My Blog

Guerra

STAGE:

There is no appearance of technology. Large white bedroom , middle, stage right, stage left is mostly empty, save for an easel and canvas, facing away from audience. The back and right walls are normal, the left has only the suggestion of a wall: a dresser over which a mirror and possibly a pictureless frame suspended, where the wall should be by invisible wire. Behind the wall, is a shadowy section with hidden, jagged, undisclosed shapes. On the front are a suggestion of sliding glass doors, Lite curtains, hang to on side, always blown about, measuring the intensity of the wind. The doors open to a lower deck. Steps on left of deck lead down to the beach, basically a large sandbox using up the front of the stage. The audience are seated where the ocean should and will be made as much a part of it as possible; they will feel and or hear the breeze, hear the sounds of the ocean, even during scene changes. Rain and thunder quicken as tension builds and subsides. It's important that the wind and weather sounds be more of a subtle, subconscience influence. Throughout much of the play, until the set change, the room will be a place of long angled shadows.

COSTUME:

The characters at first will be dressed in lite clothing, giving the appearance of total freedom and comfort.

CHARACTERS:

April: A woman anywhere from twenty-four to thirty, ideally pretty with long hair.

Ian: A man, same age range and good looking.

girl/ Emily: Between nine and sixteen, very weak and delicate. The girl should seem and look younger then Emily.
SCENE 1 -1-

(Lights out, the air begins to stir to a slight breeze. the sounds of a gentle tide are heard. Soft blue light slowly expands as an ideal moonlight to illuminate the stage and the two figures on the bed. Ian is lying at the foot of the bed looking toward the sea. April is on her back propped up with pillows; her long hair is free, spilling down her shoulders. They are artistically covered by the silk sheets. Their clothes look as if just slipped into, April's wearing a loose silk robe and Ian's in silk pajama bottoms. April sits up looking toward the sea.)

April- I love this so much, Ian.

Ian- (Pause, distracted) Where are we?

April- In bed.

Ian- (Smiles,) Where are we, really?

(Seconds before response.)

April- Where the sun always sets slightly off center, sinking into the quiet breeze.

Ian- I thought so.

April- For only us to see.

(The breeze quickens, slightly.)

Ian- I dreamt of a war, last night.

April- (an echo,)..a war,... I felt it in you, in your sleep.

(Soft thunder is heard echoing from far away.)

Ian- It is always the same; I feel as if you are impossibly distant almost unknown to me, as I wander jagged countryside, always a step away from, (pause,) It seems like the war... I remember hearing screams, the distant sounds of battle, exactly when I almost find what seems so crucial, I'm blasted far away, totally alone,............ then I wake-

April- To find me sleeping next to you.

Ian- Yes.

April- Where I feel secure.

(They pause to watch the tide.)

Ian- ...............I walked to the other side of the island, to the cliff, overlooking the bay.... There were unnatural debris floating among the waves and sunken beneath.

April- Bays are usually havens for all kinds of debris.

Ian- ..........The mainland seemed so dark and obscured in the mist.

April- They probably look across, to here dreaming the same things, wake up and look out their windows to see the sun rising,... and prefer it that way.

Ian- Morning people.

April- Yuck!

(She begins massaging him.)

Ian- ........I see the war in your paintings, (pause,) not on the surface,... but in the shadows, (He points to the painting.) the reflection in the girl's eyes, or just somewhere to the right, where the canvas ends.

(April gets up, looks in the mirror and begins brushing her hair.)

April- It scares me, you know it does.

(Ian gets up and walks to her, hugging her from behind.)

Ian- I love you.

(She continues brushing then turns around.)

April- That won't matter if you leave.

(Ian walks to the deck, leaning on the railing, looking to the sea. More, distant thunder is heard, the breeze quickens. April lingers on her painting, then walks to the deck, placing her hand on his.)

April- .....It will matter.

Ian- I know.

April- But, it's only natural to hunt the darkness, when everything seems so perfect.......

(They both linger on the sea.)

Ian- It just frightens me, when I think of how fragile it all may be.

April- Even if things are as bad as they seem, why see it, what could you do?

Ian- I don't know.

(April descends leading Ian to the beach, she sits and places Ian's head in her lap and strokes his hair. Thunder is heard closing in, lightening soon follows.)

Ian- To just fill in some, missing reference points. To at least see where we are.

April- I remember parts of a life before; together, we were almost happy, but it, was all around us, in the air we breathed,..... I remember gripping, tightly to anything that was even a hint of what we have here, to only have it, be ripped away.

Ian- You do remember.

April- Tomorrow, we can pack food for a few days and go explore our own, surreal beach even further then last time. I will even let you name and map things down to reality, If you really want.

Ian- Last time,...... We can probably spend a lifetime, doing just that,.......... and I almost wouldn't mind, at all.

April- And it bothers you.

Ian- I guess sometimes it just seems almost,...... too perfect.

April- Me too?

Ian- You always have.

(He kisses her. Thunder is louder, lightening trailing behind.)

April- Let's just lie here and let the rain fall on us.

Ian- Summer rain.

(lights begin to fade, to be brightened by an occasional burst of lightening. A thunderstorm is heard for the length of the scene change.
-4-
SCENE 2

(Calm ocean sounds, dull morning lights fade in to Ian packing. April is sleeping restlessly. She wakes unnoticed, sitting on the bed, watching him packing clothes, from the dresser, to an army green canvas knapsack. He stops, noticing her reflection in the mirror, and turns around.

April- Your leaving.

Ian- I'm just going to take the boat across the bay, (Finishes packing.) give me a few days, at the most.

April- It seemed, the last few days, on our trip, as if you've forgotten all about it.

Ian- I know, I almost had,... but last night I-

April- You dreamt of a war.

Ian- And it seems as if I've-

April- Seems as if you've forgotten a thousand times before.

(He drops the pack, sitting on the bed he messages and kisses her neck from behind and lies her down, kissing her for long seconds. He gets up. She slowly rises, walking him to the door, holding his hand. They linger on the deck, kissing.)

Ian- While exploring the island, we found and did everything we possibly could have hoped for. It's just not natural.......

April- You never could be satisfied.

Ian- I will come back, soon.

April- You'd better!(he leaves, walking down the beach, off stage.)

(She sits, looking to the ocean. The wind quickens. She goes inside standing, looking at the painting.)

April- We need to put some life in those eyes. (Se begins taking out and methodically preparing paint on a palate. She begins painting, lightly touching the brush to the canvas.) More life...... There!..... No, what was I thinking? What did I dress you in? You need- (She paints a bit faster.) No,... it's not you, it's where you are. (She paints faster, wider, more dramatic strokes.) Exactly,... more color,... more- (Squeezing the paint directly on to the canvas, dropping the brush she begins frantically smearing it on with her hands. She stops, dropping the paints, looking at her hands, screaming.) I've got blood on my hands. (calmly,) No, just paint, but imagine it trickling down my arms, falling color, red expanding. Painting a vast, crimson, fiery sea and upon it, I'd drift, alone, floating under a climbing scarlet sky. The blood hot sun burning, bleeding through the tepid breeze, decending, to land, lightly upon me. (she looks to her hands, walks outside. looking toward the direction, Ian walked, screaming,) you'd better! (The wind gusts. She sits, looking to the ocen. Lights fade.)
SCENE 3 -6-

(The Wind has a slight howling wasteland feel to it and is steady allowing for a few gusts and lulls. Lights fade in to April sitting in the same spot, in the same direction as the previous scene. She is dressed in heavier clothes, looks more tired, haggard. She is barefoot and her hair is carelessly tied back. At times she should appear to be growing cold. The lighting throughout the scene will simulate the transition from morning to night.)

April- I don't think I'll be going to class (pause,) today. It's just too- (raises her voice,) Ian!

(He emerges from the dark side of the stage, dressed in casual street cloths, standing behind her. He is very stiff. She quickly turns around.)

April- I'm not going to class today, Ian.

Ian- Why not?

April- It's just so nice out, I think I'm going to paint and read and lie in the sun, (She kisses him. She elongates all.) ALL day

(Turning away from Ian, she becomes distracted with the ocean. Ian begins backing away.)

April- (Turns around, panicky.) Ian!

Ian- Yes.

April- (Calmly,) Why don't you stay with me?...... We'll go to the park, (looks back to the ocean, distracted. Ian begins backing away.) We'll pick up some sandwiches from Earnies's, you can do some writing, I'll paint. We'll walk through the streets, barefoot and sit by someone,.... playing guitar.

(She calmly waits for a response, looking out to the ocean. Ian stops partially obscured by the darkness.)

Ian- That sounds nice.

April- As a matter of fact, I don't think I'm ever going back to school, ever. (Ian drifts into the shadows. She begins walking/ dancing on the beach.) I'm going to steal you and never going to have to worry about you being drafted, and bring you far away, where they can't ever find us.

(She drops down to the beach, like a child, lying as if dead.)

April- I'm dead! (Makes the sound of a heart beat, pounding her
-7-
hand on her chest.) PER BUMP, ..PER BUMP,... P E R BUMP, P E R B U M P,........P E R B U M P........... PER BUMP,... I'm dead.

(She lies there for a while with her hands at her side, gets up and trudges up the steps into the room, looks in the mirror, lets down her hair and begins, slowly, absently, brushing it. She glances to her watchless wrist, then continues more determined. From the shadows, a phone rings. She stops, running to answer it. The sounds of the beach stop while she is on the phone.)

April- Hello!...... Ian!,..... I'm just about-..... what?,.. Oh,... It's OK,...... I understand,.... I love you too,.. OK,... bye.

(She exits the shadows and resumes, slowly brushing her hair, stoping she drops her brush and walks to the bed, tieing back her hair.)

April- I'm dead,.... I'm dead,.. I'm (screams,) DEAD!

(Flings herself on the bed, not moving, for a sustained while, alone on the stage. From stage right, A tired bruised girl stumbles onto the beach, she is dressed in rags.)

Girl- (in spanish,) Mama,........... mama, (she falls,) solo,......... (She continues muttering in spanish.)

April- Dead, Ian,... I'm dead.

Girl- Mama-

April- Ian?

(She, slowly gets up, running to door, out to the girl.)

April- What happened to you?

girl- Mama?

April- It's OK, I got you, It's OK.

Girl- Mama.

April- Shhhhh,..... come on, your safe.

(April carries her inside.)

Girl- Guerra!

(She places her in bed, brushing her hair from her face.)

girl- Guerra!.....

April- Your OK, my little girl.

(April runs to the shadows, to return with a glass of water.)

April- Here you go, drink...... That's a good girl, drink it all down..... Good, now lie down and get some sleep.

girl- dorma.

April- Yes, sleep.

(April continues brushing her hair, muttering to her. Sustain the above for as long as possible. From the shadows. comes Ian's voice, April speaks to him as if he is standing somewhere in the room, but at times, she seems confused as to where he is, looking to the darkened area. At most the audience will see only a shady, hint of him.)

Ian- How's our little girl?

April- .....She was very sick, (Confused, trying to focus on him.) but better,.. just tired..... I can't understand,... what could do this to a little girl, she is so worn out.

girl- Guerra!

Ian- I never thought of our daughter as getting sick.

April- Sleep, (Looking only to the girl.) I know, I always thought of her as being so unreal, (The girl moans.) sleep,.... sleep.

Ian- She was so beautiful.

April- So fragile and perfect; like a poem.... Other children seemed so clumsy and trivial next to her.

Ian- .. Why don't you let me get you a drink.

April- I could look at her for hours..... A drink.

(A women in a white gown emerges from the shadows, handing April a drink in an extra large glass, which April uneasily takes slowly in both hands, and carefully drains, handing it back to the women, who briskly walks off stage.)

Ian- You must be tired. I'm sorry you had to take this on all by your self, I have been just so busy.

April- I am,..... so tired.

Ian- You've been through a lot.

April- I have.

Ian- Why don't you get some sleep.

April- I should really stay up. I need to watch her.

Girl- (From sleep.) Dorma.

Ian- Their is nothing more we can do.

April- Sleep.

(She crawls in bed with the girl. Lights fade. Audience continues hearing peaceful sounds of the tide.)
SCENE 4

(Lights fade in to morning. April and the girl are asleep. From the direction in which he left, Ian returns, same knapsack slung over his shoulder. He is wearing army fatigues, combat boots and has a rifle slung, next to the knapsack, over his shoulder. He stops on the deck, dropping the knapsack and leaning the riffle on the outside wall. Entering, he stands above the bed, studding the sleeping figures.

Ian- April, (She begins to stir.) honey.

April- (From sleep,) Ian..... (She wakes up quickly jumping out of bed, hugging him.) Oh Ian, I was just having the most awful dream and I just refused to wake, because I knew you wouldn't be next to me. (He is somewhat stiff. April uneasily pulls away. The girl begins to stir. April backs away.) What happened to you? Why are you-

Ian- There is a war.

girl- (from sleep,) Guerra......

Ian- The mainland was farther then it possibly should have been. And for a solid day I fought against the currents, always trying to carry me back toward the beach. When night came, I must have just clasped, without dropping anchor. The next morning, I woke and the boat was inclined resting on the shore of the mainland....... I just began to aimlessly wander through a burnt out village. Within a few hours, I was picked up given a gun and, at first, forced to fight....

April- You won't need to any more.

Ian- Our leaders are good. They let me come back to see you.... They don't like fighting any more then I do. (He seems to wait for a response.)

April- They let you-

Ian- April,... There is a war.

girl- Guerra......

(He looks to the girl, for uncomfortable seconds.)

Ian- (Almost a whisper.) Where did you find her?

April- She wandered on to the beach, yesterday, she was tired,
lost, so was I.

Ian- There are thousands like her. How ever she got here, she's very lucky.

April- lucky.

Ian- Why don't we go outside.

(They walk outside to the beach, on the way April lingers on the gun, They sit.)

Ian- (Referring to his boots.) It will be nice to take these off, to feel my feet, again in the sand.

(He begins to remove them.)

April- No, let me! (Struggling with them, takes them off.) I
missed you so much, Ian; I would talk to you for hours, always expecting you to come down the beach, at any minute.

Ian- I thought of you every day.

(They kiss, April begins unbuttoning his shirt.)

April- Let me get this thing off you. (pause,) You've been scarred all over.... What happened to you?

Ian- For each scar, I've known many who have died.

April- (absently,) Fighting,.... before you left, that word,... I remember,.. but war was a symbol locked far away, in my mind, where the nightmares hide.......

Ian- There are people suffering, across the bay, but it's not all bad,...... as long as we keep up the fight, we can rebuild.

April- Across the bay. While you were across the bay, I
was suffering.

Ian- I know, I'm so sorry, April.

Girl- MAMA!!

(The girl screams, from inside. April runs to her, Ian trails behind, pausing, watching from the door.)

April- It's OK, Mama's got you.

(Ian slowly approaches. The girl, looking past April, reacting to Ian, she screams:)

Girl- NO!! NO!!

April- Get out!,.... He's not going to hurt you... It's your clothes, she's afraid of, take off your shirt, at least.

(He removes his shirt and belt. April helps the girl up and brings her to see him. The girl keeps a cautious distance.)

April- Now, come on. See, you're safe,........ This is Ian.

(The girl looks him over, then runs to the far side of the beach, always keeping April between her and Ian.)

Ian- She must have seen many people like me, doing horrible things.

April- I thought yours, were the good people.

Ian- We are!.......... We're better them, at least. We just need to do some,.... questionable things, sometimes.

April- At least.

Ian- I'm sorry. (He walks and sits down closer to the water, April follows, sitting behind him.)

April- You don't have to go back to them, You can stay here with us, I can paint you can write-

Ian- And we can lie in the sun all day.

(She rests his head in her lap. The girl edges closer.)

April- The war, need not even exist. Why worry about what, you can not even see.

Ian- Wipe it away.

(He rises, watching the girl sit on the other side of April.)

Ian- (Looking to the girl.) I am a part of it now, If I was to stay here, it, would see, this perfect beach, through my eyes and find you. We need to keep it hidden from the rest of the world, to keep you safe.

April- How can you even think of going back out there, look at her. They have taken this beautiful, little girl and scared the living hell out of her. (The girl runs back to the room.) People like you, wearing the suitable clothes. Go ahead, put back on your costume, your mask. Go right across that bay, to conform to which ever madness that happens to be in style, because I can't fit in or understand why.

(She turns her back, beginning to cry. Ian places his, from behind, around her waste and kisses her stiffening, neck.)

Ian- I will try to come back and see you,.... soon.

(He picks up his pack and rifle and walks back off toward the war, disappearing off stage. April falls to the sand, crying. The girl, Emily emerges from the room,

Emily- Mother.

April- Emily?

Emily- Yes, it's me.

April- Emy, So much has happened; I've missed you so much...
Your father,.... he's gone.

Emily- Shhhh,... I know.

April- I made him go.

Emily- He wasn't my father.

April- But I-

Emily- Shhhh,.. let's get you to bed,.. you need to sleep now.

April- I need to tell you so much.

Emily- I know,.... you can tell me tomorrow morning,

(Emily puts her arm around April, leading her back inside, she guides her to bed.)

April- Emy, Where are we?

(Emily brushes her hair back, from her eyes. The lights fade to the sound of the soft tide.) (Lights out, the sound of the tide and the wind has stopped.)

Ian- (From the dark stage.) April,... Honey,... Can you hear me?

(Lights come on, brightly and for the first time, also to illuminate the left side of the stage, revealing the third wall and centered in which, is a heavy, wooden door, with a small, glass observation window. The stage now has the, Well lit, sterile look of a hospital room, allowing, few shadows. The bed is in the same space, but the mirror is missing and the dresser is now up against the third wall. On top, a few cards displayed and vases containing, cheery flowers. The easel remains where it has been, as does the door leading to the beach, which will at times be treated as a window. April is wearing pajamas and her wrists are bandaged. Ian is wearing a, slept in suit.

Ian- April? You've been zoning out on me, again.

April- Ian,.. back.

Ian- (Laughing,) I think it's you, who has come back.

(She surveys her surroundings.)

April- I've been finding it hard to concentrate, lately..... What's happening?

Ian- You're in the hospital.

April- ..... (Frantically,) Emily!?

Ian- She's been gone for over a month-

April- Gone,... a month's gone by,... Emily's dead.

Ian- I hate, your having to learn it new, each time.

April- It OK, It all, quickly, floods, right back in my head, ....each time.

(She takes his hand.)

Ian- .......You've sold another painting.

April- (She looks to her wrists.) It makes sense, buying from a sick, suicidal, artist..... I guess their waiting for me to do something really dramatic.

Ian- Please don't-

April- I'm sorry, Ian.

Ian- Why are you sorry?

April- I'm sorry I'm In this bed, (She gets up, walking down stage, moving the curtains aside to look out the window.) that I resent you for not being here next to me,........-.

Ian- Don't worry, we'll have you out of this room, back to the world, soon.

(He looks away from April.)

April- That is the problem; I not sure, I'm capable of existing outside this room. I don't even think, that is what I want.

Ian- I need you back with me.

April- Do you remember the beach, Ian?

(The sounds of the tide and the wind, begins again.)

Ian- The beach? (She is distracted, looking back out the door.) Our little beach, it seems so far away.

April- Not to far.

Ian- We should really go and find the place.

April- I Think I have.

Ian- We would walk for hours along the shore. That house,......
We should have gone back, like we planned.

April- And I'm sorry you left me, (She walks around the room, almost dancing.) I've been on the beach; where the sun always sets,........ slightly off center,...... (She kisses him.) You were there, Emy is-...

Ian- April-

April- After the accident, you dressed us both in the appropriate clothes, to attend a funeral, you spent the, days before arranging. When we got home, you tucked me in and without anything more to be done, you sat in front, looking into the TV.... The poor thing was being used For the first time in years.... Every day I watched you absently looking at that box and I took care of you.... It took a few weeks, but you dressed in your suit, drove to school, coming home with a arm full of papers and graded every one... At the time, I was so proud of you and envied the distance you kept..... I tried,.... for a month, I tried, but I just couldn't wear my clothes, like that again............

(Emily wanders on to the beach.)

Ian- (Crying.) I love you, April.

(She walks to him and kisses him for long seconds.)

April- I know. and I'm not blaming you for anything.
I loved you more then everything in the world,... just as I love Emily, but I think I'm going, Ian.

(All lights, save those on the beach begin to dim. April emerges, on to the beach, just as the room is engulfed in shadow and Ian is frozen. She goes to Emily, takes her hand and they begin walking up the beach, to disappear, stepping off stage.)

(Lights fade, to sounds of the Tide.)