Isn’t it past your bedtime?
In drama scene from eplay, “Brush of Wind” Mullen strolls into Lucretia’s garden to flirt, tease, and try to get her to love him.
Lucretia reads her book.
Mullen strolls along and turns away from Lucretia. He takes out his flask and drinks.
LUCRETIA (without looking away from her book): You don’t have to hide it.
MULLEN: (slightly turning) I don’t wish to be rude.
LUCRETIA: You’re always rude. Why stop now?
MULLEN: I’m trying to turn over a new leaf.
LUCRETIA: Oh. Are you?
MULLEN: Sure.
LUCRETIA (sarcastic): How fascinating.
Mullen faces Lucretia and downs what’s left inside the flask.
MULLEN: Ah! Sunny day. Cool day with a brush of wind every now and again. Lovely, absolutely…
Mullen does a handstand and topples over.
Oh! (exaggerating pain)
Lucretia ignores him.
Mullen sees he isn’t receiving attention from Lucretia and instantly drops the act.
Mullen rises back up to his feet and prances around.
LUCRETIA: Isn’t it past your bedtime?
MULLEN: It’s a glorious, sun-filled day.
LUCRETIA: Aren’t you in bed by midday?
MULLEN: Not today.
LUCRETIA: Hmm.
MULLEN: I’m restless is all.
LUCRETIA: And I’m trying to read.
MULLEN: What are you reading?
LUCRETIA: Tolstoy.
MULLEN: Oh. Right. I’m more of a Dostoevsky.
LUCRETIA: Hmm.
MULLEN: When was… when was the last time you’ve made love?
LUCRETIA: Pardon?
MULLEN: Love. When was the last time you had some?
LUCRETIA: What – what business is that of yours?
MULLEN: I’m just curious. You’re an incredibly vibrant woman.
LUCRETIA: Spare me my own description.
MULLEN: You shouldn’t go to waste.
LUCRETIA: Is that how you view me?
MULLEN: I see you as someone going to waste, indeed.
Lucretia rises from her chair.
LUCRETIA: Have you no manners whatsoever?
MULLEN: Why is honesty condemned as lack of manners?
LUCRETIA: You don’t know me very well, Mullen.
MULLEN: I am taken by you, a woman as bright and angelic as you…spending all her years out in the garden. What about wine and pleasure? Travel and romance? Do those things not appeal to you?
LUCRETIA: Those things might appeal to me…at my own discretion.
MULLEN: Right.
LUCRETIA: I wouldn’t be caught drinking wine with the likes of you anywhere.
MULLEN: Why?
LUCRETIA: (Abruptly) You’re too…kiddish.
MULLEN: Who are you to have such opinions of me?
LUCRETIA: My opinions of you are based on how you tend to conduct yourself.
MULLEN: I might be young, but I am experienced. I have lived.
LUCRETIA: Mmm.
MULLEN: What are your real thoughts?
LUCRETIA: My real thoughts?
MULLEN: When it comes to me…what are your thoughts?
LUCRETIA: I have no such thoughts about you…ever.
MULLEN: Surely you do.
LUCRETIA: I might have been curious at one point. We can be honest. But now I’ve none. No thoughts about you whatsoever.
MULLEN: Impossible.
LUCRETIA: Are you going? Don’t you have somewhere to be?
MULLEN: No.
Lucretia sits back down.
LUCRETIA: Well, why don’t you walk off from wherever you originated?
MULLEN: Eventually, I will, but you know what will happen? (beat) You will think about me. You will try to read your Tolstoy, but all the while you will try to not think about me.
LUCRETIA: You drunken fool.
MULLEN: There it is! An opinion…what else?
LUCRETIA: I — please go! You’ve annoyed me enough for one day.
MULLEN: As in, come back tomorrow?
LUCRETIA: As in, come back never!
- To read the full one-act play, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay, “Brush of Wind” Mullen shows up in Lucretia’s garden to see if she would like to join him for a swim in the ocean. 1 Woman, 1 Man. Serio-Comedy/Romance.
