"Short Play" 2004
(Lights up on a forest glade. A large boulder sits by a pond. Nearby, a tree. In the background, Bushes. Intoxica sits on the boulder, deeply relaxed. She seems to be speaking to herself...)
INTOXICA: Aren’t I brilliant?
(Sounds of birds chirping)
INTOXICA: I’m so brilliant. I can see the hidden meanings in things. I can write them down for the world to see. I expand people’s vision, I show them the cracks, and through the cracks stream in the light. I’m so special. So seldom do human beings have vision – so seldom do they know how to share it. The sound of my voice is lovely, isn’t it? So calm, so warm. I’m a good person. Planet Earth is glad to have me. I’m glad to have me too.
(Enter Elyonis, a man, carrying a bag of things...)
INTOXICA: Mmmmm. Aaaaaah. Hello.
ELYONIS: Good evening Ma’am.
INTOXICA: It is, it is a good evening. How are you?
ELYONIS: I’m well. I’m heading over to the windmill. I think I’ll spend the night there.
INTOXICA: Do you have a bed there?
ELYONIS: Yes, I keep a bed in the windmill.
INTOXICA: Perhaps I should go to the windmill.
ELYONIS: What for?
INTOXICA: It seems a good place all of a sudden. It seems like a powerful place.
ELYONIS: I like it there. That’s why I keep a bed there.
INTOXICA: Perhaps I could sit outside the windmill and write poetry.
ELYONIS: I was going to sit outside and play my flute as the sun set, would it bother you?
INTOXICA: It might.
(Enter Lyli, a little girl)
INTOXICA: Hello little girl.
LYLI: Hello old woman.
INTOXICA: I’m not old.
LYLI: You’re older than me.
INTOXICA: That’s true.
LYLI: Hello Handsome man.
ELYONIS: Hello Lyli.
INTOXICA: You know this little girl?
LYLI: My name is Lyli, old woman.
ELYONIS: …Yes, I know her.
(Pause.)
INTOXICA: How do you know her?
ELYONIS: I know her parents. She is a very smart girl.
LYLI: That’s true. I’m far beyond most children my age. I’m remarkably self aware.
INTOXICA: Is that so?
(Lyli points to the bag)
LYLI: What’s in the bag.
ELYONIS: I keep things in the bag.
LYLI: What things?
ELYONIS: Would you like to have a look?
LYLI: Yes.
INTOXICA: You’re going to let her see what’s in the bag?
(Elyonis bends down and opens the bag, holds it out as Lyli has a look.)
LYLI: Oh. I see.
INTOXICA: Why are you letting her see what’s in the bag?
ELYONIS: She asked.
INTOXICA: May I see what’s in the bag?
(Pause.)
ELYONIS: What do you want to see what’s in my bag for?
INTOXICA: Well, you’re letting her see what’s in your bag!
ELYONIS: She’s only a little girl.
INTOXICA: But she’s remarkably self-aware!
LYLI: I am.
ELYONIS: Have you had a good look?
(He lifts the bag and puts it over his shoulder. Lyli hums a little tune.)
INTOXICA: Well, Lyli?
LYLI: What?
INTOXICA: Are you going to say thank you.
ELYONIS: She doesn’t have to say thank you.
INTOXICA: Maybe I will go to the windmill.
ELYONIS: What are you up to, out here in the woods, Lyli?
LYLI: I’m going for a walk to clear my head. I was writing poetry on the veranda, and my Father came and told me that I’d best keep more time to my studies and not write so much poetry. And he told me that I had left the cellar a mess and that I wasn’t to play in the cellar anymore. I only left the cellar a mess because I hadn’t finished working down there yet, I was going to finish after I wrote some poems. He made me so angry that I couldn’t write poems anymore, so I came for a walk.
ELYONIS: You might be smarter than your father, that must be difficult for you.
LYLI: Well, we all have our cross to bear.
INTOXICA: I was here first.
(They look at her.)
ELYONIS: What?
INTOXICA: I was here first, this was my little space, and now both of you have come here and neither one of you is paying me much attention – you’ve taken this space over.
ELYONIS: Sorry, would you like us to leave?
INTOXICA: It’s not that I don’t like you, it’s just that I suddenly feel crowded.
LYLI: I think you are just upset because you think we are ignoring you.
INTOXICA: Well that’s very perceptive Lyli. Can you use your superior brain to think of a way to make me feel better?
(Lyli shrugs.)
LYLI: I don’t really feel that your feelings are my responsibility, but I’m trying to be more empathic in general. I get the sense, from the tone of your voice, that you don’t like me much. That’s always difficult, if I’m empathic with someone who doesn’t like me, then I’ll just start to dislike myself, no? We can’t have that.
INTOXICA: Dear, child, I don’t know you.
LYLI: Even so, I understand your hostility, the first thing I did when I saw you was call you old.
INTOXICA: I’m only tweny-six.
LYLI: And I think you must be jealous that Elyonis wouldn’t show you what is in his bag.
INTOXICA: It was a little off-putting, yes.
ELYONIS: The contents of a mans bag are private.
INTOXICA: Yes, but you showed the girl.
ELYONIS: Children are closer to the spirit – I trust Lyli to respect what she sees without having any ulterior motives.
INTOXICA: What Ulterior Motives do you think I have?
ELYONIS: In my experience most adult motives are ulterior.
INTOXICA: Most?
LYLI: Now really, that is an exaggeration.
ELYONIS: Are you taking her side now?
LYLI: It is hard to be empathic with everyone at once.
ELYONIS: When a woman looks into a man’s bag, there are adult factors to consider. But I can understand how it would be frustrating to watch Lyli look in the bag right in front of you.
INTOXICA: I don’t get it, what does he have to hide?
LYLI: Well, people have a right to some privacy.
ELYONIS: Look, if it is important to you, I will let you have a look.
INTOXICA: Really?
ELYONIS: Yes.
INTOXICA: But now I feel that I’ve pressured you into it.
ELYONIS: No, I am willing to show you, if you still want to see.
INTOXICA: Alright.
(Elyonis sets the bag down and steps away from it. Intoxica goes to inspect the bag.)
LYLI: I’ll have another look too.
(Lyli and Intoxica look inside the bag. Elyonis stands a few feet away.)
INTOXICA: I see.
(They stand up. Elyonis collects the bag.)
LYLI: Are you going to say thank you?
INTOXICA: I needn’t, do I?
ELYONIS: As you feel best.
INTOXICA: Thank you.
ELYONIS: You’re welcome.
(Pause.)
ELYONIS: Well, I’m going to the wind mill and play my flute before the sun sets.
LYLI: I’ll back to finish my poems.
INTOXICA: Don’t let your father discourage you dear - just remember he doesn’t always know what he’s doing.
LYLI: I know that, but its still good to hear it. Nice to meet you. What is your name?
INTOXICA: Intoxica.
LYLI: Nice to meet you.
INTOXICA: And you.
LYLI: Goodbye Elyonis.
ELYONIS: Write a poem about me.
LYLI: I will.
(She exits.)
ELYONIS: It was good to see you here.
INTOXICA: Yes, I’m glad you came through on your way to the windmill.
ELYONIS: I’ll be on my way then.
INTOXICA: Perhaps I’ll come and join you at the Windmill in a bit.
ELYONIS: Alright.
(He exits. Pause.)
(Intoxica leans back. Sighs.)
INTOXICA: It’s good to be here.