Should Have Known Better (Needlephobia)

Setting: Blackhawks Home Ice Rink (United Center “UC” in Chicago, Illinois)
Curtain opens to reveal an ice rink. JONATHAN TOEWS is lined up at C., across from AN L.A. KING PLAYER. They stare at one another, getting ready for the game. They begin to chirp at one another:

L.A. KING PLAYER
Hey, Toes, when I’m through with ya, they’ll need four Zambonis just to clean up all of you!

JONATHAN TOEWS
That’s mighty remarkable talk coming from someone who’s faceoff win percentage is in the low 20’s!

L.A. KING PLAYER
Like how old you and Kanerboo used to be right? Low 20’s?

JONATHAN
Shut your mouth! Let’s drop the puck and let the game speak for us!

L.A. KING PLAYER
I couldn’t agree more.

The puck drops, from the ref and JONATHAN wins the battle. He taps it to PATRICK KANE, who starts forward. However the scene stops. PLAYERS on stage freeze in place.

Enter NARRATOR from L. He x to JONATHAN, who is paused at C., tangled up with the L.A. KING PLAYER.

NARRATOR
(indicating Jonathan)
This is the Chicago Blackhawks’ number one player. He simple two-way centre. A Selke winner. The complete packaged forward. He is beneficial to the success of his team and a key component to them winning the cup. However, for once in his life, Jonathan Toews and the Chicago Blackhawks will experience unwelcome change.

NARR. moves upstage to PATRICK.

NARRATOR
(indicating Patrick)
This is Jonathan’s best friend and linemate. After they were together for the first few years of their career and then split apart, the two have been reunited in a sense. To give the Blackhawks a spark, Coach Joel Quenneville has potted them together once more and they have indeed given the team a spark.

NARR. walked back downstage and stands, addressing the audience:

NARRATOR
Jonathan and Patrick’s story is simple. I won’t bore you to death with their on and off again relationship or their heavy bromance. However, it is best to know that the two are extremely similar.
(points to Jonathan)
This man is about to score an important goal to put the Hawks into the lead, early in the first.
Behind him, the scene shifts. JONATHAN is tripped up by the L.A. KING PLAYER and awarded a penalty shot. NARR. x to D.S.L. and turns to watch. JONATHAN lines up for his penalty shot. He scores. The crowd goes nuts. JONATHAN starts his celebration, a simple yet effective fist pump at his chest.

PLAYERS on stage pause once more. NARR. x back to JONATHAN.

NARRATOR
Yes, Jonathan Toews, you are a secret weapon. It’s too bad that this game is remembered for something entirely different though...

NARR. rounds JONATHAN, lightly gliding his hands over the shoulders of the hockey player. JONATHAN remains still during this.

Exit NARR. to R., after finishing a full 360 on the player.

JONATHAN and PLAYERS on stage un-freeze. PATRICK comes over and pats his friend on the head, followed by 3 HAWKS.

Scene shifts to second period. JONATHAN has the puck by the boards. An L.A. KING PLAYER (KYLE CLIFFORD) slams him into the boards, off of the puck. JONATHAN crashes to the ice, but scrambles back to his feet and confronts KYLE. A tussle ensues. JONATHAN leans forward getting into the face of KYLE.

JONATHAN
Hey, what’s your problem? That wasn’t necessary.

KYLE CLIFFORD
(cross-checks him twice)
Oh, it was completely necessary. I promise you that. It was TOTALLY necessary.

JONATHAN
You wanna go?

KYLE CLIFFORD
You wanna go?

JONATHAN
(cross-checking him)
Well, I asked you first!
KYLE brings his stick up and whacks JONATHAN in the face, drawing blood. The Blackhawk player cringes, covering his face with his hands and dropping his stick.

JONATHAN
What the hell man?

KYLE sheds his gloves and stick and attacks JONATHAN. He beats him up and then slams the Blackhawks’ head into the ice, hard. JONATHAN goes limp. A whistle sounds and two refs grab KYLE, pulling him backward.

PATRICK KANE
Jonny!! No!! Get up!!

PATRICK skates over and drops down to JONATHAN, who is unconscious on the ice. PATRICK grabs JONATHAN’s hand and feels for a pulse, then he looks up and cries for help.

PATRICK
Someone, help me! Help him! Jonny, you’ll be okay, buddy!

PATRICK and the medical staff lift JONATHAN onto a stretcher and rapidly, yet cautiously, wheel him off L. PATRICK goes with them. The game is halted and called. Even though there was still one full period left, it would be rescheduled as the game had gotten WAY out of hand.

Notes

Well, it's that time again. I really felt like doing another musical. I like this one though, cause it is ironic. I'm also seriously considering this one as remaining with the hockey theme.
I'm not sure whether it'll be a one-act or two-act, but you'll know by the end of it. :P
Sorry, if you don't like musicals, but I would love feedback, because theatre is my passion. Always has and always will be. One day I will have a play of mine produced on the stage! ;)


Next up: Needlephobia!! :D