TO BE IMMORTAL
A short play
by
D. M. Larson
Copyright
© 1990
All Rights Reserved
Cast of Characters
August: A boy of eighteen who lives in
the
His
main ambition is to be a
composer. He is
content and
is concerned about others
around him. He looks
strong,
well kept, and dresses nicely.
Adi: AUGUST'S
nineteen year old
roommate. He wants to
be an
artist, but is beginning to be
discouraged by his failures.
His
mood goes from solemn to
furious to sadness instantly.
He
dresses poorly and looks as
if he is ill.
Time and place
1908.
Scene 1
(Lights come up on a
crowded apartment with two
beds
[R and L], a door [UC], a drafting table and
easel,
both with scattered drawings and paintings,
next
to an imaginary window that faces L. A
piano
would
be RC [if possible] to make for a crowded
room. ADI, sort of a sickly boy, looks sadly out
the
window. AUGUST, stronger and better kept
than
ADI,
sits at the piano [or on his bed, R] studying
some
music. AUGUST sees his friend in
distress,
lays
down his music, and goes to him)
AUGUST
Adi, what's wrong?
(No response)
You've
been standing there, staring out that window for who knows how long. What could be so bad that it would make you
lock eyes on that gloomy patio for an eternity?
ADI
Leave
me alone, August. Go back to your music.
AUGUST
I
can't work with you standing here, being all glum. The atmosphere's all wrong.
ADI
(Annoyed. Crosses away from him)
Well,
excuse me, Herr Composer. Forgive me for
disturbing you. I'll just go sit in the
dismal patio. I'll fit right in.
AUGUST
Adi. Don't be like that.
(Motions to drafting
table)
Why
don't you do some drawing or painting?
That always cheers you up.
ADI
(
What's
the use anymore? I'm a failure at
art. I don't even know why I bother at
it anymore.
AUGUST
You're
a great artist. Don't give up.
ADI
Why
not?
AUGUST
You
have a lot of talent...
ADI
Not
according to the
AUGUST
You
shouldn't give up after only one try.
Maybe they ran out of space the first time you applied. Surely you'll make it into the Academy next
time.
ADI
I'm
afraid not.
AUGUST
What
do you mean?
ADI
(Goes
to a letter that's on his table.
Shows it
to
AUGUST)
I
already tried.
(Angrily)
They
won't even let me into the exams!
"Lack of talent," they said.
(Looks at drawings)
Maybe
they're right.
AUGUST
(Finishes reading
letter)
This
doesn't mean anything. What do they know? What makes them the authority on Art?
ADI
They're
the
AUGUST
Then
keep trying. Take some more art classes
and prepare for the next exams.
ADI
It's
no use. There's no future in art for me.
(Upset. Looks out window)
There's
no future in anything for me. Nothing
works out for me. What use am I? I may as well be dead.
AUGUST
Quit
talking like that.
ADI
(Crosses away)
Why
should I? Nothing in this life had
worked for me. Everything I touch seems
to wither and die.
AUGUST
It's
not that hopeless, Adi.
ADI
Isn't
it? As a child, probably one of the most
wonderful gifts God gave me was a little brother. He meant so much to me. We were always together. And most of all, he loved the little pictures
I drew for him. Every day he had me draw
something new. I drew animals, castles,
anything. I got better and better, and
he asked for more and more. Pretty soon
our room was plastered with things he asked me to sketch.
(Frowns)
When
he was six, he became very ill. Then one
morning he was gone. The most wonderful
thing in my life had left me.
(Almost in tears)
AUGUST
I'm
sorry, Adi...
ADI
My
father blamed me for his death. He made
my life into a nightmare after that.
That man hated me and I soon grew to to hate
him. Each day, I wished for his death
and finally my wish came true. I was rid
of him forever.
AUGUST
I
didn't realize your father was that horrible. He seemed nice enough. He sent you to the nicest schools...
ADI
School
was a waste of time. I'm so glad I
dropped out.
AUGUST
I
thought you had finished.
ADI
Why
should I? I wanted to be an artist and
Mom gave me everything I needed.
(Gets a picture of his
mother from his table)
She
wanted so badly for me to do art. She
never made me work any kind of job so I would have plenty of time to draw and
paint.
(Angry. Puts picture down)
But,
now I've failed her, too. I promised on
her death bed that I would become a great artist. I swore I would make all
the world know my name, but in reality I will be nothing. I will slip away from sight, never to be
heard from again. And no one will care.
AUGUST
You
will be a great man one day. Just hold
on and keep fighting.
ADI
No. It's over.
There's nothing left.
AUGUST
What
about Architecture school?
ADI
That's
not real art.
AUGUST
But,
it's a job.
ADI
Why
waste my talent on something like that?
AUGUST
You
need to make a living. Besides, your
high school drawing professor was always telling you to be an architect. I heard him mention it to you several times. He said you'd probably be one of the first to
be chosen.
ADI
(Almost pouting)
I
want to be an artist.
AUGUST
Then,
be one.
ADI
But,
everyone keeps telling me I can't do it.
AUGUST
I
haven't told you that. I think you have
a lot of talent. I know you can do it.
ADI
I
don't know if I can. I'm getting tired
of failing. Most artists have a small
victory here and there that keeps them going, but I have nothing to show for
it. Will I ever do anything with my art?
AUGUST
Of
course, you will. Just give it some
time.
ADI
How
much time? What if I spend my whole life
trying and I never do anything? Things
are getting worse for me. I seem to be
falling deeper into a darkness that I may never escape from.
AUGUST
You
will escape, Adi.
But you must keep trying. You'll
never succeed if you don't try.
ADI
(Responding)
Do
you really think I can do it?
AUGUST
Definitely. I
know you have it in you to succeed. You
have more drive than any other person I've seen in my life. When you set yourself to a goal, you achieve
that goal. Once you put your mind on a
certain track, you never veer off. You
stand firm in your desires. You will
succeed, Adi.
And one day, all the world will know the name Adolf Hitler. You
will be immortal.
ADI
I'll
try, August. But, I don't want to
disappoint you.
AUGUST
I'll
be satisfied with what ever you do as long as you do your best.
ADI
I'll
do the best I can.
AUGUST
Good. Now, let's both get back and continue our
journeys toward fame and fortune.
(They sit in their
respective places. ADI looks
at
a picture for a moment. He then smiles
and
signs
it)
"Adolf Hitler."
A name that I pray will never be forgotten.
(Lights fade to black)
END OF PLAY
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Thank you for selecting my script. Have fun and enjoy the play.
Sincerely,
D. M. Larson
