Preserve.

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.

Fin.