Scene Detail
"You wouldn't think an elementary school could burn so well."
| From: the Dandelion Snow cycle | | 2 Characters |
| Gender |
Age |
Character Name |
| Male |
30's |
DANA |
| Male |
30's |
ASH |
Setup:
Two ex-lovers reunite in the charred ruins of their old elementary school, burned to the ground by a freak lightning strike.
The full scripts of the plays in "The Dandelion Snow Cycle" are available for purchase as part of "Short Plays, Volume 2" (in hard copy or download form) at http://www.lulu.com/content/1402397.
Visit http://stores.lulu.com/matthewaeverett for this and other plays by Matthew A. Everett.
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Scenecopyright 1998 by Matthew A. Everett
SEQUENCE ONE - DANDELION SNOW
Moonlight.
ASH, a man in his early thirties, stands in the charred remains of an elementary school building.
White dandelion seeds float by.
Another man in his early thirties, DANA, appears, waving the seeds away that float close to him - walking over the blackened debris to where ASH stands.
ASH senses, but doesn't turn to, DANA.
ASH
Moon's low tonight.
DANA
Well, this pooch is officially screwed.
ASH
Bolt of lightning. This is all that's left.
DANA
You wouldn't think an elementary school could burn so well.
ASH
Burn so well?
DANA
So good?
ASH
It's just an odd way to -- I mean, burning's not a good thing.
DANA
Not normally.
ASH
In this case. Not good. Not well.
DANA
Burn so brightly?
ASH
So long?
DANA
So hot.
ASH
So completely.
DANA
(suddenly formal)
I'm sorry, you are -- ?
DANA holds out a hand, inquiring.
ASH grins. One of their routines has begun.
ASH
Ash.
DANA
Ass?
ASH
I don't have a lisp. A-S-H. Ash. As in soot.
DANA
As in Wednesday.
ASH
And you are -- ?
DANA
Get over here, you doof.
DANA pulls ASH into an embrace.
They hold each other a moment. They get to a point where most people would kiss. They look at one another, a little awkward.
ASH pats DANA on the shoulders and breaks away to wander among the rubble. DANA follows.
DANA (continued)
Good to have you back.
ASH
Just a visit.
DANA
Still --
ASH
Thank Julian for me.
DANA
For what?
ASH
For letting you out for the night.
DANA
I'm not on a leash.
ASH
Still, old boyfriends, old haunts --
DANA
Julian's --
ASH
-- secure?
DANA
-- understanding. He knows you're --
(doesn't finish)
ASH
I'm -- ?
DANA
-- important to me.
ASH
Oh.
DANA
Besides, you don't pass through town that much anymore.
ASH
Sorry I wasn't back in town a week ago -- missed the fireworks.
DANA
Could've emptied the shelves of the supermarket. Popped all the corn, toasted all the marshmallows, roasted all the weenies and still had plenty of fire to spare.
Still can't believe how fast it all --
ASH
Memories are combustible. Get too many in one place --
DANA
Drew quite a crowd.
ASH
The ultimate in morbid curiosity. Who could resist slowing down to look when they see a five-car pile-up of their entire childhood?
Dandelion seeds float by.
DANA waves them away.
DANA
Where do all these damn things come from?
ASH
Just dandelion seeds, Dana. No harm, no foul.
DANA
I just hate weeds.
ASH
A dandelion is not a weed. It's a flower.
DANA
Oh yeah, then why are we always pulling them out of the ground?
ASH
People don't like what they can't control.
DANA
They're weeds.
ASH
Calling a dandelion a weed is like saying the heart is a muscle.
DANA
It is.
ASH
Just a muscle.
Pause. Then DANA smiles.
DANA
You're standing in the middle of kindergarten.
ASH
How can you tell?
DANA
It's the east end of the -- See that burned jag in the outline on the ground over there?
ASH
Vaguely.
DANA
OK --
Standing behind and a little to one side of ASH, DANA takes his friend's shoulders and turns him to face straight out. DANA leans in, almost resting his chin on ASH's shoulder, looking out in the same direction, pointing.
DANA (continued)
Tell me you forget that view.
ASH
The slide.
DANA
The seesaws.
ASH
The monkey bars.
DANA
Recess taunting us just outside the window.
ASH looks at the charred outline surrounding him, recognizing the shape.
ASH
Standing right in the middle of Mrs. Wadsworth's classroom. Son of a bitch.
DANA
Bet you still have that glass piggy bank she gave us.
ASH
Those little evergreen trees she handed out to everyone --
ASH (continued) and DANA
Arbor Day.
ASH (continued)
Yours still out by the side of your folks' garage?
DANA
(shaking his head)
Crowded the walkway. Dad had to transplant it out back. Yours?
ASH
(shaking his head)
Some other family lives there now. They landscaped the place, put in a pool. It's gone.
DANA
You remember throwing up on her shoes when she tried to get you to go to the bathroom by yourself?
ASH
I remember you telling everyone. God, I hated you.
DANA
You got over it.
ASH
Yeah.
An awkward moment as they become aware of how physically close they are.
DANA releases ASH's shoulders, withdraws a step away.
ASH (continued)
The letter "W".
DANA
First, the letter "V".
DANA holds up two fingers in a "V" sign. ASH does the same.
ASH
Another "V" comes along.
DANA makes his "V" "speak".
DANA
"I like you so much, I'm going to double you."
DANA and ASH bring their "V's" together to form a "W," smiling.
ASH
Damn, she was a goofy old bird sometimes.
DANA
But you learned your alphabet.
They bump their "V's" against each other. Slowly, their fingers intertwine.
DANA (continued)
You ever gonna' settle down in one place?
ASH
I settle.
DANA
For more than a year at a time.
ASH
I thought you liked me being the "most unsettling person" you know.
DANA
Gets old. I worry about you.
ASH
Don't.
DANA
Not possible.
ASH
You don't have to. You're not obligated.
DANA
That's not why.
ASH
I'm just --
DANA
What?
ASH
Waiting.
DANA
For -- ?
ASH
Til I find something worth settling for -- I mean, settling down for. Something.
DANA
Someone?
ASH
Stranger things have happened.
They stand, fingers twined.
DANA
You remember why we broke up?
ASH
Right now, I haven't a clue.
DANA
Me neither.
ASH
Probably something stupid I did or said.
DANA
Just as likely I --
ASH
No. Not likely. You --
DANA
What?
ASH
-- appreciate things.
ASH looks around them, pulls his hand away.
ASH (continued)
God, will you look at this place.
DANA
They'll build a new --
ASH
But it won't be --
DANA
Well, no.
ASH
-- this place. This place is gone.
I feel like my life's eroding. Bits and pieces just drifting off into the dark. The places we used to hang out. The house I grew up in. My folks. I mean, it's getting so I really am -- unsettled. All the time.
DANA
So come home.
ASH
Point me there, something familiar, and I'll think about it.
DANA
You don't have to go anywhere.
DANA turns ASH to face him.
DANA (continued)
Just stand still. Stay.
ASH
Easier said --
(doesn't finish)
DANA takes ASH's hand.
DANA
I love you.
ASH
That's nice.
DANA
I mean it.
ASH
I know.
Doesn't make it any easier. In fact, --
(doesn't finish)
Pause.
DANA
Yeah.
ASH
Are you happy?
DANA can't suppress a smile.
DANA
Yeah.
ASH
Then so am I.
DANA
I'm sorry.
ASH
No need. Really.
ASH squeezes DANA's hand.
ASH (continued)
You should go.
ASH tries to let go of DANA's hand. DANA won't let him.
ASH (continued)
Julian probably hates waiting for you to come home. I know I did.
DANA
Dinner Saturday. The three of us. You promised.
ASH
I'll be there.
DANA
Swear.
ASH
When have you ever known me to turn down a free meal?
DANA
Julian's a great cook. I'm getting better.
ASH
Go on. Get outta' here.
DANA
You coming?
ASH
So I walk you to your car. And we talk. Then you give me a lift to my car. And we sit and talk some more. Let's save the protracted goodbyes for when I really leave.
DANA
Which is -- ?
ASH
Can I get back to you on that?
DANA
(smiling)
Take your time.
ASH
Scoot.
DANA goes.
ASH looks around the debris. He holds up both of his hands, each with the "V" sign, makes one of them "speak".
ASH (continued)
"I like you so much -- "
(doesn't finish)
Another swarm of dandelion seeds float by.
ASH catches one in his hand. He smiles, looks up.
ASH (continued)
Moon's low tonight.
ASH opens his hand, blows on the seed.
It floats off into the night.
The moon winks out.
copyright 1998 by Matthew A. Everett
The full scripts of the plays in "The Dandelion Snow Cycle" are available for purchase as part of "Short Plays, Volume 2" (in hard copy or download form) at http://www.lulu.com/content/1402397.
Visit http://stores.lulu.com/matthewaeverett for this and other plays by Matthew A. Everett.
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