Love in Mind
© 2003 by Edward J. Thomas, all rights reserved
CHARACTERS
GREG - a young man
MARIA - a young woman
EGO - The embodiment of Greg's conscious thoughts
SYNOPSIS
Comedy
2 men, 1 woman
Love hurts when you have to keep it to yourself.
MARIA
It’s more than I can do. I’d love to be able to draw like that.
GREG
I’m sure you could, if you put your mind to it.
EGO
(Looking longingly at MARIA)
If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish just about anything…
MARIA
Well, I’ve tried. My mind was focused, and I drew like crap.
(She laughs slightly and gives him a friendly pat on the hand)
EGO
She touched my hand! Oh God, she’s got such a soft touch…
GREG
(Just a bit flustered)
Well, I… I’m sure you’ll get better.
MARIA
I think I’ll stick to dancing to keep my creative juices flowing.
GREG
Now, see, that’s something I could never do.
MARIA
Everybody can dance.
GREG
Not me. I’ve got no rhythm. No style.
EGO
No idea what the hell I’m doing on a dance floor.
GREG
And no idea what the hell I’m doing out there.
MARIA
I’ve offered to teach you.
EGO
You? Yeah, right. The moment I got close to you in that kind of setting, I’d collapse.
(He starts to walk away from the other two. GREG is dazed)
EGO (Cont’d)
Sitting together and talking is one thing. We’ve done that a hundred times. But actually holding you in my arms and keeping myself in check is another thing altogether. I’m pretty sure every vital organ in my body would explode simultaneously in the struggle. I mean, yeah, I’d love to learn to dance, and I’d love for people to see us dancing together. But as I danced with you, feeling your touch and your movements next to me, I’d have to keep reminding myself that nothing was going to come of it, that it was strictly platonic. That if I gave in to the urge to kiss you, our friendship would be irrevocably ruined. Still, maybe you’d be so impressed with my progress that you’d lean in and kiss me… and that kiss would be filled with such love and such passion that not only would you finally know the truth of how I felt for you, but you would be compelled to admit that you’ve felt the same way all along. Then we could begin a relationship that would go beyond what either of us ever thought would actually be possible to achieve…
(He is now in a completely different part of the stage)
MARIA
(Getting GREG’s attention)
Greg? Greg? Are you still here?
(GREG snaps out of it and EGO rushes back over to them)
GREG
Sorry. My mind was wandering. What was it you said?
MARIA
(With a smile)
I said that I’ve offered to teach you how to dance.
GREG
That’s okay. I’d probably just step all over your feet.
MARIA
I’ll wear hard shoes.
(She laughs)
GREG
(Smiles)
I’ll think about it.
EGO
Probably way too much.
