Scenes from a Forgotten Musical

​FORGOTTEN ROOTS-THE MUSICAL
(A tight spotlight on what appears to be a small shed. There are dead hares hanging from the ceiling of the shed and a large rocking chair in the middle of the room, with a glistening shotgun placed upright on it. In bursts a hunched figure, mumbling and frantically searching for something. He becomes agitated very quickly and tears a half-decomposed hare from its swinging hook and flings it violently against the wall. He then begins to sob silently, picks the dead animal up and embraces it, whispering to it in what appears to be an attempt to ask for forgiveness. He nudges into the chair as he is moving about with the dead hare. He turns to steady it, then finally catches sight of the shotgun. He smiles and drops the limp hare. He picks the shotgun up and peers at it closely, as though he is inspecting it for damage. After a few moments, he proceeds to sit on the chair, rocking and caressing the barrel of the gun whilst loudly humming a very distinct tune. This continues for an eerily long time and builds to a crescendo. During the final moment he points the barrel of the gun directly at the audience, stops humming and smiles his large, disconcerting smile. Slow fade to darkness.)

A COLD WELCOME
Lights up on a large, extravagant-looking, country home. After a short time, we hear keys jingling and in strides a well-dressed woman, with impossibly large hair. She frantically gesticulates and her accent fluctuates wildly, making it quite clear that she is not fully comfortable with her native accent and definitely has some form of notions.

JEANINE
Well, here you are, here you are now...uhhhhh-
DANIEL
Daniel!
JEANINE
Daniel, lovely. How lovely. Irish-American, is it? How New York of you. So, what do you think about the house?
(A slight hint of a Canadian accent.)
DANIEL
Ahh, ah ha! I was trying to place you. There it is. Right there. You’re Canadian.
JEANINE
(Unabashedly offended. Perhaps, a tiny scream.)
No, no, no, no! I am New York city born and bred, not some kind of Canadian in-bred, or border NYC, Canada, hybrid. I’m just bred. I’m New York. I’m so New York bred that I am practically a bagel!!
DANIEL
I would have thought that pizza was more New York bread?
JEANINE
That’s more like a cake.
DANIEL
A pie, if we are going to elaborate, surely?
JEANINE
Ah, potato/pot-ah-to!
DANIEL
Yeah, potato/tomato 
(Desperately trying to change subject, theatrically peers around the room.)
I love the place!
JEANINE
(Strides forward and twirls)
It is-MAGNIFICANT-isn’t it?
DANIEL
Ya, I just know Elizabeth is going to LOVE it too.
JEANINE
(Taken aback)
Elizabeth?
DANIEL
My wife.
JEANINE
(Poorly concealed disappointment)
You ... you’re married?
DANIEL
(Roaming from room to room, exploring. His tone is somewhat defensive.)
Happily, with a ten year old.
(Notices JEANINE’s expression which appears to be worry.)
I know, maybe it seems to be a little big for just the three of us-
JEANINE
Oh NO! No!! It’s ideal. If anything, too small. 
(Pauses.) 
It’s just... You’re a Doctor with a wife and a ten year old daughter?
DANIEL
Son. A ten year old son.
JEANINE
(Sighs with relief)
Ah. Ah, a ten year old son. Fine, great. It’s just, for a second there, you reminded me of another family I used to know. It was a bit... eerie. Anyway, here is a copy of the twelve month lease.
DANIEL
Excellent, thank you for being so unbelievably accommodating. I wish we had landlords like you in the city. I mean, I never even knew it was possible to rent a place like this. I thought that we would be trapped in some bed-sit for the year with my transfer. This place looks like it deserves a mortgage that would take a life and death to pay off!
JEANINE
Yes. No, you certainly won’t be in death-  
(Giggles nervously)
DEBT! Debt...you won’t be in debt after this place. Affordable, huge, away from the madness of the city and if you take a peek out that little window you will get to see the centerpiece, if I may, of the whole shebang...
(Gestures for DANIEL to look outside. He follows suit and gasps at what he sees)
Only Creeky Willow’s most gorgeous apple tree. It’s been here for year and years. It was there even before the house was built. And, be sure to avail of the apples when they do come around. They are the juiciest things this close to Canada.
DANIEL
WOW. I bet you that tree holds some stories in it’s roots.
JEANINE
Probably. (Brusquely) Stories that have long since been forgotten by all of us.
DANIEL
Forgotten roots...
(Turns to JEANINE, smiling)
 I really don’t know what to say. It’s perfect. Just perfect.
JEANINE
 Well, no worries. It suits us both perfectly. We are perfectly suited. 
(Catches herself and winks flirtatiously at Daniel. Daniel looks at her blankly. Suddenly brash, she brandishes a piece of paper at him.)
If you sign right here, get your wife to sign it also and I will give you the second set of keys tomorrow.
(Hands DANIEL the paper and a set of keys.)
See you guys back here around noon tomorrow!
(Lights go down on DANIEL peering around the room contentedly.)
MOVING BOXES SEQUENCE
(A group of movers burst into the kitchen, an assortment of brightly-colored boxes filling up the space in a well choreographed series of movements. It is quite like a gigantic game of tetris. The movers are extremely loud, and they bang the boxes off the floor in time with one another, creating a rhythmic metronome. They speak with strong Bronx accents)
MOVER 1
Ay-ay-ay, HARRY. Put the FRA-GILES on the COUNT-A-TOPS. The count-AAA-tops godammit. Though, I’m kinda supwized they even have tables here in hicks-ville.
MOVER 2
Right, right? I thought these cun-tree bumpkins would be con-tempted to eat off the floor. The animalllls!!
(The movers all break into raucous laughter.)
MOVER 3
Yaaaaaa, they so bakwud, probably the only automatic cars they have are permanently set in reverse!!
(All laugh again.)
MOVER 4
YA, they so behind that they probly don’t even have cable.
(Laughter immediately stops. Stunned silence. Mover 4 laughs nervously through gritted teeth.)
MOVER 3
Ya, so? Who da fuck has cable anymore Gary, my Grandma’s ashes? Jeeze, you idiot, everybody’s got roku or Apple tv or EVEN torrent these days and they ain’t squandering their earnings on no fucking cable. Gawd, you turd, go put the toilet stuffs in the hallllllllll before I take a big SHHHHIITTT-

(In walks a well-dressed, beautiful woman in her mid-thirties.  She looks politely from mover to mover until they quieten down and get back to work. Her husband, DANIEL enters shortly after, holding hands with their son, ELLIOT, a young boy who is fixated with his kindle and pays no heed to his surroundings. ELIZABETH  begins singing MOVING BOXES.  It is about memories, mementos, and sentimental value versus monetary value and the movers perform a choreographed dance, as they move boxes  around, banging them off the floor in a rhythmic metronome. This provides later humor in how the boxes all get mixed up. DANIEL AND ELLIOT respectively provide their own version of what MOVING BOXES means to them and the significance of what’s inside the boxes. Song ends.)

DANIEL
Elliot, give the kindle a break for a sec, you’ll make your eyes sore... why don’t you go check out all of the rooms upstairs? Quick before your Mother picks her room-go choose yours!

(ELLIOT looks up the minute his name is mentioned and listens intently to his father, with no facial expression. He nods once his father is finished, wipes his kindle with a handkerchief and leaves with purpose. His strong eye contact, awkward, obedient behavior and delayed coordination suggest towards an intellectual variation of some kind. As soon as ELLIOT leaves, DANIEL walks over to ELIZABETH. She is quietly unpacking a box of dishes and placing them neatly in the kitchen cupboards. He wraps his arms around her.)

DANIEL
What do you think honey? Isn’t it gorgeous?
ELIZABETH
(Turns to face DANIEL. There is a huge, though obviously strained smile on her face)
Ya, it’s great. Just...great!
DANIEL
(Notices that something is slightly off about her.)
Even if it doesn’t feel quite right, right now, believe me, it’s what we both need.
ELIZABETH
(A twitch develops in her large smile.)
Oh really? We both need to move to the middle of NOWHERE at the drop of a hat for an entire year to suit YOUR transfer.
DANIEL
We both need a change of scene. We both need a break, we were both exhausted in the city-
ELIZABETH
NO. No, I….I! I was exhausted Daniel. I was going crazy, Daniel. Just say it, I went crazy in the city. I just don’t know why you think that the country is some kind of quarantine against insanity.
DANIEL
You didn’t go crazy. And I don’t like that word, please quit saying it. It’s just so tacky. You were tired, I was tired, we both just express ourselves differently. THIS will give BOTH of us the rest we need to get back to the very best versions of ourselves once and for all.
ELIZABETH
Okay, fine, whatever you want to call it.

 (Violently grips a nearby box) 

They should have labelled these damn boxes. You never know what the hell you are going to find inside them-
(She opens the box and lets out a shrill scream.)
DANIEL
Christ Elizabeth, what’s wrong?
ELIZABETH
(Holds her hand to her chest, calming herself. The other quivering hand reaches into the box.)
What in the name of all that is good in this life is this CREATURE??

(She lifts what appears to be a leather mask out of the box and turns it so that it’s facing towards DANIEL and the audience. It is grotesque. )

DANIEL
(Bursts into laughter)
OH MY GOODNESS. I’m so sorry. I should have told you about that. I have one box full of little trinkets and mementos that I collected when I was traveling ... you probably haven’t ever even seen most of them because I always kept them in my office at home. That’s a little tribal mask that I got from Papua New Guinea.
ELIZABETH
Yeah...mmmhmm...maybe you should have told me about the creepy dead face you were going to have amongst my precious delph. I don't care if Papa New Guinea gave it to you or Father Christmas, it doesn't belong with my things.
(She holds the mask closer to herself,  inspecting it.)
Actually, the creepiest thing about it is the fact that it doesn’t even look dead. It looks like a human just resting, ready to pounce at any second.
(A loud shrill scream is heard upstairs.)
Elliot?!
(They both hurry to retrieve their son, but his screaming is heard rapidly approaching as he runs down the stairs and into the kitchen.)
ELLIOT
MUM, you said they wouldn’t touch anything. You said they wouldn’t touch anything!
(He is absolutely hysterical)
ELIZABETH
Christ, Elliot, what’s wrong? Touch what? What are you talking about?
ELLIOT
My books. Only volume one is in the box you gave me. Volume one barely scratches the Civil War, those men took my books!! 
ELIZABETH
Don’t be silly, my dear. Your books are safe and sound somewhere in the boxes. Now, I’m really sorry because I know you like everything organized but apparently the sewer rats that your father has decided to pay thousands of dollars to help us move have decided that tribal masks, history books and recklessly sharp kitchen knives aren’t dissimilar enough to pack separately. I think we should take bets on where the toilet brush is next! Probably mixed in with our raw meats.
DANIEL
Oh quit being so hysterical Lizzie. It will do you good to have to take stock of what you actually have and what may be important to you once and for all. Anyways, I want to show Elliot the coolest part of the whole deal. It’s in the garden, so we’ll leave you to it for now!
(Sweeps Elliot up in a weak piggyback affair and heads out towards the apple tree, leaving ELIZABETH peering dejectedly at the mask for answers.)
ELIZABETH
So...I guess, it’s just you and me.
(Smiles at mask)
What was I thinking? You’re not even the slightest bit scary. You’re actually kind of friendly looking. Like a cheery Mona Lisa. 
(Turns mask over in her hands and smirks.)
Made in Taiwan, eh? Papua New Guinea must have bought you cheap and fooled Daniel into thinking you were exotic. Even if you were evil, I reckon the worst thing that you could give me would be food poisoning. 
(Giggles.)
Daniel is such a sucker. I guess you really never know what you’ll find.
(Notices box moving upstage)
What...
(Blinks in absolute disbelief as the box shudders once more.)
There is no way that this...
(Box very clearly starts creeping across the kitchen floor towards the door, accompanied by a faint scratching sound. ELIZABETH tentatively approaches it, terrified. As she almost reaches the box, it shoots a meter away, now she is very frightened and hyperventilating.)
Oh my God...
(A reprise of THE MOVING BOXES SONG plays but this time it is a much creepier, dissonant version of the original song. DANIEL re-enters and the pair begin to sing ‘GLASS NOT HALF EMPTY, BUT IT’S HALF FU-CKING BROKEN’, they shatter many glasses in time with the music. Several of their glasses are deliberately broken by each of them during this song. The song ends with staccato, with the moving box making tiny movements along with the notes.
 After this, ELIZABETH reaches out and snatches the box, holding it steady. The staccato turns to tremelo. She closes her eyes for one terrifying moment, clearly building up momentum to do what she is about to do. Suddenly, she swoops the box away to reveal a black cat that meows brazenly as the music comes to an abrupt halt. She lets out a loud sigh of relief)
SIMON! Oh, thank God it’s you. How the heck did you get out of your cage?? My goodness, you scared me half to death! These are supposed to be moving in boxes not moving around boxes, my goodness.
(Picks him up to cuddle him. Gasps.)
Sheesh, you are ice cold. I have to have a word with those movers, they don’t know what the heck they are doing. I don’t know where anything is and I’m not looking for basics.

​(She swoops out with purpose. Slow spotlight down to another box in the center of the room. As the spotlight tightens, the box shudders and begins to move. Sudden blackout.)

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
(The scene opens to DANIEL on a hospital ward. DR SAMUELS stands at his side, beaming at him.)
DR SAMUELS
Daniel, we are delighted to have you on board here at Creeky Willow Hospital. I was terribly impressed by your resume and I can tell that you will fit right in here where we strive for perfection. We encounter patients here from the surrounding area and really from all over. People will travel across the interstate for us because of our fantastic reputation. Here at our practice, we see patients injured, mentally exhausted, broken and we repair them. We restore them to the best possible version of themselves, better than they were before they even got sick because, our practice makes perfect.
DANIEL
Practice makes perfect. That's clever.
DR SAMUELS
Thank you. Let me show your around.

CUT BACK TO ELIZABETH, We cut quickly between scenes of her mutedly completing mundane tasks in the house. She is alone. She scrubs the bathroom floor, building in momentum and then stops suddenly, slumping over. We hear the intro to Elizabeth's Lament.
(She sings)
(V1)
DAYS PASS HERE, 
SUF/FOCATING ME,
STILLNESS, I BREATHE IT DEEP

CAME HERE, TO ESCAPE,
/STARTING/ TO
FADE.

SEA-SONS CHANGE AND COLORS MERGE, MELTING,
BECOMING ONE

EMPTINESS THE SAME 
INSIDE,
FREE FALL FROM
BARREN SKIES





(BRIDGE)
LIKE A LOOSE LEAF/ I HAVE FALLEN,
ENVELOPED BY THE EARTH.
FORGOTTEN ROOT DEEP, UNDERNEATH,
UNSEEN,
OVERCOME.

(CHORUS 1)
RAIN WILL COME,
WHEN HIDDEN CLO-UDS CRY,
IT ALWAYS POURS,
FROM ME, PLEASE TELL ME WHY.

(CHORUS REPEAT)
RAIN WILL COME,
TREMBLING, THROUGH DRY EYES,
NO DIFF’RENCE BETWEEN/
HIDDEN CLOUDS AND I.





(V2)
TOLD THAT I SHOULD BE CONTENT
MOTHER AND DUTIFUL WIFE.

IN A HOME, NOT CHOSEN BY ME
LOST LIFE

WAKE UP IN A WHISP’RING ROOM THAT
CLOSES, 
AROUND ME LIKE A TOMB
FLOORBOARDS CREAK AND THREATEN ME,
BEWARE,
WE’RE COMING FOR YOU

(BRIDGE)
LIKE A LOOSE LEAF/ I HAVE FALLEN,
ENVELOPED BY THE EARTH.
FORGOTTEN ROOT DEEP, UNDERNEATH,
UNSEEN,
OVERCOME.

(CHORUS 2)
RAIN WILL COME,
WHEN HIDDEN CLO-UDS CRY,
IT ALWAYS POURS,
FROM ME, PLEASE TELL ME WHY.

(CHORUS 2 REPEAT)
RAIN WILL COME,
TREMBLING, THROUGH DRY EYES,
NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN/
HIDDEN CLOUDS AND I.
(V3)
LIFETIMES END, UNQUESTIONED
PEOPLE TURN TO DUST
DISSOLVE MY AMBITION,
I’LL TELL YOU I’M HAPPY, 
IF I MUST
IF I MUST