This is a play by Jerry Sterner. That's right, a play, not a novel. I decided to broaden the scope of the game a bit! Since it's published in book form, I figure it's fair game! It's about what happens to a town and its main industry when a corporate raider comes to town and sets his sights on that industry.

PM me with an opening line.

DO you want us to put a character name to it as well?

I doubt that it matters, Bob. The characters are William Coles, Andrew Jorgenson, Lawrence Garfinkle, Bea Sullivan, and Kate Sullivan. Use them as you like.

Okay, Asa, I'm game. I'm just confused (what else is new?) as to proper form. Am I correct that we are to submit not an opening description of the stage, timeframe, etc., as usually begins a play, but rather a proposed first-spoken line, as in:

Asa : There'll be no complacency on my watch!

???????????????????????????????????????????????

Exactly! Per your stated rules, just a first line.

I've only got a couple of replies thus far. C'mon, poeple, just a first line, either with or without a character's name! Pleeeeease, pretty please with cream and sugar on it?

I have six contributions so far. Any more before I publish the list?

Here are the first lines:

1. It was much easier to spend other people's money than his own, especially when it came to gambling.

2. Bea: Andy, come here and look what's out front!

3. William: Somehow, I knew she would be late.

4. Coles: It's been said that you have to be a storyteller to tell a story.

5. Offstage voice: Will you come away from that window and join the rest of us?

6. Kate: It's nearly half past now. Do you think he's coming?

7. William: Bea, come in and take a letter, please, and bring the Agrenault file with you.

8. Cabbie: There ya go, Mr. Garfield; right at the front door. Ya want some help with them bags?

9. Garfinkle: Some businesses seem to shout, "Take me," and who am I to refuse the offer?

There you have them. Submit your picks for the real first line!

Number 9, please.

Number 8 sounds good to me...

It's haredr with a play isn't it?

I'll try 2.

I'm with K = 8 for me.

2, please.

I'll go for 7.

Jo, where's yours? Anybody else? Results will be published Sunday, which is approximately tomorrow.

#7

]1. It was much easier to spend other people's money than his own, especially when it came to gambling.

Submitted by KHC; no takers.

2. Bea: Andy, come here and look what's out front!

Kalleh's bluff, fooling Bob Hale and Saranita! Are you happy now, Kalleh?

3. William: Somehow, I knew she would be late.

Somehow, Caterwauller didn't get any votes for this one.

4. Coles: It's been said that you have to be a storyteller to tell a story.

Tee hee hee! I fooled you all!!! This is the real one!

5. Offstage voice: Will you come away from that window and join the rest of us?

Cat's submission, which sounded good to me, but to nobody else, alas.

6. Kate: It's nearly half past now. Do you think he's coming?

Bob Hale penned this query, to which nobody responded.

7. William: Bea, come in and take a letter, please, and bring the Agrenault file with you.

Saranita's submission which fooled Jo and Cat.


8. Cabbie: There ya go, Mr. Garfield; right at the front door. Ya want some help with them bags?

Jo snared KHC and Caterwauller with this!


9. Garfinkle: Some businesses seem to shout, "Take me," and who am I to refuse the offer?[/quote]

I tossed this in just to fool Kalleh. Oooohhhh, I'm SOOOOO mean!!!

Who's got the next round?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Asa Lovejoy>,

Fun! Thanks, Asa!

CW and I got no takers for our lines, and missed the "real one"!

What fun? Where was Arnie?

quote:

Are you happy now, Kalleh?

You know I am!

Poor Asa had to deal with me on this one. On my first submission I worried about the grammar and needed his and Shu's advice. Asa helped me bypass the grammar problem.

Here was my original submission:

"Andy, come here and look what's out front!", said Bea as she looked out the window at a white stretch limousine.

The exclamation mark, quote and comma seemed wrong. Yet, with just the exclamation mark and quotatation mark, it seemed as though the sentence was ended, and the "said Bea..." didn't fit. Both Asa and Shu thought the comma should be deleted, but I wasn't sure. What do you think?

quote:

What fun? Where was Arnie?

Hey, it's about being creative, and you both were!
Arnie, where arrrrre youuuuu? Oh, well, he woulda gotten it right, as usual.

KHC, have you got a book for us? I had to use a play, since the last book I read was "Russian Piston Aero Engines 1914-1945," and I didn't feel that was all that interesting for most of you! However, I did just now finish Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons." Not as good as "The Da Vinci Code," but not bad either.

"Andy, come here and look what's out front!" said Bea, as she looked out the window at a white stretch limousine.

That's how I'd punctuate it. You got me with the same thing in play format, though, Kalleh, and the part that makes me want to kick my own tush is Bea and Andy. Mayberry never crossed my mind until after Asa posted the results. Now I feel like such a Barney!

Asa, great job!

Who's next? I love this game!

KHC? You're up!