This is the final scene of my second play, "The Two Megans". The immediate previous journals have the rest, aside from one glitch to whine.
This scene was originally blocked with plenty of movement. Anna tended to dance and move, to reflect her mood. Again, though, lots would be left up to the director (should it ever get produced again.)
Scene Five - CORY and ANNA are in the Bathroom. Anna moves with nervous energy, her hair long, but pulled tight. Cory is a little dismayed at the situation, but drawn in, just the same.
ANNA
My father... once told me. He said Anna... the most important events in the course of your life resonate the least in their happening.
CORY
Im not even sure what that means.
ANNA
My father has a way of complicating the most simple thing. Be it word or action. And that was no exception.
CORY
Seriously, what did that mean?
ANNA
I think he meant to say you cant know if something is important until afterward. Upon reflection.
CORY
Oh, sure, I get it.
ANNA
Or he could have been saying that you can think something is. Important. But you wont really know until later.
CORY
You meaning -
ANNA
Or that things that dont seem so important now, will seem important later.
CORY
(pause)
Okay.
ANNA
I was never quite sure. I was more perplexed why he didnt just say what he meant.
CORY
Is this important?
ANNA
As events go, Im pretty sure this is important. But whos to know?
(pause)
I have a brother... had a brother. He was older than me. He took great joy in making my life happy and simple. Despite my fathers attempts to complicate it.
CORY
He... was...
ANNA
Yeah, he died.
CORY
Im sorry.
ANNA
It wasnt your fault. I spent the rest of my youth watching my father pine over him. The rest of my life trying to live up to my fathers ideal for a son.
CORY
What happened? What did he go off to do?
ANNA
He was Daddys favored son. And I had to follow in his footsteps. I worshiped him.
CORY
Daughters and fathers.
ANNA
I think thats the first thing I liked about you. Simplicity.
CORY
Thanks?
ANNA
Thanks. Do you understand what its like to be surrounded by complication?
CORY
I think one of the things I like about you is I never understand what youre saying.
ANNA
Thanks.
CORY
Sorry about your brother.
ANNA
There are a bunch of things people say when they hear. Thats the main one.
CORY
They must ask if youre sad. Or if you were close.
ANNA
Yep.
CORY
Were you close?
ANNA
I used to jump on his back when I was a little girl. Usually I had on one of those big, puffy, girl dresses. He would spin me around and my father used to say it was like watching giggling cotton candy being spun.
CORY
Were you sad?
ANNA
Pretty sad. Trouble is... suicide... real suicide... suicide without a note. Thats a complicated thing.
CORY
You never hear about suicide on the news. Unless theyre famous. Its like a hidden crime.
ANNA
They take their reasons to the grave. The serious ones. And wheres the story in that? The lesson? The world likes happy endings. True love overcoming adversity and hardship. Cute babies.
CORY
You hear about murder. And that happens less than suicide.
ANNA
Murder is about motivation. Thats the hook. Its tragic. You dont hear about death by age or sickness either. Unless the sickness affects others. Or the old person was famous. We know why they died. Old age. Long life. Thats a happy ending.
CORY
Random accidents you hear about. Sometimes. The tragedy. Acts of war.
ANNA
Successful suicide isnt about craving the attention. Theyre too tired for attention. People who threaten suicide still have the energy to write a note. Brag about it. Drop hints. The Successful are too tired to write notes. To sad to brag. Theres always things left unsaid. When you succeed.
(pause)
They may leave things that give clues. Dirty house. Broken relationships.
CORY
Dead brother.
ANNA
Its so simple.
(pause)
Even at your lowest point... when you were the most depressed you had ever been... did you realize you could still lose something?
CORY
Yeah. I guess..
ANNA
I couldnt. Because I had lost it. I lost the last thing I possibly could. The last bit of... hope, I guess. Hope, the term we give the thing, to combat that theres nothing to live for.
CORY
To combat the fear.
ANNA
No!
(pause)
No, fear prevents them from doing it. Fear of death. And fears evil twin, hope. Hope that it will get better. The Successful know it wont get better. No fear of death. No fear of life. No Hope. No feeling at all.
CORY
Theyre fearless.
ANNA
Like Jesus on the cross.
(pause)
As tired as you ever got... as depressed as you ever got... did you ever wake up the next morning and find a tiny bit of that blackness filled with hope? That evil sibling of fear?
CORY
Sure -
ANNA
For me it was a lot of things, always different. But each thing... took another bit of hope with it when it was over.
(pause)
As the sun lowers the sky shows a series of brilliant colors. Shades of lavender and purple, streaks of amber and gold. Reflecting off scattered white clouds.
CORY
Gods canvas.
ANNA
(gives him a look)
As the afternoon shadows lengthen swallows and finches swarm like feathered fish. Moving en masse. Crows. Black wings reflecting rainbow color in the setting sunlight.
(pause)
Did you know crows feathers are rainbow colored under light?
CORY
I do.
ANNA
Maybe the next day the wind is light and cool and hollyhock dance on spiny legs... whispering with floral scented breath.
(pause)
I am what you made me, Father.
CORY
This is the part where guys always crash and burn. We want to comment... to fix something. But the books tell us you want us to listen.
ANNA
Im done getting things off my chest, dont you see? Thats the point. One morning I woke up and there was nothing there! No birds, no sunset, no flowers!
(pause)
No hope at all. But I remembered hope. Mourned its loss.
(pause)
And the next morning I wake up and all memory of hope... its all gone. I wake up one morning and I cant find one Goddamn reason to stay in this miserable world. I dont remember why I should. And I dont have the energy to look.
(pause)
And then its only a matter of time.
CORY
How did your brother die?
ANNA
Its not important. He did my father proud.
CORY
(pause)
Do you think that following in your brothers footsteps would get you the same love from your father as he gave your brother?
ANNA
I dont know.
CORY
Do you think your brother saw your fathers love for him any clearer?
ANNA
One thing... the first thing... I like about you, is your ability to simplify the most complicated things.
CORY
Why didnt you then?
ANNA
What do you mean?
CORY
Why didnt you kill yourself?
ANNA
(upset)
Who said I was going to?
CORY
You said you were going to.
ANNA
I cant kill myself. I have work to do. I have footsteps to follow. Daddys little angel. My brother was so confident and Im so scared.
CORY
Anna...
ANNA
I couldnt find a crow... a buttery daffodil... a soul to save.
CORY
Anna.
ANNA
Earning my wings --
CORY
Anna!
(pause)
You were going to kill yourself.
ANNA
You wanna go out tomorrow night? When Im done with this?
CORY
I. Dont know. Done with what?
ANNA
I understand.
CORY
Its not that you arent cute. And weird doesnt bother me. God knows I have my days.
ANNA
What are you scared of, then?
CORY
When did Jesus die?
ANNA
He was 33 years old.
CORY
I dont remember that. But I remember thinking about it when I was kid. His death, I mean. I remember seeing this picture of him on the cross. Wondering if it hurt. Wondering if he was scared. Then, of course, he rose from the dead. When I was a kid, I thought that was the coolest zombie story ever.
ANNA
Jesus knew what his sacrifice was. He rose from the dead, to spend eternity by his fathers side.
(pause, almost to herself)
I wonder if Jesus went to heaven? Before he came back from the dead, I mean?
CORY
Why didnt you kill yourself?
ANNA
Did you ever hear the phase? Where angels fear to tread?
CORY
You always hear the stories about the hitchhiking stranger or the wise drunk. Angels helping strangers.
ANNA
Weve turned Cherubs into babies. Holy messengers into teen girls with rainbow wings. No one listens anymore. No one pays attention to whats right in front of them.
CORY
Angels dont have wings?
ANNA
Angels have whatever they need. Does your Bible say behold my supermodel with wings, and hear my wisdom? Jesus was an angel, for Christs sake! The ultimate angel with the ultimate message! How do you follow that up?
(pause)
Moses saw a burning bush. Others saw a pillar of fire.
(literally)
What do you see?
CORY
Why didnt you?
ANNA
(pause)
I have Skittles to spill.
CORY
Did you ever see Planet of the Apes?
ANNA
My candy coated note to the world.
CORY
(imitating Heston)
Nova, youre not the most intelligent woman Ive ever met, but youre the best this world has to offer.
ANNA
(laughs)
You think that about me?
CORY
No. I think that everyone thinks that about themselves. Were scared were the best we can be...
ANNA
In a world where apes rule?
CORY
Sure.
ANNA
(light)
Youre not very good at making analogies.
CORY
In fact I suck at it.
ANNA
Youre a hit with the ladies.
CORY
We should go out tomorrow. Thats all Im saying. I can be your daffodil. Your crow.
ANNA
Faith. Thats where Angels fear to tread. Places where the messages dont matter. Places where news falls on deaf ears. Where fear falls under the grinding wheels of hope. Where fear is transformed... into faith.
(pause)
When that happens, angels dont have a purpose anymore. And no one wants to be that alone.
END SCENE FIVE
END PLAY
As always, feel free to leave comments. Also, I may take a little break for a while, I'm not sure yet. The arguing is starting to sound the same and the girls are starting to blend together, so it might be time to get away from it for awhile.
So, don't panic if there's nothing new posted for a while. The three of you or so that check, that is
This scene was originally blocked with plenty of movement. Anna tended to dance and move, to reflect her mood. Again, though, lots would be left up to the director (should it ever get produced again.)
Scene Five - CORY and ANNA are in the Bathroom. Anna moves with nervous energy, her hair long, but pulled tight. Cory is a little dismayed at the situation, but drawn in, just the same.
ANNA
My father... once told me. He said Anna... the most important events in the course of your life resonate the least in their happening.
CORY
Im not even sure what that means.
ANNA
My father has a way of complicating the most simple thing. Be it word or action. And that was no exception.
CORY
Seriously, what did that mean?
ANNA
I think he meant to say you cant know if something is important until afterward. Upon reflection.
CORY
Oh, sure, I get it.
ANNA
Or he could have been saying that you can think something is. Important. But you wont really know until later.
CORY
You meaning -
ANNA
Or that things that dont seem so important now, will seem important later.
CORY
(pause)
Okay.
ANNA
I was never quite sure. I was more perplexed why he didnt just say what he meant.
CORY
Is this important?
ANNA
As events go, Im pretty sure this is important. But whos to know?
(pause)
I have a brother... had a brother. He was older than me. He took great joy in making my life happy and simple. Despite my fathers attempts to complicate it.
CORY
He... was...
ANNA
Yeah, he died.
CORY
Im sorry.
ANNA
It wasnt your fault. I spent the rest of my youth watching my father pine over him. The rest of my life trying to live up to my fathers ideal for a son.
CORY
What happened? What did he go off to do?
ANNA
He was Daddys favored son. And I had to follow in his footsteps. I worshiped him.
CORY
Daughters and fathers.
ANNA
I think thats the first thing I liked about you. Simplicity.
CORY
Thanks?
ANNA
Thanks. Do you understand what its like to be surrounded by complication?
CORY
I think one of the things I like about you is I never understand what youre saying.
ANNA
Thanks.
CORY
Sorry about your brother.
ANNA
There are a bunch of things people say when they hear. Thats the main one.
CORY
They must ask if youre sad. Or if you were close.
ANNA
Yep.
CORY
Were you close?
ANNA
I used to jump on his back when I was a little girl. Usually I had on one of those big, puffy, girl dresses. He would spin me around and my father used to say it was like watching giggling cotton candy being spun.
CORY
Were you sad?
ANNA
Pretty sad. Trouble is... suicide... real suicide... suicide without a note. Thats a complicated thing.
CORY
You never hear about suicide on the news. Unless theyre famous. Its like a hidden crime.
ANNA
They take their reasons to the grave. The serious ones. And wheres the story in that? The lesson? The world likes happy endings. True love overcoming adversity and hardship. Cute babies.
CORY
You hear about murder. And that happens less than suicide.
ANNA
Murder is about motivation. Thats the hook. Its tragic. You dont hear about death by age or sickness either. Unless the sickness affects others. Or the old person was famous. We know why they died. Old age. Long life. Thats a happy ending.
CORY
Random accidents you hear about. Sometimes. The tragedy. Acts of war.
ANNA
Successful suicide isnt about craving the attention. Theyre too tired for attention. People who threaten suicide still have the energy to write a note. Brag about it. Drop hints. The Successful are too tired to write notes. To sad to brag. Theres always things left unsaid. When you succeed.
(pause)
They may leave things that give clues. Dirty house. Broken relationships.
CORY
Dead brother.
ANNA
Its so simple.
(pause)
Even at your lowest point... when you were the most depressed you had ever been... did you realize you could still lose something?
CORY
Yeah. I guess..
ANNA
I couldnt. Because I had lost it. I lost the last thing I possibly could. The last bit of... hope, I guess. Hope, the term we give the thing, to combat that theres nothing to live for.
CORY
To combat the fear.
ANNA
No!
(pause)
No, fear prevents them from doing it. Fear of death. And fears evil twin, hope. Hope that it will get better. The Successful know it wont get better. No fear of death. No fear of life. No Hope. No feeling at all.
CORY
Theyre fearless.
ANNA
Like Jesus on the cross.
(pause)
As tired as you ever got... as depressed as you ever got... did you ever wake up the next morning and find a tiny bit of that blackness filled with hope? That evil sibling of fear?
CORY
Sure -
ANNA
For me it was a lot of things, always different. But each thing... took another bit of hope with it when it was over.
(pause)
As the sun lowers the sky shows a series of brilliant colors. Shades of lavender and purple, streaks of amber and gold. Reflecting off scattered white clouds.
CORY
Gods canvas.
ANNA
(gives him a look)
As the afternoon shadows lengthen swallows and finches swarm like feathered fish. Moving en masse. Crows. Black wings reflecting rainbow color in the setting sunlight.
(pause)
Did you know crows feathers are rainbow colored under light?
CORY
I do.
ANNA
Maybe the next day the wind is light and cool and hollyhock dance on spiny legs... whispering with floral scented breath.
(pause)
I am what you made me, Father.
CORY
This is the part where guys always crash and burn. We want to comment... to fix something. But the books tell us you want us to listen.
ANNA
Im done getting things off my chest, dont you see? Thats the point. One morning I woke up and there was nothing there! No birds, no sunset, no flowers!
(pause)
No hope at all. But I remembered hope. Mourned its loss.
(pause)
And the next morning I wake up and all memory of hope... its all gone. I wake up one morning and I cant find one Goddamn reason to stay in this miserable world. I dont remember why I should. And I dont have the energy to look.
(pause)
And then its only a matter of time.
CORY
How did your brother die?
ANNA
Its not important. He did my father proud.
CORY
(pause)
Do you think that following in your brothers footsteps would get you the same love from your father as he gave your brother?
ANNA
I dont know.
CORY
Do you think your brother saw your fathers love for him any clearer?
ANNA
One thing... the first thing... I like about you, is your ability to simplify the most complicated things.
CORY
Why didnt you then?
ANNA
What do you mean?
CORY
Why didnt you kill yourself?
ANNA
(upset)
Who said I was going to?
CORY
You said you were going to.
ANNA
I cant kill myself. I have work to do. I have footsteps to follow. Daddys little angel. My brother was so confident and Im so scared.
CORY
Anna...
ANNA
I couldnt find a crow... a buttery daffodil... a soul to save.
CORY
Anna.
ANNA
Earning my wings --
CORY
Anna!
(pause)
You were going to kill yourself.
ANNA
You wanna go out tomorrow night? When Im done with this?
CORY
I. Dont know. Done with what?
ANNA
I understand.
CORY
Its not that you arent cute. And weird doesnt bother me. God knows I have my days.
ANNA
What are you scared of, then?
CORY
When did Jesus die?
ANNA
He was 33 years old.
CORY
I dont remember that. But I remember thinking about it when I was kid. His death, I mean. I remember seeing this picture of him on the cross. Wondering if it hurt. Wondering if he was scared. Then, of course, he rose from the dead. When I was a kid, I thought that was the coolest zombie story ever.
ANNA
Jesus knew what his sacrifice was. He rose from the dead, to spend eternity by his fathers side.
(pause, almost to herself)
I wonder if Jesus went to heaven? Before he came back from the dead, I mean?
CORY
Why didnt you kill yourself?
ANNA
Did you ever hear the phase? Where angels fear to tread?
CORY
You always hear the stories about the hitchhiking stranger or the wise drunk. Angels helping strangers.
ANNA
Weve turned Cherubs into babies. Holy messengers into teen girls with rainbow wings. No one listens anymore. No one pays attention to whats right in front of them.
CORY
Angels dont have wings?
ANNA
Angels have whatever they need. Does your Bible say behold my supermodel with wings, and hear my wisdom? Jesus was an angel, for Christs sake! The ultimate angel with the ultimate message! How do you follow that up?
(pause)
Moses saw a burning bush. Others saw a pillar of fire.
(literally)
What do you see?
CORY
Why didnt you?
ANNA
(pause)
I have Skittles to spill.
CORY
Did you ever see Planet of the Apes?
ANNA
My candy coated note to the world.
CORY
(imitating Heston)
Nova, youre not the most intelligent woman Ive ever met, but youre the best this world has to offer.
ANNA
(laughs)
You think that about me?
CORY
No. I think that everyone thinks that about themselves. Were scared were the best we can be...
ANNA
In a world where apes rule?
CORY
Sure.
ANNA
(light)
Youre not very good at making analogies.
CORY
In fact I suck at it.
ANNA
Youre a hit with the ladies.
CORY
We should go out tomorrow. Thats all Im saying. I can be your daffodil. Your crow.
ANNA
Faith. Thats where Angels fear to tread. Places where the messages dont matter. Places where news falls on deaf ears. Where fear falls under the grinding wheels of hope. Where fear is transformed... into faith.
(pause)
When that happens, angels dont have a purpose anymore. And no one wants to be that alone.
END SCENE FIVE
END PLAY
As always, feel free to leave comments. Also, I may take a little break for a while, I'm not sure yet. The arguing is starting to sound the same and the girls are starting to blend together, so it might be time to get away from it for awhile.
So, don't panic if there's nothing new posted for a while. The three of you or so that check, that is
VIEW 12 of 12 COMMENTS
Like I said, though, I'm still around- just when I dictate, not when "friends" do.