"The Sweeper of Dreams" - Mini Operas competition
Based on "The Sweeper of Dreams" by Neil Gaiman
Based on "The Sweeper of Dreams" by Neil Gaiman
SCENE 1. PROLOGUE - TATTOO SHOP
JIMMY, a chubby, sweaty tattoo artist in his 40s is drawing a red rose on the shoulder of a grim-looking housewife, MARY.
The tattoo shop looks like a chaotic assemble of sacred and profane: sketches and drawings are mixed up with photos and replicas of famous paintings; naked girls posters blend with shelves of classical books and the whole space is full of both ancient-looking and tacky memorabilia.
The radio is broadcasting a football match.
MARY
So, Jimmy boy, business’ going
good?
So, Jimmy boy, business’ going
good?
JIMMY
Not bad, it comes and goes...
Not bad, it comes and goes...
MARY
(grinning)
Like my old Tom!
(grinning)
Like my old Tom!
Jimmy smiles softly, hiding a hint of sadness. Mary looks around.
MARY
Say, what’s that one for?
Say, what’s that one for?
We see Mary pointing at a drawing, the only one framed in a seemingly tidy part of the wall; the drawing of a dragon.
JIMMY
Was...it *was*...
Was...it *was*...
MARY
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
JIMMY
It was the first tattoo I did, a
long time ago, for an old friend.
He is gone now...
It was the first tattoo I did, a
long time ago, for an old friend.
He is gone now...
MARY
You mean dead?
JIMMY
Not quite
Not quite
Mary shakes her head as if she was speaking to a madman.
MARY
What did he do?
MARY
What did he do?
JIMMY
Uhm, just some kind of cleaning job
Uhm, just some kind of cleaning job
MARY
What was his name?
What was his name?
JIMMY
I don’t know...
I don’t know...
MARY
But what was he like?!
But what was he like?!
JIMMY
Unlike anybody! I didn’t know much,
he only talked about the weather
and his favourite teams.
Unlike anybody! I didn’t know much,
he only talked about the weather
and his favourite teams.
MARY
(snorting)
Quite ordinary, if I can say
(snorting)
Quite ordinary, if I can say
Jimmy seems to be lost in some other thought, staring at the dragon tattoo.
JIMMY
’We are such stuff as dreams are
made on and our little life is
rounded with a sleep’
’We are such stuff as dreams are
made on and our little life is
rounded with a sleep’
Mary is getting worried by now but before she can say anything else Jimmy goes back to his work.
SCENE 2. DIFFERENT BEDROOMS
The SWEEPER OF DREAMS, clothed in his dark coat drags a heavy bag on the floor, collecting dreams. From time to time he stops to take a hint from his hand-rolled cigarette. When he inhales, the veins on his neck stretch and make the dragon tattoo on his neck even more evident. Walking from room to room, he collects the remnants of past dreams and nightmares and puts them in his bag. Childish monsters, lovers’ dreams and guilty sins.
CATHY’S BEDROOM
While entering this bedroom, the Sweeper of Dreams is startled by the watchful presence of CATHY. She is seated on the bed with her back leaning on the headboard. The arms wrapped under her chest underline a slender figure of a young but strong woman. The Sweeper regains his composure and silently proceeds with
his job. Cathy examines the strange man as he puts away her beloved tiny castle made of glass.
his job. Cathy examines the strange man as he puts away her beloved tiny castle made of glass.
CATHY
I saw you the other day. And the
day before and every morning since
I remember
I saw you the other day. And the
day before and every morning since
I remember
The Sweeper does not reply, he never does. Nor he ever smiles.
CATHY
Where do you take all my dreams?
Where do you take all my dreams?
SWEEPER
Away
Away
Cathy rejoices for her ability to make him speak but he soon notices that and gives her a bad look.
CATHY
What is your name?
No reply.
CATHY
Can I see what you have in your
bag?
No reply.
CATHY
What is your name?
No reply.
CATHY
Can I see what you have in your
bag?
No reply.
CATHY
Where do you come from?
SWEEPER
Good lord child! Will stop all this
blathering?!
Good lord child! Will stop all this
blathering?!
Cathy shuts her mouth but only for a few seconds.
CATHY
If you talked to me it wouldn’t be
so awkward!
CATHY
If you talked to me it wouldn’t be
so awkward!
SWEEPER
Arrrghh! I’m working here!
Arrrghh! I’m working here!
CATHY
What is it that you do?
What is it that you do?
SWEEPER
Don’t you see, are you blind?
Don’t you see, are you blind?
Cathy sighs, then crawls to the edge of the bed.
CATHY
I like your tattoo
I like your tattoo
The Sweeper stops for a second and looks back at her, in defiance.
SWEEPER
Good
Good
CATHY
You like the Dragons’ team, don’t
you?
You like the Dragons’ team, don’t
you?
SWEEPER
I do...and do you?
I do...and do you?
CATHY
No, I don’t really care
No, I don’t really care
The Sweeper of Dreams grumbles, feeling offended.
CATHY
Can I come with you?
Can I come with you?
SWEEPER
NO!
NO!
And he quickly disappears slamming the door.
SCENE 3. SWEEPER’S HOUSE
The Sweeper of Dreams enters his house, a cave, semi-hidden in towering constructions of lost dreams.
He walks to the fireplace, dragging the bag, then he throws the dreams he collected into the fire. He keeps only one: Cathy’s castle and puts it next to huge pile of other dreamy objects.
JIMMY V.O.
Good man he was, always doing his
job without moaning. But lonely
nonetheless and the truth is that
he had never seen such wonderful
dreams as Cathy’s. He had been
collecting all of them, one by one.
The girl heated his heart with both
passion and hatred. She could be an
annoying little thing, you know,
but then she would always be there,
waiting for him to come in the
morning. No one else did.
He walks to the fireplace, dragging the bag, then he throws the dreams he collected into the fire. He keeps only one: Cathy’s castle and puts it next to huge pile of other dreamy objects.
JIMMY V.O.
Good man he was, always doing his
job without moaning. But lonely
nonetheless and the truth is that
he had never seen such wonderful
dreams as Cathy’s. He had been
collecting all of them, one by one.
The girl heated his heart with both
passion and hatred. She could be an
annoying little thing, you know,
but then she would always be there,
waiting for him to come in the
morning. No one else did.
The Sweeper sits on the armchair with a dreary look. His own dreams seems to take shape before his eyes.
JIMMY V.O.
She had been asking to go with him
for ages! Quite a persistent girl
she was. So he decided that he
would not keep her away anymore.
She had been asking to go with him
for ages! Quite a persistent girl
she was. So he decided that he
would not keep her away anymore.
SCENE 4. CATHY’S BEDROOM
The morning light filters through the window. Cathy is still sleeping when the Sweeper’s footsteps wake her up. Unlike the other mornings he walks straight towards her bed.
SWEEPER
You said you wanted to come
You said you wanted to come
Cathy stands up, surprised.
CATHY
I did
I did
SWEEPER
Then get ready, we have work to do!
Then get ready, we have work to do!
SCENE 5. MONTAGE: BEDROOMS AND SWEEPER’S HOUSE
The Sweeper and Cathy visit each bedroom together, collecting dreams and then burning them into the fireplace. In the evenings they share only the best dreams, or they scare each other with nightmarish stories. Then, during the day, Cathy goes back to her life.
JIMMY V.O.
He taught her everything. She was
no easy apprentice. But he was
hoping to have her by her side, for
ever...
He taught her everything. She was
no easy apprentice. But he was
hoping to have her by her side, for
ever...
SCENE 6. SWEEPER’S HOUSE
Cathy is seated on the Sweepers’ armchair, visioning some of the video taped victories of his favourite teams.
The Sweeper walks up and down, restless. Cathy cruelly ignores him. He finally stops in front of her, standing
nervously.
The Sweeper walks up and down, restless. Cathy cruelly ignores him. He finally stops in front of her, standing
nervously.
SWEEPER
Catherine, I would like to talk to
you
Catherine, I would like to talk to
you
CATHY
Well speak, I’m here!
Well speak, I’m here!
SWEEPER
You’ve been coming here for many
weeks now, you know everything you
need to know and I trust you could
share my work...
You’ve been coming here for many
weeks now, you know everything you
need to know and I trust you could
share my work...
CATHY
Great!
Great!
SWEEPER
Not only that. I...I’d like you to
stay here, with me.
Not only that. I...I’d like you to
stay here, with me.
Cathy suddenly fixes her big green eyes into his. The Sweeper makes every effort to appear as calm as possible. She struggles to speak a word but then her surprise changes into mild amusement.
CATHY
(grinning maliciously)
Very well, I will meet you here
tomorrow at 10 and then I will be
for ever yours.
(grinning maliciously)
Very well, I will meet you here
tomorrow at 10 and then I will be
for ever yours.
SCENE 7. TATTOO SHOP
Jimmy is now tattooing the drawing on Mary’s shoulder
JIMMY
Poor fool. He had been blind the
whole time, poor Sweeper. The young
woman had taken his heart and she
was now ready to devour it
mercilessly.
Poor fool. He had been blind the
whole time, poor Sweeper. The young
woman had taken his heart and she
was now ready to devour it
mercilessly.
SCENE 8. SWEEPER’S HOUSE
The big clock on the wall strikes 11 o’clock. The Sweeper looks at the door but there is no movement, no sound of anyone approaching. He strides across the room, wears his dark coat and leaves in a hurry.
SCENE 9. CATHY’S BEDROOM
The Sweeper slams the door open but Cathy is nowhere to be seen.
Lying on the floor there’s a little dream to collect, wrapped in red paper and carrying the Sweeper’s name.
He kneels down and unwraps the package. The dream he founds is nothing like he could imagine: Cathy has dreamed of another life, with a man that is no Sweeper.
He kneels down and unwraps the package. The dream he founds is nothing like he could imagine: Cathy has dreamed of another life, with a man that is no Sweeper.
Hit by the pain he crashes the dream she left behind and leaves in sorrow.
SCENE 10. TATTOO SHOP
JIMMY
(c) Elisa Scubla 2012
