“They Endured…”
Setting: Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
Characters: Blanche Dubois (Streetcar
Named Desire); Lady Brett Ashley (The Sun Also Rises); James Tyrone (Long
Day’s Journey Into Night); Quentin Compson III and Dilsey (The Sound and
the Fury)
Dilsey: Hello, ya’ll. Why don’t ya’ll
grab a chair and form a circle. Make yo’selves comfortable, and then we’ll
introduce ourselves. My name is Dilsey, and I’ve helped out a lotta people
like you. Okay. Le’s get started. You, in the white dress. Why don’ you
start.
Blanche: Oh…me? Well…I’m Blanche,
and I’m…an..alchoholic.
Dilsey: Good job, now let’s continue
in a circle.
Brett: Hello, nice to meet you chaps,
my name is Lady Brett Ashley and I am an alcoholic.
Mr. Compson: My name is Mr. Quentin
Compson the third. I come from a distinguished family that is now becoming
ruined.
Dilsey: Don’t you have anything else
to say?
Mr. Compson: This meeting is the
mausoleum of all hope and desire.
Dilsey: Okay, le’s move on…
Tyrone: I guess I’m next. I’m James
and you could say I’m an alcoholic. I’m not really that bad though… it’s
more of my sons. They steal everything I have. There’s nothing wrong with
my wife though, she’s beautiful.
Dilsey: Good, good. We makin’ progress.
Now there must be somethin’ stemmin’ from this problem ya’ll be havin.’
Le’s talk about it. Who wants to go firs?
Mr. Compson: There is no problem.
I don’t care anymore about my life, because it is meaningless.
Dilsey: Now you shutup there, Mr.
Compson. I don’ want any of that negative talk at this meetin.’ Blanche,
what’s a botherin’ you?
Blanche: I drink when I think about
my past. My husband…oh…someone else go. Can we turn the lights off?
Dilsey: Brett, why do you have to be drinkin’ all the time?
Brett: At this time in my life, Dilsey,
I just want to have fun. I want to go out and socialize, and drink.
Dilsey: But are you really happy,
Brett?
Brett doesn’t respond.
Tyrone: You know, I can’t really
do anything about my life. Everything is going wrong. My wife is addicted
to morphine, my son Edmund is ill. But, neither of them is really that
bad…It costs a lot of money to treat them, anyway.
Dilsey: Are you sure that you’re
not just saying that they aren’t bad to make yourself believe that?
Blanche: Dilsey, I will admit. Sometimes
I drink for the magic. It’s so enchanting and exciting to feel like your
living in a wonderful world…
Dilsey: (cutting Blanche off) But
do you think your ignoring what’s bothering you by drinking, Blanche? What’s
bothering you?
Blanche: My…husband…
Blanche goes silent
Dilsey: We meet again tomorrow, I
want ya’ll to go home and be good to yo’selves. I’s as simple as that.
SCENE II
Setting: One year later; Mr. Compson’s
funeral.
The characters are walking back from
the ceremony, talking quietly. Each has continued their life of drinking,
but today, things may change…
Brett: I don’t see why he couldn’t
have just stopped drinking.
Blanche: I know. If only he had known
what was going to happen to him. Maybe he would have stopped.
Tyrone: What about his wife and kids?
Didn’t he care about them?
Dilsey: Mr. Compson didn’t care about
his life or the life of anyone else’s. Thas why he drank. Don’ you three
feel the same way?
Brett: Why, no! I would never want
my life to end. Jake would miss me terribly. That chap wouldn’t know what
to do with himself.
Dilsey: Maybe you would miss him
terribly too! I think you should realize that you’ gettin' old, and the
partyin’ life will be over soon. Who do you want to be with the mos?
Blanche: And I have a whole life
to live still…I guess I’ve just been caught up in the past. I just need
to tell Stella that I need a little help getting out of the house, that’s
all.
Dilsey: You need to talk to her sensibly,
Blanche. Not when you’ve been drinkin’
Tyrone: And I need to take care of
my family.
Dilsey: Well, maybe you should start
by taking care of your family now. Mary needs help and you need to stop
being so stingy, Tyrone.
Dilsey: I think ya’ll know what you
need to do then, don’ you?
Brett: But Dilsey, dear…do you have
any other advice for us?
Dilsey: Honey, if you stop hurtin
yo’ selve’s and start helpin’ others, you will do okay.
EPILOGUE
Brett married Jake and they ended
up living together in Spain. They adopted Pedro Romero’s orphaned child
after he died in a bullfight. She has been sober for 20 years.
Tyrone went home immediately and
had a real talk with his family. Edmund was sent to an upscale doctor,
where he recovered immediately. Both Tyrone and Mary have been sober for
10 years.
Blanche talked to Stella, who secretly
gave her money to get back on her feet. Blanche came back to Stella and
Stanley five years later a new woman, and eventually married Steve, one
of the poker players.
Dilsey endured.
Beautiful,
young Southern Belle seeks a Southern gentleman to make magic with.Must
revere family above all else.Lovers
of reality need not respond.
128
hits.1 Response.
Message
From HarvardBoy11:
Magic
I love magic magic lets me hide magic is great as long as the shadows don’t
get me father says magic lets us escape magic is better than time magic
is wonderful magic will conquer time magic magic
Response from MagicGirl28:
Kind
sir, perhaps you misunderstood me.When
I stated that lovers of reality need not respond, it wasn’t an open invitation
for lunatics.I’ve already been courted
by plenty of those at the asylum my brother-in-law sent me to, and trust
me, honey, they’re highly overrated.Perhaps
you’d be better suited at a different match site.
Message
from HarvardBoy11:
Did
you ever have a sister? Did you?
Response
from MagicGirl28:
Why
yes, as a matter of fact I did have a sister.Once.But
Stella betrayed me.She abandoned
Belle Reve and our family and me to run off with that animal Stanley.And
the brute sent me away.Calling me
crazy!As if I were the crazy one,
when really all I want is a little magic.
Message
from HarvardBoy11:
Caddy
Caddy was my sister Caddy abandoned me Caddy chose Dalton Ames Dalton Ames
not me it should have been me Caddy not Dalton Ames not Dalton Ames.
Response
From MagicGirl28:
So
your sister betrayed you, too, honey?Oh
that’s too bad.Really too bad.Well
I can tell that you understand how important family is.Maybe
I judged you too quickly, honey.Maybe
you and I are more right for each other than I thought.
Message
from HarvardBoy11:
Caddy
left me now i have nothing i cant escape it time it wont stop time father
says the reducto absurdum of human existence father says father says reducto
absurdum father saysi wish it was
me that was unvirgin not her not caddy not caddy not caddy not caddy
Response
From MagicGirl28:
Honey,
you really must stop going on like this.Do
what I do and hide.Hide away from
it all and everything will be okay.Just
turn off the lights and hide in the shadows and everything will turn out
okay, you’ll see.You just need a
little magic.
Message
from HarvardBoy11:
Not
shadows I hate shadows I have to escape the shadows. I hate shadows time
time time time
Response
From MagicGirl28:
Hate
shadows?Honey, that’s crazy.Shadows
let you hide.Shadows let you escape
the truth and believe what should be truth instead.Just
try it, honey.It’ll be alright.It’s
just a little magic.
Message from HarvardBoy11:
No
shadows mean time time father says reducto absurdum I have to escape it
I hate shadows no shadows no shadows no Caddy no shadows.
Response From MagicGirl28:
Well,
honey, if you hate shadows, maybe we’re not meant for each other after
all.
Message from HarvardBoy11:
No
shadows no shadows no...
Counselor:
Hello everyone. We have two new guests at our meeting this week. Would
you please introduce yourselves?
Kreon:
Hello. My name is Kreon and I am mourning the loss of my wife, Eurydice.
Linda:
Hi, everyone. My name is Linda Loman and I am mourning the loss of my husband,
Willy.
Counselor:
Would you mind sharing with the group how your spouses passed away?
Kreon
(wailing): Oh! It’s all my fault! If I had just listened to my advisors’
good council! I never should have been so stubborn. Antigone was right
all along. And now my wife is dead.Antigone
is dead, Haemon is dead, my nephews are dead. My line has ended!
Counselor
(quietly): I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure it isn’t entirely your fault…
Kreon
(wailing louder): Oh, but it is! I was warned. Even the gods disagreed
with me! And what did I do? I stood by my decision: my terribly wrong decision.
Now, I am being punished by the gods.
Counselor:
Linda? Would you mind sharing your story?
Linda
(timidly): Well, alright. I too feel that my husband’s death was my own
fault. Yes, he committed suicide, but I should have done something to prevent
it. I saw the hose; I
Kreon
(powerfully): Your fault? How can you even consider that to be your fault?
You didn’t drive him to his death as I did with my entire family. You were
nothing but a supportive wife, who wasn’t sure how to help her husband.
I forced my wife to commit suicide. I upset her so greatly that she didn’t
want to live anymore. I made my wife so miserable that she chose to die
instead of continuing her life with me. How do you think that makes me
feel?
Linda
(quietly): Not much differently from how I feel. My husband also chose
to end his life over continuing to live with me.
Kreon:
That may be, but you did not make him feel as if suicide were his only
option.
Counselor:
Okay, everyone. Next week, I would like all of you to bring a friend or
a family
member
who has supported you throughout your time of mourning.
Kreon:
I have no one.
Counselor:
No one? No family at all? Not one single friend?
Kreon:
Well, yes, I have my niece, Ismene, but she has hardly helped my through
the grieving process. In fact, I’m quite sure that she is so upset over
all of these deaths that she will cause her own next!
Linda
(calmly): May I make a suggestion?
Kreon:
I learned that I should begin to heed the council of others. Yes, please.
Linda:
If you think there is any chance that Ismene might be next to take her
life, get her the help she needs.
Counselor:
And Linda, whom will you be bringing next week?
Linda:
I’ll bring my two sons, Biff and Happy.
Counselor:
And how are they handling the loss of their father? Better than Ismene,
I hope?
Linda:
Quite. If I knew they needed help with this, I would certainly seek it.
I would never make that mistake again.
Kreon
(wailing again): I feel so guilty! Linda, you know nothing of guilt. I’m
sorry for what you’ve gone through, but it is nothing compared to the awful
thoughts that plague my mind at all hours of the day. I often feel as if
I should join them…
Ben:
Kreon…
Kreon
(hastily): Did anyone hear that?
Counselor:
Hear what?
Ben:
The jungle, Kreon. I walked in…
Kreon:
That voice!
Ben:
… And walked out a very rich man!
Linda:
Oh no.
Kreon:
Is that so, Ben?
Ben:
We’re going to miss our train, Kreon. You must hurry. Say goodbye, now. Kreon:
I must be going now. I have things to tend to. Counselor:
Don’t forget to bring a friend next week! Linda:
Something tells me he won’t be returning next week…
From: Skylark37@gmal.com
Date: Saturday, 2:37pm
Subject: The Last Laugh I
feel as though I haven’t written to you in ages…I’ve meant to of course,
but you know how one thing always leads to another when you’ve got as much
to do as I have!But I have so much
to tell you!You would not believe
the things I have been doing to Torvald lately…to deceive him pleases me
so!Just the other day, he was bragging
to some bank someone or other (you know the type…very important but insufferably
boring…)about my beauty and grace, and all I could do was smile to myself
as I thought of the six macaroons I’d eaten while running errands!He’d
simply throw a fit if he know what I’ve been up to!What
with the sweets, and I haven’t practiced dancing the Tarantella for months….not
that I need to of course…and of course the other things… From: TheLoman4@aol.com
Date: Saturday, 5:59pm
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh Nora,
dear, you really shouldn’t be so wicked.You
should love and support your husband, and appreciates that he loves you
so much.Why, if only Willy had a
nice bank job and was able to relax more, I’d be so happy.He’s
fooling himself when he thinks I don’t realize business is slow.But
because I love-no-more than love him, I am allowing him his pride.Just
the other day, he got angry when I hired a repairman to look at the refrigerator…he
went on and on about frivolous spending and unnecessary luxuries…but really,
I couldn’t have it leaking all over the place like it was.But
he needs to be secure in his image as head of the house.I
think that this is a very important aspect of marriage that you’ve failed
to grasp.But, since I know you’re
dying to tell me, what ‘other’ things have you been up to?Perhaps
you should give me a call and we could set up a lunch date next week for
a proper chat. From: Skylark37@gmal.com
Date: Sunday, 10:46pm
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh Linda
we simply must do lunch! What a spectacular idea! There is a marvelous
place near Torvald’s new bank that is superb!I
can tell you more about my mischief!Tuesday
around 11:30 is a good time for me…we shall meet then.Obviously
I can have Nanny look after the children, and I doubt Torvald would notice
if I were gone for the afternoon…but I will need to make sure and get all
of my tasks done in the morning… From: TheLoman4@aol.com
Date: Monday 9:02am
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh Tuesday
sounds perfect…do you happen to know of a good hair dye?It
seems as though I can barely keep up with the grays these days… From: Skylark37@gmal.com
Date: Monday, 3:05pm
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh You
naughty girl!Of course I don’t know
of a good hair dye!I’ve never needed
it a day in my life!You’re simply
wicked to suggest such a thing…my hair has always maintained the shine
and health that I had as a child.Speaking
of children, mine did the most adorable things today while I was undressing
them out of their winter clothing…talking and playing so prettily!I
love to play with them so much!If
find that I really don’t have the time though, with the shipping and planning
that I need to do everyday… p.s. Something’s come up, lunch this
week won’t work…I’ll let you know the next time I’m free and we’ll do lunch
then! From: TheLoman4@aol.com
Date: Tuesday, 10:18am
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh Take
the time to play, Nora.Believe me,
how I wish my children were still young.Biff
was never big on talking and spending quality time with me.He
was always Willy’s trophy child, and I regret not spending as much time
as I could have with him.But I really
enjoyed the afternoons I spent with Happy as my ‘helper’.Now
it seems that every time they set foot in the house a new argument breaks
out.I know they feel Willy is nothing
more than a stubborn old man, but I wish the three of them could just get
along.Then we could go back to the
good old days when there was happiness and plenty of time to go around.Just
the other day, my boys came home for a visit, and I overheard them talking
about how strange it was to sleep in ‘those old beds’ again.I
thing I’m losing them Nora…I don’t know what to do…it seems that Willy
gets more and more distant each day, a t the time between calls from Biff
and Happy are getting increasingly longer…but, of course, you don’t want
to hear all this…forget I even thought of burdening you with my problems… From: Skylark37@gmal.com
Date: Tuesday, 1:14pm
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh Oh Linda,
stop being so dramatic!My children
and I are as close as ever, and I don’t see them as often as I’d like to…you’ll
be fine!And as for losing Willy,
you just need to find a way to guilt him into loving you!It’s
so simple!How do you think I’ve
been able to tolerate Torvald all these years?!It’s
because I have a secret from him, something that I can use if he ever threatens
to love me less…you see, I’ve been secretly working to pay off a debt to
the bank…and it’s in MY NAME!!!!I
know, I know, you’re thinking, “that Nora, she’s lying to me because women
can’t take out bank loans…” but it’s true!When
we were just married, Torvald needed to go to Italy for his health, and
I simply forged Papa’s name on a few documents, and I had the money!I
do needle work and copy lines for private persons, and put the money in
the bank…it makes me feel so good because I know that I’m contributing
to the household as much as any man could.So
find a way, money usually works best, to indebt Willy to you…I swear it’ll
make you feel splendid!
From: TheLoman4@aol.com
Date: Tuesday, 5:19pm
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh NORA!!!!
You cannot forge a signature, and you definitely shouldn’t be quilting
Torvald into staying with you! I apparently didn’t make my meaning clear….Never
mind the fact that I think a marriage should be based on trust and true
love, compromise and devotion…what you did is just plain wrong!I
feel as though I’m losing Willy on an emotional level, not that I believe
he’s considering leaving me.He’s
never given me any reason to believe he is unhappy with our life together.This
being said, I would never compromise our relationship by basing it on a
falsehood. From: Skylark37@gmal.com
Date: Tuesday, 11:32pm
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh Linda, I
do not appreciate being told what to do…lord knows I get enough of that
at home with the “skylark this” and “songbird that”.But,
I do see the tiniest bit of truth in what you are saying.As
thrilling as my secret is, it is hard to keep…but what do I do now?I
can hardly tell Torvald now…he will be so angry with me!! From: TheLoman4@aol.com
Date: Wednesday, 9:22am
Subject: Re: The Last Laugh I’m
glad you see the reality of my words.As
hard as I may be, you should tell Torvald the truth.Talk
to him rationally, honestly.Explain
to him exactly what you did and the reasoning behind your actions.He’ll
understand, and you’ll feel so much better.Take
it from me, a life without secrets is a life worthwhile. From: MaccaroonGirl11@yahoo.com
Date: Monday, 5:59am
Subject: err… Well…I
know you’ll be terribly curious as to why you haven’t heard from me in
a few days…I took your advice…I tried to talk to Torvald rationally, but
he wouldn’t hear it.He went on about
his reputation at the bank, and asked me what people would think of us
when they inevitable found out what I had done.He
said something about pride and decency that I really didn’t understand,
and then began talking to himself. It was all so confusing, as he was yelling
and frightening the whole house hold…and to think, we had guests at the
time!He decided that I must remain
his wife, but that I couldn’t raise my children, or be unsupervised.After
a great deal of thought, I decided that I couldn’t live that way.I
would rather leave my children altogether than be so tantalizingly close
to them.I know that they will be
taken care of by Nanny.She will
raise them as well as she did me…I’m going to take some time to clear my
head.Perhaps I’ll travel for a while,
or look up a few old friends… From: TheLoman4@aol.com
Date: Monday, 12:16pm
Subject: Re: err… Oh,
Nora, you must be feeling so terribly right now.Is
there no way to work out a better situation with Torvald?There
must be a way to arrange to see your children at least?Please
let me know that you are all right?Feel
free to stay with Willy and I if you’d like.Simply
let us know when you’re coming…it seems our house is much too big and lonely
for just the two of us these days anyway…I would gladly welcome the company!Let
me know what’s on your mind… From: Mailerdemon@aol.com
Date: Monday, 12:18pm
Subject: Returned mail: Address Unknown The e-mail that you sent to <<MaccaroonGirl11@yahoo.com>>
could not be sent as addressed.Please
verify that the address is correct and resend.
The
clock on the church strikes seven times as I look up at the sky and see
how the twilight seems to make everything stop as though nothing were ever
meant to start in the first place. My dark follower has disappeared, and
I know that everything’s stopped because I can no longer hear the ticking
or see the dark follower beneath me. This is the only Sincerely, Quentin
Compson Quentin, Hullo,
you chap! What’s all this about time? Time’s a silly thing. Such a silly
thing to worry about when you have your entire life to live and enjoy with
good friends and wine, but I’m sure you know what that’s all about! That
reminds me, I haven’t had a drop all day. It’s nearly noon! I should reward
myself, I say. That’sbetter.
You’re at Harvard, you say? How marvelous! A man like you shouldn’t be
concerned with time, especially since you can do so much with your life.
A girl like me is much too old and used up. But what am I saying?! Don’t
let’s talk about the bad things. A girl like me should know that I shouldn’t
waste my life shut up in a building somewhere as a secretary. Neither should
you, old chap! Learn to live before time shows you what you really a—OH,
what am I saying?! Truly
Yours, Lady
Brett Ashley everything
will stop soon i will fade into the water and it will be twilight all the
time and i will never have to search anymore Iwantmagic325:
So, can I come over to grab a drink? Compthief01:
No, no money to waste on that stuff.Besides,
Caddy’s check hasn’t come in yet. Iwantmagic325:
Well, I guess I can live without it.Mind
if I chat with you for a while?Just
about nonsense… Compthief01:
Sure.Quentin might have to get on
the computer soon.That bitch better
not cause any more trouble.I’ve
had it up to here lately.At least
I know I’m getting even. Iwantmagic325:
Okay, I understand. Stella
wants to leave soon anyways.She
has it set in her mind that we’re going to go bowling to meet some men
that might be interested in me.I’m
not sure if I’m ready yet.I mean,
it wasn’t too long ago that…well…you know. Compthief01:
Naw, I don’t.But does it matter
that much?Ya see, I have to go to
work soon and if I don’t make it on time, someone will notice that things
are falling apart at home. Iwantmagic325:
It’s okay, it doesn’t really matter that much.I
just…it’s hard to explain.I find
this easier to do with a drink.I’ll
be right back. Compthief01:
Maybe you shouldn’t drink so much.It
seems to be hidin’ what you really be thinkin’.Or
maybe that’s just what I’m gettin’ from it.Whatever.Either
way, it’s not normal.And I’ve seen
abnormal, believe me.Take a look
at the family.At least I’m holding
up their end. Iwantmagic325:
Yeah.But are you sure you’re not
running away from something either?I
mean, you do try a little too hard to make the rest of your family look
good.I’ve learned that no matter
what, you just have to let things take their own path.I
may be hiding, but it’s for a good reason.I’ve
diminished my family’s reputation to pieces after trying to hold up my
sister’s end but only failing when I lost my husband embarrassingly and
then Belle Reve.No matter what,
still a Southern Belle though.I
just don’t like to let anyone see my pain, so I hide behind a veil of frequent
trances and alcohol.You’re the only
one I let see my vulnerable self. Compthief01:‘Eh.It’s
not that big ‘a deal.Somebody’s
gotta take care of the brat.Sure
I may be running away from the truth but it’s better ‘an having to deal
with the stares from other people.And
I can only imagine what Ma’ would have to say.She
always said I had more hope ‘an the others. Iwantmagic325:
I can see where you’re coming from.I
guess we’ve both lost something and now we’re just trying to hide from
what other people may think of us.Truly,
all I want is magic.It gives everything
hope.Without it, I don’t know where
I would be. Compthief01:
Magic?That’s bull.Magic
wouldn’t save my family and there was no magic when Caddy got pregnant
or when I didn’t get that bank job.There’s
no magic now so I have to steal from Caddy and keep working this lame job.Hang
on.I just heard something. Iwantmagic325:
Okay then.Maybe we can meet up for
a drink while Stella and Stanley are out.Good
night, and I wish you magic.
Jake-BullFighter Internet chat room:(Stanley wants
to give Jake some tips on Jake’s relationship or lack there of with Brett) PokerKing:
Hey man, Heard you having problems with your woman.
BullFighter:
I don’t have a woman. I’m not in a relationship.
time.
The watch still ticks sometimes even though it broke, and I can hear it
in my head how it goes so quickly and then slowly depending on Caddy and
the reducto absurdum of humanity. Can you hear the tick-tock, Lady Ashley,
or has time not ruined you yet. Father gave me this watch before I left
for Harvard and I hope to someday not remember how or why it was ever invented
and what sick boxes we all live in pulled by the strings of heaven or hell
I can’t tell Can you.chime tick tock click
clock time will be nothing to me you will all waste your lives
trying to escape the claws but i have youre all wasted souls but i have
found a way out sweet caddy forgive me these trespasses as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
Opposites
PokerKing:
Says you.
PokerKing: Look, I’m here to help you get the girl.
BullFighter: Really, the guy who raped his own sister-in-law.
PokerKing: Hey, we had that date from the beginning.
BullFighter: Besides what works for you is not going to work for me.
PokerKing: Why? All a girl need is a little night on the town. You gotta get her off her pedestal and show her a good time.
BullFighter: Because I can’t have sex.
PokerKing: Well…you’re never gonna get a girl then.
Bullfighter: Of course I am, I can still love.
PokerKing: Look, if the two of youse get into a fight, how are you going to make up? Me and my girl get along great that way. Every time we get in a fight, we make up good.
Bullfighter: …
PokerKing: And what about this girl of yours? You said you weren’t going together.
BullFighter: But she always comes back.
PokerKing: And then does what? She leaves again. You ain’t never gonna get her.
BullFighter: Go to hell, I don’t need you! Sex does not equal love you know and anyway, you hit your wife.
PokerKing: Sure sometimes and I do regret it. But which one of us is in a relationship with the gal he loves here? Me. Your girl needs some manly lovin’. And lets face it, YOU can’t do that.
BullFighter: Go To Hell! You think I don’t know this! I think that every single night!
PokerKing: So why don’t you just give up?
Bullfighter: Because I love her!
PokerKing: It’s never gonna work, might as well throw in the towel.
BullFighter: Go to hell! I’m going to go get tight.
PokerKing: Great! I’m gonna go smash
some light bulbs.
Stanley –womnizer00 Othello – GeneralO185
GeneralO185- Tis the time when help
is near at hand, for my lady, Desdemona, seems to be getting farther my
heart’s home land.
womnizer00- Ok buddy, how bout we
cut a deal? Ill help you out, if you can help figure out what do about
my Stella. Sound alright?
GeneralO185- An offer so honest and
meek, of course you have my ears layed down at your feet.
GeneralO185: More must though now
reveal, for until I grasp, my help I will be forced to conceal.
GeneralO185- ….
womnizer00- Ya well, I aint to proud
of it either, but, I mean, I’m a man, and a mans gotta do, what a man’s
gotta do. Am I right? Of course I am.
GeneralO185- A man you most certainly
are, but a man without love, will never get far. Alas, I feel I am being
a bit hypocritical, for my thoughts of Desdemona, are getting a tad cynical.
womnizer00-Ok
sport, what the deal here? I’m talking about my needs, and you go all Shakespearean
on me? What the hell is this all about?
GeneralO185- My trusted friend, to
not get so uptight, I only trying to empathize our hearts’ plight.
womnizer00-alright then, that’s betta.
GeneralO185- Forgive me once again,
but, the love you once felt so passionate and true, has it not been found
so far from you?
womnizer00- No, no , no. You got
it all you see. Stella loves me, the girls crazy bout me, we don’t need
no “love far gone” crap. Its just that I feelsorry
for her.
GeneralO185- And how, would you,
sir master of the house, feel if it were your brother the one making your
wife a louse?
womnizer00- That is outta the question
impossible, that girl needs me, end of story.
GeneralO185- A need so great I feel
in your words, a longing so strong, one false step could not concern. Without
your love, you hold so dear, a life, you’d live, one full of fear.
womnizer00- Are you trying to call
me, needy? Because that just aint true. But hey! Look at you, your girl
aint doin nothing, and your flippin out.
GeneralO185- Lies! Lies! Lies you
say, you don’t know fact you don’t even know her any way. The truth I feel
is far unjust, for lost I have, the thing I hold so dear, my trust.
womnizer00- Wait a tick, I thought
you were a strong general or something? You shouldn’t be able to hold on
your woman no problem. Right?
GeneralO185- So simple, so pure,
so straight it doth does sound, but let me tell you, my friend Iago speaks
of her love as… all around.
womnizer00-Buddy, ill tell you one
thing, love aint something you can just throw away, if you found it once
man, im sure you can find it there again.
GeneralO185- In question, was my
love never in, but the return of such truth is where the problems begin.
womnizer00- I see, but why don’t
you just shrug off this Iago fella, I don’t like him too much anyways,
he never responds my emails. Punk.
GeneralO185- And whom should I say
is to talk? For a path of rape, is one you doth walk.
womnizer00- Ya ya, so we both need
to work on some stuff. But I don’t know if I can ask her for a forgiveness
like thing, I mean, she sent her sis to the looney house over the fact
that I said she was lying…
GeneralO185- Maybe what needith we
both tonight, is some way where can both solve our fight. Tis love I see,
for what makes me, me.
womnizer00- Amen to that, ha. I know
whats you sayin, I suppose ill admit it, I love stella, maybe it was my
dominating ego that caused me to be such a brute….nahhh.
GeneralO185-Don’t be so quick my
friend in peril, tis both our loves that do remain, sterile.
womnizer00- true we are lucky, but
no way as lucky as our woman are, Ha ha. What a pip this has been.
GeneralO185- An aid you’ve been in
my realization, for a new and trusting love, will be my new creation.
womnizer00- Ill drink to that, so
long.
*
BING BING * Bright shapes whiling spinning me Caddy Caddy the chair falls
I fall gripping the chair I fall the chair falls whirling bright shapes
light falls down on me Caddy Caddy the smell is gone Caddy
Nora: I am not a squirrel, a doll,
or a skylark.I am an independent
woman.I am.I
am independent.I am not a squirrel,
I am not a squirrel.
Blanche: [lying on Stella’s bed
in the dark, her feet play with the air, and the” Blue Piano” plays in
the background] I need someone.I
need magic.
*
BING BING * Spinning me Caddy I fall the chair falls whirling bright shapes
light falls down
Vladimir: [Estragon behind him
attempts to take off his shoe but stumbles and falls]Magic,
what is magic?What is the purpose
of life?Is it all just a tennis
game hitting the ball back and forth and back and forth and back and forth?What
does it mean to be truly independent?
Addie: Independence is just a shape
to fill a lack.Independence is a
word made by those lacking independence, thus needing to say it.
Nora: [shows her bare ankle to
the empty room] I AM independent!
Vladimir: [Estragon behind him
attempts to take off his shoe but stumbles and falls again]Magic,
what is magic?What is the purpose
of life?Is it all just a tennis
game hitting the ball back and forth and back and forth and back and forth?What
does it mean to be truly independent?
Dilsey: You jus said dat.
Ben:
Follow me, I’ll show you what your purpose is…
Blanche:I
had a purpose once.I was a very
young girl and he was a very young boy.I
failed him… I failed him…
Dilsey: Why you sayin dat?Tis
not yo fault.Mo’ on.
Addie: I’m sick of everybody and
their secret and selfish thoughts.
Dilsey: An Yo not selfish?
Addie searches for words, words
that handicap her.]
Vladimir: [inspired] I think
we all have selfish thoughts, but how we act on those selfish thoughts
that define our character.
Ben:
Vladimir’s wrong.Come,
follow me, we are going to be late.
Nora: Hush, Ben.Vladimir
has a point.I made a choice to leave
Helmer and my kids.It is not the
thought that defines me, but the action of me leaving.Now
I have the chance to strengthen or weaken my character depending on the
actions I chose to defend my intentions by.
Dilsey: Dats mo’ like’t.
Addie: When I was alive, I had many
secret thoughts. Like the time
when I made Anse promise to bury me at Jefferson, that was for revenge,
but he didn’t know my reasoning.The
point is that I made him promise.I
took the leap from storing the thought in my mind, and letting it lose
onto the world.I guess that is why
people don’t respect me much.
*
BING BING * Caddy smells like trees Caddy Caddy
Blanche: So what you’re saying is
that it was my fault that I lost Belle Reeve?
Nora: No, that’s not what I’m saying.I’m
saying that we don’t have control over our circumstances, but we have control
of our attitude.Blanche, it’s not
your fault that you lost Belle Reeve, but it is your fault that you are
alone and unhappy.
Dilsey:She’s
right.If you’re unhappy, tis cause
you make yourself dat way.
Blanche: Well, what do I do?
Addie: Why do you care?
Blanche:I
guess because I want to be happy.I
want to know what that feels like again.I
care because maybe, if what you guys are saying is true, if I change
my attitude, it will change the way people see me and the way I see myself.If
I see myself better, then I wouldn’t have to wear masks to cover my real
face.I wouldn’t be afraid of light,
and I wouldn’t have to hide my age or who I am. [taking her tiara off]
I guess it wasn’t really my fault then, my poor husband’s death.I
say, I’ve been drinking my life away all this time!
BEN:
we’ll be late, hurry.
Vladimir: Our conscience definitely
does not change, right, Ben?
BEN:
hurry.
Dilsey: Dats a shame.But
dats life. [looks up at the clock that’s three hours fast] I have
a selfish woman to git a warm bottle for. Good-by.
DILSEY: Hello
suh, is a Ms. Blanche dere?
STANLEY:
Yeah, yeah, just a second.
Yelling:
STANLEY:
Blanche!Pick up the phone!
BLANCHE:
Shep?Is that you?
DILSEY:
Uh, nah, I’m terribly sorry t’bother you ma’am, but I ‘erd you were
havin’ sometrouble.Mah
name is Dilsey.
BLANCHE:
Trouble is hardly an accurate assessment of my current situation, Ms.
Dilsey.Please forgive me for asking,
but, are you a...Negro?
DILSEY:
Yes’m, ah do believe I is.
BLANCHE:
Well Dilsey, I hope you don’t think me rude but I don’t think you could
help a girl like me.
DILSEY:
It’ll only take a sec, Ms. Blanche.Kin
you jes tell me what’s wrong?
BLANCHE:
Well, alright.For starters,
I’m forced to spend every day with a complete savage!He
has no manners and needs to be locked away for all the foul things he’s
done!
DILSEY:
Lawd, lawd, lawd.You po’ thang,
you.Dealin’ wit a man wit no bone
of decency in ‘im.
BLANCHE:
Dilsey, you couldn’t possibly understand what I live through day-to-day.I
have no money to buy anything I want!
DILSEY:
Mhm.Dat sho’ is a shame, Ms.
Blanche.You prolly deserve lotsa
nice things.
BLANCHE:
I used to have everything!Now
I can’t even choose what I’m craving for supper.It’s
a terrible life, Dilsey, really.
DILSEY: Shoot, I do all de cookin’ ‘round here.Mawnin, afternoon, and night.
BLANCHE:
Please, Dilsey, don’t make me feel worse than I already do.If
I could, I’d be any place else in a heartbeat.
DILSEY:
Sorry ‘bout dat, Ms. Blanche.I
din’t mean nuttin by’t.You got anyone
t’take care of you in dat awful place?
BLANCHE:
Stella, my sister.But that hardly
matters, Dilsey, even she has lost her class!
DILSEY:
My, my my.Sounds like yous got
lotsa problems Ms. Blanche.I’s awful
sorry.
Sighing:
BLANCHE:
You could never know what I live with, Dilsey.Really.
With
heaven-splitting violence:
JASON:
DILLLLSEEYYYYYY!ARE YOU ON THE
PHONE IN THERE?!
DILSEY:
Uh-oh, I’s terribly sorry, Ms. Blanche, but dat’s Jason, and he’ll
git Benjy all worked up if he gits to hollerin’.It’s
‘bout time fo’ me to go change ‘im anyways.Bestuvluck
to you, and I sho’ hope things turn ‘round real soon.I’ll
pray fo’ you tonight, Ms. Blanche.
BLANCHE:
Don’t bother, Dilsey.It’s positively
hopeless!My problems are beyond
repair!
DILSEY:
Whatevah you say, Ms. Blanche.Jes
keep smilin’, that’s what I do.I
of’en find dat things kin feel better if you jes have the right attitude...but
you prolly know better den I do.I’ll
let you off now, Ms. Blanche.Have
a real nice day, you hear?Bye now!
JASON:
DILLLLSEYYYY!I swear I’m gonna
break this door down and give you a whooping like you ain’t never got before!
Dilsey hangs up.