IT’S MONDAYby M Mott Newirth
Duet for a soprano or tenor – Li and a contralto or baritone – Lu.
Scene opens in a bedroom at the edge of dawn. There are two people in bed. The room is dark and cluttered with the trappings of modern living. The couple is quiet and still when suddenly an alarm clock goes off. One of them reaches up an arm and hits the snooze button; they each roll over and go back to sleep. Then the sounds of a cat becomes evident; it jumps up onto the couple and nudges them mercilessly. They each push the cat away grumbling some unintelligible expression. The alarm goes off again and, like before, an arm comes up and hits the snooze button.
The music, soft and sleepy, begins to turns bright and harsh as morning sunlight hits the wall.
Li
It’s Monday
Lu
I know
Li
It’s Monday
Lu
Yes, I know
Li
It’s Monday and I don’t want to…
Lu
…get out of bed. I know. Me too
Li & Lu
Nothing to wake up for
No reason to rise
only thing to do is the same thing I did before
in-order-to survive
Lu
It’s Monday
Li
…and I don’t want to
Li & Lu
Get Up From My Bed
Music comes crashing in as the sunlight hits the bed and shines in Li & Lu’s face. The couple thrashes around in turmoil. What we hear is the epic battle between the Id and the Super Ego. Id wants them to stay in bed – blow everything off. Super Ego wants them to get up and face the day no matter how bad they feel about it. The couple resembles marionettes being helplessly manipulated by invisible hands that are in a battle of their own. A sudden shift and Li stands up.
Li
No!
Lu
What is wrong here
Li & Lu
We cannot live like this
Lu
I don’t know how to…
Li
…be any other way
Lu
…than how we are being
Li
and how
Lu
Unhappy
Li
Stressed
Lu
Under duress
Li
Grumpy
Lu
Groggy
Li & Lu
Unexpressed – unexpressed – unexpressed
Lu (spoken)
It is hopeless. I may as well die!
Li
Why?! Why would you say a thing like that?!
Lu
It’s just an expression
Li
I don’t want you to die
Lu
Just a silly saying
Li
You are everything to me. What would I do without you; my heart and soul? I don’t want you to die
Lu
You cannot possibly believe that I really want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want you to die
Li & Lu
I have so much to live for with you here
The two kiss passionately
Li & Lu
I love you – I love you – I love you so much
The cell phone next to the bed goes off with a familiar ring-tone
Lu
Oh shit, we’re late
Li
I feel great
Lu
Greater than ever
Li
Can we both shower in under an hour?
Lu
If we take one together
Li
my pleasure
Lu
It’s Monday
Li
I know
Lu
It’s Monday
Li
Yes, I know
Li & Lu
It’s Monday – thank God it’s Monday! I have my whole life left to live with you
Scene ends
Opera Abecedarian 