THE ORANGE MENACE

By
Phil Clarke Jr

copyright 2006
dogglebe@yahoo.com

Fade in on
The office of a small time lawyer.  Bookshelves and diplomas line the wall.  THOMAS LANDERS sits behind his desk flipping through papers.
KNOCK
KNOCK
KNOCK
The office door open partially.  STEVEN GOODWIN, a timid-looking bookworm sort of guy, sticks his head in.
Goodwin
Mister Landers?
Landers looks up.
GOODWIN
Mister Landers, I'm Steven Goodwin--
Goodwin steps into the room as Landers stands up and steps toward him.
GOODWIN
--I spoke to you on the phone--
Landers
--on the phone, yes.  Come in, Mister Goodwin--
He motions to one of the two chairs in front of his desk.
LANDERS
--please have a seat.
Goodwin sits as Landers circles his desk and sits in his chair.
LANDERS
You mentioned on the phone, Mister Goodwin that you suffered an injury at a construction site--
GOODWIN
--Yes.  Yes.  I was on my way to work and I was walking by the construction site where they're building that new supermarket--
LANDERS
--the Super Saver Mart?
Goodwin
Yes, that's the one.  I was walking by the construction site when I tripped over a piece of construction equipment and hit my head on the sidewalk.
LANDERS
The band aid on your head?
GOODWIN
Yes.  I hit my head.
(reaches to band aid)
Would you like to see my injury?
LANDERS
Not right now...  You say you tripped over some construction equipment that was lying there--
GOODWIN
--Yes--
LANDERS
--On the sidewalk--
GOODWIN
Yes.
LANDERS
Was there anything to mark this equipment?
GOODWIN
To mark it?
LANDERS
Any signs to warn you of any danger?
GOODWIN
No...  No, there wasn't.
LANDERS
Mister Goodwin, construction companies are required by law to visually mark off any areas of potential hazard.  By not doing so, they hold themselves liable should anyone receive injury while in the area.
GOODWIN
Like me?  Like my head?
(reaches for band aid)
Would you like to see my injury--
LANDERS
Not just yet... Now, Mister Goodwin, you said there was nothing to warn you that you were entering a hazardous area?
GOODWIN
No.
LANDERS
Nothing to warn you of construction equipment laying around?
GOODWIN
No.
LANDERS
Do you know what this equipment was, Mister Goodwin?
GOODWIN
I don't know what they're called.
LANDERS
Can you tell me what it looked like?
GOODWIN
Yes.  Yes.  
Landers starts scratching notes on a legal pad.
goODWIN

It was about three feet tall.
lANDERS

Three feet tall.  Go on.
gOODWIN
Yes.  It was three feet tall and cone-shaped.
lANDERS
(suspicious)
Cone-shaped?
gOODWIN
Cone-shaped, yes.  And orange.
Landers stops writing.
lANDERS
Orange...?
The two look at each other, Goodwin with innocence.
Landers with contempt.
HOLD.
LANDERS
Mister Goodwin, what you fell over is known as a pylon--
GOODWIN
A pylon.  Yes.  That's what the officer told me.
LANDERS
Officer?
GOODWIN
The police officer.  He took the accident report at the scene--
LANDERS
Accident report?
GOODWIN
Yes.  I cut my head when I tripped over that orange menace--
LANDERS
Orange menace--?
Goodwin reaches toward his bandage.
GOODWIN
Would you like to see the injury I--
LANDERS
No.
GOODWIN
It took two stitches--
LANDERS
No!
Goodwin quickly puts his hand down.
LANDERS
Mister Goodwin, pylons are used at construction sites and other hazardous areas--
GOODWIN
But I tripped--
LANDERS
You tripped over it because you weren't paying attention--
GOODWIN
But shouldn't they be marked somehow?
LANDERS
Mister Goodwin, pylons are markers.  They're bright orange so people can see them.  How should they be marked?  With orange flags?
GOODWIN
Those didn't work.
LANDERS
Didn't work?
GOODWIN
These pylons had some sort of orange flags sticking out of them--
LANDERS
Orange flags--?
GOODWIN
But I didn't see them until afterwards.  They should've marked them somehow.  With the word 'danger' or something.  These flags were plain.
The two stare at each other in silence.
LANDERS
Mister Goodwin, I don't feel that you have much of a case here.  The construction site used bright orange pylons--and flags--to warn the public of a dangerous condition. 
GOODWIN
Dangerous condition?
LANDERS
Yes.  Dangerous condition.  Like a hole in the ground, or some construction equipment or--
GOODWIN
Or tape?
LANDERS
Tape?
GOODWIN
Yes, these pylons had this plastic tape wrapped around them.  That's what I caught my foot on.
He raises his hand to his band aid.
GoODWIN
Would you like to see--?
Landers grabs a staple remover from his desk and holds it toward Goodwin's head.
Landers
If you ask that one more time, I will pull your stitches out--!
He quickly squeezes it open and closed.
Goodwin freezes, hand inches from the band aid.  He stares at Landers, bug-eyed.
Landers
So help me God.
Goodwin lowers his hand.
Landers slowly lowers the staple remover.
He EXHALES loudly.
LANDERS
Mister Goodwin, you do not have a case.  The U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, and several other government agencies dictate proper safety regulations at construction sites.
Goodwin looks defeated and small.
LANDERS
From what you told me, all the safety regulations were adequately followed where you were injured.
Goodwin slowly gets up and walks to the door.
LANDERS
I'm sorry, but you have no case against the construction company.
Landers turns to some papers on his desk.  Goodwin opens the door.  He starts dragging his way through, then stops. 
He's thinking.
Goodwin
If the construction company follows the... rules set by the state...
Landers looks up with his eyes, curious.
GoODWIN
And people still get hurt...
He turns to Landers.
GOODWIN
Then shouldn't the state be held responsible?
Landers' eyes light up with realization.
Landers
The state would be held accountable....
He looks at Goodwin.
Landers
Mister Goodwin, come in!  Have a seat, please!
Goodwin sits down as Landers pulls various papers from a file.
Goodwin
So you think I have a case?
LANDERS
Of course--!
He quickly shuffles the papers and places them neatly in front of him.
Landers
Your injury was caused by the state's incompetence in creating proper safety guidelines.
Goodwin
And we're going to sue the state?
LANDERS
Oh yes!
GOODWIN
Would you like to see my injury?
LANDERS
Oh yes.  Definitely.
Goodwin slowly pulls off his band aid.
FINAL FADE OUT.
Landers (v.O.)
Oooh.  That is a nasty one...