Something Cyclical in Turn
by
Cool Jesse
Lights up.
I stand center stage and stare at the audience for 4 beats.
Me: I am alone.
Wait 2 beats.
I am ------ alone.
Enter Person 1 stage left. Person 1 takes 5 slow, small steps toward me as Im talking.
Me: Ive always been alone. I have not, however, always been aware of this fact. Its
your fault, you are the one who made me aware. Before you, I had nothing, and
that was fine with me. After you, I had nothing, but I could no longer ignore that
emptyness.
Enter Person 2 and Person 3 stage right. They should be spaced out so that the people on stage begin to encircle me. They take 7 slow, small steps toward me as Person 1 takes 2 more slow small steps toward me.
Me: There was a moment between my before and after that I knew only you. I was
consumed in your existence, with not thought of myself. I tried to invite you in. I
tried so hard to invite you in. What I could not offer, you could not refuse. I
lacked permanence. I was barely more than a whisper.
Enter Person 4 stage left and Person 5 stage right. They both take 9 slow, small steps toward me, helping form the circle, while everyone else takes two more slow, small steps in.
Me: I wanted to pull you into me and keep you alone.
Run over to Person 1 and hug her.
All I needed was to hold you and hear you whisper, "Everything is all right."
Break hug.
All: (Said very monotone.) Why cant you be all right?
Everyone takes 2 steps in while they say the line. Person 6 and Person 7 come out of the audience and fill in the front of the circle, while saying the line.
Me: Walking quickly around the circle.
You refused. I was refused. I wanted to love you. You said you wanted love.
You were tired of being so alone all of the time. You wanted to feel something. I
could not give to you what you needed most. I could not give to you my unaware.
I could not undo the work of all those whod come before me. I could not.
All: Turning to face away from me and speaking in the same monotone voice as
before.
Why couldnt you?
Me: Dropping to the floor.
I was refused. You tore into my solitude and opened me. So, here I am -------
alone. The only refuge left me from your touch is regret. I pass the hours, in the
company of the only thought left to me: I love you. Hit head on floor. I love you.
Hit head on floor. I love you. Hit head on floor. I love you. Hit head on floor. I
love you. Hit head on floor. I love you . . .
Lights start to fade on the 3rd "I love you."
"Something Cyclical in Turn" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
"Something Cyclical in Turn" debuted November 1, 2002, performed by Jesse Blaine.