Reversion.

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.

Fin.