Setting: St. Louis, Summer of 2001

Summary: A group of friends turns against one of its members by making him the victim of an evil plot.

The Cast:

Andrew: The carefree hero of our story, Andrew loves swing music and walks as if he always has a song running in his head. He is currently employed at Petsmart, but future goals include taking over the world using a single lemon. However, he fears that his strawberry hair and squeaky voice hinder his intimidation factor to the point of making this goal an unreachable dream.

David: This tall, dark-haired villain has a distinctively sinister laugh. A master of reading people's emotions, he is a clever manipulator when he chooses. He is rumoured to be a British Spy.

Amy: Resourceful and organized, Amy is David's partner in crime. She helps him plan his villainous endeavors, and is always an available sounding board for any new and suitably evil idea of his.

Jennifer & Elaine: David's sidekicks, Jennifer and Elaine, are both talented and beautiful. Do not be deceived by their charm. They were once innocent, but now have been corrupted by David's manipulations.

The Instigator: This shadowy man, known only as "The Instigator," is responsible for the story as it unfolds. He is rumored to have power even over David, but this has not been confirmed. It was he that planted the initial idea in David's scheming mind, in the form of this highly secret document.

The Story:

     "It is time."
     In the parking lot of Petsmart, four black-robed figures bow silently to each other, as they don ninja masks. They creep stealthily alongside the brick building, keeping in shadow. The conspirators lurk near a parked car, hazily illuminated by the orange glow of a street lamp. Stillness overtakes them as they lie in wait. All are silent...

     Meanwhile, inside the building, Andrew clocks out of work and wearily gathers his belongings.
     "What a horrible day at work," he thinks to himself. "At least it's over with. A quiet night at home is exactly what I need."
     Feeling better, he takes his jacket and steps outside the door, whistling softly.
     "It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing, doo wah doo wa--"
     Suddenly, he is attacked from behind and blindfolded! He is forced into a car by unknown assailants!
     "What is the meaning of this?" he demands as the car pulls away.
     No one responds.
     After the car turns several times, he loses track of where his assailants are taking him.
     "Won't someone tell me what's going on?" he pleads.
     "Only ashes and silence will remain," comes the reply.
     Andrew is taken from the car, led indoors, and escorted up a flight of stairs. He waits for several minutes, wondering where his attackers have gone. He is surrounded by darkness and quiet. Andrew slowly removes the blindfold. He finds himself in a spacious room with an ornate chandelier suspended from the ceiling, several portraits on the walls, and a grand piano in one corner. The only light that comes from several tall arched windows obscured by heavy draperies. He turns slowly, looking for signs of his enemy. His eye is caught by a tiny figure cart-wheeling across the room. Another attacker uses this moment of distraction to come forth from his covert behind a curtain. Andrew turns to face his adversary, a tall man in black, and realizes he must fight in order to survive. He bows to his opponent...

     A few moments later, eerie piano music fills the room. The two adversaries stop sparring, and look up. The man in black removes his mask. Andrew gasps.
     "David! I should have known you would be behind this! If nothing else, that sinister laugh of yours should have tipped me off."
     As if by some unspoken signal, the remaining three ninjas step forward and silently remove their masks. Andrew is reduced to babbling incoherency.
     "Amy! Jenny? Elaine? You've all betrayed me? But... but..."
     Andrew is led roughly back to the waiting car.

     "So what do we do now?" Amy asks David once they reach the car.
     "Let's go to Steak 'n' Shake," he says.
     "But if we go in dressed like this, they'll think we're holding the place up!"
     David shrugs. "Not if we take our masks off."
     "All right then. Let's roll!"