November 9: Cass is Back

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NOVEMBER PLAYWRITING CHALLENGE

November 8: Dream a Little Dream

“Think of the weirdest off the cuff thing someone’s ever said to you— write a situation in which it would fit in”

**For context when getting my senior photos in high school the man taking them tried to entice me by saying I looked like Mama Cass. I then saw we had the same birthday and got convinced I was her reincarnated.”

SCENE

(The setting is a wax museum. A 50 something plus size woman CATHERINE and her friend JOEY are making their way through.)

JOEY

This place is so bizarre. Who even came up with this concept?

CATHERINE

Probably someone in olden days when they didn’t have photos so this would be like the way they would see celebrities before Cameo I guess. 

(They approach a waxwork. It can be of whomever you want.)

I mean, look at the craftsmanship. This level of detail IN WAX. We don’t have artistry like this anymore.

(JOEY looks at the sign)

JOEY

The sign says this was mass marketed in China last April. 

CATHERINE

Well still it’s the point of the thing! 

JOEY

If they just put a wick on one of these things I could do my one man version of Yentyl that killed at the bars last year. 

CATHERINE

The only thing it killed was every bottle of hard liquor that bar had.  

JOEY

I am making the most out of this oppressive capitalistic system by helping out the bar owners. Oh look the women of the 1960s. 

(They pass by these waxworks)

Here’s Diana Ross, here’s Janis Joplin, here’s Mary Travers. Oh my God.

CATHERINE

What?!

JOEY

That one looks exactly like you.

CATHERINE

Which one? Mama Cass? I don’t even know who that is. 

JOEY

The trail blazing singer from the Mamas and the Papas? The singer who made “Dream a Little Dream of Me” famous?

CATHERINE

Isn’t she also the one that whole urban legend that she choked to death on a ham sandwich is about?

JOEY

That is the very one. 

CATHERINE

Joey?! I don’t want to look like Mama Cass, how can you say I look like Mama Cass?

(She takes a good look at the waxwork)

Oh my God, why do I look like Mama Cass’ twin?!

JOEY

It’s utterly bizarre isn’t it?

CATHERINE

I need to know more about this woman. 

JOEY

Let me go to her Wikipedia page. She was born Sept 19, 1941 and died July 29, 1974.

CATHERINE

Oh my God. I was born September 19, 1974. What does that mean?

JOEY

Well…I guess welcome back Mama Cass!

CATHERINE

Am I the reincarnated soul of Cass Elliot? You see these Buzzfeed articles of people who come upon their double in art museums but it never really goes into how they process this? Is there a support group or something? 

JOEY

Do you even like folk music?

CATHERINE

No! My Spotify Wrapped ever year is just like boy bands from the 90s on loop. 

JOEY

Well that seems like that’s going to have to change with this revelation. 

CATHERINE

Nothing has to change, it’s just a weird thing. A fun fact to throw out during icebreakers at company all hands. I’m not going to like go on some “Eat, Pray, Love” tour of Cass Elliot’s acquaintances.

JOEY

I mean it would be a good excuse for a girls trip wouldn’t it? You always say we don’t do enough girls’ trips. 

CATHERINE 

I am always saying that…ok first I’m going to see if there’s a link in our families, maybe we’re just like distant cousins or something.

JOEY

…then road trip.

CATHERINE

Fine…then road trip.

TO BE CONTINUED


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I would describe my style and attitude as…

A cross between Iris Apfel, Miriam Margoles, Lucille Ball. But I am a devoted maximalist through and through. Although, as another inspiration once said

Style—all who have it share one thing: originality.

Diana Vreeland

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