A Dark Man In a Woman's Dream

I directed this scene on two company members in the Summer of 2023, which was then presented at a little showcase at the end of a workshop. I made my actors read the script from one long taped-together handwritten piece of paper.

I found heavy inspiration from “Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype” book by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. This book has a great essence in my life.

Fourough has returned to the Rainbow, it’s finally time to decide who will rise to leadership.

Fourough

(frantically) Wake up! Help! Flee! Kill!

Kingston

(just awoken from sleeping) When did you come back to the rainbow?

Fourough

Pay attention! Something has gone radically amiss in the other world!

Kingston

(Ignoring what she has to say) I didn’t think you would ever come back.

Fourough

My spirit never left. It called and told me to return.

Kingston

(territorial) The rainbow has been mine since you left.

Fourough

I am home now, and I have never stopped moving. 

(Kingston feels threatened and begins to move like Fourough, constant and never ending, his movement resembles that of an orangutan).

Kingston

How could you possibly be fit to lead? Every woman I have ever met has a secret belief that she is just on the edge of madness, that there is some deep, crazy part within her, that she must be on guard constantly against 'losing control' - of her temper, of her appetite, of her sexuality, of her feelings, of her ambition, of her secret fantasies, of her mind.

Fourough

(attempting to convince herself) But I will not lose control.

Kingston

(taunting) You are dangerous.

Fourough

I will not lose control.

Kingston

You are losing control.

Fourough

(matter of factly) I have been in control my whole life.

Kingston

How could you possibly lead when you cannot control yourself?

Fourough

(finally acknowledging Kingston) New beginnings are sorely needed.

Kingston

(taunting) Where is your knowledge?

Fourough

I do not claim to know how it all works.

Kingston

Will it ever be found?

Fourough

It was never lost.

Kingston

You are spinning out of control. You feel detached from reality, you're hearing things that other people don't. You worry all the time even when you don't need to, you feel depressed even when things seem to be going well.

Fourough

I do?

Kingston

You will lead everyone astray! You cannot lead, YOU are a mad woman!

Fourough

Every woman I have ever met has stood on the line of madness; I am not alone.

Kingston

(growing tired) That’s very dangerous.

(cruely mocking) You are only a dreamer.

Fourough

(hears the dreamers) You hear the cries and moans of fear from the dreamers too?

Kingston

(screaming) 

My god you’re mad!

Fourough

(matter of factly) I am mad! But not fatigued.

Kingston

I am very fatigued.

Fourough

To stop now is certain death.

Kingston

But i’m bleeding.

Fourough

Seeing the truth can cause us to bleed.

Kingston

I must scrub this blood off of me.

Fourough

When a woman discovers she has been prey she must kill the predator.

Kingston

(surrenders and stops movement) Please allow me to prepare for my death.