January 11 Play: MEDIUM AND THE MESSAGE

#11: MEDIUM AND THE MESSAGE - by Ed Valentine
© January 11, 2010 * ed@edvalentine.com

LOW LIGHTS UP: A séance room. A table with a candle and a tambourine. A Ouija board. A MEDIUM sits with her female CLIENT. Dress of the 1860’s.

MEDIUM: I tell you truth: he gone far to other side, yes? That place hard to reach. Understand?

CLIENT: Yes.

MEDIUM: I do not think you understand. Will take all my powers to reach him. Very tiring, verrrry tiring. You understand?

CLIENT: Oh.
(Takes out her purse. Gives coins.)
Here’s a little extra for you, then.

MEDIUM: I thank you, that help a great deal. And now we begin, yes?

(MEDIUM goes into trance. Chants, hums.)

CLIENT: May I ask –

MEDIUM: DO NOT BREAK TRANCE! Mmmmm.
From darkest night to day,
from across the river, far away,
appear on distant shore.
Let her see you once more, once more.
Let her see you once more.
Let her see you!
Let her see you!
Let her see you!

(HER EYES FLY OPEN.)

CLIENT: Is he –

MEDIUM: He is here.

CLIENT: He is?

MEDIUM: Right around us.

CLIENT: He is?

MEDIUM: Give sign.

CLIENT: Where is he?

MEDIUM: Give sign!
(The tambourine rises from the table. Begins to shake. Then, in the darkness upstage, four other tambourines rise and shake. Suddenly they stop.)
You see?

CLIENT: But where is my husband?

MEDIUM: Patience, patience… he will… APPEAR!

(A whispering sound everywhere. The candle blows out.)

CLIENT: Henry!
(In the darkness, a GHOST appears in spectral light.)
That isn’t Henry.

GHOST: No. But I know Henry.

CLIENT: Why didn’t he come?

GHOST: He’s not speaking to you.

CLIENT: But –

GHOST: He says ‘You know why.’ Do you know why?

CLIENT: -

GHOST: Exactly.

MEDIUM: After all these years…
(The GHOST starts to disappear.)
Tell him – tell him I ask for his forgiveness!

GHOST: He won’t give it. I have to go now.

CLIENT: No, wait –

GHOST: I have to go.

(Disappears. The candle flickers back on as at the beginning. The CLIENT and the MEDIUM sit for a moment.)

MEDIUM: Well. Are you… satisfied?

CLIENT: No. Not at all. No.

(With one last look back at where the ghost appeared, she exits, shaking her head.)

MEDIUM: They never are.
(Picks up tambourine. Gives it a little shake.)
Next!

END OF PLAY.