A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

Books

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  2w, 5m

Nominee! 2008 Mystery Writer's of America, Edgar Award for Best Play. After robbing a savings and loan, Brian takes refuge in a quiet used book store, but things don't stay quiet for long.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee! 2008 Mystery Writer's of America, Edgar Award for Best Play.

Details

Summary
After robbing a savings and loan, Brian takes refuge in a down-and-out used book store run by Maddy and Betty. The book store's principal customer is Christopher, who steals books his brother pays for at the end of each week. A suspicious cop has the shop surrounded. Roger, a public defender, enters in a clown costume. It's his day off and he is moonlighting. After bullets fly during a comic siege, Brian turns himself in to Claudia, a no-nonsense assistant district attorney, but first he hides some of the money he has stolen. Brian's partner Eddie is under Claudia's thumb and ordered to remain mute. Late that night, Brian, Maddy, Betty, Christopher and Roger converge on the book store to retrieve the stolen money. Brian has made a deal to return the stolen money. However everyone decides to kill Brian and share the money. In confusion, Betty is shot by Maddy, Brian decides to turn himself in, but first he lets the women keep some of the money. 

BRIAN - an incompetent would-be savings and loan robber.
MADDY - who runs a less-than-successful used book store along with...
BETTY - who puts up a tough exterior
CHRISTOPHER - a lover of books who can't help stealing them
COP - who is suspicious
ROGER EDMONDS - who is a less-than-successful publis defender and an equally inept part-time clown
CLAUDIA - a no-nonsense assistant district attorney
EDDIE - Brian's partner who Claudia never gives a chance to speak

  • Setting Small used bookstore
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language

Music

  • Musical Style N/A (Not a musical)
  • Vocal DemandsN/A (Not a musical)
  • Chorus Size N/A (Not a musical)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $120 per performance

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Stuart Kaminsky

Stuart Kaminsky is author of 50 published novels, 5 biographies, 4 textbooks and 35 short stories and two plays that are published by Samuel French, The Final Toast and Books. He also has screenwriting credits on four produced films including Once Upon a Time in America, ...

View full profile

Community

Now Playing

Community Experiences