The following scene is from the ongoing project Dreaming Darwin, a collaborative theatre project at ASU. Right now the play is structured around Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Lincoln serves as Darwin’s Marley.

Dreaming Darwin Scene 3 – Rejected Material

Darwin’s bedroom. Darwin and Emma are asleep. Victorian furnishings. Emma (if she is there) is in a nightgown and cap (we may never see her face, she is sleeping on her side) while Darwin is in boxers and socks. A large celtic tree-of-life tattoo is visible on his back.

A young-bodied Abe Lincoln walks on stage, looking around and checking out his new surroundings. He has a beard to ensure that people instantly recognize him as Abe. Abe is wearing black pants, no shoes, a black blazer, no shirt and a top hat.

Abe makes a noise- chair or floor board creaking… maybe he coughs.

DARWIN: Who’s there?

ABE: (looks in Darwin’s direction, he freezes)

DARWIN: Who are you?

ABE: (realizing where he is, Abe relaxes) Oh, hey Chuck. It’s Abe.

DARWIN: Mr. Lincoln, how unexpected.

ABE: Yeah, well… in the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep.

DARWIN: …From the mountains of Faith, to the river, so deep… How did you find me? And what is the reason for your visit?

ABE: And the answers are: Google Earth and Wikipedia. We have the same birthday. Not to mention that we both have the same wicked tattoo. (Lincoln takes off his jacket to reveal the same back tattoo).

(Darwin and Abe fist-bump and give a nod when they both see the connection.)

DARWIN. I see. And what is the nature of your visit?

ABE: Well, that’s what I would also like to know. I didn’t finish your Wikipedia article…

DARWIN: How unlike you, Mr. Lincoln… You seem very well, things look peaceful. I’m not quite as well, I thought you otta know… (pause) Annie died.

ABE: (suddenly sullen) I’m sorry. (Lincoln walks and sits on the bed)

DARWIN: Do you believe in life after love?

ABE: Yes. I do. When I lost my Ann, I felt as if the biggness and blackness of the universe had become present in my soul and the pressure was going to rip me apart. The pain was unnatural. Time passed, and I realized that I had to move forward. It’s just the nature of things, Chuck.

DARWIN: I know how you feel. I don’t know what to do with myself.

ABE: Charles, do you eat, sleep, do you breathe me anymore?
Do you sleep, do you count sheep anymore?
Do you sleep anymore… (Abe begins to lightly rub Darwin’s shoulders)

DARWIN: Something’s got me reeling
Stopped me from believing
Turn me around again… (reaches up and touches Abe’s hand)

ABE: Look, Chuck. (he begins to tenderly stroke Darwin’s face) I know how it is to loose a child. I do. I know what it is like to loose a lover and thousands of my countrymen. I understand… But by now you should’ve somehow realized what you gotta do. I don’t believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now (he draws Darwin closer.)

DARWIN: (something snaps) Stop! No, you don’t know! You can’t! Don’t speak! I know just what you’re saying. But Annie is gone forever. (He turns to face Abe) The turning, burning world doesnt’t give a shit and with every word I write (he points to his desk or in the direction of his office) I solidify the fact that death is final. Natural selection is proof that life is not a gift. It is a coincidence. Now it’s just me in the corner, loosing my religion! Emma is wrong, I am wrong and Annie… Oh God, poor Annie… (Darwin begins to quiver)

ABE: Shhhhhh… (He cradles Darwin). Annie is fine, she’s in heaven. Or take second best, put me to the test, the things on your chest that you need to confes, I will deliver, you know Im a forgiver, reach out and touch faith, your own personal jesus… (Abe is playing with and stoking Darwin’s hands)

DARWIN: You’re a fucking liar, you know that? Now I’m feeling more alone, than I ever have before… I’m off the coast and I’m headed nowhere…

ABE: Shhhhh…. I’m here for you. Everything, everything will be alright, alright…

DARWIN: (begins to rock in Abe’s arms) No, no, no, no nothing is fine and nothing is beautiful and nothing makes sense anymore. The more I organize, the more I explain… with every detail I hash out in this theory the more I realize that the universe doesn’t care about my lost little baby girl.

ABE: Shhh, Chuck, it’s ok, it’s all ok. Sweet like candy to my soul, sweet you rock and sweet you roll. (Abe tried to give Darwin a reach-around)

Darwin looks up, Abe and Darwin lean in closer and tenderly kiss each other on the lips. Abe brushes Darwin’s face with the back of his hand and lets his hand continue down through Darwin’s beard.

ABE: You will have three more visitors tonight. I don’t know who they are, or when they will arrive. (pause) I’ll miss you, Charles.

DARWIN: You, too, Mr. Lincoln.

Abe gets up. Turns. And leaves the room.