Scene 1
Stage should be set up with one half containing GIRL, the bed, and a table with the jewellery box, book, and the pills on it, and the other half of the stage with a table or counter of some description, where STEVEN and JADE are positioned.
STEVEN stands by the counter, there are a few scatter flyers on the counter, JADE listens, and they have clearly been in conversation for some time, while GIRL sits on the bed.
Lights up on STEVEN and JADE, and enough visibility to see GIRL reading but maintain a disconnected darkness.
STEVEN: And that brings us full circle, you’re particularly into sculpting right? I’ll see if I can find Tony, he’s more in the know about that course.
JADE: Well do you mind if I just take a minute for a couple more questions?
STEVEN: I could spare a few moments I guess. What do you need?
JADE: Well it says here you offer an expansive life drawing class as well, what’s that about exactly?
STEVEN: Life drawing? Good news that’s actually my foc--
JADE: I know.
STEVEN is slightly taken aback he looks past JADE at GIRL who smiles and waves happily.
STEVEN: Well… In that case it’s mainly about training the hand eye coordination, so that the artist learns how to translate the model they see into living flesh on a two dimensional surface across many different poses.
As this happens GIRL stands and begins to pose as though a life drawing model. STEVEN is getting more drawn in by her seductive nature in the distance.
STEVEN: They don’t hold a pose for too long though, they shift to keep the creativity moving, too easy for an artist to obsess about that one precious curve they can never get right… Then suddenly it’s gone… Sure you had that precious moment but you lost the girl--
JADE: Pose?
JADE gains STEVENS attention back, GIRL looks angry and returns to her bed for a few moments of frustration, but then fire comes back as she gets the jewellery box, and shuffles through the contents.
STEVEN: Sorry?
JADE: You said ‘lose the girl’, but the models still there?
STEVEN: Yeah, not always… As I was saying--
TONY: (Offstage) Hey Steve, you done yet? We need to shut up.
STEVEN: Alright man I’ll just finish up here!
TONY: (Offstage) Well hurry up, I’m cutting the lights in a few minutes!
STEVEN grabs a few flyers and offers them to JADE.
GIRL removes a necklace with the Ying symbol on it and begins to creep closer to STEVEN and JADE.
STEVEN: Look this is the information we have on both sculpting and life drawing, how about we get out of here?
JADE: That’s not all you have for me right?
STEVEN: How so?
JADE: Damn it’s hard to get your number isn’t it?
Blackout
Dimmed lights come up on STEVEN and GIRL, she’s presenting the necklace, STEVEN withdraws his own Yang necklace and they move in close, at first to fit the pieces together, but it shifts into an embrace.
We can still hear JADE in the darkness however.
JADE: Wow! Guess they cut the lights after all, Steven? Steven are you there? I’m not sure where the door is.
STEVEN and GIRL move towards the bed.
JADE: I mean I know I just kind of dropped that on you a little bit… But I mean you weren’t going to say anything clearly, and, like, after the last three hours can you honestly say you’re not feeling this connection, and I know you can’t see me right now but God, I feel really red! This happens when I’m embarrassed you see. And if you could just say something!
The shout grabs STEVEN’S attention, he looks back into the darkness he left JADE in, GIRL pulls his face back to hers, and holds it there with one hand, the other stretches back for the pill bottle.
JADE: Well fuck you then! I don’t know what switched on your asshole button, but I get the hint, what does pretty boy want with the freshman!
GIRL downs one of the pills and offers to STEVEN who looks hesitant, but takes it after she pressures. They embrace again.
JADE: Well done Jade! Day one and already made a fool of yourself… You know I think I get what you mean about losing the girl now!
Parallel to this Girl begins to fall into a fit, she passes out and dies in STEVENS arms.
A silence follows as STEVEN lowers GIRL onto the bed. The silence is then broken by a thud of JADE walking into the counter. Dim lights up again this time on the whole stage.
STEVEN: Jade?
JADE: Steven? Where are you? I need you but I can’t keep waiting here forever, please, just come and find me…
Blackout, end.
