Biolife by Cecilia Copeland 11.9.14

1
BIOLIFE
A full-length play
By Cecilia Copeland
Cecilia Copeland
(845)901-4427
ceciliacopeland@gmail.com
Copyright by Cecilia Copeland 2014 2
CAST DESCRIPTION
IGNACIO LAWSON Early Forties. Handsome with Salt n Pepper hair.

Latin-Jewish Mix.
MARK CHRYSLER Mid forties.
MARINA RIVERA Early forties. Polished, professional and attractive.
Dark brown hair. Latin-Mix.
ACTOR, GUARD, and BAXTER African American Male. Young looking.
P1, PIZZA SLUT, and VANESSA White Girl. Young looking.
Set: The set is very simple and should leave room for interpretation with lights. There
are hanging frames with transparencies, a large screen on the back wall, and platforms.
The tables/desks, chairs, and donating machine should not be naturalistic, but sleek and
reflective. The lights which climb and change from Red to Green (on the machine) can
be done with lights on the grid, illuminating the entire stage to reflect the emotional
output of the characters. In the Pizza Slut Scene, the items which come from the floor
could also be lowered from the ceiling or come in on a conveyer belt. The idea which is
important about the stage direction is that Not One living person works in the Pizza Slut.
Time: Approximately fifteen years in the future.
Setting: A large city in America.
Biolife Synopsis
In a future where a terrible tragedy has robbed the confidence and hope from
America, the country strives to regain itself as told through the story of one man. Ignacio
is the best donor to the program of Biolife, a newly government sponsored program
which promotes a happy life through the use of artificial emotions. Prom Queens and
Prisoners donate their happiness which gets watered down and sold to the public at large.
Ignacio must decide if living in the real world is better than a false one, and whether he
can find a way to be a man with or without his father’s approval.
2
ACTS and SCENES
ACT I
ACT II
3
ACT I-I Commercial 1
Intro music plays. Lights come up on MARINA.
MARINA
In this day an age it’s impossible to have the life you want. Unless you were born with
money and connections you can forget about getting ahead. Corruption, nepotism, and
crime are everywhere. Confidence in the government is at an all time low. The system
isn’t fair and nobody cares… Except Biolife. Here at, Biolife we want you to feel real
achievement, success and happiness, all without the guilty hangover of drugs and wasted
time. When you come to Biolife we’ll do a diagnostic on the life you have now, and
show you the options for an emotional upgrade. Feel happy on your way to work every
morning and when you come home! I’m not only the spokeswoman for BIOLIFE I’m
one of the co-inventors. I think you deserve to have the life you’ve always dreamed of.
Not everyone can be at the top, but we can all feel like we are!
Pause.
Biolife products require a prescription from a licensed physician. If you experience light-
headedness or dizziness that lasts more than twenty minutes seek immediate medical
care.
Read slower and clearer.
BIOLIFE is approved by the FDA and the #1 Respected Consumer Advocacy Group,
Occupy Watchdog.
4
ACT1-SCENE 2 A Deal with the Man
MARINA and IGNACIO are in white lab coats.

They’re in their lab. IGNACIO is on the phone.
MARINA is listening.
IGNACIO
I understand that… Yes… Of course. I was just calling again, because we received the
grant last year and the year before that so… Yes, I know… We’ve been really grateful
to the Oppenheimer Foundation. Our entire expansion last year was because we-…
Okay… I appreciate your time… We’ll look forward to hearing from you next week,
maybe? Oh… well hopefully soon… thank you. Have a great day.
IGNACIO hangs up the phone.
Fuck.
MARINA
That didn’t sound good.
IGNACIO
Last year we already had the funding in our account by now.
MARINA
Cutbacks?
IGNACIO
Why would they even let us apply? The whole application was a big song and dance this
year.
MARINA
You think if I literally did a tap dance they would send us a check?
(Starts doing a tap dance, badly. Sings and dances
badly.)
Please give us this grant… We are really smart and worthy scientists who neeeeeeed it…
please write us a cheeeeeeck!
IGNACIO
(Laughs.)
That’s good. You should save that for our meeting with Mark. He’s gonna be here soon.
MARINA
She starts tidying up the work space and puts on
some lipstick.
Hey, honey, if he can write us a check to cover donations I’ll do a stripper pole routine.
Between the new lab and the donations… Just don’t- I already know what you’re
gonna/say
5
IGNACIO
I’ll be fine.
MARINA
It’s not safe.
IGNACIO
We can’t keep forking over tons of money for shitty donations.
MARINA
We’re gonna get this grant, and we’re gonna get the new donors trained up so they can
actually give us something that’s worth what we’re paying them.
IGNACIO
They’re never gonna be able to do what I can do unless we develop a chemical way to
enhance their output.
MARINA
I’ll get to work on that right away, right after I answer 300 emails. You sent him the full
packet with all the samples right? The good ones?
IGNACIO
He starts to tidy up the office as well.
Yeah. I don’t think he would’ve agreed to the meeting if he didn’t like the packet.
MARINA
Do you honestly think he’ll say yes?
IGNACIO
He’s an old friend and he’s actually in the right position to get a green light on something
like this.
MARINA
How much do you think we could get?
IGNACIO
If they take us on we wouldn’t have to worry about applying for grants anymore that’s for
sure.
MARINA
God that would be nice.
IGNACIO
Nobody has deeper pockets than the government. Just think about that.
MARINA
6
I’m thinking about it… It also worries me… He’s not just “the government” he’s in the
CIA.
IGNACIO
If he wasn’t he wouldn’t have any money to give us.
MARINA
If we can take money from the Oppenheimer Foundation I guess we can take money from
the CIA.
IGNACIO
I’m former military too. Mark and I were in the same company back in the day.
MARINA
You left the army because you didn’t want to be a part of it any more.
IGNACIO
I’m still a patriot. This world we live in is filled with bad people who do bad things, and
of all those “bad guys” we’re the least bad of the bad guys.
MARINA
Sometimes when you speak I forget we met at Harvard.
IGNACIO
What?
MARINA
America is the least bad of the bad guys?
IGNACIO
I’m not wrong about that.
MARINA
You’re also not a linguist.
IGNACIO
I thought you liked me for my hot body, my post army physique.
MARINA
It was your eyes. You looked at me in this way that made me feel like I could trust you,
that I was safe with you.
IGNACIO
You can. You are.
MARINA
7
I’m gonna keep you safe too. I don’t want the army getting their hands on you again
pulling you apart.
MARINA goes to IGNACIO. She looks in his
eyes.
You’re special. I get to tinker with you, but not them.
IGNACIO
Nothing bad is gonna to happen. I understand your hesitation, but we don’t make guns.
We help people and we won’t be able to do it much longer unless we can get some
serious capital. Can you imagine how nice it would be to not have to worry about
funding, and to not have to worry about the insurance companies and the distribution? I
didn’t go into biochem to spend my days applying for grants.
MARINA
Me neither, but we still need to fix our donation shortage.
IGNACIO
If we can pay more donors we won’t have a shortage. And we might even be able to get
some sleep and take a vacation.
MARINA
Vacation? What’s that? I believe I may have heard of that word, but I’m not certain I
know what it means.
MARK enters.
MARK
You were talking about me weren’t you?
IGNACIO
Hey! Mark. Come’on in.
He goes in for a hug and they hug.
I was just telling Marina we go way back.
MARK
That’s true. I’ve seen your dick more times than anybody else’s other than mine so yeah
I would say we go pretty far back.
IGNACIO
Don’t listen to him Marina.
MARK
No, do listen to me, Marina. I’ve been permanently scarred. Nice to meet you.
He sticks out a hand.
MARINA
8
Nice to meet you too.

She shakes his hand and looks at Iggy sideways.
Uh… Iggy?
MARK
His aversion to underwear was legendary in the field. He’s probably not even wearing
underwear right now.
IGNACIO
No. It’s not underwear, it’s tighty whitys. I can’t get-I don’t fit. It’s not gonna work.
Tighty whitey’s were standard issue so I refused to wear them.
MARK
The image of your meat and potatoes climbing into the top bunk is permanently seared
into my brain. Some things you can’t un-see.
MARINA
It’s hard to forget. I’ll agree with you there.
MARK
Oh… so the two of you?
IGNACIO
Uh, yes. Mark, Marina is my partner in the company and in life.
MARINA
It’s nice to meet you.
MARK
You’re the spokes-model, right?
They shake hands.
MARINA
Yes. I’m sure you read in our packet that I’m also the co-inventor. I’ve been doing our
infomercial spots, because it was cheaper than paying someone else. We’re hoping I
won’t have to do those forever.
IGNACIO
But you’re our all American non-ethnic specific white sounding highly educated modern
woman.
MARINA
True.
IGNACIO
9
And you’re beautiful.
MARK
I was gonna say that.
MARINA
I’ve got nothing on Iggy’s sister, Daniela. We begged her to do the ads, but she’s too
busy getting ready for her wedding.
MARK
Dani’s gettin married eh? Lucky guy. How’s the wedding plans coming along?
IGNACIO
Ten times more complicated than designing a windprofiling algorithm for a joint
precision air drop.
MARINA
Iggy’s walking her down the aisle.
IGNACIO
I’m happy to do it.
MARK
Is your dad gonna be there?
IGNACIO
My dad hasn’t changed.
MARK
Right... Sorry to hear that. Well, I’m sure it’ll be a nice ceremony no matter what.
IGNACIO
It’ll be a three ring circus, but that’s what they want so… -Okay, now that we’re all
caught up… What did you think of the packet we sent over?
MARK
Impressive. I would’ve gotten back to you sooner, but there was some red tape involved.
I wanted to make sure when I came here that I would have the clearance I need.
MARINA
We’re a small operation, but we have the potential to be really big.
IGNACIO
We’ve been doing well on our own, but ever since Occupy Watchdog gave us approval
for minors the use has pretty much doubled. We need to grow faster and we need more
capital.
10
MARINA
I would love to beef up our PR to help us get more donors. That’s the hardest thing for
us.
MARK
I’m not really a PR guy. I’m more of an operations manager who finds the right PR firm
and signs the check.
IGNACIO
That sounds great. We would both love to focus more on the science and less on
operations.
MARK
You’re the main donor right? Our biggest concern is that the source for almost a third of
your product comes directly from you. That’s a lot.
MARINA
We have some other people in training programs, but Iggy’s output level is .0001 of the
population.
IGNACIO
I have a particular synaptic formation that is slightly denser than average. It’s able to
carry more electrical energy, which in turn carries more of the raw emotive material that
we collect.
MARINA
It’s a really rare condition. It’s not just like having two different color eyes, it’s like that
plus having one eye that’s half blue and half brown.
IGNACIO
Mapping my brain was part of how we came up with the idea in the first place, but it’s
not just the genetic thing. I’m well suited for the process in part because it was based on
my physiology, but I’ve also been doing it for over four years as we were developing it.
The other donors, even the good ones, still need time to understand the process and how
to make the most out of it.
MARINA
What did you think of the samples? They’re good right?
MARK
It was fuckin amazing. Yeah, they’re good. I know it works on the receiving end, but we
can’t help you expand if your growth is capped.
MARINA
If we had more capital we could pay more donors.
11
IGNACIO
The other issue with training people is that most of the volunteers who sign up at what we
can pay them are mostly college students who need the money. They’re not emotionally
complex.
MARINA
If we could offer more per donation, then we could get a higher quality of donor.
MARK
Don’t you just pull happiness out of their brain?
IGNACIO
No. Emotions don’t exist in a fixed state like blood or organs. They exist only when
you’re feeling them.
MARINA
Emotions are ephemeral, chemically and electrically. Certain brain waves, certain
patterns of electrical energy represent a particular kind of emotion and there’s a
corresponding chemical change in the brain when this particular electrical pattern is
present. We know what those patterns are, we mapped them/ in Iggy’s-
IGNACIO
In my brain, but we can’t force someone to feel that exact way without giving them an
exactly perfect electric shock. We don’t have the tech to shock a brain precisely enough
to make it accurate or safe. It’s got to come organically. When the right electrical
pattern happens we can collect the organic material that is present in that state. Not only
can we collect it we can encourage those cells to self-duplicate… they’re organic human
cells…
MARINA
-up to a point. A cell can only duplicate so many times, even when we enhancing that
process it’s finite because it’s organic material.
IGNACIO
It’s all-natural.
MARINA
Mostly natural.
MARK
Okay you guys are both certifiable geeks.
IGNACIO
Agreed. This is our life. We live and breathe it.
12
MARK
It shows in the product.
MARINA
A dose is just a little burst in the moment to give people the lift they need, but it’s enough
to change the mood and it helps a lot people.
MARK
We know it helps. We’re excited about it. I mean, we have some concerns, we have
some things we need to discuss, but overall the climate is good.
MARINA
What kind of things do you want to discuss?
PHONE RINGS
IGNACIO
Let me just grab that. One sec.
IGNACIO gets the phone.
Hello?... Oh great, yes, thank yo-… Yes that me… Really?... Okay… um… thank you
for calling. I appreciate that. Thank you. You too.
He hangs up.
That was the Oppenheimer Foundation.
MARINA
What did they say?
MARK
You’re not getting that grant. They’re out of money.
IGNACIO
What? How do you know?
MARK
Like I said before, I had to get clearance. That took a while because we did our own
background check on you guys. We noticed your funds were lower than we expected so
we looked into your finances we saw that you received the Oppenheimer Grant last year-
MARINA
For the last two years actually.
MARK
I know. You’re not getting it this year. They’re bankrupt. They made some bad
investments and they’ve had to reduce the number of grants they’re giving out.
MARINA
13
Well that was a punch in the gut.
MARK
It doesn’t have to be. I didn’t come empty handed, that clearance I got is to make you
serious offer, but we’re talking about a big investment for us so we need some
assurances. We’re not in the business of just giving away money. We want a return for
our investment.
IGNACIO
Let’s hear it.
MARK
For starters, we want in on the board, to have some seats so we can have some security
about the direction of the research and so we know what’s going-
MARINA
I’m not comfortable with that.
IGNACIO
Let’s hear him out.
MARINA
There two seats on the board, me and you. That’s it.
MARK
I know it’s still a private company, and I know that when you go public, which you will
soon, at that time we’ll buy our way in, so just expect it. We’re not going to hire you
guys as independent contractors. That’s not how this is gonna go in the long run. It’s not
a good decision for us, you have to understand that.
IGNACIO
We didn’t have plans to go public for a while.
MARK
That’s gonna change and I’ll tell you why, because you’re about to land a huge contract
and when that happens you’re gonna be our partners.
MARINA
What contract?
MARK
With the military.
MARINA looks at IGNACIO.

A Beat.
14
IGNACIO
What military use?
MARK
We want it for returned combatants. We want it for the vets… for the PTSD. We have a
lot of homeless vets, a lot of out of work vets, drug addiction, depression, you name it.
We think this can help. As of now you’re not a pharmaceutical company. You’re a
natural product, mostly natural, as you said, and we want you in house to take care of our
vets. They need it. You know they need it.
MARINA
They do need it.
IGNACIO
I’ll agree to that. I feel good about that.
MARK
Okay. Marina?
MARINA
Let’s keep talking. I think there’s something here.
MARK
Is that a yes?
IGNACIO
That’s her favorite non-committal yes. I know it well.
MARINA
Iggy! Don’t give away my poker face. Yes, I’m definitely interested.
MARK
Your proposal was good. It was a little on the small side, but it’s a good start. We’re
aiming higher. We take over distribution. We get you set up with some capital to get
things moving faster. Beef up the PR to bring in higher quality donors and supply the
capital to pay them.
IGNACIO
In exchange for?
MARK
60 percent of the profits starting immediately, not including payback on investment
obviously, and then as soon as you sign on the military contract you go public and we
buy onto the board.
MARINA
15
How soon?
MARK
As soon as we can get your current production rates up by 4000%.
IGNACIO
Jesus Christ.
MARINA
That’s gonna be tough.
MARK
We have deep pockets.
End Scene.
ACT 1 SCENE 2 CONCERNED PARENTS
MARINA in a spot.
MARINA
In the last six months since we were approved for use without a prescription Biolife has
made a difference in the lives of countless Americans young and old. I’m here to talk to
the parents today. Social Pressure and Anxiety is a burden that weighs heaviest on teens.
The rate of school age murders and suicides is higher now than it has ever been. Your
kids watch how reality shows about Superrich Teens on TV and they know they’ll never
have that life. It’s heartbreaking. They see more popular kids win King and Queen at the
Prom. How can the average parent afford anything to make it better? You give them the
ultimate equalizer. You give them a sense of belonging, a feeling of success, happiness,
and hope. You give them Biolife.
Pause.
MARINA
Some Biolife products require a prescription. If you experience light-headedness or
dizziness that lasts more than twenty minutes seek immediate medical care.
Occupy Watchdog.
16
ACT I SCENE 4 CONSPIRACY THEORY
IGNACIO and MARK in the lab.
MARK`1
Are you looking at the numbers?
INGACIO
Yes.
MARK
Well?
IGNACIO
I don’t know what to say. It’s good, but it’s kinda scary.
MARK
That’s why I’m here. I was sent over to help you. We want to step up production.
IGNACIO
I don’t think we can.
MARK
Sure we can.
IGNACIO
Those older donors are getting better, but each time we hire new ones we start from zero
to get them trained up. The teen program is starting soon, but I really don’t know what
else we can do right now?
MARK
You’re the genius who came up with it, and now you’re telling me you aren’t smart
enough to keep up? C’mon Iggy. We have teams of people I can call, scientists who are
on the payroll already, and I can get them on this to find a solution.
IGNACIO
I don’t need more scientists I need more donors. Since we lifted the prescription
requirements use has skyrocketed.
MARK
That was the point. These last six months have been like a dream for the administration.
Our crime rates are down. Even divorce is down. High school suicide rate has dropped
by 15%. Shooting incidences are down by 40%. That’s fucking huge.
IGNACIO
How comprehensive is your study? How did you get the stats on that?
17
MARK
I can get the stats on how many people eat pickles every day if I want. Anybody at my
level can get numbers, but we need solutions to the numbers. We’re seeing a roadblock
up ahead. Don’t tell me you don’t see that based on what I sent over.
IGNACIO
I do… I just thought… I don’t know, I’m really surprised at this. I thought use would
taper off, that we would have peaked by now. I didn’t think it would continue to escalate
like this. Maybe we should go back to prescriptions for the frequent users.
MARK
Why would you do that? This is the first thing that has actually helped our country
believe in something again. Not some bullshit ideal of truth and morality, but believe in
themselves! Iggy, we have got to go full steam ahead. Everybody is happy about this,
but we have a real supply shortage now. I understand you’re having trouble handling all
of it. Anytime something gets this big, it goes beyond the original invent-
IGNACIO
Don’t get any ideas about trying to do this without me. I’m irreplaceable.
MARK
(Takes an injection.)
Then do whatever it is you need to do to get the donations.
IGNACIO
Marina has already been forced to stretch the organic materials farther than I ever thought
she could or should.
MARK
It does the job. I feel better already after taking that. I feel sure that we can find a
solution to this.
IGNACIO
Yes, but there are side effects. There is a serious risk of dependence. Can you imagine
what would happen if it keeps growing and then crashes? There’d be a bunch of
serotonin depleted zombies walking around in withdrawal. They could get violent.
Combine that with the trigger happy police force and we’d all be fucked. I’m not
kidding. I want to make a significant change in society that will last. We need a cleaner
product to do that.
MARK
You never claimed to produce a long term fix. Your doses are meant to give a little burst,
and they do. They do it beautifully. Look, I’m paying for your ads. I’m paying for the
shipping and the donations. So, the least you could do is find a way to stretch it, or
enhance the donation process, start taking more from-
18
IGNACIO
I was told I wouldn’t be interfered with. I was tol-
MARK
Hey Iggy, when were you born?
IGNACIO
What?
MARK
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t yesterday. You signed a contract. In which, it clearly- Fuck the
contract you’re talking to me. I’m your contract. Jesus between you and that bitch I’ve
got my fucking-Fuck. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean Marina, I meant the other- what’s her
name, the lab assistant with the glasses and the attitude. Listen, okay. You know this
isn’t just about you and me right? I have to answer to people that are much higher on the
food chain than either of us. They want some fresh fucking ideas about how to keep this
going. Our vets need it. Hell, I feel about a thousand times better since I started doing it.
I’m more efficient. I sleep at night. I haven’t slept this good since I was in high school.
IGNACIO
We can’t meet the demand, and if we use everything we have left things will crash. I
need more facilities starting tomorrow, more donors starting last month.
MARK
Roughly, how much?
IGNACIO
What?
MARK
Jesus Christ you fucking Harvard brain, how much money? How much will it cost us to
get all of that to meet the demand right now?
IGNACIO
We need a stronger ad campaign to encourage people to donate. We need a better
incentive program.
MARK
What you need is money, lots of it.
IGNACIO
No, what I need is time and people.
MARK
19
That’s money. It always comes down to money. I swear to god I’m gonna fuckin kill
you Iggy. Don’t you understand how important this is? You’re acting like the stock
market is stable and nobody is listening to us. Smarten up man.
IGNACIO
I have no idea how much it would cost to build a new lab and create a money structure to
pay all the new donors. The demand is continuously multiplying. You’re asking me to
make an insane projection based on a moving target. I’m not stockbroker. I’m a
scientist.
MARK
Think bigger and bolder. How many trillion do you need to make this happen? Fuck
man I can tell you approximately how many trillion it takes to set up a colony on the
fucking Moon. So what? You need 300 million? You need a Billion and a half? For the
facilities and the staff, and then I don’t know- double that number for the donors. Those
numbers don’t scare me and the alternative is not affordable.
A beat.
Shit, you know how much it would cost to pay for free collage education for every person
who wanted to go? You wanna know how much it would cost to give free food to every
obese fat fuck who eats their way out of misery? You know the how high the figure
would be to make every farm in America organic? How many people would have to get
on board to sign on for that? Never. It will never happen!
(Laughs.)
You have any idea of how much rehab costs? Not just your run of the mill AA meeting
but a nice one, a nice spa where they do your nails and give you back rubs and shit?
That’s a hundred and fifty thousand per! And they always fucking relapse when they
come out of those places. Now, This Shit. Your shit, it works! People are happy. They
don’t complain, and they are Productive! You get that man? They are happy, productive,
members of society. They take out the garbage, and they open doors. They go to work,
and they fuck their wives. They get a tiny steady paycheck from a shitty menial job that
they don’t know they hate and with it they Pay Their Taxes, and that- THAT my friend is
the Fucking Name of the Fucking Game!
(Pause.)
So, how much do you need?
IGNACIO
Mark, I swear to god I’m not trying to fuck with you. I don’t need money, I need people,
countless hordes… masses… for what you’re talking about I need the population of an
entire state… Like, I don’t know… Nebraska. I would need all of Nebraska hooked up.
MARK
(Takes another injection. Wipes his face and thinks
for beat.)
I know where to get’em. You know where there’s a lot of people? People who are just
dying for a second chance? Who would be willing to get hooked up? Current
20
incarceration is well over two million. Hell, Nebraska only has one point eight. I can get
Nebraska plus Los Vegas… Prison population is the size of Nevada.
IGNACIO
That’s not even remotely ethical. We can’t force them to donate.
MARK
No, no, no. Who said anything about forcing? We can incentivize donation. Make it an
early release program.
IGNACIO
That’s still not ethical. They aren’t free people. The FDA might get on board, but not
the Watchdogs.
MARK
The Watchdogs want to get folks outta prison. Well, here’s their shot… It’s a fresh idea.
IGNACIO
I’m not saying no, but if we can get these teen donors really excited and we can get them
trained, then we’ll have a young, fresh, endless supply, a voluntary supply. And they
don’t cost much.
MARK
Prisoners are free.
IGNACIO
Let’s try the teens first. We’ve got the whole Prom Program we just started.
MARK
We don’t have a lot of time to fuck around. I want put out some feelers. I know a guy at
Rikers Island… Unless you want to start donating more frequently. That would certainly
buy us some time. I know Marina is sensitive about it so I haven’t brought it up.
IGNACIO
She’s protecting me.
MARK
I know that, but what do you think? Can you do it more?
IGNACIO
I’m sure I can, but convincing her it’s safe is another thing.
MARK
We’ll tell her it’s just for a little while. Just until we’re up to quota. And then we can
take Biolife public. Once we’re public you, me, Marina… the company will have as
much as we need to pay for as many donors as we need.
21
IGNACIO
Okay. Sounds good.
Lights down.
ACT1 SCENE 3 COMERCIAL #2 PROM NIGHT FUN
VANESSA
Hi, I’m Vanessa. BIOLIFE sponsored Prom Queen from Central South High School.
Being Prom Queen was the best thing that ever happened to me.
BAXTER
Hi, I’m Baxter. BIOLIFE sponsored Prom King from Central South High. Being Prom
King was the most fun I ever had.
VANESSA
The reason our night was so great is because BIOLIFE made it awesome!
BAXTER
They paid for all of it. My Tux.
VANESSA
My dress.
BAXTER
The limmo.
VANESSA
The champagne.
BAXTER
Everybody should get to have this.
VANESSA
King and Queen
The magic dream
22
BAXTER
Yours for a night
Why not tonight?
VANESSA
A perfect dress and hair and shoes
All your friends gathered around you
BAXTER
Fancy cars and Flashing lights
My tux was cut to fit just right
VANESSA
My mom has never been so proud
BAXTER
Dad and my brother gave me high fives all around
VANESSA
The best night of my life
BAXTER
And it can be yours too
BAXTER and VANESSA

With Biolife
MARINA’s VOICE
Biolife products designed for teen do not require a prescription.
Occupy Watchdog.
23
ACT 1 SCENE 7 PROM DONATION
The Lab.
IGNACIO
C’mon in guys. We’re expecting you.
BAXTER
Um, we we’re here-
VANESSA
-To donate.
IGNACIO
How was the commercial shoot?
VANESSA
Loved it. I felt like a star.
BAXTER
It was cool.
VANESSA
Oh my god! You’re the Biolife woman! My mom loves you.
MARINA
Your mom doesn’t know me. I do our ads, yes. I’m also the co-inventor. You look
really young. Are you both 18?
VANESSA
Yeah. We’re 18.
BAXTER
I’ve got my id if you need to see it.
IGNACIO
That won’t be necessary.
VANESSA
I don’t know what you need but, I have to be back before 2:00. I have a test on voting
laws and my teacher’s not excusing me I can’t fail voting laws. No offense, but I’m not
going to jail for BIOLIFE.
MARK enters.
BAXTER
24
I have practice at three so I gotta be gone by 2:30. Playoff game this weekend so I can’t
miss practice.
IGNACIO
You won’t be in any kind of shape for that after you donate.
MARK
We’ll give you a note and you’ll be excused from practice today. I promise you won’t
get into any trouble. I’m Mark Chrysler. I’m with the NSF, that’s the government’s
branch connected to Science Research. I’m the Biolife Division Director for the IOS.
This is Dr. Ignacio Lawson and Dr. Marina Rivera. They’re going to be taking your
Prom Donation today. I’m monitoring the process to make sure it goes well.
IGNACIO
You’ll be performing a valuable service by donating today. We want kids all over
America to experience what you got to have.
BAXTER
It was pretty sweet.
VANESSA
I had a great time.
MARK
Did you like the limo?
BAXTER
Yeah dude. I thought those big stretches were illegal. Nobody at Prom could believe it
when we showed up.
MARK
Well, we got special permission to use it. Your prom was considered a charity event and
you guys are kind of celebrities for a night so you get special privileges.
MARINA
So, guys this is going to be really easy. We’ll just get you set up at the table over here.
Go ahead and sit down.
They all go to the table. MARINA hooks

up VANESSA and BAXTER throughout the next
bit of dialogue.
IGNACIO
So what we want is for you guys to tell us all about Prom. We want you to relive the
night for us. Start with waiting to hear your names announced, and then go all the way
through the end of the night. Don’t leave anything out.
25
BAXTER
I… Well, I mean I didn’t know I was gonna have to report my uh…
VANESSA
Yeah, my mom watches Bio-life ads, everybody watches’em so… Like… I’m not
gonna…
BAXTER
No way.
MARINA
No, no it’s not like that. What you say here doesn’t go into the ads. Consider this like a
confessional.
MARK
This is totally confidential. Trust me, nobody will ever hear what you say in here.
IGNACIO finishes hooking up BAXTER.
BAXTER
Ouch.
IGNACIO
Sorry. It only hurts for a second. Does it still hurt?
BAXTER
It’s okay now.
BAXTER sits on a chair at the table.
IGNACIO
(To Vanessa.)
You Ready?
VANESSA
Sure.
INGACIO does VANESSA’S final hook up.
VANESSA
Fuck!
IGNACIO
Pinch my hand.
VANESSA
26
Really?
MARINA
Go ahead. He can take it.
VANESSA pinches his hand.
IGNACIO
Feel better?
VANESSA
Yeah.
VANESSA sits at her chair at the table.
MARK
We have a special bonus on offer.
BAXTER
We already got the money.
VANESSA
I spent mine on my dress and shoes, and hair and-
MARK
You received your nomination money. Everyone on the homecoming court got that, but
(She pulls out two envelopes from a folder.)
Both of you get a bonus for winning.
(Hands them over.)
MARK
That money is yours. You’re parents have no access to it. Both of you are eighteen.
VANESSA
Holy shit!
BAXTER
For real?
MARK
It’s not what a regular donor gets because we paid for your Prom, but it’s just a little
bonus prize money to say Thank You for donating. If you become a regular donor then
you’ll get ten times that amount and if you become a star donor you can earn up to fifty
times that. Your pay increases with frequency so the less time you take between
donations the more money you make. We need donors don’t we Iggy?
27
VANESSA and BAXTER open the envelopes.
IGNACIO
Yes we do, Mark. I think Marina and I can take it from here.
MARK
That’s okay. I’ll stick around.
VANESSA
Oh my god.
MARINA
And you know, you’ll remember it all, but it just won’t feel the same later.
MARK
It’ll go a lot faster if you don’t leave anything out.
BAXTER
(In reference to the money.)
I’ll tell you anything you wanna know.
VANESSA
Me too.
IGNACIO
Great. And as we said, this is just here for us. No-one will hear what you’ve said.
MARK gives himself an injection.
VANESSA
Is this gonna hurt? They said it wouldn’t hurt.
IGNACIO
No, it doesn’t hurt at all. You’ll be a little tired afterwards, but it’s not painful. You guys
are doing a good thing. You’re helping a lot of other kids who can’t have the opportunity
to go to prom, much less be a king or queen.
IGNACIO
What I’ll do is ask you questions about the night. You answer them with as much detail
as you can. Let yourself get excited. Go back to that point in time and relive it.
VANESSA
That’s it?
IGNACIO
28
(Turns on the machines. The red lights come on.)

That’s it.
BAXTER
Sounds easy enough.
IGNACIO
It’s real easy. Trust me. I do this everyday. Marina, I think we’re ready.
(Pulls out his palm pilot and scrolls through it.
Reads from his palm pilot.)
MARINA
Their vitals look strong. You can start any time.
IGNACIO
What was it like waiting to hear your names announced?
BAXTER
Well, I didn’t think I was gonna win. I mean I thought I might win, but I wasn’t like
counting on it.
VANESSA
I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t won. That would’ve sucked.
IGNACIO
That’s exactly why we’re here. So as you were standing there waiting what we’re you
feeling?
The red lights go out and the green lights come on

little by little.
VANESSA
Nervous.
BAXTER
Excited. My stomach was doing flip flops.
VANESSA
Mine too.
BAXTER and VANESSA reach across the table

and hold hands. The green lights spike.
BAXTER
When they said Baxter Markson I was amped. I just ran up there like, ‘Hey!!!’
(Releases VANESSA’S hand.)
29
VANESSA’S green lights go down a little.
VANESSA
I was really happy for him, but I was just waiting.
BAXTER
They put the crown on my head and gave me this big staff.
BAXTER’S lights climb.
VANESSA
And then they announced
(Her lights climb.)
The Queen. I started crying and everything. This is the first year I was even nominated.
I mean, I’ve never even been on the court before. So, I was…
(Her lights climb higher.)
BAXTER takes VANESSA’S hand. Both of their

lights climb.
IGNACIO
And how did it feel being on the stage like that with all of your friends looking up at you?
VANESSA
It was amazing. I…
(Her lights almost max out, and then she feels the
drain of the machine.)
I…
(Her green lights go down but not off.)
Is this normal?
MARINA
Try to ignore it. Just go on.
BAXTER
When the car showed up…
(His lights climb.)
Everybody ran out and wanted to get in it.
IGNACIO
Each of you go to pick ten friends right?
VANESSA
It was awesome.
30
(Her lights climb back up.)

I got to stand there and just be like, Stacey, Cara, Emily, Denise, Janice, Kristy, Monica,
Rachel, Joanna, Erin.
BAXTER
I let some of the other guys have a look inside. But my best friends already knew who
was coming. I had that all worked out before.
IGNACIO
How much champagne did you finish?
VANESSA
Uh…
Both Baxter and VANESSA’S green lights go

down.
MARK
Hey, we aren’t here to get you in trouble. We bought the champagne. Everybody knows
that you guys drank. We would’ve have bought it if we didn’t want you to drink it.
BAXTER
I polished off a bottle by myself.
(His lights go back up.)
Trevor had two, but he’s a big guy.
VANESSA
(Her lights climb.)
I had a couple glasses, but I didn’t want to puke so I held back.
IGNACIO
And when you guys got to your party suite, what did you think?
VANESSA
(Her lights spike again.)
It was so beautiful! There was a Jacuzzi and more champagne, and everybody was like
‘Oh my God!’
BAXTER
There was a TV covering an entire wall. It was the wall, not on the wall. The wall.
(He starts to feel the pull of the machine.)
I… The party was…
MARINA
Just try to ignore it. You guys are both doing great.
31
IGNACIO
The party was fun right?
BAXTER
The party was crazy! Everybody was dancing.
VANESSA
We worked out a little routine, me and my girls. And we did it, and it was perfect.
BAXTER
It was pretty sweet.
VANESSA
We worked on it for a long time, and we knew one of us was gonna win, but we didn’t
know who so all the girls on the court decided to just practice it and no matter who won
we would do the dance together.
IGNACIO
At the end of the night when everybody left to go to their own rooms, were you guys
nervous to be left alone?
BAXTER
Whatever, I wasn’t nervous. Vanessa’s hot.
(His lights spike.)
VANESSA
I’ve known Baxter for four years. We… didn’t.
BAXTER
Yeah we did.
VANESSA
Baxter!
(Her green lights go down.)
BAXTER
You know I like you.
VANESSA
I… Look I don’t really want to talk about it to you.
MARINA
What if we left so they can just talk about it alone. They can relive it together. We don’t
need to listen.
(To Vanessa and Baxter.)
Would that be easier if we just stepped over here and you whispered it to each other?
32
VANESSA
A Beat.
Yeah. A lot.
IGNACIO
That’s fine with me. We’re not trying to listen in, but we need you to take us through the
night step by step okay?
BAXTER
I’m cool with that.
MARINA
Guys, let’s just stand over here and let them talk quietly among themselves.
MARK
Okay, but you guys, you can’t leave anything out. I’m serious about that.
VANESSA
We won’t.
IGNACIO, MARK and MARINA cross to the other

part of the lab.
BAXTER
How you feeling?
BAXTER leans over and kisses Vanessa and her
lights max out and fall again after the kiss.
VANESSA
Better.
(She looks around, unsure who she is talking to, but
continues.)
Okay, so, everybody left. And you and I thought we should fill up the Jacuzzi.
BAXTER
We got another glass of champagne.
VANESSA
Bubbles for bubbles.
IGNACIO
(Quietly.)
Just based on the readings from what they’ve done so far, this isn’t going very well.
MARINA
33
(Quietly.)
I noticed that.
BAXTER
You took your hair down.
VANESSA
You took your shirt off.
They lean in and kiss again. The lights max out

again. This time they both feel the pull of the
machine.
MARINA
(Quietly.)
Are they making out?
VANESSA
(She feels sick. Her green lights go down. Calls
out.)
I don’t know if I can do this.
MARINA
You guys are done as far as I’m concerned.
MARK
I really need a bit more.
MARINA
No, I think that’s enough.
IGNACIO
It’s not enough. Marina, we-
MARK
These guys are doing great! You’re all doing great. I wouldn’t have written that big fat
check if I thought you guys were gonna bail out early. We made a deal remember? You
can’t leave anything out.
MARINA takes an injection.
MARINA
If you guys are okay with it, then I’m okay with it.
BAXTER
I could go on if I had to.
34
IGNACIO
Great. We’ve already got orders to fill on this.
MARK
You guys are doing a really good thing here. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.
IGNACIO
Vanessa, why don’t you let Baxter talk and you can just remember how it was. We’re
almost done. Remember, this donation you’re making today will give lots of other kids
the chance to have a night like yours.
VANESSA
Okay.
BAXTER
(Squeezes her hand.)
So, we started fooling around in the hot tub.
(His lights go up.)
And then we…
Both of their lights go up, and they feel the pull of

the machine. VANESSA gets dizzy.
VANESSA
I don’t feel good.
BAXTER
Neither do I. I feel kinda sick.
MARK
You’ll be fine.
IGNACIO
Just little bit more guys. The machine knows how much it can take from you. The
machine will beep when it’s time to stop. So, you guys had sex in the hot tub?
BAXTER
Uh… yeah?
IGNACIO
You don’t have to tell us, just tell each other how it was.
VANESSA looks out and then looks at her check.

She leans into Baxter and whispers in his ear. We
can’t hear what she is saying. Both of their lights
35
max out. They feel the pull of the machine but keep
going. BAXTER whispers in her ear back, and rubs
her arm to comfort her. VANESSA gets dizzy
again.
VANESSA
(She grabs BAXTER’S arm.)
Oh shit.
Just then her lights turn red and the machine beeps
loudly. All the lights on her machine flash. It
stops draining her. She has her head down.
BAXTER
You okay? Nessa? Hey… you…
BAXTER’S green lights spike while he strokes her

arm and then he starts to get woozy. The lights go
red start to go red few seconds later his machine
beeps to indicate it is done also. Both VANESSA
and BAXTER are drained. MARINA and
IGNACIO help them up.
MARK
That’s it guys. You’re done. You did a great job. Now it’s all over.
MARINA
You feel okay?
VANESSA
I feel like crap. I’m really dizzy.
IGNACIO
It means that lots of kids will get to have what you did. Everyone will get to have a Prom
like yours.
BAXTER
It was okay, but it wasn’t great. It wasn’t worth what we just did just now.
IGNACIO
Trust me you guys had a lot of fun… You guys should watch the commercial.
BAXTER
I feel like throwing up.
MARINA
36
I’ll get a bucket just in case.
VANESSA
I think I’m gonna pass out. I’m just gonna put my head down for a bit.
VANESSA puts her head down. MARINA sets a

bucket in front of BAXTER and then looks at the
machine. It’s not good.
MARINA
Guys?
MARINA, MARK and IGNACIO cross so they are

not next to the Prom King and Prom Queen. They
speak so the Prom Kids can’t hear them.
MARINA Cont.
That was terrible. There’s barely enough here to make 500 doses.
IGNACIO
That’s it?
MARINA
They don’t have enough complexity.
MARK
They seemed to feel whatever they were feeling, happy, excited, all of that, they were
feeling a lot of it.
IGNACIO
You have to go through a range of emotions in order to produce something we can
extract. Let’s say you’re sad and then you’re happy, Sad is point A and Happy is point B.
For us to collect point B we need the entire electrochemical journey from A to B. It’s
like climbing a mountain and starting three inches from the top, you don’t have anywhere
to go. The body doesn’t make anything.
MARINA
We even went to schools with kids who have a bad socioeconomic background to see if
that would help expand their appreciation of all the stuff we got for them, but what we
did to these kids emotionally is like winning the lottery versus being a self-made
billionaire. It’s not the same thing. You can’t trick the brain like that.
IGNACIO
I don’t think it’s gonna be any better with the other kids. They’re just kids.
MARK
37
I’ll make that call to my guy Rikers Island.
IGNACIO
Okay, let’s do it.
MARINA
Excuse me? What are you talking about?
IGNACIO
Mark wants to try having some prisoners donate. Early release program.
MARK
One thing’s for sure… They know how deep and dark the valley is.
Lights down
I-4
TAKE 1
MARINA
We’ve all done things that made us feel good about ourselves. We’ve gotten that
promotion, finished that project, scaled that mountain. Here at Biolife we’re looking for
new donors to come and share their stories with us, to share their happiness with the
world. We’re offering a competitive pay structure for minimal time. By becoming a
regular Biolife donor we promise you will be both lining your pockets and contributing to
a better world. What job gives you the sense of knowing, without a doubt, that you will
be saving lives? All donors can earn up to a 1000 dollars per donation, and for special
qualified donors, our star donor program, you can earn up to 50,000 dollars in just six
months. Please come to one of our locations and get tested to see if you qualify for the
star donor program today. Biolife can change your life.
Pause.
BIOLIFE is a life enhancement product approved by the FDA and the #1 Respected
Consumer Advocacy Group, Occupy Watchdog.
38
I-5
PIZZA SLUT
IGNACIO is on a cell phone and MARINA is

ravenously eating pizza.
IGNACIO
(On his phone.)
Hey, that fine. I’m not saying don’t get it. Of course, get the cake, yes, get the cake. I
just have to make sure… I just need to make sure I’m aware of where the budget is.
We’re over the original plan by a lot. I’m not saying don’t do it, but
Looks at MARINA who is politely ignoring this
hemorrhaging of cash.
Yes, just keep me updated on the new totals… Of course I’m excited. It’s your big day!
Yeah, I got my tux all fitted… Marina went for her fitting too…
Looks back to MARINA who makes a face.
She loves the dress. She said she loves the blue… I mean, teal, yeah, she said she can’t
wait and she wishes she could do the bachelorette party,
MARINA shakes her head no!!
but we’re a little swamped at work. She’s really sorry about that.
MARINA
(Calls out.)
Sorry Dani!! Have a blast! I’ll see you next week at the resort!
IGNACIO
(On phone.)
We can’t wait! It’s gonna be amazing. Okay… Love you too. Bye kiddo.
Hangs up and comes back to the table.
I don’t even want to tell you how much the cake costs.
MARINA
I don’t want to know so- whatever- I’m not saying anything. I’m just eating. I’m
starving. Why aren’t you eating? You love the Brooklyn Special.
IGNACIO
I’m not that hungry. It does make you a little nauseous the more you do it. I feel sort of
hollow.
MARINA
You said you were fine. I knew I shouldn’t’ve agreed to let you donate so much.
IGNACIO
Don’t have a cardiac. I’m fine. I’m just saying I’m not so hungry.
MARK enters.
39
MARK
I have good news.
IGNACIO
Thank god.
MARINA
How’s it going with the guys a Riker’s?
MARK
Awesome. Donations are up to Quota. Time to go public!
MARINA
Wow.
IGNACIO
How are you making that happen?
MARK
Hey, did my pizza get here yet?
IGNACIO
No. Just ours.
MARINA
You wanna piece?
MARK
No. That looks like the Brooklyn special. I don’t like red peppers. I’m getting the
Wednesday special. Schrooms galore.
MARINA
When did you order?
MARK
Ten minutes ago. I thought it would be waiting for me.
IGNACIO
Mark. Fucking stop. Who gives a shit about your pizza? How are you getting those
numbers?
PIZZA SLUT ROBOT enters carrying a pie. She

brings it over to the table while speaking.
PIZZA SLUT ROBOT
40
Thank you for choosing Pizza Slut

Where we’ll do anything except
Fuck
Up
Your order
We’ll make your crust thin
Or stuff it with cheese for those of you with a double chin-
MARINA
Hey, Pizza Slut. Shut up.
PIZZA SLUT VOICE

Sorry. We have to say the promotional add every time we drop a pie.
MARK
I take it this the Wednesday special?
PIZZA SLUT VOICE

Just how you like it is how we do it.
MARK
That’ll be all then.
PIZZA SLUT VOICE

Anything to suck on?
MARK
(Gets out a small silver flask.)
Brought my own.
PIZZA SLUT VOICE

The Pizza Slut franchise would prefer Pizza Slut customers to refrain-
MARK
Hey, Pizza Slut. Shut up.
MARK starts to eat his pizza.

MARINA doses herself.
IGNACIO
(To MARINA.)
What did you take just then?
MARINA
It’s a cocktail.
41
IGNACIO
Of what?
MARINA
It’s just a blend…
IGNACIO
You seem to be doing it a lot lately.
MARINA
Not more than usual.
MARK
Don’t you believe in the program?
IGNACIO
Yeah, for other people.
MARINA
That’s getting a little smug.
IGNACIO
No, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… I just don’t see why you’re doing it so much.
MARINA
It’s not like it’s bad for me. I could be having a drink with lunch, right Mark?
MARK
Or two, but I try to stick with just one.
MARINA
No offense.
MARK
None taken sweetheart.
IGNACIO
So you weren’t feeling good?
MARINA
No, I felt fine, but I wanted to focus. I know we need to strategize so I’m prepping. I
could’ve had a coffee too, but I would rather not. I know exactly what’s in this. I made
it.
(Holds up the dosing pen.)
Jesus, what are you the Biolife police now?
42
IGNACIO
I thought it was like a once a while kind of thing, but you doing it every day. Everybody
is doing it a lot. We can’t keep up.
MARK
I just said we are up to Quota. We’re keeping up. You can relax.
MARINA
(Pause and then quietly.)
I feel great. Can we focus please?
IGNACIO
This isn’t supposed to be like getting high, it’s supposed to make your life better.
MARK
I don’t see why you’re giving her a hard time for using what she created.
MARINA
(Getting up.)
I’m going to the bathroom.
MARINA gets up from the booth and exits.

Mark gives himself two injections with the same
small pen, but turns the dial a bit in between.
MARK
I’d be happy to tell you what that was. It was a blend of social ease, which is confidence
and satisfaction. I felt like I had to have some, because you give off a ‘holier than thou’
fucking attitude that’s starting to rub me the wrong way.
IGNACIO
What have I ever done to you? Other than save your ass in the field and now you’re
gonna get rich of my memories.
MARK
You didn’t save my ass. You did your job, and then, as I recall, you fucking quit. There
was a lot more fighting to be done after you walked away.
IGNACIO
That wasn’t fighting. That’s the shit that stops you from sleeping at night. Why do you
think I wanted to get rid of all those memories in the first place?
MARK
I don’t get you. You look down on everybody who uses Biolife, but you’re the supplier.
IGNACIO
43
That’s bullshit.
MARK
I’ve never see you use it.
IGNACIO
It would be stupid to take my own emotions.
MARK
You get off on it though don’t you?
IGNACIO
Get off on what?
MARK
Donating.
IGNACIO
No I don’t. It’s hard. I’m completely tapped out at the end of it, and lately half the time I
puke after I donate, because I’m so wrecked.
MARK
This is me buddy, me, Mark. The guy who went through basic with you, the guy who
served side by side with you.
IGNACIO
I’m not hiding anything.
MARK
You love being the most badass guy. You fuckin love it. Everybody else wants to go
back to base, but you want to keep going. It’s like you’re winning the game and you
have a time out left, but you don’t want to use it. Everybody else wants to use it because
we’re tired, but not you. Nope. We all want to tap out and breathe, sleep for a night,
fuck somebody, be a person, be a fucking person instead of a machine.
IGNACIO
I am a person. You’re just being as asshole.
MARK
So what if I’m an asshole. I am who I am, which more than I can say for you.
IGNACIO
What the hell does that even mean?
MARK doses himself again.
44
MARK
That means I say what I mean and I mean what I say. It means I’m not saying anything
just to make myself feel something so I can jerk off over my own emotions for the
machine. It means I mean what I fuckin say.
MARINA comes back from the bathroom.
MARINA
So let’s talk about going Public. We could really use the money right about now.
IGNACIO
I don’t think it’s a good idea. I don’t know how you’re getting all those donations.
MARK
That little unit we set up is running pretty much 24 hours a day. I want to get in some
more machines, but regardless of that, we’re ready, and we need to start kicking back
some more money to the guys at Rikers, and I don’t mean the donors. I mean the
company that runs the place. We need to start profit sharing and we gotta start paying the
guards for overtime and bonuses.
IGNACIO
Once we get the money from going Public we can start paying for premium donors and
cut back on the prisoners.
MARINA
You were all for the Prisoner Program a minute ago now you want to pay for premium
donors instead?
IGNACIO
With all the kick-backs it doesn’t sounds cheaper.
MARK
It’s a lot cheaper.
IGNACIO
It’s ethically questionable. It’s one thing to do it right now, but once we have the
funding-
MARK
It’s going really well over there. Obviously if we found a way to increase the output on
each person, and I thought you guys were working on that?
MARINA
I’m working on it, but so far I haven’t found the answer yet, and it’s hard to test it
because every donation is so valuable I haven’t wanted to play around that much with the
process.
45
MARK
Why don’t we bring someone from the women’s prison over to our lab. If she’s a non-
violent offender I’m sure they-
IGNACIO
Um… My lab.
MARINA
Our lab.
MARK
Yeah, our lab. I’m pretty sure I’m a fuckin partner at this point. I streamlined the
distribution, I got the insurance companies to play ball, and I got us a real usable
population of donors. I think it’s time to let me and Uncle Sam buy a seat at this table.
IGNACIO
We’re not ready. I don’t want us running off the prison population.
MARINA
What’s the alternative? We hook you up all day and milk you like a cow until you have
nothing left of your childhood? Is that what you would prefer? Or do you want to start
using memories from when we met?
IGNACIO
No, Marina, I just mean that-
MARINA
You don’t always have to be the hero Iggy. Your great sacrifice is noted, but nobody is
asking you to make it. You’re taking it on yourself to do this and it’s not necessary.
PIZZA SLUT enters.
PIZZA SLUT
Hi would you like me to wrap up anything to go? Nothing beats a hot slice of pie late at
night.
MARINA
Pizza slut, really, do you have to say it like that?
PIZZA SLUT
It’s my job honey. We all gotta work.
MARK
I like it. It’s like being at Hooters, except the food is better and you get to say, Hey Pizza
Slut, Shut Up!
46
PIZZA SLUT
So I take it that’s a no on the slice to go?
IGNACIO
None for me thanks.
(To Marina and Mark.)
I just think that we’re moving fast on this.
PIZZA SLUT exits.
MARK
You didn’t have a problem moving fast until I wanted a seat at the table. I told you this
moment would arrive. I know you’ve got a lot on your mind. You’re stressed out about
your sister’s wedding and you have to pay for all of it cuz your dad is-
IGNACIO
Don’t talk about my father.
MARK
Jesus Iggy. You’re acting like I’m the enemy. I’m the guy who graduated basic with
you. I know your father is-
MARINA
Dani’s wedding is pretty much taking over ever spare moment. Can we all please get on
the same side? We all want the same thing. I’ll call our lawyer and we can get started on
the paperwork to take us public. I gotta get back to the lab and check on the new batch of
appreciation. You guys comin?
IGNACIO
I wanna go for a run before we go back. I need to clear my head.
MARK
Weird that after eating pizza you would want to go for a run… Typical Iggy.
MARINA
He’s always running.
MARK
More true than you know.
IGNACIO
I had my reasons for leaving the army.
MARINA
Reasons that I agree with. Why are you bringing this up-
47
IGNACIO
It’s okay. He wants to pick a fight. He’s in a mood. I’m not a deserter. I didn’t leave
the team, I left the army. You aughtta know what it cost me and every single one of us.
How dare you even suggest-
MARK
What? That you’re not actually a hero.
IGNACIO
I didn’t ask for those medals.
MARK
You don’t get to keep’em when you go AWAL.
IGNACIO
Medical Discharge.
MARK
Yeah… medical. You’re in really poor health. We can all tell you’re unfit for service.
IGNACIO
I grew a conscience. It took up some space in my brain. I couldn’t aim so well after that.
Everyone is fuckin mess now. Look at you. Take another injection why don’t you?
MARK
Your shit doesn’t work. I just took some and it hasn’t done a thing for me.
IGNACIO
You’re the one who wanted to stretch it. There you go. It’s stretched.
MARINA
You’re using too much Mark. It’s not the dose. You’re just-
MARK
Marina, pardon me, but you’re batches are shit lately and I know it’s not your fault. We
needed to get up to quota and Iggy here is too much of a pussy to donate more-
IGNACIO
Go fuck yourself Mark. I’m done here.
IGNACIO gets up.
MARK
You got somethin you wanna do? I’m guessing no. Saving it for your donations is more
likely. That’s all you’re good for. Can’t do a damn thing else aside from reliving your
past glories for the machine-
48
MARINA
You have no idea how hard it is for him to do those-
MARK
Yeah… it’s so rough for him. Meanwhile the rest of us are actually on the front lines.
While he’s jerking off over his former glories you’re the one who’s actually working on a
new formula. I’m dealing with the insurance reps all fucking day. It’s my contacts at
Rikers. I’m the one who has to answer for this if it all falls apart.
IGNACIO
I don’t have to listen to this. C’mon Mari.
MARINA
Yeah, let’s go.
IGNACIO and MARINA gather their stuff to leave.
MARK
Don’t worry, I’ll pay the check too. See you at the office.
IGGY and MARINA exit.

End Scene.
COMMERCIAL 4
MARINA
Have you ever felt rejected? Out of place? Socially awkward? You’re not alone.
Everybody feels that way sometimes. Now, you could go and get a prescription for a pill
which you would have to take everyday, even when you don’t need it. Or, you could
give yourself a dose of self-confidence when you need it most. Biolife isn’t the answer to
all your problems, but it can help you find the answer. When I started Biolife I had a fear
of public speaking. Now I’m our spokeswoman.
Takes an injection.
I barely even need these anymore.
End Scene.
49
ACT 1 SCENE 4 DADDY ISSUES
IGNACIO and MARINA in the lab. He is getting

ready to donate. She is getting ready to take his
donation.
MARINA
Are you sure about doing this so soon?
IGNACIO
I’m definitely sure. We’ve been playing it too safe.
MARINA
We’ll just consider this a trial run to see if we can up the frequency without it taking a
toll on you.
IGNACIO
I don’t want to end up dependent on Mark’s connection at Rikers. If I can double my
own output, just for now, it’ll buy us some time to train-
MARINA
We’re all under stress right now. You need to take care of yourself.
IGNACIO
We just four days off for Dani’s wedding.
MARINA
That wasn’t resting. You were running your ass off the entire time.
MARINA starts taking his pulse.
IGNACIO
I know… I know that… I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.
MARINA
(Pause, until she is done taking IGNACIO’S pulse.)
I still can’t believe your dad didn’t show up.
IGNACIO
She acted like it didn’t bother her, but I know she was hoping he’d at least call.
MARINA
And he didn’t send a gift either. I thought for sure he’d at least-
IGNACIO
Not even a card. He stands behind religion as his objection to the whole thing.
50
MARINA
Looked like a Jewish wedding to me.
IGNACIO
That’s cuz you’re not Jewish. They broke the glass and did the Hora, but it wasn’t really
Jewish. Our mother converted orthodox so our parents had an officially Jewish wedding,
but that didn’t make it filled with love. It just made it harder to get a divorce. None of us
are religious anymore. He’s not even religious anymore. That was just an excuse for him
to get out of paying for it. It’s bullshit. I’m more Jewish than our father. Ever heard of a
Jewish father who didn’t pay for his daughter’s wedding?
MARINA
Sweetheart, we should get started. This is all… usable.
IGNACIO
Sure. I’m a well that never runs dry with this shit.
MARINA
Don’t think of it like that. You have a gift.
IGNACIO
More like a curse. Family issues and guilt.
MARINA
How about today we focus on a sense of triumph, perseverance, righteousness, and some
success?
IGNACIO
The exact polar opposite of where we start. You’re good. I gotta say, you know you’re
methodology.
MARINA
That is true. You ready?
IGNACIO
Just a sec.
(IGNACIO crosses his fingers and then folds them
over into a fist. It is painful for him to do this.)
Ready.
MARINA attaches something to the base of his

skull.
IGNACIO CONT.
Sssss… Yup.
51
MARINA
You good?
IGNACIO
Yeah.
MARINA
You wanna use a tape today?
IGNACIO
I brought an old email that I printed out. I want to really go for it this time and get the
most out of the donation.
(Pulls out a folded piece of paper from his pocket
and gives it to MARINA.)
MARINA
What is it?
IGNACIO
It’s from my father. It’s from when I left the army. It was the last time I tried to talk to
him… He’s sent me a few emails since this one, but I just put’em in a file. This one is
the last one I bothered to read. I want to get rid of this. I’m happy to use it and then I can
throw it out and I can’t forget it ever happened.
MARINA
(Takes the paper and begins to read it to herself.)
That seems like a good idea. Just give me a minute to read it while you get your heart
rate up.
IGNACIO
Okay.
IGNACIO stretches his shoulders and adjusts the
tubing a little. He picks up one of the stools/chairs
and does bicep curls with it like it’s a bar with
weights on it. He’s elevating his heart rate and
engaging his whole body in the process.
MARINA reads the letter. It’s disturbing.
The Machine flashes/beeps.
MARINA
You ready?
IGNACIO
Anytime.
52
Throughout the speech, IGNACIO lifts harder and

the red lights on the machine climb higher.
MARINA
(Reading from the paper.)
“There is a saying, ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be
acceptable to you.’ My prayer is that you will understand the meditations of my heart. I
love you and want the best for you, but it is not now, nor has it ever been my job to pat
you on the back. It’s my responsibility to tell you what you are doing wrong. That whole
email you sent to me was about nothing but you! I can’t believe how self centered you
are. You didn’t even mention your brothers or sisters. It’s like they don’t exist to you.
It’s normal for a teenager to be self absorbed. At your age you should know the world
doesn’t revolve around you. I could give two shits about your little trips, and adventures.
The Army was the only honorable thing you ever did and you ran away from it. You
haven’t achieved anything with your life. You float around from place to place, no job,
no family, no career. You’re a grown man. I shouldn’t have to be telling you these
things. When are you gonna wake up, and stop living in a fantasy life? This is the real
world, and you can’t just walk around with your head up your ass. Whoever you are
now, you’re not my son.”
Pause.
“My son wouldn’t act like that. A man takes responsibility for himself. If you really
needed help I would send you a ticket to come and live with me so I could have the
chance to straighten you out. Otherwise, you made your bed, sleep in it.”
IGNACIO
(The red lights begin to go out.)
I should have known better than to try to share anything with you. Thanks for thinking of
my situation, but then you never think of anyone but yourself. How you are wronged and
hurt and not given the respect you’ve never earned. It is not my job to tell you about the
relationships that-
(The red lights go off completely and green lights
start to come on.)
I have cultivated with my brothers and sisters despite you. It’s Not my job to share with
you, anything about them which could be used against them, and I know you would twist
whatever I told you to find someway to hurt them. I was Protecting them! If you want
information about my brothers and sisters, then be a father and get it.
Yes, the letter was about me. I wrote it to share with you about my life to attempt to
bridge the huge fucking gulf between us, to let you inside of who I am as a person and to
try to be close to you as a man.
MARINA
You’re doing great.
IGNACIO
53
After everything I saw in the army I knew I couldn’t go back. You always said do what’s
right, and I had to do what I knew was right! I didn’t run away. I made the choice to
leave. I thought you could understand that.
I asked you to share with me about yourself, but as usual you missed that part.
You said it’s not your job to pat your children on the back. Actually It Is!! At least the
army builds you back up again after they tear you down! Tell me dad, how’s Carla?
How’s Jonathan? I COULD TELL YOU in detail how they are, because I’m actually a
part of their lives. I contribute to their wellbeing.
(The green lights continue to climb higher.)
You live a half an hour away from Annalisa. I live in another country, and I talk to her
more than you do. They only contact you out of a sense of filial obligation, but there’s no
love there. They can’t rely on you for anything, but they can rely on me. I’m the one
who is there for them! I actually care about making them happy. They matter to me in
the here and now. I go out of my way to make sure they’re taken care of. I plan for their
future and help them achieve their goals.
I don’t know what I was thinking.
(The green lights abruptly go out and the two red
lights come back on.)
Reaching out to you. I guess I was feeling low, second guessing myself, and I reached
out to the one person who would confirm that. You didn’t let me down there.
MARINA
Iggy? You gotta come back. Look what you’ve done.
IGNACIO
(Looks at Marina and something lifts inside him.
The red lights go off and the green lights begin to
climb again.)
I haven’t wasted my life. I made something of myself. I stood by my sister’s side on her
wedding day. Last week ago, I walked your daughter down the aisle and I’ll do it again
for Dana. I’ll raise a glass to her before she cuts the cake, and I’ll pose with her for the
newspapers. I’ll pay for the wedding and help them buy a home because that’s what a
real father does! Where were you? Hiding behind your false morality.
(The green lights start to go down.)
Sit high on your pretend mountain of righteousness telling yourself what a good father
you are. All the while, you hurl stones down at your children below you!
(The machine is draining him completely.)
MARINA
You aren’t him. You’re a better man than he is or ever will be.
IGNACIO
I’m here doing the real work of being a father. I have a family… I achieved everything
you never could. I’m a success. I have friends, I have a company, I make a difference…
I have someone who loves me…
54
MARINA
Iggy, what are you doing?
IGNACIO
I’m sorry Marina. No… I didn’t mean… I…
IGNACIO collapses and all the lights on the

machine turn flash on and off and the machine
beeps loudly.
MARINA removes device from IGNACIO’s neck.
Shee goes to help him up. IGNACIO is unsteady
on his feet.
MARINA
Are you okay?
IGNACIO
I might throw up.
MARINA
I knew this was too much, too soon.
IGNACIO
I think I need to puke.
MARINA
I’ll get a bucket.
She grabs a wastebasket.
IGNACIO
He slumps down.
I’m gonna sit on the floor…
MARINA holds his head. IGNACIO closes his

eyes.
MARINA
Iggy? Ignacio? Ignacio open your eyes. Come on honey… come back. I know you can
hear me. Come back… You’re so wonderful it scares the crap out of me, because I’m
afraid I’m not enough and I’m too much, but when you kiss me all of that fear goes away.
It’s not about what I am and what I’m not- it’s about what we are to each other. I love
you too much to see you like this. Come back Ignacio.
IGNACIO
Marina?
55
MARINA
Thank god. Iggy, I’m never letting you do this again. I’m taking you to the hospital.
Lights go dark. End of Act One.
II-2
COMMERCIAL MANLY MAN
ACTOR (Baxter)
Has this ever happened to you? You’re walking down the street, it’s late, a cop car rolls
up beside you and starts slowly following you. You want to reach for your phone to call
a friend, you want to reach for your phone to start recording, but you don’t want to make
any sudden moves. You know you need to stay calm if you hope to survive. When
happens to me- I usually feel a mix of things, first I get scared, my heart starts pounding
so loud I can hear it in the back of my ears, and then I feel my blood get hot and the fear
turns to anger. Yeah, I get really fucking pissed off and I wanna grab a baseball bat and
start swinging at that cop car, but I have to keep walking and need to keep my wits about
me in case things get ugly. It’s a lose, lose situation… Nowadays when that happens I
simply press my Biolife thumb trigger and release some calm, some serenity, and some
social ease. This gives me the piece of mind to diffuse the situation and make sure I can
get home safe. These days you can’t be too careful and nobody can afford to lose their
cool when the cops show up. The last thing you want is for some tragedy to happen and
for anyone to say you were asking for it. Protect yourself, protect your sons and
daughters. Protect them from their own feelings of fear, anger and rage. Give them
Biolife and you’ll make sure they get home safe and sound.
Occupy Watchdog.
56
II-3
CHANGE OF HEART
MARK is in the lab with MARINA
MARK
I can’t promise this, but I think it might be possible for me to agree to that.
MARINA
I’m not making an offer and then asking you to negotiate. I’m telling you something
that’s a fact.
MARK
It’s not a fact. It’s a possible future. You’re making a suggestion, a request, about our
business and I’m actually not even being a dick about it. I’m saying I think it’s possible,
down the line, but not yet.
MARINA
That’s not at all what I said. I didn’t say that in another six months or six weeks that
Ignacio would taper off donating. I said he’s not going to donate ever again. It’s not
happening anymore. I’m really concerned about him.
MARK
He’s my friend you know. Just because we got into a fight it doesn’t mean I wish the guy
any harm. I’m glad he’s out of the hospital. I’m not saying he needs to donate today, but
we don’t have enough prisoners enrolled in the program yet. It’s going well, but we still
need-
MARINA
No, fucking, way.
MARK
Maybe when he feels better in a week or-
MARINA
Stop it. Just… He could’ve had a massive hemorrhage, irreparable brain trauma.
MARK
But he’s fine now.
MARINA
I’m not even discussing it with you any farther, because I know that Iggy knows he’s not
doing it again and that’s final. That’s fact.
MARK
We’ll see. I would like that to be the case, okay? I really would, but it’s not realistic
right now.
57
MARINA
Tell me about the prison program. Why aren’t we up to capacity yet with that?
MARK
I’ve been holding down the entire fort while you played Florence Nightingale, so you’ll
forgive me if I haven’t reached been able to reach your projections with two thirds of the
office out on medical leave.
MARINA
It’s not medical leave. This isn’t the army.
MARK
Um… It is a government office now. You are an in house branch and as such I expect a
little more respect.
MARINA
Oh god, take a dose for fucks sake. I’ve had real problems to deal with.
MARK
You call getting over 6000 prisoners enrolled into an experimental early release program
a fake thing? You call getting them hooked up, trained up, and donating twice a week on
schedule a fake thing?
MARINA
No. I’m sorry Mark. I’m not trying to disrespect what you’ve accomplished. You’ve
done a great job.
MARK
Well thank you. It’s about time you noticed.
MARINA
I’ve been a little busy.
MARK
Me too.
MARINA
How can I help the program get up to where we need-
IGNACIO enters.
IGNACIO
Hi guys. How’s it going?
MARK
58
Good. Better now. You’re lookin good buddy. Some time off did you good.
IGNACIO
Yeah, I was getting a little burnt out, but I’m feeling back to myself again.
MARK
Great, cuz we need you.
MARINA
Not this…
MARK
How are you really?
IGNACIO
I’m good. I am.
MARK
We’re almost caught up with the shortage. Well, almost as in not really far, but…
IGNACIO
(Referring to the paperwork.)
These profits are off the charts. We’re actually in the black. Are we’re not paying them
anything?
MARK
Sort of. I mean no, they get paid a small fee that they can access only on their eventual
release, but they get reduced sentences, more freedoms, more rights to educational
opportunities. The expense hits us on the profit sharing with the corporations who own
the different prisons where we’ve got our program up and running.
IGNACIO
How is this considered rehabilitation?
MARK
For one thing, it’s definitely community service and it forces them to value empathy, to
value the struggles of others as being equal to their own.
IGNACIO
The criminals in our prisons today don’t lack empathy they lack opportunities.
MARK
We’re giving them an opportunity. If they keep donating regularly, then when they get
out they’ll have a job.
MARINA
59
How are they going to keep donating from inside prison? How are they going to make
memories worth using?
MARK
We’re working on that.
IGNACIO
Our system isn’t changing, we’re changing to adapt to it. Biolife has become a Band-Aid
making people complacent including you.
MARK
You’re saying that because you had a little scare and you got sick, but things are getting
better. You just can’t see it from where you are. I’ve got the bird’s eye view.
IGNACIO
You want to believe things are getting better, but they’re just smoothing over. I’m
having second thoughts about all of it.
MARINA
Iggy? I said I didn’t want you donating again, but I still believe in Biolife.
IGNACIO
If I shouldn’t be donating then we probably shouldn’t be doing this.
MARINA
We don’t have the magic pill to fix society. That’s true, but what we have is something
to help people cope with it, because life isn’t perfect. It’s never going to be perfect.
(Takes an injection.)
We’re all doing the best we can and what we do here, it matters, it’s something.
IGNACIO
Then why are you doing that?
MARINA
I couldn’t do half of what I do without Biolife.
IGNACIO
Maybe you SHOULDN’T do what you’re doing. All we’re doing is making the system
that’s totally broken, feel like it’s not broken. We need to change how we live, how
society functions.
MARK
(Laughs.)
Good fucking luck with that buddy. You wanna save the world?
IGNACIO
60
No. I don’t know… maybe.
MARK
Save the world from what? You can’t save someone from themselves. Just punch your
clock like the rest of us, do what you can to help a few people hate life a little less.
IGNACIO
I refuse to believe that’s the baseline. We’re capable of more than that. You both are, I
am. Look at this project- we made this! We can make it better- different- somehow.
MARK
Anyone who really wanted to do that, who could actually do it has been assassinated.
Anyone in our society who had that much power, who wouldn’t be corrupted, ended up
dying really young. Trust me. Make a compromise to do what you can within an
imperfect world. It’s adulthood. Get a few more grey hairs on your scrotum and have
some kids. Let them worry about it.
MARINA
Sweetheart, I know you wanna save the world, this is next best thing.
IGNACIO
You’re the one who said you didn’t want me to donate anymore?
MARINA
You promised you would never donate anything about us. You started to! You were
putting me into Biolife.
IGNACIO
I was an accident. I wasn’t thinking. If that’s the issue, then we’re talking about two
different things.
MARINA
It’s both. You’ve been doing it for years at this point and I don’t think it’s safe, and I
certainly don’t want you to change how you feel about me or change who you are as a
person.
MARK
Marina, can you please keep your feelings in check. I agree that Iggy can’t donate
forever, but BIOLIFE needs him right now. He’s the best donor because of his altruistic
motives.
IGNACIO
Wait a minute… You don’t need me if you’ve got every prisoner in America hooked up
to donate.
MARINA
61
No, it’s not like that.
MARK
We only use non violent offenders, and they are getting a shot at a better life. Why the
hell wouldn’t you want that? That alone is a positive thing.
MARINA
(She takes another injection and proceeds calmly,
and then she begins to nod a bit. She’s feeling bliss
and serenity, a lot of it.)
Yes it is. We wanted to help people and we are. Maybe I wanted to get rich too. You
can’t blame me for that. I wanted to be respected in my field, recognized for my work.
Show all those people who never listened that they should’ve listened. And it’s working.
Things are getting better. For the first time iiinnn generations, we can look at ourselves
and not be embarrassed to call ourselves Americans. We’re not a laughing stock. We’re
making a comeback.
IGNACIO
Don’t take another dose.
MARK
She’s fine. Here…
(He doses himself.)
It’s fine.
IGNACIO
That’s because you’re dosed up. Reality is scary. Reality is questions, uncertainty,
vulnerability, boredom, frustration, anger…
MARK
Or it’s always good, all of it, all the time. We’re trying to make a difference the only way
we know how, and for once it’s working.
MARINA
Less people are going to prison. Less teenagers are eating a bullet.
MARK
How can you argue with that?
IGNACIO
This isn’t just about the statistics it’s about what is really going on underneath them.
Dosing on Biolife is just wearing rose colored glasses.
MARK
So you’re a purest now? You don’t take an ibuprofen when you’ve got a headache? You
don’t smoke weed now and then?
62
MARINA
Don’t lie… C’mon, Ignacio. Be real.
IGNACIO
There’s more to life than just feeling good.
MARK
Not really. There’s survival and we mastered that. Beyond survival, we fucked it. We
live in a polluted world. In New Jersey you’re more likely to have breast cancer than
anywhere else in the world. No shit. You think that’s because there’s something wrong
with New Jersians? No, there’s something in New Jersey, who knows what, but there’s
something there that gives people breast cancer. Nobody wants to talk about it and
people don’t want to move. So, we all live in New Jersey and we’ve all got breast
cancer.
IGNACIO
You’re allowing yourself to become twisted to serve your own aims and sacrificing the
truth. I smell something off about this world we’re creating and so do you- admit it. I’m
talking about your soul, your thinking thinker. Isn’t it telling you that this, all of it, isn’t
right? We’re the thing that’s wrong with New Jersey.
MARK
We’re the chemo. Jesus man. Maybe you have been donating too long. What the hell!?
MARINA
You used to believe in Biolife. We were a team.
IGNACIO
You’re not yourself. I don’t want to do this anymore. I changed my mind… It’s a
prerogative that people don’t exercise often enough. They cling to their ideas long after
they’ve been proven wrong because they don’t want to look stupid. I’d rather look like I
was a fool once than be one forever.
(This line should be delivered vastly different to the
first time it is said.)
I changed my mind.
(He starts to exit.)
MARK
Wait. Ignacio. I spoke to your father.
IGNACIO Halts.
IGNACIO
What? You what?
63
MARK
I didn’t actually… He contacted me.
IGNACIO
When?
MARK
Last week.
IGNACIO
You should’ve called me right away.
MARK
You were sick and he asked me not to. I felt like I should wait to tell you for when you
come and donate. I’m telling you.
MARINA
Jesus.
IGNACIO
What did he say?
MARK
He asked me about you. He wanted to know about you. And he- I’m sorry, I should’ve
called you right away.
IGNACIO
Yeah.
MARK
He seemed- I told him all about you. I told him how you’d been part of the program
since the beginning. How we’d been in the service together. I’m- fuck- you were a hero.
IGNACIO
I was a murderer, not a hero.
MARK
You saved people.
IGNACIO
Yes I did. I also killed people and you know that.
MARK
That’s the world. That’s war. You were on the right side.
IGNACIO
64
What did he want?
MARK
He wanted to know more about the project. I kinda got the feeling he uses it.
IGNACIO
What?
MARK
Just the way he talked about it. It was like, he knew. I mean, he said he’d seen the ads
and wanted to know about you.
MARINA
So, what did you tell him?
MARK
I said that he should be proud. That what you’ve done over the years has saved people.
IGNACIO
He called you?
MARK
Yeah.
IGNACIO
He got through to you?
MARK
You father’s a very powerful man and he’s smart. I’m not fort knocks.
IGNACIO
You don’t have to tell me that. He’s my fucking father. He’s an asshole is what he is.
He’s a charismatic manipulative asshole. I can’t believe you talked to him. Did you see
him?
MARK
Well, not in person but I saw him onscreen. I told him about what you do here. He was
impressed. I told him how hard it is, and how much it takes out of you. I told-
MARINA
You think he uses it?
MARK
I got that impression. I mean he didn’t come right out and say it, but yeah.
IGNACIO
65
So… Fuck. I don’t…
MARK
He didn’t want me to tell you.
IGNACIO
Of course not.
MARK
I don’t think he means to hurt you. He said he loves you.
IGNACIO
In his own sick way, I think he does. I’m grateful. I… Did he say anything about my
Dani’s wedding? Did he ask about it?
MARK
He asked if I went. I said no.
IGNACIO
That fucking asshole. He doesn’t get to know. He can buy it. I fucking donated it.
MARK
He’s coming here. He wants to see you. I think it would be a good-
IGNACIO
Fuck you Mark. He’s not your father. He didn’t go crazy and destroy your family,
leaving you to pick up the pieces. He didn’t take his money and his connections and
walk out on you for no reason other than some ideological bullshit that he doesn’t even
live because he’s such a hypocrite. He didn’t spit in your face every time you reached
out to him for anything. My whole life, the only thing I wanted was to make him proud.
The great man. The intellectual giant. The fucking tycoon. And after all this time, this is
what he gets behind?
MARINA
Ignacio, this is why you can donate. This legacy. How this usually goes is you get to the
place when you realize you aren’t him and you’ve actually done something great.
IGNACIO
Him being on board with Biolife is all the proof I need that I’ve made a mistake.
MARINA
You’re being ridiculous! You can’t live in opposition to a man. You aren’t him.
MARK
Besides, you’re father has changed, I’m telling you- he uses Biolife and he is a different
man.
66
IGNACIO
(Pause.)
When is he coming, so I can make sure to not be here?
MARK
I told him to come next week when we do a prisoner donation here at the office. I figured
I would show him what we’re doing, what you do, and I’d introduce him to Marina too.
IGNACIO
You don’t get it? He’s an asshole. He’d be mean to her, on purpose. He would hit on
her after telling her she was making a mistake by being with me. That’s the kind of man
my father is.
MARK
He was nice to me. Everyone deserves a second chance…
IGNACIO
Not everyone.
IGNACIO tries to exit.
MARK
They will not let you walk away from this. They’ll come after you if we don’t keep the
donations up to quota.
MARINA
Nobody is coming after him or me.
MARK
You’re not untouchable. None of us are. They won’t let you walk away. They own this
now and they own you.
IGNACIO
How could you let this happen?
MARK
You came to me. If you wanted to stay a small operation you could’ve done it. You
really think the Oppenheimer Foundation said no? Of course they didn’t. You came to
us, and we said yes. My superiors halted the grant. That’s how it works. You don’t get a
backdoor. If you want to buy me some time to get donations going, then hook yourself
up and get ready to give something useful. They’ve got your father as insurance. Why
do you think he got in touch with me? You think that was out of the blue? C’mon man.
Wake up.
MARINA
Why didn’t you warn us?
67
MARK
Because we’re the good guys. We’re doing the right thing. I would like my buddy
Ignacio to be in good health, and I wanna see him just push a pencil around, but until
more donations, until that’s happening he’s gonna need to keep doing it.
MARINA
It could kill him.
IGNACIO
I’ve got nothing to donate anyway.
MARK
I just heard you go on that tirade about your dad and about this project. Here… Let your
own juice get your started. Marina can monitor you. We’ll make sure we do it safely.
MARINA
This can’t be the only option.
MARK
This is the best thing I’ve come up with so far. Take a dose and tell me if you come up
with anything better.
IGNACIO
I would do it if I thought it would help.
MARINA
It might help actually. You sound defeated and I certainly feel defeated. It can’t hurt…
IGNACIO
I think it’s nuts to take my own emotions, but I’m willing to try.
MARINA
(She slowly takes his arm and injects him.)
It will be like walking into the past, when you felt like what we were doing was right.
It’ll be like how I felt before the Prom Night kids… It’ll help you focus enough to do
what you need to do to change it.
IGNACIO
(He feels mellow, calm, and alert.)
Uh huh. I feel… I feel… good.
MARINA
Good sweetheart. I don’t want you to feel bad. I want you to feel good.
IGNACIO
68
I feel normal. I feel good.
MARINA
Everything’s gonna be okay. We’ll figure this out.
MARK
You made something that works.
IGNACIO
Yeah. I totally did… I have no idea why I thought… there’s nothing wrong with this. I
feel great, I feel like myself. This works.
MARINA
(She doses herself again.)
Yes. It does. I still believe in it.
IGNACIO
It’s just the supply issue?
MARK
We’re gonna get this done together.
IGNACIO
Yeah.
MARINA
I knew you would like it Iggy.
MARK
We all like it.
IGNACIO
Let’s bring one of the prisoners here and I’ll see what I can do to increase their output. I
think I can figure out a compound to increase the density in the neural tissues. If we can
give them a specific smart protein that’s programmed to bond to the-
MARINA kisses him.
IGNACIO kisses her back.
IGNACIO
What was that for?
MARINA
I knew you could do it.
69
Lights down. End scene.
II-5
WATCHTOWER
MARK, IGNACIO, MARINA, P1 and GUARD.

Everyone is in the lab.
IGNACIO
How many times have you donated before today?
GUARD
She’s been donating twice a week for the past two months. She’s on the fast track to
get’n early, aren’tcha?
P1
Uh… Yeah… They said…
(To Mark.)
you said I’ll be able to-
MARK
And you will. If you do well today you will be given those special privileges, and that
includes what we talked about.
P1
I didn’t have any reason to get out before, but now I’m gonna have a job when I get out.
I’m can have a life you know?
70
IGNACIO
I’m glad you feel that way.
P1
Compared to what I used to have to do to get by, this is easy man. This is nothing. And
now we get to eat what we want. I mean… like it’s like good, you know? Not like
whatever, but it’s good though.
MARK
I think we’re all happy with the success of the program.
IGNACIO
We want to try something today, something to help boost the level of your donation to
make it possible for us to get more from you doing exactly the same thing.
MARK
I fuckin hope this works.
P1
Is it dangerous?
IGNACIO
No. It’s totally safe. You won’t even feel the difference. Please drink this.
(He hands her a short glass.)
P1 downs it.
P1
It’s kinda minty… sort of like metal.
MARINA
The mint is for flavor.
IGNACIO
That will get absorbed directly into your blood stream. It takes just two minutes for the
heart to pump a full cycle of blood through your body, so in just two minutes that will be
spread throughout your system, and most importantly to your brain. It’s already been
nearly 60 seconds.
P1
Okay...
IGNACIO
Believe me it’s good. It’s really good.
(He takes a dose of BIOLIFE.)
71
MARINA
How do you feel?
P1
I feel fine.
MARK
I want you to know we’ve tested this. You can relax.
P1
That’s great because I really want to see my son again, and you said if I did a good job
today that I would get to see him.
MARK
Yeah. I’ll arrange a visitation. I can do that.
IGNACIO
That’s a good idea.
MARK
Can you tell if it’s working yet?
MARINA
We can’t actually see its effects until we get started. It’s been two minutes. We ready to
go?
P1
What about Karl? They never make us do it in front of a guard. We can’t… I mean, I
know how to do it, and I can’t do it in front of a guard.
IGNACIO
I can understand that. You’re Karl?
GUARD
Officer Karl Dozer. I’m correctional officer Dozer and I’m fine to wait in the hall. She’s
not lyin. The guards never watch cuz whenever we do the prisoners choke on their
donations.
P1
Gee I wonder why?
GUARD
Don’t get smart.
P1
72
I’m not. I’m just sayin all of you guys scare the crap out of us.
MARK
You don’t have to worry about that. Dozer will wait for you in the hall.
GUARD
Call me if you need me.
IGNACIO
We’ll be alright.
MARINA finishes hooking up P1 to the machine.

She turns on a switch and immediately the red lights
come on.
MARINA
Oh, hold on a sec. There’s a problem with the line.
IGNACIO goes around to the back of P1’s neck.

He adjusts the line.
P1 winces in pain.
IGNACIO
You okay?
P1
Yeah, yeah. It just hurts sometimes. I’m okay though.
IGNACIO
(Continues to adjust the line.)
How’s that?
P1
Um… yeah, it’s fine.
MARINA
(Flips another switch on the machine. The red
lights come on as if the thing is ready. This should
be a recognizable ready light.)
Okay, go ahead.
P1
Okay, so the best… all the good memories I have are of my kids. Well, one of’em is
mine. I mean, like my son is mine, but my daughter isn’t. I had my son before I went in.
I had my daughter in jail, but she’s not mine. I know that, she’s not mine. I was in the
surrogate program. But, my son. He’s mine.
73
(The red lights go down.)

So, when he was two my boyfriend had got this new job for a while. He was looking
after street cleaning machines. He was fixing them up when they broke down. Anyway,
so he had gotten like a couple paychecks and Max was turning two.
(The green lights start to come up.)
And for once man, we got to have a party. My mom came over, and Tony and I had
enough to order a cake. We had candles and everything, and my mom came over and I
swear to god she wasn’t drunk. Not hammered at least. We all had a few beers and that,
(More green lights come up.)
but nothing hard. So she came over and we lit two candles and the four of us got around
it. Max couldn’t really talk much, but he could count to twelve, and he knew what two
was. So…
(She starts to cry and feels the drain of the
machine.)
IGNACIO
You’re doing great. It’s working.
MARK
Just keep telling us how it was. What did Max do?
P1
Yeah, he was, I mean he is a good boy. I asked him, I said, “Max, how many candles are
on that cake?” and he looked at’em and he said, I swear it he said, “Two.” And then I
said,
(The green lights max out.)
“Good boy. Max.” and then-
The machine makes a strange beeping noise. The

same noise it made before to indicate a problem in
the line.
IGNACIO
Hold on a minute, the line’s-
(He goes around to the back and starts adjusting the
line.)
P2
(The green lights begin to go down.)
No, no. I can… Wait…
(The green lights go out. The machine beeps.)
Fuck. No.
Blood starts to drip from the back of her neck. It

runs down IGNACIO’S hands and arms slowly.
74
IGNACIO
Shit. We need to stop.
He tries to stop the bleeding but it isn’t stopping.
P1
I can go on.
MARINA
You’re bleeding. We can’t collect anything if it’s running down your arm.
P1
NO! No… I have to do this.
IGNACIO
Your vein is collapsing. It’s weak. There’s scar tissue in your veins. I-I can’t let you.
MARINA
(From offstage.)
This is a nightmare. We need to call an ambulance.
P1
(Cries.)
MARK
It’s not a big deal. It happens all the time at Rikers.
IGNACIO
What? It shouldn’t happen at all.
(He stops the bleeding.)
P1
(Sobbing.)
Just put it back in a little higher or whatever. I need to do this. I can do this.
IGNACIO
I can’t. You need to rest. It needs to heal.
P1
Hey, you know I can still go. I’m good.
MARK
It’s stopped bleeding. Look, if she wants to go let her finish it. We need the donation
and
IGNACIO
75
Mark! She needs rest.
MARK
No, you need rest. She needs to finish this.
P1
I do wanna finish. I- I wanna see my son. You don’t understand. I gotta see my kid. I
can’t keep doing this if I don’t get to see him. I don’t have a lot you know. I got fucking
nothing. Everything I got is my son. I gave him away. I sold him, for a chance to see
him again. They said if I kept donating that I could see my son. I only… I gotta see him!
MARINA
You will, you will.
P1
No I fucking won’t! He got taken from me, and then I gave him up so I could see him
again. That fucking machine has my son. When I go to bed at night, the only thing that
helps me sleep is knowing that I can see him again, and every memory I have…
everything is in that machine. Without Max I got shit you understand?
(To MARK.)
You said I could see my son!
MARK
You’ll have to donate a bit more for that. Our deal was that if you did this experimental
donation successfully, if we got the full amount, then I’d get you visitation with your boy,
but…
P1
(Gets up unsteadily and walks towards MARK. Her
neck is still bleeding.)
No! I can’t do it anymore. I don’t have anything left. I need to see him.
IGNACIO
I’m sure we can-
MARK
Stay out of it Iggy.
P1
You’re just a technician man. You don’t mean shit. They got more a’you, they got more
a’me. Please. Hey please. Just let me see him once and then…
(She reaches out to MARK and there is blood
running down her arms from her neck.)
MARK
76
(He calmly gives himself an injection. He steps

away from her.)
Look, a deal’s a deal. I’ll take you back, and then after you donate consistently for
another two months I can get you some-
P2
(She follows him and sees his gun.)
I got nothing left! I’m never gonna see my son.
(She goes to grab it.)
MARK
You shouldn’t’ve done that.
(He grabs her wrist and injects her with a small pen
that looks slightly different to the ones we’ve seen so far. .)
P1 Falls to the ground.
IGNACIO
What the hell was that?
(He goes to P1 and feels her pulse. She is dead.)
She’s dead.
(He starts to perform CPR.)
MARINA
We can give her a shot of adrenaline. I’ll get the defibrillator.
MARK
Don’t bother. She’s brain dead.
MARINA
She can’t be. Not yet.
IGNACIO
What did you give her?
MARK
At Rikers… Well, we had some losses during the process, while the collection was still
running. We didn’t do it on purpose of course. It was an accident, but we found that
what the machine collected during that, transition, it was usable, useful… and ya know,
surprisingly we get a lot of doses out of just one collection.
MARINA
Oh my god… you collected the emotional experience for dying?
IGNACIO
(To Marina.)
77
Is it even possible to map the electrical pattern?
MARINA
It’s possible, but we never did it, because it would take dying in order to map it and it
would take dying over and over to collect it. This is wrong.
(She crosses to P1 she if she can resuscitate her.)
We need to call the police.
MARK
No we don’t.
MARINA
Of course we do. This woman is-
MARK
The irony is that if she had lived then she would’ve gotten to see her son, because this
donation she just gave us will be huge, they’re always huge, but with her super charged
with that stuff you gave her. This is like a WMD. Not really, but you know what I mean.
MARINA
Why would you even say a thing like that? You’re being repulsive Mark.
MARK
I’m just being honest.
IGNACIO
How many?
MARK
Oh my god, from one regular donation we can get-
IGNACIO
Not how many doses can you get when someone dies. Jesus Christ mark! How many
people died while they were hooked up?
MARK
A small percentage compared to the whole. It only happened a handful of times.
IGNACIO
It doesn’t sound like it only happened a couple of times. It sounds like you know all
about this.
MARK
What do you want me to say? Iggy, you gotta start opening your eyes okay buddy.
We’ve been running a medical project in a prison where the population isn’t all the
healthy to begin with and that’s not our fault, but it is the reality there.
78
IGNACIO
We’ve been operating here for almost five years and we’ve never lost a donor. Not once.
This is inexcusable.
MARK
Bullshit. We almost lost you a month ago. Look, this was just a small percentage
compared to the whole, and it’s not a total loss. When this happens, and it occasionally
will, we get something out of it. It’s not a total loss.
IGNACIO
This is monstrous. Biolife wasn’t made for this! What we do isn’t a weapon! We were
supposed to be helping people
MARK
(Mark gives himself a regular injection.)
It wasn’t a weapon, but it can be, something we can really sell and actually make a profit,
turn the tide on our global standing. You gotta see the bright side to this.
IGNACIO
I won’t allow this.
MARK
You don’t have a choice.
IGNACIO
Yeah I do. I can call the cops, pull them in here, get all of this on their instant cameras
and get it spread all over the net. The watchdogs will shut this down. They’ll shut down
Rikers, they’ll shut down the whole project. I don’t care anymore.
MARINA
Iggy we can’t do that. Too many people need this.
IGNACIO
We gotta go off it. We can’t keep doing this. Look at what we’ve turned into? Animals.
I’m pulling the plug on it.
IGNACIO walks over to a laptop screen and
proceeds to “dial” 911. Mark follows him and
hangs up the call.
MARK
He pulls out the dangerous pen, the one with the
poison in it.
You know I can’t let you do that.
IGNACIO
79
You think you scare me, with your little pen. This is me Mark. You know me. Are you
really gonna kill me?
(Walks towards MARK.)
MARINA
Iggy be careful. Mark, let’s find a way to work this out. I’m not saying we have to pull
the plug on this, but we can’t do this- that woman-she-
MARK
She signed a release statement. Her family will be compensated. She was a soldier in the
fight for our country.
MARINA
She has a little boy… Oh my god, had. She had a son. This is wrong.
MARK
He’s probably better off without her.
IGNACIO
The project is over.
MARK
The project just started. We’re only beginning to scratch the surface. We have all those
prisoners who are in the surrogate program hooked up already. They’re the new best
donors because their system is already super wired. That’s what we just discovered. The
program doesn’t need you. I mean, we can’t keep them pregnant constantly, but
chemically their output is almost as high as yours and they’ve got all that hope just
washing over them while they think about getting out and how their kids are gonna have
a better life than they did. You’re just seeing the negative.
IGNACIO
We never discussed pregnant donors! You’re talking about pregnant prisoners in the
surrogate program? How could even consider that as an option?
MARK
They volunteered. They’re already in the surrogate program to earn money. They want
to earn money for when they get out. This is a great-
IGNACIO
Even the FDA would never approve that.
MARINA
When Occupy Watchdog finds out they’ll shut us down.
MARK
It’s safe. They’re fine.
80
MARINA
We’ve never done trials on expectant mothers. Ethically, this is a huge violation.
MARK
Since when has that stopped you before? You’ve been playing with people’s minds for
years and now suddenly you’re worried about what might happen to a pregnant loser
who’s selling her baby anyway? Nobody cares about those people.
MARINA
You’re disgusting.
IGNACIO
What about the babies? You have no idea what kind of effect this will have on a
developing fetus, changing the brain chemistry of a pregnant mother will absolutely
impact development and gestation.
MARINA
This is out of control. Iggy, I’m with you. Let’s stop it.
IGNACIO
It’s over. I’m pulling the plug. People need to spend some time with the truth. The more
we delude ourselves the less change we’ll actually make.
MARK
No one wants to look at the truth in the face. There it is Iggy!
Indicating P1.
That’s the truth! You wanna feed her and her kid with your tax money or do you wanna
be able to get to and from work without getting mugged? Up to you? If you ask me, I’m
gonna say that I would rather get around safely and leaches like her end up with a short
lifespan so they take the rest of us down. She gave this world everything good she had to
give and then that was it. She’s empty. I’m not empty, you’re not. Any person who’s
empty should just check out. Fuck’em. Dead weight! You wanna go, then go, but
Biolife is staying.
IGNACIO
You’re insane. This whole thing is crazy. I’m going to tell people about this. They
won’t stand for it. When they learn the truth they’ll stop using it.
MARK
C’mon. Does blood money stop people from snorting blow? Of course it doesn’t.
Nobody gives a fuck about any of that. They don’t wanna know. Just like they don’t
wanna know what’s in the food they eat or how the animal was killed. They wanna
pretend their milk isn’t full of udder puss and they wanna eat their bacon pretending it’s
not gonna give’m heart disease. If they really wanted to know the truth they could tune
in everyday and watch our elected officials vote this country into a fucking joke, but they
81
don’t. It’s too boring to watch, and they know just like you, just like me, that unless you
have the inside track you can’t make a difference. Trying the change the system is
fucking hopeless. I’m actually making a difference with BIOLIFE. This actually makes
people happy and you wanna take that away!?
IGNACIO
This isn’t what-
MARINA
I’m calling the police.
MARK
Good. They can take the body outta here.
(Twists the pen and gives himself two injections.
Through out the speech, he gets higher and higher
almost laughing.)
You guys think you can get things done without getting dirty. You don’t know shit. I’ve
got countless more just like her, ex-junkies and whores, criminals just waiting for half a
chance. This time it didn’t turn out so well, but this is just one little screw up. The ends
justify the means.
IGNACIO
(Puts Mark in a choke hold.)
For once, I agree with you.
MARK Fights back. He is trained in the same

combat style as IGNACIO, but MARK is high as a
kite. The fight should be a close quarters wrestling
type of fight. It should not be a boxing match!
MARK tries to inject IGNACIO, but IGNACIO
turns the pen on MARK. With IGNACIO’S hand
on the pen, MARK injects himself again several
times. MARK slides to the floor blissed out.
MARINA
(Calls the police.)
Yes. We need an ambulance. There’s a woman who’s been killed. I mean, we need the
police to come. There’s been an accident.
IGNACIO
It wasn’t an accident.
MARINA
Please send someone right away…. No, no one else is in danger.
She hangs up.
82
MARK
(Out of it.)
That’s not going to stop this. You can’t stop it. It’s bigger than that.
IGNACIO
I might not be able to stop it, but I can slow it down. Maybe we can find that sweet spot
between nothing and total fucking overload. Why do take everything so far until it kills
us? Pesticides? Guns? Everything…
MARK
They’ll come after Marina next. You know that.
MARINA
I can take care of myself.
IGNACIO
I have to do what I think is right.
MARK
You won’t win.
IGNACIO
I have to try.
Lights down.
VOICE OF BIOLIFE
(This is the prerecorded test sample MARINA gave
for her mic check.)
Biolife can save your life. Biolife can save your life.
The screen goes dark.
The End.
83

Biolife by Cecilia Copeland 11.9.14

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1

IGNACIO LAWSON Early Forties. Handsome with Salt n Pepper hair.

Time: Approximately fifteen years in the future.

Setting: A large city in America.

ACTS and SCENES

ACT I-I Commercial 1

Intro music plays. Lights come up on MARINA.

ACT1-SCENE 2 A Deal with the Man

MARINA and IGNACIO are in white lab coats.

Nice to meet you too.

They shake hands.

And you’re beautiful.

Well that was a punch in the gut.

MARINA looks at IGNACIO.

ACT 1 SCENE 2 CONCERNED PARENTS

ACT I SCENE 4 CONSPIRACY THEORY

IGNACIO and MARK in the lab.

ACT1 SCENE 3 COMERCIAL #2 PROM NIGHT FUN

BAXTER and VANESSA

ACT 1 SCENE 7 PROM DONATION

They all go to the table. MARINA hooks

IGNACIO finishes hooking up BAXTER.

INGACIO does VANESSA’S final hook up.

VANESSA pinches his hand.

VANESSA and BAXTER open the envelopes.

MARK gives himself an injection.

(Turns on the machines. The red lights come on.)

The red lights go out and the green lights come on

BAXTER and VANESSA reach across the table

VANESSA’S green lights go down a little.

BAXTER’S lights climb.

BAXTER takes VANESSA’S hand. Both of their

(Her lights climb back up.)

Both Baxter and VANESSA’S green lights go

IGNACIO, MARK and MARINA cross to the other

They lean in and kiss again. The lights max out

MARINA takes an injection.

Both of their lights go up, and they feel the pull of

VANESSA looks out and then looks at her check.

BAXTER’S green lights spike while he strokes her

I’ll get a bucket just in case.

VANESSA puts her head down. MARINA sets a

MARINA, MARK and IGNACIO cross so they are

I’ll make that call to my guy Rikers Island.

IGNACIO is on a cell phone and MARINA is

PIZZA SLUT ROBOT enters carrying a pie. She

PIZZA SLUT ROBOT

Thank you for choosing Pizza Slut

PIZZA SLUT VOICE

PIZZA SLUT VOICE

PIZZA SLUT VOICE

PIZZA SLUT VOICE

MARK starts to eat his pizza.

MARINA gets up from the booth and exits.

MARK doses himself again.

MARINA comes back from the bathroom.

PIZZA SLUT enters.

PIZZA SLUT exits.

IGNACIO and MARINA gather their stuff to leave.

IGGY and MARINA exit.

ACT 1 SCENE 4 DADDY ISSUES

IGNACIO and MARINA in the lab. He is getting

MARINA starts taking his pulse.

MARINA attaches something to the base of his