LINE ONE BY JEFFREY LO (DOWNLOAD PDF HERE)
An artist studio.
It’s messy.
Paint is splashed all over the place.
Clay, water, dirt.
Dust.
The only place that is organized is the collection of colors on the large work table.
The colors are organized meticulously.
As lights rise we see HELENA, a respected painter in her late 50’s and NOAH, her apprentice.
HELENA stares at a blank canvas with staggering intensity.
NOAH is staring at HELENA with unclear intensity.
Silence.
HELENA raises her brush and takes a deep breath.
NOAH takes a deep breath that is totally in rhythm with HELENA’s.
NOAH’s eyes grow as they inhale.
Pause.
HELENA deflates.
NOAH deflates with her.
HELENA looks at NOAH.
HELENA: Are you looking at me?
NOAH: Um.
HELENA: Don’t be scared, Noah. Just answer the question. Are you looking at me.
NOAH: Yes.
HELENA: Ok.
HELENA reverts her attention back to the canvas for a split second.
HELENA: Why?
NOAH: Huh?
HELENA: Why were you looking at me.
NOAH: I thought I was supposed to be.
HELENA: Is that so?
NOAH: I thought I was supposed to be learning from you.
HELENA: Hm…
NOAH: Being your apprentice and all…
HELENA contemplates this.
As she contemplates this, NOAH’s anxiety rises.
HELENA: That’s a fair point.
NOAH is back at ease.
HELENA: I’ve never had an apprentice before but you make a fair point. I mean, how else are you to learn from me but to watch me.
NOAH: Exactly.
HELENA: But if your gaze is what’s causing me to stay blank…
NOAH: Oh.
HELENA: Then…
NOAH: Then I’ll look away. Of course I’ll look away.
NOAH looks away.
Pause.
HELENA gives NOAH a smile.
HELENA: I’m kidding.
NOAH: Oh!
HELENA: Of course I’m not going blank because you’re looking at me. What do I look like, a teenage boy with a naked girl for the first time? You’re here to learn from me? Lesson one – although it is always easy to blame something else for your lack of creation, it is always your fault. Write that down.
NOAH grabs his notebook.
HELENA: It is always your fault…
NOAH: Got it.
HELENA: Read it back to me.
NOAH: Although it is always easy to say someone else is the reason your canvas is blank, it is always my fault.
HELENA: … close enough. Now.
HELENA looks at the blank canvas.
A brief silence.
HELENA: Hmmm… I don’t know… What to do, what to do…
HELENA points to the blank canvas.
HELENA: Do you see that?
NOAH: See what?
HELENA: That.
NOAH: … There’s nothing there.
HELENA: Very funny. But of course there is something there. What is this?
NOAH: A canvas?
HELENA: A canvas. And even though it is blank. It is still there. It still exists. So when I point to a canvas and say, “do you see that?” The proper response is not, “There’s nothing there.” The proper response is a can –
NOAH: A blank canvas.
HELENA: … Yes. A blank canvas.
NOAH: What about it?
HELENA: What about it? Ok… you were looking away from me two seconds ago and now you’re asking questions.
NOAH: Sorry.
HELENA: Don’t be sorry. Lesson two – if you’re going to be an artist, be ready to not be sorry for the things you do.
NOAH: Ok.
HELENA: Did you write that down?
NOAH: I will.
HELENA: Good. Repeat it to me.
NOAH: Don’t be sorry for your art.
HELENA: … Better than how I put it. Very good.
NOAH: Thank you.
HELENA: Now. The canvas. The “blank” canvas as you put it.
NOAH: Yes?
HELENA: I have a question for you about the blank canvas.
NOAH: Ok.
HELENA: Are you ready for it?
NOAH: I hope so.
HELENA: Ok. What should I put on it?
Silence.
NOAH: What?
HELENA: You heard me.
NOAH: What should you –
HELENA: Put on the blank canvas. Yes.
NOAH: I don’t –
HELENA: Don’t say that.
NOAH: But it’s your canv –
HELENA: I know that it’s my canvas. I am very aware of what I own, thank you. And I am very aware that I am asking you, my apprentice, the question –what should I put on my blank canvas.
Pause.
NOAH: Umm…
HELENA: No umm…
NOAH: But –
HELENA: No but. Just answer. There’s no wrong answer.
NOAH: Really?
HELENA: Lesson number three. There is no wrong answers.
HELENA watches NOAH write it down.
HELENA: Good. Now. Answer.
Pause.
Beat.
NOAH: Well… A line.
HELENA: Speak up.
NOAH: A line. On your blank canvas. You should draw a line.
HELENA: A line… I should draw a line on my blank canvas?
NOAH: Yes?
HELENA: No questions.
NOAH: Yes.
HELENA: Good.
Silence.
HELENA: Ok.
HELENA shifts her attention back to the canvas.
She stares at it for a few moments.
Then, with grace and intent, she steps towards the canvas.
She moves her brush in one swift, black stroke.
HELENA steps back.
She looks at the canvas.
She looks at the line.
HELENA: A line.
HELENA looks at NOAH.
HELENA: Good?
NOAH: Good.
HELENA: Good. You’re going to do good here.
NOAH: Thank you.
HELENA: And thank you. Lesson four. Line one.
HELENA points at the canvas.
HELENA: There we have it. Line one.
HELENA shifts her attention back to the canvas.
HELENA: And now for the journey of the rest…
Lights fade.
END OF PLAY.