MujO: a new soul
by Elisabetta Bracer
“Let me breathe a new soul into you.
Like the swirl in your curl, my core twists around when you’re near.
For there’s never been a moment of clarity like this before.
Let me breathe a new soul in you.
For every time is the first time.”
The woman tediously steps into a lone spotlight. The white light shifts into a soft green, her aura
taking control of the space around her. She looks around, feeling no urge to move from her position.
It’s whimsical in fashion.
WOMAN: Your view of the world truly does shift when you get better. When you mature and thus,
the love you have to give matures with you.
A man steps into the space. The light on his end shifts to blue. At his first appearance, her head
snaps towards him and she only gently smiles at him before looking away. They both acknowledge
each other somewhat, but an unsure energy emits from her, and an urge to wait from him. There is
no motivation from either of them to move forward. The sounds of a melody tease the space.
MAN. It’s good to meet you.
WOMAN. Yes. You too.
They step and begin to cross to their opposite side. He is sure of his surroundings. As they pass each
other there’s a hint of hesitation from both, a want to interact before moving forward with their path.
They stop, facing away from each other, still looking around. The lights have shifted with them,
however the hint of a teal light in the center appears. He is the first to turn back around. He hesitates
to say something. She reaches a hand in front of her to feel the space around her before slowly
turning her head to him.
WOMAN. It’s new.
MAN. Yes. To you, at least.
WOMAN. Tell me something.
MAN. About here?
WOMAN. No.
MAN. Than what?
WOMAN. Anything. About you.
MAN. I, uh…
As he takes hesitant steps forward, she turns fully around and matches his pace. They end but a foot
away from each other. Their lights come together to make a beautiful teal shade that floods the
stage.
MAN. I find you… interesting.
WOMAN. That’s more about me.
MAN. No, it’s something about me. I find you interesting.
WOMAN. Just interesting?
MAN. No… I don’t think I can continue though.
WOMAN. Why’s that?
MAN. Aren’t you…?
WOMAN. No.
MAN. I, um…
WOMAN. I can just be a speck of interest if you’d prefer it that way.
He can’t continue. He only gives her a puzzled look, as if not being able to read her. She moves to
touch his face. He doesn’t move. The woman cups his face and brings herself closer to him. There’s
barely an inch from their faces, and they collectively and deeply inhale each other in. This should
start quickly and feel like time has frozen as they stand there. Tension. Of what, there’s only to guess.
The soft melody in the back crescendos intensely before backing off as she does.
Fade to black.
We are returned to the two of them sitting at a table. As the lights come up, its obvious time has
passed, and they are in… something. They’re doing something. She’s chuckling. He’s smiling softly at
her. As the following dialogue progresses, it becomes clear we are just in her subconscious. The lights
are still soft teal, and shift to something new as she speaks.
WOMAN. There’s so much to say about what has gone on, but how to find the right words to
describe it is what puzzles me the most. I should be home right now, or maybe even at work. Out
with my friends in some bar and not caring about the people and the noise around us. But
somehow, I find myself making any excuse in the world to be with you. Anywhere but work,
anywhere but home. Just for it to be you and me. I can’t tell what it is about you, but I can’t stop
myself from thinking about you day in and day out- the sound of your laughter, the feel of your eyes
on me when I’m looking away. I’ve felt your lips before now, and I will continue to kiss you like my
heart depends on it to keep beating. But somehow, I know this is nothing more than this. You and I
sitting here, talking about anything and everything. I know that I will meet you in bed and find
myself on top of you. But nothing more, nothing less. I think I can keep it as that, but the doubt in
my temple beats with the flow of the blood in my veins. I know you will keep it as only that. I can’t
deny there’s a part of me that wishes for you to beg for me. That wishes to see you on your knees
kissing up my leg as my thighs tremble to feel your lips. There’s a part of me that wants to hear you
worship my face, my body, my soul- how you can’t go a day without thinking of me too. How have
you enchanted me so? I’ve gotten lost in thoughts of your gentle touch. Why are you so gentle with
me? Do you hold yourself back from breaking me apart? Is it nerves, is it nothing more than you
being sweet? I don’t think I can do “sweet” with you, though I desperately want to. I find my fingersbrushing your shoulder. I feel as my body tenses and enwraps itself around your embrace. Your
charisma, your charm- It’s nothing short of fruitful to my barren soul. Was I this barren when I’d
met you? I feel myself wanting to love you. Why? I don’t know. It’s as if I’ve been missing
something from my life that you fill with your presence. Is there any way to stop this feeling? Is
there anyway I can keep myself from you?
He shifts in his chair. The lights have transformed into blue on him and red on her, separate as they
were before. She straightens into her chair as he pulls her leg up onto his lap.
MAN. I like these boots.
WOMAN. My stompin’ boots.
MAN (chuckling). That they are.
WOMAN. With the warm weather coming, these will get put away real soon.
MAN. I’ll enjoy seeing you in them while I can.
He strokes her exposed leg. The moment should be tender, a hint of something deep in the pit of
them.
WOMAN. Why are you so sweet with me?
MAN. Do you want me not to be?
WOMAN. That’s not what I said.
MAN. Okay.
WOMAN. I was just wondering.
MAN. You okay with it?
She nods slightly and gives him a smile. He smiles in response and continues stroking her leg. Her
head barely turns to us.
WOMAN. I know the darkened days will scorn me. You make it worth it.
The lights fade to black.
When the lights return, there’s no white light to help light the two of them. It is just their colors- blue
for him and red for her. We see him sitting at the edge of a bed. She stands just beyond him. The
melody has returned, swelling, and embracing them and the space. It’s slow and filled with bass,
shaking the world around them. She takes a step towards him as he watches, moving to caress his
hair. He falls into her touch, both of their breathing becoming deeper and louder. Intense intimacy.
There’s two silhouettes behind them, watching. We are not to know who these are.
WOMAN. I am nothing by the dying artist listening to the drawl of the violin. For you’re nothing
short of a masterpiece in the making. And there’s no control within my reach.
She touches his face and brings her nose to his head.
WOMAN. I give and I give. There is no virtue in it. I wear this disguise like a cloth on the edge of
the tables corner. There’s just the breeze that needs to knock it down. But I will try to remain.
He caresses her. The lights melt into one another slowly, becoming a rich purple as the scene
progresses. He grips onto the back of her thighs and lifts her to straddle him.
WOMAN. The darkness that follows will be gentler than you. To wear the flesh you touch will
humiliate my being in the morning light. But I can’t be anywhere else but resting in you. To melt
into you. The moon will watch over us, and she will weep as she smiles down on me.
They touch and caress and shake within each other’s contact. She pushes him to lay down on the
bed. There’s implied grinding from the sound of him.
WOMAN. I am the great artist whose sky twists with the light, and when I feel myself dragging my
body to be shamed by you, I am nothing more than the bullet that kills him. I want nothing more
than to feel you ruin me.
He flips them around so he’s the one on top of her. There’s a gasp from one of them. The purple lights
deepen, and their shadows are the focus. The silhouettes are still seen.
WOMAN. A divine fire burns within me, but no ones sees it. They barely acknowledge the wisp of
smoke rising through my ears. How could it be you that has me trapped in these sheets? The
flowers in your hair taunt the burning coals in my head.
His shadow is seen gripping the sheets above her head. They gasp and pant.
WOMAN. Eros, please save me.
He slides off the edge, kneeling before her. She lifts her upper body on her elbows to peer down at
him. This part is painstakingly slow, the tension filling the air. So thick a blade would snap.
WOMAN. Icarus, don’t let me fall with you.
There’s an intense sigh from her as her body sinks back down. The music swells, and the lights fade
to black.
A lone star, struggling to keep burning. As it begins to fizzle out, only the woman stares blankly at
us. The melody has succumbed to the events and in its place is a lone note, ringing through space.
She sits.
WOMAN. Does grief move you? Are you invigorated by despair? The poets would have the answer
to it. They may have said yes. Do I?
Blackout.
The purple lights return, and the man and the woman stand back-to-back facing the wings.
WOMAN. I feel so good with you.
MAN. I feel good with you too.
She tilts her head to look at us.
WOMAN. The finer bits of information in the word “good”. Can I say more? Can-
She thinks for but a moment and straightens her head.
WOMAN. Say something else.
MAN. Like what?
WOMAN. Say something else.
He steadily turns to face the back of her. His hands come up to stroke down her arms.
MAN. I find you alluring.
WOMAN. Something else.
MAN. I like that color on you.
The purple lights become separated. Blue over him. Red for her.
WOMAN. Please… tell me something I want to hear.
MAN. I don’t know what you want me to do.
WOMAN. I just-
MAN. What do you want to hear?
WOMAN. Tell me something to make me go. Or make me stay.
They both turn their heads slightly to us.
MAN. I don’t know how this will end.
WOMAN. I don’t know how this will end.
She turns her head back. He does not.
MAN. I imagine the Greeks tried to capture beauty like yours in their marble and canvas, yet I am
lucky enough to have been in your presence.
He turns.
MAN. Just tell me.
WOMAN. I need to know what it is you want from this. What you want from me.
MAN. Are you planning to leave me here?
WOMAN. I’m not planning on letting you go anytime soon. That is what I need to hear.
She turns to face him but doesn’t look him in the eyes. Through him. His blue light slowly becomes a
pale pink, hers an intense red light.
MAN: Don’t take my silence as if I have nothing to say to you. I have the world to say to you.
However, the chaos of my brain silences with you around, and I just like to enjoy the fact that you
calm the tides in my core.
Blackout.
Like the swirl in your curl, my core twists around when you’re near.
For there’s never been a moment of clarity like this before.
Let me breathe a new soul in you.
For every time is the first time.”
The woman tediously steps into a lone spotlight. The white light shifts into a soft green, her aura
taking control of the space around her. She looks around, feeling no urge to move from her position.
It’s whimsical in fashion.
WOMAN: Your view of the world truly does shift when you get better. When you mature and thus,
the love you have to give matures with you.
A man steps into the space. The light on his end shifts to blue. At his first appearance, her head
snaps towards him and she only gently smiles at him before looking away. They both acknowledge
each other somewhat, but an unsure energy emits from her, and an urge to wait from him. There is
no motivation from either of them to move forward. The sounds of a melody tease the space.
MAN. It’s good to meet you.
WOMAN. Yes. You too.
They step and begin to cross to their opposite side. He is sure of his surroundings. As they pass each
other there’s a hint of hesitation from both, a want to interact before moving forward with their path.
They stop, facing away from each other, still looking around. The lights have shifted with them,
however the hint of a teal light in the center appears. He is the first to turn back around. He hesitates
to say something. She reaches a hand in front of her to feel the space around her before slowly
turning her head to him.
WOMAN. It’s new.
MAN. Yes. To you, at least.
WOMAN. Tell me something.
MAN. About here?
WOMAN. No.
MAN. Than what?
WOMAN. Anything. About you.
MAN. I, uh…
As he takes hesitant steps forward, she turns fully around and matches his pace. They end but a foot
away from each other. Their lights come together to make a beautiful teal shade that floods the
stage.
MAN. I find you… interesting.
WOMAN. That’s more about me.
MAN. No, it’s something about me. I find you interesting.
WOMAN. Just interesting?
MAN. No… I don’t think I can continue though.
WOMAN. Why’s that?
MAN. Aren’t you…?
WOMAN. No.
MAN. I, um…
WOMAN. I can just be a speck of interest if you’d prefer it that way.
He can’t continue. He only gives her a puzzled look, as if not being able to read her. She moves to
touch his face. He doesn’t move. The woman cups his face and brings herself closer to him. There’s
barely an inch from their faces, and they collectively and deeply inhale each other in. This should
start quickly and feel like time has frozen as they stand there. Tension. Of what, there’s only to guess.
The soft melody in the back crescendos intensely before backing off as she does.
Fade to black.
We are returned to the two of them sitting at a table. As the lights come up, its obvious time has
passed, and they are in… something. They’re doing something. She’s chuckling. He’s smiling softly at
her. As the following dialogue progresses, it becomes clear we are just in her subconscious. The lights
are still soft teal, and shift to something new as she speaks.
WOMAN. There’s so much to say about what has gone on, but how to find the right words to
describe it is what puzzles me the most. I should be home right now, or maybe even at work. Out
with my friends in some bar and not caring about the people and the noise around us. But
somehow, I find myself making any excuse in the world to be with you. Anywhere but work,
anywhere but home. Just for it to be you and me. I can’t tell what it is about you, but I can’t stop
myself from thinking about you day in and day out- the sound of your laughter, the feel of your eyes
on me when I’m looking away. I’ve felt your lips before now, and I will continue to kiss you like my
heart depends on it to keep beating. But somehow, I know this is nothing more than this. You and I
sitting here, talking about anything and everything. I know that I will meet you in bed and find
myself on top of you. But nothing more, nothing less. I think I can keep it as that, but the doubt in
my temple beats with the flow of the blood in my veins. I know you will keep it as only that. I can’t
deny there’s a part of me that wishes for you to beg for me. That wishes to see you on your knees
kissing up my leg as my thighs tremble to feel your lips. There’s a part of me that wants to hear you
worship my face, my body, my soul- how you can’t go a day without thinking of me too. How have
you enchanted me so? I’ve gotten lost in thoughts of your gentle touch. Why are you so gentle with
me? Do you hold yourself back from breaking me apart? Is it nerves, is it nothing more than you
being sweet? I don’t think I can do “sweet” with you, though I desperately want to. I find my fingersbrushing your shoulder. I feel as my body tenses and enwraps itself around your embrace. Your
charisma, your charm- It’s nothing short of fruitful to my barren soul. Was I this barren when I’d
met you? I feel myself wanting to love you. Why? I don’t know. It’s as if I’ve been missing
something from my life that you fill with your presence. Is there any way to stop this feeling? Is
there anyway I can keep myself from you?
He shifts in his chair. The lights have transformed into blue on him and red on her, separate as they
were before. She straightens into her chair as he pulls her leg up onto his lap.
MAN. I like these boots.
WOMAN. My stompin’ boots.
MAN (chuckling). That they are.
WOMAN. With the warm weather coming, these will get put away real soon.
MAN. I’ll enjoy seeing you in them while I can.
He strokes her exposed leg. The moment should be tender, a hint of something deep in the pit of
them.
WOMAN. Why are you so sweet with me?
MAN. Do you want me not to be?
WOMAN. That’s not what I said.
MAN. Okay.
WOMAN. I was just wondering.
MAN. You okay with it?
She nods slightly and gives him a smile. He smiles in response and continues stroking her leg. Her
head barely turns to us.
WOMAN. I know the darkened days will scorn me. You make it worth it.
The lights fade to black.
When the lights return, there’s no white light to help light the two of them. It is just their colors- blue
for him and red for her. We see him sitting at the edge of a bed. She stands just beyond him. The
melody has returned, swelling, and embracing them and the space. It’s slow and filled with bass,
shaking the world around them. She takes a step towards him as he watches, moving to caress his
hair. He falls into her touch, both of their breathing becoming deeper and louder. Intense intimacy.
There’s two silhouettes behind them, watching. We are not to know who these are.
WOMAN. I am nothing by the dying artist listening to the drawl of the violin. For you’re nothing
short of a masterpiece in the making. And there’s no control within my reach.
She touches his face and brings her nose to his head.
WOMAN. I give and I give. There is no virtue in it. I wear this disguise like a cloth on the edge of
the tables corner. There’s just the breeze that needs to knock it down. But I will try to remain.
He caresses her. The lights melt into one another slowly, becoming a rich purple as the scene
progresses. He grips onto the back of her thighs and lifts her to straddle him.
WOMAN. The darkness that follows will be gentler than you. To wear the flesh you touch will
humiliate my being in the morning light. But I can’t be anywhere else but resting in you. To melt
into you. The moon will watch over us, and she will weep as she smiles down on me.
They touch and caress and shake within each other’s contact. She pushes him to lay down on the
bed. There’s implied grinding from the sound of him.
WOMAN. I am the great artist whose sky twists with the light, and when I feel myself dragging my
body to be shamed by you, I am nothing more than the bullet that kills him. I want nothing more
than to feel you ruin me.
He flips them around so he’s the one on top of her. There’s a gasp from one of them. The purple lights
deepen, and their shadows are the focus. The silhouettes are still seen.
WOMAN. A divine fire burns within me, but no ones sees it. They barely acknowledge the wisp of
smoke rising through my ears. How could it be you that has me trapped in these sheets? The
flowers in your hair taunt the burning coals in my head.
His shadow is seen gripping the sheets above her head. They gasp and pant.
WOMAN. Eros, please save me.
He slides off the edge, kneeling before her. She lifts her upper body on her elbows to peer down at
him. This part is painstakingly slow, the tension filling the air. So thick a blade would snap.
WOMAN. Icarus, don’t let me fall with you.
There’s an intense sigh from her as her body sinks back down. The music swells, and the lights fade
to black.
A lone star, struggling to keep burning. As it begins to fizzle out, only the woman stares blankly at
us. The melody has succumbed to the events and in its place is a lone note, ringing through space.
She sits.
WOMAN. Does grief move you? Are you invigorated by despair? The poets would have the answer
to it. They may have said yes. Do I?
Blackout.
The purple lights return, and the man and the woman stand back-to-back facing the wings.
WOMAN. I feel so good with you.
MAN. I feel good with you too.
She tilts her head to look at us.
WOMAN. The finer bits of information in the word “good”. Can I say more? Can-
She thinks for but a moment and straightens her head.
WOMAN. Say something else.
MAN. Like what?
WOMAN. Say something else.
He steadily turns to face the back of her. His hands come up to stroke down her arms.
MAN. I find you alluring.
WOMAN. Something else.
MAN. I like that color on you.
The purple lights become separated. Blue over him. Red for her.
WOMAN. Please… tell me something I want to hear.
MAN. I don’t know what you want me to do.
WOMAN. I just-
MAN. What do you want to hear?
WOMAN. Tell me something to make me go. Or make me stay.
They both turn their heads slightly to us.
MAN. I don’t know how this will end.
WOMAN. I don’t know how this will end.
She turns her head back. He does not.
MAN. I imagine the Greeks tried to capture beauty like yours in their marble and canvas, yet I am
lucky enough to have been in your presence.
He turns.
MAN. Just tell me.
WOMAN. I need to know what it is you want from this. What you want from me.
MAN. Are you planning to leave me here?
WOMAN. I’m not planning on letting you go anytime soon. That is what I need to hear.
She turns to face him but doesn’t look him in the eyes. Through him. His blue light slowly becomes a
pale pink, hers an intense red light.
MAN: Don’t take my silence as if I have nothing to say to you. I have the world to say to you.
However, the chaos of my brain silences with you around, and I just like to enjoy the fact that you
calm the tides in my core.
Blackout.