What’s so wrong with the outside world?
Drama scene taken from play, “The Man in Dark Glasses”, Illy questions her awkward customer and doesn’t get the warmest response.
ILLY: Have you worked it out yet?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: …Sorry?
ILLY: The problem, the equation…
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: Oh. Yes. I guess it’s been solved.
ILLY: …Why do you still seem so anxious?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: Well…(Beat.) Once a problem is fixed, another is more likely to arise soon after.
Waitress sets liquor on table before The Man in Dark Glasses.
ILLY: I’m always available, for you.
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: I know. Thank you.
ILLY: You should stay one night.
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: I can’t.
ILLY: Having trouble down there?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: I simply can’t.
ILLY: Why bother coming here?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: It’s quiet. Dim. All the characteristics of being untroubled by the outside world.
ILLY: What’s so wrong with the outside world?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: Everything.
ILLY: Give me one.
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: It’s math. We..are all math. Probability. Analysis. It is all formularized if you look close enough.
ILLY: How so?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: The same elements that justify computation are also the same elements that justify the cause of the problem.
ILLY: I don’t follow you.
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: Ah, well..it..it doesn’t matter.
He drinks.
ILLY: What matters to you?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: I think I’d like to be alone.
ILLY: Just talking, friendly conversation is all.
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: I don’t mean to be curt, but this here is the only place I like to be, other than when I’m working, and I don’t wish for it to be taken away from me.
ILLY: Oh. You’re accusing me of…? I’m interrupting you, am I?
THE MAN IN DARK GLASSES: You are, I’m afraid.
Illy rises from her chair.
ILLY: I am the owner of this establishment. I can toss you out of here in the blink of an eye, Mister. So don’t start getting catty ’round here. It won’t do you any good. I don’t bother you much, ’cause you seem strange…and I can’t see myself bothering anyone who wears dark glasses in dark places, so consider yourself lucky that you’ve been left alone. (Beat.) There is something I have noticed about you, a softness, from your demeanor, subdued. (Beat.) Whatever it is that’s paining you, it’s bigger than you…but, I’ll leave you to it.
The Man In Dark Glasses finishes his drink.
I must be off Illy. It was good to see you.
To read the full one-act ePlay, find purchase link below:
In the one-act eplay, “The Man in Dark Glasses”, a regular customer of a bar questions life by way of equations and pays compliment to the owner Illy for being genuine. 2 Women, 1 Man. Drama/Sci-Fi.
Monologues from Plays
