The Princes of Kings Road by Tom Lazarus
SCENE ONE - STAGE LIGHTS OFF. DIONE NEUTRA SINGING AND PLAYING THE
CELLO FADES UP. THE AUDIENCE ENTERS.
LIGHTS UP 1/2.
1953. NIGHT. LOS ANGELES. THE CEDARS OF LEBANON HOSPITAL.
A HOSPITAL ROOM. ONE BED IS EMPTY. IN THE OTHER: RUDOLPH SCHINDLER,
HAIR UNKEMPT, GRAY GRIZZLE ON HIS FACE, HEAD ON THE PILLOW, EYES
CLOSED.
ABOVE THE HOSPITAL ROOM, A BLACK AND WHITE PROJECTION OF A RENDERING
OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS PALACE PHOTO V.
THE DOOR OPENS. THE SOUNDS OF HOSPITAL OFF STAGE. SCHINDLER STIRS.
THE IMAGE DISSOLVES TO PHOTO O OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL WINDOW AND THE
MUSIC FADES OUT.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN, IN A STARCHED WHITE UNIFORM, A HAT OVER A TIGHT BUN,
WHITE STOCKINGS AND SHOES, TIPTOES BACKWARDS IN FROM THE HALLWAY
CARRYING HIGH HEELS, WITH A DRESS AND A SWEATER OVER HER ARM, CLOSES
THE DOOR, TURNS, SEES THE SLEEPING SCHINDLER AS EXPECTED, THEN PUTS
HER CLOTHES DOWN ON THE OTHER BED.
QUIETLY, SHE UNBUTTONS HER UNIFORM, SLIDES THE UNIFORM OFF HER WHITE
SHOULDERS.
SCHINDLER OPENS HIS EYES AND WATCHES.
SHE TAKES THE DRESS OFF LEAVING HER IN HER SLIP.
THEN SITS ON THE OTHER BED FACING AWAY FROM THE AUDIENCE AND ROLLS OFF
HER WHITE STOCKINGS.
SCHINDLER
Your legs…
MORTIFIED, NURSE ROTHSTEIN QUICKLY COVERS HERSELF.
SCHINDLER
...beg to be caressed…
NURSE ROTHSTEIN WHIPS AROUND TO A NOW LEERING SCHINDLER.
SCHINDLER
(continuing)
...beg to be kissed…beg to be made to love to….
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
(interrupting)
I thought you were sleeping!
SCHINDLER
(playfully)
I don't think so.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
(angrily)
Well, think so 'cause I did. Now close your eyes while I change.
SCHINDLER DOESN'T BLINK.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
Go on!
SCHINDLER
(grumbling as he turns)
You've got something I haven't seen before?
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
Shut those eyes.
SCHINDLER DOES. NURSE ROTHSTEIN, CHECKS ON HIM AGAIN, THEN PULLS HER
DRESS ON OVER HER SLIP. BAREFOOT, GOES TO THE DOOR, LISTENS,
RETURNS.
SCHINDLER
Who is it you hide from?
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
(buttoning her dress)
Dr. Blackman - asking me to work over time.
SCHINDLER
Where do you go all fancied up?
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
You've got a lot of questions.
SCHINDLER
('innocent')
If Dr. Blackman were to ask me where you are…
PUTTING ON HER SHOES, SHE TURNS, LOOKS AT SCHINDLER.
SCHINDLER
(continuing, at a loss)
...vhat do I say?
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
First you're a Peeper Tom, now you're blackmailing me?
SCHINDLER
('innocently')
A sick old man like me?
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
(muttering unhappily)
A sick old rapscallion is more like it.
SHE UNDOES HER HAIR, WHICH FALLS TO HER SHOULDERS.
SCHINDLER
(seductively)
You're a very beautiful woman.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
(after reconsidering)
I have a job interview.
SCHINDLER
At night? Pretty suspicious.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
(putting on her sweater)
If anyone asks, you don't know where I am.
SCHINDLER
(innocently)
I shouldn't say 'a job interview?'
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
You don't know where I am!
SCHINDLER
(a good soldier)
Yes, Ma'am. I vill do that.
HE SALUTES, MAKING HER SMILE.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
See you in the morning, Mr. Schindler. I'm pulling a double.
SHE HEADS FOR THE DOOR, HESITATES.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
Oh, they'll be bringing a new patient in here tonight or in the
mor…
SCHINDLER
(interrupting, shouting)
I vant no one in here with me!
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
The hospital doesn't have a choice. There are no more beds.
SCHINDLER
(as an aside)
Hopefully someone vill die.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
Charming.
(encouraging)
Maybe you'll make a new friend.
SCHINDLER
(grumpy)
I don't vant a new friend. This person will come in here, spread
their germs and kill me. It happens, don't tell me it doesn't.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
Good night, Mr. Schindler.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN EXITS.
SCHINDLER CLOSES HIS EYES AGAIN.
AS DIONE SINGING FADES UP, PHOTO V OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS PALACE IS
PROJECTED.
THE MUSIC FADES AS THE LIGHTS SLOWLY FADE TO BLACK.
SCHINDLER'S DREAM
SCENE TWO
NURSE R. PLACES NEUTRA BED.
MORNING. L.A. DAY OUT THE WINDOW. IN THE OTHER BED, RICHARD NEUTRA,
SILVER HAIR, MUSTACHE, TURNS OVER, SITS UP AND CHECKS OUT THE ROOM,
SEES SCHINDLER SLEEPING, CONTINUES LOOKING AROUND, SLOWLY TURNS BACK
TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY.
NEUTRA
Ru…dolph?
SCHINDLER CONTINUES SLEEPING.
NEUTRA
(leaning closer)
RUDOLPH!
STILL NO REACTION.
NEUTRA
RUDOLPH!!
(Schindler starts awake, blinks a few times, turns to Neutra)
NEUTRA
It's Neutra! After all this time…
(Schindler's eyes widen)
SCHINDLER
(focusing, then)
Neutra?
NEUTRA
Yes, it is me.
SCHINDLER
(angrily)
Neutra!
NEUTRA
(dropping his arms, suddenly afraid)
Ru…Rudolph???
SCHINDLER
Of all the people in the vorld! You! That you would inflict
yourself on me…
NEUTRA
“Inflict?” I open my eyes and you are shouting at me like a….
SCHINDLER
GONIFF!
NEUTRA
(finishing)
...like a crazy person?
SCHINDLER
POSEUR!
NEUTRA
Why…?
SCHINDLER
(shaking his fist at Neutra)
Finally, you have to answer to me - face to face!
NEUTRA GRABS THE CALL BUTTON, PRESSES WILDLY. BZZZZ! SCHINDLER PRESSES
BZZZZ!
NURSE ROTHSTEIN BURSTS IN AS THEY'RE BZZZZING THEIR BRAINS OUT.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
What? What is it!
SCHINDLER
The man is a thief…A THIEF!
NEUTRA
This maniac is threatening to kill me! You must move me! Please,
another room!
NURSE ROTHSTEIN STEPS BETWEEN THE BEDS WAVING HER ARMS.
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
Wait a minute! Wait a minute!! You have to stop yelling. What's
going on?
NEUTRA
(bewildered)
Twenty-three years we haven't seen each other and…
NURSE ROTHSTEIN
(interrupting, astounded)
You know each other?!
[End of Extract]