#8: SHE SAILED AND SMILED

Written by
Joseph Frost
Draft
8/8/16
written for the 2016 31 Plays in 31 Days project

Joseph Frost, 2016

4550 Normandy Dr
Jackson, MS 39206
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
* member, Dramatists Guild of America

The sound of flowing water.

Lights up.
JILL stands in the center of a bedroom, she wears a
flowing light nightgown.
Projected onto the room is flowing water - it appears to be
running down the walls and filling the room.
FEMALE VOICE
And as it sunk
and as it sunk
under the waves and rain
the ship
the ship
she was relieved
relieved of the struggle
relieved of the storm and stress
relieved to finally succumb
And as it sunk
and as it sunk
under waves and rain
she
smiled
The projection reaches the level of seeming to drown Jill.
The projection disappears. The sounds instantly stops.
Lights shift.
It is nighttime. Cricket sounds.
Jill crosses the floor and climbs into bed.
JILL
Im going to bed now.
A male voice comes from a cellphone on speaker.

2.
MALE VOICE
Still early yet.
JILL
Time zone.
MALE VOICE
Right. Ill be up for a while.
JILL
Well Im exhausted.
MALE VOICE
I know. Im sorry.
JILL
Long day. I miss you.
MALE VOICE
I miss you too.
A silence.
MALE VOICE (CONTD)
Well, goodnight.
JILL
Wait.
MALE VOICE
Whats that?
JILL
I said wait.
MALE VOICE
Ok.
JILL
I want to say something.
MALE VOICE
What is it? Are you all right?
JILL
Yeah. Yes. Im fine. I just wanted to...

3.
MALE VOICE
What is it, Jill?
JILL
Something happened today and I want to tell you what it is.
MALE VOICE
I thought you told me everything, already.
JILL
No, I did. This is just... something else.
MALE VOICE
Um, ok. I dont know what that means.
(a long moment)
Jill?
Lights shift.
A projection and sound of strong winds.
FEMALE VOICE
She rocked back and forth
She rocked to and fro
blown by winds
slapped by icy waves
each strike a bruise
each whip a groan
She rocked back and forth
She rocked to and fro
blown by winds
slapped by icy waves
each snapping fuse
each cracking moan
The projection gets stronger.
Actual wind blows onstage, Jills hair is tossed and other
objects react.
The projection and actual SFX cease.

4.
Lights shift back to night.
MALE VOICE
Jill?
JILL
I... heard something.
MALE VOICE
You heard something.
JILL
Yes.
MALE VOICE
Right now?
JILL
Earlier. Today. This afternoon.
MALE VOICE
Heard. What?
JILL
Its silly.
MALE VOICE
What is it?
JILL
I heard... the voice of God.
(beat)
I know, its silly.
MALE VOICE
I didnt say that.
JILL
But it is.
MALE VOICE
What... what did... the voice say?
JILL
Well, this is even sillier.

5.
MALE VOICE
What is.
JILL
He told me... he told me not to tell you.
(beat)
See?
MALE VOICE
Youre telling me that God spoke to you today...
JILL
Yes.
MALE VOICE
But he told you not to tell me about it.
JILL
He told me not to tell you what he said.
MALE VOICE
But he said you could tell me that it happened.
JILL
You know I dont know, I didnt ask. But I feel like hed have said something if-MALE VOICE
Jill.
JILL
What?
MALE VOICE
Are you ok?
JILL
I... I dont know.
MALE VOICE
Did he tell you something bad was going to happen to me or something?
(beat)
Jill?
JILL
No.

6.
MALE VOICE
But he said not to tell me.
JILL
Yes. For sure.
MALE VOICE
Was it even about me?
JILL
No. Not really. No.
MALE VOICE
Then why cant you tell me.
JILL
I dont know. He just said.
MALE VOICE
So why tell me this?
JILL
Because... I wanted... I wanted you to know.
A pause.
MALE VOICE
Ok.
JILL
Are you upset?
MALE VOICE
I dont know what I am, Jill.
JILL
This is weird, I know.
MALE VOICE
I dont really know what it is. Im a little worried that you... that youre not ok.
JILL
Im fine, I promise.
MALE VOICE
Really.

7.
JILL
Yes.
A moment.
MALE VOICE
Ill be home tomorrow, Jill. Can you hang in there until I get in tomorrow afternoon?
JILL
Im fine. I promise.
MALE VOICE
Ok. You sure.
JILL
Definitely.
MALE VOICE
Ok. Well, get some sleep. Its late.
JILL
Yeah. It is.
MALE VOICE
Ill see you tomorrow.
A moment.
JILL
Tomorrow.
(beat)
I love you.
MALE VOICE
I love you too. Good night.
JILL
Good night.
The sound of the phone being hung up - Jill does not hang
up, we hear the sound.
A moment.
The sound of calm waters. And light winds.

8.
Projections - trickling water. Light winds.
FEMALE VOICE
And as she sailed
and as she sailed
light winds
lapping waves
she sailed
she sailed
she sailed across
across the depth of the lake
held aloft by water
propelled by wind
and as she sailed
and as she sailed
farther and father
from home and shelter
she sailed
she sailed
she sailed
and
smiled
Jill lays down.
Projections - winds and water get stronger. Sounds
accompany.
All builds to a peak.
Blackout - silence.
End.