REWARDS FOR A HERO

Joe McCabe


(NOTE: The folks at the Shakespeare Festival at the University of Central Florida in Orlando came up with what I assume is a new literary form: a series of telephone messages left on one or more answering machines. The plan is to place around the lobby of the theater telephones that can access any of several Voice Mail plays. The patrons could listen to them before the show, during intermissions, and after the stage performances.
--Joe McCabe)

(MESSAGES LEFT FOR JULIA JACKSON)

KAREN
Julie? You go, Girl! Everybody's talking about you at the Hospital today. What you did last night! You saved a life on your first day on the job! Nobody's done that before. Nobody's sure how you did it either. I am so proud to know you. Course I tell everyone that I'm the one who talked you into trying out for the E.M.T. training program. Call when you can. By the way, where did you learn that trick with a ballpoint pen?

SAM ROBERTS
Ms. Jackson, I'm Sam Roberts from the Star. I want to interview you as soon as possible. I cover the Hospital for the Star, and the whole place is buzzing about you today. About how you revived someone who was dead according to the monitors. I'll give you the number of my cell phone: 628-1516.

HAMILTON HAMMOND
You done good, Julie. I want to meet you for a drink after my shift. Call me at 574-8505. That's Hamilton Hammond at 574-8505.

JASON KEYSEEKER
Miss Jackson, this is Mr. Keyseeker at Big City Hospital. I want you to get in touch with my secretary, Mrs. Cleaver, extension 717, as soon as you... as soon as possible. To make an appointment with me. Although we are all pleased, of course, that your patient survived last night, the procedures that you utilized were, in fact, quite unorthodox, if I have been informed correctly. In fact, they are not authorized for use by Technicians. You are, as I'm sure you realize, still in your probationary period. I will probably need to suspend you for some period of time, but I'm obligated to hear your side of the story before announcing my decision. So call Mrs. Cleaver right away.

GRANNY
Julie-Baby, this is Granny. I guess you're at work now. No. Marie said you're working nights this week. So where are you now? I want you to call me. You could be helping me. I can't believe that you really think that doing stuff that some stranger pays you to do is more important than talking to your own grandmother. I'm not going to live forever you know.

KENNETH LAYRON
Miss Jackson, I'm Ken Layron. I was told that you were in the ambulance with my wife last night, when she was taken to the hospital. I'm calling to find out what became of her gold Rolex watch. She always wears it, and it has gone missing. I want to talk with you about it, before I file any complaints with the authorities. My goal in this matter is to recover that watch. As quickly as possible. Not to punish anyone who might have made a mistake. So our little chat could be completely off the record. Please call me at 386-1716. There will probably be a reward for whomever gets that watch back to me.

END