"Crush Everlasting" 
            By, Dave Ulrich

                                        Lights up.

                                        CODY is standing center. He speaks very fast,
                                        pausing only for things to land.

                                   CODY
            I met a girl. Have you heard this before?
                          (laughs)
            I'm...
                          (sighs)
            Ah. I met this girl. First things, first. You know. I'm at
            the post office. Standing in line. Quick assessment. Scan the
            room. There. Ass. Nice ass. Very, very nice ass. That's it.
            Big deal. And turn. Profile. Good. Very good. And I start
            trying to see the rest. Slight moves, angles, will power:
            "Turn around. Turn around. Turn around." Subliminal. And at
            last. The turn. Brief, but telling, and... Oh my god. Bah
            boom, bah boom. Oh my god. That... I could look into those
            eyes endlessly. I'm certain. Immediately, I'm certain. I want
            to know what's in there. I want to learn from her. I want to
            teach her. I want to share, to know. Oh - my - god.

                                        He walks forward, closer to the audience.

                                   CODY (CONT'D)
            Here's the crazy thing. Here's the thing that doesn't happen.
            She looks, take me in, and she smiles. That doesn't happen.
            That doesn't happen with... or when... you know, I want --

                                        He groans and stretches his arms out.

                                   CODY (CONT'D)
            The crush. Ah, the crush. You know the crush. The blood
            quickens and thins. The heat enveloping the head from the
            temples. Short breaths, ears tingling, throat tightens, limbs
            limp, feet numb, and balance suddenly conscious. Instant
            crush. This woman -- This -- woman... is all the more
            remarkable to me because I don't begin with hurdles, I don't
            just beg for her eyes, her attention -- she gave them. She
            gave to me. Just gave them. Who does that? Who does that,
            that looks like her? To a guy like me? Who?

                                        Dances a happy little number upstage.

                                   CODY (CONT'D)
            When you're crushing oh the world pops. So alive. So
            electric. So crisp. Everything. Inspiration flies forth,
            motivation springs to attention. You gesture, you make your
            point with force and confidence. When telling tales your
            voice lowers and booms as would send Charlton Heston cowering
            into the corner from awe of your command. Things rhyme! --
            right there, in your head!
            Colors are richer, you're more patient, forgiving, and you
            love -- love... suddenly. And you don't want to lose it. Yet,
            you have to. You have to, to function. It's too much. Too
            strong. Too overwhelming to stay there. So hot the flame. You
            need... Orgasm. You have to.

                                        Shrugs his shoulders.

                                   CODY (CONT'D)
            So how could I not? I had to try. And she was good. Handled
            it so well. Made me very comfortable with the very
            uncomfortable thing I was doing.

                                        He comes forward again.

                                   CODY (CONT'D)
            I had it once. One time. With a girl where it didn't go. Go
            away. From the first meeting, to last time I saw her so many
            years ago. I was crushing. Every moment for the six months we
            were together. My crush, everlasting.
                          (pause)
            I'm over the girl. I'm not over the idea. The idea of a crush
            everlasting. The idea that I can be just as tingly and
            charged in my decrepit body on my deathbed, as I was the
            moment I met her. And so I keep looking for that again.
            Forever in search of that crush everlasting she gave me --
            and left with me. I love her for what she showed me, what she
            taught me I could feel. But I curse her for making it
            impossible to take less. To accept less. Maybe I was young
            and dumb. Maybe it's unrealistic. But I've settled since.
            I've tried. And I can't do that anymore. So I - just - pray.
            I pray it's possible. That someone, that one of you is
            squeezing the hand of someone else right now - a little
            tighter - and thinking, "Yes. I know. I know what you're
            talking about."

                                        BLACKOUT.
            THE END

"Crush Everlasting" debuted at No Shame Theater (Los Angeles) April 18, 2003,

CODY - Chris Clarke

[Back to Library]