ROYAL FLUSH - Treatment

ROYAL FLUSH An Opera in One Act

Treatment by Frank Pesci Music and Libretto by Frank Pesci

First Draft: Köln, Germany; 27 April 2018

Treatment © copyright 2018 Frank Pesci THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INTERNAL PRODUCTION USE ONLY AND MAY NOT BE SHARED

CHARACTERS THE PLAYERS – four sisters, either by blood or common experience ROSIE (Coloratura Soprano) Her “tell” is prolific vulgarity.

CEE-CEE – (Soubrette) Her “tell” is incessant giggling.

FRANKIE – (Lyric Soprano) Her “tell” is overbearing self-confidence.

ANNIE – (Lyric Mezzo-Soprano) Strong willed, patient, measured. Her “tell” is aggressive outbursts.

THE DEALER – their mother DORIS – THE DEALER (Lyric or Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano) Has a perfect poker face. Knows everyone’s “tells.”

The action takes place at a simple table – a card table, a kitchen table - where the five ladies are playing poker. Playing chips, drinks, and snacks litter the table. DORIS is in the center of the table. ROSIE and CLAIRE fan off to HER left; ANNIE and FRANKIE are to her right.

TREATMENT Poker night. FRANKIE is triumphant from the last hand and is rubbing it in mercilessly.

DORIS, interrupts FRANKIE to shift the attention and move the evening along.

At CEE-CEE’s urging, the group shares jokes and stories of their lives – pranks, schoolyard tussles, and memories of their father.

DORIS calls the game – Five Card Stud; twos are wild, as is the Suicide King. ALL ante up.

DORIS deals two cards to each PLAYER, one face up, the other face down. Highest showing card bets, and ALL call.

ROSIE launches into a rambling critique about the quality of the deal – never a good enough shuffle, the deck must be stacked, the dealer is inept. SHE then trails off into the failing qualities of HER most recent man. He said he was a king, but he’s just a joker, and he’s not even wild.

DORIS deals each a card face up, ruminating on the potential of each hand. Highest showing card bets, and ALL call.

CLAIRE begins to laugh. “Isn’t it nice that we’re all here together?” she asks. Here THEY are, playing cards, when THEY couldn’t possibly find a thing to admire about each other.

No one but DORIS notices as SHE trails off, contemplating how alone SHE feels.

DORIS deals each a card face up. Highest card checks, SOMEONE bets weakly, and ALL call.

FRANKIE grabs the center of attention – The Frankie Show never ends. SHE explains how to steal the spotlight, and soak in the adulation and admiration that she richly deserves.

DORIS deals each a card face down. Highest card bets, there’s a raise, it escalates, ANNIE’s all in, “you BITCHES!” she yells. “You all think you’re so smart! And you fools don’t have a card to your names!”

All PLAYERS go all in on principle. There’s a moment of tense surprise.

The showdown is pathetic – not a hand among them. DORIS calmly flips a 10 of hearts, a Queen of Hearts, and an Ace of Hearts; then a wild two and the Suicide King. “Girls,” SHE says, “learn your tells. I’ve known them since the day you were born, so be kind to each other.” With that, DORIS gets up, and leaves the table.

“Goodnight, Mom,” the PLAYERS say together. THEY begin to trash talk each other in advance of the next hand, their chatter becoming laughter as the game continues.

END OF THE OPERA