IV. A SECOND ESSPERIENCE
Announcement/projection states: SOUTH KENSINGTON. 90 MINUTES, 9 POUNDS, 9 PENCE, AND A POLO.
BUSKER Picture this: School holidays, inundated with screaming children. Penned into a corner, by buggies and harassed-looking women. Picture –
Screeching children are heard. BUSKER is interrupted, reacting as if something has been flung in her face. She takes on a posh parent persona.
POSH PARENT Genevieve! So sorry, she’s in her throwing phase. Her therapist says it will pass. Wish I could give you something, but I don’t carry cash. And I’m assuming you don’t take Mastercard!
Posh parent guffaws. The BUSKER takes deep breaths.
BUSKER ‘Deep breath, happy place, deep breath, happy place…’
(To audience.) It’s not working. I have to take a breather. A time out.
She goes to rest, has some water (Maybe a Time Out chocolate bar.).
The musicians play ESSPERIENCE theme. BUSKER notices someone.
BUSKER … You again!
ESSPERIENCE (About the mic.) Is this yours? Can I sing on it?
BUSKER Again?
ESSPERIENCE What?
BUSKER (Doing an impression of the song.) You know: ‘Essperience, amnesia!’
ESSPERIENCE You have amnesia too? I have amnesia!
BUSKER Yeah, you told me.
ESSPERIENCE We have met?
BUSKER Yes!
ESSPERIENCE (Shrugs.) I am sorry, I forget people I meet, because I have a –
BUSKER – Amnesia, yeah. How did you find me again?
ESSPERIENCE shrugs. BUSKER speaks to the audience.
I look at her more closely this time. She’s very thin. In her neck is a small incision, a little plastic tube runs out of it and down her over-large jumper. Her eyes are very bright, starlight, and her hands constantly moving, as if she’s weaving something out of thin air. The air of someone who might not be here long…
(To ESSPERIENCE.) Um. I wanted to say… I’m sorry. That I was…ungenerous, the last time we met.
ESSPERIENCE Is OK. I don’t remember it.
BUSKER Not even a little bit?
ESSPERIENCE No! Look. Everything I essperience, I see, hear, smell, is just a footprint to the sand. Maybe there for days, maybe it is hours, maybe just a minute before the sea comes, whoosh, and wash it away.
BUSKER Don’t you miss having memories?
ESSPERIENCE Why spend life missing days that already lost, regretting mistakes that already done? I am blessed every day is new one! Memories are a heavy bricks. Everybody carry them and look so sad. Not me. I am free! I just stop. I listen. And wonderful things they happen!
BUSKER Stop and listen…yes.
… Oh gosh, I owe you a tenner! Someone gave us a twenty last time, hang on…
ESSPERIENCE (Waving it away.) I don’t want this!
BUSKER (Surprised.) … Really? Well, is there anything else I can – ?
ESSPERIENCE becomes very excited.
ESSPERIENCE You let me sing?
Flamenco guitar riff.
What I want most is to sing!
Music building. The BUSKER is hesitant.
BUSKER (To audience.) I’m going to regret this.
BUSKER hands over the mic, and ESSPERIENCE begins to sing.
Essperience Song
I may forget tomorrow
Adventures of tonight.
But no one brings me sorrow
I don’t give them the right
I found a way to live
And learning to be strong
I say it in my head
And now I write this song
Every day, essperience
Even when you are afraid, essperience
The good, the bad the strange, essperience
There’s much to do and see!
ESSPERIENCE (To audience.) Sing, sing!
Every day, essperience
Even when you’re afraid, essperience
The good, the bad the strange, essperience
There’s much to do and see!
The song ends. Lots of coins drop and the BUSKER’s hat fills up.
BUSKER Oh my God! People are literally emptying their pockets for her! In minutes she’s trebled wha...