Sunday, July 5, 2009

Act. You deserve better Scene. Are you sure?

A camp fire.

A piece of firewood walks near it with another piece of firewood who is a realtor.

Realtor. I think this one is fantastic. And perfect for someone living alone.

Wood. By choice. I'm living alone by choice.

Realtor. Pardon?

Wood. I could be with someone... I'm just choosing not to... you know... be with someone.

Realtor. Of course, Dear. The utilities here are absolutely top notch a real-

Wood. What do you mean?

Realtor. Come again?

Wood. You said 'Of course, Dear' as if to say 'That's what they all say."

Realtor. True.

Wood. What's true?

Realtor. That's what they all say.

Wood. Say? I said, 'What's true?' that's a question. If anything you should say, 'That's what they all ask." You are simply confusing the hell out of me and I want to... curl up... or... warp or something. It's just..

(Pause)

Realtor. These windows over here are incredible. They are made from authentic-

Wood. He hates me.

(Pause)

Realtor. Let me show you the basement. Never floods. Swear to God. It dates back to-

Wood. I'm afraid that I didn't really love him. I think I was in love with him once but after a while it just turned into a battle that I had to win that I had to have him. I'm not sure. No. Yes. Maybe. Yes. yes. yes. I love him. I do. I think. Perhaps. No. Yes. I do. I love him. 

(Pause)

Realtor. The garage is a real fixer upper. Shelfs as far as the eye can see, and you said you wanted attic space, yes? Well Honey let me-

Wood. One time he-

Realtor. SHUT THE FUCK UP!

(Pause)

Realtor. I've loved someone who didn't love me back too, Okay? Do you see me walking around and shoving it into every single meaningless conversation I have of ever single meaningless day I live? No. You think you are the only one who hurts? You're wrong. Yes, your hurting is unique. Yes, it is more painful than anything you have ever felt before. I don't know how it feels but I know that it is a horrible feeling. You feel ugly. You feel like you're pores seep slime like sap from a tree. And bugs stick to it and so your skin is infested with insects. Then when you finally do muster up the courage to go out in daylight you feel like everyone is looking at you. Looking at you and talking to you but not really talking to you they are talking AT you. Just a pavlovian response to daily casual exchanges, while in their heads they are looking at you and thinking 'What the fuck happened to this poor fellow. He must have fucked up really really really bad. I can smell him from here' Then you run home and you curl up on your couch and you cry. Cry more than you've ever cried before. You cry because you try and think of something that will make it better and all you can think about it him. And by this point if he came walking through that door and said he wanted to be with you. You would get up and spit in his face and say 'FUCK YOU'. If there is a vase handy- throw it at his face. He'll run crying and screaming out the door. If you're lucky he'll fall down the stairs. Fall down the stairs and die. And then you'll lock yourself back in the apartment and cry more and more. Nothing can make you stop. Nothing should make you stop. but congratulations. This is how we grow. This is how we know we are alive. Imagine living and not feeling this. You feel the love that you had for this person which on that one rainy day at the end of April you held him in your bed and thought to yourself, 'This... this will last forever'. And now you feel this. Loathing. Some people never experience this. Everyone is disappointing after you get to know them.

(Pause)

Realtor. So... let me show you the master bedroom. It is absolutely charming. 

They walk off.

The audience is encouraged to keep watching until the fire has burned out completely. Think of it as a meditation mat. 
Tilt your head back.

Breath. 

END

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Scene. Unrequited. Act. Fuck this shit.

bird is sitting on a branch. 

bird sits there for a while. 

Bird flies up and lands next to it. B Bird is very tired. 

Bird. Hi.

bird. Hi. 

[Silence]

Bird. Nothing?

bird. What?

Bird. Nothing? Not a hug? Not an 'Oh, I'm so excited to see you?'

bird is silent. 

Bird. Okay.

[Moment of pausing silence]

Bird starts to fly away.

bird. Where are you going?

Bird. I am sick of this. I am so fucking sick of this. 

bird. What?

Bird. All of this. I am sick of falling in love with people who don't love me back. I am sick of loving people more than they love me. I am tired of putting all my energy into something that feels like a black hole? Where are you!? Where did you go? You certainly aren't here anymore or I would see you, I would feel you. I can't believe- You know you are- It's just... You are something else, My friend. You are. 

Bird pauses.

Bird. And I hate myself... but I can't stop loving you. But I need to know you love me too. 

bird is silent.

Bird. I hate you. And I hate me.

Bird flies away. 

END

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Act. Gold? Scene. Silver.

Introducing a new character:
KNIGHT and his trusty steed. 

They are looking for the gold that is on the other side of this rusty rickety bridge.

As KNIGHT begins to ask the horse to cross the bridge he looks down and sees a mound of silver.

KNIGHT. HORSE! Stop. Look at all this silver!

Horse. The gold is over there.

KNIGHT. Yeah, but the silver is right here. And look at that bridge. You can never tell if we will make it over there alive. I think we should stick with the silver. I'm happy with the silver.

Horse. You would be happier with the gold.

(Pause)

Horse. And you know it. 

Knight. But the silver is here. And I have it. What if the gold doesn't like me?

Horse. That's a chance you have to take to be happy.

The knight needs to make a decision if he should settle for being kinda happy... or venture out into the unknown to find something that makes him ungodly happy... and there is no for sure if he will find it or not... 

TO BE CONTINUED

Act. Stick. Scene. Bugs.

It's a warms summer evening. 

Around 9 O'clock (if you are on daylights savings time).
8 O'clock if you are not.

This is geographically significant. 
I am on DST and around 9 is twilight and that is when the earth comes alive and it is a sight to see. At 8, though... it's just hot and muggy and sticky and shitty.

Zoom into a crack in the sidewalk.

Stickbug 1 (SB1) is chilling out. 
Stickbug 2 (SB2) walks up.

SB2. Hi.

(No answer)

SB2. Hello?

(Still nothing)

SB2. Sticky bug?

SB1. Right now I am a stick. Not a bug.

SB2. Oh.

SB1. Yeah.

(Pause)

SB2. Sticks can't talk.

SB1. Well, I turned into a stick bug to answer you. Could you please leave so I can go back to being a stick?

(Pause)

SB2. You're so sad.

(Pause)

SB2. Pretending to be a stick when you are really bug. How nice... to not participate in life at all and still get full credit for being alive.

SB2 leaves.

It begins to rain. 

SB1 drowns in the crack in the pavement because he is not a bug that can walk away, but a stick.

SB2 cries as he clings safely on a local tree. 

END

Friday, May 29, 2009

Act. Famous Women. Scene. And them.

Lights up.

A catastrophic bang of multitudes beyond comprehension.
Time bends around us as we see light make shapes on the windows.
Tears fall from the ceiling.
Their sadness is all enveloping.

From the mirage appears a young woman.

Her name is Eve.

She steps up to the Mic. 

Eve. Oh, the stories you have been and the legends you have told,
begin and end and go around back again into a tiny little fold 
Where i find myself curled up; cozy, seemingly waiting to die.
You see, my dear, I know you do not love me. 
I cannot help, though, but try. 

She dissipates into oblivion.

History purges a woman from her pages.

Delilah appears. 

Delilah steps to the Mic.

Delilah. Oh, my Samson. Your hair Your hair Your hair Your hair.
My love for you has been there and there and there and there
Under the pillow where I swear I swear I swear I swear
My love for you.
Which has no, and I promise you this, has no end. 
It was with ernest that I stole those scissors from a friend. 
And with joy I separated those lovely hairs from your head
Then I realized my love for you was gone.
And I sat there.
Like a stone.
In bed. 

END

Friday, May 8, 2009

Act. Anything. Scene. Ask Me Anything.

Kay and Ess sit on a park bench.
What a lovely day.
The birds are chirping.
The grass is greener than green. 

Ess turns to Kay.

Ess. Honey.

Kay. Yes dear?

Ess. You look beautiful in this light.

Kay. Why thank you.

Ess. I want you to ask me anything.

Kay. Pardon?

Ess. You can ask me any question and I will be honest with you. Completely.

Kay. Oh my.

Ess. Yes.

Kay. Double edged sword don't you think?

Ess. Pardon?

Kay. I said, 'Double Edged sword don't you think?'

Ess. I suppose so. Why do you say that?

Kay. Because. You win either way.

Ess. Explain.

Kay. Well... On one hand I have the power of knowing the past... but on the other hand... I know you're past.

Ess. Yes.

SILENCE

Kay. Do you love me?

Ess. Oh, Yes.

Kay. Have you ever been with someone else while we were together.

Ess. Yes.

Kay. Why?

Ess. Not sure.

Kay. We've never had sex.

Ess. I know this.

Kay. Yet you have sex with other people?

Ess. This is true.

Kay. Why?

Ess. Not sure.

Kay. That hurts me.

Ess. I'm sorry.

Kay. I'll have sex with you.

Ess. You're a virgin. I can't have sex with a virgin. I'll feel dirty.

Kay. But I like you. And I trust you. It all makes sense. Everything they told us in school about waiting. Wait until you love someone and trust someone and care for something. I certainly love you, Ess and I CERTAINLY trust you. And I care for you deeply. 

Ess. That's very kind of you.

Kay. So why don't you ever want to have sex with me?

Ess. .............

SILENCE.

Kay. Ess?

Ess. Kay?

Kay. .... Do you love me as much as I love you?

Ess. ..................... No. 

Kay. ...........

SILENCE

Ess. Well, I best be off.

Kay. Where are you going?

Ess. To bed.

Kay. I'll see you at home, then.

Ess. I'm sleeping in my own bed tonight.

Kay. What?

Ess. Yes, remember the night you accidentally locked me out and I had to go to my place to sleep?

Kay. Yes. Very sorry, by the way.

Ess. Oh, quite alright. I realized how much better I sleep alone.

Kay. You don't like it when I hold you?

Ess. Oh, it's fine every once in a while. 

Kay. But Freud says you never sleep better than if you sleep with someone you love.

Ess. Yes.......... Well..................

SILENCE

Ess. So I'll see you tomorrow perhaps?

Kay. Perhaps....

Ess. CHERIO!

Ess leaves.


Kay. I waited and waited and waited for someone I love and trust.... funny thing is.... he doesn't love and trust me.....

Kay stands up on top of the bench. She looks up. She examines the sky. She prays to god outloud.

Kay. God. I want to leave. Please make me into a cloud so that I can be gone forever.

Suddenly Kay begins to float and she floats and she floats and she turns into a cloud. 
Every time it rains. 
Ess cries. 


END

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Act. The Numbers. Scene. Game/Shame.

Lights Up.

And Old Man Dies.
His soul flies to heaven.
He is seating in front of a panel of Angels.

Angels. Hello, Sir. We are going to ask you a series of questions in which we will know wether you are fit enough to get into heaven. How does that sound.

Man nods his head.

Angels. Just answer in the form of digits.

Man nods his head.

Angels. Alright here we go.

Spotlight on man.

Angels. How old were you when you died.

Man. 85. 

Angels. How many children did you have?

Man. 4.

Angels. How many wives?

Man. 2.

Angels. How many people did you make love to?

Man. 43.

Angels. How many women?

Man. 38.

Angels. Men?

Man. 5.

Angels. How many people did you kiss?

Man. 29.

Angels. ...

Man nods his head.

Angels. How many people loved you?

Man. 20.

Angels. How many people did you love?

Man. 38. 

Angels. How many people did you love love you back.

Man. 5.

Angels. Thank you.

END