Visa Omnia

This is a piece I created as part of my AS level English Combined Coursework. I entitled it "Visa Omnia". It was inspired by Ben Elton's "Dead Famous". It was a listening piece- so I created a script. Here you go:

(Lights turn on, revealing a vivid scene full of cushions, a sofa and a bar. A group of people are seated on the cushions, whilst the remaining five adults are standing around the bar, low key discussion is heard. Suddenly a loud, booming voice resonates from an unseen source)

Visa Omnia: (a rich, female voice) This is Visa Omnia.

(The contestants look round, appearing startled; characters at the bar are talking)

Eliza: Oh, what is it now? (Sighs) They’ve already got us doing these absurd challenges. I don’t wish to participate in anymore tomfoolery. (Puts down cocktail glass)

Bat: Chill. (His eyes appear glazed)  I think we all just need to chill. Listen to some Beatles or somethin’, mann. Don’t stress.

Eliza: (In a condescending tone) I am not stressing, I am merely stating my opinion upon the matter.

Callum: (awkward laughs) Maybe we should all sing a song (pause) No, no silly idea. Carry on.

Visa Omnia: (crackle from speaker) Visa Omnia would like Bat to come to The Sanctum.

Bat: They’ve found me, they’ve found me. It’s just like 1984. Man (pause) my time has come, dudes. I’ll be back (pause) maybe.

(Bat heads of to The Sanctum, leaving Cloé, Eliza, Callum and Elliott at the bar)

Cloé: (to nobody in particular) D’ya fink they’ll get me in next babes? I need to tart mahself up, I must look like such crap right naahh.

Elliott: You look wonderful to me, ahem, I mean, um, fine. (Pause) You look fine. (Averts gaze from Cloé’s chest)

Cloé: Hmm (pause) I should probs sort my face out like. The fake bakes wearing 'aat anyway. (Walks to the bedroom area, whilst muttering and patting her hair)

(Scene change, inside The Sanctum, there is a singular chair in the centre of a small, padded room)

Visa Omnia: Hello, Bat.

Bat: (slouches across the chair) Sup Visaaaaa. How’s things?

Visa Omnia: Bat, we would like you to listen very carefully now. It is critical that you understand us. We have an important job for you and you alone. (Crackles) It is essential that this job is carried out correctly. 

Bat: I read you loud and clear, dudes, I got this, I got this (slouches further).

Visa Omnia: The task we are asking you to carry out is this. One member of this household is to be killed.

Bat: Ah coooooool, man, have I gotta play a few pranks, make a few jokes, like?

Visa Omnia: We would like you to kill Cloé.

Bat: (startled) What, man, am I hearin’ you right? (Pause) So, d'ya mean like, smash her? Cos, I got a girlfriend at home, y'know, like, and I have morals and stuff, not that I wouldn't man, but c'mon.

Visa Omnia:  Kill Cloé, Bat. You and the other contestants are but pawns in this game that we are playing. You are all expendable. The aim of this game is not to win, Bat. It is to survive. (Crackles)

Bat: I don’t know how to kill, man! I’m not a killing machine, I’m a love machine! (Slight grinding action)

Visa Omnia: The audience must be catered for. We must provide entertainment, Bat. This is how it must be now, you must realise this. The audience no longer find this game of reality alluring. They are looking for more. We will provide more. So much more.

Bat: (Raising his voice) Are you mad, you can’t do this! (Stands up) You can’t just go around killing people like that, its wrong man, seriously wrong! (pause) You’re gonna be stopped!

Visa Omnia: Alas, we have already started.

(Lights blackout. Scene changes, lights come on to reveal the original room with Bat looking distraught on the sofa. Cloé is opposite him, staring into a compact mirror, Callum and Eliza are seated nearby)

Bat: I can’t do this, man. I can’t be programmed like some, (Pause) some sort of machine, man.

Eliza: Why on earth are you being programmed?

Callum: I once presented a show on robots. The kids loved it.

Bat: (ignoring Callum’s last comment) we’re here for their entertainment.

Eliza: That was pretty much the arrangement Bat? We signed up for the public’s entertainment, though I’m not quite sure why I have subjected myself to this ordeal.

Bat: (laughing) Yeah, but, do you even know what sort of entertainment they want, man?

Callum: I can do kids (pause) shows.

Elliot: We all know you can do kids, what was that in the papers? All about how you touched that fifteen yea-

Callum: (Cuts in) that was never proved (awkward laughs).

Bat: Dudes, you don’t get it! Listen to me! The audience- our public! They crave much more than we could ever give ‘em. 

Eliza: Am I following you right here, Bat? What exactly is it they are asking us to do?

Bat: They want death, they want blood. Visa Omnia are here to sustain their demands, man. Everything is seen, there is no escape, dudes. 

Visa Omnia: (crackles) This is Visa Omnia. Would Cloé please visit The Sanctum.

Cloé: Oh mah gawd, I guess that’s me then. What do ya think they’ll say? I bet they ask me to skinny dip in the hot tub. (Heads towards The Sanctum)

Bat: Everything is seen. There is no escape.

 (A scream is heard, lights blackout)