Usually, I stay silent
by Laura-Kaisa Välimäki
”I don’t get it when somebody does that.”
”He was just being nice.”
”I understand if you’re already leaping
through the door and there’s a person right behind you. But what’s the
rationale behind stopping, actually waiting for three whole seconds and
deciding to keep the door open for a stranger?”
”I guess it’s called being polite… And
politeness isn’t always reasonable, Tim. At least not in the sense in which you
seem to define that word. – It’s all about small everyday things: a smile, a
change in your tone, stopping for those three seconds and keeping the door open
for that person walking behind y…”
”I still don’t get it.”
”Well, I liked it. He helped us, smiled at us
and I smiled back at him. For a brief moment, I felt noticed and met. I think
it is a nice, refreshing, feeling to note that for a brief moment you’re happy
that you crossed paths with this somebody you’ve never met before and might never
meet again.”
”I think people are stupid.”
”Well, I think you should never underestimate
the power of little mundane acts. Those moments help the society, in some subconscious
manner, to stick together. And besides that, sometimes you may really brighten
up someone’s day.”
”By the way, I’m taking ballet classes again.”
”Oh… That’s lovely to hear! You really enjoyed
them the last time, didn’t you? How is it going, then?”
”It’s… okay.”
”Cool! How are the people there?”
”I don’t know.”
”What do you mean by that?”
”I don’t know.”
”Um… It’s the same place as before, right? The one just a stone's throw away from the
campus. Are there any of the same people as last time? Do
you recall anybody?”
”Well… Carol’s there.”
”Nooo way, she’s such a nice person!”
”She said she, too, took a short break in the
spring. And that she thinks it’s good to have a familiar face there now since
all the other students and the teacher are new.”
”Aw, that’s so sweet of her. What did you
answer her?”
”I didn’t say anything… Usually, I stay
silent.”
”Yeah you do, and I’ve learned that the hard
way.”
”…”
”I’m just kidding, silly! I love you just the
way you are.”
”So, I guess I gotta go now if I’m still gonna
catch the tube.”
”Ah… Yes, sure. How about next Wednesday, then?”
”What about it?”
”You, me, Once
Upon a Time in Hollywood and a large popcorn since it’s your turn to buy
them.”
”Oh, shit! I totally forgot that. I’m actually
gonna go and see it tomorrow with Billy.”
”Oh, okay.”
”Do you still hate him?”
”What? I’ve never hated him, Tim. That’s not me. – Mad? Yes. Of course, I’ve been mad
– furious even – after what he did to you but that’s not… Well, y’know, just forget
it.”
”I’m sorry about Wednesday.”
”Yeah… Sometimes I just can’t help but wonder,
Tim… Do you love yourself?”
”Hell, no!”
birds_of_paradise
An
eco-comedy-drama in three acts
by Daniel Fernandez Galeote
Act 1. What we have done
Scene 1. The omelette
An alarm wails in the distance.
Apus and Sickle lie on top of a fake plastic hill to the left of the stage.
They wear masks resembling birds: Apus is a Cicinnurus magnificus, while
Sickle sports the face of a Drepanornis bruijnii. To the right, farther
away towards the back, is a coal power plant made of cardboard, big enough for
a person to get in. Red light blinks through the windows. Apus and Sickle look
towards the building through binoculars.
Apus The last worker should be leaving anytime now.
Sickle removes the binoculars.
Sickle Nothing quite like a bomb threat
to evacuate a facility before… you know. (He looks at the audience and then
pretends to push down an invisible cartoonish detonator, mimicking an explosion
with too much enthusiasm).
Apus Sickle, this is serious. Please,
don’t lose focus.
A
woman wearing a lab coat hurries out of the power plant. She is a scientist.
Apus There she is. According to the employee
records, the plant should be empty now. Hurry up and push the button before the
police get here.
Sickle Wait. Shouldn’t we… say some last
words?
Apus What do you mean? We are blowing
up the building, not ourselves.
Sickle
gets up and faces the audience.
Sickle (solemnly) It is your
baptism of fire. After today, you can never go back. Any last thoughts you want
to share before you turn into a true warrior?
Apus gets up and ruminates. She
faces the audience and extends her arms to the sides, prepared to declaim.
Sickle stands next to her with a device in his hand. The device has a big red
round button and the word KABOOM written on it. While they are facing the
audience, the scientist runs back inside the power plant.
Apus I would like to thank…
Sickle
speaks simultaneously.
Sickle Too slow!
Sickle extends the arm that
holds the device while theatrically bashing the button with the other fist. A humorous
honk. Then, silence. Sickle looks at the detonator and pushes the button
several times. Many honks, no explosion. The scientist’s arm pokes out of a
window, holding a picture.
Scientist Aha!
Her face appears one moment
later. Apus and Sickle look at her. Apus brings her hands to her head. Sickle
keeps pushing the button while pointing the device towards the plant, but
slower and slower now.
Scientist Oh, I found it! Thank…
Explosion sounds and flashes of
light. The woman jumps out of the power plant through the roof, destroying it. Simultaneously,
she throws some confetti into the air. She falls near the center of the stage
and lies on the ground, motionless. Apus and Sickle look towards her, then
towards the audience. Apus covers her mouth with her hands and falls on her
knees. Sickle shrugs.
Sickle Alright then. I’ll get the car.
Apus looks at him.
Apus That… that woman…
Sickle Yup. Turns out we made a
beautiful omelette.
Apus
gets up and looks at him.
Apus What the fuck, Sickle.
Sickle It was an accident. We are saving
millions in return. We are saving the planet. You are a warrior now. Warriors
fight and sometimes, someone dies as a result. One day, it might be you. Never
forget it.
Apus This is not how I pictured it.
Sickle
gets closer and grabs her firmly by the shoulders.
Sickle Welcome to the real world, Apus.
We’ve left the theater of politics. This is action. Here, things do change, and
they better change fast. This is an emergency. We better be damn radical about
it. Now, let’s get out of here. It’s an order.
Sickle brings a cardboard car.
Apus gets in it in silence. They both leave, running like the Flintstones.
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