Plagued By Doubt

By Ian Lafrenz

Dramatis Personae
ALEX - 15, desperate, driven, has extremely high expectations for themselves, something to
prove.

© 2022
An Amateur Green Screen Set

This "set" is really just a green screen hung up behind a

teleprompter. Our speaker, ALEX, walks on stage left. They
are dressed plainly, but nice.

ALEX: Yes, Mom, I understand! I know what the law says, but I don't want you in here ruining
this for me! No one else has to put up with their parents watching them 24/7! Come on, I beat out
Trevor for this role, this could get me discovered! And I care about getting discovered, even if
you don't! And that's not gonna happen if you're interfering with the process, so can you please
just wait in the green room? ...Thanks. I'll see you in a few.

ALEX turns away, and we hear the door click, a lock

latching behind them. ALEX doesn't even register it.

Hi, I'm so sorry about that, my mom can be kind of a pain sometimes!

This gets no response. ALEX is unfazed.

Thank you so much for this opportunity! I've never done an ad for a body wash brand before, so
thank you for taking a chance on someone trying to break into the industry! It means a lot.

Still dead quiet. This dawns a little bit on ALEX this time,
but they brush it off.

Hm. Okay, well you didn't send me a script or anything, but it looks like there's a teleprompter
there so…

ALEX messes with their hair, straightens their clothing, and

mentally prepares to act.

Alright I'm all ready! …Isn't there supposed to be a slate or…

Inspirational astral music begins playing in the

background. ALEX sees the teleprompter start, and,
pushing past their initial confusion at the strange situation,
begin to read

Oh, okay, well… Lockdown. Quarantine. Social Distance. Pandemic. These words are at the
heart of our lives today. We're more lonely, more sad, and more hopeless than ever. And the
worst part is, things are only going to get worse. And we know that because we've seen it all
before.

ALEX stops and looks beyond the prompter, confused.

2 Plagued by Doubt
Ian Lafrenz
(draft - 2022)
I'm sorry is this the right ad? I was signed for Bob's BO Busting Deodorant, is this the wrong
address, or…

No response.

Um, okay, well I trust you guys! We've seen such destruction and death regularly in the past. The
Black Plague, Smallpox, Influenza, and now COVID-19. This shows an accelerating pattern
throughout history. And all the signs point to the next one coming very soon. At the end of 2022,
humanity shall fall before a final plague of...

ALEX stops. They're beyond annoyed, and have a few

choice words to say to these "cultists".

Okay, I know what this is. You thought you had me fooled, but I see through all of this. I know
exactly what's going on!

The astral music stops.

Trevor come on out! I know you're back there! I can't see you, but I know you're there! What,
just because I beat you so bad that you left the audition early, now you want to ruin this for me?
Well tough luck Trevor! I'm not gonna give you the satisfaction! I'm gonna keep reading this
terrible fake cult script you wrote for me, and I'm gonna make it good!

The astral music swells in again, and the take continues.

ALEX jumps back in, very much in character, almost to the
point of overplaying it. They are determined to show Trevor
and his cronies who's boss.

Ahem… Humanity shall fall before the final plague of absolution. But it's not over! Together, we
can save humanity's future from the great jaws of this impending contagion! But you need to join
our effort to act swiftly and decisively! First, click on the link below. This will take you to our
website. Join our newsletter, where we will keep you updated about our ongoing work. Share this
video with your friends, family, anyone you can! And pay attention to the world around you!
Over the year, we will begin to see the signs of the end. Be ready! Before the hour of absolution,
we will contact you with your deliverance from apocalypse! Until then, take heart! Within
everyone on this blessed planet, there is the power to safeguard the future of the human race
from evil! We are strong! This plague is not! We will live on!

ALEX pumps a fist into the air as they finish. They've

shown Trevor who's boss. They have their revenge for this
prank.

3 Plagued by Doubt
Ian Lafrenz
(draft - 2022)
And CUT! HA! I win, Trevor! You thought you could keep me down! That you could play this
little fake cult prank, and that I would throw in the towel! Well, I won't! I'm committed! You
know, you may have more experience than me, but that doesn't make you better than me! You're
jealous. You're jealous, that I'm a better actor than you! And you've conspired against me! You
tricked me into auditioning for this fake commercial! I convinced my parents into letting me do
this! You set all this up, just to trick me! Well, I won't have it! I'll have my moment, you just
wait! And it's gonna be awesome! My parents don't believe in me, you may want to see me fail,
but I won't!

ALEX pauses for a few beats. There is dead quiet other

than their heavy, emotional breaths, that begin to slow
down as they come to a realization.

You don't get it. How could you? How could you, perfect Trevor, possibly understand what it's
like to spin your wheels for so long, fifteen years, getting nowhere! For no one to believe in you!
To want, so badly, to finally prove everyone wrong! To start to hate what you used to love! To
want to just be done with all of it, and not think about the future for two goddamn seconds! To
live your life!

ALEX pauses. This is it. They've finally said it. What now?
They already know.

I'm going home. Goodbye

ALEX begins to walk off. The familiar click of the door

rings out as it locks. ALEX registers it this time.

Come on, it's over. You win. Congratulations! Hellooooo…? Trevor, come on this is getting
really old.

We begin to hear footsteps walking towards ALEX. We hear

a knife unsheathe.

You're not Trevor.

Lights go out.

4 Plagued by Doubt
Ian Lafrenz
(draft - 2022)