Immediate Replacement - Harry Moon Radio Play
AaronRelf for Hao Jones
PLEASE, ONLY RECORD YOUR LINES. Give 3 reads of each line. If you want to give multiple interpretations of the character (different accent, different timbre, etc.), read all of the lines, top to bottom, in one voice (one take each line). For example, Voice 1 - Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, etc., Voice 2 - Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, etc. If you have a solid grasp on how you want to do the character, then just give 3-in-a-row of each line in that singular voice. For example, Line 1 - ABC, Line 2 - ABC, etc.
PLEASE, DO NOT SLATE.
PLEASE, INCLUDE ALL LAUGHS AND EFFORT NOISES. For example, in the first scene, when Titus moves your desk, what sound would you make if you were pushed out of the way by a big bully? This is a radio play. All sounds matter.
13 years old. 8th grader. We have both males and females playing our 13-year-old boys. So, as long as you can sound that age, it doesn't matter your gender.
Hao is part of a group of 4 friends, the Good Mischief Team, which includes the lead character, Harry Moon. He is the most respectful and mild-mannered of the group but often goes along with the silliness his friends get involved with. Harry is our lead character and the leader of the group. Izaak is the nerd. Leon is the rambunctious one. Sarah is Harry's former babysitter and, now, his magician's assistant.
In the book, Hao Jones is described as a "world child." He is of indistinguishable Asian ethnicity. He moved to the United States in 3rd grade. So, he may have something of an accent. Honestly, as long as he is intelligible, any South Asian accent might work (Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, etc.).
(This first scene establishes the relationships between the members of the Good Mischief Team. Kids often come to school in costume in this town. Also, the Scary Talent Show is a big deal at this school.)
INT. SLEEPY HOLLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL - FRIDAY MORNING
Children chatter at their desks as they wait for Homeroom to start.
Harry's friends, IZAAK (the tech geek), LEON (the rambunctious one), and HAO (the most mild-mannered of the group), talk with HARRY.
IZAAK
Wake up feeling magical today, Harry?HARRY
Hey, Izaak! Yeah, I've got practice for the talent show after school. It was easier just to wear the costume instead of having to carry it around.LEON
Speaking of clothes, I wonder if Miss Pryor is gonna be wearing that plaid dress today.IZAAK
She's so pretty.LEON
She makes homeroom worth waking up for!HAO
Leon, she's our teacher. Show some respect.LEON
You're such a gentleman, Hao. No wonder the girls are throwing themselves at you.HAO
(laughing)
That would be nice for a change.IZAAK
Do you think you'll win the talent show this year, Harry?HARRY
Maybe.LEON
Hopefully!
(like he's in ancient Rome)
Someone needs to dethrone Titus Kligore, son of Mayor Maximus Kligore, grand champion of all talents!The boys all laugh at the joke.
HAO
It's no wonder he wins every year. His dad buys him all the best stuff to make sure nobody else even has a chance!TITUS enters like a bull in a china shop. He's the largest of all the eighth graders and is even bigger than many high schoolers. He is an all-around bully. He is followed by his much smaller lackey, MARCUS, who seems to be his friend more to protect himself than anything else.
HARRY
Speak of the devil...TITUS
Out of my way, dork!MARCUS
(echoing awkwardly)
Yeah, dork!Titus moves Hao's desk.
HAO
Sorry, Titus.(Chillie Willies is the town's costume shop. It's owned by the Mayor. There are lots of tourists all around because Halloween is big business in this town, and we're getting closer to October 31st.)
Leon, Izaak, Hao, and Harry exit Chillie Willies into the busy town square.
STORE CLERK
(calling from inside)
Have a spooky day!LEON
Man, Chillie Willies is getting more and more expensive.IZAAK
Well, they are the only game in town. If you want a costume...HAO
...and you don't want to get embarrassed by something your mom makes...HARRY
Yeah, you had it rough last year, Hao. What were you supposed to be, anyway? A ghost pig dog?HAO
Don't remind me. I even gave myself nightmares with that one.HARRY
I'm glad she let you buy something this year.HAO
(relieved)
Me, too.HARRY
Hey, I'm gonna go over to the magic shop to get a new wand. Any of you guys wanna come with?HAO
Izaak's got a new video game.LEON
(in a rocker voice)
Rockin' Kart Racers Deluxe!HAO
It's so cool.IZAAK
Sorry, Harry. Maybe next time. C'mon, guys. My mom said she'd make cookies and maybe even let us order a pizza!LEON
Later, Magic Man!HAO
Bye, Harry.(Harry has lost the Talent Show on a technicality. You and the your friends feel like it's unfair and you go to Harry to console him. Leon and Izaak want revenge on Titus, the bully, who won. Hao feels unsure about their tactics but goes along with them, anyway. The Judge who approaches the group at the end is old, creepy, and foreboding. Be sure we hear that in Hao's voice.)
Leon, Izaak, and Hao walk over to Harry.
LEON
(in his ancient Rome voice)
Well, my liege, in spite of your most excellent display of magical prowess, it seems that Titus Kligore, son of Mayor Maximus Kligore, remains grand champion of all talents.Harry and his friends laugh.
IZAAK
We're thinking of scaring the pants off of him at the party at Chillie Willies. Wanna help?HAO
It's a very elaborate plan, and it seems a little extreme.LEON
Whaddaya mean? It's perfect! The punishment most definitely fits the crime. He's been terrorizing us long enough. It's time for him to get terrorized!HARRY
Guys, I appreciate you trying to stick up for me, but just let it go, okay? Titus won. That's that.HAO
We're going over to the party now. Someone said they would have burgers for everyone. You want us to save you one?IZAAK
If Leon doesn't eat them all, that is.LEON
I make no promises!They all laugh.
HARRY
I think I should show up to the party, good sportsmanship and all that.SARAH
I think that's the right thing to do.LEON
You don't owe Titus nothin'! You were straight up robbed, bud.HAO
(whispering)
Here comes one of the judges now!
I'd like to hear you try again. 2 things to help improve: 1) You sound like you're in your early 20s. This is a 13-year-old boy. Can you pitch your voice up a bit? 2) The space you're recording in has a lot of reflected sound (i.e. echo). Do whatever you can to damp that sound, toss a blanket over you and the microphone, whatever you've gotta do I look forward to hearing another read!