A Nice Day For A Picnic
I wrote this a little over two years ago, and it suddenly popped into my head the other day so I thought I'd re-post it. If I had the skills to do a stop-motion animation, I would. I do think it needs a third part though, so I guess you'd call it a work in progress...of sorts.
I
MAN and WOMAN cross the stage. He has fake breasts. She is carrying milk pails. Both are pushing prams with dolls inside. After they exit, MAN'S DOLL returns carrying the milk pails. WOMAN'S DOLL crawls behind pathetically, crying. Both cross stage and exit.
II
HE and SHE are sitting comfortably centre stage, as at a picnic. Place is nondescript, as is the time, although it is daylight.
HE: (to SHE) Your eyes-
SHE: It looks a lot like rain.
pause, in which nothing happens
HE: (to SHE) Your eyes-
SHE: Doesn't it look like rain?
pause, in which JUDI DENCH wanders by, eating an icecream
HE: (to SHE) Your eyes-
pause, in which several cows and a marching band pass by.
HE: Fathomless.
(beat)
Blue. (a distant melody wafts around the air)
SHE: (looking at HE) That cloud looks like rain.
pause
HE: Isn't it...isn't it just like a woman?
The marching band crosses the stage in reverse playing backwards whilst a small, localised tornado passes through the space between HE and SHE.
HE: Your eyes- (HE cries an ocean.)
SHE: Il pleut et j'ai oublie mon parapluie.
HE: Isn't it just- (HE melts into a puddle.)
SHE: Es regnet und ich habe meinen Regenschirm vergessen
pause, in which there is a short shower of corsetry
HE: -
SHE: (Said to HE, with head in hands) Isn't it just like a- (cuts off words). Your eyes-
HE is sucked up by the tornado. A lone drummer crosses the stage beating arrhythmically. In the pause, a universe is born and dies.
SHE: (crestfallen) She said it to no-one.
Lights fade slowly to darkness. SHE remains, unmoving.
HE: (off) Your eyes. It's a day's work just looking into them.
I
MAN and WOMAN cross the stage. He has fake breasts. She is carrying milk pails. Both are pushing prams with dolls inside. After they exit, MAN'S DOLL returns carrying the milk pails. WOMAN'S DOLL crawls behind pathetically, crying. Both cross stage and exit.
II
HE and SHE are sitting comfortably centre stage, as at a picnic. Place is nondescript, as is the time, although it is daylight.
HE: (to SHE) Your eyes-
SHE: It looks a lot like rain.
pause, in which nothing happens
HE: (to SHE) Your eyes-
SHE: Doesn't it look like rain?
pause, in which JUDI DENCH wanders by, eating an icecream
HE: (to SHE) Your eyes-
pause, in which several cows and a marching band pass by.
HE: Fathomless.
(beat)
Blue. (a distant melody wafts around the air)
SHE: (looking at HE) That cloud looks like rain.
pause
HE: Isn't it...isn't it just like a woman?
The marching band crosses the stage in reverse playing backwards whilst a small, localised tornado passes through the space between HE and SHE.
HE: Your eyes- (HE cries an ocean.)
SHE: Il pleut et j'ai oublie mon parapluie.
HE: Isn't it just- (HE melts into a puddle.)
SHE: Es regnet und ich habe meinen Regenschirm vergessen
pause, in which there is a short shower of corsetry
HE: -
SHE: (Said to HE, with head in hands) Isn't it just like a- (cuts off words). Your eyes-
HE is sucked up by the tornado. A lone drummer crosses the stage beating arrhythmically. In the pause, a universe is born and dies.
SHE: (crestfallen) She said it to no-one.
Lights fade slowly to darkness. SHE remains, unmoving.
HE: (off) Your eyes. It's a day's work just looking into them.