks.  Promotional consideration paid for by the following:  Blaxo Swift Kline, makers of WhisperRest, and other euthanasia solutions.  “We don’t kill you, we just make the things that kill you better.”  And by, Silent Gardens, a chain of full and extended-care facilities for the budget-conscious family.  Silent Gardens, “We keep them so you don’t have to.”

 

                                                                                JOAN

                                                                (still holding up watch)

I got it!  Please, let me out...

 

                                                                                VANNA GREY

                                                                (still collapsed on the floor)

Pat? ....I’d like to buy a vowel!

 

                                                                                TOP MOSTLY

This is Top Mostly, saying thanks, and goodnight America!

 

                                                                (TM continues cursing at audience member, who continues barking back at him as lights fade.)

 

END