The immortal
A one-act play
A very old man in a wheelchair with a faceless kid in his lap are in scene. Close to them is a big rock. Lights on.
THE KID pulls THE OLD MAN's beard. THE OLD MAN is unresponsive. THE KID gets off his lap and starts running around, playing, until he climbs the rock and sits on it.
OLD MAN: - So much time had passed… and I've never had more hope than when I was six, how decadent. I had high honors in school, I repeated whole years (THE KID descends from the rock and writes an "A-" that he rearranges as the anarchy symbol). I had hope and I lost it no matter what they told me, good or bad I was a cynic or a rebel. I got married several times, separated… widowed. I lost all my money and won it back to sink to rock bottom and go back up (THE KID plays with a paper plane mirroring the ups and downs that the OLD MAN narrates). I was in the war (THE KID acts as if the plane is shooting: "ratatatata!"). I had the accident (THE KID crash the plane onto the rock) and I survived (THE KID looks at the paper plane's remains on the ground). At something that no one should ever had survived (THE KID stomps frenetically the paper plane's remains), I SURVIVED; and after that nothing else happened, I didn't have a single cold (he coughs). I've seen progress and I've seen regression. I've changed my life so many times that it became meaningless, and now I'm here. I wake up every day and I only see things of this world. And even though I want so, I wish for it… I can't die (he puts his hands on his face).
THE KID cries mocking THE OLD MAN. THE OLD MAN watches him with anger. THE KID stops for a second and then begins to mock-cry even louder, running around to every part of the stage. THE OLD MAN closes his eyes and holds his head. THE KID abruptly stops and then goes off-stage running. THE OLD MAN opens his eyes, looking everywhere.
OLD MAN: - Not even my memories accompany me, what's life's worth if I can't remember it? What's life's worth if I don't die? Why looking back if there's not an end? I couldn't even try killing myself… not even try… just keep waiting (he coughs a lot, loudly). It hurts. I'm not dying from the pain; sometimes I think that the pain is what keeps me alive. My sickness left me this way. When I realized that I couldn't die, I resigned. I tried. But… why I'm still here? (Beat. THE KID sticks out as to enter again) WHY!? If I tried, I helped! I helped in my twenties, in my thirties, in my forties, in my fifties! I did everything they ordered… everything they asked, FUCK! (THE KID get scared for the last shout and retreats a little. THE OLD MAN holds his head for a few seconds).
BEAT. THE KID sticks out again from behind the stage and keeps watching from a distance.
OLD MAN: - They forgot about me. I can't even… nothing, I can't remember what we did, what we lived. Only a slight memory that I can't force myself to care for. They left me, YOU SONS OF A BITCH! One by one (he coughs a little) I ended up losing them, faces in oblivion… that can't go back, that I can't reach. I'm alone.
BEAT.
THE KID approaches slowly to THE OLD MAN with a balloon, he puts his hand on the OLD MAN's shoulder but it's taken away automatically.
OLD MAN: - Get out
THE OLD MAN moves to the other side of the stage. THE KID watches him and sits on the rock with the balloon, then looking backstage. THE OLD MAN turns and observes him for an instant.
OLD MAN: - I know he's on the same path than me. Unable to care about something, to be cared about someone.
BEAT.
OLD MAN: - Nothing matters, everything matters… (he snorts and spits) but something keeps pushing us to open our eyes, breathe and beat, without order or control.
THE KID makes noises with the balloon. THE OLD MAN watches to his side.
OLD MAN: - His father is a great friend of mine, sometimes I watch him… bah! What am I saying? Things distort in my head… Some time ago everything made sense and I, it got lost, I lost it, I forgot it, I lost it, I…
THE KID plays with the balloon until it pops.
OLD MAN (THE KID starts crying. THE OLD MAN ignores him and continues his soliloquy at unison with the cry of THE KID): If I could do something about it to feel at peace, but I can't do anything, I almost can't even move from here (THE KID cries louder and THE OLD MAN raises the volume of his voice to be heard). I'll become a plant but still conscious, I'll see people walking by and they'll ignore me as part of the landscape, smiling through me without watching, without even watching, nobody's watching!
THE KID looks to THE OLD MAN's side, calming himself down.
OLD MAN: - I know that I have a grandson… I can't remember his face or where he is, nor I want to look for him (he sees THE KID). Life's strikes you and you just keep going, uh?
THE KID looks to his side, laughing.
OLD MAN: - But it strikes too much…
THE KID makes a face and THE OLD MAN laughs.
OLD MAN: - What a devil's spawn
THE KID uncovers his face.
OLD MAN: - Get out, Balberith! Leave me with my misery, my pestilences, my agonies!
THE KID goes away.
OLD MAN: - NO! Wait… come here (THE KID approaches) who are you? (THE KID keeps silent) WHO ARE YOU!? (THE KID not responds) I'm talking to you, damn it, answer me!
THE KID approaches and mocks him. THE OLD MAN shouts and tries to grab him but falls off the wheelchair.
OLD MAN: - Ahhh, what a hell! (THE KID laughs) what, you think this is funny?
THE KID nods, THE OLD MAN starts chasing him while he runs, laughing.
OLD MAN: - Come here, kid!
They run around the rock.
OLD MAN: - I'm going to teach you as they taught me!
THE KID takes the wheelchair and starts running with it.
OLD MAN: - Wait! What are you doing!? Bring back that, damn it!
THE KID keeps running until THE OLD MAN leans against the rock, exhausted.
OLD MAN: - I never wanted kids, I never wanted to be part of this, and look how you got me (THE KID starts playing with the chair in the corner of the stage) I didn't have an option either.
BEAT.
OLD MAN (out of breath): - What is life if I don't remember it? What good is my life if I don't die? How to look back if there's no end? I can't even… NOTHING, nor what we did, nor what we lived, just a little memory that I don't care about. They left me, I ended up losing them. They're gone. Even…
He stops. THE KID approaches and reaches with his hand to touch THE OLD MAN's arm. THE OLD MAN stops him.
OLD MAN: - Who are you?
Silence. THE KID runs away, climbs the rock, jumps and injures himself in the fall.
OLD MAN: - Are you all right, kid?
THE KID wakes up laughing. THE OLD MAN gets angry, but then laughs too.
OLD MAN: - Ok, well, don't tell me how are you, who are you, don't tell me anything. It doesn't matter… did you know that I also had an accident? (THE KID looks at him). It was a long time ago but I remember that (he looks at THE KID)… I got scared, really scared, I had a tremendous fear, and I lost something precious to me. After that I forgot how to… play, I don't know, I forgot! (he laughs timidly)
KID: - You forgot?
THE OLD MAN looks at him surprised and moved at the same time.
OLD MAN: - Yeah…
KID: And what did you do?
BEAT.
OLD MAN (as in a trance): - Nothing
KID: - Why?
OLD MAN: - Because I thought that I couldn't do it no more
BEAT.
OLD MAN: - You know, kid, sometimes life puts challenges ahead of us and… it's not easy but… it goes on, even if it doesn't look like it (he coughs a little and laughs), I don't know…
KID: - You don't know anything after all!
OLD MAN (laughing): - I think you're right, kid
KID: - Come… (he takes him by the sleeve to the center of the stage, THE OLD MAN wearily follows) c'mon, come!!! Now stay here
OLD MAN: - Here?
KID: - Yeah!
OLD MAN: - Now what?
KID: - Turn around
OLD MAN: - Uhhh… like this?
KID: - Yes! And now we walk counting up to five
Both count up to five while walking until THE OLD MAN sees what THE KID is doing and laughs.
KID (with his fingers as guns): - Pow, pow, pow, pow! (he stops). Heyyy, don't laugh! I'm shooting at you, we're cowboys! Pow, pow!
OLD MAN: - Ahhh, you're gonna kill me!
KID (in a cowboy accent): - Not unless you do as I say, cowboy
OLD MAN (almost without breath): - Sorry, kid, it's been a long time since I play at anything, I'm a little rusty, I got to get the hang of the game, I guess
KID (laughing): - It doesn't matter! Follow me (goes back into character), now you are my hostage… do as I say or you'll be ground meat
OLD MAN (apathetic): - Don't do anything to me, please, sir
KID (out of character): - You're doing it wrong! C'mon, play well or don't play at all
OLD MAN: - All right already! Let me get the hang of it, for crying out loud!
KID (back into character): - Only one thing can save you, Billy
OLD MAN (asking with true interest): - What!?
KID (out of character): - No, not like that… you have to say my name, as I said yours
OLD MAN: - Well, Jessie…
KID: - You have to give me an answer!
OLD MAN: - What answer?
KID: - What did you lost?
THE OLD MAN stays still, silent.
KID: - Tell me or there will be no way out, Billy
OLD MAN: - No, I can't, Jessie…
KID: - Three…
OLD MAN: - Jessie…
KID: - Two…
OLD MAN: No…
KID: - One!
OLD MAN: - STOP!
BEAT. THE OLD MAN starts weeping. THE KID approaches him slowly.
KID: - Easy… these aren't real guns
THE OLD MAN looks at THE KID and smiles.
KID: - It's ok if you don't want to tell me
OLD MAN: - I'm tired… bring me my chair, please…
THE KID brings him the chair and THE OLD MAN sits.
OLD MAN: - Thank you, I got lost for a moment
KID: - No…
OLD MAN: - Could you take me for a while? Just for a bit…
THE KID pushes THE OLD MAN's wheelchair until he's off-stage.
OLD MAN (while leaving): Thank you… (while coughing) Thank you…
Four kids enter the stage at the opposite side where THE OLD MAN went away. They are doing a movement sequence that simulates the paper plane situation at the beginning. THE KID goes back to the stage and climbs the rock, watching the kids play from above.
CURTAIN
This play was the winner of the 10,000 Characters National Playwriting Contest.