Kendall meets the deformed John Merrick in a rehearsal of The Elephant Man. Merrick reflects on his appearance and his mother's death while the ensemble imagines him as a Viking, poet, and ogre. The scene explores isolation and longing, ending with the idea that no one is alone.
You see, most people are deathly afraid of him, which is why we hired you, a famous actress, so that hopefully you could, um, show him that perhaps there's someone who might be his friend.
He must long so deeply to be close to someone he loves.
Oh, certainly. Um, perhaps upon our entrance you can introduce yourself and then work your magic.
Well, shall we practice?
Sure.
Hand.
Okay.
Hello, John.
It is very nice to meet you.
You're a natural. Perfect.
Shall we go in?
Can I do that one more time?
Oh, sure.
Hand. John, it's Kendall.
So good to meet you.
Oh, I like that one.
It didn't feel natural.
Okay.
One more time.
Okay.
John, it's Kendall. I'm so happy to meet you.
Perfect.
Shall we? Uh, John, there's someone here who would like to meet you. I'll just leave you to it.
You're so pretty! I didn't mean to say that.
I lied.
I did mean to say that. I wasn't going to say anything else.
I just got so excited I didn't—
So how's your day been?
I don't know why I look like this.
Okay.
My mother was very beautiful.
I'm sure she was.
They say she got kicked by an elephant when she was pregnant with me.
Oh, I see.
Sometimes I like to think maybe the reason I look this way is because my heart is just so full of dreams.
Do you know what dreams are made out of?
No. Me neither.
Something good, I hope.
So—
How'd you get so famous as an actress?
I don't have that many followers.
You put yourself on display and people love it.
But that's all for the camera. This is the real me right here.
This is the real me too.
Seems so. Uh, your friend out there tells me that you like to read, so what have you been reading recently?
Right now I'm reading the libretto of West Side Story.
Maria, I love that story!
But it's so sad.
Well, if I had been Tony, guess what?
What?
We would have gotten away.
I guess I'd be a hero with sword and armor clashing.
Looking semi-dashing, a shield within my grip. Or else I'd be a Viking and live a life of daring while smelling like a herring upon a Viking ship. I'd sail away, I'd see the world, I'd reach the farthest reaches I'd feel the wind, I'd taste the salt and sea, and maybe storm some beaches.
That's who I'd be.
That's who I'd be.
Or I could be a poet and write a different story, one that tells of glory and wipes away the lies. Into the skies I'd throw it, The stars would do the telling, the moon would help with spelling, and the night would dot the i's. I'd write a verse, recite a joke with wit and perfect timing.
I'd tell my heart, confess the things I yearn, and do it all while rhyming.
But we all learn.
But we all learn.
An ogre always hides. An ogre's fate is known.
An ogre always stays in the dark and all alone.
So yes, I'd be a hero, and if my wish were granted, life would be enchanted, or so the stories say. Of course I'd be a hero, and I would scale a tower to save a hot the lighthouse tower and carry her away. But standing guard would be a beast. I'd somehow overwhelm it. I'd get the girl. I'd take a breath. And I'd remove my helmet.
We'd stand and stare. We'd speak of love. We'd feel the scars ascending.
We'd share a kiss. I'd find my destiny.
I'd have a hero's ending. The perfect happy ending, that's how it should be. A big, bright, beautiful world, but not for me.
An ogre always hides, an ogre's fate is known.
An ogre always stays in the dark.
I'm all alone.
If I were asked to decide to be a hero, and if my wish were granted, I should be enchanted, for songs go and say, of course I'd be a hero, and I would scale a tower to save a hothouse flower and carry her away. The perfect happy ending, that's how it should be.
But not for me.
Miss Kendall, um, it's time for you to go.
John, it is very nice to have met you.
John, John, she wants to shake your hand. Did you know that that's the first time he's ever shaken a woman's hand? I think he actually believed you. Great job.
Shall we go? Excuse me?
What do you want?
Well, I don't want you to be alone.
I've always been alone.
My mother would be here if she was here. Only me beside you. Still, you're not alone. No one is alone. Truly, no one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you.
The world. Others may deceive you. You decide what's good. You decide alone. But no one is alone. I wish I Father isn't here now.
Who's right?
Who knows what you'd say?
Who can say what's right?
Nothing's quite so clear now. These five things you must relay.
You decide, but hear the Lord unto God.
Believe me, no one is of the Lord's accord.
He People make mistakes.
Followers of others. People make mistakes.
Holding to their own. Thinking it alone.
All their good mistakes. One another's terrible mistakes. Witches can be right, giants can be good. You decide what's right, you decide what's good. Just remember, remember, someone is on your side, someone else is not. Always keep our smiles on our maybe we forgot. We are not alone. No one's alone. Hard to see the light now.
Just let it go.
Things will turn out right now. Now, hear that amazing song. Someone is on your side.
No one is alone.
I think he'll be all right.
I hope we'll see him again.
We're back to your place?
Sure.
