Florestan & Eusebius

Lights

Eusebius is at the piano, playing a sentimental and lyrical Chopin Nocturne. In a while, Florestan barges in.

Florestan: What's this infernal din?

Eusebius: Shh...

Florestan: Stop this monstrosity at once! And at this hour...sheesh!

Eusebius: Quiet. I'm trying to concentrate.

Florestan: Shut up! Shut Up!! SHUT UP!!!! SHUTTTT UPPPP!!!!!!!

Eusebius stops playing and throws his hands up in despair.

Eusebius: What's wrong with you?

Florestan: Bloody son of a b. What in the name of the devil were you playing?

Eusebius: It's a nice piece, so beautiful, so tender.

Florestan: Such soppiness, fake tenderness.

Eusebius: The harmonies touch me so. The warmth of A flat major caresses my whole being...

Florestan: What rot! Incorrigible!

Eusebius: Poetry in music. Pure lyricism.

Florestan: The mad gibbering of a fool.

Eusebius: Chopin put his heart and soul into the music. All his emotions are poured into the lovely melodies and lush harmonies.

Florestan: You are beyond hope.

Eusebius: I wonder which girl he was thinking of when he composed this? Oh how lucky that girl was...

Florestan: You are still dreaming such foolish dreams.

Eusebius: If only things in real life could be so beautiful.

Florestan: Ha!

Eusebius: What?

Florestan: You have just said it yourself. 'If only things in REAL life could be so beautiful'. That means you know that REAL life could never be like that.

Eusebius: Why do you always catch me like that?

Florestan: I'm talking sense. Cold hard sense, my dear boy.

Eusebius: Why don't you ever let me dream?

Florestan: Wake up, silly boy. The REAL world is never like how you dream it to be.

Eusebius: But even so, we all dream. Of a place more beautiful than we could ever have imagined. People all kind and lovely.

Florestan: Hahaha, you bloody moron!

Eusebius: I will keep dreaming.

Florestan: Shame on you!

Eusebius: Let me play it for you again.

Florestan: It's time for work.

Eusebius: Shucks.

Florestan: Back to the petty little arguments, jealousies, back-stabbings, outwittings blah blah with the guys in the office.

Eusebius: Groans.

Florestan: Welcome to the real world!

Eusebius and Florestan do not move. They stare at each other.

Lights out.