Title: Entropy
by Jason from Berkshire | in writing, fiction
[Megan and Jack are sitting on the edge of a bed. Aaron is sitting at a desk, writing, he stops and looks at the couple, who then hold each others hands.]
Aaron:
Stop!
[Aaron gets up and pulls Jack off of the bed.]
Aaron:
(CALLS) Emily!
[Emily walks on stage. Aaron walks Jack to his position, far away. Meanwhile Emily climbs into bed. Aaron notices.]
Aaron:
No. Wait!
[PAUSE]
Aaron:
Megan, get into bed with her. (BEAT) No, don't. (CALLS) Marc! Here, Megan. (POINTS DOWNWARDS)
[Aaron walks back to the bed. Marc enters. Aaron pulls Emily out of bed and sits her down on the edge.]
Aaron:
(POINTING AT EMILY) Kiss Emily passionately.
[Emily gets out of bed and sits on the edge as before. Meanwhile Megan goes over to Jack and they smile at each other. Aaron notices.]
Aaron:
Don't even think about it.
[Aaron turns back to Emily and Marc sitting together on the unmade bed.]
Aaron:
Kiss.
[Marc gently touches Emily's neck and kisses her on her lips. Emily smiles, then Marc smiles.]
Aaron:
He doesn't love you. Hit him, hard.
[Emily looks horrified and slaps Marc gently across the cheek. Emily looks at Aaron. Aaron, cocking his head, motions her to leave with a thumb pointing offstage.]
Aaron:
Go!
[Emily gets up and runs off, crying.]
Aaron:
Bed!
[Marc looks angry as he gets in bed and turns away from Aaron. Aaron pauses and returns to his desk. He resumes writing but then looks frustrated and then lets out an angry sigh.]
Aaron:
Marc!
[Marc turns around and sits up in bed.]
Aaron:
Go. Find Emily.
[Marc pauses and looks at Aaron.]
Aaron:
Don't.
[Marc gets out of bed slowly. He walks away, taking one last look backwards as Aaron stares at the empty bed.]
Aaron:
Come here.
[Jack and Megan look concerned. Aaron looks at them. And they slowly approach Aaron.]
Aaron:
Don't worry. I won't ask you to kill her Jack (BEAT) yet.
[PAUSE]
Aaron:
You'll grow tired of each other.
[Aaron sits down on the edge of the bed and sighs.]
Aaron:
It's not my fault.
[Aaron pauses then scratches his head. Jack and Megan sit down on either side of Aaron.]
Aaron:
Rubbish!
[Aaron looks Jack in the eyes.]
Aaron:
Do you love her?
[Jack nods once.]
Aaron:
I know she loves you. (TURNS TO FACE MEGAN) She told me so.
[Aaron stands up.]
Aaron:
This won't do.
[Aaron walks over to his desk and sits down and resumes writing. Aaron looks up at Jack and Megan watching him.]
Aaron:
Be good.
[PAUSE]
Aaron:
Go.
[Jack and Megan look at each other and then stand up and walk off hand in hand. Aaron watches them exit. Then Aaron picks up two pieces of paper and tears them up. Then he sighs and looks out to the direction where all his characters have exited from.]
Aaron:
(Hmph) Should I?
[Aaron pauses and cocks his head.]
Aaron:
Hey you!
[Aaron points to an audience member.]
Aaron:
Should I?
[Expects a yes but if no then he tells them to say yes.]
Aaron:
You're right.
[Aaron looks ruefully at his watch.]
Aaron:
Well, I'll let you know. It's late, school tomorrow.
[Aaron pauses and gets up and walks to the stage front and starts nodding. Slowly his characters come onto stage and stand in a line behind him. Aaron looks around to see them and gently smiles.]
Aaron:
I'll try. (FLICKS HAND IN A SALUTE)
FADE TO:
[Aaron turns and joins his characters.]
BLACKOUT
At the moment Aaron only has his imagination and it hurts him to think of it that way. He wants more. And the frustration he feels towards his creations, his characters, drives him to what is essentially apathy. In tearing up his writing Jack and Megan are lost. He¿s divided: if they had never been created then they can never know the love they never had, but in tearing up the story they can always be together. Aaron leaves it open. Aaron, through his interactions with his characters, is figuring out the world around him, and in doing so he comes to figure himself out. And when he calls his characters onto stage, his affirmation is his release. He has taken that first step, a very much allegorical one at that.
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