TIME IS
ONLY A CENTURY AWAY
by Michael A Rose
Copyright 2005
Cast of Characters
RITCHIE WINCHESTER An old man looking to be in his 80’s. He has been the maintenance man on the clock tower in the town square for more than fifty years. Quiet, friendly, resourceful, slipping mentally due to his advanced age.
JUNE WINCHESTER RITCHIE’S dead wife, who he sees as alive and well. She is as he remembers her, a young and vibrant woman of around 30.
EDGAR EARLY RITCHIE’S friend and boss at the city planning commission. In his mid 50’s.
FATE The physical manifestation of fate, the force that moves human destiny toward the end of time. Cloaked in a long and elaborate costume.
Scene: The inside of the clock tower, anytown USA.
Time: The near future.
*AUTHORS NOTE: *The characters in the play do their business and physically move within the machine driven rhythm of the clock mechanism. This is not to say that they are stiff and emotionless, but that they are as much a part of the clockwork as the clock’s continued operation is a part of them. EDGAR is a notable exception to this rule, and takes no notice of the rhythm when going about his business.
SETTING: The inside of a large clock face in a small town in America. Colored light showing through from the outside shows (backward) that it is 4:45 on the gigantic clock hands. The clock has been running for years without a hitch due to the diligence of RITCHIE. Tools are scattered about on the ground, and gears and other machinery are turning and clanking with a distinct rhythm.
AT RISE: RITCHIE stands marveling at his handiwork. He walks in rhythm with the machinery to a small gear and uses his wrench to tighten a nut. He crouches down and listens to the mechanism patiently, one ear against the device. He looks puzzled, takes out a hammer and taps, drumming along to the machine beat on one end of the device. He listens again, and looks satisfied. FATE enters and stands behind RITCHIE. He waits a moment, then shouts.
FATE
HEY YOU BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA!
(RITCHIE jumps, holding his chest and gasping. He
turns angrily to confront FATE.)
RITCHIE
What’s the matter with you? You could give a fella a heart attack!
FATE
Little jumpy today, huh Rich?
RITCHIE
Crimeny… only when some jackass sneaks up behind me while I’m working.
FATE
Sorry.
(Walking around and touching gears and springs)
What do these do?
RITCHIE
Stop it. You’re going to break something.
FATE
I only do things I’m meant to. Don’t get your panties all in a bunch.
RITCHIE
I just don’t want to pay for your mistakes.
FATE
Fate doesn’t make mistakes, Rich. Destiny, it’s all supposed to happen exactly the way I make it happen. Quit worrying. You’ll go gray early.
(JUNE enters with a tray carrying cookies and
lemonade with three glasses.)
JUNE
Hello boys!
RITCHIE
Hi honey.
FATE
Hi there, Mrs. Winchester.
RITCHIE
Fate mocked me again today.
FATE
Did not.
JUNE
(Walks to RITCHIE and kisses him on the cheek)
Now honey, there are worse fates.
RITCHIE
Worse than that one? I doubt it.
JUNE
Would you boys like some lemonade?
FATE
Yes please, Mrs. Winchester.
(JUNE pours lemonade in the three glasses, taking one
for herself and handing one to FATE and one to RITCHIE.
The trio sits down and relaxes on some boxes.)
RITCHIE
Now that’s a job well done. You show me anyone, I mean anyone, can do work like that coming in fresh off the street. You ain’t going to find anyone, I’ll tell you that.
FATE
It’s nice work, Rich. You should be proud.
JUNE
You’re the best, honey.
RITCHIE
I should call Edgar, let him know I’m almost finished.
(RITCHIE gets his cell phone out and dials a number. He
puts it up to his ear and waits a beat)
Edgar? This is Ritchie. I’m just about finished on the maintenance… yeah, already… when you’ve been doing this for fifty years, it doesn’t take much time… you are? All right, I’ll be up here, it’s unlocked, just come on up. Okay, see you soon.
JUNE
Company? Should I get dinner started?
RITCHIE
No, sweetheart. We’re not at home, we’re at the tower.
FATE
I could use a snack.
RITCHIE
Quiet, you. You’ve been nothing but trouble since you got here.
FATE
I’m insulted, Rich. I take time out of my busy day for you and you repay me with these barbs? I thought we were closer than that.
RITCHIE
What do you want anyway, you’re keeping me from my job.
JUNE
Ritchie, he’s just trying to be friendly.
FATE
Yeah, Ritchie. I just thought I’d check in on you today, since I was happening by.
RITCHIE
Is today important?
(A knock at the door to the gear room, followed by
it sweeping open and EDGAR entering. He takes off
his hat and holds out his hand in a gesture of friendship.)
EDGAR
Hey Ritchie.
RITCHIE
Edgar. How’s it going?
EDGAR
It’s going well. How’s everything with you?
RITCHIE
Not bad, just working away. Working hard keeping everything running.
EDGAR
Good man, good man… not too lonely in that old apartment by yourself are you?
RITCHIE
Ed, I’ve told you a million times, I’m not interested in moving into any group home. I can still work, and I can still live by myself. I don’t need anyone looking over my shoulder to make sure I don’t drop pudding in my lap.
EDGAR
Okay, okay, I didn’t mean any offense. Just wondering if you’d thought about it anymore.
RITCHIE
I’m the best maintenance man this city has ever had, Ed. I’ve been here since this clock was built. I helped lay down the metal work on this tower. We go way back in this city. I take care of her, and myself too.
EDGAR
I know, I’m sorry.
RITCHIE
I was just taking a little lunch break. I’m almost done.
EDGAR
Actually, Rich, don’t worry about it.
RITCHIE
Don’t worry about it? But it’s time for the monthly tune up. Have to do that.
EDGAR
You ever thought about taking a break?
JUNE
He doesn’t need a break. He’s been working here for years.
RITCHIE
I don’t need a vacation, Ed. This gives me a reason to get up in the morning. It’s second nature to me.
FATE
It is your nature. It’s your thread.
(The machine like rhythm clanks and rattles it’s
way onward as RITCHIE goes to his machinery
and applies some oil to a gear, all in perfect tempo.)
EDGAR
I know Ritchie, believe me, I wouldn’t think of anyone else… I’m afraid I have some bad news though.
(JUNE looks sorrowful and goes to RITCHIE, putting
her arms around him lovingly. FATE sits down and
puts his feet up, waiting for the inevitable. FATE takes
a spool of thread out of his pocket and holds it up, playing
with the string and unwinding some of the thread, delicately.)
RITCHIE
Go ahead.
EDGAR
We’re… shutting her down, Rich.
JUNE
No, you can’t!
RITCHIE
What?
EDGAR
I’m sorry. The council decided yesterday. They figured it was getting old, and
it’s just not worth the money to keep her running anymore. I’m sorry, Rich.
RITCHIE
So just because it’s old you’re tearing it down? You’re all alike. It can still work. I keep it running better than a digital.
EDGAR
It’s not that it can’t work… but the parts, they’re getting old. The motor quit last winter and you were up here all by yourself fixing it up again… you’re getting too old to…
RITCHIE
What am I supposed to do now?
EDGAR
I talked to them about putting you in the gardening unit… you’d ride around
town and make sure the public flowers were all right; things like that.
RITCHIE
But this is what I do! I maintain the clock.
EDGAR
Well, I’m sorry old friend, you’ll have to do something else.
(EDGAR’S cell phone rings, stopping all other
sound and motion, all characters freeze for a moment
including RITCHIE until EDGAR answers the phone
at which point everything resumes.)
Yeah, this is Ed… can it wait? I’m trying to talk to Ritchie… okay, I’ll come down and sign for it, can you meet me at the door? … All right, see you then.
(EDGAR clicks his phone off and puts it away)
I have to run down and sign for some materials. I’ll be right back.
(EDGAR pauses on the way out and looks back
at RITCHIE, who looks lost.)
I’m sorry.
(EDGAR exits.)
RITCHIE
What am I going to do?
JUNE
I’m sorry, honey.
FATE
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
RITCHIE
I don’t need platitudes. I need answers.
FATE
What makes you think there are answers?
(FATE throws the spool up in the air and catches it.
He allows it to unwind a bit longer and relaxes.)
RITCHIE
This is my life. I can’t do anything else.
JUNE
Sweetheart, do you remember?
RITCHIE
Do I remember what?
JUNE (very comforting)
Do you remember when you lost me?
(pause)
Do you remember when I died?
RITCHIE
Yes.
JUNE
Do you remember how you felt?
RITCHIE
Hardest thing I’ve ever had to face in my life.
JUNE
What did you do? The night after you heard…
(FATE becomes interested and crosses to hear.)
RITCHIE
I… went into the house…
JUNE
And then…?
RITCHIE
I got my old revolver from the top shelf… and I held it up to my temple…
JUNE
But then what happened?
RITCHIE
I… stopped.
JUNE
You’re a stronger person than you give yourself credit for.
RITCHIE
You’re right… because I had a life to live. But with this… I don’t.
JUNE
You know I always loved you.
RITCHIE
I do. I don’t understand what’s happening.
(They both look toward fate.)
FATE
What? You expect me to explain things?
RITCHIE
You know better than I do.
FATE
You were right. Important day. You found your purpose though. Should feel pretty good about that. Most people go through without ever finding it. End up becoming pizza chefs or something. Pointless. You found it. Yes sir, you can wear that like a badge. Be proud of that.
(The clock rhythm starts to slow down in very minor
and slow degrees of change.)
RITCHIE
Do you hear something?
JUNE
No, I don’t think so.
RITCHIE
The clock, something’s wrong with the clock!
(RITCHIE jumps up and starts frantically moving
around the area, all within the confines of the clock’s
rhythm. He taps on parts with his hammer, tightens
nuts and bolts, and oils anything that he can find that
might not be quite right. The clock continues it’s slow
descent in speed.)
It’s never done this before.
JUNE
Can you fix it?
RITCHIE
You don’t think… they didn’t cut the power, did they?
FATE
The leaves are turning.
RITCHIE
They can’t cut the power. I need to talk to someone in charge. The city fathers, they’ll listen to me. I’m older than most of them.
FATE
This too shall pass.
(FATE takes out a small pair of silver scissors.
RITCHIE and JUNE cross and sit together.)
JUNE
Do you remember being with me?
RITCHIE
I’ve never forgotten it.
JUNE
What do you remember about it?
(The clock continually slows throughout the next
bit of speech from RITCHIE until it is nearly stopped.)
RITCHIE
I remember your eyes. How they sparkled when I looked into them. They reflected my soul back at me, they were so vivid. I remember holding you in my arms for the first time, and how soft your skin was. I remember the way that you laughed. Like raindrops in my heart. How you used to bring me a cup of coffee when I was reading my paper in the morning… and how sometimes you weren’t quick enough and I’d grab you and pull you down into my lap… and your kiss…
(RITCHIE and JUNE are now buried in each others
arms, the clock sound stops with one final tick. The
silence is deafening, as nothing moves on stage for
a long pause. FATE takes the scissor and snips the
the thread. He holds up the spool and looks at it in the
light. He puts it into his cloak, along with the scissor.
He takes the thread he has cut off and walks to a part
of the clock, ties the thread around it and then waits.
The silence is disturbed by EDGAR entering the tower.)
EDGAR
Sorry about that, Rich. Turns out…
(EDGAR notices RITCHIE and stares blankly. Stunned,
he pulls out his phone and dials.)
Hey Max, this is Ed. Send an ambulance over… no, it’s Rich, he must be sick or something. Better hurry. He’s not moving… you did what? The power? I don’t care, that’s fine.
EDGAR (cont.)
It’s coming down next month anyway. Yeah, fine, just call them, and hurry up. Christ. See you later.
(EDGAR hangs up the phone. FATE walks up
behind EDGAR and looks him over, pulls out
a different spool of thread and appraises it. FATE
then puts it away, walks over to RITCHIE and
sits down next to him and JUNE. EDGAR takes
a step toward RITCHIE, thinks better of it and
walks out, without saying a final line.)
(The only light comes from behind the clock face
in a bright silhouette. The clock now reads 12:00.
(BLACKOUT)
(END OF PLAY)