THE SEVENTH KEY A writer makes a bet that she can change her style - and perhaps her life - overnight Written and produced by Julie Hoverson Cast List Cindy Applegate - Chandra Wade Troy - Matthias Rebne Morgan Mandy - Crystal Thomson Regia - Kristina Yuen Tex - Mike Campbell Lucas - Abner Senires Roarke - Rick Lewis Old Scupper - Julie Hoverson Trooper 1 - Glen Hallstrom Trooper 2 - Franknvox 19 Nocturne theme music:  Kevin MacLeod (Incompetech.com) All other music is from the album "Pursuit of Happiness" by C. Filipe Alves (used under a Creative Commons License, found at www.jamendo.com) Recorded with the assistance of Ryan Hirst of Neohoodoo Studio Editing and Sound:   Julie Hoverson    "What kind of a place is it? Why it's a writer's studio, can't you tell?"   ********************************************** The seventh key The seventh Key is the other play vaguely inspired by the Seven Keys to Bald Pate - The book by Earl Derr Biggars, and the play by George M. Cohan, and the 1970s loosely inspired film The House of Long Shadows. While Murder Ward arose primarily from the catfishing aspect of the story, this one is more obviously the basic plotline - author makes a bet to write something different if given an inspirational place, and then things go awry.  There's a hint that the catfishing is still happening, but maybe it's not. Part of this is simply an indictment of the unrealistic expectations that romance novels give women - we all complain about porn creating unreal expectations for men, then dream about 7 foot tall warrior hunks with long fabio hair and tribal tatoos, and more junk than any man should have, since he would pass out every time from blood loss to the brain. That's why every man in this play is utterly impossible, from Cindy's point of view.  They all prove that reality is terrible.  Originally Tex and Luke were both sort of dudebros, but a last minute replacement put Michael Campbell in for his first session with us, and he sounded too similar to Luke, and wasn't comfortable with a cowboy type accent (my original intention for Tex).  So on the spot we decided Tex was effusively gay - which would be another and different way he could be "completely unavailable" to our lovelorn writer. The multiple endings are also inspired by Seven Keys to Bald Pate, and are more meant to show the many horrible ways a writers mind expects projects to go down in flames, or fall apart, than necessarily to show an actual event.  We all imagine having our book done, then finding it's gone horribly wrong.... ********************************************** THE SEVENTH KEY Cast: Olivia - Host Cindy Applegate (F30s), a writer Regia (F40s), Cindy's publisher Troy (M30s), Cindy's imaginary boyfriend Mandy (F30s), Cindy's sister Tex, Luke, Roarke (M20s/30s, obnoxious) - film crew Old Scupper (M, elder)- crusty old salt Trooper1 and 2 - (M, any) police OLIVIA     Did you have any trouble finding it?  What do you mean, what kind of a place is it?  Why, it's a writer's condo, can't you tell?  MUSIC   SCENE 1.    WRITING AT HOME SOUND     COMPUTER, TYPING CINDY    [muttering as she types, overwrought] ...and  I love you too, my dearest darling. SOUND    PHONE RINGS CINDY    [irritated mumble] Go away, he's about to make an indecent proposal.  TROY    I can no longer contain my passion.  My blood hums for you.  You must be mine! CINDY    [ecstatic sigh] SOUND    PICKS UP PHONE CINDY    [almost an ecstatic sigh] Yes? REGIA    You've been writing, haven't you? CINDY    [still dreamy] Of course.  That's what you want me to do, isn't it? REGIA    Of course.  So.  What's the new one? CINDY    "Rogue of Fate" REGIA    Quick précis? CINDY    Warwick Wellington, handsome and devilish owner of Wellington shipping lines and dabbler in exotic animals hires cat breeder Gloriana Mundy to help him birth a rare white leopard-- REGIA    They hate each other on sight, and yet fall in love, have a steamy sex scene and then argue, never to see each othe