Christina Sowa

by Christina Sowa

Unless otherwise noted, “Alyce” refers to the male character.  This first scene is current, the rest of the scenes are a flashback to before the first scene.  Note: There are only two characters in this play, but four actors.

 

Characters:

Chris: Male (May be changed)
Alice: Female (May be changed.  Sugg:  Alex, Aleks)

Alyce, or Alyce (BOY): Male

Alyce (GIRL): Female 

 

Lights.

 

Alice:  What happened?

Chris:  A candle tipped over..

Alice:  So?

Chris: So… everything burned away…it was..

Alice:  On purpose.

Chris: Anything but. 

Alice:  One night I was looking through my window at the moon..

Chris: So?

Alice:  Let me finish.  I was looking through the window at my moon..

Chris: You said that wrong.

Alice:  I say what I mean.  I was looking through the window at my moon and I realized that I love it.

Chris:  So? 

Alice:  I love it more than anything.

Chris:  Except me.

Alice:  That’s what I was trying to say…more than you.

Chris:  What?

Alice: The world.  Don’t be selfish.

Chris:  I’m not selfish, I’m arrogant.  Don’t accuse me of being selfish.  I clearly care for others.

Alice:  But not for the world?

Chris:  No, just the people.

Alice:  The people are the world.

Chris:  No—

Alice:  No, no you’re right.  The people have absolutely nothing to do with the world…So…who lit this candle?  Did you do it?

Chris: Do what?

Alice:  Light the candle.

Chris:  I’d rather not, I’m sort of shaken from the fire.

Alice:  That’s not what I meant.

Chris:  Well you should say what you mean.

Alice:  I always do…Where are they?

Chris:  Who?

Alice:  The others?

Chris:  I love them…

Alice:  I know you do, where are they?

Chris:  I don’t remember.

Alice:  You lost them?  No, no.  They must have run away—

Chris: From the fire.

Enter Alyce

Chris:  Hello Alyce.

Alice:  Hello.

Chris:  Not you.

Alice:  Why not me?

Chris:  You are strange.

Alyce:  I wish I knew my way.

Chris:  I am well acquainted with your way.

Alice:  Me too.

Alyce:  But you hardly know me.

Alice:  Of course I do.

Alyce:  How can you.

Alice:  I love you.

Alyce:  But you don’t know me.

Alice:  Of course I know you, what fool would love someone they don’t know?

Chris:  I would.

Alice:  But you know everyone.

Chris:  I know everyone I love.  And I love everyone but one.

Alyce:  Which one.

Chris:  All of them, I already told you that.

Alice:  But which don’t you love?

Chris:  Oh, only one.

Alyce:  Is it an Alice?

Chris:  It is.

Alice:  But which?

Chris:  Alice.  You are one.

Alyce:  You’re right.  I had

Alice:                                  Forgotten.  They kiss (Alyce and Alice)

 BLACKOUT

 

A bedroom with a large bed in which lay Alyce the man and Chris on far ends, facing away from each other.  There is a candle burning on the nightstand table. Chris is reading a novel with glasses on, then suddenly realizes something, puts the novel down, and pulls out a pad of paper.

 

Chris:  Alyce, hand me a pen.

Alyce:  What for?

Chris:  I need to write a note.

Alyce:  A note?  To whom?

Chris:  To Alice.

Alyce:  To say what.

Chris:  I’m not quite sure…well.  Yes I know what I will say.

Alyce:  Oh, tell me.

Chris:  Not yet.

Alyce: Why not?  Is it private?

Chris:  If it were private, I would tell you.

Alyce:  Then it’s public?

Chris:  If it were public, it’d already be well known, making it unnecessary to write the note.

Alyce:  Well what is it then?

Chris:  Inconsequential.

Alyce: Satisfied.  Oh. Hands him a pen, Chris writes him a short note, and folds it up.

 

BLACKOUT

 

Same scene now with Chris lying across Alice’s lap, who is sitting up, stroking his hair.  Two candles.

 

Chris:  Alice, my darling dear, would you hand me a pencil?

Alice:  Whatever for?

Chris:  I want to write a note.

Alice:  To whom? With a smile.

Chris:  To Alyce. 

Alice:  Searches drawer.  I have a pen…?

Chris:  No, that won’t do.

Alice:  Why not?

Chris:  What if I make a mistake?

Alice:  After a pause, thinking.  Do you love me?

Chris:  Yes.

Alice:  Do you find me attractive?

Chris:  Aveces.

Alice:  Aha!

Chris:  “Aha!” what?

Alice:  You always speak in foreign languages when you are lying.

Chris:  No es cierto.

Alice:  See?

Chris:  Does it matter?

Alice:  It might.

Chris:  But does it?

Alice:  No.

Chris:  Good.  I still need a pencil…never mind.  Hand me that pen.

Alice:  Who are you writing to now?

Chris:  Alice.

Alice:  But I’m right here. Laughing.

Chris:  There are certain things that one doesn’t say out loud.  It’s indecent.

Alice:  Like…I love you?

Chris:  Like, I torture babies for fun.

Alice:  But that goes without saying.

Chris:  Laughing.  Nothing goes without saying. 

Alice:  Au contraire.  Most things do.

Chris:  You’re lying.

 

BLACKOUT

 

Chris sits up, and blows out the candle on the left.  Then lays back down.

 

BLACKOUT

 

Red lights, as Alice walks across the stage, half way, switch to blues. She is struck and sees the moon through a window facing the audience.

 

Alice:  The only inconstant.  The only constant.

Enter Chris with candle and a white rose.

Chris:  I wrote you a note.

Alice:  But I’m here.

Chris:  It is something one does not say aloud.  Hands her note and a rose.

Alice: May I read it?

Chris:  Not now.  At say…9:23.

Alice:  Laughing.  Why specifically?

Chris:  To keep my mystery.

Alice:  What mystery?

Chris:  The note’s mystery I guess.

Alice:  I see.  Exit Alice, taking candle with her. 

Chris goes closer to window. Gazes at the moon, lost.  Enter Alice the girl and Alyce the boy holding hands.  The girl holds a red rose.  Lights change to red. 

Alyce(GIRL):  Odd, isn’t it?

Chris:  You startled me.  What’s odd?

Alyce (BOY):  How the moon is the only constant, but it’s so inconstant.

Alyce (GIRL):                                                                 it’s so inconstant.  Here.  Hands Chris the Rose, and skips off.

Chris:  Here. Hands Alyce a note.

Alyce:  It’s written in pencil…

Chris:  I didn’t want to make a mistake.  Open it at 9:23.

Alyce:  a.m. or p.m.?

Chris:  p.m.

 

BLACKOUT

 

Alice and Alyce the boy are in the bed on opposite sides both looking at a clock on the nightstands.  They each have one candle.

 

 

 

 

Alice and Alyce:  9:23…they open their notes.   Alice,

Alice:                                                                              I’m lost. Come find me.

Alyce:                                                                                                                     Come find me, I’m lost.

Alice:  But I just saw you.  Blows out candle.  Lies down to sleep.

Alyce:  PS:  I do not love the world.  Is devastated.  Picks up the candle, brings it down stage to a wastebasket.  Burns the note, then throws the note and candle in the wastebasket.  Enter Alyce the GIRL. Enter Chris from opposite side.  Chris goes behind Alyce the BOY, and observes without being seen.

 

Alyce (GIRL):  It’s your own fault you know.  You spilt the fire.

Chris:  I didn’t want to make a mistake.

Alyce (GIRL):  You made a mistake.  Kneels beside Alyce the BOY, they stare at each other a second, then embrace.  GIRL takes BOY’s hand and they walk exit together. 

 

Chris walks over and sits on the edge of the bed, stirring Alice, who sits up.  She crawls toward Chris, who holds up his hand.

 

Chris:  Leave me alone.  I am lost.

Alice:  Je t’ai trouvé.

 

BLACKOUT.