SCENE ONE - MEETING ROOM - DAY 1 - WED 8PM

(The Management Committee are sitting around a large table holding their monthly meeting. Present
are Buddy, the President; Debra, the Secretary, Dick, the Treasurer, Audrey, a life member; Penny
and JJ. A council representative, Des, is standing and addressing the group)

DEBRA: You all know Des from the Council. Thanks for coming tonight, Des.

DICK: Don't thank him yet. I think we all know why he's here. Let's get it over with.

BUDDY: Shut up, Dick. Hi, Des. Please, go ahead.

DES: Thank you, Debra. Buddy. Hi, everyone. Yes, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

DEBRA: You're from the Council. When do you ever have good news? Haha.

DES: Well, anyway, as you know, the Council owns this Theatre building, and your current
ten-year lease is expiring soon.

DICK: Here we go…

DES: I have the latest memo here from the Mayor, and she has asked me to come to your
meeting tonight to share their decision from the Council meeting on Monday night.

PENNY: 'Their decision'? You mean 'her' decision. That Mayor is the most uncultured mayor
we've ever had in this town.

JJ: Penny! Sshh!

PENNY: What? She thinks the people here don't want a Theatre. She thinks we don't need one.

JJ: No, she doesn't. There's more to it than that.

BUDDY: Of course they want a theatre. They just want a decent one. Like this place used to be.

AUDREY: We used to pack this place three nights a week! I didn't take a holiday for the entire
1980's!

DEBRA: Well, I'll note your comment in the minutes, except for the bit about the Mayor,
Penny.

DICK: Hey! Morons! Can we move it along a bit. I'm sure Desbian here has better things to
do.

DES: It's Des, Dick. Short for Desmond. And this is important.

PENNY: Yes, Dick. Short for short dick!

DEBRA: (Waving her pen) Minutes, people!!

BUDDY: Dick. You know we appreciate your mother's donations, but if you don't have
anything constructive to bring to these committee meetings, your attendance really isn't necessary.

AUDREY: Ingrid is a fine woman. Her influence having Dick on the committee is honourable.
She really loves this place.
DICK: Leave my mother out of this. You know she has 'The Big C' right?

PENNY: You're a Big -

JJ: Hey! Let's just get on with the meeting, guys.

DEBRA: Thanks, JJ. Back over to you, Des.

DES: Thank you. So, the Council have determined that due to the condition of the building,
and the apparent lack of community interest, they do not intend to renew your lease when it expires in
three months.

AUDREY: What? This place can't close! It's been here forever!

BUDDY: You could have told us this twelve months ago. We might have had a chance to fix it
up?

DES: Well, that's what I was about to say. If you can fix the problems and improve the
condition of the building to a satisfactory standard, they will consider renewing the lease on a year by
year basis.

JJ: And what if we can't?

DES: The paperwork has already been started to have the premises demolished.

AUDREY: Demolished? Nooo!!

DEBRA: Can they do that?

BUDDY: It's the council. They can do what they want.

DICK: It's probably for the best.

(ALL:) Shut up, Dick!

DES: If you can make the necessary repairs in the next three months, a new lease will be
made up, where the place has to pass a full safety inspection every year.

BUDDY: But what about another ten-year lease?

AUDREY: They let us have that because we paid in advance from that lottery win.

DEBRA: That's right. We got the new roof and paid for ten years rent.

JJ: Des? Is the Council paying for the repairs?

DES: No, sorry. The Mayor was very clear about that.

PENNY: We're screwed!

AUDREY: Oh, no! This is going to devastate your mother, Dick.

DICK: Who cares? Can I go now? Britney is waiting.

JJ: Is that your new girlfriend? Geez, Dick! How old is this one? Is she eighteen?

DICK: None of your business. Old enough!

PENNY: You sure?

(Awkward pause)

BUDDY: What else is on the agenda, Deb?

DEBRA: Just the lottery ticket.

DICK: Why do we still bother doing the stupid bloody lottery? I've got money you know?

AUDREY: It's your mother's money, Dick. And the lottery is for the theatre. You know that. Any
winnings our syndicate brings in, goes straight into our Theatre account.

DICK: I just don't see the point. We've only got three months left here.

DEBRA: Who knows? A miracle still could happen. We live in hope!

(Dick takes out $10 note and tosses it on the table)

DICK: Fine. Whatever. Here ya go! (He gets up to leave)

(They all take out some cash and give it to Debra, who puts it in a cash-tin.)

BUDDY: Thanks, everyone. We'll call it a night, hey?

(Debra pins the lottery ticket on the notice board, and the group stands to leave)

PENNY: Um, Dad? (To Buddy)

BUDDY: What's up, Pen?

PENNY: Do you think someone should tell Duncan what is happening?

BUDDY: Hmm. I don't know how he'll take the news, love. He's not good with changes.

JJ: He might be okay if he hears it from you, Penny. He likes you. I'll come with you.