Politics

(ERIC is moving very slowly toward a bowl of blue paint.)

JASON
Eric. Eric! What are you doing?

ERIC
I am going to put my hands into this paint.

JASON
That paint? That blue paint?

ERIC
Yes. I am going to put my hands into this bowl of blue paint and then smear it on my face.

JASON
You mustn't, Eric. Stop, now!

ERIC
I won't.

JASON
Maygann, come quickly!

(MAYGANN enters.)

MAYGANN
What is it, Jason?

JASON
See for yourself!

MAYGANN
It cannot be so!

JASON
And yet it is. Eric is going to put his hands into that bowl of paint and then is going to smear it on his face.

MAYGANN
That bowl that is full of blue paint?

JASON
The same!

MAYGANN
No! Eric, think of how the paint on your face will change the appearance and meaning of the rest of the plays performed!*

JASON
Laura! Come quickly!

ERIC
Don't try to stop me, Jason. I will not be persuaded!

JASON
Laura! Where are you?

(LAURA enters.)

LAURA
I'm here, Jason.

JASON
Maygann and I have both tried to make Eric stop, but he'll do no such thing!

LAURA
If Eric places his hands into that paint, the results will be disasterous!

MAYGANN
Stop! Eric!

ERIC
I won't stop!

(MARK enters.)

MARK
Perhaps I can help. Eric!

ERIC
Stop talking to me!

MARK
Eric, if you stop, I'll give you this.

(All, including ERIC, look to see what MARK has.)

ERIC
What is it?

MARK
It's a cookie.

ERIC
I'll stop for nothing!

JASON
Eric, you don't know what you're doing.

(LINDSAY enters.)

LINDSAY
Do you need my help as well?

LAURA
Not now, Lindsay! We're trying as hard as we can to stop Eric.

LINDSAY
I think I can help to stop him!

MARK
Lindsay! If even a cookie is no use, what help will you be?

LINDSAY
Eric!

JASON
LINDSAY!!! Speech is obviously useless!

(AMY enters. Her face is covered in blue paint.)

AMY
Eric!

(Collective gasp from all.)

AMY
Observe the horror of what you will become if you continue in your present actions!

ERIC
Nevertheless! It must be done!

(ERIC finally reaches the paint and smears it on his face.)

ERIC
Ahhhhh!

(All scream.)

LAURA
The horror!!

MARK
O, spiteful day!

JASON
Let it be not so!

LINDSAY
IT IS MADNESS AND I MUST JOIN!!!

(LINDSAY also smears paint on her face. In an act of sheer hopelessness, all smear paint on their own faces. A Boschian scene ensues with gugrling, screaming, gnashing, writhing, and contorted limbs and faces. After a few moments, the insanity slowly dies down. Each person quiets until there is silence.)

JASON
Well.

ERIC
I did it.

LAURA
You put your hands in the paint.

MARK
Not only does Eric have paint on his face, but so do we all.

LINDSAY
Yes.

AMY
Our efforts were in vain.

ALL
Hm.

 

*Originally, "Politics" was staged as a part of a show consisting of thirty-five very short plays. After "Politics" ended, the blue paint remained on the faces of the actors throughout the rest of of the plays. Thus, Maygann's line.