Daddy's Blues

A play I wrote in high school a few years back. It came in second or third in our 5 Minute Play Festival.

 Daddy’s Blues

By Jeremy Cooney

 

PLACE

The minds eye.

 

CHARACTERS

KELLY – guitarist. He is sarcastic and witty.

CRYSTAL – A flakey but inspirational muse.

BEN – A father, and character in Kelly’s song

BABY GIRL – Ben’s daughter.

MAN – Character in Ben’s song.

QUARTET – Self explanitory

 

 

KELLY sits downstage with his guitar trying to improv a blues riff. Every attempt he stumped by a “musicians block.” CRYSTAL walks in from CSR, and he begins to play a riff. She listens to Kelly play for a while.

 

CRYSTAL

You’re getting better.

 

KELLY

Thanks.

 

CRYSTAL

I like the switch in genre.

 

KELLY

And you are?

 

CRYSTAL

I am your inspiration, a muse of sorts. I’m a reflection of creative neuro-pathways in your brain, and therefore an extension of you.

 

KELLY

Oh, so that’s why you can be here.

 

CRYSTAL

Exactly.

HE plays guitar.

 

CRYSTAL

You can call me Crystal.

 

HE goes back to playing. CRYSTAL, after getting tired of being ignored, interrupts his riffing.

 

CRYSTAL

So, what are we writing?

 

KELLY

“WE” are writing a song.

 

CRYSTAL

Really? I couldn’t tell with the guitar and all.

 

KELLY

You know, as an extension of myself, I’d expect you to ask less obvious questions.

 

CRYSTAL

All right, cowboy, what do you need from me?

 

KELLY

A premise.

 

CRYSTAL

All right, you’ll need a character.

 

KELLY

We’ll start with a man.

 

LIGHT RISES on BEN DSL

 

CRYSTAL

Let’s call him Ben; I’ve always liked that name.

 

KELLY

Fine, Ben. What’s his conflict?

 

CRYSTAL

Are you writing a song or a play?

 

KELLY

There needs to be a story in the song. Conflict, tension; otherwise you get songs like “My Humps” and “Who Let the Dogs Out.”

 

CRYSTAL

Classics!

 

KELLY

Crystal, the story.

 

CRYSTAL

Right. Well, he has a child.

 

KELLY

A girl.

 

BABY GIRL enters and holds BEN’S hand. THEY smile at each other.

 

KELLY

Something happens.

 

CRYSTAL

She leaves.

 

KELLY

No. She’s taken.

 

MAN walks on, picks up BABY GIRL, and walks off stage.

 

CRYSTAL

Like a kidnapping?

 

KELLY

Yeah...but more like an abduction. There’s no ransom. She’s just gone.

 

CRYSTAL

Gone?

 

KELLY

Yeah, gone.

 

HE stops playing, and the CSL lights fade, leaving BEN in the dark on HIS knees.

 

KELLY takes out a pad of paper and starts to scribble fiercely.

 

BEAT

 

CRYSTAL

That’s it?  That’s the conflict? She’s gone?

 

KELLY

(Still scribbling) Could you shut up for a minute?

 

CRYSTAL

But she was his daughter! Hey! I’m talking to you! You can’t just leave me in the dark. I’m your inspiration, damn it!

 

KELLY

Are you my inspiration, or my lack of patience?

 

CRYSTAL walks over, sits on BEN'S kneeling body, and begins to pout. KELLY finishes his writing.

 

KELLY

Okay, it’s not the end of his conflict. He searches for her. For years he searches.

 

CRYSTAL doesn’t say anything, but looks away from him with her nose up.

 

KELLY

(Sighs) Okay, I’m sorry.

 

CRYSTAL smiles and jumps back up.

 

CRYSTAL

That’s better. Now, Benny Boy over here is searching.

 

KELLY

Right, something happened that night that sparked an offset in his brain.

 

CRYSTAL

He’s crazy.

 

KELLY

No he’s not. He…he just never stops believing she’s still out there. Twenty-five, thirty years go by and he’s still looking for his little girl. It’s like a natural instinct, only blown up to the max. Parents will do anything for their children.

 

CRYSTAL

More with mothers.

 

KELLY

Let’s not get into a gender disagreement.

 

CRYSTAL

Fine, so he never stops looking for her.

 

KELLY

Never. He’s obsessed.

 

CRYSTAL

And that’s the song?

 

KELLY

Yep.

 

CRYSTAL

Okay, I’m ready. Sing to me (pose).

 

BEAT

 

KELLY

No.

 

BEAT

 

CRYSTAL

Why?

 

KELLY

Because he’s gonna sing it.

 

Lights slowly fade up on BEN as the guitar begins to play.

 

DADDY’S BLUES:

(Slow blues)

 

BEN

Oh my baby, she was taken

Right out of her bed

Didn’t leave, no. She was taken

Left a note by my head

Said don’t you worry, Sonny

We’ll keep her company

But you ain’t gonna see yo baby girl

Again…

 

Thirty years now and it seems

She grows up in my dreams

Will I ever hold my baby girl again?

(x2)

 

(QUARTET comes out and harmonizes on “Ohhh”)

So I’ll keep on rollin’

Gotta find my baby

Gotta keep on truckin’

When I find her I’m gonna say,

“Baby, baby, where ya been?

My hearts gone slow

My hair; grown thin

But I kept on lookin for you."

 

CHORUS

 

BEN                                                QUARTET

Followed the sunset                         (Followed the sunset)

Survived an Egyptian drought            (Ohhhh)

Fought the demons                          (Demons)

Both inside and out                          (Ohhh)

Now I’m starting to lose faith             (Lose faith)

My name has been disgraced             (Been disgraced)

But I’ll keep on lookin’ for you

Yes I’ll keep on lookin’ for you…

 

(The QUARTET sings the chorus as BEN sings things like “Where’s my baby?” or “I’ll never stop looking”. Slowly everyone but KELLY fades from the stage, CRYSTAL being the last. Lights fade on KELLY still playing.)

 

THE END

Reviews

[CompellingComposer]

Really good, I love this.