Yesterday's Symphony Blues

Scene 1

(Lights up on Darrell's empty home. The lights are dim until the 3 Reflections go downstage center and begin to speak as the lights move up to them)

Hal: As time passes and oversees our every move-

Prolix: We stop and start to its beat, its rhythm and rhyme.

Hal: If we decide to no longer abide by its rules

Thora: We are in denial

Hal: And if we follow them too closely, we aren't truly living

Prolix: So what are we left?

Thora: A limbo

Hal: To float around in an endless state of perfectly monstrous existence.

Thora: For as long as time permits us.

Prolix: And when it is our time to go

Hal: That which has mercy is left to little approval

Prolix: And what chooses to break us

Thora: Has all the merit and charm

Hal: And those who forget us either move forward

Prolix: Or go off the tracks

Reflections: But grieving is for nobodies

(The Reflections walk offstage as Darrell enters from the opposite side. He sits on the chair center stage with a guitar beside it. He lifts it and puts it on his leg, preparing to play it. He chuckles to himself briefly before he starts playing Folsom Prison Blues. He plays the opening few riffs before he starts singing)

Darrell: (singing) I hear the train a comin'
It's rollin' round the bend
And I ain't seen the sunshine since,
I don't know when
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison,
And time keeps dragging on.
But that train keeps a rollin'
On down to San Antone.
(stops singing but continues to play)
A bit funny, ain't it? Man's written different songs about lonesome life and letting the world forget you, but this one happens to be my favorite. Sittin around wishing to be free seems to be my favorite activity these days. Ain't like there's much else I can do...so I guess it ain't as funny if you really think about it, but who's got time for that?

(He continues to play through the second verse and slows down the chords as it ends)

Darrell: I suppose it's true that I'd rather be here waiting for the fire to cease than be the kinda man that'd kill another. But I dunno. I'll have to try it sometime. (chuckles) I guess if I really think about it maybe I would rather be nowhere with no one Than here with-

(Darrell pauses and looks slightly up. The Reflections rise from the level behind him as a dim light shines over them. In his pause he stops playing.)

Darrell: Y'know what? Forget all I said. I've gone on rambling again about the same worldly nonsense my father used to, and his father before him. But that's the job of a man like them. Oh, I'd lament the days long past me and the men I've long since left behind but, I'd end up rambling again. (Chuckles) I've really done it now, haven't I? I've fallen right back in the line!
(Starts playing again)
It was his favorite song. Maybe that's what reminded me of him. He used to sit down by me and just play and play, singin' his heart out because that's all that he wanted to do. And my admiration was clear enough back then, but now, well-

(Hal enters the stage, clapping slowly as Darrell puts his guitar down beside the chair)

Hal: That's a new one, Man-In-Black

(Darrell sighs and gets up to walk away when Thora enters from the other end and stops him)

Hal: Woah, there. Where are you off to?