Harlequin Rhapsody a One Act Play by David J. Hudson COPYRIGHT (C) 1990 1332 Marengo Forest Park, IL 60130 H: (708) 771-7521 ========================================================================= AT RISE (A MAN enters carrying a guitar S.R. dressed in a white shirt, blue jeans, and wearing harlequin makeup. HE sits on a bench in the middle of the stage and sets the case on the ground. HE opens it, takes the guitar out, and begins to tune. A WOMAN enters S.L. wearing a floral print dress and an engagement ring, her makeup is ordinary with perhaps a little too much blush. After a brief moment of recognition the WOMAN turns her back to the man. HE stares fixedly at the WOMAN for a period of around ten seconds. HE smiles. HE starts walking toward her in an almost stalking fashion. HE stops directly behind her and simply stands in an intimidating manner, staring at the back of her head. HE continues to do so as the woman's discomfort grows by the second. SHE half-smiles nervously and almost turns to face the man, HE prepares to react. However, SHE checks her impulse. At first the MAN seems disappointed, but soon regains his resolve and resumes his stare. The WOMAN's uneasiness escalates and SHE reaches up to rub the back of her neck as women often do on hot days in movies about the south. The MAN's focus shifts to her hand on her neck and HE notices the ring. HE tentatively raises his hand to take hold of hers. At the last moment SHE takes her hand back down and whips around to face him. HE, caught with hand in mid air, shifts focus to his own hand and investigates it closely, going so far as cleaning his nails. SHE, having turned the tables, stares at him now, her brow raised in question. Finally, the MAN decides to speak. HE starts to, thinks better of it, and stops.) WOMAN Yes? (The MAN looks about, wondering if SHE might be speaking to someone else.) MAN Are you talking to me? WOMAN I believe I am, yes. MAN Why? WOMAN You looked like you were about to say something. MAN Was I? Oh, I don't think so. WOMAN I think you were. MAN Yes, maybe I was, it was ... it's gone. Sorry, can't think of it. WOMAN Mustn't have mattered then. MAN Wait, I think I remember. I think that I'd just figured out the answer. WOMAN To what? MAN To everything, world peace, world hunger, the common cold, dental hygiene. Now let's see, first I was going to hand out... something. Then I was going to sing ... something. And finally I was .... No, it's really gone now. Sorry. (The WOMAN smiles in spite of herself.) MAN (cont'd) I must say that's a welcome sight. (HE reaches up to touch the corner of her mouth, indicating her smile. SHE let's him touch it, letting down her guard for a moment. They stand for a short span of time, lost in each other. The WOMAN frowns and brushes his hand away. SHE walks away from him D.S.) WOMAN I thought we'd agreed not to see each other any more. MAN I'd hardly think that such a small thing as a touch would be seeing each... WOMAN I mean see. I thought we'd agreed. MAN Well we hadn't agreed not to happen upon one another, had we? WOMAN We said we'd try. MAN Fine, then I'm sorry. I'll leave. (HE exits S.L. and crosses quickly behind the stage. SHE watches him leave, somewhat remorseful. After a short while SHE crosses S.L. to ascertain that HE has left for sure and starts to exit S.R. Just as SHE is about to leave the stage, HE enters out of breath in front of her.) MAN Oh, I'm so sorry! It happened again. We've got to stop meeting like this. WOMAN We certainly do. (SHE starts to cross toward the S.R. exit. HE waits until SHE is almost off and then speaks, stopping her short. MAN It seems a waste, doesn't it? WOMAN What does? MAN This meeting. I mean, yes, we agreed not to meet. But we did at one point in time have a considerable investment in one another. WOMAN And... MAN And now that we have this chance meeting it seems a shame to waste these moments in trivial banter. Don't you think? WOMAN I suppose you're right. (The two drop into silence, pondering each other and their surroundings. The MAN finally says apologetically...) MAN Nice weather we've been having. WOMAN Goodbye. (SHE starts to leave again.) MAN Wait. WOMAN For what? MAN I don't know. Just seemed like the right word at the time. WOMAN Listen, do you have anything to say or not? MAN I don't know. I never do until it comes out. Can't you at least spare me a few moments to see if something does. WOMAN Very well, how long? MAN How long for what? WOMAN How long do you need me here? MAN I don't know. How about a minute? If you need a time what about sixty seconds? WOMAN Alright, I think I can spare that. (The two sit in silence for a while. The MAN almost casually. Finally it is the WOMAN who breaks the hush. SHE indicates the guitar on the ground almost wistfully.) WOMAN Are you still... singing? MAN At times. When I can find an attentive ear. Not many left now. WOMAN Many songs? MAN Attentive ears. There's two divisions. Those that want the songs from two decades past with the message of a bygone day, and those that want the songs of today with meanings either non-existent or echoes of those same melodies a score of years gone by. WOMAN And yours? MAN Oh, mine are just songs. I don't define them. Shall I? (HE reaches to take the guitar from its case.) WOMAN No, I'd rather you didn't. MAN My voice has actually improved as I've gone along. WOMAN I know... MAN And my playing as well... WOMAN I don't doubt it. I just... I'm not quite in the mood. MAN Oh, alright. (HE decides to remove the guitar from its case anyway.) MAN (cont'd) I see you have a ring. (HE gestures toward her hand.) WOMAN Yes. MAN Is it... WOMAN Is it what? MAN Anyone I know? WOMAN I don't think so. MAN Alright. I didn't mean to pry. WOMAN No, that's alright. MAN When... WOMAN Oh, we haven't set a date as of yet. MAN I see. (HE strikes a few notes on his guitar. The WOMAN looks at him apprehensively.) MAN (cont'd) Just tuning. I always like to be ready. (HE begins tuning the guitar. The WOMAN sits and begins stares at the ring on her finger, twisting it around.) MAN (cont'd) I wish you luck. WOMAN Thank you. (The two sit on opposite sides of the table staring of in different directions. The MAN finishes tuning and plays chords in no certain order through the next sequence. The WOMAN begins to protest, but sees him turned away and resigns herself to it.) MAN Where have you been? What have you done with your life since... WOMAN You know me. I'm comfortable. I have lots of ... things. I guess you could say I'm moving forward in a stationary vehicle. And you? MAN Travelling a great deal with no ... tangible progress. WOMAN I see. (The WOMAN laughs.) MAN Why is that funny? WOMAN Oh. I was laughing at myself. MAN Sure. WOMAN No, I was. I was just thinking of my dreams from the past. The way they've changed, the things I said I'd never do, and did. The things I said I would, and didn't. MAN And mine just seem to get further away, or smaller, as each day goes by. (Long Pause.) Heavy shit. WOMAN Sorry. MAN I believe its time for a change in the topic. WOMAN To what? MAN To ... Baseball. WOMAN Hate it, how about Chess. MAN Oh, that should provide, let's see, at least five seconds of scintillating conversation. WOMAN Alright. Fine. I'm not talking to you anyway. MAN I noticed. (There is a long pause before anyone speaks. Each of them find something to occupy themselves.) MAN Where were you going? WOMAN When? MAN Just a little while ago, before we ran into each other. WOMAN I was going to ... to ... the store. MAN Which one? WOMAN It doesn't really matter, does it? MAN I suppose not. (The MAN begins to play a blues riff, the music starts to have some sense of structure, the WOMAN looks at him pained. The MAN stops) MAN (cont'd) Sorry. WOMAN Its alright. (The WOMAN takes makeup out of her purse and picks up the mirror. The MAN makes clucking sounds of disapproval.) WOMAN (cont'd) What? MAN Still wearing that I see. WOMAN Yes, I am. MAN Damn shame really. I find you so much more beautiful without it. (The WOMAN finishes, puts the makeup away, but continues holding the mirror.) WOMAN Well I find myself much more so with it. MAN To each their own. I personally don't understand it. So many women walking around with masks on. Hiding how they really look, how they really feel for that matter. God, for just one day I'd love for it all to be outlawed, depressing stuff really... (The WOMAN turns the mirror so that he might see his reflection. HE does. The WOMAN looks at him smugly.) MAN (cont'd) However, as I said before, to each their own. WOMAN Yes, I seem to remember you saying that. MAN We all have our disguises I suppose. WOMAN Yes. (The two sit in silence. HE decides to play once again and strums a chord, this time the WOMAN almost takes it for granted. HE begins playing his own version of Pachelbel's Canon in D. SHE smiles at the memory, not looking at him. HE makes a mistake a few chords in and stops. The WOMAN looks up wistfully.) MAN Sorry. I know you don't like... (HE gestures to the guitar.) WOMAN Oh, no. It's not that I don't like it. I love it. It's just... It's just... well, you know. MAN No, sorry, I don't. WOMAN It's something too good. (The MAN looks down sheepishly.) WOMAN (cont'd) Do you understand. Sometimes I'd see you doing those things, wonderful things, and I'd wonder if I... MAN Yes? WOMAN If I have, if I had anything like that. (pause) Did I? MAN God yes. A million things. WOMAN Like what? You never mentioned any to me. MAN I tried. WOMAN Sure. MAN I did. Maybe not enough. WOMAN Maybe. What? What were they? MAN Quiet things. Waking up smiling and keeping it up all day long. Playing with children. Listening to me rave on, day and night about everything from the sun to the moon. Singing me to sleep. God, so many hushed things that no one sees 'til they're gone. And above all, putting every ounce of yourself into everything ... including me. (The WOMAN turns upstage, away from him.) MAN (cont'd) What is it? WOMAN It's those things, those things you do. That's why I didn't want to ... to even happen on one another. MAN What things? WOMAN Those sneaky nice things that make me forget about the other times. MAN What other times? WOMAN Oh, don't even try that. You know. MAN You're right. But I don't like to remember those. Seems a pity to dwell on them. Let's not talk about it. WOMAN Very well. MAN Look, I'm sorry. I know I've made mistakes. Especially with you. But I can't change those things. Just the things... (HE trails off, frowning. The WOMAN looks at him expectantly. HE almost says what HE was going to say and then turns to tuning his guitar again.) WOMAN What? MAN What, what? WOMAN What things? MAN Oh, nothing. (Again a long pause. The two sit expectant of the other to say something.) MAN (cont'd) Say have you heard this one? WOMAN Probably. MAN No, this is a new one. (The WOMAN rolls her eyes, both at his evasion and in anticipation.) WOMAN Alright, go ahead. MAN You'll like it. Two young men walking down a road. WOMAN How young and what kind of road? MAN Early twenties and a dirt road. WOMAN Where? MAN In the country. Where else would you find a dirt road. WOMAN Good point, go on. MAN Thank you. So they've been walking along this road for hours. It's dry, it's dusty... WOMAN Wait a minute. MAN What? WOMAN This isn't another farmer joke is it? (The MAN hesitates.) MAN No. WOMAN It is, isn't it? What does he sleep with in this one. Ten daughters. Ten cows... MAN None of them. Will you let me finish? WOMAN Go ahead. MAN Thank you, so they come up to this farmhouse. WOMAN I knew it. MAN Shush. So they see this farmhouse. They go up and knock on the door. A beautiful older woman answers the door. WOMAN What's her name? MAN I don't know, Mrs. Plow. WOMAN No, that wouldn't work. MAN Mrs. Farmer, it doesn't matter. So anyway, this beautiful older woman answers the door looking very seductive and asks them in. WOMAN (muttering) Mrs. Robinson... MAN What. WOMAN Nothing, continue. MAN Alright. So she invites them in and gives them something to drink. WOMAN What? MAN What? WOMAN What? MAN What what? WOMAN You know. MAN What to drink? WOMAN Yes. MAN It doesn't matter. WOMAN It could. MAN It doesn't. WOMAN It could. MAN It doesn't. WOMAN It could. MAN Iced tea. WOMAN Thank you. Go on. MAN Thank you. She invites them in. A short while later the woman's husband arrives. WOMAN Mr. Robinson. MAN Mr. Farmer. Do you want to hear this. WOMAN Not really. MAN I don't care. I'll continue. WOMAN Good. MAN So they have dinner... (The WOMAN starts to ask a question but the MAN is ahead of her this time.) MAN (cont'd) Fried Chicken, Lima beans, potatoes with a touch of butter, and lemon merangue pie for dessert. Iced tea with dinner as well. WOMAN How unoriginal. MAN They're farmers. They don't go in for gourmet fare. Okay? WOMAN Alright. Go on. MAN They finish dinner. WOMAN What ti... MAN Eight thirty. And then they decide to ... (The MAN trails off in disgust.) WOMAN What? What happens then? MAN It doesn't really matter any more. WOMAN Oh, come on, finish it up. MAN No. It's not worth it now, let's just forget it. WOMAN Okay. MAN Fine. (Silence. The MAN takes to tuning his guitar again and the WOMAN begins gathering up her things on the table.) WOMAN Well, I suppose I should be going. MAN So soon? WOMAN Yes, well, I shouldn't have stopped at all. MAN Oh come, you're having a lovely time. WOMAN Yes, it's been just ducky, but I have to go. (The WOMAN rises and starts to leave. The MAN rushes around in front of her.) MAN Without even a goodbye? WOMAN Oh yes, goodbye. (SHE reaches out and takes his hand, shaking it in a businesslike manner.) MAN How touching. WOMAN What else do you want. (The MAN strikes a rather feminine pose against whatever there is to lean against, closes his eyes, purses his lips and waits. The WOMAN starts toward him, HE reacts by gesturing with his lips for her to come closer, SHE laughs silently and then exits quietly. The MAN waits a little while and then opens his eyes to see that SHE's gone. HE shakes his head. HE waits a short while to assure that SHE is gone. And then, in an offhand manner...) MAN I suppose it wasn't that funny. They finish dinner, have a nice glass of cognac. Then, the farmer looks at one of the fellows and says "Now, I'm afraid that we don't have much extra space so you'll have to sleep with. . . (The WOMAN speaks from O.S.) WOMAN Heard it. MAN What? (The WOMAN walks slowly back on, smiling.) WOMAN I've heard it? MAN You have? WOMAN Many times. MAN From who? WOMAN From you, a while ago. MAN Oh, I thought I'd just made it up. WOMAN No. MAN If you're so sure of yourself, how did it end? (The WOMAN walks up to him and whispers in his ear.) MAN (cont'd) Uh huh, uh huh. Yeah. . . (The man laughs a bit unti the bleak stare of the woman catches him off short.) MAN (cont'd) I guess it wasn't that funny. WOMAN No. MAN Sorry. WOMAN Don't worry about it. (Pause.) WOMAN (cont'd) What's life after all? Echoes and repetitions of songs and words from the past, nothing more. MAN Hmm. WOMAN I sometimes think what really happened "in the beginning" was that the world was already created, and God found it and mistook it for a therapist. I think that for six days he did nothing but babble like an idiot non-stop, everything that's happened from that time is merely an echo of his tirade. and the world has been going mad ever since. MAN I see. WOMAN Yes, making life less of a creation, so-to-speak, as reverberations of one huge catharsis eons ago. WOMAN Yes. MAN How interesting? Did you just think of that? WOMAN No, it's been a long time coming. MAN Well, what happened after that? WOMAN After what? MAN You know, on the seventh day. WOMAN Oh, God went off to inflict his angst on another solar system and the world has been slowly going mad ever since. MAN Mmm. Fascinating. (The two stare off in opposite directions for a little while, lost in their own thoughts, listening to their heartbeats. Finally the WOMAN steels herself to speak, but can't quite bring herself to it. HE almost speaks, but can't, then finally SHE blurts out.) WOMAN Do you... MAN Yes. WOMAN Do you think of me, often? MAN Oh yes, quite often I must say. Every day at least once, maybe twice... (HE turns to look at her.) MAN (cont'd) Maybe a thousand. WOMAN Yes, I know. MAN I'm sorry, I can't help it. WOMAN Well, I wish you wouldn't. MAN Why? I'd think you'd be flattered. WOMAN I am but... MAN But... WOMAN But, I want to move on. MAN Move on to where? WOMAN To other places. MAN Not good enough. WOMAN Just on. MAN Mm mm. (Long pause. The WOMAN steels herself until finally summoning the courage to speak.) WOMAN Alright, listen ... and I mean really listen, I'm dying. I know that its true... MAN You lie. WOMAN No, I don't. There's no doubt. I know almost to the day. (There is a long pause during which the two look at each other. The MAN searching her face for answers, the WOMAN confirming what SHE has just said.) WOMAN (cont'd) Do you think that we ran into each other by accident today? I had to see you. I had to ... ask you something. Then when I saw you I couldn't do it. It was too hard. (The MAN almost interrupts, but SHE holds up a silencing hand.) WOMAN (cont'd) But I'm ready now, so please hear me out. MAN Alright. WOMAN Now listen, what I was saying, about God talking and all that. I said that I thought that's what it was, and I do. I've had some time in the past little while to take a bit more objective look at the things around us and what they mean. I don't know if God is still "alive" in the sense we mean it, or if he ever was, but I do know that he wanted to be remembered, so in that sense he still is alive. Do you see. Everything around is still shakes with the echos of him. Maybe what he said so long ago wasn't so loud, but he put enough force behind it so we still hear him today. His voice, his presence is still here. MAN What does all of this have to do with you? WOMAN Well, I think... I mean, I think I know... MAN Know what? WOMAN I'm saying that he wanted to be remembered... MAN Yes, you've made that clear. WOMAN But I don't. MAN But why... WOMAN I'm not sure exactly, but I do know that there's somewhere I have to get to, and I can't get there until the echoes of me are gone, and I'm a little impatient if you want to know the truth. I've led a fruitful, but mundane existence on this world and I'm ready for it to be completely over. MAN But... WOMAN No, argument please. I'm not worried about anyone else, they'll forget me soon enough. But you, you still sing the songs you wrote for me, still gaze at stars like I'm beside you, still whisper words to me. MAN I don't know if I can forget you. (Long pause.) WOMAN I don't feel I'm asking for that much. I'm asking you to simply let me go. Let me out of your life. MAN Simply? Simply? How simple do you think you're request is. You are a part of me now. You have been since the day we met and neither one of us realized it. I don't know where it is you're going either, or if you even have the answer. But your life, your life that seems so easy to forget to you, was no hushed voice on a starlit night. It was a shouted melody that will echo a long time after you're gone. In me, in your family, even in passing acquaintances. It will resound in the rocks, and the sticks and the grass around you. WOMAN But it won't. MAN Yes it will. WOMAN No, it won't. My life has not been that remarkable. MAN Remarkable to who? WOMAN To anyone. MAN Oh, thank you for the vote of confidence. WOMAN Except you. MAN How do you know? How do you know? You have no idea what you have meant to anyone. Two thousand years ago a man from Galilee spoke to no more than a thousand people in his life. A while later a man near Mecca spoke to a few more. Both of them can be heard today. Louder than their own voices ever were. WOMAN But... MAN You have no room for argument. You have no idea what your life has been, none of us do and none of us ever will unless by some chance we get a second time around to take a look. So if what you say is true you can bloody well wait for your earthly voice to fade away like every soul before you. (The MAN finishes and hangs his head.) WOMAN My love, I'm not asking not to be remembered. I'm asking simply to die, to be forgotten, that's all. Let me die and savor my memory on occasion, but don't keep me here until you go. (This last remark really hits home with the MAN.) WOMAN (cont'd) We'll meet again. (SHE looks around.) WOMAN (cont'd) We always do. (SHE approaches him, putting a hand lightly on his cheek. HE takes her hand and kisses it.) WOMAN (cont'd) Can you at least try? (The MAN gives her a pained look, then slowly nods.) WOMAN (cont'd) Thank you. (The two embrace for a long time, lost in each other. Finally the WOMAN breaks off.) MAN Is it that time? WOMAN Yes, it is I'm afraid. I'll... (SHE trails off.) MAN Yes? WOMAN I'll remember you. MAN Well, I won't ask you not to. WOMAN It's not very fair of me is it? MAN No, but I suppose I understand. (The WOMAN starts toward him, HE holds up a hand to stop HER.) MAN (cont'd) No. Just let me look at you. I can still feel ... everything. Let me look at you. (They stand in silence. The WOMAN slowly makes her way off stage, not breaking contact with him. As SHE reaches the edge of the stage SHE finally turns to look off into the blackness off stage. SHE turns back to him.) WOMAN I'm... MAN Scared? WOMAN Yes. MAN Good. I am too. Have a safe ... trip? WOMAN Goodbye. (The WOMAN starts to leave.) MAN Wait! WOMAN What? MAN Can you answer me one question before you go? WOMAN That depends. MAN The ring? What are you going to tell him? WOMAN Him? MAN Yes, him? WOMAN Oh... he doesn't exist really. I found out about ... going, and I'd always wanted one, so I went out and got it. MAN Really? WOMAN Yes. MAN It doesn't seem like you. WOMAN You'd be amazed at the way your viewpoint changes when you... (SHE trails off, knowing that HE understands. HE nods.) MAN Yes. WOMAN I really must go. (The two stand taking each other in. SHE moves in quickly before HE has a chance to protest and kisses him. It is a short passionate kiss, full of no remorse.) WOMAN Goodbye. (SHE starts to leave once again. The MAN makes as if to ask another question, SHE holds up a hand to stop him, shakes her head, and leaves.) MAN (smiling) Goodbye. (The WOMAN leaves. The MAN watches her for a long while, then finally sits down and plays a short, lovely piece on the guitar. HE stops midway through and looks up apologetically, with tears in his eyes to the audience.) MAN That was her song. (Fade to black)