DECLAN stands on the edge of a wide open plaza tucked beside a building wearing dark clothes. His hood covers his head and his hands are stiffly placed in his pockets. He looks around for a moment and proceeds to standing loiterously. He takes out a box of cigarettes and begins to open the box to retrieve one. He changes his mind and sloppily quits the process shoving the box in his pocket.

MICHAEL is worriedly walking the sidewalk with a look of distress in his face and his phone in his hand. He wears a beige suit and carries a briefcase. He is looking around with the voracity of as someone who just received narcan. He is sweating profusely and murmuring street names to himself.

He stops and puts a call in to his phone. He waits anxiously while the phone rings, fidgeting. He rips the phone away from his face in frustration then quietly screams and continues on.

DECLAN is using a paper fortune teller. He flicks and folds away at it divining his prophecy. He is locked the freak in. His glare nearly sets this paper aflame as he folds and flicks. Finally he reaches his fortune. He reads it. He throws his head back.

DECLAN settles his reaction and puts the paper back in his pocket.

MICHAEL is stumbling on to another street corner. A flurry of paper flies into his face from an unseen location. He fumbles scared and annoyed at this predicament. After conquering the onslaught he adjusts his tie and keeps with his hurried paced and frantic searching.

DECLAN continues to stand unashamedly. He sniffs and pats his pocket.

MICHAEL stands on another sidewalk bordering a main road. He looks left and sees a nondescript person standing yards away. He looks right and sees a second nondescript sitting. He panics looking between the two. He haphazardly begins to cross the street and almost gets hit a by a passing car. He apologizes to the vehicle that already speeded away profusely before he shouts expletives. He continues on his terrible journey.

DECLAN stands where we left him and will certainly leave him again. He pulls a candy bar out of his pocket like he’s going to eat it. He suddenly throws it on the ground like it was a bug attacking him. He eyes the site of impact. He begins to shuffle around in a cool dancey way.

MICHAEL at his wits end continues walking with no end in sight. Huffing and puffing with each subsequent step. He slows down his pace but continues steadily breaking down. He begins to whimper softly. He mutters to himself in between stifled breaths.

He continues walking and passes by an idle DECLAN. After passing him he keels over in exhaustion and distress. DECLAN does not pay him any mind. In the midst of his fit MICHAEL freezes with eyes wide. He slowly lifts his head and look back at DECLAN.

DECLAN has his hand on his side as if ready to go for a weapon.

MICHAEL stares at him and DECLAN simply gazes back. MICHAEL approaches. MICHAEL speaks softly with tension in his voice.

DECLAN shakes his head slowly without shifting his gaze or moving his hand away from his side. MICHAEL looks back at him intensely annoyed. DECLAN stands still as a marble statue. MICHAEL is shouting “Really?!” In his head with an incredibly vexed demeanor.

MICHAEL puts his briefcase down and looks around. He lifts up his blazer and undoes his messily tucked shirt. He exposes his bare stomach. DECLAN does not shift whatsoever. MICHAEL scoffs and does a slow circle and throws down his shirt and jacket. MICHAEL picks up his briefcase. DECLAN stares at MICHAEL just as before. MICHAEL stares back in mockery and then gives a “What?!” Gesture. DECLAN stares. MICHAEL repeated the gesture. DECLAN quickly glances at his feet then back up at MICHAEL. MICHAEL puts down the briefcase then goes down to untie his shoes. Unlacing his shoes he looks up at DECLAN with tempered rage. He slips off his shoes and picks them up by the backs with his forefingers. He approaches DECLAN and presents him the shoes. DECLAN remains still and staring at MICHAEL. He looks into the shoes. DECLAN stares back at MICHAEL then put his hand into his back pocket. MICHAEL winces. DECLAN pulls out a yo-yo and begins to spin it in yo-yo fashion. MICHAEL agitated, goes to put his shoes on and picks up his briefcase.

DECLAN shushes MICHAEL. DECLAN ceases his yo-yoing and beckons MICHAEL to a spot a mere few feet away from where they just stood.

DECLAN does not give MICHAEL any cigarettes.

MICHAEL pulls out his own and begins to smoke.

MICHAEL looks at his watch and takes a drag off his cigarette. DECLAN stares out and refuses a response.

DECLAN shakes his head.

DECLAN begins to yo-yo as he says this. MICHAEL ponders his words.

A man sprints within inches of them.

The man placed a small white box in DECLAN’s hands. MICHAEL notices.

MICHAEL goes to grab it but DECLAN pulls away.

MICHAEL hands DECLAN the briefcase. DECLAN hands MICHAEL the small white box.

DECLAN pulls the paper fortune teller out of his pocket and flicks and folds it in one hand.

DECLAN settles on a fold to another divination. DECLAN looks at MICHAEL suddenly with a hint of intrigue as if the fortune pertains to him.

DECLAN walks away as MICHAEL says this.

MICHAEL stands awkwardly in the wake of DECLAN’s exit.

MICHAEL looks at his watch, remembers he is late and hurries off.

MICHAEL approaches the door to an apartment building with the white box and looks in the door’s window. A woman, CHERYL, in her 40s looks out from a doorway in the hall at MICHAEL.

CHERYL hides behind the doorway she stands in frightened and peeks back out.

MICHAEL begins to bang on the door.

CHERYL covers her ears in distress. MICHAEL is done with this lady.

CHERYL uncovers her ears but remains half hidden.

CHERYL hears this and begins to creep towards the door apprehensively.

CHERYL reaches the door and begins to open it at a snail’s pace.

CHERYL opens the door and places herself fully in the doorway staring at MICHAEL. MICHAEL gives her a “Move!” Look. She remains still. MICHAEL barges past her and she tries to grab the box out of his hand. He pulls the box away quickly before she has time to grab it.

MICHAEL walks past CHERYL as she begins to scream to MICHAEL and an audience of none.

CHERYL sounds out a guttural scream in horror remaining in the hallway.

MICHAEL reaches the top of the steps facing the second apartment door and lets out a heavy sigh. He opens the door and enters.

As MICHAEL closes the door behind him a voice shouts from a room inside the apartment.

MICHAEL lets out another sigh and drops his head before steeling himself and entering the kitchen.

MICHAEL is faced by a table surrounded by six distinct individuals. At the opposite head of the table is an army general (NICHOLAS). To his right sits a sunglassed man in a white suit (RICARDO). To the right of him is a woman in stereotypical rave attire; neon fishnets, necklace with a neon teething instrument, indiscernible industrial looking head gear, and fur (INDIRA). Across the table facing her is a hockey player with game headgear and a hockey stick (THON). To his right sits a shaman woman wearing traditionally indigenous garbs and an animal skull atop her head (ASTRID). To THON’s left sits a man in a lab coat with broken glasses and a mechanical sphere in front of him as well as several electrical instruments at his disposal laid out before him on the table (MAXIM).

NICHOLAS eyes his watch as he says this.

NICHOLAS slams his fist into the table. Causing MAXIM to wince in fear and INDIRA to let a single loud laugh. The others seated at the table don’t pay much mind.

RICARDO raises and drops his arms in disappointment.

NICHOLAS gives MICHAEL a pointed look. MICHAEL takes a seat at the head of the table opposite NICHOLAS and puts the small white box on the table.

EVERYONE's attention immediately goes to the box; including those who were not active in conversation and paying no mind to it before.

MICHAEL reassess his position at the table.

MICHAEL sighs and moves next to the INDIRA, the rave girl.

MICHAEL gives her a awkward greeting.

NICHOLAS glares at MICHAEL seeking to proceed with whatever sort of situation these freaks might have going on.

MICHAEL goes to speak and is quickly interrupted.

INDIRA points across directly across the table to MAXIM who is fidgeting about.

MICHAEL gives in awkward chuckle. INDIRA puts her head back.

MICHAEL looks under the table. He witnesses MAXIM’s legs spazzing out as if he were have an epileptic episode from the waist down.

INDIRA points to THON who is staring directly at her chest. He realizes he is being observed and unashamedly begins tapping his hockey stick against the table.

THON speaks as if has just woken up from a nap.

MICHAEL sighs, exhausted with these individuals.

NICHOLAS has no medals.

The three men: MICHAEL, NICHOLAS, and RICARDO; begin to yell over each other.

This putrid little dolt is mocking me! I am a serving member and leader of our nations humble armed forces! I will not be made a fool by pipsqueaks of your likeness!

ASTRID speaks firmly and silence falls over the previously yammering individuals.

MICHAEL breaks the hush.

MICHAEL considers the box for a moment.

INDIRA begins to laugh.

MICHAEL just shakes his head in exhausted dismissal. THON begins a slack-jawed chuckle as well. INDIRA stops laughing.

THON stops chuckling.

MAXIM lets out a LOUD single laugh.

MICHAEL looks around at his constituents.

MICHAEL looks around again in an anxious contentment. His vision veers to the box in front of him. He opens the box. MICHAEL barely gets a look at it as MAXIM snatches it away from across the table.

NICHOLAS goes for his gun. MICHAEL, INDIRA and RICARDO erupt into a shouting frenzy. ASTRID does not move neither does THON. MAXIM runs in a circle at the side of the table in a frantic state mumbling to himself.

**(Overlapping)**

MAXIM goads the party from his manic state. THON sort of wakes up for a moment and in an instant MAXIM is backed against the wall with the hockey stick to his throat.

MICHAEL walks over to the trapped and frightful MAXIM. THON holds him steadily not breaking his gaze with MAXIM. MICHAEL takes the box and walks back over to the table. THON still holds MAXIM now with an asleep look on his face.

THON sort of wakes up again and lets him go and sits back down. MAXIM follows cowardly back to his chair.

MAXIM lets out a scared yelp.

MICHAEL gestures to the box almost picking it up.

RICARDO does air quotes saying the silly nickname in a serious spite against MICHAEL.

MICHAEL does dumb air quotes in mockery of RICARDO.

NICHOLAS gives MICHAEL a vexed look and nods.

RICARDO lets out a genuine laugh with this.

MICHAEL looks back down at the box and begins to open it.

NICHOLAS slams his fist into the table.

Its not clear if NICHOLAS is talking to MAXIM or MICHAEL.

MICHAEL opens the box that looks like it contains macaroons to EVERYONE’s rapt attention. Inside is what looks like it can only be described as a pair of large walnuts covered in peanut butter.

MICHAEL is not sure what he’s supposed to be seeing.

NICHOLAS is so enraged he can barely keep serious, he gets up and paces.

NICHOLAS paces in a quiet white rage.

NICHOLAS pulls out RICARDO’s chair from under him. RICARDO quickly gets up to square NICHOLAS.

NICHOLAS and RICARDO both look at ASTRID.

ASTRID simply gives RICARDO a cold look. ASTRID then turns to MICHAEL.

MICHAEL tips the box so everyone can see what’s inside. EVERYONE else raises and crowds over top to take a look inside. MICHAEL takes the box back and closes it. EVERYONE goes back to sitting how they were.

RICARDO and NICHOLAS look at ASTRID confusedly.

THON gives INDIRA a suspicious look.

MICHAEL just shakes his head a bit.

MICHAEL opens the box about to speak again.

MICHAEL looks in the box and goes wide eyed. He looks at NICHOLAS in fright. As NICHOLAS is about to retort this worrying look. MICHAEL tuts him really fast.

MICHAEL sighs.

He shows EVERYBODY the box now with one singular peanut-butter-covered-walnut-thing.

MICHAEL tries to silence the general as he is yelling.

The others look at MAXIM confused as he said something that made sense. MAXIM eyes the room.

MAXIM puts his head down quickly.

NICHOLAS is so full of rage he simply grabs his gun and swiftly puts in on the table without removing his hand and his head lowered.

MICHAEL is spazzing out.

MICHAEL starts clawing around his suit like he’s covered in mites.

THON in an instant points the stick across the table at INDIRA.

MICHAEL looks at INDIRA and then NICHOLAS. Confusion and worry contort his face into a stress mass.

INDIRA gets up out of her chair and goes to the exit.

The exit is blocked by a lightning fast THON who now poses as an obstacle to INDIRA. INDIRA turns around to face the table.

EVERYONE looks at INDIRA confused by this not quite accurate statement, besides RICARDO who is peeved.

NICHOLAS gets up and points his gun at MICHAEL.

NICHOLAS moves his stare to INDIRA

NICHOLAS loosens his grip on his gun.

INDIRA huffs.

INDIRA squints with contempt at ASTRID and sits down. NICHOLAS sits back down after.

INDIRA crosses her arms.

ASTRID looks at MICHAEL. MICHAEL is beyond exhausted and bewildered at this point.

MICHAEL look at THON who is still standing by the door now face away but most certainly with a dim-witted look on his face.

THONS snaps out of his frequently inhabited trances and sits down.

EVERYONE at the table now looks at MICHAEL with the utmost contempt in there eyes and the psychic strain immediately debilitates MICHAEL.

MICHAEL waves his arm around aimlessly gesticulating to the situation at hand.

INDIRA mouths the word “Perv” to MICAHEL and points to MAXIM like she hasn’t been outwardly referring to him as one this whole time.

NICHOLAS rises and reveals his firearm once again to begin yelling which immediately stirs RICARDO.

I’VE KILLED MEN TRIPLE YOUR SIZE WHILE HALF IMPAIRED! YOU THINK I’M GOING TO BOW DOWN TO THE LIKES OF YOU!

INDIRA and THON join the rabble rousing.

MICHAEL has been trying to hush EVERYONE since the yelling started. MAXIM lunges across the table and attempts to hijack the box. MICHAEL struggles with him for a moment when INDIRA notices the tug-of-war and decides to become a third axis of pull. MICHAEL is scared shitless. IN the midst of this chaos ASTRID is shot in the shoulder by NICHOLAS’s gun misfiring.

The chaos does not cease after this but only seems to escalate as NICHOLAS has RICARDO pinned to the floor in a legendary struggle. MICHAEL sees ASTRID staring at him calmly as the box is being tugged at from his hands in three directions now as THON has joined his hands to the fragile box. ASTRID and MICHAEL’s locked gaze softens the outside noise for a moment.

When suddenly ASTRID’s voice strikes like a bolt of lightning.

MICHAEL is taken aback as reality constricts into to his and back out again with seven even slices of the MONKEY BALLS.

The scene shifts tone to a bacchanal. The once empty table is lit with candles and littered with trinkets. The MONKEY BALLS are passed around, in this golden washed-out memory space, by MICHAEl to the EIDOLONS who all have smiles on their faces.

AS they each have on placed on a plate in front of them by MICHAEL it is also taken by a vantablack phantasm-man and placed in a negative version of the original pastry box. Each piece does not disappear from the plat however, and as soon as each piece is taken it is followed by the ingestion of the piece by each EIDOLON. MICHAEL sits down at last to enjoy his piece. The phantasm-man sits begrudgingly in the corner and concerns himself with engorging the potential essences of each piece of the MONKEY BALLS.

MICHAEL finally goes to eat his piece and was it touches his mouth, he is pulled back into the original reality through his eyes.

MICHAEL has reentered the scene that he left but the chaos has died and there is only the signs of struggle that remains. It seems like everyone slipped into some sort of trance at the sound of ASTRID’s incantation.

MICHAEL looks at the box between several parties hands

And realizes it is empty. He drops it and looks around at everyone and at a nearly unconscious ASTRID.

EVERYONE goes to the box instinctively.

ASTRID gazes at MICHAEL.

DECLAN sits in his apartment watching a blank tv screen. The briefcase that was handed off by MICHAEL at the beginning sits by his side. HE absentmindedly grabs it as he drinks from a Yoohoo bottle and opens it up before him. It is a laptop. He types in a password and gains access to the contents.

A wide grin spreads across his face.