Ching, Carla - Big - Blind - Little - Blind

Big Blind/Little Blind
By Carla Ching
March 24, 2012
Val Day
ICM Partners
730 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor
NY, NY 10019
212-566-5740
vday@icmpartners.com
Henry Huang
Station Three
henry@stationthree.com
323.848.4334
Time: The Not So Distant Future
Characters:
Will, a cowboy
Natalie, a producer
Shelley, a nurse
Tim, a clerk
Linus, a temp
Johnny, a cook
The Dealer
Written in Camp Sherman, OR, Lexington, NY and New York City.

Carla Ching 1
big blind/little blind march 24 12
Scene 1: Go Fish
Lights up on the steps outside a Flushing,

Queens apartment. Shelley, 25, Chinese
American, spunky, stands outside smoking a
cigarette.
Tim, 24, bursts on with a bag full of food.
TIM
What are you doing?
SHELLEY
What? I’ll wash the sweater when we get inside. Rub fabric softener sheets on my hair.
She’ll never know.
TIM
No. This.
He takes out his cell phone and shows her the screen. TV
theme music plays.
SHELLEY
Oh, shit.
TIM
Why didn’t you tell me?
SHELLEY
I didn’t know they were gonna air it. I just sent in the tape
TIM
Well, it aired.
SHELLEY
Oh, shit. They did they tell you the number to text?
TIM
What?
SHELLEY
The number to vote for me.
TIM
No
SHELLEY
They did, they totally did. You’ve lying—
Carla Ching 2
He holds the phone away from her.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
Stop, give me the phone
They struggle. She starts to pry the phone out of his hands.
TIM
Do you even realize what you’re getting into?
SHELLEY
What’s the number?
TIM
What they’re going to do to you
SHELLEY
It’s like Shelley-zero-five, right?
TIM
What the fine print says?
The phone clatters to the floor.
TIM (CONT’D)
Shelley!
Shelley picks up the phone, checks it, starts hitting it.
SHELLEY
My liver enzymes are up.
TIM
How up?
SHELLEY
Up.
TIM
That’ll change your spot on the list?
SHELLEY
I asked. There are still 150 people ahead of me.
Beat.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
I can’t wait on that list. I won’t last to the top of it
Carla Ching 3
TIM
You don’t know that, Shel.
SHELLEY
I can feel it. I’m starting to get tired. Really tired.
TIM
(beat) You didn’t tell Mom, did you?
SHELLEY
Of course not. She’s gonna friggin’ have a seizure when she hears about this.
TIM
…
SHELLEY
I can do it, you know?
TIM
What?
SHELLEY
Poker, I’m good at poker.
TIM
How? When? When did you get good at poker?
SHELLEY
I got these tapes from the library—
TIM
Oh, my god—
SHELLEY
And we always used to play—
TIM
Playing 7-card stud with Goong goong does not prepare you for how they’re gonna sweat
you out, Shel.
SHELLEY
I always beat you. I always beat everybody—
TIM
Those are friends and family. You’re going to be doing this with guys who do this for a
living—
Carla Ching 4
SHELLEY
Malcolm Gladwell says it’s 10,000 hours to be a master at anything, right? Like, that’s
when you actually start to be able to see the machinery of it all. And that’s make the
machinery work for you—
TIM
You don’t have 10,000 hours.
SHELLEY
Close!
TIM
You’re used to playing for a $5 buy in. Have you ever walked in with a wad of money
which is two weeks of work? A month of work? A Year of your life? And then watching
that pile chips, that pile of year of labor start to disappear before your eyes. Watch it get
taken from you hand by hand. Piece by piece. Until it’s all gone. Gone.
SHELLEY
No.
TIM
And this is even bigger than that. You don’t have the stomach for the stakes.
SHELLEY
I don’t have a choice.
TIM
There are other ways—
SHELLEY
It’s easy for you to say. You’re so close. You’re #35 now, right?
TIM
Yeah, but Doc just gave me 36 hours. I’m not gonna make it to the top of that list. I have
to play, Shelley. And if you’re gonna play too, you just promise me you play as hard as
you can.
SHELLEY
What? (beat) You didn’t.
TIM
I didn’t have a choice.
SHELLEY
Why didn’t you tell me? Goddamnit.
She paces.
Carla Ching 5
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
That is some sick shit. They’re pitting you against me? Fuck that. I’m not doing it.
TIM
You have to.
SHELLEY
I don’t.
TIM
No money, no choices. Shelley, we have to play.
SHELLEY
It’s what they want.
TIM
Who cares what they want? It’s this or we wait around until our eyes go yellow and
drop into a coma. I don’t wanna go out like that. Waiting.
SHELLEY
…
TIM
Right now, we worry about getting through, getting both of us through. And if we make
it that far, we’ll deal.
SHELLEY
(beat) Who do we call first?
TIM
I’ll call Simon.
SHELLEY
I don’t want to owe that fucker anything.
TIM
He’s family. He’ll do it because we’re asking.
SHELLEY
And that’s especially why we’re gonna owe him. Like big. Like, I don’t even know
what the favor’s gonna be that he—
TIM
I’ll call DC. You get Micah and Felix
SHELLEY
Call Allison and tell her to post it to her lists
Carla Ching 6
TIM
I’ll get to Sonja, too. Tell her to bike it around the neighborhood. Fucking door to door.
(beat) You really think you can do this?
SHELLEY
Yes.
TIM
Then, you remember. They’ll always get you on the blinds. So make sure you never get
short-stacked.
SHELLEY
I’ll remember.
Tim puts the phone in her hand.
TIM
Make your calls.
Tim runs off. Shelley looks after him. A long moment.
TIM (CONT’D)
Stop looking at me and make the calls!
She starts texting furiously.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 7
Scene 2: Application
Natalie enters the room and sees Will. She

looks at him for a long moment before she
sits in front of him with her clipboard,
brushing off her pants suit and swinging her
ponytail out of the way. Will gathers up his
cards into a neat stack and puts them in his
pocket, slouching back in his chair.
WILL
Been a long time.
NATALIE
Hi, Will.
WILL
How’d you find me?
NATALIE
Your submission came across my desk.
WILL
…
NATALIE
The producers really liked your audition tape.
WILL
Thanks. I guess.
NATALIE
They just have a few questions they wanted me to ask you.
WILL
Shoot.
NATALIE
Where did you grow up?
WILL
Where did I grow up?
NATALIE
There could be environmental factors that have contributed to your condition. Chemicals
that you were exposed to. Allergens.
Carla Ching 8
WILL
Fresno. When I was a kid. Then, we moved around a lot. Big Pine, Big Sur, Santa Fe,
Mammoth, Big Sky, Montana.
NATALIE
It says here that your father is deceased.
WILL
Liver failure. Two years ago.
NATALIE
I’m sorry to hear that.
WILL
…
NATALIE
Cause?
WILL
He had it. But it was early, so the doctors didn’t know. They thought he was a drinker,
which he wasn’t—
NATALIE
I’m sorry to hear that.
WILL
He said, “Son, when you got dirt under your fingernails, the doctors don’t treat you like a
man. You’re cattle.” So, he wore a suit when he checked himself into the emergency
room. Didn’t change a thing. He died two hours later.
Beat.
NATALIE
And your mother is also deceased?
WILL
She died when I was born.
NATALIE
I’ll need you to fill out a questionnaire on her medical history. In order to qualify.
WILL
Fine. That’s fine.
NATALIE
Any siblings?
Carla Ching 9
WILL
Nope. Just me. Nat…
NATALIE
Yeah?
WILL
The doctor’s eyes get all big when the blood work comes back. They whisper to each
other now, and look over at me. I’m fairly sure they’re doing a pool on whether I go
comatose in 3 days or a week. (beat) What is this? You can’t tell me they don’t know.
The NIH, the CDC, somebody has to have a handle on this thing—
NATALIE
Research is still being done, but, there are no conclusive findings. It’s not viral. It
doesn’t seem to be communicable. They’re investigating genetic and environmental
factors, but—
WILL
I’ve been reading about this guy who they say has a line on a cure—
NATALIE
He’s a rumor. That’s all.
WILL
He seems to think it’s autoimmune—
NATALIE
But that’s ridiculous, don’t you think? Why would your immune system turn on your
liver? There’s no precedence for that.
WILL
But, I think he might—
NATALIE
Will. A word of advice. Don’t talk about him on the show. It makes you sound like a
conspiracy theorist—
WILL
I am a conspiracy theorist—
NATALIE
But people will associate you with the Unabomber and crazy people who think there are
robots in our blood. You have to seem…
WILL
What?
Carla Ching 10
NATALIE
You want to win? Talk about your dad. Talk about being a self-made man. Talk about
farming. Do not talk about Milagro.
WILL
So you’re gonna put me in the game?
NATALIE
Maybe. One more question.
WILL
What?
NATALIE
What skills do you have to contribute?
WILL
To what?
NATALIE
The world?
WILL
The world?
NATALIE
Yes.
WILL
I have varied knowledge of agricultural practices, ranching, gaming and—
NATALIE
Why should we save you?
WILL
You won’t save me. I’m going to win.
NATALIE
But, why should you be the one?
WILL
What do you mean why? Because I’m a man who’s dying.
NATALIE
A lot of people are finding themselves in your situation. The panel is going to want to
know why it should be you.
Carla Ching 11
WILL
Because I know how to build things. Been a carpenter—
NATALIE
A carpenter?
WILL
What you might call a contractor. And with everything falling down around us, we’re
gonna need people who can build things up and not just tear them down.
Beat.
WILL (CONT’D)
That do?
NATALIE
That’ll do. I’ll need copies of your medical records and they’ll want to do a thorough
physical exam.
WILL
You give me the hoops. I’ll jump through them.
A long pause.
NATALIE
You understand what happens if you lose.
WILL
I’m a deadman now anyway. Sorta my only shot at being Lazarus. Where do I sign?
NATALIE
You really should read over the entire contract in detail. Have someone look it over for
you—
WILL
Just show me where to sign.
She flips through the papers.
NATALIE
Sign here.
He does.
WILL
I waited for you in Mexico City. Five days, I waited.
Carla Ching 12
NATALIE
They can’t know. About us. Or they’re not going to let you in the program so please…
WILL
…
NATALIE
We never existed.
WILL
…
NATALIE
Will…
WILL
I hear you. Never existed.
She closes her notebook and heads for the door. He calls
out to her.
WILL
Now what?
NATALIE
Now, you wait.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 13
Scene 3: Audition Tapes #1 and 5
Natalie scrolls through audition tapes,

speeding through—
Cut to Shelley in her purple nurse’s scrubs.
SHELLEY
Well, my brother would say that I help people to die. I tell him I help people get well.
Though we don’t save as many as we lose in the ICU—
Natalie fast-forwards and brings up some footage of Tim,

rolling in a beat up Dodge Mercury. A hand-held film, done
on a cell phone camera.
TIM
Our parents worked in an illegal garment factory in midtown. They would share one
unlimited metrocard to save money. I swore that would never be me. Swore I would
never be that poor—
SHELLEY
I live at home to save money. And to watch my brother. He was always getting in
trouble—
TIM
I got the grades to go to Stuy. I got kicked out for getting in a fight with my Physics
teacher. Because he was hitting on my girlfriend—
SHELLEY
He had to go to the local zone high school with all the thugs. He kept getting in fights—
TIM
Until the day I knocked a kid out with a brick. My mother says I was born angry. I tell
her I wasn’t born this way. I just keep getting dealt bad deals.
SHELLEY
So, we told him, you don’t want to be in school? You’re going to work.
TIM
I went to work. And I’d play poker with my friends on the weekends. Just pick up games.
But I started winning—
Fast forward through Tim’s tape. She leaves his and speeds
through some tape of Shelley—
SHELLEY
When people are dying, they talk a lot. When I’m drawing blood or bringing them their
food. And things come out. What they’re proud of. What they regret—
Carla Ching 14
TIM
Next thing I know, my buddy Ed drags me into an underground card club and I’m up
three grand. I quit my day job and started playing full time. My mom? Shel? They don’t
know what I do. They think I work at Radio Shack—
SHELLEY
I tell them what they want to hear—
TIM
Which is fine. Shelley became a nurse, so Mom’s happy. One of us became something—
Fast forward to Shelley—
SHELLEY
I tell them everything’s going to be okay. That their wife will be waiting for them on the
other side. That their son forgives them. That people won’t forget them—
Fast forward to Tim.
TIM
I started turning yellow a little over a month ago and when I went to the clinic, they told
me I had it. They said I’d need a transplant. Soon.
SHELLEY
I know what to say to other people when they’re dying. But I have no idea what to say to
myself right now. I can’t come up with one comforting thing.
TIM
I took everything I’d saved counted it up. Still a hundred grand short. So, I doubled up
my playing time, I was sure I could win enough for the transplant—
SHELLEY
I was trying to fall asleep and my regrets kept me awake. I spent so much time working, I
never made the time to live. I always thought I’d have more time—
TIM
I got in that cycle they say never to get in. Gamblers do it, “just one more win, one more
hand.” They let emotion run them. Fear. I was never a gambler. I always played like it
was my job. But this time, I let emotion in. Desperation. And I lost. So…I’m here.
SHELLEY
My name is Shelley—
TIM
My name is Tim—
SHELLEY
and I’m auditioning for Big Blind/Little Blind—
Carla Ching 15
TIM
And I’m ready for a fight. I’m gonna play like it’s my job. Not like my life depends on it.
Even though it does.
Both tapes pause onscreen.
NATALIE
Let’s cut this….and this….and this…and make something that’s actually worth
watching…
Natalie makes a bunch of cuts and then plays this spliced

together revision:
SHELLEY
My brother would say that I help people to die. We don’t save as many as we lose in the
ICU—
TIM
Shelley became a nurse, so Mom’s happy. One of us became something.
SHELLEY
I tell people what they want to hear.
TIM
I started turning yellow a little over a month ago and when I went to the clinic, they told
me I had it.
SHELLEY
All I want is more time. Though there isn’t any. I guess what I’m asking is to steal some.
To steal some more time—
TIM
My name is Tim and I’m auditioning for Big Blind/Little Blind because…I was born
angry…and I’m ready for a fight.
Natalie picks up the phone and dials a number.
NATALIE
The sibling angle…we should do a challenge that plays up the…Yeah. No, I still have
three tapes to go…I still have 8 hours, don’t I?....it’ll get done….just…you do your job
and let me take care of…fine… the arc for the whole show is…tomorrow’s too…fine.
She hangs up and lights a cigarette.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Dick.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 16
Scene 4: The House
Lights up on a room populated with an old-

school Pacman game console, a silver
refrigerator, green sofas, an Eames side
chair, a Nelson Bench, a library of comic
books and novels, DVDs and white globe
lamps. It’s pretty dope. An adult’s playroom.
Tim reads a graphic novel intently.
Shelley, with knee-high socks and a large,

slouchy sock hat walks in and stops short.
SHELLEY
I’m bored.
TIM
Read a magazine.
SHELLEY
I don’t like any of their magazines.
TIM
Play a game.
SHELLEY
I played all the games already.
TIM
I didn’t see you try Pac-Man.
SHELLEY
Why won’t you talk to me?
Tim puts down the graphic novel.
TIM
Okay, you wanna talk, talk.
Beat.
TIM (CONT’D)
What? What do you wanna talk about?
SHELLEY
I’m scared…
Carla Ching 17
TIM
Shel, there’s no time to be scared.
SHELLEY
But—
TIM
You’re gonna have to play like a killer and when it comes time, you’re going to have to
be able to pull the trigger and end somebody else. Take all their chips—
SHELLEY
But it’s not just their chips. It’s their life.
TIM
Shelley.
SHELLEY
They’re going off to die—
TIM
Do you want to die?
SHELLEY
No.
TIM
Then, can you pull the trigger?
SHELLEY
(beat) Yes.
TIM
Even if it’s me.
SHELLEY
…
TIM
Even if it’s me.
SHELLEY
Wait, you said if it came down to that we’d figure it out. We just had to get here but we’d
figure it out.
TIM
And there’s nothing to figure out. One winner. One of us goes. And if you have the shot,
you have to take it.
Carla Ching 18
SHELLEY
…
TIM
Shel.
SHELLEY
Okay.
TIM
You don’t sound sure.
SHELLEY
Stop it, I said yes.
TIM
Mean it.
SHELLEY
I mean it.
TIM
Some people pull the trigger because they’ve got bloodthirst. They like seeing other
people twist in the wind. Some pull it because they have the instinct to stay alive.
They’ll knife a bear in the face so they aren’t mauled to death. And some have neither.
Which are you?
SHELLEY
I can put a knife in the bear.
He looks at her, laughs.
TIM
Good. (beat) One of us has to get through.
SHELLEY
I know.
TIM
Ma can’t just
SHELLEY
I know. I think we can get through to the final two. Cane vs. Abel. People love that
shit—
TIM
They do.
Carla Ching 19
SHELLEY
(beat) So, if it boils down to it, you’ll pull the trigger too? On me?
TIM
Yes.
SHELLEY
You can?
TIM
Yes.
SHELLEY
It didn’t have to be so easy. For you to say that.
TIM
Yes. It does. And it has to be that easy for you.
She ditches her apple and goes over to the refrigerator and
starts looking through it. Pops open the freezer and starts
looking through it too.
SHELLEY
(beat) We should still gather as much intel on them as we can—
TIM
We should just focus on the game—
SHELLEY
Tendencies. Weaknesses. We need to know these things.
TIM
You think too much—
SHELLEY
You don’t think enough—
Linus, lopes into the room with a satchel. He sits down.

Takes a thermos out of his satchel, pours a big cup of
tomato soup. Shelley nods conspiratorially at Tim and goes
over to Linus. Tim goes back to his graphic novel.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
Hey.
Linus takes a pepper shaker out of his bag, peppers his

soup. He takes out a spoon from a large rolling utensil roll
when Shelley sits down on the couch next to him.
Carla Ching 20
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
Hey.
Linus just nods at Shelley. He salts his soup. He takes out a

little Ziploc of oyster crackers.
SHELLEY
Lunch?
Linus nods. She goes over to the refrigerator. Sticks her

head in. Pulls out a carrot stick and a seltzer.
SHELLEY
Holy shit. They have all kinds of snacks for us in the fridge. String cheese. Apples. Jones
soda. Coconut Water. Chobani yogurt. They have fancy salads if you like that kind of
crap. Want anything?
LINUS
I’m f-f-f-fine with this, thank you.
He takes out a napkin and rests it on his lap. He is about to

take a bite when he catches her glance.
LINUS (CONT’D)
W-w-w-would you like some?
SHELLEY
Oh, that’s okay. I couldn’t steal your lunch.
He pulls a small paper cup out of his bag, pours her a little
soup. Hands it to her. Blinks. She takes it. He hands her a
plastic spoon in a plastic bag. She takes out of the Ziploc.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
It’s really good. Homemade?
LINUS
It’s f-f-from tomatoes I canned myself.
SHELLEY
Cool.
They eat.
SHELLEY
Where’d you learn how to do that? Can things?
Carla Ching 21
LINUS
My mother.
SHELLEY
You grow up on a farm?
LINUS
No, my mother was a s-s-s-secretary at Smucker’s.
SHELLEY
The jam company?
Linus nods.
SHELLEY
So, she learned how there?
LINUS
No. She s-s-s-s-wore we would never eat anything packaged or produced at a big
conglomerate because then we were feeding off the labor of poor indigent workers. S-s-s-
so, she grew most of our food. Made everything from scratch.
SHELLEY
Oh.
LINUS
F-f-f-orgive me, I’m not a zealot. I do eat things out of packages. I didn’t mean to
offend
SHELLEY
No, not at all.
She goes back to her cup. Takes a bite.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
It is an awesome cup of soup.
LINUS
Thank you.
SHELLEY
That’s a way to woo a girl, for sure. Make her a cup of soup like that.
LINUS
Oh, I d-d-d-don’t know so much about that.
SHELLEY
I’m sure you don’t.
Carla Ching 22
LINUS
No, really, I…I-I-I—
SHELLEY
You play poker, don’t you? Read their faces. The things they say and don’t say.
LINUS
I r-r-r-read the cards.
SHELLEY
And the people.
LINUS
People are clearer in cards. There are r-r-rules—
TIM
(not looking up from his book) You’re a freak.
SHELLEY
(to Linus) He’s talking to me, don’t worry. Just ignore him.
TIM
No, I’m talking to the soup freak.
SHELLEY
Stop it, Tim.
TIM
Look, buddy. There’s nothing funny in the soup is there?
LINUS
I’m e-e-e-eating it.
TIM
Little portions of poison taken on a daily basis can make you immune to poison.
LINUS
Excuse me, I think that you m–m-m-misunderstand my intentions—
SHELLEY
He gets jealous. I’m sorry.
LINUS
P—p-p-pardon me, I really didn’t mean to offend you or your g-g-g-girlfriend
TIM
My sister.
Carla Ching 23
LINUS
Your s-s-ssister?
TIM
Yes, she’s my sister.
LINUS
I see. Well, I’m sorry if I. . . overstepped my bounds. I was just trying to be. . .
neighborly.
TIM
(hard) Well, thank you, neighbor.
Tim takes Shelley by the elbow, picks her up and drags her
back over to his couch.
SHELLEY
Ow.
She starts to speak, but Tim gives her a look and she goes
quiet.
Will walks in. Drops a duffle on a couch. Spies the

refrigerator. Goes over. Opens it. Pulls out a seltzer. Sits.
Drinks.
LINUS
P-p-p-pardon me, sir. Are you Will Hartley?
WILL
Who wants to know?
Will drinks. Linus stares at him. Extends his hand.
LINUS
Linus Shoemaker.
Will nods but concentrates on his soda. Linus continues to

stare. For an uncomfortably long time.
WILL
Say, Linus?
LINUS
Yes, sir.
WILL
Linus, where I come from, staring is considered creepy.
Carla Ching 24
LINUS
Of course. I just…I s-s-s-sstarted playing because of you.
WILL
Really, now?
LINUS
T-t-t-he idea that a regular guy could get to the final table with all those Cal Tech
geniuses and Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chanit gave me h-h-hope.
WILL
I lost, Linus.
LINUS
But, you almost won.
WILL
Almost only counts with hand grenades and horse shoes.
LINUS
Hand grenades and horse shoes. That’s funny, that’s…
He’s overdoing it. Will just stares at him. Linus clears his
throat.
LINUS
So what, they have you here as a color commentator?
WILL
Not exactly.
LINUS
T-t-t-echnical consultant?
Shelley ambles over and takes Will’s drink, takes a sip.
WILL
There’s a whole case o’ those in the fridge over there.
SHELLEY
That’s okay. I wanted some of yours.
SHELLEY
Shelley.
WILL
Shelley, I was in the middle of a conversation with Linus here.
Carla Ching 25
SHELLEY
Oh, my bad. (to Linus) You should let him be, though.
LINUS
Huh?
SHELLEY
Less you want him to keep gathering more intel on you. He’s gathering every second.
LINUS
He’s playing?
TIM
Why do you think he’s here?
WILL
(to Shelley) Why do you know that?
SHELLEY
My dad took me to see you play at the World Series.
LINUS
Oh, no. Oh, no, oh no, oh no.
TIM
(to Linus) Relax, freak. He doesn’t have a chance.
LINUS
B-b-b-b-but I saw him play
TIM
Guy knows Texas Hold ‘Em, Vegas style, so what? Just cause he went to the show
doesn’t mean he knows how to play everyone. People like us. That’s like knowing how to
only cook French food. You gotta be able to cook everything to be able to hold a job,
man.
WILL
My uncle cooked at a steakhouse for twenty-five years. Best fucking steak I ever tasted.
TIM
So?
WILL
So, I hear that if you can make steak, you can make anything. I know how to cook up a
steak. You know how to cook steak?
TIM
I can make steak.
Carla Ching 26
WILL
Can you?
TIM
Yeah, I can.
SHELLEY
What are you guys even talking about?
LINUS
I-i-i-i-t’s not that.
TIM
What?
LINUS
He’s got the bad m-m-m-mojo.
TIM
What?
LINUS
He turns the table b-b-b-b-b-bad.
WILL
No, I don’t.
TIM
That’s fine. We’ll let him crash on out.
LINUS
Not just bad for him. Bad for everybody. Bad mojo.
SHELLEY
I thought you believe in science.
LINUS
I do. He m-m-m-m-makes the science not apply. He breaks science.
WILL
Now, let’s stop all this nonsense—
Natalie enters in a black suit with a clipboard. She looks

around at everyone yelling at each other.
NATALIE
Excuse me!
Carla Ching 27
SHELLEY
This is totally his rig, this folksy thing when he’s really a cold-blooded killer—
TIM
Shelley, shut it—
SHELLEY
What?
TIM
Just shut it, alright?
LINUS
This isn’t right. We’re all doomed—
NATALIE
I said, excuse me!
They all turn on Natalie.
SHELLEY
It’s not enough that you stick me in here with my brother—
LINUS
Doomed!
NATALIE
Now, just a moment—
TIM
You didn’t tell us you’d have us playing against professionals. I want a lawyer—
NATALIE
Just a moment—
SHELLEY
I want to see a copy of the contract I signed—
NATALIE
Fucking shut up!
Tumbleweeds blow. She smoothes her hair out of her face,

then, in a bright, Cat Deeley voice—
Carla Ching 28
NATALIE (CON’TD)
Thank you. Now, you are all more than welcome to pull out. More than welcome to see
your contract. But the game will begin in the morning. And by the looks of your
complexions, and the blood tests I have right here, most of you won’t last until Tuesday,
so by my estimation, you will want to play. But if you want to pull out, this is the time.
Anyone?
Silence.
NATALIE
Good. Then let’s get started, shall we? Welcome to Big Blind/Little Blind. You have beat
out more than 7,000 people to have a seat at the table. More than three million Americans
voted for you because they want to see you play. Because they think you are the most
deserving of the grand prize. The game is poker, in all its variations. It’s an elimination
tournament, so the loser of each round will be going home with the winners going on the
the next round. The final round will voted on by America.
You will reside here, in the Bungalow for the entirety of the tournament. There are no
cell phones, blackberries or I-Pods. No newspapers, no computer access, no personal
phone calls. There are cameras in every room in the house except the sleeping quarters,
so, don’t do anything you wouldn’t want other people to see.
TIM
Is this everyone?
NATALIE
One of the players still have yet to arrive, but we should have a complete game by
tomorrow.
SHELLEY
What’s the game?
NATALIE
The game will be divulged to you tomorrow. There will be an elimination round
tomorrow morning where a single game will be played to determine which four go onto
the next round.
You should all get some rest. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow. Except you,
Mr. Hartley. Stay for a moment, please.
Tim and Linus exit towards the sleeping quarters. Shelley

trails behind, finishing the end of a bottle of water. She
looks at Will and exits.
Natalie scans through the papers.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
You missed a page on the broadcasting release forms.
Carla Ching 29
WILL
Oh, sorry. Where?
She points to a red flag on one of the forms.
NATALIE
And here on the non-disclosure agreement.
WILL
Oh.
He signs.
NATALIE
Are you feeling alright?
WILL
I feel good.
NATALIE
Good.
WILL
I’d feel better if I knew what was gonna happen tomorrow.
NATALIE
That will make itself apparent soon enough.
WILL
You talk to the warden?
NATALIE
We’ve cleared your pardon. If you win.
WILL
Great. That’s great.
NATALIE
Will you have somewhere to go?
WILL
There’s always somewhere to go.
NATALIE
Rest up. We’re coming for you early. And…
WILL
Yeah?
Carla Ching 30
NATALIE
You should shave.
WILL
Shave?
NATALIE
You want them to like you, right?
WILL
I don’t care if they like me.
NATALIE
You need to start caring about that. Your life is in their hands.
WILL
…
NATALIE
Neighborly. Friendly. That’s how you want to look. Not like a guy that’d mug them in a
dark alley.
WILL
No reason to be mean.
NATALIE
I’m not trying to be mean. I’m trying to keep you in the game.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 31
Scene 5: Audition Tapes #2 and 3
Lights up on Natalie fast-forwarding and

rewinding through video.
She brings up a tape of Johnny who holds

the camera up to his own face. He’s dressed
in his kitchen whitest-shirt, apron,
baseball cap, sneakers.
JOHNNY
This is my kitchen, see? I work six shifts a week. Go out with the boys after. Play a hand
of cards or two. Forget that tomorrow’s coming up fast—
Natalie brings up some tape Will in his prison cell, sitting

on his bunk.
WILL
My mother used to have this patchwork quilt that she would throw over me at night. You
wouldn’t believe how cold it can get in the desert. Crack-your-skin cold—
Cut to Johnny.
JOHNNY
I feed people. I make them forget that they’ve fallen out of love or lost their job today or
somebody they know just got killed—
Cut to Will.
WILL
The quilt was bits of t-shirts and sweaters and jeans that my Daddy and I wore our way
through. She’d add to it all the time, and that thing grew and grew, as I did.
I am that quilt—
JOHNNY
I’ve been told by people that food I made reminded them of a trip they took to Paris. Or
a drunken night meeting the girl that would be their wife. Or a Christmas dinner in
Brooklyn with Grandma—
WILL
The liver I have right now belonged to Franklin “Curly” Johnson. Curly was a sanitation
worker from Brooklyn. He left behind one daughter and a young wife.
JOHNNY
Times when there was plenty. Before things got lost or broken or complicated—
Carla Ching 32
WILL
Before he died, Franklin gave me a list of things he’d never gotten to do. And I told
him. . . I told him they will be done.
Cut to Johnny who puts the camera on his prep station.
JOHNNY
I’ll tell you why my food is so good. I cook for my life. Every day—
WILL
I am a Frankenstein mess of another man’s cast-off body parts. A dead men’s cells and
organs—
JOHNNY
I cook so my baby girl will have a future—
WILL
I am the sum of another life lost. So if I can continue to live, their lives were worthwhile.
If I die, some would say it’s all just a waste—
JOHNNY
I’ve been working 10 shifts a week the make the money for the operation but my
enzymes are up and I’m out of time—
WILL
And there is something I think I’ve been put here to do. I can figure out what’s wrong
with all of us.
Natalie rewinds the tape and deletes a bit—
WILL
And there is something I think I’ve been put here to do.
JOHNNY
I’ve probably worked on the best meal of your life. I probably made the sauce or seared
the meat or composed the salad. Helped you remember things you thought you forgot.
So do something for me. Text Johnny Zero-Five.
WILL
Text Will 06.
JOHNNY
Do it five times, if you can. I promise you a show.
Natalie stops the tape she’s editing. Picks up the phone.

Carla Ching 33
NATALIE
I need the Linus tape now…I don’t care if you can’t get away. Figure it out. I’m making
the final edits for the intro….just get me that tape. Yes. Fine. And we have to meet.
She hangs up the phone.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
We have to edit you a better story, Will. Or you’re never going to make it through.
She cuts and pastes some tape. Frustrated, she goes and
finds him in the green room where he is playing spades
with Shelley and Linus.
NATALIE
Will, can I see you for a second, please?
Will follows her out of the room.
SHELLEY
What’s that about?
LINUS
I think she’s taken a liking to him.
SHELLEY
What do you mean?
LINUS
You haven’t s-s-s-seen how she looks at him?
Lights shift to the editing suite where Natalie holds up a

camera.
NATALIE
Tell me what you told me in your interview. About why we should save you—
WILL
What did I say again?
NATALIE
The thing about building things.
WILL
Oh. Well, everything’s coming apart and we need people who know how to build things.
I know how to do that.
NATALIE
Say it like you said it the last time.
Carla Ching 34
WILL
That is how I said it last time. I think I can figure out what’s happening…
NATALIE
No, I told you, you can’t get into that part.
WILL
What is all this?
NATALIE
I’m trying to make sure you have a fighting chance. These are the intro tapes we’re
showing at the top of the show and yours just isn’t good enough.
WILL
It got me this far, didn’t it?
NATALIE
But now you have to win.
WILL
What’s missing? What do you need?
NATALIE
Convince me. Why it should be you.
Will looks into the camera. She presses record.
WILL
Hard times are coming. Everyone is running for the hills and throwing other people under
the bus so that they will survive. And I used to do that. Play for the house. Be worried
about my own skin. But if I live, I will not rest until I find the people that can find us a
cure.
NATALIE
Will!
WILL
If I lose on that, then I deserve to lose.
NATALIE
But—
WILL
That’s what I believe. That’s what I want you to use.
NATALIE
Even if it means you lose?
Carla Ching 35
WILL
…
NATALIE
You can be idealistic after you win.
WILL
…
NATALIE
I just want you alive, Will.
WILL.
…
NATALIE
…
WILL
(beat) What do you want me to say?
NATALIE
Repeat after me: “I’m just an ordinary man…”
WILL
Really?
NATALIE
Yes. Say it.
WILL
I’m just an ordinary man.
The words are rough on his tongue.
NATALIE
“Just like you.”
WILL
Just like…
NATALIE
Say it, “Just like you…”
WILL
Just like you.
Carla Ching 36
NATALIE
“My daddy was a farmer.”
WILL
My daddy was a farmer….
Lights.
Carla Ching 37
Scene 6: In the Dorms
Johnny staggers in with a rolling duffle bag

and a big backpack, bursting at the seams.
Tim is sitting on his bed, eating a box of

grape tomatoes out of a green cardboard
carton.
TIM
This one’s mine. Guy Linus is over there on the left. You should take the one on the
right.
JOHNNY
I don’t like the right.
TIM
Why?
JOHNNY
Just don’t.
TIM
Sorry.
Johnny slings his bag down and takes a deck of cards out of
his pocket.
JOHNNY
Game is Hold’em. One hand. You win, you keep your bed. You lose, I get your bed and
you take the one on the right.
TIM
Seriously?
JOHNNY
I look like I’m kidding?
TIM
I like this bed.
JOHNNY
Throw in 20 bucks.
He throws a 20 on Tim’s bed.
TIM
Make it 40.
Carla Ching 38
He throws two 20s on the bed. Johnny throws down
another 20.
JOHNNY
You’re on.
TIM
But my cards, not yours.
JOHNNY
You don’t trust me?
TIM
I don’t know you.
JOHNNY
And why should I trust you?
TIM
New deck.
He tosses a plastic-wrapped deck at Johnny.
TIM (CONT’D)
Check it.
Johnny unwraps it. Checks the deck. Takes out the Jokers.
JOHNNY
May I?
TIM
May you what?
JOHNNY
Jokers. I collect ‘em.
TIM
Yeah, whatever.
He pockets ‘em.
JOHNNY
I like the art work.
TIM
(as if I care) You deal.
Carla Ching 39
Johnny shuffles 7 times. Pushes the deck to Tim to cut. Tim
cuts the deck in half.
Johnny deals them each two cards and then lays down five
face down between them.
TIM
Just one hand, right? So we’re both all in, no betting. Might as well do it face up.
JOHNNY
What do you got?
TIM
What do you got?
JOHNNY
Jesus, man. Ace/King. You?
He reveals an Ace of Clubs and a King of Spades.
TIM
Pair kings.
He reveals a King of Hearts and a King of Diamonds.
JOHNNY
What the fuck?
TIM
Sorry, bro. You dealt.
JOHNNY
Let’s see the River then, shall we?
He turns the first three cards up. It’s an 8 of Spades, Queen

of hearts, Jack of Clubs.
TIM
Well, that’s fucking interesting. You got a whole lot of nothing—
JOHNNY
Working on a possible straight. And you got that same pocket pair, working on a straight
a straight too. All you need is a 10. Here comes the turn.
He turns over the next card. It’s King of Clubs.
TIM
Motherfuck.
Carla Ching 40
JOHNNY
You’re working on a triple and I’m on a wing and a prayer that a ten shows up and my
straight comes through.
TIM
Show the river already.
10 of clubs. Johnny celebrates. He made his straight.
TIM (CONT’D)
No fucking way.
JOHNNY
It’s been nice playing with you. Enjoy your new bed.
TIM
Fuck!
Tim picks up his shit and moves to the bed on the right.
Johnny takes out a small shoe kit and starts polishing his
shoes.
JOHNNY
We got a wakeup call tomorrow?
TIM
Gotta be in makeup at 5.
JOHNNY
Makeup?
TIM
Don’t wanna look shiny on TV, do you?
JOHNNY
More like don’t wanna look yellow. You see this shit?
He points to his face.
TIM
That’s not good, man.
JOHNNY
No fucking shit.
TIM
You gonna make it to the table?
Carla Ching 41
JOHNNY
I’ll make it to the table, don’t you worry about that.
Beat.
TIM
You’re late to the game. Slight disadvantage. Don’t get to case the joint as thoroughly.
JOHNNY
Just gotta work faster, that’s all. Never had a problem working fast.
TIM
I could tell you what I know.
JOHNNY
Why?
TIM
Call it a trade.
JOHNNY
For what?
TIM
I’ll call a favor at a future date.
JOHNNY
What kind of favor?
TIM
Depends on how everything shakes down.
TIM
Yep. Basically.
Beat.
TIM (CONT’D)
Guess the question is, do you pay to see the river?
JOHNNY
(beat)They have cameras in here?
TIM
Not in the bedrooms. ‘member, the networks got in trouble for that when that girl…
JOHNNY
Oh, right, I heard about that.
Carla Ching 42
TIM
There some shit you just don’t need to see. You know what I mean?
JOHNNY
Seriously.
They both shudder at the memory of the un-named

unspeakable thing the girl did.
JOHNNY (CONT’D)
So, what do you know?
TIM
So you wanna see the river.
JOHNNY
Yeah, man. I wanna see the fucking river.
TIM
For a future unnamed—
JOHNNY
How do I know you’re not gonna ask for something unreasonable?
TIM
Is the intel that I have worth it? To stay alive?
JOHNNY
…
TIM
But, don’t worry. I’m a reasonable man.
JOHNNY
(beat) Then, I’ll pay to play.
TIM
Okay, there’s some kind of OCD freak named Linus. He’ll be easy enough. Just scare
him a little and he’ll shit his pants. This guy Will Hartley.
JOHNNY
That fucking guy?
TIM
You know him?
Carla Ching 43
JOHNNY
That fucker was in the paper. He was a Proposition Player for Binion’s or one of those
places. Knows how to run the whole fucking table—keep the people in the casino.
TIM
I hear his specialty is Hold ‘Em—
JOHNNY
Everybody thought he was dead, though. Fucker disappeared and everybody thought he
was gone. Turns out he went to prison.
TIM
For what?
JOHNNY
Bought a liver on the black market. Got caught.
TIM
He’s sick too. Liver must’ve quit on him. (beat) I heard he runs hot and cold.
JOHNNY
Maybe. But I wouldn’t wanna be on the other side of a hot streak.
TIM
(beat) So then we get him.
JOHNNY
What do you mean we “get him?”
TIM
I mean, we take him down first. Take down the strong one first and then you pick off all
the rest.
JOHNNY
Wait, isn’t there one more?
TIM
My sister.
JOHNNY
Your sister? Yo, man, that shit’s fucked up. You’re playing your sister?
TIM
What about it?
JOHNNY
Nothing, man. Nothin’.
Carla Ching 44
TIM
So, the opening game tomorrow is gonna be Indian Poker—
JOHNNY
Indian poker? What kind of low rent shit is that?
TIM
I have no idea—
JOHNNY
How do you know the fucking game?
TIM
I just do.
JOHNNY
Whose ear you got?
TIM
Linus has some kind of inside track. He said Indian Poker.
JOHNNY
And you believe him?
TIM
About this, yeah.
JOHNNY
Why?
TIM
‘cause he’s scared, man. Running fucking scared. And he wants to get the big dog out.
So, we’ll develop a system to tip each other on the card we have on our forehead. Cough
for an ace. Chin rub for a king—
JOHNNY
How am I supposed to remember all that?
TIM
I’ll make you a cheat sheet.
JOHNNY
Good.
TIM
No, you memorize it, you shithead.
Carla Ching 45
JOHNNY
So you already talked to Linus? He’s in?
TIM
He’s locked.
JOHNNY
But can we trust him?
TIM
Yes. Like I said. He’s scared.
JOHNNY
And your sister? She in with us?
TIM
I want her left out of it. Understand?
JOHNNY
But if she’s not in on it, then she’s a liability—
TIM
Not negotiable.
JOHNNY
Why?
TIM
I’m letting you in on this, you get me? You want in, you play my way.
JOHNNY
Relax, man. That’s all you had to say.
TIM
(beat) Go get Linus.
JOHNNY
You get him. I’m unpacking.
TIM
I don’t want her to fucking see me talking to Linus, see?
JOHNNY
Gees, man. You paranoid. What does the fucker look like?
TIM
Glasses. Needs a haircut. Green cardigan.
Carla Ching 46
JOHNNY
Fine. I’ll get him.
Johnny starts to exit. Then he turns to look at Tim.
JOHNNY
So we get Hartley tomorrow.
TIM
Yep.
JOHNNY
What’s to say you don’t get me the day after that?
TIM
One thing at a time, Johnny. Least you know tomorrow it’s not gonna be you.
Natalie pokes her head in the room.
NATALIE
Tim, we need to see you for a second, please.
Tim and Johnny look at each other. Trouble?
Lights down.
Carla Ching 47
Scene 7: Interviews
Bits of video footage, spliced together. Three

different interviews are projected
concurrently.
Shelley is in the Green Room, foraging for

food in the fridge.
NATALIE (O.S.)
So what exactly happened over dinner?
SHELLEY
It’s just dinner, right? We can sit down to a peaceful, reasonable potential last supper—
In the kitchen of the bungalow
TIM
I just asked him to pass the brussel sprouts—
Sitting on his bed of the Boys’ Room at the bungalow
LINUS
I didn’t hear him, I was t-t-t-talking to Will—
TIM
I didn’t even want any. They were for Shelley—
SHELLEY
And Tim thought Linus was ignoring him—
TIM
So I’m like, okay, you gonna flex on me? You gonna me?
LINUS
They had no etiquette. Mother taught me that there are certain ways that you conduct
yourself
SHELLEY
He gets so fucking adamant
LINUS
Before the game. During the game. After the game
SHELLY
I mean, he grabs onto shit and he won’t let go.
Carla Ching 48
TIM
And to gather information, you have to push some buttons
LINUS
Because otherwise, there is chaos. And I d-d-d-don’t like chaos
Tim’s and Linus’s interviews cut out. Shelley continues on.

She settles on a grapefruit and begins to peel it, tearing off
bits of rind and stringy matter.
SHELLEY
We had a dog like that, once. Melvin. My mom would give him, a rib bone sometimes.
And, Melvin’d like, get the bone in his mouth and he’d start gnawing on it. And
eventually, when he got the meat off, you’d have to take it away so he didn’t get bone
chips in his throat. And he did not like giving those bones up. Because instinct made him
want to be gnawing all the time.
Once, when I tried to take it away, I wasn’t fast enough and Melvin actually bit all the
way down on my hand. All the way down. And while his teeth were sunk into my hand, I
looked in his eyes and I swore to god he didn’t know me at all.
I tried to take my hand back, but he dug in even more with his teeth. As if to say, “if
you’ll take my bone, I’ll take your hand.” I couldn’t even scream.
Tim is Melvin.
How do you beat someone like that? Because I love my brother. But, I don’t want to die.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 49
Scene 8: Kitchen at the bungalow
Shelley is simmering water on the stove for a

bowl of noodles. She chops scallions and
pork while taking pulls off a Budweiser.
Will lopes in. Goes for the fridge. Cracks

open a seltzer. He starts to leave when
SHELLEY
You like noodles? I make really killer ramen.
WILL
No thanks.
She’s a bit bitten but undeterred.
SHELLEY
Sorry my brother spoiled dinner earlier.
WILL
Everyone’s blood’s running a little hot. It’s natural. Before a big game.
SHELLEY
(beat) So, you’re a pro, huh?
WILL
I’ve done a lot of things. Playing poker’s just one of em.
SHELLEY
But you were good at it.
WILL
It was a job.
The conversation stalls and he’s not really trying to restart

it.
SHELLEY
I’m a nurse.
WILL
I heard it’s kind of gruesome work.
SHELLEY
It can be.
Carla Ching 50
WILL
You don’t look like the gruesome type.
SHELLEY
I’m not.
WILL
Then seems like there are a lot of easier ways to earn a dollar.
SHELLEY
Because sometimes…Watching people’s. . . resilience. Watching them get better…it’s a
reason to get up in the morning. It makes me feel useful.
WILL
(beat) Must be kind of weird. Being on the other side now.
SHELLEY
It is. I never really get sick. Not a cold. Not chicken pox. Nothing. Until now.
WILL
What’s the end like?
SHELLEY
They didn’t tell you?
WILL
The doctor said he didn’t want me to get depressed. Said less I knew the better.
SHELLEY
Course.
WILL
But I think I’d like to know now.
SHELLEY
You’ll start to get itchy. And more and more tired. You won’t be hungry. Your brain will
get addled. You’ll start to get confused. You may start seeing things. But thankfully
then—
WILL
Yeah?
SHELLEY
You’ll drop into a coma. Your whole body will start to shut down.
WILL
And then, that’s it?
Carla Ching 51
SHELLEY
Maybe you’ll get the transplant. It’ll take and you’ll be able to grow someone else’s liver
back as your own. Like a starfish. It’s amazing, really.
WILL
But, if I don’t…
SHELLEY
Just keep on sleeping.
WILL
Does it hurt?
SHELLEY
No.
WILL
…
SHELLEY
At least we’re not alone.
WILL
I don’t know if it really helps me much. Knowing that we’ll all die the same horrible
way.
SHELLEY
We’re still here. Right now.
He takes this in. They search the night sky for answers.
SHELLEY
Someone must know.
WILL
Know what?
SHELLEY
Why this is happening to us. It’s not viral. It’s not bacterial or a parasite or a fungus. It’s
not cancer. That leaves a genetic condition or environmental factors or something
manmade—
Will leans in and kisses Shelley.
SHELLEY
Whoa.
Carla Ching 52
WILL
…
SHELLEY
Tim said I shouldn’t make friends with you.
They stare at each other. She kisses him back. Will breaks
away.
WILL
You’re right. We shouldn’t do this. We have to play tomorrow.
She kisses him again.
SHELLEY
We could be dead tomorrow.
They lock faces again and she starts to pull him towards
her room, they are totally making out.
The minute they’re inside, she starts to pull his shirt off
and—
WILL
Wait—
SHELLEY
What do you mean, wait? We could be dead tomorrow—
She’s still trying to undress him.
WILL
Wait—
SHELLEY
What do you mean, wait? We’re gonna be dead tomorrow—
WILL
What if I told you that someone does know.
SHELLEY
What?
WILL
Someone knows. Why this is happening to us.
SHELLEY
Who?
Carla Ching 53
WILL
There was an epidemiologist at UCLA who was onto it. He was like, on the edge of
figuring it out and then. . .
SHELLEY
What?
WILL
He disappeared.
SHELLEY
What do you mean disappeared?
WILL
Some people think he was murdered. Some say they whisked him away to somewhere
underground. Somewhere far away.
SHELLEY
How do you know all this?
WILL
When you’re in prison, you got nothing but time. Time to read.
SHELLEY
This guy got a name?
WILL
Milagro. They call him Milagro.
SHELLEY
Let’s say I believe you. I’m just saying, even if he is alive, I have 2 days to live. Tops.
WILL
I have about 72 hours.
SHELLEY
We’re not gonna live to see a cure. To find the guy who has the cure.
WILL
Maybe. But, maybe we will.
Beat.
WILL (CONT’D)
Break out with me.
SHELLEY
Are you crazy? They have us under lock and key.
Carla Ching 54
WILL
I’m not gonna rely on the luck and the American public to keep me alive. They’ll choose
you cause you’re…you or Johnny cause he’s got a kid, no way they’re gonna choose me.
SHELLEY
So you’re gonna gamble on a myth of a guy you read about who’s purportedly—
WILL
Out west.
SHELLEY
Oh, good, that’s specific, who’s out west—
WILL
There things you wish you’d done?
SHELLEY
What?
WILL
Last time, I was about 12 hours from dead. And I realized there were all these things I
should’ve done.
SHELLEY
You do ‘em?
WILL
Most of ‘em. Not all of them. There are things left—
SHELLEY
Like what?
WILL
Stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Climb through the Kyber Pass. Buy my father’s
farm back. Plant it and sell only the things he liked to eat. Purple cauliflower, yellow
peppers and blue potatoes.
He looks at her.
WILL (CONT’D)
There are things I haven’t done yet.
SHELLEY
You ever been in love?
WILL
Might’ve.
Carla Ching 55
SHELLEY
I haven’t. Not yet.
WILL
It’s the best and worst thing that ever happened to me.
SHELLEY
Huh.
WILL
You still could. (beat) Come with me.
Tim walks in.
TIM
Thought you were sleeping.
SHELLEY
I woke up hungry.
Will starts to head for the door. Pulls another can of

seltzer out on his way. Cracks it. He and Tim look at each
other for a long time. Will exits.
TIM
C’mon.
SHELLEY
I just gotta clean up, I’ll be there in just a second.
TIM
You can’t be making friends with the enemy if you expect to win.
SHELLEY
Who said I’m making friends?
Tim exits.
Shelley takes a small red notebook out of her back pocket

and jots down some notes. She looks back towards the
door.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 56
Scene 9:
Projected footage of Natalie in an elegant

dress. Theme music plays in the
background
NATALIE
Get ready for our biggest season ever in Big Blind/Little Blind. They sent their tapes from
across the nation. From prisons, kitchens, hospitals and offices around the country. Their
wish was simple. They wanted to live, and they were willing to play for their lives.
America, you voted for who should be at the table. The game: poker. The prize: a coveted
liver transplant at UCLA Medical Center worth $250,000. Five players have come to
New York to stake their claim on a new lease on life.
NATALIE
Meet Shelley—
Theme music runs as we cut to footage of Shelley shuffling

cards as her name appears on screen
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Johnny—
Cut back to footage of Johnny throwing dice
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Linus—
Cut to footage of Linus putting bets down on a Roulette

wheel
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Tim—
Cut to footage of Tim stacking mah jong tiles
NATALIE (CONT’D)
And Will—
Cut to footage of Will laying down a set of pocket aces in a

game of Texas Hold ‘em.
Carla Ching 57
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Broadcast in a rapid-fire web format every four hours, in each episode, players will play
one game and the loser will go home. When we’re down to the final two, America, you
will vote on who you believe should be the winner of the grand prize.
So, the question remainswho will be lucky enough to win Big Blind/Little Blind?
Final Opening Credits Run: Big Blind/Little Blind.
Tim stumbles into the Green Room. Starts beating on the

refrigerator.
TIM
I had the Ace.
Shelley screams in.
SHELLEY
Tim
TIM
That fucker. Where is he?
SHELLEY
I don’t know, I think he’s still in the game room
TIM
He didn’t cough. He was supposed to fucking cough--
SHELLEY
What are you talking about?
TIM
How do you screw up something that simple
SHELLEY
Tim.
She looks pointedly towards the hidden cameras in the

room. Tim drags her into the boys’ quarters, out of sight of
the cameras.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
You planned that?
TIM
We were trying to take Will out. Even the odds.
Carla Ching 58
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
You should have told me.
TIM
There wasn’t time. It would’ve been fine if that fucker didn’t choke on me—
SHELLEY
Tim!
TIM
What?
SHELLEY
You cheated.
TIM
…
SHELLEY
You always taught me to play fair. Always. No matter what.
TIM
This is not monopoly, Shel. This is not chess. There’s no such thing as fair anymore. Not
if nobody else is playing fair.
SHELLEY
Then tell them. Tell them what happened. Tell them he sold you out.
TIM
But then they’re gonna come after you. Or he’s gonna come after you. They’re going to
think you knew—
Linus peels in.
LINUS
I-I-I-I-
TIM
I had the ace
LINUS
W-w-w-ait
TIM
He had a Jack
LINUS
I know, I was
Carla Ching 59
TIM
I’m gonna rip off your cock
LINUS
I tried to cough
TIM
and stuff it down your throat
LINUS
I tried to cough
Tim jumps on Linus and starts to kick the shit out of him.
Johnny runs in.
LINUS
Ow
JOHNNY
Get off of him, man
LINUS
I tried to cough but
TIM
But what?
LINUS
When I get nervous, my mouth gets really dry
TIM
What?
LINUS
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
TIM
You’re sorry? You’re sorry? You just killed me. Do you understand? You killed me.
LINUS
I’m sorry. I’m so s-s-s-sorry.
Linus begins to cry and runs of the room.
TIM
(to Johnny) Can you give us a minute?
Carla Ching 60
JOHNNY
Yeah, sure man. Hey, I’m sorry it went down like that.
TIM
Me too. (beat) Hey. Watch her for me.
SHELLEY
Hi, I’m standing right here.
JOHNNY
Look, I don’t know if—
TIM
This is your payment for before—
JOHNNY
But—
TIM
This is my unreasonable request.
JOHNNY
(beat) I’ll do what I can.
TIM
Thank you.
JOHNNY
But at a certain point…
TIM
As long as you can.
SHELLEY
I can hear you.
JOHNNY
As long as I can.
Johnny exits. Shelley walks over to Tim
TIM
You’ll do fine. You have a better chance than I do. You just be smart, you understand?
SHELLEY
Tim—
Carla Ching 61
TIM
Tell Mom I’m sorry I fucked it up again.
SHELLEY
You didn’t—
TIM
Just tell her. You’re the tip of the spear, you understand. And when the time comes, you
pull that trigger.
SHELLEY
I will.
TIM
Mean it.
SHELLEY
I do.
Natalie enters.
NATALIE
Mr. Lee, it’s time to go.
Shelley hugs Tim with all her might.
SHELLEY
I love you.
NATALIE
Actually, I’ll need you to step into the green room so that we can do that again on tape.
SHELLEY
You what?
NATALIE
I’ll remind you, it’s in your contract that—
Shelley starts to go after Natalie’s throat, but Tim stops

her.
TIM
Don’t.
SHELLEY
Why? She’s a fucking vulture—
Carla Ching 62
NATALIE
I’m just trying to help you. Put you all in the best light so you have the best chance of
winning—
SHELLEY
We’re just fodder to you.
NATALIE
No. I know because I played. I know because I won.
SHELLEY
You…
NATALIE
So, let me help you.
TIM
C’mere.
Tim drags Natalie into the green room. Natalie waves over
a camera crew.
TIM
Don’t look at them, look at me. You remember, right? You remember everything you
know. Okay?
NATALIE
But—
TIM
Okay?
NATALIE
Okay.
She hugs him. Natalie comes over and tries to pry her off
Tim, but she won’t let go.
NATALIE
(to Shelley) You should prepare for the next round. We’ll begin at the crack of dawn.
SHELLEY
Please. Please, don’t take him.
NATALIE
I’m sorry, Ms. Lee.
Natalie takes Tim by the arm.

Carla Ching 63
TIM
Remember the blinds, Shel. Don’t let ‘em get you on the blinds.
Shelley stands alone.
Cut to spliced interview footage.
TIM
(biting his lip) It’s really unfortunate that I had to go out on the first round. I’ve been
playing a long time. And I was really looking forward to showing what I can do—
SHELLEY
It all happened so fast. I mean, Indian Poker. It doesn’t take any skill. How are we
playing for our lives on a game of chance? It’s (bleep)ed up if you ask me—
JOHNNY
Guy got dealt a good card too. Just played it wrong. It happens sometimes.
LINUS
I’m s-s-s-s-sorry to see him go. Be s-s-s-sorry to see any of us go.
WILL
I was sure he had me too. Felt like he knew something I didn’t—
TIM
I just hope my sister gets through. To lose two of us…I just don’t know what that’d do to
my mother—
Cut to Shelley in a small white room. Natalie enters.

Shelley stands.
SHELLEY
It’s not right what he did to him.
NATALIE
To who?
SHELLEY
To Tim.
NATALIE
Now, Natalie, Tim lost that hand fair and—
SHELLEY
No. He didn’t.
NATALIE
So what happened?
Carla Ching 64
SHELLEY
…
NATALIE
Shelley.
SHELLEY
Linus threw him under the bus.
NATALIE
How did he do that?
SHELLEY
…
NATALIE
Shelley, how did he do that?
SHELLEY
If I tell you, you have to give me a chance to win him back.
NATALIE
…
SHELLEY
Or no deal.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 65
Scene 10: 1st Man Down
Projected footage of Natalie in an elegant

dress. Theme music plays in the
background
NATALIE
Last time on Big Blind/Little Blind
Cut to footage of Tim
TIM
I had the Ace—
Cut to footage of Tim pummeling Linus
LINUS
When I get nervous, my mouth gets really dry
TIM
What?
LINUS
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
TIM
Sorry? You’re sorry? You just killed me. You killed me.
Cut to footage of Tim and Shelley
TIM
Shel. You’re it. You’re the tip of the spear.
Cut to—
TIM
Tell Mom I’m sorry I fucked it all up again.
Cut to footage of Natalie and Tim
NATALIE
Mr. Lee, it’s time to go.
Footage of Tim walking out the door of the Green Room

with Natalie.
Carla Ching 66
Cut back to Natalie narrating the intro credits of Big
Blind/Little Blind
NATALIE
Now, four contestants remain. The prize, a coveted liver transplant at UCLA Medical
Center, the top transplant facility in the country, a prize worth $250,000. Tim’s chips
have been re-distributed to those who remain. It’s still anybody’s game.
So, the question remainswho will be lucky enough to win Big Blind/Little Blind?
Theme music runs as we cut to the cast intros for Shelley,

Will, Linus, Johnny and Tim (yes, they leave him in to
remind you of who has fallen).
Final Opening Credits Run: Big Blind/Little Blind.
Lights up on Will in the Green Room.
Linus wanders in.
He tries to scurry out when
WILL
What do you do for a living, Washington?
LINUS
Excuse me?
WILL
For a living. What do you do for a living?
LINUS
Oh, I, uh. . . I’m a temporary secretary.
WILL
A temporary secretary.
LINUS
Yes, that’s right.
WILL
Why aren’t you just a secretary?
LINUS
I prefer the change of scenery and the chance to step in and really be helpful at a time of
crisis. Usually, I come in when someone has been fired, so I help right the ship until a
suitable replacement can be found.
Carla Ching 67
WILL
But you have no interest in permanence.
LINUS
No, sir.
WILL
That’s a little strange. Don’t you think?
LINUS
I f-f-ffind that if I stay anywhere for too long, people become irritated with me.
WILL
So you don’t care to find out what irritates people about you?
LINUS
I can’t change my nature, Mr. Hartley.
WILL
You wanna know what irritates me, Washington?
LINUS
I just said that I can’t change who I am, sir, I try to be a decent man
WILL
That what you were doing, when you were helping Mr. Lee? Being decent?
LINUS
I don’t think I know what you mean
WILL
I think you do.
Beat.
WILL (CONT’D)
You do know what I mean, don’t you?
Beat.
WILL (CONT’D)
You seem like a man who understands what’s just—
LINUS
I do, sir.
Carla Ching 68
WILL
A man who knows that in gaming, you shouldn’t let other people dictate your play. Get
involved in their devisings and machinations. You play what’s in front of you.
LINUS
Or?
WILL
Or you risk some bad feelings all around.
LINUS
Are you threatening me, sir?
WILL
I don’t think I have to.
Beat.
WILL
That stutter of yours seems to come and go.
LINUS
Only shows up when I’m nervous.
WILL
Shelley makes you nervous.
LINUS
Maybe.
WILL
But you’re not nervous now.
LINUS
No sir. No sir, I’m not.
They lock eyes.
WILL
Sleep well, Washington.
LINUS
Thank you, sir. You too.
Lights shift to Johnny coming to Shelley in the kitchen.

She’s making a very big sandwich.
Carla Ching 69
JOHNNY
Hey.
SHELLEY
Hey.
JOHNNY
That’s a sandwich.
SHELLEY
Yeah. I was hungry. When I get stressed out, I get hungry.
JOHNNY
Think I could get a piece of that?
SHELLEY
Make your own, man. I said I was hungry.
He takes the loaf of bread from next to her, extracts two

slices of bread.
JOHNNY
Sorry about your brother.
SHELLEY
Yeah.
JOHNNY
He seems like a good guy.
SHELLEY
No, he doesn’t. He seems like an asshole. But he actually is a good guy.
JOHNNY
That’s what I meant.
Shelley looks away.
SHELLEY
He was the pro, Johnny. I was here on a lark. A whim. It’s luck.
JOHNNY
You knew? He said that you didn’t know.
SHELLEY
That he didn’t work at Radio Shack? Ma and I both knew. We just didn’t want him to
know we knew. Then it’s like, approving of it or something.
Carla Ching 70
JOHNNY
You ever see him play?
SHELLEY
I used to sneak down into the clubs to watch. Make sure he wasn’t getting into trouble.
And yeah. Far as I could understand, he was good. Or at least, he usually won.
JOHNNY
Did you learn from him?
SHELLEY
No. I learned out of books. I read 8 of them before I got here.
JOHNNY
Then, how did you—
SHELLEY
I’m here cause I had a good story. Girl who used to take care of dying people finds
herself on the other side—
JOHNNY
Well…
SHELLEY
Playing against my brother…
JOHNNY
Doesn’t matter how you got here. Matters that you’re here.
SHELLEY
(on a dime) Why should it be you, Johnny?
JOHNNY
What?
SHELLEY
Why should you win?
JOHNNY
Why do any of us deserve it? Me, you, that slug Linus, who’s to say it should be any of
us?
SHELLEY
But, I’m asking. Why you?
JOHNNY
What kind of question is that?
Carla Ching 71
SHELLEY
I mean, you realize that’s what this is, right? I’m deciding I deserve to be here more than
you or Linus or Will. So, why should you be here? People are gonna call in and vote for
whoever gets to the end. They’re gonna wanna know why it should be you.
JOHNNY
My little girl.
SHELLEY
No, you. What about you?
JOHNNY
What, you don’t believe the children are our future and all that?
SHELLEY
But what are you doing?
JOHNNY
What if my whole life is wrapped up in her, the idea that she can be more than I can. That
she could be the president of the United States, or an astronaut—
SHELLEY
The space program’s over—
JOHNNY
You know what I mean. Every shift I work overtime, ever cent I make—
SHELLEY
I get it. But what about my mother? Linus’s nieces. We all have someone to lose.
JOHNNY
Yeah, huh?
Beat.
JOHNNY
I feed people.
Beat.
SHELLEY
I help people die.
Beat.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
Still. It’s not enough. A lot of people do that.
Carla Ching 72
JOHNNY
Lot of people aren’t here. They’re gonna vote for us because we’re exactly like them. Not
cause we’re special.
SHELLEY
…
JOHNNY
It’s the grand American myth. The special survive. The fittest survive. I say, why the
fuck are you reaching for the grandiose. The so called geniuses of this world, the
athletically gifted hit their wives, drink too much and are assholes to their kids. I’m just
trying to be a good man. To my kid. To my wife. My crew at work. People on my block.
That’s all.
SHELLEY
(beat) Don’t help me.
JOHNNY
What?
SHELLEY
You promised some shit to my brother, but if you love your daughter that much, you
should play for yourself. Play for your own.
JOHNNY
I take a promise seriously.
SHELLEY
You gonna honor a promise to a guy you barely know or you gonna play for the daughter
you say you love?
JOHNNY
…
SHELLEY
I’m not saying come after me. I’m saying play as hard as you can. I’m saying beat me.
Fair and square.
Will walks in.
JOHNNY
Well, goodnight then.
SHELLEY
G’night.
Johnny exits.
Carla Ching 73
WILL
You think about what I said?
SHELLEY
They have my brother. I’m not leaving him here.
WILL
He’s as good as dead, Shelley. If he’s not already.
SHELLEY
I’m going to save him.
WILL
Shelley.
SHELLEY
I am.
WILL
I’m going tomorrow. Before dawn.
SHELLEY
Good luck.
WILL
If you change your mind…
SHELLEY
I won’t. But…good luck.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 74
Scene 11: The Greenroom. Crack of dawn.
Groggy and in their sleep clothes, Linus,

Johnny and Shelley are waiting.
JOHNNY
What the fuck is this anyway? They said dawn. It’s not dawn yet.
SHELLEY
Is one of us in trouble?
LINUS
W-w-w-why would we be in trouble?
They all look at each other.
JOHNNY
Naw, they’re just trying to fuck with us to make for better TV.
SHELLEY
I don’t think so. Something’s wrong.
LINUS
Where’s Will?
Will lumbers in, still in blue jeans with an un-buttoned

flannel shirt, followed by Natalie.
JOHNNY
What’s going on here?
NATALIE
I have an announcement to make to all of you. The producers and I have been talking,
and they feel that one of you violated the rules of the game. There was to be no collusion
or any form of cheating. Mr. Washington, you obviously planned to assist Mr. Lee by
revealing Mr. Hartley’s card to him.
LINUS
B-b-b-but, I couldn’t cough.
NATALIE
But it’s all about intention, Mr. Washington. Intention to defraud the other players and
eliminate the element of fair play. Steal their lives, so to speak. By stealing information
on the game to be played. So the producers have decided that you will be disqualified.
LINUS
What?
Carla Ching 75
SHELLEY
What?
NATALIE
You should pack your things and you’ll be escorted to the—
LINUS
It’s because I’m a black man—
NATALIE
Mr. Washington—
LINUS
They always kill off the black man—
NATALIE
Your fate is sadly your own doing, Mr. Washington—
LINUS
I still get the consolation prize, right? I get the hospital treatment? You’re taking me to
the hospital, right?
NATALIE
I’m afraid that Section 2.5 of your contract clearly states that cheating absolves the
producers of any responsibility in providing you with rewards, compensation or
otherwise.
LINUS.
On the street? You can’t just throw me out on the street, you can’t—
SHELLEY
So, Tim’s coming back, right?
NATALIE
No, Shelley. I’m sorry.
SHELLEY
But, Linus cheated. We had a…
Natalie looks at her expectantly. Shelley looks around at

the other contestants.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
Tim should be able to come back—
NATALIE
Tim was also attempting to cheat. He got caught. Linus has gotten caught. Let this be a
warning to you all. Cheating will not be tolerated.
Carla Ching 76
SHELLEY
This is bullshit—
NATALIE
Come with me, Mr. Washington. We have plans for you—
LINUS
I-I-I-I-I’m going to stage a protest. I’m gonna write an a-a-a-a-an appeal.
Natalie comes to collect Linus. Starts leading him out by

the elbow. Kicking and screaming. It’s not hard.
LINUS
This wasn’t supposed to happen. It’s not supposed to g-g-g-g-o down like this. Hey! It’s
not s-s-s-s-s-upposed to go down like this. Let go of me. T-t-t-t-t-this isn’t over.
Johnny exits shaking his head.
JOHNNY
That’s some bullshit right there.
SHELLEY
(to Will) I thought you were—
WILL
Was about to. Then they locked everything down ‘cause of Linus.
SHELLEY
So then…
WILL
Guess I’m here.
SHELLEY
Oh.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 77
Scene 12: Interviews
Tight specials on each of the contestants in

their post Linus-ousting videos.
JOHNNY
I think I just dodged a bullet—
WILL
Two down—
SHELLEY
It’s not fair—
WILL
Two to go.
JOHNNY
I mean, I didn’t actually do anything, but still—
SHELLEY
Now. There are only three of us. It’s a little unreal—
WILL
Seems like their guns are trained on me—
JOHNNY
And Linus weirded me out, man. I’m glad he’s gone.
SHELLEY
Tim would say I’m cooling my heels—
WILL
I’ve been here before—
JOHNNY
Guess that blew my strategy. Hide in the middle—
SHELLEY
There’s offensive play and the kind of play that gets you killed. Nothing in between—
WILL
I still have a few tricks up my sleeve—
Carla Ching 78
JOHNNY
Hide in the middle so nobody tries to pick you off. You’re not on top, so nobody’s
gunning for you and you’re not bad enough to get picked off in collateral damage when
someone uses a mine to blow somebody else up—
SHELLEY
Will got his start prop playing in Hold ‘Em—
JOHNNY
Did the whole circuit of low-rent Old Vegas joints by the time he was 30—
WILL
Been a long time since I played Hold ‘Em. Swore I’d never do it again—
SHELLEY
I’m glad it’s Hold’Em cause it’s not chance. It’s not how to cards fall. It’s how we play
them —
JOHNNY
He’s gonna play fast and hard. Gonna have to go harder and faster—
WILL
And the thing about Hold’Em. It’s not really about the cards. You don’t play the cards.
You play the man.
Lights up to reveal Natalie editing video. Linus strolls in

with a beer, a different swagger in his step.
LINUS
How we looking?
NATALIE
I need to grab your exit interview.
LINUS
Now? I’m tired—
NATALIE
You were napping all afternoon! While I was editing.
LINUS
Calm yourself. I’ll put myself on tape and edit it down. Jesus.
NATALIE
We need to talk about the final two.
LINUS
Now?
Carla Ching 79
NATALIE
Cause you went and fucked that up too. It was supposed to be you and—
LINUS
Excuse me, I did not fuck anything up. You saw it necessary to pull me out when I was
doing just fine in there.
NATALIE
Shelley knew.
LINUS
So what? Intrigue, backroom alliances, secrets, that’s the shit people are paying to see.
NATALIE
…
LINUS
So, you went and fucked THAT up, but yes. Let’s discuss an alternate final 2.
NATALIE
…
LINUS
What, cat got yer tongue?
NATALIE
Oh, my god. That’s it.
LINUS
What’s it?
NATALIE
I’m brilliant. It’s brilliant, Adam.
LINUS
I’m sure it’s not.
NATALIE
It has to be the right final two. For the most dramatic impact. (beat) I have an idea.
Lights down.
Carla Ching 80
Scene 13: Round 2—Texas Hold’Em
Video montage of splashy opening credits

over insidious theme music, the kind that
sticks in your head despite yourself.
Lights up on Natalie.
NATALIE
Welcome back from our commercial break. Now, the question is, what will Will—
Special up on Will.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Shelley—
Special up on Shelley.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
And Johnny—
Special up on Johnny.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
--bring to this old standard? Here, on Big Blind/Little Blind as our three favorite
contestants have been going head-to-head in Texas Hold’em. Each player started with
$500,000 in chips. But after a blistering few rounds with Johnny making wild bets and
narrowly missing a big win in a showdown with Will, current chip count is Will with
$600,000—
Special up on Will.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Shelley with $250,000—
Special up on Shelley.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
and Johnny with $150,000.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
Blinds are 50 and 100 thousand.
Lights up to reveal Will, Shelley and Johnny at a green felt

table. It’s Will’s deal. Shelley is the little blind and Johnny
is the big blind.
Carla Ching 81
JOHNNY
These blinds are killing me, man.
SHELLEY
That’s what Tim always said. They get you on the blinds.
Shelley and Johnny shove their blinds forward. Johnny is

severely short stacked with only $50,000 to play with after
his blinds have gone in.
When all cards are dealt, each player looks at their pair.
On a TV screen, we see that—
Will has a pair of Aces (hearts and spades),
Johnny has KJ off suit (diamond and club),
Shelley has an AQ (diamonds).
NATALIE
Will has a pair of aces, Shelley has an Ace/Queen of diamonds, and Johnny lands a KJ
off suit.
WILL
Action to Johnny.
JOHNNY
$10,000.
SHELLEY
Call.
WILL
See your $10,000 and raise you $10,000.
JOHNNY
Aw, c’mon, man.
WILL
It’s only 10.
JOHNNY
You see that I’m short stacked here.
WILL
Then win the hand.
Carla Ching 82
JOHNNY
…
WILL
You could’ve checked.
SHELLEY
You could’ve.
JOHNNY
Yo, shut up, both of you.
Johnny begrudgingly throws in the 10, so does Shelley.
NATALIE
Will raises the bet and both Shelley and Johnny see the bet though it’s nearly 40% of
Johnny’s chips.
WILL
And let’s see the flop.
He flips over the first common card and it’s an Ace of

spades, King of Hearts and 5 of hearts. Will tries not to
smile.
NATALIE
And that gives Will a triple. And Johnny is working on a straight while Shelley has a
possible, if highly improbable, flush.
WILL
Action to Johnny.
JOHNNY
Check.
SHELLEY
Now you check?
JOHNNY
You complaining?
SHELLEY
Check.
WILL
Check.
Carla Ching 83
NATALIE
An interesting game. Will could have made the move to force them both out of the hand,
but he plays it cool.
WILL
And the turn—
Will flips over a 9 of hearts.
WILL (CONT’D)
And everybody’s still cool. Johnny?
JOHNNY
…
WILL
Johnny.
JOHNNY
I’m thinking, shut up, man.
WILL
…he’s thinking.
SHELLEY
Don’t be uncool.
WILL
What?
SHELLEY
Let him think—
JOHNNY
All in.
WILL
You sure, man?
WILL
I’m sure. All in.
SHELLEY
Uh…
WILL
That’s to you.
Carla Ching 84
SHELLEY
I know, shut up….
WILL
…
SHELLEY
I’m all in too.
WILL
You don’t have to all in just because he is.
SHELLEY
I don’t?
JOHNNY
Oh, my god.
WILL
You only have to match him. Count it, Johnny.
JOHNNY
I got…one hundred….a hundred fifty thousand.
Will helps Shelley count out a hundred fifty grand,

retaining a hundred thousand.
SHELLEY
Wait, but if I lose, I’ll only have a hundred grand.
WILL
Right. But if you win, you’ll have your one fifty, his one fifty, the one fifty in blinds and
the 60,000 we threw in at the top.
JOHNNY
Take is $510,000.
SHELLEY
Holy what?
JOHNNY
Big take.
SHELLEY
But if I lose, and Johnny loses, you’ll have like $900,000.
WILL
Yeah.
Carla Ching 85
SHELLEY
And I’ll be done. One hand will go to the blinds. I’m all in too.
NATALIE
And in a startling move, Shelley also goes all-in.
WILL
Think about this for a second. Do you see what I could have.
SHELLEY
Potential full house. Minimum triple.
WILL
If you miss your flush, Shelley…
SHELLEY
Then I’m done anyway. Show us the river.
WILL
You’re sure.
JOHNNY
She’s fucking sure, man. Show us the river.
Will shows the river. It is in fact a 10 of hearts.
JOHNNY (CONT’D)
I made my straight. I made my straight!
WILL
She also made her flush.
Johnny looks at the cards. He can’t believe it.
JOHNNY
(to Will and Shelley) Just like that.
SHELLEY
Oh, Johnny.
JOHNNY
(to Shelley) How many dead men you looked in the eyes?
SHELLEY
Too many—
NATALIE
Mr. Cruz, it’s time to go—
Carla Ching 86
JOHNNY
What do they tell you?
SHELLEY
Uh. Sometimes they say something strange like, “It’s purple. It’s really purple.”
Sometimes they tell me they’re scared. Sometimes, they tell me to tell someone they love
them. Sometimes they don’t say anything at all.
Beat.
JOHNNY
I don’t wanna die alone in that hospital.
NATALIE
Then maybe you’ll have the opportunity to live.
JOHNNY
Say what?
NATALIE
For the final challenge, the producers and I have decided that more than one of you
should get a chance at a new life.
Linus and Tim walk back out. Tim looks a little bit worse
for the wear.
NATALIE
We are down to the Final Two, America. But, each of these contestants gets to choose
one other contestant to save.
SHELLEY
Oh my god.
WILL
…
NATALIE
So, you both need to decide who is the person you want to bring with you if you win.
WILL
It’s kind of like, “if you were stuck on a desert island—“
NATALIE
You can choose any of the other 4 contestants.
WILL
Any. Wow.
Carla Ching 87
SHELLEY
I choose my brother.
TIM
You should choose the person that you think’s gonna help you get the votes.
SHELLEY
I choose you.
TIM
I’m the least likely to get you through.
SHELLEY
This is not a conversation. (to Natalie) I choose him.
LINUS
(to Will) I’ll make you rich.
JOHNNY
I have a kid.
LINUS
I would be indebted to you for the rest of your life and I’ll—
JOHNNY
They don’t like him. They like me.
WILL
How do you know that?
JOHNNY
You know that. Because you don’t like him either. You like me—
LINUS
Excuse me. There’s n-n-n-no need to be unkind.
WILL
I’m sorry, Linus. But I just don’t trust you.
LINUS
Good, you shouldn’t.
WILL
What?
LINUS
You totally shouldn’t. Trust me. You should choose him. Which is fine because I have
other work to do here.
Carla Ching 88
WILL
So, you’re not a temp.
LINUS
I was. I was a long term temp. Like, long term. And then I decided, to start my own
temporary agency and bah-bang! Who knew, man? There’s a looooot of money in the
temp racket, man.
WILL
Why are you here?
LINUS
Like I said, there’s a looooot of money to be made and I made a lot and you know, you
buy a couple houses, you spend a month in the Bahamas, you buy a basketball team, you
buy a case load of diamonds, and you still got money to burn, you start to get bored.
I heard that you were playing and I’d always wanted to sit at a table and watch you play.
So, the producers were kind enough to let me come on as a producer and give me a seat at
the table. For a small donation.
WILL
You’re one of those guys who buys a trip to the moon with the Russians or hires
somebody to kidnap them just to get a thrill, huh?
LINUS
I haven’t been kidnapped yet, but I have been to the moon.
SHELLEY
We’re just some kind of excursion for you?
LINUS
Not at all. It was really great getting to know y’all. I feel like I’ll take this experience
with me for the rest of my life. For real. Honestly, I’d have liked to stay in longer, but
they pulled me out ‘cause they thought Hartley was onto me. But let me just say, sir, it
has been a pleasure to watch you play. To watch all of you play.
WILL
Are we just toys to you? This is our lives.
LINUS
And that’s why you are so captivating to watch. Why America finds you so captivating to
watch. So let’s let them vote, shall we?
WILL
We’re supposed to play. (pointing to the audience) They came here to see us play poker.
You should let us play for the win.
SHELLEY
The show is called Big Blind/Little Blind. Not America’s Favorite Poker Player.
Carla Ching 89
NATALIE
Playing him would put you at a serious disadvantage, Shelley.
SHELLEY
But at least what happens to me and my brother is in my hands. Not theirs.
LINUS
And I am truly sorry, but the producers and the sponsors have decided that America has a
powerful voice and we’re going to listen to it. And these are the rules of the game that
you agreed to. America: cast your ballots.
NATALIE
Each person gets one vote. Vote for either Will and Johnny or Shelley and Tim. Their
lives depend on you. Players, each of you can make one parting statement on why
America should vote for you.
SHELLEY
I know how to help people get well, and when they can’t, I help them to die peacefully.
And these days, there are so many of us going, we need people like me.
TIM
Vote for me because of my mom and my sister. And because I have potential. I might
not’ve lead a great life yet, but I will.
JOHNNY
My daughter deserves to grow up with a father.
WILL
I will help rebuild this place that’s falling apart. Because I will find the man who can cure
us all.
JOHNNY
You what?
TIM
Who can cure us all?
Natalie glares daggers at Will.
LINUS
You shouldn’t make empty promises to America, Will.
WILL
That is a very real promise.
NATALIE
Contestants, can you please step outside for the vote?
Carla Ching 90
Contestants should exit and Linus and Natalie should give
the audience cards to vote for a)who they vote for and
b)why.
If you can find a way to do this technologically with twitter

or texting, please do that.
When all the cards have been collected, bring all the
contestants back in and—
Lights up on Linus in a bright, clean special, reading off

the teleprompter in his best facsimile of Padma Lakshmi,
Kat Deeley, Heidi Klum, Ryan Seacrest, etc.
LINUS
The audience has voted on who you believed was the most worthy player. Now, down to
the final two, let’s see which player will receive the grand prize. Until now, it’s been
about gaming skill and savvy. Now, it’s about what you want, America.
He hands Will a flip book to keep score. (If possible, an

electronic sign with big digital letters or a projection of a
computer projected count would be ideal. Or simply chalk
on a black wall.)
He hands Shelley her own flip book/score card.
He looks at Natalie.
LINUS
Look, you’re in my light, either you need to boogie, or get out of the way.
NATALIE
I’m going to murder you when this is over.
LINUS
Are we ready, ladies and gentlemen?
SHELLEY
Yes.
WILL
Yes.
LINUS
Good, then, let’s begin. Shall we?
At this time, Linus will take out an box with the voting
cards. He will read the audience votes off one by one and
Carla Ching 91
Shelley and Will use flip books to keep score on the votes.
Linus should also read any and all comments written on the
cards.
(The will probably range from the mundane such as “I vote

for Shelley because she’s a girl” or “I like Will’s hair” or
“Her dress makes me happy” to the more serious like “I
vote for Will because he’s the assemblage of other people’s
body parts and he’s right, if he dies, it’s a waste” or “If
Shelley dies, there’s not one left to take care of her
mother.”)
Shelley and Will should let any and all comments sink in
and also let the mounting count sit heavy on their
shoulders.
When the count is complete:
LINUS
Our audience has spoken. They feel that [insert name of winning player here] is most
worth of winning the transplant. Congratulations, [insert name of winning player here].
Now, skip to either ENDING A (if Shelley wins) or

ENDING B (if Will wins).
Carla Ching 92
ENDING A:
Will and Shelley look at each other for a long time.
SHELLEY
So that’s it?
WILL
I guess that’s it.
LINUS
Way to go, America. All about the underdog. Lot of fun to watch Underdog take down
Topdog—
Will leaps out of his chair and lunges at Linus, grabs him
by the throat.
WILL
That it? You want to make me dance like a monkey? Dance, monkey, dance—
NATALIE
Will—
LINUS
Security!
WILL
Whose turn is it to dance now?
NATALIE
Will, stop! You’re killing him.
Linus gargles. Will squeezes harder.
NATALIE (CONT’D)
The cameras are rolling.
WILL
Then shut them off. (beat) I said shut them off!
NATALIE
Cut! I said Cut!
LINUS
(to Natalie) Don’t cut!
Will squeezes harder. Linus really gurgles now.

Carla Ching 93
Natalie waves at the camera man and the operator of the
sound/light booth. Lights shift. Maybe house lights go up.
WILL
It’s awful, isn’t it? To see your life flash before your eyes. To know that this. . . is. . . it. .
. that you’re never gonna be any better than right now. You’re never gonna learn
anything new. Never gonna win the lottery. Never gonna eat another steak. Screw another
girl. Play another card game. You stole the only thing I had that’s worth anything. These
last blessed minutes that I have left. So that instead of standing at on the top of Mammoth
Mountain or at the Edge of the Grand Canyon, I’m here. Staring at you.
SHELLEY
Will!
WILL
What?
SHELLEY
There’re still watching.
She points to the audience. Will looks up. Sees the crowd.
Really sees them.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
And you’re still here. You have control of this minute. Right now. Who you are. Right
now. Is this who you are?
WILL
(beat) No.
He releases Linus, who gasps for air and clutches at his

throat.
Will sits down, shaken, but not bowed. Shelley goes to him.
Linus continues to massage his throat. He looks over at
Natalie.
LINUS
You were going to let him kill me.
JOHNNY
You shouldn’ve let him.
TIM
Totally should’ve let him.
LINUS
Yo, shut up, you.
Carla Ching 94
NATALIE
But, I didn’t. (beat) Take Hartley and Cruz to the hospital. You can drop the girl and her
brother at Transplantation on the way. But change your clothes first. You’re a mess.
He exits.
SHELLEY
I’m sorry.
WILL
Don’t be. Fair’s fair.
SHELLEY
I don’t know if I should take it.
WILL
Don’t be crazy. You. You and your brother should go do things. Do exceptional, crazy
things.
SHELLEY
We’re going to out-live everyone we know.
WILL
Probably.
SHELLEY
Then, what’s the point?
WILL
Point is you can do things we’ve never done. See things we’ll never see.
Natalie walks over to them.
NATALIE
Ms. Lee. The doctors are waiting for you.
SHELLEY
Tell them to wait. I need to ask them something.
NATALIE
Who?
SHELLEY
Johnny. Will.
Johnny walks over to them. She looks intently at he and

Will.
Carla Ching 95
NATALIE
We really must get you to—
SHELLEY
Just 3 minutes. Please.
NATALIE
(beat) Fine. But I have to keep the tape rolling.
SHELLEY
Good. I want them all to see. I want them to know what they’re losing.
She looks at the audience.
SHELLEY
What haven’t you done? That you’ve always wanted to?
WILL
Why?
SHELLEY
I’ll do as many things as I can. As long as I last. I’ve got at least seven years, right?
Maybe 15 on this liver?
Beat.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
Tell me.
Lights shift. Special up on Will.
WILL
I wanted to learn how to blacksmith.
SHELLEY
Blacksmithing, okay.
WILL
You know, bend hot metal. Be able to make things. Wood I always understood. It’s grain.
The strength. Where it would break. But, Metal. . .
Carla Ching 96
JOHNNY
I wanted to make the meal of all meals for my Mariana. If price were no object and I
could buy anything I wanted, the most beautifully marbled steak and fish that’d just been
caught, fresh eggs for the leche flan. And I’d make a ten course meal for her, spread the
whole thing out on a huge dinner table, with wine and fruit and flowers so that for once,
there would be plenty—
WILL
I always wanted to kick Evan’s ass. He used to torture me when we were little. Leave
snail guts on my shoes. Snatch my glasses off my face and play keep away, so I was
running around blind trying to get them back. I was waiting until I got bigger than him,
but that never happened—
JOHNNY
I wanted to go to Paris—
WILL
I wanted to go to the Alamo—
JOHNNY
I wanted to take Lila to the beach. She’s never seen the ocean—
WILL
I wanted to see a movie at a drive-in—
JOHNNY
I would’ve opened my own restaurant—
WILL
I wanted to drinks out of a hollowed out pineapple on the beach in Jamaica—
JOHNNY
To get on a motorcycle and ride across the length of South America, like Che—
WILL
I want to tell the girl that left me waiting in Mexico City that I would’ve waited until the
end for her. That I’m still waiting.
JOHNNY
I would’ve gotten out of this place and gone home.
WILL
I would’ve stopped wandering and finally found a home. Grown roots.
JOHNNY
I would’ve learned how to poach an egg. I could never get that right—
Carla Ching 97
WILL
Play chess. I never learned how to play chess—
Lights begin to fade. The following should be very

overlapping, almost cacophonous.
WILL
I would’ve climbed Mount Everest. And then Mount Fuji—
JOHNNY
I would’ve had another kid—
WILL
I would’ve learned to speak Russian so I could read Dostoevsky the way he wrote it—
JOHNNY
I would’ve taken a day off sometimes—
WILL
I would’ve told the truth more than I lied—
JOHNNY
I would’ve told my wife that I loved her more often—
WILL
I would’ve lived every day as if the end were tomorrow.
Blackout.
End of Play.
Carla Ching 98
ENDING B:
A long beat. Will and Shelley look at each other for a long
time.
JOHNNY
(in celebration) Holy shit.
TIM
(sinking down into his chair) Holy shit.
SHELLEY
I guess that’s it, huh?
WILL
I guess so. (beat) I don’t feel good about this.
SHELLEY
It’s okay.
WILL
No, I don’t think it is.
Shelley looks out at the audience.
SHELLEY
They think you should have it.
WILL
(to the audience) Is that really what you think?
LINUS
You wanted to win, right? You were playing to win.
WILL
(beat) Yeah.
LINUS
Then, what’s the problem? (to Shelley) Ms. Lee. Mr. Lee. It’s time for you to go, I’m
afraid.
Shelley tackles Will with a big hug, quickly, and then starts
to follow Linus off. Tim shakes Johnny’s hand and starts to
follow suit.
WILL
Wait.
Carla Ching 99
LINUS
Yes, Mr. Hartley.
WILL
Shelley, do you like to gamble?
SHELLEY
No.
WILL
Me neither. I like to play what’s a sure thing. So, come with me.
SHELLEY
What?
LINUS
Okay, it’s time to go. C’mon Lee, family—
SHELLEY
You’ve won. You and Johnny are going to be fine.
WILL
And you’re not. And (to Tim) he’s not. And a lot of people aren’t. And maybe that’s not
okay with me.
JOHNNY
What are you talking about, man? You’re gonna blow this—
WILL
(to Shelley) Can you run? Fast?
SHELLEY
Can you?
NATALIE
What are you doing?
WILL
What I should’ve done a long time ago. I’ve been on borrowed time, on the generosity of
another man. Doing what I wanted. Seeing what I wanted to see. Going where I wanted
to go. Maybe now, it’s my turn to do something. Because we can’t keep living like this.
Fighting each other for the scraps and dregs and cast offs. Because we’re the ones
underneath. Because we grow their food and type the memos that move their money. We
wash their clothes and dress their wounds and cook their food. It’s time for us to be on
top. So we’re going to get out of here and find the man that can end all of this.
LINUS
Cut the feed. Cut it now!
Carla Ching 100
NATALIE
No. Keep taping.
LINUS
Cut! I said cut!
Lights shift. Screens go out. Studio audience lighting goes

on.
WILL
Maybe this’ll be the only good thing I ever do. Maybe this is the thing I was meant to do.
LINUS
You’re just leaving? Just like that? You think they’re just gonna let you leave?
WILL
I’m not asking permission.
LINUS
That a fact?
WILL
You have all that money. And you use it to watch us pick each other off instead of using
it to find a cure. Do something useful. Anything. Why?
LINUS
Because it’s so much fun to watch you fight. Just like it’s gonna be a lot of fun to watch
you run.
Linus stands away from the door.
LINUS (CONT’D)
Go ahead. Run. By the judge of your pallor, you got about 24 hours. She’s got about 36.
The Lee kid only has about 18. I would pay good money to watch you keep running.
Looking for the holy grail.
Shelley cold cocks Linus and falls to the floor with a thud.
SHELLEY
(to Tim) You always said some people play dirty and when they do, you gotta be ready to
break their knees.
TIM
Good girl.
Will makes sure Linus is out and then slings him over his
shoulder.
Carla Ching 101
WILL (CONT’D)
Whaddaya say we hang onto him. We might need the collateral.
SHELLEY
What if we can’t find Milagro?
WILL
We’ll find him.
TIM
What if we don’t.
WILL
Then we tried. Right?
They look at Johnny.
WILL (CONT’D)
You’re not coming, are you?
JOHNNY
I can’t man. I have to take the sure thing.
WILL
Course. It’s alright. (to Natalie) Take care of him. Make good on your word. He won. We
won.
NATALIE
Will, I found out where he is.
WILL
You did?
NATALIE
You have to trust me. Can you trust me?
WILL
Can I?
NATALIE
But you should tell all of them too. Tell them.
She looks at the camera. At the audience. Blackout.

Projected on the screen, live video feed.
WILL
Milagro is not a myth. Milagro is real.
Carla Ching 102
TIM
If you want to find the cure, find us. We will help you.
Will pulls the camera away from him, trains it on himself.
WILL
You don’t have to live in fear. You don’t have to die alone. We are the resistance. If you
believe that life should be yours again, find us—
Cut to Shelley—
SHELLEY
We’ll be on the lo-fi radio waves. On Twitter and the Black-Out Blogs and at community
centers and free clinics.
Cut to Tim.
TIM
We’re gonna be on the move. So you’ll have to keep your ear to the ground—
WILL
You don’t have to play The Game anymore. But you do have to run. Can you run?
The feed sputters, the camera shakes, goes to white noise.
WILL(CONT’D)
The government doesn’t want you to know. The television producers don’t want you to
know. The health care industry doesn’t want you to know because they are growing rich
off our being sick. But, we will not stop until everyone has been cured. We will not stop.
We’ll be out there. You just have to find us—
White Noise.
TIM (CONT’D)
We will not stop—
White noise.
White noise.
The image of Will starts to distort.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
We will not stop—
White noise.
White noise.
Carla Ching 103
White noise.
The images of Tim and Shelley start to dissolve completely

so that we hear only Shelley’s voice crackle across the
airwaves.
SHELLEY (CONT’D)
We will not stop.
White noise.
White noise.
White noise.
The video sputters out completely.
Blackout.
End of Play.

Ching, Carla - Big - Blind - Little - Blind

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Titolo originale

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Ching, Carla - Big - Blind - Little - Blind

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Big Blind/Little Blind

Written in Camp Sherman, OR, Lexington, NY and New York City.

Lights up on the steps outside a Flushing,

Tim, 24, bursts on with a bag full of food.

The phone clatters to the floor.

Shelley picks up the phone, checks it, starts hitting it.

Tim puts the phone in her hand.

Tim runs off. Shelley looks after him. A long moment.

She starts texting furiously.

Natalie enters the room and sees Will. She

She flips through the papers.

Natalie scrolls through audition tapes,

Cut to Shelley in her purple nurse’s scrubs.

Natalie fast-forwards and brings up some footage of Tim,

Fast forward to Shelley—

Fast forward to Tim.

Both tapes pause onscreen.

Natalie makes a bunch of cuts and then plays this spliced

Natalie picks up the phone and dials a number.

She hangs up and lights a cigarette.

Lights up on a room populated with an old-

Tim reads a graphic novel intently.

Shelley, with knee-high socks and a large,

Tim puts down the graphic novel.

He looks at her, laughs.

Linus, lopes into the room with a satchel. He sits down.

Linus takes a pepper shaker out of his bag, peppers his

Linus just nods at Shelley. He salts his soup. He takes out a

Linus nods. She goes over to the refrigerator. Sticks her

He takes out a napkin and rests it on his lap. He is about to

She goes back to her cup. Takes a bite.

Will walks in. Drops a duffle on a couch. Spies the

Will drinks. Linus stares at him. Extends his hand.

Will nods but concentrates on his soda. Linus continues to

Shelley ambles over and takes Will’s drink, takes a sip.

Natalie enters in a black suit with a clipboard. She looks

They all turn on Natalie.

Tumbleweeds blow. She smoothes her hair out of her face,

Tim and Linus exit towards the sleeping quarters. Shelley

Natalie scans through the papers.

She points to a red flag on one of the forms.

Lights up on Natalie fast-forwarding and

She brings up a tape of Johnny who holds

Natalie brings up some tape Will in his prison cell, sitting

Cut to Johnny who puts the camera on his prep station.

Natalie rewinds the tape and deletes a bit—

Natalie stops the tape she’s editing. Picks up the phone.

She hangs up the phone.

Will follows her out of the room.

Lights shift to the editing suite where Natalie holds up a

Will looks into the camera. She presses record.

The words are rough on his tongue.

Johnny staggers in with a rolling duffle bag

Tim is sitting on his bed, eating a box of

He throws a 20 on Tim’s bed.

He tosses a plastic-wrapped deck at Johnny.

He reveals an Ace of Clubs and a King of Spades.

He reveals a King of Hearts and a King of Diamonds.

He turns the first three cards up. It’s an 8 of Spades, Queen

He turns over the next card. It’s King of Clubs.

10 of clubs. Johnny celebrates. He made his straight.

He points to his face.

They both shudder at the memory of the un-named