|
WRITTEN: 2006.
SUMMARY: A young woman asks a hypothetical question of her boyfriend: "If you could live forever,
would you?" Except, it's not actually hypothetical. Hannah has been 23 since the year 1954.
Her boyfriend, Ryan, 25, finds this pretty hard to believe at first, but love leads him not only
to believe her, but accept her offer to make him immortal like her. Bargaining is a
thousand-year drama of love and loss, that uses the supernatural element
of immortality to explore the universally human themes of devotion and forgiveness.
CAST: 1 Man, 1 Woman.
LENGTH: Full-Length.
PAGES: 53.
PRODUCTION HISTORY:
WHRW Radio Theatre, May 2008.
These Aren't My Shoes Productions, May 2007.
Illinois State University Free Stage Festival, November 2007.
PERFORMANCE FEES:
The fee to produce Bargaining is $35 for each performance. To submit your request,
producers and directors may contact Kellie Powell.
PURCHASE:
Electronic copies of Bargaining can be purchased for $5, using PayPal. When your payment has
been received, a PDF version of the play will be sent to the e-mail address associated with your account.
|
HANNAH
Being immortal... is a very solitary existence. You spend all this time... keeping this huge secret,
being different, lying to everyone... you can feel so isolated... One of the hardest things is, you
can never have children. It's hard to accept, but it makes sense. So that's one human experience I
can never have. It's a hard trade. But, it was worth it to me. I guess what I need to know is... is
it worth it to you?
RYAN
Me?
HANNAH
Ryan. I had a husband before, and he died. And it was horrible. He didn't know about me, and he didn't
have a choice. I don't want to go through that again. I don't want to fall in love again for twenty
years. Twenty years is... gone in the blink of an eye. I'm looking for someone to love forever. Most
people, when they say forever, they mean... well, they don't really mean forever. But I do.
RYAN
(Stunned.) Well.
HANNAH
Please don't think that I don't know what I'm asking. I know. And please don't think I'm expecting
you to answer me right now. I mean, you probably still think I'm insane.
RYAN
Not really. I mean. I know it sounds crazy. But... I think I believe you. I've always thought there
was room in reality for more than people are ready to acknowledge. I didn't think, you know, vampires
and the Sandman and... but, it's like... sometimes you see something, out of the corner of your eye.
And people say it's just... your eyes playing tricks on you. There's nothing there. But... you saw it,
and you know... it was real... so, I don't think you're crazy. |
