Gray Matter
By Josh WeckesserThe opening of the play. Thomas opens the play reading from a dictionary, and quoting his high school English teacher, Mr. McConnal.
THOMAS:
(Reading from dictionary.) "Love. noun. A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preeminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness. Whatever you do in your life, do it with love."
(Speaking to audience.) My English teacher told me that on the last day of my senior year in high school. He always was a bit melodramatic. He believed that all of his students would change the world one-day. He believed that everything they did was on a grand epic scale. He gave us Dum-Dums on that last day too saying, "Ignorance is enjoyable for a while, then you just end up with a wet stick." (Shrugs.) I really don't know what that means. Mr. McConnal, what a man. When he closed that dictionary, like this one here, on that last day of class I realized high school was over. There is something about the closing of a book that is final, the story ends. (Closes book.) Bam! For good or bad, right or wrong.
The closing of the one-act version of the play. Four years of high school, and four years of being witness to the cruelty of love and Fate, have left Thomas bitter and disillusioned.
THOMAS:
(Speaking to audience, holding a dictionary.) It was then I couldn't help but remember that line in Aladdin. Jafar says it at the end. "It's all unraveling fast now, boy." And that's exactly how I felt. Not just that everything had unraveled but also that I was living in some melodramatic cartoon. That I'd go to sleep and wake up freshman year. (Beat.) Freshman year, I remember how I felt then. I felt the youthful enthusiasm that life would begin at any moment and when it did I would rule the world. (Pause.) Why? Because it would be poetic and just. And Mr. McConnal said so. That man was a prophet. (Softly.) A goddamned prophet. He was always right. Except once... And that was his gem.
"Love. Noun. A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preeminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness. Whatever you do in your life, do it with love."
After everything that happened, I'm not sure that was such good advice. (Closes dictionary, walks off-stage.)
These monologues are from Gray Matter by Josh Weckesser. If you would like to read the entire play, you can order an electronic copy of the script for $5.
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