Written by Joe Janes
10/29/09
284 of 365
CAST:
Hal, 20s
Maggie, 20s
(Hal enters the dimly lit stage. He is all dressed in white and wearing a silver cap. He looks around quickly. He quietly walks to one side of the stage and presses his pear-shaped body against the wall as best he can. We hear a fluttering/knocking offstage. We hear it again.)
MAGGIE
Hal? Hal? (Pause) Hal, I know you’re in there.
HAL (to himself)
Shit.
MAGGIE
Hal? Come on, Hal. Let me in. I’m not leaving until you talk to me.
(Resigned to his fate, Hal walks over and opens the door. In the dim light, Maggie, with brown moth wings, enters. There is a palpable tension between them.)
MAGGIE (continuing)
We need some light.
HAL
I don’t think that’s a good idea. You know what that might lead to.
MAGGIE
I can control myself.
HAL
If you could control yourself, I wouldn’t be in here hiding.
MAGGIE
You were just going to try to hide from me and not say good-bye? I think I at least deserve a good-bye.
HAL
Good-bye.
(Pause)
MAGGIE
A good-bye and an explanation. I think I at least deserve that.
HAL
I think it’s obvious.
MAGGIE
Not to me.
HAL
We’re not right for each other. We come from different worlds. Nature and utilities. I’ll only end up hurting you.
MAGGIE
You’re hurting me, now, so congratulations on your psychic ability.
HAL
Maggie, I don’t see how it could work. I’m a light bulb. You’re a moth.
MAGGIE
And I want to have lots of moth bulb babies with you.
HAL
We can’t make babies. I don’t make babies. I don’t have baby-making equipment. I’m nothing but glass and filaments.
MAGGIE
Glass and filaments in all the right places. I look at you and I just go (she takes a deep breath). You make me feel so alive.
HAL
I’m hot.
MAGGIE
A little full of yourself, but yes, you are hot.
HAL
No, Maggie. Whatever you’re attracted to in me is blinding you to the fact that we’re not compatible. That I’m
dangerous to you. I’ve seen it happen to other moths and light bulbs. The moth just throws herself at the light bulb, scorches her wings and can no longer fly. I don’t want that to happen to you. I think you’re beautiful –
MAGGIE
You do?
HAL
Yes. I do. And I can’t stand to bear the thought of being the bulb that burns those perfect wings.
MAGGIE (overdramatically)
I’d rather touch the sun once and die than never love at all. (Pause) Too much?
HAL
A bit.
MAGGIE
It’s crazy, I know. I don’t know why I’m so attracted to you. I just know I am. And if I am, and I feel it so strongly, so deep in my heart, how can it be so wrong?
HAL
I think it’s nature’s way of controlling the population. If we were all wildly attracted to the right being all the time, we’d do nothing but screw each other and nothing would ever get done.
MAGGIE
It’s not just that sweet bod of yours. That brain’s pretty exciting, too.
HAL
Thanks.
MAGGIE
Can I see you in all your glory one last time?
HAL
Okay, one last time.
(Hal glows. Light fills the stage. Maggie is getting visibly excited by all this. She can’t control herself and she throws herself at Hal and burns her wings. She falls to the ground. Hal turns off his light and holds her.)
HAL
Maggie, Maggie. Talk to me. Maggie!
MAGGIE
It was worth it.
(She collapses in his arms. Then comes around.)
MAGGIE (continuing)
I smell burnt dog hair.
HAL
That’s your wings.
MAGGIE
Ew.
(Blackout)
