Been adding to "Seeds" although not as often as I like or should. Progress is dependent upon sudden brain storms or those rare but very welcome "eureka!" moments that give clarification to the story line.
Somehow, and after reading over what currently exists, there seems to be - at least in my mind - that the direction the play is taking, is too predictable bordering on blech. The subject, an accidental meeting of two people in a park, one of whom seems to have what could be classified an unusual gravitation to pigeons, is interesting. However - as mentioned numerous times in this blog, it's always the 'howevers' in life that get you - it's too ordinary and needed a shake-up. So...
A new character has been added. Elwood P. Dowd had his rabbit, Harvey, and now Sylvia Perkins has joined his league with her friend of a feather, Mr. Bird, a pigeon.
Following yet another run in with Hal, a park supervisor, who wants to maintain cleanliness and limit the appearance of pigeon poo in his territory, Julie feels a moral responsibility to help Sylvia. The two return to Julie's apartment and at the mention of the word "bath" and a failed attempt to remove Sylvia's weather-worn rain coat, Mr. Bird suddenly puts in an appearance, in a manner of speaking. Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't - hav'ta see where this will take me, if anywhere.
Yet another snippet of dialogue from "Seeds." Julie attempts to convince Sylvia to stay for supper and warm up
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By: scriberess,
on 12/14/2016
Blog: A. PLAYWRIGHT'S RAMBLINGS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: play, a. playwright's ramblings, playwriting, park, pigeons, play progress update, "Seeds" - the play, Mr. Bird, humor, Add a tag
You are such a joker, Mr. Bird!’ Mr. Bird wants to know what you think of his joke. It’s one of his best
By: scriberess,
on 10/22/2016
Blog: A. PLAYWRIGHT'S RAMBLINGS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: playwriting, pigeons, pretzels, Playwriting progress, pigeons in parks, "Seeds" - the play, a playwright's ramblings, snippet of "Seeds", Add a tag
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By: scriberess,
on 12/14/2016
Blog: A. PLAYWRIGHT'S RAMBLINGS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: play, a. playwright's ramblings, playwriting, park, pigeons, play progress update, "Seeds" - the play, Mr. Bird, humor, Add a tag
JULIE
How about a plain, old American cheese sandwich and a coffee? You can’t refuse that. Indulge me as your new friend. Look – it’s snowing out. Wait until morning. This couch opens up into a bed
SYLVIA
You’re very kind but I can’t possibly stay. It’s getting late and my friends will be wondering where I am
(Turns her head to the side) ‘I know, Mr. Bird. I’m trying to explain our necessity to leave…’
JULIE
Really, Mr. Bird, one night in a warm bed won’t make a difference in the scheme of things. Wouldn’t that be better than hanging out in a park or building heating ducts? This is getting more weird by the minute… I’m definitely losing it. Correct me if I’m wrong here, Sylvia, but there’s only two people in this room, you and me, right?
SYLVIA Recoils in horror and backs away
SYLVIA
How could you be so cruel? You’re just like all the other humans. No feelings whatsoever for those less-fortunate who have to survive living on the generosity of others and on the cusp of society. You have hurt Mr. Bird’s feelings for the last time. We are leaving (turns her head to the side) ‘I’m ready to leave if you are, Mr. B’
JULIE
Please – wait. Perhaps I’ve acted too hastily. After all, we’re still at the getting to know you, stage, and I don’t want to threaten our budding friendship with misunderstandings. How about this: you and – um – Mr. Bird stay for supper and I’ll give you a bag of peanuts to take back. Don’t believe I’m actually making a deal that involves a…
SYLVIA
(turning her head to the side)
‘What do you think? I mean, she is trying…then there is a bag of peanuts at the end… You’re in agreement, then?’ We have accepted your apology
SYLVIA starts laughing
‘That is like…so funny. Where do you pick up those funnies?
JULIE
Am I missing something?
SYLVIA
(continuing to laugh hysterically)
It’s Mr. Bird – he has such a weird sense of humor. He’s especially adroit telling jokes. He wants me to pass along his joke: you can never lose a homing pigeon. If he doesn’t come back what you’ve lost is a pigeon.
(SYLVIA laughs uproariously)
0 Comments on A change of direction for "Seeds" - Mr. Bird fades in as of 12/14/2016 1:03:00 PM
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By: scriberess,
on 10/22/2016
Blog: A. PLAYWRIGHT'S RAMBLINGS (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: playwriting, pigeons, pretzels, Playwriting progress, pigeons in parks, "Seeds" - the play, a playwright's ramblings, snippet of "Seeds", Add a tag
My muse paid me a visit this week and it's about time, too. It's been somewhat of a dry spell pursuing the continuing story of Julie, the park jogger, and her chance meeting with Sylvia, the ultimate pigeon lover. The story is slowly developing in an on-again, off-again fashion.
Yet another snippet:
An encounter with Hal the park supervisor, warns Sylvia that more significant steps will be taken if she refuses to cease and desist the feeding of her feathered friends.
JULIE
Sorry I took so long but my boss called. Hadda explain why I wasn’t back. Course I lied but it was for a good cause. A friend of yours, Sylvia? Introduce us.
SYLVIA is silent
I’ll go out on a limb here and guess that judging by your uniform, you work for the parks department
HAL is silent
Nice park you have here. I take a short jog through here on my lunch hour. Met up with Sylvia not two hours ago but it’s like we’ve known each other forever. Maybe we were friends in a past life or something. Course not everyone believes in that stuff but I think there’s something to it. Am I missing something? You can cut the silence between you two with a knife
HAL
I was just warning Sylvia that she has to stop feeding the pigeons. It’s not like I haven’t told her a thousand times before but I’m getting heat from the director to take more action, the kind she won’t like
SYLVIA
I’ve tried to explain the situation to my friends but they don’t listen for whatever reason. Pigeons can be very stubborn when they sense a threat. Don’t think they like you, Hal
JULIE
Oh I think Hal here is merely doing his job, right Hal? Are you on duty here five days a week? I would have remembered seeing you for sure
SYLVIA
He’s a threat to pigeons. How come you don’t pick on other birds or squirrels?
HAL
They don’t leave blobs of white everywhere like your friends do
SYLVIA
How do you know they don’t? You’re not here on guard twenty-four-hours a day. It’s a personal thing with you, isn’t it? Admit it! You hate them!
JULIE
Now Sylvia, I’m sure Hal here is just doing his job. Never met a pigeon lover like Sylvia. Here every day to feed them. Why I don’t know…that is to say, a person has to take a rest now and then to take care of themselves. I was just telling her she’s not dressed for this weather and needs to wear warmer clothes. We were just sharing a hot pretzel and coffee…here’s your pretzel, Sylvia. Probably cold by now but the coffee is still warm
SYLVIA breaks the pretzel into small pieces
HAL
Don’t even think about feeding that to the pigeons
JULIE
Of course she’s not. She’s a law-abiding citizen, aren’t you friend? We were about to head for my apartment. Right Sylvia? I need some decorating advice and it seems she has a flair for design.
SYLVIA
But..
JULIE
She’s such an avant-garde trendsetter. Very much in demand and I’m fortunate enough to have met up with her in this very park. Fate I guess
SYLVIA
I can’t…
JULIE
…fit me in your schedule? I’m in no rush. Meanwhile you can offer me advice on wall colors and maybe a few decorating tips. Getting colder by the minute. Better head home. Nice meeting you, Hal. You wouldn’t happen to have a card with your contact number, would you? Never know when I might need help being that I’m a jogger. I could trip and need some assistance, being that I run through here from noon to
JULIE attempts to usher SYLVIA away but SYLVIA
resists
(Cont’d. JULIE) Silly me. You want to say goodbye to your feathered friends. Then we really have to leave
HAL
Better leave now with your human friend, Sylvia
JULIE
JULIE drags SYLVIA away as she looks back at the
pigeons, her arm extended towards them
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