Ecclesiastes 9:11
Here's the play I promised
Late afternoon~midsized apartment near Chicago University~autumn, present day
(Michael has arms up,hands holding iphone, eyes to hands-looks like dancing)
(Leah enters living room with spare key under mat, the paper underarm)
LEAH
You finally gonna try out for the dance squad?
MICHAEL
Actually, I joined a cult. (enthusiastically) This week I get to lead the prayer dance!
(laughs) I’m looking for wifi.
LEAH
(playing along) Do your neighbors know?
MICHAEL
(With a big grin) That I joined a cult or that I’m stealing their internet?
(Leah-“what do you think” look)
(pause) yeah, no, no they don’t. So why are you--
LEAH
Here? Schools off and-well I--
MICHAEL
--You miss Chicago, don’t you?
LEAH
I-uh (reluctant) yeah I miss home
MICHAEL
Boston wasn’t what you’d thought it’d be?
LEAH
It’s not that...It feels like…The more I come back, the harder it is to leave this place again…My head just boomerangs back. I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to leave this city…
MICHAEL
(hurt-angry) Then why did you? (more gentle) You always said we’d stick by each other
LEAH
(sits down on couch, Michael remains near window)
Michael, we’re still friends for life (pause)(playfully) don’t forget, you pinky-sweared.
(her face turns serious,looks down with quiet sigh)
(starts playing with index ring) You know I couldn’t give up a free ride.
And you can’t … (pause) (quieter) How many weeks has it been?
MICHAEL
I don’t know. She’s not any better, I think they might have to move her-the hospice.
LEAH
Oh, Michael I’m-I know you and your mother were so-
MICHAEL
I’m fine, really-listen, I’m not getting any signal, could we go to the library?
LEAH
On campus? Would they let me in?
MICHAEL
Yeah, you’re with me…or you know what? Just don’t make eye contact
BOTH
And keep your head down
Leah
(getting up, slyly) I haven’t forgotten yet
MICHAEL
(smiling) I wouldn’t let you
(starts walking to the door, the two arm in arm)
LEAH
(humming We’re off to see the wizard) (Michael groans)
Come on, you know it
MICHAEL
(unenthusiastically speaking) The wonderful wizard of oz
LEAH
(humming because, because, because, because, because)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCENE TWO
Later-sitting on bench in park, backs facing lake
(Leah sitting on hands, swinging legs)
(Michael playing with keys)
MICHAEL
Do you remember the time you got out of that English essay?
(Leah turns her head to him with puzzled look)
You had deliver a baby to deliver?
LEAH
(giggles) When I said my cousin’s water broke in mid-traffic? (single laugh) It wouldn’t have worked if Ms. Lauder wasn’t pregnant herself
MICHAEL
Oh come on, that was all you…
(pause-them staring off for a bit)
So I got to thinking…
LEAH
(laugh-groan) Oh no, this gonna leave me with dark circles tonight, isn’t it?
MICHAEL
(still smiling) No, no hear me out…I was thinking we could come up with, you know, like little story together.
LEAH
You mean like a-
MICHAEL
--I thought it’d be fun, like exercises for your…(doubtful tone) brain
LEAH
And what am I training for exactly?
MICHAEL
(assured) well, I thought we could show it to…some people I know
LEAH
Michael, you’re not thinking about-
MICHAEL
(less assured) --Nothing’s really official, I just want you to-
LEAH
--Start lying again?
MICHAEL
This is different.
LEAH
You KNOW how this is going to turn out
MICHAEL
(frustrated) You’re not listening to me
LEAH
YOU’RE not thinking straight (gets up and starts walking away)
MICHAEL
(running after her) Just listen-I know you-
LEAH
(stops slightly angry) --Why won’t you let this go?
MICHAEL
Why? Because you need to realize you have talent, dummy! I can help you, I’ve been studying people, eavesdropping into their conversations. I’m effing swimming in dialogues. I just need your plotlines. This won’t cost you anything, Leah. Leah, you and I both know you’re wasting your time in Boston. You’re the greatest liar this town has ever seen. And you and me, we could be huge. We could have an apartment on the river, just like you always wanted! We could visit home on the weekends, when we’re not writing in New York. And who knows? Maybe we’ll work for-I don’t know-NBC!
LEAH
(pause) We can’t…I can not start lying again, Michael. What I did-what you let me do-should have never happened-
MICHAEL
(forcefully) It was a good story, (weaker) and you look at how well you pulled it off---
LEAH
(desperately) Michael, she believed every single word and-(pause) We hurt her --we strung her around and just broke her. We made her fall in love with someone that did not exist. When we set up that MySpace account-that was overkill. She didn’t deserve that. We let it go too far, Michael. Revenge would of been-putting gum in her hair or something
MICHAEL
(exasperated) It was just a joke!
LEAH
And my criminal record? Is that a joke too? (pause) I had to start over, Michael, and now I have to redeem myself. (now more desperate) I can’t give this up and I definitely don’t need to lie like that again. And you know a stupid little script is just the push I need -
MICHAEL
(sincerely) I would stop you, Leah. You know I can’t see you like that again….(matter-of-factly) You know I love you, Leah. And maybe what happened-maybe it got out of hand-but you can’t let this go
LEAH
(with a jaded look) I know that was the big plan, Michael, but we were thirteen and things change. Even if we’re the most brilliant writers in this palce doesn’t change the fact that we have responsibilities now. (reaches for his hands, with jaded, sad smile) (bites lip and starts again)
(pause, then haltingly) You have your place, and I have mine. I’d run away the moment I could, Michael, but we have roles to play and things to do. (pause)
(holds one hand to his face) Gravity’s always held us down, hasn’t it?
Have a good one, Michael. (turns and walks off stage).
Ecclesiastes 9:11 NOT TO BE READ: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Late afternoon~midsized apartment near Chicago University~autumn, present day
(Michael has arms up,hands holding iphone, eyes to hands-looks like dancing)
(Leah enters living room with spare key under mat, the paper underarm)
LEAH
You finally gonna try out for the dance squad?
MICHAEL
Actually, I joined a cult. (enthusiastically) This week I get to lead the prayer dance!
(laughs) I’m looking for wifi.
LEAH
(playing along) Do your neighbors know?
MICHAEL
(With a big grin) That I joined a cult or that I’m stealing their internet?
(Leah-“what do you think” look)
(pause) yeah, no, no they don’t. So why are you--
LEAH
Here? Schools off and-well I--
MICHAEL
--You miss Chicago, don’t you?
LEAH
I-uh (reluctant) yeah I miss home
MICHAEL
Boston wasn’t what you’d thought it’d be?
LEAH
It’s not that...It feels like…The more I come back, the harder it is to leave this place again…My head just boomerangs back. I don’t think I’ll ever really be able to leave this city…
MICHAEL
(hurt-angry) Then why did you? (more gentle) You always said we’d stick by each other
LEAH
(sits down on couch, Michael remains near window)
Michael, we’re still friends for life (pause)(playfully) don’t forget, you pinky-sweared.
(her face turns serious,looks down with quiet sigh)
(starts playing with index ring) You know I couldn’t give up a free ride.
And you can’t … (pause) (quieter) How many weeks has it been?
MICHAEL
I don’t know. She’s not any better, I think they might have to move her-the hospice.
LEAH
Oh, Michael I’m-I know you and your mother were so-
MICHAEL
I’m fine, really-listen, I’m not getting any signal, could we go to the library?
LEAH
On campus? Would they let me in?
MICHAEL
Yeah, you’re with me…or you know what? Just don’t make eye contact
BOTH
And keep your head down
Leah
(getting up, slyly) I haven’t forgotten yet
MICHAEL
(smiling) I wouldn’t let you
(starts walking to the door, the two arm in arm)
LEAH
(humming We’re off to see the wizard) (Michael groans)
Come on, you know it
MICHAEL
(unenthusiastically speaking) The wonderful wizard of oz
LEAH
(humming because, because, because, because, because)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SCENE TWO
Later-sitting on bench in park, backs facing lake
(Leah sitting on hands, swinging legs)
(Michael playing with keys)
MICHAEL
Do you remember the time you got out of that English essay?
(Leah turns her head to him with puzzled look)
You had deliver a baby to deliver?
LEAH
(giggles) When I said my cousin’s water broke in mid-traffic? (single laugh) It wouldn’t have worked if Ms. Lauder wasn’t pregnant herself
MICHAEL
Oh come on, that was all you…
(pause-them staring off for a bit)
So I got to thinking…
LEAH
(laugh-groan) Oh no, this gonna leave me with dark circles tonight, isn’t it?
MICHAEL
(still smiling) No, no hear me out…I was thinking we could come up with, you know, like little story together.
LEAH
You mean like a-
MICHAEL
--I thought it’d be fun, like exercises for your…(doubtful tone) brain
LEAH
And what am I training for exactly?
MICHAEL
(assured) well, I thought we could show it to…some people I know
LEAH
Michael, you’re not thinking about-
MICHAEL
(less assured) --Nothing’s really official, I just want you to-
LEAH
--Start lying again?
MICHAEL
This is different.
LEAH
You KNOW how this is going to turn out
MICHAEL
(frustrated) You’re not listening to me
LEAH
YOU’RE not thinking straight (gets up and starts walking away)
MICHAEL
(running after her) Just listen-I know you-
LEAH
(stops slightly angry) --Why won’t you let this go?
MICHAEL
Why? Because you need to realize you have talent, dummy! I can help you, I’ve been studying people, eavesdropping into their conversations. I’m effing swimming in dialogues. I just need your plotlines. This won’t cost you anything, Leah. Leah, you and I both know you’re wasting your time in Boston. You’re the greatest liar this town has ever seen. And you and me, we could be huge. We could have an apartment on the river, just like you always wanted! We could visit home on the weekends, when we’re not writing in New York. And who knows? Maybe we’ll work for-I don’t know-NBC!
LEAH
(pause) We can’t…I can not start lying again, Michael. What I did-what you let me do-should have never happened-
MICHAEL
(forcefully) It was a good story, (weaker) and you look at how well you pulled it off---
LEAH
(desperately) Michael, she believed every single word and-(pause) We hurt her --we strung her around and just broke her. We made her fall in love with someone that did not exist. When we set up that MySpace account-that was overkill. She didn’t deserve that. We let it go too far, Michael. Revenge would of been-putting gum in her hair or something
MICHAEL
(exasperated) It was just a joke!
LEAH
And my criminal record? Is that a joke too? (pause) I had to start over, Michael, and now I have to redeem myself. (now more desperate) I can’t give this up and I definitely don’t need to lie like that again. And you know a stupid little script is just the push I need -
MICHAEL
(sincerely) I would stop you, Leah. You know I can’t see you like that again….(matter-of-factly) You know I love you, Leah. And maybe what happened-maybe it got out of hand-but you can’t let this go
LEAH
(with a jaded look) I know that was the big plan, Michael, but we were thirteen and things change. Even if we’re the most brilliant writers in this palce doesn’t change the fact that we have responsibilities now. (reaches for his hands, with jaded, sad smile) (bites lip and starts again)
(pause, then haltingly) You have your place, and I have mine. I’d run away the moment I could, Michael, but we have roles to play and things to do. (pause)
(holds one hand to his face) Gravity’s always held us down, hasn’t it?
Have a good one, Michael. (turns and walks off stage).
Ecclesiastes 9:11 NOT TO BE READ: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.