"Pete"
            By, Christopher Clarke

                                        Pete lights a candle.

                                        LIGHTS RISE SLOWLY.

                                   PETE
            I found my dream. I thought I had found it once before when I
            taught myself the clarinet, but I was mistaken.  That paled
            in comparison.  Do you know what it's like to find your
            dream?  Well, I do and it was everything that you could
            imagine.  Perfect.  Light.  Sublime.  I had to repeatedly
            pinch myself to make sure I was awake.  I thought the stars
            must've aligned themselves somehow.  All that cliche stuff. 
            My heart starts pounding even now just talking about it. 
            God, it was good.  It was better than that.  It was...
            indescribable.  This lasted for several years.  Can you
            believe that?  Finding your dream and having it last not only
            hours, days or weeks but years?  Interestingly, or not so
            interestingly, depending on how you want to look at it, the
            dream, like all dreams, had a beginning middle and end.  I
            don't remember the exact date when it ended, I do remember
            thinking, "My dream has moved on and left me behind."  It
            took me a long time to admit that to myself.  I overstayed my
            welcome, so to speak.  And then I left.  I left the place
            where I had found my dream, and I came here.  In search of a
            new dream.  Or maybe the same one, I'm not really sure.

            I like it here.
                          (looks around the stage)
            It's nice.  It feels good.  And it can be very exciting at
            times.  But it's not the same.  It's a pricklier feeling. 
            Like a crush.  I haven't yet decided if I'm going to stay. 
            And much of the time I want to go back.  Or go somewhere
            else.  It's just that no matter where I go, I know I'll end
            up coming back here, you know?  My future is here.  My
            destiny.  Or so I've convinced myself.  I guess I'm waiting
            for a sign.

                                        LIGHTS go out.

                                   PETE
            No,...

                                        LIGHTS come back on.

                                   PETE
            ...a different sign.  I have to remember that I can go back
            anytime I want.  It's all right here.
                          (indicating his brain)
            All I have to do is close my eyes.

                                        Pete closes his eyes.

                                        He opens them and then blows out
                                        the candle.

                                   PETE
            Hey - thanks for lending an ear tonight.  I appreciate it.

                                        BLACKOUT.
            THE END

"Pete" debuted February 21, 2003 with the following cast:

PETE - Christopher Clarke

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