Directed by Colin Johnson

With Charles Lewis III & Megan Luis

LIGHTS UP ON:

A somewhat barren city sidewalk. An

easel stands stage right, with a large

paper print standing on it, turned

away from the audience.

An ARTIST, 30, is standing next to the

easel, dressed in blue jeans and plain

T-shirt. His eyes track an invisible

someone walking down the street. He

waves as they pass. He doesn’t get a

response.

The ARTIST hangs a cardboard sign on

the back of the easel that reads

“LOCAL ARTIST, ORIGINAL WORK FOR

SALE”. He stands back, pleased with

himself, and waits.

A few more invisible people pass. He

politely tries to get their attention,

but to no avail. He wonders if his

sign is legible, so he backs far away

from the easel and squints.

Satisfied, he goes back to his post by

the easel. A COP, 25, enters from

stage left. The ARTIST smiles as the

COP passes him. She gives him a half

hearted smile.

The COP stops dead in her tracks,

noticing the painting. She looks at

the ARTIST. He looks at her, bemused.

COP

So, uh, what are you doin’ here, pal?

ARTIST

Just enjoyin’ the nice day, officer.

COP

And just what the hell is this?

ARTIST

It’s a painting.

COP

I know it’s a painting. Why did you paint… this?

ARTIST

Why do you think I painted it?

COP

You tryin’ ta be funny?

ARTIST

With the painting?

COP

Why did you paint this? Huh? You tryin’ ta get a rise

outta me or something?

ARTIST

I.. didn’t paint this for you. I painted it for everyone.

COP

I don’t care who you painted it for. You need to get this

easel off the sidewalk. You’re blocking the way.

ARTIST

It’s really not that big.

COP

It doesn’t matter how big it is. What if someone in a

wheelchair came down the sidewalk, huh? Your stupid

painting would be in the way.

ARTIST

I’d… move the painting so they could get by?

COP

Look, it’s obvious you’re tryin’ ta sell your artwork here

on the sidewalk, and that’s against the law. I’m gonna

have to ask you to pack it up.

ARTIST

I’m not selling anything.

The COP walks behind the easel and

reads the cardboard sign.

COP

Oh really?

The ARTIST puts his hands in the air

in a joking manner.

ARTIST

Ya got me! I plead guilty.

He smiles, extending his wrists.

ARTIST

Now take me away.

The COP walks upstage of the painting

and looks at it.

COP

You think this is cute? Huh? You wanna get arrested, pal?

I think it’s disgusting. It’s disrespectful. You should be

ashamed of yourself for putting this trash on display!

ARTIST

Why?

COP

Because it’s indecent. It’s a stereotype. It paints an

entire group of people with a broad brush!

He instinctively moves towards her,

momentarily forgetting she’s a cop,

his eyes raised in disbelief.

ARTIST

Are you kidding me?

The COP instinctively puts her HAND on

her HOLSTER.

COP

Do you think I’m fucking kidding around here?

ARTIST

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I’m not trying to start anything, here.

Look… uh, it’s, it’s it’s really not a surface level

painting. You have to really look at it.

He turns the easel to face downstage.

It’s a portrait filled with the image

of a fat, mischievous, pants-less pig

with a police officer’s hat and shirt.

There is a subtle storm in the

background. He stands on a pile of

very small people.

ARTIST

I call it “Guernica II”.

The COP moves to look at the painting.

She moves her hand from her holster.

COP

This is nothing like Guernica.

ARTIST

Keep looking at it. What do you see?

The COP takes a long look at the

painting. She’s motionless for a long

time.

COP

I see…

She moves closer to the painting.

COP

I see… a storm. And… and a giant, standing on the

backs of the helpless. He looks sinister, but I think… I

think he’s sad…

ARTIST

Like Degas said, ‘Art is not what you see, but what you

make others see”. Or something like that.

She continues to stare at the painting

for a long moment. She suddenly snaps

back to reality.

COP

Alright, enough with this sappy shit. Ya gotta move along.

You don’t have a permit, so you can’t be sellin’ stuff on

the street.

ARTIST

I had a permit, but it expired a few days ago. Please,

officer? Can you just let this slide? I gotta pay the

bills, ya kno-

COP

I am the LAW. I DON’T LET THINGS SLIDE.

ARTIST

Jesus-

The COP rushes to the painting.

COP

I’m not gonna let you sell this trash here, in MY town. My

town.

She grabs the painting and begins to

TEAR it down the center.

ARTIST

NO! That’s two months of my work!

The COP rips the painting nearly in

half. The ARTIST, in a flash of

anger, rushes towards the COP. She

pulls her gun and points it at him,

seething with fear and anger.

The ARTIST immediately puts his hands

in front of his face, turning away.

ARTIST

NO NO NO NO NO, WAIT! JUST WA-

LIGHTS OUT.

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