Goddess! We seek creative harmony in your sweet, tragic paradox. Our city has fallen into blindness. Raise your mask and sweep from beneath us the demons of our frivolity!
INT. GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT ON DUFFERIN - NIGHT
The apartment is messy and two or three bugs dart from beneath the sofa. STARLA BONTECOU and THE GENTLEMAN sit on the sofa smoking a bong.
THE GENTLEMAN
I don't ever talk about tragedy.
STARLA BONTECOU
Why?
THE GENTLEMAN
I don't know. I prefer not to.
STARLA BONTECOU
Pain and tragedy breed truth.
THE GENTLEMAN
Pain and tragedy breed pain and tragedy.
STARLA BONTECOU
Pain tells me who I am.
THE GENTLEMAN
Pain tells me who I'm not.
THE GENTLEMAN exits to the kitchen as MELPOMENE appears to a flourish of horns, unmasked.
MELPOMENE
The Gods smile upon you.
As she drops the bong:
STARLA BONTECOU
I am cursed.
EXT. KEW BEACH - NIGHT
MELPOMENE wades in the water, singing. STARLA BONTECOU sits in the sand.
MELPOMENE
(Singing)
Hear me, O Death, whose empire unconfin'd,
Extends to mortal tribes of ev'ry kind.
On thee, the portion of our time depends,
Whose absence lengthens life, whose presence ends.
Thy sleep perpetual bursts the vivid folds,
By which the soul, attracting body holds:
Common to all of ev'ry sex and age,
For nought escapes thy all-destructive rage;
Not youth itself thy clemency can gain,
Vig'rous and strong, by thee untimely slain.
In thee, the end of nature's works is known,
In thee, all judgment is absolv'd alone:
No suppliant arts thy dreadful rage control,
No vows revoke the purpose of thy soul;
O blessed pow'r regard my ardent pray'r,
And human life to age abundant spare.
STARLA BONTECOU
As part of the totality of Alterity, is it death or life that determines the context of moral judgment? If the singular cosmic act of death absolves all wrongdoing indefinitely, wouldn't it be life that determines the merit of the spirit?
MELPOMENE
The cosmic tension of life and death is indifferent to spiritual merit defined by humans. Ultimately the Gods decide who has best maintained the balance of creation.
STARLA BONTECOU
Even if that means that some people must be horrifyingly evil to balance out the generosity of common humanity?
MELPOMENE
Of course. Tension must be maintained. Life and inter-subjective relation are in a constant state of war.
STARLA BONTECOU
I don't want to spend my life warring...
MELPOMENE
I shall utter to whom it is lawful, but let the doors be closed, nevertheless, against all the profane. But do thou hear, Oh Musæus, for I will declare what is true: Sad Starla, you already have. You have tragedy in your flesh. You know nothing else. Your eyes are already those of an old woman. You have seen too much sadness and no longer remember how to wash yourself clean. Bear your burden with humility.
STARLA BONTECOU
What burden?
MELPOMENE
You must live as a maker of tragedies.
STARLA BONTECOU
No, I can't.
MELPOMENE
Oh! But hear your voice, sad Starla. How many tears has that voice carried? You must spread your tragedies in love. Sing sweet misery and let its wings open eyelids.
STARLA BONTECOU
I hate to hurt people I love.
MELPOMENE
Oh, but aren't those the sweetest of sadnesses?
INT. GROUND FLOOR APARTMENT ON DUFFERIN - NIGHT
THE GENTLEMAN stands with a stool raised in one hand, and a leather whip in the other. STARLA BONTECOU kneels naked, wearing a collar and leash.
THE GENTLEMAN
Do I really have to stay this way all of the time?
STARLA BONTECOU
It's the only way.
THE GENTLEMAN
I can teach you how to be innocent again.
STARLA BONTECOU
I will eat you the second you love me enough to put down the stool.
THE GENTLEMAN lowers the stool and drops the whip.
THE GENTLEMAN
I don't believe in Muses.
Within seconds, STARLA BONTECOU knocks THE GENTLEMAN to the ground and bites off his left ear. With bloody lips as she chews:
STARLA BONTECOU
(Crying)
I love you! I love you!
0 Comments
Be the first to post a comment.