A SIGHT UNSEEN
By
Tyler Carlson
CHARACTERS (IN PLAY)
GAVIN: A quiet musician who has just finished a successful show, afflicted by a form of schizophrenia (hears voices, hallucinates). He is the bassist and vocalist.
THE HALLUCINATION: A manifestation of GAVIN’s mind, is not seen or reacted to by any other characters, extremely negative and rude towards GAVIN.
SAMANTHA: A friend of a friend of GABRIEL’s, an acquaintance of GAVIN’s, someone GAVIN has always had a thing for.
GABRIEL: GAVIN’s best friend and band mate. He is very likeable, the guy who knows everybody, enjoys a good time. He is the drummer (possibly… drum sticks in back pocket?)
CHARACTERS (REFERENCED ONLY)
TIM: He is the guitarist.
JUSTIN: He is the pianist/synth player.
MELANIE: GABRIEL’s girlfriend, plays bass in a punk band
SETTING: The band lounge backstage. There is a sofa and a chair in the spotlight. There are a few cans of pop at the foot of the sofa. A bass guitar is propped up against the LEFT side of the sofa.
TIME: The present, just after GAVIN and GABRIEL’s gig.
***
I - The ‘Tormented Artist’ Card
Open: GAVIN is sitting on the sofa, drinking something. He looks extremely uncomfortable and worried. He puts his head in his hands and runs his hands through his hair, sighing.
GABRIEL (off-stage): Yeah, I’ll be right back, hang on a sec.
GABRIEL enters stage RIGHT and GABRIEL grabs a drink from the foot of the sofa. GABRIEL drops into the chair, relaxed.
GABRIEL: (takes a sip) Man, we did good, tonight - we did really good. You, my friend, have earned a drink - a proper drink. Everybody’s out in the bar, man – come on, join us.
GAVIN: (pause) I… I will in a bit, man.
GABRIEL: C’mon, man… Sam’s out there. She wants to see you, tell you how good a job we did – you did. I know you’ve got a thing for her, man – just ask and I’ll put in a good word for you, see if I can hook you up. If I can’t, I’ll see if Melanie can - they’ve been friends since, like, elementary school, and, considering the fact that I’ve dating her for two years, I think I can convince Mel to at least talk to Sam for you.
GAVIN: I don’t know, man…
GABRIEL: Well, you know what? I do. Listen, she asked about you, specifically. She wanted to know where you were, if you’d bailed or something. She likes you, at least enough for you to have a shot, man – so, just take the chance, I know you can do it. (stands) C’mon, let’s go.
GAVIN: No, I mean… I’m just feeling a bit shaky right now. Like… like, real shaky. I just need a few minutes back here to chill, where it’s quiet, that’s all. I’ll be out in a bit.
GABRIEL: Ah, I see.
Both of them look away. GAVIN looks back first.
II - Reassurances
GAVIN: Hey, so, uh… we kicked ass out there tonight, eh?
GABRIEL: You better believe we did, man - I’d be willing to say that that was the best show we’ve ever played. We had a wicked set list, too - good call on the Motion City Soundtrack cover, by the way, everyone loved it.
GAVIN: (laughs shakily) Yeah, well, I hope they liked the original songs just as much.
GABRIEL: They did, man, believe me. I passed a bunch of people on my way in here - they were sitting there, just analyzing our lyrics. Can you believe that? It’s crazy, man! I feel… important! (laughs) I even talked to the manager - he says that, if we do that well again, we’ve got another gig in two weeks.
GAVIN: Are you serious? That’s awesome!
GABRIEL: (laughs) Yeah, man, you bet it is. In fact -
MELANIE (off-stage): Hey, Gabe, where’d you go?
GABRIEL: Ha-ha… well, I guess I’ve gotta go for a bit, I kind of left Mel out on the dance floor all alone… duty calls. Can’t disappoint the girlfriend, right? I guess I’m whipped, but, hey, what’s so wrong with that? (pauses) You gonna be okay for a bit, man? Because I’ll stay, if you need me to… like, no worries, none at all, Mel will understand.
GAVIN: Yeah, I’ll be fine, Gabe. You go have fun, I’ll be out in just a few minutes. Don’t worry about it.
GABRIEL: Alright… just call my cell if you need me, okay?
GAVIN: You got it.
GABRIEL: See ya in a few.
GAVIN: Yeah, see ya, man.
GABRIEL exits stage RIGHT, bringing his drink with him. As he exits stage RIGHT, THE HALLUCINATION enters stage LEFT and approaches the couch from behind. THE HALLUCINATION kneels behind the couch, next to GAVIN.
III - it begins
THE HALLUCINATION: He doesn’t really like you, you know. The band will replace you soon enough.
GAVIN stiffens and leans away from THE HALLUCINATION. THE HALLUCINATION leans towards GAVIN, almost touching him.
THE HALLUCINATION: What? Were you hoping that I wouldn’t stop by? Of course I was going to come say hello, Gavin. I’ll always be here when you get a false sense of importance… well, any sense of importance, really. See, I know you, inside and out, and you and I both know that you are worth exactly nothing and I seem to be the only person who recognizes that... apart from yourself, of course.
GAVIN: Leave. Just… just leave. Not now, not here… I did well, tonight. I did.
THE HALLUCINATION: (laughs) Yeah, okay, you keep telling yourself that.
GAVIN reaches for his cell phone and starts looking for GABRIEL’s phone number. THE HALLUCINATION shakes his head and laughs.
THE HALLUCINATION: What did I just say? He doesn’t like you. You need to learn to pay attention, kid… it’s just another thing that you suck at.
GAVIN (unsure): You’re… you’re not even real. I don’t have to listen to you.
THE HALLUCINATION: Wow, Gavin, you’re as delusional as you are stupid. I’m just as real as you make me, and you’re gonna listen to me because you know that I’m right. You’re just a waste, and you know it… and no one cares, no one at all.
IV - entirely unreal
SAMANTHA (off-stage): Gavin? Are you back here?
THE HALLUCINATION (gleeful): Ooh, this should be fun.
GAVIN puts his head in his hands. THE HALLUCINATION stands up and walks towards stage RIGHT. As this happens, SAMANTHA enters from stage RIGHT and walks towards GAVIN, followed by THE HALLUCINATION.
SAMANTHA: Hey, there you are. What are you doing back here by yourself?
THE HALLUCINATION leans over SAMANTHA’s shoulder.
THE HALLUCINATION: Ooh, look at her, Gavin - she’s just the kind of girl you can never get. How perfect!
GAVIN: Hey, Sam. I just… needed some quiet time to myself.
GAVIN looks pointedly at THE HALLUCINATION. SAMANTHA looks back at where THE HALLUCINATION is standing, but, unable to see him, looks back to GAVIN. THE HALLUCINATION starts walking around, stopping between GAVIN and SAMANTHA, behind SAMANTHA, sitting next to GAVIN and getting right in his face.
SAMANTHA: Oh, I see. Do you want me to leave and come back later, or…?
THE HALLUCINATION gets right in her face and starts examining her.
GAVIN: No! No, no, I’d love for you to stay. Would you like to, uh, take a seat?
SAMANTHA: Yeah, sure, thanks.
SAMANTHA sits down in the chair and smiles at GAVIN.
THE HALLUCINATION (while SAMANTHA is sitting): Kid, you are pathetic. Can’t you even offer the girl a seat without tripping over your own tongue? You really are absolutely useless. No wonder Gabe’s out there meeting girls and making friends while you’re in here all on your own. Good Lord, what a joke…
SAMANTHA: Well, uh… I just wanted to say that you guys did really good, tonight. Chalk up another victory for A Sight Unseen, right?
GAVIN (distracted): For, uh… for who, sorry?
THE HALLUCINATION: HA! See? You’re such a failure you can’t even remember your own band name.
SAMANTHA: Uh… you, Gabe, Tim, Justin… the band?
GAVIN: Oh, right… right. Yeah. Thank you - thank you. Um… I appreciate it. What, uh… what was your favourite song from the set?
THE HALLUCINATION: Like she could even understand you - your singing voice is terrible, kid. It’s sad but true.
GAVIN covers ears and looks down and SAMANTHA .looks at GAVIN, concerned.
V - singsong
SAMANTHA: Uh… my favourite song was probably… agh, I didn’t catch the name. It was one of your original songs. The chorus was like, ‘Sickness lives inside my skull/floor to ceiling, wall to wall/just another defect. A thousand television sets/playing static in my head/I’m so imperfect?’
Gavin looks up at her and smiles slightly.
GAVIN: Ah, yeah… ‘So Imperfect.’ It’s called ‘So Imperfect.’ I’m glad you liked it - it’s one of my more personal songs.
THE HALLUCINATION: Yeah, because it’s all about ME. She doesn’t like the song because you wrote it, she likes it because it talks about how screwed up you are - it just makes her hate you even more, you freak. You know what? Stand up and leave, you don’t even deserve to talk to her. (GAVIN slides along the sofa, away from THE HALLUCINATION) Do it! Now!
SAMANTHA: Gavin, are you okay? Gabe told me something was up, but I thought maybe you were just, you know, playing the ‘tormented artist’ card to try to impress the girls.
THE HALLUCINATION (right in GAVIN’s face): LEAVE, GAVIN!
Gavin stands up suddenly and takes a step towards the door, then pauses. He looks at THE HALLUCINATION, who is approaching him, then looks at SAMANTHA.
GAVIN: He won’t be quiet, Sam, he won’t be QUIET. I don’t know what to do!
SAMANTHA: Gavin… nobody’s here but you and
THE HALLUCINATION: I said leave, Gavin. (pushes GAVIN past the chair that SAMANTHA is sitting in, towards stage RIGHT, SAMANTHA stands up and goes towards GAVIN) Do as you’re told, you pushover. (pushes GAVIN towards stage RIGHT) You’re not worth her time, you waste of flesh, let alone her concern - just walk away and end this, kid. You know I’m right, just give in to me.
SAMANTHA: Gavin, it’s okay, just come sit down, come talk to me - Gabe’ll be here soon, so just calm down… just breathe deeply and try to stay calm.
GAVIN nods and does as she says.
VI - the resistance
THE HALLUCINATION: What? NO! Don’t listen to her, she’s just a WHORE - listen to ME! You wouldn’t even be able to write your terrible music without me, Gavin, so listen to ME! Panic! Freak out, because you know what? I’m coming to get you, you hear me?
THE HALLUCINATION pushes GAVIN towards stage RIGHT once more, and Gabe enters stage RIGHT and catches him.
GABRIEL: What’s going on? What happened?
SAMANTHA: I don’t know, he just panicked - what do we do?
GABRIEL: We need to keep his mind focused on us, okay - Gavin, can you hear me?
THE HALLUCINATION: No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! (points at GAVIN) You can’t! I’m the only one around that even acknowledges your existence, you failure - he hates you anyways, he just wants to use this against you later to get you kicked out of the band!
VII - Rescued
GABRIEL: Come on, Gavin, focus on me, okay, focus on my voice? Sing along with me, okay? We’ll sing your song, okay, Gavin? ‘Sickness lives inside my skull/floor to ceiling, wall to wall/just another defect.’ Come on, Gavin, come on…
GAVIN and GABRIEL (in unison): ‘A thousand television sets/playing static in my head/I’m so imperfect.’
THE HALLUCINATION: FINE! Fine, Gavin, fine, ignore me, but I’ll be back, you hear me? I’ll be back to remind you how worthless you really are! I will never ever disappear and I will always be back to get you!
GAVIN: (Looks at THE HALLUCINATION) Go away.
THE HALLUCINATION: Fine, I don’t even want to talk to you anyways!
THE HALLUCINATION exits stage LEFT, angry. GAVIN and SAMANTHA sit on the sofa and GABRIEL sits on the chair. SAMANTHA puts her arm around GAVIN’s shoulders.
VIII - Free for the Moment
GABRIEL: You okay, man, are you back with us?
GAVIN: (rubs his eyes) Yeah… yeah, man. Thanks. Thank you both. That was… difficult. Still really shaky, though… I should probably stay here a while longer.
GABRIEL: No worries, man - why didn’t you call? I would have been here in a flash.
GAVIN: I tried, but he said… never mind. It doesn’t matter now, I’m… I’m okay, now. Sorry about that, Sam… I wouldn’t blame you if you got the hell out of here as fast as you can.
SAMANTHA: No, no, it’s totally fine, Gavin, it’s not your fault, I just… I didn’t know what to do.
GAVIN: No, no, you did a good job, you helped… you distracted me from him - it - which definitely is a good thing.
GABRIEL stands up from the chair and flips open his cell phone.
GABRIEL: Alright, you guys stay here and talk for a couple minutes - I’m going to explain to Mel that I need to be here for a while, maybe get Tim and Justin in here, too. Does that work, or…?
GAVIN: Yeah, yeah, go for it. Mel can feel free to join us, too, if she likes, she pretty much knows what’s going on with me, so… yeah, get the guys for sure, though.
GABRIEL: Alright, I’ll be right back… don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, you two kids. (winks and exits stage RIGHT)
GAVIN: So… how would you like to give that conversation another try?
SAMANTHA: (smiles) I’d like that a lot, Gavin.
THE HALLUCINATION is sitting on the chair, watching GAVIN and SAMANTHA.
END OF PLAY
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