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Insect Play.

A lepidopterist is chasing butterflies in a field and accidentally disturbs a sleeping tramp. The tramp watches the lepidopterist and butterflies interacting. The lepidopterist catches and pins butterflies to study and display them. The tramp philosophizes that love and pairing up is natural for all creatures. He decides to observe the butterflies himself to learn more about life.

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Alex Lyman
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33% found this document useful (3 votes)
1K views17 pages

Insect Play.

A lepidopterist is chasing butterflies in a field and accidentally disturbs a sleeping tramp. The tramp watches the lepidopterist and butterflies interacting. The lepidopterist catches and pins butterflies to study and display them. The tramp philosophizes that love and pairing up is natural for all creatures. He decides to observe the butterflies himself to learn more about life.

Uploaded by

Alex Lyman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lepidopterist: There they go, there they go! Fine specimens! Apatura Iris and…Apatura Clythia!

I’ll get you! Damn things are fast. There they go again! (Slight trip backwards) Wha-
Oh…someone here, oh it’s settling on him…Quitely….patient….Carefully…one,two, THREE!

[Butterfly lands on tramp, Lepidopterist stalks quietly and suddenly lunges with net]

(Startled Awake)Tramp: Hey! Wha-what’s up? Catching butterflies?

Lepidopterist: Don’t move. Careful now…strange about butterflies, you picture them on
flowers, but they’ll land on mud, trash, filth and now they’re landing on you.

Tramp: Let ‘em go. They’re happy!

Lepidopterist: Idiot! You’ve scared them off, damn you! Flying away…

Tramp: Oh yeah, a real shame.

[Lepidopterist exits chasing the butterflies. Tramp stands up, slowly, takes a slug from bottle]

Tramp:[Tries to stand, stumbles and falls back] Awright, awright, don’t worry, I’m fine. You
thought I was drunk didn’t you? See me like I am, think the worst. Got a poor opinion of me. I
was just….rehearsing! That’s right, rehearsing “The Fall Of Man”, that’s a play for you. The fall
of man. You didn’t think I was drunk, did you flowers? You got too much respect for me. I’m
human, that’s why. Lord of creation, top of the food chain.

[Enter Lepidopterist still chasing butterflies]

Lepidopterist: Ah! So close!

Tramp: Hey, why chase ‘em? They’re just having fun.

Lepidopterist: Fun you call it? I see you don’t have a scientific mind. What you’re seeing is the
overture to procreation. What you call fun is a mad chase to satisfy its natural urges. The male
chases the female, the female allures, avoids, selects, the cycle of sex and creation!

Tramp: Huh…and what happens when you catch ‘em?

Lepidopterist: Well, they must be identified, then killed very delicately, and pinned quite
precisely and dried out, carefully as to not lose any of the powder, then lastly placed in a sealed
protected display, so no harm will come to them.

Tramp: What for though?

Lepidopterist: For the love of nature! If you were educated you’d know—Damn they’re off
again, I don’t have time for this, I’ll get them this time!
Tramp: I guess he’s pretty well educated himself. And me? Maybe I am drunk but if I am, who
cares? Not the reason I’m seeing double. Everything pairs up sooner or later. Birds in the trees,
lovers walking by, and these butterflies. Sure looks like fun. Flirting , flying around. Love is what
they want, guess they’ll get it too. Even if just for an afternoon. Everyone does…or mostly
everyone. Well, here’s the world, butterflies all around, suppose I’ll educate myself, see what
it’s all about.

ACT 1

A cool morning light on the stage, blotches of bright color.Small bar or table, a chez lounge or
similarly luxuriant furniture. Filled glasses with long straws.

[Clytie rushes in breathless and laughing, otto follows]

Tramp: Man…could get use to this. It’s like paradise, smells pretty too. Odi Colonge.

Otto: Clytie, I love you! [Both exit]

Tramp: Butterflies! That’s what those were, playin’ for love. I’d stay and watch ‘em if I wasn’t
so…well what the hell, if they don’t want me here they can kick me out . I’ll just have one of
these and get comfortable. That’s right….like paradise.

[Enter Felix]: Iris! Iris! Where did you go? Oh if only I could find a rhyme for you…All I desire is,
Beautiful Iris….Damn, that sounds so uninspired. The star to whom my thoughts aspire is, Iris
Iris Radiant Iris…that isn’t any better, amateurish. Oh I know! She’ll reject me and broken
hearted I’ll write a sad poem to bring tears to her eyes! If only you were ill cold hearted iris, I
would melt you with my loving inquiries[Laughter off stage] Oh! It’s her! [Poses himself, the
image of the troubled artist]

[Iris enters followed by Victor]

Iris: All alone Felix? And so perfectly mournful.

Felix: Is that you Iris? I didn’t see you there…

Iris: Why aren’t you over in the field Felix? So many little darlings, flapping around.

Felix: You know why Iris, they don’t interest me.

Iris: Poor little guy, why not?


Victor: You mean they don’t interest you yet.

Felix: They interest me no longer.

Iris: Do hear that Victor? That’s a nice thing to say to a ladies face! Come here you rude little
man. Sit down close to me, no, close to me. Is that what you call close? Tell me, Darling, don’t
women interest you anymore?

Felix: No…I’m weary of them.

Iris: Oh you men can be such cynics! You have your fun, as much of it as you can get, and when
you’re tired you say “I’m weary of them”. Being a woman is just awful.

Victor: Why?

Iris: We never get tired of love. Felix, have you had you had your heart broken? When did you
first fall in love.

Felix: I don’t know. I don’t remember. A long time ago…I was still just a child.

Victor: Ah still a caterpillar, gobbling up leaves all the time.

Iris: Ha, a little kitty caterpillar. Was she dark and beautiful?

Felix: As beautiful…

Iris: as what?

Felix: As you, Iris.

Iris: Oh? And did she love you?

Felix: I don’t know. I never told her.

Iris: Oh dear, well what did you do then?

Felix: I looked at her. From afar. I wrote poems, letters, my first novel.

Victor: All while munching down on those leaves looking at you, caterpillars eat so much.

Iris: Victor don’t be mean to him! Look, his poor eyes are filled with tears.

Victor: Tears? Aww poor little cry baby.

Felix: They’re not, they’re not!

Iris: Let me see, look into my eyes sweetie.


Victor: 1,2,3,4, Ha I knew he couldn’t stand it for very long.

Iris: What color were my eyes Felix Dear?

Felix: Blue, like heaven above.

Iris: And yours are brown, a nice brown though! I don’t like blue eyes anyway, they can be so
cold. Clytie though, she has green eyes, do you like Clyties eyes Felix?

Felix: Clyties? I don’t know. Yes, she has beautiful eyes.

Iris: I suppose so, she’s so flat though. You’re such bad judges of women, you poets.

Victor: Have you read the last poem that Felix published? It was published in the spring
anthology.

Iris: Ooh read it to me!

Felix: No, no! I won’t let you read it to her. It’s bad, it’s old, I grew out of that phase long ago.

Victor: It’s called “The Eternal Life”

Felix: Don’t read it! Please!

Victor: There’s nothing true. The earth and sky were false when first created; And you and I will
surely lie when love is consummated.

Iris: That’s so witty, isn’t it Victor? How did you think of it? What’s consummated Felix?

Victor: From the Latin, Consummare. It means that love has [cough] achieved its aim.

Iris: What aim?

Victor: Ha, the usual one.

Iris: Oh, how scandalous Felix! Do poets always have such filthy minds?

Felix: Iris don’t, it’s such a bad poem.

Iris: Why?

Felix: There’s no real passion in it.

Iris[Looking for an excuse]: Victor, will you go get my fan in the garden?

Victor: Oh, well don’t let me disturb you.[He exits]


Iris: Quick Felix, tell me everything., the truth.

Felix: Iris, Iris, how can you stand him, That artless jerk, that preening jock!

Iris: Victor?

Felix: He’s so cruel, how he talks about love and you and everything!

Iris: Poor Victor? But he’s so…soothing. No Felix, let’s talk about Poetry. I adore poetry. You’re
so clever, “When love is consummated” …Felix? Tell me, aren’t poets terribly savagely
passionate?

Felix: Iris, I grew out of what was in that poem, a long time ago.

Iris: Oh really? What if I were to ask you ask you to kiss me? Would you be rough with me or
gentle?

Felix: Iris I wouldn’t dare kiss you.

Iris: Come on, be brave little Felix. A faint heart never won. Tell me who you write that poem to
at least? To Clytie?

Felix: No. I didn’t write it for any woman. Or…well maybe I wrote it to every woman.

Iris: Oh really?! Every woman? Ha, are you such a man whore? Well you have to tell me one
thing, who are you [whispering into felixs ear as he blushes] now?

Felix: You…you promise not to tell anyone?

Iris: Promise

Felix: No one. At all.

Iris: Really?

Felix: Not yet at least.

Iris: Oh you’re such a liar! How many women have you told that one to? I can see right through
you Felix, you think you’re quite the seducer, don’t you?

Felix: Iris please! Don’t tease me. I’ve had some awful experiences, or dreamed them at least.
I’ve had countless love affairs, all terrible disappointments. A poet lives in his dreams Iris. I’ve
known all women and I’ve known none. It’s true.

Iris: Then why do you say you’re done with women? Tired of them?
Felix: Oh Iris, everyone is cruel to the thing they love.

Iris: You mean other women? You love Clytie? The slut.

Felix: No, no only my dreams.

Iris: You have such thoughtful eyes Felix. And you’re so creative. What are you thinking about
now?

Felix: About you. Woman, the eternal mystery.

Iris: Guess it then, unwrap the mystery, gently though…

Felix: I can’t see into the depths of your eyes.

Iris: Then look somewhere else.

Felix: I-iris, I…

Iris: I feel so strange today. It’s so awful being a woman. I wish I were a man, to seduce and kiss
and dominate. Felix, I would be such an aggressive man .I’d take whoever I wanted, brutally,
savagely. It’s too bad you aren’t a girl…but we could pretend couldn’t we? You be Iris, I’ll be
Felix, strong hungry….

Felix: No, Iris, --It’s too dangerous to be Felix, to have to live through what I do, desiring
something—

Iris: Oh Felix, not something….everything.

Felix: There’s more to life than…just…everything.

Iris: Is there? What could there be?

Felix: Seeking out the impossible.

Iris: Oh. The impossible. Of course, that’s what’s really important. Not what’s right in front of
you. You’re right, always right. What’s taking victor so long? Would you go get him ?

Felix: Iris, did I offend you? Did I go too far?

Iris: No I wouldn’t say you went too far.

Felix: Oh I shouldn’t of said anything, I was crazy to talk like that.

Iris: Or at least blind. But you know really, you’re a crude man. When you talking to a woman
you shouldn’t go on about what isn’t there.
Felix: The unattainable is there though Iris.

Iris: Where?

Felix: In your reflection.

Iris: My reflection? Is that what you long for? Well then that’s what you can kiss.

Felix: I couldn’t it’s as unapproachable as you.

Iris: Have I been so unapproachable? How would you even know?

Felix: If you weren’t I couldn’t love you.

Iris: And why should I always be so distant.

Felix: Because there is no true love except for what you can’t have.

Iris: Oh well what happened to “Shall surely lie when love is—“

Felix:--Iris, stop, not again.

Iris: Then make up something new for me, now. Something romantic.

Felix: Now that at last we have met. Think you, I care what may follow? Let me be snared in a
net or eaten by a swallow. For now I’ve tasted of bliss, I’ve flown to where the fire is. If only I
could die in a kiss with beautiful passionate Iris.

Iris: How perfect!

[Offstage]: Iris! Iris!

Iris: That awful Clytie, with her idiot flavor of the week., and just as we—

[Enter Clytie] Clytie: Oh Iris, Otto says…oh you’re here with Felix. How’re you Felix? Oh ha what
did I interrupt, you’re blushing Felix.

[ Enter Otto ]

Otto: Got you now, Clytie – Oh Iris, and you’re with Felix, great, how are you? [FELIX sits down,
sighing]

Iris: You’re out of breath, Clytie.

Clytie: Otto was chasing me everywhere.

Otto: She flew away, so I had to follow her.


[ Enter Victor ]

Victor: Oh look, it’s party now?

Clytie: (drinking) OH, I’m so thirsty.

Iris: Take care of yourself, Clytie. Victor, see how thin she’s getting. You’re looking terrible – you
really are.

Clytie: Thank you, sweetie. You’re like a mother to me, aren’t you?

Victor: Were you at the Garden Party yesterday?

Clytie: Yesterday? That’s ancient history now.

Victor: Marvelous weather.

Iris: (to Clytie) Wait a second. What have you two been doing? Your dress is half undone.

Clytie: Thank you, darling – Felix! You look so sad. What’s the matter cutie?

Felix: I’m thinking.

Clytie: Thinking? What are you thinking about to make you so sad looking?

Felix: Men’s minds are made to be used.

Clytie: And women’s?

Felix: To misuse.

Iris: Oh, isn’t that good, Clytie!

Clytie: Oh you’re such little prick. He hates me.

Victor: Careful, Clytie – that’s the first step towards love.

Otto: Hey, what are you talking about?

Iris: Felix and love? As if! He wrote something about women – wait…

Felix: Iris, how can you! Don’t!

Iris: There’s nothing true. The earth and sky

Were false when first created’


And you and I will surely lie

When love is consummated.

Clytie: Will surely what?

Iris: ‘Surely lie”, dearest.

Victor: Felix, you bastard– how many women have you fed that line to?

Otto: ‘And you and I will surely lie” – Oh I get it Haha – very good.

Iris: ‘when love is consummated.’

Clytie: Wait – Otto’s going to laugh again.

[he does so]

Iris: Felix is so creative. None of you could rhyme for ‘Iris’.

Clytie: Oh you think so?

Some times Iris,

A wicked liar is.

Felix: Oh, stop it, stop it!

Otto: Ha, ha! That’s great. Iris – Liar is.

Iris: Darling, you don’t know the first thing about poetry. But you’ll never guess what a beautiful
rhyme Felix made .Go ahead Guess.

Victor: Give it up.

Clytie: You have to tell us!

Iris: (triumphantly) ‘Fire is!’

Victor: What?

Iris: ‘ I shall have flown where the fire is!’

Otto: ha, ha, ha! ‘Fire is’ – that’s real clever.

Iris: Oh, you’re awful. You’ve no sense of art or poetry, or anything. I’m over this .
Victor: The rhymes of our little friend Felix

Are sweet as the honey bees lick.

Iris: Wow, Victor. You’re so witty .

Clytie: Who would have thought, Victor’s a poet!

Otto. “felix – bee licks’ that’s good, damn good.

Victor: Poetry – it’s just stupid rhymes and lies.

Iris: Oh no, it can really move you. I really love it.

Otto: Ha! Blotto!

Clytie: Who’s blotto?

Otto: Rhymes with Otto. Pretty moving huh?

Iris: You’re a regular Shakespeare, Otto.

Otto: Lovely star!

Iris: Where? What do you mean?

Otto: That’s the beginning of a poem.

Clytie: (yawning) Oh, I’m bored with all the artsy literary talk. It’s getting annoying.

Victor: (aside to iris) Not as annoying as she is.

Iris: Is she? Are you bored, Victor? I feel like kissing you. Catch me – catch me if you can.

[ she runs off, and Victor after her]

Clytie: What wreck! And she’s really getting out of shape! Felix!

Felix: Yes?

Clytie: How could you fall in love with someone like that?

Felix: Like who?

Clytie: With that frumpy thing!

Felix: Who do you mean?


Clytie: Iris, of course.

Felix: I? What would make you think that ? That was over – long ago.

Clytie: I get it. Iris is so ignorant – and such thick legs. No, Felix, you don’t know women. Sit here
beside me – no, closer. You’ve no idea what they’re like – their minds, their souls, and their
bodies. You’re so young.

Felix: I’m mature beyond my years. I’ve had so much experience.

Clytie: You must be young – it’s the fashion. To be young, a butterfly, and a poet – Is there
anything more beautiful in the world?

Felix: It is not beautiful, it’s agony. The fate of the young is to suffer, and a poet to suffer a
hundredfold.

Clytie: It’s the fate of a poet to be terribly happy. Ah, Felix, you remind me of my first love.

Felix: Who was he?

Clytie: Nobody – I forget. None of my lovers was the first. Oh, that Victor! I hate men. Let’s be
friends, Felix – like two girls together?

Felix: Like two girls?

Clytie: Love’s nothing to you. Love’s so common I want something special, something
pure,something new.

Felix: A poem!

Clytie: (doubtfully) I guess so, sure.

Felix: Listen!

She came in the blue Spring weather

Gay as a foxglove is;

And our two hearts rhymed together,

And our lips were one in a kiss.

Clytie: That’s all ?

Felix: A poem – the beginning.


Clytie: And how does it go on?

Felix: I’ll think of an end in a minute. My problem is that I mature so fast that I outgrow my own
work before I can finish it and then have to rewrite the start.

Clytie: That’s too bad. Otto, can’t you leave your hair alone.

Otto: Love me, clytie.

Clytie: Otto, you’re so handsome.

Otto: I love you madly.

Clytie. I know – I know. Say ‘ninety-nine’.

Otto: Ninety-nine.

Clytie: Say it again.

Otto: Ninety-nine.

Clytie: Mmm your voice is so rough– like thunder. Otto, you work out don’t you?

Otto: cly-cly-cly-----

Clytie: What’s the matter now?

Otto: Love me, Clytie.

Clytie: OH, don’t, just calm down.

Otto: Love me, love me now!

Clytie: (flying off) wait, wait, wait – don’t be impatient.

Otto: (after her) love me, clytie!

Tramp: What an idiot, chasing after a skirt like. I’m lucky I’m alone.. And women like that, just a
trap with pretty wings.

[clytie flying in from the other side, and powdering herself at a mirror]

Clytie: Whew! Just managed to get away from him, only just!

Tramp: So that’s high society, primping up like that. Put on your make up and show a little more
skin.
Clytie: Are you a butterfly?

[trys to wave her away]

Aren’t you a butterfly?

Tramp: I’m a man.

Clytie: What’s that? Is it alive?

Tramp: Alive? Sure, if you call this living.

Clytie: [flying up to him] Can it love?

Tramp: Sure, just like any butterfly.

Clytie: You’re so different! What all this on your face? And – oh, it pricks!

Tramp: Get off, it’s just stubble, been awhile since I shaved.

Clytie: Oh and what’s that cologne your wearing.

Tramp: Old cigarettes probably.

Clytie: So sexy, and new.

Tramp: Fly off ya tramp

Clytie: [flying away] Chase me, chase me!

Tramp: You hussy.

Clytie: [approaching] Let me touch you. You’re so different from the other butterflies.

Tramp: I know people like you butterflies, flirting and holding hands, kissing and running away
to the next. I’m over it. Better off not trying, for me and the girls. Now leave me alone ya tramp.

Clytie: You’re so strange.

Tramp: Oh you’re just painted up trash.

Clytie: Ooh say it again, it makes me feel so beautiful.

Tramp: Get away ya cheap slut, no means no! You’ve had enough.

Clytie: I love you! I want you!


Tramp: I don’t want to look at you!

Clytie: You asshole!

[Enter Iris]

Iris: Oh I need some to drink.

Clytie: And what have you been up to? What happened with Victor?

Iris: Victor? Which one was Victor?

Clytie: The one you flew off.

Iris: Oh right , I remember him now. Well that was just for fun anyway, nothing serious. But you
won’t believe what happened, it was too funny. [Laughter]

Clyite: Well? What happened? Was he not any good?

Iris: Ha we didn’t even make it that far, he was chasing me and suddenly a bird swooped down
and ate him!

Clytie: Really?

Iris: Swear to god. He was handsome but not too fast on the wings I guess. Then guess what
happened.

Clyite: What? You have to tell me.

Iris: Well right after Victor was eaten up, Otto comes your otto—

Clytie: who?

Iris: Otto, from earlier? Deep voice and not too smart?

Clytie: Oh right!

Iris: Well right after victor was swallowed Otto comes flying , his eyes all desire, starting at me
like a piece of meat and then he starts chasing after me “Love me iris, love me”

Clytie: Well did you?

Iris: Oh I couldn’t tell haha

[Felix flies in pen and paper in hand]


Felix: Listen Clyite----And our two hearts rhymed together and out lips were one in a kiss. She
said ‘how strange to discover the lessons a kiss can teach! You have turned a child into a lover,
as a peach flower becomes a peach!

Iris: How does my hair look Clytie ?

Clytie: Terrible, here let me fix it [Fixes hair roughly]

Iris: You’re jealous aren’t you? [Mimicking Otto] Otto loves wonderfully.

[Enter Otto]

Otto: I love you Iris, I need you!

Iris: Then catch me! {Exits]

Otto: Clytie, I love you! I need you Clytie

Clytie: Follow me then lover, come after me! {Exits opposite direction]

Felix: Wait! Wait!

Tramp: Idiots.

Felix: Whose that? Well any audience will do I guess, I’ll read the end to you. ‘I answered each
new-comer is only supreme for an hour’.

Tramp: Leave me alone.

Felix: The fruit may fall in the summer but spring will renew the flower.

[Butterflies enter flirting and flying]

Tramp: What a life, having fun, fliting around. Nice life for those butterflies.

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