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| SETTING THE STAGE |
| Christopher Woods |
| *A Showcase Of 21st Century Drama* |
| by |
| June's Feature Presentaion: |
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| **BIO**Christopher Woods lives in Houston. His play, MOONBIRDS, about doomed census-takers in a Third World country, was produced in late 2003 in New York City by PERSONAL SPACE THEATRICS. MOONBIRDS will be produced in late 2004 in Ghent, Belgium by KATTENKWAAD THEATRE PRODUCTIES (kattenkwaad.com). |
| "POOLSIDE" |
| Scene - A young man and woman dressed in bathing suits. They have arrived at an apartment complex swimming pool. Possible sounds of people, of water splashing in the background. As the play begins, THEY approach two chaise lounges. SHE leads, and HE follows. SHE These will do. I wasn't sure. HE These. SHE (Surveys the pool, then the lounges) Yes. For the view. You take that one, and I'll take this one. (SHE spreads her towel, HE watches suspiciously. SHE sits.) This is perfect. (SHE sees him still standing) What are you waiting for? HE I don't know about this. Suppose... SHE God! What is it? HE Nothing. POOLSIDE 2 SHE Oh, it's something. It's always something. HE Really, it's nothing. SHE (SHE shakes her head, settles in) Fine. (beat) This is it. Just what I need. No one should have a week like I have. (SHE notices him looking at the pool) Aren't you ever going to sit? (Louder) Answer me! HE Do you know, I never learned to dive? (HE turns to her) Oh, it's a small thing, I know. There must be something inside us that keeps us from doing certain things. Me, a grown man, and I can't dive. SHE You have my condolences. HE Don't make fun of me. I said it was a small thing. SHE As things go, yes. I'd say so. HE (Staring at the pool) Easy for them. Things come so easy for some people. SHE What's all this envy about? POOLSIDE 3 HE They make me feel... I don't know... SHE They're just kids. Swimming, diving. Kids. (beat) Of age. HE Maybe I just feel strange because we're trespassing. SHE (Watching the pool) I have an innate respect, a healthy one in fact, for swimmers. Especially the long-distance ones. HE We might even be arrested. We don't live here, you know. Don't you see the sign? SHE (Reading) "Trespassers will be prosecuted." Yes. Right below the other one. "No Lifeguard On Duty." HE I don't want to get arrested. SHE Quit whining. Have we ever been arrested before? You're just paranoid. HE Maybe. And a little guilty. SHE Get over it. We've talked this through a thousand times. POOLSIDE 4 HE I know. SHE We decided we would have our fun, come what may. We were young and dumb too at one point, you know. Look where it got us. (HE doesn't reply) Now, sit down. Everything will be fine. HE (Sits, still looking at the pool) Okay. (A slight pause) I like to watch them. The divers. Something as simple as that. The arc of grace. SHE Yes, I know all about your divers. But I like the swimmers. (SHE rubs her thighs) Sleek, wet skin. (SHE sits up) I remember someone, a woman I think. She tried to swim from Cuba to Florida. Do you remember her? HE I don't think so. SHE Well, I do. Some things stay with you. Maybe the effort of it. I can't remember her name, only what she did. Or tried to do. But she didn't make it. She got tired. When she came out of the water, she had jellyfish stings all over her body. Big welts. And her lips were blue. I didn't know her, but I felt sorry for her. I wanted to go to her, maybe hug her. But this was on t.v. so I couldn't. (a slight pause) I wish she had made it. I wish she had. HE I know. SHE So, you did see it. POOLSIDE 5 HE No, I didn't. But I know what you mean. Boy, do I know. SHE I know you do, babe. We both do. HE And I get so goddamned angry. SHE We both do. (SHE puts her hand on his shoulder) (THEY watch the pool for a moment) It's time. HE I guess. SHE Go on. You pick one. HE Which one? The red trunks? SHE He's fine. But what about the green trunks? HE Waiting to dive? SHE Why not a diver? POOLSIDE 6 HE I'd rather not, that's all. SHE Why not? What did you say, the arc of grace? Yes. And Mr. Green Trunks is a strong swimmer too. I've been watching him. Young, pretty, and probably dumb. He's perfect. (THEY both watch) Go on. Introduce yourself. You know the drill. (SHE nudges him until HE stands, begins to walk toward the pool. SHE is smiling. HE is on a mission) BLACKOUT |