The Fall of Narcissus

Altenir Silva

Story-line: In a night of anguish, Narcissus discovers something.   Stage: Two men are looking at each other.   MAN 1 I hate!   MAN 2 What?   MAN 1 Me.   MAN 2 Why?   MAN 1 Because I never got it...   MAN 2 What?   MAN 1 Something.   MAN 2 Like what?   MAN 1 Listen to me. I want you just look at me.   MAN 2 I'm looking…   MAN 1 Can you see me?   MAN 2 Yeah... I see you.   MAN 1 And nothing else, I presume?   MAN 2 What do you want? I'm seeing you…   MAN 1 Just me?   MAN 2 Yeah! Just you.   MAN 1 I wanted you to see something else.   MAN 2 Like what?   MAN 1 I don't know… Maybe, another thing.   MAN 2 I see!   MAN 1 What?   MAN 2 See you and your clothes!   MAN 1 Clothes? It doesn't matter.   MAN 2 Why? If you're wearing it…?   MAN 1 Forget my clothes, please. Let's run it again.   MAN 2 Right.   MAN 1 Look right at me.   MAN 2 And?   MAN 1 Make an effort to see another thing.   MAN 2 Without clothes?   MAN 1 Yes, of course.   MAN 2 Let's be honest, there isn't a snowball's chance that I'll see something different from you.   MAN 1 Try, just try it.   MAN 2 All right!   MAN 1 Say.   (There's a brief silence)   MAN 2 I can see… I can see… you!   MAN 1 What else?   MAN 2 Nothing!   MAN 1 Oh boy!   MAN 2 What?   MAN 1 I can't be more than that!   MAN 2 I'm sorry! But it's just you and your clothes!   MAN 1 I know! I just asked you to try to see something different.   MAN 2 Unfortunately, I don't get it.   MAN 1 Please, try it again, will you?   MAN 2 OK.   MAN 1 Let's go! Look at me.   MAN 2 I'm looking.   MAN 1 Look carefully.   MAN 2 I'm looking.     MAN 1 Concentrate. Close your eyes, then open them and look at me.   (There's a brief silence)   MAN 2 I think I see something!   MAN 1 What?   MAN 2 Wait!   MAN 1 It's driving me insane.   MAN 2 I see!   MAN 1 Tell me.   MAN 2 Finally... I see something in you...   MAN 1 That's wonderful. Say it, say it, say…   MAN 2 Wow!   MAN 1 What?   MAN 2 I'm seeing!   MAN 1 What?   MAN 2 Wow! I'm seeing something.   MAN 1 What is that?   MAN 2 I see a good man… (Beat.) But a sucker!   MAN 1 How?   MAN 2 A fool, an idiot, unhappy and unsuccessful. A guy who wants to be beautiful but gets to be ugly. I mean, your soul is awful.   MAN 1 Is that true?   MAN 2 Unfortunately.   MAN 1 It is very cruel! It's sad! What should I do?   MAN 2 Nothing!   MAN 1 Nothing?   MAN 2 I hate to say this, but I can't lie to you. Actually, you are nothing!   MAN 1 I'm your mirror image!   MAN 2 I turn out the light, and there is no mirror.   MAN 1 Narcissus... please… (Shouts out) I beg you... please... don't turn out the light.   MAN 2 Bye, Narcissus!   MAN 1 Narcissus... not... Narcissus...   (Man 2 snaps his fingers.)   BLACKOUT.   END     Note: "THE FALL OF NARCISSUS" was staged at the HIT & RUN 5 - November 5, 2011 - Blue Door Theatre, Spokane, WA- USA.