Williams CHURCH & STATE Perusal

CHURCH & STATE
by
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Jason Odell Williams
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June 1, 2017
© 2016 Jason Odell Williams

ii.
Cast
SENATOR CHARLES "CHARLIE" WHITMORE (R - NC): Male. 40s-50s. Born and raised
in North Carolina, he is a former State Senator, now incumbent Junior U.S.
Senator, up for re-election. His father was Governor of NC for many years
before he died. Charlie's two older brothers are Congressmen in NC. Though
not gunning for it himself, the party is grooming Charlie for a Presidential
run in a few years. Charlie is a man filled with doubt. But he has plenty of
charisma and sex appeal. He's a rare honest politician and gifted public
speaker.
SARA WHITMORE: Female. 40s. Charlie's wife. A big, brassy, former real estate
agent, now stay-at-home mom to their boys MATTHEW (9, athletic and fearless)
and LUKE (6, artistic and sensitive). She is sweet, charming and instantly
likable. Even when she's bossing you around, she does it with an irresistible
smile. More "street smart" than "book smart," but can still hold her own with
the big boys. Also born and raised in North Carolina. Loves her family, Jesus
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and the Bible. She's a tough southern woman with soft underbelly.
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ALEX KLEIN: Female. 30s-40s. Charlie's campaign manager. A fast-talking, no-
nonsense liberal Jew from New York whose star is on the rise as a go-to
campaign manager. Hired by the Whitmore campaign so she wouldn't defeat him
working for the other side. She is great at her job, but knows her career is
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on the line if this election goes badly. Her self-doubt bubbles to the
surface at times, but she's clearly a professional at the top of her game.
TOM / MARSHALL / REPORTER / SECURITY GUY: Male. 20s-30s. An NC State graduate

and North Carolina boy through-and-through. Tom is more "country," while
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Marshall is more of a "southern gentleman." Tom is a paid intern with the

campaign. Simple with a good heart. Marshall is a blogger with Christian
values but not much journalistic experience. News Anchor is a smart, charming
on-the-scene news reporter. Security Guy is a typical non-speaking bodyguard.
MALE & FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR VOICES / RUGGED AMERICAN MALE - can be pre-taped by
actors in the cast or others.

iii.
Setting
Raleigh, NC. A small green room backstage at N.C. State's Stewart Theatre.
The play opens on a Saturday evening, twenty minutes before the Senator is to
address a crowd of supporters, three days before Election Day. He's running
for his second term as Senator.
Later, the same green room shortly after Tuesday's election results.
Notes
A slash (" / ") denotes a point of overlap between one speaker’s line and the
next speaker’s line.
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A "..." at the end of a line means that character continues speaking thorough
to their next line, talking over the other character's line in between.
A " -- " at the end of a line means the next character cuts off the previous
speaker.
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For the campaign commercial at the top of the play and for the montage of
news reporters near the end of the play, the production can choose to make
actual pre-taped videos to be projected on stage, or can simply use pre-
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recorded voices and let sound design tell the story.
Last but most important: I've seen this play almost 100 times with several
different casts and the key to making it work is to honor the comedy and the
pacing. It's not a farce or a sitcom - the comedy comes from a real and
honest place - but these characters cannot indulge in the darkness or
tragedy. They don't have time for that. The actors cannot be precious about
the words or take lots of unscripted pauses or beats. There is a drive and
urgency throughout. And the character of "Sara" holds the key to the comedy.
She must have a smile and lightness through much of the play even when she's
saying things like "that's a terrible idea" or "you son of a bitch." If she's
dark and heavy and unlikable, the play turns too serious too quickly. But
when the comedy works, and the highs are high, then when the bottom drops out
and the play becomes serious a few times, it carries so much more weight. But
if the actors are slow or heavy, the play drags, the comedy falls flat, and
the whole thing misses the mark.
iv.
History
BEST NEW PLAY NOMINEE (Off Broadway Alliance)

BEST NEW PLAY NOMINEE (L.A. Ovation Awards)
TOP TEN PRODUCTIONS OF 2016 (The Huffington Post)
Originally developed with Artistic Director Ralph Meranto at JCC CenterStage,

CHURCH & STATE was produced as a National New Play Network rolling world
premiere on July 2, 2016 at Skylight Theatre Company in Los Angeles (Gary
Grossman, Artistic Director), directed by Elina de Santos, and on October 22,
2016 at JCC CenterStage in Rochester, NY, directed by Ralph Meranto.
The rolling world premiere casts were as follows:
Skylight Theatre Company

SENATOR CHARLES WHITMORE .... Rob Nagle
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SARA WHITMORE ............... Tracie Lockwood
JCC CenterStage
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ALEX KLEIN ..................
TOM/MARSHALL ................
SENATOR CHARLES WHITMORE ....

Annika Marks
Edward Hong
Peter J. Doyle
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SARA WHITMORE ............... Beth Winslow
ALEX KLEIN .................. Esther Winter
TOM/MARSHALL/SECURITY GUY ... Matthew Austin Combs
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CHURCH & STATE had its New York premiere at New World Stages on March 27,
2017. It was produced by Charlotte Cohn, directed by Markus Potter, set
design by David Goldstein, costume design by Dianne K. Graebner, sound design
by Erik T. Lawson, lighting design by Burke Brown, casting by Wojcik | Seay
Casting.
The cast was as follows:

SARA WHITMORE ............... Nadia Bowers (after May 26, Megan Sikora)
ALEX KLEIN .................. Christa Scott-Reed
TOM/MARSHALL/OTHERS ......... Jonathan Louis Dent (after May 26, Andy Talen)
v.
REVIEWS
“Gripping entertainment! Playwright Jason Odell Williams is a postmodern

Clifford Odets. Winning, strikingly intelligent, and above all, sincere.
Simply superb!” - Los Angeles Times
“A crackling script. Feels very of the moment. An enjoyable, thought-

provoking and, I promise, humorous piece of theatre. I wish every member of
Congress would see it!” - NPR
“A powerful, often humorous, and highly contemporary piece [with] several

surprises, four fascinating characters, and so many lines that resonate.”
- Huffington Post
“Words that need to be said and heard! Williams is adept at jacking up the
tension... you barely have time to catch your breath. Still, Williams
presents his argument so entertainingly, few would object to going along for
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the ride.” - Time Out NY
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"A must-see! It's got humor and heart. It's a play for our times."
- Donna Hanover, CUNY-TV
"One of the best plays of the year! Witty, smart, timely, with a political
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candidate that everyone would have voted for. Church & State will leave you
deeply entertained. Bravo!” - Times Square Chronicles
“Packs an emotional and intellectual punch unmatched by anything I've seen

this season!” - The Gay City News
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"Sinful fun! Church & State hits the mark. Packs in a great deal of debate
and emotion in a short period of time, with unforgettable laugh-out-loud
lines.” - Zeal NYC
"Though dressed as a comedy, Church & State packs a surprising philosophical

punch. FOUR STARS!" - New York Theatre Guide
"A refreshing new play about faith, politics, and the power of social media.
Witty, funny, and fast-paced... peppered with humor, wit, and deep
compassion. Williams also creates three-dimensional characters that hold your
attention and make you care about them.” - Curtain Up
“Funny, human, devastating, brave and powerful... Church & State speaks to
the lunacy of modern politics.” - L.A. Theatre Bites
“A powerful, thought-provoking, button-pushing 'gun-control comedy' (that's

right, comedy!) WOW!” - Stage Scene L.A.
vi.
"A brilliant play... strong enough to knock you off your complacent ledge,
inspiring social and political change within you, and entertaining us like
not much you've ever seen before. [A] pulsating drama... with both humor and
pathos. You must not skip this production!” - Edge Media Network
"A mesmeric production of a captivating, thought-provoking new play sure to

only advance the career of a promising new dramatist. [A] brightly
intelligent and often hilariously on-target script, it is deserving of high
praise! If Williams' exceptional play does nothing else, let's hope it makes
its point and sparks further desperately needed debate.” - Arts in L.A.
"A genuinely riveting, entertaining journey. Church & State has done
something nearly impossible: tackled hot-button, deeply personal topics
without picking sides or down-playing emotions. Oh, and it's also really
funny!" - Starry Constellation Magazine
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“Keep your eye on playwright Jason Odell Williams. If he keeps writing plays
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as extraordinary and impassioned as 'Church & State' he may in time be hailed
as this country's newest Eugene O'Neill. Powerful. Impeccable. Flawless.
Exquisite.” - Santa Monica Daily Press
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vii.
AUTHOR'S STATEMENT
This play began as a germ of an idea shortly after the shooting massacre at
Virginia Tech in 2007. I went to UVA (Virginia Tech's “football rival”) and
the images on TV of candlelight vigils by Cavaliers for their rival Hokies
touched me profoundly. Then Tucson happened, and I watched the news, riveted
and angry. Then Aurora. And I watched again, riveted and angry. Then Newtown.
And I'd had enough. A month later, in January 2013, I had a first draft of
what would eventually become Church & State.
On paper, the topics of this play (religion, guns and politics) seem heavy.
But a heavy drama about heavy topics doesn't interest me. What interests me
is a play that gets to the heart of the people around these issues. And when
you write about people, you can't help but let them be funny and sad and
honest, heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. Because isn't that
what being human is? And because of that, I don't think this play works
without the humor. And the humor doesn't mean anything without the heart. To
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me, comedy and tragedy are not two ends of a single line, but two points
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right next to each other on the same circle.
While most writers hope that their work will live forever, my dream for this
play is that it will become obsolete. And many years from now people will
read it and think, "How quaint! Americans used to argue about gun control."
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But as the news incessantly reminds us, these mass shootings are not going
away any time soon. They have become our new normal. Orlando was a stark
reminder of that.
For now, I hope this play raises questions, sparks debate, makes people laugh
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and cry, and laugh while crying. And of course I hope it moves people in some
way. Perhaps enough to take action with their voice and vote and bump the
needle ever so slightly in the conversation about gun violence.
But most of all, I hope this play speaks to your heart. Because, for me,
that's the only reason to write anything: to speak to each other's hearts.
- Jason Odell Williams, June 2016

viii.
"God is a concept"
- John Lennon
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CHURCH & STATE
From the dark, we hear...
CHARLIE (VO)
I’m Charles Whitmore and I approve this message.
Lights rise on a rundown green room

in N.C. State’s Stewart Theatre as
the campaign commercial continues.
RUGGED AMERICAN MALE (VO)

He’s been hailed as “a compassionate conservative,” and “just
the kind of leadership from ‘The Right’ that Washington
needs.”
Tom, wearing a white “JESUS IS MY
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RUNNING MATE!” T-shirt and a red
sa “WHITMORE FOR SENATE” baseball hat,

races by the open door. He looks in
the room, slightly panicked.
Doesn’t see anyone. Races out.
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As Senator, he championed the biggest welfare reform bill in
our nation’s history, voted to extend benefits for seniors
and veterans, and protected our Second Amendment Rights by
helping to block a restrictive ban on firearms.
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After a beat, Charlie enters

quietly, wearing a rumpled dark
suit, tie loose. He’s a little
sweaty and unsure of himself.

He’s a family man who believes in good Christian values. The
kind of values on which this country was founded.
He searches for and finds the

remote, but watches the last
moments of his commercial, mouthing
along with the final catchphrase
(”the right leadership for a bold
state”) then sort looks pleased and
dissatisfied at the same time.
2.

(on TV)
This Tuesday, help continue the grand tradition of Whitmores
in North Carolina politics, and re-elect Senator Charles
Whitmore. The right leadership for a bold state.
The TV comes back from commercial

break to a rap video. Charlie
presses a button on the remote to
change the channel. But the TV
stays on the same rap video. He
tries again with the remote. Same
channel. He looks curiously at the
remote. Tries again. Same channel.
CHARLIE
(mutters)
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God bless it.
sa He stabs uselessly at the remote.
Alex darts by the door, phone to

her ear. Spots Charlie. Enters the
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room.
ALEX
(into phone)
Never mind, I found him. Tell Security to stand down. (Hangs
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up, immediately begins texting her staff.) Senator, what are

you doing in here?
CHARLIE
(fixed on TV and remote)
Alex! Just the person I need. You know how to get ESPN on
this thing?
ALEX
(preoccupied with her phone)
Do I... what?
CHARLIE
Shoot, it's channel 31 at home, but all I’m gettin’ here is
B.E.T. That can't be right.
She finally looks up from her phone

and gives him her full attention.
3.
ALEX
You're due on stage in 15 minutes, why do you need to find
ESPN right now?
CHARLIE
Cuz it's Game Day.
Alex shrugs.
CHARLIE
College Game Day. On ESPN?
She looks at him blankly.
CHARLIE
Jeez-Louise, State-UNC. The Wolfpack are playing the Tar
Heels! It's the flippin' / game of the week!
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sa She takes the remote and shows him
how to find the right channel.
ALEX
Okay, here, just press “menu,” scroll down, ESPN. There.
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Channel 33.
CHARLIE
Oh, how 'bout that? I was so close.
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He watches for a moment.
CHARLIE
Oh heck, it's still the jibber-jabber - guess kickoff's not
till 6:30 or something.
He shuts off the TV. Paces,

nervous.
ALEX
You have no reason to be nervous, sir.
ALEX CHARLIE
It's the same speech you gave Oh, I’m not nervous - I could
last week in Greensboro. And do this speech without any
two weeks ago in Wilmington. teleprompters, one arm behind
my back.
4.
ALEX
And don’t worry about those new numbers that came in - it’s
actually a statistical dead heat.
CHARLIE
I’m not worried about the numbers, I trust you.
ALEX
Then why are you hiding in this... (looks around with
disdain) what is this place?
CHARLIE
I’m not hiding, I’m getting focused.
ALEX
Senator, we really need you on your A-game today.
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CHARLIE
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I’m always on m-- what’re you talking about, / A-game?
ALEX
Security said you were mumbling to yourself...
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ALEX CHARLIE
acting strange, then just I appreciate the concern but
disappeared without a word. I told those guys to tell
We circled the building five y’all I was going for a walk -
times looking for you. just needed to clear my head.
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ALEX
Sir, one of the reasons you hired me was because you wanted
someone with fresh eyes to tell you when you were drifting
off-track...? Well. You’re not even in the car anymore.
Charlie nods, starts to say

something, then changes course.
Moves to a leftover craft service
table in the corner with some sweet
tea and other nibbles on it.
CHARLIE
Hey, you wanna soda or something? Maybe an iced tea? They
make the best sweet tea right / here on campus.
ALEX
No. Thank you.
5.
CHARLIE
You sure? It’s really good. Not too sweet.
ALEX
I’m fine, really.
CHARLIE
I think they use agave or simple syrup / or something.
ALEX
Goddamnit, Senator, tell me what’s wrong!
Sara swoops in, all charm and

smiles, moving immediately to
Charlie.
SARA
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(all in one breath)
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There you are baby we’ve been looking all over for you
what’s the matter you need some iced tea should I pour you a
glass of sweet tea hey Alex how you doin’ you want some iced
tea why don’t I pour us all a few glasses of iced tea.
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ALEX
OH MY GOD, CAN WE PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT ICED FRICKIN’
TEA?!
Beat. Sara and Charlie stare at

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Alex.
SARA
(pours a glass of tea)
She must not have tried it here yet. / It really is
delicious. Not too sweet.
CHARLIE
No - I was tryin’ a tell her. I said so. / Exactly.
ALEX
Okay, fine. Here. God!
Alex hastily takes the tea from

Sara. She vaguely raises her cup as
a “cheers” then downs it.
Beat. Alex stands very still.

6.
ALEX
(low-key surprise)
Wow that is really good.
SARA CHARLIE
See! We told you, ain’t There ya go. Aren’t ya glad
nothin’ else like it. you tried it?
ALEX
Yes. Wonderful. Life-altering, in fact. Now if we could
please address the matter at hand, sir, because you are due
on stage / in just a few minutes, and--
CHARLIE
(to Alex and Sara)
Oh that, right. Well, it’s no big deal really, I was just -
after this morning, at the thing there, it got me thinking
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again - about the events of last week, which got me thinking
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‘bout the speech for today, and it just occurred to me that
maybe I shouldn’t deliver it as written, ya know. Word for
word. But rather. Speak from the heart. About everything
that’s happened. And uh.... Yeah. That.
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Beat.
SARA
(with a smile)
That's a terrible idea.
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CHARLIE
Well, I respect your opinion, honey, but Alex is my campaign
manager, so why don't we--
ALEX
SARA
See?
CHARLIE
Okay, all right, I get why you'd say that, / but hear me out--
ALEX
You don’t change the speech that got you this far three days
before the election.
7.
SARA
Exactly! For once, I'm with her.
CHARLIE
But ya'll don't even-- there's a reason to change what I'm
gonna say.
ALEX
Which is?
CHARLIE
...Okay now don't freak out.
SARA
Never a good start.
ALEX
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Nope.
sa SARA
It's like with our boys, “Promise you won't get mad, mommy?”
No! What if you're about to tell me you set your brother on
fire?
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ALEX
Did that actually happen?
SARA
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Not yet, but the older one’s got the devil in him, you just
know he’s up to no good.
CHARLIE
Hey, I'm glad ya’ll are finally getting along but this is
serious. Hear me out. Okay...? Okay?!
SARA ALEX
Okay, fine, whatever, just Yes, what is it? We don’t
say it. have much time.
CHARLIE
All right, now.... It's possible a story may come out in the
paper tomorrow, or maybe even earlier, on The Twitter or
something, / I don't know.
ALEX
It’s just called Twitter, sir. No “The.”
8.
CHARLIE
...It’s not The Twitter?
ALEX
No, sir. We’ve been over this.
CHARLIE
Okay. Well, a story might come out on Twitter that-- Now see,
that sounds weird to me, there should be a “the” in there.
SARA
(smiling)
I agree. I like it with a “the.”
ALEX
It doesn’t matter what you like, that is what it’s called.
It’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. No “The.” Ever.
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sa
Mm. Sounds wrong.
Pause.
SARA
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CHARLIE
It really does.
ALEX
(pointing to her watch)
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Sir, you’re killing me here, please!
CHARLIE
Oh, right. Well, there’s a, uh. Slight chance a story may
come out about me on... Twitter or somewhere on the Internet--
okay see, there’s a “The” before Internet, now why is that?
SARA
Yeah!
ALEX
Oh Jesus, what is this big secret story about you that may
get leaked on th-- ... online?
SARA
Oh my Lord! Charlie... Are you having an affair?
9.
CHARLIE
What? No - honey. Jeez, that’s-- no. Never.
SARA
Really?
CHARLIE
Course not, I love you - you're all the woman I can handle!
SARA
Aww! Ain't he sweet?
ALEX
Peaches.
SARA ALEX
I just love him to death. I ...Sir, can we please...?
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love you to death Charlie
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Whitmore!
CHARLIE
Yes, of course - (to Sara) hush now, baby lemme finish. Okay.
(Pause. Clears his throat. To both of them.) Now there's a
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chance. A story might come out and quote me sayin' some stuff
at the - thing this morning. About how. Maybe I don't quite,
uh... believe in God anymore.
Alex’s jaw drops slightly. Sara

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breaks into a deadly smile.
SARA
You son of a bitch.
She hits Charlie on the arm (on

each bold & underlined word).
SARA
That's worse than an affair! Turning your back on Jesus!?
He's the one that helped get you elected in the first place!
CHARLIE
Ow! Hey, that hurts!
SARA
(an almost-cry to heaven)
YOUR CAMPAIGN SONG IS “JESUS IS MY RUNNING MATE!!!”
10.
She hits him one last time.
CHARLIE
Would you please / stop hitting me! And you’re the one who
picked that song, said donations would increase if we used
it.
ALEX
(pulling Sara away)
All right, / stop, we're not gonna do this now. Here we go -
take it easy. I got her. I got her!
SARA
Can you believe this nincompoop? Okay - I’m fine, I’m fine,
I’m fine.
During the chaos, Tom enters
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tentatively, holding a clipboard,
sa still wearing his JESUS IS MY

RUNNING MATE shirt. After a beat,
they finally notice him.
CHARLIE
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...Tom! What’s the good word...?
TOM
(smiling wide)
Oh, I don’t know... what?
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CHARLIE
(a question)
...What?
TOM
Is this...? (Embarrassed self-loathing for not getting it) I
thought you were tellin’ a joke.
CHARLIE
No, I mean, how’s it lookin’ out there - decent crowd?
TOM
Oh! Yeah, it’s packed. Standing room only.
ALEX
And the mood’s all right? No reporters digging around, asking
questions?
11.
TOM
No, everyone seems... pretty stoked to see the Senator.
ALEX
(sighs)
Okay, good.
TOM
(smiling)
...Ya’ll need anything? More sweet tea?
ALEX
OH FOR THE LOVE OF--!! (Small beat, she composes herself.)
No. Thank you, Tom, we are... all set.
Tom nods dumbly.
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CHARLIE
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Something else you came to tell us?
TOM
Oh, yeah, they uh. (Checks clipboard.) Wanted me to tell you
“ten minutes.”
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CHARLIE
Ten minutes - got it. Thanks, Tom.
Tom nods, not going anywhere, gives

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a goofy smile at the Senator.

Pause.
ALEX
(snaps/claps in his face)
What, what do you want, what what what?!
TOM
Oh, it’s no big deal, I was just... hoping to get a, uh
selfie... (holds out his phone) With the Senator? Next to the
NC State sign?
Alex starts to say no, but...
CHARLIE
Absolutely, Tom! I’d be delighted. Get in here.
12.
Alex sighs. Giddy, Tom puts down

his clipboard and hustles to
Charlie and takes a selfie.
TOM
(posing for selfie)
Go Wolfpack!
Tom looks at his phone.
TOM
Oh shoot, I blinked... (goes to take another photo)
ALEX
All right, enough, / let’s go - out, out, out.
Alex physically ushers Tom out.
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sa TOM
(on his way out)
Right, okay - thank you, Senator. And good luck out there!
Charlie gives Tom a friendly

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wave/thumbs up as Tom exits. Sara &
Alex immediately turn to Charlie.
SARA ALEX
What were you thinking? / Okay: Tell me exactly what
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Blabbing about something like you said. To who, what

that in public? context, everything!
CHARLIE
Hey okay, calm down, easy, one at a time - one at a time!
They quiet down. Beat. Then...
SARA ALEX
I can’t believe you’d be / What time did this happen?
this irresponsible! What’re What’s the person’s name? How
we gonna do with you Charlie can I track them down?
Whitmore?!
CHARLIE
Hey - HEY! What did I just-- come on now! Take it easy.
Panicking or getting angry is the last thing we need.
13.
SARA
(sarcastic)
Oh, what should we do, throw a sticker tape parade?
CHARLIE
No, of course not, but.... Did you say “Sticker Tape” parade?
SARA
Uh-huh.
CHARLIE
Sticker tape.
SARA
Yeah, you know. Like when you peel off a sticker and the
little piece of paper left behind...? You put a bunch of them
in a bag, toss 'em in the air, they float down all pretty and
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festive. Sticker Tape Parade.
sa Beat.
ALEX
I’m gonna see if there’s anything online already.
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Alex pulls out her phone and starts
Googling the Senator’s name. Beat.
CHARLIE
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(quietly, to Sara)
Honey, you know it's a... “Ticker tape” parade, right?
SARA
Ticker tape?
CHARLIE
Mm.
SARA
(laughs)
Pssh. How does that make any sense?
Charlie starts to say something,

but Alex jumps in while Sara
continues to ponder “Ticker tape.”
14.
ALEX
(looking at her phone)
Okay. This might be something. A guy named Marshall Hudson
has a Twitter account called “@TheIndependentConservative” -
what does that even mean, Independent Conservative? (She
reads, clicks on a link.) But okay, this is good.
CHARLIE
What?
ALEX
He only has 238 followers and his last tweet was two hours
ago: “Senator Whitmore speaks out” with a link to what looks
like his blog, but the link isn’t working.
CHARLIE
What’s that mean?
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sa ALEX
Could mean he posted the link incorrectly, or he posted it
then took it down to make changes. So far there aren’t any
replies or re-tweets.
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CHARLIE
So... no one’s seen it yet?
ALEX
Or if they have, no one’s commented on it.
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CHARLIE
I’m pretty sure if someone saw this, they’d comment on it.
SARA
Seriously, “Ticker Tape?” (Smiling) That sounds made-up, are
y’all pullin’ my leg on this?
ALEX
With all due respect, Mrs. Whitmore, we have slightly more
pressing matters at hand, so maybe we can table this
discussion until later? Or perhaps forever, thank you. / Now.
(Holds her phone to Charlie) What exactly is this story going
to say about you?
SARA
(appalled, to Charlie)
Uhhhhh, you gonna let her get away with that?
15.
CHARLIE
It’s all right, honey, she’s just doin’ her job. Why don’t
you check on the boys?
SARA
The boys are fine, my momma’s gettin’ ‘em some ice cream, but
what is not fine is while I’m trying to figure out why my
husband turned his back on Jesus, I’m gettin’ pushed around
by this uptight, thinks-she’s-better-than-me lesbian!
ALEX
For the hundredth time, I am not gay.
SARA
(smiling)
You’re a Democrat from New York - it’s the same thing.
l
ALEX
sa (with a deadly smile)

...Mrs. Whitmore, we’ve been thrilled to have your support
throughout this campaign, but if you can’t stop talking for
five minutes and let your husband explain this possible
crisis, I will seriously call security and have you escorted
ru
out of the building.
SARA
Are you for real, lady?
Pe
Sara steps toward Alex about to get

in her face.
CHARLIE
(to Sara)
She made Tom sit in the van for three hours after his cell
phone went off during a speech, she’s not bluffing.
Beat. Sara conceded but gets in one

last zinger at Alex
SARA
(mutters)
Nice pants.
Sara sits quietly but she’s not

happy about it.
16.
ALEX
Sir.
CHARLIE
Okay, so, it’s actually... kind of a funny story. Not funny-
ha-ha, more like funny-oh-wow-okay-hmm-yeah-that's-
interesting.
Pause.
SARA
That doesn't sound funny at all.
Alex shoots her a look to be quiet.
SARA
Okay...
l
sa Sara sarcastically “zips” her lips
while Alex gestures for Charlie to
continue.
ALEX
ru
Senator.
CHARLIE
Right, well. This morning, after the, uh... funeral. I’m sort
of standing out of the way ya know, and some guy - a kid
Pe
really, 19, 20 years old--
ALEX
(points to her phone)
He’s 32.
Marshall (glasses, wearing a dark

suit) enters.
CHARLIE
Whatever. This kid comes up to me, says something like--
MARSHALL
Beautiful service.
17.
CHARLIE
And it’s that awkward post-funeral thing where everybody’s
talking in hushed tones, not wanting to be too upbeat or too
gloomy. So I nod, say yes it was, he mentions something dull
about the weather, and we get to talking, right? No big deal.
Then finally he goes--
MARSHALL
I’m Marshall, by the way. I’m an independent reporter.
ALEX
Code for blogger.
Marshall and Charlie shake hands.
CHARLIE
(to Marshall)
l
Okay...
sa MARSHALL
Mind if I... ask you a few questions?
He’s still shaking Marshall’s hand

ru
but turns to Sara & Alex.
CHARLIE
Now I’m cornered, right? Sara, you’re down there with the
families and I don’t want to be rude to this guy - at a
Pe
funeral - I figure he’ll just ask some innocuous questions.
ALEX & SARA

No such thing during an election.
They look at each other, surprised

to have had the same thought.
CHARLIE
But they were - the questions were meaningless.
Marshall has pulled out a small

digital voice recorder which he
points at Charlie.
MARSHALL
Where were you when you heard? Were you saddened by the news?
Did you think about your own sons?
18.
CHARLIE
Standard sappy stuff, right. But then he hits me with--
MARSHALL
Did you turn to prayer in your time of need?
Pause. All eyes on Charlie.
CHARLIE
And I don’t know why. But it struck me as such a... peculiar
question. “Did I turn to prayer... in my time of need.” I
mean the gall of this kid. Asking something so personal. At a
funeral. Under those circumstances. And I don’t know,
something in me just... snapped. So I told the truth. For the
first time in a long time I said exactly what I was thinking,
no filter. I told him--
l
Charlie turns to Marshall.
sa
No. I did not.
CHARLIE
SARA
ru
Oh, sweet Jesus.
CHARLIE
(turns to Sara)
What? I just answered honestly. I said -
Pe
(to Marshall)
I did not turn to prayer.
(back to Sara and Alex)
And this kid was stunned. Like he definitely wasn’t expecting
that. But eventually his instincts kick in and he asks--
MARSHALL
Wh- why not?
CHARLIE
Why not what?
MARSHALL
Why didn’t you... turn to prayer?
CHARLIE
‘Cause these families don’t need my prayers right now, son,
they need my action. I’m a politician.
19.
And it’s my duty to honor the victims by doing everything in

my power to make sure this never happens again.
(to Sara and Alex)
And that led to a whole other conversation, but you get the
picture.
ALEX
No, we don’t “get the picture!” How did that lead to you
saying you don’t believe in God?
CHARLIE
I never said that!
ALEX
Then why do you think he’ll say something about you not
believing in God?
l
CHARLIE
sa
Well, see, it’s not that simple.
SARA
You either said it or you didn’t, honey.
ru
CHARLIE
There is such a thing as a “grey area.”
ALEX
Did you ever say, “I, Senator Charles Whitmore, do not
Pe
believe in God?”
CHARLIE
Of course not.
ALEX
Then I don’t see the issue. And if you’re asked about a story
on this guy’s stupid Twitter account - though it’s looking
like no one will even see it - you simply deny everything,
story dies, you get re-elected, few years later we’re in the
Oval Office laughing about the whole thing.
SARA
...Really?
ALEX
Absolutely. This is a no-brainer. Right, Senator?
20.
MARSHALL
Senator...?
SARA
...Charlie?
CHARLIE
Hm?
MARSHALL
Do you... believe in God?
SARA
Are you okay with that?
CHARLIE
With... (to Marshall) What?
l
sa SARA
With what Alex said. About denying the story.
MARSHALL
If you don’t think prayers will help the victims, I’m just
ru
wondering if you believe in God... at all?
CHARLIE
(to Marshall and Sara)
Well. The thing there is...
Pe
SARA
Oh Lord. You did say it, didn’t you?
CHARLIE
No - I did not say those words.
ALEX
We are not here to debate the word “IS” with you, Bill
Clinton.
CHARLIE
That’s not what I’m--
ALEX
Did you or did you not say you don’t believe in God?!
21.
CHARLIE
(blurts)
I SAID, “HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE IN A GOD THAT WOULD ALLOW
SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN?! (Pause.) And continue to
happen - over and over and over again! And I’m sorry, son, if
I seem upset, but this was at a school. In my home state. In
my hometown.
(Turns to Sara)
The school our boys go to. And it could have just as easily
been their classroom that.... (Long pause.) This is a family
we know and love that buried their sons today. Our oldest
played tee ball with their oldest. Our youngest boys swam in
the community pool together. They all sang Christmas carols
door to door,
(Turns back to Marshall)
and went trick or treating and Easter egg huntin’ together
but now they can’t cuz some hotshot decided he’d make a name
l
for himself by shooting up a classroom with an AR-15. So no,
sa
at this moment, I do not believe in a god that would allow
something like this to happen, and I will not waste my time
with prayers when there is TOO MUCH GODDAMN WORK TO BE DONE!”
Long beat. Marshall simply turns

ru
off his tape recorder and exits.
Charlie composes himself, turns

back to Alex and Sara. Alex speed
dials a number on her cell phone.
Pe
CHARLIE
Or something like that? I don’t remember exactly.
SARA
...Oh my god.
ALEX
(into her phone)
Tom, tell everyone we’re gonna need a few more minutes.
She hangs up and paces, thinking.
SARA
Oh my god oh my god / oh my god oh my god oh my god.
CHARLIE
Okay, honey, calm down. It’s no big deal.
22.
SARA
No big deal?! Charlie, it’s one thing for some kid to say
this stuff on The Twitter, you can kill / that story.
ALEX
Just “Twitter.”
SARA
I don’t care! (to Charlie) But if you’re sayin’ you wanna
change your speech so you can tell all those decent, hard-
workin’, God-fearing people that their prayers are nothing
but a “waste of time,” then you will not only lose this
election, but you’ll be laughed out of politics, we’ll be run
out of town and have to move overseas! Or worse - up north!
CHARLIE
Hey.... “God is a concept by which we measure our pain.” All
l
right? John Lennon said that.
sa
...And he got shot.
SARA
CHARLIE
ru
Not for saying that.
SARA
It didn’t help!
Pe
ALEX
...Uh-oh.
CHARLIE
What?
ALEX
Your new best friend tweeted an update with a working link:
“Senator Whitmore Speaks Out Against Guns, God and Prayer.”
SARA
That doesn’t sound good.
ALEX
(skim reading)
“At a funeral this morning for two of the students killed in
last week’s school shooting” buh-buh-buh... “
23.
an agitated Senator Whitmore questioned the relevance of

prayer” buh-buh-buh... “and asked how one could believe in a
god that would allow something like this to even happen.”
Beat. Alex looks up at Charlie.
CHARLIE
Huh, guess that is what I said.
ALEX
And there are already twenty re-tweets, plus a dozen or so
comments. This was posted two minutes ago.
CHARLIE
Wh- what are they saying? The comments.
ALEX
l
Um... @JesusCulture wrote: “Sad to see a Senator we respect
sa
fall from grace like this. We r praying 4 him.”
CHARLIE
“Fall from grace,” nothin’s happened, what are they talking
about, fall from grace?
ru
ALEX
And @GodlyLife says, “Whitmore will reap what he sows. God is
just and His punishment shall be swift.”
Pe
CHARLIE
Now that seems uncalled for.
ALEX
And both of those accounts have over half a million
followers!
SARA
Oh my Lord!
Sara’s cell phone rings.
CHARLIE
Anybody say anything positive?
ALEX
Even if they did, do you really want to go down this road?
24.
SARA
(answering phone)
Momma...? Everything okay?
ALEX
This is your core audience and they’re not happy.
SARA CHARLIE
(into phone, steps away) My core audience? “Jesus
Hang on, Momma I can’t hear Culture” and “Godly Life?”
you.
ALEX
I don’t think they were planning to vote “Democrat” in three
days.
CHARLIE
l
See, okay - that’s why I need to go out / and explain what I
sa
meant.
SARA
(quietly, into phone)
Why don’t you take the boys home early, Momma.
ru
ALEX SARA
I agree we need to change (into phone, quietly)
your speech, but not to say ...Everything’s fine, they
what you want. We need to just don’t need to stick
Pe
walk this back, say you were around for the speech,
grieving, the kid took your they’ve had a long day...
words out of context.
SARA
This is not because I let you pick out their outfits, Momma,
they look great... / Mm-hmm.... Yeah... Right...
ALEX
I’m calling the guys, get ‘em to draft something for you
right away.
Charlie dashes over and takes

Alex’s phone from her.
CHARLIE
No, no, no, don’t do that.
25.
ALEX
Are you serious? I have three other phones.
From another pocket, Alex pulls out

a BlackBerry. Charlie quickly snags
that, too.
CHARLIE
Now hang on, before we just react we need to think about
this.
ALEX
What is there to think about?
CHARLIE
A lot! This is why I needed to get away from ya’ll and clear
my head.
l
sa ALEX
This story will break through, Senator. This will be news. If
we don’t get ahead of it, you’re not only jeopardizing this
election, but your entire future in politics -- and mine! Our
only hope is to find a way to limit the damage.
ru
CHARLIE
And what if I don’t want to limit the damage?!
Sara heard that.

Pe
SARA
(into phone, eyes on Charlie)
Take the boys home now, Momma, I’ll call you after the
speech. (Hangs up, zeroes in on Charlie.) Why wouldn’t you
want to limit the damage?
Charlie sort of shrugs.
SARA
Do you actually... believe what you said to that reporter?
Charlie looks away.
CHARLIE
I don’t know.
26.
SARA
Charlie Whitmore, look at me.... What are you sayin’?
CHARLIE
I’m sayin’ I don’t know! Last week really shook me up.
SARA
It shook everyone up, but that doesn’t mean we stopped
believing in God!
CHARLIE
I didn’t stop believing - I’m just...
SARA
...What?
CHARLIE
l
Questioning His relevance in every situation.
sa SARA
Oh that’s a bunch of baloney.
And I’m pretty sure the
Christians of this state
CHARLIE
Honey, hear me out--

ru
won’t be happy to hear you no
longer believe in God.
CHARLIE
I never said that.
Pe
SARA
It’s what that reporter said on The Twitter though, right?
CHARLIE
First of all, people don’t “report” on The Twitter...
Off to the side, ignored by Charlie

and Sara, Alex looks to the heavens
and mouths the words:
ALEX
(inaudible, mouths words)
There’s no “the...
CHARLIE
(continues without noticing
Alex)
27.
They type hearsay and innuendo and total horse-hockey on

their little devices then send it off into cyberspace so
suddenly they're Woodward and Bernstein...? I don't think so.
Pause.
ALEX
What’s your second point?
CHARLIE
...My second what?
ALEX
You said: “First of all, blah-blah, Woodward and Bernstein.”
What’s your second of all?
Pause.
l
sa CHARLIE
I don’t have a second of all.
SARA
And he wants to give a speech without a script!
ru
CHARLIE
Yes! I need to explain what happened, but I don’t want it to
sound rehearsed. (He starts out toward the door.) I’m just
gonna speak from the heart.
Pe
Alex steps in front of him.
ALEX
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You already “spoke from the heart” once
today, Senator, and it didn’t turn out so great, why would
now be any different?
CHARLIE
Cuz they’ll be hearing it from the horse’s mouth.
SARA
Who gives a crap if they hate the horse?!
Beat.
28.
CHARLIE
Standing at that funeral this morning, watching our friends
bury their two boys, how could you not think about our boys??
SARA
Of course I thought about Luke and Matty. I was a wreck last
week, and this morning. But then I put it out of my mind, cuz
these people need us to be strong, not blubbering messes.
We’re supposed to be an example.
CHARLIE
Well, what good is it if the example we set is dishonest? I
don’t want our boys growing up in a world like this,
especially if I’m in a position to do something about it.
SARA
I don’t understand how you can turn your back on something
l
that brought / so much good into your life?
sa CHARLIE
I’m not turning my back! I’m saying, what if. That’s all.
SARA
ru
But why now?!
CHARLIE
Why n--? Were you not at that funeral this morning?
Pe
ALEX
But, sir, if I may... the voters and the press won’t accept
that you just “changed your mind” at a funeral, they’re gonna
have some follow up / questions.
Tom pokes his head in the room.
TOM
Ms. Klein--
ALEX
Tom - OUT!!!
TOM
Okay.
Tom ducks out.

29.
ALEX
Now if you actually want to make some kind of difference in
office, then first you have to win in three days, which means
we need to address this story that now has... (checks phone)
45 re-tweets! (she “strangles” her phone.) We gotta figure
out how to make this a positive. You need to tell us exactly
what changed for you this morning?
CHARLIE
I don’t know. I was... watching our friend throw dirt into
his sons’ graves. And we’re all bowing our heads in prayer
and I thought... how is this gonna stop the next one? How’s
our prayer going to prevent another senseless shooting? And
just when the pastor’s saying “ashes to ashes,” it hit me:
what if this is it? Dust to dust, nothing waiting for us on
the other side. Would that be any crazier then some man in
the clouds “listening to our prayers”? What if God, the
l
concept of God, was just created by us to cope with the pain
sa
and randomness and heartache of this miracle we call life?
Wouldn’t that mean we shouldn’t be so hung up about what it
says in my book versus your book, or feel the need to hold on
to our outdated laws and ideals, especially the one that got
us into this mess in the first place: our “God given right to
ru
bear arms?!”
ALEX
Whoa! Sir. All due respect, talking about God is one thing...
but you cannot take on the Second Amendment. That’s like the
Pe
third rail in politics.
CHARLIE
I’m not taking it on, I’m saying let’s examine why we think
it’s so set in stone.
ALEX
THAT’S THE SAME THING! Plus most of your base loves to hunt
and owns firearms for sport or protection.
SARA
And they love God and Jesus and the Bible!
CHARLIE
Well, I’m gonna tell ‘em to rethink how they feel about all
of that!
30.
SARA
You can’t tell voters how to feel!
ALEX
She’s right, sir, this story’s bad enough. If you compound it
by saying “and oh yeah, also your guns are bad,” that’ll be
it for us! No re-election, no chance at the White House,
another politician hoist with his own petard!
Small beat.
SARA
(sort of whispers)
Oh, sweetie, I don’t think it’s P.C. to use that word.
ALEX
What...? No - petard. Petard. With a “P.”
l
sa
...What’s a petard?
SARA
ALEX
IT MEANS YOUR HUSBAND JUST SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FACE!!
ru
SARA
(quietly)
...Oh.
Pe
Beat. Alex knows she went too far,

but Charlie is not angry.
ALEX
I am so sorry, Senator, I... haven’t been getting much sleep
and - that’s no excuse, but.... (A new tack.) I’m gonna ask
the Mayor to vamp for time. He loves to talk about fishing,
so. That should eat up a good ten minutes.
Alex walks to the door. Stops.
ALEX
(to Sara)
Please try to talk some sense into your husband.
Sara nods. Alex leaves. Sara looks

at her husband.
31.
SARA
Okay, Chief. Just you and me now, so level with me: Have you
lost your damn mind?
CHARLIE SARA
We always said I would tell
the truth. / That was our The truth doesn’t mean you
deal. Sat at our kitchen say everything! You know
table and agreed that I would that.
always tell the God's honest
truth!
SARA
That’s when I thought you believed in God.
CHARLIE
Yeah, well...
l
sa Small beat.
SARA
(sighs)
Lord, I shoulda seen this comin’.
ru
CHARLIE
What do you mean?
SARA
Pe
I’m not blind, Charlie. I’ve seen you the past year or so:
rolling your eyes in church, comin’ in late, making excuses
not to go at all.
CHARLIE
I don’t make excuses.
SARA
That time you had to play golf with the Veterans League?
CHARLIE
They’re an important group of voters!
SARA
And as I predicted, you took a hit in the polls because of
it.
32.
CHARLIE
Which makes no sense. I thought the whole point of this
country was to keep religion out of politics.
SARA
...That may be the dumbest thing you’ve ever said.
CHARLIE
Wh-- It’s in the first damn / amendment.
SARA
‘Cause we both know what’s important to your voters: faith,
family and football. Same values they want to see in their
politicians.
CHARLIE
When’s the last time you watched a football game?
l
sa SARA
Football’s like God; I don’t need to see it to know it’s
there.
Charlie walks away.

ru
CHARLIE
Well, I can’t just go back to business as usual, baby... not
after last week.
Pe
SARA
That’s it. Keep drawing away - like you do with everything
lately.
CHARLIE
What’s that supposed to mean?
SARA
Do I need to spell it out for you?
He finally “gets it.” Pause.
CHARLIE
I’ve been... distracted. Tired and stressed out.
SARA
More excuses.
33.
CHARLIE
Well it’s true!
SARA
Listen: I know you still love me--
CHARLIE
Of course I do--
SARA
And I know it’s not cuz I lost my looks - I’m still sexy as
hell. Even caught Tom checking out my boobs earlier, I know I
still got it.
CHARLIE
(smiling)
Yes, you do.
l
sa
So what is it then?
It’s nothing.
SARA
CHARLIE
ru
SARA
Charlie.... God’s honest truth. Right?
Pause. He sighs.
Pe
CHARLIE
After Luke was born, I... watched you become more... fervent
in your beliefs.
SARA
(half-laugh)
Oh, so it’s my fault?
CHARLIE
I’m not saying that, lemme finish. But around that time
you... started praying longer at the dinner table and before
bed. You quoted the Bible more.
SARA
(smiling)
So what’s wrong with that?
34.
CHARLIE
Nothing! And I didn’t mind the Friday night Bible study or
the “Honk If You Love Jesus” bumper stickers...
SARA
(smiling, dismissive)
Oh, they’re just bumper stickers....
CHARLIE
(continuing over her)
Or you insisting on that campaign song for me.
SARA
(still smiling)
Another thing I was right about, / that song gave you a six-
point bump--
l
CHARLIE
sa
But after a while, those little things added up and it felt
like you were judging me for not doing that stuff. / Or if I
was running late for church or opted to play golf with some
constituents--
ru
SARA
(smiling)
I wasn’t judging you - I was trying to get you to do the
right thing, and the voters agree with me.
Pe
CHARLIE
Well that feels like a judgment! Like you’re deciding my
choices aren’t good enough. For you or our boys or the people
of this state. And I... started to resent it.
SARA
(smiling)
Resent what?
CHARLIE
All of it. Church and prayer and... you. I started to resent
you. Having to worry about every little decision I made. Did
you approve, would Jesus approve? How am I supposed to know
what Jesus would do? With all the choices today, maybe He’d
blow off church too, get drunk on wine at a Kenny Chesney
concert.
35.
SARA
Okay, you wanna make jokes...
CHARLIE
I’m not making jokes.
SARA
(continues over him)
...have your little... “mid-life crisis of faith” backstage,
be my guest. And we can deal with our marriage after the
election--
CHARLIE
Honey, please--
SARA
But I will not let you go out in public and belittle
l
something that is important to me! And our sons, and most of
sa
this state, just because you lost your temper with some
blobber thing-a-ma-gig--
Blogger.
CHARLIE
ru
SARA
Whatever the hell ya call him!
CHARLIE
Pe
I told you it’s more than that--
SARA
No, no - you had your chance, (with increasing urgency) now
let me defend my God who helps me treat people with love and
respect, especially those I have a hard time loving, namely
you right now, okay?
Charlie holds up his hands, “okay,

sorry, go ahead.”
Beat.
SARA
Is what happened at our school wrong? Of course it is. It’s
horrifying and sick and impossible to live with -- which is
why we need our Faith to help us through.
36.
CHARLIE
Honey--
SARA
Uhp! What’d I say?
He holds his hands up again,

“sorry.”
SARA
Do we need to do something about guns? (Shrugs.) I don’t
know. Personally I believe in my right to bear arms, and sure
as heck don’t want to give up my Baby Glock - but that’s not
up to me. That’s for lawmakers like you to decide. Together.
After things cool down. But when you start talkin’ all this
craziness about there being no God, or prayer is useless--
l
CHARLIE
sa
That’s not what I--
SARA
Then you have gone too far, Charlie Whitmore! And I don’t
ru
know if you snapped or this was a long time comin’ or what,
but if you keep this up, it is not going to end well. For any
of us. So go splash some water on your face, give the speech
you always give, and knock off this insanity!
Pe
CHARLIE
It’s not insanity. It’s the truth.
SARA
Well your truth sounds pretty freaking crazy!
CHARLIE
I saw it, Sara. Saw the bloodshed with my own eyes.
Pause.
SARA
I know.
CHARLIE
Our team raced over there, to make that statement in front of
the school. And after, the police took me inside so I could
see it first-hand...
37.
And I saw the blood splattered around that classroom. On the

chalkboard and their little art projects and the American
flag. Saw a group of crying first-graders standing in a
baseball field. Frightened parents sprinting under the yellow
caution tape, right by the police officers, to find and hug
their scared little children. No one should have to know that
fear. No one.
SARA
Baby--
CHARLIE
And you know what Matty told me yesterday? He said he doesn’t
wanna to go to the movies for his 10th birthday anymore cuz
he’s afraid someone might come into the theater and shoot
everyone.
l
Sara freezes. This is news to her.
sa
...He what?
(Matthew’s not afraid of anything.)
SARA
ru
CHARLIE
Yeah. And that’s my fault. Cuz like it or not, my actions as
Senator played a role in this tragedy. And the ones that came
before it. And the countless other lives lost every day on
our streets. How long and fiercely I fought to protect our
Pe
“God-given right” to bear arms. These events affect millions

of lives, including our boys. And that’s why I can’t give the
usual speech out there. That’s why this has to be addressed.
Now.
Pause.
SARA
(soft, sympathetic)
Baby, I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you to talk to Matty. I
know our boys might be scared for a while and that’s hard to
watch. And I’m sorry you had to see the bloodshed and go
through that alone. So I understand what you’re sayin’, I
really do--
CHARLIE
Here it comes.
38.
SARA
But... you need to be smart about this, not emotional.
CHARLIE
Can’t I be both?
SARA
You are not responsible for the 29 deaths last week. That was
not your fault.
CHARLIE
Oh yeah, whose was it then?
SARA
That boy who went crazy!
CHARLIE
l
“Guns don’t kill people,” right?
sa SARA
That’s right. Cuz if it wasn’t a gun at a school, it would
have been a bomb at a hospital or driving a car into a mall,
’cause you can’t stop every single lunatic without taking
ru
away our freedoms and liberties. So feeling guilty for a
random act of violence isn’t helpful to anyone. You did your
job: you addressed the tragedy last week, we grieved and
mourned, and now the best thing we can do for our boys and
everyone is show them how we move forward.
Pe
CHARLIE
I- I can’t do that.
SARA
Well you can’t just change your mind and expect me to support
you no matter what.
CHARLIE
Isn’t that what marriage is about?
SARA
Not when the change is this big! You wanna buy a fancy sports
car, start listening to Maroon Five, that’s fine. But you
suddenly decide you don’t believe in God...?
CHARLIE
I told you I--
39.
SARA
I don’t care how you phrase it, Charlie. You are breaking the
contract, OUR contract! You don’t believe in God anymore. Not
the one I believe in, and--
Tom enters, tiptoeing, trying to

stay unseen and grab a clipboard he
left in the room earlier. But it’s
impossible not to see him.
CHARLIE
...Something we can help you with, Tom?
TOM
Sorry, Senator... Mrs. Whitmore. I just, uh - forgot this.
(He grabs the clipboard and quickly moves to the exit) Don’t
mind me, I’m not even here, carry on...
l
sa At the exit, he turns to Charlie.
TOM
(quickly)
Game’s tied nuthin-nuthin in the first quarter.
ru
Charlie half-protests (he doesn’t
like hearing the score while not
watching) but smiles anyway as Tom
ducks out. Charlie turns to Sara,
Pe
some of the tension diffused. Beat.
CHARLIE
When did you start believing in God?
SARA
When did I... I’ve always believed, what are you talking-
CHARLIE
No, we don’t come out of the womb “believing in Jesus.” It’s
not instinct; we have to be taught. And I learned about God
when I was six years old... at my daddy’s funeral. No one
knew how to explain death to me - to a six year old. So they
told me God had taken my daddy because “Heaven needed another
angel.” And I believed that. And it felt good to think my
Daddy wasn’t just gone from this world, but living up there
and watching over us. Playing golf with Bobby Jones, talking
politics with Teddy Roosevelt.
40.
Sara smiles. A sweet connection

with Charlie about his father.
CHARLIE
And it was nice to have somewhere to go as a family every
week. Church gave Momma and my brothers and me structure and
security... and hope. And when you’re a boy and ya lose one
of the things that made you feel safe, well. You can use a
little security and hope. But you know what else I believed
in when I six...? Santa Claus. And the Easter Bunny. Heck, I
thought the Tooth Fairy / was real till I was ten years old!
SARA
Okay, okay, okay... I get it. I GET IT!
CHARLIE
(continues over her)
l
But then you realize the adults in your life have been lying
sa
to protect some silly fantasy so you’ll behave because “God
is watching,” God is always, always watching, except of
course when some hothead shoots up an elementary school, well
then that was just ALL PART OF GOD’S MASTER PLAN, RIGHT?!!
ru
Charlie stops, catches his breath,
knows he went too far. Sara looks
at him with compassion. Long beat.
SARA
Pe
“When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
CHARLIE
...The Book of Job.
SARA
The Book of Job. Amen.... And that’s what I think this is.
(She points up.) A test. Cuz deep down, you know, and I know,
and the Good Lord knows... this isn’t you. You’re the man who
loves God and prays for guidance, whose moral center comes
from his Faith. I know it’s hard to do what you do and not
lose your way, not get scared and tired and frustrated. But
that’s when we need our Faith the most.
CHARLIE
You know that just makes me feel helpless, right?
41.
SARA
That’s good. Because we are helpless. And the sooner you
surrender to that, the sooner you’ll be at peace.
CHARLIE
...You sound like the Buddha.
SARA
(smiles)
...‘Cept without the belly, right?
Charlie smiles, tears welling in

his eyes.
Alex rushes in all business, this

time with a SECURITY GUY (black
suit, earpiece, the works).
l
sa
You need to see this.
ALEX
Alex hands her phone to Charlie.

ru
SARA
That’s CNN’s home page.
ALEX
The AP picked up the story. It’s everywhere now.
Pe
CHARLIE
...How do ya like that?
He hands the phone back to Alex.
ALEX
So. Change of plan. I’m having the guys prepare a statement
for you to read before your speech, / it should be ready in--
CHARLIE
(putting on his jacket)
Nah, don’t worry about it, I’m good.
ALEX
No! You are not “good,” Senator! We absolutely need to
control how you address the Twitter story.
42.
CHARLIE
...You just used a “the” in front of Twitter.
ALEX
I - no, it wasn’t a-- the “the” was an article not / part of
the name, it--
CHARLIE
I’m just messing with you, Alex. Gotta lighten up.
ALEX
Yes, sir, and I plan to when this is all over. But for now we
need to decide what you’re going to say out there.
Charlie hold his arms our wide.
CHARLIE
l
I’ll let divine inspiration hit me.
sa He starts off. Alex stands helpless
SARA
Charlie Whitmore, come back here this instant!
ru
He comes back, a bit sheepish. Sara
looks him in the eye. Then, as she
straightens his tie, adjusts his
hair slightly, dusts off the
Pe
shoulders of his jacket, she says:
SARA
(calm, sweet)
“Be on your guard... stand firm in the faith... be men of
courage.... Be strong.” - First Corinthians, 16:13.
CHARLIE
That Bible study class is really paying off, hunh?
Sara and Charlie have a wordless

moment of connection. He sighs,
then looks at Alex.
CHARLIE
(to Alex)
I’ll give the usual speech. Without an opening statement. We
can play dumb later, say we never saw the story. Sound good?
43.
He winks at Alex, kisses Sara on

the cheek, then dashes off, the
Security Guy briskly following.
ALEX
Oy.
Alex sighs, a weight lifted.
ALEX
Okay, you ready, Mrs. Whitmore? I’m going straight backstage
but I can have one of the other security guys escort you to
the main hall for you to watch.
SARA
Nah, I’m good back here.
l
ALEX
sa
Wh-- ... Are you sure?
Yeah, I’m a big girl.

SARA
ru
ALEX
Okay. Well, uh.... We’ll see you after then.
Alex starts out.

Pe
SARA
Why don’t ya join me?
ALEX
Oh, I really should be up there, in case something goes
wrong.
SARA
What more could go wrong that hasn’t already?
ALEX
You have a point, but still.
SARA
He’ll be fine. Charlie thrives in a crisis.
Alex is unsure. Looks at the door.

44.
SARA
(pointed)
Let your candidate do what he’s good at.
Sara pats a chair next to her.
SARA
Come on. Pop a squat!
ALEX
...I’ll watch the first few minutes with you.
Alex sits in a chair close to the

door. Sara pops on the monitor.
MAYOR (VOICE)
...now a real fly fisherman doesn’t go for those stocked
l
rivers and streams... takes all the fun out of it. So I’m
sa
casting my line...
SARA
Looks like the Mayor’s still “vamping for time.”
ru
Sara lowers the volume. As they
watch the muted monitor, Alex
nervously bounces a knee up and
down. Sara clocks the knee. Alex
sees the look and stops bouncing
Pe
her knee. Embarrassed smile. Beat.
ALEX
...God, I hope we’re okay.
SARA
Oh... you believe in God?
ALEX
Oh, I didn’t mean it like that, but uh.... Yeah. Actually, I
do.
SARA
Guess we have something in common after all.
45.
ALEX
I mean, I’m not Orthodox or anything, but... I still manage
to get home for Passover, go to Synagogue on Yom Kippur and
stuff, so... I do the highlights.
SARA
...Like a Christmas-and-Easter Christian.
ALEX
(smiles)
Yeah, I guess. Doesn’t mean I never have doubts. But in my
faith, that’s kind of our thing. To be naturally dubious, ask
lots of questions.
SARA
I’ve noticed that.
l
ALEX
sa
It’s why we make great lawyers and doctors.
And campaign managers.

SARA
ru
ALEX
(smiles/laughs nervously)
Yeah, I’ve, uh... been pretty lucky so far. Five-for-five in
terms of getting my candidates elected. Those were all... low-
level congressional seats. Nothing like this.
Pe
Sara nods. Alex edges closer to

her.
ALEX
Of course, I don’t know how things will turn out with this
election, but if we win... I’d like to remain with the
Senator to help him explore a Presidential run in a few
years.
SARA
I bet you would.
ALEX
And if I’m going to do that, I’d... like us to get along
better.
46.
SARA
...You and me?
ALEX
We never really got off on the right foot, but I hope to
correct that moving forward. It’s always tricky with spouses.
Especially when we’re both women.
SARA
I know. That’s one of the reasons Charlie hired you. He
wanted someone who could go toe-to-toe with yours truly, who
wouldn’t be afraid to tell me to shut up once in awhile.
ALEX
Yeah. He... told me that at our first meeting.
Sara smiles back.
l
sa SARA
Plus he thought a liberal Jewish woman from New York and a
good ol’ boy from Raleigh working together, well... that
would be a deadly combo. And I agreed. So here you are.
ru
ALEX
Well, I’m glad he listened to you.
SARA
Much as I hate to admit it, I can be a bit of a control
Pe
freak. Stick my nose where it isn’t always wanted.... But

Charlie needs that sometimes. He may wear the pants in the
family, but I’m the one who tells him which pants.
ALEX
...And they’re very nice pants.
Alex winces at her lame joke. Sara

crinkles her brow confused by it.
ALEX
And thank you, Mrs. Whitmore... for taking a chance on me?
SARA
Well. Let’s just hope it translates to a victory.
Alex nods. Sara spots something on

monitor that catches her eye.
47.
SARA
But whatever happens now... (wry smile) it’s in God’s hands.
Sara turns up the volume.
MAYOR (VOICE)
So now, without further ado... here he is... Raleigh's own...
Senator Charles. Whitmore!
The crowd cheers. Alex stands,

nervous; Sara seems resigned to it
all as they look out watching
Charlie “on the monitor.”
CHARLIE (VOICE)
Thank you, Mayor, for that warm introduction. Remind me never
to go fishing with this guy.
l
(The crowd laughs.)
sa
How are my fellow North Carolinians doing tonight?
(The crowd cheers.)
And don’t tell me the score of the game, okay? I’m gonna
watch it later and want to be surprised.
ru
The crowd laughs again.
Silence. A good five seconds.
ALEX
Pe
Oh, God. (Pause. Pleading at the monitor) What’s he doing?

Why isn’t he talking? No, no, no, no, no, please, please...
CHARLIE (VOICE)
You all know me, right?
(The crowd yells “yeah!”)
You don’t need to hear this same old speech again.
Sound of page ripping in half.
ALEX
Shit!
SARA
Didn’t see that coming.
Alex bolts out the door. Sara just

watches it unfold on the monitor.
48.
CHARLIE
You trust that I have your best interests at heart and would
never steer you wrong.
A few people say “yeah”, “that’s

right,” and one solo “AMEN!”
CHARLIE
Ha, yes. “Amen.” I’m glad you said that, sir, because. Well.
That’s exactly what I wanna talk about tonight. (Pause) “God--
BLACKOUT.
A spot snaps on stage revealing an

on-the-scene REPORTER holding a
microphone.
l
REPORTER
sa (upbeat)
...In what can only be described as a landslide, our
projections are forecasting that, after a record turnout
statewide, Senator Whitmore will walk away with 71% of the
popular vote. This coming off a roller-coaster weekend for
ru
the campaign: first, a whiff of a scandal with a story that
appeared on Twitter. Then that now-famous speech from
Whitmore that stunned a packed auditorium of over 800
supporters who gave the Senator very little applause when he
left the stage. But the speech went viral, two million views
Pe
in the first 24 hours alone, and the polls went from Whitmore
precariously trailing on Sunday, to holding a whopping 30
point lead as voters took to the booths this morning. And
that of course led to tonight, with the campaign celebrating
back where it all began, here on the campus of NC State,
where the turnout is rumored to be over ten thousand.
The spot on the Anchor goes out.
The sound of a roaring crowd is

deafening. Lights up full.
There are now some nice flowers and

a larger craft service table spread
in the room.
Sara, wearing a fancier outfit,

bounds in giddy and tipsy.
49.
(She’s a fun, happy drunk.) Charlie

follows, wearing a very
“presidential” suit and tie. He’s
smiling but less ecstatic.
SARA
Oh my god oh my god oh my god!
CHARLIE
Yes, I think that’s the appropriate name to invoke right now.
SARA
Can you believe it? Can you believe it??
CHARLIE
Not really.
l
SARA
sa
Seventy-one percent! Nobody’s received that much of the vote
in a North Carolina senate race ever. Ever!
CHARLIE
Well I think some guys back in the ‘20’s ran unopposed, so.
ru
SARA
Pssh. That’s like a hundred years ago!
CHARLIE
Pe
Are we a little tipsy?
SARA
We are not anything. I am downright drunk. And you are being
a total dubby-fubby. Buddy-fuddy. Fuddy-duddy! Damn it.
(Laughs at herself.)
CHARLIE
(smiling)
Let’s get you a coffee and some food in your belly.
He looks over the fancy spread of

food and drinks.
SARA
Mmm, I wanna get you in my belly.
50.
CHARLIE
Not sure I know how to do that one.
SARA
Don’t you wanna celebrate with your wife?
CHARLIE
I do, but I still have to give my acceptance speech, so...
SARA
Oh, just go out there and say, “I accept.” Drop the mic, then
get drunk with me.
CHARLIE
Here, we got some fruit. Or maybe a muffin. You want a
blueberry muffin?
l
SARA
sa
I want the newly re-elected Senator to come over here and
smooch his damn wife, that’s what I want.
Sara does a little move with her

legs that’s sexy and funny. Charlie
ru
freezes; soaking it in. He moves to
her, shaking out his hands and arms
like a swimmer about to jump in the
water; he’s gearing up to be sexy.
Pe
CHARLIE
I can do that. I can do that.
They kiss.
SARA
Mmmm. Power is sexy.
CHARLIE
(smiling)
Is it?
SARA
Oh yeah.
They kiss again as Alex enters

(also dressed nicer).
51.
ALEX
(mock averting her eyes)
Sorry, not looking, / didn’t see anything.
CHARLIE
No, no, it’s fine, / come on in, Alex.
SARA
(to the tune of “Batman”)
Al-ex! Alex, Alex, Alex, Alex, Al-ex!
Sara wraps Alex in a monster bear

hug.
CHARLIE
She’s a little “happy.”
l
ALEX
sa
I can see that.
SARA
So what’s wrong with bein’ happy? We won! - by a lot! (to
Charlie) So it seems like someone up there’s looking out for
ru
ya, Charlie Whitmore, and maybe you should get down on your
knees and thank the Good Lord your little “outburst” didn’t
bite ya in the tooshie!
CHARLIE
Pe
Mm-hmm.
SARA
But it isn’t just the winning that makes me happy, though
have I told ya’ll I’m happy we won, did I say that yet?
CHARLIE
You may have mentioned it, yeah.
SARA
Well good, but you know what else? (To Alex) When he
delivered that epic speech on Saturday? That modern-day
Sermon on the Mount that got shared millions and millions of
times on... Twitter! (Points to self) Hunh? Old dog, new
tricks! (”Barks.” Laughs.) But while he was speaking from the
heart, I caught a glimpse of a new Charlie, (to Charlie,
tearing up a bit) the real Charlie. And it was beautiful....
So yeah!!
52.
I’m happy we won, happy the good people of this state were
open-minded enough to understand my husband’s revolution-
atory speech...
CHARLIE
(re: ‘revolution-atory’)
Not a real word.
SARA
(plowing on, oblivious)
And I’m happy I get to be a Senator’s wife another six years,
okay? Shoot me!
Small pause.
ALEX
Well, I think it’s great. I’m happy, too.
l
sa They look at Alex. She isn’t
smiling.
ALEX
Of course, New York Jews never show it, we’re always waiting
ru
for the other shoe to drop, but still.
SARA
...I never understood that expression. Who’s shoes? And why
did one of ‘em already drop? Is the person holding them
Pe
elderly or having some sort of stroke? Why are they dropping

so many damn shoes?
Charlie hands Sara a cup of coffee

and a muffin.
CHARLIE
Coffee. Muffin. Drink this. Eat this. And maybe... sit down
for a bit, catch your breath.
SARA
Mmm. Always taking care of me. Thank you, baby-doll.
Sara makes a kissy face at Charlie

and flops into a comfy chair in the
corner.
53.
CHARLIE
She always was a cheap date.
SARA
(nods)
Yeah.
ALEX
Nothing wrong with enthusiasm.
CHARLIE
(smiles)
True.
Alex claps her hands once, excited.
ALEX
l
So! Ready with your acceptance speech?
Mm. sa CHARLIE
ALEX
ru
The guys have been working pretty hard on it. Strikes the
right tone, I think. Humble but confident, ready for the job
at hand.
Charlie nods, distracted.

Pe
ALEX
You’ve, uh. Had a chance to read it over, right?
CHARLIE
Oh yeah. I uh... read it, all right.
Charlie starts to say more, but

stops himself.
ALEX
(nervous laugh)
...You’re, uh, making me nervous, Senator.
CHARLIE
Hm? Why?
54.
ALEX
Sounds like you want to... go off script again.
CHARLIE
Ha-ha. Well--
SARA
This muffin’s dry as dirt! (Walks toward them.) They got any
like chicken wings or nachos? Or no! Oo, ooo, you know what I
want, you know what I want...? Pretzel bites! You know those
soft pretzel bites with the nacho cheese they have at the
movies! How do I get some of those up in here?
Sara inspects a desk phone for

instructions. Charlie smiles
nervously at Alex, moves briskly to
Sara and whispers in her ear.
l
sa SARA
What, I’m fine.... Cuz it was dry as dirt, Charlie, I don’t
want it! ...Okay... o-KAY, Jeez!
She hangs up the phone, makes her

ru
way to the door, muttering.
SARA
Don’t have to talk to me like I’m some idiot. I’m the one who
went to Chapel Hill, unlike your sorry NC State butt, psh.
Pe
(opens door, calls down hall)

Tom...? Tom! Come here, sweetie - momma needs a coke and some
pretzel bites.
She exits.
CHARLIE
She’ll be fun tomorrow morning.
ALEX
Did you actually want to get re-elected?
CHARLIE
Wh--? Of course I wanted to get re-elected! That’s a
ridiculous question.
55.
ALEX CHARLIE
Not from where I’m standing. I can’t believe you’d even
What you did would’ve killed ask that. I love my job. And
most campaigns. But now the people of North Carolina.
you’ve won and I don’t see And for you to question my
any joy, or relief, or intentions at this stage of
enthusiasm, like you’re tipsy the game is just beyond the
but excited wife. pale.
ALEX
If I’m so wrong, why are you hesitating when I ask about your
acceptance speech?
CHARLIE
I’m contemplating - there’s a difference.
ALEX
l
ARE YOU DELIVERING IT AS WRITTEN OR NOT?!
sa
I DON’T KNOW YET!
Pause.
CHARLIE
ru
ALEX
I’ve seen this before.
CHARLIE
Pe
No, you haven’t.
ALEX
You’re self-sabotaging. Why do you think all those
politicians take bribes or sleep with interns?
CHARLIE
‘Cause they’re greedy. And horny.
ALEX
Because they feel inadequate and undeserving of success, so
they do whatever they can to screw things up and / go back to
the person they’re comfortable being.
CHARLIE
I don’t need your dime-store psychology. And that’s not what
I’m doing.
56.
ALEX
Well whatever you want to call this: a panic-attack, /
buyer’s remorse--
CHARLIE
I’m just being realistic. I barely got enough support in the
Senate for a bill that gives benefits to veterans, how the
heck am I supposed to get the votes I need on any kind of
“gun bill”?
ALEX
By working across the aisle and / doing what needs to be
done!
CHARLIE
The first piece of legislation I propose will get trounced
faster than green grass through a goose. I’ll be the laughing
l
stock of Washington!
sa ALEX
No one laughs at the guy who got 71% of the vote.
CHARLIE
ru
Yeah, whoop-dee-do when the other 29 down-right hate me.
ALEX
No one hates you, sir, they just voted for the other side--
Pe
CHARLIE
After the speech, @GodlyLife said, quote: I have never hated
a politician more than I HATE Charles Whitmore right now...
End-quote.
Small beat.
ALEX
...Okay, I see your point. But you can’t worry about a few
crazies on the Internet. You won by 42 points! You’re like an
icon now... a god!
CHARLIE
And look at how well that turned out for Jesus.
57.
ALEX
...Senator, there was bound to be some backlash, because you
did something practically unheard of: you got people on both
sides to vote for you. The liberals want you to take on the
gun lobby, the conservatives want to help you find your way
back to God. And anyone who gets the red and blue districts
to agree on anything is going to stir up some controversy,
including some meaningless hate on social media, because that
person can actually affect change!
CHARLIE
Well what if I try to temper their anger a bit by... walking
back some of my rhetoric from the other night?
ALEX
Are you serious? You can’t walk back what you said.
l
CHARLIE
sa (almost laughing)
Why not? You didn’t want me to say it in the first place --
afraid I’d “jeopardize” our shot at The White House.
ALEX
ru
Yes, and I was wrong about that.
CHARLIE
(mock goes for his heart)
Wh-? Do my ears deceive me?? Did the great Alex Klein just
Pe
admit she made a mistake?
ALEX
I’m not afraid to admit I made a mistake... (mutters) I just
don’t make that many of them.
CHARLIE
Annnd she’s back.
ALEX
(with speed and urgency)
But every campaign manager would have done the same thing.
With good reason. When you went off-script on Saturday, you
stunned that crowd of supporters. This was not the Senator
they knew and loved. But eventually they realized you were
more interested in principles than towing the party line. And
in one of the most Christian, gun-loving states in the
nation, the people responded to that with votes!
58.
Some voting for the first time in years, voting for your
idea: that living without fear is more important than
religion or guns or antiquated laws. And yes, I took this job
with and eye toward the Oval Office, who wouldn’t dream about
that? Pictured myself in the West Wing working next to Rob
Lowe and Allison Janney. But none of that matters now -
because not only does most of this state believe in you and
your new message... But I believe in you.
(Small beat. She becomes a
bit emotional. He regards
her with compassion.)
Believe you can make a real difference - here and across the
country. So no, you can't take back what you said because
you're afraid or don't want to work that hard in Washington.
You have to stand by what you said, double down on it, and
work even harder to prove that you can be the man they voted
for! That you are the man they voted for!
l
sa Sara enters with two small bags of
dry pretzels and a fountain soda
with a lid and straw.
SARA
ru
Can you believe all they had was regular ol’ dry pretzels?
Bleh. You’d think they’d open up them snack counters and
serve the Senator’s wife some damn pretzel bites (calling
back toward hall) with nacho cheese! ...But I got a nice cold
soda with lotsa ice, so that’s good.
Pe
She takes a long swig with the

straw, swallows, “ahh!” She finally
looks up at Alex and Charlie. Beat.
SARA
Who died?
CHARLIE
Baby, can you give us another minute?
SARA
Mnm-mn. No way, José. I’m part of the inner circle and the
only one you trust to be straight with you. I need to know
exactly what’s goin’ on.
ALEX
Your husband wants to walk back what he said on Saturday.
59.
Charlie hangs his head (he didn’t

want to get into it with Sara,
too.) Sara smiles, moves closer to
Charlie... then hurls a bag of
pretzels at him!
SARA
What the heck is wrong / with you, Charlie Whitmore?!
CHARLIE
Hey! / Those pretzels could’ve hit me in the eye.
SARA
You take a gift like this - a G.D. miracle, 71% - and you
want to poop on it. Just go out there, drop your pants, and
take a big steaming dump on it?
l
CHARLIE
sa
I hate when you get drunk.
She jumps up and down.
SARA
ru
(yelling, angry)
I’M NOT DRUNK, I’M HAPPY!! And you should be, too! But you
never were. Not in the State Senate, not after your first
election as Senator - and now you look downright morose.
Pe
ALEX
That’s what I said! Like he didn’t even want to win!
SARA
Amen to that! Charlie’s always been second-guessing himself,
claiming he wasn’t a real politician like his daddy / or his
brothers.
CHARLIE
Hey, leave my father / out of this, all right?
SARA
But guess what, sweetie? You won! By a lot more than those
yahoos ever did. So you go out there and give that damn
acceptance speech so I can get outta these Spanx and have
some Sonic burgers and Dairy Queen cuz these low-fat pretzels
ain’t cuttin’ it!
60.
She hurls the other bag of pretzels

which hit by the door as Tom
enters, but he barely notices, and
looks right at Charlie.
TOM
Um. They’re ready for you, Senator?
Charlie considers his options. He

looks at Sara and Alex.
CHARLIE
Okay... what if I don’t walk anything back per se, but just
speak from the heart, like last time?
SARA
NOOOO!!! / What in the Sam Hill is wrong with you?
l
sa ALEX
Senator, I’m begging you. We - are begging you. What you said
three days ago was a game-changer. So please - for your sake,
for our sake, for the voter’s sakes - help us continue to
believe in you by delivering your acceptance speech as
ru
written - with confidence, humility and no specifics.... Just
a few bland platitudes about a brighter future.
CHARLIE
(mutters)
Pe
...You don’t have to say “bland” platitudes, a platitude is

bland by definition.
ALEX
Which is why I’m not a speech writer. Stick to the script the
boys cooked up and you’ll be fine.
Charlie turns to Sara for guidance.
SARA
(hiccups)
...What she said.
CHARLIE
I’m just... I’m scared, baby.
SARA
Of what?
61.
CHARLIE
That I can’t be the man I promised to be in that speech. I’m
not my daddy. He thrived on the animosity he got from the
other side of the aisle, but you know that’s not me. How am I
supposed to fight gridlock and affect change? I’m nobody!
SARA
Baby--
CHARLIE
And now everybody’s talking about The White House in a few
years -- as if that’s naturally what we want. After all this,
you really wanna go through the slog of a national campaign,
with Luke and Matty not even in high school by then, the hits
and personal attacks we’d take running at that level? I can’t
go through that, put you all through that, I’m not strong
enough. I’m not...
l
sa He can’t finish the thought.
SARA
Hey. I know you’re strong enough. For this, or The White
House, or whatever God has planned for you. ‘Cause ya know
ru
what? I think it was all meant to happen this way. I do. It’s
almost biblical, ya know. A man turns his back on The Lord...
and finds himself in the process. And gets re-elected in a
landslide, that wasn’t bad either. (Charlie smiles.) Along
the way he helps change some hearts and minds, including
Pe
mine. And maybe, just maybe... finds his Faith in God again?
CHARLIE
...Why’d I have to open my big, stupid mouth?
SARA
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who
love it will eat its fruit.”
ALEX
Proverbs 18:21.
Charlie and Sara turn to Alex,

surprised.
CHARLIE
Thought you were Jewish.
62.
ALEX
Old Testament is Jewish.
Small beat.
Charlie and Sara nod in agreement.
CHARLIE SARA
(quietly) (quietly)
That’s true. Oh yeah...
Charlie puts on his jacket. Beat.
CHARLIE
Tom, what do you think?
Tom is caught biting nails or
l
playing with gum in his mouth.
sa
...About what?
TOM
CHARLIE
ru
About everything I said the other night.
Alex and Sara look at Tom

expectantly for an answer. Beat.
Pe
TOM
Oh... Well, I don’t know much about policy or anything, sir,
but... I always sorta thought God...? Was kinda like bottled
water. Everyone’s tryin’ to sell you their brand, and tell
you theirs is the best and the only one you should have, but.
When you peel off the label, it’s all the same inside. You
can even get it for free in rivers and streams and stuff. And
they all quench your thirst, so. In the end, who cares which
kind you drink... ya know?
Charlie, Sara and Alex are stunned.

Small beat.
Then Charlie laughs heartily, and

pats Tom on the shoulder
affectionately.
63.
As he steps away Tom pats Charlie

on the back (a little too hard).
Charlie is surprised but lets it
go.
Charlie moves to Sara. Pulls her in

for a deep kiss. It swoons her
drunken legs.
Alex and Tom sort of turn away to

give them “privacy.” When Tom turns
around, we see the back of his
“Apathy Is A Four-Letter Word” T-
shirt says “GOD IS A CONCEPT.”
Charlie finishes the kiss and

steadies Sara. He takes a deep
l
breath and steels himself for the
sa task at hand.
CHARLIE
(pointing to Alex)
You tell the guys to fire up the Teleprompter with that
ru
acceptance speech. (Exhales. Looks at Sara, nervous and
excited.) Let’s do this.
Charlie exits. Alex shoos Tom to

follow. He scoots out. Beat.
Pe
ALEX
Who’d of thought the one to finally talk some sense into him
would be Tom?
Alex fires off a text, then

breathes a huge sigh of relief.
ALEX
Okay. You ready, Mrs. Whitmore?
SARA
Mnm. Unh-unh. Momma’s gonna sit this one out.
She collapses into a chair.

64.
ALEX
No, no, no - spouses need to appear on stage after the
acceptance speech. It looks bad otherwise.
SARA
It’ll look worse if I topple over and puke on Charlie’s
shoes, trust me. I’ll just... watch from back here again.
ALEX
We’ll get you some more coffee, you’ll be fine.
SARA
Nah, I got somethin’ better.
Sara finds a small airplane bottle

of booze in her pocketbook and
pours it into her soda cup. Alex
l
sighs, temporarily gives up.
sa SARA
Tell you what - I will be glad to see the backside of this
election. My little heart can’t take anymore stress.
ru
Sara takes a healthy sip.
ALEX
Yes, you look very tense.
Pe
Sara smiles.
SARA
I do love that dry New York sense of humor, though!
Sara pops on the closed-monitor TV

with the volume on MUTE.
ALEX
Okay, we really should / head out there--
SARA
You ever been married, Alex?
ALEX
Hm? Oh, uh. No. Close once, but... no.
65.
SARA
Mm. Good for you. Marriage sucks.
ALEX
Really.
SARA
Pain in the friggin’ ass. Like sometimes you just wanna say,
“Hey, I don’t care what you do, leave me out of it, I’m
watching ‘The Real Housewives.’” ...But you can’t. You gotta
be supportive. And listen. And all that droopy drippy crap.
ALEX
(smiling)
This is a side of you I wish I’d seen a long time ago.
SARA
l
See, I can be fun. And smart and honest. That’s the way I was
sa
when Charlie got into politics. I basically ran his first
campaign, ya know - for State Senate? But soon as the Party
saw he had a future like his daddy, well...? Mm-mn, wifey
needs to retire to the sidelines and stop offering her
opinion to reporters ‘cause politician’s wives are not meant
ru
to have independent thoughts. My job is to be sweet and
vapid, and wear flag pins, and trot our boys out in matching
white oxfords and seersucker shorts. Gets so I sometimes
forget who I used to be. Smart. And opinionated. And fun.
Whole lotta fun.
Pe
ALEX
I think you’re still all of those things, Mrs. Whitmore.
Sara looks at her, smiles.
ALEX
Especially opinionated.
SARA
(smiles)
There’s that dry humor again!
Sara looks at Alex, suddenly sober

and sincere. Beat.
SARA
Hey... I’m glad you’re on our side.
66.
ALEX
(misty eyed)
...Me, too.
Sara offers Alex her cup.
SARA
You wanna sip?
ALEX
No - thank you. Why don’t we head inside? / The Senator’s
about to take the stage--
SARA
(still offering cup)
Come on! War’s over, man, we won! Time to celebrate!
l
Alex hesitates, then takes the cup,
sa
Atta girl.
hoping this will appease Sara.
SARA
ru
Alex sips, can’t believe how strong
it is, she can barely swallow.
ALEX
(can hardly talk)
Pe
...Oh my god.
SARA
That’ll put some hair on your chest!
ALEX
(can hardly talk)
It’s just... bourbon and ice.
SARA
...Yeah, I drank all the coke. Shoulda warned ya.
Sara takes back the drink and sips

as the women share a friendly
laugh. Sara she spots Charlie “on
the monitor” and scrambles to turn
up the volume.
67.
SARA
Ooo, here he comes, here he comes! Oh, he looks so handsome.
ALEX
That’s a great suit.
SARA
Told ya: I tell him which pants to wear.
ALEX
(smiling)
Yes, you did!
Charlie’s voice comes over “the

monitor” at a low volume.
BOTH WOMEN CHARLIE (ON TV)
l
SARA: And I bought him that Thank you! Thank you all so
sa
tie, special for today.
ALEX: It’s very nice.
SARA: Well I was so tired of
candidates always wearing the
same boring ties, I wanted my
much! And thank you for
believing in me - believing
that we all can make a
difference.
ru
Charlie to stand out.
Sara turns up the volume and they

fully focus on the monitor,
watching Charlie with pride.
Pe
CHARLIE’S VOICE (ON T.V.)

(unseen)
It’s the people of this great state - and this great nation -
that make it what it is - the greatest country in the world!
And I know we have a bright future together.
Pop, pop, pop!
Three distinct GUNSHOTS ring out.
Sara drops her drink as she and

Alex stand, unable to believe what
just happened. Small beat.
Alex sprints out, while Sara

remains motionless, stunned and
speechless.
68.
The lights dim but don’t go out as

a News Anchor’s voice fades up.
MALE NEWS ANCHOR (VOICE)

At 7:52 PM while Senator Charles Whitmore was delivering his
acceptance speech to a packed crowd at the PNC Arena, an
unidentified gunman fired three shots at the Senator who was
rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR (VOICE)

Information is still coming in, but the gunman, who used a
TEC-22 semi-automatic handgun, was immediately apprehended by
police and taken into custody...

The shooter has been identified as a 19 year old student,
with no history of mental illness...
l
sa As the news anchor’s voices
continue, Tom enters in the dim
light. He helps Sara into a blazer
over her dress, while she puts her
hair up to look more sophisticated.
ru
A trial is expected to begin next month where the shooter
faces first degree murder charges....
Pe

The Governor announced today that Sara Whitmore has been
appointed to replace her late husband until a special
election can be held to fill the vacant Senate seat...
Sara transitions to another part of

the stage, while Tom cleans up the
spilled drink and anything else
(perhaps placing Charlie’s podium
on stage as well) then exits.

Mrs. Whitmore is expected to announce that she will
officially seek the Republican nomination for the special
election. Yesterday, her campaign manager, Alex Klein,
pointed to several early polls suggesting Mrs. Whitmore has a
strong chance of retaining her late husband’s seat....
69.

Maintaining her 5 point lead over the Democratic challenger,
we can now project that Sara Whitmore will permanently
replace her husband as the junior Senator from North
Carolina. Charles Whitmore was shot and killed last November
while delivering his acceptance speech.
A spot snaps on where Sara stands.
Sound of a gavel banging twice.
MALE VOICE
(flat, matter-of-fact)
The Senate will come to order.... Amendment number 9-5-1, the
proposed Whitmore Amendment is now on the floor. The Yays and
Nays are mandatory....
l
A VOTE COUNT is projected behind
sa Sara: “S. 951 -

Amendment” with
reading “0 - 0”
SARA
Proposed Whitmore
“Yeas” and “Nays”
under that.
ru
My husband believed our country was capable of great change.
It’s one of the things I loved most about him: his idealistic
faith in the rest of us. And though I’m a little late to the
party, I’m glad I’m here now to finish what he started... and
show our boys what faith, courage, and follow-through can
Pe
look like. Not only for those we lost at Oak Grove Elementary
last year - but for those we lose every year, and every day
to gun violence. Because while Charlie and I didn’t always
see eye-to-eye on everything, we did both believe in the
power of the human spirit - and the power we all have to
change - myself, included. Now I know I’m nowhere near the
politician my Charlie was... but I ask my fellow Senators on
the floor today to please remember him when you cast your
vote. And do not let his death be in vain.
The gavel bangs twice again.
Sara remains in her spot, standing

stoically as the count tallies up.
In a different area on stage, a

spot rises on a podium.
70.
MAYOR (VOICE)
So now without further ado... here he is... Raleigh's own...
The crowd cheers as Charlie

(wearing the rumpled suit from
three days ago) enters and takes
his place at the podium.
CHARLIE
(The crowd laughs.)
(The crowd cheers.)
l
sa The crowd laughs again. Awkward
pause as Charlie looks down at his
script, then out over the crowd.
Charlie is fraught with emotion.
Eventually he shakes it off and
ru
comes to a decision.
CHARLIE
Pe

(He rips his speech in half)

CHARLIE
That’s exactly what I wanna talk about tonight. (Pause.) “God
is a concept by which we measure our pain.” That’s a quote
from John Lennon. And I never really understood it until
recently.
71.
Alex enters (wearing what she had

on three days ago at NC State),
racing to the edge of the light
near Charlie as if she’s just “off
stage.” Charlie notices her and
gives her a little nod, holds up
his hand, like, “It’s okay, I got
this.” Alex is forced to watch
“from the wings,” helpless.
CHARLIE
But I think it means that when things get tough, when tragedy
strikes and we’re in pain - we tend to ask “why.” Why me, why
now? And when we can’t find a suitable answer, we often turn
to God.
Someone else calls out “Amen” and
l
others echo her.
sa CHARLIE
That’s right! We say, “Amen, it’s God’s will! God’s plan.”
And I did that. When I lost my father, I turned to God. I
believed and I prayed and went to church and read my bible
ru
and felt that God was always watching over me, over all of
us. But our faith gets tested on a daily basis. And it’s hard
to keep that faith when something truly horrific occurs. Like
the shooting at Oak Grove Elementary.
Pe
The room goes deathly quiet.
CHARLIE
And it made me wonder if, uh... if I could continue believing
in a god that would allow things like this to happen.
The crowd gasps and murmurs. Alex

hangs her head down.
CHARLIE
(trying to win them back)
But that’s okay! Doubts are okay. I was angry! And upset.
And, and, and... lost. But sometimes it’s in the darkest hour
that we find our way.
The crowd settles down.

72.
CHARLIE
And I suddenly saw what my purpose was: Not to sit at home or
in church and quietly pray for things to change. But to
actually do something to stop other families from having to
suffer the same tragedy. For as the Good Book says, “A person
is justified by works and not by faith alone.” So my work
begins right now: I believe we need a common sense approach
to our gun laws, and that starts with stricter background
checks and closing loopholes to make sure events like Oak
Grove never happen again.
More murmurs from the crowd. Alex

now watches Charlie with new eyes.
Behind Sara, the vote count hits 10

Yeas, 9 Nays.
l
CHARLIE
sa
Now this ain’t about taking away guns completely, y’all know
I’ve been a proponent of the 2nd amendment for a long time --
heck, I’m a proud gun-owner myself! So you should know I’m
not here to take away your rights. I’m here to protect them.
Protect the most valuable one of all: Life! For we are all
ru
“endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”
But “Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” don’t mean squat
if you’re worried about taking a stray bullet to the head
while you’re out shopping for a toaster! And while I firmly
believe in our God-given right to protect ourselves, I don’t
Pe
think our Founding Fathers in their infinite wisdom could

have foreseen firearms being sold at a mall right next to
that toaster!
The count hits 22 Yeas, 21 Nays.
CHARLIE
Because for me, this isn't about “personal liberties.” It’s
about living without fear. And I for one am tired of being
afraid. Afraid of the backlash from the people in my own
party. Afraid of the NRA and the lobbyists. Afraid for my
kids to go to a mall. Or the movies. Or to school. (His
emotion overwhelms him. He softens.) Their own school. And
have to wonder if today's the day someone turns a gun on
another unsuspecting crowd.
Alex has softened and is fully

invested in Charlie’s speech.
73.
CHARLIE
So prayer is not the answer. Staying quiet out of respect to
the victims isn’t the answer. You think those families from
Oak Grove, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Newtown, Tucson, Aurora,
Charleston, Orlando would rather we sat on our hands another
10 years and let thousands of people die out of respect? No,
they want change. And I need you to help make that change. To
speak out with your vote. And that, my friends. Just might
restore my Faith. In this country. In humanity.... In God.
Because even though I lost my way, you all have the power to
help me find it again! Help me believe in the power of the
human spirit to make this country strong!For as the prophet
Isiah says: “even youths grow tired and weary, and young men
stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew
their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they
l
will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
sa
faint!!”
The count hit 36 Yeas, 35 Nays.
Sara closes her eyes and begins to

ru
pray silently.
Alex watches Charlie, full of

emotion and pride.
Pe
CHARLIE
(building to a crescendo)
If I lose this election, get run out of politics, get shot
down right here on this stage... it won’t matter as long as I
was fighting to make this state better, make this country
better, make our lives better! But if I continue to say
nothing and do nothing, then I won’t be able to live with
myself. And you shouldn’t either! Apathy is a four-letter
word! Everyone in this room can effect change! Every soul can
make a difference! It just takes a little courage, a little
caring, and a whole lot of follow through! I’m Charles
Whitmore and I sure as hell approve this message.
SARA
(eyes still closed)
Amen.
74.
Sara opens her eyes. Her face is

stoic as she casts an enigmatic
stare straight out.
The count is at 40 Yeas, 40 Nays,

when the tally shutters, flickers,
then cuts out.
BLACKOUT.
END OF PLAY.
l
sa
ru
Pe
ii.
Cast
SENATOR CHARLES "CHARLIE" WHITMORE (R - NC): Male. 40s-50s. Born and raised
in North Carolina, he is a former State Senator, now incumbent Junior U.S.
Senator, up for re-election. His father was Governor of NC for many years
before he died. Charlie's two older brothers are Congressmen in NC. Though
not gunning for it himself, the party is grooming Charlie for a Presidential
run in a few years. Charlie is a man filled with doubt. But he has plenty of
charisma and sex appeal. He's a rare honest politician and gifted public
speaker.
SARA WHITMORE: Female. 40s. Charlie's wife. A big, brassy, former real estate
agent, now stay-at-home mom to their boys MATTHEW (9, athletic and fearless)
and LUKE (6, artistic and sensitive). She is sweet, charming and instantly
likable. Even when she's bossing you around, she does it with an irresistible
smile. More "street smart" than "book smart," but can still hold her own with
the big boys. Also born and raised in North Carolina. Loves her family, Jesus
l
and the Bible. She's a tough southern woman with soft underbelly.
sa
ALEX KLEIN: Female. 30s-40s. Charlie's campaign manager. A fast-talking, no-
nonsense liberal Jew from New York whose star is on the rise as a go-to
campaign manager. Hired by the Whitmore campaign so she wouldn't defeat him
working for the other side. She is great at her job, but knows her career is
ru
on the line if this election goes badly. Her self-doubt bubbles to the
surface at times, but she's clearly a professional at the top of her game.
TOM / MARSHALL / REPORTER / SECURITY GUY: Male. 20s-30s. An NC State graduate

and North Carolina boy through-and-through. Tom is more "country," while
Pe
Marshall is more of a "southern gentleman." Tom is a paid intern with the

campaign. Simple with a good heart. Marshall is a blogger with Christian
values but not much journalistic experience. News Anchor is a smart, charming
on-the-scene news reporter. Security Guy is a typical non-speaking bodyguard.
MALE & FEMALE NEWS ANCHOR VOICES / RUGGED AMERICAN MALE - can be pre-taped by
actors in the cast or others.

iii.
Setting
Raleigh, NC. A small green room backstage at N.C. State's Stewart Theatre.
The play opens on a Saturday evening, twenty minutes before the Senator is to
address a crowd of supporters, three days before Election Day. He's running
for his second term as Senator.
Later, the same green room shortly after Tuesday's election results.
Notes
A slash (" / ") denotes a point of overlap between one speaker’s line and the
next speaker’s line.
l
sa
A "..." at the end of a line means that character continues speaking thorough
to their next line, talking over the other character's line in between.
A " -- " at the end of a line means the next character cuts off the previous
speaker.
ru
For the campaign commercial at the top of the play and for the montage of
news reporters near the end of the play, the production can choose to make
actual pre-taped videos to be projected on stage, or can simply use pre-
Pe
recorded voices and let sound design tell the story.
Last but most important: I've seen this play almost 100 times with several
different casts and the key to making it work is to honor the comedy and the
pacing. It's not a farce or a sitcom - the comedy comes from a real and
honest place - but these characters cannot indulge in the darkness or
tragedy. They don't have time for that. The actors cannot be precious about
the words or take lots of unscripted pauses or beats. There is a drive and
urgency throughout. And the character of "Sara" holds the key to the comedy.
She must have a smile and lightness through much of the play even when she's
saying things like "that's a terrible idea" or "you son of a bitch." If she's
dark and heavy and unlikable, the play turns too serious too quickly. But
when the comedy works, and the highs are high, then when the bottom drops out
and the play becomes serious a few times, it carries so much more weight. But
if the actors are slow or heavy, the play drags, the comedy falls flat, and
the whole thing misses the mark.
iv.
History
BEST NEW PLAY NOMINEE (Off Broadway Alliance)

BEST NEW PLAY NOMINEE (L.A. Ovation Awards)
TOP TEN PRODUCTIONS OF 2016 (The Huffington Post)
Originally developed with Artistic Director Ralph Meranto at JCC CenterStage,

CHURCH & STATE was produced as a National New Play Network rolling world
premiere on July 2, 2016 at Skylight Theatre Company in Los Angeles (Gary
Grossman, Artistic Director), directed by Elina de Santos, and on October 22,
2016 at JCC CenterStage in Rochester, NY, directed by Ralph Meranto.
The rolling world premiere casts were as follows:
Skylight Theatre Company

l
SARA WHITMORE ............... Tracie Lockwood
JCC CenterStage
sa
ALEX KLEIN ..................
TOM/MARSHALL ................
SENATOR CHARLES WHITMORE ....

Annika Marks
Edward Hong
Peter J. Doyle
ru
SARA WHITMORE ............... Beth Winslow
ALEX KLEIN .................. Esther Winter
TOM/MARSHALL/SECURITY GUY ... Matthew Austin Combs
Pe
CHURCH & STATE had its New York premiere at New World Stages on March 27,
2017. It was produced by Charlotte Cohn, directed by Markus Potter, set
design by David Goldstein, costume design by Dianne K. Graebner, sound design
by Erik T. Lawson, lighting design by Burke Brown, casting by Wojcik | Seay
Casting.
The cast was as follows:

SARA WHITMORE ............... Nadia Bowers (after May 26, Megan Sikora)
ALEX KLEIN .................. Christa Scott-Reed
TOM/MARSHALL/OTHERS ......... Jonathan Louis Dent (after May 26, Andy Talen)
v.
REVIEWS
“Gripping entertainment! Playwright Jason Odell Williams is a postmodern

Clifford Odets. Winning, strikingly intelligent, and above all, sincere.
Simply superb!” - Los Angeles Times
“A crackling script. Feels very of the moment. An enjoyable, thought-

provoking and, I promise, humorous piece of theatre. I wish every member of
Congress would see it!” - NPR
“A powerful, often humorous, and highly contemporary piece [with] several

surprises, four fascinating characters, and so many lines that resonate.”
- Huffington Post
“Words that need to be said and heard! Williams is adept at jacking up the
tension... you barely have time to catch your breath. Still, Williams
presents his argument so entertainingly, few would object to going along for
l
the ride.” - Time Out NY
sa
"A must-see! It's got humor and heart. It's a play for our times."
- Donna Hanover, CUNY-TV
"One of the best plays of the year! Witty, smart, timely, with a political
ru
candidate that everyone would have voted for. Church & State will leave you
deeply entertained. Bravo!” - Times Square Chronicles
“Packs an emotional and intellectual punch unmatched by anything I've seen

this season!” - The Gay City News
Pe
"Sinful fun! Church & State hits the mark. Packs in a great deal of debate
and emotion in a short period of time, with unforgettable laugh-out-loud
lines.” - Zeal NYC
"Though dressed as a comedy, Church & State packs a surprising philosophical

punch. FOUR STARS!" - New York Theatre Guide
"A refreshing new play about faith, politics, and the power of social media.
Witty, funny, and fast-paced... peppered with humor, wit, and deep
compassion. Williams also creates three-dimensional characters that hold your
attention and make you care about them.” - Curtain Up
“Funny, human, devastating, brave and powerful... Church & State speaks to
the lunacy of modern politics.” - L.A. Theatre Bites
“A powerful, thought-provoking, button-pushing 'gun-control comedy' (that's

right, comedy!) WOW!” - Stage Scene L.A.
vi.
"A brilliant play... strong enough to knock you off your complacent ledge,
inspiring social and political change within you, and entertaining us like
not much you've ever seen before. [A] pulsating drama... with both humor and
pathos. You must not skip this production!” - Edge Media Network
"A mesmeric production of a captivating, thought-provoking new play sure to

only advance the career of a promising new dramatist. [A] brightly
intelligent and often hilariously on-target script, it is deserving of high
praise! If Williams' exceptional play does nothing else, let's hope it makes
its point and sparks further desperately needed debate.” - Arts in L.A.
"A genuinely riveting, entertaining journey. Church & State has done
something nearly impossible: tackled hot-button, deeply personal topics
without picking sides or down-playing emotions. Oh, and it's also really
funny!" - Starry Constellation Magazine
l
“Keep your eye on playwright Jason Odell Williams. If he keeps writing plays
sa
as extraordinary and impassioned as 'Church & State' he may in time be hailed
as this country's newest Eugene O'Neill. Powerful. Impeccable. Flawless.
Exquisite.” - Santa Monica Daily Press
ru
Pe
vii.
AUTHOR'S STATEMENT
This play began as a germ of an idea shortly after the shooting massacre at
Virginia Tech in 2007. I went to UVA (Virginia Tech's “football rival”) and
the images on TV of candlelight vigils by Cavaliers for their rival Hokies
touched me profoundly. Then Tucson happened, and I watched the news, riveted
and angry. Then Aurora. And I watched again, riveted and angry. Then Newtown.
And I'd had enough. A month later, in January 2013, I had a first draft of
what would eventually become Church & State.
On paper, the topics of this play (religion, guns and politics) seem heavy.
But a heavy drama about heavy topics doesn't interest me. What interests me
is a play that gets to the heart of the people around these issues. And when
you write about people, you can't help but let them be funny and sad and
honest, heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. Because isn't that
what being human is? And because of that, I don't think this play works
without the humor. And the humor doesn't mean anything without the heart. To
l
me, comedy and tragedy are not two ends of a single line, but two points
sa
right next to each other on the same circle.
While most writers hope that their work will live forever, my dream for this
play is that it will become obsolete. And many years from now people will
read it and think, "How quaint! Americans used to argue about gun control."
ru
But as the news incessantly reminds us, these mass shootings are not going
away any time soon. They have become our new normal. Orlando was a stark
reminder of that.
For now, I hope this play raises questions, sparks debate, makes people laugh
Pe
and cry, and laugh while crying. And of course I hope it moves people in some
way. Perhaps enough to take action with their voice and vote and bump the
needle ever so slightly in the conversation about gun violence.
But most of all, I hope this play speaks to your heart. Because, for me,
that's the only reason to write anything: to speak to each other's hearts.
- Jason Odell Williams, June 2016

viii.
"God is a concept"
- John Lennon
l
sa
ru
Pe
CHURCH & STATE
From the dark, we hear...
CHARLIE (VO)
I’m Charles Whitmore and I approve this message.
Lights rise on a rundown green room

in N.C. State’s Stewart Theatre as
the campaign commercial continues.

He’s been hailed as “a compassionate conservative,” and “just
the kind of leadership from ‘The Right’ that Washington
needs.”
Tom, wearing a white “JESUS IS MY
l
RUNNING MATE!” T-shirt and a red
sa “WHITMORE FOR SENATE” baseball hat,

races by the open door. He looks in
the room, slightly panicked.
Doesn’t see anyone. Races out.
ru
As Senator, he championed the biggest welfare reform bill in
our nation’s history, voted to extend benefits for seniors
and veterans, and protected our Second Amendment Rights by
helping to block a restrictive ban on firearms.
Pe
After a beat, Charlie enters

quietly, wearing a rumpled dark
suit, tie loose. He’s a little
sweaty and unsure of himself.

He’s a family man who believes in good Christian values. The
kind of values on which this country was founded.
He searches for and finds the

remote, but watches the last
moments of his commercial, mouthing
along with the final catchphrase
(”the right leadership for a bold
state”) then sort looks pleased and
dissatisfied at the same time.
2.

(on TV)
This Tuesday, help continue the grand tradition of Whitmores
in North Carolina politics, and re-elect Senator Charles
Whitmore. The right leadership for a bold state.
The TV comes back from commercial

break to a rap video. Charlie
presses a button on the remote to
change the channel. But the TV
stays on the same rap video. He
tries again with the remote. Same
channel. He looks curiously at the
remote. Tries again. Same channel.
CHARLIE
(mutters)
l
God bless it.
sa He stabs uselessly at the remote.
Alex darts by the door, phone to

her ear. Spots Charlie. Enters the
ru
room.
ALEX
(into phone)
Never mind, I found him. Tell Security to stand down. (Hangs
Pe
up, immediately begins texting her staff.) Senator, what are

you doing in here?
CHARLIE
(fixed on TV and remote)
Alex! Just the person I need. You know how to get ESPN on
this thing?
ALEX
(preoccupied with her phone)
Do I... what?
CHARLIE
Shoot, it's channel 31 at home, but all I’m gettin’ here is
B.E.T. That can't be right.
She finally looks up from her phone

and gives him her full attention.
3.
ALEX
You're due on stage in 15 minutes, why do you need to find
ESPN right now?
CHARLIE
Cuz it's Game Day.
Alex shrugs.
CHARLIE
College Game Day. On ESPN?
She looks at him blankly.
CHARLIE
Jeez-Louise, State-UNC. The Wolfpack are playing the Tar
Heels! It's the flippin' / game of the week!
l
sa She takes the remote and shows him
how to find the right channel.
ALEX
Okay, here, just press “menu,” scroll down, ESPN. There.
ru
Channel 33.
CHARLIE
Oh, how 'bout that? I was so close.
Pe
He watches for a moment.
CHARLIE
Oh heck, it's still the jibber-jabber - guess kickoff's not
till 6:30 or something.
He shuts off the TV. Paces,

nervous.
ALEX
You have no reason to be nervous, sir.
ALEX CHARLIE
It's the same speech you gave Oh, I’m not nervous - I could
last week in Greensboro. And do this speech without any
two weeks ago in Wilmington. teleprompters, one arm behind
my back.
4.
ALEX
And don’t worry about those new numbers that came in - it’s
actually a statistical dead heat.
CHARLIE
I’m not worried about the numbers, I trust you.
ALEX
Then why are you hiding in this... (looks around with
disdain) what is this place?
CHARLIE
I’m not hiding, I’m getting focused.
ALEX
Senator, we really need you on your A-game today.
l
CHARLIE
sa
I’m always on m-- what’re you talking about, / A-game?
ALEX
Security said you were mumbling to yourself...
ru
ALEX CHARLIE
acting strange, then just I appreciate the concern but
disappeared without a word. I told those guys to tell
We circled the building five y’all I was going for a walk -
times looking for you. just needed to clear my head.
Pe
ALEX
Sir, one of the reasons you hired me was because you wanted
someone with fresh eyes to tell you when you were drifting
off-track...? Well. You’re not even in the car anymore.
Charlie nods, starts to say

something, then changes course.
Moves to a leftover craft service
table in the corner with some sweet
tea and other nibbles on it.
CHARLIE
Hey, you wanna soda or something? Maybe an iced tea? They
make the best sweet tea right / here on campus.
ALEX
No. Thank you.
5.
CHARLIE
You sure? It’s really good. Not too sweet.
ALEX
I’m fine, really.
CHARLIE
I think they use agave or simple syrup / or something.
ALEX
Goddamnit, Senator, tell me what’s wrong!
Sara swoops in, all charm and

smiles, moving immediately to
Charlie.
SARA
l
(all in one breath)
sa
There you are baby we’ve been looking all over for you
what’s the matter you need some iced tea should I pour you a
glass of sweet tea hey Alex how you doin’ you want some iced
tea why don’t I pour us all a few glasses of iced tea.
ru
ALEX
OH MY GOD, CAN WE PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT ICED FRICKIN’
TEA?!
Beat. Sara and Charlie stare at

Pe
Alex.
SARA
(pours a glass of tea)
She must not have tried it here yet. / It really is
delicious. Not too sweet.
CHARLIE
No - I was tryin’ a tell her. I said so. / Exactly.
ALEX
Okay, fine. Here. God!
Alex hastily takes the tea from

Sara. She vaguely raises her cup as
a “cheers” then downs it.
Beat. Alex stands very still.

6.
ALEX
(low-key surprise)
Wow that is really good.
SARA CHARLIE
See! We told you, ain’t There ya go. Aren’t ya glad
nothin’ else like it. you tried it?
ALEX
Yes. Wonderful. Life-altering, in fact. Now if we could
please address the matter at hand, sir, because you are due
on stage / in just a few minutes, and--
CHARLIE
(to Alex and Sara)
Oh that, right. Well, it’s no big deal really, I was just -
after this morning, at the thing there, it got me thinking
l
again - about the events of last week, which got me thinking
sa
‘bout the speech for today, and it just occurred to me that
maybe I shouldn’t deliver it as written, ya know. Word for
word. But rather. Speak from the heart. About everything
that’s happened. And uh.... Yeah. That.
ru
Beat.
SARA
(with a smile)
Pe
CHARLIE
Well, I respect your opinion, honey, but Alex is my campaign
manager, so why don't we--
ALEX
SARA
See?
CHARLIE
Okay, all right, I get why you'd say that, / but hear me out--
ALEX
You don’t change the speech that got you this far three days
before the election.
7.
SARA
Exactly! For once, I'm with her.
CHARLIE
But ya'll don't even-- there's a reason to change what I'm
gonna say.
ALEX
Which is?
CHARLIE
...Okay now don't freak out.
SARA
Never a good start.
ALEX
l
Nope.
sa SARA
It's like with our boys, “Promise you won't get mad, mommy?”
No! What if you're about to tell me you set your brother on
fire?
ru
ALEX
Did that actually happen?
SARA
Pe
Not yet, but the older one’s got the devil in him, you just
know he’s up to no good.
CHARLIE
Hey, I'm glad ya’ll are finally getting along but this is
serious. Hear me out. Okay...? Okay?!
SARA ALEX
Okay, fine, whatever, just Yes, what is it? We don’t
say it. have much time.
CHARLIE
All right, now.... It's possible a story may come out in the
paper tomorrow, or maybe even earlier, on The Twitter or
something, / I don't know.
ALEX
It’s just called Twitter, sir. No “The.”
8.
CHARLIE
...It’s not The Twitter?
ALEX
No, sir. We’ve been over this.
CHARLIE
Okay. Well, a story might come out on Twitter that-- Now see,
that sounds weird to me, there should be a “the” in there.
SARA
(smiling)
I agree. I like it with a “the.”
ALEX
It doesn’t matter what you like, that is what it’s called.
It’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. No “The.” Ever.
l
sa
Mm. Sounds wrong.
Pause.
SARA
ru
CHARLIE
It really does.
ALEX
(pointing to her watch)
Pe
Sir, you’re killing me here, please!
CHARLIE
Oh, right. Well, there’s a, uh. Slight chance a story may
come out about me on... Twitter or somewhere on the Internet--
okay see, there’s a “The” before Internet, now why is that?
SARA
Yeah!
ALEX
Oh Jesus, what is this big secret story about you that may
get leaked on th-- ... online?
SARA
Oh my Lord! Charlie... Are you having an affair?
9.
CHARLIE
What? No - honey. Jeez, that’s-- no. Never.
SARA
Really?
CHARLIE
Course not, I love you - you're all the woman I can handle!
SARA
Aww! Ain't he sweet?
ALEX
Peaches.
SARA ALEX
I just love him to death. I ...Sir, can we please...?
l
love you to death Charlie
sa
Whitmore!
CHARLIE
Yes, of course - (to Sara) hush now, baby lemme finish. Okay.
(Pause. Clears his throat. To both of them.) Now there's a
ru
chance. A story might come out and quote me sayin' some stuff
at the - thing this morning. About how. Maybe I don't quite,
uh... believe in God anymore.
Alex’s jaw drops slightly. Sara

Pe
breaks into a deadly smile.
SARA
You son of a bitch.
She hits Charlie on the arm (on

each bold & underlined word).
SARA
That's worse than an affair! Turning your back on Jesus!?
He's the one that helped get you elected in the first place!
CHARLIE
Ow! Hey, that hurts!
SARA
(an almost-cry to heaven)
YOUR CAMPAIGN SONG IS “JESUS IS MY RUNNING MATE!!!”
10.
She hits him one last time.
CHARLIE
Would you please / stop hitting me! And you’re the one who
picked that song, said donations would increase if we used
it.
ALEX
(pulling Sara away)
All right, / stop, we're not gonna do this now. Here we go -
take it easy. I got her. I got her!
SARA
Can you believe this nincompoop? Okay - I’m fine, I’m fine,
I’m fine.
During the chaos, Tom enters
l
tentatively, holding a clipboard,
sa still wearing his JESUS IS MY

RUNNING MATE shirt. After a beat,
they finally notice him.
CHARLIE
ru
...Tom! What’s the good word...?
TOM
(smiling wide)
Oh, I don’t know... what?
Pe
CHARLIE
(a question)
...What?
TOM
Is this...? (Embarrassed self-loathing for not getting it) I
thought you were tellin’ a joke.
CHARLIE
No, I mean, how’s it lookin’ out there - decent crowd?
TOM
Oh! Yeah, it’s packed. Standing room only.
ALEX
And the mood’s all right? No reporters digging around, asking
questions?
11.
TOM
No, everyone seems... pretty stoked to see the Senator.
ALEX
(sighs)
Okay, good.
TOM
(smiling)
...Ya’ll need anything? More sweet tea?
ALEX
OH FOR THE LOVE OF--!! (Small beat, she composes herself.)
No. Thank you, Tom, we are... all set.
Tom nods dumbly.
l
CHARLIE
sa
Something else you came to tell us?
TOM
Oh, yeah, they uh. (Checks clipboard.) Wanted me to tell you
“ten minutes.”
ru
CHARLIE
Ten minutes - got it. Thanks, Tom.
Tom nods, not going anywhere, gives

Pe
a goofy smile at the Senator.

Pause.
ALEX
(snaps/claps in his face)
What, what do you want, what what what?!
TOM
Oh, it’s no big deal, I was just... hoping to get a, uh
selfie... (holds out his phone) With the Senator? Next to the
NC State sign?
Alex starts to say no, but...
CHARLIE
Absolutely, Tom! I’d be delighted. Get in here.
12.
Alex sighs. Giddy, Tom puts down

his clipboard and hustles to
Charlie and takes a selfie.
TOM
(posing for selfie)
Go Wolfpack!
Tom looks at his phone.
TOM
Oh shoot, I blinked... (goes to take another photo)
ALEX
All right, enough, / let’s go - out, out, out.
Alex physically ushers Tom out.
l
sa TOM
(on his way out)
Right, okay - thank you, Senator. And good luck out there!
Charlie gives Tom a friendly

ru
wave/thumbs up as Tom exits. Sara &
Alex immediately turn to Charlie.
SARA ALEX
What were you thinking? / Okay: Tell me exactly what
Pe
Blabbing about something like you said. To who, what

that in public? context, everything!
CHARLIE
Hey okay, calm down, easy, one at a time - one at a time!
They quiet down. Beat. Then...
SARA ALEX
I can’t believe you’d be / What time did this happen?
this irresponsible! What’re What’s the person’s name? How
we gonna do with you Charlie can I track them down?
Whitmore?!
CHARLIE
Hey - HEY! What did I just-- come on now! Take it easy.
Panicking or getting angry is the last thing we need.
13.
SARA
(sarcastic)
Oh, what should we do, throw a sticker tape parade?
CHARLIE
No, of course not, but.... Did you say “Sticker Tape” parade?
SARA
Uh-huh.
CHARLIE
Sticker tape.
SARA
Yeah, you know. Like when you peel off a sticker and the
little piece of paper left behind...? You put a bunch of them
in a bag, toss 'em in the air, they float down all pretty and
l
festive. Sticker Tape Parade.
sa Beat.
ALEX
I’m gonna see if there’s anything online already.
ru
Alex pulls out her phone and starts
Googling the Senator’s name. Beat.
CHARLIE
Pe
(quietly, to Sara)
Honey, you know it's a... “Ticker tape” parade, right?
SARA
Ticker tape?
CHARLIE
Mm.
SARA
(laughs)
Pssh. How does that make any sense?
Charlie starts to say something,

but Alex jumps in while Sara
continues to ponder “Ticker tape.”
14.
ALEX
Okay. This might be something. A guy named Marshall Hudson
has a Twitter account called “@TheIndependentConservative” -
what does that even mean, Independent Conservative? (She
reads, clicks on a link.) But okay, this is good.
CHARLIE
What?
ALEX
He only has 238 followers and his last tweet was two hours
ago: “Senator Whitmore speaks out” with a link to what looks
like his blog, but the link isn’t working.
CHARLIE
What’s that mean?
l
sa ALEX
Could mean he posted the link incorrectly, or he posted it
then took it down to make changes. So far there aren’t any
replies or re-tweets.
ru
CHARLIE
So... no one’s seen it yet?
ALEX
Or if they have, no one’s commented on it.
Pe
CHARLIE
I’m pretty sure if someone saw this, they’d comment on it.
SARA
Seriously, “Ticker Tape?” (Smiling) That sounds made-up, are
y’all pullin’ my leg on this?
ALEX
With all due respect, Mrs. Whitmore, we have slightly more
pressing matters at hand, so maybe we can table this
discussion until later? Or perhaps forever, thank you. / Now.
(Holds her phone to Charlie) What exactly is this story going
to say about you?
SARA
(appalled, to Charlie)
Uhhhhh, you gonna let her get away with that?
15.
CHARLIE
It’s all right, honey, she’s just doin’ her job. Why don’t
you check on the boys?
SARA
The boys are fine, my momma’s gettin’ ‘em some ice cream, but
what is not fine is while I’m trying to figure out why my
husband turned his back on Jesus, I’m gettin’ pushed around
by this uptight, thinks-she’s-better-than-me lesbian!
ALEX
For the hundredth time, I am not gay.
SARA
(smiling)
You’re a Democrat from New York - it’s the same thing.
l
ALEX
sa (with a deadly smile)

...Mrs. Whitmore, we’ve been thrilled to have your support
throughout this campaign, but if you can’t stop talking for
five minutes and let your husband explain this possible
crisis, I will seriously call security and have you escorted
ru
out of the building.
SARA
Are you for real, lady?
Pe
Sara steps toward Alex about to get

in her face.
CHARLIE
(to Sara)
She made Tom sit in the van for three hours after his cell
phone went off during a speech, she’s not bluffing.
Beat. Sara conceded but gets in one

last zinger at Alex
SARA
(mutters)
Nice pants.
Sara sits quietly but she’s not

happy about it.
16.
ALEX
Sir.
CHARLIE
Okay, so, it’s actually... kind of a funny story. Not funny-
ha-ha, more like funny-oh-wow-okay-hmm-yeah-that's-
interesting.
Pause.
SARA
That doesn't sound funny at all.
Alex shoots her a look to be quiet.
SARA
Okay...
l
sa Sara sarcastically “zips” her lips
while Alex gestures for Charlie to
continue.
ALEX
ru
Senator.
CHARLIE
Right, well. This morning, after the, uh... funeral. I’m sort
of standing out of the way ya know, and some guy - a kid
Pe
really, 19, 20 years old--
ALEX
(points to her phone)
He’s 32.
Marshall (glasses, wearing a dark

suit) enters.
CHARLIE
Whatever. This kid comes up to me, says something like--
MARSHALL
Beautiful service.
17.
CHARLIE
And it’s that awkward post-funeral thing where everybody’s
talking in hushed tones, not wanting to be too upbeat or too
gloomy. So I nod, say yes it was, he mentions something dull
about the weather, and we get to talking, right? No big deal.
Then finally he goes--
MARSHALL
I’m Marshall, by the way. I’m an independent reporter.
ALEX
Code for blogger.
Marshall and Charlie shake hands.
CHARLIE
(to Marshall)
l
Okay...
sa MARSHALL
Mind if I... ask you a few questions?
He’s still shaking Marshall’s hand

ru
but turns to Sara & Alex.
CHARLIE
Now I’m cornered, right? Sara, you’re down there with the
families and I don’t want to be rude to this guy - at a
Pe
funeral - I figure he’ll just ask some innocuous questions.
ALEX & SARA

No such thing during an election.
They look at each other, surprised

to have had the same thought.
CHARLIE
But they were - the questions were meaningless.
Marshall has pulled out a small

digital voice recorder which he
points at Charlie.
MARSHALL
Where were you when you heard? Were you saddened by the news?
Did you think about your own sons?
18.
CHARLIE
Standard sappy stuff, right. But then he hits me with--
MARSHALL
Did you turn to prayer in your time of need?
Pause. All eyes on Charlie.
CHARLIE
And I don’t know why. But it struck me as such a... peculiar
question. “Did I turn to prayer... in my time of need.” I
mean the gall of this kid. Asking something so personal. At a
funeral. Under those circumstances. And I don’t know,
something in me just... snapped. So I told the truth. For the
first time in a long time I said exactly what I was thinking,
no filter. I told him--
l
Charlie turns to Marshall.
sa
No. I did not.
CHARLIE
SARA
ru
Oh, sweet Jesus.
CHARLIE
(turns to Sara)
What? I just answered honestly. I said -
Pe
(to Marshall)
I did not turn to prayer.
(back to Sara and Alex)
And this kid was stunned. Like he definitely wasn’t expecting
that. But eventually his instincts kick in and he asks--
MARSHALL
Wh- why not?
CHARLIE
Why not what?
MARSHALL
Why didn’t you... turn to prayer?
CHARLIE
‘Cause these families don’t need my prayers right now, son,
they need my action. I’m a politician.
19.
And it’s my duty to honor the victims by doing everything in

my power to make sure this never happens again.
(to Sara and Alex)
And that led to a whole other conversation, but you get the
picture.
ALEX
No, we don’t “get the picture!” How did that lead to you
saying you don’t believe in God?
CHARLIE
I never said that!
ALEX
Then why do you think he’ll say something about you not
believing in God?
l
CHARLIE
sa
Well, see, it’s not that simple.
SARA
You either said it or you didn’t, honey.
ru
CHARLIE
There is such a thing as a “grey area.”
ALEX
Did you ever say, “I, Senator Charles Whitmore, do not
Pe
believe in God?”
CHARLIE
Of course not.
ALEX
Then I don’t see the issue. And if you’re asked about a story
on this guy’s stupid Twitter account - though it’s looking
like no one will even see it - you simply deny everything,
story dies, you get re-elected, few years later we’re in the
Oval Office laughing about the whole thing.
SARA
...Really?
ALEX
Absolutely. This is a no-brainer. Right, Senator?
20.
MARSHALL
Senator...?
SARA
...Charlie?
CHARLIE
Hm?
MARSHALL
Do you... believe in God?
SARA
Are you okay with that?
CHARLIE
With... (to Marshall) What?
l
sa SARA
With what Alex said. About denying the story.
MARSHALL
If you don’t think prayers will help the victims, I’m just
ru
wondering if you believe in God... at all?
CHARLIE
(to Marshall and Sara)
Well. The thing there is...
Pe
SARA
Oh Lord. You did say it, didn’t you?
CHARLIE
No - I did not say those words.
ALEX
We are not here to debate the word “IS” with you, Bill
Clinton.
CHARLIE
That’s not what I’m--
ALEX
Did you or did you not say you don’t believe in God?!
21.
CHARLIE
(blurts)
I SAID, “HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE IN A GOD THAT WOULD ALLOW
SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN?! (Pause.) And continue to
happen - over and over and over again! And I’m sorry, son, if
I seem upset, but this was at a school. In my home state. In
my hometown.
(Turns to Sara)
The school our boys go to. And it could have just as easily
been their classroom that.... (Long pause.) This is a family
we know and love that buried their sons today. Our oldest
played tee ball with their oldest. Our youngest boys swam in
the community pool together. They all sang Christmas carols
door to door,
(Turns back to Marshall)
and went trick or treating and Easter egg huntin’ together
but now they can’t cuz some hotshot decided he’d make a name
l
for himself by shooting up a classroom with an AR-15. So no,
sa
at this moment, I do not believe in a god that would allow
something like this to happen, and I will not waste my time
with prayers when there is TOO MUCH GODDAMN WORK TO BE DONE!”
Long beat. Marshall simply turns

ru
off his tape recorder and exits.
Charlie composes himself, turns

back to Alex and Sara. Alex speed
dials a number on her cell phone.
Pe
CHARLIE
Or something like that? I don’t remember exactly.
SARA
...Oh my god.
ALEX
(into her phone)
Tom, tell everyone we’re gonna need a few more minutes.
She hangs up and paces, thinking.
SARA
Oh my god oh my god / oh my god oh my god oh my god.
CHARLIE
Okay, honey, calm down. It’s no big deal.
22.
SARA
No big deal?! Charlie, it’s one thing for some kid to say
this stuff on The Twitter, you can kill / that story.
ALEX
Just “Twitter.”
SARA
I don’t care! (to Charlie) But if you’re sayin’ you wanna
change your speech so you can tell all those decent, hard-
workin’, God-fearing people that their prayers are nothing
but a “waste of time,” then you will not only lose this
election, but you’ll be laughed out of politics, we’ll be run
out of town and have to move overseas! Or worse - up north!
CHARLIE
Hey.... “God is a concept by which we measure our pain.” All
l
right? John Lennon said that.
sa
...And he got shot.
SARA
CHARLIE
ru
Not for saying that.
SARA
It didn’t help!
Pe
ALEX
...Uh-oh.
CHARLIE
What?
ALEX
Your new best friend tweeted an update with a working link:
“Senator Whitmore Speaks Out Against Guns, God and Prayer.”
SARA
That doesn’t sound good.
ALEX
(skim reading)
“At a funeral this morning for two of the students killed in
last week’s school shooting” buh-buh-buh... “
23.
an agitated Senator Whitmore questioned the relevance of

prayer” buh-buh-buh... “and asked how one could believe in a
god that would allow something like this to even happen.”
Beat. Alex looks up at Charlie.
CHARLIE
Huh, guess that is what I said.
ALEX
And there are already twenty re-tweets, plus a dozen or so
comments. This was posted two minutes ago.
CHARLIE
Wh- what are they saying? The comments.
ALEX
l
Um... @JesusCulture wrote: “Sad to see a Senator we respect
sa
fall from grace like this. We r praying 4 him.”
CHARLIE
“Fall from grace,” nothin’s happened, what are they talking
about, fall from grace?
ru
ALEX
And @GodlyLife says, “Whitmore will reap what he sows. God is
just and His punishment shall be swift.”
Pe
CHARLIE
Now that seems uncalled for.
ALEX
And both of those accounts have over half a million
followers!
SARA
Oh my Lord!
Sara’s cell phone rings.
CHARLIE
Anybody say anything positive?
ALEX
Even if they did, do you really want to go down this road?
24.
SARA
(answering phone)
Momma...? Everything okay?
ALEX
This is your core audience and they’re not happy.
SARA CHARLIE
(into phone, steps away) My core audience? “Jesus
Hang on, Momma I can’t hear Culture” and “Godly Life?”
you.
ALEX
I don’t think they were planning to vote “Democrat” in three
days.
CHARLIE
l
See, okay - that’s why I need to go out / and explain what I
sa
meant.
SARA
(quietly, into phone)
Why don’t you take the boys home early, Momma.
ru
ALEX SARA
I agree we need to change (into phone, quietly)
your speech, but not to say ...Everything’s fine, they
what you want. We need to just don’t need to stick
Pe
walk this back, say you were around for the speech,
grieving, the kid took your they’ve had a long day...
words out of context.
SARA
This is not because I let you pick out their outfits, Momma,
they look great... / Mm-hmm.... Yeah... Right...
ALEX
I’m calling the guys, get ‘em to draft something for you
right away.
Charlie dashes over and takes

Alex’s phone from her.
CHARLIE
No, no, no, don’t do that.
25.
ALEX
Are you serious? I have three other phones.
From another pocket, Alex pulls out

a BlackBerry. Charlie quickly snags
that, too.
CHARLIE
Now hang on, before we just react we need to think about
this.
ALEX
What is there to think about?
CHARLIE
A lot! This is why I needed to get away from ya’ll and clear
my head.
l
sa ALEX
This story will break through, Senator. This will be news. If
we don’t get ahead of it, you’re not only jeopardizing this
election, but your entire future in politics -- and mine! Our
only hope is to find a way to limit the damage.
ru
CHARLIE
And what if I don’t want to limit the damage?!
Sara heard that.

Pe
SARA
(into phone, eyes on Charlie)
Take the boys home now, Momma, I’ll call you after the
speech. (Hangs up, zeroes in on Charlie.) Why wouldn’t you
want to limit the damage?
Charlie sort of shrugs.
SARA
Do you actually... believe what you said to that reporter?
Charlie looks away.
CHARLIE
I don’t know.
26.
SARA
Charlie Whitmore, look at me.... What are you sayin’?
CHARLIE
I’m sayin’ I don’t know! Last week really shook me up.
SARA
It shook everyone up, but that doesn’t mean we stopped
believing in God!
CHARLIE
I didn’t stop believing - I’m just...
SARA
...What?
CHARLIE
l
Questioning His relevance in every situation.
sa SARA
Oh that’s a bunch of baloney.
And I’m pretty sure the
Christians of this state
CHARLIE
Honey, hear me out--

ru
won’t be happy to hear you no
longer believe in God.
CHARLIE
I never said that.
Pe
SARA
It’s what that reporter said on The Twitter though, right?
CHARLIE
First of all, people don’t “report” on The Twitter...
Off to the side, ignored by Charlie

and Sara, Alex looks to the heavens
and mouths the words:
ALEX
(inaudible, mouths words)
There’s no “the...
CHARLIE
(continues without noticing
Alex)
27.
They type hearsay and innuendo and total horse-hockey on

their little devices then send it off into cyberspace so
suddenly they're Woodward and Bernstein...? I don't think so.
Pause.
ALEX
What’s your second point?
CHARLIE
...My second what?
ALEX
You said: “First of all, blah-blah, Woodward and Bernstein.”
What’s your second of all?
Pause.
l
sa CHARLIE
I don’t have a second of all.
SARA
And he wants to give a speech without a script!
ru
CHARLIE
Yes! I need to explain what happened, but I don’t want it to
sound rehearsed. (He starts out toward the door.) I’m just
gonna speak from the heart.
Pe
Alex steps in front of him.
ALEX
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You already “spoke from the heart” once
today, Senator, and it didn’t turn out so great, why would
now be any different?
CHARLIE
Cuz they’ll be hearing it from the horse’s mouth.
SARA
Who gives a crap if they hate the horse?!
Beat.
28.
CHARLIE
Standing at that funeral this morning, watching our friends
bury their two boys, how could you not think about our boys??
SARA
Of course I thought about Luke and Matty. I was a wreck last
week, and this morning. But then I put it out of my mind, cuz
these people need us to be strong, not blubbering messes.
We’re supposed to be an example.
CHARLIE
Well, what good is it if the example we set is dishonest? I
don’t want our boys growing up in a world like this,
especially if I’m in a position to do something about it.
SARA
I don’t understand how you can turn your back on something
l
that brought / so much good into your life?
sa CHARLIE
I’m not turning my back! I’m saying, what if. That’s all.
SARA
ru
But why now?!
CHARLIE
Why n--? Were you not at that funeral this morning?
Pe
ALEX
But, sir, if I may... the voters and the press won’t accept
that you just “changed your mind” at a funeral, they’re gonna
have some follow up / questions.
Tom pokes his head in the room.
TOM
Ms. Klein--
ALEX
Tom - OUT!!!
TOM
Okay.
Tom ducks out.

29.
ALEX
Now if you actually want to make some kind of difference in
office, then first you have to win in three days, which means
we need to address this story that now has... (checks phone)
45 re-tweets! (she “strangles” her phone.) We gotta figure
out how to make this a positive. You need to tell us exactly
what changed for you this morning?
CHARLIE
I don’t know. I was... watching our friend throw dirt into
his sons’ graves. And we’re all bowing our heads in prayer
and I thought... how is this gonna stop the next one? How’s
our prayer going to prevent another senseless shooting? And
just when the pastor’s saying “ashes to ashes,” it hit me:
what if this is it? Dust to dust, nothing waiting for us on
the other side. Would that be any crazier then some man in
the clouds “listening to our prayers”? What if God, the
l
concept of God, was just created by us to cope with the pain
sa
and randomness and heartache of this miracle we call life?
Wouldn’t that mean we shouldn’t be so hung up about what it
says in my book versus your book, or feel the need to hold on
to our outdated laws and ideals, especially the one that got
us into this mess in the first place: our “God given right to
ru
bear arms?!”
ALEX
Whoa! Sir. All due respect, talking about God is one thing...
but you cannot take on the Second Amendment. That’s like the
Pe
third rail in politics.
CHARLIE
I’m not taking it on, I’m saying let’s examine why we think
it’s so set in stone.
ALEX
THAT’S THE SAME THING! Plus most of your base loves to hunt
and owns firearms for sport or protection.
SARA
And they love God and Jesus and the Bible!
CHARLIE
Well, I’m gonna tell ‘em to rethink how they feel about all
of that!
30.
SARA
You can’t tell voters how to feel!
ALEX
She’s right, sir, this story’s bad enough. If you compound it
by saying “and oh yeah, also your guns are bad,” that’ll be
it for us! No re-election, no chance at the White House,
another politician hoist with his own petard!
Small beat.
SARA
(sort of whispers)
Oh, sweetie, I don’t think it’s P.C. to use that word.
ALEX
What...? No - petard. Petard. With a “P.”
l
sa
...What’s a petard?
SARA
ALEX
IT MEANS YOUR HUSBAND JUST SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FACE!!
ru
SARA
(quietly)
...Oh.
Pe
Beat. Alex knows she went too far,

but Charlie is not angry.
ALEX
I am so sorry, Senator, I... haven’t been getting much sleep
and - that’s no excuse, but.... (A new tack.) I’m gonna ask
the Mayor to vamp for time. He loves to talk about fishing,
so. That should eat up a good ten minutes.
Alex walks to the door. Stops.
ALEX
(to Sara)
Please try to talk some sense into your husband.
Sara nods. Alex leaves. Sara looks

at her husband.
31.
SARA
Okay, Chief. Just you and me now, so level with me: Have you
lost your damn mind?
CHARLIE SARA
We always said I would tell
the truth. / That was our The truth doesn’t mean you
deal. Sat at our kitchen say everything! You know
table and agreed that I would that.
always tell the God's honest
truth!
SARA
That’s when I thought you believed in God.
CHARLIE
Yeah, well...
l
sa Small beat.
SARA
(sighs)
Lord, I shoulda seen this comin’.
ru
CHARLIE
What do you mean?
SARA
Pe
I’m not blind, Charlie. I’ve seen you the past year or so:
rolling your eyes in church, comin’ in late, making excuses
not to go at all.
CHARLIE
I don’t make excuses.
SARA
That time you had to play golf with the Veterans League?
CHARLIE
They’re an important group of voters!
SARA
And as I predicted, you took a hit in the polls because of
it.
32.
CHARLIE
Which makes no sense. I thought the whole point of this
country was to keep religion out of politics.
SARA
...That may be the dumbest thing you’ve ever said.
CHARLIE
Wh-- It’s in the first damn / amendment.
SARA
‘Cause we both know what’s important to your voters: faith,
family and football. Same values they want to see in their
politicians.
CHARLIE
When’s the last time you watched a football game?
l
sa SARA
Football’s like God; I don’t need to see it to know it’s
there.
Charlie walks away.

ru
CHARLIE
Well, I can’t just go back to business as usual, baby... not
after last week.
Pe
SARA
That’s it. Keep drawing away - like you do with everything
lately.
CHARLIE
What’s that supposed to mean?
SARA
Do I need to spell it out for you?
He finally “gets it.” Pause.
CHARLIE
I’ve been... distracted. Tired and stressed out.
SARA
More excuses.
33.
CHARLIE
Well it’s true!
SARA
Listen: I know you still love me--
CHARLIE
Of course I do--
SARA
And I know it’s not cuz I lost my looks - I’m still sexy as
hell. Even caught Tom checking out my boobs earlier, I know I
still got it.
CHARLIE
(smiling)
Yes, you do.
l
sa
So what is it then?
It’s nothing.
SARA
CHARLIE
ru
SARA
Charlie.... God’s honest truth. Right?
Pause. He sighs.
Pe
CHARLIE
After Luke was born, I... watched you become more... fervent
in your beliefs.
SARA
(half-laugh)
Oh, so it’s my fault?
CHARLIE
I’m not saying that, lemme finish. But around that time
you... started praying longer at the dinner table and before
bed. You quoted the Bible more.
SARA
(smiling)
So what’s wrong with that?
34.
CHARLIE
Nothing! And I didn’t mind the Friday night Bible study or
the “Honk If You Love Jesus” bumper stickers...
SARA
(smiling, dismissive)
Oh, they’re just bumper stickers....
CHARLIE
(continuing over her)
Or you insisting on that campaign song for me.
SARA
(still smiling)
Another thing I was right about, / that song gave you a six-
point bump--
l
CHARLIE
sa
But after a while, those little things added up and it felt
like you were judging me for not doing that stuff. / Or if I
was running late for church or opted to play golf with some
constituents--
ru
SARA
(smiling)
I wasn’t judging you - I was trying to get you to do the
right thing, and the voters agree with me.
Pe
CHARLIE
Well that feels like a judgment! Like you’re deciding my
choices aren’t good enough. For you or our boys or the people
of this state. And I... started to resent it.
SARA
(smiling)
Resent what?
CHARLIE
All of it. Church and prayer and... you. I started to resent
you. Having to worry about every little decision I made. Did
you approve, would Jesus approve? How am I supposed to know
what Jesus would do? With all the choices today, maybe He’d
blow off church too, get drunk on wine at a Kenny Chesney
concert.
35.
SARA
Okay, you wanna make jokes...
CHARLIE
I’m not making jokes.
SARA
...have your little... “mid-life crisis of faith” backstage,
be my guest. And we can deal with our marriage after the
election--
CHARLIE
Honey, please--
SARA
But I will not let you go out in public and belittle
l
something that is important to me! And our sons, and most of
sa
this state, just because you lost your temper with some
blobber thing-a-ma-gig--
Blogger.
CHARLIE
ru
SARA
Whatever the hell ya call him!
CHARLIE
Pe
I told you it’s more than that--
SARA
No, no - you had your chance, (with increasing urgency) now
let me defend my God who helps me treat people with love and
respect, especially those I have a hard time loving, namely
you right now, okay?
Charlie holds up his hands, “okay,

sorry, go ahead.”
Beat.
SARA
Is what happened at our school wrong? Of course it is. It’s
horrifying and sick and impossible to live with -- which is
why we need our Faith to help us through.
36.
CHARLIE
Honey--
SARA
Uhp! What’d I say?
He holds his hands up again,

“sorry.”
SARA
Do we need to do something about guns? (Shrugs.) I don’t
know. Personally I believe in my right to bear arms, and sure
as heck don’t want to give up my Baby Glock - but that’s not
up to me. That’s for lawmakers like you to decide. Together.
After things cool down. But when you start talkin’ all this
craziness about there being no God, or prayer is useless--
l
CHARLIE
sa
That’s not what I--
SARA
Then you have gone too far, Charlie Whitmore! And I don’t
ru
know if you snapped or this was a long time comin’ or what,
but if you keep this up, it is not going to end well. For any
of us. So go splash some water on your face, give the speech
you always give, and knock off this insanity!
Pe
CHARLIE
It’s not insanity. It’s the truth.
SARA
Well your truth sounds pretty freaking crazy!
CHARLIE
I saw it, Sara. Saw the bloodshed with my own eyes.
Pause.
SARA
I know.
CHARLIE
Our team raced over there, to make that statement in front of
the school. And after, the police took me inside so I could
see it first-hand...
37.
And I saw the blood splattered around that classroom. On the

chalkboard and their little art projects and the American
flag. Saw a group of crying first-graders standing in a
baseball field. Frightened parents sprinting under the yellow
caution tape, right by the police officers, to find and hug
their scared little children. No one should have to know that
fear. No one.
SARA
Baby--
CHARLIE
And you know what Matty told me yesterday? He said he doesn’t
wanna to go to the movies for his 10th birthday anymore cuz
he’s afraid someone might come into the theater and shoot
everyone.
l
Sara freezes. This is news to her.
sa
...He what?
(Matthew’s not afraid of anything.)
SARA
ru
CHARLIE
Yeah. And that’s my fault. Cuz like it or not, my actions as
Senator played a role in this tragedy. And the ones that came
before it. And the countless other lives lost every day on
our streets. How long and fiercely I fought to protect our
Pe
“God-given right” to bear arms. These events affect millions

of lives, including our boys. And that’s why I can’t give the
usual speech out there. That’s why this has to be addressed.
Now.
Pause.
SARA
(soft, sympathetic)
Baby, I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you to talk to Matty. I
know our boys might be scared for a while and that’s hard to
watch. And I’m sorry you had to see the bloodshed and go
through that alone. So I understand what you’re sayin’, I
really do--
CHARLIE
Here it comes.
38.
SARA
But... you need to be smart about this, not emotional.
CHARLIE
Can’t I be both?
SARA
You are not responsible for the 29 deaths last week. That was
not your fault.
CHARLIE
Oh yeah, whose was it then?
SARA
That boy who went crazy!
CHARLIE
l
“Guns don’t kill people,” right?
sa SARA
That’s right. Cuz if it wasn’t a gun at a school, it would
have been a bomb at a hospital or driving a car into a mall,
’cause you can’t stop every single lunatic without taking
ru
away our freedoms and liberties. So feeling guilty for a
random act of violence isn’t helpful to anyone. You did your
job: you addressed the tragedy last week, we grieved and
mourned, and now the best thing we can do for our boys and
everyone is show them how we move forward.
Pe
CHARLIE
I- I can’t do that.
SARA
Well you can’t just change your mind and expect me to support
you no matter what.
CHARLIE
Isn’t that what marriage is about?
SARA
Not when the change is this big! You wanna buy a fancy sports
car, start listening to Maroon Five, that’s fine. But you
suddenly decide you don’t believe in God...?
CHARLIE
I told you I--
39.
SARA
I don’t care how you phrase it, Charlie. You are breaking the
contract, OUR contract! You don’t believe in God anymore. Not
the one I believe in, and--
Tom enters, tiptoeing, trying to

stay unseen and grab a clipboard he
left in the room earlier. But it’s
impossible not to see him.
CHARLIE
...Something we can help you with, Tom?
TOM
Sorry, Senator... Mrs. Whitmore. I just, uh - forgot this.
(He grabs the clipboard and quickly moves to the exit) Don’t
mind me, I’m not even here, carry on...
l
sa At the exit, he turns to Charlie.
TOM
(quickly)
Game’s tied nuthin-nuthin in the first quarter.
ru
Charlie half-protests (he doesn’t
like hearing the score while not
watching) but smiles anyway as Tom
ducks out. Charlie turns to Sara,
Pe
some of the tension diffused. Beat.
CHARLIE
When did you start believing in God?
SARA
When did I... I’ve always believed, what are you talking-
CHARLIE
No, we don’t come out of the womb “believing in Jesus.” It’s
not instinct; we have to be taught. And I learned about God
when I was six years old... at my daddy’s funeral. No one
knew how to explain death to me - to a six year old. So they
told me God had taken my daddy because “Heaven needed another
angel.” And I believed that. And it felt good to think my
Daddy wasn’t just gone from this world, but living up there
and watching over us. Playing golf with Bobby Jones, talking
politics with Teddy Roosevelt.
40.
Sara smiles. A sweet connection

with Charlie about his father.
CHARLIE
And it was nice to have somewhere to go as a family every
week. Church gave Momma and my brothers and me structure and
security... and hope. And when you’re a boy and ya lose one
of the things that made you feel safe, well. You can use a
little security and hope. But you know what else I believed
in when I six...? Santa Claus. And the Easter Bunny. Heck, I
thought the Tooth Fairy / was real till I was ten years old!
SARA
Okay, okay, okay... I get it. I GET IT!
CHARLIE
(continues over her)
l
But then you realize the adults in your life have been lying
sa
to protect some silly fantasy so you’ll behave because “God
is watching,” God is always, always watching, except of
course when some hothead shoots up an elementary school, well
then that was just ALL PART OF GOD’S MASTER PLAN, RIGHT?!!
ru
Charlie stops, catches his breath,
knows he went too far. Sara looks
at him with compassion. Long beat.
SARA
Pe
“When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
CHARLIE
...The Book of Job.
SARA
The Book of Job. Amen.... And that’s what I think this is.
(She points up.) A test. Cuz deep down, you know, and I know,
and the Good Lord knows... this isn’t you. You’re the man who
loves God and prays for guidance, whose moral center comes
from his Faith. I know it’s hard to do what you do and not
lose your way, not get scared and tired and frustrated. But
that’s when we need our Faith the most.
CHARLIE
You know that just makes me feel helpless, right?
41.
SARA
That’s good. Because we are helpless. And the sooner you
surrender to that, the sooner you’ll be at peace.
CHARLIE
...You sound like the Buddha.
SARA
(smiles)
...‘Cept without the belly, right?
Charlie smiles, tears welling in

his eyes.
Alex rushes in all business, this

time with a SECURITY GUY (black
suit, earpiece, the works).
l
sa
You need to see this.
ALEX
Alex hands her phone to Charlie.

ru
SARA
That’s CNN’s home page.
ALEX
The AP picked up the story. It’s everywhere now.
Pe
CHARLIE
...How do ya like that?
He hands the phone back to Alex.
ALEX
So. Change of plan. I’m having the guys prepare a statement
for you to read before your speech, / it should be ready in--
CHARLIE
(putting on his jacket)
Nah, don’t worry about it, I’m good.
ALEX
No! You are not “good,” Senator! We absolutely need to
control how you address the Twitter story.
42.
CHARLIE
...You just used a “the” in front of Twitter.
ALEX
I - no, it wasn’t a-- the “the” was an article not / part of
the name, it--
CHARLIE
I’m just messing with you, Alex. Gotta lighten up.
ALEX
Yes, sir, and I plan to when this is all over. But for now we
need to decide what you’re going to say out there.
Charlie hold his arms our wide.
CHARLIE
l
I’ll let divine inspiration hit me.
sa He starts off. Alex stands helpless
SARA
Charlie Whitmore, come back here this instant!
ru
He comes back, a bit sheepish. Sara
looks him in the eye. Then, as she
straightens his tie, adjusts his
hair slightly, dusts off the
Pe
shoulders of his jacket, she says:
SARA
(calm, sweet)
“Be on your guard... stand firm in the faith... be men of
courage.... Be strong.” - First Corinthians, 16:13.
CHARLIE
That Bible study class is really paying off, hunh?
Sara and Charlie have a wordless

moment of connection. He sighs,
then looks at Alex.
CHARLIE
(to Alex)
I’ll give the usual speech. Without an opening statement. We
can play dumb later, say we never saw the story. Sound good?
43.
He winks at Alex, kisses Sara on

the cheek, then dashes off, the
Security Guy briskly following.
ALEX
Oy.
Alex sighs, a weight lifted.
ALEX
Okay, you ready, Mrs. Whitmore? I’m going straight backstage
but I can have one of the other security guys escort you to
the main hall for you to watch.
SARA
Nah, I’m good back here.
l
ALEX
sa
Wh-- ... Are you sure?
Yeah, I’m a big girl.

SARA
ru
ALEX
Okay. Well, uh.... We’ll see you after then.
Alex starts out.

Pe
SARA
Why don’t ya join me?
ALEX
Oh, I really should be up there, in case something goes
wrong.
SARA
What more could go wrong that hasn’t already?
ALEX
You have a point, but still.
SARA
He’ll be fine. Charlie thrives in a crisis.
Alex is unsure. Looks at the door.

44.
SARA
(pointed)
Let your candidate do what he’s good at.
Sara pats a chair next to her.
SARA
Come on. Pop a squat!
ALEX
...I’ll watch the first few minutes with you.
Alex sits in a chair close to the

door. Sara pops on the monitor.
MAYOR (VOICE)
...now a real fly fisherman doesn’t go for those stocked
l
rivers and streams... takes all the fun out of it. So I’m
sa
casting my line...
SARA
Looks like the Mayor’s still “vamping for time.”
ru
Sara lowers the volume. As they
watch the muted monitor, Alex
nervously bounces a knee up and
down. Sara clocks the knee. Alex
sees the look and stops bouncing
Pe
her knee. Embarrassed smile. Beat.
ALEX
...God, I hope we’re okay.
SARA
Oh... you believe in God?
ALEX
Oh, I didn’t mean it like that, but uh.... Yeah. Actually, I
do.
SARA
Guess we have something in common after all.
45.
ALEX
I mean, I’m not Orthodox or anything, but... I still manage
to get home for Passover, go to Synagogue on Yom Kippur and
stuff, so... I do the highlights.
SARA
...Like a Christmas-and-Easter Christian.
ALEX
(smiles)
Yeah, I guess. Doesn’t mean I never have doubts. But in my
faith, that’s kind of our thing. To be naturally dubious, ask
lots of questions.
SARA
I’ve noticed that.
l
ALEX
sa
It’s why we make great lawyers and doctors.
And campaign managers.

SARA
ru
ALEX
(smiles/laughs nervously)
Yeah, I’ve, uh... been pretty lucky so far. Five-for-five in
terms of getting my candidates elected. Those were all... low-
level congressional seats. Nothing like this.
Pe
Sara nods. Alex edges closer to

her.
ALEX
Of course, I don’t know how things will turn out with this
election, but if we win... I’d like to remain with the
Senator to help him explore a Presidential run in a few
years.
SARA
I bet you would.
ALEX
And if I’m going to do that, I’d... like us to get along
better.
46.
SARA
...You and me?
ALEX
We never really got off on the right foot, but I hope to
correct that moving forward. It’s always tricky with spouses.
Especially when we’re both women.
SARA
I know. That’s one of the reasons Charlie hired you. He
wanted someone who could go toe-to-toe with yours truly, who
wouldn’t be afraid to tell me to shut up once in awhile.
ALEX
Yeah. He... told me that at our first meeting.
Sara smiles back.
l
sa SARA
Plus he thought a liberal Jewish woman from New York and a
good ol’ boy from Raleigh working together, well... that
would be a deadly combo. And I agreed. So here you are.
ru
ALEX
Well, I’m glad he listened to you.
SARA
Much as I hate to admit it, I can be a bit of a control
Pe
freak. Stick my nose where it isn’t always wanted.... But

Charlie needs that sometimes. He may wear the pants in the
family, but I’m the one who tells him which pants.
ALEX
...And they’re very nice pants.
Alex winces at her lame joke. Sara

crinkles her brow confused by it.
ALEX
And thank you, Mrs. Whitmore... for taking a chance on me?
SARA
Well. Let’s just hope it translates to a victory.
Alex nods. Sara spots something on

monitor that catches her eye.
47.
SARA
But whatever happens now... (wry smile) it’s in God’s hands.
Sara turns up the volume.
MAYOR (VOICE)
So now, without further ado... here he is... Raleigh's own...
The crowd cheers. Alex stands,

nervous; Sara seems resigned to it
all as they look out watching
Charlie “on the monitor.”
CHARLIE (VOICE)
l
(The crowd laughs.)
sa
(The crowd cheers.)
ru
The crowd laughs again.
Silence. A good five seconds.
ALEX
Pe
Oh, God. (Pause. Pleading at the monitor) What’s he doing?

Why isn’t he talking? No, no, no, no, no, please, please...
CHARLIE (VOICE)
Sound of page ripping in half.
ALEX
Shit!
SARA
Didn’t see that coming.
Alex bolts out the door. Sara just

watches it unfold on the monitor.
48.
CHARLIE

CHARLIE
That’s exactly what I wanna talk about tonight. (Pause) “God--
BLACKOUT.
A spot snaps on stage revealing an

on-the-scene REPORTER holding a
microphone.
l
REPORTER
sa (upbeat)
...In what can only be described as a landslide, our
projections are forecasting that, after a record turnout
statewide, Senator Whitmore will walk away with 71% of the
popular vote. This coming off a roller-coaster weekend for
ru
the campaign: first, a whiff of a scandal with a story that
appeared on Twitter. Then that now-famous speech from
Whitmore that stunned a packed auditorium of over 800
supporters who gave the Senator very little applause when he
left the stage. But the speech went viral, two million views
Pe
in the first 24 hours alone, and the polls went from Whitmore
precariously trailing on Sunday, to holding a whopping 30
point lead as voters took to the booths this morning. And
that of course led to tonight, with the campaign celebrating
back where it all began, here on the campus of NC State,
where the turnout is rumored to be over ten thousand.
The spot on the Anchor goes out.
The sound of a roaring crowd is

deafening. Lights up full.
There are now some nice flowers and

a larger craft service table spread
in the room.
Sara, wearing a fancier outfit,

bounds in giddy and tipsy.
49.
(She’s a fun, happy drunk.) Charlie

follows, wearing a very
“presidential” suit and tie. He’s
smiling but less ecstatic.
SARA
Oh my god oh my god oh my god!
CHARLIE
Yes, I think that’s the appropriate name to invoke right now.
SARA
Can you believe it? Can you believe it??
CHARLIE
Not really.
l
SARA
sa
Seventy-one percent! Nobody’s received that much of the vote
in a North Carolina senate race ever. Ever!
CHARLIE
Well I think some guys back in the ‘20’s ran unopposed, so.
ru
SARA
Pssh. That’s like a hundred years ago!
CHARLIE
Pe
Are we a little tipsy?
SARA
We are not anything. I am downright drunk. And you are being
a total dubby-fubby. Buddy-fuddy. Fuddy-duddy! Damn it.
(Laughs at herself.)
CHARLIE
(smiling)
Let’s get you a coffee and some food in your belly.
He looks over the fancy spread of

food and drinks.
SARA
Mmm, I wanna get you in my belly.
50.
CHARLIE
Not sure I know how to do that one.
SARA
Don’t you wanna celebrate with your wife?
CHARLIE
I do, but I still have to give my acceptance speech, so...
SARA
Oh, just go out there and say, “I accept.” Drop the mic, then
get drunk with me.
CHARLIE
Here, we got some fruit. Or maybe a muffin. You want a
blueberry muffin?
l
SARA
sa
I want the newly re-elected Senator to come over here and
smooch his damn wife, that’s what I want.
Sara does a little move with her

legs that’s sexy and funny. Charlie
ru
freezes; soaking it in. He moves to
her, shaking out his hands and arms
like a swimmer about to jump in the
water; he’s gearing up to be sexy.
Pe
CHARLIE
I can do that. I can do that.
They kiss.
SARA
Mmmm. Power is sexy.
CHARLIE
(smiling)
Is it?
SARA
Oh yeah.
They kiss again as Alex enters

(also dressed nicer).
51.
ALEX
(mock averting her eyes)
Sorry, not looking, / didn’t see anything.
CHARLIE
No, no, it’s fine, / come on in, Alex.
SARA
(to the tune of “Batman”)
Al-ex! Alex, Alex, Alex, Alex, Al-ex!
Sara wraps Alex in a monster bear

hug.
CHARLIE
She’s a little “happy.”
l
ALEX
sa
I can see that.
SARA
So what’s wrong with bein’ happy? We won! - by a lot! (to
Charlie) So it seems like someone up there’s looking out for
ru
ya, Charlie Whitmore, and maybe you should get down on your
knees and thank the Good Lord your little “outburst” didn’t
bite ya in the tooshie!
CHARLIE
Pe
Mm-hmm.
SARA
But it isn’t just the winning that makes me happy, though
have I told ya’ll I’m happy we won, did I say that yet?
CHARLIE
You may have mentioned it, yeah.
SARA
Well good, but you know what else? (To Alex) When he
delivered that epic speech on Saturday? That modern-day
Sermon on the Mount that got shared millions and millions of
times on... Twitter! (Points to self) Hunh? Old dog, new
tricks! (”Barks.” Laughs.) But while he was speaking from the
heart, I caught a glimpse of a new Charlie, (to Charlie,
tearing up a bit) the real Charlie. And it was beautiful....
So yeah!!
52.
I’m happy we won, happy the good people of this state were
open-minded enough to understand my husband’s revolution-
atory speech...
CHARLIE
(re: ‘revolution-atory’)
Not a real word.
SARA
(plowing on, oblivious)
And I’m happy I get to be a Senator’s wife another six years,
okay? Shoot me!
Small pause.
ALEX
Well, I think it’s great. I’m happy, too.
l
sa They look at Alex. She isn’t
smiling.
ALEX
Of course, New York Jews never show it, we’re always waiting
ru
for the other shoe to drop, but still.
SARA
...I never understood that expression. Who’s shoes? And why
did one of ‘em already drop? Is the person holding them
Pe
elderly or having some sort of stroke? Why are they dropping

so many damn shoes?
Charlie hands Sara a cup of coffee

and a muffin.
CHARLIE
Coffee. Muffin. Drink this. Eat this. And maybe... sit down
for a bit, catch your breath.
SARA
Mmm. Always taking care of me. Thank you, baby-doll.
Sara makes a kissy face at Charlie

and flops into a comfy chair in the
corner.
53.
CHARLIE
She always was a cheap date.
SARA
(nods)
Yeah.
ALEX
Nothing wrong with enthusiasm.
CHARLIE
(smiles)
True.
Alex claps her hands once, excited.
ALEX
l
So! Ready with your acceptance speech?
Mm. sa CHARLIE
ALEX
ru
The guys have been working pretty hard on it. Strikes the
right tone, I think. Humble but confident, ready for the job
at hand.
Charlie nods, distracted.

Pe
ALEX
You’ve, uh. Had a chance to read it over, right?
CHARLIE
Oh yeah. I uh... read it, all right.
Charlie starts to say more, but

stops himself.
ALEX
(nervous laugh)
...You’re, uh, making me nervous, Senator.
CHARLIE
Hm? Why?
54.
ALEX
Sounds like you want to... go off script again.
CHARLIE
Ha-ha. Well--
SARA
This muffin’s dry as dirt! (Walks toward them.) They got any
like chicken wings or nachos? Or no! Oo, ooo, you know what I
want, you know what I want...? Pretzel bites! You know those
soft pretzel bites with the nacho cheese they have at the
movies! How do I get some of those up in here?
Sara inspects a desk phone for

instructions. Charlie smiles
nervously at Alex, moves briskly to
Sara and whispers in her ear.
l
sa SARA
What, I’m fine.... Cuz it was dry as dirt, Charlie, I don’t
want it! ...Okay... o-KAY, Jeez!
She hangs up the phone, makes her

ru
way to the door, muttering.
SARA
Don’t have to talk to me like I’m some idiot. I’m the one who
went to Chapel Hill, unlike your sorry NC State butt, psh.
Pe
(opens door, calls down hall)

Tom...? Tom! Come here, sweetie - momma needs a coke and some
pretzel bites.
She exits.
CHARLIE
She’ll be fun tomorrow morning.
ALEX
Did you actually want to get re-elected?
CHARLIE
Wh--? Of course I wanted to get re-elected! That’s a
ridiculous question.
55.
ALEX CHARLIE
Not from where I’m standing. I can’t believe you’d even
What you did would’ve killed ask that. I love my job. And
most campaigns. But now the people of North Carolina.
you’ve won and I don’t see And for you to question my
any joy, or relief, or intentions at this stage of
enthusiasm, like you’re tipsy the game is just beyond the
but excited wife. pale.
ALEX
If I’m so wrong, why are you hesitating when I ask about your
acceptance speech?
CHARLIE
I’m contemplating - there’s a difference.
ALEX
l
ARE YOU DELIVERING IT AS WRITTEN OR NOT?!
sa
I DON’T KNOW YET!
Pause.
CHARLIE
ru
ALEX
I’ve seen this before.
CHARLIE
Pe
No, you haven’t.
ALEX
You’re self-sabotaging. Why do you think all those
politicians take bribes or sleep with interns?
CHARLIE
‘Cause they’re greedy. And horny.
ALEX
Because they feel inadequate and undeserving of success, so
they do whatever they can to screw things up and / go back to
the person they’re comfortable being.
CHARLIE
I don’t need your dime-store psychology. And that’s not what
I’m doing.
56.
ALEX
Well whatever you want to call this: a panic-attack, /
buyer’s remorse--
CHARLIE
I’m just being realistic. I barely got enough support in the
Senate for a bill that gives benefits to veterans, how the
heck am I supposed to get the votes I need on any kind of
“gun bill”?
ALEX
By working across the aisle and / doing what needs to be
done!
CHARLIE
The first piece of legislation I propose will get trounced
faster than green grass through a goose. I’ll be the laughing
l
stock of Washington!
sa ALEX
No one laughs at the guy who got 71% of the vote.
CHARLIE
ru
Yeah, whoop-dee-do when the other 29 down-right hate me.
ALEX
No one hates you, sir, they just voted for the other side--
Pe
CHARLIE
After the speech, @GodlyLife said, quote: I have never hated
a politician more than I HATE Charles Whitmore right now...
End-quote.
Small beat.
ALEX
...Okay, I see your point. But you can’t worry about a few
crazies on the Internet. You won by 42 points! You’re like an
icon now... a god!
CHARLIE
And look at how well that turned out for Jesus.
57.
ALEX
...Senator, there was bound to be some backlash, because you
did something practically unheard of: you got people on both
sides to vote for you. The liberals want you to take on the
gun lobby, the conservatives want to help you find your way
back to God. And anyone who gets the red and blue districts
to agree on anything is going to stir up some controversy,
including some meaningless hate on social media, because that
person can actually affect change!
CHARLIE
Well what if I try to temper their anger a bit by... walking
back some of my rhetoric from the other night?
ALEX
Are you serious? You can’t walk back what you said.
l
CHARLIE
sa (almost laughing)
Why not? You didn’t want me to say it in the first place --
afraid I’d “jeopardize” our shot at The White House.
ALEX
ru
Yes, and I was wrong about that.
CHARLIE
(mock goes for his heart)
Wh-? Do my ears deceive me?? Did the great Alex Klein just
Pe
admit she made a mistake?
ALEX
I’m not afraid to admit I made a mistake... (mutters) I just
don’t make that many of them.
CHARLIE
Annnd she’s back.
ALEX
(with speed and urgency)
But every campaign manager would have done the same thing.
With good reason. When you went off-script on Saturday, you
stunned that crowd of supporters. This was not the Senator
they knew and loved. But eventually they realized you were
more interested in principles than towing the party line. And
in one of the most Christian, gun-loving states in the
nation, the people responded to that with votes!
58.
Some voting for the first time in years, voting for your
idea: that living without fear is more important than
religion or guns or antiquated laws. And yes, I took this job
with and eye toward the Oval Office, who wouldn’t dream about
that? Pictured myself in the West Wing working next to Rob
Lowe and Allison Janney. But none of that matters now -
because not only does most of this state believe in you and
your new message... But I believe in you.
(Small beat. She becomes a
bit emotional. He regards
her with compassion.)
Believe you can make a real difference - here and across the
country. So no, you can't take back what you said because
you're afraid or don't want to work that hard in Washington.
You have to stand by what you said, double down on it, and
work even harder to prove that you can be the man they voted
for! That you are the man they voted for!
l
sa Sara enters with two small bags of
dry pretzels and a fountain soda
with a lid and straw.
SARA
ru
Can you believe all they had was regular ol’ dry pretzels?
Bleh. You’d think they’d open up them snack counters and
serve the Senator’s wife some damn pretzel bites (calling
back toward hall) with nacho cheese! ...But I got a nice cold
soda with lotsa ice, so that’s good.
Pe
She takes a long swig with the

straw, swallows, “ahh!” She finally
looks up at Alex and Charlie. Beat.
SARA
Who died?
CHARLIE
Baby, can you give us another minute?
SARA
Mnm-mn. No way, José. I’m part of the inner circle and the
only one you trust to be straight with you. I need to know
exactly what’s goin’ on.
ALEX
Your husband wants to walk back what he said on Saturday.
59.
Charlie hangs his head (he didn’t

want to get into it with Sara,
too.) Sara smiles, moves closer to
Charlie... then hurls a bag of
pretzels at him!
SARA
What the heck is wrong / with you, Charlie Whitmore?!
CHARLIE
Hey! / Those pretzels could’ve hit me in the eye.
SARA
You take a gift like this - a G.D. miracle, 71% - and you
want to poop on it. Just go out there, drop your pants, and
take a big steaming dump on it?
l
CHARLIE
sa
I hate when you get drunk.
She jumps up and down.
SARA
ru
(yelling, angry)
I’M NOT DRUNK, I’M HAPPY!! And you should be, too! But you
never were. Not in the State Senate, not after your first
election as Senator - and now you look downright morose.
Pe
ALEX
That’s what I said! Like he didn’t even want to win!
SARA
Amen to that! Charlie’s always been second-guessing himself,
claiming he wasn’t a real politician like his daddy / or his
brothers.
CHARLIE
Hey, leave my father / out of this, all right?
SARA
But guess what, sweetie? You won! By a lot more than those
yahoos ever did. So you go out there and give that damn
acceptance speech so I can get outta these Spanx and have
some Sonic burgers and Dairy Queen cuz these low-fat pretzels
ain’t cuttin’ it!
60.
She hurls the other bag of pretzels

which hit by the door as Tom
enters, but he barely notices, and
looks right at Charlie.
TOM
Um. They’re ready for you, Senator?
Charlie considers his options. He

looks at Sara and Alex.
CHARLIE
Okay... what if I don’t walk anything back per se, but just
speak from the heart, like last time?
SARA
NOOOO!!! / What in the Sam Hill is wrong with you?
l
sa ALEX
Senator, I’m begging you. We - are begging you. What you said
three days ago was a game-changer. So please - for your sake,
for our sake, for the voter’s sakes - help us continue to
believe in you by delivering your acceptance speech as
ru
written - with confidence, humility and no specifics.... Just
a few bland platitudes about a brighter future.
CHARLIE
(mutters)
Pe
...You don’t have to say “bland” platitudes, a platitude is

bland by definition.
ALEX
Which is why I’m not a speech writer. Stick to the script the
boys cooked up and you’ll be fine.
Charlie turns to Sara for guidance.
SARA
(hiccups)
...What she said.
CHARLIE
I’m just... I’m scared, baby.
SARA
Of what?
61.
CHARLIE
That I can’t be the man I promised to be in that speech. I’m
not my daddy. He thrived on the animosity he got from the
other side of the aisle, but you know that’s not me. How am I
supposed to fight gridlock and affect change? I’m nobody!
SARA
Baby--
CHARLIE
And now everybody’s talking about The White House in a few
years -- as if that’s naturally what we want. After all this,
you really wanna go through the slog of a national campaign,
with Luke and Matty not even in high school by then, the hits
and personal attacks we’d take running at that level? I can’t
go through that, put you all through that, I’m not strong
enough. I’m not...
l
sa He can’t finish the thought.
SARA
Hey. I know you’re strong enough. For this, or The White
House, or whatever God has planned for you. ‘Cause ya know
ru
what? I think it was all meant to happen this way. I do. It’s
almost biblical, ya know. A man turns his back on The Lord...
and finds himself in the process. And gets re-elected in a
landslide, that wasn’t bad either. (Charlie smiles.) Along
the way he helps change some hearts and minds, including
Pe
mine. And maybe, just maybe... finds his Faith in God again?
CHARLIE
...Why’d I have to open my big, stupid mouth?
SARA
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who
love it will eat its fruit.”
ALEX
Proverbs 18:21.
Charlie and Sara turn to Alex,

surprised.
CHARLIE
Thought you were Jewish.
62.
ALEX
Old Testament is Jewish.
Small beat.
Charlie and Sara nod in agreement.
CHARLIE SARA
(quietly) (quietly)
That’s true. Oh yeah...
Charlie puts on his jacket. Beat.
CHARLIE
Tom, what do you think?
Tom is caught biting nails or
l
playing with gum in his mouth.
sa
...About what?
TOM
CHARLIE
ru
About everything I said the other night.
Alex and Sara look at Tom

expectantly for an answer. Beat.
Pe
TOM
Oh... Well, I don’t know much about policy or anything, sir,
but... I always sorta thought God...? Was kinda like bottled
water. Everyone’s tryin’ to sell you their brand, and tell
you theirs is the best and the only one you should have, but.
When you peel off the label, it’s all the same inside. You
can even get it for free in rivers and streams and stuff. And
they all quench your thirst, so. In the end, who cares which
kind you drink... ya know?
Charlie, Sara and Alex are stunned.

Small beat.
Then Charlie laughs heartily, and

pats Tom on the shoulder
affectionately.
63.
As he steps away Tom pats Charlie

on the back (a little too hard).
Charlie is surprised but lets it
go.
Charlie moves to Sara. Pulls her in

for a deep kiss. It swoons her
drunken legs.
Alex and Tom sort of turn away to

give them “privacy.” When Tom turns
around, we see the back of his
“Apathy Is A Four-Letter Word” T-
shirt says “GOD IS A CONCEPT.”
Charlie finishes the kiss and

steadies Sara. He takes a deep
l
breath and steels himself for the
sa task at hand.
CHARLIE
(pointing to Alex)
You tell the guys to fire up the Teleprompter with that
ru
acceptance speech. (Exhales. Looks at Sara, nervous and
excited.) Let’s do this.
Charlie exits. Alex shoos Tom to

follow. He scoots out. Beat.
Pe
ALEX
Who’d of thought the one to finally talk some sense into him
would be Tom?
Alex fires off a text, then

breathes a huge sigh of relief.
ALEX
Okay. You ready, Mrs. Whitmore?
SARA
Mnm. Unh-unh. Momma’s gonna sit this one out.
She collapses into a chair.

64.
ALEX
No, no, no - spouses need to appear on stage after the
acceptance speech. It looks bad otherwise.
SARA
It’ll look worse if I topple over and puke on Charlie’s
shoes, trust me. I’ll just... watch from back here again.
ALEX
We’ll get you some more coffee, you’ll be fine.
SARA
Nah, I got somethin’ better.
Sara finds a small airplane bottle

of booze in her pocketbook and
pours it into her soda cup. Alex
l
sighs, temporarily gives up.
sa SARA
Tell you what - I will be glad to see the backside of this
election. My little heart can’t take anymore stress.
ru
Sara takes a healthy sip.
ALEX
Yes, you look very tense.
Pe
Sara smiles.
SARA
I do love that dry New York sense of humor, though!
Sara pops on the closed-monitor TV

with the volume on MUTE.
ALEX
Okay, we really should / head out there--
SARA
You ever been married, Alex?
ALEX
Hm? Oh, uh. No. Close once, but... no.
65.
SARA
Mm. Good for you. Marriage sucks.
ALEX
Really.
SARA
Pain in the friggin’ ass. Like sometimes you just wanna say,
“Hey, I don’t care what you do, leave me out of it, I’m
watching ‘The Real Housewives.’” ...But you can’t. You gotta
be supportive. And listen. And all that droopy drippy crap.
ALEX
(smiling)
This is a side of you I wish I’d seen a long time ago.
SARA
l
See, I can be fun. And smart and honest. That’s the way I was
sa
when Charlie got into politics. I basically ran his first
campaign, ya know - for State Senate? But soon as the Party
saw he had a future like his daddy, well...? Mm-mn, wifey
needs to retire to the sidelines and stop offering her
opinion to reporters ‘cause politician’s wives are not meant
ru
to have independent thoughts. My job is to be sweet and
vapid, and wear flag pins, and trot our boys out in matching
white oxfords and seersucker shorts. Gets so I sometimes
forget who I used to be. Smart. And opinionated. And fun.
Whole lotta fun.
Pe
ALEX
I think you’re still all of those things, Mrs. Whitmore.
Sara looks at her, smiles.
ALEX
Especially opinionated.
SARA
(smiles)
There’s that dry humor again!
Sara looks at Alex, suddenly sober

and sincere. Beat.
SARA
Hey... I’m glad you’re on our side.
66.
ALEX
(misty eyed)
...Me, too.
Sara offers Alex her cup.
SARA
You wanna sip?
ALEX
No - thank you. Why don’t we head inside? / The Senator’s
about to take the stage--
SARA
(still offering cup)
Come on! War’s over, man, we won! Time to celebrate!
l
Alex hesitates, then takes the cup,
sa
Atta girl.
hoping this will appease Sara.
SARA
ru
Alex sips, can’t believe how strong
it is, she can barely swallow.
ALEX
(can hardly talk)
Pe
...Oh my god.
SARA
That’ll put some hair on your chest!
ALEX
(can hardly talk)
It’s just... bourbon and ice.
SARA
...Yeah, I drank all the coke. Shoulda warned ya.
Sara takes back the drink and sips

as the women share a friendly
laugh. Sara she spots Charlie “on
the monitor” and scrambles to turn
up the volume.
67.
SARA
Ooo, here he comes, here he comes! Oh, he looks so handsome.
ALEX
That’s a great suit.
SARA
Told ya: I tell him which pants to wear.
ALEX
(smiling)
Yes, you did!
Charlie’s voice comes over “the

monitor” at a low volume.
BOTH WOMEN CHARLIE (ON TV)
l
SARA: And I bought him that Thank you! Thank you all so
sa
tie, special for today.
ALEX: It’s very nice.
SARA: Well I was so tired of
candidates always wearing the
same boring ties, I wanted my
much! And thank you for
believing in me - believing
that we all can make a
difference.
ru
Charlie to stand out.
Sara turns up the volume and they

fully focus on the monitor,
watching Charlie with pride.
Pe
CHARLIE’S VOICE (ON T.V.)

(unseen)
It’s the people of this great state - and this great nation -
that make it what it is - the greatest country in the world!
And I know we have a bright future together.
Pop, pop, pop!
Three distinct GUNSHOTS ring out.
Sara drops her drink as she and

Alex stand, unable to believe what
just happened. Small beat.
Alex sprints out, while Sara

remains motionless, stunned and
speechless.
68.
The lights dim but don’t go out as

a News Anchor’s voice fades up.

At 7:52 PM while Senator Charles Whitmore was delivering his
acceptance speech to a packed crowd at the PNC Arena, an
unidentified gunman fired three shots at the Senator who was
rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Information is still coming in, but the gunman, who used a
TEC-22 semi-automatic handgun, was immediately apprehended by
police and taken into custody...

The shooter has been identified as a 19 year old student,
with no history of mental illness...
l
sa As the news anchor’s voices
continue, Tom enters in the dim
light. He helps Sara into a blazer
over her dress, while she puts her
hair up to look more sophisticated.
ru
A trial is expected to begin next month where the shooter
faces first degree murder charges....
Pe

The Governor announced today that Sara Whitmore has been
appointed to replace her late husband until a special
election can be held to fill the vacant Senate seat...
Sara transitions to another part of

the stage, while Tom cleans up the
spilled drink and anything else
(perhaps placing Charlie’s podium
on stage as well) then exits.

Mrs. Whitmore is expected to announce that she will
officially seek the Republican nomination for the special
election. Yesterday, her campaign manager, Alex Klein,
pointed to several early polls suggesting Mrs. Whitmore has a
strong chance of retaining her late husband’s seat....
69.

Maintaining her 5 point lead over the Democratic challenger,
we can now project that Sara Whitmore will permanently
replace her husband as the junior Senator from North
Carolina. Charles Whitmore was shot and killed last November
while delivering his acceptance speech.
A spot snaps on where Sara stands.
Sound of a gavel banging twice.
MALE VOICE
(flat, matter-of-fact)
The Senate will come to order.... Amendment number 9-5-1, the
proposed Whitmore Amendment is now on the floor. The Yays and
Nays are mandatory....
l
A VOTE COUNT is projected behind
sa Sara: “S. 951 -

Amendment” with
reading “0 - 0”
SARA
Proposed Whitmore
“Yeas” and “Nays”
under that.
ru
My husband believed our country was capable of great change.
It’s one of the things I loved most about him: his idealistic
faith in the rest of us. And though I’m a little late to the
party, I’m glad I’m here now to finish what he started... and
show our boys what faith, courage, and follow-through can
Pe
look like. Not only for those we lost at Oak Grove Elementary
last year - but for those we lose every year, and every day
to gun violence. Because while Charlie and I didn’t always
see eye-to-eye on everything, we did both believe in the
power of the human spirit - and the power we all have to
change - myself, included. Now I know I’m nowhere near the
politician my Charlie was... but I ask my fellow Senators on
the floor today to please remember him when you cast your
vote. And do not let his death be in vain.
The gavel bangs twice again.
Sara remains in her spot, standing

stoically as the count tallies up.
In a different area on stage, a

spot rises on a podium.
70.
MAYOR (VOICE)
So now without further ado... here he is... Raleigh's own...
The crowd cheers as Charlie

(wearing the rumpled suit from
three days ago) enters and takes
his place at the podium.
CHARLIE
(The crowd laughs.)
(The crowd cheers.)
l
sa The crowd laughs again. Awkward
pause as Charlie looks down at his
script, then out over the crowd.
Charlie is fraught with emotion.
Eventually he shakes it off and
ru
comes to a decision.
CHARLIE
Pe

(He rips his speech in half)

CHARLIE
That’s exactly what I wanna talk about tonight. (Pause.) “God
is a concept by which we measure our pain.” That’s a quote
from John Lennon. And I never really understood it until
recently.
71.
Alex enters (wearing what she had

on three days ago at NC State),
racing to the edge of the light
near Charlie as if she’s just “off
stage.” Charlie notices her and
gives her a little nod, holds up
his hand, like, “It’s okay, I got
this.” Alex is forced to watch
“from the wings,” helpless.
CHARLIE
But I think it means that when things get tough, when tragedy
strikes and we’re in pain - we tend to ask “why.” Why me, why
now? And when we can’t find a suitable answer, we often turn
to God.
Someone else calls out “Amen” and
l
others echo her.
sa CHARLIE
That’s right! We say, “Amen, it’s God’s will! God’s plan.”
And I did that. When I lost my father, I turned to God. I
believed and I prayed and went to church and read my bible
ru
and felt that God was always watching over me, over all of
us. But our faith gets tested on a daily basis. And it’s hard
to keep that faith when something truly horrific occurs. Like
the shooting at Oak Grove Elementary.
Pe
The room goes deathly quiet.
CHARLIE
And it made me wonder if, uh... if I could continue believing
in a god that would allow things like this to happen.
The crowd gasps and murmurs. Alex

hangs her head down.
CHARLIE
(trying to win them back)
But that’s okay! Doubts are okay. I was angry! And upset.
And, and, and... lost. But sometimes it’s in the darkest hour
that we find our way.
The crowd settles down.

72.
CHARLIE
And I suddenly saw what my purpose was: Not to sit at home or
in church and quietly pray for things to change. But to
actually do something to stop other families from having to
suffer the same tragedy. For as the Good Book says, “A person
is justified by works and not by faith alone.” So my work
begins right now: I believe we need a common sense approach
to our gun laws, and that starts with stricter background
checks and closing loopholes to make sure events like Oak
Grove never happen again.
More murmurs from the crowd. Alex

now watches Charlie with new eyes.
Behind Sara, the vote count hits 10

Yeas, 9 Nays.
l
CHARLIE
sa
Now this ain’t about taking away guns completely, y’all know
I’ve been a proponent of the 2nd amendment for a long time --
heck, I’m a proud gun-owner myself! So you should know I’m
not here to take away your rights. I’m here to protect them.
Protect the most valuable one of all: Life! For we are all
ru
“endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights.”
But “Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” don’t mean squat
if you’re worried about taking a stray bullet to the head
while you’re out shopping for a toaster! And while I firmly
believe in our God-given right to protect ourselves, I don’t
Pe
think our Founding Fathers in their infinite wisdom could

have foreseen firearms being sold at a mall right next to
that toaster!
CHARLIE
Because for me, this isn't about “personal liberties.” It’s
about living without fear. And I for one am tired of being
afraid. Afraid of the backlash from the people in my own
party. Afraid of the NRA and the lobbyists. Afraid for my
kids to go to a mall. Or the movies. Or to school. (His
emotion overwhelms him. He softens.) Their own school. And
have to wonder if today's the day someone turns a gun on
another unsuspecting crowd.
Alex has softened and is fully

invested in Charlie’s speech.
73.
CHARLIE
So prayer is not the answer. Staying quiet out of respect to
the victims isn’t the answer. You think those families from
Oak Grove, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Newtown, Tucson, Aurora,
Charleston, Orlando would rather we sat on our hands another
10 years and let thousands of people die out of respect? No,
they want change. And I need you to help make that change. To
speak out with your vote. And that, my friends. Just might
restore my Faith. In this country. In humanity.... In God.
Because even though I lost my way, you all have the power to
help me find it again! Help me believe in the power of the
human spirit to make this country strong!For as the prophet
Isiah says: “even youths grow tired and weary, and young men
stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew
their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they
l
will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
sa
faint!!”
The count hit 36 Yeas, 35 Nays.
Sara closes her eyes and begins to

ru
pray silently.
Alex watches Charlie, full of

emotion and pride.
Pe
CHARLIE
(building to a crescendo)
If I lose this election, get run out of politics, get shot
down right here on this stage... it won’t matter as long as I
was fighting to make this state better, make this country
better, make our lives better! But if I continue to say
nothing and do nothing, then I won’t be able to live with
myself. And you shouldn’t either! Apathy is a four-letter
word! Everyone in this room can effect change! Every soul can
make a difference! It just takes a little courage, a little
caring, and a whole lot of follow through! I’m Charles
Whitmore and I sure as hell approve this message.
SARA
(eyes still closed)
Amen.
74.
Sara opens her eyes. Her face is

stoic as she casts an enigmatic
stare straight out.
The count is at 40 Yeas, 40 Nays,

when the tally shutters, flickers,
then cuts out.
BLACKOUT.
END OF PLAY.
l
sa
ru
Pe

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CHURCH & STATE

© 2016 Jason Odell Williams

TOM / MARSHALL / REPORTER / SECURITY GUY: Male. 20s-30s. An NC State graduate

Marshall is more of a "southern gentleman." Tom is a paid intern with the

© 2016 Jason Odell Williams

recorded voices and let sound design tell the story.

BEST NEW PLAY NOMINEE (Off Broadway Alliance)

Originally developed with Artistic Director Ralph Meranto at JCC CenterStage,

The rolling world premiere casts were as follows:

Skylight Theatre Company

SENATOR CHARLES WHITMORE ....

The cast was as follows:

SENATOR CHARLES WHITMORE .... Rob Nagle

“Gripping entertainment! Playwright Jason Odell Williams is a postmodern

“A crackling script. Feels very of the moment. An enjoyable, thought-

“A powerful, often humorous, and highly contemporary piece [with] several

“Packs an emotional and intellectual punch unmatched by anything I've seen

"Though dressed as a comedy, Church & State packs a surprising philosophical

“A powerful, thought-provoking, button-pushing 'gun-control comedy' (that's

"A mesmeric production of a captivating, thought-provoking new play sure to

- Jason Odell Williams, June 2016

From the dark, we hear...

Lights rise on a rundown green room

RUGGED AMERICAN MALE (VO)

Tom, wearing a white “JESUS IS MY

sa “WHITMORE FOR SENATE” baseball hat,

After a beat, Charlie enters

RUGGED AMERICAN MALE (VO)

He searches for and finds the

RUGGED AMERICAN MALE (VO)

The TV comes back from commercial

sa He stabs uselessly at the remote.

Alex darts by the door, phone to

up, immediately begins texting her staff.) Senator, what are

She finally looks up from her phone

She looks at him blankly.

He watches for a moment.

He shuts off the TV. Paces,

Charlie nods, starts to say

Sara swoops in, all charm and

Beat. Sara and Charlie stare at

Alex hastily takes the tea from

Beat. Alex stands very still.

Sir, you’re killing me here, please!

Alex’s jaw drops slightly. Sara

breaks into a deadly smile.

She hits Charlie on the arm (on

She hits him one last time.

During the chaos, Tom enters

sa still wearing his JESUS IS MY

Tom nods dumbly.

Tom nods, not going anywhere, gives

a goofy smile at the Senator.

Alex starts to say no, but...

Alex sighs. Giddy, Tom puts down

Tom looks at his phone.

Alex physically ushers Tom out.

Charlie gives Tom a friendly

Williams CHURCH & STATE Perusal

Williams CHURCH & STATE Perusal

Williams CHURCH & STATE Perusal