Memories

CLEO: Main character, timid, scared of what people will think of her, and intuitive.CLEO is played by one person the whole show. The memories are at different times of her life. She is 18 in this story. 

MORPHEUS: Greek God of dreams. He is almost a narrator in action. He’s the one making the story in a way.

MAN: Father of CLEO. He is calm and a very nice man. He doesn’t take anything for granted.

MOM: CLEO’s mom. She can be played by anyone who has a higher pitched voice. Could be a double cast.

The main character, CLEO, appears on stage. She doesn’t know where she is or how she got there. The place felt empty; a black abyss. The only light was a spot coming down right on center stage. CLEO goes and stands in it, watching the light play on her fingers. MORPHEUS enters, a clipboard in hand.

MORPHEUS: Who’s wondrous mind have I entered in this fine evening? 

MORPHEUS sees CLEO, he does not approach but watches her from afar. For a moment he lingers and then looks around like he was almost hit in the face with a thought.

MORPHEUS: I see… 

MORPHEUS lifts his arms in a wistful kind of way. With that the light glow to show the rest of the stage. CLEO jumps a little with the sudden change. She notices a man sitting on the floor with a box in his hands; a present. MORPHEUS sits on the edge of the stage, watching the scene unfold. 

CLEO: You…

CLEO goes to sit with the MAN. As soon as she sits the man looks up. 

MAN: *Smiling* Thank you for the gift Cleo, you really didn’t have to.

CLEO: It’s your birthday, I wanted to. Open it!

The MAN opens the present. He smiles and pulls out a small stuffed koala out of the box. 

CLEO: Happy birthday!

MAN: Thank you sweetheart.

The two fist bump.

All the lights go down except for one on MORPHEUS. 

MORPHEUS: That was cute and sweet. There must be more though. *looks at clipboard* A, here we go. 

MORPHEUS lifts his hand wistfully once again. THe lights come back up to show CLEO in the same spot as before, but the man is no longer there. 

CLEO: No…

CLEO looks around, looking like she lost something. She turned to see the MAN again, on the other side of the stage. She walked over in a haste to join the MAN.

MAN: Cleo, how was school?

CLEO: It was good…

MAN: Learn anything new?

CLEO: *Giggles a little* Probably. I wasn’t paying enough attention to notice.

MAN: *Laughing* Okay. You have homework to do tonight?

CLEO: I don’t think so, why?

MAN: Want to watch the next Star Wars movie with me? 

CLEO: *smiles* Of course

MAN: Great, let me make some popcorn. *runs to CLEO and fist bumps her*

The MAN runs off, offstage. CLEO stands there for a moment, looking ahead, she then joins him. The lights narrow in on MORPHEUS once more. MORPHEUS looks at the audience.

MORPHEUS: These are good but I’m still not hitting the mark. There’s nothing coming from this. *MORPHEUS looks at his clipboard. He decides on something, lifts his hand, and the scene changes again. Time has progressed*

MAN: *immediately finds CLEO* Cleo, I’ve got tickets to My Fair Lady for Sunday. Care to join me? 

CLEO: I would love to.

The lights focus on MORPHEUS. He looks visibly frustrated.

MORPHEUS: This simply isn’t working. I need something stronger. *MORPHEUS throws the clipboard down, raises both of his hands, and everything goes dark.

The lights come up again on CLEO standing on one spot of the stage, the MAN is on the opposite side, MORPHEUS is nowhere to be seen. You can tell things are more serious.

MAN: I never knew you wanted to go to college…

CLEO: I figured Mom told you.

MAN: You’re seventeen, you’ve never brought it up. I always assumed you’d go to community college and figure it out that way.

CLEO: Well you know what they say about assuming…

BLACKOUT, scene changes. Time has progressed. CLEO and MAN are hugging each other.

MAN: *pulls back from hug and looks at CLEO* You know I love you, right? And with that you can love whoever you want to love and I will back you up the entire way through.

CLEO: *tearing up* Thank you…

*The two fist bump, laughing lightly.*

BLACKOUT, scene changes. Time progressed. This is the last time it does so. MAN and CLEO are throwing and ball around. They move to a chair, CLEO sits, the MAN flips her ponytail, they laugh. They move along, both grab books, sit in a chair and open them. MAN leans over.

MAN: What part are you on?

The two close their books at the same time. They walk together to a calendar on the wall. 

CLEO: *pointing at the calendar behind MAN* Okay so the play is three weeks from now. I think you’d like it. Pretty historical. 

MAN: That’s cool

CLEO: *moves to a different spot on the calendar* And then Wednesday is my game. You going?

MAN: *smiling* Wouldn’t miss it.

DIM LIGHTS, CLEO and MAN walk to center stage. He lifts his fist for a fist bump.

MAN: *smiling* Goodnight Cleo

CLEO: *returns fist bump* Goodnight Dad

BLACKOUT. A knocking sound is played and then a door creek. The lights come up slightly. CLEO sits up. MOM’s voice comes from off stage.

MOM: Get up and get dressed quickly. We have to go.

BLACKOUT. The light comes up on MORPHEUS. MORPHEUS walks on stage with a gravestone. He looks disheveled. He put the gravestone down and pulled some flowers out of his pocket. They were crumpled but still had a pretty ribbon around the stems. 

He laid the flowers in front of the stone and stood there for a moment. Lights come fully up on stage. CLEO walks on, striding towards the grave. She joined MORPHEUS. They stood in silence. 

CLEO: Did you know him?

MORPHEUS: I knew of him

CLEO: Thank you for coming nonetheless.

MORPHEUS: Wouldn’t miss it.

CLEO looked at MORPHEUS perplexed. She shook the feeling though and looked back down at the grave.

CLEO: It was weird. I had a dream the night before he passed. Dreams I should say. Everything was a memory though, with him. I almost felt like… it almost felt like I subconsciously knew…

CLEO realized how crazy she sounded and started to backtrack.  

CLEO: Obviously I don’t think I predicted the future, I just think that it was interesting.

MORPHEUS: *chuckles* I understand.

CLEO: *sighs* Good…

MORPHEUS: I’ve got to get going. Take care Cleo. Keep that dream close. *starts walking away*

CLEO: Wait!

MORPHEUS: Yes?

CLEO: I never caught your name.

MORPHEUS: Morpheus, my name is Morpheus.

CLEO watches as MORPHEUS leaves. CLEO looks confused.

CLEO: Morpheus… interesting…

CLEO looks back at the grave. She pulls a stuffed koala out of her coat pocket and kisses it gently. She kneels and places it down in front of the grave. She taps her fist to the grave.

CLEO: One last fist bump for you Dad. I love you.

CLEO stands, looks once more at the grave, and leaves.

END

The Questions, drawing, Jewel Turnquist