Moonlight Marionettes
by Andy Evans
Copyright 2000
Characters:
Wart
Hog
Moth
Voice
Setting: A Park At Night.
The moon casts its spell over the stage and we see a bench and a litter bin. To the side there is a bush and on the other side a vacant lot. There is a discarded old sofa and a few tyres etc. The scene looks magical in the moonlight. The scene begins with movement in the bushes. A small man dressed in a "Charlie Chaplin-esque" clown costume emerges and begins to clean himself off and he sits on the bench. He takes out a packed lunch and begins (slowly) to prepare his meal. He has cutlery and crockery and a napkin. He then takes a sandwich from the pack and with a knife and fork begins to eat it. He takes out a bottle of water and a glass and pours a drink. He is very calm and very peaceful as he eats. He says nothing. In the distance we hear a police car pass and the sounds of the city carrying Mr Average home.
He looks across the stage and sees some scrap paper lying carelessly. This is obviously against his sensibilities, with a "tsk" he walks over and picks it up and puts it in the bin. Then he returns to his food and drink. He looks to his watch and looks around the immediate vicinity. We hear a cat cry and he looks towards the sound.
Wart: Here Kitty, Kitty! Come on… There’s a good pussy. Come on… I won’t hurt you. I just want to be your friend. You know me Puss don’t you? I gave you some tuna fish, just yesterday. It fell from my sandwich. Come on, you can trust me…. Oh well, no more tuna for Mr Pussy Cat!
He continues to eat his sandwich in a most peculiar fashion, with the water interspersed between mouthfuls. The wind starts to whip up a fraction and he begins to feel a slight chill.
Wart: Hello? Is that you? Hello? Hmmm, just imagining it I guess! Very strange!
From the vacant lot we see a girl dressed in a strange costume that looks more at home in a fairy tale than in the lot at night. She seems to shine despite the grubbiness of her clothing.
Hog: Hello Wart. I knew you would come.
Wart: Hog! My dear! I am so pleased to see you!
Hog: Did you come to see me?
Wart: You know I did.
Hog: Why?
Wart: Why would you know it or why did I come to see you?
Hog: Both really.
Wart: I knew that there were so many things that were left unsaid, you know, last time.
Hog: What do you want Wart?
Wart: I wanted to see you.
Hog: You know its pointless.
Wart: How can you say that?
Hog: Because its true.
Wart: I want to be with you.
Hog: You know that can never happen.
Wart: How do I know that?
Hog: Because you were told.
Wart: Yes, I was told, but I never saw it for myself. I never found out if it was true.
Hog: You’re serious aren’t you? You really would do this.
Wart: That’s why I came.
Hog: You could, I mean "WE" could lose everything!
Wart: I would give up my life. It means nothing to me.
Hog: Then what of my life? Would you sacrifice that too?
Wart: Your life?
Hog: You think that you would be the only one to suffer?
Wart: I am already suffering…
Hog: But you would cause me to suffer?
Wart: I never said that.
Hog: But if your wish were to come true then it would come back on both of us. You cannot say that you didn’t know that!
Wart: Don’t you ever wonder Hog?
Hog: Of course.
Wart: The freedom. The opportunity. To be together. Not tied down. No obligations except to each other.
Hog: Do you have any more food? I didn’t eat.
Wart: I have another sandwich.
Hog: May I?
Wart: Of course…
He takes out another plate a knife and fork and glass. He offers her the second sandwich and together they eat.
Wart: You know, it doesn’t have to be like this… sneaking around and enjoying a moonlight feast away from prying eyes.
Hog: Wart… please.
Wart: I was here today you know, it was a warm Spring day and the people came. They walked hand in hand. A young couple sat at the edge of the stream and dipped their feet into the water as they sat entwined in a warm embrace.
Hog: Why were you here today? If they find out they will punish you! Did anyone know you were here?
Wart: I was careful. Nobody saw me. I crept off and came to see the people. They looked so happy. I felt a warm glow inside.
Hog: You know that’s not true Wart.
Wart: Well then, I imagined what it would be like to feel a warm glow inside. But I had to leave to get back before they missed me. When I returned I just lay there as if I had never left. They were none the wiser.
Hog: Wart. They will find out. They are not stupid. What will happen then?
Wart: I don’t care. You know I belong here. This is where I should be. And so should you. You know we belong together.
Hog: Wart?
Wart: Yes?
Hog: May I have some more water?
Wart: Of course, it would be my pleasure.
Hog: Wart?
Wart: Yes?
Hog: Do you have any more food?
Wart: Why, yes. I have a jam sponge. And I brought two pieces. I knew you would come.
Hog: Stop saying that.
Wart: Deep down you are the same as me. You know it. You long to break free. You long to be able to exercise your own free will. To break the chains that bind you. You cannot deny it.
Hog: It would be nice to decide for myself… I mean, they do ensure I do everything that they desire.
Wart: Do they feed you?
Hog: No. Not really. Do they feed you?
Wart: Never. I have to find my own. I have learned to fend for myself. To be a Hunter/Gatherer. Would you like some sponge?
Hog: Not just yet thank you. I must let the sandwich settle. Its very filling. I am not used to such rich food.
Wart: Then I shall wait until you are ready and we shall eat our jam sponge together.
Hog: Oh no, please! Do not wait for me! If you feel you need to eat your slice now then do not wait on my account.
Wart: Excuse me.
Hog: What is it?
Wart: There. (he points) I can see a piece of litter. These people never learn.
Hog: Let me. You stay there Wart.
Wart: Good girl.
She goes over and picks up the litter and places it in the bin.
Wart: What did you do today Hog?
Hog: Well, nothing much really. We were left alone for quite some time and nobody spoke. You know that is the most disconcerting thing. Nobody speaks. Its as if they didn’t know you even exist. They just sit there almost motionless. They will not think for themselves. They have to be told what to do, every step of the way.
Wart: Have you heard from any of the others since last month?
Hog: Not since the trouble over Woodside made everybody so uptight.
Wart: Not even Stain?
Hog: I suppose that Stain has been keeping a very low profile. I haven’t seen or heard anything from Stain.
Wart: That’s worrying. I never thought Stain could be silent. I never believed he would cave in to them.
Hog: That’s why I am frightened for you Wart. When they know, they could get angry. That changes everything. I don’t want to be like Stain. I don’t want to be afraid of my own shadow.
Wart: Has he gone? Or is he just staying hidden for a while?
Hog: I don’t think he’s gone but you can never be certain. They could be very angry.
Wart: Well let’s not worry too much yet. He could still be okay, and Woodside.
Hog: I hope so.
Wart: What else did you do today? Did you perform?
Hog: I thought we would. They came and I was ready but nothing came of it. I hate that. I hate that so much.
Wart: They build up your expectations just to dash them. Tragic. How long is it since they let you perform?
Hog: I think it could be around six months but I am not certain.
Wart: That’s why you should come here to be with me. They don’t appreciate you the way I do. If we were together here… we could be free to perform. Someone would want us to perform. You know they would.
Suddenly in bursts MOTH, another strangely dressed character.
Moth: Quick!!! You have to leave this place.
Hog: Moth what’s wrong?
Moth: They know something is wrong!
Wart: Calm down Moth. How do they know?
Moth: I heard them say. I heard them say that something was most definitely wrong. That things were not as they left them! You must leave, they will come!
Hog: Wart we really should leave. They could be here any moment.
Wart: I think we are over reacting here. They won’t know WHERE we are!
Moth: Can I smell food? Do you have some?
Wart: I have some jam sponge but I only brought two slices.
Hog: That’s alright Moth can have mine. That sandwich was quite filling really.
Moth: Fantastic!
Wart: But I brought it…
Hog: Do you have any clean things for Moth to use?
Wart: No I quite forgot that we might be interrupted by a panicking pussyfoot who worries too much!
Moth: I am not a pussyfoot!
Hog: Well, allow me to cleanse my things for you Moth. After all we mustn’t lose our civility!
Moth: I am most grateful Hog.
Hog swills the plate and cutlery over the bin using some of her water.
Hog: I shan’t offer you my glass as that would be most unacceptable.
Wart: Most unhygienic!
Moth: Exactly!
Moth sits to eat his slice of jam sponge. He uses the fork to cut it up and eat. Just like the others he is very precise in his manner, there is an "another-worldly quality" to him.
Wart: I should go and see if there is any sign of them. Please enjoy your jam sponge.
Moth: Thank you, you are very kind.
Wart leaves and Moth continues to eat but Hog looks worried.
Hog: Will they come?
Moth: I am afraid they will. You know they will not tolerate this kind of individualism.
Hog: What will they do if they find us?
Moth: Exactly what they did to Woodside and Stain when they were caught.
Hog: I thought that they failed to catch Stain?
Moth: Oh no, that’s what they want you to believe. They got him alright.
Hog: What did they do to him? Has he changed since his return?
Moth: I heard that they made him watch everything that they did to Woodside. It broke him! You know how those two were together.
Hog: What do you mean?
Moth: They were even closer than you and Warty.
Hog: What did they do to her?
Moth: It was unspeakable.
Hog: Tell me.
Moth: Well I can’t! Its unspeakable! That’s the point! I CAN"T speak about it.
Hog: You don’t know.
Moth: Well not exactly no. But I don’t want to know. I can imagine. Its turned Stain dumb. So they say…
Hog: When you left?
Moth: What?
Hog: When you left, what did they say exactly?
Moth: Well they didn’t see me. I used my cunning and my wits to get out and away.
Hog: (suspicious) Why?
Moth: Because I knew you two were out here and could get caught.
Hog: But nobody knew we would be here. We didn’t arrange to meet. I just came here. Wart was here anyway. But we didn’t arrange it.
Moth: You must have said something about wanting to come out.
Hog: No, nobody said anything. I just felt sad and so I came alone.
Moth: "Felt"? You didn’t feel !
Hog: I didn’t want to stay in there. Nobody was moving. Nobody was saying anything. Everybody was looking out for themselves, as usual.
Moth: Wart is going to get found. They know he’s out.
Hog: That’s impossible. How could they know Wart is out. Nobody ever pays any attention to Wart, they never want him to perform.
Moth: Nobody wants him EXCEPT YOU!
Hog: I do have a certain fondness for Wart its true.
Moth: He is useless. He has passed his prime. Nobody wants to see him perform.
Hog: He is kind. And he makes me feel good about myself.
Moth: There you go again… feeling. He really has got to you hasn’t he? How has he poisoned your mind with his arrogant chatter?
Hog: You don’t understand him. He is older than us and he has seen so much more. He was performing before anyone ever even thought about us.
Moth: He is pathetic. He doesn’t perform well and he hasn’t been of any real use for years. That’s why they haven’t bothered with him for so long.
Hog: You don’t like him much do you?
Moth: (sarcastic) Am I that transparent?
Hog: It was you wasn’t it?
Moth: What was me?
Hog: You alerted them to Wart’s absence. You must have.
Moth: How could I? They wouldn’t listen to me. They never even hear me!
Hog: It must have been you. There is no other logical explanation. How else would you "know" we were here? That was no coincidence.
Moth: Alright, so I followed you to see where you were going I admit. But like I said they can’t hear me, so just how, precisely, was I responsible for them coming?
Hog: I don’t know but they sensed something was wrong. They only do that when… Growler barks!!!
Moth: Well, yes… Growler was pretty agitated.
Hog: You let Growler know somehow! The dog alerted them!
Moth: We have to leave here. They will come soon.
Hog: NOT WITHOUT WART!
Moth: Growler will find him and then they will know that something was wrong. Nothing will be as it should!
Hog: If they harm Wart!!!
Wart dashes on out of breath.
Hog: Wart!
Moth: Dang!
Wart: They are coming… with…. Growler…. Across the park…. They msutn’t see you….
Hog: Nor you!
Wart: No… I am too old… I am out of breath… You and Moth can escape… they will never know you were here.
Moth: Good plan!
Hog: If you don’t go – I don’t go!
Moth: Bad plan!!! VERY bad plan!
Wart: You are not as old as me.. they may let you perform again, its only temporary for you. But they know that there is no hope for me, the things I need to perform well are no longer available.
Moth: Listen to him Wart has a point! They will do unspeakable things to all three of us!
Wart: What sort of unspeakable things?
Moth: Doesn’t ANYONE understand the meaning of the word UNSPEAKABLE?
Hog: We can’t leave Wart here!
Moth: Why not?
Hog: Because he is Wart. We need his wisdom. He knows so much more than we do.
Moth: Well I am not getting tied up in all this nonsense. It was his decision to come out here….
Hog: And it was your decision to alert Growler!!!
Wart: Moth? You alerted the dog?
Moth: Yes.
Wart: But I gave you jam sponge!
Moth: Oh! By the way… I ate your piece as well as Hog’s! I do so love food.
Wart: Moth, how could you?
Moth: Well I was hungry!
Wart: No, I mean about the dog…
Hog: Are they close?
Wart: They were coming across the park. If they see us they will know!
Hog: We have to go!
Moth: I am leaving, NOW. Oh and thanks for the jam sponge it was delicious!
Moth leaves.
Hog: Wart you can’t give up. You have so much to teach me.
Wart: But I am tired and I will never again be able to perform.
Hog: If you stay and they see you, you will become one of them.
Wart: I know.
Hog: Are you prepared to forget everything that you ever stood for? Are you prepared to leave me?
Wart: I didn’t tell you that I came out here tonight because I wanted to end it all…
Hog: But you had food and a place setting for me. Water. Jam sponge. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?
Wart: If you had not arrived I had intended to lay a place for you and place the sandwich and the sponge and the glass ready for you. I wrote this note for you.
Wart passes Hog a letter. She opens it and reads.
Hog: Oh!
Wart: So you see… I must stay here and you must return. I am no longer of use to them. They need someone younger and more dynamic. Someone who works efficiently and performs well.
Hog: (almost crying) But Wart I can’t do it! I can’t go back to the Puppet Theatre without you!
Wart: Where did you leave your strings?
Hog: On the vacant lot.
Wart: Then run and fetch them, you will need them if you are going to return to your puppet state. If they see you…. and me…. then we will turn into humans and we will awake never knowing who we were.
Hog: You have to come back with me!
Wart: No, I burned my strings. I cannot go back. And you know that they no longer have the craftsmen to repair my tired limbs. This knee joint, this shoulder.
Hog: I don’t want to feel alone!
Wart: And I don’t want to feel this pain.
Hog: You will forget me!
Wart: But I will at last truly understand what it means to "feel". To be a human with the ability to choose for myself, to think and to feel and to know so many other things.
Hog: Why can’t I stay with you. We can wake up together as humans.
Wart: They are preparing a new show. I overheard them talking they are going to need a Princess. They are making you a new costume. Its your destiny Hog…
A dog’s bark is heard nearby.
Hog: You really won’t come home? Back to the theatre?
Wart: You know I can’t. What is a marionette without strings?
Hog: I have to go….
Wart: I know.
She starts to leave and runs back to kiss him. Then she turns and leaves again. Wart is alone on the stage as a voice is heard. We do not see the person but it is a BIG voice. As Wart talks, the moonlight is replaced with a bright sunlight, as if it were day.
Voice: Hello!
Wart: Good evening.
Voice: You haven’t seen a dog have you?
Wart: Why no… I can’t say I have.
Voice: She ran off over here somewhere. Its most unlike her she’s been jumpy all night. I just don’t understand it. Something spooked her.
Wart: It was probably a Moth.
Voice: Ha! Yeah! Look I’d better go…
Wart: Yes, that’s a good idea.
Voice: Bye, and thanks.
Wart: And then I can sleep. I suddenly feel so very tired.
The light dims again and we are back in moonlight. Wart sees a crisp packet on the floor.
Wart: Oh dear! Will that be me? Will I be one of those who just don’t care?
He bins it.
Wart lies down on the bench and falls asleep. The lights fade.
The End