Nov 28, 2006
scene
This is something I'm working on. These are not the
real character names. I had to change them to protect
the secrecy of this very secret and confidential
project.
ACTOR
(Reading from the side)
So here we are.
LILY
Yes, we are here.
ACTOR
At our prom.
LILY
Yes.
ACTOR
I can’t tell you how much this night means to me.
J
Excuse me. That’s good but could you be closer?
(LILY gets closer)
ACTOR
I can’t tell you how much this night means to me.
LILY
To me too.
ACTOR
To be touching you finally. To have you in my arms.
J
Closer still. (LILY gets closer) That’s better.
LILY
When did you first notice me?
ACTOR
I don’t remember. It’s like you were always there
just out of my reach like a wanton cookie I really
wanted or like the most beautiful girl that ever
existed. No, wait I remember. It was the start of
your freshman year. It was fall. The leaves were
falling.
LILY
Am I holding you too tightly?
ACTOR
There was a morning mist in the air, a foggy beautiful
mist like the start of something. And then the mist
parted and you walked through it. Immediately I
couldn’t breathe. Was it an asthma attack? I felt I
had been shot through the lung, but no, it was the
heart instead. I was forever transformed. Who knew
it would take me three years to build up the courage
to speak to you? Who knew I could speak after that
fateful day?
LILY
And now you’re going off to college.
ACTOR
I am.
LILY
Will we ever see each other again?
ACTOR
Of course.
LILY
You’ll forget about me.
ACTOR
I could never do that. Not without some severe brain
damage.
LILY
You’ll find some other girl.
ACTOR
No.
LILY
Someone in some way better.
ACTOR
That’s not possible.
LILY
You’ll find someone lovier.
ACTOR
No.
LILY
She will worship you.
ACTOR
I worship you.
LILY
You do, don’t you? I like the way it feels in your
arms.
ACTOR
I like you in my arms.
LILY
I want tonight to be special.
ACTOR
It is. I’m here. You’re here.
LILY
I want tonight—kiss me.
J
Can we do that? Can we see that kiss?
(Hopefully there is a kiss and LILY goes weak at the
knees.)
ACTOR
That was special.
LILY
It sure was.
ACTOR
There’s something I have to tell you however.
LILY
What?
(Enter DAVID.)
DAVID
Excuse me. Hi.
LILY
Not now!
DAVID
I’m sorry.
J
You don’t look sorry.
DAVID
What?
J
Nothing.
LILY
WHAT IS IT?
DAVID
It’s a little loud. If you could please keep it down.
LILY
Why are you doing this to me?
DAVID
I’m sorry?
LILY
I don’t think you know how bad I need this. It’s been
a long time, a very very long time and you are trying
to prevent me from getting what I really really need.
DAVID
What are you talking about?
LILY
You don’t understand. Nobody understands. Nobody
understands me. It is very hard for me. It’s very
very very very very hard and I can’t take it anymore.
(LILY breaks down. DAVID looks worried.)
intruiging - secret confidential and amusing.
ReplyDeletethanks, anon. Can I call you anon? i will talk with you anon.
ReplyDeleteI know who that asshole is! J is that friggin’ middleman always trying to push his way into our lives.
ReplyDeleteAnd she doesn’t really want that dipshit actor, she’s wants me, the real me, that’s who she goes weak-kneed over.
No wonder they call it playacting. I’m sick of this shit. Get real.
I had to take your character out of the play to protect you, nick.
ReplyDeleteThanks, man.
ReplyDeleteTheatre people. Can't live with them, can't live without them.
From the mouth of anon, she wants the dipshit actor
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteI gave her freshly cut roses on opening night. Three weeks later the bouquet stands dried out in a vase at our front window.
“They are more poignant like this,” she says.