A rough and worn small boat

Written by
Joseph Frost
written for the 2014 31 Plays in 31 Days Project
Play 28
Draft
8/30/14
Attic Scripts 2014
Joseph Frost
4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
atticsripts@gmail.com
Hilde rests on an edge.
Anda is standing far away.
Miche arrives, moves to Hilde.
HILDE
If my heart could hold any more regret, I promise I would miss you more.
Miche kneels next to Hilde, runs her fingers through
Hildes hair.
MICHE
There was a small town, lay down by the waters edge. Boats went out, boats returned,
slowly floating. Hoping, that they would not return. Each day finding only enough to
bring back home.
Anda begins to walk across the stage, not looking at them.
HILDE
I made living here unbearable for you.
MICHE
One small boat, rough and worn, worked its way over the waves, climbing each as a
mountain of ocean, effortfully. Rocking back and forth with each exhausting success.
HILDE
There was so much I could have done for you.
MICHE
As evening unfolded and the boats returned to town, the people gathered on the shore,
making count. 1, 2, 3, 4... 12... 19...
HILDE
I needed so much less than I wanted. Than I took.
MICHE
But the small boat did not appear over the waters horizon. As the sun lay down and the
stars reluctantly appeared, and each boat rest at the dock, there was one empty place, small
and almost unnoticeable.
HILDE
If I could give back all I have taken...
MICHE
The next day, as the boats returned, the place for the small boat was a little smaller, and the
next day, and the next.
HILDE
I would that you were here.
MICHE
Until the place for the place for that small boat was gone. And not one person in the town
could remember that once there had been that rough and wooden small boat. That had
never returned.
Miche stops playing with Hildes hair.
HILDE
Miche...
Anda turns.
ANDA
There is no reason to torture yourself with her.
HILDE
She is gone from us, Anda.
ANDA
And we are all poorer for it. But, Hilde, though she is gone, we remain.
HILDE
If there was something I could have--
ANDA
We remain.
Anda holds out a hand to Hilde, to help her rise.
Hilde places her hand in Andas.
Miche, not looking, holds onto Hildes other hand/arm, to
keep her from rising.
2.
MICHE
Storms rose upon the seas, and the rough and wooden small boat was flung. Stem over
stern. Port to starboard. All compass lost. All direction gone. The rains and flashes of
light and cracking of boards. The boat... the boat...
Miche lets go and drops to the floor.
Hilde tries to reach her, but cant because Anda is holding
her.
Anda cradles Hilde, who begins to weep.
ANDA
Shh... shh...
HILDE
She... she...
ANDA
She is. She is.
HILDE
She is lost. She is lost.
ANDA
I know. I know.
Miche sits up with a start.
Anda looks at her.
Miche turns to Anda.
MICHE
It was because of you.
ANDA
Of course it was.
MICHE
I left because of you.
ANDA
So you have said.
3.
MICHE
And you let her suffer.
ANDA
It is you who continue this torture.
MICHE
You let her believe...
ANDA
I have done all I can.
MICHE
And yet...
ANDA
And yet.
MICHE
You hold her as if to comfort.
ANDA
It is my curse. To wipe away the tears I inspired.
MICHE
And mine? My tears?
ANDA
I cannot wipe that slate clean. For that, I will never be forgiven.
MICHE
Never.
Miche circles around behind them.
Hilde breaks the embrace.
HILDE
I will miss her forever.
ANDA
I know.
4.
HILDE
But we will live on.
(beat)
Wont we?
ANDA
We will.
(beat)
We will.
Hilda and Anda sitting.
Miche stands behind them.
MICHE
And the rough and wooden small boat, after the passing of the storm, floated gently, past
the glassy horizon, and on. And on. And on.
She turns upstage.
Lights down.
End
5.