by Jerry Rabushka and jeff schoenfeld
White Dove Cove. Used to be a gay resort somewhere in the South Pacific. Guys would run away from “the scene,” only to created it thousands of miles away. After a bad storm destroyed most of the resort – the bathhouse, the bars, the hot tubs – the resort was left to rot. One man, knocked unconscious during the storm, tried to build a life amidst the wreckage.
Josh, the guy accidentally left behind, learns to live off the land, and with the help of several back issues of Martha Stewart Living, he’s also learned how to make anything out of anything.
With no company or TV, Josh has had to turn to himself for entertainment. Over time, he’s recreated himself as a whole cast of characters. Finally, and since there was one else on the island to complain about it, he remade his own identity several times over. It’s no problem – if you fail you just try to be “someone else.”
Into his life comes Matt, a young guy who washed up on the island after jumping off a ship, desperately trying to escape an oversexed gay cruise. Matt tends to rebuff Josh’s overtures at friendship and romance, because he doesn’t trust Josh’s tendency to continually change identity, and because of some bad experiences in his own life, particularly with someone else named Josh. Matt also wants to make sure he’s not a “Love of Last Resort,” in that Josh’s affection stems from the fact that he’s the only other person there.
Since Matt’s not going for the romance, Josh talks him into playing some other personalities as a way of passing the time. There’s an “on location” pornography shoot in Greenland, a gay soap opera, and of course, a bondage fantasy. It’s through playing these characters – and a bit of harassing each other – that Matt and Josh get deeper in touch with themselves – and their feelings for each other.
from Act 1, Scene 1 (all rights reserved)
ACT 1
SCENE 1: A tropical island in the South Pacific, late afternoon. The set can be very simple; a small bed is upstage to be used in scenes that take place in Josh’s hut. A couple other rocks (or acting blocks) are on stage as well.
Time: Present day
JOSH enters carrying MATT over his shoulder. He’s a bit out of breath. MATT is wet and covered in mud and seaweed and various other ugly stuff. JOSH is wet too, since he’s pulled MATT out of some kind of mess and MATT’s been dripping all over him. He lays MATT down on the ground, trying to figure out what to do, checks to make sure he’s still breathing; he’s a bit panicked as to what to do, but also very attracted to MATT at the same time.
JOSH
Okay, okay, okay. Um… I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere. We’ll take care of you. (He goes out and comes back with a pail or some kind of pitcher of water, and a towel.) Don’t die on me. It’s been so long. You gotta wake up. (he talks while he pulls off seaweed and other stuff from MATT, and tries his best to wash him off.) Wow. Yeah… We’ll fix you. You never know what washes up, do ya? You’re gonna be ok, we’re gonna make you ok. (he continues trying to clean MATT off, just in general looks MATT over.) You have no idea how long it’s been, do ya? Long time. Hey, we’ll clean you off and you’ll be fine. Real fine. Come on, wake up! Wake up. (shakes MATT a bit, maybe pours a bit of water over his face) Something’s gotta work. (he runs the rag over MATT’s face, down over his body.) This is kinda nice really. You’re gonna need some water. Yeah. See it’s been three years for me. Three. And I can’t lose you now. Maybe this’ll work. Maybe you’re prince charming or something. Let’s see. (he bends over to kiss MATT, quickly, shortly after, MATT’s eyes open, JOSH is happy to see it) Hey! That worked.
MATT
(coughs a bit, tries to get his bearings, has trouble talking at first, takes some deep breaths) Oh. Hi. (looks around a bit, confused) What’s all this?
JOSH
Hey, are you okay? You were just… but you made it. Lemme get you some water. Don’t go anywhere. (MATT is confused, JOSH runs off, comes back with another little cup) I got fresh water here on the island.
MATT
(still confused) Island.
JOSH
(he holds the cup up to MATT and helps him drink it) You’re on an island. A small one.
MATT
How did I get here?
JOSH
I don’t know. (he helps MATT sit up, and is still cleaning him off a bit.) You were laying on the beach and the tide was coming in. And I had to save you. (gives him some water) Here.
MATT
Thanks. (takes a drink, slowly) Food? I’m starving. Sorry.
JOSH
No, no, it’s ok.
MATT
Where am I?
JOSH
It’s just this place in the Pacific. No one knows it’s here anymore. Hang on. (he runs off again, and comes back with a batch of plantains, or at least a couple.) Here. There’s lots of them here. (MATT isn’t overjoyed by them, JOSH peels one back)
MATT
Is it safe?
JOSH
I eat them.
MATT
I think I’d rather starve.
JOSH
You need to eat. Here. (he holds it out, MATT bends over and takes a bite.)
MATT
(Makes a face) I don’t like it.
JOSH
It’s a plantain, I think. It’s like a banana but worse.
MATT
(laughs a bit) A lot worse. (JOSH is a bit too close for comfort, MATT tries to move away, JOSH tries to keep him close by. MATT gets more insistent.) Where am I?
JOSH
It’s called White Dove Cove. I’m the only one here. (MATT doesn’t believe that) Long story. Eat. (MATT takes another bite, but with difficulty since he doesn’t like it)
MATT
I was lost. I was floating. I almost died. I haven’t eaten in days. I feel like a clam. I want to go home. (about the plantain) This doesn’t help.
JOSH
What happened to you? (no response) Can you tell me?
MATT
I don’t want to talk about it. I was stupid. I just want to go home.
JOSH
I can’t get you home.
MATT
I’m scared.
JOSH
I can take care of you. (pause) I want to take care of you.
MATT
Like I said…
JOSH
Hey I won’t hurt you. (he looks over MATT’s clothes) Let’s change you. This is all fishy. (MATT tries to stand up but has trouble.) Here, let me help you. (JOSH helps MATT up, then helps him take off his shirt, MATT’s too weak to really put up a fight) Hey, I got your grunge all over me too. But I’ll give you some clothes. Wait here. I have something for you. (JOSH runs off again, MATT is left half-naked, wet, and unsteady, holds himself for warmth. Out of exhaustion, MATT sits down again. JOSH comes back with something to wear.) Here. I hope it fits.
MATT
(holds it up to examine it) This is just odd fashion.
JOSH
I make this myself. It’s another long story. (he looks MATT over as if he’s some museum artifact, to MATT’s discomfort) I haven’t talked to a boy in three years. Or anyone. So I’m glad you’re here. Hey. Put it on. You’ll feel better. (he helps MATT get up, MATT’s a bit wobbly and JOSH supports him.)
MATT
I can do it. I used to walk all the time.
JOSH
I carried you in here.
MATT
(takes the clothes, and looks them over, not sure how they work) Where can I go?
JOSH
Nowhere, really. You can change here.
MATT
I’d rather not. Oh come on. I’m hardly worth looking at.
JOSH
I’m just trying to help.
MATT
You won’t tell me where I can go.
JOSH
Here’s fine. (picks up something else for MATT to wear, holds it out for him. MATT realizes JOSH isn’t going away, so he just deals with it and changes) There ya go. Nice and dry.
MATT
Yeah. (takes another plantain) I better eat. These aren’t very good. It’s missing… well… flavor. (takes a bite or two, JOSH watches intently, MATT watches JOSH watch him, uneasy) How do you get off this place?
JOSH
You don’t.
MATT
Ever?
JOSH
I guess not. I never did.
MATT
What do you mean, you “guess not?” Is there a way off or isn’t there?
JOSH
Hey, calm down.
MATT
(more insistent) Is there a way off, or—
JOSH
There’s no way off the island. You’re stuck here. With me.
MATT
(finds a place to sit down) I guess I ran a little too far away this time.
JOSH
From?
MATT
Just from. From someone. From a boat. (laughs a bit) Long story.
JOSH
Long story.
MATT
I just want to rest up and get out of here.
JOSH
I saved your life.
MATT
I know.
JOSH
I don’t know the ways of etiquette anymore, but... ‘thank you’ would make me happy about now.
MATT
(he’s still a bit woozy) I’m not in my right mind. Not that that’s much better. But you did. (pause, as if he doesn’t want to give JOSH the pleasure) Thank you. (JOSH keeps looking at him, and he goes to his shorts, or pants, rummages through his pockets and pulls out an oyster) Uh… here.
JOSH
What’s that?
MATT
(duh) It’s an oyster. (JOSH doesn’t understand) I know it’s worthless, but it’s all I have to give you. Thank you. (JOSH opens it up) Is there a pearl in it? It just sort of wound up with me. Someone gave it to me. There’s some bad sex joke associated with it. I stuck it in my pocket when I jumped off the boat.
JOSH
What boat?
MATT
It doesn’t matter. Long story.
JOSH
(sighs) Cute. (whispers) Very.
MATT
(whispers back) Hardly. Now where am I? Really.
JOSH
It’s a small resort island in the Pacific. Well it was, when I got here. Most of the resort is ruined, and I’m the only one left.
MATT
The only one?
JOSH
Three years.
MATT
How?
JOSH
Not easy. I’m resourceful, and I’ve learned to branch out. You can be whatever you want if you’re alone. If you can survive it.
MATT
I’ve been through so much. I don’t know what I can survive anymore.
JOSH
I make do. I eat plantains a lot. I don’t like them that much either. I have no company. So I make my own up. That’s why seeing you is… well… it means a lot.
MATT
This is too unreal. I wake up out of a bad dream into a long story.
