Graveside Chat

By TLC Green

The ghost of a father tries to change the ways of his wayward sons by
giving them a very confrontational reality check at the family plot. His
ticket to Heaven is dependent upon saving at least one of his sons.
A crypt with four rows of three graves. Seven of the graves are marked
with the names of family members already entombed. There will be
three on the top row and four on the second row (one wont be revealed
until the end of the play). There should be a hinge on the door of one
of the graves on the second row that will open to reveal a casket. The
third row should have unmarked outside doors which reveal that the
reverse sides are marked with name sof the sons and their birth and
death dates. Doors should be capable of rattling on clue. There should
be two benches in front of the vaults.
The Characters

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 29, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483627250

TLC Green

Stephen F. (T.L.C) Green is a playwright and a songwriter. He has written eighteen plays (eight of which are musicals) and many songs. He is a native Baltimorean and a retired school teacher. He is a graduate of Virginia Union University and a Life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. His fi rst play premiered at the Arena Players in Baltimore. Th is play was inspired by his son who was not getting the grades he expected him to get. He created these characters as his own personal therapy of being thankful for not having to deal with the characters in play. T.L.C. GREEN is a tribute to Ruth Thomas, Marie Lewis, Elisha Chandler and Monroe Green, his grandparents who produced his parents.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by TLC Green.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 07/24/2013

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Contents

Synopsis

The Setting

The Characters

This book is dedicated to my parents,

the late Phyllis Chandler Green, who published a book that got the publishing bug in me.

Francis W. Green, who was an excellent role model. My children Kia and Kellen Green, who inspired two of my plays. To all my relatives and friends.

Special thanks goes out to Pert, who helped develop the dialogue and to Sharon, who created the inside cover page.

Special thanks also goes out to my cousin Wesley and my step-brother Rafi for doing the readers theater.

Synopsis

The ghost of a father tries to change the ways of his wayward sons by giving them a very confrontational reality check at the family plot. His ticket to Heaven is dependent upon saving at least one of his sons.

The Setting

A crypt with four rows of three graves. Seven of the graves are marked with the names of family members already entombed. There will be three on the top row and four on the second row (one won’t be revealed until the end of the play). There should be a hinge on the door of one of the graves on the second row that will open to reveal a casket. The third row should have unmarked outside doors which reveal that the reverse sides are marked with name sof the sons and their birth and death dates. Doors should be capable of rattling on clue. There should be two benches in front of the vaults.

The Characters

Thomas Lewis Chandler, Sr. (Dad)

A mid-forties Black man who has spent the last fifteen years in prison for manslaughter. He has been hardened by the experience but remains a very spiritual person. (He has to be since he is now a spirit)

Thomas Lewis Chandler, Jr. (Tommy)

A gang member who has experienced a rough life. He has an explosive temper and is always packing a gun and a knife. He wears a bandanna and a tattoo. He is illiterate (Early to mid twenties)

Lonnie Chandler

A drug user, cigarette smoker and alcoholic. He is literally addicted to everything. He probably hasn’t had a day without one of his addictions in the past five years. He will do anything to get high. (Early twenties)

Chad Chandler

A child prodigy. A genius who doesn’t apply himself. Despite having an above average IQ, he doesn’t apply himself. (Closet homosexual) Still in high school, suffering from peer pressure. (Late teens)

Props

1. A nine mm handgun that can be broken down and reassembled.

2. A shopping bag with a Preacher’s robe inside.

3. Two bright spotlights backstage. One white light and a red colored light backstage (simulated flame)

4. Smoke machine.

5. A TV/VCR combo with a tape of a flame.

Dad enters carrying a shopping bag. He places it in his own grave. He inspects the graves of his family member. He kneels, says a prayer and delivers his monologue.

Dad:

This is the final resting place for my family. They say a family that prays together, stays together. Unfortunately, we only prayed together when we were placing a body in one of these crypts. There are three generations