Denude, A One Act Play by JZ Murdock | Script Revolution

Denude, A One Act Play

In a surreal changing setting during the Vietnam War, Soldier Menses confronts his insecurities and past traumas as he interacts with the ghost of Trappist, who reveals their tragic history across multiple wars.

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21pp

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Synopsis/Details: 

"Denude," a one-act play set in a Vietnam-era jungle, follows Trappist and Menses, two soldiers trapped in a foxhole. Trappist, seasoned and philosophical, tries to connect with Menses, a fearful newcomer. As tensions rise and danger looms, Menses's panic leads to a tragic escalation, culminating in Trappist's death.

Afterward, a surreal sequence unfolds where Trappist appears as a ghost, revealing their intertwined past lives and hinting at a cycle of reincarnation plagued by Menses's unwitting role in Trappist's deaths across different wars. As Menses faces mortality, Trappist guides him towards an ethereal realm, prompting a poignant reflection on life's mysteries and the inevitability of death.

The play delves into themes of war's psychological impact, existential introspection, and the blurred lines between reality and the afterlife, offering a haunting exploration of human mortality and the eternal search for meaning. It also offers several options for its ending and orientation.

Submitted: January 2, 2019
Last Updated: April 6, 2025

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JZ Murdock's picture

The Writer: JZ Murdock

JZ Murdock is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and screenwriter, living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest's Bremerton, WA. While Murdock is a USAF Vet, he is indeed living in a very friendly Navy town. His novel, DEATH OF HEAVEN received the 2024 NYC Big Book Award for Horror. Tired of waiting to get a screenplay produced, he started making his own films back in 2019. The 2020 film, "Gumdrop", a short horror... has won several festival awards like "Best Horror Short", "Best Noir Film" and was a "Jean Luc Goddard Award" nominee. His latest 2021 short, a filmic poem/WWI documentary titled, "Pvt. Ravel's Bolero", has received over 60 domestic and international festival awards. With 13... Go to bio
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Manager: Kelly Hughes - zirrik.com

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