Thursday, November 09, 2017

November 2017 Writing Challenge - #9 - A Totally Ethical Play


Look, sometimes I get notes from people about how things on stage are not acceptable behaviors and too triggering or extreme for a character to do and still be liked (or the play to be liked) by audiences.

These same people watch almost nothing but SUPER extreme art films but… whatever.  

Hold the theater to the restraints of corporate HR approved market tested global blockbuster films. 

Fine.

Let’s do it.

Write a totally ethical play. 

No actions can be unethical. Nothing can participate in advancing a problematic history or pattern or culture.

All actions have consequences that are acknowledged… perhaps even physicalized RIGHT ON THE STAGE.

If there’s the need for a debate in a moment, fine. Have it.
Then move on with a decision and another action.

Use a classical structure. Stasis, inciting incident, rising action, etc. Heck, LABEL IT.
  
Bonus: NO FOURTH WALL… and a pretty horse.

*******

And again, still plugging away on the Spellbound new play...

*******

SARAH and AUGGIE are standing close together.

AUGGIE is holding his guitar in front of him.  He's not playing at the moment, but he could.

                          SARAH
OK, hand it over.

                          AUGGIE
What?

                          SARAH
The guitar.

                          AUGGIE
Why?

                          SARAH
'Cause you're no longer required to entertain anyone?

                          AUGGIE
I forget it's there.

                          SARAH
It's there.  It's a part of you.  Like an extra limb.

                          AUGGIE
Yeah.

                          SARAH
It's also between us at the moment.

                          AUGGIE
Oh.  Right.

AUGGIE, almost reluctantly, disengages from the guitar.

SARAH holds out her hand for it.

                          AUGGIE (cont'd)
I can put it away.

                          SARAH
I know.

She extends her hand again.

                          SARAH (cont'd)
I want you to trust me with it.

                          AUGGIE
I'm not going to treat you like you're my roadie.

                          SARAH
I'm not looking at it like that.

                          AUGGIE
How are you looking at it?

                          SARAH
I'm looking at it like you trusting me with something very important to you.  Like you trusting me not to break it.  Because I care about it as much as you do.

                          AUGGIE
I trust you.

She extends her hand again.

He hands over the guitar.

As she speaks, she carefully places the guitar in a stand. She even secures it in the stand.

                          SARAH
I love this guitar.
This guitar, your music, brought us together.
It's like your baby.
So I'm going to treat it with the care it deserves.

SARAH turns back to AUGGIE.

AUGGIE is shifting on his feet.

She smiles.

                          SARAH (cont'd)
You feel a little naked without it, don't you?

                          AUGGIE
Don't make fun of me.

                          SARAH
I'm not.
I'm not.
It's sweet.
Thank you.

                          AUGGIE
Why is this so weird?

                          SARAH
Because we haven't had a proper date yet, not without the guitar.

                          AUGGIE
We haven't?

                          SARAH
We haven't.  I see you at a gig, or hang out while you practice or write something new.  The guitar's always there.

                          AUGGIE
Between us.

                          SARAH
Figured I ought to do something.
You have that issue with all your female friends?

                          AUGGIE
Didn't think so.
But maybe that's why some of them didn't stick around.

                          SARAH
Couldn't stand the competition?

                          AUGGIE
It's not a competition.

                          SARAH
Oh, I know that.
The guitar can give you things I can't.
I can give you things the guitar can't.
We're operating in different arenas.

                          AUGGIE
I like your arena.

                          SARAH
And I like your music.  So I don't mind.
I just wondered.
Who you were.

                          AUGGIE
Without a guitar attached to me?

                          SARAH
Yup.

                          AUGGIE
So, how am I holding up so far?

                          SARAH
I like it.

                          AUGGIE
Good.
You could probably get closer now.
If you want.

                          SARAH
Oh.

She does.

                          AUGGIE
Like it.

                          SARAH
Yes, I think I do.

SARAH looks over to the guitar.

                          SARAH (cont'd)
Should we shield its eyes?

                          AUGGIE
Nah, that's OK.  That old guitar has seen a lot.

                          SARAH
Oh really?

                          AUGGIE
Really.

                          SARAH
So we should probably add something new to its memory bank.

                          AUGGIE
Gotta be careful though.  You never know what might come back out of it again later.

                          SARAH
You think I'm worth a song or two, do you?

                          AUGGIE
Right now, I can't begin to see the end of the songs I could write about you.

                          SARAH
Careful.  I'm likely to hold you to that.

                          AUGGIE
You go right ahead.

SARAH and AUGGIE hold one another.

Perhaps they kiss.

The guitar sits nearby.



    

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