WritingMachinesGroup2

OH LIFE!

Act II

Building: All my life I’ve wanted to be heard, I see so much but have no way and no one to share these experiences with.

(we hear shouting and commotion from within the building)

Building: Oh no, what’s all that grumbling and those pangs in my stomach, it feels like it’s coming room that always smells of rice and coffee. I can feel two little creatures moving about violently and making lots of noise … wait … It’s gone silent, all the commotion has stopped. Now all I hear is groaning … even that’s stopped now. A troubling stillness has taken hold of that fragrant and mysterious room.

(The next thing the building hears is a low maniacal laughter that grows in volume and then turns into a pacing, vibrating sound as the creature holds his head and begins to make sounds that seem to be in sync with the vibrating, pacing sounds.)

Creature: Life! Oh Li-i-fe! Ooh Liiiife!

(The sounds stops after a short while and the creature starts to slowly move around and speaks.)

Creature: Everyone’s gone home for the night. No one knows a thing, no one has seen or heard anything, walls can’t see, the building can’t talk.

Building: Can to!

(The creature freezes, turns white, and speaks in a shivering, whispering voice)

Creature: Who’s there? Who said that?

(Without taking a moment to grapple or rejoice in the fact that one of these oblivious creatures living inside it, has finally heard it speak, it replies quickly,)

Building: I did, I said that.

(Also, without taking a moment to deal with the fact that he is speaking to a building,)

Creature: You saw nothing, and you will say nothing.

ACT 3: SPIDER & BUILDING

This thing (that I called wind) was blowing strongly northwards in this dark

night. I cast out a floating thread and using its current, I jumped high into the air

and parachuted onto the dark cold ledges of a tall red building.

Building: “Aahh!” I felt the building vibrate and grumble. I scattered along the edges.

Spider: “Hey, come on – I’m the weight of dust. Will you let me take shelter here

for a night? I’m just a transitory visitor – I’ll be gone when it becomes light

again.”

I looked inside to see a momentous occasion. Two tall gangly creatures were

getting tangled up in a dance. Bathed in a red glowing light, they tousled and

rolled around like flies in a coke can.

Building: “Ah no I’m complaining about the thudding happening inside my belly.

These parasites are rolling around inside me, they’re restless. One’s become very

wet just now. Hmm.”

Spider: “Ah what’s that.”

Building: "I don't know. I think this thing is making some sound - it sounds unmusical to me."