I Wish You Well

Two Scene Play by James C

Scene 1

Circa 2011. A vintage car lies off the side of  a road surrounded on both sides by the forest.. The trunk is ajar, and there are open suitcases with clothes spilling out of them. One brother, RICK, sits in the front of the car with the door open, facing the audience. His brother, JORDAN, leans against a tree, smoking a cigarette. There’s also a telescope standing a couple feet from JORDAN. They seem to be aimless wanderers…

JORDAN

Jordan notices the telescope standing alone, and with a face of disgust, at Rick.

Ahh, shit! Why’d you bring out the telescope, Rick? 

Rick looks at Jordan. 

RICK

(hint of defensiveness)

You know it’s a hobby, has been for years.

JORDAN

(sarcastically)

Yeah, I think I’d know my brother’s hobbies after a decade of wandering the earth with him.  

RICK

Emphasis on ‘are’.

Are you upset or something?

JORDAN

Voice dripping with venom.

No no no! Not upset! But you didn’t answer my question.

RICK

Emphasis on ‘Does’.

Anyway, does it matter?

JORDAN

Raising his voice. You know what, Rick? I’ve realized that whenever you do something, the ‘why’ always matters. So please, indulge me.

RICK

Isn’t it obvious why I got the telescope out? 

JORDAN

Not to me it isn’t!

RICK

Because it’s almost- Wait. 

Beat. 

What’s gotten into you? You know I don’t like confrontations. 

JORDAN

I think I’ve had an epiphany.

RICK

Sarcastically. 

An epiphany. About the telescope?

Beat. Jordan’s eyes bore into him. Shifting uneasily-

Look, is there something wrong with me stargazing? I mean, you don’t seem in a very talkative mood! At least, not the kind of talkative that I want to talk to.

JORDAN

Hell, Rick! We've talked about everything anyone could talk about in 10 years! 

Rick doesn’t respond. Beat.

Just tell me why you needed to take out the telescope, and try to do it without the bullshit reason about it being my fault!

RICK

I guess a secondary reason could be... that I brought it out ‘cause there's  lots of stars to see tonight. 

Beat.

 Happy?

JORDAN

Still wrong. So why don’t we try it one more time, shall we?

RICK

Meekly.

Why is it wrong?

JORDAN

Jesus! 

Beat, exasperated sigh.

I’ll spell it out for you then. So you said a reason could be that you wanted to see the stars? 

RICK

Uh-huh.

JORDAN

Well where are we, again? That’s right, folks! The prime spot to stargaze; a forest! 

Spreads out his arms, addressing the woods. Then silence. 

So tell me now, and don’t lie again. Why. Did. You. Get. The. Telescope. out? 

RICK

Fine! You win, I don't know. I just did it!

JORDAN

 Laughs. That wasn’t so hard, was it? Admitting you just took the telescope out, with no thought to the fact that I’m the one who’s inevitably gonna end up cleaning your-your mess! 

Rick looks at Jordan, shocked. Beat. 

Think next time before you cause a major inconvenience for me! God, f'in stargazing!

RICK

Stuttering weakly.

I’m-I’m sorry you’re tired of cleaning up my messes. But I can still use it, I can- I can look for stars in the gaps between the branches and leaves!

JORDAN

Sighs. Whatever. I wish you well on your quest, then.

Long beat, 10 seconds. 

JORDAN

Looks at the telescope, and then back at Rick, who still sits passively. Throws his hands up in the air. 

Well, you're going to start doing your shit? Least you could do is use it now that you got it out, even for something so stupid!

RICK

I’m waiting.

JORDAN

Waiting! Waiting, waiting, waiting! Pray, do tell why.

RICK

 For full dark, of course. 

JORDAN

Walks away from the tree. Inquisitively-

 Full dark? 

RICK

Yeah.

JORDAN

Please, explain. 

Jordan turns away, facing straight at the audience.

RICK

Rick beat, 2-3 seconds, thinking. 

Well, you know how people say that the night is darkest before the dawn? Night is also brightest right after the sun goes down, and when days goes dark, you have to be patient before you see the stars again. Every stargazer knows that!

JORDAN

Beat. Jordan blows out his cigarette. Talking to himself.

Not bad. Not bad.

Sticks it in his pocket. Walks away from the tree and looks away from his brother and out into the dark forest.

RICK

Sighs. 

What, the cigarette?

JORDAN

Absentmindedly.

Yeah.

RICK

Exasperated.

Come on, I thought you’d quit it!

JORDAN

Turns back to Rick. Says harshly-. 

What’s that supposed to mean?

RICK

Almost nervously. 

Well... you said a week ago that you’d stop!

JORDAN

Scoofs, then laughs as if it’s absurd. 

Stop what? Smoking?

RICK

Frustration building.

Yeah! I remember you saying it, clear as day. 

JORDAN

Well remind me.

RICK

Racking his brains.

Uhh… I think you were driving.

JORDAN

Muttering in annoyance.

Driving? Well we’re always doing that.

RICK

You still said it.

JORDAN

Chuckles. 

Ha! I must’ve been drinking.

RICK

Wait, what!

JORDAN

Raising his voice.

Yes, drinking! People do it!

 

RICK

I get that. Don’t agree with it, but I get it. But Jordan, you’re not trying to tell me that you were drinking while driving, right?

JORDAN

Raises his hands in the air, like he’s being arrested. 

Shoot me! Have you ever even had a drink before?

RICK

No! Against my principles, you know that!

JORDAN

Voice that falters out as he goes.

So don’t be a judge if you don’t understand! Just get off my back for once.

RICK

Sarcastically.

Sorry for just trying to help.

JORDAN

Yeah, thanks a million! 

Lights another cigarette.

Silence. 5-10 seconds.

JORDAN

Turns his back on his brother again. 

You know what, Rick? You wanted to hear my epiphany? Well here it is, and it’s not about the telescope. I’m done. I’m tired of this life.

RICK

Quickly turns to his brother, a look of shock on his face.

You’re tired of this life!

 Jordan glances around back to Jordan and nods before looking out to the audience once more.

Rick scoffs. 

We drive the country, see the sights, hop from town to town. It’s great!

JORDAN

Emphasis on ten.

That’s all good and well for a while, but it’s been ten years! 

RICK

Fine. But at least we don’t have problems, we never need to be anywhere! That’s the beauty of it; no commitments! 

JORDAN

The whole ‘no commitments’ part, that’s the problem.

RICK

How? How is that a problem?

JORDAN

 Well, ever since college, we’ve just been... drifting, aimlessly. I want to be a human, live like other humans do. I want to do work that I believe in, make a mark, be with other people…

RICK

Ok, hold it right there! Other people! 

Beat. Then, sounding almost heartbroken.

Is my friendship not enough for you?. 

JORDAN

Faces his brother. 

No, no, no… But it’s 2011, Rick. We started this ten years ago!

Beat.

 I think I just want to know other people, maybe even find a girl…

 

RICK

Raising his voice loud.

And forget about us! Our whole thing! 

Rick exits the car fully, slams door. 

Walks right towards Jordan. 

Remember our handshake? Brothers forever! 

Puts out his hand for what we can guess is a handshake.

JORDAN

Doesn’t do the handshake, pushes his hand away. Rick looks sad. 

No.

RICK

What do you mean, no? You’ve always loved it.

Beat. Waits for Jordan to respond. Rick raises voice.

Why won’t you do the f'ing handshake?

JORDAN

And… there it is, that’s why we know it’s time to stop this. Are you happy with how things are going now? We’re starting to drive each other crazy! 

Beat.

Do you like this?

RICK

Apologetically.

I’m-I’m sorry for bursting out like that. It was wrong.

JORDAN

And I’m sorry to. I shouldn’t have overreacted about that silly stuff. 

Ricks nods, accepting the apology.

RICK

Thanks. Let’s not over-dramatize this spat we’ve had. We’re just having a bad day. It happens. I get it, you were venting a bit. It’s a good way to get rid of bad thoughts, like your epiphany.

Beat.

I forgive you.

JORDAN

What? Bad thoughts?

RICK

Yeah! You were just mad!

JORDAN

No! I was saying sorry about the telescope, not my epiphany!

RICK

Epiphany?

JORDAN

I don’t know what to say, how else to! So I’ll just say it. I need a change. I just- I need to grow.

RICK

Normal voice, but clearly trying to contain his anger.

Grow. Grow beyond me! Cause that’s what’ll happen!  

Whiff of desperation in his voice. 

You gotta think, Jordan! That’s what’ll happen!

JORDAN

I’ve been thinking thoughtfully for awhile now, and after a lot of it... this could change our lives. 

RICK

Well, that’d happening for sure.

JORDAN

That’s a bad thing?

RICK

You haven’t enjoyed this? Being together? Cause that’s what it sounds like!

JORDAN

Of course I have! I would’ve left if I hadn’t. But we’re both 30 now. It’s been great, but truth be told, both of us need to move on to bigger and better things, and settle down for more than just one night at a motel, for Christ’s sake!

RICK

Shaking head.

J, the grass is always greener. Be careful of that, and think about it now, before we’ve done anything we can’t take back. 

Beat. 

Or said anything we can’t take back.

JORDAN

Fine.

 beat. 

But Rick, we don’t have to go permanently. Why don’t we just stop in a town for a while, see how we like it? 

RICK

I’m not worried that we won’t like it; we’ll get used to that life after a while. I’m just worried about this. 

Points at himself and Jordan. 

Because we will grow apart, and you know that.

JORDAN

I’m sorry, I really am. But I’ve already made up my mind. 

Beat. 

Are you ready to look at the stars?

RICK 

Looks around. Probably dark enough. 

Beat.

 If we can look through it, we’ll find the stars.

JORDAN

Looks inquisitively at his brother. What’s that mean?

RICK

You really are hopeless, aren’t you? 

Sighs. 

You see all the trees, the branches, the leaves?

JORDAN

Nodding his head.

Yeah.

RICK

They get in the way of seeing the stars. 

JORDAN

But I-I can’t live with my head in the sand, Rick.

RICK

Maybe you can’t. But we’d have been better off.

JORDAN

Another, longer beat. Rick sits in the car. Jordan takes a seat on the ground. Turns to Rick.

 I know you’re gonna come with me. 

RICK

And maybe when I leave, you won’t remember me. 

Jordan looks up. Rick turns to him, and seeing that his brother isn’t looking, disappointedly looks at the forest floor. Jordan goes over to the telescope and looks in it, 10-15 seconds. He gets up, frowning.

JORDAN

Rick?

RICK

Playing with grass in his hand. What is it?

JORDAN

I can’t see the stars.

Lies down.

RICK

Well, get back to looking for them, any way you can. Always keep trying to find the stars.

The stage darkens. End of scene 1.

Scene 2

In Jordan’s home, the kitchen. It’s breakfast. He’s dressed in a suit, sitting next to a young child, his SON, while a woman, his WIFE, prepares breakfast. We can hear the crackling of bacon on the frying pan.

JORDAN (8 years older)- detached and disconnected from the world, a workaholic.

MOTHER- A wife whose relationship with her husband is estranged.

SON- A lonely kid whose father doesn’t really know him.

MOTHER

Orange juice, boys?

JORDAN

Yes please, honey.

SON

Miming. 

Yes please, honey.

JORDAN

Woah, buster! You call mommy ‘mommy’. Only daddy can call mommy ‘honey’.

SON

 Speaking to Jordan. 

Fine, honey!

JORDAN

Laughs. 

You’re cheeky today, bud. How old are you, like 10?

SON

No, dad, I’m 7!

JORDAN

Oh. I knew that. 

MOTHER

Walks to the counter with the two glasses of orange juice. Gives one to Jordan and one to Son.

Ok. Now be quiet, silly guys, and drink your juice!

Mother smiles and walks away. Beat- Jordan and the Son sip their juice, then put it down at the exact same time.

 

 

JORDAN

That’s good stuff!

Checks his watch.

Wow! I woke up late. I gotta go in 5.

MOTHER

Walks back with a hot plate of eggs and bacon.

Well, your food is here, so if you’re late for Mrs. Riggs, then that’s your fault!

JORDAN

Waves his finger. 

Don’t you joke about that. I could get a lot of mula from those divorce proceedings, so I’m a little nervous. 

Beat. 

Thanks for the eggs.

MOTHER

I could tell you were out of sorts. Usually you don’t care to talk to your son. 

JORDAN

Mumbling. 

Don’t have time, working hard…

MOTHER

Or for your wife.

JORDAN

Cynically.

So?

Muttering.

Shit.

Normally speaking. 

Sorry, I-I mean, no, I meant, I’ll try and make some time!

Mother scoffs and goes back to finish up making her son’s breakfast. Long beat- a couple of seconds where Jordan eats.

JORDAN

Looks up, gazes at his son.

So what have you got on today.

SON

Looking down at his food.

Nothing, but school, I guess.

 

JORDAN

Wow. That’s-, nice. Uhhh… Do you have a girlfriend?

SON

Ewww! Girls have cooties, Dad!

JORDAN

Yeah, it’s probably for the best that you stick to guys. Girls will only make your life miserable, son.

SON

Can we not do this?

JORDAN

Not do what?

SON

This chat- it’s weird. I’m not used to you talking to me.

JORDAN

Well, I don’t know if you heard just then, but you’re mom, she says we have to start talking. Such a pain, but, her word is law in these here parts.

SON

Cringes.

Can we not? It’s so… awkward. So weird.

Beat. 

Do you like this?

JORDAN

Face is frozen for a second.

That’s funny… I one asked someone that exact thing.

SON

Who?

 

JORDAN

Well, my brothe-

SON

You have a brother?

Look of annoyance on Jordan’s face. Beat.

I thought you were an only child. You told me you were lonely as a kid.

JORDAN

Ummmm...

Suddenly, Jordan’s phone buzzes. 

Ahhh!

SON

From sitting quietly, he immediately jumps up. 

What’s wrong, Dad?

JORDAN

I hate these phones, with their stupid notifications. They make you jump.

Checks his phone to see what it is.

It’s the third voicemail I’ve got this morning. From the same number.

SON

What’s a voicemail?

JORDAN

It’s 2019! You don’t have a phone? 

Son shakes his head. 

SON

Shouldn’t you know this stuff? I live with you!

JORDAN

Muttering.

Well I don’t ever really know where the money that goes to your mother ends up.

SON

But you still live with me Dad!

JORDAN

Absentmindedly scrolling through phone.

That’s true, I do live with you, bud.

SON

Son rolls his eyes.

JORDAN

Grabs his plate full of food that hasn’t been touched.

Just give me a sec. I’m gonna go give this to mom.

Jordan gets of his chair at the counter and walks into the kitchen where the mom stands cooking. Son doesn’t respond. 

Here you go.

Hands plate of food to Mother.

MOTHER

Disappointedly.

Didn’t eat any of it again?

JORDAN

Absentmindedly scrolling through phone.

Uhhhh… no. 

MOTHER

Cynically.

Too busy?

JORDAN

Absentmindedly scrolling through phone.

Yeah, you could say that.

MOTHER

How was your son?

JORDAN

Still scrolling through phone, riveted on it.

Uhhh. Good. We had a good ol’ chat, father to son, uh, bonding. I feel like we’re really- bonding.

MOTHER

For about two minutes?

JORDAN

Yeah, that ballpark area. Short and sweet.

MOTHER

Oh. Nice.

Beat.

So do you know how old he is?

JORDAN

Uhhh… Yes. Yes I do.

 

MOTHER

How old?

JORDAN

Oh, I don’t know. Like 8.

MOTHER

Well, closer than 10.

JORDAN

How old is he?

MOTHER

Lurches at Jordan. 

Seven. Your son is seven.

JORDAN

Chuckling, pointing to his head

You know how it is, stuff goes in, stuff goes out!

Nervously as he sees his wife staring at him..

Can I get back, to-to...

MOTHER

Raising voice.

Put the damned phone down for a minute.

JORDAN

Ok, ok!

Turns off his phone..

Don’t raise your voice, please. I don’t like confrontation.

MOTHER

Scoffing.

Don’t like confrontation. You really have changed.

JORDAN

Confused.

Huh? What do you mean?

MOTHER

When I met you- you were so confident. People wanted to be friends with you, the young idealistic guy on the rise.

JORDAN

I can’t remember that.

MOTHER

I can. Because that was the man I fell in love with.

Beat. Looks into Jordan’s eyes as if it’s coming back to her.

But this settled life, this brainless corporate law job, it’s watered you down to someone that’s hard to love. I mean, you’re so disconnected and unengaged with everything! 

JORDAN

I’m-I’m not like that! I’m not disconnected, or whatever you said!

MOTHER 

See! You can’t even listen to me. 

Beat.

All you do now is work, but blindly, and without purpose, not daring to look up to see where you’re going or dream of what tommorrow could hold. Instead of looking to the stars you let life force you to keep your eyes on the dirt you walk on. You’re just existing, but you used to be so much more. So much more.

JORDAN

The stars, the stars. Well it’s hard to see them.

MOTHER

But you have to try! And you barely know you’re own son.

JORDAN

I do love him.

MOTHER

Well you need to show it, then.

Silence.

JORDAN

Cheerfully.

In other news, I’ve got three voicemails today. Three! From the same number.

MOTHER

Hmm. Amazing.

Beat.

Who’s under the contact.

JORDAN

Let me see…

peering at screen. beat.

Unknown number.

MOTHER

I’delete it. If it’s a telemarketer, you don’t want them getting your number. They’ll keep calling.

JORDAN

Animatedly.

But that’s the thing! Whenever I try to delete them, I can’t! It’s so annoying. Now I have to sit there and listen to every single one, all three!

MOTHER 

Muttering.

No personality for his wife or son, but plenty for three voicemails. Ridiculous. 

Speaking out loud.

Maybe they’ll have something that actually interests you. 

Mother turns of the stove fire. She scoops the food onto the plate and walks out to the counter, giving the son his food.

JORDAN

Well, this has been fun, but I guess I’ll go bite the bullet now so I’m not late for work. If I don’t have time to say bye...bye. 

MOTHER

Monotone voice, like a robot.

Ok. Have a good day, love you!

JORDAN

Thanks!

MOTHER

Muttering. 

Not what I was looking for.

Jordan goes to the far right side of the stage, walking straight past the son, and sits down on a couch. He sits himself down with his briefcase and opens his voicemails on his phone.

JORDAN

Here we go then. 

Taps the phone. Voicemail plays.

RICK (over voicemail)

Sickly voice. 

Hi Jordan, it’s Rick.

 Beat. 

Remember me? 

JORDAN

Holy shit! 

RICK (over voicemail)

The time now is... 6 in the morning. I woke up an hour ago. Like most days, couldn’t get out of bed. Nothing to get out of bed for. 

Beat.

JORDAN

I’m sorry.

RICK (over voicemail)

I don’t know what I’m gonna do today… I think I’ll just stay in bed. Beat. I looked you up, the other day. On google. Big lawyer, you are now. You worked your way up real well, I have to say. Beat. 8 years on, now married. With a son! But you...you never told me. I would’ve loved to know. Of course, I remember that once we pledged to be godfathers to each other’s children. If we ever had children! When that was on the table... 

Beat. 

Who was the godfather to your son? Some guy you met at work? Who? I think- I think I’d like to meet him. Know why you didn’t even call me. 

A long beat. We hear his breathing as he gets more worked up.

JORDAN

I don’t know what to say! 

RICK (over voicemail)

And when you hear this, don’t give me that ‘I haven’t seen you in a while’ bullshit. I tried to stay in touch, but you’re the one who pushed me away.

JORDAN

I never did!

RICK (over voicemail)

I remember it. You told me that you wanted me out of your life not long after we moved here. End of voicemail. Taps  phone again. Another starts.

RICK (over second voicemail)

It’s 6.30 now. In the AM. Took out the trash today. Haven’t taken it out in a couple weeks. Sort of accumulated on one big pile. I took it all out. So the place looks a bit better. 

Beat. 

It doesn’t matter though. When we were kids I kept our room clean, cause we shared it of course. But when no one’s around, you tend to... let yourself go a bit. 

Beat. 

I started smoking a week or two ago. I’ve been drinking for a couple of years now, of course. Good feeling. And smoking? Well, like you and pretty much everyone in our family, I got hooked real fast. 

Beat.

 I used to hate the thought of ever doing that. But loneliness, it changes you. For you? Loneliness, it made you run away from me, your brother. And for me? The best I can do now is to recall things we used to to together. Everyday I do remember, cry, drink, remember some more, cry some more, drink some more. All until I pass out on my bed, waiting for another day of hell. I’m incomplete, brother, it’s a hole not filled. And it makes me want to die.

Hangs up. Jordan clicks the last one.

RICK (over third voicemail)

First of all, don’t worry, I won’t keep you too long. I just want to say one more thing. 

Beat. 

Finally I understand why you took the path you did. After 8 years of not getting it, or not wanting to, now I know why. And now that I’ve come to the realization that the love I felt for you wasn’t returned, 

beat-

JORDAN

No. No

RICK (over third voicemail)

Well now I don’t want to live anymore. I kept trying to see the stars. But you-you just wouldn’t try. 

Sound of thunder, accompanied by the thud of a body hitting the floor. Voicemail continues in static sound. Look of shock on Jordan’s face, drops the phone. The stage goes into complete back.

End of Play.