Fall Seasons
A Play in Two Acts
by
Michael Thomas Tower
Approximate playing time: 1:45
© 1986-2005 Michael Thomas Tower
All Rights Reserved
Query regarding production, performance or presentation of this work
in any manner whatsoever should be directed to the author
MTTower@aol.com
fs0505b
Synopsis
Ken is an alcoholic. James is his ex-lover who succumbs to Ken's plea to visit him. James must fight to maintain his new-found "freedom" and not be pulled back into Ken's disastrous world of booze. Daniel is James's new lover, whose hidden past emerges to complicate the decisions that must be made. The troubled world of many relationships, regardless of the trouble's cause, is universalized in this picture of addiction and co-addiction, told with much humor as well as poignant drama.
Characters
Ken, James & Daniel -- men of approximately the same age.
Setting
All action takes place in the main living area of Ken's ground-floor apartment. This one room serves as living room, bedroom and artist's studio. The room is a mess. Discarded clothing, out-of-date newspapers, old fast-food containers, paper wadded and pitched, unpacked boxes worn from many moves, books in stacks, canvases bought with hope but dusty from neglect -- all evidence of a life out of order. But there are three distinct stacks of items on the floor: dirty clothing in one, paper trash in another, other kinds of trash in the third, including two or three beer cans and three pint-sized vodka bottles, one of which is about half full.
Fall Seasons
Act I
(at rise, no one is on stage. lighting indicates early-morning sun outside. There are no lights on in the room, leaving inside illumination subdued.
(The bed has not been made and the bedding is gathered into a form vaguely suggesting that someone could be lying under the bedspread.
(Within moments we see ken coming into view "outside." he crawls over the fence and moves toward the SR door. he is carrying a small white paper bag. he stumbles over something we can't see and there's the sound of a loud "Meow!")
ken
Shit! Watch out, you stupid little critter!
(ken watches the "cat" run away and calls after it.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
I'm sorry, Benny, but you know not to sleep there!
Told him a thousand times!
(he recovers from the mishap and enters the SR door, moving in a way that gives a clue to the hangover he's suffering. When he glances at the bed he makes a noticeable effort to move quietly, so as not to disturb the person he assumes to be there.
(he takes a small milk carton from the bag and starts to take it into the kitchen, then changes his mind and pours all of the milk into a container he finds nearby, and sets it outside the SR door.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
(A loud "whisper")
Come on, Benny, you worthless scab-assed runt. I said I'm sorry.
(While we don't see the cat, we can tell it's walking toward Ken by ken's reaction. His voice is restrained so as not to disturb the person in bed.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
You know you're the best friend I've got, and I don't go around stepping on friends. ... Well, that's not altogether true. But it's hardly ever intentional.
(As ken returns to the room, he is puzzled by the piles of clothing and trash. he then notices the vodka bottles and he quickly checks to see if they are empty. The last one he picks up has some booze left in it, so he furtively stashes that in a drawer. he finds a bottle of aspirin and shakes some tablets into his hand. he glances around, sees a glass with clear liquid in it, sniffs to make sure it's drinkable. Noticing something in the liquid, he uses his finger to remove the object, flicks it away, then washes down the aspirin.
(he turns on a light, then goes to the bed, anticipating waking its occupant. he's smiling with expectancy as he makes his move.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
(Quietly, tenderly)
Hey, James?
(ken carefully stretches out on the bed and puts his arm around the "person" which causes him to realize, with alarm, that it's only a bundle of bedding. he immediately goes into panic mode.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
God damn him!
(Runs to SL door, fumbles with the handle)
Shit -- come on!
(Gets door open, steps into hall and yells)
James? James!
(Frustrated and angry)
Shit all to hell! God damn him anyway!
(ken steps back into the room, slamming the door in frustration. Immediately we hear james's voice coming from the bathroom.)
(offstage) james (offstage)
Is that you, Ken?
(ken is immediately flooded with relief.)
ken
Yeah! It's me. You in the bathroom?
(The door to the bathroom opens, but James remains out of view.)
(offstage) james (offstage)
Yeah.
(A beat)
I thought maybe you'd, uh ... left.
ken
Oh, no, I just went out for a few minutes.
(A beat)
Did you find a clean towel?
(james comes out of the bathroom, fully dressed except for shoes. His hair is wet and tousled. he's carrying a bathrobe and buttoning his shirt.)
james
A clean one? I don't think that's possible. I shook myself dry.
ken
Not quite.
(ken reaches over to use his fingers to remove a rivulet of water from James's face. james recoils slightly from the touch, then he pitches the robe onto an over-burdened chair.)
james
Your robe ...
(As the conversation continues, james finds his shoes and puts them on.)
ken
You're welcome to use it ...
(Suggestively)
... anytime.
james
(Ignoring the insinuation)
Didn't put it on ... after I noticed that, uh, montage of coagulation down the front.
ken
Yeah, I've been intending to wash the thing. Recognize it?
james
The robe? ... or the stuff that's on it? -- which I do recognize, just don't know whose it is ...
ken
Happens to be clam chowder ... I think.
james
I do recognize the robe, of course. It's the one I gave you.
ken
First Christmas we were together.
james
Only Christmas we were together ... if you can call it "together" ... and I'm surprised you remember that much about it.
ken
Oh. Was that one of the holidays I, uh, celebrated with a little too much religious fervor?
james
You disappeared for a week, and when you came home you didn't smell like any religion I've ever sniffed.
ken
Well, that was a long time ago. No point in digging up all that old crap now --
james
(Overlapping/interrupting)
Six and a half days you were gone, to be precise.
ken
(Trying to keep it light)
You've always been one to be ... precise.
james
From early Christmas morning till mid afternoon New Year's Day ...
ken
Didn't we go over this, way back then, when it happened --
james
(Overlapping/interrupting)
In time for New Year's dinner.
(Indicating the robe)
There's some of that on there, too.
ken
It's not that bad.
james
(Finger-combing his hair)
Your blow-drier doesn't work.
ken
Burned it out trying to quick-dry a painting, which sold for less than a blow- drier costs.
james
Comb I could use?
ken
Somewhere ...
(Scrabbling through stuff, looking for a comb)
May have to use a fork.
james
There's not a clean one of those, I'm quite sure ...
(ken finds a comb and hands it to james. james picks some long white hair out of it.)
(continuing) james (continuing)
Grooming yaks nowadays?
ken
Just a cat. A transient friend.
(james drops the comb without using it and looks in the mirror to do what he can with his fingers. For the first time ken really notices the bedspread.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
James ...
james
Hmm?
ken
What's this thing on the bed?
james
What thing?
ken
This horrible ugly thing with matted fringe?
james
Bedspread?
ken
Didn't know I had one.
james
Where I found it I'm not surprised.
ken
That's one ugly sucker.
james
Reason I didn't try to make the bed -- that, the smell ... and the sheets won't bend.
ken
Somebody would have to be bombed to the gills at a low-class flea market to buy something like that.
james
That was my guess.
ken
And that stuff ...
(Points to the orderly piles of clothing and trash)
What's this?
james
For a few minutes I had a crazy notion about cleaning up around here ...
ken
Not sure the room could withstand the trauma.
james
... then decided that wasn't how I wanted to spend the rest of my life.
ken
(Pointing out the various piles)
Animal, vegetable, mineral ... ?
(With two fingers, james carefully picks up a dirty sock he's just noticed and pitches it onto the pile of dirty clothes.)
james
And gasses that would win wars.
ken
Just haven't found a good reason to clean the place.
james
If you ever do, you'll need a garbage truck, a street sweeper, and a flame thrower.
ken
Housekeeping's never been my strong point. You know that.
james
You used to be short on organization, but you weren't a bottom-feeder.
ken
Aw, now, this place has real potential ...
james
As a lab for developing bacterial weapons.
ken
Could be fixed up ... made very livable.
james
For what species of vermin?
ken
For us, James.
(A beat; seriously)
You and me.
(Ken's statement obviously bothers james, but he immediately tries to cover that reaction.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
Out with the old, in with the new. New color, new furniture, new arrangement ... new life!
(A beat)
We never really gave it a fair chance before, James.
(james is carefully checking himself in the mirror, providing diversion from having to acknowledge Ken's disturbing suggestion.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
I'm serious, James.
(A beat)
Let's give it another try.
(A beat)
I know we could make it work this time.
(A beat)
What do you say?
(A beat.)
james
Do you have any coffee around here?
ken
You're changing the subject.
james
I'm well aware of that.
ken
Don't.
james
Do. Coffee?
ken
Kitchen would be my guess.
james
That would surprise me ...
(ken sees an instant-coffee jar and grabs it.)
ken
Oh, wait. Here's some. It's, uh ...
(Opening the jar and checking the contents)
Never mind.
(james rolls his eyes and exits kitchen door. ken puts the coffee jar down.
(The following action takes place as the conversation continues. ken hurriedly looks around; then he sees a drawing tablet. he grabs it and tears two sheets of paper from it. he kicks stuff away to clear a space on the floor and puts the sheets of paper down. he gets the white paper sack he brought in and takes from it two pastries and places one on each piece of paper. he takes napkins from the sack, folds them meticulously, and places one beside each pastry.)
(offstage) james (offstage)
Want some?
ken
Coffee?
(offstage) james (offstage)
I hope that's what this is ...
ken
Sure. It'll go with what I've got.
(offstage) james (offstage)
Hope it isn't something contagious ...
ken
That's the reason I went out -- to get us some breakfast.
(offstage) james (offstage)
What is it?
ken
A hint: It's edible, even if it is past its prime -- and it's cheap.
(offstage) james (offstage)
You've just described most of my friends.
ken
(Laughing)
It's in the food category, not the dude category.
(offstage) james (offstage)
Well I hope you got it by entering a door rather than lifting a lid.
ken
Don't knock lid-lifting. It's an honorable regression. Find the coffee?
(offstage) james (offstage)
I think so. Awful ... chunky.
ken
As long as it isn't squirming ...
(james enters carrying two cups with coffee in them.)
james
That was exciting. Feel like I've been on an archeological dig.
(james doesn't see the pastries on the floor, and he steps squarely on one.)
(continuing) james (continuing)
What the hell ... ?
ken
(Laughing)
You just stepped on your breakfast.
james
My breakfast?
ken
That one had cherry filling.
james
Why did you put food on the floor?
ken
There's no room on the table.
james
There's a table in here?
ken
Besides, I wanted a picnic. Remember? Old times' sake ...
(As they talk, ken takes the damaged pastry and pitches it aside; james picks it up and places it on the "proper" trash pile as ken gets another sheet of paper, tears the remaining pastry in half and places a piece on each sheet of paper. Then they sit and start eating their pastry.)
james
The old times are just that, Ken: old times -- past, former, gone, retired, departed, defunct ...
ken
Don't be such an old thesaurus.
james
... ancient history with a language long dead.
ken
Now you're getting historical.
james
Because I remember what happened.
ken
Then you remember we had some really good times.
james
Besides, we're jinxed when it comes to picnics. You know that.
ken
I was hoping the statue of limitations had run out.
james
The statue of ...
(A sudden amusing recollection)
Oh, jeez ...
(they are remembering something that brings on laughter. james doesn't want to laugh, but he can't help it.)
ken
You remember that?
james
Yes, I remember ...
ken
That smelly old antique shop about a block from where we lived ...
james
Only genuine antique in there was the old fart who ran it.
ken
And his belching and bug-eyed fart-ess!
james
The duke and duchess of Krapengrad.
ken
She claimed to be Anastasia's cousin or something, twice removed.
james
She'd been removed many more times than that.
ken
And one day there was this god-awful wood carving in the window with the three monkeys -- see no speak no hear no evil ...
james
(Laughing)
Don't! Don't ...
ken
And you marched in there and went up to that old man and said, "There's something in the window I'm interested in. How much is that statue of limitations?"
(they begin to recover from the laughter.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
Oh, jeez, James -- we had so many really great times together.
(As they recover from laughing, they return to eating the pastry in seconds of silence.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
I like this.
james
Seems kind of dry to me.
ken
(Indicating pastry)
Not that ...
(Opens arms to encompass their togetherness)
This! Being with you again. It's ... really nice.
(A beat)
I'm glad you came over last night.
(A beat)
And you haven't answered my question.
(A long beat.)
james
What question?
ken
You know ... about us ... getting back together ...
james
You're not serious.
ken
I am.
james
Really was hoping you weren't.
ken
(Tastes his coffee and immediately splutters)
God, this is terrible!
james
All I could find was that brown generic chunky ... whatever ...
ken
And generic tap water?
james
I'm not here long enough to bring anything to a boil.
ken
This may be termite diggings.
james
Well it's organic. How bad can it be?
ken
Hemlock is organic.
james
Don't remind me. Milk might help. You must have something white in there. I'd settle for furniture polish.
(james gets up to head for the kitchen when he spots the milk carton Ken emptied earlier for the cat. he picks it up, peers in, sniffs it ... )
(continuing) james (continuing)
It's fresh, which is astounding ... but empty.
ken
I gave it to Benny. An apology for kicking his lazy ass.
james
Benny?
ken
Benedict Arnold. Turns on me all the time. My name for him. Neighbor's cat, hangs out here. Close friend. ... The cat, not the neighbor.
james
The only thing in this place with an expiration date in this century, and you give it to a cat.
(Sips his coffee, reacts much as Ken did)
Good grief!
ken
(Laughs)
You didn't believe me?
james
Apparently there's a Folger's plantation at Gernoble. That shit is toxic.
ken
Sorry. I'm not well prepared for entertaining.
(They munch in silence, but ken is smiling at James and james tries to ignore what that might mean. ken reaches over to brush a crumb from the corner of James's mouth, but james takes Ken's hand and moves it away.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
You had a crumb ...
(Hoping to focus Ken's attention somewhere else, james starts talking about the painting.
(At some convenient point in the ensuing dialogue, they will get up and put their cups and pieces of paper out of the way.)
james
(Indicating painting in chair)
Noticed you're working. How long you been on that?
ken
Couple of weeks ... long time ago.
james
Oh, yeah, I noticed the paint's dry.
ken
Well, it's acrylic.
james
You used to say you'd never paint with plastic.
ken
Sometimes you need to speed life up.
james
It's good.
ken
Half of what I do is always good. That's the reason I never finish.
james
What if it's the last half that's the good half?
ken
Then I'll just have to learn to paint backwards.
james
Selling anything?
ken
A seascape with an ocean the same color as the green of the leaves in the little wife's new sofa. A portrait of the family's beloved pet that just passed over. Ever try to pose a dead dog? Jerry Garcia on black velvet -- talk about a dead head.
james
You're better than that.
ken
Miniatures are hot sellers -- hawk 'em at street fairs. Shitty little pieces of crap people buy because they're cute. Tell me, was art ever supposed to be ... cute? ... Still ... it's never quite enough to calm the landlord's nerves. Fact is ... I haven't sold anything in a month.
james
You should finish this one.
ken
You're the only person who's ever given me any real encouragement with my painting.
james
I seem to remember giving you a very expensive easel one time.
ken
I, uh, kind of ... hocked that a while back. Sorry.
james
Anything I ever gave you, you ...
(A beat)
It was yours, to do with as you please.
ken
Only time I ever did any really good, honest work was when we were together.
(james ignores the remark and turns to gather cups and remnants of their breakfast. he exits into the kitchen, immediately returning empty-handed.)
james
I've got to go, Ken. Meter maids will be released from their cages for feeding any moment and I don't want to be attacked by another one of those --
ken
(Overlapping/interrupting)
James, we've got to talk.
james
We have talked.
ken
About us! We haven't talked about us!
james
I'm parked at a meter.
ken
We need to talk.
james
I don't want a ticket!
ken
Go put some quarters in.
james
I need those for laundry!
ken
James ...
james
I've got to go!
ken
You're ruining a perfectly good reunion.
james
This is not a reunion! Shouldn't even be here.
ken
Good God, man, we haven't seen each other for ages.
james
Less than two years ...
ken
We had a good visit last night and you were friendly enough then. What's the problem now? Oh, it's the coffee, isn't it? You don't like dark-roasted French termite.
james
It's just that ... I shouldn't have come! Shouldn't be here.
ken
I see.
james
No you don't.
ken
Oh, I think I do. Because you've got some kind of freaky cross-wiring in your emotional system, you figure the best way to deal with me is to deny that you still love me.
james
Don't start that shit, Ken.
ken
Go on! Handle your troublesome feelings the only way you know how: Deny they exist! Just do me a favor and be sure to pull the street door shut when you get the fuck out of here!
(ken turns and goes out the SR door, where he can still be seen through the window. james starts toward the SL door, then hesitates, torn between leaving and staying long enough to say a little more. ken looks in to see James still there.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
Go on! Get out of here! You're just more clutter! I've got too much of that in my life already!
(james stands still. Suddenly ken stomps back into the room, opens the drawer where he put the vodka and takes that out. he starts looking for a glass.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
I said get the fuck out of here! I've got things to do!
(A beat.)
james
Why did you call me last night?
ken
Just forget it! Couple of days you won't remember a thing about this little rendezvous ... since it means nothing to you at all.
(ken's search becomes more frantic.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
Didn't have to come! Sure as hell don't have to stay! But god damn fuck it all, here you are! Where's a mother-fucking glass, for god's sake ... !
(Just as suddenly begun, the frenzy stops and ken is quiet and contrite.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
I'm sorry, James. I don't ... know, it's ... just that ... well ... seeing you again, it ... it means even more to me than I thought it would.
james
Yeah. I, uh ...
(A pause; finds no words to go on)
ken
And I really don't want you to go. ... Not yet. ... not now.
(A beat)
Thank you for coming when I called last night. ... I, uh ... kind of surprised you did.
james
I don't know if I ... It has been a while. ... Wanted to see how you're doing. ... Despite ... well, there's all that stuff ... the shit we've gone through ... but I do care about you, Ken. ... Can't fucking help it, seems. I'll always care about you ...
(Several seconds of heavy, uncomfortable silence pass. ken turns and looks out the window when he finally speaks.)
ken
What time is it?
james
(Glances at his watch)
Almost nine.
ken
No ... time of the year.
james
What? ... It's ... October.
ken
Really?
james
Barely.
ken
Ah. Good. I wasn't too far off ...
(Still looking out the window)
Can't see much from here, but ... you can tell. The sky ... air ... light. Fall has a feel, doesn't it? -- the whole damned space of it is different. Crisper, sharper. Leaner. Doesn't have the heaviness of summer ... the loneliness of winter. And spring's just a big tease that never lives up to the promise. I like fall.
(A beat)
Still your favorite time of the year?
james
Oh, I, uh ... guess I haven't thought about it for a while.
ken
You used to think it was the best time.
james
Yeah ... fall's nice ... the colors ... start of the holidays ... the ones that count ...
ken
Mmm.
(A beat)
And we met in the fall, didn't we?
james
Surprised you remember.
ken
Could never forget that. Obvious case of love at first sight.
james
Was it?
ken
That's what you told somebody at the party ... only minutes after we met.
james
I have been known to exaggerate.
ken
But, to be honest, I don't remember actually seeing you until the next day.
james
Mid-afternoon, I think ...
ken
I must have been a mess.
james
Back then ... I guess I wouldn't have noticed.
ken
So love is blind?
james
That's the only reason the whole concept of passion has survived all these centuries.
(A beat.)
ken
Did I tell you I lost June this year?
james
Who?
ken
Whole month. I never lost a whole month before.
(Making light of it)
I remember Memorial Day up until about noon. Next thing I knew it was July fifth. The fifth, for God's sake! I missed the whole damned holiday.
james
As long as you didn't miss Cinco de Mayo. That was your favorite day to celebrate.
(ken suddenly remembers something fun and becomes very animated as he starts singing.)
ken
The fifth of May,
two-fifths of tequila,
and five-fifths of you, of you. Olé!
Remember that? Whoo, what a party that was! Hadn't thought of that in ages.
(As ken starts to sing the ditty again, he tries to draw james into a kind of dance, but james resists and backs away -- a rejection that ken tries to pass off as meaningless.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
The fifth of May,
two-fifths of tequila,
and five-fifths of you, of you. Olé!
Damn, what genius came up with that?
james
I believe that was you.
ken
That's what I thought.
james
Not some genius.
ken
Is Bastille Day still in July? That's another good holiday -- celebrating the night they invented champagne and brandy and cucumber mousse.
james
I don't think that's what it's all about.
ken
Hey, maybe that's my purpose in life -- celebrating non-American holidays.
(ken goes to the CD player and pushes a button that turns it on. The sound of music suitable for close-dancing is heard.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
Do you ever get out to dance, James? Man, that's another thing we were good at. You remember that benefit thing we went to? We fucking wowed'em. Come on -- for old time's sake. This -- this! -- is not a dump. It is our magical ballroom -- our very own universe -- the stars up there -- see them all? -- spinning around, bright and shining, reflecting the light of love onto all our hopes and our dreams. Look around you, James. Look at the twinkle and flash and sparkle and gleam. Look at it spell out our names!
(As ken reaches out to James, james goes to the CD player and pushes a button that turns it off. Then he turns to Ken.)
james
Why did you call me last night?
ken
Why did you come?
james
Because you called me!
ken
No, that's the result, not the reason.
(A pause.)
(continuing) ken (continuing)
You know why you came, James.
james
No ... really, I ... wish I do ...
ken
You know.
james
I said I don't know, dammit! I want to know! I need to know!
ken
If you didn't know, you wouldn't be so scared right now.
(A beat)
Hm?
(A beat)
You used to know why you did things.
james
Did I?
ken
So rational. So ... "directed" -- isn't that what you called it?
james
"Centered" I think was the word I used then.
ken
That hasn't changed, has it?
james
Nothing's the same.
ken
Really?
(A beat)
You told me one time you'd never come again if I called when I was drunk.
james
Your memory is better than I thought it would be.
ken
I thought maybe yours was failing.
james
You never called me when you were sober.
ken
Maybe ... maybe not.
james
After I finally got away from you, you never phoned me unless you were drunk.
ken
How would you know? You just always assumed I was drunk.
james
Did you? Did you ever call me when you were sober?
ken
Now you are wondering, aren't you?
james
You were drunk last night.
ken
Yes. I was.
(A beat)
And I needed you last night.
(A beat)
And ... thank God ... you came when I called.
(A beat.)
james
(With heavy sigh)
Oh dear God ...
ken
I'm glad you did.
(A beat)
I needed you ... and you came.
(A beat)
Thank you, James.
(A beat)
Oh, hey, I think there's some tea in the kitchen. "Celestial Harmony" or some divine shit you'll love. Let me see. I'll fix some -- throw that thick, brown crap out and then we can have some good tea --
james
(Overlapping/interrupting)
No! ... No. I won't be here that long.
ken
No trouble ...
james
Just shut up, would you?
(A beat; starts looking for jacket)
I've got a jacket here somewhere ...
ken
James, you do know why you came here last night, don't you? -- when I called you?
(A beat)
I can tell you why.
(A beat)
Because you still love me.
(A beat)
Because ... you ... still ... love ... me.
james
Why are you going on like this? What the hell do you think you're doing?
ken
I'm not doing anything, for Christ's sake! I just want to talk with you. I think it would be good for you if you could understand why you do this --
james
(Overlapping/interrupting)
I haven't seen you for ages ...
ken
Less than two years, you said --
james
(Overlapping)
We agreed not to see each other again.
ken
Did we?
james
We thought that was best.
ken
You said you thought that was best. Nobody asked my fucking opinion.
james
I didn't want to see you again!
ken
Oh, of course -- I see. Until I phoned last night. Why, you hadn't even thought of me for nearly two years, right? Then, when you heard my voice, this sudden, uncontrollable urge came over you to see me. Was that what happened? Out of sight, out of mind?
You haven't wanted to see me? Bull shit! Come on, James -- what you and I have doesn't turn on and off like that!
james
What you and I have is ... nothing!
ken
Nothing?
james
Nothing like what you seem to have in mind!
ken
What do you have in mind?
james
Wouldn't expect you to understand!
ken
I'd like to.
james
I wish to God you could.
ken
Help me, then! Help me to understand! I want to know! Whatever this great knowledge is that you have, share it the fuck with me!
james
I don't know anything!
ken
Jeez ...