Bad Medicine or Good to the Last Drop by Kris Thompson

In the sleepy little cattle town of Bagwell, Colorado, childhood sweethearts Sheriff Gene Ranger and Nurse Becky Trueheart are on the fast-track for marriage when evil darkens their doorstep. Beautiful con-artist, Sally West, is found unconscious and feigns amnesia. Her secret ally, snake oil salesman and self-proclaimed healer, Bodkin Shamley, appears. He discredits the town doctor and surreptitiously takes...
In the sleepy little cattle town of Bagwell, Colorado, childhood sweethearts Sheriff Gene Ranger and Nurse Becky Trueheart are on the fast-track for marriage when evil darkens their doorstep. Beautiful con-artist, Sally West, is found unconscious and feigns amnesia. Her secret ally, snake oil salesman and self-proclaimed healer, Bodkin Shamley, appears. He discredits the town doctor and surreptitiously takes over with the goal of wooing Becky for her inherited cattle land. The villainous pair secretly introduce a concoction of love potion and all the wrong people start falling head-over-heals for each other. There is only one hope for Gene, Becky, and all of Bagwell…true love.

Available through Next Stage Press www.nextstagepress.com/bad-medicine
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Bad Medicine or Good to the Last Drop

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Character Information

  • BECKY TRUEHEART
    25,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Heroine, young pretty Nurse, 25, assistant to Carl, being courted by Gene, recently inherited large cattle ranch upon father's passing.

    (There is a line in the script describing her as "milky white" so if a person of color plays this role please contact playwright for an adjustment in dialogue, no problem.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • GENE RANGER
    26,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Hero, town sheriff, 26, courting Becky.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • BODKIN SHAMLEY
    40-50,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Villain, snake oil peddler and con-artist 40s, well spoken, in cahoots with Sally.
    IMPORTANT: Bodkin Shamley is pronounced: BODE-KIN SHAM-LEE. His name is constantly being mispronounced so important to pronounce correctly when not being mispronounced.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • SALLY WEST
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Beautiful con-artist, 30s, in cahoots with Bodkin.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CARL GOODALL
    40-50,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Town doctor, 40s, widowed, smart, sweet on Lacy but undeclared.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • LACY MCKINNEY
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Female
    Proprietor of Bagwell Saloon, 30s, sister to Charlie, tough, widowed, sweet on Carl but undeclared.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • MAXWELL FORMAN
    50s,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Sounds like Foghorn Leghorn. Government official, 50s, coming to finalize the lease agreement of Becky’s Ranch.
    Can be changed to MAXIENE FORMAN for female actor.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • HICKORY PICKETT
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Townsperson, 30s, with bad dental hygiene, best friend to Charlie.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male
  • DOUGLAS PRATHER
    60s,
    Any
    ,
    Any
    Local reverend, 60s, known for giving senseless words of wisdom.
    Can be changed to DONNA PRATHER for female actor.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      50s, 60s, 70s+
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender
  • CHARLIE HAMBY
    30s,
    Any
    ,
    Male
    Townsperson, 30s, brother to Lacy, know-it-all, best friend to Hickory.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Production History

  • Community Theater
    ,
    Way Off Broadway Community Players
    ,
    2021
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Gillette Community Theatre
    ,
    2018
  • Community Theater
    ,
    McKinney Repertory Theatre
    ,
    2016
  • Community Theater
    ,
    Theatre Suburbia
    ,
    2014

Awards

Winner
,
Best Show: 2016 MaRTy Awards
,
McKinney Repertory Theatre
,
2016
Winner
,
National Scriptwriting Contest
,
Theatre Suburbia
,
2014