DRAMATIS PERSONAE
The Sweeper of Dreams
Charley Nellis
Aeode
Elderly Lady
Announcer
ACT I: HOME SWEAT HOME
A small, cluttered apartment. CHARLEY NELLIS sits at a desk holding a letter opener. He is shirtless and sweaty. Crumpled papers litter the floor around him. A ceiling fan spins slowly.
CHARLEY
Karen. (Charley puts his head down on the desk and sobs a couple of times. He sits up and sighs.) Damn it. I need you. (Charley pricks himself with the letter opener.) Ow! (Puts his finger in his mouth.)
THE SWEEPER OF DREAMS (sweeping up paper wads into a pile)
Be honest with yourself. What have you achieved since she arrived? She was a distraction from your art. Your tears are not for her loss, but for the time that has irrevocably slipped away. Still, there is hope.
AEODE (Off Stage - behind Charley)
Hello, Charley. (Charley spins around and knocks over a drink. Aeode enters, in Greek tunic and sandals. The Sweeper nods to her, and exits.)
CHARLEY
Who in the hell are you? How'd you get in here?
AEODE
You summoned me, Charley. I am Aeode.
CHARLEY
I summoned you? I didn't summon anyone. Look lady, you better go back to the damn escort service and tell them they have the wrong address.
AEODE
What is an escort service?
CHARLEY
Okay, lady. Whatever. It's time for you to leave.
AEODE
But we have work to do. You did summon me here to help you, didn't you?
CHARLEY
For Christ's sake, lady. I didn't summon you. Go back to the agency.
AEODE (confused)
Did you not make the offering?
CHARLEY
What in the hell are you talking about? What offering?
AEODE
Did you not offer your blood, sweat and tears for your art?
CHARLEY
My blood, sweat and tears? What are you... (Charley turns and picks up his composition pad. He traces the blood and tear stains on the pad with his finger. He turns back to Aeode.) Who are you?
AEODE (smiles)
As I told you, I am Aeode.
CHARLEY
Great. Hi Aeode. I'm Charley.
AEODE
Of course you are.
CHARLEY
What in the hell are you doing here?
AEODE
I am here to inspire you, Charley. Shall we go to work?
CHARLEY
What do you mean go to work?
AEODE
Charley, you summoned me. I am your Muse.
CHARLEY
My muse? (collapses into his chair) Christ, I've lost it. She hasn't even left town yet, and I've gone nuts.
AEODE
Charley, I'm real. I am Aeode, sister of Melete and Mneme. I was in Parnassus when I learned of your offering.
CHARLEY
So you were over in Greece...
AEODE
San Francisco, actually.
CHARLEY
Okay, San Francisco. So you learned of my offering, and came here. Right. So what exactly are you doing here?
AEODE
Charley, I am the embodiment of song. Whatever voice is hidden inside you, I will help you find it.
CHARLEY
Great. So you'll help me find my inner voice. I don't suppose you have any references.
AEODE
Of course I do, silly. Every song you've ever heard, I inspired.
CHARLEY
Right, every one, huh? Mozart arias?
AEODE
Certainly. (Aeode launches into "Queen of the Night" aria from "The Magic Flute").
CHARLEY
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Okay. I believe you. So you can do opera. Well, I don't think my inner voice is very operatic. I'm pretty sure it's more contemporary.
AEODE
I'm perfectly comfortable with any style that is within you. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was in the top ten for eight-one weeks. Of course, that style may not be yours either. But I was also there for Daryl Dragon and Toni Tenille, and now I am here for you.
CHARLEY
I don't believe this. Do you know the Fates?
AEODE
We're good friends. I had lunch with Clotho last Tuesday. Why do you ask?
CHARLEY
Because you just told me that I'm destined to bring about the second coming of the Captain and Tenille!
AEODE
Oh no, you misunderstood me. I am there whenever it is time to give voice to song. Dragon and Tenille were only an example. I could have used Madonna and Patrick Leonard.
CHARLEY
Gotcha! It was just an example. You could have used Tammy Wynette. I understand. But I'm not Madonna or Tammy Wynette or Dean Martin. I'm Charley Nellis. So what can you do for Charley Nellis?
AEODE
I will help you realize your dreams.
CHARLEY (laughs)
Really? And I haven't even taken you to dinner yet.
AEODE
I am not here to eat, Charley. Let's get to work.
CHARLEY
Sure. Great. Let's get to work. But not here. I've got to get out of here for a while.
ACT II -- THE PARK
Charley sits alone on a blanket in the park, with his composition pad on his lap.
(An ELDERLY LADY walks a small dog on the path by the blanket.)
CHARLEY
No, that's not going to work.
AEODE (offstage)
You haven't given it a chance.
CHARLEY
I don't have to. It doesn't feel right.
(Elderly Lady watches Charley.)
No, I don't. (beat) I don't care. It's just not working. (beat) I'm not following you.
(Aeode joins Charley on the blanket.)
AEODE
You're still trying to force it. You have to relax. Here, turn around.
(He turns his back to her. She massages his temples. Charley sighs.)
CHARLEY
Stop! It’s no use.
(Elderly Lady shakes her head and walks on.)
I can't do it. A hell of a lot help you've been!
(Elderly Lady hurries on.)
Right. I could have stayed home, and gotten just as little out. You don't get it, do you? There is nothing in here. There is no inner voice for you to bring out.
AEODE
Charley, look at me.
(He looks at her breasts)
No, Charley. Look me in the eye.
(He looks up)
That's better. Now listen to me, mister. I've been doing this for several millenia.
I've helped the greats. I've helped the not so greats. But every one of them had something deep inside of them. They each had at least one little seed that needed to grow. I helped them find that seed. I have given everything I am to make those little seeds grow. And I know there is a seed in you.
CHARLEY
There's a seed in me, huh? Poppy seed, sure. Sesame probably. Maybe even a watermelon or two.
AEODE
Charley! I know it's in there!
CHARLEY (takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly)
You've been doing this for millenia. Always giving everything for someone else's art.
AEODE
That's right, Charley.
CHARLEY (reaches out and strokes Aeode's cheek.)
How sad.
AEODE
How so, Charley?
CHARLEY
Year after year, all over the world, you help everyone else find their inner voices. But
what about you?
AEODE
What do you mean?
CHARLEY
That's it! (Grabs her and kisses her) You did it! You found my seed!
(Kisses her again)
ACT III -- NIGHT CLUB
Aeode is in a nightclub at a standing microphone. She wears an expensive outfit. She bows and throws a kiss to the audience. Charley sits at a front row table, dressed in a tux. There is a bottle of champagne on ice at the table.
ANNOUNCER (Off stage)
Ladies and gentlemen, Aeode!
(Aeode bows several times, throws more kisses to the audience, then walks over to Charley, and accepts a sip of champagne from Charley’s glass.)
CHARLEY (holds up a contract.)
They signed. We got it all.
AEODE
Buy a girl some dinner?
THE SWEEPER OF DREAMS (walking across stage, sweeping.)
Be honest with yourself, and your dreams will manifest.
(Charley raises his champagne glass to the Sweeper.)
CK Copyright 5/15/12; Moral rights asserted worldwide.
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