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Betrayal of Emotion By: Elizabeth Fontenot Setting: Spring of 2006 Scenes: (1) Hallway with lockers. (2) Vincent’s room: White and bleu room with two beds and two chairs. (3) Four part divided scene: (from back stage) Aki in the top right, Vincent top left, Merlin bottom right, Meg bottom left.
Characters: Narrator Aki Tanemura Meg Davis Merlin Ericson Vincent James Various Extras
Character Outline: Aki Tanemura A spunky girl of fourteen with a gentle nature, she can be talked into almost anything. When she sets her mind on something, she gets too absorbed. She comes from a family that keeps her quite sheltered. She has long dark brown hair, green eyes, and a slim figure. Meg Davis A superficial girl of fifteen with an attitude and a controlling nature, she follows Merlin to a certain degree. Her heart is in her looks and social standing. Her family is liberal with her. She has shoulder length light brown hair, brown eyes, and a medium build. Merlin Ericson A self-righteous boy of fifteen with a penchant for getting himself into trouble, he’s usually calm and can take on different personalities at any time. His family is only sets a curfew for him. He’s a strong, silent leader. He’s tall for his age with short black hair and dark brown eyes. Vincent James A holy-roly boy of fifteen who is very laid back, he enjoys movies to a level of obsession. He’s as stubborn as a mule, and he doesn’t yield to anyone. His family is very strict with him. He sports a brown mushroom haircut with brown eyes and a slim figure.
=Narrator: Four high school students decided that they would change their lifestyles in order to make the world around them a better place.
*Curtain is pulled away to reveal the hall and still characters. Spotlight falls on each as they’re introduced.*
=Narrator: Aki Tanemura is the youngest and most trusting of them all. She believes that the world could be at peace if man would acknowledge his faults. Merlin Ericson is a philosophical boy who believes that the world was ruined by emotion. He’s a cold person until someone mentions games, all night parties, or paintball. Meg Davis takes more of an interest in boys and her looks than she does in world affairs. She’s only around because she’s in a relationship with Merlin. Vincent James doesn’t care one way or another about what happens in the world until it affects him personally. He can quote every movie he’s ever seen. They all meet at a specific hall in their high school. It’s not unusual because they are the only friends they have. The reason that they’re all alone is because of a common interest in anime and manga, or Japanese movies and books. It’s because of their desperate situation that they made the decision to become different people.
*The lights come up and the characters begin to converge on center stage.* *They sit in a semicircle facing the audience*
=Meg: Good afternoon everyone! How was class?
=Aki: English was wonderful! At least it was for me. *giggles*
=Merlin: That teacher drives me insane. She assigns too many projects for one lifetime.
=Meg: *hugging Merlin and taunting him* You just got put into her group, didn’t you?
=Vincent: Unfortunately, we both did.
=Aki: *achieved* Oh, come on, guys. At least you know it’ll be A material!
=Merlin: *whispering* And several hours of work.
=Meg: Well then, just do your assignments and, I’m sure Aki will sort them into the project. Am I right, Aki?
=Aki: That’s right. I’ll have my own part of the project, but I’ll organize it all in the end.
=Vincent: Thank heaven!
=Aki: Speaking of projects, so we still want to go to the area anime convention?
=Merlin: We’ve been talking about it for the past two months. I still do.
=Vincent: I’m still on!
=Meg: I guess that means I’m in, too.
=Aki: Then we need to choose what shows we’re going to dress as.
=Vincent: Don’t you mean what we’re cosplaying from?
=Aki: You got it! I said what I did so that even Meg would understand.
=Meg: I’m glad that you made it clear. At least I know where you are now.
=Merlin: I suggest Gundam Wing.
=Vincent: I call Duo!
=Aki: I’d like Relena.
=Merlin: I want Zechs.
=Meg: Do I even know this show?
=Merlin: No. Census time; who could Meg play? The available characters are Noin, Sally, Dorothy, and Katherine.
=Aki: I’d say Sally. The character suits her.
=Vincent: Seems Aki and I are on the same page.
=Merlin: Then it’s settled. Meg will play Sally Po.
=Aki: I suggest an open research paper on our character. It will include the character’s personality, machine, and occupation. Two hundred word minimum in length and will be due in two weeks.
=Vincent: Why a paper? I hate writing.
=Aki: Then you’ll do a ten minute presentation on your character.
=Vincent: To be delivered in front of everyone?
=Merlin: In front of all of us or you don’t come.
=Vincent: Dang! I hate when you two get together.
=Merlin: I’d like to add to the assignment. From now until the con, we are to act as our character everywhere. Maybe it’ll be a positive impact on those around us.
=Aki: Great idea, Merlin! I like that a lot.
=Merlin: All in favor say, “Aye”.
=All: Aye!
=Vincent: I guess we’d better fill Meg in as soon as possible.
=Meg: This will be interesting.
*While Narrator reads, there’s a scene switch behind the redrawn curtains.* ^ Scene Switches to Vincent’s room. ^
=Narrator: For the next month, all the friends could think about was school and the convention. They had even carried out the acting as the characters. Their worlds were different in the sense that there was less haggling to do chores or favors within their respective homes, but the school scene was just as they had left it. It was blissful for a while, but one meeting at Vincent’s house changed all of that. Whether it was for good or ill can be debated.
*Curtain is pulled to reveal the room and its inhabitants.*
=Vincent: Is it just me or are the emotional hormones high lately?
=Merlin: They have been, and I believe that it is unbecoming of our characters.
=Aki: This is not the first time this question has come up. I guess this is the most opportune time to address it.
=Merlin: I agree, sister. The problem I’m hearing is that the acting-out of our characters is not fulfilling the original goal. This is making our peers in school mad at us.
=Aki: So what do we do? If getting hurt over our characters is making us lash out, what other avenue do we have to explain ourselves without giving the world a full expose? Personally, I believe that our emotions are reactions to surrounding occurrences.
=Meg: They’re the part of us that helps us cope with the bad things in life.
=Vincent: Emotions help to ease pain and suffering in the body and mind. It’s a natural healer.
=Aki: Merlin, the majority agree that it should be used as an advantage to our characters. After all, Duo could get quite aggressive. *giggles*
=Vincent: Hey!
=Merlin: *He raises Aki to stand tall and meets her eyes.* Here’s my stand. Emotions are evil things which we must bury. Sadness, joy, and anger cause nothing but trouble for both the physical and mental beings.
*Aki is as astonished as the rest of the group.* *Merlin puts his hands on Aki’s arms to brace her for the next statement.*
=Merlin: You, my dear sister, have been consumed by your sadness and pain from the pettiness of these past years, but now you must lay it to rest. Know that their cruelty was out of their envy of your individuality. I tell you now, bury them.
=Aki: *She’s beginning to cry silently.* *She looks up at Merlin with awaiting tears.* What about love? Love is a guiding force.
=Merlin: It is true that love is a driving force. I agree that one should not give up that one. The drawback to keeping it is that we must always remember its true definition. Love means “total sacrifice.” Obey it, but mind that definition; total sacrifice.
=Aki: *She lowers her eyes to the floor.* We started this charade as a way to have fun and make the world a better place. I often wonder whether we actually succeeded in that goal or ruined it.
*Aki struggles against Merlin until he quietly lets her go.* *She turns to Vincent before quietly, dignifyingly exits stage right.* *The light fades and the curtain falls.*
^ Scene switches to the four paneled rooms. Narrator begins. ^
=Narrator: Aki cried for the last time upon leaving that room. It wasn’t until her grandfather died that November that she would ever cry again. For the next few weeks, even the sun hid in mourning. It rained with the force of armies two days before they were to send in registration for the convention. The thunder filled them with hatred. The lightning deepened their pain. Nature was crying for them. All of them seemed to be ruing over the events of the recent meeting in a common manner.
*Spotlight each in blue as they speak.*
=Aki: In a way, I can’t believe that he’s become so completely different. He is who he looked up to, now. Zechs Marquis became numb to his emotions as well. He buried all of them, all except for love. Merlin is truly the “Lightning Count.”
=Vincent: Merlin has overstepped his bounds! He’s no longer the careful Zechs Marquis; he’s become the monster Milliardo Peacecraft! If this is his choice, then he must be stopped.
=Meg: Merlin takes this cosplay thing seriously. He doesn’t just choose a character and dress like it. No, he lives it. It’s all so extreme! He’s really begun to frighten me.
=Merlin: Is this right? Yes, it is. They must absorb all things which relate to feelings in order to make clear decisions. Aki is the most vulnerable and the weakest even though she seems to be stronger. We each will soon face an uphill battle because our secret will be exposed. I dread the day which will bring such tidings. This is for the good of our tiny world of freaks.
=Narrator: As anger and pain filled each of them, Aki seemed to sense Merlin’s words.
=Aki: I will not cry. I will bury my tears and sleep instead. I wish the familiar writing would help, but it only intensifies and renews the pain. I am not sad. *She doubles over in to a ball to sleep, but she shakes violently.*
*Curtain closes as the Narrator begins again*
^ Scene switches to the school hall. ^
=Narrator: A month passed with the differences in the friends beginning to show. Vincent became wittier; Meg became sassier; Merlin became more rigid; but the most changed of all was Aki. She’d become so obedient, pleasant, and quiet to the point where Meg and Vincent began to worry. Merlin talked to her often to “make sure that she was comfortable in this new form”, but Meg and Vincent weren’t convinced.
*Curtain is drawn to reveal the hall with each coming from four points backstage.* *Spotlight each as a monologue is presented.*
=Vincent: I’m going to rip him apart until he snaps out of this...this foolishness! He doesn’t see what power he has over poor Aki. She performs her role implicitly. She even looks at him like a sister would to a brother! It’s not hard to see that she’s suffering, and I won’t take it anymore!
=Meg: Today is the day Merlin gets his due. He’s become such a recluse and only confides in her. This emotions crap ends today. I’m sick of acting like I’m military woman. I’m sick of his pettiness. I’m getting depressed from not laughing as much! Our little world of friends is falling apart. This ends today!
=Aki: Who is going to throw the first punch, I wonder? This is going to be only one of many battles. Merlin’s speech really angered Vincent and Meg for some reason. I just hope it ends in compromise and friendship. I can’t bear to see the group fall apart. My world would fall apart without my friends. What is the world like without friends?
*Hall scene becomes active.*
=Merlin: I know that look all too well, Vincent. You too, Meg?! What’s wrong this time? You’re both angry at something.
=Vincent: We’re angry at YOU! Do you realize what you’ve become?
=Merlin: I’m only playing my role as Zechs, just like in our agreement. Is that a crime?
=Meg: It is okay to play the character, but this is a bit much.
=Merlin: What is?
=Vincent: *He puts Merlin against the lockers with a fist of lapel.* Do you ever think about the effects of your little speech last month?
=Meg: *She’s standing behind Vincent.* Did you ever consider that it would be harmful for us to bottle up our feelings?
=Merlin: I have, but the more important factor that should ease your pain is that it makes your decisions clearer and therefore more rational.
=Aki: *She silently rises and places a gentle hand on the hand that’s holding Merlin’s lapel.* “We are but players on the stage of life.” William Shakespeare. Come. There’s no need for violence.
=Vincent: Aki, this has affected you more than it has us! We—
=Aki: *Putting a finger to his lips.* I enjoy this lifestyle. I get into less trouble. Also, his explanation of unclouded judgment is true. Take this situation for example: anger has clouded your mind to the point that your body uses violence to release the negative energy. Leave this for a meeting outside of school…please.
=Vincent: *Letting go of Merlin.* Only because I know you, Aki. *Turns to Merlin.* You have become the monster Milliardo Peacecraft. You can choose to leave the group quietly or I can force you out. Either way, until you are back to normal, you’re not welcome here.
=Aki: No!
=Merlin: We need to stay together. The war has just begun.
=Vincent: On what!? On “emotions”? Poor Aki suffers under her façade. She doesn’t laugh or sing anymore unless she’s acting for a teacher or for choir. She used to be the bright star that gave light to the group. I won’t see her suffer any longer.
=Meg: Two choices. Neither is an option to stay.
=Aki: *Forcefully.* SILENCE! *All stare at her.* There’s no need for this! *She begins to tremble.* We were friends when all of this started a few months ago, but is seems that the item which initially brought us together is now a wedge that is trying to cleave our worlds irrevocably apart. I’ll leave if I’m the problem. Just stop fighting!
*A stunned silence ensues.* *Heads hang, heavy with shame.*
=Merlin: It seems, little sister, that I am the one who is not wanted. You are right, though. Maybe we’ve lived long enough as our characters; too long, perhaps.
=Meg: Agreed.
=Vincent: Agreed.
=Aki: But what about the cosplaying and the convention? What about changing the world?
=Merlin: When we’re in costume, we’ll become our respective characters. The world will not change just because we change. It may change those around us a bit but not by much. We’ll live normal lives and only act when in costume. How does that sound? Can we adhere to that?
=Vincent: It sounds great. Aye!
=Meg: Normalcy! Aye!
=Aki: That sounds grand. Aye!
=Meg: *Leaning on Aki’s shoulder.* Smile, would you? For crying out loud it looks like you’re still in character!
=Aki: I told you, I sincerely like being this way.
=Vincent: You used to smile and laugh more.
=Aki: There’s nothing to ----
*Vincent mercilessly tickles her.* *She laughs for a long while.*
=Vincent: Didn’t that feel great?
=Aki: *giggles* That always was my weak spot.
=Meg: So, are we friends again?
*Each put in a hand as they speak.*
=Aki: Friends!
=Vincent: Friends!
=Merlin: Friends!
=Meg: Friends!
*Curtain closes on the group laughing and group hugging.*
=Narrator: And so the group was reunited. Their little world was rebuilt and stronger than before. They had everything planned for the convention but the costumes. They never did make it that year. The costumes weren’t made on time and some couldn’t pay the registration. Either way, the experience of that year strengthened their friendship so much that they still keep up and have meetings at one another’s homes. The end.
lemoura · Wed Jan 03, 2007 @ 06:46pm · 1 Comments |
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