Another Twist of the Tale – Episode 4 – By Apointment

Below we present the complete text of By Appointment; episode 4  of Another Twist of the Tale.

ANOTHER TWIST OF THE TALE

EPISODE #4 – By Appointment

by Philip Craig Robotham

Cover Illustration by Miyukiko

Unedited Draft

Copyright 2013 Philip Craig Robotham

Creative Commons Attritubution Non Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) Edition .

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Episode 4: By Appointment

A toothache turns terrifying when the dentist chooses to enact his revenge upon the drunk driver responsible for his daughter’s death.

ANOTHER TWIST OF THE TALE

CAST LIST

NARRATOR: The Narrator

DENTIST: Mr Summerville

PATIENT: Dental Patient

ASSISTANT: Dental Assistant

SFX ARTIST: Minimum one required

Act 1

SCENE 1: INT – DENTIST’S OFFICE (DENTIST, ASSISTANT, PATIENT)

1. MUSIC: OPENING THEME – LET IT FINISH.
2. SOUND: BUZZ OF DENTAL DRILL – LET IT FINISH
3. NARRATOR: (SPOOKY VOICE) Many of us experience a shudder when we hear the buzz of the dentist’s drill – a visceral and, dare I say it, primal surge of terror. I suppose it has something to do with the antiseptic surrounds, the smell, the bitter tang on the tongue and the helpless feeling while under the influence of the anaesthetic. Of course it may just be the noise itself; the vibration against the teeth. But mostly, I suspect, it’s the pain or its promise. Having once felt the touch of a nerve within a tooth, there are few who will ever again relish a trip to (BEAT) the Dentist.
4. SOUND: DRAMATIC CHORD – LET IT FINISH.
5. ASSISTANT: Mr Summerville, your 2:30 appointment is here.
6. DENTIST: Ah, thank you Miss Matchessky, I’ll take it from here.
7. ASSISTANT: But Mr Summerville, don’t you want me to assist?
8. DENTIST: No, no. That’s fine my dear. We’ve had patients right through your usual lunch break. Go and get a bite to eat. I’ll be fine.
9. ASSISTANT: Oh, thank you sir.
10. DENTIST: Not at all. (TO PATIENT) Now, you’re my 2:30 appointment, yes?
11. PATIENT: Yes, I’m…
12. DENTIST: Yes, yes. I know who you are. Come and take a seat in the chair and let’s get a look at your teeth.
13. PATIENT: Alright.
14. DENTIST: Comfortable?
15. PATIENT: Ahuh.
16. DENTIST: I’ll just adjust these straps over your wrists.
17. PATIENT: Um… is that necessary?
18. SOUND: STRAPS BEING TIGHTENED – UNDER.
19. DENTIST: It’s just a precaution. Some patient’s reflexes are such that probing areas of decay is quite risky to the practitioner. I once got a black eye that lasted two weeks from one of my patients. The poor man was terribly apologetic afterwards, but these days I prefer to take precautions.
20. PATIENT: Understandable of course, but…
21. DENTIST: Now tip your jaw back and let me have a look.
22. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – INDISTINCT) How’s that?
23. DENTIST: There we go. Now these braces will help keep your mouth open while we work. Let me know if they start to feel uncomfortable at all.
24. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – INDISTINCT) All right.
25. SOUND: PLINK OF PROBE PICKING AT TEETH – LET IT FINISH.
26. DENTIST: Oh dear. This doesn’t look good. I can see why you made the appointment.
27. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – INDISTINCT) Yeah.
28. DENTIST: I need to probe the tooth a moment… and it may hurt a bit. Ready?
29. PATIENT: (MUFFLED SHRIEK)
30. DENTIST: Yes, that’s a lot of decay. I’m going to have to give you a filling. Possibly more than one. But don’t worry the worst is over, for now.
31. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – INDISTINCT) For now?
32. DENTIST: I’ll give you some anaesthetic. You’ll be perfectly comfortable. Here comes the needle.
33. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – INDISTINCT) Whoah.
34. DENTIST: There you go. How does that feel?
35. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – INDISTINCT AND SLURRING) Okay.
36. DENTIST: Good. You know, dentists have to be careful about using anaesthetic on our clients, one slight slip with the needle and we could kill a nerve, or leave the face totally paralysed.
37. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – FRIGHTENED) What??
38. DENTIST: Oh, you needn’t be alarmed. Ending up paralysed is the least of your worries.
39. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – FRIGHTENED) But???
40. DENTIST: I’ve given you a larger dose than usual. It will keep the pain to a minimum. Better than what they did to my daughter.
41. PATIENT: (MUFFLED, SLURRING – CONFUSED) Your daughter?
42. DENTIST: Yes. She was in a car accident recently. A drunk driver ran a red light.
43. PATIENT: (MUFFLED, SLURRING – SYMPATHETIC) I’m sorry.
44. DENTIST: No. Don’t try to speak. (BEAT) Oh dear. I think this tooth is a little far gone. I’m going to have to take it out.
45. PATIENT: (MUFFLED – OBJECTING) No, I don’t…
46. DENTIST: I’m sorry. Hold still. (GRUNTS) Umph.
47. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
48. DENTIST: There we are. Hmmm. Your tongue is getting in the way a little. Let me just shift it a bit.
49. SOUND: SLICING SOUND – LET IT FINISH.
50. SOUND: SLAP OF SOMETHING WET LANDING IN TRAY.
51. PATIENT: (GURGLING SOUND) Arghle.
52. DENTIST: There that gives me a bit more room. Yes, as I was saying, my daughter was hit by a drunk driver. You may have heard of her, Jennifer McArdle? (BEAT) Yes, I know. McArdle is her married name. I’m not surprised you didn’t realise she was my daughter.
53. PATIENT: (GURGLING SOUND) Arghle. Ack.
54. DENTIST: It looks like you’ve got another couple of teeth that need removal, Mr Jefferies. Hold still. (GRUNTS) Ungh.
55. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
56. PATIENT: (PANICKED GURGLE) Argh. Aaaargh.
57. DENTIST: There. She died very slowly Mr Jefferies. Very painfully. They couldn’t even give her anaesthetic. (GRUNTS) Ungh.
58. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
59. PATIENT: (PLEADING WHIMPER)
60. DENTIST: It’s interesting that you have the same last name as the driver, don’t you think? (BEAT) I should probably tell you about him. He’s a very wealthy man. Expensive car. Expensive house. (GRUNTS) Ungh.
61. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
62. PATIENT: (PLEADING WHIMPER)
63. DENTIST: He could pay for a very good lawyer. Walked away with just a fine. (GRUNTS) Ungh.
64. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
65. PATIENT: (PLEADING WHIMPER)
66. DENTIST: (GRUNTS) Ungh.
67. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
68. DENTIST: (GRUNTS) Ungh.
69. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
70. DENTIST: You can imagine how angry that made me feel, can’t you Mr Jefferies?
71. PATIENT: (SHRIEK OF TERROR – MUFFLED)
72. DENTIST: Oh dear, it looks like your lips are getting in the way.
73. PATIENT: (SHRIEK OF TERROR – MUFFLED)
74. SOUND: BRIEF FRANTIC STRAINING AT STRAPS – LET IT FINISH.
75. DENTIST: Now, now. Mr Jeffries you don’t want to strain so hard. You’ll do yourself an injury. Now hold still while I cut away…
76. PATIENT: (SHRIEKS – MUFFLED)
77. SOUND: SLICING SOUND – UNDER SHRIEK – LET IT FINISH.
78. PATIENT: (SHRIEKS AGAIN – MUFFLED)
79. SOUND: SLICING SOUND – UNDER SHRIEK – LET IT FINISH.
80. SOUND: TWO SPLATS IN TRAY – LET THEM FINISH.
81. DENTIST: Dear, dear. You are something of a bleeder, aren’t you Mr Jeffries? I’ll just apply some suction.
82. SOUND: DENTAL SUCTION BEING APPLIED – LET IT FINISH.
83. DENTIST: Ah that’s better. I can see your remaining teeth much more clearly now.
84. PATIENT: (BRIEF WET COUGHING)
85. DENTIST: Looks like there’s still a bit of blood in your throat. A bit more suction’s needed I think.
86. PATIENT: (CHOKING AS SUCTION APPLIED)
87. SOUND: SUCTION – UNDER CHOKING.
88. DENTIST: There, I’d hate for you to die in my chair.
89. PATIENT: (TERRIFIED WHIMPER)
90. DENTIST: You see… (GRUNTS) Ungh…
91. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
92. DENTIST: (GRUNTS) Ungh…
93. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
94. DENTIST: I want you to live a long life, Mr Jefferies, disfigured, and a horror to everyone who sees you. (BEAT) The time I spend in jail (GRUNTS) Ungh…
95. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
96. DENTIST: Will be more than compensated for by the knowledge you will never speak again, never chew solid food, and never present people with a smile. (GRUNTS) Ungh.
97. SOUND: TINK OF TOOTH GOING INTO TRAY – LET IT FINISH.
98. DENTIST: A fitting revenge upon my daughter’s killer, don’t you think?
99. SOUND: (FROM A DISTANCE) DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES – LET IT FINISH.
100. ASSISTANT: (FROM A DISTANCE) Mr Summerville, I’m back.
101. SOUND: MISC. ARRIVAL SOUNDS FROM NEXT ROOM
102. ASSISTANT: I forgot to mention this earlier. Mr Jefferies rescheduled his appointment for tomorrow, but I managed to give the appointment to Mr Wentworth. (APPROACHING) It was a lucky thing he called for an emergency… Oh my… (SCREAMS) Aaargh.
103. MUSIC: DRAMATIC CHORD – LET IT FINISH.
104. NARRATOR: (SPOOKY VOICE) And so our story ends… but don’t let our creepy little fiction frighten you too much. The Dentist is there for your health, not your horror, however helpless you may feel in the chair. In fact you may have need of him very soon or was that twinge in your teeth simply a figment of your imagination? Mwahahahahaha…
105. MUSIC: CLOSING THEME – LET IT FINISH.

CASTING SHEETS — MAJOR CHARACTERS

NARRATOR: Hello, I am your spooky voiced narrator. I introduce the cold stormy nights on which our stories take place, the dark alleys, and darker personalities who inhabit the lonely city. It is my job to set the scene and establish the serious tone of suspense and intrigue that will carry the story forwards. I do this with a creepy laugh and ghoulish enthusiasm for the misery that is about to be unleashed upon the characters.

DENTIST: I’m your friendly family dentist.  I am warm and caring, careful to help the kids relax, fully aware of how awful a trip to the dentist can be.  But I want you to come back and protect your teeth, so I try to make it as lacking in trauma as possible.  Sadly, I recently lost my daughter to a drunk driver.   We’re recovering, but what I wouldn’t like to do to the person responsible!

PATIENT: I’m in pain.  I have a terrible toothache and I’m just so happy that this emergency appointment came up.  I just hope the dentist isn’t the talkative type.  I hate trying to answer questions with someone fingers in my mouth.

ASSISTANT: I’m a little forgetful and always in a bit of a rush.  I’ve got a good boss though, and he happily overlooks it when a detail or two regarding our patients happens to slip my mind.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philip Craig Robotham grew up in a house full of books and has held numerous jobs as a teacher, computer programmer, graphic and web designer, e-learning consultant and, most recently, writer. He currently lives in Victoria, Australia with his wife and two sons. When he was younger and fitter he enjoyed martial arts, but in recent years his hobbies have tended towards more sedate fare (board games, movies, books, and role-playing games).

He is extremely grateful for the encouragement he receives from his biggest fans — his wife and two boys — all of whom read and enjoy his scripts and, in general, make his life worth living.

You can contact the author regarding performance rights (or simply to say hello) through his website: http://www.weirdworldstudios.com.

THE END

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This post and all its content is copyright © 2013 Philip Craig Robotham and has been released under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license. This play cannot be reproduced, shared, or performed commercially without the written permission of the author.  The production of derivative content, merchandise, or creative works and materials is expressly forbidden under this agreement. However you may share, reproduce, and perform this play freely so long as authorship is acknowledged, no money changes hands, and the play is not modified in any way.

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