Nothing There

THOMAS:
Angels in the Snow.
A work in progress.
I hunkered down and got back to work, trying desperately to avoid any...distraction.
ALVIN:
Merry Christmas, Tom!
I hope this card finds you locked in your office writing; otherwise, I simply won't excuse your not coming home.
When are we gonna see a new book from you?
Customers keep hounding me!
I tell them, 'Don't rush him, it's a process!'
So...how's the process?
Miss you.
Love, Al.
THOMAS:
(rustling paper)
(reading/writing his story;)
EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE, WE'D MAKE ANGELS IN THE SNOW...
JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER KID HAS DONE
(writes, the sound continuous under his voice)
WE'D STRETCH OUT OUR ARMS AND LEGS
THEN WE'D...WAVE THEM TO-AND-FRO
IN A...
(sighs)
In a...something...
IN A...HALO OF THE LATE...
(taps pen)
DECEMBER SUN...
(crumbles paper)
ALVIN:
Merry Christmas, Tom!
How can you bear another Christmas without me?
Where's your new book?
Why aren't you writing?
...Why aren't you writing me?
Love, Al.
THOMAS:
(smooths out paper and writes on it again)
PROUDLY WE'D CREATE OUR TWO ANGELS IN THE SNOW
WITH...WITH...WITH REVERENTIAL ROBES AND PERFECT WINGS
(crumbles sheet, pauses, then smooths it out again and continues to write)
WE'D SPEND HOURS IN THE YARD...
ALVIN:
Merry Christmas, Tom!
THOMAS:
ALL THOSE CHRISTMASES AGO...
ALVIN:
Another Christmas, another card!
THOMAS:
AND...WHEN, AT LAST, THEY WERE COMPLETE, WE FELT LIKE KINGS
ALVIN:
I wish you'd write.
THOMAS:
THEN...AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
ALVIN:
Love, Al.
THOMAS:
(hissing breath in)
AND, WHEN, AT LAST, THEY WERE COMPLETE, WE FELT LIKE KINGS
THEN, AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED...
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED, WE WOULD
ALVIN:
Merry Christmas, Tom, from the Kelbys.
THOMAS:
(slaps notebook) THEN, AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
ALVIN:
Please, write!
THOMAS:
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN DISAPPEARED
AS THE SUN...
I JUST NEED SOMETHING DOWN ON THIS PAPER
STILL NOTHING THERE!
NOTHING...
(bitter laugh)
Who's story is this?
ALVIN:
We are gathered to honor the life-
THOMAS:
(starts overlapping at Alvin's 'gathered')
We are gathered here to honor the life-
THOMAS AND ALVIN:
-of Alvin Kelby!
THOMAS:
NOTHING THERE!
ALVIN:
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW, TOM
THOMAS:
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW, TOM
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW
THE WORLD MUST KEEP MOVING AND CHANGING SO FAST
ALVIN:
IT'S RARE THAT YOU NOTICE A MOMENT;
THE MOMENT, IT'S HURRYING BY!
THOMAS:
THE TRICK IS IN KEEPING THE PAST IN THE PAST
ALVIN:
If a stupid, squashable bug can have that kind of power, what about us?
THOMAS:
WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO BE MORE THAN JUST THAT WEIRD KELBY KID?
ALVIN:
I KNEW MY MOTHER'S ROBE,
BUT, SOMEHOW, I'D FORGOTTEN HER
THOMAS:
WORDS HAVE NO POWER TO CHANGE WHAT IS DESTINED TO DIE
ALVIN:
May I drop down dead in my tracks and rot!
THOMAS:
I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY,
NOW THAT WE HAVE A MINUTE,
IS THAT, LATELY, YOU'RE ASKING
FOR MORE THAN I'M ABLE TO GIVE
ALVIN:
Look up from your page, Tom!
THOMAS:
HE TURNED INTO SOMEONE I'M NOT SURE I KNOW
ALVIN:
MONEY AND PRIZES ARE FINE CONSOLATION-
THOMAS:
SOME FRIENDSHIPS CONTINUE
AND, SOME, YOU OUTGROW
ALVIN:
YOU'RE AMAZING, TOM-
THOMAS:
HAVE BIRTHDAYS
AND CHRISTMAS
A TOKEN
HELLO
ALVIN:
I'm gonna miss you.
THOMAS:
'TILL THE LAST TIME WE SAY
ALVIN:
Goodbye, Tom.
THOMAS:
HIS FATHER PASSED AWAY
I LEFT HIM HERE ALONE