by Roving Reporter, ©2022
(Oct. 1, 2022) — “Rhythm of the Falling Rain” (2:34)
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to ‘The Pulse of the Nation,’ the place to hear it here first. Today’s guest is certainly no stranger to our audience, here to hawk his latest bestseller. Welcome back, Professor Zorkophsky, to ‘Pulse.’ the most-watched information show in its time slot.”
“And mighty glad to be here, but please, Roving, call me ‘Zork’ since I feel it makes for a more relaxing atmosphere. Actually, my latest is not quite a bestseller, but after the exposure ‘Pulse’ will give it, I’m sure it will be right on top of the heap.”
“Well, we certainly hope so. By the way, what’s the title and what’s it about?”
“The title is, ‘The Spiraling Ladder’ written as a three-act play. During Act I we are introduced to a tormented soul who is suffering from PTSD that he acquired by surviving a knife to his throat and two, using a knife to save himself.”
“That sounds rather bloody. Is there blood in your play?”
“No, no blood; we just gloss over any blood scenes to keep a ‘G’ rating.”
“So, Act I: ‘tormented soul with no blood’: does that about cover it? What’s in Act II?”
“Did I forget to mention the booze and the drugs? I did? Sorry, there’s plenty of booze and drugs in Act I.”
“And you still retained the desirable ‘G’ rating?”
“The booze and drugs are hidden.”
“Hidden? How do you hide booze and drugs; tell us that?”
“They’re implied.”
“How implied?”
“Well, as in, ‘He woke up late and had a little difficulty in remembering where he was.”
“That sounds more than a ‘gloss-over.’”
“It’s a writing technique.”
“I’m sure it is. Let’s take a short commercial break; be right back.”
“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (3:53)
“And we’re back with Zork who is hawking a play with a lot of glossing-over; does that do your book justice?”
“A tad harsh but close enough. Now in Act II the booze and the drugs are gone so they don’t have to be implied; I mean, they’re just not there. The hook in the second act is the ‘Damascus Moment’; that’s when our anti-hero realizes that he never needed any crutches — metaphorically speaking – in the first place and, even though he’s cured of the PTSD, it cost him his best friend, his wife.”
“That’s rather sad, isn’t it?”
“Well, it certainly could be but, like Dante, he reaches the depths of despair only to rise like a phoenix striving to be a ‘do-gooder,’ at least in thought but not necessarily in deed.”
“A ‘quiet Born-Again?’”
“Silent as a church mouse.”
“So, what happens in Act III?”
“Not a heck of a lot, kind-of fades away.”
“No suicide?”
“A possibility in Act I, but as soon as the curtain rose in Act II it became a moot point.”
“Giving hope to those in despair?”
“I call it ‘Desperate Straits’ and, yes, giving hope where the reader may see none; after all, this book was written for those in need. By the way, I wrote it years ago but never thought there was a need for it, until now. Way too many are eating a bullet; one is too many. I hope this helps.”
“And we hope it helps, too. Good luck on it, Zork. So, if there are any military folk out there who could use a helping hand, this may be a good read for you. Where can we get this book, Zork?”
“Wherever fine books are sold, or online. Thank you for having me on your popular show, Roving.”
“Professor ‘Trash the masks’ Zorkophsky, folks, and his new book is ‘The Spiraling Staircase.’ Sounds like a good book for troubled ex-servicemen. And that’ll do it for this episode so, on behalf of Zork, this is your Roving Reporter wishing each of you a goodnight. Oh, I almost forgot to thank Henry for filling in during the last broadcast. Goodnight.
“Good show. Burger time: my treat.”
“Marry You” (4:48)
Roving Reporter