Issue 7 • Fall 2003 • Drama
Taylor Mac BowyerProloguePrologue
Lights up on the ensemble. They are looking over a great distance. LEN speaks and is interrupted by the others, who ignore him and each other. The delivery, except with LEN, should be rather matter-of-fact and should gain momentum as the scene progresses.
LEN
So man comes up with this theory called time...
GRIFFIN
A system of those sequential relations that any event has to any other, as past, present, or future: indefinite and continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.
LEN stares at GRIFFIN perplexed at what he's just said.
LEN
Right. A system that has created quite a bit of hysteria on this little planet of ours.
MAG
A duration regarded as belonging to the present life as distinct from the life to come or from eternity.
GRIFFIN
Finite duration.
LEN
I was taught to believe there is no beginning, there is no end...
RED
A system or method of measuring or reckoning the passage of time.
JOSEPH
Mean time.
LEN
How do we start then?
JOSEPH
A limited period or interval, as between two successive events.
RED
A long time.
LEN
"Live in the moment, live in the moment."
MAG
A particular period considered as distinct from other periods.
LEN
It's important. Carpe diem.
GRIFFIN
Youth is the best time of life.
LEN
All the little lessons...
RED
Often times.
MAG
As in many, quite frequently, multiple, lots and lots.
LEN
Okay. A period in the history of the world?
JOSEPH
The Middle Ages.
RED
Prehistoric times.
LEN
The period or era now or previously present?
MAG
A sign of the times.
RED
How times have changed.
LEN
A period considered with reference to its events or prevailing conditions?
JOSEPH
Hard times.
GRIFFIN
A time of war.
LEN
The end of a prescribed or allotted period?
MAG
When her time came she was delivered of a girl.
GRIFFIN
His time had come.
LEN
A period with reference to personal experience of a specific kind?
RED
A hot time in the old town tonight.
LEN
A term of enforced duty or imprisonment?
JOSEPH
To serve time in the army.
RED
To do time in prison.
LEN
Leisure time; sufficient or spare time?
GRIFFIN
I have no time to stop now.
LEN
A particular part of the year, day, season or period?
JOSEPH
Lunch time.
MAG
That time of the month.
RED
Fall.
LEN
The particular point in time when an event is scheduled to...
LEN is unable to continue.
MAG
Ahead of time.
JOSEPH
Behind the times.
GRIFFIN
At one time.
RED
In good time.
JOSEPH
In no time.
RED and JOSEPH
At the same time.
GRIFFIN
Against time.
MAG
In time.
RED, JOSEPH, MAG and GRIFFIN begin to exit and should be gone by GRIFFIN's last line.
RED
Kill time.
JOSEPH
Mark time.
MAG
Make time.
GRIFFIN
Out of time.
LEN
Hey. Watch this.
Everyone but LEN disappears.
LEN
Hmm?
We are now in Len's hospital room, which is represented by a bed and a heart monitor beeping. LEN gets in bed and lies down. A heart monitor is heard. LEN shuts his eyes. The beeping continues into the next scene.
Next Page:
Scene I (page 3 of 12 pages)
All Pages: See the entire play on one page
Table of Contents: The Hot Month
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Taylor Mac Bowyer's plays include The Hot Month (recipient of the Ensemble Studio Theater's "Next-Step Fellowship"), Red Tide Blooming, Dilating (an evening of one-acts), The Levee (published by Vintage), Blue Grotto, and the solo-play Okay. He is a member of the Circle Repertory Lab and has acted with The Jean Cocteau Repertory, Mabou Mines, Dixon Place, and at several regional theaters. As drag performer, Taylor Mac, he has performed in venues such as Joe's Pub, FEZ, and the San Francisco Opera House.
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