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A Play in One Act
In the Dark
By G. L. Horton
copyright © 1997
Geralyn Horton
 CHARACTERS:
NEDDIE: mature, but neither age nor gender is as important
as that NEDDIE has been ELLEN's closest friend for quite a while.
The degree of initimacy is up to the actors, but they are very
close.
ELLEN: a mature woman of approximately NEDDIE's age--
the pair may be anywhere bewteen 30's and 60's.
MESSENGER: an exotic vaguely Eastern figure, with an
exotic accent, the guru's messenger may be of any age or gender.
Time/Place/Scene: Night. A tent in the woods, one of
many such tents at Camp Chakhra, a New Age spiritual retreat.
NEDDIE is meditating while ELLEN writes letters by the light of
a kerosene lantern.
NEDDIE (opens eyes)
Is someone coming?
ELLEN (goes to tent flap, looks out.)
I don't hear ---. No. An animal, I think.
NEDDIE
I thought by now--.
ELLEN
It is late.
He might wait till morning. Maybe he will, when he realizes--
NEDDIE
You think he doesn't realize?
ELLEN
For all I know, a perfect master never sleeps. But I do. I need
my sleep.
NEDDIE
I don't imagine he'll stay long.
ELLEN
Why is it you imagine he's coming?
NEDDIE
Because he said he would.
ELLEN
No, I mean why, for what reason. Why us? Why now.
NEDDIE
It may not be anything important.
ELLEN
In the middle of the night?
NEDDIE
Not necessarily.
ELLEN
You said he told you we'd be getting "a message".
NEDDIE
Yes.
ELLEN
But why not just give it to you then and there?
NEDDIE
Maybe because it's for both of us.
ELLEN
I can't believe he's coming here. Master Grushi doesn't come to
people. People go to Master Grushi. With their shoes off. By appointment.
When they are summoned.
NEDDIE
You may be right. When I think about it, people do go to him.
ELLEN
Unless they are very rich.
NEDDIE
Ellen, you shouldn't -- what if he came up just now and heard-?
ELLEN
We'd all laugh. (pause) Wouldn't we?
NEDDIE
Maybe " a message" means he's sending a messenger.
ELLEN
To say what? This whole atmosphere--
NEDDIE
Or maybe he meant a sign! Not a message in words or in person,
but some kind of sign.
That we have to be alert to interpret--
ELLEN
I don't like this.
NEDDIE
What?
ELLEN
I never expected you would fall for this stuff. Not you.
NEDDIE
What? What is it you don't like?
ELLEN
Waiting for a mystic message. To tell us the meaning of life.
NEDDIE
Well for that, maybe not. If you put that way-
ELLEN
How else can you put it?
NEDDIE
You're a fine one. Which of us is it who wakes up and can't move
till she's read her horoscope? "Well, I don't think we should
plan a big party, Neddie. You're a Virgo and I'm a Gemini."
ELLEN
Well, you are.
NEDDIE
Meaning what?
ELLEN
You could be susceptible to systems. To saviors. I never thought
so before, but--
NEDDIE
I don't think of Grushi as my savior. He's a pretty remarkable
teacher, is all. Judging by what he's managed to build, here.
ELLEN
That's why he's dangerous.
NEDDIE
Dangerous? Oh, come on, Ellen. I don't think so. He's got this
charismatic quality, sure, but he keeps it in bounds. It's not
like he's trying to take over our souls.
ELLEN
I'm beginning to think he is. At least, he's taken over a big
chunk of yours.
NEDDIE
Don't be silly.
ELLEN
If you could have seen the awe in your face! For his "message"!
NEDDIE
I admire him, yes. But not to the point that-- . It's that Grushi
radiates health. He's centered while the rest of us are all which
way. We're drawn to him, to listening to him, because we'd like
to be the way he is. At least I would. And I thought you would,
too.
ELLEN
I think we should get out of here.
NEDDIE
But you called this place paradise!
ELLEN
Did I? Paradise.
NEDDIE
As close as I ever expect to get. No status games, no aggression,
no greed. I can leave my wallet on the beach and know it'll be
there untouched when I get done swimming.
ELLEN
That's the way it was at the People's Temple. You want to end
up drinking poison kool-aid?
NEDDIE
Ellen, you're paranoid. There's not the slightest sign of that
kind of fanaticism.
ELLEN
Maybe I am paranoid. But it just came to me in a flash that--.
NEDDIE
Shh! Listen. (pause) Never mind, it's somebody across the way.
ELLEN
This is a wonderful place, it's nearly Utopia. But it's based
on one man's say-so.
NEDDIE
Grushi's been right so far.
ELLEN
About what? How can you tell? What he says is so abstract, so
woozy and wishful, that-
NEDDIE
Right about me. I don't know about you, or any of the rest of
us, but I was a neurotic mess when I started doing his meditations.
And I've become --
ELLEN
Not so much. You weren't all that much of a mess.
NEDDIE
I was unhappy.
ELLEN
You had me.
NEDDIE
That's true.
ELLEN
We had each other.
NEDDIE
You were my lifesaver.
ELLEN
Mine, too. I mean, it was mutual. You got me over the rough spots,
too.
NEDDIE
That's how it's supposed to work.
ELLEN
You do believe that? That it's the give and take?
NEDDIE
I don't know how I'd have made it, otherwise.
But still, I was unhappy.
ELLEN
A person's just one person.
NEDDIE
Meditation opened whole new world. A place of peace.
ELLEN
All right, we'll let that pass as true. Say you're OK now. And
I am too. Partly because Grushi and his methods had something
in them we needed to learn.
NEDDIE
You'll concede that? Even beyond meditation?
ELLEN
Even beyond, yes. But how far beyond? We've come here, we've been
listening to him, because he proved helpful. So we thought that---.
But Neddie, even if Grushi's always right, if we follow him far
enough--! No, let me start over. What happens when people obey
a leader?
NEDDIE
I suppose I know what you're getting at, but--
ELLEN
Would you ever consider obeying anybody other than Grushi?
NEDDIE
Of course not! And I don't obey him, I'm just making use--
ELLEN
Think about it! Do you want to live in a world -- even a perfect
world --where one person talks and everybody else listens?
NEDDIE
The others talk! People get up and say whatever--
ELLEN
They don't, Neddie! Not unless they agree with him. They illustrate
his wisdom, praise him--
NEDDIE
But if it's all true?
ELLEN
That doesn't matter!
NEDDIE
Of course, it does. You know it does. When you're sick, you listen
to the doctor-
ELLEN
You're not sick!
NEDDIE
You take your medicine--
ELLEN
You're one of the strongest, most loving--
NEDDIE
I'm a goddam Virgo, that's what you're always telling me! Buried
up to my neck in rules, numbed down by repression. Trying to fend
off the truth and fight for control!
ELLEN
All right. Fight!
NEDDIE
I'm tired of fighting. I'm ready for peace.
ELLEN
On Grushi's terms?
NEDDIE
Terms? I can't believe this. What are you--? Yesterday -- no this
afternoon, this very afternoon-- you were telling me how living
here made sense of Grushi's teachings, finally.
ELLEN
It does. I think that now I understand.
NEDDIE
You understand that --?
ELLEN
He's wrong.
NEDDIE
Wrong about what?
ELLEN
Well, at least he's wrong about you.
NEDDIE
About what, about me? And how the hell do you know?
ELLEN
Well, it's true I've always been of two minds about him. For the
first week here I felt like I was falling in love. But my critical
side--
NEDDIE
Oh, God. You're going to tell me it's because you're a Gemini.
ELLEN
Really, Neddie, you must know I only read you those horoscopes
so that I can give you advice without being resented for it.
NEDDIE
Not this time.
ELLEN
I know. But it's a risk I have to take.
NEDDIE
Well. Go on, then.
ELLEN
Neddie, you can't join these kindly helpful people and make a
life here. Under the guru. You can't bliss out on meditation.
You'll wither away.
NEDDIE
Started withering, have I?
ELLEN
In some ways.
NEDDIE
Ways that are bad for our relationship.
ELLEN
Yes.
NEDDIE
As these other ties grow strong, ours will grow weak.
ELLEN
Not that! That's not what I'm saying. The person I care for will
turn into somebody else.
NEDDIE
Somebody like those others out there.
ELLEN
Yes. There are thousands like them, Neddie. But there's only one
you.
NEDDIE
They're happy.
ELLEN
So they say.
NEDDIE
They're loving. And lovable.
ELLEN
Not by me.
NEDDIE
So this is it, then?
ELLEN
I didn't mean to push it so far. I just felt that--
NEDDIE
You couldn't help yourself. You delivered the Master's message.
ELLEN
What?
NEDDIE
The sign, Ellen. You gave me the sign. I've come to the crossroads,
and--
MESSENGER (in robe and turban, sticks head through tent flap)
Excuse me? Ms. Ellen? If I may interrupt, please?
NEDDIE
What?
MESSENGER
I have come from the Master Grushi. To give to you his message.
NEDDIE
You have?
ELLEN
Of course you have. Please, come right in. Would you like a cup
of tea.
MESSENGER (enters, bows)
Thank you, but no. I must not be staying.
NEDDIE
You are the messenger?
MESSENGER
The master did not tell you to expect me?
NEDDIE
Yes. Yes, he did. But I guess I didn't understand.
MESSENGER
Understanding is not always possible, yes? Wisdom speaks in riddles
sometimes, or goes around the bush, the better to take us by surprise.
ELLEN
That's his message?
MESSENGER
No, no, no. That is mine. The master Grushi -- long may his benevolence
shine on us!-- bid me to tell to Neddie this: (bows) "The
path is long, and some times the way forward is the way back.
If you meet the Buddha in the road, kill him." (bows)
To Ms. Ellen I am to give this (puts a necklace of flowers around
her neck, kisses her cheeks) and say to her: (bows) "The
cage door is open, the dove flies free, on wings that will carry
her high over the mountain top." If you will come to audience
at noon tomorrow, Ms. Ellen, the Master in his wisdom has a task
for you. A great task, a task that only the rarest of souls can
accomplish.(bows) Thank you for your kind attention. His blessing
be with you.
(the MESSENGER bows his/her way out the tent flap. NEDDIE and
ELLEN look at each other in a long silence.)
THE END
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