JANUS A Written Creative Work submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of ^ 0 1 q the requirements for m e w tte D q ,re e Master o f Fine Arts In Creative Writing by A i Ebashi San Francisco, California M ay 2019 Copyright by A i Ebashi 2019 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL I certify that I have read JANUS by Ai Ebashi, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master o f Fine Arts in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. M ichelle Carter, M.F.A. Professor o f Creative Writing fry - Andrew Joron, B.A. Assistant Professor o f Creative Writing JANUS A i Ebashi San Francisco, California 2019 JANUS is a full-length play which portrays the moment of the psychic disintegration of the Roman God Janus and inner battles that ensue. It explores the themes o f gender, identity, duality, power structure and transgenderism. Through the lenses o f the divided Gods, He Janus and She Janus, who are trapped in an apocalyptic world, I used the yin and yang concept, symbol and dynamics to portray the two polarized forces that are forever opposing or conflicting but are also ultimately complementary. My approach to these themes is philosoph al but I also included physical movement, farcical element and outrageous happenings to create comedic effects. I certify that the Abstract is a correct representation o f the content o f this written creative work. Chair, Thesis Committee Date TABLE OF CONTENTS Cast o f Characters........................................................................................................................... vi Prologue............................................................................................................................................. 1 Act I Scene 1 ........................................................................................ - ................................ .......2 Act I Scene 2 .............................................................. 29 Act I Scene 3 ........................................................................ 52 Act I Scene 4 .................................................................................................................................. 56 Act I Scene 5 .................................................................................................................................. 67 Act I Scene 6 ............................................................................................................................... 76 Act I Scene 7 ...................................................................................................................................88 Act II Scene 1...................................................................... 96 Act II Scene 2 ............................................................................................................................... 119 Act II Scene 3 ............................................................................................................................... 132 Act II Scene 4 ............................................................................................................................... 134 Act II Scene 5 ............................................................................................................................... 136 Act II Scene 6 ............................................................................................................................... 143 Act II Scene 7 ............................................................................................................................... 144 Act II Scene 8 ............................................................................................................................... 156 Act II Scene 9 ............................................................................................................................. 164 E pilogue.........................................................................................................................................174 v CAST OF CHARACTERS SHE JANUS: The Goddess o f Beginnings and the Future. He Janus’ other half7alter-ego. (physically bigger than HE JANUS.) HE JANUS: The God o f Endings and the Past. She Janus’ other halfi'alter-ego. JUPITER: The God o f the Sky, the King God. Juno’s brother and husband. JUNO: The Goddess o f Marriage and Family. Jupiter’s sister and wife. EAGLE: Jupiter’s pet, played by a female actor. MESSENGER/BLIND CLEANER/POLICEMAN/THEY TRAVELER: played by the same actor. Non-binary person preferred. SETTING The action takes place in Janus’ psychic world and on Mt. Olympus. The time is the present. 1 Prologue The Big Bang (There are flashes of light similar to those you sometimes see in your vision, the ones that come from inside your eyes or brains and not from outside you, followed by the sound of an explosion) (Blackout.) / 2 A£XI Scene 1 (Lights up on a post-apocalyptic world. HE, JANUS and SHE JANUS, dressed in black and white, like yin & yang, are standing, feeing each other. The room is empty except for two doors: Entrance Door and Exit Door.) SHE JANUS This is it. HE JANUS Excuse me? SHE JANUS This is it. HE JANUS You already said that. SHE JANUS It’s either you or me. HE JANUS What? 3 SHE JANUS Or nobody. HE JANUS Who? Us? SHE JANUS Who else? HE JANUS But... SHE JANUS Don’t “but” me! HE JANUS But... SHE JANUS Man. What did I just tell you? HE JANUS But-... Don’t tell me “don’t”! And don’t call me “man”! I’m God! SHE JANUS We are Gods 4 HE JANUS That’s right. We’re God. SHE JANUS Gods. With an “s.” (HE JANUS doesn’t get it.) In the plural. Not the singular. HE JANUS What is this, a grammar lesson? Anyway, it’s not like we’re... (Realizing he’s no longer one with her.) Wait a minute. Are you... Am I... Are you and I... What happened to us? SHE JANUS You’ve just realized, now? HE JANUS (Giving her a long look.) You’re so much uglier than I thought. SHE JANUS Stop being an asshole. Now’s not the time for- HE JANUS Whatever it is, it’s fine. 5 SHE JANUS The world has ended and we’ve been split in two like a fucking watermelon. And you call this “fine”? HE JANUS At least we’re still in one piece... Not really, but... (Pause.) Alright, so we've been split in two, yes. Like a watermelon, maybe. But the world’s ended? Where did you get that crazy idea? SHE JANUS You don’t believe me? (She gestures for him to go took out of the window. He does.) HE JANUS Hey, looks like the power’s out. SHE JANUS Just accept it! There’s no such thing as the “world” anymore. HE JANUS For real? (He looks out o f the window again) But... why? 6 SHE JANUS How many times do I have to tell you not to start a sentence with a “but”? HE JANUS Let’s say that the world really ended. Who gives a shit whatever word I use to start a sentence!? SHE JANUS I do. Because I’m the God of Beginnings, you see. I can’t stand when someone HE JANUS I am not “someone”! I am... (Pause.) Uh-oh. I’m the God o f Endings! SHE JANUS Duh. HE JANUS But... I didn’t end the world. Or... did I? (Pause.) This can’t be happening. SHE JANUS I’m glad that you’re finally grasping the situatioa 7 HE JANUS There must be some mistake! SHE JANUS It’s too late. Get over it. HE JANUS No way! (He hurriedly exits through Exit Door but soon comes back in through Entrance door.) There’s nothing out there. SHE JANUS What do you expect? HE JANUS But really nothing. Like, even me. I... I vanished the moment I exited. And suddenly, I’m back here... (He exits and comes back again. Then he opens both doors and sees if they’ll be left open. The doors close by themselves.) SHE JANUS What are you doing? 8 HE JANUS Our doors are supposed to be closed in times o f peace and open only in times o f war. SHE JANUS Obviously there’s no more war. HE JANUS But there’s no more peace either, no? ...This is too much! (HE JANUS breaks down. SHE JANUS waits impatiently.) SHE JANUS Are you done? HE JANUS Why are you so calm? Aren’t you at least a little bit concerned? SHE JANUS I am, HE JANUS You are not. You’re acting as if nothing’s wrong SHE JANUS I’m not the kind o f God who dwells on the past. What’s done is done. I’m more concerned about what we should do now. 9 HE JANUS Such as? SHE JANUS Start a new world. HE JANUS Start a new world? SHE JANUS From scratch HE JANUS From scratch? SHE JANUS Stop repeating what I say! HE JANUS But... (SHE JANUS reacts to the word “But.”) HE JANUS How? SHE JANUS I told you: It’s either you or me... Let me rephrase that: It’s either he or she. 10 HE JANUS (Looks around.) Who? Am I missing something here? SHE JANUS (Pointing at him and herself.) You - he. Me - she. Got it? HE JANUS Enough o f your grammar lesson! Anyway, “you” is not a “he” and “me” is not a “she.” SHE JANUS Forget it. All I’m saying is, enough is enough HE JANUS Right. (Pause.) Meaning? SHE JANUS I’m lucking ted up with you and want a divorce. HE JANUS But it’s not like we’re married or anything. 11 SHE JANUS But we’ve been a little too close to each other, don’t you think? HE JANUS Until a few minutes ago, we were literally one... (Thinks.) What exactly are you trying to say? SHE JANUS I’m gonna get rid of you! (Suddenly, the room darkens, a sad music starts playing and a spotlight is cast on HE JANUS. SHE JANUS looks at him with disgust during his monologue below.) HE JANUS But... Why do things have to end? Even though I, the God o f Endings, Have never intended to end? We were always one, you and me Depending