Of 
    The
        Blue

                    A Raffi Play

Copyright (c) 2000 Zaffi

Characters:

Christophe-A modern day philosopher. He talks to the audience throughout
the play analyzing everything. Despite his intelligence he is blinded
sometimes by his arrogance and his misconceptions. During this time of
crisis he is confused yet tries to maintain his intellectual dignity.

Lisa-Christophe's girlfriend, she is very grounded. She honestly loves
Christophe and cares for him. Her motives are good willed.

Jacob-A friend of Christophe, also a philosopher. He is extremely
distraught by the uncertainty and spontaneity of life. He feels he can
only be comfortable in a grounded stable life. He is conflicted

Man
Doctor
Nurse
Doctor 2


[ The background is blue. Throughout the whole play, the stage should be
divided into halves. For most of the time when one half is lit, the
other is in darkness to provide a guise for quick movement of props. A
bench is on stage R. Christophe enters. He sits on the bench.]

Christophe: Nice day huh?[smiles] Sure it is. The sun is shining, birds
are chirping, the ducks are quacking and wobbling around the pond. It's
one of those days where time falls like rain. It gives you time to think
and ponder the meaning of nothing. That's right, absolute nothingness,
forgetting about everything relevant in your life. Ahhh . . .[looks up]
the sky is just so blue today. So serenely blue, not a cloud in
sight. If I had a choice, I would live my life like this every single
day. [stretches] Ah, yes. Days like these don't come very often and if I
had one thing to tell you about the way you we live it would simply be
. . .[a pale sickly man, dressed in bum's clothing enters.] Oh
great. Just when you think it can get any more pleasant, it doesn't.[the
man sits on the bench.] Beautiful day isn't it?

Man: I guess.

Christophe: You guess? How can you guess? Look at it. The scene, the
setting, days like these don't come very . . .

Man: Give me your money.

Christophe: Often. Excuse me.

Man: I said give me your money. Now.

Christophe: Judging by your clothes and appearance I would see that you
gravely need my money but that's not the way the world works I'm
afraid. I suggest cleaning yourself . . .

Man: Enough talk. Just give me your money. Now. . .  Please.

Christophe: Please? Oh you're good. Seeing as how you're not armed in
any fashion[ man puts hand in his pocket and points at Christophe
implying a gun] Oh please, so cliche.

Man:[approaches Christophe] Give it to me now!

Christophe: No! [a struggle] Stop it. Help. Police!

Man: Please I need it.

Christophe: No, no, no and no! [Christophe recoils back] Owww! [Man gets
up and exits] Hey! Hey come back![slight pause] Well if that doesn't
ruin your day, I don't know what will. That really hurt, God. I mean did
you see this guy coming, I mean what has this world come to, God. Well
. . . I suppose . .  . we should probably . . . Ugh. I've lost my train
of thought if you can believe it. Usually after experiences like these I
could go for . . .a drink. [Christophe moves to stage L. and a light
reveals a chair. Christophe sits in the chair. Lisa enters]

Christophe: What a day.

Lisa: Christophe, I didn't see you there. When did you get in?

Christophe: Just now, you'll never believe what's happened to me.

Lisa: Oh yeah, do tell me about your adventures in the park [laughs and
exits] By the way did you pick up some bread for tonight from
Tony's. You know the Italian kind . . .[trails off]

Christophe: Bread? [aside] Of course I come home with a dramatic story
of life and death, an experience rare in its kind and all she can thinks
about is whether I brought home food.[end aside] No I don't have the
bread.

Lisa:[entering with a brandy] Well why not? You know Jaime loves that
bread.  [hands Christophe a brandy].

Christophe: Christ, will you listen to me? Do you care at all about what
has happened to me?

Lisa: What was so important that bread couldn't wait?

Christophe: I was attacked in the park. [takes a sip of the brandy]

Lisa: Attacked? Oh my God, what happened?

Christophe: I was sitting in the park when all of a sudden, out of the
blue comes this bum. He sits down next to me and asks for my money. Then
he has the audacity to pretend like he has a weapon. I told him it was
cliche but that just provoked him further. He came at me with the
ferocity of a wild, hungry beast and then . . .pricked me. Then he left.

Lisa: Well where did he prick you?

Christophe: I don't know, my arm.

Lisa: Well take off your jacket and see if your okay.

Christophe: I'm fine and I'm a bit chilly so if you don't mind I'd like
to keep it on.

Lisa: Well we have to check if you're hurt.

Christophe: I'm fine .[Lisa attempts to take off his jacket] Stop,
you're going to make me spill my brandy.[stands up] Fine. Here.[takes
off his jacket. His white shirt is stained with blood on his arm.]
Christ.

Lisa: Oh my God. Your shirt . . . Chris . . . you're dying.

Christophe: Oh shut up. It doesn't hurt.[touches his arm] Oww [aside]
Blood?  He hadn't cut me, it was just a prick like . . . like a needle
or something.  I'd never of guessed that there would be this much blood.

Lisa: You need to get that checked out.

Christophe:[aside] No shit. God, if only Lisa could express her emotions
in a slightly more intelligent fashion I might be more hospitable,
instead I'm doomed to the moronic obvious reply 'Oh . . . My . . .God'
Hmm. [pause] Right doctors.[goes stage right. Doctor is there holding
the blood sample]

Doctor: We should have the results back in about 48 hours, we'll be sure
to call if anything comes up.

Christophe: Well what are some possibilities?

Doctor: Well it's hard to say. You said this guy came out of the blue,
he appeared to be pale and sickly and pricked you with a foreign
object. Had it been a syringe that he had been using drugs with, I don't
even want to think about the possibilities. Hepatitis B, HIV, it could
be anything. But right now the most important thing is to relax and
rest. This has obviously been traumatic. . .

Christophe:[aside] Traumatic? Don't want to think about the
possibilities?  These are not the things I want to hear. I don't think
he understands the importance of the work I was doing. I was on the
verge of realizing the question that has plagued us for eons and
. . . maybe Lisa was right, I am dying.[laughs to himself] Days like
these don't come very often do they?If there's anything I've learned
from all this is that . . .[phone rings.]  Excuse me [Christophe cross
to stage L to reveal a phone on a small table. He picks it up] Hello?
Jacob calm down. Jake slow down. Ok. Ok, ok. Ok I'm coming over. Yeah,
I'll be there in a minute.[hangs up crosses to stage right, Jacob
enters. He is immediately jittery]

Jacob: Christophe, thank God you could come.

Christophe: So what's wrong? You seemed a little . . .flustered on the
phone.

Jacob: Sara has left me.

Christophe: Sara? Left you? I thought things were . . .

Jacob: Going fine? Yeah well that dumb bitch . . .I'm sorry. Your right
I am flustered. God Chris I don't know what to do anymore. It's not
fair. I was at that point in my life where everything was perfect.
 
Christophe: What are you talking about?

Jacob: You think everything is solid. Everything is the way it's gonna
be for the rest of your life. Sara was the final part. We were on our
way to getting married, she would just finish the circle and then I'd
start right where I began, only as a parent this time instead of as a
child. We'd have kids, a house, dog, fence, a station wagon, a nice one,
the finer things in life. Now all I have is left is essentially
nothing. Sure it seems like I have plenty, but all this material stuff
is nothing without stability. I need stability! I need structure! I want
a wife who'll always be with me, a house I can depend on and a . . .uh
. . .toothbrush that I don't have to throw away!

Christophe: You have to throw away your toothbrushes![pause] They build
up with plaque and you should change it every six months. They get
disgusting.  You see some things have to be thrown out, not everything
is stable.

Jacob: Yes, but it's annoying. I'd rather have some type of super
toothbrush which I get used to and don't have to change. It's so
difficult to change sometimes.[on the verge of crying] I just want a
. . .a forever toothbrush.  [cries]

Christophe: Don't be ridiculous.[pause] Jacob, come on.

Jacob: I don't understand it anymore.[pause] You know I can't sleep at
night.  I try and try but it's just no use. I'm always concentrated on
trying to sleep that my mind never wanders.I close my eyes. I close them
but I realize that my eyes haven't just shut off. My eyes continue to
see, but instead of seeing light they just see the back of my
eyelids. My eyes can never stop looking, they just look into the
darkness, waiting for the flashing reminiscence of light to disappear. I
wonder if that's what's death is like.  An eternal gaze into
nothing. Just black, black and silent. And then I think is this it,
stability for what? To finish the circle and then draw another one fresh
in the sand? Sometimes I think the whole world is distracted from the
purpose. The question. I stare out of my car and see all these cars,
headlights really, flashing by me .Where are they driving, why are they
driving? Are they lonely, will one day I meet them? And then I think
they close there eyes every night, they close them and they fall into an
illusion.
 A dream, thinking this is it. The place where I am me. Where I am alone
yet fulfilled. Where I control. And they dream and dream.[pause] I think
about death a lot.

Christophe: [verge of crying] I'm dying.[cries and hugs Jacob]

Jacob:[crying and hugging] So am I. [they stand there for a moment and
then break apart and stop crying] Well that is metaphorically. We're all
dying in the literal sense but . . .but what do you mean you're dying?

Christophe:I don't know any more. I could be. Maybe.

Jacob: Well this sounds serious.

Christophe: It is serious. I'm a potential candidate for a fatal
disease.

Jacob: Christophe, what the hell has happened?

Christophe: I've been pricked. Pricked by some bum in the park. I don't
know what's going on anymore.

Jacob: Pricked? Jesus. Have you seen of a doctor?

Christophe: Of course. And what does he say, ' I don't want to think
about the possibilities'. God. Your right solidity, that what's we
need. A bit of firm and solid answers. Be frank with one another. If I'm
gonna die, I'd like to know, thank you very much.

Jacob: We're philosophers, it's never easy not to over think these
things. . .

Christophe: [during this speech Jacob slowly exits]And you know what's
the worst part . . .Lisa. She sits there pretending to be worried. Her
whimpers of 'Oh My God' only further aggravate me. It's almost as if she
believes that I believe that her love is genuine.[during the speech he
slowly crosses left] Lisa is the type of woman who has had two lifetimes
of experience in the realm of sex. She is confused only due to the
number of times she's been abused and mistreated. Dating, what a lost
cause.  I know she only dates me because of my money and relishes my
quasi fame yet she plays me like a game of Othello constantly turning
over her words to slowly attack. Why do I date her you ask? She's great
in bed. And before you cringe I am aware of how idolatrous that
sounded. But it's true, she's great at sex and if I needed intelligence
stimulus I always have my friends to talk to. In fact I couldn't think
of a better scenario for her, I am on the verge of dying. I can already
feel her cold and greedy hands slowly wrapping around my neck [shakes
his head and laughs. Onstage Lisa has appeared]

Lisa: What do you mean you want me to leave?

Christophe: I just feel that we've come to a point where nothing feels
right.  I just think it's best that you leave.

Lisa: And where do you want me to go? Huh. What do you want me to do, go
crawling in the streets? Christophe you know I have no where to go.

Christophe: I feel I have supported you more than adequately, for over 3
years and. . .

Lisa: Exactly. 3 wonderful years. 3 years where 've felt like I've had
something in my life . . .you can't just barge in here and say it's over
and you want me out like this.

Christophe:[chuckles slightly] Lisa, it may have been 3 wonderful years
but did you really think we would last?

Lisa:[pasue. Her anger has become focused] It's because of all this
isn't it.

Christophe: All because of what?

Lisa: This whole no sex thing. What am I some type of pleasure
outlet?What, is it because I think we should wait until the test results
come back before we start . . .fucking.

Christophe: Lisa please . . .don't be absurd I just. . .

Lisa: No I think I'm being realistic. What do you think I'm some sort of
whore? You go and write some book about some philosophical shit and
suddenly you can just use people for sex. Who the fuck do you think you
are?

Christophe: Oh come on . . .don't act as if that weren't the case.

Lisa: What? What are you . . .

Christophe: Oh please, stop the charade. You think I don't know? You
think I'm not smart enough to catch on? Please, I know the formula of
love with people like you and me. It's more like a contract instead of
love, you supply a need and I . . .well I pay for it.

Lisa:[slaps him] You bastard. I hope you rot in hell. You know what, now
I understand that you were too cold hearted to ever realize what love
felt like. I hope that when you go to the doctor tomorrow, you'll test
positive for something and for the rest of your life . . . you'll
suffer. You'll suffer and suffer and then when you come close to death
you'll finally realize what love feels like it and for the rest of what
remains of your small and puny life you'll regret the way you
lived. Goodbye . . .[exits]

Christophe: Well[composing himself] that was a bit harsh don't you
think.  [pause] Jesus Christ what if she's right. What if the test
results aren't good? That moment could change my life for the rest of my
time. I'd be a helpless struggling child attached to a tube, a necessity
to help me breathe and eat. I suppose if there is one thing about days
like these that I could forewarn you about is to . . .[phone rings and
he picks it up] Hello? Oh Doctor Reed . . .I didn't know it was
you. . . Uh huh, ok, ok . . .so I should just come in . . .uh huh. All
right I'll be there. Thanks. Ok. Bye.  [hangs up] The results are
in. And I have no one to go with.[pause] Jacob.[Jacob enters]

Jacob: I came as soon as I heard. Are you sure you want to do this?

Christophe: What other choices do I have?

Jacob: None really.

Christophe: Lisa has left me.

Jacob: What? At a time like this? What the hell was she thinking?

Christophe: I told her to leave.

Jacob: I thought things were going well?

Christophe: She was the only one that ever loved me.

Jacob: Well then why did she leave?[a nurse enters]

Nurse: Mister Christophe.

Christophe: Why me? Why all this? Did I ask for this? Maybe this is a
sign, or a test you know. Perhaps this bum could have been divine. Maybe
a test from God, a renewal of faith. There was something about that
day. It was clear blue, you could see miles away. There were no clouds ,
no glare from the sun, only the sky. Blue like the water, lucid and
clear. And out of it, out of the blue came this heavenly messenger,
perhaps a bit out of uniform but nonetheless. Disguised as the humble,
pricking me with . . .not death but life. Jacob everything, everyone has
a purpose, a reason for existing. Maybe this prick of terror was an
awakening, maybe my life was indeed taking turns for the wrong. I had
always assumed that everything I was doing had some type of
reason.[pause] All I can see and remember now is the blue. When we
struggled my head was facing upward, and I felt like I was lost in the
sky.  Lost in the . . .

Nurse: I'm looking for a mister Christophe.

Jacob: Go . . .just go and find out.

Christophe: No. . .no I don't want to.

Jacob: Please Christophe . . .

Christophe: No! No Jacob. That's not why this happened. Not so that I
could find out something horrible and end my life here in a hospital
waiting room.  No, it's to learn how to leave the waiting room, how to
leave my expectations.

Jacob: You're being unreasonable.

Christophe: No I don't think so. Days like these are few. If there's one
thing I've learned . . .if there's one thing . . .one thing . . .one.
Then it's this. Things don't come out of the blue for no apparent
reason. Things happen because they are meant to, because without them
we'd have nothing. We don't progress or regress, we don't evolve or
devolve we just exist. And these things help us, they teach us. They
. . . create us.[Christophe exits.  Jacob attempts to follow but
stops. The entire stage is now lit]

Nurse: Mister Christophe? A mister Christophe?

Jacob: Uh yes . . .right here.[the nurse hands him a folder]

Nurse: Here you go. The doctor will be in shortly.

Jacob: Thank you[looks at the folder. Doctor 2 enters with a clipboard]

Doctor 2: How are you feeling[looks at clipboard] Christophe?

Jacob: Uh . . .fine. So what are the results?

Doctor 2: Well. . .[Looks at Jacob, lights go to blue then fade to
black]

                        The End