Variation 16

OVERTURE

SCENE 1 INT. APARTMENT LIVING ROOM. A LIGHT FLICKS ON. IT IS WARM AND YELLOW AND THE SPACE IS EMPTY. THERE IS A COUCH AND A LAMP IN THE BACK, OBSCURING SOME OF THE THINGS ON THE WALL. THIS IS A STAGE. THIS IS A PACKED AUDITORIUM.

ONE

These are my hands.

ONE KEEPS HER EYES CAST DOWN AS SHE REACHES TO GRAB THE WHOLE WORLD. OR TRY TO AT LEAST.

ONE

I am taller than I realize. I’ve learned that.

ONE THROWS HER HAND OUT, BUT PULLS IT AWAY BEFORE YOU CAN GRAB AHOLD. SHE IS SPINNING. SHE IS TALLER THAN YOU REALIZED, TOO.

ONE

I am longer, too. My legs have grown. I can wipe the whole world out with just my two hands. Watch.

SHE DOES.

ONE

(quietly)

Don’t worry, things will soften. I will soften.

ONE SLOWS DOWN AND REACHES OUT BEHIND HER. THERE IS NO ONE THERE, SO SHE REACHES UP AGAIN. THERE IS NO ONE THERE. SHE FALLS. SHE IS NOT ONE TO STAY DOWN, THOUGH; SHE RECOVERS MORE QUICKLY THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT.

ONE

(cutting in between her ribs)

If I just… give… a little bit more of myself.

ONE SIGHS WHEN SHE REMOVES HER HANDS FROM HER TORSO. THEY’RE SHINING AND HER CHEST SINKS AS SHE STUMBLES BACK.

ONE

I’ll be able to keep going.

AND SHE DOES. AND AS SHE DOES SHE HUMS ALONG TO THAT ONE SHAKEY GRAVES SONG THAT SINGS: ‘As of now I exist. It takes a little while to get used to this rotation.’ SHE IS STANDING TALL AGAIN, TALLER THAN SHE WAS BEFORE.

ONE

(dropping her head)

I’ll keep going, but I won’t get too bold.

ONE TAKES CAREFUL STEPS AROUND HERSELF BEFORE SHE THROWS HER HANDS OVER HER BODY, TRYING TO WASH HERSELF OFF. SHE SPINS TO DRY HERSELF AND REACHES UP UP UP AGAIN. SHE’S ALMOST 6 FEET TALL NOW.

ONE

Let me catch my breath.

WE DO.

ONE

Okay, so-

HER WORDS GET CUT OFF AS SHE MOVES. SHE’S WHISPERING INTO HER OWN SHOULDER, INTO HER HAND, TOWARDS THE GROUND, ANYWHERE BUT WHERE WE COULD HEAR HER. WE CAN SEE HER MOUTH MOVING, THOUGH. SHE MUST BE SAYING SOMETHING.

ONE

(finally audible, looking into her own hand)

I’ve learned that I’m a mirror. But not like a bathroom mirror, I mean it in a different way.

ONE CUTS BY HER RIBS WITH HER RIGHT HAND ONE MORE TIME. WHEN SHE FALLS IT DOESN’T LOOK GRACEFUL, BUT IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY LOOK UNINTENTIONAL EITHER. IT’S UNCLEAR WHETHER SHE’LL EXPLAIN WHAT SHE MEANT ABOUT BEING A MIRROR OR NOT.

ONE

What I mean is that I- wait, one second.

ONE GETS DISTRACTED BY SOMETHING BEHIND HER THAT WE CANNOT SEE, TWISTING AROUND HERSELF. THE ROUTE SHE TAKES SEEMS LIKE THE LEAST EFFICIENT, BUT SHE TAKES IT ANYWAYS. WHEN SHE STANDS BACK UP SHE’S AT LEAST 6 FEET 2 INCHES. WHEN SHE FALLS BACK DOWN SHE DOESN’T HIT THE FLOOR.

ONE

What was I saying? Oh, right I-

SHE GETS CUT OFF AGAIN WHEN SHE SUDDENLY HITS THE GROUND, AS IF WHAT WAS KEEPING HER SUSPENDED WAS SWIPED OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HER. SHE STANDS UP AND BRUSHES THE DUST OFF OF HER PANTS CASUALLY.

ONE

I’ll have to work on that. But you understand, don’t you?

WE NOD.

ONE

Let me wipe down the world again. I’ll try again after that.

ONE TAKES ANOTHER HUGE ARCH WITH HER ARM. IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAYBE EXTENDS OUT A COUPLE OF EXTRA INCHES, BUT WE CAN’T BE SURE. SHE STANDS WITH HER BACK TO US AND WE CAN SEE HER SHOULDERS RAISING, HEAVY WITH EVERY BREATH.

ONE

(starting to circle the whole space)

I need a little help, I need a little help, I need a little…

SHE CONTINUES TO REPEAT ‘I need a little help’ AND SHE ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE LIVING ROOM/THEATER/AUDITORIUM. THE WALLS ARE CRUMBLING NOW, OR HAVE THEY BEEN THE WHOLE TIME? SHE SWIFTLY DODGES EACH FALLING PIECE OF DEBRIS, RANGING FROM DUST TO WHOLE STAGE LIGHTS.

ONE

Thank you.

ONE STANDS WITH HER BACK TO US AGAIN AND THANKS US EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT WATCH HER. SHE’S WALKING AWAY FROM US NOW, SHOWING OFF HER STILL SHINING HANDS. HER SHOULDERS ARE STILL RISING UP AND DOWN WITH EACH BREATH MORE THAN THEY SHOULD. AFTER A FEW STEPS WE SEE THAT SHE’S SHRINKING AGAIN, BACK DOWN TO THE SIZE SHE STARTED THOUGH IT’S HARD TO REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THAT WAS NOW. THE LIGHTS GO OUT.

END.