THE SOUND OF STARS

Here is a short play I wrote in one sitting on the 10th of July 2024. I encorage you to set a 10 to 30 minute timer and see what you can create.

(A WOMAN and a MAN sitting watching a sunset. They are both sitting on their own bench a few meters away from each other. There is the faint sound of birds in the distance.)

WOMAN “I’ve seen you before.”

MAN “What?”

WOMAN “I said, I’ve seen you before.”

MAN “I know, I heard you, but what do you mean?”

WOMAN “I mean, I’ve seen you here before, just sitting, there, alone, by yourself.”

MAN “I haven’t seen you before.”

WOMAN “That’s because you weren’t looking.”

MAN “Oh.”

WOMAN “So, what are you doing?”

MAN “Sitting.”

WOMAN “I can see that! But why?”

MAN “I don’t like standing.”

WOMAN “Ha, he has a sense of humour! I did not expect that!”

MAN “Well, you’re sitting too, there, alone, by yourself.”

WOMAN “So what? I want to be here.”

MAN “So do I.”

WOMAN “Sure…”

MAN “What do you mean? I do want to be here.”

WOMAN “I believe you! Touchy!”

MAN “I like to look at the view.”

WOMAN “The view? Oh the view…yes, it’s nice…”

MAN “What do you sit there and do?”

WOMAN “Listen to the view.”

MAN “Listen to the view?”

WOMAN “Yes, can’t you hear it?”

MAN “I haven’t given it much attention.”

WOMAN “You really are an amateur!”

MAN “What? Can’t a man sit in peace!?”

WOMAN “That’s a good question. Can you?”

MAN “Shut up!”

WOMAN “Well…can you?”

MAN “Can I what?”

WOMAN “Sit in peace?”

MAN “Not with you yapping away!”

WOMAN “Sorry, but when you are usually just sitting, there, alone, by yourself?”

MAN “Sure.”

WOMAN “Really?”

MAN “Of course, I look at the view.”

WOMAN “What’s it like?”

MAN “What do you mean?”

WOMAN “What’s it like to be at peace?”

MAN “I’m confused…I just look at the view.”

WOMAN “That’s all there is to it?”

MAN “Sure. If you like…”

WOMAN “What if I don’t like…you know, looking at the view?”

MAN “Do something else! Why do you come here if you don’t like the view?”

WOMAN “Oh I like the view, I like listening to it, remember?”

MAN “Oh yeah, sure…listening to the view…what are you even on about? Never heard such an expression before!”

WOMAN “That’s because you probably haven’t tried to before. You’re too busy looking out instead of listening in.”

MAN “Huh? So what do you hear? Birds, the wind in trees, and such?”

WOMAN “Why don’t you give it a try?”

MAN “Fine, I think I will…….I don’t hear anything special!”

WOMAN “Can you hear your heartbeat?”

MAN “What? Of course not!”

WOMAN “Then you’re not listening hard enough.”

MAN “Look here, I just wanted to come up here, take a breather, you know, some fresh air, a stretch of the legs, and a nice view! I feel like there is something sacred about a sunset, and it deserves to be appreciated in silence, without interruption. And then you go on about this listening, be at peace, hippie mumbo jumbo! Why did you want to bother me? I’m just minding my own business; I’m not bothering anyone!”

WOMAN “You were bothering me.”

MAN “What? I’ll be! I mean the nerve! What did I do?”

WOMAN “You breathe very loudly, and it makes it hard to hear the view.”

MAN “I’m in great shape, I don’t puff and wheeze like some old man!”

WOMAN “I know but you don’t breathe like someone who is at peace, and so…you obscured my view!”

MAN “Who the hell do you think you are? I have just as much right to be up here as you, and if you don’t like my breathing, then you can just get up and leave! You know what, forget it, I’ve had enough, I’ll go if it bothers you so much!”

(MAN stands up to leave)

WOMAN “No! Please…don’t leave. I’m sorry I offended you. I just wanted someone to talk to…”

MAN “Oh, well…um…that’s ok. I guess I don’t mind. It’s just you have an interesting way of going about conversation.”

WOMAN “I haven’t had much practice recently. I’ll try to do better!”

MAN “Alright then, well maybe let’s talk about something else. I should also say that it’s getting dark, so I’ll probably head home soon.”

WOMAN “That’s fine, I won’t keep you much longer…So what’s your favourite colour?”

(MAN sits down next to WOMAN)

MAN “Haha, we didn’t have to go that far off-topic! But, I guess we can start with the basics. Hmm…let me think; I’d probably say green.”

WOMAN “Green, hmm…can you describe it for me?”

MAN “Like my favourite shade, sure, yeah it’s kinda a bit like emerald and mint, ooo, that reminds me I wouldn’t mind a mint!”

WOMAN “I have some chewing gum. But it’s strawberry…would you like some?”

MAN “Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got some dinner waiting for me at home.”

WOMAN “Is that with your family?”

MAN “No no, I don’t have a family; I just rent by myself.”

WOMAN “Oh…so why do you like green?”

MAN “Green? Um…it reminds me of grass and trees, apples.”

WOMAN “So, like nature, and growing things?”

MAN “Yes, you’re right, growing things.”

WOMAN “That’s a good answer. I believe we’re all growing in some way.”

MAN “I think we are, although I don’t think we would want all things that grow to be green, and all things that die to be black, all things to be cold blue and all things red to be hot…haha, I mean it would be a very practically organised society if everything was understood by colour…now that’s a thought! Can you imagine that?”

WOMAN “No, not really…”

MAN “Oh, so um…do you like music?”

WOMAN “Yes! Yes, I do! I love music!”

MAN “What sort?”

WOMAN “All of it!”

MAN “What? You mean every type?”

WOMAN “Yep! I sort of imagine music as colours! Every sound, and instrument, has a different feeling and texture!”

MAN “Yeah, I can sorta imagine that.”

WOMAN “Do you ever think that you will never be able to hear every song ever recorded?”

MAN “No, I’d never thought of that…would that even be possible?”

WOMAN “Probably not, but it’s worth a try!”

MAN “Well, then you’ve got a lot of listening to do! You better get to it! What are you doing here?”

WOMAN “I need a break sometime from music, even though I love it so much! You can have too much of a good thing. Do you ever wish you could turn off colour? Just for a change.”

MAN “Turn off colour? What, umm, no I can’t say I’d want to.”

WOMAN “So it never gets too much for you?”

MAN “Well, if you really think about it, the days turning into night give us that naturally in a way. That change at sunset is the last moment of pure colour in a day, a final crescendo if you will. Don’t you think so?”

WOMAN “If you say so…”

MAN “So you don’t agree?”

WOMAN “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

MAN “Oh…um..ok. Sorry.”

WOMAN “Thanks.”

MAN “So…it looks like it’s getting pretty dark, I think I’ll head home now. It was nice meeting you.”

WOMAN “Please stop, can you stay just a little longer? I want you to hear something.”

MAN “Ah, ok sure. But not too long. I forgot to bring a torch, and it’s not a simple walk back to my place.”

WOMAN “That’s alright, if it gets too dark, I can get you home.”

MAN “Ok, thanks. So, what are we listening to?”

WOMAN “Shhh…be still for a moment.”

MAN “Fine…”

WOMAN “Try not to breathe too loud.”

MAN “Not this again! Look here-”

WOMAN “Shh… quiet…can you hear it?”

MAN “The crickets?”

WOMAN “Yes. They are the sound of stars coming out.”

MAN “Hmmmm…now that’s an idea!”

WOMAN “The closer the sound of the cricket, the closer the star, the closer the star, the closer a wish.”

MAN “A wish?”

WOMAN “Come with me, I want to show you!”

MAN “Ok, but it’s really dark now. Do you have a torch?”

WOMAN “We won’t need it. Now come on!”

MAN “If you say so!”

WOMAN “Now, hear that cricket over there?”

MAN “Yes.”

WOMAN “That’s our shooting star, and we’re going to catch it!”

(They approach, and the noise of the cricket gets louder and louder.”

WOMAN “Ready?”

MAN “For what?”

WOMAN “Make a wish.”

MAN “Really?”

WOMAN “Make a wish!”

MAN “Ok…I’ve made a wish.”

WOMAN “Stamp your foot!”

MAN “What?”

WOMAN “Stamp your foot!”

(MAN stomps foot, and the noise of cricket stops.)

WOMAN “You have just brought a star down to earth and have captured it. Use your wish wisely.”

MAN “I can’t tell if this idea is mad or magic!?”

WOMAN “I guess you will just have to wait and see…Now! Let’s get you home, and maybe we can catch a few more wishing stars on the way! So, where do you live?”

MAN “Just past the old church, near the lane-way that leads to the main road.”

WOMAN “Near the big pine tree?”

MAN “Yes, that’s the one! So, how are you going to get us there?”

WOMAN “Trust me, I know my way. Call it a woman’s intuition.”

(WOMAN takes MAN’s hand and leads him down the hill, weaving through the trees.)

MAN “Ok, I don’t understand how you’re doing this, but I guess it’s working! I’m impressed! How do you know the area so well? Did you grow up around here?”

WOMAN “Yes, I have lived in this town my whole life. This mundane, quiet place.”

MAN “You don’t like living here?”

WOMAN “Oh, don’t get me wrong, I adore it, but I have always wanted to travel. Somewhere far away, on some grand adventure! To experience new things!”

MAN “Well, why don’t you? Go out there and see the world!”

WOMAN “I can’t.”

MAN “Why not?”

WOMAN “I made a promise. A promise to myself.”

MAN “What sort of promise? Can you tell me?”

WOMAN “I don’t know, it seems silly.”

MAN “Go on, I won’t laugh…I know, give me a moment!” (Takes a few steps to the side, and stamps near the sound of a cricket.) “There, I caught another shooting star! I wish for you to tell me your promise!”

WOMAN (Laughs) “Wishes don’t work like that! Don’t you know anything? And, I’m not a genie for you to command! Also, be careful not to catch too many wishes at once, or else, there may not be any left for anyone else, and the sky will go dark.”

MAN “Oh, I’m sorry. We wouldn’t want that!”

WOMAN “No, we wouldn’t. Well, I think we are almost back at your house.”

MAN “Yes, I can see the shadow of the church steeple in the sky. You have done wonderfully to get us to here!”

WOMAN “I like that they still ring the church bell. Like the angels reminding us that we are still living in the realm of time.”

MAN “I swear you must be a poet or something! Where do you come up with these ideas?”

WOMAN “Oh, I don’t know…maybe I was born this way…maybe I learned to see the world differently over time…”

MAN “I wish I could see the world through your eyes!”

WOMAN “No…no you don’t…”

MAN “Oh…”

WOMAN (Smiling) “Be careful, you just used your third wish! But, because I’m not a genie, I will allow one more for tonight. Use it wisely! Oh, here we are at the big pine tree!”

MAN “Yes, you’re right! That’s my house! Thank you so much for getting me home. I don’t know how you did it!”

WOMAN “It was nothing.”

MAN “Well…thanks.” (Stand awkwardly for a moment) “Oh, I have something I want you to see, hold on a moment, wait here!”

WOMAN “Ok? Sure…”

(Opens the door of the house, light floods into the night. MAN returns holding a CD case)

MAN “I don’t know if you’re old-fashioned like me, but well…here you go.”

(MAN goes to hand CD, WOMAN reaches out but fails to take it.)

WOMAN “Sorry…what is it?”

MAN “You don’t know what a CD is?”

WOMAN “Oh ha, no that’s not it, I mean, um, who’s it by?”

MAN “It’s my favourite band! Are you ok? Don’t you want it?”

WOMAN “I’m fine…can you just place it in my hand.” (Reaches out hand to receive CD)

(MAN places it in WOMAN’s hand. As he does, he looks into her face and notices her eyes)

MAN “Can’t you…I mean, are you-”

WOMAN “Blind…yes.”

MAN “I’m so sorry, I had no idea!”

WOMAN “Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault.”

MAN “This makes so much sense now! The conversation, the walk home! How did I not see that before?”

WOMAN “Ha, who’s truly blind! I don’t think you were listening carefully.”

MAN “I must have been breathing too loudly.”

WOMAN “Oh, I’m sorry I said that to you, I hope I wasn’t too rude?”

MAN “That’s alright, I wasn’t too friendly either. So…well um…”

WOMAN “I should get going.”

MAN “I can walk you home!”

WOMAN “You? And how would you get back?”

MAN “Oh, yeah, you’re right…”

WOMAN “Thank you for the CD, I really appreciate it. I’ll listen to it as soon as I get home.”

MAN “Track 8 is my favourite.”

WOMAN “Track 8. Got it. Goodbye.”

MAN “Bye.”

(WOMAN starts to walk away)

MAN “Wait!”

WOMAN “What?”

MAN “You said I have one last wish, right?”

WOMAN “Yes.”

MAN “I wish you could tell me your wish.”

WOMAN “What did I wish for?”

MAN “Yes.”

WOMAN “For this.”

MAN “This?”

WOMAN “For someone else to finally hear the sound of the stars.”

(All light fades out, leaving only the light from the stars and the sound crickets)

THE END