I Hope It's Not A Frankenstein
A solitary performer on an empty stage.
I’m workin’ on a heart. It’s gonna love watch what I tell you. It’s gonna love for me. And receive love. Better than I did the first time. Been workin’ on it. It’s almost finished, almost whole. Gonna pop that sucker in, wind it up, beat beat. So I can love.
I don’t got no heart of my own. Well, that isn’t exactly true. Thing’s I got two hearts, yeah. Did you know when a heart breaks it doesn’t just stay broken? No, instead the two halves grow further apart, bigger and stronger, pulling you in different directions. That’s why I’m workin’ on a heart. I hope it’s not a Frankenstein. That’s the last thing I need. I’m gonna love. And receive love.
Am I dead? No. Just dyin’. Dyin’ faster than a chain-smokin’ alcoholic. It’s my heart. My hearts. They’re killin’ me. Pumpin’ God knows what through these veins of mine. Pumpin’ me with God knows what.
There was a time when I had just one heart. That was a long time ago. Ages ago. A lifetime. [laugh] That was before Believing. That’s what I call him. Or was it Doubt? I’m not sure. [laugh] Can’t be sure. No way to tell. Doesn’t matter anyhow. Doesn’t matter anymore. [sigh; beat]
I’m hungry. I wanna go out. Get drunk. Have sex. But I gotta finish this heart first. Got to hear it beat. Got to hear that first beat! When I hear that music! I’m gonna pop that sucker in, wind it up. Gonna pop that sucker in and go cruisin’. Yeah. Down the sunset strip. Gonna cruise to Oklahoma. Route 66. What the hell, why not? I’m gonna cruise. [pause]
Hey, you wanna see somethin’? [pantomimes retrieving object from pocket] Check it out, huh? Pretty nice, huh? Yeah, it’s. Leftover. Managed to save it from before Skepticism. Or Cynicism? Whatever the hell. [beat] What is it? I call it. I don’t know. Maybe a little hope or somethin’, doo-dad, dig-a-ma-wop. I don’t know. I just like lookin’ at it. It’s shiny. [pantomimes closely observing it] Somethin’ in there. Can’t seem to get it out. No, don’t do that! [laugh] You might choke. Don’t do that. It’s not for that. Just hold onto it. Keep it in your pocket. For some such occasion. ‘Case I never finish this thing. ‘Case I do.
