Apr 14, 2022
Written by Julie Hoverson, loosely based on a story by O Henry (The Duplicity of Hargraves)
An actor takes a chance to help out a friend.
Cast List
Hargraves - Charles Austin Miller
Governor - Dave Marshall
Lydia - Dawn Harvey
Music by Enox
Editing and Sound: Julie Hoverson
Cover Design: Charles Austin Miller
What kind of a place is it?
Why it's an unfashionable residence hotel on
a space station, can't you tell?"
************************************************
Duplicity
[Loosely inspired by the Duplicity of Hargraves by O. Henry]
Cast:
[Opening credits - Olivia]
Governor Pendleton, elderly man, slightly senile
Lydia, his daughter
Anthony Hargraves, the actor/Mac Bac
OLIVIA Did you have any trouble finding it? What do you mean, what kind of a place is it? Why, it's a quaint old boarding hotel on a teensy out of the way unfashionable space platform, of the classic sci fi kind, can't you tell?
MUSIC
SCENE 1.
AMB GOVERNOR'S HOME
SOUND SCI FI DOORS SHUSHS OPEN
GOVERNOR Anthony! So pleased to see you. Come right in.
ANTHONY Thank you so much for having me, sir.
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES SHUT
GOVERNOR Have a seat. [commanding] Gamma mu? [beat, waiting] Gamma mu? [petulant] Where is that robot?
LYDIA [coming in] Oh, father. I'm so sorry I forgot to tell you. Gamma Mu is in the shop.
GOVERNOR That's preposterous! Back in my day, they built robots to last!
LYDIA Gamma Mu is getting on in years, just as you are father. [choking up a bit] It should be back in working order in a couple of days. I - I think I smell something burning--
SOUND SHE DASHES OUT
GOVERNOR [courtly again] If you will excuse me, Anthony, I shall have to go and fetch the drinks tray myself.
ANTHONY Oh, please, don't bother yourself, Governor! I'm happy to do that.
GOVERNOR You are a guest in my house, young man.
ANTHONY And I am quite used to having to look after myself. [a chuckle] Besides, I'm sure Lydia has everything ready - it won't take any effort on my part at all.
GOVERNOR She's a good girl. Too bad she never married.
ANTHONY [agreeing, but not encouraging] Yes.
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES OPEN, SHUT
LYDIA [crying quietly in the background]
ANTHONY Lydia?
LYDIA [gasp, then trying to get over the crying jag, sniffling, wiping her face, etc. A couple of breaths, then an attempt to be cheery] Over here.
SOUND HE TAKES A COUPLE OF STEPS.
SOUND SHE PUTS GLASSES ON A TRY
ANTHONY What's wrong?
LYDIA [brittle, pretending cheer] Oh, Mr. Hargraves. What makes you think something's wrong?
ANTHONY Lydia. If there's one thing any actor worth his salt learns before anything else, it's how to tell when someone is lying.
LYDIA [sniffle, almost loses it] It's - it's not your problem.
ANTHONY Will you let me help? Is it something about Gamma Mu? I mean, I know you've had that robot for years--
LYDIA [sudden rush of admission] I pawned it.
ANTHONY What?
LYDIA It's not broken. And it's not coming back. [heavy sigh] We needed the money.
ANTHONY But your father's estates--
LYDIA Venus is in a recession. And the incomes simply can't keep up with the cost of living. Space station habitats are so expensive.
ANTHONY You could-- go back to a surface home?
LYDIA Hah. No place will have father, even now. We're just lucky that HERE, in a place so [distasteful] mercenary, no one cares about what he did any more. Hmph. If they ever did.
ANTHONY He was never prosecuted.
LYDIA He didn't do anything worse than any other territorial governor. He was ... made an example of. And, being father, he refused to unbend and let some PR firm mend his reputation. He truly believes he was, and always has been, in the right.
ANTHONY [gentle] The Venusians see it differently.
LYDIA [bitter] Oh, yes, take their side.
ANTHONY I'm not! I just... once you've played both the good and the bad enough times, you start to see things from everyone's side. You simply can't help yourself.
SOUND RATTLE OF GLASSES ON TRAY
LYDIA [controlled again] Here. Father will be wondering where you got to.
ANTHONY [cajoling] Lydia--
LYDIA [dismissing him] Mr. Hargraves.
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES OPEN, SHUT
LYDIA [heavy sigh]
SOUND DOOR OPENS AGAIN IMMEDIATELY
ANTHONY [rushing back in, hushed] How much?
LYDIA What?
SOUND DOOR SHUTS
ANTHONY [normal volume] How much did you get for Gamma Mu?
LYDIA [rueful laugh] Turns out the old Mu line are classics. Collectible. They gave me 200 credits. Would have been more, but I refused to sell it outright. [little sigh] Yet.
ANTHONY You have hope of getting some money before the time is up?
LYDIA Hope is what we live on. ...and memories.
ANTHONY Hmm. [making a decision] Right.
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES OPEN AGAIN
GOVERNOR Where's Lydia?
ANTHONY She - uh- wanted to freshen up.
GOVERNOR [chuckles indulgently] "Put herself back together" as she says. As often as she needs to do that, you'd think the girl was as badly in need of replacement parts as our poor servo robot.
ANTHONY [laughs]
GOVERNOR More likely she just wants to leave you on your own to put up with my storytelling.
ANTHONY Sir, I -
GOVERNOR No, no. Until we made your acquaintance, young man, there was no one to tell my stories to but my poor dear Lydia, and saint that she is, she put up with it.
ANTHONY [oh, come on] Sir!
GOVERNOR That girl should have married, and left the nest, 20 years ago. [sadly, drifting into memory] But after all that happened--
ANTHONY Why don't you make us your famous Venusian aperitifs, sir?
GOVERNOR [brought back with a tiny gasp] Ah? [befuddled] Oh, yes. I was about to do that, wasn't I?
ANTHONY No one makes them like you do, sir.
GOVERNOR Of course not! I invented the drink. Everyone nowadays makes these with an extract of Venusian basil - or god forbid synthetic - But I must have the real thing or nothing. [musing again] Lydia somehow always manages to have a pinch or two ready for me, no matter the cost.
ANTHONY She is very concerned about your comfort. Shows a great deal of character.
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES OPEN
GOVERNOR What is it you actors say? "As if on cue?" [chuckles indulgently]
ANTHONY [chuckles]
GOVERNOR My dear, will you join us?
LYDIA I already have a drink of my own, but I might stay and keep you gentlemen company -- for a little while.
ANTHONY Certainly!
GOVERNOR Capital. I shall make us just the two, then.
ANTHONY As many times as you've treated me to these, I should definitely reciprocate.
GOVERNOR Nonsense.
ANTHONY Or at least bring you some of the basil?
GOVERNOR No, no. Hospitality is what you give freely, with no thought of reciprocation. Otherwise it becomes merely [disgusted] commerce.
ANTHONY I see.
LYDIA [changing the subject] You said you had a new show going up soon, Anthony?
ANTHONY Oh, yes.
LYDIA [teasing a little] And what are you playing this week?
ANTHONY Guess. [cuts them off with a sharp intake of breath] But I will warn you it has more than four limbs.
LYDIA [laughs] You and your alien roles. Is it just the one extra, like the Venusians, or the full complement of a Martian?
ANTHONY Actually, this time I'm from Pluto.
GOVERNOR Plutonians? But they never come this close to the sun!
ANTHONY Artistic license. The story is a murder mystery set at a diplomatic event near the asteroid belt.
GOVERNOR [amused] What will they come up with next?
LYDIA I can understand why you have to double for a plutonian, but why not get real Martians to play Martians and real Venusians to play Venusians?
ANTHONY Martians don't like being too close to humans, say we smell too unpleasant. For moving pictures, you can still shoot scenes in pieces and clip them together, but in stage work it doesn't go at all.
LYDIA And all the extra body mass?
ANTHONY Elementary rotoscoping replacement on film, Padding and exoskeleton on stage. Simple servo mechanical movements. And of course the voice changer.
GOVERNOR [half asleep] Wonder of wonders.
ANTHONY And most people have only seen them - either Venusians or martians - on screen.
LYDIA But isn't that expensive?
ANTHONY Well, if all else fails, if there's just the one extra arm, you stick it in a sling and pretend it is broken.
LYDIA [laughs for real]
GOVERNOR [splutters a bit, waking, then] That is just what I like to hear, my dear.
ANTHONY The problem with using real Venusians in any kind of show - well, their artistic culture is one of unfettered improvisation and sudden impulse - they haven't really adjusted to the concept of scripted material. [realizing he's getting into potentially bad territory] They've ... only dealt with a written language... for a very short time.
GOVERNOR [sigh, then regretful] That was one of the reasons for such a debate about accepting them as a truly sentient and evolved species.
ANTHONY [eager] Yes?
GOVERNOR Having some form of recordation of history and science - we don't include fiction as being necessary for sentience, you understand?
ANTHONY [joking] A lot of people don't.
GOVERNOR [slight indulgent chuckle] You see, as they had no recording system that we could fathom, it was hard to be entirely certain that they weren't simply bright, imitative animals.
ANTHONY Which was why you were put in charge of the planet.
GOVERNOR I ran a tight ship, and made that planet [sigh, reminiscing fondly] one of the most profitable in the entire solar system.
MUSIC
SCENE 2.
AMB GOVERNOR'S HOME
GOVERNOR [querulous] Where's young Anthony got to? Haven't seen him in weeks.
LYDIA [amused] He's been filming again, papa. And he's not precisely "young". He's my age.
GOVERNOR Yes, I have been meaning to talk to you about that. You could do worse than that young fellow.
LYDIA Papa!
GOVERNOR Actor or not, he's a fine young man. Knows how to treat his elders properly. Shows respect. [i] Like him.
LYDIA Father, I am hardly young either, I--
GOVERNOR Should have married and left the nest a donkey's years back. Precisely.
LYDIA I can't leave you alone, papa. [trying to be funny, but starting to sound teary] At least not until they fix the robot.
GOVERNOR [gently] You mean at least not until I have gone on to a better place, don't you?
LYDIA [almost crying] Papa!
GOVERNOR I am old, my child, and I realize that there will come an end. Not today, or tomorrow, but I don't want to see you spending your time in regrets because you clung to this sinking spar when you could have been taken off in a lifeboat.
[Silence]
LYDIA [trying to change the subject] I'm sure... Anthony will come back and visit again soon.
GOVERNOR [befuddled now] What was it you said he was doing?
LYDIA [relieved] Filming, papa. He said he'd be gone for a month while they made a movie.
GOVERNOR Will we be able to see it?
LYDIA If it broadcasts on one of the stations we can receive.
GOVERNOR [grumbling] Used to be more channels. I swear I recall-
LYDIA Yes papa! There were, but most of them have become so ... violent and unpleasant. I canceled them.
GOVERNOR You are such a sensitive young lady.
LYDIA [deep sigh, melancholy] Yes.
MUSIC
SCENE 3.
AMB GOVERNOR'S HOME
SOUND CLEANING, WASH BUCKET
SOUND SPACE AGE DOORBELL
LYDIA Huh?
SOUND FEET, INTERCOM
LYDIA Who is it?
ANTHONY [on intercom] Me! I mean Mr. Hargraves. I just got back and have a copy of my new film. I thought I might bring it over and show it to you - you both.
LYDIA You can't come in now! Neither of us is ... prepared to see company. You know how papa insists on being in full governor regalia to entertain!
ANTHONY Gosh, I'm sorry! I only wanted to surprise you.
LYDIA Surprise us again in an hour, if you please.
ANTHONY [laughing] Anything to oblige a lady!
SOUND INTERCOM OFF.
LYDIA Oh, goodness. How will I ever get the cleaning finished?
SOUND HURRIES AWAY
LYDIA [off slightly] Papa? You might wish to prepare yourself for company!
MUSIC
SCENE 4.
AMB GOVERNOR'S HOME
SOUND TV TURNS ON, TUBE WARMS UP
GOVERNOR [querulous] What was this movie about?
ANTHONY [eager] You'll just have to see. I think you'll like it.
SOUND MUSIC CHANGES
GOVERNOR Oh, my. The old place.
ANTHONY They found some cracking stock footage.
GOVERNOR Can you make it a bit bigger? My eyes aren't what they once were.
ANTHONY [really proud] Absolutely sir. I want you to be able to see this!
ANNOUNCER Many people think they know about the early days of the Venus colony, but all they really know is the rumors.
GOVERNOR [a bit annoyed] What?
LYDIA Oh, no.
ANTHONY Shh-shh! This is the good part!
ANTHONY [on screen, sounding exactly like the Governor] Hospitality is what you give freely, with no thought of reciprocation. Otherwise it becomes merely [disgusted] commerce.
GOVERNOR [low growl] What have you done?
ANTHONY [completely surprised] Sir?
ANTHONY [on screen] I invented this drink, you know.
GOVERNOR Get out!
ANTHONY You don't understand! All I wanted to do was show the reality under all the terrible stories that people bandied about - show the humanity!
GOVERNOR Get OUT!
LYDIA You had better go.
ANTHONY At least let me reward you for the help you gave me - even though you didn't know you were doing it.
GOVERNOR Are you insinuating you will pay me for this impersonation? For stealing my -my - entire ---[splutters]
LYDIA Shh! Shh! Father. [a little frantic] Mr. Hargraves, you are no longer welcome in this house. Leave!
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES OPEN
SOUND HE TAKES A COUPLE OF STEPS
GOVERNOR [off slightly] For this LAMPOON!
ANTHONY [wince noise] [quiet] Lydia?
LYDIA Don't!
ANTHONY I thought this would be a way to help you. Both of you.
LYDIA [quietly furious] Help? By driving papa into a veritable fit? Go!
MUSIC
SCENE 5.
AMB GOVERNOR'S HOME
GOVERNOR [sounding weaker] Lydia?
LYDIA [worried] Yes, Papa?
GOVERNOR Lydia? Hasn't young Anthony visited?
LYDIA No, papa. [lying] He - he's been away for the last week, filming.
GOVERNOR Again? Did we see his last film?
LYDIA Yes, papa. It was very nice.
GOVERNOR Good, good. He's a nice young man. You could do worse.
LYDIA I know, papa.
SOUND DOORBELL
GOVERNOR Who's there?
LYDIA I'll go and see.
GOVERNOR Are we expecting someone? Is that why I'm in my uniform?
LYDIA [whispered aside] I just thought it might make you feel better. [up] We weren't expecting anyone so early.
SOUND INTERCOM ON
LYDIA Hello?
MAC BAC [alien voice] Greetings. Is this the living place of Previous Governor Pendleton?
LYDIA [panicky] Oh! what now?
SOUND PUSHES BUTTON
LYDIA [Striving to keep calm] This - um - yes - this is the place you are looking for.
MAC BAC Is the Previous Governor available? I would like to speak with him.
LYDIA He's not feeling well today--
GOVERNOR [more perky sounding] Lydia? Is that a Venusian voice. How interesting! Let’s see what the green fellow has to say for himself, eh?
LYDIA [sigh] Yes papa.
SOUND INTERCOM ON
LYDIA Please come in.
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES OPEN
SOUND WEIRD NOISE OF STRANGE MOVEMENT AS IT ENTERS.
GOVERNOR [grunt as he gets up]
LYDIA Papa! You don't have to--!
GOVERNOR Nonsense. It is only common courtesy to meet a guest on your feet. [up] Greetings. May I ask what occasions this visit? You are very far from your home world.
MAC BAC Many years have passed, previous governor. And yet you have not changed so much. Do you not recall Mac Bac? This one was an aide in the mansion.
LYDIA [surprised] Oh!
GOVERNOR My stars! Yes! Oh, Mac Bac. [delighted] I never thought to see anyone from those days again. Why don't you-- [falters]
LYDIA [hurriedly picks up] Would you like a bench to accommodate your form?
MAC BAC This one would be most grateful.
GOVERNOR Would you be a dear and bring us some refreshment, Lydia?
LYDIA Certainly.
SOUND BUSTLES OUT
GOVERNOR Now that we are alone, what is it that brought you here?
MAC BAC This one has come to repay a debt, previous governor.
GOVERNOR A debt? I cannot think of anything--
MAC BAC When your office made your departure, you gifted Mac Bac with a number of items.
GOVERNOR Oh, yes.... I seem to remember...
MAC BAC Among those was a vehicle, given as you could not transport it off planet.
GOVERNOR Yes! Now I recall. I apologize for my forgetfulness, but it has been a very long time.
MAC BAC This visit is to repay that gift.
GOVERNOR Repay?
MAC BAC The previous governor said at the time that if a gift was unacceptable, the vehicle could be considered a loan to be repaid at a later date. Many years have passed, for the previous governor's location is not easily uncovered.
GOVERNOR [truly touched] And you came all this way to pay me for my old hovercar?
MAC BAC The vehicle became the center of a profitable business, transporting visiting dignitaries. After some years, more vehicles, more transporting. Mac Bac has become very comfortable, as you say, and it came upon this one a desire to travel. Travel without purpose is enjoyable, but achieving a goal is more so.
GOVERNOR [slightly condescending] You have come a long way to pay back such a slight debt. The car couldn't have been worth more than a hundred credits.
MAC BAC Considered as a loan, or even an investment in the business of Mac Bac, this hundred credits has grown like a precocious fern monkey over the past many years.
LYDIA How much?
GOVERNOR Do not be crude, dear. Never mind the amount, it is the thought that is important. Whatever you feel is necessary to pay, Mac Bac, will be more than enough.
MAC BAC This one has had the tabulations done, and this is the amount which is correct.
SOUND METAL SET DOWN
LYDIA [gasp]
GOVERNOR B-but Mac Bac--
MAC BAC One Thousand credits.
GOVERNOR But surely you--
MAC BAC Mac Bac does not take charity. This one must even all debts before end of life comes, or debts will follow to next world.
GOVERNOR Oh. Yes. We are all getting a bit old, are we not?
LYDIA Father!
GOVERNOR Lydia, why don't you go and do something for yourself and leave us old fellows to talk. I'm quite certain that we shall bore you to tears with our stuffy old stories. Eh, Mac Bac?
MAC BAC Indeed. Old times become very close when one approaches the fading of the light.
MUSIC
SCENE 6.
AMB HUSHED CROWD
SOUND QUICK WOMAN'S FOOTSTEPS, SHUSH OF DOOR
LYDIA [crying]
SOUND DOOR SHUSHES SHUT
LYDIA Oh, father what will I-- [cuts off with a gasp]
ANTHONY Lydia! I'm so sorry I'm late. I didn't hear until Wednesday, and I couldn't get transport.
LYDIA You're here? Even after father drove you out?
ANTHONY I can't begrudge him his pride. I just hope that he might have forgiven me, at the end.
LYDIA I think-- I'm sure he forgot the entire incident.
ANTHONY [sad realization] Forgot. Yes.
LYDIA He would have forgiven you, though! Father was never a vindictive man.
ANTHONY You, at least, know I never meant the play as any kind of insult.
LYDIA I - I guess. I never got to see more than that opening. He was so furious.
ANTHONY But you - you will forgive me, won't you? I would be mortified if we couldn't get past this.
LYDIA I... [small self-deprecating laugh] I can't stay mad at you. And I certainly don't have so many friends that I can throw one away over such a ... trifle.
ANTHONY Good.
LYDIA And... and from the little I did see-- [trails off]
ANTHONY Yes?
LYDIA [uncomfortable, blushing] Oh, just that you did a very good - you did the acting very well.
ANTHONY [warm] I'm glad you didn't hate it.
LYDIA Of course I didn't! Don't tease so!
ANTHONY I promise. [beat, changing subject] Well. At least he had some good days, there at the end. [prompting] And you look like things are going a little better. Was that Gamma mu I saw, standing by the casket?
LYDIA [pleased but sad] Yes. We were very lucky. Father came into some unexpected money.
ANTHONY [way too pleased] I know.
LYDIA What? How did you hear?
ANTHONY [eager] You really didn't know?
LYDIA [horrified realization] You - you paid that Venusian!
ANTHONY [barely contained excitement] Oh, you really underestimate me, Lydia. Didn't you believe me when I said I do very well in alien roles?
CLOSING