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By Arya Varma
Posted on February 1, 2025
Cover Image Title: The Show Mime
Cover Image by: Kenny
Classification: Digital
Specifications: 2360 pixels X 1640 pixels
Year: 2025
Location: Colorado, U.S.A.
Scene One
[lights up]
[a man (Joseph) and a mime are standing next to each other, the mime is a street performer and the man is his handler]
[the mime is performing, a lady (Maria) strolls onstage]
Maria: Why, what’s this?
Joseph: Oh, I’m glad he caught your eye! I’m Joseph, and this is the world-famous Miming Manuel.
[Manuel continues performing, now happy that he has an audience]
Maria: Why, he’s marvellous!
Joseph: Yes, isn’t he?
Maria: Wherever did you get him?
Joseph: Oh, just off the coast of Uruguay. They have the most wonderful mimes there.
Maria: Incredible! You know, I always thought mimes grew on trees, like coconuts.
Joseph: Oh, you’re certainly right, my dear, some of them do. But the rarer types, like Manuel, are quite human, alright - I had to scour all of South America to find the utmost quality.
Maria: My goodness, it certainly seems like you did!
Joseph: Why, thank you! I don’t think I caught your name, my dear.
Maria: Oh, I’m Maria!
[an old lady (Granny Ruth) enters]
Granny Ruth: Why, what do we have here?
Joseph: Only Manuel, the finest mime of all time!
Granny Ruth: Certainly seems worth more than a dime.
Maria: Isn’t he just marvellous, ma’am?
Granny Ruth: Appears so. (to Joseph) Where’d you get him, kiddo?
Joseph: Dearest me, just off the coast of Uruguay, it was.
Granny Ruth: They do have the most wonderful mimes there.
Maria: I heard that they’re starting to make them in factories?
Granny Ruth: How horrid!
Joseph: It’s a sad truth. No one in this world looks for quality anymore. Everyone wants mass production.
Granny Ruth: Ain’t that the fact. Back in my day, handmade was the way to go.
Joseph: Good times. I didn’t quite catch your name, ma’am.
Granny Ruth: Oh, many don’t these days. It gets tough when you’re my age. You young ones can call me Granny Ruth.
Maria: It’s a pleasure to meet you, Granny.
[at this moment, Manuel starts clutching his throat and miming frantically]
Granny Ruth: I do believe there’s something wrong with your mime, kiddo.
Joseph: Oh don’t mind, he gets like that sometimes.
[Manuel shakes his head at this and continues trying to get everyone’s attention]
Joseph: He’s a great storyteller, isn’t he?
Maria: Oh, certainly. I don’t think I’ve seen a performance this moving in a while.
[Manuel falls to his knees and continues]
Maria: You’re sure he’s not broken?
Granny Ruth: True art can be hard to understand.
Maria: Well, I’ll have you know, I study the performing arts! I can tell you exactly what he’s saying.
Joseph: Please, be my guest.
[blackout]
[end scene]
Scene Two
[Maria is on the balcony, Manuel is onstage]
Maria: (narrating) Just picture this. The sun is setting, the clouds parting, and Princess Rosella is up in her tower. She cries out for help. “Manuel, oh Manuel! My knight, where hath thou gone?” She yearns to be rescued. She yearns for safety, the kind that can only be found in her beloved’s strong arms.
[Manuel, holding an air-sword, stands proudly with his chest puffed out]
Maria: But Manuel cannot save her yet, for the princess’ tower is being guarded by the cruellest of dragons.
[a roaring sound is heard]
Maria: Manuel charges the dragon—swings right—swings left—then swings under—he plunges his noble blade into the creature’s twisted heart! The dragon gives one final roar—
[Manuel swings the imaginary sword a few times before stabbing the dragon with it]
[a roaring sound is heard once more]
Maria: Before collapsing into a lifeless heap. Sir Manuel has saved the day. He reaches for his princess. She is safe. “Manuel!” she cries - “You are my hero!”
[Manuel hugs the air-princess and dances with her for a bit]
[blackout]
[end scene]
Scene Three
[Manuel is once again next to Joseph, on the sidewalk. Granny Ruth, and Maria stand around him.]
[Manuel is waving his arms frantically, clutching the side of the stage]
Granny Ruth: Pshaw! Dragon-slaying, my foot. You kids need to learn the basics - trust me, I’ve seen my fair share of mimes. This is what he’s really saying…
[blackout]
[end scene]
Scene Four
[Granny Ruth is on the balcony, Manuel is onstage]
Granny Ruth: (narrating) I can see it in my mind’s eye. Manuel stands in a courtyard under the full moon. He holds flowers out to his beloved, her eyes shining like stars-
[Manuel holds out air-flowers to an invisible girl]
Granny Ruth: The world is cruel, but the two of them have tonight all to themselves. Two households, both alike in dignity… on the coast of Uruguay, where we lay our scene… star cross’d lovers, destined to die - let them have one dance, one night…
[Manuel and the invisible girl begin to dance, he dips her]
Granny Ruth: When, alas, it is not Cupid’s arrow, but Manuel’s father’s, who pierces the poor girl!
[Manuel falls to his knees and pretends to hold her in his arms]
Granny Ruth: The once-stars in her eyes are fading, fading to darkness that consumes Manuel’s heart as well. He cannot live without her. Taking the arrow from her lifeless body…
[Manuel pretends to stab himself]
Granny Ruth: Manuel does unto himself what the world hath done to his love. Joined in death, the red string of fate shines, ever so strong, in the moonlight - isn’t Fate artistic?
[Manuel dies]
[blackout]
[end scene]
Scene Five
[same setup as Scenes One and Three]
[Manuel is on his knees once more, choking and clawing at the air]
Joseph: Ladies, ladies, let’s not get carried away. I think I’d know my own mime - I got him myself after all. Look at the crook of his head, how he claws the air - clearly, something much more sinister is upon us. Here is the true meaning of Manuel’s performance…
[blackout]
[end scene]
Scene Six
[Joseph is on the balcony, Manuel is onstage]
Joseph: (narrating) Envision this. The stakes are high, time is running out, and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. There’s a killer on the loose - not any kind of killer. A serial killer. Last night, he strangled his latest victim before fleeing the scene - we know nothing of his identity, except that he will strike again within the hour. It’s all up to Detective Manuel now.
[Manuel creeps comically along the wall, looking through air-binoculars]
Joseph: If the killer gets away tonight, Manuel’s town in Uruguay will never know peace again. He must be caught - wait! What was that sound?
[Manuel is alert, looking around]
Joseph: The killer has arrived - he creeps up behind Manuel - is this the end of our hero?!
[Manuel turns around, draws an air-gun, and shoots]
Joseph: With one fatal shot, Detective Manuel brings down the murderer. The town is safe - our hero has saved the day again.
[Manuel looks skyward with open arms]
[blackout]
[end scene]
Scene Seven
[same setup as previous scenes]
[Manuel is clutching his throat and gasping for air silently]
Maria: There’s absolutely no way that he’s acting out a murder story - look at how his arms are waving!
Joseph: Well, it’s certainly more likely than Granny Ruth’s tragic love story!
Granny Ruth: Why, look at how he doubles over! He’s committing suicide, not slaying a dragon, as young Maria clearly can’t tell!
[they all start squabbling; man enters]
Man: What’s all this commotion? It’s indecent to make this much noise in public, you know.
Joseph: Well, we’re having a slight disagreement on my mime’s performance. Settle the argument for us, will you? What’s he trying to say?
Man: (looking at Manuel thoughtfully) One moment.
[The man reaches out and touches Manuel’s throat.]
Granny Ruth: Well? Is it about tragic love?
Maria: Is he a knight in shining armour?
Joseph: Or a detective saving the day?
Man: This man has asthma, you idiots! Get him an inhaler!
[Manuel nods fervently before collapsing]
[blackout]
[end play]
[ Writing Editor: Paul Shannon. ]