SCENE TWO. Anti-Thesis
NEVER MIND
EXT / DAY
A city block. Close on blurred-out orange. Focus. A milk crate. Pan up. See dress shoes. See a person standing on the crate, reading from a laptop to nobody. Wide angle. People lined around the block waiting for a turn to speak on the crate. Wider. A milk crate on every other corner, each with lines.
BYSTANDER
I met Blackbear in some of Mountain’s woods. Chased her out of Moonshine. She motioned for her cub to keep running. Wheeled around and started talking. But all I could hear was “giggle giggle wiggle. giggle wiggle giggle.” I think Blackbear is weird.
The bystander steps down and walks into a nearby office building.
ANOTHER BYSTANDER
(Stands on crate.)
It seems the American Dream is to get enough money to feel happy and know it. Happiness, being relief from the dread of having too little money. That can’t be right. Must be looking at it the wrong way.
The bystander steps down and walks into a coffee shop. Goes back to work behind the counter.
BYSTANDER
(Stands on crate. Holds up photo.)
This is me with my son. We’re blowing up balloons with helium. He was six and I was twenty-eight.
See all the people waiting, looking at whatever it is they brought and practicing their lines. Only the person on deck looks at the photo or listens. Anxious for a turn.
The bystander steps down and climbs on top of a nearby public trash can, resuming the role of Frozen Silver Glitter Painted Robot Street Performer.
ANOTHER BYSTANDER
(Stands on crate.)
I am Hamlet. Paralyzed. I need to know this character before I make it. I need to know it’s right. Before I act.
The bystander steps down and walks back into the bank. Sits at the president’s desk.
BYSTANDER
(Stands on crate. A child in adult garb.)
I made this card for my stepmom. It says, “We are family. Family is great.”
The people in line applaud. Then look back at their hands.
The bystander goes and sits by some stuff on the ground near the street performer’s trash can. The Frozen Silver Glitter Painted Robot Street Performer winks at the child. The child smiles and holds up the card.
ANOTHER BYSTANDER
(Stands on the crate. Exclaims excitedly.)
Why do we do this everyday? We stand on these crates and do our monologues, but everybody can see us. I don’t want anyone to see or hear me! There’s got to be a better way. I’ll be at Crate #7 tomorrow at noon, if any of you want to respond to my question. But don’t respond until I get there, if you do.
The bystander steps down and resumes unloading milk crates from the oversized delivery truck in front of the bank.
BYSTANDER
(Stands on crate. Reads from page.)
I don’t know why we do this either. I just heard someone at Crate #62 saying the same thing. That’s why this is my last monologue for a while. I need some time to think about monologues on crates.
The bystander steps down and also resumes unloading milk crates.
ANOTHER BYSTANDER
(Stands on crate. Drinks from flask. Looks at all the people in line. Turns and addresses them directly, loudly.)
I have no mind sincerity. No mind of honor. No mind of fairness and no mind of greed. No mind of law. And no mind of killing none. No mind for prison. Or of heaven. No mind for pain and no to beauty. No mind of ethics. No mind intention or virtued longings. No mind responsibility. No condemninglinesmind. No mind for knowing or not what we do. No mind of who’s right. No thought-full mind. No mind to wrong. No mind religion and no piety. No mind for raising kids. And no mind of picking them. No mind of selling moneyed ambition. No mind of books or poems to hold. No mind to poets. No mind for schools or reselling creeds. Yes none of doing anything. No mind for being. Nor for undoing. No mind on seasons. No mind to ration. No thought-out choices. No destiny meaning mind. No mind of freedom. No mind for bars. No mind to lock away and keep. No thinking in mind and none to breed. I have no mind of passion. No mind to reason. No mind for hate. No mind that long. No mind of what will be. And not before. I have no mind of leaving. And no mind on coming back. And yet without mind. No mind for person or of difference. No mind for science. No mind of light. No. No. No. Got no mind. Naw. Naw. Naw. Ain’t got none. No mind to make it anything for you. No mind to make it at all. No mind of chance or tryin to begin. No mind to quit. I’ve no mind to stop. No mind to end. And nothing to die. No mind swings away. Of techniques, I’ve no mind even better. And no mind for when or what to say. No mind to go. No mind of where time is when it’s done. No mind for some last moment. No saving mind. And no losing. No mind for letting anything.
The bystander steps down and sits right in front of the crate. Looks up and waits for the next person to begin. Drinks from the flask.
BYSTANDER
(Stands on crate.)
News Flash! If your image is so secret and your words so monumental. If privacy is your aim, then why do you stand on these crates all day? Do you think they’re placed every morning and removed every night by fairies? The crates are put here so you will stand on them, proud, and disclose who you are and what you want. So we can record the information and tailor more goods for you. We put the crates here! Haven’t you ever seen the trucks? Can’t you see the cameras?
The bystander steps down and walks to the biggest news van, front and center to all the rest. Gets in. See the bystander through the windshield with a microphone in hand.
BYSTANDER (CONT’D)
Resume action.
ManuFactured Artists 