MANMADE
2 Characters
2 men or 2 women or 1 man and a woman
Simple Set
30 Pages
Two seemingly homeless men, Blab and Yak, are hobos with PhD’s who exist on the Mojave desert that is strewn with old junk.
Bored, they explore the “air”, and “ideas” that seem to exist within it, and the meaning of meaning, the meaning of existence, to pass the time. But they grow even more bored.
Finding junk laying about in the sand, they create a sculpture – a man, so they don’t feel as alone and productive. They contemplate creating a business to sell him, to overcome their boredom. As they contemplate the meaning of their lives, ponder and survive their human frailties and the absurdity of their universal and self-created condition. Their man-made sculpture of a robotic-type machine-man seems to overpower the landscape; their creation is bigger than they are, but completely useless to what they really need.
The man-made junk man, is a testament to the evolution of materialistic quests via the machine, masking the brutal indifference, the miracle and beauty of raw nature, and who we are as human beings within the conflict.
To read Excerpts from the play, click Read More below.
Note that formatting in the excerpts are not centered, and instead, left justified.
The PDF of the the play is in correct format.
THE SCENE
A barren desert.
THE SET
A Few large rocks they can sit on right and left. Upstage center is a large pile of junk, some of it scattered around the back of the set in sand. The gray, lonely, sunless sky rests behind the set and seems endless. A large, six foot high and very dry tumbleweed sits stage left. It never moves. Nothingness.
AT RISE:
A man, BLAB sits a large rock stage left with his head in his hands as if in despair. YAK, enters from behind the large tumbleweed, sees him, stops and smiles. Looks out over the audience smiling. He begins to balance himself on one foot, then both, examining his balance. He notices that Blab is not looking at him despite his efforts.
YAK
Have you ever wondered how we do this? Have you ever wondered how one stands?
Pause. Yak continues to balance himself examining the idea.
YAK
It’s a miracle really.
Blab is wobbling losing his balance. Catches himself.
BLAB
Balance.
YAK
(head still in his hands not looking up)
That’s a simplification of it.
BLAB
Balance… ing?
YAK
That’s and oversimplification of it.
BLAB
Balancing ability profound?
YAK
What I meant was…
BLAB
(Looks up fir the first time)
..I know what you meant I have degrees.
Blab Removes a large diploma from his sack sitting next to him and holds I up. Yak pulls out a rolled up diploma from inside his coat while balancing on one foot. Looks at it and cries. Holds it up to see.
They hold their diplomas up at one another.
Blab starts sobbing.
EXCERPT 2
They discuss how one “experiences” anything.
BLAB
It’s academic. The mutilation. You know.
YAK
The butchery.
BLAB
The murders.
YAK
The violence in the act of…
BLAB
How we identify.
YAK
Re-identify.
BLAB
Solidify.
YAK
Categorize.
BLAB
The experience into its component parts.
YAK
In order to file each part in its proper dichotomy, so the total experience is…
BLAB
Ambulatorized.
YAK
Yes. Ambulatorized. So we can discuss it with more clarity.
BLAB
But not totality.
YAK
The experience?
BLAB
The many experiences within the experience.
YAK
Oh. Its limbs.
BLAB
Yes. The themes, the plots, the sub-plots, the ramifications, the sub-divisible qualifications, the qualities, the elements, the subtext, the underlining meanings of the subetxt, the genres, the subtleties…
YAK
…Of the…
BLAB
…Experience.
YAK
I see. I think.
(pause)
How do you feel now?
Pause. Blab examines himself in silence.
BLAB
It’s gone.
EXCERPT 3
They will begin to build a sculpture of a large man out of the junk pile as the play progresses. As they lift items of junk they moan, and groan in pain. They try to fit pieces together and build it quickly but it’s a mess of a man sculpture by the end of the construction. They decide to sell it.
YAK
Now what do we do?
BLAB
We have our products, and our store. We could keep books. You know, account for things.
YAK
And have order forms.
BLAB
And hire a delivery boy.
YAK
Or girl.
BLAB
We could divide up the business into parts, departments, so we could categorize everything.
YAK
And advertise specifically what we sold.
BLAB
Yes, we could … advertise.
YAK
He’d enter.
BLAB
Or she.
YAK
Or both. Right through the door.
BLAB
A coupon in his hand from our advertisement.
YAK
And we’d greet him.
BLAB
Hello sir.
YAK
Mam.
BLAB
SirMam – or MamSir.
YAK
How may we be of help to you SirMam – or MamSir?
BLAB
It’s our pleasure to serve you SirMam – or MamSir.
YAK
A delight.
BLAB
An honor.
YAK
A job.
BLAB
Yes, we have a job. We’re part of a community. We’re part of an idea in the world. We’d be working – the President would be thrilled. He might even get re-elected.
YAK
SirMam?
BLAB
MamSir – you’d like the toaster?
YAK
By all means.
BLAB
Let me get that for you on the double.
He takes a toaster off the junk sculpture.
YAK
Would you like that gift wrapped?
BLAB
Sent abroad?
YAK
First class, express mail, FedEx?
BLAB
U.P.S? Airborne? Hand delivered or Courier Pigeon, SirMam – or MamSir?
YAK
We could have our delivery boy.
BLAB
Or girl.
YAK
Or Both. Deliver it right to the front door.
BLAB
Fully gift-wrapped.
YAK
And it comes with a limited guarantee, SirMam – or MamSir.
BLAB
Limited, but warranted…
YAK
…More warranted than limited. Less guaranteed than warranted…
BLAB
…But fully protected, annnnnnnnnd you could purchase at a small, additional fee…
YAK
…More small than additional…
BLAB
…An extended limited warrantee…
YAK
…More extended…
BLAB
…And warranted…
YAK
…Than limited… but definitely… limited!
BLAB
…we back our products…
YAK
…If we fail due to the limitations in the warranteE…
BLAB
…Then you go straight to the manufacturer and he’ll replace at no extra charge…
YAK
…Almost all the parts and labor required to repair this fine fine toaster…
BLAB
…Almost all…
YAK
…Except the limitations set forth in the contract on the bottom of the toaster in fine print…
BLAB
…Which are rare IF they exist at all…
YAK
…And if those two fail and you purchase the extended limited warrantee…
BLAB
…And the toaster malfunctions…
YAK
…after the basic limited warrantee expires…
BLAB
…Then the insurance company who sells the extended limited warrantee “product”…
YAK
…will take care of almost all the parts and labor set forth in the contract…
BLAB
…on the bottom of the toaster. In fine print…
YAK
…More all…
BLAB
…Than almost…
YAK
…And our delivery boy…
BLAB
…Or girl…
YAK
…Or both. Will deliver it back to you in perfect working order…
BLAB
…So you’ll always have… Toast!
Pause.
They look at one another.
EXCERPT 3
The end of the play.
BLAB
I know. I tried. I’m sorry. I’m burnt out, too. Now for that nap.
Moves to lay down but Yak stops him. They look at one another.
YAK
Being offended used to work, so well. Disgusted, hurt. Remember?
BLAB
I’m too tired to remember. I’m re-tired. Double-knocked out. I need to go inside for a moment. Since you won’t allow me to lay on the sand.
(he closes his eyes)
Like twilight sleep. Dosing off into a dream. A dream that lives while we’re awake. But is hidden behind the eyes.
YAK
A landscape?
BLAB
(eyes closed)
Yes. I see it. A landscape of our world. A landscape within. So long and wide the eyes cannot see its full scope. It’s felt. Oh, to let it live.
YAK
What is it?
BLAB
Something amazing. Other worldly. You should try it. Close your eyes.
Yak closes his eyes.
They stand next to each other far enough apart so the sculpture can be seen between them, upstage.
The MAN-MADE sculpture looks like a dead robot. It stares out with the same expression as its creators, but with a blank look of horror/death on its face. Like Picasso’s second to last self-portrait titled § §”Pablo Picasso: Self-portrait Facing Death (1972)”
Stillness for 30 seconds holding on this tableau.
Slow fade to black.
End of Play
Out of stock
Out of stock
2 Characters
2 men or 2 women or 1 man and a woman
Simple Set
30 Pages
Two seemingly homeless men, Blab and Yak, are hobos with PhD’s who exist on the Mojave desert that is strewn with old junk.
Bored, they explore the “air”, and “ideas” that seem to exist within it, and the meaning of meaning, the meaning of existence, to pass the time. But they grow even more bored.
Finding junk laying about in the sand, they create a sculpture – a man, so they don’t feel as alone and productive. They contemplate creating a business to sell him, to overcome their boredom. As they contemplate the meaning of their lives, ponder and survive their human frailties and the absurdity of their universal and self-created condition. Their man-made sculpture of a robotic-type machine-man seems to overpower the landscape; their creation is bigger than they are, but completely useless to what they really need.
The man-made junk man, is a testament to the evolution of materialistic quests via the machine, masking the brutal indifference, the miracle and beauty of raw nature, and who we are as human beings within the conflict.
To read Excerpts from the play, click Read More below.
Note that formatting in the excerpts are not centered, and instead, left justified.
The PDF of the the play is in correct format.
THE SCENE
A barren desert.
THE SET
A Few large rocks they can sit on right and left. Upstage center is a large pile of junk, some of it scattered around the back of the set in sand. The gray, lonely, sunless sky rests behind the set and seems endless. A large, six foot high and very dry tumbleweed sits stage left. It never moves. Nothingness.
AT RISE:
A man, BLAB sits a large rock stage left with his head in his hands as if in despair. YAK, enters from behind the large tumbleweed, sees him, stops and smiles. Looks out over the audience smiling. He begins to balance himself on one foot, then both, examining his balance. He notices that Blab is not looking at him despite his efforts.
YAK
Have you ever wondered how we do this? Have you ever wondered how one stands?
Pause. Yak continues to balance himself examining the idea.
YAK
It’s a miracle really.
Blab is wobbling losing his balance. Catches himself.
BLAB
Balance.
YAK
(head still in his hands not looking up)
That’s a simplification of it.
BLAB
Balance… ing?
YAK
That’s and oversimplification of it.
BLAB
Balancing ability profound?
YAK
What I meant was…
BLAB
(Looks up fir the first time)
..I know what you meant I have degrees.
Blab Removes a large diploma from his sack sitting next to him and holds I up. Yak pulls out a rolled up diploma from inside his coat while balancing on one foot. Looks at it and cries. Holds it up to see.
They hold their diplomas up at one another.
Blab starts sobbing.
EXCERPT 2
They discuss how one “experiences” anything.
BLAB
It’s academic. The mutilation. You know.
YAK
The butchery.
BLAB
The murders.
YAK
The violence in the act of…
BLAB
How we identify.
YAK
Re-identify.
BLAB
Solidify.
YAK
Categorize.
BLAB
The experience into its component parts.
YAK
In order to file each part in its proper dichotomy, so the total experience is…
BLAB
Ambulatorized.
YAK
Yes. Ambulatorized. So we can discuss it with more clarity.
BLAB
But not totality.
YAK
The experience?
BLAB
The many experiences within the experience.
YAK
Oh. Its limbs.
BLAB
Yes. The themes, the plots, the sub-plots, the ramifications, the sub-divisible qualifications, the qualities, the elements, the subtext, the underlining meanings of the subetxt, the genres, the subtleties…
YAK
…Of the…
BLAB
…Experience.
YAK
I see. I think.
(pause)
How do you feel now?
Pause. Blab examines himself in silence.
BLAB
It’s gone.
EXCERPT 3
They will begin to build a sculpture of a large man out of the junk pile as the play progresses. As they lift items of junk they moan, and groan in pain. They try to fit pieces together and build it quickly but it’s a mess of a man sculpture by the end of the construction. They decide to sell it.
YAK
Now what do we do?
BLAB
We have our products, and our store. We could keep books. You know, account for things.
YAK
And have order forms.
BLAB
And hire a delivery boy.
YAK
Or girl.
BLAB
We could divide up the business into parts, departments, so we could categorize everything.
YAK
And advertise specifically what we sold.
BLAB
Yes, we could … advertise.
YAK
He’d enter.
BLAB
Or she.
YAK
Or both. Right through the door.
BLAB
A coupon in his hand from our advertisement.
YAK
And we’d greet him.
BLAB
Hello sir.
YAK
Mam.
BLAB
SirMam – or MamSir.
YAK
How may we be of help to you SirMam – or MamSir?
BLAB
It’s our pleasure to serve you SirMam – or MamSir.
YAK
A delight.
BLAB
An honor.
YAK
A job.
BLAB
Yes, we have a job. We’re part of a community. We’re part of an idea in the world. We’d be working – the President would be thrilled. He might even get re-elected.
YAK
SirMam?
BLAB
MamSir – you’d like the toaster?
YAK
By all means.
BLAB
Let me get that for you on the double.
He takes a toaster off the junk sculpture.
YAK
Would you like that gift wrapped?
BLAB
Sent abroad?
YAK
First class, express mail, FedEx?
BLAB
U.P.S? Airborne? Hand delivered or Courier Pigeon, SirMam – or MamSir?
YAK
We could have our delivery boy.
BLAB
Or girl.
YAK
Or Both. Deliver it right to the front door.
BLAB
Fully gift-wrapped.
YAK
And it comes with a limited guarantee, SirMam – or MamSir.
BLAB
Limited, but warranted…
YAK
…More warranted than limited. Less guaranteed than warranted…
BLAB
…But fully protected, annnnnnnnnd you could purchase at a small, additional fee…
YAK
…More small than additional…
BLAB
…An extended limited warrantee…
YAK
…More extended…
BLAB
…And warranted…
YAK
…Than limited… but definitely… limited!
BLAB
…we back our products…
YAK
…If we fail due to the limitations in the warranteE…
BLAB
…Then you go straight to the manufacturer and he’ll replace at no extra charge…
YAK
…Almost all the parts and labor required to repair this fine fine toaster…
BLAB
…Almost all…
YAK
…Except the limitations set forth in the contract on the bottom of the toaster in fine print…
BLAB
…Which are rare IF they exist at all…
YAK
…And if those two fail and you purchase the extended limited warrantee…
BLAB
…And the toaster malfunctions…
YAK
…after the basic limited warrantee expires…
BLAB
…Then the insurance company who sells the extended limited warrantee “product”…
YAK
…will take care of almost all the parts and labor set forth in the contract…
BLAB
…on the bottom of the toaster. In fine print…
YAK
…More all…
BLAB
…Than almost…
YAK
…And our delivery boy…
BLAB
…Or girl…
YAK
…Or both. Will deliver it back to you in perfect working order…
BLAB
…So you’ll always have… Toast!
Pause.
They look at one another.
EXCERPT 3
The end of the play.
BLAB
I know. I tried. I’m sorry. I’m burnt out, too. Now for that nap.
Moves to lay down but Yak stops him. They look at one another.
YAK
Being offended used to work, so well. Disgusted, hurt. Remember?
BLAB
I’m too tired to remember. I’m re-tired. Double-knocked out. I need to go inside for a moment. Since you won’t allow me to lay on the sand.
(he closes his eyes)
Like twilight sleep. Dosing off into a dream. A dream that lives while we’re awake. But is hidden behind the eyes.
YAK
A landscape?
BLAB
(eyes closed)
Yes. I see it. A landscape of our world. A landscape within. So long and wide the eyes cannot see its full scope. It’s felt. Oh, to let it live.
YAK
What is it?
BLAB
Something amazing. Other worldly. You should try it. Close your eyes.
Yak closes his eyes.
They stand next to each other far enough apart so the sculpture can be seen between them, upstage.
The MAN-MADE sculpture looks like a dead robot. It stares out with the same expression as its creators, but with a blank look of horror/death on its face. Like Picasso’s second to last self-portrait titled § §”Pablo Picasso: Self-portrait Facing Death (1972)”
Stillness for 30 seconds holding on this tableau.
Slow fade to black.
End of Play
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