You were right to think me dead.
In “Call Me When You Wake Up” Melody crashes the structured lifestyle of Jason and Kendall in order to resolve all of their personal issues.
JASON: I don’t hate you, Melody.
MELODY: Of course you do. You can’t even look me straight in the eye. (she laughs) (to Kendall) Look at him. It pains him to look at me! (she laughs) That sh’t is crazy. (to Jason) Like a light beam from the sun got caught in your eye. Ha, ha, ha. That’s great.
KENDALL: Melody, maybe we should –
MELODY: It’s good to talk about these things out in the open. Maybe then our species can make progress. I’m not saying Jason is ever going to be in love with me or I with him, but at least we can agree on the truth.
JASON: Really?
KENDALL: Melody –
MELODY (to Kendall): Why did you marry this f’cking guy?
KENDALL: Melody! What is wrong with you?
MELODY: …I’m sorry…I’m…I’m not well. Jason, I’m sorry. If you both want me to leave, I’ll leave. I know I’m not wanted.
Pause.
KENDALL: Melody, we want you to stay, right Jason?
JASON: Melody, you are welcome to stay here.
KENDALL: Please feel welcome. (She looks at Jason.)
JASON: Yeah, you — feel welcome to stay here…
KENDALL: It’s been so long.
JASON: Years.
KENDALL: Years.
MELODY: Thought I was dead?
KENDALL: No.
Jason frowns.
MELODY: You were right to think me dead. Life was beaten out of me. Lonely nights, tied up in the field with only the sound of my heartbeat lighting up the night sky. Being eaten alive, piece by piece. And then the hottest day of the year arrived. One of those days when you feel the sun beneath your eyes, blinding you with sweat and fog… there was nothing left for me to give on that day. I washed up along the side of a house where all its ghosts lived. That’s where I lit the whole damn thing on fire; watched each one take their turn running across the blazing fields, turning into clouds of smoke. I was free. (beat) I took the train to get to the nearest bus…from there to here. Surprise. I’m here. I know I’m not the same as when… same as how I was, when we all… became acquainted. I can try to be something else; I think I have enough left in me to be something else.
Melody goes into the refrigerator. She takes out a cake.
Melody places the cake on the kitchen island. She takes off the lid and pulls a piece of cake out with her hands.
She tastes the cake.
Was it somebody’s birthday recently?
JASON: Was, it was my birthday yesterday.
MELODY: Happy Birthday, Jason! Doesn’t anybody else want some?
KENDALL: NO, no..no, thanks.
Jason takes off his sweater and tries to remain calm.
MELODY: What crashed?
KENDALL/JASON: HUH?!
MELODY: That crashing sound from before?
KENDALL: Oh, I accidentally dropped a glass.
MELODY: Did you?!
KENDALL: Yeah, we cleaned it up.
MELODY: I’m sorry.
KENDALL: Don’t be –
MELODY: Are there others?
KENDALL: Uh –
MELODY: Other glasses?
JASON: Would you like a drink, Melody?
MELODY: Of course I would.
Jason pours Melody a large glass of wine.
JASON: It’s all yours.
Kendall gives Jason a dirty look.
MELODY: Well, I won’t drink this whole glass myself, but…(Melody takes a sip) …I’ll definitely put a dent in it. (she laughs)
JASON: Still got it, eh?
MELODY: I could drink anyone under the table. Haven’t lost a battle yet. I was born with this mind.
JASON: I believe you.
MELODY: You better believe me.
JASON: I do, I do.
MELODY: What else?
JASON: What else, what?
MELODY: What else can you do?
KENDALL: What do you mean, Melody?
MELODY: I need sleep but don’t feel like sleeping. It’s weird ’cause I’m way past wanting to go to sleep, and now I have all this energy. It’s as if I went to bed for a week and just woke up!
Melody drinks.
You still listening to that sleepy jazz, Jason? Ha, ha, ha. You know that calming jazz that makes you feel everything’s alright?
JASON: I still listen to jazz music –
Melody spins in circles with her arms out.
MELODY: What about something LOUD?! Do we have anything LOUD to play in this LARGE loft?!
Jason looks at Kendall.
KENDALL: Mel—Melody. Melody!
Melody stops spinning.
MELODY: What… my love?
KENDALL: Maybe we should all get to bed. It’s late. Jason and I both have work early tomorrow morning. I have a presentation to give, and Jason has to be in court.
MELODY: Goodness…court. Lawyer stuff?
JASON: Yes.
MELODY: Agency stuff for you, Kendall?
KENDALL: Yes. Big client pitch tomorrow, so.
MELODY: So, I’ll have this phenomenal place all to myself tomorrow then?
KEDALL: You will, but..but, if you..never mind, yes. It’s best you make yourself adjusted. Sleep in. Feel good.
MELODY: (She stares lovingly at Kendall.) still beautiful, as you’ve always been.
JASON: I’m going to bed. Goodnight.
Jason walks out.
KENDALL: Melody?
MELODY: Yes, Kendall.
KENDALL: I’ll join you on a drink…
Kendall pours herself a glass of wine.
You know I love you, right?
MELODY: And I love you.
KENDALL: Mel…I’m here for you…Jason, he’s here for you, too. We want to help you, you understand? You’re here, and we wish to help you. Will you let us?
MELODY: You’re silly. Even now, when you get serious, you get those big eyes popping out of your head like when we were kids. You haven’t changed one bit.
KENDALL: Melody.
MELODY: I’m exhausted. I need sleep. Think it finally hit me like a tidal wave. How life can be so… so exhausting… (She begins to cry.)
KENDALL: Melody?
MELODY: What?!
Kendall cries.
Melody walks over to her.
MELODY: I know…I know. Life is f’cked up, kid. We try and we try and we try and we try… and yet there’s always something else to… where has all the hope gone? That’s all I’ve been ever chasing…my whole life. Isn’t that funny? I think it’s time hope finds me. Yeah? Hope can chase me a bit, for once…wouldn’t that be nice? (beat) What is broken is broken; what can’t be fixed can’t be fixed… I’m going to bed. Goodnight. (Melody kisses Kendall tenderly on her lips.)
Kendall returns the kiss.
- To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay, “Call Me When You Wake Up” Melody shows up stoned and unexpectedly at Kendall and Jason’s loft apartment in New York City. Drama.
