For this one: You must figure out your body's transformation before seeking your loved one.
WORDLESS MONOLOGUE III (any gender, mid teens through late life)
[Starting position:
Knees "glued" together.
Feet "glued" together at the heel but toes out, ballet style.
Elbows "glued" to rib cage.
Wrists limp and fingers "glued" together.
Lips closed and pursed, fish-style.
Eyes tight shut.]
[Hold two seconds]
[no voice, and keep eyes closed but open mouth wide and gasp in air.
Exhale. Your mouth is now a human mouth.
Big inhale with mouth, wide.
Exhale and eyes open.]
[Keep the rest of your body frozen but move your eyes.
Look left-- shocked, nervous.
Look right-- shocked, a little excited.
Start to smile.]
[Look at your right arm.
Take a breath as you release it from your ribs]
Look at your right hand.
Unglue the thumb.
Unglue the index finger, the others, one at a time.
Wiggle the fingers. Big breath and smile.
Unglue your left arm and wiggle the fingers.
In triumph clasp your hands together.]
[Unclasp your hands and look down at your knees.
Bend your knees to separate them.
No voice, but exhale in delight.]
[Look up and find a focal point, this is where your beloved lives, off in the distance]
[No sound out of your mouth, but when you take your first step, squeeze your eyes closed and open your mouth in agony.]
[Open your eyes and look down. Look at one foot and then the other. They hurt. Why?]
[Look at your beloved's home in the distance.]
[Look at your feet again.]
[Look at your beloved's home and take a breath of determination.]
[No voice. But move forward, setting the other foot down.]
[Agony again.]
[Look down at your feet.]
[No voice, no sound, but "scream" the word NO!]
[Look up, as if in a mirror. Confused.]
[No voice, no sound, but "say" the word NO again.]
[Nothing. Look down a bit as if looking at your mouth.
Gently put your palm against your throat.
No voice, no sound. Say NO again.
Nothing.]
[shake your head and mouth the word "no" several times.]
[Gently put your palm to your mouth. Nothing is coming out of there. Ever.]
[Keep your palm to your mouth and turn your head to your beloved's home in the distance.]
[Close your eyes in terror and despair.]
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes. If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"