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A play I wrote.
00:56 Dec 13 2009
Times Read: 598






The Night Vincent Price Died







By Mike Aspinwall













 



THE NIGHT VINCENT PRICE DIED

ACT I

Scene I

October 25, 1993



Vincent Price enters into his living room carrying a Jack-O-Lantern. He places the Jack-O-Lantern on a table and smiles.

VINCENT PRICE-There!! That looks delightful and the children will love it this Halloween!

There is a knock on his door. KNOCK KNOCK!

VINCENT PRICE-Mmm"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--

Only this and nothing more."

Vincent laughs a little as he crosses the room to open the door.

KNOCK KNOCK

VINCENT PRICE-Yes, yes, I’m coming. (Opens door) Oh, hello, my friend. A little early aren’t you?

The person at the door is any and everyone, average but distinct, man, woman, adult, child, all and nothing. The person at the door is Death.

DEATH-Hello Mr. Price.

VINCENT PRINCE-Please call me Vincent! I think you and I are well past formalities.

DEATH-Vincent. (Notices the Jack-O-Lantern) My, that is a lovely Jack-O-Lantern.

VINCENT PRICE-Thank you, my friend I just finished carving it.

DEATH-Don’t you think that Jack-O-Lanterns are past their prime in terms of a Halloween decoration?

VINCENT PRICE-Not at all. They’re classics.

DEATH-Even if kids crave new, exciting and gorier thrills?

VINCENT PRICE-Styles may change with the moon, but like the moon, they will always repeat their patterns.

DEATH-You don’t think Jack-O-Lanterns should…move on…

VINCENT PRICE-Absolutely not! Fads disappear like ghosts in London fog, but true standards are always visible.

DEATH-You aren’t going to make this easy are you?

VINCENT PRICE-Have I ever?

DEATH-Ha! No. Vincent, you know it’s time, I love and respect you but--

VINCENT PRICE-I didn’t ask for this! To be old! To be dying of lung cancer! I have so much left to do, poetry, the culinary arts, scaring children on Halloween! I can’t give it all up…Not yet.

DEATH-Vince if I gave extensions to everyone else, like I give them to you, I’d be out of a job! Don’t look at me like that!! I said don’t…OH ALRIGHT! I think I may be able to help. My books say I have to take a “Vincent Price” but that doesn’t have to mean you.

VINCENT PRICE-Hmmm, go on.

DEATH-Take this. (Death removes an Ahnk necklace and gives it to Vincent)It will give you a new body, and you wouldn’t be Vincent Price anymore but you’d be alive.

VINCENT PRICE- Thank you!! (Vincent puts on the necklace and transforms into a handsome young man) What an exquisite looking corpse!!

Vincent and Death leave.

Scene II

The Next Day.



A younger, healthier Vincent approaches a News Stand and picks up a paper.

VINCENT PRICE-Anything of interest?

NEWS CLERK-Yeah! That horror guy, Vincent Price died last night.

VINCENT PRICE-What a shame.

NEWS CLERK-It is, he was a genre Icon, ya’ know? A true classic.

VINCENT PRICE-Thank you. Vincent Price laughs and walks away, leaving the news clerk puzzled and a little frightened. THE END