Middletown A Play in Two Acts Will Eno ‘A SAMUEL FRENCH ACTING EDITION SAMUEL FRENCH FounotD 1830 SAMUELFRENCH.COM SSAMUELERENCH-LONDON.CO.UKAanouerOM 2 en produce the Vind Theat en October (CHARACTERS {gti wth rs eee Dong be The fort ace _derecid by Ken Rus Schmoll with sew and comuanes by David Zino, a Sang oy yr rn ad ond Bl BCD Bot To wa ronucerenen-rve ss Sas coral Se (MRS. BRANSON ‘ewer Barns am. ences ~ fame cn ‘utr roeie WoO te? Jovmboner-le So oo aoe ecient 0 Mote DOCTOR NTIACOM. Joma Dat Uminn—be Het ‘ima gat Tox GDR te 38 ‘unuic wzace ate natz poston. an aren arene te St ocm rancen mA Os sree ous teow jee hatenn Lx ten na ‘na ‘semana sh ioe [FREELANCER ~ male, Sets MAN ON DATE/JANITOR , ‘Pete Sinpson, aa ee ont isonet 23 ALE DOCTOR sts are ene, S08 ArTeAt foe, 20808 "WSITOR MAL re 80506 sa Wie ‘ors 010 ~fessle ‘oRoUND coNTmOLPOSSLY SEEN ONSTAGE me “Tere oppor fer double foe isl be dee Donets pn abd nao ie parpoe of anenng o Bernat fayette raeSETTING ‘Window or, Sancta nd Window fn Dodge ae Uy “Tom ure ue spice Die Saran een Seting or nti Antec acrtwo ‘Window of. Swan hots Window fon ese’s Et ed Leefow Hp Joos Does hai room dng Dost bed wpa Mis Soo pial room ‘Anat and unc gmc night xb betwen pec et {nthe fact and seconds Sealy teoeen Be Soon Dodge Howes inte i a the Sea a Dodge he rome, inte sco an. ewe he Tow Sue ade pa a AUTHOR'S NoTES ‘he se and prop shoul be wich that the specie Jost are ined epee ode ese hes he gy ‘he scence eng at sone eer tre cb dae remaepry A genera not te sein eS and probaly mart ingore thing that he race soa und fw fn he ea oman beings, tang There i seme pnp te ly aed ‘em perp ome pew bu the carter in he ye ly ‘estng of the top fh bons perenne fang o {tu pep someting tare och « ought eve ‘een having A wero and pe nd ind nee ener 1 prea be Of come ere re aman real ay Yetnig wonderment in grea te Ply sl ne Sagat ety godly ie PROLOGUE PUBLIC SPEAKER. Ladies and Gentlemen, Esteemed ‘Colleagues, Members ofthe Board, Loal Dgniares, ‘everyone really ockbrokers, dockworkers, celebs, ‘nobucles, Ladies, Gentlemen, all comer, newcomers, the newly departed, the poorly depicted, people wo areal ething, who are looking for s helping verb, the quote beatiful, the unquote unbeautul, ‘whore bones are just so, whose veins are justo, the drunk, the high, the blue, the down, los publ, ls ‘animal, foreigners, strangers, bookworm, those whowe eyes are red from uying to read something Into everything, dhose at a crossroads, in a criss, & quandary, a velvey chair, the dry, the hungry, yes, se dhe ean, dhe thie, the furious, the happy, wo Xe filled with life, bloated widh I, gorged on words, and of coure the bereaved, the bere, and let's not forget the local merchant, the smiling faces, he placeholders, ws, all we people slowty graying, slowly Teaving, who make all his ll possible shi activi this feat, dis hope, tis dream dreamt wits open eyes, ih closed eyes, friends of the deceased, the diseased, Iiends of the downed, and of course also healthy {iendly people with great skin and congenital heart defects, spor fans, sufferers of autism, down-and- ‘outers, non-believer, animal lovers everywhere, eal people people, with doubs, without certain, with hothing ese worth mentioning, the majority of ws, silent stile, dlinguent, in the background, barely hhanging on, running out of ime, hope, at, heart, nerves, ences, money, blood, fiends, courage, fl, hal, de, tet, ime, sme, health, bope, all of all ‘of it thore sont everything, those eee nothing, whocan san tay longer who never ely cul, eile Bence people, itn ijured people, on Sul, fcc sa swe Sncoxony Ladies, Centen, in Fn frget Someboey, fends, ence, darknewes, sea People, hopeful people, hopeful people, everybody, Every lt lone dng and inca loeypeson, {Sow human begs, bresthing peopl beater Breather welcome. The fre eit over there nk you can ao ge ou iy ACT ONE Scene One (howe evening, Midldown. COP enters and sols ‘eros the dim At stage, Hl comes tothe window) of a house, upstage. Through laminated, MHS. SRANSON i sen packing Bows, hanging a pointing tn the wal, ee COP sands ouside, looking in He ‘ols Bt mor, cms fo anther win of anther hous, upstage. Ise JOHN DODGE, minced, is soon siting etal, uiling a pram of pling ads, COP stands outside, looking in. He strolls & litle wary, toting hs police Baton. He arrows at MECHANIC, who 18 siting on o Bench, downstag, Cdrinking ou of Bt na oper bag MECHANIC cts Somating and thr the wrapper om the ground, as (COP nears MECHANIC hurls hides the apr bag ‘upon sing COP aproach.) MecHANIC Evening. (COP, Maybe. (fering the bate) saw that. You think ‘Ym a cop, 1 look ike a cop I walk ike a cop, s0, you ‘igure, cave cloned I'm a cop. MUCHLANIC You're nota cop? (COP. No, Lam a cop. You were right. ‘MUCHANIC Wel, sats what = (COR (intrping) That's what you thought. Everythings as ‘creryhing seems, I gues. Good for evrything. What bout your ‘MEGHANIC. What do you mean?(00R. What about you? LMECIUNIC.I don't know. Imean, who knows, ou know? (cor. No. What are you doing here? [MECHANIC T don't know, Iwas just walking around. Later tonight, hough T might (Cor. interrupting Forget about before and afer ean MECILANIC. Well, I don't know, because Iwas — ‘OR (interpting You don't know because you don't know, ‘Toats de trouble, the beauty, the wouble. Sole jas leave iat tht. (etoning tthe wrapper MECHANIC tin om the ground) think you dropped something, (amore pls ype wrapper) ‘The problem with people like ~ Meta inerping) Iwas ju sing here, nding ty — cor, interuping) Don interrupt (Long pause, as MECHANIC watts and does not rte.) MECHANIC Was there someting else you were = (Cor. (interuptng) I Unoughe I sad, don't interrupt. You ‘know wat, I should just goddamn... (Long pause, 7) ‘udiencr) Welcome. Hi, hello. Welcome tothe litle town of Middletown, Ordinary place, ordinary time. Bat aren't dheyall? No. They are ot, all. (MECHANIC) Say something nice MECHAM. oth th audine and o COR, sith we wea) mu siting here. I dont know what else. Um. (He ies to thin of eomething ie) (oro audience) Right. Anyway, Middletown, Population ‘able; eleition: sume. The main stect ie called Main Sutet. The side sweet ace named afer tees, Things ae fury predicaie. People come, people go. Cin bythe way in bot directions. = ‘MECHANIC. Ain't that the truth (00r. immuaiatay) Why don’ you gt out of here DIHLANI (densi) Why? I'm not doing anything. (CoP. And thar a reason you should sy? Let's go, move MECHANIC. Where? (oP A etferent beach, I don't know, another perspective, “Just not ere, okay? Infact, you know what here, allow me. I want to help you make a lite speech, (COP moves behind MECHANIC and Depins to choke i with is Baton, ulin wth oth Rand agains MUCHLANICS hou from okind. MEGHANI srg, ‘unable to bate snl tg fie) ‘Say, “This i my hornetow” Say, “My ea mytery 0 sme.” Say it! Be 8 good human. Be Sled wich usa. ‘With wonder and ave, Ane! (pancatantc ts o sen, buts unable to Preaie COP ‘continues o choke hi) 1s not eay ist, Wel, har’ ie Listen, I'm sory for ‘what Tm sl doing to you. Truly. But, don't worry. be oer in thre, two, one (COP continues choking MECHANIC for thre or four snore sed, ad he lets hi, MECHANIC rs 0 ath, is orzo: He bins el.) (oMECHANIC:) Fey, no, I Bidn't mean you had vo~ (DEECRANIC mutes something.) (to macuaNtc:) Wonderful, great. (brif pause to ‘audi Excuse me I'm not exacy are what [wat hoping to... T apologize. I was Just ying to imitate ature, Anyway, welcome, Honesty. Middletown. (007 exits)Scene Two (Ming. Th Br, RRBs is cr don be ot of hich isn at rads "TPORMATION © fens Sasso cur) is 8X60. Good morning. Iwas hoping 1 get a library card, tee LARA. Good for you, dear Think aoe of people gue “Why bot ma ging odie, anya Let roe) fd the form. (Se bl though sone oer) 1s. SWANN. yan (eam more about he aren Do "you have any boos on Meron? LmeARiAN. shold ceraily hope r= let ek look (esearheron econ bin ore monet hat ‘he fod omen) Andi. eos, Oops ~ no, sony we doa. Theresa ‘onizrfil book called Yenerear in Today’ Gly of Tomomom: utes ou We ext Tsay cs mie: Hato, (ert had vod « maine rk orca ‘swe amechat hae) rca: Ht EMRARS. (ering om her compu) Here's something om the Chamber of Conse ju og yous Bera se (Sh mad fo he son’) “Midleton ‘rr built on te rns of ote clder Midtown, dnd, before shem, a town caled Middenson, wh vas named for being bemesn two other place, bth Unknown and now incdenaly gone (opr ating) ‘That doem' sound eight “ince gone” Anya (Sirs trading) "A toon yet ag, the en ‘ras home to tie China indian sn iw ald Tape, wb noone Kiows what ie means, butt right have meant, Youre ty on Faraway fom sme.’ The Chakmang had a highly developed culture tad they thrived in thet time, unt they dimppeared, forever New residents atived and looked around.” (stops mading) That's not wich ofa sentence. But {goes it sil Reps wo give us a picture ~ people Kind ‘Of lost and smiling. Bot, okay, le’ se, (She minds er (plac inthe tot and conver mading)”..artved and looked around. Today, Middletown is a Bechive, a ‘muman beehive, of actigy and business. Many come to raise familes and watch, swollen with ic pride, a8 thels baby draw its fat breath of local ale Also, drawn by the excellent clouds and the most silent nights, ‘many come here wo quily retire, Middletown, We've [got you coming and going” Mas, SWANSON. That from the Chamber of Commerce? LIRRARIAN. I know. There's a lot it doesn't mention. "There's the brary, here. And of course, the people. ‘Which is what most places are made out of, iF you think about i MRS, ANSON. I guess. Twat for that other book. (ref Posse) We jst moved here, MECHANIC. (leaking through magazine, for from the ‘UBRARAN ds T'm iteningin on your consersation, (UMRARIAN nd MS, SWANSON dri Joa oer at MECHANIC.) LIBRARIAN, Sorry: You mere sing? MRS. SWANSON. My husband an I jst moved hee. LLIMRARIAN. Wel, elcome, It Jus you two? MS, SWANSON, Ie ust us. He aves. But we're here now. Tam, We've wing wo sare family ‘MecHANIC. "Come on, faily~ sar Start, you bastard” [MIBRARAN. (fo MECHANIC) Sih (MRS. SWANSON) Wel, ‘welcome to you both, Thats wonderful. How long hive you been tying? ns, SWANSON, Almost 2 year nowLUBRARIAN, And T imagine It must be about the same for ‘your husband, Wel, good. Something you both can ‘work on. Good for you. The world needs another person. MECHANIC, (agin, tom acres the room) Whateves you do, don't ave an only child. They're the worst. Or 40 Ive been told. Everytime you hear a litde nose, some litle singing or humming. you look over and there i is again, the sme ont rf pau) Ven jus being [IBRARLAN. Don't mind him, e's only. (to MBCHANIC:) ‘You're just responding to things around you, aren't you, dest, MECHANIC Basically (oy bri pas) Hey, jot didi agin, LIBRARIAN, (fo MRS. SWANSON:) Is there something else I ‘an help you with? DMRS. HANSON, Do you have books on childsen? You must (On cllabied nd children? LIBRARIAN, We do. They're in the busines section ~ I've never known why. 1 show jou, JomN DODGE ees.) {JOHN DODGE. HI. Quick question. Books on gray, [MIBRARIAN. Hi, John. (to MRS, SWANSON) Let me jute get ‘lm squared away. One second. (Seeking on her ‘ampules Te JOHN DODGE.) Books about gravity. Lets see. We have wo: The Silent Killer and another one called Lave ofthe Word, {JOHN DODGE. The second one. LIBRARA. That justcame back Let me go sce fi siting ‘on a rolly eat somewhere. (She aa) MRS. SWANSON. Gri. (0 rf pou Hallo {JOHN DODGE. Hl, MBS, SWANSON. We jst moved her, JOHN DODGE. That's great Who's we? MECHANIC. They're ying to start a fami. mS. SWANSON, Yes, we ae, (lo MECHANIC: thank you. We ‘sm husband and I mainte ts toed in ang mage ck) {nyu DODGE: Youre ere, ovo orn pooce, Tat Ido, it obo Ten yea, Ten, tec ern Lo wee ang ce, tent yeas now Tc, you ne WhooooHh” Sant? as, 108g And wt yo 82 orm once: Moree, wat din do. 3s 860% Oy wn ony 2 oun open (ri ou) Yo orginal aad what do Tan Soi anrer tae 6 operon, am mor plug, sometimes some Roun peting Te oe gear eur heap toa Se, SSneame ipat ste ocala year go ‘roves For nace ig oom Pande betwen ing. Tn between wo cppy ob im te Tat Aon! know win te eond on yeu Ove cl. tho tying o etch op on ome reading You ight fay bent on leunrovnens sgh Fm ne Bere a beter pease: poe What abou You? Vi te gue po pra foe ed wih 8 Sen ss of is eon od she a ie feu) Yet ge up ~ no tea as 0, ng ob cy ull) Tse nage aes, Bfre ha Toeid nt bak Jaton you know When we ets, ag do Tdning coe ons Doncr You sound he me tem sao. No, dont 10? Jornen0Dce Sor of Not realy hate ow sound You eat nd ihe we Liman. ol, ah ot Here we ae Speaking of ‘pv you meme to how we ee Slomtetom tere285. HANSON. Lam. Wom, ‘Jorn’ DODGE. I bought a tandem bicycle from him. He was ‘really Bendy when I brought back. LUIRARIAN. Oh, he's a complete gentleman, He has one ‘of those haircuts. He sui he wouldn't be able t see 1 way up there, but that he'd think about ws, Can you imagine? All that splendor, ll tat wonder and. beauty, and al you can ya, "Houston tis” and “Houston tha.” To be 1 fa aay, with auch ile vocabulary. (She stamps the ook for JOHN DODGE.) And then dere’ John, here, with his handyman work and ‘now his eading. Such iy people, our townapeaple. Always uring diferent things. Always preoccupied (0 MBS. SWANSON) And now Jou, 100 (bands 01s DODGE te ook) ‘There you go. Bye, John. {JOHN DODGE. Thanks Bye. (0SRS. HANSON: Nice talking 1o you, Here's my card MBS, SWANSON. (She loks ott) This says “Lucy Gravee ‘Associates I you need help, we can help” {JOHN DODGE. Yeah, that’s wrong, tha’ someone else's card, MRS, SWANSON. Okay. (pau) Well, then, how would T ‘etin touch with — {JOHN DODGE, intern) Here, why don't Ios write ny ‘name and number on that one. (He dasa) There we 0. Probier created, probiem soled. Bye. (ets) MRS, ANSON. Bye LUBRARIAN, (oS SWANSON:) Now, you wanted books on cllzen, What, special? MBS. SWANSON. Health. Pre-natal health, And also maybe wallpapering. We want to gets room ready, [LIRARLAN I's 40 exiting. A room. Wallpaper" love the ‘pattems Like lowers or Ste engines ~ its almost too ‘much, Let me show you (The ext) (aeecasac moves downsage and stands vey stil, king through the dene) MBCHUNIC Iwas nervous, earlier I don't know why. Wel, Tdo know ~ for part of i I was being choked. And Tm nervous now, now that I think of it But, nothing special, postnatally speaking I fx cars Try to. [get baled by the cop, ty to mainain a cerain = rdon't know ~ sobries. Sometimes, I volunteer at ‘he hospital, dressup for che kids It was part of» plea dea. Bu, what ian, Nothing eealyeray 9 report Except, I found this rock once, everyone. What I thought was a meteorite I brought the tng into the schoo, ere, The kids ran it rough all these tests, tapped oni shined lights at 1 found it ina field It Tooked special Then the atronsut here wold me twas Justa rock, Said i was probably fom, at some earlier tUme, another slightly larger rock. His name is Greg Something, I had Ideas about geting famous, geting fon local TV with my meteorite. When it turned out to just be a rock, I thought I could stil make some headlines wth i 11 threw i off a ridge, hit some family in their ear and hilled everybody. But then T figured, you know what, forge it that's not me. $0 ‘now some family’s driving around, not knowing how Icky they are, not knowing how sweet i ali Just ‘becase. (0% bf pous) Wat, hang on a second. Do you (Pause, Fl tas oe sill and ses intent) 1 {thought heard someting. (itn again fra moment) Tm ill not convinced I aida’. Weird, Anyway, that wat Jutta lide local story. Aldnough, you krow, it moet had outer space in I. (rif pous) I wish thax lady fuck, with the family. People don't stop wo think ‘ot how lieky they ae, do, And, Ce realized, Fm not ‘hat inky, But get by. IT had more seesteem, more rcksortvenes, I ight have been 2 mordever. Las {child once, Like everybody. Some worried mother’s ton or dxant fathers daughter, sneaking around with ”1 dirty face and an idea. My hand was this big. (With ‘thumb and forginger he indicates the se of inf hand.) T was somebody’ golden chile, somebody’ litle hope. Now, 'm more jus, you know, a loal resident Another eating. (BMCHUAC ei a BRARLAN nets he dk) encase Bye. LIBRARIAN, Were you looking for anything, parcular? MECHAM. No, I'm good. UBRARAN Oks (She urs to working 0 he desk Lights dm) Scene Three (Same sages asin See One JOHN DODGE’ house (and th SWANSON’ hose. COP eo, inthe pie (icon of his eavier sol, and comes dunsage ‘We tr MRS, SWANSON and JOHN DODGE thir windows, steritenty, geting wp to get a gloss of ‘lero omahing single ike that. COP specks int is ‘mousy rad.) ‘cor All units in the cing se the man. See dhe man. See the woman. See the sees and houses, the shadows, the words that don’ rhyme, All quiet here, over. No New is Good News, over. But there's no such thing au No News, oer Thy to see my point. Just look at younelf, over See the Universe. See a tiny person in the middle of eal, thrashing, See the bright side. Try to look atthe bright side. (Arf pause. To audience Somedimes I'l talk ke this over the wire Just see ‘anyone’ inening. corgnanio mus orc ay if pn, fas) mmeone's tering ‘cor. Well, there you go. Now T know: (int twouayrai:) "A, Sisan Sorry. Al cea, (de srs dou radio, sls. He cones toe window {of JORN DODGE'S howe. He stands ots, loking fn. JOHN DODGE, uminatd is ni sing Ball ‘ip ond doom, making nots, COP sos oe window Of the SRANSON house MBS. SWANSON, lumina, {nde mading. She stands, faring to her bok and song her hand oe her ls) (CoP turns to eudience, mows dounstage) Con gent) do ike tia ine of ay: ight Allshe people ‘All their bones and arteries and personal problems. ‘Beausfl animal the Person, Datk (pau) {Was t00 rough with that guy, ealiee I chink T embarrassed him, Regrevable I'm not myself. Sad stuff at homeand I haven't been sleeping, but guess we all have ‘or: Once upon a dime, Once upon atime, and #0 ‘on, The End. (bi fous) ey to upold the lam, keep tome order around her, bu, {have my moods jut remember screaming "Awe" at the poor guy. Hard word to scream. It just sounds like a sound. And you an buly people ito fecing something, anyway. Ob, wel. (pau) We once almost had a Glas Museum, Ire. Iewould have been called the Middletown Glas ‘Museum, Fact. (Bri pose, He looks back toward the winds.) Behold. You know, jut, look, (in their separate windous, we see OHS DODGE, ‘uninatd continuing ther eer etn.) ‘This is what ie is Uke, here, sight now. (ri pause) Looking in people's window at night makes you fel Tonely Loney, but, lonely along withthe people in dhe ‘window Along with the whole world, dhe whole lonely Bilions Ie ees sor of hoy im some screwy way. Fact. (bri pos) Fac. Scene Four (Bright daylight. Tou Square TOUR GUIDE hading ( cpsoard and some maps. She 8 standing boo imple Blok of grant, whch measures 4°05 405, ‘and fours a small Plague baring an inscription i teal smal ltr. She chs her wach A out Couple ari, MALE TOURIST has a camera hanging ‘around his nak) "TOUR GUIDE. Morning. Are you here for the walking tout? [FIAALE TOUMSE We are. Hi ‘TOUR GUIDE. Great. Hi. Have you done walking tours before? ‘MALE-TOUWIS:(Lkng a he monument) We went to Rome, Jatt summer ‘TOUR GUIDE. Oh, I bet you saw some serious monuments ‘here, MALE TOURIST. The whole place i istry FEMALE TOURIST We walked everywhere. We saw all the amous things. Tot of the anclent inscriptions are chipped off or jst Kin of worm away. And they're in Lain 10 even if they were readable, you can‘ eally ead them, ALE TOURIST es a ded language. ‘TOUR GUIDE. (ering tothe momunent) Well, this "English, 9 people ca enjoy ifr years to come, MALE TOURIST What about when English dies? "TOUR GUIDE. Ob, I think Engl be around for a prety ong time. [FHALE TOURIST. I doube the Romans thought Latin was golng anywhere, either [MALE TOURIST We went to Holland, two summers ago, Holland was a world power, a glorious empire, rules. (bref pause) We loved those “soopwatels.”They'te, tik, the local yumny snack, Ruthless empire; yummy smack, People change. Empires t00, 8 my point. $0, ‘ergo, Fim wary of monuments‘FEMALE TOUUSE He lkes stanses of horses, but jut the horse, no rider. Ergo. (all shrug) you know? MALE TOURIST I used to gamble ~ the ponies, toters. ‘kepsribly notebooks and had big dark ccs under ‘my eyes Los my job, my previous wife~ nota Tong ‘omy But, any, yeah, (gesturing teva monument) this makes me fel sort of sad and beautiful, sure, but ‘ot that sad and beau ig aus) Look tw. No, really look at me and her. ‘EMALE TOURIST Just because we don't look like pilgrims ‘docs mean We're na pligris. MAUR TOURISE [can se why you'd think we'e just ytoos ‘on vacation, But, we've serous people. ‘TOUR GUIDE. No, ofcourse you are. (pau) Pm noe sre ‘what you ~ I mean, I don't know... I give cis tour ‘every day. I'm normally thinking sbout lunch of finding another job ~ I'm not realy focused on the next ten thousand years. What an T sy? We don’t have any other tata ~ MALE TOUEST. interpting)'m not eying to be dificult. PEALE TOURIST. loking at monument) I sort of like i. It Feinds me of my da (Tie al ok at fora moment.) (WoMALE TOURIST: But I can ae what you're saying. (o ‘TOUR GUIDE: guess we kind of ike a range ange on {ings If we go to the opera or something, someximes ‘we specially request Obstructed View seats Itsomehow aide othe whole experience, ‘mau TOURIST And they're cheaper. [FEMALE TOURIST We love a bargain. You know tht saying, "Politeness doesn't cost you anything"? Sometimes, that's whae we'll do forthe weekend. Just go around being pate MALE TOURIST We've saved a fortune, ‘EMALE TOURIST Bu, 80, yeah, I guess we Just ke some enppective ‘MALE TOURIST Tha’ right Perspective, ‘TOUR GUIDE Sure, of course. (Pou) I grew up here. (fering to wonment) This thing was jus always — don't know = ‘These. 'd se iin the rain and snow, serving its purpose. So that we remember, I gues. In general. So that we have memories, FOUL TOURIST. That's a thought "TOURGUIDE. haven’ waveled, ever. walk around town, ig about i Il noize a building or something 1'l ook ac people, Idon't know I grew up her. I dhoughe this eat he work. MALE TOURIST OF course you did. But hey, let me get a ‘uiek pictre of you being wrong, (He naps apts of TOUR GUIDE.) FEMALE TOURIST. We alvays sort of want something ‘more I gues because there's 4 long history of death {in both our frien. 1 guess we like things that are ‘potentially monumental, but that aren't necewarily ‘nomumentalzed, yet TOUR GUIDE. Wel, then, I don’ know ~ aking around) 1 ‘guess chen maybe thas everything else, Technically. (fring tothe momunent) Other than his. nuge TOME gues, ‘TOUR GUIDE I don't realy know what you want. ‘MALE TOURIST. Jus, something, you know. You're the one with the clipboard. (He tak photgraph) ‘TOUR GUIDE, Well, okay. Take the ait I wrote on it in school, ake a deep breath, (Thy do.) ATaundred years ‘go, someone war digging a hole here, for ths very ‘monument, and he rested on his shovel ad sighed ‘You just inhaled 2 molecule of the alr that shoveler exhaled, in that quiet sigh long ag. FEMALE TOURIST: (light) suprise, as if she's sensed that ‘articular mle) Oh yeah. MALE-TOURIT: (fe els hs aio sensed one of the ancient noes) Sweet.‘TOUR GUIDE. Yeah. I mean, think of how personal ‘everything is, ultimately ~ these lide sighs, going around in time and space. But then, think of a ‘bezuiful sunset on Earth, before human beings had ‘ver evolved, It just beauifully ses, No-one there to ',“Oool" or “Ahn” or something breathy like that [kjust ses, and then i’ night, nothing personal (4, SHANGON mir.) Morning. (tothe group) Beneath ws, okay, the dirt the sighing man was digging into? Tes layers of fess and broken powery and things they think had religious value. Maybe some sad Ite intrument, way down, & hollow bone wit three holes in i Down we go. Maybe ‘tooth or a pce of cloth. Ix people wrewn all the ‘vay through. Some ofthe dust on my shoes i fom ‘Outerspace; test ofthe resis dead human si. (QOHN DODGE ents, opostesd of the stags, crying 4 plas shopping bog He tops and os inside, ‘hacks Mis pork) And there's person, looking for something Ina bag. ‘FEMALE TOURIST I srt of completes the scene. ‘TOUR GUIDE Sor of [MALE TOURIST. (taking a photegraph of JOHN DODGE) Look a im, Case. mS, SHANGON. (Sh ese ro, ssing "fo tha ashe ‘pe.)Egcuse me. Hl TTOUR GUIDE. (10 MIS. SWANSON, a5 she ows ouey:) HL ‘Bye. (rif paws You know what ~ there's a meadow we could walk to, Just nice grass and tres, nothing ‘otieablyhitorcl going on. [IMALE TOUMIST We got married in a meadow ‘TOUR GUIDE. Then ths bring back some memories. ‘MALE TOURIST realy will “Married in a endow.” ‘TOUR GUIDE Okay, then. Onward. (Tha ext.) Scene Five (ws. SWANSON, tho has Oven nding oft he Si paps yng omen on’ name, poops hang er Bat, pach JOHN DODGE.) as, SWANSON, Joba? We met athe bray. You ane me ee JOHN DODGE I remember Sure. Hl (stl aking ond) think {Bought something and Ie athe Hore: That ‘rat very sat nventent. as. SeANGON. ve done hat 19s spi. Hey, are you nung? (Ses down on enc) Thave some ide sande. I'm ely hing. JOHN DODGE That'd egret (sl hieing abut baer Me it) Dan ri poe sory = 1 woul Tove ‘Spdweh. (esis Tanks us. SWANSON. Wat that a ou going on? {JOHN DODGE sre eas someting, is. SEARGON. ere. (Shand a sandch) {JOR DODGE Wow. They ae ile ais, ARGON. hae more. {JOH DODGE No, they're great, hans. (rf pus) Go “ad te wort sighs Almost nonstop meaningful lence, Worm meoring to, Don" get maried, ats myadvice. Dai. SRANSON. I'm lead marie. JOHN DODGE Ob, dat’ right 1 forgo. Wel, 1 hope you "oughta good book. sas, sjANSON dt know you're. Are you marie? OHS DODGE was. AllTremerber is hig in bed stenng tothe breathing. Thats ot eu. We had sme pret 00d times, Probably my bet Yea, as. syanON. 08 JOHN DODGE. Issa. You st around reading the side of "cereal box Half ie dishes are gone, half he cups, yowest everting out of dened can, no are pretyr shoes by the dor, and, that's your lise hae. frig” ‘pout Definitely dont get divorced. 1 know, mall ‘over the place on that one. (i aus) Sorry. Are you eting sted here? ‘MBS. swaXSON. Lam. We ae, More and more: This alla ig change. sou DopGe. What? MBS, SWANSON. Here. And the whole dea of chive {JOHN DODGE. I}. Ihave two nieces. MRS, SHANSON. Ob, ow great~ ght {JOHN DODGE. They are great. You know what — it's just ‘one niece, think: The other one is her frend. Tm a tersble uncle. But, I don’t kxow, Isl feel Hke @ nephew. Time, you know. "Buzzzzz” “Pink” ‘nas, sHANSON. Yu tld thatthe day we met. {JOHN DODGE. Something ike tm gure, Ie a theory of ‘MBS. SWANSON. I's. no: realy a theory. You're just making diferent sounds with your mouth, {JOHN DODGE. So ae you ‘MBS, SWANSON, True, "True" (vi pou) How's gras? {JOUN DODGE. It's al right, I gues i fuse) What? Mas, SWANSON. You were Fading a book about gravis. JONN DODGE. Ob, right. That's over I just Kind of lost the... you know. 1 mean, do T realy need to know about that? Anyway, now, I'm taking this course on ‘watercolor paiting, Ds. SNANSON. You're quite a Renaisance man. JOHN DODGE. I's nt relly course H's jus the diretons ‘that came withthe palais Mas, SWANSON. Well sil tnd great {JOHN DODGE. Is aot. e's just some other thing DMRS. SWANSON. I would think you'd make a really good nel JOHN DODGE. I would 100, but, yeah no. I pane. Who ‘wants panicy uncle? I get ansous you know? ws. RANSON. I fee that way somesimes. {JOHN DODGE. Me 10. MRS, SWANSON. (rif ous) So, Bob is nishing up some things with work and our old house. He jst started up in anew posilon, He should be here soon, Iti don't really know the place, Ican get lonely, can't. {Joy Doar. Yeah. You get dhe mall, i's a clothes catalog. Maybe you leaf rough i, maybe think, “Hey, could ‘aay thove pants." Then you think, "But chen i just tbe me, agai, in a afferent pair of pants." Then you {gout and walk around, and thats your daytime for bed Mas, SWANSON. That's Kind of gloomy, [like looking at “catalogs. Things arent so bad. I visit Bob here and there, if he's ata convention or something nearby. He's in sales. {JN DODGE. I always wanted 1 be in something MRS. SWANSON. Yeah? Wel, Tm sre youl you know. {JOHN DODGE. Yeah? That nce. Thanks. MRS, SWANSON. (brief pause) ve been having trouble ‘leeping. {JOHN DODGE. Ob, God - alghuime. Daytime, too. Tike, "Enough ~ T ge it (rif pou I read arcces about identity deft and Tacraly get alte jealous, {you know? "Jar ake i” you know. "Good Tuck, ela” Sometimes, I think Tsou jus go quiely rete, you ‘know, alone in the bathroom, with an Xacto knife. But then T tat up some dumb projector get a book about tome idiot ting. MBS. HANSON, (vith rel empathy John. JOHN DODGE. You have 2 nice vice, un. I'm srry. us, HANSON. Mary {JOHN DODGE, Mary, ofcourse. Tike itns, HANSON. Weal have our dark nights, We're probably never as alone as we thik, JOHN DODGE. Yeah, no. We hope. (ri pus) I heard what ‘you said. It probably seemed lke T didn, but Idi Fim realy sorry you cant slep, MRS, SWANSON. Me 10, No, thank you. (mod, ty om ie ‘ry smal Kinda) 1 know you'e just makiog diferent sounds with your mouth again, but thanks, JOU DODGE. I haven't asked you alo about youre, Mas, SWANSON, Ie hat. are you aking now? JOHN DODGE. I don't know - I just suddenly tied ro plenure you not sleeping. Souetimes you get wed 0 ‘te words for things and then you suddenly remember the things. And so I suddenly saw you, the real Mary, ota word, saring out 2 window, of cing of reading atever you do, ‘Mas. swaNsON. Ido read, sometimes. Or, yea, sometimes, ‘xy. Tha’ nce of you to ~ its nice you woul pence ‘me, In tears, of reading. (ri pau Nights hard, you ‘know? It gets so quiet. Tnever know what I'm suppoved to be lsening wo. (ri pase But does give me sine to cach up on ay needles worry Jou DODGE. (onal laugh) do that~ what you jst dd MRS. SWANSON. Whit? {JOHN DODGE. Use humors uy to ditance mel from the ala MRS, SWANSON. Twas using humor to ty to be fanny. {JOHN DODGE. Yeas, that's someting different. (bf pause) Ifyou ever need any help, I'm preuy good with the needless worry. MBS. SWANSON. The other night, Tcoulda’t sop thinking, “What fy ase buds op working?” JOHN DODGE, Massive heart flue in a public place. ‘MRS. SWANSON. You can do bester than that. Pls, that's really more ofa guy thing. {JOHN DODGE. Caner, n the privacy of your own home. MRS. SWANSON. The old standby. And, yes, good ~ Something for the ladies. {JOHN DODGE. atthou having Loughd) Is good to laugh. (tri auc) ike that thing ya aid ~ "dark nigh.” MRS. SWANSON. I guess all nigh’s are dark, but you know what I means (if pswe) Ob, I almost forgot. I'm ‘hoping you can come have a look at something Jour DODGE. Ta love to, What? MRS, SWANSON. A plumbing sing. T think just a clogged ‘ain, JOHN DODGE, I was thinking maybe it was a palnting or a unset or someting. MBS. HANSON. No (smal sil Sorry. JOHN DODGE. Yeah, I'l ake a look. could use the work. ‘Not that'd charge you. (He ges wp.) Speaking of not ‘making any money I should get golng, Hey, whar's today? Mas. ANSON. Tuesday (or water the actual day i {JOHN DODGE. Oh, shit I thought it was Monday. (or whatever ‘eet dey before) MRS. SWANSON. Soy, again. {JOHN DODGE. I probaly would have found out eventually MRS, SWANSON. Tl give you 2 eal. Bye, John. JOHN DODGE. Bye, Mary Iwas really nice talking. MMS, SWANSON. Ie was, Thank you. We should ~ yes, Definitely. Bye, see you ater sous Donce. Bye, (ew) (She begins tet, ten ss back dam ight fade)Scene Six (Cis sug ering RARE, wth bp an Somes es) nanan (audi) Tat book came bck today Twas fost ending. Here: (Sema pray daring tr ‘orb autce Lite tad gone on, Several moots ad ‘une. (daring) Several month (Se ads) “The Inedcine man" =e medicine man ea docor ~“The ‘medline man shook his ears. The lagers ood, ‘hivering Astaro over inpeway® Thats bere. ‘a. (Ste mads The medicine man spoke in ical ‘ap of ical hings im the wore ocabulary of toeicine and night The villagers ened quit, tnd quleuy misunderstood, Toe sck wan lntened, fd quietly got worse” For “sick man, ju think of nyo, an average pemon A child as wien in ‘he margin here: ara, scnes, death, pial” {Sie quit Shows us) She writes these wonder loopy lees in right red pen. Ala, Think 3 2g. (Ste wads) “The medieine man continued ~ aferemy, now ican eyes spared sony a he tured fo the Bushing wowan there” The bahing ‘womans probably a ride ora woman fing in ove {Sie mads)-He spoke now in snp mays of np things He asked the moon to be Desf He aed the su to come fo warm the unborn child snd the bom mother He ake the people tobe human and ‘he animal to nay animals. He asked the Unies to expend esi, deeply al of them, “Gent hog, {h, Grea thingy. Someone i bea soteone wil ie, bet are you. Unvind,omknow The mine Ke i das wet question mark, here, (lf owt) red once the question mark comes fom ame notation ted in Gregorian Cham to nga thatthe phrase Should nave an upward Intonation, that should se "para o essen Imagine thi ie ved one here ho sentence, no questo, st lie red queson ‘mark, by ise rising up to heaven, to Cod. Imagine ‘the look on His face (fing forward a fev ages) Later, she's writen the word “atmosphere.” And hese’s 2 Turret the used fora book mark. Ah, Merarare. (Bri ous, Looking up) 1's a beauuful night. Whether or ‘no there's anything up there,Scene Seven (0mm i a space copie, faking, Te losing line ramped, wth sme ate and rh same ely though rade tronsmsson. Bath GREG ‘and GROUND CONTROL aT main roach Computer figures and fight adjusimets and ae nat ‘wally intersted in fy or pip, dhaugh thee hings seem to arise, die 6 thccuntance of bing inspae ond sing Bart, GROUND CONTROL maybe ‘eae on as, aha facing eve fm the ioe) ‘cxousp CONTROL. Cormorant Nine. (aus) Gornorant ‘Nine. Tiss Ground Control, Houton. Do you read? Do you copy? ‘GREG, This is C9. Copy. Sounds like you're in my ving oom, Ove. (GROUND CONTROL The things We can do, Go ahead, C9, How’ ie? GREG, What a view, sone thing. P've heard about it, But, ‘what a wonder... Tevet knew how round found vas, Housion. God. ll this space, t's just pure -majsy i's ends, aes. But it ead i's amon Js ra data, raw mathematics Then you see lle planet Earth and ~ my God, she's jut so welcoming find good. Seems lke & symphony should be paying. 1 wow is jus this Deut rage hing, something happy child would draw. I's 0 blue, Houston. ‘onoUND CONTROL. (distinct sentence. Something lke “Fron, Gul sor Ooh mF") (omc. Repeat, pease. (GROUND CONTROL. Fityone degrees. Angle sensor arm, ‘wo minutes ort ‘Gmc, Copy. Arms in position A slr inti sence) {GROUND CONTROL. What’ thai Dida’ catch that ‘enc, (pause) Sorry? ‘GROUND CONTROL. Go ahead, Greg. Carec, On. I'm jut uying to plete life, back home. ‘There's a guy there T remember, thought he fund & meteorite once. 1 was normal sedimentary r0ck, just ‘ade fom dead animals and plans crashed tgeier. He was dimppotnied. Shouldn't have been, Iwas never crazy about him, think be bashed my mailbox, but he shouldnt have been sad Thas rock, that guy Who found ie the fed he found tt all Use thing are ‘miraculous Because all these thing are earthy. The ‘words he used wo refer tit the breath i tok i make {he wort, all oft Ju sacred and profoundly and tayneriosly well jeah~ earthy. {GR0UXD CONTROL. Are you ging mya on ws. Greg? Conuc, I'm jut looking and taking, Houston 1 didn'e prepare anything. (@R0UND CONTROL. Jus giving you a hard time partner, 6, Oa. GROUND CONTROL Looking good. Go ahead, (GREG. 'm done. But I just have 10 $2, it. doem' look Toney from up here. Everything looks rightiex- door. e's where you're ating right now. How bout tha. You're breathing the Barth's aumosphere, You fot mountains and clouds, oceans People out doing things together, Socer games and birthday paris, lntening to Beauifl musi. Inexpresibe, you know How'd we get lick? (nf pos) probably sound like areal che. Me, with my chiseled features and {he igh suit waxing al oot. Waxing al fragile and religious. GROUND CONTROL, All right, Greg. (brief fase) Synchronize, one seven ‘ext. Synchronize. GROUND CONTROL. Copy. (Pause. An ariesound Say again, Cormorant Niner? axe. did't sy arin, Co ahead, Hovston. GROUND CONTROL Roger. No mate. Looking good. We do recommend P68 aligns pls pola Wo or.‘exr<, Thank you- P65, plus polnt wo so. (ri owe) looking out a the worl. Tm dinking about people. 1 ‘ante you what thi ike. ve. ‘GROUND CONTROL. Copy. (GREG. Maybe everybody knows what thi ke (GROUND CONTROL. Maybe they do. Wunderbas, Greg ‘Looking good. We have no abnormal, Over ‘oare. Roger. Oxygen it good ‘GROUND CONTROL. It sure is All ight, partner, Come ‘home 490m, “ewes (Site. State fades) Scene Fight (The swaxsows hitch. JOUN DODGE is uorking (on the Hilchensink drain. He i ying om the fly, periodically ducking in and ou of the cabin, and Defow proialy aude At the tp of the see, JOHN DODGE i on hs back, his had ad per ono Iidden in thecal, MRS SWANSON 6 a hecho ‘unier) MBS, sWANSON. Serious, John, thanks for helping out ‘Bob and Tare grate JOHN DODGE. (ppers fom wer the snk to rab a rnc) No itso wouble. When does he get here? MRS, SWANSON. Any day, hope. I's erry. We used eo just be regular people. We sald “good night” and "good siorlng," everyday. Alloa sudden we'te so moder. Ws funy: (ef pouse) Have you aways dane dhs kind of work? {JOHN DODGE, God, yeah In fc. I've been thinking about that philosophy thing about how you can sep in the same river tvice. It ums out you can. Sometimes, T feel ike I should jus... I dont know. 1 uy, you know, ‘but some day call jun seem ike the (Disappear wader the sink Indeciphrable en the seen) MBS, HANSON. (enibustastcaly ageing) I know. I know ‘what you mean, Exerything riddenly looks Kk i+ spelled wrong, or vomething, Like, even your own name looks ike 4 9P0. JOHN DODGE. Yeah, exact. Pm alvay geting, Idon'thnow, T told you thi, get these aval pani atacks. They've actually how Ieuy in shape Tra mean, Enough about ‘me, and how I sometime get claustrophobia and cant i (indsincshrt uation: a maf ond indecipherable sion of “So haw diol bing pragani*)$$ as, 108 Wha? JOR DODGE. (Read mn a i) i. SANGON. Od. 15 50 new don think coud een deeb 1m relly excited, But ie ament ke stort a pone JOH DODGE. destin medion ince A miffed indcibhl wersn of privy fs ot toey pot) is, SWANSON. You're probably right is jak word at ‘ery pnt. sates me, hough, Having bay Tae words sem so ty and qui compared othe teh {i Compare wih iyo realy pear ie Not to-mention, jus the whole thing T team, do {Took Ihe te nd of enon? JO} DODGE indtint een, mf ad indir ln of Tn op neetng) 2. SWANSON Wel, thank you, Jot. don't nk ve ser been caled“imoneating before, That 4) itaerng JOH DODGE. (ofeon) hope you don’ think of me ax Jace Kd ef. dont kaon Beene The a6 sch going on mide me. Alo of eiferent.. ogy ‘pasa Sou Koon, people laighed wien Isl wanted tgctalaw dope as. HANSON. YOU Have a ay degree? JON pODGE Me? Oh God no, People realy laughed, Sih tf pus) ve wanted af out of fe Pt ‘iran ily and then jo ep gong ais. staNsON, Wel, you've goer a, to, haven you? In life? ie be {JOR DODGE. had shingles, once 'm ing. Wel, 90, ‘mo, acmaly = hve tat. Good argument or lea bythe way~shingle Nice remind your in anencey. 2.148803. Your skin's probably your ex Hen JOHN DODGE. For a while, sure. (oy Bri pou) Ihave a ‘end of serious mind/body problem. But, know what you're saying I try to be grate for what Ihave. MBS. SWANSON. I wish [had more gratinide, When you ‘think of all che miracles i takes jos o sit ina chai billion things going righ, just to sit here. And do ‘nothing. And watch you work Miracles. {JOHN DODGE. You get used to them, though. Tha’ the sd ‘hing. You lock around: miracle, eval miracle, Irs tiring. e's sad. Or sary. (nditnt slat seen) ‘Mas svaANSON. That's kind of extrem, i But, | gues, ‘to be completely hones i's always an option JOHN DODGE. (Instinct short sentence. A muffled and fr ein of “capt for thf hat Im afraid bing) MRS. SWANSON. (Laughing You can say that again. Ob, Johnny Boy you ean aay dha gin JOR DODGE, ering rom were sik) JOHN DODGE. That Im fei of dying? 2S. SWANSON. dough you tid someting diferent JOR DODGE No, (ences a handful of she fom te at, pu ato a pico nese) Thee. ms. SWAXSON. Vick. thatthe probe? Jom noDGE Yeah MB, SWANSON. Whats > JOH DODGE. Jus years of sul. Sor of & metaphor for — ‘ea, no, just year of gon (stands, and sight rit) Whoa, ood up too quick. My whole life 1 don't think I ever stood up atthe right speed. Al ie ong. John Dodge inthe wong." if ong wow, that tard to NB, SWANSON. Noe.es mre gt ae, oer eae eee amc anne oe “MRS. SWANSON. Maybe you're just a dizzy person, They say sme aa eee see —— coats aoa pa piel erator eae letal olny Ee moms — ne —— en =a =e (JOHx DODGE. You smiled when you said “Good.” That says nce ee eae eae oe Sa less ee, =n Se Serre oe ea =e {JOHN DODGE. Just joking, because ofthe ~ (eins tthe cabin) Remetnber when you couldn't hear me? MRS, SHAXSON. Oh, right (She cove her mouth and sys on ‘ndaint ling, abot foe bls long, porops somahing {ie “Gable a fon ge freal.) {JOHN DODGE. Hinz. never thought of that way, (The share te laugh. Bri pose.) ‘Mary Pm looking as hard as Yea, (igh down.)Scene Nine (Com eters ahd gh found fst nop te noe ule” Send tri sd ath tsa Frreata once (ei eae tte feof natal une tei os te gh otros ne nme Cor, wry. Peo yok won. (ain ihn eg We ga rpms pens owners. Se soul, acon aie aed Shy cope og meting Pn ie 1 fe {it somal people te nigh nee te meeting otter ie Bang, Kap: Bet Jah Nong ao (ie hac eg) Seep ah prey nit we (rag Con np ‘mes, It comes Back om.) ” “here ge Ola Fy the Lord your wep Sang ie What neyo ea eae, (oy be (ieee) Scene Ten (The intron of hs lay, Lights tha gest house (intermision audence is made up of FREELANCER, MAN and WOMAN (on dai), SWEETHEART (0 grt ‘with @ mil mental dsabiiy) and her AUNT. Some Ihave programs for “MIDDLETOWN.” Aimast all of [SWEETHEARTS tines ore said very loudly, but not ‘oul, FREELANCER i ring bv a ntok) AUNT: rif aus) should ave brought a sweater. Ae you cold sweetheart? ‘SwERTHEARE Feetings. AUNT: Remember, we're inside. (tethers) Excuse me. (1 ‘SWEETHEART: Would you ike some candy? \SwnTHEART. What about when English dies” AUNT. Nice and quiet, dear. (gio Swe some candy) [RIELANCER That’ ftom the pay. (Ho wnt.) MAN, (standing and ching Excuse me. (He et.) ‘AUNT: (o FREELANCER: You're very bus FREELANCER. I'm writing 2 book on being an audience member: Originally {wanted 6 be an autobiograper ‘aunt: O8? FRUFLANCER, Yeah. But then I had to se down and ask ‘myself “Seriously? Me?™ AUNT: What do you like o go see? FREELANCER Oh, God, anything and everyting, I've seen horses being born, Egyptian tombs being exhusned, Te gone whale watching, {watched ty poor mother ie, saw 2 Hindu bathing fetal, atta solar eclpe, you name it Mainly plays. Someuimes, Ihave anxiety attacks when the curtain goes up,WOMAN, Ialvays want to cry a the end. When you see the acton smiling and bowing in the light. Dead kings veaving to thelr wives and gniends. SswETHEART “Be good human." FREELANCER That wasin there, to, rghtatthe beginning ‘base dhe worst memory. But ike to write down lines. (Ar heures down he ln, To AUNT: Your daughter bas an amazing memory. [AUNT She certainly does. She's my niece FREXIANGIR, Well, the has a very good memory. (to ‘SWHETIBART:) What's your fist memory, ever? (Cong ps. No repo fom SHRETHEART.) es hard, isn't (brief pause) 1 was always siting somewiere. Iva bor inthe audience. AUNT. ike when plays have a breakin the middle, Once, we met an oceanography student. (4 SWEETHEART:) Remember, he plated the garage? 1s nice. FREELANGHR I's funny, though. Since you don't know the ‘end, you're not sure what you're inthe mide of Hey (Peas with th thght, eerie i down.) (a enters.) MAN. Much better. Are we talking about the play? Let me 1a, so the town eke a ~ AUNT: (interupting:) The wen is called Midtown. But it hs other names, ‘an Yeuh, Igoe that But the people are— UNE (interupting) I think the main wo are having @ romance. They represent the future, I dink Man. Thanks. really enjoyed that, WOMAN. I hada neighbor lke the John guy If you talked to him, he would lien so hard, ut you weren't sure ‘what he wat lstening to, He finally left or something bad happened. It war really sad. He didn’t have anybody, At lea, the guy inthe play bas dhe lady wo jose moted in AUN Mary, ‘SWEETHEART. “Houston” AUNT: (to swHETiaART:) Houston isn Texas ‘SWEETHEART. “Your daughter has an amazing memory” FREELANCER. (standing, sthing) My back is Killing me. Think ifs growing fo dhe shape ofa chai swosTHEART.“Thave the worst memory” WOMAN, ipo You know what’ funny? So, everything, in a way, eal going on. Time's going by in the town, atthe library in outer space, here ~all ove. 2 fctional wa, ofcourse, but, a the same time, ike, on fcsionally, too. MAN, Relativy. ‘WOMAN. (rif pause I that your contribution? Man, Yeah Jus everything Val. Tdon'tknow ~ Sir Albert inte, WOMAN. I don't think he was ever Kalghted, but, ay. (0 "AUNT and FREELANCER.) But, do you kaow what I'm ‘aying? Something’ coming. AUNT. But we don't know what WOMAR, Neither do they, They're right inthe mide of "ome life in ome town —you know, ina way AUNT: They deserve something good. Weal do. ‘SWEETHEART "Lie." AUNT It's quite top, se i. Fahink she's pregnant, Mis ‘Srenson. Theses sways aglow, kind of shadow: You can tell. REELANCER I's aways a possi. MAN. Soi uci WOMAN. Where did that come from?j MAN I don't know, my mouth? Where does anything come ‘from? Where do crocodiles come from? REELANCER. Dinosaurs. But where do dinosaurs come from? And ro on, down the ages. Until we're asking, “Where did nothing come from King Lear hasan anger. Rng James has anothes, MAN. I was just floating it out there, I don’t Know = Somebody said "posites" (Bri pause Shaking his ‘ot. Man, ty fot is wrally asleep It must be bored. REBLANCER. This one culture whose mame I forget ‘thought the soul resided in the fet. Other peoples Ihave located it in the bands, or dhe ees, the hear all cover the whole body. ‘swnerteaRe “Peoples” ‘WOMAN, (SWEETHEART: Yeah rig pouse) I's funny. The ‘Soul. The Afterlife. We sy words ike that ke we 3y ‘words lke Shoe and February. But, just honest, Jost ‘imagine, for one second, MAN. I changes things. Life WOMAN: Mm hmm, (o PREELANCHR:) Andi ke the thing you tid You don’ know what the end is, 0 how can You Know what you're i the middle of They doa’ ‘Know what happens t9 you when you dic, 30 how ea they Aan ely we happens you when ore [FREELANCER A serious mystery, then the middle part then ‘nother mystery. That's prety good. (He gees that keto writes dwn. To WOMAN:) May TP WOMAN. Plate, (REELANCER ots.) MAN. Hey so, where's the husband, anya? she supposed ‘to represent someding? AUNT Justa regular human being, think, Maybe they have weekends together People always gure something ‘Out We're always scurrying around, looking over our shoulders, guring something out People. (ef (pose) We ew a play once that had an ange in it. A choo! production or some kind of community thing, Remerber? ‘SWEETHEART. “Jus 2 regula human being, think.” WOMAN. (lo SWEETINART:) You get everyting word for ‘word, Is areal git no rape) REELANGER. I's strange, though. It's Uke a museum fexhibie about te ltt ten minuues. But itis ~ you're incredible. What a ding. Language, you ‘WOMAN. Is, Was, WI be FREELANCER, That prety much cows it. (ni pause ve een allover the word ‘A0NT:(msnghy “Is, Was, Wil be.” ‘WOMAN, (nding Story of ny ie FRERLANGER I've sen so many things Huh. MAN, (Bang moto the ara of is chat is) Look at this (He holds up the detached art.) This just comes completely off. ie matace i) REELANCER. All that travel, all the cathedrals and Wonderful meals and evening light and people dying, And what are my findings? What's my conclusion? "Hun" AUNT, (loking in her purse) Usually Tl pack a tite romething to eat ‘meTHEART. “Huh.” ‘REELANGER. Yeah, Exactly ‘SWEETHEART, “People avays look so worvied.” {RSELANCER They do, Right. Te cop sad hat ‘SwRETHTABT. People know what happens. [MESLANCER. (wondering whom SWEETHEART is quoting) ‘Who sid that?AUN (lafing trough her program) People ace bor, people ic (fating SWEETHEART on ths bo) We'l go to that nice place You lk, afte. We can do dhe weasure map fon the placeraat. alway loved thot, (The gts on he interson audience ds ets, gna th ners i ended) ‘And here we go. Exc. (Lights down os hose igs come up.) ad of Act One (intermission) ACT TWO. (Monts later Midd.) ‘Scene One (aMDCHANIC eerste dims fom the oppose ‘incon Dat COP came fom in Sené One, and comes to the wind of OHN DODGE'S house, in which oe see JOHN DODGE, iluminated, saving ou intent ‘He lens pace oft of the glass with hs fing, reoalng thot he was just String a he pone of as. MECHANIC ous eat) uncatas. (He mats he ond of acu.) Coca. Cacia. (GOR DODGE barely react, ato Shae his han ‘ry smal ey. a8 quilt dp pied by the Sound, and then moves foe windows MBCHANIC mower aco slg fo whee MBS. SWANSON, vie er winds, king a hes in mon. She wry ‘pregnant. MECHANIC mas heaoy long beating und) ‘inhnaaah, Hbhaaa. (ome sound, again) Cac, uns, SWANSON, (rfl) 1s socacone Unere? (She macs fom te window) MECHAM. (ests out of siding place. To aude Jose tome regular sues om nature. Probably nothing to be to aad of (He maker «fw lng lashing sounds lie the oso the nd in the tes.) Whi Whhbshhhitias. That's may impression of atAividing~ of, 1 don't know, metaxasiing. Same thing, probably fora while und iis’. eared tat word rough relatives. (rif pause) By dhe way, I started drinking, again. T don't know if people know that 1é stopped for a while? ¥ did, Everything wae beter But I decided to sar up again. You might be asking {oursehes "Why?" (Brief posse. He says sill ond looks through the ‘ulece, suspicious, Du also with a hind of hen cura) ‘Ta wat alte chance wo let your minds wander, letyou come up with some reazons for me (note pause, same a aboot.) ‘That was some me jus for you. AEECHANIG takes asi fom a Bote) Avy (Brig pause. He oly es) Scene Two (Entrance and lawn of Midtown Hospital. Bright ay. A sgn tha says “Bmergency” sake ino the rau, LANDSCAPER i on tis hnaes om the gras, Droparng to lant ate, a young sapling. COP nes ‘and qu oproache LANDSCAPER from Bind. COP Dold is hand out the Shope of ru ome athe ack of ANDSCAPER ead) ‘08 Bang TANDSCAPER (Start, Recoves. Jesus Hey. (oF could have led you, jor then. [ANDSCAPER. And thats sorchow my Fal (or Planting ace? {ANDSCAPER, Great work ~you soled the cae of what I'm oing ‘con Don't be smart. TANDSCAPER Done. (eHow's my ster? {ANDSCAPER. She's good. She vans you to come over for “ner, next week, We finished the new patio and eve having a cookout. (ome busines wth he te) {COR Sounds good. (ny bps) What type is? Eh? TANDSCAPER. White Aah, I think Although i could Be a ‘Green Ash. They're surprisingly hard to wel apart. ‘cor Fair enough, (rf ese Prey day. LANDSCAPE. (ooking or a lace to lant te tr) Where do you tink his should go? (COP. don’t know = somewhere, (Br pause. Shang Ms ‘ha, contemplate, sme ddainflls) People. LANDSCAPE. I know. (orf paws) Acualy, I don't know. ‘What, specifically bout people? ‘oor just people. The things they do. You think you know ‘people. You don't. You chink you eaught some non- Suicidal gleam in their ee. You dia’. You never know ‘what people ate going 10 do.(On thor aa, AXSCAPER pat on the gra,sands sgt ond il. te {OF ha fl seating LANDSCAPER pe ey ‘ora fa omens ht te, rama he ce ‘making the Sunde nt a) ‘UNDscArm. Whbbshnnhnn, Wabhshi, Thisfele fed, i here. Wha oy think about here? or. sure that be fine Nnerpine percent ofthe ees on enth were pnd aye LASUCAPER (ing poring Shey wheeled some uy ‘pit ere, hs morning He ited! his head up, jou Ko “Wal, wale one tore lok" That was aight, ‘Then a pregnant lady went in eying, yng io ea Al hel She looked 0 ney, wc, yu knoe ‘wien you think about fe she totaly in Te made ‘Be wish the thing was aeady doe, tak Wl be Bais ping in on mney sh ‘on sy cer fame leaving inthe an os a food al wee eat te yer out con Sure {ANDSCAPER Maybe someday some young loves carve ther iia into (ie nds thn on chin lant, wth thud ond ogg) Ingo this, Prety incomprehensible: The fare ot There are some guidelines ome peas 4xDSCAPER Yeah, maybe. (He gis fo ig) T busted tome tng around bac ts moring Jet {Ge somebody someting to fn, someday er Semching wth he hod Hoy wins cha (stp ie thc oH Wa mak) aay ks gologs be god oa shall o something. (ri pause ing phe ‘ck Als, Tats goto be a ely od word Rock = (crf th aie) (or If preuy wel doce LANDSCAPER It sounds like a name the rocks would've Picked out themselves. Same thing with Tree, (dle digs up another smal rock and places ton tp of {ether on asa th 0 rock) There, A monument to the moment of is own construction. ‘cor. rock person put on top of another rock. [ANDSCAPER There's that word agin. I's gota real honest, ‘ng fo it “rock” “Person, on the other hand ~ Pm ‘ot ao sue. I feels ort of lastminuse, doce ie Sort oFfetng? “Peron,” ‘opr, Sounds ike an average paying job. TANDSCAPER. It does. “Pm a pertog, Been one fr years, ‘ow t's okay, The benef, and ¥o on, OF course not going wo doi forever” (GOR. This a’ realy my kind of conversation aNDscaPen No? (Cor. Yeah, not really. Infact, I've got to goin here. Ie potentially a crime seene, iyo can believe i. Tel my ‘ster sald hi see you later, (08 exis, enter te hsp.) ANDSCAPER, See you later, penton, I meu dat in all the Dest ays, (de digs up another ck, and places on tp of the hes, making a tiny sawnan or a semthuran sat) Rock. Tee. (He fos inthe drt.) Worm, (Stands up straight om his shoo and sighs.)Scene Tree (ALE DOCTOR'S ofc MRS. SWANSON and MALE DOCTOR. MBS. SWANSON is very prgmant. MALE DOCTOR, though nicl compassionate, alo very MALE DOCTOR There's a problem ~ no, sorry there's no ‘problem. Thats “Swenson,” You're Swanson. Sor Now, we did some more tes on your lle man, Everything looks very good, His Bablnsli Reflex, for example. as, HANSON. In that where you = MALE DOCTOR (intoruping, nodding) Right ~ that's where ‘we stroke the foot tee if the tes curl, We do this ‘with sound and tiny beams of light, We can do almost all these tests prior t0 the actval blsth, now. Is Incredible, In 2 few more years, people won't even Inate to be born. Anyway, he was magnificent. The first expretsive gesture, From that ile cul ofthe toc to al of the word's bibles and languages, 1's just A mater of time. Everybody watched on the monitor ‘You probably heard a cheer go up from the other oom slike a space launch. Long way away, ut, be ‘could be a tiny le Beethoven, your bo. Get him a fun litle drum ora bell. Now, wilde father bein the ‘oom with you? MRS. SWANSON, He sald he would, yeu MALE DOCTOR. Good. It's good fo have someone. This Iierally going tobe the Gest day of the rest of your baby's fe, Linguistica, youl want to sare him ott semll. Simple words Uke i and juice ad wee and iye- bye. Say whatever you feel, Most of it happens on a rainal level, anya. (A brig saticey bux. A voce comes over the efce ‘ntecom) ‘eTERCOM. I'm sorry, Doctor -Thave Mrs, Swenson onthe ine. MALE DOCTOR. (rif pause. To BTERCOM:) Tell her Tin ‘very srry. VL Bave to call her right back, (to MRS. [SWANSON:) Excute me. That's asad stony. But, back fo you. Well generate a birth cerca, of coune. ‘Thav'l are up the paper tral, Do you have a tame? uns, SWANSON. We're inking possibly "John MAL BOCTOR. “John” i perfect. Biblical, one sylable, 90 ‘complicated backstory, jut “Joba.” “John Swanson.” Tes ikea litle poem, (ry ori ant) What ele? uns, ANSON, Can I ask yu... soy, this is 30 general, ut. I mean, what should do? How should Ibe? ‘Matz DOCTOR Thote ate great questions. And her's sy anwer Lote i allt sounds so simple, I know, but, five him love. Without it, he'l just go around the World saying afferent things and seeing this and that tnd none ofl make any diference. You've seen the ‘ype. Out inthe rai, just kind of rating around in thee Bodie, But, i's easy. ‘This eu time fr smiles and simple rhymes. Let ee you sil (Rs, SWANSON snl. bond ses.) Great. Wow. Did you see? You made me smile 00. Let's be honest, part of the whole great March of -Hlumaniy i just svinglog your arms and walking, jst smiling and moving forward. One other thing is You never know. So be forgiving, of yourself, of him, of| haute, everthing. Natre iso insane t's x0 Tough, fad we're oat amma, jos dhesechasry mammals wih Gfferent eames and colorfl clothing, So, forgiveness, forgiveness and love, and you're all set. Now, I'm speaking quick, and I'm sure there's a lot of huge ‘ape in my thinking. Apologies, Pm sorry, Lake this speech alot Mas, SWANSON, No, no, i reat, it sounds completely ‘unrehearsed, Thank you. Tm grateful for anything. is good to hear these hing. (Shr her.)MALE DOCTOR. Does your ey itch? MRS. SHARON. A lite. Is hata problem? MALE DOCTOR Jus for you. Becae it itches, MRS, ANSON. Ob, rght. Is there anything else T should on the Bt ig while? MALE DOCTOR. Jost old him tight, hold the lie human tight. Sing as much as you can, After the fist few weeks, the amalouc fuld wil drain from his ears Before that, mercifully everything is just a muffled ‘ind of muse, Same asin the womb. Right now, 10 him, most words probably sound alot ike the word “mothet”" Or "berth" or “Earth” something indistinct Like that, ort of rounded off. Who knows what shamanini sense he's making of ill, you know? (He ‘peaks tvard hr bl.) "Mahnerhm. Hesomm. Mome gamerma chum” As far a he knows, che whole world {aso litle murmur of gene intent. His instinct going toe wo trust fe. His actual animal instinct ~ Tever get over this isto hold your hand. He's in there, night nov, listening, forming, waiting to hold your hand. Wow, bub? Neldber sclence nor religion has yet undone the wonder of the exying baby in alr and light, grasping onto a finger. MRS. SWANSON. You make ial sound so noble. Which ti, ‘which I'm sure i i (rf pews U'm sor of alone, i this athe moment. I'm sor of afta, sometimes 1s hard to believe vo many women have done this before. ‘aux pocToR. Oh, but they did. And they were scared. "And they did great. So be seated, Be yourself You look feat. You look like someone's mother. Don' forget ~ Fs 90 easy to forget, Bu everyone in the world was bom. Try to name womeone who wasn't You can't So jst be apart ofthe whole crazy ting. The resis ‘decals, le tess, taps ofa ny hammer. Oh, ake one of thee (He hands era tiny white atom hat) 1 get hese ee. lv great? Did you ever sea tier IEE Anny, don't wor by wor, cameo. ie Tes jun good oud Ue, been going on for yeas. rig ‘aos eat alla oe, ite as, SvA80N. Wel jus all sr of are SALE DOCTOR It, But ako srt of rea Bu, you're ia if ange, lle penoa side yous going © ome out fou dais. s1AO.1s altot vader, tie poctom. Iti yes. (doen laugh) That's ery funny Butlers nox oven Tiss one tne fas good see tox st back and bead and tobe in miracles, suns. s9a0N. Al ghLwl (f pase What happens ‘to you when you're born? (very bf pause) Does it hurt? suauz pocton. Okay. Date x certain the Bint event Trnure there's lot pai ray een ina pain, {eelng a al we've knowa before hasbeen inte ‘termth, Even the gendest Birth mus feel ike a car Tran, Well probably never now the fall effec. It ould be the fl eet our fe, our personaly ‘hen oer He fl lp your amo et hon Hel rar your fgerbecase ta wha Seepest hing int cls i td. 1s 9 Deas, {fos mtu You wor bie We have thre. as. sass0n,Congaiaions, Tae mast be grea eat pocron. ei Tey ae. My wie ~ her name is fen ~ nc nal she forgot te pan, the worry evening, {he second she tw our fntborn, And she suddeny Understood this word she'd becn Hearing al her ers Love 1 et too. You can't realy describe [sor the acwal ith we were word 0, bu 20 ‘orpisen, ses swan. Tn ld. ripe) What about your? Sur pocTon Win yoo ith? Ob don't know. sn ture ievas Boe dais SHASON. Were ou dove to your moines?MALEDOCTOR.I don't know, yeah, you know ~ just regular ‘mother and son. She's sl with us. Great lady. (omy brie aus) Wat ese, anybing else? 2s, SHAGON. I'm sure, bat nothing Tea think of. MALE DOCTOR. I see you brought some stay-ver things. Good. You're gong wo be great. Now I'm sorry, please, ‘excuse me really have wo rien tis phone cll. Co take «sol, Walking s good. I's what we do, We Bold hhands and we walk Activity can help the labor along, All ight ‘MRS. SHAAON. Thank you Ye. Thanks. MALEDOCTOR. Good, Perfect. Sorry hive to rush MRS, SWANSON. No, I appreciate your time. IT think of spying oF tae any yout bys hank, MALE DOCTOR. Great Sorry. Se you 1900, (Rs, SWANSON ett MALE DOCTOR bins Laking ‘hough some paperor,) Now, Swenson, Swetton.. Swenson or Swanson? (Quickly ccs sme ther paprwor.) ‘Seenson. One vowel va. Ahi, Eeee, Own Scene Four (Hospital wom. JOHN DODGE sn et.) (EMALE DOCTOR enters. Checks chart atthe fox of Ihe bd ee.) MALE DOCTOR How ae you feling? JOHN DODGE. (uty) Okay, I think. FEMALE DOCTOR. Good. ri ae) Sorry. Tiss dificult JOHN DODGE. know. (ni pat) Whats? FEMALE DOCTOR. Well, we don't know each other: OF courte, Soi hard to know how to begin, JOHN DODGE. (pause) Are you going to ty? (i ase) know what you're thinking. I'm not this kind of” petson, FEMALE DOCTOR. What kindof person? JOHN DODGE. I'm normaly jut a face in Uh crowd In fact, ‘Tm normally jst home, by mjsel. Just a face in my house, Which fine, normally. T don't think ehat = 1 don't know. [FEMALE DOCTOR. Go ahead, what were you going to 59? {JOHN DODGE. Maybe I'm imbalanced. Or, was. But don't ‘think T'm sueidal, deep-down. Even though, | mean, Inere Tam, yes, And hiak I'm probably inabng you feel uncomfortable. ‘WILE DOCTOR I'm se that's ite ue, Thankyou for ‘your consideration I's complicated {JOHN DODGE Ici. I didn't know what Iwas doing, Ie was ike this loud came over me, tis big ark dea. {IMALE DOCTOR. And that was what? {JOURN DODGE. Thac I wanted tobe an emergency somehow. always felt like one, deep-down. I've got all these weird problems. I get nervous in certain weather Sunlight reminds me of ths great wortan I knew. My neat races, I get theve ches in my elbow, my mind aces. ri pase) I always seared me there was even 2word: Suicide, It scared me they even had a word for 4 And then, suddenly, there Tam, you know, ony [chen floot, ike a crazy perion, right in the thick of that word FEMALE DOCTOR Forgive me, but, you used some kind of ‘knife? {JOHN DODGE. A house-painting wool. Like, a scraper thing. FEMALE DOCTOR That sounds dry, {JOHN DODGE. What do you mean? ‘EQALE DOCTOR. That it might have had dirt on it. Germs {JOUN DODGE. Maybe. Probably. (Ief pout) I plceured ‘everybody wlth thelr eyes ll red, saying funeral sult le, “We hardly new him” And, in reali, they really dida'c Tnever thought I have a lonely life. Ido, i. tums out. Like, medically lonely, Like Fve got sad (genes. Like, whats that word? (ory bf pause) 1 don't [Know I'm are there ir one ase DOCTOR. I'm sory JOHN DODGE. Please don’ worry. know 'm not crazy. I'm "just sad. And not even that much, right now. {even eel ungry. That mut be a good sgn ey ref pous) keep explaining, but ~ I'vanted to see IT had 2 survival inact, Le was 2 stupid way ¢o Gnd ut, but id. And Ym glad. And I'm bese, ¥ think, Not ine, but beter FEMALE DOCTOR. That’ the thing, Jos DODGE. I really. pase) What do you mean? FEMALE DOCTOR. Wel, we'e not sure. Now, Hust want to ‘ake a lok at his (Se puts on ruber goes and pulls up the cat mask. hanging around er nach. She goto the surgical gouse covering th wound on his is.) {JOHN DODGE. snelreally bad FEMALE DOCTOR. That's bacteria. It could jut be topical. wehave ‘But we're concemed, We're worried you something sesous. {oH DODGE. Me? ‘FEMALE DOCTOR An infection. We want o be cautious. {J0N DODGE. Okay. Ise" you and me? FEMALE DOCTOR All of ws here, We might need to do a ‘Biopsy have dem dress his gai, (She gry places he bandage) {Jotty DODGE n' there something you can give me? FEMALE DOCTOR. We hive you on an antivoxin named ‘Neoviamole, (ri pause) Tiss jus a precaution, Dut, is there anyone you want us to contact? Jom DODGE. (pau) Can you give me more of dats, Justo make sure? iNALE DOCTOR You're at the maximum, its golng odo, {oUt DODGE. Wha’ it doing? What do T have? FEMALE DOCTOR, I don’t want to overwhelm you with ‘etals. You're showing sign ofan infection, which ‘vere tying to identi, and then, when we do, we can {JoRN DODGE, I'm having some rouble with my Teg. And, ny stomachs been. ve had danthes. FEMALE DOCTOR. They told me. It can also strain. the breathing, which ithe big danger, ii’ what we're worried about {JOHN DODGE les curable, though, right? FEMALE DOCTOR. We have high hopes onthe Neovitamole. ‘We'l ce fall soon, Se works quickty when it works. Ir hot there afe other treatments, Some are somewhat ‘ada, bat they've been elective. oR DODGE. What aze they? No, forget it You'l tell me ‘when you tell me, (ri pase What happens when you ie Euatz DOCTOR You don't need think about dying. JOHN DODGE. But what happens? Do you think doing whatFEMALE DOCTOR.A few thing. Dying, from the outside, from the bodily perspective, i not very prety. [Nobody looks very peaceful, as far as I've seen. We have ores of peopl seeing white ight and feeling an angelic seni But Unte are stores fom the people ‘who lived, $0 they might be just describing what i like to amore die and then lve, Sa we don't know, (ref pow) T wan jos speaking with 2 patient who's about 0 ge bie JOHN DODGE guess that about covers ik FEMALE DOCTOR. Those are just two events, There's alot fn berwecn, {JOUN DODGE. I've always been afraid that shame would be ‘he ls thing 1 fet on Far, No angelic sat, no fight ~ just weird pain, and shame tht Twas sick. And that 14 feel alone, no mater who was there. I've always ‘been afraid ofthat, And now Tut don't want to die like some diry animal, with ay teeth showing and Some crazy look in my eye ips) Pm sory to alk ke hi FEMALE DOCTOR. No, i's good. In fact, we have vomeane ‘here who's wonderful. Once we cleat up this other thing think fd be good for you to meet with her Just ak JOHN DODGE T' ike dat. (rif pus) guess this a eal ‘tony. Me being here, How I got ere ‘FEMALE DOCTOR. ony is a people thing. Nature ie very frank. You're here, and we're aking care of you {he point. use his morning, my son Eric, he's seven, ‘ald, “The sun does’t know i's hot, right It Just goes {rosnd being orange.” JOHN DODGE. don’t want 0 de, God. I don’t want to be ‘i a borpia. FEMALE DOCTOR It's going o be okay JOHN DODGE. Oh, ts? For who? (He homes nauseous) Tm geting this wave. I ee ick. V7 srry. ink Pm going tobe sick ‘auaze DOCTOR. Ican walk you to the bathroom, but beter to stay il (Sheps him plastic bg.) ‘Use this, you need i JOHN DODGE. I this the medicine or the ting? [RMALE DOCTOR The nate? I could be both. {JOHN DODGE. When iit supposed to. God FEMALE DOCTOR Just ry t0 rela. Ty o breathe, We're doing everything we can do JOH DODGE. I don’t want to be here. I don't want 10 be sick. (rif pause, The nausea is pasing) Okay All ight. 1 think Ti al right Sorry. Tim sorry aaaLx DOCTOR I'm going to get you something for your ‘stomach, (fring 1 te ell Puton by the Bed) Ring, if you need anything oF if there's any change, JOHN DODGE. I made a mistake. FEMALE DOCTOR Doo’t worry about that Just think ahead “Think about simple true things. J08N DODGE. Olay wy. The sn is orange. FEMALE DOCTOR. That the spet. Think of good things. Til come through agua son. (RMALEDOCTOR eit.) JOHN DODGE. I'm dhinking of good things. (JOHN DODGE coves is face wth his hand, ara gins to gules on.)Scene Five (Loading ack behind hasta. Thre ae cardboard Sons and og of garage ing ard. MECHA ‘sling vou thn, examining te Bis of ah. FEMALE DOCTOR eats and sends onthe raed bang ck) auscausae Sorry. (bps ae) MULE DOCTOR. No, help yoursll I doubt there's anyehing god. crLNIG Tn jst ooking ound. FEMALE DOCTOR. I used to smoke. sill come out ere ‘nd jx tad around for Sve minute and thik about Sigarens, Dont ou wonter, here? rcsu2ac Yeas Pn abo 4. 1 olec il. FEMALE DOCTOR. On? MECHAMI. Yeah, Just any Kind of tke, ones, basically looking for some pills of something. Do you think here's anything in hee fora headache? A Serious one? MALE DOCTOR I doubt 0 MEGHAN, Probably not. Yu lok important, up these. Lea peron who svestnes Very you Know rt = ULE DOCTOR. strain) Tm nx going ogre you aay ils ‘ecrUeac Oi. Yous ook ~ you know — you lok ely roteona: [MOUALE DOCTOR Thank you. Careful you don't ext Youle You can get botlism seteivsac Tha’ a good name fora dese, watz DOCTOR In Taba shoght sounded ke a piilowopy ofall bad choices People think not round anor total, but Hs ale and wel MECHAM. be carta. ripe Todays my birt FEMALE DOCTOR Happy birthday. (mdébg hack var espal Somcone'v abut to havea bray in here. MacuLAM I gues ifs prety common. (bf fous) Iwasa perfect baby MALE DOCTOR. I don't think Ive ever heard anyone my at, ‘MECHAM. Yeah, Kjos. vas allready. For dhe world maux DOCTOR Surprise. saci. Yeah IMALE DOCTOR. I's not rare, but i's very lucky ~to be a person, jost 8 regular perton. Did you kaow when you combine an egg cell and a sperm cel, there's more way they can combine, more particular kinds of people that ean result than dere ae atom in the Universe? MUCHANIC. Tove facts like tha. (ory bf pou) I wsed to be seven pounds, eight ounces. Now look at me. (lr pause) | think I disappointed everybody when T ‘wat born, I they’d just been expecting 2 ine animal ‘hat needed air and food, then Think {would've been prety impressive, There wat n0 way I could live up fall chat want and need, me and my seven pounds, efght ounces. Think being born hurt ny feeling. (Stl luakng around) My head is kling me. [FEMALE DOCTOR. I'm sorry. (Onef pause) Can T ask you, hist sound sly, but, what do you want out oie? mca. Are you Kidding? BUALE DOCTOR Just for fun. Mecsiaste Okay. Ivant, ont of if, for this headache wo go ‘ay. And, then, jus gues, o know something. At the rik of sounding ke some Fuck-up paving through the garbage for drgr: I want to ow Love. 1 want 1 calmly know love on Earth, And to fel beau, (Pause He stars woking around, again. No trac of ‘amusement ‘Thanks, That was alot of fon‘MeuaLx DOCTOR Prety good answer. (Dif powse) 1 ask ‘People vomesimes and they say they don't now. You'd {Bink we'd take de time, We have annver for so many things How many atoms in the Universe, how black holes are made, (pas) I'm sorry, I don"t mean this to be embarrassing. (Sethe vil of pls out of her jacket poke, double (hacks the ab, then ours someon the grou) Sometimes people spill things, back here. You're not “riving are you? | (He shades is ea “.") Happy bindday MECHA: (picking up the pls) eas, you oo. Thanks Scene Six (Hospital room, JOHN DODGE én bd. ATTENDANT 2 ener and performs some routine task. She smiles {1JOHN DODGE, who sme ack, a he ei. MES. SWANSON, on sol down the hal ppears a the oo) uns. SWANSON, John? I don't belive it {JOHN DODGE Mary. Hi. Wow. Letme si up. (He ifs hima upinbed) Mas, SWANSON. (laughing spathetial) Ob, no. Look at you. What happened? (Stents) {JR DONGE.A couple thing. Look a you. Teould ask you the same thing. ‘uns. SWANSON. Thi So Funny ep thinking I'd ee you {JOHN DODGE. I know, me t00, 1 was always looking. T thought I sw you couple dm. xs, SWANSON, { almost called when it was s0 rainy ‘Remember all at ain? Our basement flooded JOHN DODGE. I almoR called you, afew mes. 14, I don't ‘know, I had relly dhought we'é have more of a relationship. ws. SWANSON. Wel, we di, We do. {JOHN DODGE, Not relationship, bu, mean jus 1 don't Tow thought see you. as, SWANSON. And, here Tan. Tada oR DODGE. mean before T gues I just dhought we ad ‘chance Mas, SWANSON. A chance of wha? JOHN DODGE. Ol, I don't know. Justa chance, MRS, SWANSON. (cry rf pou) Wel, guess we always 4, right? JOHN DODGE. You'se alee. (vi pause) You're so big. You Took really great Mas, SWANSON. Today’ the day, hope. What about you? ‘re you okay? ENE a108 DODGE Yea, n,m fee ju someting api DODGE. A couple things A ot of things Te wa 8 Tet mc ep so ope Hg MBS. SWARGON. Making a bid sale : : ae 4 birdhouse or a canoe or us smangoN. God ish 1 kon, Font no wi orm pov fos ae eee, outa hae dove, 1 wh = No, just, I don’t know, around the house. {JOHN DODGE. Yeah Ianted to ell. I don’e know what I * SWANSON. Do youi have a cold? "would've said. But, I'm all right. (brief pouse) If Bob RsDOCE Do Tsound sted up? think I'm jus died, Mocen'’ make i {cam try tobe there, in he delivery lice to getsome quiet sayy {om Ifyou need someone 2055. SWANSON, I don't know how quiet i'l be for me. ums. SuANSON. That's realy sweet. don't want tobe alone JOHN DODGE. Oh, you'l be grea. e's realy ce wo see you. | ‘a inere, (brief pause) Te might not be good, though, ‘Wow: (pause) This is going to be durab, Dont wake ‘Decause you're. fit tums ut you do have a cold lesen | yom bance, Okay But, don’ think do caer wee ‘MRS. SWANSON, It's really nice of you to offer. (brief pause) BODGE (hyn nal 7) Mary, sory ean you sory ve gt oon ty ind. ‘me? Just for a~ean Thold you? 9 PU ROME youn pope Yeah BS SHANGON: I'm Nt sre how hldable Tam. (Shits on Mas, SWANSON. (She ges up fim the Bd.) 1's x0 good Seeing bet.) But Lean give youa tug ‘ou. They suid actvgy was good. [as walking up and (2h hg 1 conor psy Um te ale Jom 20 ance OBC, eb! gy unc jomrDonct tow, Lean‘ bevel ou A ese v dtm ‘time. I mean, all these months. Pasian’ sas, swansON. The sink il alas ke a dea, (ef Rs, SHARON. (She on tee fo) good to see us Remerber you uadogged ou st no (Long pause, He's dooed off. He opens his ye.) Jorn DoDer. (quit) Hey, Mary duns, swanSO8. Hey. You need some rest. And, John, 1 "oul keep walking. Tey say activi is good. Jolene i ad Te pe your Bustend bere? ot Pally Row anyone, So is aS. YANGON. Can you Bleve t,he in He sone ea he an, He's ung to Jost DODGE (tomes) Sorry. God really EG, AIMEN Heh nw (She nh Dena os) rrhorae got me on tray serous uf iemabes acannon, escapade Wo i708 do? Te acy oy br poi) sv reat... Good DODGE Is wip meee 2s. ANSON. Ob, John ~ ed ou do bis? suas SeA0608. Rest p and se You won al sigh? Ob JOHN DODGE. Party, yea — I don't know. Yes. ‘here's some news, wait unt ou Bear, you'l owe thi ans saxon. tte bk we're gong to name bi obo Why? That's stupid question, pedal eee (hag herd) A ight, Mary. 1 ely sor pODGE.( ood ot hep sig ta, sory, See you att, Many