Excerpt from BRUCE AND HIS MODEL HEART
SYNOPSIS
Bruce is hired on at A.B.I. to complete his new design for a fully implantable artificial heart. Try as he may, Bruce cannot manage to fit in or fall into sync with his new coworkers— literally. Challenged by an activist protesting against this technological breakthrough, Bruce comes to believe the new device may only provide a way for people to avoid healing their heart the old fashioned way— loving. With animal trials imminent, Bruce sabotages his heart. Yet with competition at their heels, his company pushes forward to human trials, the first candidate being a friend of Bruce’s. Perhaps he reacted too quickly. Is there time to mend it? More importantly perhaps, has Bruce learned that he must listen to his own feelings, independent of the persuasive views of others? Has he actually managed to develop a working heart? Can he follow it?
CAST
(6M, 3F)
- NARRATOR: A distinguished gentleman — man (60s).
- BRUCE: Developer of the heart — man (30s).
- GAIL: The receptionist — woman (30s).
- J.W.: Chief Executive Officer — man (50s).
- LARRY: Head of Sales Department — man (30s).
- WHITAKER: Candidate for transplant — man (60s).
- EILEEN: Whitaker’s wife — woman (60s).
- DWAYNE: Stock boy — man (20s).
- CHORUS: REPORTER, NURSE, PROTESTER, POLICEMAN, HESTIA — woman (30s)
TIME
The present.
PLACE
Offices / Hospital
STYLE
Poetic drama.
(A special light rises on a lectern, positioned downstage right. Dimly visible in the background is the remainder of the set. Standing behind the lectern is the NARRATOR, a distinguished gentleman in his mid-sixties, wearing a classy but dated suit. The NARRATOR clears his throat, then cleans a pair of invisible glasses, and finally shuffles a set of invisible cards.)
NARRATOR
Once upon a time there was a man, and his name was Bruce. It was Bruce that began it. Before Bruce, there was nothing. After Bruce, there was everything. A designer, and engineer and an artist. A man of medicine. His work in the field of bioengineering was before its time. So, a pioneer, a vanguard in the area of post-surgical artificial device implementation. A pinnacle of achievement in the field of cardiac bio-technology. This my friends, is an account of him most revolutionary contribution to the field of science, and of medicine. Nay! To humanity.
(The NARRATOR takes a moment to wipe sweat from his brow, pull at his collar and clench, then straighten his left hand, then continues.)
He was to design various artificial internal organs. However, his most revolutionary contribution was his work as a pioneer in the development of a working prototype in cardiac assistance and replacement. Indeed. This is the story of his heart.
(More lights rise near the front door of the offices of A.B.I.I. BRUCE wanders in, stage right, with briefcase in hand. BRUCE is a man with a mission, passionate, hopeful, aware, though momentarily confused. BRUCE adjusts his glasses, and looks around, squinting due to the stage lights. He puts his briefcase down, and reaches in his pocket for a scrap of paper to confirm the address.)
Totally implantable, self-sustaining and battery-operated. His heart was an act of genius, nothing less.
(Several coughs)
As a boy,
(A blank white rectangular light is cast on the scrim, behind and above the NARRATOR, stage right. The footage is missing. The NARRATOR fails to notice. BRUCE, however, sees the blank screen and is perplexed.)
Bruce exhibited a most remarkable talent for, and—
(More coughs)
An affinity for and with the natural world. As a young man, he was extraordinarily curious about things. Absolutely fascinated by the universe and its physical makings. He sought to discover the secrets of its apparent structure and form. It was not long before he was to become aware of his gift- an innate and relentless ability to break apart and understand the subtle relationships that exist within and about matter, most particularly within the body physical. Essentially, he possessed a unique biological vision.
BRUCE
Excuse me, it’s the uh—
NARRATOR
So Bruce naturally chose a career that would make use of this inherent ability.
(BRUCE squints an looks up at the screen, confused.)
When you think of his early interests, it is no great surprise that he was eventually drawn to the sciences.
BRUCE
Excuse me.
NARRATOR
Ah, yes. Here he is, shown with his Father.
BRUCE
There’s no footage.
NARRATOR
To think that this little boy would go on to expand the field of prosthetics through is revolutionary designs.
BRUCE
My childhood is missing. Do you hear?
NARRATOR
Yes. Even at a very early age, Bruce felt very strongly that he was destined in some way to accomplish something somehow terribly significant.
(The rectangular light disappears.)
Then it was time for a change. This is where the real story begins. Bruce entered the field of bioengineering. The design of artificial internal organs.
(BRUCE gives up and returns to his place before the front door to the office.)
Hired on by the prestigious design firm of American Biotech Engineering, Incorporated. Here, Bruce embarked on the development of the first totally artificial, implantable, bioengineered, circulatory assistance device, otherwise known as the artificial heart.
Contact rajnoosh[at]gmail[dot]com for the full script.