11 Aug 2015

PROMPT:  Incorporate one full minute of wordless action onstage.

Megan Monaghan Rivas, dramaturg/educator

Tracy, 61, stands at his desk.  He has a fancy desk that allows him to work standing up.  Back problems.
Tracy sighs.  Tracy shifts back and forth on his feet.  He looks at his computer screen, rests his hands beside the keyboard, wiggles the mouse around.  Tracy scratches, picks his nose, rests his hands on his hips, stares at the white screen.
Tracy sighs, steps back, tries to touch his toes a few times.  He steps back up to the desk, shuffles around.
Tracy steps back, lies on the floor, does a dozen sit ups, flips over and does five push ups.  He lies flat on the floor and folds his arms under his head.  He crosses his legs.  He sighs.
Tracy stands and steps up to his desk.  He looks at the white screen and sighs.  He randomly mashes the keys on the keyboard, then looks at the screen examining the random letters that appeared.  He shakes his head and hits the backspace button until the screen is clear again.
Tracy shakes and bangs the mouse.  He sighs.  He steps back from the desk, turns around and does five lunges with each leg.  He turns back to the desk and steps up.  He shakes his head and sighs.
Tracy takes a book off his desk and thumbs through it.  After a moment, he slams the book down on the desk.
Tracy shakes the mouse and bangs it down on the mouse pad.
BRENDA
(off stage)
How’s it going, sweetie?
Tracy rolls his eyes and sighs.
TRACY
(sounding positive)
It’s going great!  Gettin’ a lot of work done!
BRENDA
(off stage)
Good!
TRACY
(muttering to himself)
I love bein’ a fuckin’ writer.
End of play.