All White

Scene One

Scene Description: An empty stage. Two white lights fill the stage and nothing else. One light is focused to the right, designated for the man and the other is to the left, designated for the woman. Initially, both lights are on, but when signaled, the lights begin to coincide with who is speaking.

(A young woman sleeps face down on the floor. A young man sits cross-legged behind her, watching as she sleeps. Soon there is movement. The woman raises her head and looks around. The man sees this, turns his head and closes his eyes, pretending to be asleep.)

(The woman opens her eyes and perks her head up. She looks up and around, quickly realizing she's not where she thought she'd be. Then she turns around and notices the man behind her. She jumps, startled, and backs away to the other side of the stage.)

Woman: Oh my God!

(There is no response from the man. The woman sets still, staring at him for a moment.)

Woman: (Inquiring) Hello? Sir?

(There is still no response from the man. The woman grows impatient.)

Woman: Hey! Wake up! (Pause. She edges closer to him.) Hey, I'm talking to you! Where are we?

(The man still has not moved or showed sign of cognition.)

Woman: Don't you ignore me. I know you can hear! (Still nothing. The man's light goes out) Alright, fine. If you want to play retard, then go right ahead. (She sits back down on her side.) Christ, where the hell AM I?

(The two sit in silence for a few beats. The woman calms herself down and breathes in and out. The man remains unresponsive, withdrawn.)

Woman: My name is-

Man: (His light returns) I don't know what this room is. (His expression doesn't change.)

Woman: (Surprised) Do you know anything about this place?

Man: No.

Woman: Well how long have we been here? How long was I asleep?

(More silence.)

Man: I don't know.

Woman: What do you mean you don't know?

Man: Look around! How could I possibly know where I am?

Woman: (Mocking man) I don't know!

(The woman sits back on her side and crosses her arms. The man suppresses his anger and all becomes silent again. The light over the man fades out as the woman begins to speak.)

Woman: Okay, look. I'm sure we've been here for a long enough time now, and I still have no idea what's going on. I'm cold and scared and stuck in a small room with a complete stranger. I hope that you'll tell me something soon or I'll scream.

(The woman looks towards the man, but his light does not turn on and he does not speak.)

Woman: I'm serious. I go bonkers when it's quiet. Sometimes I feel like if I stop talking, the world's going to end or my head's gonna explode. (Realizing how silly she sounds) I know it sounds silly but it's true.

(The light on the man dims up slightly.)

Man: (Quietly, to himself) I wonder if she's ever tried shutting up.

Woman: I mean I've tried to be quiet before, and you know what? I went crazy! I'm not kidding. When there's no-one around, I just talk to myself. Even when I'm sleeping I still talk.

Man: (Sarcasm) How pleasant.

Woman: (Peeved) You know, I didn't ask for your sarcasm. I'm trying to acquaint myself with you and all you can do is make fun of me. (Looking over to the man) Well you know what? You don't even know my name, so don't think for one second you can start judging me. (Pause) What is your name, by the way?

(Of course, the man will not answer. His light dims down again.)

Woman: Fine, have it your way. (She gets up and walks around her side of the stage. She looks up at the "ceiling" and around at the "walls." She sighs.) Wow, they sure didn't give us much of a room, did they? (Pointing to left stage) And look at that view. Wow. The white really brings out all of the other... white. It's gorgeous. (She crosses over to left stage. She turns around to look at the man.) But who could ask for a better roommate? Just sits in the corner, thinking all the time. Thinking about something. Just what are you thinking about, anyway? (The woman walks over to the man and observes him curiously.) ARE you even thinking? (Getting closer) Hello? You still there?

(The woman approaches the man. Just as she is about to leave her light, the man yells and his light turns on suddenly.)

Man: Get away!

(The man holds a fierce look at the woman for a few beats, and finally he lets go, calming himself down quickly. The woman runs back over to left stage and sits.)

Man: (Realizing his error) I'm sorry. Just don't come near me, okay?

Woman: Well you could've said something earlier! God, you didn't have to scare me like that. (She looks away as her light goes down.)

Man: (Not so much addressing the woman as he is talking out loud to himself.) Look, I said I was sorry... It doesn't help when I'm constantly attacked with questions. (Beat) I've been sitting here for what seems like days, trying to figure out where I am. (Standing up.) I close my eyes for one minute and when I open them again, some strange woman is lying on the floor. I don't know where she came from or how she got here but all I know is that she's a distraction and that none of this makes any sense. This room is impossible! (Beat) I mean, look around. I see no vents. I no light fixtures. Without the vents, how can I breathe right now? Without lights, how can I see anything? It makes no sense! I've been studying science since I was five-years old, and no amount of biology or physics can explain why I'm still alive right now. (Actually addressing the woman) So when you ask me where we are or why we're here, the answer is, "I don't know!" I don't have any of the answers, so stop asking me for them.

(The man sits back down. Lights out.)

Woman: (In a meek voice) I'm scared. (Pause.) Do you think we'll ever get out of here?

Man: (Frustrated) If you ask me one more question, I swear...

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