The Harvest

Character Description1

A man is in a small coffee shop. The shop is very quiet and secluded. He is also very quiet, and wears a large tan trench coat and shades of brown. The main color of the set and costumes is brown, but the man is the most unobvious one of them all. He has a small satchel beside him, also brown. It is full of colorful objects, obscured from the Audience's view. 2

There is a young woman at the counter, wearing an apron that is so stained with coffee that it is also brown. She has a small daughter that is playing with some blocks at the foot of the counter. The daughter is wearing a pink dress. She is the brightest thing in the shop, and all eyes in the audience draw automatically to her, although she plays a small role in the plot. 3

A young man is seated pretty close to the main man, wearing a leather jacket and sipping coffee. He has a laptop, and seems to be working hard, giving off the air of a college student studying hard for some midterm. His table is a small round one, like that of the main man. He is wearing a red sweater that says "College" on it, and has a stack of books. One of his books are green.4

Near their tables, there is another round one, and farther downstage is a small rectangular table. This table is near what would be the window, as well as the invisible door. The man at this table is facing stage left, while the main man is facing downstage, and the young college man is facing stage right. The main man is seated upstage left, the young man is center stage left, and the older man at the rectangular table is seated close to downstage center, although his back is a little to the audience. The woman is upstage center, and her daughter is downstage left to the counter in front of the woman.5

The older man at the rectangular table is wearing a tan suit, with a military air to it. He has a tattered photograph in his right shirt pocket, and he is reading a newspaper that is yellowing and ragged. The newspaper is obviously out of date. This is seen magnified when he raises the paper to read, while a newspaper selling box is outside of the window, downstage to his feet. The man has greying hair, and is very quiet. The younger man seems frazzled, and is working hard, while the woman at the counter is also working hard, and seems in her own world. However, she is writing something frantically, and stops occasionally to run her fingers through the loose ends of her ponytail that fall down over her face. She can't be more than 25, but her hair seems to be greying already.6

A young business woman is standing center stage right at a tall bookshelf, sipping her coffee quickly as she runs her fingers over the spines. She picks a hefty book, and takes a seat at a leather armchair downstage right. She sets the book at a small round table across from her, and the audience sees that it might be a book of law. Her back is almost completely to the audience. She is wearing a brown/grey tweed business suit/skirt, and her tawny hair is pulled up into a bun. 7

Downstage center, a man is seated "leaning" against the wall of the shop, close to the door. He is strumming a guitar quietly, with his guitar case open at his feet. He appears out of place, because he is less self-absorbed than the rest of the people in the shop, although he is not literally in the shop. He has messy semi-long black hair, and is wearing patched clothing in shades of grey. His guitar is dirty and broken, and is a brown color.8

The Play....9

Plot Summary:10

People in a store all share in an experience which leaves them either dead or unchanged.11

Script:12

- Simultaneous Action -13

Main Man: (UL) -Sitting silently at a small round booth, wearing a brown trench coat and brown jersey hat. He has a brown bag with him, and he looks like a wanderer.-14

Woman: (CR) -Walking quietly back and forth in front of the bookshelf, running her fingers over the book spines. She is wearing a grey/brown tweed business skirt suit, and bright red high heels.-15

Girl: (UC) -Playing with small wooden blocks, wearing a pink and white gingham frilly dress. She is sitting on her shins, her back toward DR. She is wearing a pink silk ribbon in her hair, and is the center of visual stimulus.-16

Shopkeeper: (UC, behind counter and Girl) -Sitting on a tall stool, leaning against the back counter filled with coffee grounds and pots. She is holding a book and writing feverishly. Her book is blue, as is her pen. She is wearing an apron, stained brown with coffee grounds and spilled coffee.-17

Teen: (CL) -Sitting at a brown leather love seat, leaning forward, facing SL. He is leaning to a short, rectangular table, typing frantically into a laptop. He has a stack of books downstage to the laptop. He has on a red sweatshirt with white words spelling out the word "College." One of his books are covered in a green cover, the rest in paper bag.-18

Soldier: (DC/L) -Sitting with his back to SR, at the end of a long rectangular table. He is reading a yellowed newspaper. He is wearing a Purple Heart hat. Mirrored to his old newspaper is a vending machine outside of the shop, selling recent newspapers.-19

Artist: (DC) -Leaning against the "wall" beside the shop door, to the left of the feet of the Soldier. A grey guitar case is near his feet, and he is strumming on a brown guitar. He is making the most noise of all the people. He seems the most happy of them all, as well, with a pure joy.20

After playing a song, the Artist gets up and enters the store. He walks UC toward the counter, his back to the house. He reaches into his pocket and takes out a small red ball, and hands it to the Girl.-21

Girl: -Smiles at the Artist, and takes the ball. She turns back to her blocks and continues playing.-22

Artist: -Stands up again, and looks at the counter for a while. He leans against it and looks at the coffee, the food, and reads the menu nonchalantly, but happily. Eventually, he begins to watch the Shopkeeper at the counter. He does this in a humorous way after a while.-23

Shopkeeper: -Looks up from her book, noticing the man.-24

Artist: -Looks away from Shopkeeper.-25

Shopkeeper: -Looks back down again.-26

Artist: -Looks at Shopkeeper again.-27

Shopkeeper: -Looks up again.-28

Artist: -Quickly looks down again.-29

Shopkeeper: -Looks down at book once more.-30

Artist: -Looks up at her again, as though he were getting used to his game.-31

Shopkeeper: -Quickly looks up, and catches the gaze of the Artist.- Can I HELP you?!32

Everyone (except Main): -Looks to the counter quickly-33

Main: -Watches the Artist-34

Girl: -Drops red ball, it rolls DL towards the feet of the Soldier.-35

Soldier: -Looks down at the ball, and looks back up to the counter.-36

Shopkeeper: -Looks annoyed-37

Artist: -Watches Shopkeeper for a moment, and then the Girl. Makes his way to the Soldier, and takes up the ball. He returns it to the little girl, leaning over.-38

Shopkeeper: -(Artist still leaning)- I said, can I HELP you?39

Artist: -Faces Shopkeeper again- Sure. I'll have... -looks around shop, starting stage left, stopping at the Woman- one of those.40

Everyone (except Main): -Looks at Woman-41

Woman: -Shifts eyes toward Artist, and back to the books. She takes a large book, and sits down stage left at a large leather armchair, her back downstage R. She sets the book on a small round table at her feet, and sips on her coffee.-42

Shopkeeper: -Remembering herself, begins to make coffee, and gives it to the Artist.-43

Everyone (except Main): -Returns to what they were doing.-44

Artist: -Takes coffee and leaves money on the counter. He stands CC for a while, looking around, sipping his coffee calmly.-45

Everyone (except Main): -(in turn) Looks up at the Artist, trying to seem unobtrusive so he will avoid them.-46

Main: -Watches Artist.-47

Artist: -Looks to Woman, and walks over to sit at a small round table U to her.-48

Woman: -Ignores him.-49

Artist: -Scoots closer.-50

Main: -Starts looking into his bag.-51

Woman: What are you doing?52

Artist: What are you reading?53

Woman: -Picks up the book- A book of law.54

Artist: You a lawyer?55

Main: -Looks up quickly at the Woman. Continues watching the Artist and Woman in turn.-56

Woman: I plan to be.57

Artist: -Sits back, satisfied with her answer. Sips his coffee, and sets his guitar on his lap. He begins to strum a few chords.-58

Woman: -Shifts uncomfortably for a while.- Is that it?59

Artist: I haven't started playing yet...60

Woman: No, I mean...why did you...nothing.61

Artist: -Stops playing.- Why did I ask you a question? Why did I want to know about you, or your job?62

Woman: -Blushes, and turns away.-63

Artist: Did you want to talk more?64

Woman: -Flustered-65

Artist: How long have you been a gardener?66

Woman: What?67

Artist: A gardener. How long have you gardened?68

Woman: How...69

Artist: -Gestures to her hand- Dirt, under your nails. Not all that common in a lawyer.70

Woman: Ok...71

Artist: So?72

Woman: 3 years.73

Artist: What do you grow?74

Woman: -Getting aggravated- Look, it doesn't matter.75

Artist: Doesn't it?76

Main: -Shifts in his seat-77

Woman: No, it doesn't. Where are you from?78

Artist: Not around here.79

Woman: Really. So do you normally ask personal questions to complete strangers?80

Artist: -Sits back, smiling- And what personal question did I ask, exactly?81

Woman: -Takes up the book, ignoring him.-82

Artist: -Looks around the room, and notices the Main looking at him.-83

Main: -Continues looking at Artist.-84

Artist: -Walks toward the Main, but sits down on the long leather couch DS to the Teen.-85

Teen: -Continues typing, but steals a glance at the Artist.-86

Artist: -Looks at Main, then leans in closer to the laptop.- You spelled "apparently" wrong.87

Teen: I have spell-check.88

Artist: Wouldn't you rather just know how to do it on your own?89

Teen: -Stops typing, sounds annoyed.- Why?90

Artist: What are you working on?91

Teen: -Starts typing again.- A project for my midterm.92

Artist: Strums on guitar.93

Teen: -Calmly closes up his laptop, collects his books, and starts to leave. He leaves his blue book behind by accident in his haste, and leaves the store. Exits stage right.-94

Man: -Rustles newspaper, and peeks at Artist from behind it. He seems wary and hopes the Artist will not come to him.-95

Artist: -Watching Main.-96

Main: -Watches Artist, unfazed.-97

Artist: -Takes the blue book, secretively. Looks at Main, and sees that he noticed. Looks away, and sits back uncomfortably. Strums a few uneasy chords.-98

Soldier: -Takes off hat to wipe his sweaty brow. Seems very uneasy and keeps glancing at the Artist. He looks back behind him at the Woman, and suddenly starts to back out of his chair, as though he were to get up.-99

Artist: -Jumps to his feet as the Soldier is getting up.-100

Soldier: -Sits down immediately, seems captured.-101

Artist: Where are you going, so suddenly?102

Soldier: I have to get home. My family is waiting for me.103

Artist: No they aren’t.104

Soldier: What?105

Artist: -Smiles- You never came home from war, old man. They don’t know you’re alive.106

Soldier: -Pales- What? Of course they do. -Starts to get up again.-107

Artist: Sit down.108

Soldier: -Continues to get up.-109

Artist: I said, sit DOWN.110

Everyone (except Main and Soldier): -Look suddenly at Artist-111

Girl: -Shuffles, drops red ball, gets up and runs behind the counter, stage right.-112

Shopkeeper: -Leans down and picks up Girl, comforting her. Glares at Artist.- Look, sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave if you can’t lower your voice.113

Artist: -Grins maliciously- Lower my voice? I can do that. -Takes a seat across from the Soldier.- Sit down, please, good sir.114

Soldier: -Takes a seat, hesitatingly.-115

Artist: Thank you. 116

Shopkeeper: -Finally looks away, satisfied. Puts down Girl, glances outside, then at the clock, and then gets back to writing.-117

Girl: -Begins searching for Red Ball.-118

Artist: So, want to let me know why you lied to me, old man?119

Soldier: I…what? I didn’t.120

Artist: -Leans back, chuckling.-121

Soldier: -Seems to relax a little.-122

Artist: -Sits forward abruptly; hits table as he shouts- DON’T LIE TO ME!123

Everyone (except Main): -Look suddenly at Artist-124

Main: -Doesn’t look surprised.-125

Shopkeeper: -Infuriated- SIR! LOWER YOUR VOICE!126

Artist: -Looks over at Shopkeeper, more controlled.- Do not intrude, ma’am.127

Shopkeeper: -as though she didn’t hear him- I’m sorry?128

Artist: I asked you to not intrude on my personal business.129

Shopkeeper: -Irritated- And I asked you to lower your voice.130

Artist: Done. Now, -turns back to Soldier (as Shopkeeper gets back to writing, and people turn back to what they were doing)- I’ll ask you again. -Looks at Shopkeeper and back again- Calmly. Why. Did you lie to me.131

Soldier: -Sweating profusely, very agitated. Keeps working his hat around in his fingers, and playing with the newspaper.-132

Artist: -Watches the Hat.-133

Woman: -Gets up from her chair, and leaves the book on the table. Seems in a hurry to go, but that she doesn’t want to appear so. Starts walking DC to the door.-134

Shopkeeper: -Still looking down.- Could you put your book back, please?135

Woman: -Freezes.-136

Artist: -Looks up when the Shopkeeper spoke. He had been making a grab for the Purple Hat. Gets up from the table, watching the Soldier and his hat, and then goes toward the Woman.-137

Woman: -Flinches as he gets close.-138

Artist: What’s wrong? Why are you leaving me so suddenly? Weren’t we having a good time?139

Woman: Panicked.140

Artist: I said, -Grabs onto the Woman’s arm as she tries to walk out- WEREN’T WE HAVING A GOOD TIME?141

Shopkeeper: -Speaking to the Artist- LEAVE!142

Woman: -Tries to obey and run out.-143

Artist: -Does not let go of her arm, twists her back in.-144

Woman: -Shouts in pain-145

Girl: -Jumps, runs behind counter again.-146

Artist: No one’s leaving. -Walks to the door, still holding the Woman’s arm, and locks it.- Now. Please, everyone, go sit down. -Releases Woman’s arm.-147

Woman: -Hurries UR to the end of the bookshelf.-148

Shopkeeper: What’s going on? -Finally seems alarmed, picks up Girl. Shouts- WHAT’S GOING ON?!149

Girl: -Begins to cry-150

Artist: Ma’am. Please lower your voice.151

Everyone: -Stares at Artist-152

Shopkeeper: I’m calling the police. -Turns, back to the audience.-153

Artist: I wouldn’t try it. -Walks over to couch SR, pulls round table over to him, sits down and puts his feet on the table, on top of the law book.-154

Soldier: -Sits stiffly, still playing with the purple hat in his hands.-155

Shopkeeper: And why not? -Seems to be hiding her fear.-156

Artist: -Smiles, reaches under couch and picks up the Red Ball. Holds it out for everyone to see.-157

Main: -Appears very alarmed, looks to Girl quickly.-158

Artist: -With glee, squeezes Red Ball.-159

Girl: -Screams and convulses in pain.-160

Artist: I just wouldn’t. -Continues to smile.-161

Shopkeeper: -Hugs crying Girl close, looks overcome.- Oh, my God.162

Artist: -Laughs, amused.-163

Main: -Intently alarmed. Begins to look frantically into his bag again.-164

Artist: -Watches Main, casually stands up and walks over to the counter. Leans onto the counter, watching the Shopkeeper and the Girl.-165

Shopkeeper: -Backs away, frightened, clutching Girl.-166

Artist: -Slowly reaches towards her.-167

Shopkeeper: -Flinches.-168

Artist: -Changes the movement of his hand abruptly, taking up the Blue Notebook from the counter in an obvious manner.-169

Shopkeeper: -Stumbles backward as though he hit her. Leans onto the back counter, and sets Girl on the counter behind her.-170

Artist: -Purposefully drops Blue Notebook onto the counter top, watching Shopkeeper.-171

- Simultaneous Action -172

Main: -Shouts out with the sound of the Blue Notebook.-173

Shopkeeper: -Shouts out in pain, doubling over and scrambling forward for the Blue Notebook.-174

Girl: -Screams in fear.-175

Woman and Soldier: -Flinch.-176

- End Simultaneous Action -177

Main: -Stands up abruptly.-178

Artist: -Snatches back the book, looks purposefully and with authority at Main. The power the Main held over Artist shifts; Artist now holds the ultimate authority.-179

Main: -Stares down Artist angrily for a short while. Eventually sits down, angry but defeated.-180

Shopkeeper: -Moans in pain.- Please…please…181

Girl: Mommy? -Concerned, scared.-182

Shopkeeper: -Gasping- Quiet.183

Artist: -with glee- Yes. DO lower your voice. Now, -looking to Shopkeeper- what HAVE you been writing? -Opens Blue Notebook.-184

Shopkeeper: NO! -Lunges SR, pulling herself around the counter and toward the Artist.-185

Artist: -Turns to first page.-186

Shopkeeper: -Grabs at Artist’s arm, weeping.- No…no…187

Artist: -disgusted- Get OFF! -Throws his arm toward her in a desperate attempt to free himself of her grasp.-188

Shopkeeper: -Falls away, to her knees. Begs silently, weeping.-189

Artist: -Flips through Blue Notebook, ignoring Woman. Finds a page.- Ahah.190

- Simultaneous Action -191

Main: -Jumps up, bolts at Artist.-192

Artist: -Rips out page.-193

Shopkeeper: -Collapses onto the floor.-194

- End Simultaneous Action -195

Main: -Reaches Artist, and hits him across the face with the back of his arm.- WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!196

Artist: -Bent away, wipes blood from his mouth.-197

Girl: -Jumps off counter, runs SR to Woman.-198

Soldier: -Gets up, runs over to other side of his table. Leaves his Purple Hat.-199

Woman: -Gathers up Girl, holds her, comforting her sobs and stroking her hair. Continues to watch Artist and Main.-200

Soldier: -Watches Main and Artist.-201

Artist: -Watches Woman and Girl. Stays bent over slightly SR.-202

Main: I said, “WHAT—pulls his hand up to hit Artist again, swings his arm toward Artist’s head.-203

Artist: -Grabs Main’s arm, overpowers him. Shoves him onto his knees. The Main’s bag falls off of his shoulder, onto the shop floor. Dozens of colorful objects spill out onto the floor.-204

Everyone: -Silent, stares at the objects.-205

- Simultaneous Action -206

Main: -Lunges at a Red Knife.-207

Artist: -Lunges at a Red Knife.-208

- End Simultaneous Action -209

Main: -Gets Knife, points it at Artist, out of breath.-210

Artist: -Out of breath, backs up and stands up, watching Main.-211

Main: -Gasping, gathering the objects into his bag with one hand, holding the Red Knife at the Artist with the other.- Did you…(gasp)..think…that taking….THEIR colors….DID YOU THINK…you would get this one back? -Shakes Knife at Artist.-212

Artist: -Watches Knife intently, gasping.-213

Main: DID YOU?214

Girl: -Begins to cry.-215

Woman: -Shushes Girl, puts her on the floor, walking DS. Takes off her heel while she is bent over putting down Girl, and half-clicks DS beside the bookshelf. Watches Main and Artist, holding her shoe. She moves closer and closer to the Artist, as though she were to hit him on the back of the head eventually.-216

Artist: You don't know what I thought. -Seems oblivious to the Woman.-217

Main: Oh, on the contrary, I know exactly what you thought. -Notices Woman.-218

Artist: God, you are so cynical. -Sneers.- Don't you pretend. -Getting angry.- Don't you pretend you didn't want to do the same thing. That you wouldn't do the same thing if you were me.219

Main: That's it, though. I wouldn't. You lost your color, I have it. You can't have it back; you've gave it away when you stole your first color. And I'm just here to make sure it stops.220

Artist: -Pales, but looks as though he has no hope. He is comfortable in his helplessness. He sits down on the floor across from the Main.- You? You don't even have a color. You want their colors just as much as I do. -Becomes frantic, seeing hope.- Come on. Come on, you can join me. We can do this. -Jumps back to his feet.- We can DO this! -Turns around, grabs Woman by the wrist, twisting, reaching for her Red Shoe.-221

- Simultaneous Action -222

Woman: -Cries out.-223

Soldier: -Jumps up from table, runs over behind Main, broken, wanting to help Woman.-224

Main: -Jumps up, hits Artist with Red Knife.-225

- End Simultaneous Action -226

Artist: -Falls to the floor.-227

Main: -Looks at Red Knife.-228

Soldier: -Takes up Main's bag from the floor, and hits Main over the head with it.-229

Main: -Falls to the floor beside Artist.-230

- Simultaneous Action -231

Soldier: -Pulls himself over to his original seat at the table. After a while, he becomes calm, puts his hat back on, and eventually begins to read the newspaper once again, and sip on his coffee.-232

Woman: -Puts her shoe back on, gasping. Collapses onto the leather armchair she sat at in the beginning. After a while, she pulls the small round table back to where it was, and reads the Book of Law again. She sips on her coffee, calm.-233

Girl: -Calms in time with Soldier and Woman, and returns to her spot on the floor, playing with her blocks.-234

- End Simultaneous Action -235

Teen: -Enters from DL, and comes back up to the shop. Enters, doesn't notice anything.- I forgot my book. -Takes his book from off the floor, stepping over Main. Leaves the store, exits SR.-236

Curtain Close.237

Character Analysis:238

Main (N/A)- 239

A representation of a Savior, he holds the ultimate power over Colors, and is the only one with the authority to be doing so. The Main has a satchel full of the Colors that have been saved by him, or that have been permanently lost by their original owners. He has Artist's Color, a Red Knife. Main is above Colors; he has no need for them, and does not have a Color of his own. He holds authority over all, including Artist, but he only interacts with the Artist. (Perhaps also the Girl, if I decide to change that--interaction with the innocence and Color of Youth.)240

Traits: Humble, Authoritative, Good241

Artist (Red)- 242

Artist is a representation of Lucifer; he tries to take other's Colors in an attempt to get his Color back. He believes that in getting the Colors of others, it will fill his void of Grey. Artist has authority over the people in the shop, except for Main. At one point, Artist tries to overcome Main, and Main allows this, in his humbleness. Artist lost his Color as a result of his Pride and Greed (seen in his stealing and his rebellion against Main). Red represents evil, anger.243

Traits: Arrogant, Prideful, Greedy, Evil, Angry244

Shopkeeper (Blue)-245

The Shopkeeper is a representation of one trying to succeed on his own faulty accord. She spends her time trying to write something great, and make it out from where she is from her own power. She inherited the shop. The Shopkeeper has a daughter, Girl, who she only cares for when Girl is upset. It seems that Girl is an accessory to her. Girl is an illegitimate daughter. Blue represents man-based hope.246

Traits: Pride247

Girl (Pink)-248

The Girl represents innocence. She is the daughter of Shopkeeper, and she plays with several brown blocks. These represent her coming of age into sin. The bright colors she wears represents her innocent youth. She plays with a Red Ball, given to her by Artist. The ball is red because it was given to her from Artist, whose color is red. Pink represents innocence and a girly childhood.249

Traits: Innocence, Fear250

Soldier (Purple)-251

The Soldier represents living in the past, and war. Ironically, he is not brave at all. The War gave him a sixth sense, so he is able to realize something is terribly wrong before any other person in the shop does. He went to war and never returned home, so his family does not know that he is alive. He ends up killing Main, which represents the death of a Savior by a person dulled to murder, and able to get over it quickly in a situation such as the one they are in. The purple color is a sign of royalty, or of pride. He is patriotic.252

Traits: Fear, Ability to Kill253

Teen (Red and Green)-254

In a way, Teen is a mirror to a younger and more innocent Artist. He is very studious, concentrating on what most youth would. Teen has two colors because he is still young, and has not settled on one object. Because his life surrounds studies, his colors are on his book and sweatshirt. Teen does not notice anything is wrong when he comes back to the shop, just as we live blind to the spiritual world most of the time. His red is anger, mirroring Artist, and his Green is youth.255

Traits: Studious, Slack-minded256

Woman (Red)-257

The red color of her shoes partially points to her feminine sexuality. It also represents how in-control of her life she believes she is. The woman is a "lawyer," which represents people who, instead of following higher laws, falls into the laws of man, believing themselves to be in control of everything. This shows her Pride. 258

Traits: Pride, Bravery, Foolishness259

So...that was a brief analysis of the characters in The Harvest.260