Calyx_Pass
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It won't let me attach it, so I'm just going to post it here.
Love any thoughts!
Impetuous
Ivan: Age 16.
Louis: Age 16. His Friend.
Pearl: Age. 16. His Ex-Girlfriend.
Laurie: Age 16. Her friend.
Waiter: Age 20-25. A waiter. Female.
Prologue 1
(Ivan and Pearl stand by a bus stop. Waiter mimes walking a dog, across stage.)
Pearl: Listen, we need to talk.
Ivan: What is it, honey? Is something wrong?
Pearl: We just need to talk.
Ivan: About what?
Pearl: … I don’t love you anymore.
Ivan: I see. So these last two weeks were a lie! So you never felt anything! What a betrayal.
Pearl: I’m sorry. I guess somewhere in my heart I will always love you. I just need to grow up.
Ivan: Just answer my broken heart this…Was it me or was it you?
Pearl: Ivan, how can I provide a suitable answer to that question? In the madness of this age, who can say what their actions mean?
Ivan: I don’t understand?
Pearl: Neither do I.
Ivan: I guess we will… when the hormone levels drop. (play Ba-dum-tss)
Pearl: That’s pretty funny. You’re pretty funny. In fact…
Ivan: (To audience) Damn it! NO!
Prologue 2
(Ivan and Pearl are at a table in a restaurant. Waiter takes plates.)
Pearl: What?
Ivan: There’s nothing to say. (takes a napkin and folds, then puts into his pocket.)
Pearl: (pause) Do you want me to stay here for a while?
Ivan: Yeah, I would.
Pearl: Don’t think of this like we’re never going to talk to each other again.
Ivan: We can still be friends.
Pearl: For sure. (pauses) I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried you’d take this badly.
Ivan: Yeah, well, were both not very confrontational people. (pauses) You sound relieved.
Pearl: I just wasn’t sure how you’d react.
Ivan: It doesn’t matter. (pauses) Did I do something?
Pearl: I don’t know. (pauses) I don’t know.
Ivan: (pause) Will I see you at auditions tomorrow?
Pearl: Yes. (long pause)
Ivan: (hesitates to say something)
Pearl: Are you okay if I go now? (exits)
Ivan: (to audience) It’s great to be a teenager. (A beat.) I’m Ivan. My worst flaw is that I can articulate everything about myself perfectly. I’m disappointed by this and by you and by everything. I am 16 years old. Part of the education system, part of society, part of a country, part of humanity. I am a teenager.
Scene 1
(Louis enters.)
Louis: So it’s been a month, eh?
Ivan: (still facing audience) I wrote a play… This play… To tell the truth.
Louis: Ivan…
Ivan: Yeah, we were right here when she broke up with me.
Louis: Would you say you’re over it now?
Ivan: There wasn’t much to get over… They’re coming aren’t they?
Louis: You bet. (pause) Neal had notes…Where did you run off to? (sits) He told me to tell you to stop leaving early.
Ivan: How do you think it went?
Louis: What, with Laurie and me?
Ivan: No, the rehearsal.
Louis: Oh, you were good. Neal likes you.
Ivan: Neal’s a hack.
(Waiter walks up to table)
Louis: What do you want?
Ivan: (to waiter) 2 cokes, and a plate of nachos.
(Waiter exits)
Ivan: They’re late. Typical.
Louis: Not typical Ivan. Human.
Ivan: Yeah, I guess. (A beat.) Although they often pretend otherwise, women are human, just like us.
Louis: They forget.
Ivan: They were never aware. (A beat.) You’re going to talk to her today, right?? Don’t make Pearl and I have to keep the party alive. That’s just sad.
(Pearl and Laurie enter. Ivan kicks Louis under the table.)
Pearl: Hi boys! … So we sucked today…
Ivan: …the rehearsal, yeah.
Laurie: Mmm. Neal’s been away from Ibsen for too long. Now, he can’t even do schlock well.
Louis: What’s wrong?
Laurie: Oh nothing. I’m just tired.
Louis: No. It was a bad rehearsal.
Laurie: Is it too much to get us using verbs?
Ivan: Do you think this script deserves the Stanislavski method? In fact, do you think the cast deserves to use it?
(Waiter re-enters with 2 drinks)
Louis: What would you like to, um…
Laurie: Vodka on the rocks.
Pearl: She’s joking. Just 2 coffees for us.
Ivan: And the plate of nachos. Thanks.
(Waiter exits)
Pearl: So Neal’s telling me I’m playing Lizzie too “big.” Can you believe that!?
Ivan: You seem to be playing ‘Pearl’ too big today. (to Louis) …zing!
Pearl: (ignores) Why has he been picking on me lately? I think he hates me! And If Anne tells me I got the “choreo” for Inspiration wrong again, I will slap that bitch!
Ivan: This show has no balls.
Laurie: (to Louis) Hey, I noticed you hit that high E today. Good job.
Louis: Thanks…
Ivan: Man, why is it always musicals! Why can’t our school, for once, do ‘straight theatre’ (a beat.) No pun intended. (play ba-dum-tss)
Laurie: Nice.
Ivan: Musicals weren’t supposed to be like this. They’ve really betrayed their vaudevillian routes.
Pearl: I like musicals!
Ivan: You were never one for “art” per se.
Laurie: But art is subjective. Not all of us enjoy Nietzsche.
Ivan: It’s not my fault that people are stupid.
Louis: So the high E was good today?
Laurie: Uh-huh! You’re really hitting it with some resonance.
Louis: Well, you know what they say, Tammy’s a genius.
Laurie: I’ve worked with better musical directors.
Louis: Yeah, me too.
(Waiter brings coffees)
Pearl: Thank you!! (eats and giggles) She’s so cute!
Laurie: Oh, did you see her nails? Are they crackle?
Pearl: No, they’re definitely sizzle.
Laurie: No-
Louis: Well, it’s either snap, crackle or pop!!
(all 3 look at him)
Louis: …right? (a beat.) Anyway, that high E- um…
Laurie: It’s pretty high- for an E at least.
Pearl: But isn’t all of that guy’s music high like that?
Ivan: Well, Pearl- to say a composer’s music is-
Pearl: -You know what I mean!!
Ivan: Have you studied composition?
Laurie: Have you?
Ivan: -Then you don’t know what I mean!
Pearl: -Are you guys going to the semi tomorrow?
Louis: Is that tomorrow? Shit.
Ivan: Maybe.
Louis: I’ll have to see.
Pearl: We’re both going.
Louis: (A beat.) So Laurie, um, in terms of that high E, should I, for the future, work on my “tone” or my “inflection” ?
Pearl: Tone.
Ivan: Inflection.
Louis: (annoyed) Well, Laurie, what do you think?
Laurie: Why are you asking me?
Pearl: Yeah?
Louis: I mean, you’re the most musically accomplished person here, so-
Laurie: I think because you’ve been working on your breath control, like, because you’ve been practicing breathing from your diaphragm, both your tone and inflection improved.
Louis: Great, that’s great to know. I’ve been working on that.
Laurie: Cool
Louis: So, um, next rehearsal should I, like- what should I do?
Laurie: You’re doing fine I think!
Pearl: “You’re such a great singer Louis”… (laughs)
(Laurie and Louis look around confused. Ivan sighs. Waiter brings nachos.)
Laurie: …Wait what?
Ivan: (gets out phone) I have to go. (stands up)
Louis: Oh yeah?
Ivan: (signals to Louis) My parents are here.
Pearl: So soon?
Ivan: Yeah, they’ve been waiting, bye guys!
Louis: Alright, I’ll see you, man.
Ivan: Actually, Come say hi to them… my mom wants to tell you “good job” for some crap.
Louis: (to Laurie) I’ll be right back…
Pearl: Bye!
(Both walk to side and, when out of earshot begin talking.)
Ivan: Okay, what is with Pearl?
Louis: What do you mean?
Ivan: I’m sorry, I had to leave.
Louis: Was she bothering you?
Ivan: Well you know… Yes. She was. I just couldn’t take her being like that-
Louis: Like what?
Ivan: She totally knows it’s the one month anniversary! And do you see how happy she is for you guys? She just loves a bloody showmance.
Louis: It’s not a showmance!
Ivan: To her it is. Maybe it is to Laurie!
Louis: Laurie’s not like that.
Ivan: You don’t think she’s the showmance type?
Louis: I’m not the showmance type.
Ivan: Sure.
Louis: I’m not! It’s not going to be that, man… (exits)
Ivan: (to audience) The next day, we went to the semi. No, this isn’t Pretty In Pink. We’re teenagers. What else are we supposed to do?
Scene 2
(We are at the semi-formal. Table now has tablecloth draped over it. Ivan and Louis enter. Dubstep or bland hip-hop plays. The waiter is on the dance floor in between catering.)
Ivan: It’s cold.
Louis: It’s boiling.
Ivan: Cold hearted… zing!
Louis: Was I supposed to laugh? (scanning room)
(both find table)
Ivan: What are we doing here? Everyone looks like whores. Even the men.
Louis: Do you see them?
Ivan: But, it’s not that they look like whores as much as they’re ‘trying to.’
Louis: Ivan, can you help me-
Ivan: Pseudo-whores! That’s truly pathetic.
Louis: As pathetic as pseudo-intellectuals.
Ivan: What?
(Pearl and Laurie enter. Both are drunk, laughing.)
Louis: Hi guys! (goes over to them)
Laurie: Hey.
Pearl: (hugs Louis) You guys came! Where’s Ivan?
Louis: Oh, he’s over there.
(both interactions (in bold) happen simultaneously.)
1. (Pearl approaches Ivan at the table.)
Ivan: Listen, I can’t do this right now.
Pearl: (grabs Ivan’s face and they share a long, passionate kiss.)
2. (Meanwhile)
Louis: So…hey
Laurie: Hi… again.
Louis: (laughs awkwardly.) … right?
(focus switches to Pearl and Ivan.)
Ivan: (glares at Pearl.) … Well, Sit down. (long pause) So from your actions I can infer that-
Pearl: Yeah, You’re right.
Ivan: (pauses) So now you’re interested again?
Pearl: Awful contradiction, isn’t it?
Ivan: It’s our contradictions that make us human.
Pearl: (pauses) Well… there you go!
(Back to Louis and Laurie.)
Louis: … but you see, I think since musicals have become such a culturally significant commercial and artistic entity, their importance in modern day culture has grossly changed from its vaudevillian roots.
Laurie: Did you get that out of an encyclopaedia?
Louis: No, it’s how I feel.
Laurie: …cute. (belches) Don’t you love a dance?
Louis: I don’t know why I’m here.
Laurie: Something about automaton conformity, or something.
Louis: (laughs) … As they say.
Laurie: (looks at waiter) hey, is that the waiter from…?
(Waiter opens buffet.)
Louis: Oh look, the buffet’s open!
(back to Pearl and Ivan)
Ivan: (takes pen out from pocket and writes on napkin)
Pearl: What are you doing?
Ivan: Nothing.
Pearl: You’re writing.
Ivan: Writers “write”. And actors “act.” … (to audience) Look at that, we’re both doing what we’re good at!
Pearl: You did this on our first date…
Ivan: Our only date. (a beat.) Did you like it?
Pearl: No, it annoyed the hell out of me.
Ivan: I was writing something for you … I was going to give it to you after, but…
Pearl: Aww Really?! Why didn’t you tell me?
Ivan: It doesn’t work like that.
Pearl: (Pauses) Do you want some vodka? I brought my dad’s flask.
Ivan: What?
Pearl: You need some.
Ivan: No thanks.
Pearl: Fine. (drinks)
Ivan: Why did you kiss me just now?
Pearl: I loved you.
Ivan: You hated me. We fought.
Pearl: I know! I do that!
Ivan: You ended it. Not me…
Pearl: But Ivan, it was like the best 2 weeks of my life!
Ivan: (A beat.) It was… I never expected it to…. you know. But then you… (picks up napkin and reads) “In the beginning there was a white canvas, which over time became spilled upon and made dark. Now, it’s filled with deep crimsons, bitter greens, dull browns and all the shades of life. And by you.” (A beat. He looks at her.)
Pearl: …What!?
Ivan: “All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling.” Oscar Wilde. 1891.
(back to Laurie and Louis, ‘eating’ at another table.)
Louis: Can I ask you something? Do you honestly want to be here?
Laurie: No. Obviously not.
Louis: Why is that?
Laurie: I can’t say…
Louis: No, seriously.
Laurie: I don’t know, I’m too weak to resist the societal pressures inflicted on me by the education system.
Louis: (laughs) I came for the food.
Laurie: I ate at home.
Louis: Tru.
Laurie: When I came in Grade 9, the food made me throw up.
Louis: (laughs) Ew
Laurie: It was funny because my mom thought I’d been drinking, but-
Louis: -But it was Grade 9.
Laurie: Exactly.
Louis: Are you drunk?
Laurie: Are you?
Louis: (pauses) Can I confess something?
Laurie: -You only came here to see me?
(back to Pearl and Ivan)
Pearl: People change.
Ivan: It’s a tragedy… where’s Louis?
Pearl: They’re probably out in the back doing stuff!!
Ivan: Doing what?
Pearl: (a beat.) Stuff.
Ivan: (pauses) What are we going to do about this?
Pearl: (sighs)
Ivan: You don’t love me.
Pearl: I don’t?
Ivan: You’re right though. People change. People grow apart. Nonetheless-
Pearl: People don’t want to care. It’s sad isn’t it? (pause) Ivan…I’m sorry…God, I-
Ivan: It’s fine.
Pearl: I don’t understand myself.
Ivan: Who does?
(back to Laurie and Louis)
Laurie: That’s the truth, isn’t it?
Louis: That’s one way to put it.
Laurie: (smiles) Louis, be yourself. People might actually like you.
(they lean in to kiss)
Pearl: (walks over and signals) Laurie…
Laurie: What?
Pearl: (signals)
Laurie: (to Louis) Sorry.
Louis: Oh, no, it’s fine. I’ll see you at the ‘dress’ tomorrow!
(both girls exit)
(Louis walks over to Ivan and sits.)
(both pause)
Ivan: How was…that?
Louis: Great. She’s beautiful.
Ivan: (a beat.) I’ve had a great night on this chair. This is a very satisfying chair. I’m glad the school board doesn’t think they’re better than us and respects us by buying comfortable chairs. We’ll be of voting age soon correct? Well, remember that. Next time you sit your ass down on a chair, Louis. You’re sitting on politics.
(Louis tries to laugh along.)
Ivan: It means nothing. That’s what we all don’t realize… This. What we’re doing here. Acting all worldly. Falling in and out of love. Everyone’s playing the game. Because that’s how you get blowjobs and popularity! It’s a charade.
Louis: This is different.
Ivan: Sure it is. Let me know how long it lasts, man. My money’s on “under a month.” I’ll tell you how she’ll do it too… “Louis. You’re a really great guy. Don’t think of this like we’re never going to talk to each other again. I’m glad you’re okay, though. I was worried you’d take this badly. Do you want me to stay here for a while?”
Louis: Maybe it will end! I don’t know, I’m not you.
Ivan: Human nature is just a series of niches to fall into.
Louis: Why aren’t you happy for me?
Ivan: I can’t be. ( A beat.) Happy for what?! She doesn’t love you.
Louis: (gets up) See you.
Ivan: The godforsaken truth hurts. But real friends tell it to each other.
Louis: I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Pearl.
Ivan: Who said anything about that?
Louis: It’s fairly obvious.
Ivan: Well… (a beat.) You know what that bitch said to me? People don’t want to care.
Louis: You’ve got to get over it, man.
Ivan: Hardly for each other. Not their parents. Not themselves. And who else is there? Really?!? Some continue this into their adult lives. They become tomorrow’s rapists, murderers and politicians.
Louis: Are you drunk?
Ivan: Some people learn to care. I guess it comes with age. But wealth and power come with age too and most only learn to care about that. So… In the end… you know what kills you? People. Only people.
Louis: Ivan, stop.
Ivan: That’s the sad truth, Louis. You see them every day. They are far from perfect and the ones who try to be are the worst.
Louis: I love her Ivan!
Ivan: Good for you.
Louis: Goodnight….We’ve got a dress tomorrow. Better get some sleep.
Ivan: No relationship in High School goes over 1 month.
Louis: Just because you believe something, doesn’t make it the truth!
Ivan: Both of you need to grow up.
Louis: Fuck off, man!! (exits)
Ivan: (to audience, while putting on a severely nerdy costume for the musical.) In the words of Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoyevsky… “To study the meaning of man and of life — I am making significant progress here… Man is a mystery: if you spend your entire life trying to puzzle it out, then do not say that you have wasted your time. I occupy myself with this mystery, because I want to be a man.” Personal correspondence. 1839.
Scene 3
(The next day. Backstage at a dress rehearsal. Pearl is seated, severely hung-over, wearing a face full of stage makeup and in stereotypically girly clothes. Laurie sits beside her in similar clothes. Louis and Ivan enter on either side. Ivan is dressed in the nerd costume. Louis is dressed as a cool jock. Boys see each other but don’t acknowledge.)
(Ivan sits away from 3. Louis approaches the girls and hugs both.)
Louis: Hey guys.
Pearl: Hi.
Louis: Are you alright?
Laurie: I’ll do.
Louis: Are you ready for um..?
Laurie: The dress? … (laughs)
Louis: Does Neal know you were out and about last night?
Laurie: He knows you were.
(both laugh)
Laurie: You must have had an awful time last night…
Louis: What makes you say that?
Laurie: You weren’t drunk.
Louis: It wasn’t bad at all. Because you were there…
Ivan: Oh God!! (to audience) I don’t know how to end this play. (pauses) I stayed with these people for 2 more years, playing the game and dancing in and out of my beliefs with them. Laurie and Louis went… Well, I won’t tell you what happened to them.
(Laurie and Louis are together.)
Laurie: Louis, if this makes any sense, I need to learn to care.
Louis: I guess both of us need to grow up.
Ivan: (to audience) Pearl and I continued to share awkward glances and make awkward jokes.
(they give a reluctant look to each other)
Pearl: (to Ivan) Hey Ivan, You really found Scooter in today’s rehearsal.
Ivan: (to audience) I still keep in touch with Louis.
(the 3 look at him. Louis signals Ivan and they walk upstage. A beat as conversation begins.)
Louis: Ivan…
Ivan: Look, I’m sorry, okay? I want you to go out with Laurie and be happy.
Louis: Well, that’s great- but it’s not about what you want.
Ivan: (long pause) Louis, I feel like shit. I just have no faith in anyone.
Louis: I understand. People are disappointing… (a beat.) For you.
Ivan: I so completely don’t understand myself. (long pause) One minute, life’s going well. Then I’m thrown into another void. Life is lived from void to void and the only salvation is the throw.
Louis: What does that mean?
Ivan: Hell if I know. (they look at each other.)
(Start “Brand New You” Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown.)
Ivan: …zing!
(Pearl walks up to front dancing and singing.)
Pearl: I saw the cover and I judged the book/I turned away without a second look/But now, now, now/I see a brand new you
(Laurie joins her.)
Laurie: I told myself I better run and hide/I never noticed what was there inside/But now, now, now/I see a brand new you/And I can’t stop myself from loving every itty bitty thing you do!
(Waiter joins in, but doesn’t sing.)
Both: Ooh!/I see a brand new you!/Ooh!/I see a brand new you!
(Louis joins in)
Louis: I didn’t know where I was meant to be/I figured no one would be there for me.
Louis, Laurie and Pearl: But now, now, now/I see a brand new you/ You, you!/ I see a brand new you!
(Ivan very reluctantly joins in)
Ivan and Louis: I never knew that you could understand!/But I looked up and you reached out your hand/But now, now, now/I see a brand new you
All: I open my eyes
Laurie: And there’s a great big world around
All: I opened my eyes
Pearl: And just look, just look. Look at what I found!
(In the proceeding ”breakdown” characters go into choreography. After, all skip off happily. Could cut song at approx. 2:14.)
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