Ryan M. Moore

© 2001-2010 Ryan M. Moore. All about makin' movies and writin' stuff. Updated sporadically at the moment.

The Under-Rehearser (long version)

The guy who inspired this actually had a show on Discovery Channel at one point.

- – - – - -

Two COPS enter.

COP #1
They say this new villain is really
tough.

COP #2
So what, we’ve caught super
villains before. Remember Mole Man,
and The Human Tax Return? What’s so
different about this new guy?

COP #1
You’ll see. He’s supposed to meet
us here in this deserted warehouse
at midnight.

COP #2
(checking watch)
But it’s already twenty after!

Suddenly the UNDER-REHEARSOR runs in through the audience. He looks like a typical unemployed actor. He’s frantically pulling on a super-villain type shirt with a “U-R” logo on it.

UNDER-REHEARSOR
Sorry I’m late, guys. We were
slammed at work, and the boss kept
putting more people in my section,
and I’m like, “come on dude, i
gotta go, I take my career really
seriously” and he’s all like…

A super-villian logo flashes on the screen. A Big “U-R” that zooms towards the screen and back out, like the old “Batman”
show. Underneath are the words “The Under-rehearser!”

COP #1
Alright, fine, fine, whatever. We
know all about your little tricks,
under-rehearser.

UNDER-REHEARSOR
You may think you know all my
tricks, but… You may think you
know all my tricks, but…

The cops exchange scared and confused looks.

COP #2
What’s he doing? He’s supposed to
say he we think we know all his
little tricks, but he’s got a new
one that will bring about our doom!

COP #1
That’s what I was trying to tell
you- he’s totally unpredictable-
he’ll never say or do what you were
expecting! Now while we’re confused
he’ll escape!

The under-rehearser escapes, and the logo plays again.

The cops, in a new setting, sit around waiting for the villain.

COP #1
We’ll surely capture that fiendish
undrehearser now! I Only hope he
isn’t hiding somewhere around here,
ready to spring forth and ambush
us!

COP #2
Agreed!

They both stare at one stage entrance. Nothing happens.

COP #1
I said, I only hope he isn’t hiding
somewhere around here, ready to
srping forth and ambush us!

They wait a few more beats. Finally the Under-rehearser enters from the wrong entrance.

UNDER-REHEARSOR
I’m sorry, guys. My car broke down.
I’m so sick of that piece of junk,
but I drove it all the way out here
from Nebraska, and I really can’t
afford a new one right now, unless
I get a commercial or something…

The cops are surprised to find their nemesis entering in the wrong place.

COP #2
What? What’s he doing over there?
We had clear instructions that he
was going to enter over here!

They stumble around confused and the U-R escapes again, and his logo plays. The cops get their guns out and tiptoe towards one of the stage exits.

COP #1
We’ve got you this time, under
reheaser! THere’s no way out!
You’re hideout is surrounded by the
whole city police force!

The U.R. enters, seemingly about to give up.

UNDER-REHEARSOR
It seems you’ve finally captured
the under-rehearser- but I’m not
really the under-rehearser at all-
I’m a randy kindregarten teacher!
Quick, react to me!

The cops are scared and confused.

COP #1
What do we do?

COP #2
I don’t know! It’s improv- he’s
gone totally off book! Oh the
brilliant madness!

UNDER-REHEARSOR
Now I’m a stuttering fat man!

COP #1
He’s going to his stock characters!
We don’t stand a chance!

The U.R. is busy doing cliched improv antics at them.

COP #2
We’re doomed- is there no one who
can save us?

UNDER-REHEARSOR
Now, I’m a over-medicated… I mean
a republican who… Oh shit, I’m
sorry guys.

COP #1
(breaking character)
Oh, Jesus, Steve.
How are people supposed to believe
you’re a supervillain whose power
is being an underehearsed actor
when you can’t even remember your
lines?

UNDER-REHEARSOR/STEVE
I’m sorry, guys, I could’ve sworn I
had it at rehersal.

COP #2
Well anyway, I guess the city is
safe, since we’re not really cops
and this is all just a comedy skit
anyway.

A new villain enters. He has “MCW” on his chest.

META-COMEDY WRITER
Not so fast!

COP #1
The Meta Comedy Writer!

META-COMEDY WRITER
That’s right, I have the power to
create worlds within worlds, with
comedy sketches about comedy
sketches about comedy sketches,
until the fabric of reality is
warped beyond recognition!

COP #2
You don’t scare us!

META-COMEDY WRITER
Of course I don’t scare you! You’re
just an actor, pretending to be a
cop, for a sketch! And I’m not
really a supervillain who has the
power to create worlds within
worlds, with comedy sketches about
comedy sketches about comedy
sketches, until the fabric of
reality is warped beyond
recognition, it’s just a gag for a
sketch.

COP #2
(falls to knees)
AHHH! MY BRAIN!

COP #1
He’s destroying the fabric of
reality!

META-COMEDY WRITER
No I’m not! It’s just part of the
sketch!

COP #1
AHHHHHHH! He’s creating a
time/space wormhole!

META-COMEDY WRITER
No I’m not.

A wormhole starts to be created. T-Rex, Napoleon, etc., enter.

COP #1
The universe is going to explode!
We’re all doomed!

META-COMEDY WRITER
Yeah. But don’t worry folks, it’s
only a sketch.

The universe explodes.

Filed under: sketch comedy

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Hi.

My name is Ryan. I'm a writer and filmmaker. This is my blog. Right now, updates are sporadic because I'm working on two new film projects and finishing off a feature script, while trying to get my music video "Let It All Burn Down" into more festivals.

This is meant to be a professional blog, so there won't be any ramblings about how my day is going. If you want that (and why would you, really?), you can find me on Twitter. There will be sketch and film scripts, video clips, fiction, and sometimes travel writing and photography. I am interested in a lot of things, but writing and directing feature films is my long-term focus. I'm currently seeking representation (agent and/or manager), both as a writer and a director.

I'm also looking for people to collaborate with on a variety of things. If it seems like we'd be on the same page in some way, let me know. I don't want to get too specific; this isn't a Craigslist ad.

Email me at 20thstreetfilms[at]gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.