SYNOPSIS
1990. Thirty year old Joe Montaperto sits upright in bed, his childhood bedroom exactly the way he remembers at his parent’s house in New Jersey. Rehashing the story of his plight to the ever present Napoleon statue perched on his night table for at least the 1,237th time, he glances at his alarm clock. 3:12 am. Another sleepless night. He looks down at the pile of precious curly hair spread all over his pillowcase. Ughhh.
Hey man, it wasn’t always like this. No. Just a short while ago, he was living the New York City nightlife scene - a rising young comic performing with the likes of Jon Stewart and John Leguizamo. He just could not do it anymore - and he can’t go back.
Seeking spiritual direction, he commits to a year of intensive meditation practice at Karma Triyana Dhamachakra, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in upstate Woodstock, NY. After eight months, however, he bolts the place, disillusioned, and now even more conflicted than ever. The whole devotional aspect. The rituals. The gold. Reminds him way too much of the Catholic Church. He’s through with organized religion.
Disgusted with himself, he returns to his parent’s house. What has he made of his life? He has never even traveled anywhere. Now, that’s a shame. He decides that true love must be the highest ideal in life. It has to be. Yet another thing he has never experienced. Then he meets Linda. He thinks he may be in love, feeling invigorated and alive again. Embarking on a tumultuous relationship, they travel the country. Their adventures lead them to New Mexico, where Joe gets a gig as a Forest Ranger, before facing a near-death experience after getting lost in a wilderness river overnight.
Soon after, they return to New York. Linda leaves him for a heroin addicted jazz musician - claiming she wants “more stability in her life.” Insomnia returns with a vengeance.
Devastated and once again alone, he listlessly wanders the city streets, becoming increasingly appalled with the relentless gentrification. Just one Starbucks after another, replacing the beloved coffee shops he used to write in. New York has become unrecognizable to him now. The
final indignity, however, is when the iconic landmark - The Village Gate - is turned into a Rite Aid. That’s it - this means war!!
He decides to go back onstage, although this time he vows to create a one-man show with a distinct socio-political statement. This is how he will become a social activist. Immersing himself in the study of economics and socio-political issues, he even enrolls in The Henry George School of Social Science for two years, while he creates his characters. Feeling alive once again - he now has a purpose - even able to tolerate the catering jobs he’s been doing for years now.
The show ( Four Degrees of Disconnection) is a success, luring some investor types interested in bringing it to a prestigious Off-Broadway theater - a la John Leguizamo. They plan a backer’s show for the coming September. Joe then gets back with Linda, who has been living in North Carolina the last few years. Life is really moving along for him!
Then 9/11.
Everything gone. Backer’s show cancelled. Career over. He is shattered. In rapid succession, Linda breaks up with him - over the phone, he is thrown out of his Jersey City residence - and severe insomnia strikes again. Penniless, he has no choice but to return to his parent’s house. Uh oh. He continues in catering later on. Hoping to avoid another breakdown, he leaves to return to New Mexico, this time working on a Biodynamic farm. It doesn’t work out, however, as he beats up the owner in a dispute, reluctantly fleeing back to his parent’s house. He hates society.
Horribly depressed, he glimpses a possible dismal future while sitting on the bathroom toilet at a catering event at The Museum Of Natural History. Feeling suffocated and smothered - he wants out - and in a desperate bid for freedom, he books a flight out of JFK to Ecuador. There he plans to live in the Amazon jungle - and just be free!
Uuummbaagaa! Uuumbaaagggaaaa!!!
