In the Trees II: Lust on the Limb

And here's the sequel to my Doubleshot 60 second play, this one based on the word "Lust." 

(Scene: we're high in the forest canopy of South America, eight years later than the last scene. Two of our sloths, Cynthia and Albert, are hanging from the same tree limb. They're laughing and flirting.)

              CYNTHIA

     Oh, you!

              ALBERT

     Oh, you.

              CYNTHIA

     No, oh YOU.

              ALBERT

     No, oh YOU.

(They laugh.)

               ALBERT

     God, Cynthia, I love this time with you.

              CYNTHIA

     And I you, Albert. You make me happier than I ever thought I could be again.

              ALBERT

     It's been eight years, Cynthia.

              CYNTHIA

     And sometimes I think that's almost enough.

              ALBERT

     Oh Cynthia. You know I love you. That's why I keep hanging on this limb. Monsoon or drought, brown beetles or brown leaves, I've been here with you.

              CYNTHIA

     It's true.

              ALBERT

     I have wanted you so. Gazing day after day on your svelte curves, your delicate snout, that cute little band of coloration over your eyes....

              CYNTHIA

     We all have that.

              ALBERT

     But on you it's so erotic.

              CYNTHIA

     Albert, I've wanted you too. And now that the children have left the limb and are halfway to another tree, I think that maybe I can imagine a different life.

              ALBERT

     A life with me?

              CYNTHIA

     Yes. Yes, I think so.

              ALBERT

     My darling!

              CYNTHIA

     My own!

(They begin to rush towards each other. They're sloths. Before they can get there, from the trunk end of the limb:)

              OLIVER

     I'm back!

(End of Play)

 

In The Trees

The good folks at NPA are staging Doubleshot, their 24 Hour Play Festival, tomorrow at 7:00 pm as part of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts' "Free For All" Fall Festival. This time round they asked me to write a 60 second play--with the option of a second one to fill in for a fellow playwright who's had to drop out.

So I did. It was so much fun I wrote a second one right after.

The theme of this Doubleshot's "The Seven Deadly Sins," and yes, I drew Sloth. 

So without further ado, here's a tiny drama I call "In the Trees."

(Scene: We're high in the tree canopy of the South American rainforest, upwards of 60 feet above the forest floor. It's a lovely late afternoon. Hanging on one long tree limb are three large sloths, Albert, Oliver and Cynthia. Oliver is hanging between Albert and Cynthia. Oliver has just woken up with a start.)

               OLIVER

     Ohmygod HELP!

(Albert and Cynthia wake up.)

              OLIVER

     Ohmygod please help me someone I'm slipping!

              CYNTHIA

     Oliver?

              OLIVER

     Ohmygod!

              ALBERT

     What's going on?

              CYNTHIA

     Oliver's yelling!

              OLIVER

     I'm slipping!

              CYNTHIA

     Oh my god he's slipping!

              OLIVER

     Do something!

              ALBERT

     We've got to do something!

              CYNTHIA

     Oliver! We're coming sweetheart! Just hold on!

              OLIVER

     I'm slipping!

(Albert and Cynthia start to move towards Oliver as fast as they can. They're sloths.)

              ALBERT

     It's okay buddy! We're coming!

              CYNTHIA

     Hang on darling!

              OLIVER

     I'm still slipping!

              ALBERT

     Just don't look down!

              OLIVER

     My toes! My toes! They're letting go!

              CYNTHIA

     Almost there sweetheart!

          (they're not a lot closer.)

              OLIVER

     Why god why? Why me?

              ALBERT

     Don't look down!

              OLIVER

     Why just three toes? Do you hate sloths?

              ALBERT

     Almost there buddy.

              OLIVER

     Oh god. Cynthia, tell the children that...Cynthia?

              ALBERT

     I think she's asleep Oliver.

              OLIVER

     Really? Well that's just....

          (he looks over to Albert, who's also nodded off.)

     Well that's just...

          (he nods off, still hanging on.)

(End of Play)