The first scene of a play I started over two years ago. Thought I'd post it here, if anyone reads this.
GREEN AND YELLOW MELANCHOLY
Scene 1
Outdoors. A garden with some trees
around. Or maybe it's in... No, I
like a garden with trees. It's a
garden with trees. Lights come up,
soft. There is a bench. Next to the
bench, a Woman, ELAINE, in early
twenties is kneeling, wearing a
white dress, knee length or a
little shorter, and has a white
parasol next to her, unopened. she
has been crying, but she's over it
now. she speaks softly, gently,
carefully. Sincerely.
Enter a Man, PAUL, in early
twenties wearing a collared shirt
underneath a sweater. He is well
trimmed ans sincere.
PAUL
Hi.
ELAINE
looking up at him
Hi.
PAUL
I thought you had left.
ELAINE
nope. still here.
PAUL
yeah, I see that.
ELAINE
I mean, nothing against your party. I just needed air, you
know
PAUL
it looks like you needed more than just air.
ELAINE
I guess
PAUL
are you okay?
ELAINE
Yes.
PAUL
really?
ELAINE
yeah, I'm fine. I guess my heads just not with me today.
PAUL
I think I know how that is. But how do you mean?
ELAINE
what do you mean?
PAUL
I just mean what is up? why are you feeling so bad
ELAINE
Paul, you should get back to your party. people will miss
you
PAUL
no, they're mingling. and people miss you. You're gorgeous
tonight. I mean, that's not why people... you know, it's
just... separate thought.
ELAINE
Thank you. I'm sorry if I'm attracting attention. that's not
why I'm out here.
PAUL
Oh, I know that. You're not
ELAINE
you said people were missing me
PAUL
well, they are, but I meant, mostly, that I was. I didn't
know where you went. I thought you left. But Jacquie said
she gave you a ride. And she was still around. so I thought
I'd come look for you. are you okay?
ELAINE
yeah. I'm fine. thanks for coming all the way out here. you
really didn't have to.
PAUL
Oh, I'm sorry, if you were trying to be alone or away from
people for a while, I understand. I'm sorry. I just wanted
to see how you were doing.
ELAINE
Oh, no, it's fine. Thanks. I guess I just needed to think
for a bit. My heads been kind of not with the rest of me
today.
PAUL
yeah. Is it... what?
ELAINE
oh, I don't know. Memories I guess.
PAUL
ah. I understand. That happens to me a lot. I'm not sure if
it's exactly the same thing, but I remember something, like
one little part of a memory. One with a lot of emotional
involvement, and I just latch on to it for the next couple
of days, sometimes weeks. And it can keep me up all night,
prompts 3 a.m. drives to nowhere, just trying to enhance the
memory. Enhance or get it to leave. I don't care which. Or,
at least, that's what I tell myself. That i don't care
whether it stays or goes, just so long as it doesn't stay
the same. But I know, honestly, that I'd much rather have
the feeling, the memory, the pain, usually, regret, than
live without it. Have it grow inside me that lose it. I
don't know if that's at all what your feeling, but that's
how I feel sometimes. I guess it's cause it's just so hard
for me to feel anything that when something finally does
come around, albeit sad, I just latch on to it.
ELAINE
Yeah, thats exactly what this is actually. that's so weird.
PAUL
well, I mean, that's just how I feel. You don't have to say
that. but if some part of it realtes, I'd like you to know
about it so you can talk to me. I understand at least a
little, you know?
ELAINE
no, I was serious, that really is how i'm feeling.
PAUL
really?
ELAINE
yeah.
PAUL
Have you ever read Twelfth Night?
ELAINE
yes.
PAUL
I don't know much about Shakespeare, but this one part of
that one sow always struck me. it's when Viola, I think
that's her name, when she is sitting talking to the count. I
dunno, that part isn't important. It's what she says. She
says "She pined in thought, and with a green and yellow
melancholy she sat like patience on a monument, Smiling at
grief. Was not this love, indeed" And I guess I bring this
up because, well, one, I think Shakespeare would have been a
great prose writer, with descriptions like that. But two,
that's what I thought of when I was walking out here. when I
saw you. that's exactly what I thought of.
ELAINE
wow, thats...
PAUL
I saw you and I immediately knew what you felt like. I knew
the deep pain you must have been feeling. it waas palpable
to me. And i knew "this was love indeed"... you know. what
you were feeling. How you felt could only be... well, you
know.
ELAINE
... I... That describes it perfectly. I mean, I wasn't
exactly smiling at grief, at the loss love, but like you
said, better pain than nothing.
PAUL
yeah. that's kind of how I feel. I'm sorry, was that
overstepping a lot of lines, I'm sorry. I just, I dunno,
thats just exactly what I thought of. I knew that was the
image in Shakespeares mind when he wrote that. You, at that
moment.
ELAINE
well... I don't know what to say right now. Thank you Paul.
PAUL
You're welcome Elaine. Really, I'm here if you need me.
ELAINE
thank you
PAUL
do you need to stay out here for a little longer?
ELAINE
Yeah, i think so
PAUL
okay. well hey, I'm sorry you're feeling so down. If you
need to talk, come in and get me. I'll come right out and
talk, okay?
ELAINE
yeah, okay, thanks.
PAUL
it's nothing. really. take your time. feel better. Okay
Elaine?
ELAINE
hey, Thanks Paul. Alot. That really helped.
PAUL
I'm glad. I really am... I'll just be right inside, near the
door, okay. I'd love to talk some more, if you want.
ELAINE
yes! yes, I'd love to. you help me. i feel, just, I don't
know, calm? safe? Understood. i think that's it. I feel
understood around you. Important. can we talk again?
PAUL
of course.
ELAINE
okay. I;m gonna sit out here for a bit more, smile at grief
with my green and yellow melancholy. but I'll need to talk
to you some more. I just need to wallow a bit more first
PAUL
i completely understand. Okay.
ELAINE
'kay
PAUL
I'll see you in a bit then
ELAINE
yes.
PAUL
kay
ELAINE
alright
PAUL
kay, bye.
ELAINE
bye... Thanks again.
1 comment:
This is great! Are you still writing plays?
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