Michael Arden's 'Easter Rising'
'Easter Rising' is def my favourite piece of work that has been written the past five years.
It tells the story of Caleb, a man in Texas who is dieing of cancer and has been writing letters to a man in Ohio named Andrew who he is still in love with and has never written back. Andrew has a 17 year old son named John and has been living his life as an openly gay man. Andrew gets the latest of Caleb's letters and takes his son on a roadtrip to Texas during John's spring break. In Texas, Andrew finds that Caleb is engaged to be married to a woman named April. The two men reconnect...
So I've transcribed this beautiful piece of work over the past few weeks...
Please do no re-distribute this in any way w.o crediting me since I've spent quite a bit of time on it.
This transcription is based off of the reading done at Joe's Pub on 24.December.2004 because it's the latest one I know of and plus - I just love the cast more! It is in no way 'official', completely accurate or w.e... Just my reference because I love the work that Michael Arden has done. It's also a work in progress and any help you wish to give me on it is appreciated... The parts I can't figure out are [bracketed]. Dialogue is between -dashes- So yay. Enjoy.
Part one:
The Letter
Driving to Texas
Driving Lesson
Filling out a Form
Steven Pasquale - CALEB
Colin Hanlon - ANDREW
Kerry Butler - APRIL
Michael Arden - JOHN (also, writer and composer)
? - Narrator
THE LETTER
Narrator:
Easter Rising. A light finds CALEB writing a letter.
Caleb:
Dear Andrew,
It's raining and time is running out.
It's falling like the [lights], they're sure without a doubt.
Oh Andrew,
my Andrew...
It's time...
The doctor said some words,
a hand upon the back.
I stumbled to the door and then
the Earth began to crack...
But I made to the [bar],
oh God, I never felt so far away -
Away from you...
Dear Andrew,
A letter, something [to make you feel great].
Another damn letter,
Another rainy day
in Plano.
In Plano...
How long do I have until the night
when all of my fears take their flight?
Will you be there
Inside my dreams
To hold me 'til it's dawn?
Will you be there to help me carry on?
Narrator:
Caleb tears the letter up and starts again.
Caleb:
Dear Andrew,
it's morning and time [decides my fate].
I'm dieing, like summer
and isn't it a shame?
Oh Andrew,
My Andrew...
It's time...
Narrator:
He hears a sound behind him and quickly puts the letter away.
DRIVING TO TEXAS
Narrator:
The shoulder of the highway, I-35 in Oklahoma to be exact. It's around dinner time. JOHN sits on the hood of an un-remarkable red truck. His father, ANDREW, is doubled over and vomiting.
Andrew:
-vomiting-
John:
-I don't see how you're still throwing up, we havn't eaten anything yet! You know, it's really traumatizing to see your childhood ideal of masculinity puking and crying like that. He's been doing it all. day. At least wait 'til we get to Texas to do that! Then you'll have an excuse!-
Andrew:
-Don't sit on the hood of the car like you're addicted or something. Come on, this truck isn't gonna drive itself!-
John:
-I'm learning how to drive. It's spring break, other kids are at the pool... And I'm driving my dad to Texas on some kind of... Homeric quest... Because he has me on weekends.-
Andrew:
-You didn't check your mirrors and you don't have your seatbelt on.-
John:
-You have puke on your lip.-
DRIVING LESSON
John:
The driving teacher said to make sure that the hands are placed firmly on ten and two.
Objects that appear inside the mirror may appear a little closer than they are to you.
My father is a homosexual, and I have learned to deal.
The only thing I know for certain is to keep both hands on the wheel.
Andrew:
-I need to close my eyes for a minute. [??]-
John:
I'm on the highway -
I'm seventeen, my name is John.
I'm on the highway -
It stretches on and on and on.
I know that yellow stands for 'caution'
And to stop and look for signs.
But green tells me to go.
Andrew:
-John! Stay between the lines.-
John:
-OK, so yesterday, he gets this letter from this friend in Texas and he says that they use to fish, which means they use to fuck. You don't drive to Texas unless you're fucking someone there. So, he reads the letter, storms outside, and mows the front lawn for about... four hours. I, of course, read the letter... If you could call it a letter. 'Dear Andrew' and then two words 'I'm dieing'. Wham! Like bricks, you know?-
Andrew (John??):
-You gotta spell things out for him.-
John:
We're driving all the way to Plano, Texas to see my father's friend.
It's perhaps that showing up completely unexpected at his door will somehow start to mend.
I failed my driving test four times, yes! I'm aware that's sad.
But not as sad, no not as bad as being taken to your junior prom by your gay dad!
I'm on the highway -
I'm seventeen, my name is John.
I'm on the highway -
It stretches on and on and on!
I learned a few things about sex -
I got a blow job at the prom.
I knew it wasn't love.
Andrew:
-You drive just like your mom.-
John:
-Oh yes! My mom! Andrew wasn't gay for, like, twenty minutes and that's how I came along. (To Andrew) Mom's gonna be mad that you did this! I'm not 'sposed to drive across state lines!
He doesn't know that I know about the letter, so we don't talk. He talks to himself. He makes lists. I try not to listen.
Andrew:
He's too cautious for AIDS,
his cholesterol's fine.
[But in this way I'd have known.]
[But would've pissed out a sign.]
So what, I'd like to believe.
[But it is late I'd achieve.]
To make me pack up and leave.
Could it be the pancreas?
The skin?
If it gets in the lungs, you never win.
[Doesn't cover his] mouth, his balls, his eyes.
What if it's the stomach?
Big surprise.
John:
Press the pedal to go faster!
I slide my hands across the wheel!
I check the side and rear-view mirrors,
This is how a man should feel!
Feel the wind from open windows
as the headlights hit the ground!
All that's missing is a fully naked woman
And there's none for miles and miles around!
John (at the same time as Andrew):
All I see is miles and miles of road... of road! Scared of the road!
Andrew (listing body parts... at the same time as John):
[Large intestine], small intestine, liver, cervix, [?], [liver], heart, [?], [?], testes, [?], rectum, [it's my dear], [?], [?], [messed up bowels], urinary, [?], [?], [issues], [road]... If I would not [?] I could let go!
John:
-STOP! Pull over!
Andrew:
-What?-
John:
-Now! The lesson's over!
Narrator:
John and Andrew get out, slam their doors, switch places.
Andrew and (John):
I'm on the highway! (We're on the highway)
I'm on the road at home.
John:
Home is where the heart is at least that's what they preach to children. Well I say that's a lie.
Home is where you close your eyes and go to when you're dreaming [?] [river] in the sky.
I'm seven hours down, seven million yet to go.
I have a dark and dismal feeling somewhere [down and deep?] that we are moving far to slow!
John and (Andrew):
I'm on the highway! (We're on the highway!)
I'm on the road! (We're on the road!)
Rolling down the road!
FILLING OUT A FORM
Narrator:
A doctor's office waiting room. April sits alone looking at a clipboard.
April:
-Name, April Marie Cramer. Age, 27. Age, 37... So much older than I wanna be...-
My name is April Marie, I was born on June 1st, the year 19 hm hm 8.
Today is April the 10th, it is eight in the morning and I really hope it's worth the wait.
What's in a name? There are seven, eight letters.
What's in a name? Well -that speeding ticket was!-
What's in a name? Unless it's something that's better.
Just a word you can't get out of your head...
Well, to my bed.
My name is April Marie, and I'm leaving it empty.
Well, what a girl to do?
It's not that Cramer is bad or that my dad has disowned me since [??] a Jew.
Fill out a form. It's a few simple questions.
Fill out a form, April, stick to true facts.
Fill out a form, you've done it forever.
[It feels like you won't change with the time.]
There's no reason to lie.
Writing down the facts.
[Counting down] a life.
Counting down the minutes 'til you are his wife.
Stop writing fiction, [or you'll really lie].
Writing down a date, a name, a word, a year,
a wound, perhaps a scar...
-And then we come to height!-
Five eight!
Then weight, fuck you!
I swear [oh promise the pounds are you]
Sex? Not lately.
Race? [Oh? Snow?] white.
Is this a returning visit? Are you sensitive to light?
Allergies to medication?
Family history? Nothing. I'm sad and single. Married? Any children?
Help me God!
I have a daughter and she's lovely.
I have Jessica [?].
I have a daughter and she's beautiful.
And I wake her every day.
I never thought I could run out of breath.
I'm lucky [?].
And I dreamed that I could cry from joy.
[Like my] Jessica. With Jessica. [??]
Nurse:
April Cramer?
April:
-Yes, that's me! Could I have another form! Just kidding!-
It's just a form...
And so I'll write 'single'.
Circle the word, inquisition's done.
Only a form,
And so I surrender.
The patient is age 37.
And number of children...
None.
None.
None.
None....
It tells the story of Caleb, a man in Texas who is dieing of cancer and has been writing letters to a man in Ohio named Andrew who he is still in love with and has never written back. Andrew has a 17 year old son named John and has been living his life as an openly gay man. Andrew gets the latest of Caleb's letters and takes his son on a roadtrip to Texas during John's spring break. In Texas, Andrew finds that Caleb is engaged to be married to a woman named April. The two men reconnect...
So I've transcribed this beautiful piece of work over the past few weeks...
Please do no re-distribute this in any way w.o crediting me since I've spent quite a bit of time on it.
This transcription is based off of the reading done at Joe's Pub on 24.December.2004 because it's the latest one I know of and plus - I just love the cast more! It is in no way 'official', completely accurate or w.e... Just my reference because I love the work that Michael Arden has done. It's also a work in progress and any help you wish to give me on it is appreciated... The parts I can't figure out are [bracketed]. Dialogue is between -dashes- So yay. Enjoy.
Part one:
The Letter
Driving to Texas
Driving Lesson
Filling out a Form
Steven Pasquale - CALEB
Colin Hanlon - ANDREW
Kerry Butler - APRIL
Michael Arden - JOHN (also, writer and composer)
? - Narrator
THE LETTER
Narrator:
Easter Rising. A light finds CALEB writing a letter.
Caleb:
Dear Andrew,
It's raining and time is running out.
It's falling like the [lights], they're sure without a doubt.
Oh Andrew,
my Andrew...
It's time...
The doctor said some words,
a hand upon the back.
I stumbled to the door and then
the Earth began to crack...
But I made to the [bar],
oh God, I never felt so far away -
Away from you...
Dear Andrew,
A letter, something [to make you feel great].
Another damn letter,
Another rainy day
in Plano.
In Plano...
How long do I have until the night
when all of my fears take their flight?
Will you be there
Inside my dreams
To hold me 'til it's dawn?
Will you be there to help me carry on?
Narrator:
Caleb tears the letter up and starts again.
Caleb:
Dear Andrew,
it's morning and time [decides my fate].
I'm dieing, like summer
and isn't it a shame?
Oh Andrew,
My Andrew...
It's time...
Narrator:
He hears a sound behind him and quickly puts the letter away.
DRIVING TO TEXAS
Narrator:
The shoulder of the highway, I-35 in Oklahoma to be exact. It's around dinner time. JOHN sits on the hood of an un-remarkable red truck. His father, ANDREW, is doubled over and vomiting.
Andrew:
-vomiting-
John:
-I don't see how you're still throwing up, we havn't eaten anything yet! You know, it's really traumatizing to see your childhood ideal of masculinity puking and crying like that. He's been doing it all. day. At least wait 'til we get to Texas to do that! Then you'll have an excuse!-
Andrew:
-Don't sit on the hood of the car like you're addicted or something. Come on, this truck isn't gonna drive itself!-
John:
-I'm learning how to drive. It's spring break, other kids are at the pool... And I'm driving my dad to Texas on some kind of... Homeric quest... Because he has me on weekends.-
Andrew:
-You didn't check your mirrors and you don't have your seatbelt on.-
John:
-You have puke on your lip.-
DRIVING LESSON
John:
The driving teacher said to make sure that the hands are placed firmly on ten and two.
Objects that appear inside the mirror may appear a little closer than they are to you.
My father is a homosexual, and I have learned to deal.
The only thing I know for certain is to keep both hands on the wheel.
Andrew:
-I need to close my eyes for a minute. [??]-
John:
I'm on the highway -
I'm seventeen, my name is John.
I'm on the highway -
It stretches on and on and on.
I know that yellow stands for 'caution'
And to stop and look for signs.
But green tells me to go.
Andrew:
-John! Stay between the lines.-
John:
-OK, so yesterday, he gets this letter from this friend in Texas and he says that they use to fish, which means they use to fuck. You don't drive to Texas unless you're fucking someone there. So, he reads the letter, storms outside, and mows the front lawn for about... four hours. I, of course, read the letter... If you could call it a letter. 'Dear Andrew' and then two words 'I'm dieing'. Wham! Like bricks, you know?-
Andrew (John??):
-You gotta spell things out for him.-
John:
We're driving all the way to Plano, Texas to see my father's friend.
It's perhaps that showing up completely unexpected at his door will somehow start to mend.
I failed my driving test four times, yes! I'm aware that's sad.
But not as sad, no not as bad as being taken to your junior prom by your gay dad!
I'm on the highway -
I'm seventeen, my name is John.
I'm on the highway -
It stretches on and on and on!
I learned a few things about sex -
I got a blow job at the prom.
I knew it wasn't love.
Andrew:
-You drive just like your mom.-
John:
-Oh yes! My mom! Andrew wasn't gay for, like, twenty minutes and that's how I came along. (To Andrew) Mom's gonna be mad that you did this! I'm not 'sposed to drive across state lines!
He doesn't know that I know about the letter, so we don't talk. He talks to himself. He makes lists. I try not to listen.
Andrew:
He's too cautious for AIDS,
his cholesterol's fine.
[But in this way I'd have known.]
[But would've pissed out a sign.]
So what, I'd like to believe.
[But it is late I'd achieve.]
To make me pack up and leave.
Could it be the pancreas?
The skin?
If it gets in the lungs, you never win.
[Doesn't cover his] mouth, his balls, his eyes.
What if it's the stomach?
Big surprise.
John:
Press the pedal to go faster!
I slide my hands across the wheel!
I check the side and rear-view mirrors,
This is how a man should feel!
Feel the wind from open windows
as the headlights hit the ground!
All that's missing is a fully naked woman
And there's none for miles and miles around!
John (at the same time as Andrew):
All I see is miles and miles of road... of road! Scared of the road!
Andrew (listing body parts... at the same time as John):
[Large intestine], small intestine, liver, cervix, [?], [liver], heart, [?], [?], testes, [?], rectum, [it's my dear], [?], [?], [messed up bowels], urinary, [?], [?], [issues], [road]... If I would not [?] I could let go!
John:
-STOP! Pull over!
Andrew:
-What?-
John:
-Now! The lesson's over!
Narrator:
John and Andrew get out, slam their doors, switch places.
Andrew and (John):
I'm on the highway! (We're on the highway)
I'm on the road at home.
John:
Home is where the heart is at least that's what they preach to children. Well I say that's a lie.
Home is where you close your eyes and go to when you're dreaming [?] [river] in the sky.
I'm seven hours down, seven million yet to go.
I have a dark and dismal feeling somewhere [down and deep?] that we are moving far to slow!
John and (Andrew):
I'm on the highway! (We're on the highway!)
I'm on the road! (We're on the road!)
Rolling down the road!
FILLING OUT A FORM
Narrator:
A doctor's office waiting room. April sits alone looking at a clipboard.
April:
-Name, April Marie Cramer. Age, 27. Age, 37... So much older than I wanna be...-
My name is April Marie, I was born on June 1st, the year 19 hm hm 8.
Today is April the 10th, it is eight in the morning and I really hope it's worth the wait.
What's in a name? There are seven, eight letters.
What's in a name? Well -that speeding ticket was!-
What's in a name? Unless it's something that's better.
Just a word you can't get out of your head...
Well, to my bed.
My name is April Marie, and I'm leaving it empty.
Well, what a girl to do?
It's not that Cramer is bad or that my dad has disowned me since [??] a Jew.
Fill out a form. It's a few simple questions.
Fill out a form, April, stick to true facts.
Fill out a form, you've done it forever.
[It feels like you won't change with the time.]
There's no reason to lie.
Writing down the facts.
[Counting down] a life.
Counting down the minutes 'til you are his wife.
Stop writing fiction, [or you'll really lie].
Writing down a date, a name, a word, a year,
a wound, perhaps a scar...
-And then we come to height!-
Five eight!
Then weight, fuck you!
I swear [oh promise the pounds are you]
Sex? Not lately.
Race? [Oh? Snow?] white.
Is this a returning visit? Are you sensitive to light?
Allergies to medication?
Family history? Nothing. I'm sad and single. Married? Any children?
Help me God!
I have a daughter and she's lovely.
I have Jessica [?].
I have a daughter and she's beautiful.
And I wake her every day.
I never thought I could run out of breath.
I'm lucky [?].
And I dreamed that I could cry from joy.
[Like my] Jessica. With Jessica. [??]
Nurse:
April Cramer?
April:
-Yes, that's me! Could I have another form! Just kidding!-
It's just a form...
And so I'll write 'single'.
Circle the word, inquisition's done.
Only a form,
And so I surrender.
The patient is age 37.
And number of children...
None.
None.
None.
None....