Characters:
M - a disembodied, narrating voice
N - a disembodied, narrating voice
T - a poet
A - a body/voice
G - a body/voice
U - a body/voice
CHORUS - A, G, and U in unison
Setting:
Now
Location:
Inside a live-electronics circuit
PRELUDE:
T walks out to the center of the empty stage, turns to face the audience, and recites a short poem.
T
I've not stopped being
any of the Xs
I am
and
this creates me
exhausted and unfamiliar
T exits stage, leaving it once again empty. The house lights go out. The overture begins to play. Throughout the duration of the overture, A, G, and U take turns walking back and forth across the stage, occasionally stopping to make hand gestures toward the ceiling, always with their backs to the audience. Overture ends.
END PRELUDE
SCENE ONE:
Still lights out. Sounds of unknown origin. After approximately 30 seconds, a white backdrop begins to display a series of quotes. This creates a dimly lit space, into which A, G, and U enter. G is carrying a trumpet. They mill about aimlessly, as if in a trance, occasionally bouncing off of one another, but they never make any further attempts at engagement.
G
There are many different types that
I am interested in.
A
Disposing of "content" is more
difficult than generating it.
G
I assumed that it was beautiful,
and I was correct.
U
Why was I in X's parents' home in
last night's dream? What was I
hoping to achieve?
G
I imagine myself as a single square
in an immense plaid pattern.
U
Why are there so many light and
sculpted beards? I mean, they're
hardly there.
A
Perhaps the mystery is being
removed from the process, and this
is a vital element?
G
The "I" is less prevalent in later
chapters.
CHORUS
Am I no longer listening?
G
If I encountered him now, I would
no longer allow him to pass.
U
Perhaps I should alphabetize the
library. This could be the
disorder.
A
If you follow the directions, all
the necessary information will be
revealed.
U
Something is wrong, though it is
almost nothing.
G
My shoulders are not sharp or
frail. I could not crush them in
my hands.
U
What might I see if I bothered to
look?
G
I must resume the search for it.
A, G, and U continue to move about the space, though no longer trance-bound, performing odd solo activities, and occasionally taking notice of M's tale.
M
I stood on the tips of my sneakers,
attempting to balance on the edge
of the air conditioning unit, and
X was on the ground next to me,
spotting me, looking up with eager
eyes. The light had just gone on
in her room, and through the
window pane, she began to undress
before me. I think X might
actually have been drooling in
anticipation. I whispered to X
(lying), indicating that she had
left the room, so that I might
enjoy the show all for myself.
And, as her bra and panties came
off, I was truly alone.
The three bodies snap back into the cycle of trance-like meandering.
A
(shouting)
The ellipsis is a whore! Fuck her!
(as if making a realization)
Or... pimp her.
U
(exasperated)
Time? What the hell good is that
going to do me?
A
Tickling is a re-engagement with
strangeness.
G
If only this were as easy as
blowing my horn.
(momentarily pensive)
Wait... that became quite
difficult, didn't it?
U
I wish things were as simple as
the symbols we wear. I might
pout and smoke.
A
Empty seats are preferred,
especially considering what might
fill them.
CHORUS
If only I were fortunate enough
to not know that this is cyclical
by nature.
G
I miss the team. We're all just
individual players now; free agents
who will not be signed.
A
Sometimes a smile is all that is
necessary, or a dumb look.
G
He is perceived as a fantastic
companion, but I know better.
U
I am too easily stunned when I'm
sitting in public areas.
G
Why do I not want to be right
and/or good?
U
I might just suck on a Slurpee and
get fatter, sicker, and deader.
G
I need a sandwich.
A, G, and U cease wandering and line up, side by side, backs to the audience, in the extreme fore of stage right.
N
I am the as-yet-unknown entity. I
have fabulous taste in music, as
well as in literature, art, film,
fashion, and architecture. I am
what they all aspire to be. I am
a teacher, and an artist. I am
sophisticated, and I am dangerous
in more than one way. I am also
mysterious, and nearly
unidentifiable.
A, G, and U drop out of line and return, once again, to their meanderings.
A
And the object was something that
should be objected to, too.
U
Green is something to carry the
weight and moisture, but it is not
a sponge.
A
Another was grinning in fishnet
stockings.
U
There was a welcome mat outside the
door that read: "this is working".
CHORUS
(momentarily frozen in place)
This is working. This is working.
This is working.
G
I should wake up tomorrow and get to
the gym, or even go right now.
U
Why can't I seem to reconcile my
contrasting arguments?
G
There is a bowl of steaming clam
chowder awaiting me in the foyer.
A
The other eye is crying at the same
time.
CHORUS
Left and right are not the same as
they once were. Understanding is
trouble.
G
I occasionally mistake the sound of
her voice for that of a cuica.
A
A dozen young people spoke of their
experiences and lied.
U
He claimed to be burning more
calories standing up.
A
It was off-putting to see him
exposing himself like that.
U
The bulk of him appeared below the
belt line.
A
"They" are polite and cordial as
they greet "them". What are "they"
selling?
A stands frozen in place as G and U exit the stage. G and U return with a table and two chairs, and proceed to set them up with the table stretching lengthwise from fore- to background, and with the chairs on opposite sides, facing stage left and right, respectively. G and U then sit opposite one another, shake hands, and stare blankly into one another's eyes. A then leaves the stage and returns with a boom-box, which is placed at the background end of the table with A standing directly behind it. A presses PLAY on the cassette deck and an approximately 75-second clip of Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia" is heard. A, G and U listen intently. When the clip ends, A presses STOP on the cassette deck and the three bodies remain in position. The white backdrop no longer displays quotes. The sounds of unknown origin fade. The house lights come on. A, G and U remain in place as T walks out to center stage, turns to face the audience, and recites a short poem.
T
some have been happy from
the beginning smiling
(I'm confusing them now)
I am witnessing the "first"
in relation to all four
A and T exit, leaving G and U on stage as house lights fade.
END SCENE ONE
