Title: Nurture it, Elliot
by Kai from South Yorkshire | in writing, fiction
(The stage is in 'the round'. In the centre there is a large circular platform. It is glossy black, and is reminiscent of a record. If possible, it is revolving slowly. In the centre there are two identical pianos, back to back. In front of each piano is a stool.
A beam of white light hits the middle of the stage. Footsteps. ELLIOT and ELLIOT2 enter from the front row. They run onto opposite sides of the stage, mirrored, and stand staring out over the audience. They both wear plain brown coats, reaching the floor. They are both about 14. ELLIOT is physically deflated, taught face, shoulders drooped. ELLIOT2 is the opposite of this.)
BOTH: Don't you understand me?
(They both walk to their respective stools and sit down. A beat. ELLIOT slams his hands down onto the piano, collapsing his whole upper body onto it. At the same time ELLIOT2 begins to play a quick and simple melody, his body straight and professional. Every few seconds ELLIOT slams himself onto the keyboard; it becomes a rhythm. They have to shout over the noise.)
ELLIOT2: MUSIC!!
ELLIOT: (With a whimper) Music!
ELLIOT2: What more can life offer to me?
ELLIOTT: How can you be so' happy? (With anguish)
ELLIOT2: With music I can express ANGER!
(They both slam onto the piano. A beat of silence after the last smash)
ELLIOT: Or happiness hahahaha!! (The laugh starts miserably sarcastic, but becomes madder and higher pitched.)
(Elliot begins a harmony on the melody of ELLIOT2)
BOTH: Why don't you understand me! (Confusion and anguish)
ELLIOT: (Over refined way, Imitating judgmental adult) Us? Understand music? (Chuckle)
ELLIOT2: But it's our language!?
BOTH: It's EVERYONE's language!
ELLIOT2: Don't give up Elliot! Your young days are coming to an end'
ELLIOT: (Speeding up) But this is my living hell! How do I cope with my individual teenage problems!?
(He tips back on the stool, lying on his back on the floor)
ELLIOT2: (Climbing onto the top of his piano, to stare across at him. Singing to the tune of 'Prometheus Overture' (Beethoven) Each note is beautiful in its own way, and so are we. Take each note and make it special. Nurture it Elliot, it's all you can do.
ELLIOT: (Getting up in a sort of daze, a new smile dawning. In a whisper of wonder) Prometheus Overture!
(ELLIOT2 stands on top of the pianos)
ELLIOT2: MUSIC!
ELLIOT: MUSIC!
(ELLIOT2 climbs down from the piano, kicks the stool away and begins to play on his knees. ELLIOT gets up and, in wonder, begins to play the' Prometheus Overture' by Beethoven. They laugh away together as the light fades out.)
Elliot's life revolves around music. He finds it difficult to understand why this medium speaks to him more than anything else in the world. Here, Elliot's teenage emotions have been pulled apart by his frustration at being young, and his love of playing, no matter what state of mind he may be in. In this play, Elliot's two sides wonder of the profoundness of his existence, and reach a mutual decision that he is as important as each note is in his music.
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