PLAY
Scene: A wall some heads are nailed to, and birds. And bugs.
Characters: Mounted humanlike heads sporting branching bony ornaments (antlers), birds, butterflies, Ryan.
Approximate time: 10 o'clock.
TALKING BIRDS ON RYAN'S WALL (all together)
"We are the talking birds on Ryan's wall. Cardinals, jays, robins, etc. We weren’t talking before he nailed us up but we’re talking now. Each of us corresponds to a date on the calendar, such as Friday, May 9; Tuesday, September 29; Saturday, March 1. Each of us is supposed to be dead, but we're not."
ANTLERED HEADS ON RYAN'S WALL (in unison)
"We are the talking antlered heads on Ryan's wall and we too have something to say. Once we were godfearing villagers just doing our simple life’s duty and now look at us if you dare. There are twelve of us. There are thirteen of us if you count Wesley but he was here before. He’s always been here, Wesley has. And his antlers are bogus. Not authentic. He must have thought we wouldn’t notice. At first we ignored him at all costs but now he's somehow been adopted as one of us. Funny to hear him say those words because all of us are talking at once. And those words. And these words. Wesley, will you never shut up? Shut up, Wesley, we mean it. We are sick of you talking when we are talking and talking so much about yourself. Silence. Silence, Wesley. Black decay on your beginning."
TALKING BIRDS
"What if, for a change, colorful straws grew out of us?"
BUTTERFLIES ON RYAN'S WALL (as a group)
"Listen! We are the butterflies on Ryan's wall and don’t count us out. We are very, very small but you will hear our voice. We take great offense to all of this, frankly. We began as caterpillars. None other present can say the same."
ANTLERED HEADS
"We began as caterpillars."
TALKING BIRDS
"As did we."
RYAN (enters stormily)
"Quiet down!"
(exits)
HEADS
"Thanks a lot for getting us in trouble."
BIRDS
"It was the caterpillars he heard, the moths. I would bet the farm and the newfangled combine harvester."
BUTTERFLIES
"Lies! Impossible! All of you go to bed."
BIRDS
"Now I lay me down to sleep…"
HEADS
"No praying!"