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The Flowered Telephones Characters: Settings: A "flowery wood" conveyed by Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two. A window with a reading chair; its sill holds a "flower pot" "growing" The She Flowered Telephone. Time: The Frosts were married in 1895. (Stage left, THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST walks in a flowery wood conveyed by the presence of WILD FLOWER ONE and WILD FLOWER TWO.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST (Rubs his nose with his right index finger and rumples his hair with one hand.) I don’t believe I have ever traversed such a distance from Elinor since we were married. Somewhat tired, I think I’ll sit, though I am really anxious to get home. (The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost sits down between the seated Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST What a pleasant place this flowery wood is! (Pats Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two.) That wonderful seventeenth-century poet Robert Herrick doubtless visited many such places to fill his flower poems. Still, truth to say, I would prefer companionship. Elinor’s. Even so, alone here as I am, I wish the flowers could talk ... (Looks questioningly at Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two, then shakes his head.) I wonder if Elinor is thinking of me. And if she is thinking of me, what is she thinking? (THE BEE buzzes in, makes Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two stand, buzzes them, buzzes more loudly toward The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost, and then gets out of sight behind Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two. The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost is oblivious except for the noise of The Bee.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST (Standing.) Bees, at least, if not flowers (Pats Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two.), talk, after their fashion. (Rubs his nose with his right index finger and rumples his hair.) Now where is that bee? (The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost jumps up and looks about for The Bee, who buzzes and leads him a brief but merry chase about the stage with the help of Wild Flower One and Wild Flower Two. Attention shifts, via spotlight, to stage-right and THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MRS. ROBERT FROST. She sits by a window reading a book whose cover reveals the name Twilight large enough for the audience to read. On the sill, a "flower pot" "grows" THE SHE FLOWERED TELEPHONE.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MRS. ROBERT FROST All those vows of eternal closeness, vows antedating the formal marriage, and now this loving couple is apart. Where has he wandered, this star-struck, flower-fascinated swain of mine? Yet I would not appear over-anxious, break from the persona I have created. Thus do we trap ourselves in webs of our own conceiving. (Pausing to think.) Or would Rob say deceiving? (The She Flowered Telephone removes herself from the sill and stands before The Recently-Married Mrs. Robert Frost, who "picks up" the "receiver" of The She Flowered Telephone.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MRS. ROBERT FROST My heart calls, "Come! Return!" No! My mind cautions my tongue to hold. (Replaces the "receiver" of The She Flowered Telephone.) No, I must not. I would not, by the slightest action, yield to the urge to turn pursuer, eschew the role of the pursued. About my household tasks, then, as if indifferent. Thus will he find me when he, at length, home returns. (The lights go down on The Recently-Married Mrs. Robert Frost and come up on The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost. The buzzing resumes but is now that of THE HE FLOWERED TELEPHONE.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST (Rubs his nose with his right index finger and rumples his hair.) No bee that is, but sympathy total ’twixt Nature and this poor errant husband. And yet, I know the fool others would say I am, dared I admit to think the very flowers played at telephone to link two lovers. Still, if some lover such as I were at-watch, hidden here, he would see, I swear—and not only see but hear—this or-else fancied connection between two souls. (The buzz of The He Flowered Telephone again sounds.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST (Rubs his nose with his right index finger and rumples his hair.) To pretend this sound not real is Love—and Nature—to disdain. Then I the fool will play, will cease with denial coy and respond! (The buzz of The He Flowered Telephone again sounds. The He Flowered Telephone "unfolds" and rises to stand before The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost, who "picks up" the "receiver" of The He Flowered Telephone .) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST (He puts the receiver between his head and his shoulder so that he can listen to "Elinor" on the telephone while he rubs his nose with his right index finger and rumples his hair.) Oh, yes, I hear. She says, "Come! Return!" And home I speed, though fearing—knowing—once there, were I to ask Sweet Elinor— (Lights down. When they come up again, momentarily, The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost and The Recently-Married Mrs. Robert Frost are embracing center-stage. The Recently-Married Mr. Robert Frost turns to the audience and shoots his famous crowd-pleasing twinkle from his bright-blue eyes, then turns back to The Recently-Married Mrs. Robert Frost.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST (Rubs his nose with his right index finger and rumples his hair.) I thought I heard you call to me through a telephone of flowers. THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MRS. ROBERT FROST Now, Rob, the idea I like. Use it in a poem. Did I speak, on this flowered telephone, poetically? THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MR. ROBERT FROST You said, "Come! Return!" And so I did. Thence here I am. (Rubs his nose with his right index finger and rumples his hair.) THE RECENTLY-MARRIED MRS. ROBERT FROST Again I say, use my unsaid words, Sweet Rob, in a poem. Audiences are most forgiving. |
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