AMBITIOUS MINDS
(THIS IS WRITTEN IN A RADIO PLAY FORMAT, SOUND EFFECTS ARE WRITTEN BUT NO ACTIONS... USE YOUR IMAGINATION :O)

F/X: CROWDED TRAIN STATION (FADE IN)

HOMELESS MAN: Hey you! Yeah, you.. come here. No, I don’t want your money, put that away. I may look homeless, but I’m no beggar. Don’t look at your watch! Where you gotta be? Huh? We’re at a train station at night. My guess is you just finished work huh, you gotta be home? Hm? No don’t walk away I’ve got something to tell you. You look at me and you think I’m just some homeless drunk right? (laughs) Well maybe your right, I am homeless and I can be drunk. But I’ve seen things my friend, seen things so fantastic you couldn’t believe that they were true. I know you wouldn’t believe that they were true – but they happened. Sure as I’m sitting here they happened. (pause) Anyway, are you gonna listen to me or what? I’ll be telling the story either way, now don’t roll your eyes. That’s it, that’s it sit down on that bench and listen.

F/X: CROWDED TRAIN STATION (FADE OUT)

HOMELESS MAN: Now this is a story about the beasts within us all and how they all come out to play at the most inopportune times. A while ago I was passing through a small, country town. I came across a lovely young couple, ready to start their life together…

F/X: COUNTRY, OUTSIDE

JOHN: Just think of it Miriam, as soon as the loan comes through we can afford our own house, and then we won’t have to live with your father anymore. He stands in our way of a happy life.

MIRIAM: Oh John, it hasn’t been terribly horrible has it? I mean he did house us when we were on the street – and he did give you a job.

JOHN: Miriam, you must know that he only did that so he wouldn’t have to deal with his political campaign being smeared by a homeless daughter and her transient husband. And my job is a joke, one day I will be promoted to home loans manager, when at last that Marty Shaw leaves his post. Then I will grant my own home loan and we’ll be happy and away from your overbearing governor for a father.

MIRIAM: Sometimes I think you underestimate him dear.

JOHN: Your so naïve honey, you don’t know what goes on in the real world, that’s why when we get that loan you won’t have to work a day of your life. I’ll look after us both.

F/X: APPROACHING FOOTSTEPS, GRAVEL

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Ah, howdy folks.

JOHN: Hello.

MIRIAM: Evening stranger. What can we do for you?

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Well, see I was wondering if there was any work you need done. Any work that would result in a meal, maybe lodging for the night.

JOHN: No. There’s nothing for you here.

MIRIAM: Oh John, can’t we give him something to eat? He looks ravished.

JOHN: (whispering) Miriam, you let these kinds of people into your life and they never leave, they’ll leach off you. Best to get rid of him now.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Ah, I promise not to sir. I just need somewhere to stay for the night.

JOHN: I said we don’t need your services, if I see you around this property again I shall have the Sheriff upon you. Now leave.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS, WOODEN BOARDS

MIRIAM: I am sorry sir. John can be a little… abrasive at times. He only means to protect his family.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Its fine ma’am. You’d be surprised how often that sort of thing happens.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS, GRAVEL

MIRIAM: Wait.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Yes miss?

F/X: FOOTSTEPS, WOODEN BOARDS THEN GRAVEL

MIRIAM: Here, take this.

HOMELESS MAN: Your money miss? Oh no I couldn’t.

MIRIAM: Please, make me happy. Get some food in your belly.

HOMELESS MAN: Why thankyou miss, I’m much obliged.

MIRIAM: Now I can’t offer you lodging for the night but, hm… here. If you go to Jack’s tavern about a half a mile up the way there, mention my name and he’ll give you a room. I’m Miriam Sampson.

HOMELESS MAN: I can’t tell you what this mean to me, thankyou again miss.

MIRIAM: It’s the least I can do; a little kindness goes a long way.

HOMELESS MAN: Well I won’t soon forget it ma’am. I’ll see you later.
F/X: FOOTSTEPS - GRAVEL THEN WOODEN BOARDS. CREAKING COUNTRY DOOR, MORE FOOTSTEPS.

MIRIAM: Why couldn’t we help him John?

JOHN: Shhh, I’m listening.

F/X: TUNING RADIO

RADIO VOICE: …the body can only be identified by credentials found near the body in tattered clothes. This time the victim is 48-year-old Marty Shaw. Mr Shaw was a leader of the district bank and specialised in the home loans sector. Other than this the only outstanding circumstance is the brutal and bloody way the body was found. In other news the full moon last night prompted…

F/X: RADIO BEING TURNED OFF

MIRIAM: Oh no, that’s terrible.

JOHN: Terrible? Terrible? Miriam that’s great!

MIRIAM: Great? John what are you talking about? Someone was just killed.

JOHN: Miriam, there’s something I didn’t tell you about our home loan. I received a letter, two days ago. It was the rejection from the bank for our home loan.

MIRIAM: What? Bu…

JOHN: Tragic as these recent events are it means that our own home will soon be realised.

MIRIAM: John? What are you talking about?

JOHN: Don’t you get it? Soon I will be promoted to home loans manager and I can speed through our loan. Then we’ll be happy, isn’t that what you want?

MIRIAM: Yes, but… but at what a cost?

JOHN: It doesn’t matter – all that matters is our happiness.

MIRIAM: Yes John.

F/X: WIND BLOWING

HOMELESS MAN: That’s not the end of the tail my friend, not by far. The worse was yet to come.

F/X: HOWL

MIRIAM: (lurching up in bed) Oh, my!

JOHN: (waking) Miriam, what’s the matter?

MIRIAM: I don’t know, I just had a terrible dream. There was a wolf and it…

JOHN: Oh there, there. Forget about it now, your safe.

F/X: PHONE RINGING, BEING PICKED UP

MIRIAM: Ah, hello?

JOEL: (on phone) Hello, Miriam?

MIRIAM: Father? Father, why are you calling me now?

JOEL: (on phone) Miriam I’ve been arrested, I need your help. You must come to the sheriff station at once.

MIRIAM: Yes father, I’ll be there right away.

JOHN: What’s going on? Where are you going?

JOEL: (on phone) I have to go now, please come quickly.

MIRIAM: Yes, bye father.

F/X: PHONE HANGS UP

JOHN: What’s happening?

MIRIAM: I must go to the Sheriff’s station, father has been arrested!

JOHN: What? Arrested?

MIRIAM: Yes, I must go.

JOHN: I’m coming with you.

HOMELESS MAN: And so they left for the police station.

SHERIFF: I’m sorry Miriam, I’ve known you and your father for many years, but all the evidence seems to point to him.

MIRIAM: That’s fine Sheriff, but what has he been charged with.
SHERIFF: Murder, the murder of Marty Shaw.

MIRIAM: No, no! Father couldn’t have murdered him – he wouldn’t hurt a fly. What reason could he have to do such a thing?

SHERIFF: It seems Mr. Shaw had some information on your father that could have crippled his campaign career, you know how much politics means to him. I don’t know what the information was but it was worth a lot to your father, Mr. Shaw had been getting substantial payments from him over the last 18 months. I guess the burden of these payments eventually took their tole.

MIRIAM: No, I won’t believe it!

JOHN: Please Miriam, we all new how much your father revelled in his political career. His ambition alone was enough to kill Marty.

MIRIAM: No, can I see him? Can I see my father?

SHERIFF: Yes, I’ll arrange it. If you can just step through here.

F/X: DOOR OPENING

JOHN: Miriam.

SHERIFF: Sorry John, its one at a time.

JOHN: Be careful Miriam.

MIRIAM: I don’t have to be careful of my own father.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS - FLOOR, DOOR CLOSING. FOOTSTEPS.

SHERIFF: I’m sorry Miriam; you won’t have long with him. Its way past visiting hours as it is.

MIRIAM: I understand.

F/X: BUZZER, DOOR OPENING, DOOR CLOSING

JOEL: Miriam! You came!

MIRIAM: Father!

F/X: FOOTSTEPS - FLOOR, CLANKING CHAIN

JOEL: Oh drat these handcuffs! Come here child I can’t move any further, hug your dad.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS - FLOOR, CHAINS

JOEL/MIRIAM: (hugging) Mmmmm.

MIRIAM: You’ve been charged with murder.

JOEL: I know. I didn’t do it Miriam I swear.

MIRIAM: I believe you dad; I know you didn’t do it.

JOEL: They lock me up like some kind of common criminal. Some kind of murderer.

MIRIAM: What were you doing last night father?

JOEL: I don’t know, I was at party dinner earlier that night. I had a bit to drink…

MIRIAM: Father!

JOEL: I know, I promised you I wouldn’t drink anymore but I just couldn’t help it. I was just going to have a little and then one thing led to another and… and anyways I don’t remember the night all that well. What I do know was that I didn’t do it you have to believe me.

MIRIAM: You don’t have to convince me father, I do believe you. Is there any other reasons why they would suspect you?

JOEL: Well, there is your mother.

MIRIAM: Mother? But she’s been dead for 4 years.

JOEL: Yes, but it was the way that she died.

MIRIAM: What?

JOEL: It was the same way apparently as Marty went.

MIRIAM: But I thought Marty was savaged by an animal.

JOEL: No, although the death was horrific, the type and angles and such seem to suggest a man has done them.

MIRIAM: No.

JOEL: Yes, according to their fancy forensic tests they have here, I don’t understand them.

MIRIAM: And mother was killed the same way?

JOEL: Yes, apparently.
MIRIAM: How come you never told me?

JOEL: Well that’s nothing you really want to tell your daughter – it was hard enough telling you she was dead, let alone how. What’s the queerest thing is that the police tell me that apparently murders of this kind have been happening all over the county, for a decade at least – your mother was one of the first victims. The police try to keep them quiet so as to avoid copycats and mass hysteria. There’s enough talk around the station of werewolves they don’t want it getting out.

MIRIAM: Werewolves?

JOEL: Yes, you know wolf men who turn into wolves and go around killing people.

MIRIAM: Oh.

JOEL: I’m sorry, did I frighten you my dear?

MIRIAM: No, well of course it’s not true… is it?

JOEL: All I know is that sometimes the truth can be disguised – there’s a reason why they have the phrase a wolf in sheep’s clothing my dear. You must beware the clothing more than the wolf, for that is how it kills. We never found your mothers killer, but I suppose they are the same as the man that killed Marty.

MIRIAM: Please.

JOEL: Oh, I’m sorry. I know you were fighting with mum at the time of her death. Over John wasn’t it?

MIRIAM: Yes, she said he was no good and he said that she blocked his ambitions. They were a bad last months.

JOEL: I know dear, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have brought it up. Anyways there was a reason I called you here, and it actually regards John and this whole werewolf thing.

MIRIAM: What has John got to do with anything?

JOEL: It was what Marty was blackmailing me with, I didn’t believe a word of it until this new murder but I couldn’t let it out because the publicity alone could have destroyed my career.

MIRIAM: Well? What is it?

F/X: BUZZER, DOOR OPENING, FOOTSTEPS - FLOOR

SHERIFF: I’m sorry Miriam, but your times up.

MIRIAM: Oh, oh Sheriff.
SHERIFF: C’mon, its time to go.

MIRIAM: Ah, goodbye father.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS - FLOOR

JOEL: Just be careful of him Miriam, be careful.

F/X: DOOR CLOSING, BUZZER. DOOR OPENING

JOHN: Miriam, are you ok?

F/X: DOOR CLOSING

MIRIAM: Of course, lets go home.

JOHN: Of course.

HOMELESS MAN: Miriam’s father wouldn’t be locked up for too much longer, two days later he had escaped.

ANDY: So how long do think we have to guard this prisoner Bob?

BOB: I don’t know Andy. Sheriff’s orders to guard all suspected murderers around the clock.

ANDY: Yeah, but this guy looked as harmless as a puppy.

BOB: You wouldn’t say that if you knew exactly what he had done to that Marty fellow.

ANDY: Allegedly done. They haven’t proved it yet.

BOB: With the evidence they have on this guy Andy I don’t know who else it could ‘a been.

F/X: LIGHT GROWL

BOB: What was that?

ANDY: I don’t know Bob. Sounded like it came from…

F/X: FOOTSTEPS - FLOOR

ANDY:… in here. Oh my god!

F/X: LOUD GROWL, DOOR BUSTED DOWN, GUNSHOTS, LOUD GROWL, SCREAMS – FADE OUT

F/X: DISHES BEING WASHED, RADIO TUNING IN

RADIO VOICE: (quiet) … it seems that Joel Clemont, the main suspect…

F/X: TAP BEING TURNED OFF, FOOTSTEPS - FLOOR, RADIO BEING TURNED UP

RADIO VOICE: (slowly louder) in the murder of Marty Shaw has escaped from the Sheriff’s office. The police guarding him seem to have been killed in the same manner as Shaw himself, confirming the suspicions that Clemont was in fact the killer.

F/X: RADIO BEING TURNED OFF

MIRIAM: Oh my.

JOHN: (off mic) Miriam? Miriam, are you home?

F/X: FOOTSTEPS – WOODEN BOARDS, FLOOR

JOHN: Ah, there you are dear. What’s the matter?

MIRIAM: Something’s happened to father; he’s escaped from prison. It happened last night. Two guards were killed.

JOHN: Oh my god. I’ve got to get down there; I need to see what’s happened.

F/X: RUNNING FOOTSTEPS – FLOOR, WOODEN BOARDS

MIRIAM: (quiet) So where were you last night?

F/X: CAR STARTING AND SPEEDING OFF

HOMELESS MAN: I was to see Miriam one more time before I left that town, that very day. She was sitting on her porch.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS – GRAVEL

HOMELESS MAN: Hello again ma’am, I just wanted to come around to see you once more before I left and thankyou again for your kindness.

MIRIAM: Oh, think nothing of it – really it was my pleasure.

HOMELESS MAN: Well it meant a lot, even to an old homeless man like me.

MIRIAM: You are always welcome here, and I wish you luck on your travels.

HOMELESS MAN: Thankyou, see you later.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS – GRAVEL

MIRIAM: (begins sobbing)

F/X: FOOTSTEPS – GRAVEL STOP AND TURN

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Is everything alright ma’am? Anything I can help you with?

MIRIAM: Oh I don’t know anymore, my perfect life just seems to be falling apart.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Oh? How so?

MIRIAM: You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Well ma’am I’ve seen some things in my time, right now I’m willing to believe anything. Why don’t you try your story out on me?

MIRIAM: Well, my father is wanted for murder but he escaped prison last night, killing two guards in the process.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) So that’s the ruckus I’ve been hearing about on the radio.

MIRIAM: Yes, but still I’m not sure it was my father who broke out of jail.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Oh?

MIRIAM: My husband, John whom you have met previously snuck out last night before the escape happened. He doesn’t know I saw him and I don’t know how to breach the subject with him.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Ah, now that is quite a pickle isn’t it? Well all I can tell you is what I’ve learned from my long life – and that is that there is no perfect life.

MIRIAM: Oh no, no there is a perfect life – and it was in my grasp and now its slipping.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) Well if its there I hope you find it ma’am, you deserve it.

MIRIAM: Thankyou, even just for being a soul to spill my trouble to. By the way I never caught your name.

HOMELESS MAN: (off mic) That’s because I never gave it, see you later ma’am.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS – GRAVEL. NIGHT SOUNDS – CRICKETS. CAR PULLS UP AND STOPS. FOOTSTEPS – GRAVEL, WOODEN BOARDS
MIRIAM: John! Your home.

JOHN: Yes Miriam, sorry I was so long but I joined in the hunt for your father.

MIRIAM: And what did you find?

JOHN: Perhaps you had better sit down.

F/X: CHAIRS BEING PULLED OU

JOHN: I haven’t been totally honest with you Miriam about a few things. Before his death, Marty Shaw was blackmailing me.

MIRIAM: So was father.

JOHN: I know, I have known for ages. Marty used to brag about it when he would come to collect his money.

MIRIAM: Well what did he have to blackmail you with?

JOHN: The home loan darling. As long as he was loan manager of the bank he decided wether we got our loans or not, and he knew how much we wanted our dream life together, so he capitalised on it like a parasite.

MIRIAM: Oh my.

JOHN: Well that’s not the end of it I’m afraid. I had spoken to your father on the subject of Marty Shaw weeks before his death. We were both equally angry with him for messing with both our lives, so we had made a plan to… remove him from them.

MIRIAM: You mean kill him?

JOHN: I know it sounds horrible, and looking back now I can’t believe I entertained such ideas, but the plans were set. Your father and I were to, to get rid of Shaw once and for all. For all of our sakes, but you have to believe that I did not kill him. In the way that he was murdered, it was inhuman. Although I was having second thoughts about the deed, after he was discovered murdered I rejoiced in the idea. It was done and I didn’t have to do it, our life was as good as here. But then your father was arrested and I imagined he must have went through with our plan, but our plan did not consist of brutalising the body in the manner that it was. I thought he had gone crazy and Shaw’s blackmailing had finally pushed him over the edge – that is why I feared for you when you went to see your father that night.

MIRIAM: Also that he might try to inform me of your plan before you did?

JOHN: Well, yes. Last night I resolved to go to the station myself and talk with him, find out the truth so I snuck out of the house when you were asleep. Unfortunately your father had escaped by the time I got there. The search tonight turned up nothing; it was called off until tomorrow. Do you believe that I did not murder Shaw?

MIRIAM: I do John. In light of all that is how can I prove otherwise? Although my father did riddle me on a saying when I spoke to him last. Something about a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

JOHN: Of that I know nothing my love. Now, let us to bed and get some rest. There is no telling what tomorrow might bring.

F/X: CHAIRS BEING PULLED OUT, FOOTSTEPS – FLOOR. MORNING BIRD CALLS, KNOCKING.

SHERIFF: Hello? Miriam? John?

F/X: KNOCKING.

SHERIFF: Hello?

F/X: KNOCKING, DOOR OPENING.

SHERIFF: Ah John, good morning.

JOHN: Good morning, Sheriff (yawns) What brings you here so early?

SHERIFF: We’ve found the body of Miriam’s father. You’re going to have to come with us.

JOHN: Ok, um… let me just get dressed.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS – FLOOR

MIRIAM: (off mic) What’s going on?

SHERIFF: Oh, Miriam. Ah, we’ve found your father.

MIRIAM: Yes, I heard. What do you mean you’ve found his body?

SHERIFF: I mean he’s dead. He’s been done the same way as Shaw and the guards.

MIRIAM: Oh my.

SHERIFF: Forensics say he was killed at the jail and then taken into the forest, he was partially buried and that’s why it took so long to find him.

MIRIAM: Oh my god.
JOHN: Here I am Sheriff. Where are we going?

SHERIFF: We just want to ask you a few questions down at the station. You went to visit the victim on the night of his death did you not?

JOHN: Victim?

MIRIAM: My father.

JOHN: Oh no, no.

SHERIFF: Please come with me now John.

JOHN: All right I’ll come, but only to straighten all of this out.

F/X: FOOTSTEPS – FLOOR, WOODENBOARDS

SHERIFF: I’ll be back later to check on you Miriam, make sure your all right.

MIRIAM: Ok

F/X: DOOR CLOSING, FOOTSTEPS – WOODEN BOARDS, GRAVEL

HOMELESS MAN: But an hour or so later…

F/X: CAR SPEEDING UP AND STOPPING, SIRENS HEARD IN THE DISTANCE, CAR DOOR OPENING THEN CLOSING, RUNNING FOOTSTEPS – GRAVEL, WOODEN BOARD

JOHN: Miriam! Miriam!

F/X: DOOR OPENING, CLOSING, RUNNING FOOTSTEPS – FLOOR

JOHN: Oh Miriam, there you are.

MIRIAM: John? What’s the matter?

JOHN: Hurry, we must flee, they intend to charge me with your fathers murder, they think that I went there that night to kill him.

MIRIAM: Why, that’s ridiculous.

JOHN: I know, but they intend to lock me up for it. Now we’ll never have our perfect life.

MIRIAM: You couldn’t have killed him

JOHN: I know!

MIRIAM: Because I did.

JOHN: Yes, so we mus… what?

MIRIAM: I killed my father.

JOHN: What? Why? Miriam this is no time to joke.

MIRIAM: I don’t joke John. I killed my father.

JOHN: What? But why would you do that?

MIRIAM: He threatened our life John, our perfect life. He was going to tell the police of your deal to kill Shaw. He had to be removed.

JOHN: I don’t understand.

MIRIAM: Oh, come now. You know as well as I the ambition of achieving our perfect life. With him there we couldn’t get that. The same goes for Marty Shaw, and even my mother all those years ago.

JOHN: You killed Marty?

MIRIAM: MmHmm.

JOHN: And your mother.

MIRIAM: Why yes, haven’t you been listening? They both threatened our perfect life, Shaw because of his blackmail and refusal to give us a home loan – I mean what dream is complete without a home. And my mother didn’t approve of you very much, she thought you were a dreamer and that would have meant nothing but trouble. But I knew I loved you then, even all those years ago and I killed to protect it. Isn’t that romantic?

JOHN: I don’t believe it.

MIRIAM: Believe it John. You know while you were at the police station I realised that we couldn’t have our perfect life. Not you and I, you said it yourself. I still may be able to achieve it, in another state, maybe even another country. But not here, so all loose ends have to be tied up. I have ambition John to lead this perfect life and you will have to be sacrificed to serve that ambition. My father was right about a wolf in sheep’s clothing, it was staring him in the face as he said it. Goodbye John.

F/X: SOUNDS OF MIRIAM CHANGING INTO A WEREWOLF

JOHN: Oh my god, Miriam. You’re changing, changing into a wolf.

F/X: LOUD GROWL

JOHN: Oh my god, please no, no nooooooo!
F/X: LOUD GROWL AND SCREAMS

HOMELESS MAN: Sometimes ambition can really bring out the beast in you. Its not the moon that changes people man, it people and their own choices. Watch what you strive for my friend, and watch those motivated people around you, never know when they may need to remove you to get ahead. Now, if you wanna hear another story just stop for a while next time you see me. Like I said I have seen a lot of things in my time and I might just entertain you for a while. Cya later man, keep it real.

F/X: WOLF HOWL