#PlayScript: “No, Not Now”
Characters
WOMAN, Mid twenties. Pretty. Brunette, Split personality: submissive to her lover, dominating others.
THE LOVER, Early 30’s. Tall, well built, green square rimmed glasses. Handsome. Power delusion-ed.
STRANGER, Early twenties. Mid height. Black rain coat. Fair.
BARONESS, Old and fat. Luxuriously dressed, furs and jewelry.
OLD MAN, Short, thin, long crooked nose.
BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN, Seductress, exotic, tall. Extravagantly dressed.
LITTLE BOY, Dressed in rags.
LITTLE GIRL, Very cute, dressed in a short pink dress, two ponytails, holding a doll.
SERVANT, Tall, handsome, pervert. Looks at GIRL with a ravishing expression.
GIRL, the SERVANT’S partner.
DANCING PARTNER, Man.
GUESTS, Dressed in 17th c ball gowns.
MALE AUDIENCE, Lights WOMAN’S fire, dances with her.
The play takes place over several days in various places and eras.
SCENE 1
Protasis
Music: Bach’s Badinerie
A dark alley.
Background: clustered old grey houses. Grey cloudy sky.
A woman is standing in the center, holding an umbrella, though its not raining.
She is looking up.
Her left leg moves in a dancing step.
She is wearing a 17th century gown and black modern-day boots.
A few passers by.
Holding closed umbrellas by their sides.
They look at her then up.
Music ends
WOMAN
(Looks to the right)
He is good in bed.
(Looks to the left)
He was good in bed.
(Looks at her hands, almost
whispering)
He will always be good in bed.
(She twirls once, her skirt spins.
Stops abruptly.)
Music: Bach – Brandenburgisches Konzert Adagio
(She lowers her umbrella.
Looks to the floor.
In agony, almost screaming)
But he never kisses me!
(The umbrella falls as if by its own accord, she doesn’t notice
Looks left.)
Enter STRANGER from the right.
Tall in a black rain coat.
He is holding an open umbrella.
Walks past her without looking at her.
Reaches the end of the stage and throws the umbrella next to hers.
Exit STRANGER
WOMAN
(moves up front the stage and looks at her hands.)
He doesn’t want to love me.
He doesn’t want to leave me.
(Thunder)
Music: Bach – Brandenburgisches Konzert F-Dur Andante
(She begins to dance in a ballet manner. Slow sad movements.)
(Thunder)
Enter beautiful young woman from the left, holding two umbrellas.
Gives one to the woman and together, holding hands opposite each other, circle dance.
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
Do you love him?
WOMAN
Yes.
(They kiss)
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN takes the umbrellaS and throws them beside the other two.
Exit BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
(Thunder)
(Finally sound of hard rain)
Woman
(Looks up)
It never rains on me.
Music: Bach – Cembalokonzert d-moll
(Still looking up)
How many stars… How many raindrops… How many heart breaks…
(Looks to the floor)
My name is woman.
(Spins once)
I am quite a few heartbreaks old.
Various voices (Off Stage)
How old? How old?
Woman
(Looks to the audience)
Quite a few.
(using her hands Signs “I” and “everywhere” dramatically)
I am from everywhere.
(Spins twice)
When I was a girl, my mother told me…
(Hides her face with both hands and childishly laughs)
(Thunder)
When I was a teenager, my mother told me…
(Cups her breasts with both hands. Winks)
Woman (cont’d)
(Thunder)
Yesterday, my mother told me…
(Sits on the floors and curls up to a ball)
(Rain pours harder.)
STRANGER enters from the right covering his head with his raincoat.
Stops, looks at the umbrellas and gestures a thinking pose, trying to pick the prettiest umbrella. Picks one up, takes her hand, pulls her towards him under the umbrella.
Kisses her.
STRANGER
How old are you?
WOMAN
Quite a few…
(Strong thunder)
He takes all the umbrellas and runs off stage to the left.
She looks to the right.
(In a low sad voice)
Quite a few…
(dances)
Black out with a loud thunder
END OF SCENE 1
SCENE 2
Epitasis
Wide White stairs
Bright lighted ball room
17th c theme
GUESTS chattering and dancing
All dressed in 17th c ball gowns
Music: Bach – Concerto in D Major-1
WOMAN enters from top of stairs.
She is wearing denim jeans and a white sleeveless low-cut undershirt.
High pony tail, long red nails.
GUESTS freeze, look at her with shock.
Shushes heard.
Music Stops with a scratch.
She descends the stair carefully, very confident, elegant manner, neutral expression.
Stops at the middle of the stair.
WOMAN
(Loud cheerful voice)
Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
(Gestures to the GUESTS)
(Long silence)
Suddenly everyone starts clapping and cheering.
GUESTS
how do you do, my lady!
You look like a vision, my dear!
Oh isn’t she lovely!
Music continues.
GUESTS continue talking amongst themselves and dance.
Muted.
Music fades to the background.
WOMAN
(Laughs cynically and sits on the stairs in an inappropriate fashion.)
Countless times I trusted the music.
Now…?
(Lies on the stair)
Means nothing to me.
I see through it like fog.
(Crosses one leg over the other.)
After a few seconds of silence
When we are doing nothing, he always smiles at me.
(Sits up suddenly, and shouts in agony)
A man! Divine!!
Music: Bach – Concerto in D Minor-1
(Lost in a day dream, smiles.
Suddenly stands up and screams)
They all are jealous of me.
They don’t understand.
(Stops and becomes instantly calm again.)
He always smiles. Always…
(Descends the stair slowly in an elegant fashion.)
A couple on the far right look at her and smile.
She waves her hand in a lady-like fashion and smiles back.
Another person on the far left looks at her.
It is the STRANGER, differently dressed, unrecognizable.
STRANGER
How charming you are tonight, my lady.
Would you be kindly graceful to accept my invitation for a one night stand?
(Ascends the stair, bows like a gentleman and kisses her hand)
WOMAN
(Acts like a shy little girl, giggles.)
Why surly, monsieur.
He jumps at her trying to kiss her, hands all over her.
WOMAN
(Looks away, disgusted, but not stopping his attempts.)
Not tonight! (Shouting)
He descends the stair walking backwards. Falls to the floor and stays there for the rest of the scene.
GUESTS do not notice.
The BARONESS comes to her and kisses her cheek.
BARONESS
My dear, you absolutely must come and visit us in our new barn.
WOMAN
Why of course, Baroness.
BARONESS
Why don’t you pass by our barn later this week?
(Smiles heartedly)
Enter SERVANT with a tray of tea.
The BARONESS offers her a cup of tea.
WOMAN
Not this week! (Shouts angrily)
The BARONESS falls in the same manner.
WOMAN ascends a few steps and keeps her back to the stage.
Servant drops the tray and finds a young woman and forces her to dance.
Music: Bach – Concerto in G Minor-1
WOMAN
(Turns her head to the left, back to the audience.
Slowly reaches with her right arm to embrace herself all the way back to her neck and smiles sensually. Closes her eyes.)
He smiles at me and I wish he would smile at night too.
(Acts as if she is being embraced using her both arms and moves accordingly.)
His eyes tell me lies
Sweet sweet lies.
Few of the GUESTS chant
GUESTS
Lies, lies, lies… (In tune with the music)
WOMAN
(Turns around and pretends to waltz with a person.)
Lies, lies, lies… (Louder)
GUESTS
(More GUESTS chant now, even louder, with the music)
Lies, lies, lies…
WOMAN
(Descends the stair.
Eyes closed, arms stretched ahead, like a blind walking)
The first body she bumps into she waltzes with. Her eyes remain shut.
Lies, lies lies. (Almost shouting, with the music)
Dancing partner
I will tell you sweeter lies, my lady.
WOMAN
(Turns around and in the same manner dances with an old man.)
Lies lies lies, monsieur?
OLD MAN
More experienced lies, my dear.
Again, WOMAN blindly chooses a partner and dances with a beautiful young woman, very stylishly dressed
Beautiful woman
Sexier lies… (Sensually, French accent)
GUESTS
Lies, lies, lies… (Everyone, in deafening shouts, totally not in tune with the music, in various notes)
WOMAN abruptly stops dancing, opens her eyes wildly, in panic and freezes in a dancing position
Everyone in panic runs off the stage, left and right and up the stairs.
Only the SERVANT and his woman stand by the left wall of the stage.
Now, ironically, the SERVANT is being seduced by the GIRL. He is leaning on the wall in a woman like manner.
WOMAN
(Stands surrounded by the two fallen bodies, Evil smile.
Closes her eyes.
Talks in sensual staccato, taking erotic breathes between words)
Sweet… Sexy… Experienced lies.
He always smiles.
(Opens her eyes, shouts)
Cigarette!
LITTLE BOY in rags runs to the stage.
Bends on one knee and offers a cigarette placed on a golden plate.
WOMAN
Light! (Shouting)
LITTLE GIRL in short pink dress, same manner, hands her a lighter.
Both children rise at the same time, all the while looking at her expectantly.
They extend their arms in a hugging fashion, curling their fingers.
WOMAN
Not now! (Shouting. Very dramatic gestures. Putting her hand on her forehead, tilting her head to the left, eyes shut. As if in pain.)
The children fall to the floor.
She is surrounded by the bodies and carefully jumps out of the circle.
She walks to the front of the stage and sits on the edge,
in a manly fashion, a leg bent and another dangling over the stage’s floor.
Looks to the nearest male audience.
“Come on baby light my fire…” (Singing)
He rises and takes the light she offers him, lights the cigarette and goes back to his seat.
Music : Bach – Doppelkonzert for 2 Violinen Vivace
(She smokes)
WOMAN
But when at night, (In a daydream)
He comes to me,
Doesn’t say a word…
(Takes another puff)
Doesn’t smile.
Undresses me, (Takes her top off, remains in a red bra)
Lies on top. (Lies on her stomach, the cigarette in her mouth)
(Looks at the same man in the audience and offers her hand.
Leads him to climb the stage and they both walk to the center.
Begin to waltz.
She puts the cigarette in his mouth then in hers
Kisses him.
And steps hard on his foot.
He shouts and she pushes him to the floor.
She beckons him to lie down by the other bodies.
Music stops
She stands before the bodies and throws the bud on the floor)
He comes to me, but it isn’t me.
It isn’t him, but there we are.
His eyes are empty.
His face is drowned in serious lust.
Sometimes I feel like he is goin to ask me,
Who I am…
Sometimes,
I want to ask him,
Who am I…
Sometimes I want to ask him,
Who are you…
Sometimes,
I want to cry. (She moves into her last dancing position, before the GUESTS left, face tilted to the left and down, mouth open as if in loss of words, eyes on the floor, inhales loudly for a long breath.)
Suddenly the GUESTS run back onto stage, same panicked fashion, from right, left and down the stair.
She keeps standing still as if not noticing.
She dances alone, sadly though there is no music.
Once they are on stage, everything goes back to what it was.
Chattering and dancing as if nothing happened.
END OF SCENE 2
SCENE 3
Catastrophe
Bedroom
King size bed
Very modern looking room
Posters of Monroe,
alcohol beverages and cigarettes.
Red colors.
Dim light.
Candles lit.
WOMAN is dressed in a pretty 17th c gown, hair and makeup.
Looks elegant, sits like a lady on the edge of the bed.
Music: Bach – Konzert for 3 Cembali
WOMAN
When I was a girl, I wished I was a woman.
(Stands up quickly and cries.)
When I became a woman, I wished I was a man.
(Looks to the audience with an insane look and whispers)
The day I will be man, I will fucken kill myself.
(Sounds off stage. Door closing, keys, caugh.)
Enter the LOVER from the left.
She looks to the right.
His face and manner is very serious, he doesn’t smile.
Kneels and lowers her head, looks to the floor.
LOVER comes from behind her and turns her forcefully to face him.
WOMAN
Forgive me.
He twirls her slowly one time, as if checking her up, looks down and up.
Her eyes are to the floor, ashamed.
WOMAN
I’m sorry.
He forcefully pulls her towards him.
They crash.
He leans so close as if attempting to kiss her,
misunderstands, she closes her eyes and tuckers up.
He pushes her away.
WOMAN
Forgive me! (She falls to his feet and grabs his legs)
He pulls her up, comes closer and holds her tightly.
She smiles, shuts her eyes in content.
While holding her he lights a cigarette behind her back.
At the sound of the lighter she begins to cry loudly.
He pushes her away.
WOMAN
I’m sorry!! (In shock, but stops herself from crying.)
He throws the cigarette away.
Music: Bach – Orchester-Suite Nr. 3 – Air
He carries her and walks to the bed.
Starts to undress her.
She sits on the bed obedient and turns to talk to the audience, in a matter-of-fact, depressed manner.
WOMAN
He always smiles.
His eyes tell me sweet, sweet lies.
He always smiles…
He gently puts her head on the bed and bends on one knee on the floor, taking off her shoes.
WOMAN
When I was a girl, I saw him in my dreams.
When I became a woman, my dreams came true.
He stands up and takes off his shirt.
She looks at him, admiringly.
He never kisses me…
(Almost whispering)
Never kisses me…
He lies on top of her. Pulls her arms over her head on the bed and secures them with his own hands.
Lies still.
Music stops
Silence for a while
Bach – Passacaglia c-moll
She slowly sits up and gently lays his head on her lap.
He puts his thumb in his mouth.
Shuts his eyes.
WOMAN
How old am I?
Quite a few heartbreaks.
She starts stroking his hair.
Looks to the audience.
Enter the STRANGER, in the black rain coat.
Sits beside her on the bed.
STRANGER
It stopped raining.
(Thunder and hard rain.)
WOMAN
No difference to me.
STRANGER
He doesn’t kiss you.
WOMAN
No difference to me. (Irritated)
STRANGER
How old are you?
WOMAN
Quite a few. (Sadly, almost whispering)
Silence.
He embraces her and leans his head on her breast.
She strokes his hair with her other hand.
WOMAN
It never rains on me…
And he never kisses me.
(Looks at the LOVER in her lap)
Sometimes I am 5…
(Looks to the STRANGER on her chest)
Sometimes I am 50…
The LOVER suddenly sits up and stares angrily at her and the STRANGER.
She pushes the STRANGER away and drops herself on the floor, wailing)
WOMAN
Forgive me! I am sorry… Forgive me!! I am sorry!!!
He grabs the STRANGER’S shirt and threatingly raises his arm.
The STRANGER puts his hand on the LOVER’S hand.
They stare for a while.
(She chants with the music, in a lost, insane look, rocks herself backwards and forwards.)
WOMAN
Forgive me, forgive me…
Slowly the men’s faces get closer.
They kiss.
And lay each other gently on the bed.
She stops wailing.
Stands up.
Pulls herself out of her elegant dress, tearing it.
All the while looking at the men.
Underneath she is wearing the same jeans and white shirt, now stained in blood where her heart is.
The men continue kissing.
She walks to the center of the stage.
WOMAN
Cigarette! (Shouting
Looks to her right)
(Lights flicker. Scene looks like in slow motion.)
(Men still kissing, standing up, embracing each other violently)
Enter LITTLE BOY from the left running, in the same manner as before.
WOMAN
Light! (Shouting,
Looks to the left)
LITTLE BOY still running,
Enter LITTLE GIRL from the right.
WOMAN
Bitch! (Shouting,
Looks to the right)
Enter BARONESS running from the left with a cup of tea.
WOMAN
Promiscuity! (Shouting,
Looking to the left)
Enter the BEAUTIFUL WOMAN from the
left. offering her arms.
WOMAN takes the cigarette and lights it.
Takes the cup of tea and sips.
All the while looking at the kissing men.
The cigarette in her mouth, on hand holding the cup, the other holding the BEAUTIFUL WOMAN’S arm,
both children hugging her legs.
She takes a moment to look at the people surrounding her.
Looks towards the bed where the men started undressing each other, still kissing.
(Lights still flickering)
WOMAN
(Wailing louder than ever)
He never kisses me!
(Black out)
Music stops
A few seconds of complete silence
(Spotlight on WOMAN)
People surrounding her, now lying on the floor.
WOMAN
(Face to the dark corner of the bed,
Voice as if suffering from a soar throat, slowly with agony)
Never…Kisses…Me…
(Black out)
Silence
WOMAN
fuck.
END OF SCENE 3
END OF PLAY
