Beasts and Saints

This script is for a one-act stage play. It is set in and inspired by the infamous Voltaire's Basement, a downtown branch of the central Texas chain of used bookstores run by John and Marquetta Tilton. In this fictional story, three women try to earn a living by running a used bookstore in a seedy part of downtown Austin, Texas. The owner, Joy, is in her late 50s; Elle is a writer in her late 40s; Nina is an innocent 16-year-old. Their loose business practices and the location next door to a homeless shelter prevent the store from reaching its maximum potential. The Mamet-styled portrayal is stark and filled with innuendo.