ISSUU version for perusal only
r i s m
p
Music by Ellen Reid
Libretto by Roxie Perkins
ISSUU version for perusal only
CHARACTERS
BIBI
Lumee's daughter. Bibi's legs don't seem to work. She lives her life immobile in a throne-like chair- unless when lifted up and carried around by Lumee. Bibi is twenty years old but looks and behaves like she's twelve. Soprano.
LUMEE
Bibi's mother. Thirty five years old. Lumee alternately looks and behaves like someone who is both half and twice her actual age. Alto.
CHROMA
A hydra-like chorus. Chroma is different shades of Bibi's repressed, inner self: young and old, female and male, sick and healed.
Chroma is voiced by an SATB choir that is unseen for the duration of the piece. The few times that Chroma is physically seen they are represented by a chorus of dancers that are a variety of ages, physical abilities, genders, and races.
TIME
For the rest of your life.
PLACE
Bibi and Lumee live in a small, Clear Sanctuary. It is meticulously clean and sparse: one bed, one door, one chair. The only clutter comes from endless rows of drawers that line the walls- a key that opens the drawers hangs high up on a hook beside them. On the front door there are eight heavy locks- one for each year that they've been in Sanctuary. A key for the door hangs high up on a hook beside it.
There is no color in their world- everything inside of Sanctuary is in shades of Dust. Stains of Light and Dark cycle the Sanctuary through day and night.
The Sanctuary is suspended in a dark, inky, wet void where Chroma hides- unseen.
NOTES
CASTING:
-Lumee and Bibi can be played by singers of any race. They do not need to be played by singers with identical ethnic backgrounds.
-Lumee and Bibi should have a significant age gap between them.
-Bibi can be played any female identifying, trans, or non-binary performer.
ISSUU version for perusal only
-As stated in their character description, Chroma should be made up of at least 4 dancers with different ethnicities. The dancers should be a mix of genders and ages.
STAGING OF THE ASSAULT:
During Bibi's assault in Act II the assailants actions must not be physically seen at all. All that should be seen are Chroma and Bibi experiencing the assault together, as one entity, with the assailants actions not performed by either party.
BIBI AND LUMEE'S AESTHETIC:
Bibi and Lumee have matching, extremely long, natural hair that looks like it hasn't been cut in eight years. Their body hair is wild and un-groomed. They wear no makeup. They are barefoot. Despite all this they still look immaculately clean. Their ascetic appearance is contrasted by the conservative yet luxuriously decadent Gowns they wear made of Gauze and Lace.
LUMEE'S PAST SELF:
In Act II Lumee's past self should be played by the same performer that plays her throughout. Her body hair should be shaved and groomed for this Act only. This is also the only time she should wear shoes. Lumee's spoken text should be spit out like rapid fire.
CHROMA'S AESTHETIC:
Despite their name, when the chorus of dancers playing Chroma are seen they should not be dressed in any bright colors. Instead Chroma should be nude except for tattered and faded scraps of undergarments. Chroma's nudity should not be sexualized. Instead, their nudity should strip each members body of its' sexuality, making Chroma appear to be a hydra of flesh: wrinkled and withered, soft and vulnerable.
COLOR:
In Act I all the colors seen should be soft and faint, with the exception of Orange at the end of the Act. Each time Blue appears it should grow darker.
In Act I and Act II the Infrared blush that appears is not a visible color, it is an intensity of warmth that feels like something internal is being exposed.
Lumee can only see color in Act II. During Act I and Act III she cannot see the colors surrounding them- she can only feel the Yellow glow that she repeatedly tries to manifest.
In Act II all the colors should be technicolor, neon bright. The shape and intensity of each color becomes the architecture of the void itself.
ISSUU version for perusal only
In Act III all the colors should appear faded and stained.
ISSUU version for perusal only
ISSUU version for perusal only
ACT
I
Sanctuary as it should be.
D A R K
The air is still and close. Dark stains the Sanctuary.
Bibi lies anxiously awake in bed, wrapped in the arms of her sleeping mother, Lumee.
Bibi stares through the crack under their door for so long that she starts to almost see a Blue Light forming in italmost hear a monster awakening Outside of it.
Bibi’s belly tenses with pain, causing her to abruptly sit up in bed and wake up Lumee beside her-
LUMEE
(To ward “Blue” off, urgent.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine Breeze Bolly Shays-
BIBI / LUMEE
Lace and Glow Liss, Moss and Sun Moor, Sanctuary, Linny Clove Simma Mets.
L I G H T
In bed, Lumee kisses Bibi on her forehead and holds her lips there.
Held in the kiss, a light Yellow glow begins to slowly radiate out of them- melting Bibi’s fear.
The Yellow glow fades. The Sanctuary is suddenly filled with Light. Any sense of menace from under their door is gone.
LUMEE / BIBI
Inside Sanctuary Yellow we stay.
ISSUU version for perusal only
Outside Sanctuary Blue waits for prey.
Lumee carries Bibi to her chair and ceremoniously lifts up her gown, exposing her withered and shrunken legs. Bibi’s daily Exam begins.
Lumee pokes her fingers into Bibi’s legs- trying to see if she can move them. Soft and mushy from dis-use, Bibi’s leg muscles sink rapidly with each touch. Bibi can barely feel it at all.
The Exam ends. Lumee pulls Bibi’s gown back down over her legs.
LUMEE
(Alarmed.)
Worse, Bibi.
Blue is eroding your Bones to Dust .
Lumee springs up in preparation for the Medicine.
Lumee unlocks a drawer and pulls out a can of Bibi’s Medicine.
As soon as Bibi smells the can of Medicine, she sees a monstrous Blue Light from Outside start to breathe under their door.
LUMEE
Without Medicine
Blue shall Erode your Bones to Pure Dust.
(Anxiously, knowing it won’t be easy.)
It shall be easy, Bibi.
Lumee starts to open the can of Medicine. Bibi tries not to gag as its smell hits her like a punch in the belly.
BIBI
(Praying to push through the violent nausea.)
ISSUU version for perusal only
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine, Breeze, Bolly, Shays, Lace, Glow, Liss, Moss, Sun, Moor, Sanctuary, Linny, Clove, Simma, Mets-
Lumee lifts a spoonful of the thick, tawny, gooey Medicine up toward Bibi’s mouth. The breath from Outside and the stench of the Medicine whips Bibi’s belly into a throbbing, nauseous frenzy-
Lumee abruptly shoves the spoonful of Medicine into Bibi’s mouth. The smell makes her gag. Bibi involuntarily spits out the Medicine-
All. Over. Lumee.
LUMEE
(A push and a warning.)
You shall do better tomorrow.
You promise.
A heavy silence hangs between them.
LUMEE
Ashamed at her failure, Bibi nods.
LUMEE
(Full of hidden warmth, Bibi isn’t getting better but they might as well...) Shall we still play Rescue?
Flooded with joy, Bibi nods vigorously.
Bibi knows every word and move by heart. Playing Rescue is her all time favorite thing.
LUMEE
(Knowing this might be the last they play Rescue together.)
One night long ago
(Soaking up the spotlight.)
at the Last Ball at the Palace-
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BIBI
(Loving every moment of their Game.)
There were two beautiful Maidens-
LUMEE
You-
And me-
And we Twirled together-
Yellow- Yellow- Yellow-
And free, and we Twirled-
Yellow- Yellow- Yellow-
Yellow and free.
BIBI
LUMEE
BIBI
LUMEE
But then...
BIBI
LUMEE / BIBI
LUMEE (Dramatically.)
Hungry, Jealous, Waiting-
BIBI
LUMEE
Blue snuck in the Palace Gate past the Stone Guard-
BIBI
And into the Ball.
“Suck! Slurp!
Bite! Bite! Bite!
ISSUU version
for perusal only
Lumee and Bibi face each other. Impersonating the “Blue” monster, they try to scare each other.
LUMEE / BIBI
(Playful and vicious.)
We shall eat Bibi’s Bones tonight!
We shall Erode her to a pile of Pure Dust until she is sucked out under the door into Blue, Drowned in us...”
Lumee springs up as though she was fighting off the unseen, “Blue” monster.
It’s a dance Bibi knows well. She copies Lumee’s arm movements from her chair and mouths Lumee’s words, enthralled by it all.
LUMEE
(With great pleasure.)
Twirl!
Thrust! Kick! Slide!
Get away from my, Bibi!
Release her to my side! My side!
Lumee starts to dance aggressively. Lumee slays the imaginary “Blue” monster in the dance.
Victorious, Lumee lifts Bibi out of her chair and twirls her around the room.
LUMEE / BIBI
(Embracing, soft.)
Safe, I/you locked us, Inside, where Blue shall not touch us. Where Yellow thrives.
But...
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Suddenly Lumee breaks from their routine.
LUMEE
(With real concern.)
If you spit out your Medicine once more your Bones shall be too weak to play Rescue ever again.
Shocked by this new threat, Bibi’s belly churns with dread.
LUMEE / BIBI
(With urgency, to ward “Blue” off. Shaken, Bibi trails slightly behind her mother.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine Breeze Bolly Shays, Lace and Glow Liss, Moss and Sun Moor, Sanctuary, Linny Clove Simma Mets.
Lumee kisses Bibi on her forehead.
Instantly the Yellow glow begins to radiate out of them, but it is far lighter than the one before. It fades.
LUMEE / BIBI
(Lumee is invested, continuing on with their prayer as though everything was normal. Bibi is failing to hide her hurt.)
Inside Sanctuary Yellow we stay, Outside Sanctuary Blue waits for Prey, for Prey, for Prey.
Bibi and Lumee lie down next to each other in bed. Bibi waits for Lumee to wrap herself around her, but instead Lumee turns on her side.
Hurt, Bibi tries to maintain her composure as she waits for Lumee to fall asleep. D A R K II
Lumee? Lumee?
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Lumee is asleep. The Sanctuary crashes back into the Dark.
Trying to hold back tears, Bibi sits up and makes sure that Lumee is really asleep beside her.
BIBI
Bibi starts viciously hitting her own legs, taking out her anger on herself.
Suddenly she pins all her resentment onto their door-
BIBI
(Seething, resentful.)
This. Is. Your. Fault.
(Frustrated.)
I feel your breath. Each day, each Dose, Hot, Wet, Sweet, sick, sick, sick, sick till I spit.
(Cracking open into desperation.) Now one more spit ends our Rescue Game.
(Dreamily.)
I would do anything to remember my real Rescue, she says it was at the Last Palace Ball. I wish I remembered what “Barabi” was or “Mintite”… There is just one thing I remember from Outside, before she locked our door against you.
She set both hands on my head. She leaned close and kissed me...
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Bibi fondly watches Lumee sleep and indulges in her favorite and only memory.
BIBI
Was I worth it, Lumee?
I can see you.
The memory fades. Bibi feels its loss.
BIBI
LUMEE
Bibi watches in despair as beside her Lumee begins to sing from a bad dream.
LUMEE
Lost in the Blue. I am in Sanctuary without you.
Was I worth it?
BIBI
LUMEE
You- you- you- you- Blue- you- lost-
The nightmare ends and Lumee gradually returns to sleeping peacefully.
Seeing Lumee in pain causes a new kind of hurt to grow in Bibi’s belly, something almost maternal.
Watching Lumee sleep, Bibi can’t contain her anger any longer. She unleashes on the door with newfound fury-
BIBI
This. Is. Your. Fault. Blue. Her dreams grow worse as you make me
worse. Worse, worse, worse, worse-
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(Sharpening into a threat to the door, harsh, gritty. )
Leave us be!
You shall not turn me to Dust.
Leave. Me. Be.
I shall never let you take me from Lumee.
(A full fledged threat.)
This. Ends. Now.
Bibi picks up the open can of Medicine off the floor. As soon as she does she sees the monstrous Blue Light start to pulse under the door.
Bibi’s belly burns with nausea. It takes all of her strength not to gag as she slowly draws the can toward her lips.
BIBI
(Fighting through her nausea.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine, Breeze, Bolly, Shays-
(Bibi grows too nauseous to speak. Fighting through the nausea again.)
Blue, Blue, just wait and see, when I swallow my Dose you shall lose control.
Desperate for the nausea to stop, Bibi abandons her plan and quickly puts the can of Medicine down on the ground away from her.
Instantly all is calm.
Defeated, she can’t believe she failed. Again.
BIBI
(With unbridled fury.)
LEAVE ME-
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B L U E
BIBI
BE!
Bibi aggressively stabs her fingers into the Medicine.
Terrified, Bibi watches as the monstrous Blue Light under the door starts to soften into the most beautiful Blue that she has ever seen.
CHROMA blue-
Bibi’s fear begins to melt to wonder. Chroma’s voices slide through Bibi’s every pore like a crystalline invitation.
CHROMA
(Dazzlingly beautiful, soft.) blue-
Confused by the sensation, Bibi pulls her fingers out of the Medicine.
Then, hungry for more of the feeling, she slides her fingers back in.
CHROMA blue, blue, blue, blue-
In bed, Lumee wakes up with a start. Lumee sees Bibi playing with the Medicine beside her. A flash of some past panic rips through her.
LUMEE
(Panicked.) GET AWAY FROM HER!
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Lumee starts to aggressively clean the Medicine off of Bibi’s hands. Bibi doesn’t react- lost in thought. The Blue Light is gone.
L I G H T II
LUMEE
(Breathless, adamant, in disbelief.) What is wrong with you, you shall never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever-
BIBI
(Eerily calm.)
I touched Blue. For the first. Time.
LUMEE (In disbelief.)
What is wrong with... What is wrong with you?
I touched Blue. So different than you always said.
My Bones. I feel like I could stand, did Blue fix me?
Blue did not fix you. What is wrong with you?
BIBI
LUMEE
BIBI
(As if she wishes she did.) Do I remember Blue?
LUMEE
(Over it, furious.)
You, you, you,
you do not remember Blue.
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(Devastated.)
You. Felt. Blue. Because. You’re. Worse.
(Protectively angry.)
This. Is. Your. Fault.
(Overwhelmingly disappointed.) You... Let Blue Drown you.
Overcome with fear, Bibi starts to aggressively scrub the remaining Medicine off of her skin.
Lumee roughly picks Bibi up and carries her to her chair.
The Exam begins.
Lumee cuts off the Exam early.
LUMEE
(Devastated.) Worse. So much worse, Bibi. If you touch once more,
(Urgent.) your Bones shall instantly Erode to Pure Dust and Blue shall suck you out of Sanctuary.
Lumee forces Bibi to look at her.
LUMEE
(With desperation.)
Promise me you shall never, ever touch again.
Terrified, Bibi nods.
Lumee starts to make her way to the drawers. All she can muster is strained cheer.
It shall be easy!
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Lumee unlocks a drawer and takes out a new can of Medicine.
LUMEE
As soon as Bibi sees the Medicine, the Blue Light suddenly re-appears under the door- awakening something inside of her.
CHROMA blue-
Bibi’s belly fills with a strange desire to touch the Medicine and feel the Blue Light again, despite Lumee’s warning.
LUMEE
(Trying really hard.)
Just think of Happy Things.
BIBI (With desire.)
Barabi-
CHROMA blue-
Lumee opens the Medicine- the smell of it makes Bibi’s belly churn.
BIBI
(Fighting her nausea.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine, Breeze, Bolly, Shays, Lace and Glow Liss, Moss and Sun Moor, Sanctuary, Linny Clove Simma Mets-
Chroma’s voices seduce Bibi as the Blue Light flickers under the door.
CHROMA
blue remember swirling-
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LUMEE
Just think of Happy Things!
BIBI (With desire.)
Mintite-
CHROMA blue
remember remember shining-
Lumee lifts a spoonful of the thick, tawny Medicine up towards Bibi’s mouth.
CHROMA blue remember remember remember shimmering-
Part of Bibi wants to get better by swallowing the Medicine to please Lumee.
BIBI
(Fighting her nausea.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine, Breeze, Bolly, Shays, Lace and Glow Liss, Moss and Sun Moor, Sanctuary, Linny Clove Simma Mets-
CHROMA blue remember remember remember
remember softening-
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Just think of Happy Things!
LUMEE
Chroma’s voices seduce Bibi.
BIBI
(With desire.)
Jasmine Breeze-
Bibi is overwhelmed by nausea.
CHROMA blue remember remember remember remember remember soaring-
Another part of Bibi desperately wants to get as far away from the Medicine as possible- but the rest of Bibi just wants to shove her hand inside the can of Medicine and smear the wet, sticky, goo all over her skin more than anything she’s ever wanted before-
BIBI
(With great desire and nausea.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine, Breeze, Bolly, Shays, Lace and Glow Liss, Moss and Sun Moor, Sanctuary, Linny Clove Simma Mets-
CHROMA blue remember remember remember remember
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remember remember touch-
B L U E II
Bibi can’t deny herself any longer.
Ignoring the spoonful of Medicine coming towards her, Bibi grabs the can of Medicine from Lumee and forcefully shoves her hand inside the can’s wet, sticky, goo.
Instantly the Blue Light shines in under the door.
CHROMA
feel remember remember softening sparkling feel taste remember blue blue remember blue shining taste hear blue blue swaying swaying sizzling swirling smell see swirling remember-
Hand deep in the Medicine, Bibi starts to rapidly smear the wet, sticky, goo all over her arms. Both the Blue Light and Bibi’s pleasure increase as the goo touches more and more of her skin-
Chroma sounds more lush and seductive than ever before.
CHROMA
L I G H T II (CONTD.)
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Desperate to stop Bibi, Lumee grabs the can of Medicine out of Bibi’s hand and violently throws it.
The can of Medicine explodes on the door.
Bibi’s shock melts to shame. She can’t believe she was weak enough to fall prey to the Blue Light’s enticement. Again.
BIBI
(Meekly.)
Lumee?
(Apologetically.)
I shall do better tomorrow. I promise.
(Pleading.)
Lumee?
Bibi doesn’t know what to do. She waits, praying silently that Lumee will pick her up and set her on her lap like she usually does after Bibi messes up. Like she’s supposed to do. Like she’s supposed to. Like she’s supposed to. Like-
Bibi can’t hold it in anymore.
BIBI
(Blurting.)
You are supposed to say, “shall we play Rescue?”
(Trying to reach her.)
Lumee?
That is what you usually say. After I, mess up.
(Demanding.) Come on, Lumee.
Come on, Lumee!
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(Begging.)
(Fearful, doubtful.)
Lumee?
LUMEE
(In deep mourning, heavy, a death sentence.) It is over, Bibi. Your Bones are Pure Dust. There is nothing I can do now. But wait for Blue to suck you out.
You are far too sick, my sick little Bibi.
Bibi is stunned, unable to process this death sentence.
BIBI
(Numb, in shock.)
I always thought being Pure Dust would feel different. I feel the same.
Lumee goes to the drawers and unlocks one that Bibi has never seen opened before. Lumee pulls out an endless roll of Gauze and Lace.
Lumee begins to ceremoniously build a protective nest around their bed.
Lumee swiftly enters the nest.
LUMEE
(With self-protective fervor.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine Breeze, Bolly Shays, Lace and Glow Liss, Moss and Sun Moor, Sanctuary, Linny Clove Simma Mets.
Bibi watches as Lumee kisses her own fingers and places them on her own forehead.
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Instantly the Yellow glow begins to radiate out around Lumee in her nest, brighter than any Yellow glow that has ever been around the two of them.
Bibi’s belly aches with pain as she watches their ritual, their love, their Yellow be so decidedly taken away from her.
Inside the nest, Lumee is the happiest she’s ever seemed. She means every word.
LUMEE
Inside Bibi Blue waits for Prey. Please protect me from her Pure Dust, always.
Betrayed and abandoned, Bibi watches from her chair as Lumee slowly falls asleep in the nest without her.
D A R K III
BIBI
(In breathless denial, soft, crumbling.)
I did not touch, I did not touch, I did not Drown, I did not touch, why would I touch?
(Shamefully.) Why did I touch...
(Deep self loathing.) Why did I? Why did? I, I did, I did... What is wrong with me? Is this, is this, this is my fault.
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Devastated, Bibi spitefully watches Lumee sleeping in the nest without her.
An idea suddenly hits Bibi in the belly. Slowly, a gleeful, self destructive desire fills her like never before.
BIBI
(Anger rising, taunting.)
Whose fault will it be when you wake up alone?
(Rage, desperation, brink of sanity.)
Without a “Sick Little Bibi” to call your own?
Bibi vengefully drags herself across the floor toward the drawers of Medicine.
Bibi reaches the drawers. They’re locked. Undeterred, Bibi starts to attack the Medicine drawer with her arms.
Suddenly the drawers break open- sending dozens of cans of unopened Medicine crashing to the ground around Bibi.
BIBI
Blue, suck me out!
With great difficulty, Bibi grabs a can of Medicine and begins to drag herself with it towards the door.
BIBI
(Lust mixed with self destruction.)
Suck. Slurp. Bite. Bite. Bite.
As she crawls Bibi watches the crack under the door for any sign from the Outside.
No Blue Light appears.
BIBI
Help me break Lumee’s heart tonight!
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Bibi reaches the door. Staring into the crack under the door, her desire to see the Blue Light strengthensblooming deep in her belly into something greater than just a way to punish Lumee.
BIBI
(Desire growing, seducing.)
Blue, Blue, I am ready.
(Overwhelming desire.)
Blue, Blue, Erode me.
Drown me.
Bibi bravely slides her arm through the crack under the door and into the Outside, as if she was trying to reach out and touch “Blue”.
Yet, still, no Blue Light arrives.
Overcome with desire, Bibi impulsively rips her arm out from under the door and opens a can of Medicine-
Once again the smell hits Bibi and churns her belly into revolt. Ignoring her nausea, Bibi lifts the can high up above her head and dumps it out on herself.
Bibi examines the goo on her hand. The sensation of being covered in the wet, sticky, goo fills her with the strangest pleasure.
In the crack under the door a Blue Light begins to grow.
CHROMA
(Soft.) blue.
Bibi slowly turns to face her destiny. She stares at the Blue Light and waits to be turned into a pile of Pure Dust and sucked out.
blue-
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Hypnotized, Bibi watches the Blue Light flicker to life under the door. She yearns for it to grow- grow- growgrow-
CHROMA
(Emerging, floating.)
blue blue-
(Morphing.) blue-
(Mesmerizing.)
blue-
B L U E III
Bibi can’t wait any longer, she shoves her hand into the pool of wetness on her thigh to hasten her great escape.
The brilliant Blue Light shoots through the crack under the door. Bibi is bowled over by its majesty.
CHROMA
(Unstable.)
(Blooming larger than ever before, rush of pleasure.)
sparkling hear throat blue
shimmering taste blue skin
neck swaying remember remember belly splashing-
Lumee begins to gasp for air in her sleep, trapped in the throws of a nightmare. Bibi doesn’t notice her mother, too consumed in her own reverie.
I can see you, lost in the sea.
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LUMEE
I am in Sanctuary without you. Twirling.
Bibi leans into the ecstacy and crawls her fingers all over her body. The better it feels, the faster she erodes- right?
CHROMA
(Blossoming.)
softening hands see blue taste remember lips tongue smell blue feel soaring feet remember hair hear running mouth see shining belly blue remember swirling mouth belly feel blue remember belly sizzling running running-
LUMEE
(Sedate.)
I can see them moving, sliding through the water towards you,
I am calling to you, calling, calling to you, but you can not hear me, and I can not stop them.
You can not hear me, and I am calling to you, calling-
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CHROMA
remember remember remember remember remember remember remember remember remember-
Lost in the Blue, Bibi’s ecstatic death rattle peaks.
BIBI
Blue-
Lumee wakes up and sees Bibi covered in Medicine and touching herself on the ground by the door.
Again, Lumee snaps into some larger, past panic-
LUMEE
L I G H
T III
Instantly the Blue Light cracks open, breaking its spell over Bibi-
Lumee jumps out of bed and violently charges towards her.
Startled, Bibi looks up to see Lumee running straight at her. Without thinking, Bibi suddenly jumps up to get out of Lumee’s war path-
Lumee and Bibi just stare at each other - both in disbelief that Bibi is standing. On her own. For the very first time.
Bibi’s legs buckle and she falls to the ground. Stunned, no one knows what to say.
Slowly, from Outside, Bibi hears Chroma return. Familiar. Soft. Lovely.
CHROMA
(Soft.)
blue remember blue remember blue remember-
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O R A N G E
Chroma’s voices sharpen into a shard of glass- far more menacing than anything that Bibi has ever heard before.
CHROMA
(Harsh and piercing.)
SUCK SUCK SUCK SLURP
SLURP SLURP BITE
Chroma’s millions of arms physically break through the door and grab Bibi.
CHROMA
(Monstrous.)
SUCK SLURP BITE
They raise Bibi high above Lumee’s head and hold her there for a moment, suspended in the Orange chaos.
CHROMA
BITE BITE
SUCK SLURP BITE
And then they drop her. Bibi falls through the floor of the Sanctuary and into the silent, wet, Vantablack void below-
INTERMISSION.
Blue?
Lumee?
Lumee?
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ACT II
Sanctuary as it was.
A N T A B L A C K II
Bibi slowly comes to. The Sanctuary is gone. Lumee is gone. Chroma is gone. There is nothing but endless Vantablack for as far as the eye can see.
BIBI (Weakly.)
BIBI / CHROMA
(Slightly frantic.)
In the distance, Bibi hears an underwater, electronic, rave, club beat.
The beat stirs something inside Bibi’s belly that she hasn’t felt in a long time. Drawn to the sound, Bibi starts dragging herself towards it.
BIBI
Lumee? B L U E B L A C K L I G H T
Bibi sees the glow of a Blue Blacklight appear in the distance.
Lumee?
Mommy?
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BIBI / CHROMA
(Weaker than before.)
(Like a lost child calling though a crowd.)
Suddenly, someone violently runs into the void. Bibi is thrown high into the air by the force of their entrance-
LUMEE
(Shouting, livid.)
Nope! Nope! Nope! Try again, bitch!
RED
Instantly the void shrinks into a narrow, pulsing, Red Light. The Red Light illuminates a seething woman standing alone in an empty, dingy nightclub.
Suspended high in the air, Bibi feels like she’s watching a memory from another time and place.
Livid and drunk, Lumee is almost unrecognizable with Blue hair, Red Lip Gloss, and a trashy, raver, Yellow Lace top and mini skirt. She is a mess.
LUMEE
(Railing, fast and furious.)
What the fuck is wrong with you? Stop calling me that! This is exactly what I made up those stupid ass code names for! In here, I’m “Lumee”- you’re “Bibi”. You know it’s a hundred percent your fault we didn’t get into Sanctuary, right? We’ve been here a million times and never, ever, ever, did that stoned ass security guard give a fuck you young OTHER THAN TONIGHT CUS YOU FUCKING CALLED ME “MOMMY” RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GATE FOR VIP! Who the fuck does he think he- BITCH, I’LL EAT YOU! I’LL SUCK, SLURP, BITE, BITE, BITE OFF YOUR DICK YOU KICK ME OUT OF LINE EVER A- I’M THE BELLE OF THE FUCKING BALL! Fuck Palace! This whole club doesn’t even deserve my new- I say BLUES have more fun now!
You like blue on Mommy, don’t- shit!!! Fuck! What are our fucking names supposed to be in here? Oh my god!!!! I fuckin love this song!!!
ISSUU version for perusal only
B L U E B L A
L I G H T II
Lumee dances ecstatically to her favorite song. Lumee’s dance is the slutty, club version of her dramatic Rescue Game.
Bibi continues to float above as though she was watching from another time and place. She is mesmerized by her mother’s dance.
A burning, blinding, neon Orange Cube of Light appears beside Lumee on the dance floor. Lumee starts to dance with the Orange Cube of Light as though it was a person.
The sight of it makes Bibi nauseous.
Still unseen, Bibi hears Chroma’s voices as though they were coming from inside her own head.
CHROMA
(Airy, distant.)
his chain is thin, looped twice around fat neck, his breath smells like hot wet sweet sour, red smudges already on his-
Lumee sees Bibi floating in the air above her. She violently yanks Bibi down to the ground.
ISSUU version for perusal only
Bibi hits the ground- suddenly she is inside the memory. The Orange Cube of Light is gone.
To Bibi’s surprise, she finds that she can stand.
Lumee sweeps her up into their dance.
Laughing, Lumee starts to teach Bibi the original, club version of each of the Rescue Game’s dance moves.
LUMEEE
(Like she’s singing along to a pop hook.)
I wanna twirl in VIP tonight!
Moving as one, Bibi and Lumee joyously dance together.
Swept up in the moment, Lumee spins off without Bibi and starts to dance even sluttier on her own.
something hot. something wet.
Alone on the dance floor for the first time, Bibi grows anxious.
The Orange Cube of Light re-appears on the edge of the dance floor as though it could sense when Bibi was alone.
Lumee doesn’t notice.
The Orange Cube of Light approaches Bibi from behind.
CHROMA
something sweet and sour breathing down our neck-
ISSUU version for perusal only
Bibi feels the dampness of the Orange Cube of Light’s breath clinging to the back of her clothes.
CHROMA
sick, sick, sick, sick, sick-
CHROMA/ BIBI
(Strained, as though crushed under Orange’s weight.)
Get off- get off me!
The Orange Cube of Light is gone. Lumee calmly walks over to Bibi and puts her hand on her shoulder.
LUMEE
(Easy, breezy, casual.)
He was just playin’ around. Take it as a compliment.
Lumee gently wipes something wet off Bibi’s lips.
LUMEE
All better now.
(Simple, a detached aside.) Stay here.
Panicking, Bibi grabs onto Lumee’s legs and won’t let go.
LUMEE
Baby, don’t ruin my shot at VIP tonight. Let go.
Bibi just clutches tighter.
Tired of this game, Lumee violently pulls Bibi off her legs.
Let go!
ISSUU version for perusal only
LUMEE
Lumee primps herself, getting ready to go.
LUMEE
(Curt, breezy, throw it away.)
I’ll be back.
Twirl, dance. Whatever...
Think of happy things.
I can’t think of happy things.
BIBI / CHROMA
LUMEE
(Full of love and vitality.)
Baby, look around...
All of this is happy things.
Lumee places her hands on Bibi’s head, leans close, and kisses her forehead.
Held to her mothers’ chest, all Bibi can see is the Yellow glow emanating from Lumee’s clothes under the Blue Blacklight. It feels like home.
Holding each other, they begin to glow more and moreuntil the Yellow glow seems to actually be radiating out of them.
CHROMA
(As if whispered in a dream, like the most beautiful things you’ve ever heard.)
Bacardi. Midnight.
Jasmine Breeze Body Spray. Lace and Glow Sticks. Gloss and Summer.
Sanctuary. Skinny Clove Cigarettes.
ISSUU version for perusal only
Lumee takes out a Skinny Clove Cigarette and starts to luxuriously smoke.
The Yellow glow swells in the smoke from Lumee’s Skinny Clove Cigarette. The Yellow glow/smoke begins to spin Bibi and Lumee around the club in slow motion.
Seeing the club through Lumee’s eyes, Bibi begins to fall under its spell.
LUMEE / BIBI
Bacardi. Midnight. Jasmine Breeze Body Spray. Lace and Glowsticks. Gloss and Summer.
Sanctuary-
The club is throw into technicolor chaos.
Caught up in the electricity, Bibi feels a rush and thrill unlike anything she’s ever felt before.
CHROMA remember SHINING
REMEMBER see mirrors sizzling smell taste GLOWSTICKS
SKINNY CLOVE SUMMER OFF OUR BELLY taste remember GLOSS GLOSS SHIMMERING OFF OUR BELLY softening lace feel remember bacardi remember RUNNING feel FEEL remember feel FEEL remember swirling smell SUMMER remember lace RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING taste see remember SUMMER feel FEEL RUNNING feel splashing FEEL remember
ISSUU version for perusal only
DOWN OUR THROAT RUNNING feel remember SUMMER feel remember remember through our hair RUNNING remember hear remember BACARDI towards our feet sanctuary off our lips see remember GLOWSTICKS MIDNIGHT mirrors SOARING
JASMINE BREEZE BODY SPRAY summer FEEL remember swaying swirling SOFTENING SOFTENING jasmine breeze jasmine jasmine body spray OFF OUR SKIN remember sparkling remember GLOSS IN OUR HAND sizzling RUNNING midnight remember remember SHIMMERING RUNNING remember PAST OUR NECK softening on our tongue RUNNING CLOVE-
All is once again submerged in a calm, still, Blue Blacklight.
Lumee and Bibi freeze as though they were held in an air bubble somewhere very far away.
LUMEE
(Internal, gently, folky.)
I had my favorite dream last night, the one about us. In the dream I'm a young golden maiden and your hair is dark like a crow. We live in a stone sanctuary on top of a hill, outside our window is a great sea. Dark, dark, dark blue water. Dark blue without a floor. And I hear them outside waiting, wanting, and I know what I must do for you.
Careful not to wake you
I hurl myself out of the window.
I am copper and feather slicing through the night and no one can see me. Down I sink like they want me to.
I stay there all night.
At dawn they are done with me.
Exhausted, I pull my dripping body back to our window where I watch you sleep peacefully as I dry.
ISSUU
for perusal only
And with that, Lumee takes a last drag of her Skinny Clove Cigarette, puts it out on the ground, and just walks away.
Lumee never looks back.
Bibi is alone. She feels the silence of the empty club surrounding her.
The Orange Cube of Light re-appears in front of Bibi on the edge of the dance floor. Following Lumee’s instructions, Bibi springs into their dance.
BIBI (Anxious.)
Bacardi, Midnight, Jasmine Breeze Body Spray, Lace and Glowsticks, Gloss and Summer, Sanctuary, Skinny Clove Cigarettes.
Bibi stops dancing. She looks for Lumee, Lumee does not re-appear.
The Orange Cube of Light continues to slowly loom across the dance floor towards her.
Fearful, Bibi compulsively starts to dance again. Overcome with panic, she begins to lose language, time, and space.
BIBI
Bacarbi, Minnight, Jasmine Breeze Body ShageLace and Glow LicksGoss and SunmerSanctuary, Slinny Clove Simmarettes-
ISSUU version for perusal only
Bibi stops dancing. She looks for Lumee- Lumee does not re-appear.
Terrified, Bibi compulsively performs the dance prayer again.
BIBI (Faster.)
Barabi, Mintite, Jasmine Breeze Bolly Shays, Lace and Glow Liss, Moss and Sun Moor, Sanctuary, Linny Clove Simma Mets,
Bibi stops dancing. Lumee does not re-appear.
The Orange Cube of Light stands directly in front of Bibi, almost blinding her.
Frozen in fear, Bibi can’t move.
BIBI (Soft, weak, frozen.) Mom, come back.
Slowly, the Orange Cube of Light begins to suck Bibi inside of its burning, blinding, neon OrangeV A N T A B L A C K III
The Orange Cube of Light is gone. Chroma appears on the edge of the void.
Fully seen for the first time, Chroma is a million versions of Bibi’s inner self- weathered beyond their years.
Slowly, Chroma starts to seep towards Bibi across the Vantablack void.
CHROMA
remember remember remember remember remember remember-
ISSUU version for perusal only
Bibi feels like she’s out of time, as though she’s watching something happening right now, eight years ago, and never at all.
CHROMA
(Delicate, strained, out of focus.) remember. remember. remember. remember. one glass. two glasses more. in and out of our hands. remember remember hands pool table edge stick those sticksthe light, the light, he wants to see us in the-
Bibi tries to take a step back but Chroma mirrors her movements.
CHROMA remember remember remember light remember remember remember he remember remember pool table remember remember edge sticks
Chroma encircles Bibi.
CHROMA Click. Lock. Remember.
O R A N G E II
The Orange Cube of Light re-appears and encloses Bibi and Chroma inside of it.
Trapped, Chroma and Bibi begin to re-experience the assault together. Their bodies move in physical unison as one entity.
Bibi feels split in two as her body stays present in the memory of the assault, but her mind disassociates from time, space, and herself.
ISSUU version for perusal only
All Bibi can remember are the petty thoughts that she had during the assault to distance herself from what was happening.
BIBI curve of skin, chain loop, is his chain real?
CHROMA
(Horrendous.)
SUCK-
BIBI hair trapped between each link, my hair is so long now, oh no, i liked that scrunchie...
CHROMA
SLURP-
BIBI
Blue light from under the door, blues have more fun-
CHROMA
BITE ORANGE ORANGE
ORANGE ORANGE ORANGE BLINDING WALLS
BLINDING BURNING
BLINDING BURNING BLINDING BURNING ORANGE BLINDING ORANGE ORANGE
The violence peaks- all Bibi and Chroma can see are the neon Orange walls around them as they are brutally thrashed about by an unseen force.
Overwhelmed, Bibi stops fighting and just stands in the middle of the Orange Cube and stares at the Blue Blacklight creeping in from under the walls.
BIBI
Blue from under the door. Blue.
ISSUU version for perusal only
CHROMA
take it as a compliment take it as a compliment LET GO take it as a LET GO LET take it GO take take it LET take it take it take it GO take it take it GO GO-
Chroma’s movements snap back into unison with each other and with a last, great, violent surge they break out of the Orange Cube of Light.
CHROMA
Chroma runs, disappearing into the void.
Without Chroma beside her, Bibi’s legs suddenly buckle-
C L E A R
Bibi hits the ground and is abruptly snapped into hyper realistic memory.
She sees the Orange Cube for what it really was: a dirty, night clubs’ mens’ bathroom with neon Orange walls and blindingly bright fluorescent lights.
Woozy on the floor, Bibi realizes that her hand is covered in something thick and thin. Something old and new. Something sweet and foul. Something tawny and Red-
Suddenly Bibi gags at the smell of her own blood mixed with-
Bibi starts to puke-
Bibi?
I have a surprise for you.
ISSUU version for perusal only
ACT III
Sanctuary as it is.
C L E A R II
Bibi is lying in bed back in Sanctuary. Lumee lies close beside her- watching her every move.
Bibi tries to get her bearings but everything around her looks unfamiliar.
Bibi looks around the Sanctuary but instead of finding their meticulous home of colorless, clean, Light- she now sees it for the shitty, hoarder, shut-in apartment it really is.
The apartment looks like it’s been ransacked. The previously locked drawers have been thrown open, puking ancient artifacts of their past life all over the room. In place of the Medicine lies endless cans of condensed milk.
Lumee gently raises Bibi’s face to look at her.
LUMEE
(Beaming proudly.)
I found a new Medicine for Sick Little Bibi!
ISSUU version for perusal only
A new, impossible question starts to form deep in Bibi’s belly.
Lumee kneels by the bed and begins to ceremoniously raise the hidden object up to Bibi’s face.
Lumee opens her clasped hands to reveal their new savior: it is a single, partially smoked, Skinny Clove Cigarette.
Lumee raises it towards Bibi’s mouth.
LUMEE
(Coaxing, smooth as silk.)
Just one Dose and Pure Dust shall be fixed.
It shall be easy, Bibi.
Just believe me...
Suddenly Bibi knocks the lit, Skinny Clove Cigarette out of her face and, with great difficulty, forcefully stands up out of bed.
Weakened from years of atrophy, her legs can barely support her. She staggers but steadies herself and thenshe is standing. On her own.
Slowly, Bibi turns to face Lumee. Lumee just stares back at her like a stranger.
Lumee violently shoves Bibi to the ground.
Bibi drags Lumee to the ground with her. With a crash, they both fall.
On the ground, Bibi viciously attacks Lumee. Lumee is much stronger than Bibi and easily holds her down.
Eventually Bibi runs out of energy. She lies there, limp under Lumee’s pin.
Lumee slowly releases her. Exhausted, they lie next to each other.
ISSUU version for perusal only
BIBI
(Empty, beyond anger, exhausted.)
i don’t wanna do this anymore. i remember. mom. please just stop. lying. now. please.
LUMEE
(Seething.)
I am. Not.
BIBI
(Accusatory, explosive.) i know what you’re doing.
LUMEE
(Harsh, dark, a warning.)
No. You don’t. No. You. Don’t.
Overwhelmed and helpless, Bibi collapses into a puddle of tears like a child.
Lumee melts. Lumee scoops Bibi up in her arms and tries to comfort her but Bibi is inconsolable.
LUMEE
(Too warm, too loving, too maternal.) We shall start over, Bibi.
Lumee’s maternal tone starts to grow manic as Bibi continues to cry harder and harder.
LUMEE
You can pick our names this time! I am gonna fix you again, I promise you’re gonna forget again-
ISSUU version for perusal only
At hearing the word “forget” Bibi starts to cry harder, wailing like a child.
LUMEE
(Shout/sung, brutal, at the limit of sanity.)
Do you know how lucky you are? Not everybody gets to forget!
(Sung.)
What was I supposed to do, baby?
(Shout/sung.)
Do you think I wanted this?
Sick of her theatrics, Lumee drops Bibi. Stunned, Bibi stops crying.
LUMEE
(Emotional, unhinged, rageful, fast.)
I left you alone that night, I swore I’d never ever do it again. Now.
(Animal, the ugliest thing, shouted.)
Say it.
Lumee grabs Bibi and starts to violently shake her.
LUMEE
(Pleading sweetly, voice cracking.)
Say it! Say it.
We’re gonna forget.
(Sung.)
(Super desperate.)
Say it.
Say it, say it, say it, say it!
We’re gonna forget.
Say it!
Say it! Say it! Say it! Say it! Say it! We’re, say it! Say it! Say it! We’re gonna, say it!
ISSUU version for perusal only
Desperate for Lumee to let go of her, Bibi relents and obediently nods her head.
LUMEE
(Flooded with relief, buttery, gorgeous warm.)
Trust me, There is nothing Outside as good as us.
Lumee picks Bibi up and carries her back into bed.
Lumee kisses Bibi’s forehead but for the first time no Yellow glow radiates out of them at all.
Defeated, Lumee suddenly flings her body around Bibi and surrenders to sleep.
The lit, Skinny Clove Cigarette begins to slowly float dark smoke up into the apartment.
Bibi watches the smoke rise without fear.
CHROMA
(With focus and power.) run-
The idea of escape hits Bibi like a punch in the gut, sending her belly into pangs of unspeakable, wild, hope.
CHROMA run. run-
A new strength surges through Bibi’s body at the idea that maybe, just maybe, this doesn’t have to be her life.
Determined, Bibi begins the painstaking process of trying to remove Lumee’s arms from around her- careful not to wake Lumee.
I cannot see you.
ISSUU version for perusal only
CHROMA
run. run. run-
With great difficulty Bibi begins to half hobble, half crawl towards the door on shaking legs like a newborn fawn.
Unseen, Chroma starts to shake the apartments’ walls.
CHROMA
run. run. run. run-
Slowly, Bibi nears the door.
Dark smoke from the lit Skinny Clove Cigarette continues to slowly fill the apartment.
Still unseen, Chroma reaches an all time high as they try to break open the door to reach Bibi.
CHROMA
run. run. run. run. run-
Bibi takes the key off its hook and starts to slowly undo the door’s locks.
With a tremendous shake, Chroma finishes eroding all the apartment’s walls to the ground- revealing a bright, Clear void surrounding them.
In the smoke filled apartment only the door remains standing.
LUMEE
Lumee sings from bed. Chroma and Bibi instantly freezethey can’t tell if Lumee is awake or dreaming.
LUMEE
(Last gasp, from bed.)
Lost in the Blue.
At least I know that you are safe in here,
only a few feet away, Drowning too.
ISSUU version for perusal only
CHROMA
(Anxious, fast.)
run, run, run, run, run, run-
Exhausted and shaking, Bibi puts her hand on the door knob.
CHROMA
(Doubtful, on the edge of the cliff.)
Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run, Run-
(Determined, with all the drive in the world.)
RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN-
Using all her strength, Bibi shoves open the door and hurls her body out into the glaring, bright void and out of the dark, smoky apartment.
Bibi feels like all the breath has been knocked out of her. Cold air burns her skin as she free falls into the Clear void.
D A R K IV
Inside the dark, smoky apartment all the walls crash back into place.
Out of the open door Lumee strains to watch Bibi lurch and stumble through the Clear void on her own two legs, heading towards the horizon.
Bibi never looks back.
Lumee is alone.
Lumee feels the growing weight of the smoke around her.
END.