Scene one

Scene opens on a young man dressed in an expensive suit driving down the road in an expensive car.(cell phone rings)

Michael: Yeah Sam I know im running a little late…you don’t think I know how important this meeting is for me to get the promotion? I’ve been working for this day for the past god knows how many years…..I should be there in another 5 minutes(accelerates)

The spotlight moves onto the side of the stage where a glimpse of his past is shown .A little boy is walking with his father ,they are dressed rather shabbily with the father in a workers overalls.

Son:(looking in awe at the surrounding buildings) Papa look at all these shiny buildings,

Father(tugging at the boys hand):Come on son we don’t have time for dreaming around, we have to get to the otherside of town to the docks quickly. I cant be late for work again or Mr Bower will dock my pay. We aren’t the people of these bright lights and we will never be, we’re people of the docks. A fish cant survive on land. Don’t you ever forget that.

The boy is reluctantly pulled away, his gaze still on the buildings

Spotlight shifts back to Michael as father and son exit stage

As he is driving his cell phone rings again.

Michael:(As he reads the caller ID)Shit its Mr Howard! I cant let him know I'm running late

While trying to answer his cell phone he drops it and as he reaches to pick it up the lights turn of and the noise of a car crash is heard

Michael :Oh my god..

Lights back on. He sits in his car in shock for a couple of seconds before getting out to view the hit pedestrian.

He is dressed in a worker overalls, and there is a pool of blood around his head. He continues to stare in shock for a little, visibly shoke up, when then his cell phone begins to ring again..he looks around to see if anyone has seen him and then answers the phone

Michael:(his voice shaken up and nervous) Uh yes sir I’ve got the portfolio ready….no I'll be right there…of course everything is fine

He glimpses back at the pedestrian for a few moments then gets back into his car and drives away



Scene two

Michael walks into an office building lobby

Sam: Where have you been Mike!? This is not the day to start coming late

Michael: Uh I just ran a little late..

Sam: Is that the portfolio?(grabs his briefcase and opens it up) That’s really well done, you’ve certainly come a long way since the mailroom, eh?

Michael: Uh yeah I guess I have..

Sam: What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Come on you can tell me, I’ve been helping you out here since your first day

Michael: Something terrible happened, something really terrible

Sam: Here step into my office for a second

Goes in his large well decorated office

Michael: I was just on my way here and I don’t know …there was a thud ..i don’t know how it happened...I’ve always been such a good driver..my cell phone just kept ringing and then there was blood everywhere.

Sam: What are you saying Mike?

Michael: I hit someone..

Sam: You what? oh shit!

Michael: I know, what am I gonna do

Sam: With a criminal charge against you the partners will never promote you. Who did you hit?

Michael: Uh...just a normal bloke


Sam: A worker?

Michael: Well yeah…but what..

Sam: Did anybody see you?

Michael : Uh no I don’t think so

Sam: You don’t think so? How sure are you? Did you take a good look around

Michael: Umm I'm pretty sure no one did, it was Sharpten Avenue…pretty empty at this time

Sam: Alright good, you should be alright then. Don’t worry about it. Now get in that meeting and get your promotion.

Michael: but I think he is dead..

Sam: Look Mike you don’t have time for this. Look over there (puts his arm around him and turns him around and points), right through those doors is the board of directors waiting for you, some of the most powerful people in this whole dam city waiting for you. All that hard work you’ve put in over these past few years has been leading up to this moment , with this portfolio they’ll definitely make you a partner. And who knows where a bright kid like you could go from there, President? Now look over there(turns him in the opposite direction) that’s the mailroom, where you started out, spending all day just handing envelopes to people more important than you. Its been a long journey from there to here, is that something you really want to throw away over an insignificant grease monkey? You’ve gotta do what’s best for you, that’s what its all about.

Michael(looks at the two directions in thought for a few seconds) I suppose so…

Sam: Good, come on buddy don’t worry about it, you know I'm always looking after you. It’ll be all bright lights and big buildings from here on out.

He walks down the passageway to the conference room, till right before he enters the room a mailroom worker, considerably older than he is, pushing the mail cart hands him an envelope

Mailman: Here you go sir(without making any eye contact)

Light shines on the other side of the stage, another glimpse to the past

Mr Bower: You careless fool! Do you know how much that crate of olives cost! Cant you grip properly you ape!

Father: I'm sorry Mr Bower Sir…

Mr Bower: I don’t want to hear, get the hell out of here…Now

Walks away pushing a wheelbarrow, creating a parallel between the father and the mailman

He stands in the doorway for a few seconds staring at his letter and the mailman walking away. He drops the letter and runs out of the building.


Scene three

Michael sits on the edge of a wooden dock, no longer wearing his suit, drinking from a liquor bottle. It is now night time. His cellphone rings and it goes to voice mail.

Sam: What are you doing!? The board was furious! If you don’t get back here in the next 5 minutes they’re going to fire you Mike! Pick up!

Michael (muttering to himself): A fish can’t survive on
land, a fish cant survive on land (throws his cell phone in the water)

Light shines on the side of the stage. The son, older now, is standing in the doorway with a suitcase; the father standing in front of him.

Father: They’ll show you the mansion and then lock the door. They’ll bite you and then try and get you to bite too. Just always remember son, you're from the docks.