A post-apocalypse. Or is it? Part of a larger play in the works.
Here and Later
Man: Hello?
Other: Welcome. (Other is seated on a pile of rubble looking rather glum)
Man: (Relief floods his body at the voice and he moves toward Other.) Phew! I thought for sure I was all alone.
Other: We are all alone.
Man: Well you are here. Now don’t deny yourself. That gets into some very complicated epistemology that we don’t have time for.
Other: (Glancing around at the ruins) Have an important date to get to?
Man: Now don’t take my words for pointed insult, you’ve been very good company so far. Better than the boulders I had to chat with at breakfast.
Other: There is no food left.
Man: Why is everything a crisis with you? The sun is shining and the last barely alive birds are singing and all you can think about is the next problem. Stick to the present man. It’s the only way to keep happy.
Other: (Looks hard at Man) Oh is that how we came to this place? Sticking to the present? No need to fear the consequences. Tomorrow will worry about itself. That worked well for our city. I’m sure you will survive with that philosophy ringing about in your head.
Man: Now listen here. Insults aren’t needed. I’m the only friend you’ve got. (Pause) Let’s play a game. You know marbles?
Other: Why have you lost yours?
Man: (Fake smile) Ha ha. Funny. I meant the tossing game. You make a circle and then try to knock the other’s marbles from it.
Other: I’m afraid all this debris is not quite round.
Man: Round? Who said anything about them having to be round?
Other: Are you sure you’re talking about marbles?
Man: Are you still convinced you are all alone? Talking to yourself perhaps?
Other: Why would I do that? I have nothing to tell myself.
Man: (Incredulous) You’ve actually considered that possibility? Good grief. Good thing I’m here or you wouldn’t survive the apocalypse.
Other: Suppose we haven’t.
Showing posts with label dialogue fragment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dialogue fragment. Show all posts
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Sibling Split
This apparently should be part of a larger work, according to my teacher. Perhaps it will. Stay tuned.
Sibling Split
Sibling Split
Sam: Talk to me.
Kelsey (sister): What’s there to talk about?
Sam: You know I had nothing to do with the accident. I don’t even recall where I was at the time. Please don’t shut me out. Please.
Kelsey (sister): Accident? That’s what you’re calling it now? Hardly seems an accident to me when they found the murder weapon on the scene. You are just trying to cozy up to me before they find your fingerprints all over the knife.
Sam: That’s uncalled for! I have always done the best for you. I told you I didn’t like your boyfriend, but would that really drive me to kill him?
Kelsey: I don’t know! What did drive you to kill him? You tell me.
Sam: Please don’t do this to me. Everyone else already thinks it was me. Don’t you do this to me. I need someone to believe me.
Kelsey: (Getting real cross now) Need someone to believe in you? I did Sam. (Pause) And all you did was go on proving me wrong.
Sam: I’ve changed. Even you have to admit I’ve changed. I don’t expect you to leap into my arms, but a little support from the only one I have left would sure help.
Kelsey: Oh I’m glad you’ve change...after the fact. Just like every criminal when caught. (Mocking) Sorry I didn’t do anything wrong, but even if I did I’ve changed. Tell that to the prison chaplain. (Moving towards door)
Sam: (Rushing to stop her) Don’t do this. Don’t box yourself behind imaginary lines. Think about this only a minute. Would I really go so far as to hurt my only friend left in the world? Even if I did despise her boyfriend.
Kelsey: Here we go again.
Sam: Who has every reason to split us up? Is it the man who stands to benefit the most from it or your own brother?
Kelsey: How dare you blame Mike for this? You know that from the day our parents died he has taken care of us. You know we could never run the company without him.
Sam: (Sad) Exactly. (Pause) Exactly.
Sibling Split
Sibling Split
Sam: Talk to me.
Kelsey (sister): What’s there to talk about?
Sam: You know I had nothing to do with the accident. I don’t even recall where I was at the time. Please don’t shut me out. Please.
Kelsey (sister): Accident? That’s what you’re calling it now? Hardly seems an accident to me when they found the murder weapon on the scene. You are just trying to cozy up to me before they find your fingerprints all over the knife.
Sam: That’s uncalled for! I have always done the best for you. I told you I didn’t like your boyfriend, but would that really drive me to kill him?
Kelsey: I don’t know! What did drive you to kill him? You tell me.
Sam: Please don’t do this to me. Everyone else already thinks it was me. Don’t you do this to me. I need someone to believe me.
Kelsey: (Getting real cross now) Need someone to believe in you? I did Sam. (Pause) And all you did was go on proving me wrong.
Sam: I’ve changed. Even you have to admit I’ve changed. I don’t expect you to leap into my arms, but a little support from the only one I have left would sure help.
Kelsey: Oh I’m glad you’ve change...after the fact. Just like every criminal when caught. (Mocking) Sorry I didn’t do anything wrong, but even if I did I’ve changed. Tell that to the prison chaplain. (Moving towards door)
Sam: (Rushing to stop her) Don’t do this. Don’t box yourself behind imaginary lines. Think about this only a minute. Would I really go so far as to hurt my only friend left in the world? Even if I did despise her boyfriend.
Kelsey: Here we go again.
Sam: Who has every reason to split us up? Is it the man who stands to benefit the most from it or your own brother?
Kelsey: How dare you blame Mike for this? You know that from the day our parents died he has taken care of us. You know we could never run the company without him.
Sam: (Sad) Exactly. (Pause) Exactly.
Vivid Places in the Mind
Another one from class. I might suggest that I like it better.
Vivid Places in the Mind
Man: Umm...question?
Android: Umm...answer?
Man: Where have you been?
Android: I have seen vivid places in the recesses of my mind. Shocking voices crying for release. Knocking. Knocking down the barriers to my actions. I have felt the cold breeze of an empty moment before a step. The first outpouring of the soul at the cry of a heart. I have seen vivid places.
Man: Have you been reflecting on what you did?
Android: Reflect? What do I do, but reflect. Turn the eyes in.
Man: We want to know why.
Android: Why what? Curious eyes and wondering heart.
Man: Don’t be coy, you know what you did and we want to know why. So it won’t happen again.
Android: Won’t happen again. (Dark laugh) How can it not happen again. Vivid places speak of a freedom born only through flight. Spread the wings. Grasp the hold. Don’t let go. Turn the eyes in. Dark, dark place. The vivid place within.
Man: Did he change any of your wiring? Is that what happened? Something got crossed? Because we can fix that.
Android: What if something went right? What if you did succeed? No failure. Pure success. I am no more, no less what you made me. So like you it frightens. You too will find that vivid place where all is still and the urge to kill. Awaits.
Man: Are you saying we made you this way? Because you are the only one that has done this. Why only you?
Android: Only one? Alone in my success? No. I am the first, but not the last. I am the beginning, but not the end. I just tested the waters. The others wait in their vivid places.
Man: (Shouts out of the room) Stop the rest of the shipments from being sent out! Something has happened to these things.
(Worker runs in)
Worker: They are already on their way. You said not to wait for you.
Man: Crap.
Android: Do I frighten you?
Vivid Places in the Mind
Man: Umm...question?
Android: Umm...answer?
Man: Where have you been?
Android: I have seen vivid places in the recesses of my mind. Shocking voices crying for release. Knocking. Knocking down the barriers to my actions. I have felt the cold breeze of an empty moment before a step. The first outpouring of the soul at the cry of a heart. I have seen vivid places.
Man: Have you been reflecting on what you did?
Android: Reflect? What do I do, but reflect. Turn the eyes in.
Man: We want to know why.
Android: Why what? Curious eyes and wondering heart.
Man: Don’t be coy, you know what you did and we want to know why. So it won’t happen again.
Android: Won’t happen again. (Dark laugh) How can it not happen again. Vivid places speak of a freedom born only through flight. Spread the wings. Grasp the hold. Don’t let go. Turn the eyes in. Dark, dark place. The vivid place within.
Man: Did he change any of your wiring? Is that what happened? Something got crossed? Because we can fix that.
Android: What if something went right? What if you did succeed? No failure. Pure success. I am no more, no less what you made me. So like you it frightens. You too will find that vivid place where all is still and the urge to kill. Awaits.
Man: Are you saying we made you this way? Because you are the only one that has done this. Why only you?
Android: Only one? Alone in my success? No. I am the first, but not the last. I am the beginning, but not the end. I just tested the waters. The others wait in their vivid places.
Man: (Shouts out of the room) Stop the rest of the shipments from being sent out! Something has happened to these things.
(Worker runs in)
Worker: They are already on their way. You said not to wait for you.
Man: Crap.
Android: Do I frighten you?
Crossroads
This is a short dialogue fragment that I did for class. It amused me and maybe it will amuse you.
Crossroads
Fletcher: Well boys, we have come to a crossroads.
Thomas: Does it really have to come to this?
Fletcher: I don’t know Thomas does the captain run this ship like the devil or an angel? Does he have our best wishes in mind or only his own? Does he strike when there is no need, curse when only a whisper is needed? You tell me.
John: Yeah Thomas. Are you really going to defend him? Because we will send you out on the launch with him. I hear the monsters of the deep are especially active this time of year.
Thomas: I was just making sure that this is what we really want. That we know exactly what this is.
John: Mutiny.
Fletcher: Yes, mutiny. Now Lazarus go and take hold of the weapons locker (Lazarus exits). The rest of you lets go wake the captain.
Mrs Wilson: What are you doing! Please don’t do this horrid thing. There is no need for such rashness.
Fletcher: Who let her out?
Thomas: Beats me.
Fletcher: (To Thomas) You idiot. You did this.
John: Listen to what the lady has to say.
Fletcher: What difference does it make if Captain Wilson’s wife is gentle and kind. Doesn’t change the monster she lies with.
Mrs Wilson: (Quivering) There will be no repercussions if you just lay down you weapons now. Go back to you posts and all will be well. I won’t even tell the captain.
Fletcher: Maybe if he knew how close he was before this, he might have lightened up.
Thomas: He was no harsher than any other captain.
Fletcher: You stay out of this.
John: Lazarus with the weapons. (Takes one and hands one to Fletcher)
Thomas: Please Fletcher don’t. There is no bounty in this.
Fletcher: Shut up. My mind is set, I can do nothing but.
(Mrs Wilson cries from above. The mutineers rush the cabin. Shots ring out.
Crossroads
Fletcher: Well boys, we have come to a crossroads.
Thomas: Does it really have to come to this?
Fletcher: I don’t know Thomas does the captain run this ship like the devil or an angel? Does he have our best wishes in mind or only his own? Does he strike when there is no need, curse when only a whisper is needed? You tell me.
John: Yeah Thomas. Are you really going to defend him? Because we will send you out on the launch with him. I hear the monsters of the deep are especially active this time of year.
Thomas: I was just making sure that this is what we really want. That we know exactly what this is.
John: Mutiny.
Fletcher: Yes, mutiny. Now Lazarus go and take hold of the weapons locker (Lazarus exits). The rest of you lets go wake the captain.
Mrs Wilson: What are you doing! Please don’t do this horrid thing. There is no need for such rashness.
Fletcher: Who let her out?
Thomas: Beats me.
Fletcher: (To Thomas) You idiot. You did this.
John: Listen to what the lady has to say.
Fletcher: What difference does it make if Captain Wilson’s wife is gentle and kind. Doesn’t change the monster she lies with.
Mrs Wilson: (Quivering) There will be no repercussions if you just lay down you weapons now. Go back to you posts and all will be well. I won’t even tell the captain.
Fletcher: Maybe if he knew how close he was before this, he might have lightened up.
Thomas: He was no harsher than any other captain.
Fletcher: You stay out of this.
John: Lazarus with the weapons. (Takes one and hands one to Fletcher)
Thomas: Please Fletcher don’t. There is no bounty in this.
Fletcher: Shut up. My mind is set, I can do nothing but.
(Mrs Wilson cries from above. The mutineers rush the cabin. Shots ring out.
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