This is the first scene from the Lucy Thurber's play Monstrosity. It is the first of three posts from the play. Scene two will be posted on Sunday and scene three will be posted on Tuesday.
ACT ONE
Scene One
The sound of marching feet. The beginning of an assembly. Thomas enters marching followed by a group of teenage boys and girls in uniform. As they enter they are singing and marching in time.
Group
Warm rooms and cigarettes, jewels and powder puffs, perfumed soaps and sweet privileged faces, we don’t want them! We are Three, with wild manes and stomping fists, with hobnailed boots and laughing teeth; we accomplish things and do not rest. We are Three and we are best.
(Thomas steps forward, he raises his hand, the young men and women fan out and stand behind him in formation. He lowers his hand. There is silence. Light change, a spot light on Thomas)
Thomas
He has come to speak to us, to lead us and to help us lead ourselves.
(Thomas turns and marches back to his place in line. Michael enters, he crosses center stage and stands facing the audience.)
Michael
Choose your way oh youth. Go where your talent tells you to go. This country needs you to be clever, it needs your hands and your words. Your words are banners for us to follow. Your thoughts are bridges to cross. So why won’t you speak? Why won’t you stand? Do you lack the courage? Do you lack the strength? Or is it that you stand alone and see no others beside you? Do you feel that your thoughts and hearts are falling into a void till your words don’t work, your feet frozen, your hand raised? Are you tired? Are you small? Too small to speak, too small to be heard? Do you think it is possible that I could hear you? That we (He motions to the teenagers standing behind him.) could hear you? Is it possible that you may not be alone? I know that you wake up every day without a sense of purpose. Is it just another day? Endless in its sameness. Endless in its pettiness. Endless in the shallow glances and remarks of your peers. I’ll tell what I know. The truth will set you free, but first it will make you very, very, miserable. But aren’t you miserable now? Don’t you feel it? I know you can feel it. Way down in that place you hide from everyone. Down in that place no one can touch, the place you guard with your very life. The thing you protect with space. The space from which you watch. You know what you have. You are gifted with a unique potential. You can build it, meld it, bend it strengthen it until it shines and cuts through reality like a sword. Yes a sword, you possess a weapon. Put your hands on it and dare to wield it. Learn The Code of Three.
(We hear the sound of canned applause. Michael turns and strides off stage followed closely by Thomas. The teenagers turn and march as a group off stage singing as they go.)
Group
The Code of Three guides our nights. We eats its words to help us fight. We fight for good. We channel power. Beautiful Code of Three you are our mother. We are four to a unit. We are stronger than steel. We march as four heel to heel. We make a square and cannot be divided. Watch us march and know what pride is.
(A moment of silence. The feel of an empty street after a parade. The Twins ride in on their double bicycle.)
Twins
We are the children of no time. We take what we want and we leave nothing behind. We know everything and nothing at all.
Twin 1
Tell me a story the little boy said.
Twin 2
A brother, a sister better off dead.
Twin 1
Horror of horrors a world full of sorrows.
Twin 2
Nothing but straight lines and boxed in shadows.
Twin 1
Tell me a story the little girl said.
Twin 2
A story of magic, a story that’s true.
Twins
We’re the children of no time. Take everything and leave everything behind. We’re here to tell you a story, to bewitch you one and all. We’re here to tell you a story of heroes who want to live for a cause.
Twin 2
A boy running to hide and a girl trying to rise.
Twin 1
A sister and brother with identical eyes.
Twins
Fighting for freedom can be such a bore. Atrocity is timeless, humanity’s greatest chore.
Twin 1
It’s coming dear audience and you know it’s true-
Twin 2
You know it’s true and that they will be blue-
Twin 1
Bluer than the bluest night, filled with terrible frights-
Twins
And where will they stand when they don’t know how to fall? And how will they know if we forget to tell them at all?
Twin 1
Are they strong enough to make the stand? And what about the little girl when she’s frozen with fright and there’s nothing left but you, but dear audience, as her sight?
Twin 2
And what about the brother? Is he strong enough to grow into a man? How many times can he take her bite, before he falls back into the darkness and refuses to fight?
Twins
It’s coming dear audience and you know it’s true. It’s coming dear audience and we’ve chosen you
(The Twins ride off stage.)
(Light switch. Michael sitting at a big wooden desk. He is sorting through papers and making notes. Thomas enters and stands at attention waiting to be noticed. Michael makes one final note and then looks up.)
Michael
You spoke well today Thomas.
Thomas
Thank you Sir.
Michael
And what did you think of my speech?
Thomas
Moving as always, Sir.
Michael
Thank you, thank you.
Thomas
You’re welcome Sir.
Michael
And you look well.
Thomas
Thank you Sir.
Michael
So you’re back.
Thomas
Yes Sir.
Michael
And how do you feel?
Thomas
I don’t know what you mean Sir.
Michael
I see. Would you like to sit down Thomas?
Thomas
I would rather stand if that’s O.K. Sir?
Michael
Yes, that’s O.K. Thomas. How was your father’s funeral?
Thomas
Elegant.
Michael
Your mother was pleased?
Thomas
Who can tell, Sir?
Michael
I see. I know the two of you were never that close.
Thomas
No, Sir. I look too much like my Father for her taste.
Michael
Right. For God’s Sake Tom, sit down. We know each other too well for this, don’t you think.
Thomas
I can’t sit down Sir, if I sit down I may never get up again.
Michael
It’s that bad?
Thomas
Yes Sir.
Michael
I see. Well you better tell me about it, don’t you think?
Thomas
I didn’t have a chance to tell him I hated him.
Michael
I see.
Thomas
Though I think he hated me more. He felt I’d robbed him of his youth. He never wanted an heir. It only reminded him he would die one day, and now he has.
Michael
Yes. But you’ve worked very hard these past few years. I know you pleased him.
Thomas
It hasn’t been him I was trying to please Sir…
Michael
I see. You know it’s against my principles to play favorites-
Thomas
Of course Sir-
Michael
But I am only human after all.
Thomas
Yes Sir?
Michael
I’ve become quite fond of you over the years. I know I’m not your father-
Thomas
But you are Sir. You are more a father to me than my own-
Michael
Yes, yes. I know. I do know. Well, enough of that don’t you think?
Thomas
Yes Sir.
Michael
I’m glad you’re back. I’ve found I’m quite lost without you. There’s so much to do.
Thomas
Yes Sir.
Michael
Work always takes my mind off things. It’s helpful in times of stress. (He pulls out a sheet of paper and hands it to Thomas.) We have some new arrivals.
Thomas
Yes Sir.
Michael
The Morgans and a few of their friends have had an unfortunate accident.
Thomas
That’s really for the best Sir.
Michael
Yes of course. We have possession of their two children.
Thomas
Sir…?
Michael
A boy and a girl.
Thomas
I see Sir…
Michael
Who knew they had children, kept them hidden away.
Thomas
Yes Sir.
Michael
Exceptional test scores, some of the best I’ve ever seen. Train your enemy’s children to love you. That’s what we’re all about Thomas. Their children must be given the gift of Three.
Thomas
Yes Sir.
Michael
I’m terribly excited.
Thomas
Of course Sir.
Michael
Your father and I…I have always depended on your father Thomas, over the years he and I…but I’ve always felt closest to you…I’ve always felt as if, in a way you were my son…
Thomas
Sir I...
Michael
Well we’ve said enough, Thomas you and I understand each other. You may go.
(Thomas salutes and turns to go. He reaches the door.)
Thomas
Sir?
Michael
Yes?
Thomas
It’s good to be home again.
(Thomas exits and Michael goes back to work.)
End of Scene
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