Till the End of the Line

By
Christian Montalvo

January 2015

cmonta21@student.scad.edu

ACT I
CURTAIN RISE.
Inside of apartment hall; to the left Natashas apartment,
only the breakfast nook is shown. To the right, Theos
living room. The two apartments are adjoined by a hallway. A
red string is stretched across the two apartments, both ends
disappearing off stage.
NATASHA Enters. She is carrying a stack of books,
each filled with various bookmarks and tabs. She
walks around furniture in the breakfast nook
uncaring if the string that is attached to her
wrist gets tangled around things. She eventually
chose one book and dances around the room humming
to herself and reading a well worn book. The
audience hears the footsteps of someone coming up
the stairs and into the hallway. AGATHA enters.
She is carrying groceries but appears to have not
been outside. She walks into the apartment.
AGATHA
My God Natasha, you would think after sixteen years you
would learn how to walk without tangling everything up
in that damned string.
NAT
Sorry Ma. I- Wait- listen to this [she quotes] "Yet you
poison me with a book once. I should not forgive that.
Harry, promise me that you will never lend that book to
anyone. It does harm." To think Ma, that someone thinks
books could harm.
AGATHA
When are you going to get your head out of those book
and start dealing with this? [She gestures to the
string wrapped around their entire living room.
NAT
But Ma- its Oscar Wilde, its beautiful.
AGATHA
Natasha. Please. This mess is clouding my mind. Get it
fixed up before your granddad comes in here to eat.
CHARLIEs voice sounds offstage.
CHARLIE
Oh hush Aggie..
CHARLIE enters. He wheels into the living room.

2.

CHARLIE
You know Nats just been exploring- same thing I do
with my stamps and whatnot.
AGATHA
Your stamps have never made this much of a mess Pop.
CHARLIE
[Mumbles] Not when your around. Plus that strings never
stopped me.
CHARLIE wheels into the living room, not caring
that hes rolling over the string attached to his
granddaughters wrist. NATASHA lurches forward
from the tension caused by the wheelchair.
NAT
[mock appall] Granddad!
CHARLIE
All in good spirit my dear.
THEO enters from offstage of his apartment. He
looks concerned. He trudges out into the hallway.
He walks into the other apartment, with no need to
knock or call out.
NAT
[To THEO] Good morning sleepy head! Help me up would
you honey?
THEO
What would you do without me?
NAT
Not be as tangled up.
THEO
Oh come on Nat, dont start with that stuff again.
THEO steps past AGATHA to help NATASHA up. CHARLIE
wheels backwards so hes no longer in the tangle
of string. NATASHA and THEO go about untangling
themselves from the furniture. AGATHA and CHARLIE
watch them, CHARLIE finds it comical while AGATHA
finds it all very frustrating.
NAT
Physically I mean. I wouldnt be as tangled up
physically, but trust me emotionally I would be all
over the place. Its the trade off for love my love.

3.

THEO
I love you.
NAT
I love you too. And you know I had this crazy dream
last night that we got to go outside andNATASHA looks at her mom and immediately stops
talking. CHARLIE grows somber and wheels out of
the room. AGATHA clears her throat.
AGATHA
Theo, I need to have a talk with my daughter. Alone.
NAT
Ma, stop!
THEO
Its fine Nat- come over when you are done. I have a
surprise for you.
THEO exits the apartment, going back to his own.
AGATHA
Natasha, its time to make a choice.
NAT
I dont know what you are talking about.
AGATHA
You and Theo need to take the next step. Move in with
him or have him move in with us. Ms. Dyer told me there
is a unit open downstairs if you guys would like. You
two need to begin your life together.
NAT
No Ma, I have to begin my life okay. I dont know why
you are so scared of outside and so set against letting
me and him leave this place.
AGATHA
[Outburst] Because it will destroy the bond- you cant
handle whats outside. You dont need to. Natasha, God
gave you everything you need right here, your family
and your soul mate.
NATASHA toys with the string attached to her wrist
in uncertainty and stares at AGATHA.
NAT
Me and Theo arent you and Dad.

4.

AGATHA
Dont call that man your father. He left. We dont need
to talk about him anymore.
NAT
MaAGATHA
I am going to lay down.
NAT
Ma- Please.
AGATHA exits. NATASHA starts rolling the excess
string into a ball, walking over to the other
apartment as she does.
NAT
[Calling out] Theo! Theo?
THEO comes out of the back and opens the door to
his apartment. He immediately embraces NATASHA and
pulls her inside the apartment seeing that she is
upset
THEO
What happened?
NAT
[crying] Shes so controlling! I understand what
happened to her and my Dad but we are different.
THEO
Of course we are.
NATASHA leans forward and kisses THEO.
THEO
We can get through anything, I promise. This is a gift.
THEO places a protective hand on the string
between them.
NAT
Now you sound like her.
THEO
Is that what you two were talking about again?
NATASHA bites her lip nervously and turns away
from THEO.

5.

THEO
Nat- I dont understand... Why are you so..obsessed
with the idea that this bond isnt important.
NAT
It is important! Theo.. You dont understand.
THEO
Obviously not.
NAT
I want to go outside. I want to live. I havent been
outside this apartment building since I was five. The
outside world isnt to messy- its too beautiful, too
large not to know.
THEO
You have every book, you have every world real or not,
bound inside your apartment. I love you desperatelyNAT
And I love you! But Theo Ive never felt the rain.
THEO
Whats so great about rain?
NAT
I want to dance in the rain, I want to sing in it, I
want to kiss you in the rain. I have so many books- so
many ideas and experiences that I get to read about I
want them- to live them.
THEO
If we go outside well be ridiculed, tested and torn
apart. That isnt whats meant to happen. We were given
this because we are meant to be. Why test that?
NAT
Because this string isnt my love for you. My love for
you is in here [she gestures to her heart]
THEO steps towards NATASHA and takes her hands in
his own.
THEO
[Resigned] We will go outside. If its this important
to you. We can get through this, right?
NAT
[Delighted] Yes! Oh gosh- When will we go Theo?

6.

THEO
Next week- Friday, before my father comes home and
after your mother goes to her appointment with Mr.
Bennett.
NAT
Friday! Venuss day- the day of lovers. How beautiful
and romantic!
THEO
[Amused] Right of course.
THEO laughs and kisses NATASHA again.
THEO
You are distracted.
NAT
I need to plan! Oh I have so much to read now!
THEO
Go on then.
NAT
I love you.
THEO
I love you too.
THEO kisses NATASHA one last time before she flits
away. BOTH exit, THEO through the archway off of
his living room, NATASHA through the door in her
apartment.
BLACK OUT.

7.

ACT II
LIGHTS FADE IN.
INT. Natasha is splayed out at the table with books. She has
her feet up and her hair loose. Music plays softly; Natasha
is lost in her own world.
AGATHA enters.
AGATHA
I will see you later tonight.
NAT
Yes Ma.
AGATHA exits to hallway and down stairs, offstage.
NATASHA follows her mother with her eyes. When she
is left alone on stage her eyes immediately draw
to the top of a bookshelf where a globe rests.
NATASHA stands on the breakfast table to try and
reach it. The string pulls taunt against her, as
THEO seems to be moving farther away from her in
the other apartment.
NAT
[To herself] Oh my goshNATASHA struggles against the string,reaching for
the globe. Just as she thinks she is about to be
able to reach it on the highest shelf the red
string on her wrist snaps. She pulls away startled
and slaps her hand over her mouth to keep from
calling out. She stares at her hands in shock and
realization. After a few moments pass she quickly
grabs the string and holds onto it on the verge of
hysterics. CHARLIE enters; appearing in the
doorway, coming from somewhere else inside the
apartment.
CHARLIE
My dear are you okay?
NAT
Granddad...
He looks to where she holds the string.
CHARLIE
My lord whats happened?

8.

NAT
What do I do? Granddad... How do I explain this? Hell
hate me for this?
CHARLIE
I dont think that there is anything that would make
that boy hate you. Think my dear, could anything make
you hate him.
NAT
No! Of course not. I love him.
NATASHA gasps at being able to say that she loves
THEO.
NAT
Granddad! I love him! (beat) I love him!
CHARLIE
The string is not everything my dear. Remember you are
two wholes tied together, not two halves.
NAT
This- this was fate. Now I know what Theo was talking
about.
CHARLIE
[laughs] It may be fate but you have choices.
NATASHAs eyes widen at the prospect understanding
the implications of CHARLIEs words. She glances
to the door.
CHARLIE
Make the choices that you can live with my dear. I am
going to go lie down now.
CHARLIE exits. NATASHA looks to the door and still
holds onto the string. She goes into the back of
the apartment and re-enters with a over sized coat
that obviously not her own. She looks around and
ties the string to the base of the kitchen table.
NATASHA exits.
BLACK OUT.

9.

ACT III
FADE IN.
INT. The hallway is dimly lit. The string is stretched out
between the two apartments. There is a moment of tension for
the audience as nothing happens.
THEO enters and walks out of the apartment, and is
about to walk up the ramp to NATASHAs apartment,
when footsteps are heard. NATASHA enters. She is
soaking wet, wrapped up in the over sized coat,
her hair drenched. She looks ecstatic.
THEO
[Shocked] Natasha?
NATASHA freezes as she sees Theo.
THEO
How? WhatNAT
[Frantic] It was fate Theo- I was reaching up for the
world and it snapped.
THEO
What does this mean for us?
THEO crumples to the floor and places his head in
his hands. He grips his side of the string
desperately.
NAT
I love you. I do. I love you without being tied to you.
I saw the world today- I saw part of it and I want to
see more of it everyday but I want to come home to you.
I love you, I love my freedom because it lets me love
you more.
THEO
[Conflicted] Why then? Why did this happen if it was
just going to end up like this.
NATASHA extends her hand to THEO and he lets her
help him up. She wraps him in a hug.
NAT
I dont know Theo, but I dont think it matters. I am
happy. I love you, and I think that you can be happy
too. Theres so much in the world for you to love.

10.

THEO
You love me, you really do?
NAT
More so than ever.
THEO
Okay.
THEO exhales sharply and winds the the string
between his fingers, snapping it. He leaves part
of the string wound around his wrist as a
bracelet. He glances at NATASHA and she sticks her
wrist out, he loops part of the left over string
around her wrist and fashions a matching bracelet
out of it, breaking off any excess.
NAT
Thank you.
THEO brushes hair from NATASHAs face and smiles
at her. He takes her hand in his own so that their
bracelets lay next to each other.
BLACK OUT.