Comic Potential: Synopsis

Cast: 5 male / 5 female
Running time (approximate): 2 hours 25 minutes - not including the interval.
Availability: Comic Potential is available for both professional and amateur production.
Acting edition: Published by Samuel French

Characters

Adam Trainsmith (Young writer, early 20s)
Chandler (Chance) Tate (American director, late 50s)
Lester Trainsmith (Adam's American uncle, 80s)
Marmion (American, speaker for Lester Trainsmith)
Prim Spring (Programmer, 30s)
Trudi Floote (Technician, 30s)
Carla Pepperbloom (The company's regional director, age unknown)
JCF 31333 - Jacie Triplethree (Android actress, seemingly mid 20s)
LM 05623 (Actor Android)
CW 77502 (Actress android)
LJM 548233 (Actor android)
Hotel Desk Clerk
Hotel Waiter 1
Hotel Waiter 2
Man in Dress Shop
Girl in Dress Shop
Dress Shop Assistant
Prostitute
Turkey (Pimp)
Technician

Note: The actors playing Lester, Turkey, Marmion, Trudi also double up on a variety of minor roles
In the near future, former film-maker Chandler 'Chance' Tate is directing a banal television soap. Actoids have replaced human actors and one, Jacie, appears to have a glitch as she keeps breaking into laughter.

Filming is interrupted by high-powered executive Carla Pepperbloom and the TV magnate Lester Trainsmith’s nephew Adam. Adam is a writer, a dying breed, and idolises the work of Chance. When Adam is left in the studio, he runs an old Buster Keaton movie and Jacie begins to laugh. Adam begins to teach her the basics of comedy leading to Jacie doing a double-take when filming on the soap resumes. Initially sceptical, Chance talks to Adam about Jacie and the art of comedy and Jacie demonstrates her talent for the job. Clandestinely, the pair agree to work on a comedy film with Jacie. She is given freedom to improvise and under Chance’s tutelage begins to learn more.

The mute Lester Trainsmith arrives with Carla and Jacie's comedy scene is shown; Carla tears it apart and Chance loses his temper. Carla continues to insist on changes and finds herself on the receiving end of a custard pie from Jacie. Lester laughs and approves the film but orders Jacie to be scrapped. Carla returns and orders the studio closed. Jacie initially doesn’t mind being scrapped but after she and Adam dance and kiss, she realises she doesn’t want to ‘die’.

Adam and Jacie go on the run and check in at the Grand Hotel, go shopping and have a meal - with unforeseen results. Back in their room, Adam uses a Bible to teach Jacie to read. Unfortunately, Jacie has been tracked and Adam sends her to a cheap ‘hotel’ to hide, although she is becoming increasingly unstable and distressed as she begins to feel real emotions. Adam returns, but is stabbed by a pimp who believes Jacie is a prostitute. Jacie over-powers him, but distraught that Adam has been injured, she returns to the studio.

At the studio, Carla is revealed to have leaked Jacie’s story to the press and Lester proves not to be a mute, firing Carla. He offers Jacie Carla's job, but Jacie is still confused and decides to be scrapped. Adam returns from the hospital and is given the bad news by Chance. As he mourns his loss, Jacie reappears and admits she couldn’t go through with being scrapped. The lovers are reunited, but Jacie looks set to be a harder taskmaster than Carla in her new role….

Article by Simon Murgatroyd. Copyright: Haydonning Ltd. Please do not reproduce without permission of the copyright holder.