Lost in the Park
Characters:
WATCH: A classic, heavy, gold watch. He is pompous, a bit arrogant. Obsessed with time, legacy, and loyalty. His voice is deep and measured.
EARRING: A single gold stud earring with a small diamond. He is modern, individualistic, with a cynical sense of humor. He values shine, aesthetics, and freedom. His voice is higher and faster.
Setting:
The stage is minimalist. A tangle of myrtle branches and leaves at mid-height. The Watch and the Earring are situated in the center, slightly entangled.
Theatrical Convention: The characters are immobile. When they "imagine" or "dream" of moving, they can stand and use the stage, but they must always return to their original position at the end of the reverie, as if waking up.
(The scene begins. WATCH and EARRING are motionless among the branches. Silence).
WATCH: Three hundred sixty-seven thousand, two hundred seconds. Three days, twenty-two hours. That is the exact time my owner, a man of legendary punctuality, has been without me. The desolation must be absolute. He will be organizing a search party. Retracing his steps with the precision of a general. He would not abandon me. I am a legacy.
EARRING: A rather boring legacy, if you ask me. My owner chose me for my audacity.
(A runner passes by with a build vaguely similar to the WATCH's owner. The WATCH follows him with desperate intensity).
WATCH: It's him! I knew he would return! His stride... it's nearly identical. I must reach him!
(The lighting shifts, becoming dreamlike and soft. WATCH stands with surprising agility, stepping out of the hedge. The theatrical convention has begun. He begins to "run" in place with great effort and dignity).
WATCH: (Shouting with effort) Sir! Sir, wait! Your wrist feels so empty without me! Think of your punctuality, your status! It is I, your faithful timekeeping companion! Do not leave me here!
(The imaginary runner moves away. WATCH stops, exhausted and defeated).
WATCH: He... he did not hear me.
(The light abruptly returns to normal. WATCH is back in his spot among the branches, motionless, with a look of utter bewilderment, as if waking from a vivid dream).
EARRING: Are you feeling alright? For a moment there, you seemed... less static. Daydreaming, eh? That's what you get for thinking so much.
WATCH: (Clears his throat, composing himself) I don't know what you're talking about. I was... conserving my energy.
EARRING: Right. Hey, all this talk of owners and running has made me hungry.
WATCH: We are inanimate objects of precious metal. We do not feel hunger.
EARRING: Oh, no? Well, I'm dying for one of those slices of pizza that people eat on the grass.
(The light shifts again to a warm, fantasy-like tone. EARRING frees himself from the branches and approaches the edge of the stage. He gestures as if holding a large slice of pizza).
EARRING: Imagine it! Melted cheese, hot... slightly spicy pepperoni... and that crispy crust. Ah, the crust! I'd eat the crust first, I'm a rebel. And what if I added some crushed red pepper? Of course! My owner loves spicy food. He would definitely take me out for pizza...
(EARRING mimes taking a large bite and chews with exaggerated pleasure. Suddenly, the light returns to normal. He is back in the hedge, motionless. He blinks).
EARRING: ...how strange. For a second, it tasted like dirt.
(The scene continues with a glint of hope, disappointment, and their second conflict over the people passing by. Finally, the GARDENER arrives with his pruning shears).
WATCH: The end! We'll be pruned! We'll end up in a trash bag! The dishonor!
EARRING: Shut up and shine!
(The GARDENER begins to trim. He sees the glint of the EARRING).
GARDENER: Well now... What's that shining over there?
(He reaches in with his hand. The EARRING purposefully lets itself fall, hitting the WATCH. The GARDENER sees both items. His eyes go wide).
GARDENER: No... it can't be.
(With extreme care, the GARDENER picks up both jewels and cradles them in his palm. He looks at them with astonishment and a deep joy).
GARDENER: (Speaking softly, to himself)
With this... With this, I can finally buy my missus the stove she wants so badly. And... (He looks at the earring) this... for my boy, Marco, he's twenty now and loves to wear these things... Unbelievable. Who would've thought that at my age, I'd be able to leave him an unexpected legacy.
(The GARDENER smiles, closes his hand carefully, and carries his treasure away).
WATCH: (Voice-over, as the stage darkens)
His pulse... is calm.
EARRING: (Voice-over)
Told you. Just flow.
(END)
