PLAY #

AN EMPTY HEART
Written by
Joseph Frost

Draft
8/26/17

written as part of the 2017 31 Plays in 31 Days challenge

FrostJosephD@gmail.com
Member, Dramatists Guild of America
 An old man sits at a medieval-looking rough wooden
table, which is covered in thick old books. He flips pages
in one then turns to another to read and flip.

ARTHUR
(to someone off stage)
Books! I need more books! Caroline!

A young woman enters, carrying several large leather-

bound volumes.

CAROLINE
Here you are, Father.

ARTHUR
Caroline. Bring me more...
(notices the books)
Ah! There they are.

CAROLINE
You were looking for the volumes on Hera, werent you?

ARTHUR
I was, indeed. I am grateful to you.
(beat)
If ever there was a father better served by his daughter, then the world could cease to turn.

CAROLINE
Father, you know you have to look in the right place if youre going to find what youre
looking for.

ARTHUR
Of course, my dear.

Arthur reads and flips for a moment.

CAROLINE
What exactly are you looking for this time?

ARTHUR
Hm.

CAROLINE
I could be of more service to you if perhaps I understood your search.
 2.

He closes the book quickly, and stares her down.

ARTHUR
(lying)
Simple curiosity. Nothing more.

He waits for her to leave.

She doesnt.

CAROLINE
Youre not.

ARTHUR
Not what.

CAROLINE
Youre doing it again.

ARTHUR
Caroline...

CAROLINE
I wont let you do this again.

ARTHUR
Please...

CAROLINE
You promised me, Father.

ARTHUR
I did. I did promise. And I did give up.
(beat)
This has nothing to do with that.

CAROLINE
Nothing.

ARTHUR
Nothing whatever.

CAROLINE
Its a book about Hera.
 3.

ARTHUR
(under his breath)
But not the right one...

CAROLINE
Im not bringing that book to you. You know that.

ARTHUR
I need that book.

Caroline crosses away.

CAROLINE
Absolutely not.

ARTHUR
Youve hidden it.

CAROLINE
Of course I did.

ARTHUR
Bring it here this instant.

CAROLINE
I wont.

ARTHUR
Caroline.

CAROLINE
I cant.

ARTHUR
And why.

CAROLINE
Ive put away. Far away.

ARTHUR
Then tell me where you put it.
 4.

CAROLINE
I will not.
(beat)
It almost drove you to your grave, Father.

ARTHUR
And what would that have mattered? Hm? And old man, dies. That is the story of nature,
my dear, that is the story of every life. It ends in death.

CAROLINE
But it does not have to end yet.

ARTHUR
Give me that book.

CAROLINE
If I do, you will go back on your word.

ARTHUR
Yes! Of course I will. I need that book, Caroline. Give it to me.

CAROLINE
I will not allow it.

ARTHUR
Not allow it? You are not my keeper.

CAROLINE
Someone must be. You take no care for yourself.
(beat)
Ive done what I have done.

A moment.

ARTHUR
What have you done.

CAROLINE
I... I destroyed it.

ARTHUR
Destroyed...
 5.

CAROLINE
I tore it to pieces.
(beat)
And I burned them.

ARTHUR
You burned it.

CAROLINE
It is on the wind.

Arthur rises, furious.

ARTHUR
You have no idea what you have done.

CAROLINE
I know exactly what I have done.

ARTHUR
I was ready.

CAROLINE
You werent.

ARTHUR
It was the final piece to the puzzle. Hera herself must hear our plight. This was the way,
Caroline. This was the way!

CAROLINE
Father.
(beat)
You must let her go.

Arthur steps back, stabbed by these words.

ARTHUR
I wouldnt let her go for the wide world.

CAROLINE
She is gone.

ARTHUR
No.
 6.

CAROLINE
She is. She is gone.
(beat)
You yourself just said that this is the story of nature. That we must accept it.

Arthur sweeps books from the table.

ARTHUR
No! I do not accept. I do not!

He has spent his energy, and collapses in grief.

Caroline goes to him.

CAROLINE
Father. We have each other.

ARTHUR
I want her with us.

CAROLINE
As do I. But we are still here.

ARTHUR
I grieve, my dear. An empty heart beats echoes across time. To go on, is folly.

CAROLINE
I have lost her as well, Father. My heart has emptied too. Do not empty it again.

ARTHUR
I am lost.

She cradles him for a moment.

She rises, and helps him up.

CAROLINE
Come.

ARTHUR
What are you doing.

CAROLINE
Stand here.

She places him by the table.

 7.

ARTHUR
Caroline, what is happening.

She retrieves some candles. She places them on the table

and lights them.

CAROLINE
There is one hope.

ARTHUR
What?

CAROLINE
Before I tore the book, before I burned it.
(beat)
I read it.

ARTHUR
You did?

CAROLINE
And I though I did not want it, the words have burned themselves into my mind. I havent
forgotten them. I might never.

ARTHUR
Are you saying...

CAROLINE
Yes.
(beat)
I can help you.
(beat)
I will help you.

ARTHUR
Oh, my dear.

CAROLINE
Reach forward, as if you were grabbing her hands. Holding them, tenderly.

He does so.

ARTHUR
Its as if I can feel her, already.
 8.

CAROLINE
Lean your head back.
(he does)
Let your mind go. I know you can picture her face.

ARTHUR
I can never forget.

CAROLINE
Just keep picturing her. On the day you most loved her.

ARTHUR
My darling.

Caroline stands behind Arthur.

CAROLINE
Breathe in the air of that day.

He inhales sharply.

His eyes open, pained.

Arthur falls.

Caroline stands where she was.

She holds a knife.

She places the knife on the table.

She blows out the candles.

Lights out.

The end.