Lights rise to reveal a man standing back to the audience examining an ancient, ornate looking grandfather clock. A Constant, subtle Tick Tock is heard.
MAN:
Oh, time. It’s a strange thing, that.
He begins pacing from side to side in the spotlight, no longer examining the clock. The Tick Tock remains.
A clock tick’s and it tock’s and we are to believe that some mysterious phenomenon has occurred. This… This is the great deception placed upon mankind; the largest rouse known to the imperfection that resides in the human mind.
The man works his way behind the grandfather clock while he continues speaking. The Tick Tock remains.
This can not be allowed to continue. I will not stand idly by.
The Grandfather Clock begins tipping forward slowly and then in a great crash it plummets to the floor pieces smashing everywhere. The constant Tick Tock is gone. The stage is left in silence. The Man is left standing over his victory more weary than pleased. Beat.
The pity is, none of them will even understand what I have done for them. I have set them free, yet they see this as slavery.
He shakes his head slowly for a moment. Beat. He slides into sitting looking over the great destroyed machine cross legged, facing the audience.
This has all happened before, and it will all happen again.
His mouth is consumed by his hand being leaned on in thought. The outer rim of lights fade leaving only the clock’s remains. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise to reveal a trash bin sitting center stage. It is filled almost to the brim with various refuse. A woman emerges from the black to stand directly behind the bin. She looks out at the audience with a slight smile and eyes fully wide.
WOMAN:
(Quite high pitched and pleasant)
This is my wonderful chest of goodies. Everyday, I find new treasures in it. (Suddenly very suspicious, almost snarling) and there mine. Mine! (Once again cheerful) Oh, I can’t wait to see what wonders await me today!
She looks down into the trash bin and lets out a little “oooh” in an almost squeak like tone. She plunges her hand into the bin and scrounges around for a bit, her tongue protruding from her mouth in her concentration. When she finds what she is rummaging for her face brightens as her arm leaves the bin. She is holding in her hands a rubics cube missing only two squares. Her delight is tangible.
See, I told you! Too bad it doesn’t matter for you. It’s all mine. Always will be. Forever. (pause.) Well, I’ve got to go. I have to figure out how to get all these greens to not be next to all these yellows and reds… Have a nice day!
She joyfully turns around, already engrossed in her cube and skips off the way she came. Lights fade.
Lights rise center stage to reveal nothing. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise center stage to reveal a man. He is standing neutrally aware of those around him, but not particularly caring about them. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise center stage to reveal that same man. He is now actively looking around the audience. He takes a moment before speaking.
MAN:
(Very Frank)
Well, that’s the play. I hope you liked it. We worked oh so hard on it. Truly. We poured everything we have into crafting this for your enjoyment and enlightenment. It’s hard, this, I hope you appreciate that. (pause) Well. I guess you can go now. That’s right, just get up and leave now. That’d be nice. We’ve got to clean up and send our people home at some point tonight, they are pretty wiped. (pause) Really, if you’d kindly just get up and leave we’d be very grateful. I know you don’t want to pull yourself away from this life changing event but we really have to be going so…
He indicates the door through which the audience entered. Lights do not fade. He waits expectantly for the audience to slowly shuffle out disgruntled and confused. Lights fade.
Lights rise center stage to reveal a woman. She speaks as if to a great mass of people while at the same time managing to seem intensely personal.
WOMAN:
I want all of you to understand one thing. We can not do this for ourselves. We can not do this for the greater good. We can not do this in hopes of it making our children’s lives better than our own. No. What we are striving for here today of all days is not driven by any average motives. Our task must be driven by something inside of us that, frankly, we can not, never will understand in full. Understanding that one doesn’t understand is a monumentous thing to ask of someone, but I must do that. We must choose to do this. It is not something that can be forced upon any one of us, and yet if a single one of you will not help then there is no point in even attempting. People have never truly come to terms with their tendency to do as told. Right now that base instinct in each of you is as confused as the rest of you. You aren’t being told to do anything. You are being asked. Asked with the utmost desperate need for your answer. That need can not wait longer. I… we need your answer. All of your answers.
Long pause. A moment of tension release followed by turning inwards for the woman.
Lights rise to reveal a man sitting leaned back, his arms supporting him, head raised peacefully above him, eyes closed, on the floor center stage. He has a look of utter tranquility about him. He takes a deep, lasting, satisfied breath. As he exhales he opens his eyes with a slight smile on his face as he slowly takes in all that he can see.
MAN:
(Quietly, almost to himself at first)
Oh my, my, my… what I wouldn’t give to have this moment, this single glimpse into my being at its peak, somehow become instilled in every living, breathing being with the capability to appreciate it, given the chance. Oh, giving everyone that chance to know this.
He pauses for a brief moment, not happy with his ability to convey what he needs to convey with words.
To know me… in a way. This moment that is me. It is everything to strive for. It is everything I can hope for. (pause) Yet, it is not my entirety. It is only the absolute peak, as I’ve said. This being, in fact, the utter and complete reason for my need. My need to be able to convey this to you.
He makes a sweeping gesture with his hand indicating the audience. Acknowledging their existence for the first time.
One isn’t ever able to truly gift another with the true depth of anything that is one’s own. One is not truly able to ever understand even one moment of any others existence… and yet, we tell ourselves… I tell myself that it has to be attempted.
He has become slightly discouraged, fighting for the ability to convey himself.
Attempted… but know we must fail. It can’t be avoided. This being true, I must still attempt. All of you. Every one. Take into account one thing in your day to day life for me. Take it into account, and maybe, someday, some… how, some of you might come to know some small piece of this moment of mine. Remember, with every moment you have. Remember that this world truly can be beautiful. For me. In order, to know me. Remember.
Silence and stillness, lights remain. This continues until the audience leaves of their own accord. Lights fade.
Lights rise to reveal a woman standing neutrally stage right. Beat. Lights Fade.
Lights rise to reveal an empty chair sitting empty stage right. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights again rise on the woman standing stage right, she has the teensiest bit of wear in her face. She slouches a bit. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise again on the chair stage left. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise to reveal the woman standing stage right, her body is starting to show the effort she is exerting to keep up this standing. She takes a moment to loosen her shoulders and back a bit. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise again on the chair stage left. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights again rise on the woman standing stage right, she wipes a bit of sweat from her forehead and has a determined look on her face as she braces her bent forward back with her hands on her knees. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise again on the chair stage left. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights again rise on the woman standing stage right, her head is bowed backwards in pain, her torso pushed forward with her hands on her back. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise again on the chair stage left. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights again rise on the woman standing stage right, her hand is to her mouth as tears silently start to slide out of her clenched eyes and her legs tremble under her weight. Beat. Lights fade.
Lights rise again on the chair stage left. Beat.
Lights again rise on the woman standing stage right, her breathing has become deep and loud as she struggle to hold back the flood of tears that are streaming out of her eyes. Her whole body shakes. She notices the chair stage left. She looks at it, at first, with complete amazement. Then, as a bridge of light appears connecting her light to the chair’s light a look of utter hunger appears on her face. Beat. She comes to a sudden realization and snaps her head back away from the chair. The light connecting the two sides fades. The woman lets out a sigh. Beat. Her left knee gives in a bit, but she catches herself with a pained yelp. The crying returns with a fervor, and she again gazes towards the chair. Lights again rise connecting the two sides. She stares at the chair completely blank at this point. She begins to turn towards it but then stops as her face cringes up and plunges down into her hands. Beat. The lights connecting the two sides fade. As she lifts her head from her face she has a dazed look on her faze and her body becomes oddly limp, as her head does a slow flop back after rolling to one side. She immediately jerks back up more aware of her surroundings and hysterical. She looks around franticly, her breathing rapid and shallow. The lights between the two sides rise quickly. The Woman sees it and lets out one final sigh of fearful defeat before speaking. As she speaks she attempts to step forward. Beat.
WOMAN:
(Throat dry, cracking)
Screw this.
She pushes her right foot forward with extreme effort and concentration. As the foot slides forward her whole body heaves with the effort and has a jump with victory once it is firmly planted. She then follows that up with her left foot. The same process is repeated with effort, this time accompanied by extreme shaking of her body, lifted by a momentary triumph. However, upon starting with her right foot once again her knee gives out and she tumbles into a heap center stage. She lays there, face down taking ever so deep breathes. Beat. She finally puts forth the effort to look up at her goal. Her face crumbles into desperation as all lights fade except center. She lays there, mouth agape staring, arm outstretched slightly towards what had been. Beat. She lets her head and hand fall to the floor, utterly defeated. Beat. Lights Fade.
Lights rise to reveal a disheveled looking woman sitting at a desk typing away rather halfheartedly. Her hair is quite raggedy, her whole body quite slumped and cramped, her she stops typing to close her eyes and rub her forehead pushing her gross hair back out of her way haphazardly as well. A man with coffee mug in hand enters SL and approaches her with an almost elegant sway in his step. He reaches her desk, and stands with one hand holding his coffee slightly forward and the other resting on his arm. The woman does not look up.
Man
You up for a round of mini-golf after work today, Janice? A couple of the guys and I were thinking off heading over and figured we should see if anyone else was interested.
Without even looking up Janice simply replies with a slight grunt… no answer can be discerned from the nature of the grunt. The Man looks confused for a moment.
Oh… ah… alright then. We’ll have to make it another time.
The man walks away, and Janice has no change in behavior. Lights fade.
Lights rise to reveal a small little apartment. Neatly kept, a small sofa being the focal point of the living room, and a door behind it. Janice enters shuffling from SL, still disheveled. She makes straight for the door behind the sofa and begins to take off her top shirt gracelessly as she enters and shuts it behind her. The sound of running water begins to be heard along with a burst of music. Beat. After a moment Janice’s voice can be heard starting to sing along with the music. Slowly the excitement and commitment to the song can be heard strengthening in her voice. Beat. The sound of running water stops. After a moment the sound is replaced with the sound of a hair dryer. A moment later the hair dryer stops and eventually the music stops (but not before an acceptable break in the vocals) and Janice’s singing along with it. The door opens again and Janice enters seemingly almost completely transformed. She is completely spotless head to toe. Her hair is in wondrously shining almost dry condition. She is wearing some ever so comfortable PJ’s. Her movements, posture, expression, and general exterior just exude a sense of utter relaxation and peace with the world. She gives a little satisfied stretch back of her shoulders. She can be seen ever so quietly muttering the chorus of the song which had been playing one last time before plunking herself on the sofa leaning on the arm, her legs spread across it ever so comfortably. She takes the remote of the side table turns the TV on, and settles in to relax. Lights fade.
Lights rise to reveal a man pacing ever so slowly in a single column of light. He has an anxious, hoping look about him. He slowly fiddles with his face and hair unconsciously staring mainly downwards.Beat. He slowly raises his head after a moment, a look of confusion spreading across his face as he searches with his head for something that has disturbed his thoughts. He stops. He notices something out past the audience. He becomes fixated on it. A mixture of emotions predominated by relief and awe take hold of his face as his jaw drops ever so slightly open. Beat. Suddenly the man’s face shifts to panic for only a moment, and then loss and regret set in immediately. He heaves a sigh and lets his eyes close and his head fall back towards the sky for a moment. Beat. As his eyes open, and he takes one last look past the audience where his hope was, for a moment, he is defeated. He accepts this and begins to walk, past the audience, towards his failed hope. Lights fade.
