1913issue6online

156 Blue-white lights dim, and saffron lights prove he is sitting on a grassy knoll. Naked. Seated. Center-stage. Lights gradually illuminate the pond below. Preferably freshly ripped out of the stage. Preferably by hand. Preferably seventeen feet deep and surrounded by gravel. Preferably taking up first three rows of seating, and fed by garden hose running down center aisle. Preferably irreparable. Paint horses graze behind Boy. Eyes only. Boy smiles bashfully at audience. Chin down, eyes up, lips parted. A drop of clear liquid – water, preferably – drops onto Boy’s thigh. Doesn’t notice. Boy leans back on elbows and silently mouths uncertain words to the audience. He listens. Eyes only. Furrowed brow. His smile fades. Knees brought to chest. Boy looks left and silently mouths a single open-mouthed syllable. Liquid – preferably – drops onto. Doesn’t. Four Crows fly from above audience and alight on tree (any kind but a willow) down-stage, left. Their wings should be loud and made larger than ordinary. More black and oily than necessary. (May be played by infants or vultures, whichever production crew has more readily available.) Four Crows empty tree and circle once. Land far stage-left. They speak to each other in broken English. First language must be Portuguese.

1913issue6online

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