– The Scrapyard –

Hey! This is my first playwright, so I don't really know how playwright formatting works, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. :]

– The Scrapyard –

Characters:

EVAN: High schooler with a talent for welding and metal art. 

OPHELIA: A few years older than Evan, his close friend.

Act 1

The sun is setting, casting shadows across a particularly large scrapyard. EVAN is searching through a pile of junk, putting some of the stuff he finds in his backpack. A broken car sits atop a small hill. The sun goes down almost fully, so just the tip of the sun is poking out.

Enter OPHELIA tripping (SFX of metal crashing).

OPHELIA: 

Ouch, god damn it.

EVAN: 

You’re late. 

OPHELIA: 

Yeah, well maybe you’re just early ever thought of that?

EVAN: 

Do you ever think of shutting up?

OPHELIA: 

Not even once.

EVAN embraces OPHELIA. It’s held for a little bit longer than usual.

OPHELIA: 

Been a while since you’ve visited. Almost missed ya for a second there! 

EVAN: 

Sorry, I had, like, three tests this week! Plus Dad had me help out with a welding project of his.

OPHELIA: 

Enjoy it while you can man. I miss high school a little. And my dad.

EVAN: 

What’s stopping you from coming back? I know this is our spot, but I’d love to have you around the neighbourhood again.   

OPHELIA starts to say something but trails off.

EVAN: 

Your parents would too you know. They really miss you.

OPHELIA: 

Yeah, I know. I feel bad about that, but they’ll live. I needed to get out of there anyway. I was locked in a cage, and I’m glad I’m out. I’ve never felt so… Free.

EVAN: 

Free?

OPHELIA:

Free!

OPHELIA jumps up on top of the car.

OPHELIA:

I’m hindered by nothing except my own human constraints. I’m like a bird, and the sky is the limit. I don’t have teachers to tell me what to do, or parental pressures clamping me down like cinderblocks chained to my ankles. Sure, I don’t have their money or their protection, but that's what freedom’s all about man! I‘ll make my own money, be self-reliant, be the captain of my own fate, and steer my loyal ship through any storm life throws at me!

EVAN: 

You’re so dramatic.

OPHELIA:

I am! And I don’t care. My social restraints are even lighter than my physical ones! I have never felt more complete than I do right now. No longer can I feel the overbearing eyes of society criticizing my every move, I am deaf to invisible mouths talking shit about my every decision. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want! See whatever I want to see, and go wherever I want to go.

EVAN:

And yet, we only ever seem to meet in this scrapyard. 

OPHELIA:

Well, I’m laying low!

EVAN:

You’ve been laying low for a year, Ophie. 

OPHELIA:

I don’t wanna get caught! 

EVAN: 

You won’t get caught! We can get you some new clothes and a hat or something, no one would be any the wiser. You don’t look anything like you did back when you ran away. No one will recognize you. Trust me.

OPHELIA stays quiet. 

EVAN: 

I’m sorry. I get it. Really. I just miss you. A lot.

OPHELIA:

What do you mean ya miss me? I’m right here. 

EVAN: 

Yeah, I guess you are.

EVAN faces back towards the pile he was searching through. OPHELIA looks at him.

OPHELIA:

Evan, are you crying?

EVAN:

Nah you’re seeing things, man.

OPHELIA:

You sure?

EVAN:

Yeah, it’s just… Been a stressful day.

OPHELIA:

Gotcha… You wanna talk about it? 

EVAN: 

Maybe some other time, but not right now. I’m okay, really.

OPHELIA:

Okay.

EVAN goes back to scavenging 

OPHELIA: 

What’re ya working on? 

EVAN reaches into his bag and pulls out a strange metal contraption in the shape of a bird. He hand’s it to OPHELIA.

OPHELIA: 

Oh jeez, it’s pretty.

EVAN: 

Thanks. It’s a gift for a friend. I’ve got all my welding tools and material at home, but nothing beats proper scrap.

OPHELIA: 

True that. This place is a goldmine, every single piece of junk in here seems to have a story. I swear, it’s almost magical. 

EVAN: 

You’re telling me…

OPHELIA: 

So… That’s a lot of effort for a friend eh? 

EVAN: 

I guess so.

OPHELIA looks the toy over, admiring its details.

OPHELIA:

You definitely have a crush on her, don’t ya?

EVAN:

That’s for me to know, and you to not.

OPHELIA:

You wanna kiss her don’t ya!

EVAN:

You’re infuriating.

OPHELIA:

Oh, c’mon man! What’s her name?

EVAN: 

Help me out and maybe I’ll tell you.

OPHELIA: 

How do you suggest I do that?

EVAN: 

You like birds, what would you want it to have? Are the wings too long, too sharp, or not sharp enough, does the beak seem natural and if so is that an issue?

OPHELIA: 

You’re thinking too much. I mean, besides the fact that it’s missing tail feathers, it's perfect. But a bird needs its tail feathers. How else is it going to fly? 

EVAN: 

Gotcha. Any idea how we can make that tail?

OPHELIA: 

Yeah, I’ve got one. It’ll give that bird a little bit of a rebellious personality too.

EVAN: 

Sounds perfect.

They run off to find the missing piece.

-END SCENE-

ACT 2

EVAN is sitting on the hood of the broken hood car in the scrapyard, whistling patiently and watching the sunset. The sun goes down almost all the way, so just the tiniest peak of the sun shines.

Enter OPHELIA tripping (SFX of metal crashing)

EVAN:

You’re late.

OPHELIA:

Yeah, yeah I know.

OPHELIA climbs up and sits down next to EVAN.

EVAN:
Wanna see how the bird turned out?

OPHELIA:

Do ya really have to ask? 

EVAN reaches into his bag and draws the metal bird out again, its tail feathers made with the warped scrap of a stop sign. There's also a red tint on the underbelly,  masking the old metal.

OPHELIA:

It’s beautiful Evan. It’s kinda like a robin now, y’know, with the red.

EVAN:

Yeah, that’s kinda what I was going for. 

OPHELIA:

When are ya gonna give it to her? 

EVAN: 

Tomorrow, after school. I’ll tell you how it goes. 

OPHELIA: 

You better.

EVAN:

So, do you like it?

OPHELIA:

I love it! It’s genuinely perfect. I’m a bit jealous of the little miss mystery girl.

OPHELIA nudges EVAN with her shoulder. EVAN softly punches OPHELIA’s arm.

EVAN:

Quit it, you’re gonna make me blush. 

EVAN shifts closer to OPHELIA and leans on her shoulder. She wraps her arm around him.

EVAN:

I really do wish you could come out of this place. Come back home.

OPHELIA:

Who knows? Maybe one day I will. Till then, is this enough? 

EVAN:

If it’s enough for you, it’s enough for me.

OPHELIA leans her head on EVAN’s, and they sit and watch the stars rise.

-END SCENE-

ACT 3

Rain pats quietly on a lonely grave. Thunder echoes softly from the distance. Enter EVAN, with his backpack, his boots disrupting the puddles on the ground.

EVAN:

Hey, Ophie.

EVAN leans down and rustles around in his bag. He pulls out the mechanical bird.

EVAN:

I know yesterday you said it was perfect, but I made a couple of improvements. Hope you don’t mind.

EVAN sets it down to the right of the stone of the grave. A strong wind blows, and the bird’s wings flap softly, their metal feathers making a sound reminiscent of wind chimes. EVAN chuckles.

EVAN: 

I guess that’s a nice showcase.

EVAN kneels at the foot of the grave. 

EVAN: 

I’m not even sure which of you is the real you. They found your body in the scrap yard and buried you here,  but you seem so real, feel so real. You aren’t as warm as you used to be, but your passion still burns hotter than ever. Damn, if only you weren’t so clumsy. Speaking of, I almost slipped up the other day. I'm sorry about that. I guess you talking about freedom really got to me. You’re trapped in that damn scrapyard, and you don’t even know it.  It stung a bit, but you did seem happy. Maybe I’ll let you live in this dream a little longer. Or who knows? Maybe it’s my dream. Either way.

EVAN stands up. The rain starts to clear.

EVAN:

I’ll see you tomorrow, Ophelia. 

-END SCENE-

Act 4

The sun is setting on the scrapyard once again, and Evan is sitting in the passenger seat of the car on the hill facing the sunset. 

Enter OPHELIA tripping. (SFX of metal crashing)

OPHELIA:

God, every time.

EVAN: 

Hey Ophelia.

OPHELIA: 

I know, I know I’m– Wait, aren’t you gonna say it?

EVAN: 

Nope, I’ll give you some slack today.

OPHELIA:

I ain’t complaining. 

OPHELIA climbs up the little hill, opens the door of the broken-down car and sits inside next to EVAN.

OPHELIA:

What brings you down today?

EVAN:

Can’t a buddy just say hi for the sake of saying hi?

OPHELIA:

I suppose so “buddy”.

EVAN:

I did bring you something though.

OPHELIA:

Of course you did. 

EVAN pulls the bird out from his bag. 

OPHELIA: 

Oh hey! I remember this little guy! 

The wind blows, making the wings flap softly.

OPHELIA:

Ooooh upgraded little guy! Wait, didn’t you give him to that mystery girl?

EVAN:

I guess I didn’t, but don’t worry about it. I think you’ll appreciate it more than she would anyway.

OPHELIA:

Oh damn Evan, are you sure?  

EVAN: 

Yeah. Hopefully, it’ll make what I’m about to tell you a bit easier to swallow. 

OPHELIA:

What do you mean?

EVAN: 

I don’t even know where to start… Ophelia, you’re-

OPHELIA:

Dead?

EVAN:

You’ve known this whole time? What the hell! 

OPHELIA:

Yeah, I know. Pretty crazy.

EVAN:

How did you find out? 

OPHELIA:

I guess it’s because I only really remember my time with you. Everything between our visits feels so empty. It's just a big empty sandwich. So yeah, I guess my whole “Freedom Speech” was a bit of a wash. Ha.

EVAN: 

Why didn’t you say anything?

OPHELIA:

I suppose I  just didn’t want you to treat me any differently. 

EVAN:

Can you fly?

OPHELIA:

Nope.

EVAN:

Can you phase through solid objects?

OPHELIA:

I don’t think so.

EVAN:

Can you leave?

OPHELIA:

Evan!

The two are silent.

EVAN:

Sorry, sorry I’ll quit. I guess I just haven’t met a ghost before.

OPHELIA:

Please, don’t call me that. I’m just, me.

EVAN thinks for a moment.

EVAN:

I guess that’s cool too.

OPHELIA:

Moron.

OPHELIA punches EVAN and they laugh. He leans on her head.

EVAN:

I guess I can tell you who the mystery girl was then. I was going to leave it on your grave.

OPHELIA is quiet for a moment then giggles.

OPHELIA:

Geez, that’s a bit of a mind fuck. You put the bird on my grave. Is my body even in there?

EVAN:

It’s definitely there. I saw them bury it. Some workers found it out here. Said you must’ve tripped or something.

OPHELIA:

Then what the hell is all, well, this?

EVAN:

Your soul? I don’t know.

OPHELIA:

Yikes.

The wind blows, making the mecha-bird move and jingle.

OPHELIA:

How are Mom and Dad?

EVAN:

Better than they were. They still go and replace the flowers on your grave here and there. 

OPHELIA:

God, I don’t even know how I would face them. Or if I can at all. I miss them.

EVAN:

They miss you too.

OPHELIA:

Thanks for saying that, Evan.

EVAN:

Of course Ophie.

OPHELIA:

Hey, you can still feel me right? 

EVAN:

Yeah, it's weird. Half the reason I visit your grave is to make sure I’m not dreaming. But yeah, you still feel like you. 

OPHELIA:

Can I ask you something?

EVAN:

Of course.

OPHELIA:

Would you still kiss little miss mystery girl if she was a ghost?

EVAN:

Wh- Are you–

OPHELIA leans over and kisses EVAN, making the car groan just slightly. They break and she leans back on his shoulder.

OPHELIA:

Could you still feel that?

EVAN:

Could definitely feel that.

OPHELIA:

Good.

EVAN: 

What’s the plan now?

OPHELIA

I don’t know. I guess I’ll put my effort into trying to get out of this damn yard, and I’ll figure everything else out after that. It’s scary though. I don’t know if I can.

EVAN:

I’ll be with you every step of the way. It’s what friends are for. So far as we don’t run into the ghostbusters along the way, I’d say we’ll be alright.

OPHELIA laughs softly.

OPHELIA:

Sounds good to me.

–FIN–