A Momentary Stay Against Utility

A short play about nothing

 

A Momentary Stay Against Utility

 

Cast of characters:

J, male, old fashioned, dressed in a Victorian style suit

Tre, Female, dirty, dressed like a cavewoman

Erasmus, Male, modern, dressed modern business casual

 

Scene 1

Opening: the stage lights illuminate a forest scene. It is dark, possible early morning, with sunlight just coming through the canopy. Tre enters and find herself center stage picking fruit off a low bush. J enters, sees Tre, becomes frightened and hides. Erasmus enters, hunting, stumbles upon Tre. J comes out of hiding.

J- You two?

Erasmus- you two?

J- Well, one of us surly

Erasmus- or both?

J- Not both

Erasmus- why not?

J- It wouldn’t be proper

Erasmus- Who’s to speak of proper?

J- I am

Erasmus make a sound, mimicking an iamb. Tre hears the sound, approaches the two.

Tre- who are you?

Erasmus- I ought to ask you the same question

Tre- then ask

Erasmus- why should I?

J- It would be proper

Erasmus- Who’s to speak of proper?

J- I am

Tre- you haven’t answered my question

J- What question?

Tre- the one I took the time to ask

Erasmus- Who’s to say of time?

J- I am

Erasmus- who’s to say of you?

J- You must be, dear god

Erasmus- who’s to speak of god?

J- The prophets

Erasmus- who’s to speak of the prophets?

J- The bible

Erasmus- what’s that?

J- A big old book my mother read me from

Tre- mother?

J- The one who birthed me

Tre- Birthed?

J- Why, weren’t you Birthed?

Tre- I don’t think so

J- Well you must have been birthed? How did you get here then?

Tre- I walked

J- No, not here here, here, alive

Tre- I don’t know

J- What’s your name?

Tre- you can’t ask that

J- Why not

Tre- that’s my question

J- Well fine then ask it

Tre- what’s your name?

Erasmus- Erasmus, I found it in a book

Tre- I’m Tre

J- I don’t know

End scene, lights fade.

 

Scene 2 (finding a name)

Erasmus, J, and Tre are sitting around a campfire.

Erasmus- How could you’re name escape you for so long?

J- How could she not know what birthed meant

Tre- How could you speak about me when I’m right in front of you?

J- I didn’t mean you, I said “she” generally

Erasmus- woman know not of such things?

J- That’s not what a meant

Tre- then what did you mean?

J- It doesn’t matter

Lights dim

Erasmus- have you thought of your name yet?

J- No, unfortunately it still escapes me

Tre- well find it

J- Come to think of it, I don’t recall ever having a name

Tre- a man without a name, like a forest without a name

Erasmus- your metaphor is flawed

J- it’s a simile

Lights dim

Erasmus- I’ve an idea, I found my name in a book, maybe your name is in a book too.

J- Great thinking, but we don’t have any books

Tre- I’ve got a piece of paper

J- What good will that do me

Tre- it has letters

J- Let me see

J reading- …H,I,J,K,L…

Erasmus- I do not know what to make of that

Tre- nor do I

J- I do, I know, my name will be “J”, as it is the middle letter, and as it has a certain sound to it

Tre- I think “J” is a fine name

Erasmus- as do I

End scene, lights out

 

Scene 3 (night time)

Tre and J sit around the campfire, Erasmus is standing

Erasmus- s**t its cold

J- What its cold?

Tre- s**t it’s what?

Erasmus- s**t its cold

Lights fade

J- The fire is dyeing down

Tre- I’ll go for more wood

Erasmus- I’ll join you

Lights fade

Tre and Erasmus are holding hands

J- What’s this?

Erasmus- we’re in love now

J- Did I miss something?

Tre- you must have

Lights fade

Tre- I’m hungry

Erasmus- who is to speak of hunger?

Tre- I am

J- Surly

Lights fade

Tre- look at the stars

Erasmus- they are wonderful

J- That one moved

Tre- most marvelous moving stars

Lights fade

J is awake, all others asleep

Lights fade

Tre is awake, all others asleep

Lights fade

J is awake, all others asleep

Lights fade

Erasmus is awake, all others asleep

Lights fade

 

Scene 4 (it is morning)

J- It is morning

Tre- what now?

J- What was that name we decided on for me again?

Erasmus- I don’t recall

Tre- I think it was “Tre”

J- “Tre” is your name

Tre- what now?

Lights fade

Reviews

[Jinx's Heart]

I like this comical piece. Do you plan on writing more? This is enjoyable to read. Good work. :)

[deeps]

I like this, i think it is very well written I like this really
found humrour in it as well. Very well written.