Conversations Y.3: Stage Performance

Conversations Y.3

Performance Script | Revision 1 | Adam Trowbridge | November 2 2007

Location: Close proximity between performers and audience, preferably in the round/
Set: Very sturdy door-frame and door. Seating for Female 1 and Male 1
Performers: Female 1, Male 1, Female 2

OPEN on darkened stage. 
Begin MUSIC: Patsy Cline, “I Go Out Walking After Midnight” 
MUSIC is too loud to hear any footsteps or movement.
SPOTLIGHT slowly rises until it illuminates FEMALE 1. She is  sitting next to MALE 1. 
Light continues on FEMALE 1 as MALE 1 rises and walks towards the door.

ALL MOTION is AWKWARD, BIZARRE in a DIGITAL way.

MALE 1 knocks on the door THREE TIMES, measured. Knocking is faint over MUSIC. Door opens in a 
single movement spilling BRIGHT LIGHT. MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 are now silhouetted in front of the 
door. FEMALE 2 remains inside door-frame. Conversation begins with MALE 1 talking to FEMALE 2. 
We cannot hear the conversation but there is conversational movement from the performers.

DRAMATIC SHIFT in music, immediate drop to much lower volume.

MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 simultaneously begin GUTTURAL SOUND and repeat it exactly six times in synch 
with lunging at each other slightly.
GUTTURAL SOUND is like an “Uh” but more violent and primal, the beginning and immediate 
dissolution of language. All speaking should over-accentuate the jaw, mouth and neck muscles. 

MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 simultaneously: UH. UH. UH. UH. UH. UH.

MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 simultaneously: tang...tang...tang

MALE 1: Wh

MALE 1:  WhWh

FEMALE 2: Tea

repeat three times {	
	MALE 1: Wha
	MALE 1:  Wha Wha
	MALE 1: Wha
	MALE 1:  Wha Wha
	FEMALE 1: Jer!
			}
			
FEMALE 1: Jou Jou

MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 simultaneously: Si-Si-Si-Si-Sig

repeat one time {	
	MALE 1: Wha
	MALE 1:  Wha Wha
	MALE 1: Wha
	MALE 1:  Wha Wha
	FEMALE 1: Jer!
			}
			
			
MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 simultaneously: Si Si Si Si Sig

	MALE 1:  Wha Wha
	FEMALE 1: Jer!

MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 simultaneously: AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH AH

MALE 1: BURK! BURK!

MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 simultaneously: AH! AH! AH! AH! 

MALE 1: BURK! BURK!

repeat five times {
FEMALE 2 attempts to slam door, MALE 1 STOPS the door. This is a very violent action.
MALE 1 and FEMALE 2 FREEZE.		
				}
				
MALE 1: BURK! BURK!

repeat two times {
FEMALE 2 attempts to slam door, MALE 1 STOPS the door. This is a very violent action.
				}

repeat two times {
FEMALE 2 attempts to slam door, MALE 1 STOPS the door
MALE 1: DAL!
				}

repeat three times, slower {
FEMALE 2 attempts to slam door, MALE 1 STOPS the door
MALE 1: DAL!
				}
				
repeat five times, faster {
FEMALE 2 attempts to slam door, MALE 1 STOPS the door
MALE 1: DAL!
				}
				
[All action and speech below becomes incredibly violent. Performers should seem as 
if they may injure one another.]

repeat five times {
MALE 1 LUNGES partially through the door then pulls back
MALE 1: JA
}

repeat six times {
MALE 1 LUNGES partially through the door then pulls back
MALE 1: BORK!
}

repeat three times {
MALE 1 LUNGES partially through the door then pulls back
MALE 1: SEE?
}

repeat one time {
MALE 1 LUNGES partially through the door then pulls back
MALE 1: BORK!
}

repeat three times {
MALE 1 LUNGES partially through the door then pulls back
MALE 1: SEE?
}

repeat four times {
MALE 1 LUNGES partially through the door then pulls back
MALE 1: SEW IN ISS
}

repeat four times, slightly slower {
MALE 1 LUNGES partially through the door then pulls back
MALE 1: SEW IN ISS
}

repeat thirteen times, slightly slower {
MALE 1 stopped in doorway, convulsing
MALE 1: OWL
}

repeat thirteen times, very quickly {
MALE 1 is stopped in doorway, convulsing
MALE 1: DU
}

repeat ten times, incredibly quickly, in rounds {
BOTH LUNGE back and forth, convulsing
MALE 1: [pre-vocalization] UH
FEMALE 2: [pre-vocalization] UH
}

repeat twenty-two times times, much slower in rounds {
MALE 1 PUSHES into doorway, FEMALE 2 PUSHES back
MALE 1: OINK
FEMALE 2: PUH NEE
}

repeat eleven times times, much slower in rounds {
MALE 1 PUSHES into doorway, FEMALE 2 PUSHES back
MALE 1: OINK
FEMALE 2: PUH NEE
}

repeat ten times, quickly {
FEMALE 2 SLAMS door and OPENS it slightly
}

repeat six times {
FEMALE 1 PULLS MALE 1 away from door slightly and PUSHES MALE 1 back
MALE 1 [with PULL]: WASTCH
MALE 1 [with PUSH]: ADORE
}

repeat five times, three times faster {
FEMALE 1 PULLS MALE 1 away from door slightly and PUSHES MALE 1 back, much shorter movements
MALE 1 [with PULL and PUSH movement]: JUH
}

repeat twelve times, quickly {
FEMALE 1 HITS MALE 1 in back of his head, causing his head to slam forward
MALE 1 [with HIT]: OWL
}

repeat twelve times, quickly {
FEMALE 1 HITS MALE 1 in back of his head, causing his head to slam forward
MALE 1 [with HIT]: OWL
}

repeat six times, half as fast {
FEMALE 1 HITS MALE 1 in back of his head, causing his head to slam forward
FEMALE 1: OH!
MALE 1 [with HIT]: OWL
}

repeat twelve times, very fast {
FEMALE 2, from DOOR-FRAME LUNGING outward: URG
}

repeat sixteen times {
FEMALE 1 PULLS MALE 1 DOWN and AWAY from DOOR-FRAME, both HUNCHING OVER then standing again
FEMALE 1 [with each downward motion]: GEH DAH
}

repeat three times {
FEMALE 2 TURNS to door then snaps back to look at FEMALE 1
FEMALE 1 STEPS toward chairs then snaps back to look at FEMALE 2
FEMALE 2 BREATHES in deeply and EXHALES loudly
}

[LIGHTS drop to DARK]

[END]