Dream Sequence

Characters:

Elizabeth Williams

Timothy Ericksen (Elizabeth's best friend)

Elizabeth's Mom

Claire (Elizabeth's friend)

Charon (Boatman of the underworld)

Persephone (Queen of the underworld)

Sergeant Amelia Thompson (Timothy's Sergeant in the war)

Curtain: The stage is set as the bedroom of ELIZABETH. She is sitting on her bed talking to TIMOTHY who is sitting in a chair next to a desk. It is late at night and the two friends are just finishing studying for finals week. Both are freshmen at college.

ELIZABETH: Tim, what do you think about dating in the early years of college?

TIMOTHY: I don't know. It depends on the person, I guess.

ELIZABETH: Well, what about this situation: two people have been friends since forever. One of them wants to date, but she doesn't know how the other friend feels. What could she do then?

TIMOTHY: You never had a gift with metaphors.

ELIZABETH: What?

TIMOTHY: Elizabeth, it's not hard to see what you actually mean.

ELIZABETH: Oh…

TIMOTHY: Baby, I know we have been friends since forever, as you say, but that's exactly why I don't want to date you.

ELIZABETH: I don't understand. What do you mean?

TIMOTHY: I don't want to date you because I'm afraid that if we did, we could have a really bad break-up and then we wouldn't be friends anymore. Baby, I want to stay friends with you.

ELIZABETH: Why do you call me 'baby' all the time then?

TIMOTHY: I only call you 'baby' when I feel like it. I don't know.

ELIZABETH: Well, ok. Why are you so afraid of us having a bad break up? I know you are still the best of friends with the majority of your ex girlfriends.

TIMOTHY: I know. But just because I am still friends with them, doesn't mean that I will be with you. I want to be sure of that.

ELIZABETH: Whatever happened to taking risks?

TIMOTHY: Whoever said we needed to take risks at this age? I mean, come on. We're what, in our first year of college? I plan to be a bachelor for many years to come!

ELIZABETH: I guess we are a bit young.

TIMOTHY: Not only that, but with my air force training coming underway, I don't have the time you deserve to devote to you.

ELIZABETH: Yeah, you're right. Let's drop it for now, ok? What else do you want to talk about?

Enter Elizabeth's mother.

MOM: Elizabeth, its time for bed. You and Timothy both have a busy day tomorrow at school.

ELIZABETH: Yeah, we know. The start of Finals week.

ELIZABETH and TIMOTHY shudder.

TIMOTHY: That's my cue to leave. See you in class tomorrow, Elizabeth. Goodnight, Mrs. Williams!

TIMOTHY exits.

MOM: I heard you talking with Timothy.

ELIZABETH: Mom! I told you to stop eavesdropping on my conversations! Do you have any idea how awkward it is to know that your mother knows who you have feelings for?

MOM: Yes.

ELIZABETH: Oh.

MOM: Beth, it's alright if Timothy doesn't want to date now. Maybe he's just not ready for it. Maybe he respects you enough to know that you aren't ready either.

ELIZABETH: Mom, I think I know when I'd ready to date.

MOM: Honey, I am your mother and therefore I know more about you than even you do. You aren't ready for that kind of commitment. Deal with it.

MOM exits.

ELIZABETH: Yeah right. What does she know?

ELIZABETH gets into bed and falls asleep.

BLACKOUT

Scene 2: ELIZABETH is standing next to a house. The door to the house is open. TIMOTHY is beside her, holding her hand.

TIMOTHY: What a nice house

ELIZABETH: Yeah. The door is open. Do you want to go inside?

TIMOTHY: I think we'd better not… Let's at least look in the windows first.

The two circle the house, finding no window to look through. They are either dirty or blocked or they have the drapes drawn. Finally the two come back to look at the front door to the house.

ELIZABETH: Well, we could always go in the door. It looks like it's still open. What's that?

There is a letter lying on the floor. TIMOTHY picks it up.

TIMOTHY: No, we can't.

ELIZABETH: Why not?

TIMOTHY: I have to go, Baby. My training is over. I'm an air force pilot now. Our country needs me in battle.

ELIZABETH: No, Timothy. Please, don't go…

TIMOTHY: I have to. Don't worry about me, Baby. I'll be alright. Promise me that you'll call me? Promise?

ELIZABETH: Alright… Goodbye Timothy…

TIMOTHY: Goodbye.

TIMOTHY exits.

ELIZABETH: I love you…

BLACKOUT

Scene 3: ELIZABETH is sitting in a chair in front of the house. She is reading a book, but isn't paying a lot of attention to it. SERGEANT THOMPSON enters.

SERGEANT: Are you Elizabeth Williams?

ELIZABETH: Yes. Can I help you with something?

SERGEANT: Are you familiar with a Mr. Timothy Ericksen?

ELIZABETH: Yes, he is my best friend. Why? Is there something wrong?

SERGEANT: I'm afraid that Timothy's plane was lost behind enemy lines. We received a telegram from the enemies saying that he was being held prisoner by the Queen of the Underworld herself.

ELIZABETH: You mean Tim is being held captive by Persephone? But she of all people should know that being held captive is horrible and painful!

SERGEANT: You would think. Apparently being kidnapped from her mother Demeter and held in the Underworld didn't leave an impression with her in the way she deals with human souls.

ELIZABETH: Is there anything we can do?

SERGEANT: That is why I came here. Timothy often talked about his best friend, a woman named Elizabeth Williams. We believe that the only way that he will be saved is if you travel behind enemy lines to Persephone's home and convince her to release Timothy.

ELIZABETH: I will do anything to save Tim.

SERGEANT: Good! I can take you as far as Charon, the Boatman to the Underworld. But from there on you're on your own. Think you can handle it?

ELIZABETH: I'll do my best.

BLACKOUT

Scene 4: SERGEANT THOMPSON and ELIZABETH have reached CHARON's port. CHARON enters and asks ELIZABETH about her quest. Because she is still alive, he refuses to allow her passage unless she correctly answers a riddle.

SERGEANT: This is as far as I go, Ms. Williams. Good luck to you. Tim's counting on you.

ELIZABETH: Thank you. Oh, look! I think I see Charon!

SERGEANT: And now I leave you.

Exit SERGEANT.

CHARON: Who be at my port?

ELIZABETH: Hello… Um… Hi. My name is-

CHARON: By Crackity, you're still alive!

ELIZABETH: Uh... Yes, I think so. But why should that-

CHARON: I give no rides to live 'uns.

ELIZABETH: Please, I must get to the Underworld. Please, help me pass!

CHARON: My answer be no. No quest be important enough to force a live 'un into the realm of Queen Persephone.

ELIZABETH: This quest is.

CHARON: Are you telling me that your quest be significant enough that you would dare brave the mysteries of the underworld to achieve it?

ELIZABETH: Yes.

CHARON: How's this: I'll wager a bet with you. If you can answer my riddle, then I'll help you to the throne of the Queen herself. If you can't answer it, you must abandon your quest.

ELIZABETH: Deal.

CHARON: Alrighty then. Here be the riddle: What be greater than God, but more evil than the Devil?

ELIZABETH: Oh, that's easy. We studied it in English this year. The answer is Love.

CHARON: 'Parently you didn't listen in English.

ELIZABETH: What?

CHARON: The answer be nothing. Turn around young lady; I be under no obligation to help-

ELIZABETH: The answer is love. Love is greater than God because even he is affected by Love. It is written that he loved humanity so much that he let his son die to save them.

CHARON: I see… interesting logic yeh got there.

ELIZABETH: Hardly. Love is also more evil than the devil because love feels so good at times but also feels worse than any hell the devil could possibly have created.

CHARON: I take that back, yer logic ain't interesting, it be flat out confusing.

ELIZABETH: Ok. I'll explain-

CHARON: Please don't. I couldn't take it. We don't have the time. Ta ta…

ELIZABETH: But what about our bet?

CHARON: Yeah, I know. Get in the boat, girlie.

ELIZABETH: Oh, thank you!

CHARON: Yeah, yeah…

BLACKOUT

Scene 5: CHARON and ELIZABETH reach the entrance to the underworld. As the boatman leaves, ELIZABETH is met by the spirit of TIMOTHY who escorts her to the QUEEN's domain.

CHARON: Here ye be, lass. May good luck follow yeh to the end.

ELIZABETH: Thank you. Good bye!

Exit CHARON.

ELIZABETH: Ok, so far so good. But where do I go from here? Hello? Is anyone there?

TIMOTHY: Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH: Tim! Come on, I've got to get you out of here! Let's go before Charon is too far away-

TIMOTHY: It doesn't work like that Elizabeth. Even if we get into Charon's boat I will not be able to pass back into the realm of the living. The Queen must give her permission for me to leave.

ELIZABETH: So there really isn't a way for us to leave without consulting her. I should have guessed.

TIMOTHY: Come. I can take you to her. But I warn you. She isn't always the nicest of people. Especially when she is here. There is no telling what her moods could be.

Exit TIMOTHY and ELIZABETH.

BLACKOUT

Scene 6: The two make their way into the court of QUEEN PERSEPHONE. She is sitting in her stone throne, idly playing with her hair. As the two approach her, she sits upright and the battle for TIMOTHY's soul begins.

ELIZABETH: Your majesty, I-

PERSEPHONE: You are not dead. Why have you strayed into the realm of the dead? How did you get here?

ELIZABETH: Charon helped me-

PERSEPHONE: He did, did he? I must have a word with him. What good does it do anyone to have a realm of the dead when living beings walk right on in? Well, you are obviously here for a reason. Speak.

ELIZABETH: I wish to barter for Timothy's soul. I wish him to come back to the living and live again.

PERSEPHONE: No.

ELIZABETH: Please. What do you want? Maybe I can get it for you. Please let him live.

TIMOTHY: Elizabeth, she said no. Maybe we should just listen to her-

PERSEPHONE: Be quiet Timothy. Why do you want him among the living, Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH: Because I love him.

PERSEPHONE: Love is too strong a word to be thrown around so casually, Elizabeth. I would take more caution when using it if I were you.

ELIZABETH: I do not need caution when I know that I speak the truth.

PERSEPHONE: You are young. What can you know about love?

ELIZABETH: I know that though my knowledge of it is little, I still know that to live without it is worse than death.

PERSEPHONE: I agree. But how do you love this man?

ELIZABETH: That question I cannot answer. I know that there are many different types of love. There is agape, unconditional love. There is brotherly love, there is romantic love. There is friendship love. I don't know yet what type of love that I have for Timothy, but I know that I love him in some way.

PERSEPHONE: But how can you know that you 'love' this man?

ELIZABETH: Because I am standing here before you, willing to do anything so that he may have a second chance at life.

PERSEPHONE: Anything? What is anything to you? How far will you really go?

ELIZABETH: I would trade places with him if you would allow it.

PERSEPHONE: But then you would be without love for the rest of his life.

ELIZABETH: Yes, but I would know that he was happy, and therefore I would not despair so quickly.

PERSEPHONE: You would give your life so that this man could live?

TIMOTHY: Elizabeth, don't. I'm not worth it.

ELIZABETH: Yes you are. Yes, I would give my life for him.

PERSEPHONE: It is love like this that your realm needs more of. Take Timothy with you when you return. Go to Charon and return to the realm of the living.

ELIZABETH: Thank you, your majesty.

TIMOTHY: Yes, thank you.

ELIZABETH and TIMOTHY hug, then exit holding hands.

BLACKOUT

Scene 7: ELIZABETH and TIMOTHY are standing before the house once more. The door is still open, but only slightly. They are holding hands.

TIMOTHY: Thank you, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH: You're welcome.

TIMOTHY: The House is still here. The door still looks open. Want to go inside?

ELIZABETH: No, I don't think it is safe for us. We still don't know what is inside.

TIMOTHY: We could take a chance.

ELIZABETH: But why risk it? We have what we need out here, anyways. There really isn't any reason to go in.

TIMOTHY: You're right.

BLACKOUT

Scene 8: ELIZABETH's bedroom. It is the next morning, and ELIZABETH is just waking up. Her friend, CLAIRE, runs in the room talking excitedly about the exams.

CLAIRE: Get up, Elizabeth! Its time to get moving! We can't be late today!

ELIZABETH: Just one more hour…

CLAIRE: Don't make me pull you out of bed myself!

ELIZABETH: Alright! I'm up! I'm up!

CLAIRE: Good. Hey, guess what? I had the most awesome dream last night! I was at Hogwarts and met Voldemort! It was so cool! Did you dream?

ELIZABETH: Yeah… it was… weird…

CLAIRE: Was Tim in it? nudges her

ELIZABETH: Yeah…

CLAIRE: I bet I can guess what kind of dream it was then! So, are you going to ask him out?

ELIZABETH: No.

CLAIRE: What? But I thought you were head over heels for him!

ELIZABETH: Yeah, I still am… just… not that much in that way anymore.

CLAIRE: An overnight transformation. I like where this is going.

ELIZABETH: It was my dream. I finally realized that I don't need to date him right now. I may love him, but since I don't know what kind of love I have for him, its best not to get into anything serious.

CLAIRE: Sounds good. Hurry up and get dressed slow poke! We have exams today! Remember?

BLACKOUT as the girls start a pillow fight and ELIZABETH gets dressed.