copyright © 2002 by Jesse Blaine

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 I’m talking.

Me: I’ve always been alone. I have not, however, always been aware of this fact. It’s

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 can’t 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 who’d come before me. I could not.

All: Turning to face away from me and speaking in the same monotone voice as

before.

Why couldn’t 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.

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