MAIDEN HEAVEN

STEPHEN RICHTER

Maiden Heaven

a transposition of “Pygmalion”

from

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

Directed by Sunee KiernanScenic & Costume Design by Sarai Gallegos

Media Design by Monica AndradeDramaturge - Patrick DenneyWritten by Stephen Richter

Stage Reading: March 14th, 2015 UCSC Theater Arts

CastVictor Malion!! ! ! Stephen RichterVenus DeMarco! ! ! Sunee KiernanCraig Matsumoto! ! ! Patrick DenneyUna! ! ! ! ! Sarai Gallegos

SCENE ONE.

3:30 am. San Francisco, California. A warehouse in the Mission has been converted into a workshop / office / living space, separated by partitions. In the center section, sits a worktable with three large flat screen computer monitors on top of it. Each display shows a fullscreen view of a 3D modeling workspace. An empty wine glass sits beside a Walcom Pad and a mouse. A small canvass-covered mannequin stands at one end of the table. A cardboard box sealed with duct tape rests at the other end of the table. VICTOR MALION - unshaven, T-shirt and jeans - enters carrying a bottle of Chardonnay. He sits in an office chair and refills his wineglass. He hits the space bar on the keyboard. Whiter Shade of Pale plays. A photo sideshow begins on the largest screen:

Pictures of Victor and a beautiful woman in various locations. They look happy and in love. More pictures of the woman... She is smiling. Pain and sorrow wash over Victor’s face. He continues to stare. He reaches out to touch the screen.

Enter VENUS DE MARCO and CRAIG MATSUMOTO - dressed in evening gala attire and slightly drunk. Victor kills the music and quickly returns his screens to a 3D modeling workspace.

CRAIG Tell me you’re not falling apart, Vic. I need you, man.

VICTOR

(drying eyes)Just a little self care.

(Venus looks at Victor with compassion. She caresses his cheek as she walks by.)

VICTORI’m good.

VENUSI do the same thing.

CRAIGI don’t want to hear about it.

VENUSDon’t be an asshole.

CRAIGI should be the one crying. I have to do all the work around here.

(Craig tosses an envelope to Victor then pours himself a drink. Victor opens it. He unfolds a letter.)

VICTOR What’s this?

VENUSThen who took care of Mr. Takara all night?

CRAIG I did.

VENUSYou sound like you believe that.

(Craig smiles. He refills Victor’s wineglass then pours one for Venus.)

VENUS It physically hurts you to give me even the smallest amount of credit. Doesn’t it?

VICTOR

(holding paper)What the hell is this?

CRAIG

(raises glass)Fine. To Venus DeMarco, the inventor of Artificial Emotional Intelligence. How’s that?

2.

VENUS

(raises glass)And former CEO of Maiden Heaven...

VICTORWe’re selling to the Japanese then ?

VENUSLifedoll wants to acquire us, Victor!

CRAIGLifedoll wants to acquire Ultima.

VICTORShe’s not ready.

VENUS AND CRAIGWhat?!

VICTORI’m not ready!

CRAIGWhat the fuck are you talking about?

VENUSHang on, Craig.

CRAIGNo no no. We have and agreement, you fuck. You build it. Venus brings her to life and I sell it. I invested my life savings into this, you cocksucker!

(Victor pushes Craig’s shoulder. Craig goes after Victor but Venus steps between them.)

VENUSHey! Hey! Stop it! What the hell is wrong with you, Victor?

VICTORYou should have consulted with me first. I’ve been working fifty-two hours straight, while you two are out there trying to sell something that doesn’t even exist!

VENUSYou said she was ready, Victor!

3.

VICTORI said we still needed to test your A.E.I. build before we can move forward with any more modeling, but no one listens to a word I say.

CRAIGThen what the fuck have you been doing in here for the past fifty-two hours?!

(Victor looks at Mark then Venus. He returns to his computer and pulls up a 3D wireframe model of a torso with breasts.)

VICTORMaking sure that she’s perfect.

(Victor hits the spacebar. The Band plays Like a Rolling Stone.)

CRAIGOkay, I’m sorry. Look, we’re still okay here. How much more time do you need, buddy?

VICTOR

(over shoulder)Ask Venus. I only make the bodies, man.

CRAIGVenus?

VENUSYou tell me, Craig. You do all of the work around here.

(Craig gives Venus a murderous look. Victor manipulates his mouse, Walcom pad, and keyboard with demonic speed. The woman’s torso becomes textured on the largest screen while an anatomical illustration of muscle and skeleton appears on another monitor. Victor highlights a section, takes a measurement, then continues to sculpt the model in 3D space.)

VENUSI have the latest build compiled on my office machine. (To Victor) How do you want delivery?

CRAIGVictor!

4.

VENUSVictor! Turn the music down!

(Victor continues to work.)

CRAIGWe’re dinosaurs by 5:30 this evening, Victor! We have to deliver!

(Venus shake her head. She walks to her office.)

CRAIGCome on, buddy. Tell me we’re going to make it!

(Victor raises his middle finger. Craig laughs.)

CRAIGI love you, man! I fucking love this guy!

(Craig kisses Victor on the top of his head then jogs to Venus’ office. Victor works like a demon- possessed octopus at the computer. He freezes. Victor lowers the volume of the music.)

WOMAN’S VOICE

(almost unintelligible)Victor...

(Victor looks towards Venus’ office then at the cardboard box at the end of the table. He walks over and peels the duct tape back. He opens the cardboard flaps. A woman’s head is inside. Her eyes implore Victor. A red gag ball is in her mouth, preventing her from speaking. She looks identical to the woman in Victor’s photographs.)

VICTORI’m sorry, Una...

(He starts to removes the gag ball from her mouth, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the door of Venus’ office. Inside her office, Craig tries to embrace Venus.)

VENUSDon’t.

5.

CRAIGOkay, look, I know “VicMalion” is an amazing artist. That’s why I put up with him but he has issues, my dear.

VENUSDon’t we all?

CRAIGI don’t.

VENUSOh, please...

CRAIGBut I know your Achilles, don’t I?

(Craig slips up behind Venus and wraps his arms around her waist. He whispers in her ear. Venus laughs, while outside the office, in the cardboard box on top of Victor’s table, Una’s disembodied head looks at Victor with concern.)

UNAVictor, we need to talk.

VICTORI know. I’m just under a huge amount of pressure right now.

UNAI heard everything.

VICTORI didn’t mean what I said... about Ultima.

UNASounded like you meant it.

VICTORShe doesn’t even exist, Una.

UNABut you want her to.

6.

VICTORWe need her to.

UNAThat actually makes it worse, Victor. This is becoming so twisted. You really need to think about what you’re doing here.

VICTORI’m an artist, Una. It’s a job.

UNAAnd what am I, Victor?

(They stare into each other’s eyes. Victor looks back towards the door of Venus’ office.)

UNAWho am I, Victor?

(Victor doesn’t respond.)

UNAWho am I to you?

(Inside the office, Venus pushes Craig away then slaps him across the face. Victor walks back to the table and picks up the gag ball.)

UNAVictor wait. Just talk to me, please. I can help you.

(Victor gags Una. In the office, Craig takes Venus’ hand and plants gentle kisses on the back of it. He laughs.)

CRAIG

(in office)I love you guys!

(Victor closes the cardboard box. He rushes back to his seat and hits the space bar. Politician by Cream plays. Victor works like a madman. Craig enters the workspace.)

CRAIGYeah, baby!

7.

(He dances to the music, his movements become more and more sensual. Victor ignores him. Venus works on her computer behind the closed door of her office. Craig dances behind Victor’s chair now. He runs a hand over Victor’s chest. Victor brushes it away. Craig wags his tongue at Victor between two fingers. Victor’ concentration remains unbroken. He manipulates the woman’s ass on the screen, sculpting and shaping it.)

CRAIGI love it! Look at that ass!

(Craig looks over towards Venus’ office door then removes a small vial from his breast pocket. He taps out two lines of cocaine on top Victor’s desk. He rolls up a hundred dollar bill, snorts one of the lines, then offers the bill to Victor. Victor hits the space bar. He looks up at Craig. The moment is long and pregnant with tension. Victor finally takes the bill and snorts the remaining line. He resumes his work. Craig wipes off the table top then slaps Victor on the back.)

CRAIGI love you guys! Let’s get this money, baby!

(Craig walks to the door of the living quarters. He enters the room then closes the door behind him. Inside, he begins to undress.

Victoria exits her office. She folds her arms as watches Victor work at the computer, oblivious to her presence. She smiles. Victor changes the music to E Lucevan Le Stelle then continues his high speed modeling. Venus walks towards him. The woman on the screen takes shape with demonic speed and skill. Venus is right behind Victor now. She reaches out to touch his shoulder then hesitates. She turns around and walks back towards her office.

In the bedroom, Craig peels back the blankets of a four post bed, revealing a life-sized doll that looks just like Una and the woman in Victor’s photographs. He slips beneath the covers naked.

8.

In the workspace, Victor continues to meticulously shape and form Ultima’s hair in the 3D viewport. The hair on the model is almost identical to the smiling young woman in Victor’s photograph. Victor stops. He claps a hand over his mouth and stares at the screen. He buries his head in his hands and begins to sob. The music ends.)

UNA

(muffled inside box)Victor...

(Victor looks at both doors: the office then the bedroom. He taps the space bar again. Jo Stafford sings It Could Happen To You. He walks back over to the cardboard box and opens it. Una stares up at him with concern and sympathy. Venus taps Victor on the shoulder. He jumps into the air. Victor turns around, blocking Venus’ view of the open box. He fumbles behind his back trying to close the flaps with his fingertips.)

VICTORDance with me.

VENUSAlright.

(Victor leads, turning Venus so she can’t see Una’s gagged head. They dance away from the table. Victor and Una stare at each other over Venus’ shoulder. Venus rests her head on Victor’s chest. Una shakes her head.

In the bedroom, Craig moves beneath the covers.)

VENUSDon’t pay attention to Craig. He means well, even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes.

VICTORI think I’m losing my mind, Venus.

VENUSC'est L'amour.

VICTORSay what?

9.

VENUSLove is loss.

VICTORI don’t know what’s wrong with me, Venus. I’m all fucked up.

VENUSYou’re tired. That’s all. But you’re a monster, Victor. You can handle this. You’re Vic Malion - the render man... In a few hours you’ll blink your eyes and wake up in the Bahamas, sipping Mai Tais on the beach with the woman of your dreams.

(The music ends. They stare into each other’s eyes. Venus caresses Victor’s cheek.)

VICTORAnd who would that be?

VENUSGet back to work.

VICTOROkay.

(Venus returns to her office. Victor heads for the open cardboard box. Una’s eyes shoot daggers at him.)

VICTORWhat?

(Una nods and gestures with her eyebrows. Victor turns around. Craig is standing behind them, staring.)

CRAIGYou said you’d get rid of her, Victor.

(Craig steps closer. Victor backs up, keeping between Craig and the box.)

VICTORI did.

CRAIGAll of her.

10.

(Victor shakes his head. They circle one another, prepared to pounce, with murderous intent. Venus steps out of her office, her hand covering the receiver of her cellphone.)

VENUSCraig, Mr. Takara needs to speak with you. It’s urgent.

CRAIGWe’ll deal with this later.

VICTORFair enough.

(Victor walks to the table and closes the box. Craig runs to Venus and takes the phone from her hand. He enters the office.)

CRAIG

(inside office)Takara-san Ohayou Gozaimasu!

(Victor sits back down at his desk and begins to work again. Venus watches him for a moment. She returns to her office and closes the door behind her.)

END SCENE

11.