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MUSIC
LIGHTS UP
There are three major areas
of the stage. One is the
center. The other two are on
opposite sides of the
center. Know that, for the
most part, the action will
alternate between the two
sides. Each area should have
its own lighting system.
Frozen on the secondary
stage are four actors. A
FATHER, cradling MOTHER in
his arms on a couch and
their two children, SON and
DAUGHTER. They are dressed
in costume to look as if
they are not in costume. It
is the fifties. MOTHER is
weeping with her head in
FATHER's lap. FATHER looks
distraught. SON and DAUGHTER
are standing looking at
them. The music stops and
the freeze is broken.
MOTHER's weeping becomes
audible. The two CHILDREN
look at each other then at
their mother. FATHER
suddenly becomes angry.
CHILDREN are confused. The
phone rings.
Title: "The Weaker Soldier"
MOTHER
Who is it?
SON
We haven't answered it yet, Mom.
FATHER
Son, You wanna answer the phone please?
DAUGHTER
I will.
DAUGHTER goes to the phone
and answers it. All eyes on
her but for MOTHER, who
already knows.
Yes?... Um... Yeah.... They're here... I will... Yes...
No.
She hangs up. Pause. The
CHILDREN stare at FATHER and
MOTHER.
FATHER
What the hell are you looking at the both of you!!??
Pause as MOTHER'S weeping
intensifies.
What are you STARING at?!
SON
We just.... I don't.
FATHER
TWENTY YEARS OF YOU WORTHLESS...!!!
DAUGHTER
Dad, are you okay?
FATHER
He was twelve years old...
SON
Dad, tell us what happened.
DAUGHTER
I've never seen mom crying.
FATHER
(Beginning to break down into a state like
MOTHER's.)
Just stop staring at her.
SON
Mom?
DAUGHTER
What's...
Pause.
MOTHER
A little boy is born into the world. Is he put there or
did he just fall blindly in? A baby. There is always so
much hope for a baby. Everybody wishes to have the same
chances, that's why. It is understood that a baby can
go a million different places and do a million
different things. He represents the future. But we are
foolish, are we not? We should never have hope, we can
never be sure. We should always expect that bad things
will become...
FATHER starts crying.
SON
Mother.
MOTHER
(Screaming)
Your brother is DEAD!! He's DEAD!! They've KILLED HIM
DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND??!! They finally KILLED HIM!!!
Her sobbing turns into
moaning. The CHILDREN look
at each other.
Blackout.
Applause.
Lights come up on the center
of the stage. These are the
house lights. An audience
emerges from the wings.
There are eight audience
members. Half of the
audience is dressed for the
theatre. The other half is
dressed casually. The well-
dressed half exchange some
words with each other then
leave. Their names are
GREGORY, NICOLAS, EMILY and
CAMILLE. They are CAST
THREE.
As they leave:
NICOLAS
I hope the second act lives up to the first.
EMILY
I think that the "Mother" character is doing
wonderfully.
GREGORY
She's good. We swim together sometimes.
NICOLAS
Oh, swimming.
Exeunt
The other half remains on
stage. Their names are
CAROL, JACOB, MARK and
STEVEN. They are standing.
They are CAST TWO. As they
speak some of the actors are
striking the set and are
beginning to set up another
living room setting on the
other half of the stage.
CAST TWO remains in the
center, talking. The actors
may not even be visible as
they strike and set but it
is obviously happening. This
dialog is rushed through,
not important.
CAROL
The first act sucked, let's go.
STEVEN
Carol, we can't go. We already paid.
JACOB
I think it's supposed to get better anyway.
CAROL
Whatever, I'll just go to sleep.
MARK
The acting is okay. I had no idea that this was going to
be so intense. I can't wait.
CAROL
Okay, we'll stay.
STEVEN
What did you think about the long forest and apple trees
monologue?
JACOB
I wasn't paying attention. A play needs to start with
action. With movement.
MARK
But the whole thing was set up by that monologue.
CAROL
Can we talk about something else?
JACOB
So what did you guys do today?
CAROL
Jacob and I went to the museum. Have you been to the
museum lately?
STEVEN
No. I haven't been in years, probably.
CAROL
It was super. The impressionists.
MARK
Good. I don't like the impressionists.
JACOB
Because you watch so much T.V.
MARK
What does that mean?
JACOB
T.V. rots your brain of all artistic judgement.
STEVEN
I don't really watch T.V.
CAROL
I don't.
JACOB
You don't!
STEVEN
She likes the impressionists.
CAROL
Don't listen to him.
JACOB
Mark, does Carol watch T.V.?
MARK
Who? What? What?
Pause. They all laugh.
STEVEN
The end is supposed to be funny.
CAROL
Jacob. You are a hypocrite.
JACOB
What makes you say that? I am just an observer.
CAROL
Oh, right.
MARK
What?
CAROL
Nothing.
Just as she says this, the
new living room should be
set and the first secondary
stage should be completely
gone. On the delivery of
this next line they will
enter the room and become
comfortable in it. It is
obvious that the scene has
changed dramatically. It is
a different time and a
different place. At an
appropriate point within the
scene, CAST THREE should
emerge and observe. The
scene begins.
CAROL
Mark are you still thirsty?
MARK
Sure. Hey Jacob do you have anything to drink?
JACOB
Yeah, what do you want?
MARK
Water.
CAROL
I want water.
JACOB
Steven?
STEVEN
No. Thanks. What time is it?
MARK
Almost one.
JACOB exits to get the
water.
CAROL
So Steven. How are you?
STEVEN
I'm fine. Why?
CAROL
You just look tired.
STEVEN
Well, I've been busy.
MARK
Yeah, I'll bet. New project?
STEVEN
Yes.
JACOB re-enters with water.
JACOB
Here you go.
STEVEN
I need to get going. It's later than I thought.
CAROL
It is late.
MARK
Okay. Drive safe.
CAROL
Bye.
JACOB
You sure you don't want to stay a while longer?
STEVEN
No, why?
JACOB shrugs.
Okay.. I'll see you later.
STEVEN exits. MARK and CAROL
are silent.
JACOB
Did Steven leave early?
MARK
Yes. It is getting late.
CAROL
It is getting late.
JACOB
He used to stay the longest.
CAROL
Yes, he did.
JACOB
Have you noticed anything a little strange about him
lately?
MARK
Steven?
CAROL
He doesn't talk much anymore.
MARK
He's just really busy, I think.
CAROL
He's quiet.
JACOB
Yeah.
MARK
Quiet. How is he quiet?
CAROL
He usually says more things, right?
JACOB
Yes, I think so. I mean. If I were depressed or sad. If
I didn't have anything to say, that is what it would
mean.
MARK
What?
CAROL
Think about it this way, Mark.
JACOB
It seems like he just got here.
CAROL
If I just stopped talking one day. Just out of nowhere I
stop talking. Wouldn't you notice? You would be worried,
right?
JACOB
That is all it is, really.
MARK
But I don't think that he is being quiet.
JACOB
But he is.
MARK
You guys always get on other people like that.
CAROL
What?
MARK
He's just busy.
JACOB
What?
MARK
You're always finding reasons why other people are
having problems when they aren't.
JACOB
No we don't.
CAROL
We're just concerned about our friends. He has been
acting strange.
JACOB
Yeah.
MARK
Last time it was me Jacob. You get all worked up and you
think real hard and then you justify these big problems
that I have and you tell everyone about them. They don't
exist! I show up at your place a couple days later and
everybody looks at me. You people are arrogant. That's
what it is. We all have our ups and downs Carol, we're
all a little tired now and then. You analyze and assess
and.. it's like you think your therapists. You're not.
Right? This is how you find meaning in your lives.
Vicariously. You look through the eyes of your friends
but it's all... fucked up. You see much more than there
really is. You add. You exaggerate. It's sick. I was
fine that day. I was tired. My parents call me and ask
me if I need anything. Don't do that. Don't do that to
Steven. He went home. It is late. Get it?... Don't do
that.
Pause. Nobody moves.
CAROL
Well... Mark.
JACOB
You've got some real insight, buddy. Haven't you?
CAROL
Steven is acting strange. That's it. We noticed it and
we commented.
JACOB
Get real, Mark. Please. We aren't out to complicate
people's lives. This really disturbs me.
MARK
Look at yourselves. Now I'm in for it, right? I'm so
messed up in the head, right?
(He stands)
I wonder what's wrong with me now?
(He runs to the phone).
Ms. Miller, your son is acting strange, you better call
him and offer him soup.
CAROL
Calm down Mark.
(She stands)
MARK
Don't be calm, I won't be calm. Look at you. Are you
going to "talk" me down now, Carol? Jacob, go get a
spoon I might swallow my tongue.
JACOB
(He stands)
Why don't you sit down. Maybe you're right.
(He looks at CAROL)
Let's talk about it.
MARK
Goddamnit, this is your favorite part isn't it? You
really get to put your skills to the test.
CAROL
(As she speaks to MARK, she is moving closer to
him very slowly)
Mark, I want to know what you are saying. I want to see
in myself these problems.
(She looks at JACOB but continues speaking to
MARK.)
You are right. We over-analyze. We are sad, Mark. We're
lonely, you know? Like you. We have to make ourselves
seem meaningful to ourselves. We are afraid of what is
our own so we try to live out and correct what we see in
others. Don't you see? Sit down.
MARK
What are you doing? I am leaving.
JACOB
Sit down.
CAROL is now right next to
MARK.
MARK
I am not going to sit down. I am going to go home and go
to bed. Yes. I am fine.
JACOB
You...
CAROL reaches out and
touches MARK. MARK is
startled and his anger
allows him to pull back and
strike CAROL on the face.
She falls to the ground.
Oh my god. Mark.
He walks to where CAROL
lies.
Mark.
MARK does not move.
BLACKOUT.
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