Raj and Shriya are best friends and have been for many years. They are finally celebrating Raj’s 21st birthday and official coming out. He’s having his first drink and he’s finally come to terms with the skin he’s in. As he dances at the club with Shriya something tragic happens, without any warning Raj is struck on the head with a bat. The sound of the crack of the bat plays like the soundtrack of this scene throughout out as Raj leaves the real world and upon losing consciousness wakes up in his “perfect world.” In this perfect world gay people are the respected people and straight people have to gain permission through a voting system to be able to live in the most elite neighborhoods. It is now 2043 and when he sees Shriya she explains to him how things have changed. How everything that Raj ever expressed wanting has no come true. But as he explores this new home that he so deeply loves Shriya tells him that because this isn’t real she can’t stay there and he has to leave with her if he wants to save himself in the real world. This brings about a fight with the two best friends as she desperately pleads with him to come back so that they can work on getting him out of the hospital together. Raj doesn’t remember, he doesn’t understand why she would want him to leave his perfect place for a hospital bed and endless hate. There is something to be said about being forced to face your fears rather than running away from them. In the end Raj decides to come back and edure but first Shriya must walk him through how he slipped into that coma and how what should have been the best night of his lift quickly turned into the fight of his life.
*Actors may be any gender and change pronouns as needed to properly tell the story. Please e-mail business for name change permissions.
In a Perfect World
(Scene opens with Raj, twenties dancing. He is with a woman, Shriya, his best friend. Maybe he’s good, maybe she’s not but they’re having a great time on the dance floor. He laughs. There are other people dancing around him that he interacts with, it’s a great time. They sing happy birthday; a hat is placed on his head and he blows out the candles on the cupcake Shriya presents to him. It is in the smoke of the candles that suddenly he is pushed (flash) then hit with a fist (flash) then he looks up to see a bat coming for his face and he covers his head and takes the hit.
Both: CRACK! CRACK!
Raj: (he screams) No, don’t!
The Guy with the Bat: Faggot! (Spits on Raj, lifts bat to strike again.)
CRACK!
(flash- freeze- flash) He’s in the hospital. Doctors are working on him, he can’t speak it is mayhem.)
Doctor: Can you tell me your name? (Raj moans) Sir, sir what how old are you? (Raj moans again trying to open his eyes, fight them off)
Raj: Bat. B-bat!
Doctor: Yes, you- you were hit with a bat. But what is your name?
Raj: Raj…
Doctor: Raj, your name is Raj?
Raj: 2043.
Doctor: 2043, what does that mean? (beat) Stop. Everyone stop. (to Raj) What does 2043 mean?
Raj: The year. (the Doctor looks at him then to the other people in the room)
Both: CRACK!
(Transition: Raj wakes up, like it’s just another day. He opens his front door and walks outside.)
Neighbor: Morning Raj. (waves)
Raj: (waves back but doesn’t really recognize this person) Hi. Are you new to the neighborhood?
Neighbor: (laughs) No. My family and I have been here for two years. We got a waiver and were allowed to move into an area full of people like you. (gushing) We are so lucky and thankful to be here.
Raj: (taken back) “…people like you” (irritated) What’s that supposed to mean?
Neighbor: Gay people. The best people in the world! It was a long process and the waiting list was insane but we passed all the tests and received the proper number of votes from the organization for me and my husband to move in.