Flowers by Candlelight

(BEAT 1)
[Scene opens on blackout. Only the voices of BEN & AUDREY can be heard.]

BEN

Open the book.

AUDREY

I open the book.
Immediately, I am overwhelmed

UNISON

by the scent of musty paper;

BEN

by the scent of aged words.
Together,

AUDREY

these smells swim up my nostrils
and urge me

UNISON

to continue.

AUDREY

I turn the page.

BEN

You turn the page.

AUDREY

As I do, motes of dust jump up
to twirl in surrounding shafts of light.
The page reads,

UNISON

“This is a beautiful library, timed perfectly, lush and American. The hour is midnight and the library is deep and carried like a dreaming child into the darkness of these pages.”

BEN

The darkness of these pages.
[5 second pause]

(BEAT 2)
AUDREY

Yes, The Abortion: A Historical Romance by Richard Brautigan.
[Lights come up on AUDREY, who is standing at the circulation desk, talking to LIBRARIAN.]

LIBRARIAN

Brautigan?
[types into computer. Grabs pen & jots on sth. on paper.]
Ok, it’ll be under BRA 392.7.
[hands slip of paper to AUDREY.]

AUDREY

Thank you.
[LIBRARIAN nods in acknowledgement. Lights fade out on AUDREY and come up on BEN, who is just walking into the library on a cell phone.]

BEN

[speaking into cell phone while quickly scamming the books, in search of sth.]
Yes, I know. Dear, this is getting a bit redundant. I’ll be at their school to pick them up! No! I won’t forget. I’m just taking some time to pick up a book at the library. Is that OK? Will you please trust me to handle my responsibilities?
[random people turn to glare at BEN, indicating for him to follow the library code of silence. In a whisper,]
Look, I have to go. Yes, I know. 7 o’clock. Ok, ok. Love you too.
[BEN hangs up phone. He apologetically smiles to annoyed readers. As he turns back to browse the bookshelf, lights come back up on AUDREY, who is opposite BEN at the same bookshelf. Together, they browse the books, slowly making their way to the end of the bookshelf.]

(BEAT 3)
AUDREY

[reaches the end of bookshelf and glances again at slip of paper.]
BRA 391.2…391.54…392.4…
[walks to opposite side of bookshelf and runs fingers over books on top shelf.]
392.6…BRA 392.7
[reaches for the book. BEN, who doesn’t notice AUDREY at first, reaches for the same book. BEN being taller grabs it first.]

AUDREY

[blushing]
Oh, well thank you. I guess I am a bit short for the reach.

BEN

I beg your pardon?

AUDREY

Oh, I was just um… thanking you for getting the book down for me.

BEN

Oh!
[glances down at book.]
Were you reaching for this book as well? I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t realize.
[offers book to AUDREY.]

AUDREY

No, no. You can have it.

BEN

Please, I insist.

AUDREY

Really. It’s of no real importance to me anyway.

BEN

Then may I ask why you were reaching for it?

AUDREY

[stuttering.]
I, uh. Well, I mean it’s of importance to me. It’s just that I’ve already read it through many times. I would rather share the book with someone else. It was a beautiful read.

BEN

Beautiful…read indeed!
[shyly simpers.]
I’ve actually read it myself.

AUDREY

[places emphasis on “you”]
Have you? Then, may I ask why you were reaching for it.

BEN

Well, there’s a passage I long to read once more.

AUDREY

[stunned.]
Really?

BEN

Yes.
[notices AUDREY’S expression.]
Why? Is… is that the same of you?

AUDREY

Yes, the same.

BEN

Well here.
[takes AUDREY’S hand and places book in it. With hands still touching, AUDREY looks up at BEN and their eyes meet for an instant. AUDREY looks down, slightly blushing and trying to hide her smile.]

AUDREY

Are you sure? I can do without it you know.

BEN

I just realized that I probably won’t have the time to read it anyway.

AUDREY

Well, alright. Thank you kindly sir…

BEN

It’s Benjamin. Benjamin Lasco,
[playfully bows.]
at your service. And you are…

AUDREY

Audrey.

BEN

[gently shakes AUDREY’S hand as he utters her name in utter delight.]
Audrey.

AUDREY

Thank you again for the book.

BEN

You’re very welcome. It was a pleasure meeting you.

AUDREY

Likewise.
[AUDREY smiles up at BEN and walks back to other side of bookshelf to continue browsing books. BEN also continues browsing books. Music fades in. Lights slightly dim on BEN & AUDREY and come up on 3 POETS, located across the room. POET 2 & 3 are sitting and POET 1 is standing before them.]

(BEAT 4)
POET 1

Greetings, my fellow poets.
We are now to commence our weekly Poet’s Corner.
I’ll be reading first. This is an ORIGINAL piece. Try not to convince yourselves otherwise.

POET 2 & 3

[rolling eyes.]
Good grief. Here we go again.

POET 1

[clears throat.]
The humble mind
The humble soul
Will not believe
This story told
Of a perfect love
Of a star crossed fate
Existing in a dream.
She was just a girl
Still fresh in age
Though matters wiser
She’d engage
Her mind was further stretched
Than most
And her twinkling eyes
Were of greatest boast.

He was more a man
Ten lives he lived
And though he be poor
He was one to give
For his heart was made
Of purest gold
Though it yearned to shine
its greatest value.
And when these two met
The stars entwined
And in perfect patterns
They aligned
To show the magic
Of this pair
And a love existing
None could compare.
[as POET 1 reads his poem, AUDREY and BEN browse through the same bookshelf, opposite each other. They are catching glimpses of each other through cracks and vacant spaces. At first, the glimpses and eye contact is awkward, yet as time progresses, the two become more playful in this “game.” BEN jumps to other side of bookshelf to surprise AUDREY, yet is met by LIBRARIAN, standing aghast, with hand to chest. At this point, music comes to abrupt stop.]

LIBRARIAN

I declare!
[swiftly flees from BEN, who tries to apologize]

BEN

No! Please, I mistook you…
[AUDREY’S laugh is heard. BEN turns to bookshelf to find AUDREY gazing at him through a vacant slot in the bookshelf. Only AUDREY’S eyes are seen, and her laughter heard. She moves, so for an instant, only her lips can be seen, which are smiling grand at the incident that had just occurred. AUDREY approaches BEN.]

(BEAT 5)
AUDREY

May I ask you a question, Mr. Lasco?

BEN

Please, call me Ben. My leisure is treasured and rare. I’d rather not be referred to as if I were still at the office.

AUDREY

Well, my apologies Ben.

BEN

No need for apologies, Audrey.
[smile at each other.]

AUDREY

So… I take it you’re a working man?

BEN

An overly worked man, yes.
I…I feel as if I’ve completely lost touch with myself. I don’t know. I was once a child…such a child at heart. Life would be giant gusts of wind, blowing me away to the most unexpected places and providing enchantment in every bit of everyday life. But now… well, it seems that child has withered away, leaving me lying desperate on the cold, concrete floor.
[AUDREY gazes at BEN with great curiosity. BEN looks intently at AUDREY, then smiles to himself.]
You have a beautiful laugh. For a moment it… it immersed me once more into the waters of childhood…of happiness I suppose. For a moment, I could breathe.
[shakes his head and looks aside.]
I apologize. You’re going to have to excuse my maudlin rant.

AUDREY

You can get out of it.
[BEN looks up at AUDREY, a bit surprised.]

BEN

I beg your pardon?

AUDREY

I mean, work. You can get out of it… maybe take a nice break. Have you considered traveling?

BEN

Oh, I wish I could.
[flashes AUDREY his wedding ring.]

AUDREY

Oh.
Um… well, you can still do it. I’m sure she could manage for…
[interrupted by BEN.]

BEN

We have children.
[AUDREY looks greatly disappointed.]

AUDREY

Children?

BEN

Yes. 2 children.

AUDREY

Well, never mind then.
[awkward silence]

(BEAT 6)
BEN

So, what did you want to ask me earlier?

AUDREY

Oh, right. I was meaning to ask which passage you’ve been longing to read.

BEN

In The Abortion?
[AUDREY nods “yes.”]
It was a passage about an old-fashioned lady writing a 40-page book by markers and crayons.

AUDREY

And the book she wrote was about growing flowers by candlelight.

BEN

She wore a big smile on her face when she announced that it had taken her 5 years to write.

AUDREY

Growing flowers by candlelight in hotel rooms.
[Both smile in delight.]
That is a beautiful passage. Good choice.

BEN

Thanks.
[pause]
May I ask you a question now, Audrey.

AUDREY

You may ask questions but I can’t promise answers.
[BEN chuckles.]

BEN

Alright. Fair enough. Question 1:
Rarely am I interested in mysteries. But, I’d like to know the mystery of the girl that sits before me, for she is quite the intrigue and I can’t help but be painfully curious.

AUDREY

Well, this books not made of too much mystery, or at least not too dense a plot.

BEN

Ah, well even the most simple mysteries confound the mind. Like, what is the meaning of life? How big is the universe? Where do dreams come from?

AUDREY

Do soul mates truly exist?
[BEN smiles shyly to himself.]

BEN

Yes. I’ve always wondered that myself.
So, Audrey, again I ask of your mystery.

AUDREY

Oh my. Well, a college junior who… enjoys cold weather.

BEN

Studying?

AUDREY

Fiction writing.

BEN

Wow. That’s ambitious.
[nods to indicate her continuing.]

AUDREY

Yeah, I guess so. My parents don’t seem to agree. Well anyway, a college junior studying writing…with a great emphasis on children’s literature. I would love to write for children. I think in this day and age, they’re so easily exposed to such degrading things at such a tender age. Sex, violence, hardship…
[AUDREY smirks]
television… video games.

BEN

Ouch.

AUDREY

My hopes are that with my writing, children will jump back into the endless sea of imagination, the only thing without a single boundary or limit. They will always carry this sense of magic in their souls that will glow magnificently bright even in old age. They will always be a child at heart; always happy, always living.

BEN

That’s a complex mystery to me.

AUDREY

No, no. It’s really quite simple and pleasured.
And, as of recently, there’s more!
My mystery shall soon be taking its course to New York City.

BEN

New York?

AUDREY

Yes, New York. I just got an internship at a publication company. It’s supposedly a really great place.

BEN

Are you leaving soon?

AUDREY

Yes. Four days in fact. I don’t know. I might be staying for a while if everything turns out right.

BEN

Four days. That’s… that’s wonderful. Congratulations.

AUDREY

Thank you.
[awkward silence between the two. Though BEN seems encouraging, he looks a bit disappointed.]
Will you excuse me? My throats a bit parched and I think some water may do well.
[AUDREY rises and walks downstage into darkness, leaving BEN sitting alone. He begins flipping through pages of The Abortion. At this time, there is a mother with her daughter browsing through books as well. LITTLE GIRL has a paper fortune teller and seems utterly bored. She spots BEN and walks over to him.]

(BEAT 7)
[holding out fortune teller.]

LITTLE GIRL

Pick a number, any number.

BEN

Ah, I remember those things. O.K. Let’s see, how about 8.

LITTLE GIRL

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.
Pick a color, any color.
[BEN glances over at AUDREY who is at the water fountain. He notices her blue blouse.]

BEN

Blue.

LITTLE GIRL

B,L,U,E.
Pick another color.

BEN

Uh, blue again.
[LITTLE GIRL opens fortune teller. BEN again returns his gaze to AUDREY. AUDREY looks up at BEN and their eyes lock. Lights dim as a bright blue spotlight comes up on AUDREY.]

LITTLE GIRL

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Your heart beats fast when she’s near you.
[Music fades in. The entire scene freezes as POET 2 crosses to center stage. Music continues and blue spotlight remains on AUDREY.]

POET 2

Colors bright
Colors lush
As she twirls
He’ll hush, he’ll hush.
The stars in sky
Their magic swirling
blinds him as
She’s twirling, twirling
He stands lost
his grasp astray
for all is still
as she twirls his way.
Wind blows strong
her skirt is whirling
and wraps him up
to join this twirling.
[As POET 2 exits stage, AUDREY begins walking back to table. BEN suddenly turns back to LITTLE GIRL as lights come back up and music cuts off.]

BEN

Wait, what did you say?

LITTLE GIRL

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
You look like a monkey
and smell like one too!
[LITTLE GIRL lets out an exaggerated laugh. AUDREY reaches the table as LITTLE GIRL skips offstage.]

(BEAT 8)
AUDREY

I beg to differ. I think you smell rather nice. But, what am I to say, children know best.
[both smile at each other.]
So, where were we? The questioning?

BEN

Ah, yes. My questioning. O.K. Second question. What passage have you been longing to read once more?

AUDREY

Well, I thought I made that quite obvious.
[smiles at BEN.]

BEN

You see, I considered that but though it too much a coincidence.
[AUDREY continues smiling as BEN shakes his head in amazement.]
Wow. I can’t believe it. Now, that is what I call star crossed, wouldn’t you say?

AUDREY

Definitely star crossed.
[pause.]

BEN

Audrey, would you like to read that passage with me?

AUDREY

Together?

BEN

Yes, right here at this table. I found the passage while you were getting water.

AUDREY

Well sure. I’d love to.

BEN

Ok Great!
[flips to certain page in The Abortion.]
Here it is.
Would you like to begin?

AUDREY

[playfully smiles.]
It’d be my honor.
[BEN slides book to AUDREY.]
“The old woman waited behind the heavy glass of the front door.”

(BEAT 9)
[POET 1 approaches.]

POET 1

I beg your pardon, but, are you two reading poetry?

BEN

No, it’s actually prose.

POET 1

Oh. Well, would you two like to share it?

AUDREY

Share it?

POET

Yes, at the poetry reading. It’s not poetry but will still be greatly appreciated.
[BEN and AUDREY look at each other for a moment, then shrug their shoulders.]

AUDREY

Sure. I don’t see why not. Could be fun.

POET 1

Oh that’s good good good. Right this way.
[BEN and AUDREY follow POET 1 to another part of the library. When they approach, POET 3 is already in the midst of a poem. POET 1 signals BEN and AUDREY to sit down and listen.]

POET 3

But, alas!
This world is filled with such trite things!
Step back!
No more!
Step back!
No more!
And when you’re in need don’t come knocking at my door.
A knock, knocking at my door.

POET 2

[sarcastic]
Great, who’s next?

POET 3

I’m not FINISHED!!!
[clears throat.]
A knock, knocking at my door.
Thank you.
[formally bows down.]

POET 2

That was blasphemy.

POET 1

Now, now. As long as it comes from deep within the soul, it is good.

POET 2

Why, then his soul must reside in his arse because that stunk!

POET 1

Yeah, yeah Ok. Now, we have…uh…
[looks toward BEN]

BEN

Ben and Audrey.

POET 1

[looks toward AUDREY]
And my lady?

AUDREY

Audrey.

POET 1

Alright! We have Beninaudrey and Audrey here to read a piece of prose from,
[BEN and AUDREY rise.]

BEN

The Abortion; a historical romance by Richard Brautigan.
[BEN and AUDREY stand before facing each other with POET 1 standing behind, slightly resembling a couple exchanging vows. Music fades in.]

AUDREY

“The old woman waited behind the heavy glass of the front door. Because the library is very old-fashioned, the door has a religious affection to it. The woman had a look of great excitement. She was very old, eighty I’d say, and wore the type of clothing that associates itself with the poor.”

BEN

“’I just finished it’ she said through the heavy glass before I could open the door. Her voice, though slowed down a great deal by the glass, was bursting with joy, imagination and almost a kind of youth.”

AUDREY

“’I walked all the way here,’ she said. ‘I started at midnight. I would have gotten here sooner if I weren’t so old.’
‘Where do you live?’ I said.
‘The Kit Carson Hotel,’ she said. ‘And I’ve written a book.’ Then she handed it proudly to me as if it were the most precious thing in the world. And it was. There was a heavy label pasted on the cover and written in broad green crayon across the label was the title:

GROWING FLOWERS BY CANDLELIGHT IN HOTEL ROOMS
BY MRS. CHARLES FINE ADAMS

BEN

She had a big smile on her face which had turned old about forty years ago, eroded by the gases and exiles of youth. ‘It has taken me five years to write this book,’ she said. ‘I live at the Kit Carson Hotel and I’ve raised many flowers there in my room. My room doesn’t have any windows, so I have to use candles. They work the best.’”

AUDREY

“’I’ve also raised flowers by lantern light and magnifying glass, but they don’t seem to do well, especially tulips and lilies of the valley. I’ve even tried raising flowers by flashlight, but that was very disappointing. I used three or four flashlights on some marigolds, but they didn’t amount to much.’”

BEN

“’Candles work the best. Flowers seem to like the smell of burning wax, if you know what I mean. Just show a flower a candle and it starts growing.’”
[lights and music fade.]

{BEAT 10)
[When lights come back up, BEN and AUDREY are sitting back at the original desk, looking at the content in each other’s wallet.]

AUDREY

[holds up an ID card and starts laughing hysterically.]
And what is this one for? You look mangy.

BEN

Oh. That. I use to volunteer at the neighborhood pool.

AUDREY

Well, there went the neighborhood!
[laughs out more.]
I can’t imagine you as a lifeguard.

BEN

No, no. Definitely not a lifeguard. I think kids would resume to drowning if they woke up mouth to mouth with me. I actually cleaned the pools. The homeowners association was too cheap to hire a real worker. I needed something to do so I jumped on the job.

AUREY

You weren’t too busy at the office?

BEN

Well, I had quit at the time.

AUDREY

Oh ok.

BEN

Yeah. My quitting nearly broke my wife and I up so I had to resume my position at the office. I didn’t really have a choice. She was pregnant with our first child at the time.
[pause]

AUDREY

I hope this doesn’t sound terribly rude but I’m just curious; If you could go back, would you change things?

BEN

[sits contemplative and confused.]
No. Of course not. I love my children and couldn’t be more thankful for them. It’s just… I don’t know.
[long pause]
Yes. I would have changed things. I would have changed a lot of things. But, here I am, in my right place in life. This was fate’s chosen destination so I guess it’s where I belong. Right? I mean, I can’t change that. I can’t change fate. I always wanted to live life spontaneously and with unexpected surprises so here I am now… in my right place.
[AUDREY slightly nods. Changing subject…]
Well, let’s see your pictures now!
[AUDREY tries pulling wallet away from BEN.]

AUDREY

No, you can’t! Really. It would be the end of me!

BEN

Oh come on! What do you have to hide? Some dark, forbidding secrets that you’ve kept from the world for the past 20 years?

AUDREY

Yes! Bad hair days, braces, hairy upper lips and arms and a tail and horns. I have too much to hide!
[During this tug-o-war, AUDREY lets go of wallet. The wallet flies over to bookshelf. BEN gets up and walks over to retrieve wallet. As he’s bending down, he looks up to find LIBRARIAN standing almost right above him. LIBRARIAN looks down and gasps, thinking BEN is trying to peek under her skirt. LIBRARIAN drops her books and runs away feeling utterly disgusted and violated.]

BEN

No! I was only getting…
[BEN shakes his head then picks up books LIBRARIAN dropped. BEN shelves two and then smiles to himself as he sees the third book, which is a How To on Dancing. He brings book over to AUDREY. Together, they skim through pages fascinated by bizarre dance moves.]

AUDREY

The Rufty Tufty?
[turns book sideways.]
How on earth…

(BEAT 11)
[Lights dim and music fades in. An assortment of rainbow lights now illuminate stage. From both sides of bookshelf, people come out in extravagant masks, dancing. BEN, AUDREY and rest of cast join in. All dance for about 30 seconds before dancers start forming a half circle around BEN and AUDREY, who have stopped dancing and are facing audience, hand in hand. Music fades out.]

BEN

This

AUDREY

is

BEN

so

AUDREY

perfect.


(BEAT 12)
[All lights dim. 10 second pause. Lights come back up. BEN and AUDREY are in exact position as before, as the dancing is to resemble just a figment of their minds. They lock eyes and smile at each other, keeping transfixed until librarian interrupts.]

LIBRARIAN

Folks, it’s 7:15. The Library will be closing in 45 minutes.

AUDREY

45 minutes. I suppose that’s a good amount of time. May I ask what you’re doing afterwards?

BEN

I’m not sure. Actually, I have to… oh God. What time did she say it was?

AUDREY

Um, I believe she said 7:15.

BEN

Good grief! How did I forget…
[BEN stands and begins getting his things together.]

AUDREY

W…wait. Why are you leaving? The library doesn’t close for…
[interrupted.]

BEN

I’m so sorry Audrey but I have to go.

AUDREY

But there’s still so much time ahead and things to know and…
[hesitantly stands.]

BEN

I wish I could stay. I really do… more than anything.
[long pause as they stare at each other. AUDREY walks over to BEN and begins fixing his tie, which he had continuously loosened throughout play.]
Thank you.

AUDREY

So… this is it?

BEN

I wish it wasn’t.

AUDREY

Yeah.
Yeah me too. I don’t know maybe… maybe we could meet again.

BEN

There’s definitely a good chance. We showed up here and just so happened to reach for the same book, at the same time, longing to read the same passage. If we could beat those odds, than yes, there’s a good chance we’ll meet again. Remember, were star crossed.
[AUDREY slightly chuckles to herself, though her grief is still sensed.]

AUDREY

Right. Star crossed.
But, what about New York?

BEN

Ah, New York. I seemed to have forgotten that. We’ll, we should still stick to that chance and you never know; maybe someday it’ll come.

AUDREY

Of course.

BEN

Ok.
[pause]
Well, goodbye Audrey.

AUDREY

…Bye.

(BEAT 13)
[BEN walks toward door. When he reaches it, he pauses and turns around. Lights dim and only shine on a small spot between the two. Music fades in. AUDREY and BEN both walk towards each other, meeting at lit area. They reach out and grasp each others hand, beginning to circle around. They circle around with their gazes transfixed on each other for 15 seconds. Both return to their original spot as lights come up. BEN smiles once more at AUDREY than exits out front door. AUDREY still remains seated at desk and is flipping through The Abortion. After a few seconds of this, she gets up and exits out front door. Lights dim.]

(BEAT 14)
[After a few moments of blackout, lights fade back in. POET 3 stands center stage with POET 1 and POET 2 standing on both sides. LIBRARIAN is shelving books. AUDREY and BEN are standing behind bookshelf, facing each other. They stand behind a large vacant space so their profiles can be seen. POET 3 moves toward audience as POET 1 & 2 twirl around stage, animating the poetry. Music fades in.]

POET 3

I open the book
Only to find
The last page reading
It exists in the bind
For although these two never
Crossed paths again
A love that is star crossed
Never does end.
[POET 1 twirls to center stage, exchanging places with POET 3.]

POET 1

For when these two met
The stars entwined
And in perfect patterns
They aligned
To show the magic of this pair
And a love existing
None could ever compare.
[POET 2 twirls to center stage, exchanging places with POET 1.]

POET 2

Forever they will be
If you take a closer look
As their story will exist
Shelved away in a book.
[As POET 2 says, “Shelved away in a book,” LIBRARIAN shelves last book, The Abortion, in the vacant slot, which closes in on BEN and AUDREY. Lights dim and music fades out. There is a lit candle on the desk where AUDREY and BEN sat. After a moment, LIBRARIAN walks over and blows it out. ]

END SCENE