Blogger Word Verification: Medle

A stage and a podium. A number of important looking older man stand wearing black tails with white ties. An atmosphere of elegance and nobility.

HOST

Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce to recipient of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize in Literature goes to Mark Gregory.

There is applause. MARK GREGORY comes up to the podium. He looks about 19 and shell shocked. The HOST puts a medal around his neck. MR. GREGORY addresses the audience.

MARK GREGORY

Uh, yeah...This is...a bit...unexpected, to say the least. I really don't know what to say. I guess, I would have thought someone would have said something by now or called attention to the fact that I...well...didn't actually....um...[pause] right, but no one has and so I guess that this isn't really the time or the place to say anything, what with everyone being here in...Stockholm. [pause] I mean, I was surprised when my professor of creative writing, Professor Stickler [there is applause] accepted my manuscript in the first place...given the fact that the title was...well, I thought, maybe the guy is an idiot or just isn't well-read...and then when he submitted it for that New Voices competition through Simon and Schuster, without whom this award would never have been possible [more applause], I thought, well, it's only a matter of time before I'm found out. But then, when I won and was published, and the critics not only believed I had...well...and not only that but they liked it...well, of course they liked it...and then it started making all those lists and the Pulitzer and well...[pause]...well...[pause]...and now...this. Well, I guess, I just want to say...[pause]...I just want to say...[longer pause]...thank you.

There is applause. MARK GREGORY backs away and the HOST steps back up to the podium.

HOST

Thank you, Mark Gregory, winner of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for Literature for his epic wartime novel, War and Peace. We of the Nobel Prize Committee laud you for your work and look forward to your upcoming novel...[looks to his notes]...Moby Dick.

MARK GREGORY looks at the audience as if to say, "Anybody? Nobody?"

Lights fade.