Age of Reason

2007 Scholastic Gold Writing Award Winner and National Voices Nominee

 Dedicated to all escapists in the language of Oscar Wilde

 

Title: Age of Reason

 

Characters:

 

1~ Gained riches from father, soon to go bankrupt

2~ Accountant

3~ Successful Lawyer

4~ Bank Clerk

5~ Yoga Instructor

6~ Secretary

7~ 1’s servant

8~ 1’s cook

9~ 1’s maid

Waiter

 

Setting:

 

Scene 1) An orange room with hordes of picture frames on the wall, none with pictures. There are two chairs in the center seating 2 and 5. Two extra chairs are on stage-right seating 1 and 3. There are two chairs on stage left; one empty, the other seating 4. They are all facing a round coffee table, which is scrambled with a bunch of scattered letters.

Scene 2) A dark room with 8 lying on a bed, next to it is a horde of tissues.

 

Scene 3) There is three chairs surrounding two tables. 3,5, and 6 sit in the center table.

 

Scene 4) 1’s apartment. There’s one photo in the center frame.

 

Scene 5) Damp day at cemetery. 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7,8,9 stand in two small circles around 1’s tombstone.

 

                                                                               

                                                                                      Scene 1

 

(3 gets up and looks at frames)

 

3: What is the point?

 

5: Of what? Life?

 

3: No. Picture frames with no photos. Don’t dare tell me it’s an art form.

 

1: There’s nothing worthy of placing itself in my house. All images produced my mass              

    production. It loses all its artistic meaning.

 

2: Then, why do you have frames sold by mass production?

 

(Enter 7 with a salver filled with six cups of tea)

 

1: It becomes more symbolic.

 

(3 smirks, rest chuckle)

 

7: 1 (hands tea), 2 (hands tea), 3 (refuses tea), 4 (hands tea), 5 (hands tea) (Exits left           

    stage)

 

4: Symbolism loses all it’s meaning if one cannot interpret it.

 

1: My apartment is only open for higher-level thinkers.

 

2: (rolls eyes) While you entertain your clique of intellectuals, (gets up, begins to put on 

    coat from behind seat) I must get back to my unfortunate job.

 

4: Yes, me too. Wretched civilization puts us down and brainwashes us to feel we’re on

    top of the social chain.

 

1: (groans) Well, why don’t you guys just quit?

 

5: Regrettably, that age is over.

 

1: Bonkers! It doesn’t have to be!

 

4: Well, sorry if we are not as fortunate in money and rank as you are (gets up, grabs coat

    from back of chair)

 

5: Oh, dear.

 

1: (laughs softly) It is not my fault I have everything. I am merely suggesting a new

    agreeable lifestyle.

 

3: (sits down) Agreeable for you.

 

2: Well excuse us, if you want to use social circles instead of our bohemian ideals.

 

(6 walks in from right stage)

 

5: Can we just have a conversation based on our ideals and not how much one has in it’s

    pocket?

 

6: Never mind. (Exit 6 off of right stage)

 

4: Our ideals lead us to our pockets.

 

(Exit 4 and 2 off of right stage)

 

3: I didn’t say I was leaving, send for some crumpets! (5 groans and rubs fore-head)

 

1: 8! Bring in some refreshments. (beat change) I just can’t stand those two. Always 

    trying to bring me down.

 

5: Maybe you can try and empathize.

 

1: Why can’t they?

 

5: Because they’ve never been in your position.

 

(Enter 9 from right stage with a salver full of crumpets)

 

1: Where’s 8?

 

9: (fearfully) It’s down with the fever.

 

3: Are you telling me that these crumpets have been exposed to gruesome bacteria?

 

9: No, I made them myself.

 

3: And you have been nowhere near 8?

 

9: (trembles) Stop hounding me! (Runs off left stage)

 

(3 and 1 laugh)

 

5: Do be kind. What if we were of that importance?

 

1: I’d have you fired.

 

(5 groans and exits off of right stage)

 

3: It appears you’ve lost the rein over them.

 

1: They don’t matter.

 

(pause)

 

3: (eyes transfixed on 1) I see how that is.

 

1: No, I didn’t mean (Exit 3 off of right stage) that. (pause) 7!

 

7: Yes, sir?

 

1: (softly, beat change) Am I haughty and insecure?

 

7: Certainly, sir.

 

1: That is all. Thank you.

 

(light dims)

 

                         CURTAIN

 

                         

                          Scene 2    

 

(Enter 9)

 

9: I’ve had enough of those upper class twits! Always trying to bring me down.

 

8: (raspy voice) That’s their job. Where do you think that pompous façade is derived

    from?

 

9: It’s simply rude. (sits down on bed) Can’t they ever understand we’re significant as

    well?

 

8: They’re not allowed to. If they do, they have a heart. And a heart is so unbecoming.

 

9: (pause) But they labeled us by our rank in the social order! (crosses arms, beat change)

    You’ve been listening to them, haven’t you?

 

8: What do you ever so mean?

 

9: You’ve become a bloody conformist!

 

8: Conformist? Are you kidding? These are my beliefs.

 

(Enter 7 with a salver of cucumber sandwiches from left stage)

 

7: Hey guys! I just nicked some cucumber sandwiches from the kitchen!

 

9: I’m not in the mood. It appears our so-called kin betrayed us.

 

7: What? (in confusion) How… how can that be? (stares at 8)

 

8: I just think we deserve the position we are in. I mean they worked hard to be rich.

 

9: By what? Waiting to be born? It was bred into money! It never worked a day in it’s

    life!

 

8: I see I’ll never change your minds.

 

7: Certainly correct about something.

 

9: Karl Marx, himself said, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of

    class struggles.” Doesn’t that mean anything to you?

 

8: Only if we believe class exists.

 

7: And what? If we imagine there’s no struggle, there’ll be none?

 

8: Exactly.

 

9: You’re just being ignorant! (gets up off of bed)

 

8: Or happy.

 

7: (voice low) I’m sorry it has come to that.

 

8: C’mon. You know well that I’m correct.

 

9: I see what our proletariat ancestors have done has not appealed to you.

 

8: As I would love to be a communist, I’m being realistic.

 

9: I apologize I live in a world of fancy.

 

(Exit 9 off of right stage)

 

7: Look what you’ve done.

 

8: What? Exposed you guys to reality?

 

7: You’re impossible!

 

(Exit 7 off of right stage)

 

8: Try and explain the course of society and you get nothing in return.

 

(light dims)

 

                           CURTAIN

 

 

                            Scene 3

 

3: 1 does not want to socialize with us anymore.

 

5: You lie! It has the audacity to make that decision?

 

6: What happened? You’re all behaving like pestering children, not that children aren’t

    already pests. (soft chuckle)

 

3: That’s what they are.

 

6: They? What happened to you?

 

3: I’m just naturally glorious.

 

5: The only problem is that they don’t understand one another.

 

3: Stop whining, it’s best they don’t get along. Who wants to speak to 1 anyway? All it  

    talks about is Earl Grey, both the tea and the Prime Minister, and rainbow colored  

    sombreros.

 

6: I don’t see a problem. I mean we always knew 1 was this way. (beat change) Where’s

    our bloody food anyway?

 

3: Garcon!

 

5: That’s quite the rude term.

 

3: Well that’s its name. I’m labeled as successful lawyer and it as garcon.

 

6: You could’ve said excuse me.

 

3: It’s not in my place.

 

(Enter waiter from left stage)

 

WAITER: (rudely) Yes?

 

5: Excuse my chum here, just three cups of tea, please.

 

(Exit waiter off of right stage)

 

3: No tip for that indecent chav.

 

6: Well, if you didn’t piss it off.

 

3: (with slight air of arrogance) I’m doing my job as a consumer.

 

6: Ugh, you are disgusting.

 

3: Thanks.

 

(Enter waiter with salver, while no on is looking, spits in tea, hands cup to each)

 

5: Thank you. (3 glares at both the waiter and 5)

 

(Exit Waiter off of right stage. Enter 2 and 4. They pull up chairs from table and sit with 3,5, and 6)

 

2: Where were you yesterday 6?

 

6: Spending time away from you argumentative mongrels.

 

4: Don’t treat us like that! I spend fifty-five hours a week working at the most

    unimaginably tedious bank and all 1 does is order 7,8, and 9 around and watch as 

    money falls into its decrepit fingers.

 

2: I’d rather disagree. Being 1’s accountant, if it doesn’t get a job fast, all it’s money is

    going to disappear. Too much expenditure on servants.

 

(Pause)

 

6: You’re kidding?

 

2: Not at all.

 

4: That’s what 1 gets.

 

6: Don’t be rude.

 

3: Karma works, I guess.

 

6: We should help.

 

4: Why?

 

5: C’mon 1 is our friend.

 

3: Do you plan to tell it?

 

2: Certainly. It is my obligated duty. Was going to after our lunch.

 

5: I think I have a twenty with me (searches bag)

 

4: Are you kidding me? 1 needs no help. You heard it yesterday.

 

6: You’re all being hypocrites.

 

2: I call it giving one a taste of they’re own medicine (chuckles)

 

6: I’m disgusted by you two! (storms off of left stage)

 

4: What’s its problem?

 

5: You’re unappealing nature (sips tea)

 

2: And what did we ever do?

 

3: You always complain about having to be frugal and now you have the social rank, just

    give back what you would have wanted unto you.

 

4: Or it’s time to even things out.

 

2: Every action has an equal reaction.

 

5: And that’s when sentimentalism sets in.

 

4: Oh, stop being so caring.

 

2: (looks at watch) I think it’s time to break in the news. Bye guys. (gets up, exits right stage)

 

5: I certainly hope there’ll be no yelling involved.

 

(light dims)

 

                        CURTAIN

 

 

                          Scene 4

 

(Enter 2 as 1 is looking at photo)

 

1: What are you doing here? More in fact, who let you in?

 

2: That is of no matter. As your accountant, it is of my concern to inform you…

 

1: Oh, just shut it. Tell me in simple terms.

 

2: Okay… you’re broke.

 

(Pause)

 

1: Well, I hope you’re happy.

 

2: I pray you don’t surmise I wished this upon you.

 

1: After yesterday’s argument, I don’t know what to believe (sits on chair)

 

2: It’s best to either cut off your servants or  better suggestion: get a job.

 

1: And why would I do that? Work for the miscreants that run this society?

 

2: It is the only way to survive.

 

1: Do I seem to care to survive?

 

2: Well then, I guess my job here is done.

 

1: Certainly. Good day.

 

(Exit 2 right stage. Enter 7 with a salver holding water from left stage)

 

7: Sir, are you alright?

 

1: Quite distraught, thank you. (drinks water)

 

7: May I ask what is the matter?

 

1: No. Say, what is wrong of me?

 

7: Nothing, sir.

 

1: Without money, would I be a simple man?

 

7: No, sir. You would be a hobo, not a boho. (chuckles) My, my. My humor is ever so

   enlightening. But, you are lucky to have your fortune, otherwise you would be me. (1

   winces)

 

1: That is all.

 

(Exit 7 right stage)

 

1: I am… done. I have positively nothing. My fortune has dried up, my ideals: shriveled

    into prunes. (gets up, starts walking upstage) I am but a hollow creature with horrid

    empty frames on a blasted tangerine wall! (chest heaves, sinks to floor, back against

    wall) My father would’ve been invariably ecstatic (sarcasm). Conform! Always bloody

    conform! (in a low voice) Always trying to bring me down. Telling me I am worth

    what is in my pocket, not of my mental capability! Nothing is ever based on substance

    anymore, is it? There is no longer any basis on originality! That is it! There’s nothing I

    hold to now! No parents, no god, no friends, and now money! Are you happy now

    society? I give up!

 

(light dims)

 

                              CURTAIN

 

 

                               Scene 5

 

6: What were its last words?

 

2: It didn’t care to survive. (pause) I feel horrid.

 

5: Did it have any money left?

 

3: Is that all you care about?

 

5: No, I meant for it’s servants.

 

2: Oh, dear. That’s right. $45 left, meaning $15 each.

 

6: 4, you okay? You’ve been awfully silent.

 

4: It’s my fault (everybody groans)

 

6: And how is it your fault?

 

4: If I didn’t badger it, maybe it wouldn’t have given up so easily?

 

2: You know it would’ve killed itself regardless.

 

4: But, it symbolized the carelessness that we should all embody.

 

5: And you realize this now?

 

4: When else would I realize this? It is true you realize the value of something when it’s

    lost.

 

3: At least we know you’re not a cynic (chuckles around)

 

(Scene changes to 7,8, and 9)

 

7: Will you guys just talk?

 

9: Why should we? We have no similar principles.

 

8: Look, I apologize. But I can’t live in a world where I deny what is really going on.

 

9: Doesn’t mean you have to apply it to your beliefs.

 

7: We understand that we do need to work harder to make it out here, but its still

    comfortable to think we can change that.

 

8: Why complain then?

 

9: Because it aids us.

 

8: It doesn’t do anything to change the world.

 

9: (fiercely) Well, at least it gets the word out there.

 

7: Calm down you two. The matter at hand is that we no longer have a job.

 

9: I heard 1 went bloody broke and left us nothing.

 

8: 1 went broke by paying us and not working a day in it’s life. Why do you think I pity it

    so?

 

7: So we literally have nothing to live by while we look for new jobs?

 

9: Nope.

 

7: Well, what are we going to do?

 

8: Be optimists. We’ll find new jobs in some time. It’ll be fine.

 

9: That’s coming from the “Realist” eh? What cause this change of heart?

 

8: Optimism is the only thing we can hope to do.

 

(Exit 7, 8, and 9 left stage. Scene changes back to 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6)

 

5: I guess we’re past the age of fun. All that surrounds us now is hypocrisy and

    contradictions.

 

4: Wasn’t that always there?

 

2: I can see why 1 wanted to die.

 

4: We’re past our Age of Reason.

 

6: That’s a horrid metaphor! So what, our thirties are considered the Age of

    Enlightenment?

 

2: Possibly.

 

5: I thought they were both the same?

 

6: Can be considered so.

 

3: Either age consists of too many problems. We can either compromise or die. (pause) Say, all in favor of compromise, reply aye.

 

(All say aye)

 

4: For the time being anyway (chuckle)

 

(All exit right stage)

 

                           CURTAIN

 

Author's Note

feedback appreciated