Pieces Falling Together Act 1

Pieces Falling Together
A play about the things friends do.

Mika- Student
Alex-EMT
Sarah- Mika’s friend, Barista at Ground Zero
Gwen- Mika’s friend, punk singer
Paul- Gwen’s boyfriend, artist
Sean- Gwen’s friend, punk cellist/Kali’s records
Simon- Sean’s coworker, bartender at Past Due
Jessica- Simon’s girlfriend, Alex’s sister, works at Da Balm Cafe
First Punk
Second Punk
Third Punk

scenes
Ground Zero(Coffee Shop), Gwen’s apartment, Kali’s Records( Record Store), Past
Due(a club), a street, Da Balm Cafe


Act 1 scene i Ground Zero

enter Mika

    Sarah- What ho my scholar dear that you come so?
Tis early still for you to feed the beast.
Did they cancel then some lesson of yours
Or do you instead ditch the campus green
To visit by preference your friend here chained
Thus keeping your caffeine level well reigned.

    Mika- I wish dear friend for one or the other,
But this morning Alex did call to me.
I cut early from my class well discreet
That I could make quick haste and here him find,
It does appear I have beat him here.
Pour me a cup if you would be so kind;
Of the juice of the bean which frees the mind.

    Sarah- I hope for you that his feet reach us soon,
Would not want more than one class compromised.
Here you are, a mug of our freshest brew
And I shall make your cup from Alex due.

    Mika- So kind of you friend, as you earn your tip.
Show him to me when that villain arrives;
[aside]I do fear villain is the guise he wears,
If I judg’d rightly his tone of voice.
Still I hope perchance his nervous sounding
Is instead some newly born excitement.
Alas some things women can read quite clear;
If woman’s vision, then rightly I fear.

enter Alex

    Alex- Ah, there is the sweetest barrista known
Toiling the hours with her coffee stained hands
So little people like me can enjoy
The works that you with espresso employ.

    Sarah- Good to see even your days off draw you
Into mine realm to get your daily fuel.
I’ll have you know that Mika beat you here.
Thus I’ll exact from you her coffee’s coin.
Still, your drink will be by my skilled hands made
As you search your wallet ‘til her tab’s paid.

    Alex- I have your money right here coffee wench;
If you really do think to earn your tip
I might suggest a kinder word emit;
Pray chew not like some horse upon the bit.

    Sarah- Thy sour wit is a sure way to ruin
The Joe you wish to pull from mine skilled palm.
I’ll have it known dear sir to you avoid;
I wouldn’t have my good customers annoyed.

    Alex- I’ve come not here for the good customer,
And soon I won’t come for any, adieu.
[aside]And now I to the harder task do wend;
Like Hercules to one of his Labors.
I must now lay a heart before the blade
To lessen the pain time would make harsher.
Hullo Mika, thanks for meeting me here
Though I wish a better cause drew you near.

    Mika- Then the sound I heard was truth ill spoken;
I came here in one piece to leave here broken.

    Alex- Yes, tis true that no happy tidings bring
Though I hope my words do not harshly sting.

    Mika- What have I done that you want to sever
Me from the warmest places in your life?
Have I so treated you to summon hell?
Did I miss some clearly rung warning bell?

    Alex- It is nothing you did or didn’t do
Dear Mika, that sets this on your table.
I can’t claim I found any fault in you
But that instead the seeds spring up in me.
Perhaps I am not ready to maintain
Any heart that is not in my own breast,
And though I do, in truth, feel much for you,
I do not feel I can give all that’s due.

    Mika- So you’re here to save me from my own self
Lest like Echo falling for Narcissus
I fall for you whose heart could never reach,
And fade as your petals touch the white beach.

    Alex- I would have the truth known now thus saving
From a deeper net and a richer pain
Were I to wield the blade some years later.
With your heart caring more and my heart not...
They say if you love someone, let them go,
And I care too much to let sorrows grow.

    Mika- You cannot keep a heart that want’s to fly
Anymore than you could take hold the wind.
One person does not make relations work
Nor does love die when fresh the ship has sailed.
But this ship’s crew is never coming back;
She sails with her rigging done up in black.

    Alex- You are still my friend, and wouldn’t lose that
Hope I can keep she who knows me so well.
For it isn’t that I do not love you,
Only love you too much to be your rue.

    Mika- Then friends we shall be, though not easily
Learning to cast our active love aside.
‘Twill be the hardest journey I will make,
As friendship I do not want to forsake.

    Alex- So long my friend though apart our roads bend,
As only the relationship has changed.
We are still the people we grew to love;
And always to me, you are a blessed dove.

exit Alex

    Sarah- That did not seem a happy parting, friend.
Anything I can do to help you mend?

    Mika- Old friend, thanks but there’s nothing to be done,
Some steps we walk together, some apart.
I need to be alone a while to think,
And maybe find myself a stronger drink.

exit Mika

    Sarah- So some paths split, and others yet to merge;
And barren trees from orchards must we purge.


Act 1 scene ii
Kali’s Records

enter Sarah

    Simon- Kali’s Records. We’ve the skulls for your ears.
Nope, they’ve been broken up for several years.

    Sarah- Hey Simon, another fool on the phone
Seeking to earn the idiot’s high throne?

    Simon- No kidding girl, I wish people would think.
Are you coming in or getting off work?
I’ve some tunes if your ears have the time;
I might treat you to something less sublime.

    Sarah- I’m getting off of work, the truth be told,
I’ve no need of the playlist in your head
That sits surrounded by music all day
And cannot tell a good tune-smith from bad.
I have better means for pleasing my soul
Without your suggestions which I would cull.

    Simon- I would feign a hurt, but I’m no actor.
Your suggestions do stand without backing
Without discerning ears for what they play;
You enjoy the crap that should go away.

    Sarah- Simon, though talking to you is a joy,
I’m going yonder, where there’s a cute boy.

    Alex- Disgorge, Divine Empire, Divine Rapture,
Nothing here seems to catch my eyes or ears.
I’ve not the mood for these sounds anymore,
Nor even know I why came in this store.

    Sarah- Death Metal, Alex? Chipper is your mood
To navigate the heavy fields of gloom.
Tis not the time for a dark brooding mind;
Let me take you out, and some pleasure find.

    Alex- I have confused myself on what to think
Of the actions I recent undertook;
As if some needed element in mode
Was sent forever down a different road.

    Sarah- When we undertake what we think is right
We see we are correct by these rough steeps
That force our hearts through some Everest climb.
Seldom easy what’s right that we strive for.
Are not the right things always harder done
And more rewarding when the battle’s won?

    Alex- But knowing you have done the righteous thing
Does not mean the mind agrees with the heart.
I feel the need to do something more fun
Than in past months have done or wanted do.
What have you in your mind to do with me
That you might break this clot that blood flows free.

    Sarah- Perhaps a little to much death metal
To make you paint language so vividly.
But there’s many things I might be thinking.
I see music and film as avenues,
But I’d rather sneak up upon your mood
Wielding the mystic art of cook’d food.

    Alex- A home cooked meal seems above duty’s call.
Yet if this is the course you wish to take
I will make available my stomach.
Food is the best sunshine to burn the clouds.
Yet we still need some appropriate theme
To listen to whilst the vegetables steam.

    Sarah- My collection is quite amply supplied
And any choice of yours won’t be denied.

    Alex- Then let us go and abandon this place
And chase the sun across the furrowed sky
In the search of those warmer climes and seas;
While drinking grog and singing as we please.

    Sarah- See already found a better framed mind;
You were but without direction inclined.

exit Alex and Sarah

    Simon- Kali’s Records, We’ve the skulls for your ears.
Do you think we wouldn’t carry Tears for Fears?

Act 1 scene iii
Gwen’s Apartment

enter Gwen and Mika{i/}

    Mika- Can you believe that fucking pile of shit?
What hand would grab that which recently threw
Away ‘neath the guise of ill suited love
A full and constant heart that beat for him true?
It wasn’t love he would do away with,
Only me; I have no place in his myth.

    Gwen- Come now, you only saw them drive away.
Fuck ‘em both and leave the asshole behind.
I never liked you with Alex anyway,
Can’t trust fucknuts who hate my sweet punk ass.
His thought’s aren’t worth a fucking penny show
Let him die under Shiva’s fucking toe.

    Mika- I know there’s naught that I can do but whine.
I just feel I’ve wasted too much of my time
And now have nothing to show for it all
But hollowed out dreams and painful withdrawal.

    Gwen- I’m not going to fuckin’ defend Alex
Just thinking of him gives me a complex.

    Mika- I can’t believe I said we’d be friends still.
Am I that fucking stupid and alone?
I’m not, but I should fucking know better.
I want but have no reason to hate either.
Freedom does allow all but me a choice.
To have a bitter fist instead of voice!

enter Paul

    Gwen- He’s not your fucking style, and she’s no queen
Forget them, I’d know better in a dream!

    Paul- I tell you sweets, he didn’t know art from shit
That’s an auto failure by my ‘ficial writ.

    Gwen- Hey lover, how’s your fucking piece with Sean?
Has he come in to get the last coat on?

    Paul- He said sometime maybe tomorrow night.
Does he expect I paint it without light?

    Gwen- He’s good for it love, don’t worry your head,
I’m sure there’s a fucking reason for it;
Yet he’s in trouble, have no fucking doubt.
Sean’s the good fucking cellist in our band.
He’s like our fucking Dropkick bagpipes, man.
He’s wicked sweet; maybe you two should meet.
The castle is yours love, were heading out
To talk of things no man has mind to hear.
I know how we’ll get you going, honey,
Come with me, Mika, we’re spending money.

exit Gwen and Mika


Act 1 scene iv
Kali’s Records

enter Gwen

    Gwen- Hey Sean, when’s Paul get to finish you up?
You’d better come by tomorrow to sup.

    Sean- I’m sorry Gwen, and earnestly is meant.
So hard I tried, yet stuck on yonder side
Where my cello’s getting tuned fucking neat
And without it, his painting’s incomplete.

    Gwen- That’s a fine excuse that I guess I’ll buy.
Yet you better make it up and come dine
For Paul is fucking eager to finish
And his chair is waiting on your presence.
I would love to see that fucking piece done
He won’t show it ‘til paint ‘gainst brush has won.

    Sean- Sorry, I can’t eat with you tomorrow
The work will not be done for several days.
But I promise you the day I get her back
We’ll not let dear Paul’s fucking mood stay black.

    Gwen- I’m not too worried about dear old Paul
You should see how accurate his schedule.
I’ve a friend though whose mood is down the pipe;
Racked to hell by this guy I never liked.
And then it turns this fucking prick asshole
Wets his willy just after letting go.
It’s one thing to not like some stupid bloke
But I’d rather the proof be never shone.
And she, of course, has shared her mind with me
So here I am harassing you for free.

    Sean- Maybe you should take your hot punk ass home
And turn this sour mood into a song.
If she can so your mind to quickly rot
You’ll have more fuel then you would need to write;
And should emotion slack, just ring her up
So strong the angst of recent broken heart.
Now let my ass get back to fucking work
Talking to you is no company perk.

    Gwen- You mean you actually fucking work here?
Thinks I’ve only seen you browse and leer.

    Sean- Leering is in the job description, dear.
But I’m serious, churn out some fancy words,
My cello so loves duet-ing your voice.
She’s going to be a blast when she comes home;
To feel her vibrate and to hear her moan...
Still that depends on what you put out there,
It’s hard to dance when the rhythm’s unclear.
So, has your friend ever come to our show?
Is she a face I’d recognize and know?

    Gwen- Not yet, but I keep trying to draw her in,
I think her fucking ex stopped her from comin’.

    Sean- Simon says Past Due wants us back again
We should set the date, it’ll get us going.
We could run painting, dinner and practice
All at once and put an end to the fuss.

    Gwen- That’s not a bad fucking idea dear Sean.
Set it and give the band and me a call.
You’d better follow up soon as she’s done;
I’ll start writing that song and we’ll have fun.

    Sean- That has the sound of a good fucking plan,
Now go before the coming of the man!

    Gwen- He is not so heavy handed as that.
Dinner, don’t forget, or I’ll find a bat.

exit Gwen

    Sean- Kali’s Records, we’ve the skulls for your ears.
Hey...sure I’ll swing by and we’ll have some beers.


Act 1 scene v Ground Zero

enter Mika and Paul{/i]

    Mika- Shit, Paul, can you do a favour for me
There’s someone working I wish not to see.

    Paul- Tis a sure thing Mika, I understand
And “neath these circumstances comprehend.
Take your books and grab the seats you’re wanting
Whilst I deal with yonder troubling maiden.
I think she knows me not well enough to link
Me with you who’s battleship she did sink.

aside

    Sarah- Hey sir what can I get for you today,
Our special is a Hazelnut Latte.

    Paul- Two coffees, one for here, one large to go,
And would you me the bathroom key bestow?

    Sarah- Sure thing, here you are, it’s just to the right;
There, below that hideous yellow light.

aside

    Paul- Here you go Mika, be back in a flash,
And worry not for that incompetent lass
Think she’ll be busy for a chunk of time,
Try not to be too sour, oh bitter lime.

    Mika- Get thee to the fucking bathroom wise ass
Before I make thy fucking head fly past.

exit Paul

Why does Sarah have to be working now,
Not the usual shift she’d fucking pull.
How am I supposed to study at all
When she and Alex’ll loom over my mind.
Can always trust the least desired of ends
To be as some beast breed to the purpose,
So producing by direct lineage
Her new children, Heavy Thought and Sad Rage.

enter Paul

    Paul- Are you staying to attempt your studies
Or will you leave, thus avoiding Sarah,
Finding your way instead among the wild dogs
The dancing pixies and the fallen logs.

    Mika- My day is screwed whether I stay or go;
Seeing Sarah at all halts any other thoughts.
I’ll have more fun smoldering with fiery hate
And plotting revenges I’ll never take.
Still I’m glad we cross’d paths in the lot;
Well you served in seeing my coffee bought.

    Paul- I do what I can to ease unbidden pain;
Please do nothing to make my efforts vain.

    Mika- I will still try to get some homework done,
But planning her demise is tempting fun.

    Paul- Don’t have too much fucking fun for trouble
Too often comes from baiting the Devil.
I’ve no doubt you’ll do as well as your aims,
Don’t want to hear of you bewailing dames.

exit Paul

aside

    Sarah- So that gentleman is going away
And I need not worry of intruding
Into some romantic type engagement.
I’d consult with she’s who’s aided me most,
For I know how good the advice she’d give
As I flesh out my newly ‘leased feelings.
But now you seem much and well distracted
As though confusion overruns your thoughts.
Have I done right or ill by you Mika
When I so quickly snatched up what had run.
Yet didn’t he watch my eyes over yours?
If you were ‘stead a Maiden of the Rhine
Who would disappear once secrets were known.
But the secret’s not yours which he did find,
‘Stead learned his love resided not in you.
What strength to honestly reduce the state
From the flower fields of lovers to friends.
So must I address the bounds of knowledge
And learn, if possible, to reach beyond,
That love might blossom in richer ideals;
Somehow my sun must pierce his cloudy grey.
Hullo Mika, How are you this fine day?

    Mika- Tis certain I’ve been better, Sarah dear.
You have taken up the late shift, I fear.

    Sarah- Today only old friend, need I cover,
But my shift is now over so I come...
Well, truth be told I hoped you could aid me
To find the heading for a calmer sea.

    Mika- If I’m correctly hearing your device,
Of Alex you are seeking my advice.

    Sarah- I look for what knowledge you might lend
As he seems unsure of the wilderness.
I would bring light to what’s so darkly clothed,
Yet worry over things I’ve no control.
I’m not sure the road my feet would travel
And fear this thin strand will soon unravel.

    Mika- If you are not sure of which way to go
There is little I would recommend you.
I cannot tell you which road does beckon
For I hear not the whispers that do speak.
Please give to me a destination clear
And I’ll offer my words unto your ear.

    Sarah- It’s hard to see the future through the clouds
Or perhaps I fear to peek through the shrouds.

    Mika- We can never know for certain what holds
The future behind her thickly laced veil
We must step instead with full faith and hope
Lest we never take any steps at all.
So ask again, what says to you your heart
Or forfeit this lesson and me depart.

    Sarah- It seems to me great issues are afloat.
I would have all thinks work out right for us
But it’s hard at times to pick up the load
With no signs showing an end to the road.

    Mika- It was once said we all carry baggage;
That we look in others to match our set;
Pay the rent for he’s matching yours too.
Now you must decide if his bag’s you’ll hold
As he decides whether he carry’s thine.
If he should set yours down to carry his,
The journey you both would take is over.
I’ve known you long, Sarah, but not as a fool.
The road runs straight through our destination
And where that is changes with every step.
Any signs that show an end to the street
Say he isn’t the man you’re meant to meet.
Be there, hope and work for it if you want,
It will not come true if you do nothing.
He’s a good man you’d better take care of.
I hope for you the best in finding your way
And to Alex I do my respects pay.

exit Mika

    Sarah- Her silence speaks with a soothsayers voice,
And I can do shit but live with my choice.

exit Sarah


Act 1 scene vi
a street

enter Mika{/i]

    Mika- What am I to do with raging hatred
When the icy chill of sorrow does freeze
Those fires leaving behind cold depression?
I want so hard to hate them both for it,
Yet cannot, for once severed, must let go.
Whether their rendezvous was planned or not
I was cut off, and to accept that shit
Means no real sorrow for she who would mourn.
One cannot undo the inevitable.
Tis not even as though I could not grasp
The gravity given a longer time,
But that I must adapt to this so soon
Stretches even the thickest of hearts thin.
It’s one fucking thing for me to move along
But another to have such shit thrown back
And slap me full across my fucking face.
If I could take the blame ‘pon my shoulders
So having at least one true seed for grief,
But even that has been taken from me.
I cannot take nor place the blame at all
For I know the truth behind each villain.
Alex is really a good fucking man
And can’t hate his saving me greater pain.
I want to hate Sarah for her selfishness,
Yet know she doesn’t know that she is a bitch
Who never learned of true civility.
So instead I wallow in a confused state
Because I know enough to defend their ways:
But I cannot stop my own heart from feeling.
More mad I can’t grant myself amnesty
And have it all be done with completely.
Somewhere lingers in my mind a full list,
She contains all actions and thoughts ever done
And as the days whittle by I check her.
I examine every facet to find
Though wrong, was also right, just not enough;
And in the end I find I wasted time.
The relations done but still I check it all
To find that fatal flaw I know’s not there.
I cannot dream, cannot sleep anymore.
Even as I know how strong I deceive;
I still hope Alex might walk through that door.
I look to the West watching for the white sheets
Of the ship that would bear my love to me.
Hope is the mother of disappointment,
So like the long dead Greek, King Aegeus
So filled with hope that mischance brought doom.
I wish some true happiness I could find
Much like the simple love of days far gone
That spurred on reckless hearts from parent’s homes.
If only that tenuous thread were real
Would feel true heat and not cold’s icy bum.
But who lives in dreams and memories is lost
In a thick fog of disbelief and hope;
I cannot go back and won’t go forward
When my strongest emotion’s left unheard

exit Mika