Tag Archives: guitarist

Graveyard guitarist
(The guitarist is sitting in a chair in front of a gravestone, idly picking at his guitar. An eerie sounding tune but not overly complicated. He looks comfortable like he’s been there for a couple minutes, but he only now chooses to speak. He speaks slowly and he speaks over the guitar)
“Hey it’s me again. I was here last weekend. You don’t remember me. You weren’t alive last week either. But I’m here to chat again.
(Only the sound of the guitar fills the air)
I envy you. You lived your life. You had ups and downs but it’s over now, you get to rest.
You no longer have to deal with the world or all it’s problems, of which there are many. Although it really won’t be that long until I return to stay here permanently. Life is short. I guess you know that already though” (He plays the guitar. The same notes over and over he sways slightly as he listens to the song carry over the breeze.)
A voice comes from behind him. A female voice
FV: Are you going to sing?
The guitarist doesn’t flinch nor does he turn around nor does he stop his guitar
GG: I wasn’t planning on it. Then again I wasn’t expecting company.
GG: Are you looking for someone?
FV:(She walks into view now) No, I just was going for a walk and decided to walk through the cemetery.
GG: I see. Are you mourning?
FV: No. Why do you think that?
GG: You’re in your pajamas.
FV: So I am, what does that have to do with mourning.
(He stops playing the guitar)
GG: Well the fact that you couldn’t sleep suggests that your mind is occupied. You’re in distress. Like maybe you’re college student with a big exam coming up.
FV: Do you think I’m a college student with a big test coming up?
GG: You could be, but I don’t think that’s why you’re here.
FV:Why not?
GG: The pajamas. Even a college student would remember to change before going out. Which leads me to believe your brain is so occupied that the idea of changing completely slipped your mind. Also you walked into a cemetery. Which is where dead people go.
FV:That’s pretty good. But honestly I just like wearing pajamas. They’re comfortable. And I really just decided to walk here impulsively
GG: I don’t believe you.But I’m not a detective. (He lifts the guitar slightly) I just play guitar.
(He starts playing but just finger picking a simple tune. Almost absentmindedly)
FV: I see that. Which brings me to my question. Why?
GG: Why what?
FV: Why are you playing your guitar in a cemetery.
GG: It’s actually quite simple. I play and they dance.
FV laughs but then when GG doesn’t react she stops and remains silent.
GG(continues): I talk to them but they can’t hear me. But they feel it. Don’t you feel it?
FV:I don’t feel anything. What am I supposed to feel?
GG slams his hand down over the strings, muting them.
FV jumps a little
FV: Did I-
GG(holds a finger to his lips) listen. Do you hear that?
The night is quiet. The town is quiet.There is nothing to be heard
FV: I don’t hear anything.
GG: Exactly. What you’re hearing is the void. What you’re hearing is death but
(He plays his guitar again)
With a few notes I can bring them back to life. Don’t you feel the energy rising. The swirling of spirits as they dance.
FV: Metaphorically I think I understand what you’re saying. By the way are you allowed to be here.
GG: Not technically but he funny thing about music in a graveyard is most people walk the other way when they hear it.
FV laughs.
GG(continues): Do you have a name?
FV: I do. My name is Amanda.
GG: Nice to meet you Amanda. I’m James.
He perks up and points at her
J: Divorced.
A: What?
J: You’re divorced.
A: You should really work on your people skills, James. How do you figure?Me being divorced I mean.
J: Well everything I said before except with an added emotion. Loneliness. That’s why you walked towards the music and not away. You were looking for companionship.
A: Is it possible that I just like pjs, couldn’t sleep, went for a walk, and ended up here by random chance?
J: It is entirely possible That you got up and walked to the graveyard alone in your pink fuzzy pajamas for absolutely no reason.
( He is quiet. playing guitar once more.)
Note: he is not super great at guitar so pauses and false notes are to be expected. But he is adequate enough that he’s comfortable playing in front of people. Or in this case spirits)
They sit in silence except for the guitar.
James: I wasn’t speaking metaphorically.
Amanda: What?
James: You said you understood what I was saying metaphorically. I wasn’t speaking metaphorically.
A: Oh?
J: I play and they dance. I believe that spirits are energy. I believe music is energy to. They can’t hear me but they respond to the energy. I can feel them swaying. I can feel leaping. I can feel them spinning. Not metaphorically. I feel connected to them. Like this is the closest I can get to the other side without dying.
A: I can believe that you believe that.
J: And I do..But I know that belief doesn’t shape reality, and no matter how hard I believe something, it doesn’t make it true.
A: Hm. You’re a very strange man.
J: Should I remind you that this is my thing that you walked in on uninvited?
Amanda laughs a little
A: No. I think I can remember. What song are you playing anyway.
He doesn’t respond. He just plays his guitar.
J:Is someone you know sick?
A: No. I’m here by random chance and that’s it.
J:hm
A: Are you going to answer my question?
He doesn’t respond.
A: No?
He doesn’t respond. then finally
J:Memento mori
Amanda looks confused.
A: Is that like Latin or something.
J: It is. Memento Mori. Remember death. The song doesn’t have a name but I gave it one. Remember death. Because death is what makes things beautiful
A: See, you were starting to make sense but you completely lost me at the end.

J: This song has never been played before and will never be played again. Nobody wrote it down. It never existed before this moment and it will never exist again. Nobody else will ever hear this song, Nobody else will ever know this song existed. Except you and me. The beauty isn’t in hearing it, but knowing you are one of the few people who heard it before it was gone forever. It really makes you appreciate the things around you. And the people around you. You experienced they’re presence before they were gone. Forever And that is beautiful. Memento mori. Because just like this song all living things come to an end.

A: Is that why you’re in the cemetery?
J: It is. As it turns out my end is a little closer than you realize.
A:(hesitantly) Oh..? Are you sick or something?
J: I’m definitely not healthy. They don’t know what it is, all they know is that it’s killing me.
A: I’m sorry
J: Don’t be. I’m ok with it. It scared me at first. The possibility of death. But I’ve come to terms with it.
A:How long do you have?
J: I’ll be lucky to make it to next week. All living things must die. I am no exception. But my spirit will be here. Playing the guitar and when that happens they’ll finally hear me.
A:If I’m being honest I don’t know what to say right now I’m glad I met you though.
J: It was nice to meet you as well. I’m going with divorced by the way.
A: I’m not divorced. I was never married. You’re not a detective.
J: You’re right. I just play guitar.
James plays while Amanda continues her walk into the cemetery.
The camera zooms out like a drone shot so we can see Amanda walking away while stil seeing James playing the guitar.
And then the camera shuts off and it’s over.
******************
Amanda is sitting on the edge of her bed. She’s just staring at the wall restlessly. She jumps up puts on her shoes and walks out the door.
We see Amanda walking down the street towards the cemetery
We see her walk up to the gravestone.
The chair is there but it’s empty
Amanda doesn’t cry.
She sits down next to the chair and she sways to the unheard music on the wind
The End