SCAM
Sanvi Shrivastava
Cast of Characters
MARY:
ANNA:
COP 1:
COP 2:
DAVE:
COPS:
ANNA - red head with thick glasses and a book in
her hands. She has a tight bun and army green
pants with a skin tight black top. Anna is calm
with a strict attitude
MARY - a blonde worker with long, orange
earrings and a crooked smile.
Curtains open and we see stage right the inside
of a Clothing shop and we can see dust all over
the floor and the lights are dimming. the prices
for the clothing are way cheaper than they are
supposed to be. This place is an illegal
liquidation site but only MARY knows.
MARY
Did you find what you needed today?
ANNA
Yep! I found the perfect dress for my honeymoon.
MARY
Well, I'm glad to make your day!
ANNA
Thank you! But this dress is from a big company. How
come it's so cheap? This $500 dress is only $38?!
MARY
(tight smile)
No need to act surprised! We give the best deals
here.
Anna runs out of the store and ends up on the
street located center stage while holding the
pastel blue dress.
ANNA
This is perfect! Me and my fiancÅe will have the best
time ever! Near the beach, with the waves and this
dress will make me complete.
Mary follows Anna as she sprints home. While
Mary quietly tiptoe's near Anna, she trips and
makes a loud sound.
ANNA
WHAT WAS THAT?
MARY
GIVE ME THE DRESS! You did not pay for that.
ANNA
(Wondering) Why is she so protective? I already paid
for it!
MARY
I'm calling the cops!
ANNA
(running) Well not anymore!
Anna runs off stage while clinging the dress to
her body. Mary starts dialing 911.
MARY
(phone ringing) I need to get that back!
Suddenly, Mary cut the call
MARY
Wait. I can't call them. I listed that dress
illegally.
Let Mary go back stage as Anna arrives home,
change the interior of the store that was inside
the stage and make it look like a home-like
setting.
ANNA
(Dialing a number) Hello! This is Anna reporting for
duty!
COP 1
What have you got for us agent Anna?
ANNA
I want to report a                    An offender was
Testimonial fraud.
lying about a product to make people want to buy it.
This includes making up fake reviews or paying people
to say good things they do not believe.
COP 2
Amazing work. We shall respond to the location right
away.
Few moments later the cops arrive at Anna's
house and they walk over to Mary's illegal store
to confront her.
MARY
Oh no! Why are you here? What did I do wrong? you
need a permit!
COP 2
Anything you say or do will be used against you in
court.
MARY
COURT? Can I get some clarification here on is going
on?!
COP 2
I will press charges for testimonial fraud.
MARY
Oh.
COP 1
Oh? Why are you acting like you knew what was
happening?
MARY
Can I have my dress back?
COP 2
(raises tone) Answer my now woman!
MARY
(crying) That is a dress I got for $500 I sold it for
cheap because I absolutely needed profit. See, my and
my child are having a rough time at home. We need
this money to survive! You wouldn't understand. You
have lots of money and live a lavish life but please
don't do anything to me! I would lose everything!
COP 1
(unconvinced) Ma'am, if you have already forgotten,
you are pretty well known because for you husband who
is a movie actor. You surely are NOT having a "rough
time at home". By the way, if you didn't hear me
earlier, Anything you say or do will be used against
you in court.
MARY
Whatever I did, why is it such a bad thing?
COP 2
The Government says this is illegal because it tricks
people and is a type of false advertising. The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can fine companies a
COP 2 
lot of money for doing this.
MARY
NOOOOOOOOO!
ANNA
You get what you get and you don't through a fit.
Remember, YOU did this to yourself.
MARY
Oh my Gosh. YOU! You did this didn't you? YOU RAT!
ANNA
Yes I did. and let my remind you yet again: Anything
you say or do will be used against you in court.
MARY
I. DON'T. CARE.
COP 2
Too bad for you then because, in a couple minutes,
you are gonna be caring when your husband finds out
what you have done to tarnish his reputation.
MARY
YOU WILL REGRET THIS! NEVER TELL HIM WHAT I DID!
COP 1
(rolling his eye's) Sure...
The Cops drag Mary off stage while she screams
"LET GO" in full volume. Anna follows closely
behind while she smirks and dial's Mary's
husband, DAVE who was the big actor.
DAVE
(Annoyed) Hello? who is this? I am very busy you
know, I don't have time for some dumb scammers.
ANNA
Sir, we assure you, there are no scammer but we have
some news to tell you.
DAVE
What? Why does this number show it is from the police
force?!? Is Mary okay?
ANNA
She is currently in trial but we have caught her
doing testimonial fraud which is illegal is the
ANNA 
United States of America. We found you as her main
emergency contact so we wanted to notify you about
your wive's situation.
DAVE
(Shouting) Do you know who I am? let go of my wife!
ANNA
Your authority and reputation has nothing do with her
incident.
DAVE
(Quiet) I knew it. I told her that the plan wouldn't
work.
ANNA
Excuse me?
DAVE
W-what? I-I said nothing.
And with that Dave hangs up.
ANNA
(Calls the cops) We have a code red! I repeat CODE
RED! I will track the number that I called because
there is something fishy going on!
COPS
Get on it. Meet me outside in 5. I need to control
this crazy lady over here.
Anna starts dialing and the fake/real phone is
making "beep bloop" sounds.
ANNA
Yes! I found it! he will be walking on this street in
approximately, 3 minutes!
Turn out, that Dave was on the same street that
Anna was on so make a person with a suit and
tie, and a black brief case. He has an expensive
looking watch and he is always checking the
time. Dave walks behind Anna, unknowingly, and
Anna tackles him down.
ANNA
Haha! got you now! I've got some SERIOUS questions
for you.
DAVE
How did you know that I am Dave?
ANNA
Well for starters, you already said your name was
Dave without me asking and you are pretty famous so
why would I not recognize you?
DAVE
I need my lawyer!
ANNA
You will get it soon.
DAVE
I have a meeting in 10 minutes.
ANNA
And I could not care less. Why are you so skittish?
Are you hiding something?
DAVE
I have the right to remain silent. I will allow you
to run a polygraph test (truth or lie test) on me. I
am a good person and I will accept a test.
ANNA
Look Dave, you think I'm dumb but I been a cop for 7
years. A polygraph test is not admissible as evidence
in court because they are considered scientifically
unreliable.
DAVE
Do you like the movies I make?
ANNA
That is very off topic but, no. They are horrible
DAVE
Wow. You are a horrible human.
ANNA
And I love being one.
Suddenly, the cops bring Mary on the same street
that Anna was holding Dave down.
COP 1
(huffing) I- I got her.
MARY
DAVE!, BABY! THEY GOT YOU TOO???
DAVE
Baby! Honey! sugar, pookie pie, Lovey, Cute-
COP 2
Oh cut it out. That is disgusting.
ANNA
(crossing arms with a look of disapproval) I thought
you were better than that.
The cops take Mary and Dave to the side of the
road, stabilize them, and start asking
questions.
COP 2
You have some explaining to do.
DAVE
Okay.
ANNA
Oh my god. cops, you are playing it too nice.
(shouting) EXPLAIN YOURSELVES OR ELSE I"M GONNA BEAT
THE SOULS OUT OF YOU!!!!
Mary starts crying loudly on purpose while Dave
to explain.
tries
DAVE
It was our greed! My acting business was not doing-
MARY
(Mary cuts him off) LET ME GO! I'M A LADY AND I
DESERVE RESPECT! THIS IS HARASSMENT. I WILL REPORT
YOU! WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
ANNA
I am genuinely disgusted by you. Cops, take her out
of my sight and get her under control! If you can
knock out some answers, I will increase your
paycheck.
COP 2
(excited) Yes ma'am.
MARY
You are horrible
ANNA
I know.
The Cops drag Mary off stage (again) while she
screams. The volume of the shouting lowers as
the audience get the illusion that the cops are
taking Mary father and farther away.
ANNA
Anyway, as we got rudely interrupted, you may
continue your explanation for today's incident.
DAVE
It was not completely my fault! It was our greed! My
business was not doing well and there were no more
producers that wanted me because, apparently, I was
too needy and-
ANNA
I get it.
DAVE
Oh. Okay. Well, I couldn't find anything else to do
and I couldn't do other jobs because if people saw me
doing that it could ruin me. In avoidance, I went for
something more undercover, you know?
ANNA
Hmm. (unconvinced)
There should be a moment of silence for about
five seconds until the cops arrive without Mary
and they look surprised and excited.
COP 2
We have answers agent! Increase our pay check!!!
ANNA
Wow there! Calm down. What evidence were you able to
gather?
COPS
She asked her husband to do this crime and, knowing
that there are consequences, Dave somehow agreed and
still said yes to the plan because he "claims" he was
desperate for money.
ANNA
Is this true Dave?
DAVE
(shameful) Yes ma'am
ANNA
You have a 17 million mansion, 5 Lamborghini's and 35
companies.
DAVE
I have 37 companies.
ANNA
That's not the point! (anger rising) You claim to
have no money but you have so many rich investments!
Why would you do something illegal for the sake of
money when you already have it.
DAVE
(He says quickly and quietly) I was forgotten.
ANNA
Huh?
DAVE
I got less fame and pushed down while the other
actors stole my limelight. Sometimes I do things, but
maybe for the wrong reasons. A person might feel a
huge, empty feeling when nobody pays attention to
them, needing people to notice them and think they're
cool. So, they might start doing big things because
they really want the spotlight to shine on them. Itȳs
kind of embarrassing to admit, but deep down, I might
have done all that bad stuff just to feel seen and
famous for a minute.
ANNA
So wait, you didn't          care? You just wanted
actually
people to think you were a hero or a big person?
DAVE
Yes. And I am truly sorry.
COP 2
Thatȳs kind of messed up. I thought you were
genuinely nice, and now it feels like you tricked
everyone into liking you. It's bad enough that you
did a crime, but it feels even worse now that I know
you just did it for the glory.
Mary enters the stage with cop 1
MARY
I am sorry for my actions
ANNA
oh! looks who decided to finally act like a human!
ANNA
How much money did you make from the illegal profit?
DAVE
(Nudging Mary) Go ahead. Tell her.
ANNA
$650
COP 2
Wow. that's insane
COP 1
we shall charge you a 50,000 dollar fine
DAVE
$50,000!?!?!?!
MARY
WHY???
DAVE
Does this include the profit we made?!?
ANNA
In the USA, a business caught doing testimonial fraud
can face fines from the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC), regardless of the profit made. The $650 profit
amount has nothing to do with the fine given.
MARY
You are just trying to show off your knowledge!
ANNA
I assure you, I am speaking facts and I need you to
remain silent.
Cops 1 and 2 handcuff Mary and Dave and take
them off stage.
ANNA
Whoa... Now THAT was a crazy case!
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