(images from the original performance produced by Moveable Mystery Dinners)
An interactive sci-fi murder mystery in three acts.
4m, 3f
SYNOPSIS:
Ray’s Burger Hut is the hippest joint around. But when a swarm of giant, radioactive mosquitos invade the town, the rockin’ diner becomes the only refuge for a group of citizens seeking shelter from the terrors outside. Things go from bad to worse when the diner’s owner suddenly drops dead of no apparent cause. It looks like there’s a murderer in the diner. Inside or outside, no one is safe!
“Attack of the Creeping Menace (In 3-D)” is the long-awaited merging of the parlor room murder mystery and the 1950s giant bug movie. It boasts a cast of colorful characters and a series of “scares” that make it a perfect Halloween production. Requires sound effects and some physical effects. Contains mild expletives.
CHARACTERS:
Pvt. William “Will” Alland – (late teens) All American boy and obedient young soldier; fresh out of high school.
Julie Adams – (late teens) All American girl and a waitress at the diner; Will’s high school sweetheart.
Eugene Lourié – (late teens) Stereotypical nerd; bus boy at the diner; just out of high school.
Cpt. Jack “Bulldog” Arnold – (30s-50s) Aggressive, full blooded American soldier, ever wary of the commie invasion.
Betty May Nelson – (teens-20s) Hip, highly-energetic party girl; the 50s teen culture incarnate.
Dr. Harold Hausen – (40s or older) A German scientist working for the U.S. government who is studying the giant insects.
Miss Marylin Watts – (30s) Dr. Hausen’s long-suffering lab assistant; intelligent, strong-willed.
Mara Corday – (40s or older) Disgruntled, veteran waitress at the diner, with a perpetual cloud over her.
Ray – (40s or older) Diner owner and manager; a little gruff.
Sheriff Willis O’Brien – (40s or older) The local sheriff.
Ray, Dr. Hausen, and Sheriff O’Brien are all played by the same actor.
Miss Watts and Mara are played by the same actress.
EXCERPT FROM THE SCRIPT
(Suddenly, the front door flies open and in rushes CPT. JACK ARNOLD; mid 40s, full uniform, Uncle Sam’s right-hand man. Pistol in hand, he fires two shots back over his shoulder.)
CPT. ARNOLD
Hit the deck!
(One of the mosquitoes BUZZES fiercely just outside the front door. CPT. ARNOLD slams the door shut, but the creature is heard pounding against it outside. ARNOLD backs away.)
WILL
It’s breaking through the door!
CPT. ARNOLD
We’ll see about that.
(Pulls a grenade from his belt)
Stand by that door, private!
WILL
Yes, sir!
(WILL moves to the door. CPT. ARNOLD pulls the pin on his grenade.)
CPT. ARNOLD
Now!
(WILL opens the door)
Here’s one from Uncle Sam!
(ARNOLD lobs the grenade out the door and WILL slams it shut. There’s a RUMBLE from outside, and the BUZZING dissipates)
Ha. Don’t mess with the bulldog. That outta drive ‘em off for a little while.
(Turns to crowd)
Cpt. Jack Arnold, United States military! Now, what in tarnation are you all still doing here?
(To WILL)
Private, I thought I gave you orders to evacuate these people?
(WILL salutes.)
WILL
Sir. There was a bit of a lack of cooperation. Sir.
CPT. ARNOLD
Lack of cooperation? You’re member of the United States military!
(To crowd)
Who in here had the gumption to disobey one of Uncle Sam’s soldiers?
RAY
I did.
CPT. ARNOLD
You? Do you have any idea the penalty for interfering with a military operation?
RAY
He came in here talking about giant mosquitoes! Who in the world would have been expected to believe him?
CPT. ARNOLD
It’s not your job to believe him! You see a man in uniform, you do what he tells you!
JULIE
Does it matter? We can evacuate now.
CPT. ARNOLD
Too late, missy. The area’s swarming with those ugly critters. Any large group of people would be an easy target. No, we’re trapped in here ‘til the threat has passed.
(To RAY)
See the mess you’ve gone and got everyone here in?
(RAY has taken another nip from his flask, and nearly spits it up.)
RAY
Now just a minute! I won’t be spoken to like that in my establishment! I don’t care how many shiny medals you got on that uniform.
CPT. ARNOLD
(Takes RAY by the collar)
Ain’t you got no respect for the red, white and blue?
RAY
(Shoves ARNOLD off)
Not when it comes storming into my restaurant acting like a pompous jackass.
CPT. ARNOLD
Just as I thought! You’re a damn, dirty commie!
RAY
(Totally thrown)
What?
CPT. ARNOLD
No respect for the symbol of our nation. Refusing to follow orders. Why, you might as well have a Soviet flag stitched to your arm. If there’s one thing that makes my blood boil, it’s a commie. Lurking in the shadows like the cowards that they are, trying to sabotage the American way of life. Filling innocent people’s heads with their heretical, democracy-hating propaganda.
(Moving through the audience)
Who knows who they might have gotten to? You? Your grandmother? Your dog Fido??
RAY
You’re out of your mind.
CPT. ARNOLD
Ha! That’s exactly what I’d expect a commie to say. Why, I oughta have you arrested for treason. I’ll bet you wanted these people to be trapped in here, so you could use your pinko brainwashing techniques on them and turn ‘em all into reds! Back on the base, they call me the bulldog--and it’s not because of my good looks. I sniff commies out and then I tear them apart.
RAY
Now you listen to me! I’m a red-blooded American, born and bred. I won’t have anyone accusing me of treason, or any other crime for that matter. And furthermore...
(Beat. RAY drops dead.)
CPT. ARNOLD
Ha! A classic commie tactic.
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