Lampyridine

Two outlooks on life and death.

 

LAMPYRIDINE

 

SETTING: Midnight. Present. The rooftop of a large high apartment complex. The only requirement for the set is a ledge from which characters can jump and disappear from view.

Lighting is an intricate part of the play, hence the name, so lights should be dimmer in the beginning and bright orange near the very end during the sunrise.

 

CHARACTERS:

CHARLIE: A woman dying of stomach cancer.

ROSE: A woman contemplating suicide.

 

At Rise: “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beetles plays in the background as the lights fade in over the center of the stage and far center downstage. The rest of the stage remains dark.

 

(Rose enters and stands downstage near the edge, facing the audience with bottle of alcohol in hand, swaying occasionally either from the alcohol or high winds on the roof, she gives a loud sob and takes a swig from the bottle. Rose looks over the edge.)

 

ROSE: (softly) It’s so far… oh God. It’s so far down… so far…

 

 (Rose stares out into the audience, raises her arms for balance, then stretches them behind her like wings and bends her knees. Charlie enters with a backpack slung over her shoulder and the lights go up in the center of the stage as she reaches it. Rose looks over her shoulder at Charlie who waves her on.)

 

CHARLIE: Oh. Hello. No, no. Never mind me. I’m not here to stop you.

 

ROSE: W-What?

 

CHARLIE: Carry on. I won’t look if you don’t want me to.

 

(Charlie sits down cross-legged, pulls a journal out of the backpack, and begins writing something. Rose watches her, speechless. After a few moment s of looking back and forth between the ledge and Charlie, Rose walks over to Charlie and gingerly tries to look over her shoulder.)

 

ROSE: (voice faltering) What. Um…w-what’re you writing?

 

CHARLIE: Huh? Oh. Goodbye poetry.

 

ROSE: What’s that? I-If you don’t mind my asking.

 

CHARLIE: (clears her throat) “The air feels like silk under the full chalk moon. Down in the darkness I hear the cry of sirens. I will not go softly, but hope to go soon…”

            (Rose covers her face with her hands.)

Oh, dear. I’m sorry. Are you alright�"

 

ROSE: (shrieks) --No! No I’m not alright. I’m not alright… not alright… I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to yell.

 

CHARLIE: It’s fine.

 

(Rose sits down next to Charlie and hugs her knees close.)

 

ROSE: I’m going to jump.

 

CHARLIE: (smiles) Ditto.

 

ROSE: (more to herself) I’m actually gonna do it.

 

CHARLIE: If you don’t mind me asking, why are you gonna?

 

ROSE: There’s nothing left.

 

CHARLIE: What makes you think that?

 

(Rose opens her mouth to answer but gives up and stares out into the darkness. Charlie continues to jot things down occasionally.)

 

ROSE: We met in college, James and I and… he enlisted in the army and we were gonna get       married after he got back from his tour.

 

CHARLIE: (looks up at this) Did he get back?

 

ROSE: (forces a smile) He got back…we got engaged… but we never got married.

 

CHARLIE: (gently)… what happened?

 

ROSE: (rambling) My best friend�"she�"she was actually the reason I met him in the first           place…she introduced us… we ended up at the same college so we stayed close… but            then when he got back she�"they�"

            (Rose laughs at herself as she begins to cry. Charlie nods and pats Rose on the shoulder.)

            So…

 

CHARLIE: Yeah.

 

ROSE: So…yeah.

 

CHARLIE: What else?

 

(Rose thinks for a few moments, collecting her thoughts. Charlie resumes writing.)

 

ROSE: …I feel like I’m living the same day over and over again…

 

CHARLIE: Any day in particular?

 

ROSE: … the day I found out.

 

CHARLIE: (watches Rose) Tell me about that day.

            (Rose shifts uncomfortably, looks everywhere except at Charlie, and takes a swig of her drink.)

            … but only if you want to.

 

ROSE: … wake up, make a pot of coffee, go to work… sometimes after work, grab a snack or     get some groceries… come back here, check my messages, go into the kitchen to grab a        glass of Merlot…

 

CHARLIE: (grins) Functional alcoholic, eh? Sorry, go on.

 

ROSE: (gives a rueful smile)… go into the kitchen�" and they were there. Needless to say, I’ve    been avoiding the kitchen lately.

 

CHARLIE: Then where do you get your coffee in the morning?

 

ROSE: I go out… and look at the people…

 

CHARLIE: Sick, isn’t it, how they all seem to be obnoxiously romantic couples?

 

(Rose laughs unconvincingly and takes another swig from the bottle. Charlie finishes writing, closes the journal and slips it in the backpack then leans back, staring up at the sky.)

 

CHARLIE: Would ya look at them stars. Wow. Gorgeous.

 

(Rose glances up but then looks away.)

 

CHARLIE: Ya know, you’ll only see the moon rise about twenty times before you die.

 

ROSE: I wonder what he’ll say…

 

CHARLIE: I’ve stayed up to watch the moon for the past several weeks...

 

ROSE: … what they’ll think… when they find out…

 

CHARLIE:… and I still don’t think I’ll ever see enough of it.

            What do you think it looks like?

 

ROSE: (stares at the sky for a moment) I don’t know… never thought about it.

 

CHARLIE: It reminds me of a pearl. Or maybe one of those Chinese lanterns… you know, the    round papers ones… especially in the fall when it’s big and orange.

 

(Rose takes another swig of her drink, emptying it, then tosses it to the side. Rose buries her face in her arms. Charlie pats her on the shoulder.)

 

ROSE: What am I waiting for?

 

CHARLIE: (sighs contently) Kind of poetic, ending it on a night like this… like going down on the Titanic with a few violinists.

 

ROSE: (glares at Charlie) … what are you waiting for?

 

CHARLIE: (Gestures to the horizon with a sweeping arc of her hand.)

             I’m waiting for the full orchestra.

            (Winces and clutches her stomach. Charlie rummages in the back pack, withdrawing a small vial filled with clear liquid and takes a sip. Grimaces. Scraps tongue against her teeth making a face. Rose watches Charlie with a concerned look. Noticing, Charlie looks a Rose and forces a smile.)

            Morphine.

            (Charlie drinks the remaining liquid. Makes a face of disgust. Coughs. Sighs and looks up at the sky.)

 

ROSE: (groans)… I have a headache.

 

(Charlie picks up the bottle and sniffs it, wrinkling her nose, then throws it over the edge of the building.)

 

CHARLIE: (laughs) No wonder, a pint of Jack Daniels? Whew… is that to kills the butterflies?

 

ROSE: Butterflies?

 

CHARLIE: Second thoughts?

 

ROSE: (shrugs) Maybe.

 

(There is an awkward silence. Rose stares in one direction while Charlie stares in the other. Charlie rummages in the backpack, withdraws a list and begins checking it. Crosses something off. )

 

CHARLIE: Oh! Do you know how to tango?

 

ROSE: … Yeah… why?

 

CHARLIE: Can you teach me?

 

ROSE: Why?

 

CHARLIE: I’ve always wanted to try it but never got around to it. I mean, I got to “go train-      hopping”, “recite poetry at the metro”, “climb radio tower”, “plant garden”, “get        kitten”… I gave him to a friend now that I’m… oh and “sneak into a concert”, “try     shrooms”, “fix cabinet”---

ROSE: (groans and massages her temples) Okay! Okay. C’mon.

 

(Charlie stands and offers a hand to Rose who ignores it and stands up shakily by herself. Rose hesitantly places her hands on Charlie’s waist to lead and takes Charlie’s hand.)

 

ROSE: I think I should lead… just because. Alright… um.

            (Rose begins guiding Charlie, they begin walking, each step hitting the emphasized beats.)

            One two Three four. One two Three four… now start walking on the balls of your feet, not with your heels… yes, like that. Your arms should be straight… ugh… um more ridged but keep your knees bent…

 

CHARLIE: (straightens her arm) Like this?

 

ROSE: (nods and hiccups) One two Three four… One two Three four…

 

(Tango music begins playing in the background. Rose and Charlie dance around the stage, gradually gaining more confidence. Charlie laughs. Rose begins to smile. A few moments into the song they begin to lean in closer to each other so they are dancing cheek to cheek. The lights go up gradually. They spin twice, on the second time Rose attempts to dip Charlie but Charlie winces in pain as she leans back. The music stops and Rose stands watching Charlie hold her stomach in pain.)

 

ROSE: Um. Should… should I get out some morphine?

 

(Charlie nods and folds her knees under her, sitting down. Rose grabs a vial of morphine from the backpack and hands it to Charlie. Charlie takes it but drops it because her hand is shaking. Rose picks it up, takes off the lid, puts it in Charlie’s hand, and helps to close her fingers around it. Charlie exhales sharply and raises it to her lips with Rose’s help. Charlie takes a sip, shudders, takes another sip, begins sobbing and shaking, tries to take another sip but Rose takes the vial away from her.)

 

ROSE: I’m sorry…

 

CHARLIE: (laughs, winces) It’s fine… I’ve had too much already… thanks. It’ll kick in… in a minute.

 

(Charlie leans to the side as if she is going to fall over. Rose holds her upright gently with an arm around her shoulder. Charlie continues to shake though with less intensity. Rose puts both around Charlie. Eventually the tremors cease and Charlie’s eyes flutter closed, her breathing slowing.)

 

ROSE: Hey, I don’t even know your name… hey, are you awake?

 

CHARLIE: (after a moment, groggily)… Charlie.

 

ROSE: Rose.

CHARLIE: Mm… s’pretty…

 

(There is a moment of silence between them with Charlie drifting in and out of consciousness and Rose holding her upright, reassuringly stroking her arm. The lights go up illuminating most of the stage with an orange tint.)

 

CHARLIE: (sings sleepily) Here comes the sun… here comes the sun… it’s alright. Little darling, it's been a… long… lonely winter. Little darling… here comes the sun…

 

ROSE: Are you better now?

 

CHARLIE: Yeah… still hurts…

 

ROSE: I don’t think you could take much more…

 

CHARLIE: (chuckles softly) I know, I know…(smile fades) I know.

 

ROSE: Hey, Charlie, what’s it like… knowing you’re going to die?

 

CHARLIE: We’re all gonna die… someday… yanno? (chuckles drunkenly, winces)

 

ROSE: I mean…

 

CHARLIE: Yeah… I know… I don’t know… time gets all screwed up, days go by faster. Never            enough to do everything.

 

ROSE: (stares off into the darkness) Are you scared?

 

CHARLIE: (tries to sit up straighter) Um… not anymore. I did a lot of things I might never have done otherwise… I’m happy that I’m not alone though… I kind of look forward to it now.

 

ROSE: (looks at Charlie) Why?

 

CHARLIE: I’d rather go when I want than lie in a hospital bed and let it eat me from the inside  out.

 

ROSE: Did you do everything you wanted to?

 

CHARLIE: Just about.

 

(Charlie stands up with Rose’s help and staggers over to the backpack.)

 

CHARLIE: If you wanted to say goodbye to anyone there’s plenty of paper… and pens. (laughs)            And morphine if you wanted any… I don’t need it anymore. I’m pretty sure they’ll find           the letters…

(The lights go up even more, concentrated where the sunrise is in a bright orange glow.)

 

ROSE: You’re�"you’re going now?

 

CHARLIE: (nods) The sun’s rising.

 

(Charlie walks over to the ledge with another vial of morphine in her hand. Rose walks over to the ledge also but stays away from the edge. Charlie turns towards Rose.)

 

CHARLIE: Thank you for that. (gestures to the vial)

 

(Charlie turns back to the ledge, pauses, turns around and kisses Rose.)

 

CHARLIE: It was nice meeting you, Rose.

            (turns back to the ledge, takes the lid off the vial, staring into the sunrise, looks back at Rose.)

            Take care.

            (downs the morphine in one gulp, drops the vial over the side, then falls forward, laughing happily. Rose shrinks back, horror-stricken. Rose inches towards the edge and peers over.)

 

ROSE: (shrieks) NO! No! No! No!

            (Rose’s knee’s buckle and she sits down, holding her legs close and rocking back and forth.)         

            No. No. No… no… no… don’t go… don’t go…

            (Rose hides her face and begins to sob. Her crying turns into laughter. Rose crawls over to the backpack, pulls out a journal, and begins to read.)

            “Dear reader, I don’t know who you are and by the time you read this, I’ll probably be     gone but hopefully it won’t be in a hospital bed, brain dead, and in pain. When I learned          it was stomach cancer I made a list and within the last year have checked off most of            them…

 

(Rose’s voice is replaced with Charlie’s, Charlie remains unseen.)

 

CHARLIE: My list is somewhere with this journal if you’re interested. I did the paperwork          already. Everything I have goes to my friends and sister. I never thought it would happen  like this but part of me is happy it did… I never would have done most of these things            without knowing I would die someday in the near future.

 

(Charlie enters and all the lighting concentrates on her leaving the rest of the stage dark or dimly lit. Charlie continues to speak  from the letter as Rose reads the letter silently to herself.)

 

CHARLIE:  The sky looks so much bluer now. I’m happy I got to spend time with the ones I       love. I hope Patches is alright. He was a beautiful little tortoise-shell kitty and he kept  my feet warm on many a chilly night. I hope Jack and Tom are still alright. Still         together. Tom is probably still a pain but his cooking was amazing. Tell my sister I       love her, even if we’ve never really gotten along. What’s left of me, they can burn             and put in my garden. I’d like to think I’ll become part of the roses… maybe then       they’ll actually start to grow. I should’ve realized they needed more light. Tell Jack to cut       down that damn Hemlock. I apologize to the people this will hurt but I hope they    will      understand. Through my journals hopefully they’ll see I was happy and I’ve never felt so         alive.

            -Charlie ”

 

(The lights go back up, including the sunrise, as Charlie exits. Rose puts the journal back in the backpack, stands up and looks at the sunrise.)

 

ROSE: (sings to herself) … Little darling… it seems like years since it's been clear. Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say… it’s all right…

 

(Rose Exits. “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beetles plays as the lights go down.)

Reviews

[The Wave]

wow,
i really enjoyed reading this. i first wasn't sure to read it because i didn't feel like reading something lengthy, but i couldn't stop reading once i began. it was like watching a movie. everything was described perfectly enough for it to be easily visual for the reader.

the only thing i would have preferred was if charlie was a guy instead.

but overall, this was good and written well. you clearly have talent.

[Mey]

Beautifully written. Very well done. I prefer and they live happily ever after but I suppose in this kind of story there's nothing really you can do about it is there.

[remembertoforget]

That is so coool! The ways Here Comes the Sun was playing at the beggining..and she was singing at the end..this is an absolutely awesome play(: Definately give you props for this!