asmodeus256
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2002
- Messages
- 2,646
"The Scarf" a play
Dramatis Personae:
James: mid 20s, college student, athletic build
Sara: mid 20s, college student, fit build
Old Man, “Jim”: late 60s, early 70s, beard, grey hair
Time: Present Day
Location: a park…
[An old man sits on a bench, feeding the birds. One hand rests on withered cane. James walks up and sits on bench leaving space between himself and the man.]
Old Man: Hello there. [Does not look at James and continues to feed the birds.]
James: Hello.
OM: Fine day today, isn’t it?
J: Yeah, it is. [Disinterested… looks around at trees, etc.]
OM: What brings you here?
J: Oh, I’m meeting a friend here.
OM: A friend?
J: Well… she’s my girlfriend, but…
OM [cuts of James and replies]: But what?
J: I was thinking about asking her to marry me… I have the ring; I’m just having second thoughts. That’s all.
OM: You bought the rind and now you are uncertain?
J: I don’t know… I guess I’m not really ready… I let my feelings get ahead of me. [Pause.] You know, it’s kinda weird letting you all this personal stuff, and I don’t even know your name.
OM: You can call me, “Jim.”
J: Hey, we have the same name… well “James” anyway. My mom’s the only that calls me Jim. [Scoots closer and becomes more interested in conversation.]
OM [short laugh.]
J [feigns laughter]: So, Jim, why are you here?
OM: I’m waiting.
J: Waiting for who?
OM: Just waiting. So you don’t feel like you are ready for commitment?
J: Yeah, well it’s scary to think that I’ll have to stay with one person for the rest of my life. It’s nice to have my options open and be able to go out and have fun.
OM: Do you love her?
J: Yes, I do.
OM: But you don’t want to spend the rest of your life with her?
J: Well, it’s not her… It’s the fact that I’ll be chained down to one woman. I don’t think I’m ready for that.
OM: Few are truly ready.
[James nods and then sighs.]
OM: James… what you have to understand is that our emotions set us free from the lowest common denominator. And without them, we are just numbers on a sheet of paper.
J: I’m just so confused right now.
OM: Don’t you think you are overanalyzing this?
J: Yeah, I mean… Ugh, I don’t know. [Puts head in hands.]
OM : It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it?
J [Lifts his head from hands, straightens up from slouch]: Yes. Yes, it is.
OM: Yes is the most beautiful word.
[Sara walks in.]
Sara: James!
[James gets up and gives Sara a big hug. They hold each other and kiss.]
J: I missed you.
S: Awww, I missed you too!
OM [Gets up to leave.]: You two should sit awhile and enjoy the day.
S: Why, thank you. [Slightly confused look]
J: Thank you Jim, for everything.
OM [Looks at James for first time]: No, thank you. [Begins to move away slowly and stops about 15 feet away from bench. Light fades from OM slightly]
S: Hey James, do you like my new scarf? My aunt made it for me.
J [Looks at scarf and then looks into Sara’s eyes]: It’s very beautiful.
[Light fades from James and Sara and picks up on Old Man again. James and Sara talk (inaudible). James gets on one knee, pulls out a box. Sara gets excited and gives James a big hug. Light fades out completely on James and Sara.]
OM [Pulls out scarf, worm and tattered from coat pocket]: It IS very beautiful.
[Fade out]
THE END
Dramatis Personae:
James: mid 20s, college student, athletic build
Sara: mid 20s, college student, fit build
Old Man, “Jim”: late 60s, early 70s, beard, grey hair
Time: Present Day
Location: a park…
[An old man sits on a bench, feeding the birds. One hand rests on withered cane. James walks up and sits on bench leaving space between himself and the man.]
Old Man: Hello there. [Does not look at James and continues to feed the birds.]
James: Hello.
OM: Fine day today, isn’t it?
J: Yeah, it is. [Disinterested… looks around at trees, etc.]
OM: What brings you here?
J: Oh, I’m meeting a friend here.
OM: A friend?
J: Well… she’s my girlfriend, but…
OM [cuts of James and replies]: But what?
J: I was thinking about asking her to marry me… I have the ring; I’m just having second thoughts. That’s all.
OM: You bought the rind and now you are uncertain?
J: I don’t know… I guess I’m not really ready… I let my feelings get ahead of me. [Pause.] You know, it’s kinda weird letting you all this personal stuff, and I don’t even know your name.
OM: You can call me, “Jim.”
J: Hey, we have the same name… well “James” anyway. My mom’s the only that calls me Jim. [Scoots closer and becomes more interested in conversation.]
OM [short laugh.]
J [feigns laughter]: So, Jim, why are you here?
OM: I’m waiting.
J: Waiting for who?
OM: Just waiting. So you don’t feel like you are ready for commitment?
J: Yeah, well it’s scary to think that I’ll have to stay with one person for the rest of my life. It’s nice to have my options open and be able to go out and have fun.
OM: Do you love her?
J: Yes, I do.
OM: But you don’t want to spend the rest of your life with her?
J: Well, it’s not her… It’s the fact that I’ll be chained down to one woman. I don’t think I’m ready for that.
OM: Few are truly ready.
[James nods and then sighs.]
OM: James… what you have to understand is that our emotions set us free from the lowest common denominator. And without them, we are just numbers on a sheet of paper.
J: I’m just so confused right now.
OM: Don’t you think you are overanalyzing this?
J: Yeah, I mean… Ugh, I don’t know. [Puts head in hands.]
OM : It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it?
J [Lifts his head from hands, straightens up from slouch]: Yes. Yes, it is.
OM: Yes is the most beautiful word.
[Sara walks in.]
Sara: James!
[James gets up and gives Sara a big hug. They hold each other and kiss.]
J: I missed you.
S: Awww, I missed you too!
OM [Gets up to leave.]: You two should sit awhile and enjoy the day.
S: Why, thank you. [Slightly confused look]
J: Thank you Jim, for everything.
OM [Looks at James for first time]: No, thank you. [Begins to move away slowly and stops about 15 feet away from bench. Light fades from OM slightly]
S: Hey James, do you like my new scarf? My aunt made it for me.
J [Looks at scarf and then looks into Sara’s eyes]: It’s very beautiful.
[Light fades from James and Sara and picks up on Old Man again. James and Sara talk (inaudible). James gets on one knee, pulls out a box. Sara gets excited and gives James a big hug. Light fades out completely on James and Sara.]
OM [Pulls out scarf, worm and tattered from coat pocket]: It IS very beautiful.
[Fade out]
THE END
hope it gets the result you want 
