MILLENNIUM DAY – by Mark Moran

 

The center of the stage is the Windows on the World lounge atop the World Trade Center, with large backdrops of the Manhattan night skyline acting as windows.  Groups of 3-4 yuppies in formal attire cluster around the room, sipping champagne and laughing together.  A jazz band plays softly next to the empty dance floor.  A large, red digital clock counts down the remaining minutes and seconds until 2000.  On the left side of the stage there is a small bar, and the right side of the stage is a posh restroom, partitioned from the main stage by a wall with a door in it.  The entire stage is always dark except over the current “Focus” group, who are lit by spotlight and whose dialogue is audible.  When characters do not have Focus, they continue speaking and acting in the background.  Focus is initially on the yuppie cluster closest to the stage, all in their mid twenties.

 

 

RONALD

…I’m telling you, Michael, Media Corp is gonna IPO any day, now.  And it’s gonna be huge.

 

LINDA

That’s what you said about Web Vision, Ron.  Where are they today?  I’m still waiting for pay-dirt on that one, ya know.

 

RONALD

Gimme a break, Linda!  That was six months ago.  You know that’s an entire lifetime for those geeks out in San Francisco.  Besides, even I get a lame tip once in a while.  Why, what’s your money on?

 

LINDA

You know me, Ronald.  I’m betting United splits as soon as it gets those Russian routes.  That’ll push Transportation up several hundred points…

 

RONALD

…which’ll push Industrial to 13K, maybe 14.  That’s a big if, though.  I’m not so sure Moscow’s gonna green-light it.  What do you think, Michael?

 

MICHAEL

Jesus, you guys, this is a party, for Christ’s sake.  Don’t you ever have anything else worth talking about?  I’m getting another drink.

(Walks toward bar.

 

Focus changes to the bathroom.  JOHN and GINGER, both about 30, do lines of coke on the marble sink counter.)

 

JOHN

…all fat and waste.  This company really used to be something, Ginger.  Back when Moose was still calling the shots, we really were something.  But now it’s all middle managers and consultants.  Parasites and bottom-feeders, that’s who’s crippling us.

 

GINGER

Uh huh.  Yeah.  So is this all wind, or did you have something in mind?

 

JOHN

What I’ve got in mind is turning this place on its head.  There’s no reason we should sit around and let Guttensdork tear apart the firm.  We’ve both put in way too many hours to sit back and just take this shit.  I knew how to run this company better when I was still in college.  Hell, that dweeb doesn’t know an LBO from an IPO!  We can own this place.  By the way, this is good blow.

 

GINGER

Hmm.  Okay, John, I’m listening.  Assuming I was willing to help, which I ain’t promising, but pretending I was, what’s your plan of attack?  Where do I come in?

 

JOHN

Great.  The way I figure it, Guttensdorff doesn’t have enough stock to do whatever he wants. He only has so much sway with the board.  After all, it was his wife who got him the chair in the first place, right?  You’ve met her, right?  Maybe there’s something we could arrange for her to find out…

(His voice trails off.

 

Focus shifts back to center stage.  Enter EVA, 50, short and chubby, black mourner’s outfit and rosary.  SHE walks slowly through the party, mumbling prayers.  The partygoers stop talking and stare at her curiously.)

 

JAMES

Hey Crystal, get a load of this.  How the hell do you think she got in?

 

CRYSTAL

Search me.  Maybe she got lost on the way to the mortuary.  Maybe it’s Guttensdorff’s mother.  I dunno.  Let’s ask…

(Is interrupted as…

 

EVA reaches the center of the stage and stops.  The band stops.)

 

EVA

Repent!  Repent!  The end is upon you, sinners!  The Lord is on His way to judge your souls.  Confess before it’s too late.  Repent!  “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is now…”

 

MATTHEW

(Standing in a cluster of yuppies far from the dance floor.)

Boo!  Get out of here, lady!  This is a private party.  Freaks aren’t invited.

 

EVA

(Oblivious to the interruption.)

“Look!  He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.  So it is to be!  Amen!”

 

RACHEL

(Laughing in a closer group of yuppies.)

Amen, sister!  Hallelujah!  Praise be to Jesus.

 

EVA

Don’t you mock me, wicked woman.  The Lord knows your heart.  He knows your sins, and tonight you will sit in judgement.  “Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, for I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the father except through me.”

 

RACHEL

Yeah, yeah.  We’ve all heard it before.  You people need to get some new material.

(Turns back to her group.  The other yuppies have all stopped paying attention to EVA as well.  The band resumes playing.)

So anyway, if we merge with Solomon, there’s no guarantee our jobs are safe.  You remember what happened when Merrill decided…

(Her voice trails off.

 

Focus shifts back to the bathroom.)

 

GINGER

(Lets her dress strap fall off her shoulder.)

You know, John, someone in your position is going to really need friends.

(Moves closer.)

Having a close ally right from the beginning will be essential, don’t you think?

 

JOHN

(Not quite getting it.)

Well, certainly, Ginger.  And no one knows this firm better than you do.

(Without bending or looking down, GINGER starts fumbling with his zipper while SHE kisses his chin.)

JOHN (continued)

Uh, Ginger.  Are you sure this is such a good idea.  Don’t you think we should go out and join the others?  We don’t want to miss the countdown…

 

GINGER

(Lowering to her knees.)

Oh, I don’t think that would be such a bad thing, do you?  Wouldn’t you rather bring in the new millennium like this?

 

JOHN

(Having trouble resisting.)

But Ginger, I’m married.  Amanda’s right through the door.  Mmmm.  Ohhh.

 

GINGER

(Pausing her motion momentarily.)

So?  She’s not in here now.  Besides, the computers are all going to fail at midnight.  And if that doesn’t kill us, all the terrorist bombs will.  So I’d rather end the year like this.

(JOHN gently pulls her head back into motion.

 

Focus shifts to a small table near the dance floor where AMANDA sits alone, sipping a cocktail through a straw and listening to EVA preach.)

 

EVA

Do you sinners not realize that the end is at hand?  Your heavenly father awaits you at this very moment.  Why spend an eternity in flames just for a few extra minutes of wantonness?  Don’t you realize that the Lord Christ wants to forgive you?

 

AMANDA

Excuse me, ma’am.  Why tonight?  Why do you think that the world is going to end now?

 

EVA

Because the cycle is over, my child.  The cycle is over.  Six millennia have now past, and it is time for the righteous to return to heaven and for the wicked to receive justice.  Six thousand years ago, our Father placed Adam in the Garden of Eden.  But man disobeyed and he was punished.  Four thousand years ago, our Father made a new covenant with Abraham and promised to send the Savior.  And two thousand years ago, our Savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  He promised that at the next cycle, He would return to judge the chosen from the damned.  Are you ready to receive Him?

 

AMANDA

Uh.  Yes.  No.  Wait, I don’t know.  Why are you here?  Why aren’t you in a church?

(Enter TWO SECURITY GUARDS who walk towards EVA)

Of all places, why would you come here if you thought the world was going to end?

 

EVA

This is where He sends me.  This is where I can do the most good.  I have come to find the lost lambs…

(The guards firmly escort HER towards the exit.)

Save yourselves!  Repent and accept the Lord, my children.  Your time is up…

 

CRYSTAL

(Pointing at the digital clock which now reads 58 seconds.)

Hey everybody, look!  She’s right!  One minute left until 2000!

 

(Everyone begins cheering and kissing each other.  The band livens and plays a loud, catchy countdown tune.  Focus now follows AMANDA, who picks up two full champagne glasses from the table and searches the room.)

 

AMANDA

Hey Ronald.  Have you seen John?

 

LINDA

What’s the matter, Amanda?  Lost your husband?

 

RONALD

Knock it off, Linda.  Actually, I haven’t seen him in a while, hon.  He was over at the bar with Ginger a few minutes ago.  Maybe he went to the bathroom.

 

AMANDA

Thanks, Ron.  I’ll go get him.  That’d be just like him to be on the can at the biggest New Year’s ever.

(SHE walks to the bathroom door.  The clock now indicates 10 seconds, and everyone starts counting down with the clock.  The band drummer accentuates each number on his snare drum: Ten!…  Nine!…Eight!… With the champagne glasses held together in one hand, SHE opens the door.)

Come on, John!  Hurry…

(SHE sees GINGER bent over the counter with JOHN thrusting behind her.)

Oh… my… god… What the fuck is going on here?!?!  You son of a…

 

(The clock reaches zero.  There is a deafening thunderclap and the stage explodes with bright white light and red and orange smoke.  Dozens of trumpets blare as the curtains swing closed.)