Uncle Sammy: A full-length play for stage and screen.

By Steven Alan Levin

Years before the movie TOOTSIE was released the author provided substantial planning, copyrightable story telling, characters, and much dialogue for it; acknowledged by its producer/director, the late, great Sydney Pollack. Uncle Sammy makes extended and more serious fun of that 1982 comedy classic; way beyond the situation comedy of gender role

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steven A. Levin
• Release date: Apr 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578897059

Steven Alan Levin

The author, specialized in acting, directing, and improvisation at Stanford University. His improvisation studies were coached by Stephen Book. He worked with the Repertory Theater there in several capacities. He has participated in significant determinations for the productions of several ventures. Among them: the tv shows LAW & ORDER and F•R•I•E•N•D•S; the movies TOOTSIE, SCENT OF A WOMAN and MAVERICK; the songs on the album BORN FOR TROUBLE. Steve is a U.S. Navy veteran. He organized and participated in England in the building of a sailboat registered in Cork, Eire. Nearly died after falling upside-down from the deck during construction when the boat was blocked up on hard ground. Is grateful beyond measure for British National Healthcare. Made an outrageous bet with Prince Charles. Has yet to collect. Sailed the boat about 40,000 sea miles. Visited well over 70 nation states. Met many outstanding people. And engaged in some highly unusual activities.While on Guam aboard his Irish yacht he finished the first few copyrighted drafts of Uncle Sammy. He studied business and education. Worked as a USCG licensed ship's master, a teacher and a paralegal. He successfully petitioned, pro se, the U. S. Supreme Court in Levin v. U.S.A. 11-1351. After the case settled in the trial court, he stayed involved to help the court issue orders to further resolve underlying issues.His Masters degree qualifications are a Guam recognition. His Philosophical work is a private theatrical business brief. He has other works. And grand ambitions. He still loves to improvise, too.Mr. Levin is a Kohein, a priest in the Jewish religion. ​​​​​​​He is represented. Text bona fides to [phone] for contact to representation.

Book preview

Front_cover_V3.jpg

Dedication

to

my friend from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

Oya San, Riyogi

he passed away one thursday one summer

neither of us could understand why some anglican words begin with bigger letters

why so for days and months but not seasons

why much variety of punctuation having same effect

or not needed

Of course, we were not pretending to be or imagining characters in an English-written play.

To friends I met by way of acquaintance with Riyogi, completing the first draft, and speaking of business about the play was a pleasure.

My thanks to James de Beaujeu Domville of the film board of Canada and other Canadian arts organizations. A great visionary. Another friend who has passed away. He was kind enough to read an early draft. Thanks also to Pat Michel of the CBC who was with Jim and had read an earlier draft.

In particular, I should thank Candace Bergen for suggesting I use dolls. And, the late, great Sydney Pollack for a bit of dialogue I used. That happened after the movie Tootsie was released. I had some involvement in the development of that venture. I promised something with more oomph.

Uncle Sammy, in earlier drafts, was called Too Too Tootsie.

I have not received any official credit or monetary compensation from Tootsie’s business. Acknowledgement from Sydney was sufficient, then, after that movie’s release to the public. Though the recognition brought about re-arrangement with CBS and more officially uncompensated, creditable work.

Sadly, I have encountered many who take, but care not to compensate. Who exploit, contrary to international copyright laws, particularly those harmonized by the European Union.

The loss of Riyogi, Jim, and Syd, compounded, as I have been rewriting, by the passing of Sir Thomas Connery, known as Sean, adds another dimension of feeling. I met him with other notables in the entertainment business in 1987 in Spain, where Candace Bergen suggested I use dolls in Uncle Sammy. The meeting was extraordinary. Most memorable. My tv-show-friends friends were there, too. Much successful entertainment, for which I did quite significant originating resulted from that meeting. Resulted well. May still financially be resulting. Sir Thomas witnessed my doings. Makes me even more concerned that he is no longer alive and able to use his communication and memory skills. Fortunately, memories must live on with others at that extraordinary meeting.

I wrote a supporting role in Uncle Sammy for Connery because he expressed interest, or sure seemed to, in doing more forms of comedy. And interest in religion. And national reforms. I called the character for the role Sean Connery. The surname is legitimate. The show biz name, Sean? Who knows?

In light of his passing, I have been wondering what ought to be done with that role.

I remember a humble, sincere, friendly, well-educated, dignified, and amusingly cooperative person who gave me the best, the nicest, beginners-golf-lesson. A unique personality with traits I hope will be well perceived throughout Uncle Sammy: wit; calm appreciation for all sorts of humor and people; restrained strength of mind, body and spirit, with a well composed soul; as well as serious concerns for systemic political and social upgrades. I hope the restrained traits will be well perceived, because the main character in Uncle Sammy is not so restrained!

In all the memories of men who have died, lest readers think I may be slighting the honor of my parents, and women I have known, I must thank The Heavenly Divine for keeping the women alive. Though, today, rewriting this dedication, is the anniversary of my mother’s passing. Tragically, she died long before my father did. And, she was thirteen years younger.

He once asked if he could give me some advice. I said, Sure. Of course.

He said, Take my advice.

He added nothing more at that time. But, I am still advised.

He might just as well have been referring to my mother’s. She was the kindest person imaginable, seemed magically mystical, but had quite a sense of humor too. After seeing the movie, From Russia with Love, in which Connery so ably brought the James Bond role to life, she said, that was a movie I would pay to get out of.

I told Thomas. He had other business and legal matters on his mind at the time. We chatted a bit about those. Thirteen years later he was knighted. I’d like to think my mother started the ‘ceremony.’ The sharp wit of words is mightier than the sword that fights and knights. Not only that, but kindness is mighty, too.

To wrap up this dedication, I first met Riyogi due to the charitable kindness of my father, mother, and her family helping Riyogi and his family do business in and around Los Angeles, where the movie business must have done much to feed Thomas Connery, his family, friends and associates.

By chance, the knight-to-be told me the best food he ever had was on Hokkaido, Riyogi’s home island. Cooked on the island. From the sea.

Not my mother’s strength. She may have been psychic. But, not about cooking. Truth is my father cooked the fish.

for what can we wish

but the best

from The One Above

that all should be blessed

All In Honor Of

Uncle Sammy

A full-length play for stage and screen

by

S. Alan Levin

now preferring titles:

One Sovereign and Another Sovereign

(a marketing plan)

This manuscript has been prepared with great care over many years. Copyright laws protect such efforts and encourage a vibrant culture. Thank you for purchasing this authorized edition and complying with laws by not reproducing any part in any manner whatsoever, including without limitation any readings before those other than the readers, without prior written permission from the author and his representation. Failure to comply incurs liability.

To reach representation:

1 [phone]

[e-mail]

© Registered. All rights reserved. 1995, 2012, 2020, 2023

Principal Characters in order of appearance

SAMUEL Stage actor, male, upper-prime middle age. On the verge of mega-stardom in a business which may not be mega enough for him. Lifelong buddy of Steven.

LESLIE Screen actress, female, prime-younger middle age. A dream and a dreamer. Clocks ticking; biological and career. More than an acquaintance to Steven and Samuel, especially Samuel. Close friend to Jill.

JILL Stage and screen actress, female, upper-prime middle age. Practical. Divorced. Mother of Annie. A newer acquaintance to the buddies, especially Samuel. Close friend to Yvonne.

STEVEN Writer, male, upper-prime middle age. Shares apartment Samuel. A foodie. All things tasteful, apparent, and not-so-apparent are concerns that he almost too sedately keeps in his own imagination, until reality strikes. He has an unusual friendship with a mysterious D woman.

YVONNE Executive assistant to Gerri, female, prime-younger middle age. Ambitious. Dependable but independent. Widow. Mother of Sammy.

GERRI CEO of talent agency, female, prime elder. Manages Samuel and Steven, which too often requires extraordinary efforts. Lifelong friend of Sam Aarons.

SAM AARONS Chief of movie studio, male, elder elder. Striving to be a pious Jew. With the stress of studio responsibilities, he invents words that require second-thought interpretations, such as calling Samuel a ‘revealnationary.’ If the law doesn’t get Sam, Sam’ll get the law.

SONNI COO of movie studio, female, prime-upper middle age. No problem is too much for her to solve. Lifelong friend of Simon.

ANNIE Jill’s daughter, pre-prime teenager. Quick learner. Articulate. A choice kid. Cares for Sammy.

SAMMY Yvonne’s son. Going to begin his kindergarten education without a father. So, sometimes unsure about the dual roles his mother must play.

SIMON Sam’s nephew, ex-boyfriend and friend to Yvonne, young middle age. Calm, cool, and collected always; even more so when all about him is not. Confidant of Sonni.

DAVID CULHANE Cinematographer, male, elder. Dandy perfectionist. Overseer. History of control issues with Samuel.

Many other characters: old celebrities and new; musicians; dancers; technical and creative experts; clergy; scholars; lawyers; business people.

the ‘reveilleation’ begins

not with a trumpet fanfare

but with

a jazzed up orchestration of cantorials

LIGHTS UP

in the theater.

MUSIC OVERTURE

LIGHTS

in the theater house dim.

CURTAIN UP

Act I

Scene 1

DEN - BEFORE NOON

LIGHTS (by areas) UP

A large screen, identical to the theater curtain, squarely upstage center, framed by curtains like the theater curtain. Squarely facing the screen is an armchair’s back, the same as audience seats. Hidden, SAMUEL sits, facing the screen.

OVERTURE FLOURISH

MUSIC UNDER

The screen rises revealing the crown of a tree behind a window.

Upstage right is a clothes rack holding a king costume, a 3-piece light grey suit, a silky pastel negligee gown, and a costume that is half a woman’s evening gown, half a man’s dark grey dress suit. Upstage of the rack is a 7-shelf awards case. Top shelf empty. Celtic beret behind and between the king and and the grey suit on a shelf above a few books, which are spaced apart to suggest the beret is on an empty head between the king costume and the grey suit costume.

A long couch is against the wall stage right. There is a poster above it:

Honor Both Parents

Scant caricatures of David Culhane in his signature tan leisure suit with pink gingham shirt and Samuel in the half and half costume.

Across the room, inset in the wall, is a bar with a black countertop, marbled in pale rose and light green. On the countertop