Yesterday

A one act play on the infinite distance between two points - between today and yesterday.

SCENE 1
Table centre stage.
Spotlight trained on the table.
Typical furnishings around the room. There is an  armchair, a single chair behind the table facing the audience. Other than the armchair there are no other furnishings beyond the table and the chair. No pictures on the wall, just a lone clock.
Bottle of vodka on the table (half full)
Framed picture of a girl on the other side of the table.
Clock overhead, clearly visible to the audience, time is frozen at twelve minutes past midnight.
PRESENT sitting alone at the table facing the audience. Shot glass is in one hand. Faint tan outline of a ring visible on his finger.
PRESENT is informally dressed. His jeans are starting to fade but still look wearable. He is wearing a bright green v neck shirt. There is a 5 o'clock shadow of stubble on his face. Bags are starting to form under his eyes. He looks like a young man currently going through a rough patch.
PRESENT pours a shot.
 
PRESENT

• They say time is a line.

Drinks shot. Shudders. Glances over at the framed picture. Forces himself to look away.

PRESENT

• You have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Pours another shot.

PRESENT

• Bullshit.

Raises shot glass in mock salute. Sways lightly. Drinks shot.
Slams table with free hand. Picture frame moves closer to the edge.

PRESENT

• Time is a circle.

Tosses shot glass off to the side. Glass shatters.

PRESENT

• The past shapes the present, and the present creates the future. Isn't that what we always say?

Reaches for bottle. Misses the first go.
Unscrews lid and drinks from the bottle. Lid is discarded off to the side.
Grimaces at the taste casts another long look at the picture in the frame.

PRESENT

• That history just repeats itself over, and over and over.

Swaying more heavily now. Eyes red and bloodshot. Raises the bottle to his lips.
Pauses.
Looks over at the picture frame.
Takes another long shuddering sigh.
Forces himself to drink again.

PRESENT

• That no matter what you do you can't ever go back.

Wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
Dribble of vodka spills free and stains his shirt.

PRESENT
(Sighing)

• I guess you can only ever go forward.

Hiccups.
Takes another swig of vodka, doesn't grimace this time.
Body lurches forward, resting his elbows on the table to keep himself upright.

PRESENT

• How do you go forward when every time I think I've forgotten I just remember all over again?

Takes another swig from the bottle.
Slams the bottle down more roughly on the table.
Picture frame bumps closer toward the edge of the table.

PRESENT
(After a pause)

• Maybe it's true what they say; that time heals all wounds.

Snorts.
Gives a brief laugh of absolute mirth.
Falls silent again.

PRESENT

• What a crock of shit.

Raises the bottle to his lips. Hesitates. Takes a drink anyway.
Tosses the empty bottle to the side.
Bottle clips the picture frame and sends it tumbling to the ground where the glass shatters.
PRESENT lets out a howl of anguish. Jumps up from his seat and flips the table over. Immediately retrieves the picture frame. Picture frame is broken. PRESENT cuts his fingers pulling out the picture from the frame.
PRESENT backs away from the upturned table, toward stage left. Spotlight focuses on PRESENT. PRESENT holds up the picture to the light checking to see if it is damaged. Gives an audible sigh of relief when he realises the picture is fine. Kisses the picture.

PRESENT
(Slowly, slurred)

• Time is just one big, fuckin', circle.

Spotlight slowly fades.
(Softer)

• I just wish I could go back...

 
SCENE 2
Stage is the same as it was in SCENE 1.
Clock is now at thirty minutes past three.
PRESENT is lying slumped stage left, clutching the picture in both hands. The empty bottle of vodka is discarded off to the right side of the upturned table.
FUTURE enters stage right.

FUTURE is dressed shabbily. His jeans are faded and torn from wear and tear. The left knee has been rubbed raw with holes and patches revealing parts of his leg. FUTURE is wearing a faded green shirt that is almost gray. There are dark stains and circles on it. It is hard to tell if it is blood, alcohol, food, or vomit. FUTURE has a ragged beard. His appearance is unkempt and ungroomed. He looks like a desperate man on his last legs.
FUTURE walks over to PRESENT. He picks up PRESENT's right hand, takes a look at his ring finger. FUTURE shakes his head slowly and mutters to himself when he sees the tan outline. FUTURE grabs PRESENT's shoulders with both hands and shakes him roughly.

FUTURE

• Get up!

PRESENT stirs, opens one eye at FUTURE. FUTURE shakes him roughly again.

PRESENT

• Fuck off.

PRESENT tries to push FUTURE away but his movements are slow and groggy.

FUTURE

• Look at me, HEY! LOOK AT ME!

FUTURE forces PRESENT's eyes open. PRESENT continues to struggle but he is gradually waking up.

• Look at this!

FUTURE reaches one hand through the top of his shirt and pulls out a necklace. A single gold ring hands from the chain.

PRESENT looks blearily at the ring in front of him. Both eyes widen with recognition.
PRESENT

• Is that...

FUTURE
(Interrupting)

• Yes-

PRESENT
(Interrupting)

• How the f-

FUTURE
(Both characters speaking at the same time now)

• Let me exp-

PRESENT

• uck did you get my-

FUTURE

• lain. LISTEN TO ME!

PRESENT still stares dumbly at the ring hanging from FUTURE's necklace. He raises his right hand and looks at the faint tan outline on his ring finger and back again at the ring.

PRESENT

• Okay (takes a deep breath) shoot.

FUTURE

• I'm too late, aren't I?

PRESENT barely hears a word FUTURE is saying. His eyes are riveted on the ring. There is still a picture in his left hand, carefully kept uncreased despite his poor condition.
PRESENT

• That depends on who you are.

FUTURE looks away from PRESENT. He stands up and looks at the upturned table.
FUTURE walks over to the upturned table and returns it to its position at the centre of the stage.
FUTURE retrieves PRESENT's chair and places it behind the table.

FUTURE

• Well then, we might as well discuss this like civilised human beings.

PRESENT takes a look at FUTURE's shabby condition, seeing him in full view for the first time.
PRESENT gives out a barking laugh, full of mirth.

PRESENT

• You didn't answer my question.

FUTURE takes a seat at the table where PRESENT was sitting in Scene 1.
FUTURE

• Tom, I think we both know who I am.

PRESENT visibly recoils at the mention of his own name.
PRESENT

• How do you know my name?

PRESENT gets more and more agitated

• Who the FUCK are you anyway?

FUTURE sits calmly at the table, patiently watching PRESENT.

• What the HELL are you doing here?!

PRESENT pacing back and forth alongside the stage.
He carefully holds onto the picture in his left hand.

FUTURE
(Calmly)

• That's not important.

PRESENT

• Of course it's important, don't tell me it's not important. I just want to know what the FUCK is going on.

​FUTURE
(As if to himself)

• I thought it would be so easy to go back...

PRESENT

• You come in HERE, with, with... is that my RING? Where did you get that from?! WHO did you get that from?

FUTURE continues to sit there in silence, as if not quite believing how badly things are shaping up.
FUTURE

• I got it from you.

PRESENT stops pacing. Turns to face FUTURE.
PRESENT

• That's a crock of shit.

FUTURE

• Just who do you think I am?

PRESENT takes a closer look at FUTURE.
PRESENT
(Agitated)

• I-I-I DON'T KNOW!

FUTURE

• Bullshit. You knew the instant you saw your ring.

PRESENT resumes pacing. His movements are fast and jerky. His hands are starting to shake.
PRESENT

• No, no no no no no no no. NO! That can't be. That's impossible.

PRESENT stops pacing. He lifts up the picture in his left hand. He takes a look at the girl in the picture. Carefully PRESENT folds the picture away and puts it into his back pocket.

• Tell me that's impossible. TELL ME that what I think is happening isn't happening.

FUTURE

• That depends on what you think is happening.

At this PRESENT goes berserk. He lunges over and grabs onto the table with both hands.
PRESENT

• ENOUGH WITH THIS CRYPTIC SHIT!

FUTURE remains unfazed by this outburst.

• Are you...

PRESENT's voice lowers down to a whisper as if he can't believe he's about to ask.

• Are you me?

FUTURE

• In a manner of speaking, yes.

PRESENT

• How... how did you-

FUTURE
(Curtly)

• That's not important.

PRESENT

• Okay.

PRESENT takes a breath to steady himself.

• Okay. How far from the f-

FUTURE
(Curtly)

• Far enough.

PRESENT looks torn between curiosity and desire.
PRESENT unconsciously rubs the tan line on his ring finger.

PRESENT

• Why did you come here?

FUTURE

• Why do you think?

PRESENT clenches both fists. He takes another deep breath.
PRESENT steadies himself.

PRESENT

• Please,

PRESENT slowly sinks to his knees until only his elbows are propped on the table.

• Please, just answer me that.

FUTURE is taken aback by this sudden deflation of energy. He unconsciously touches the ring hanging from the necklace.

FUTURE

• I thought I had found a way back. I thought I could change...

FUTURE gestures to the derelict living room.

• Change all of this. Tom, why do you think I'm here?

PRESENT winces every time he hears his own name. As if it reminds him of someone who he no longer is.

PRESENT

• I don't know...

PRESENT reaches under the table to find the bottle of vodka.
He tips it into his mouth and gives a sigh when he realises it is empty.
PRESENT tosses the empty bottle of vodka aside as casually as a man would toss a crumpled newspaper.

• I just don't know...

FUTURE

• That isn't going to help you.

FUTURE's voice is hollow, as if he remembers all the nights he's spent in PRESENT's shoes.

PRESENT

• I'm a bit beyond help at this point aren't I?

PRESENT gives a bitter laugh.
Starts patting his pockets until he retrieves a hip flask.
FUTURE leans across the table and snatches the hip flask from PRESENT.

FUTURE

• That stops now.

FUTURE's tone brooks no disagreement.

At this PRESENT jumps to his feet again.
PRESENT

• Hey FUCK you man.

PRESENT tries to snatch the hip flask from FUTURE but FUTURE draws his hand back in time.

• What else I got left anyway...

At this FUTURE drops the hip flask onto the table, reaches over and grabs PRESENT firmly by both shoulders, dragging him away from the table.

FUTURE

• YOU HAVE GOT. EVERYTHING!

FUTURE pushes PRESENT aside, as if disgusted at touching him, and sits on the edge of the table.
FUTURE rubs the ring hanging from his necklace and looks wistfully off to the distance.

• I thought I could change things...

PRESENT, startled at seeing FUTURE's outburst, retrieves the flask from the table and takes a swig. FUTURE makes n move to stop him.
PRESENT sits next to him on the table and offers him the flask.
FUTURE looks grudgingly at the flask rubs the ring hanging from his neck and shakes his head.

PRESENT

• Just how bad is it, you know... where you're from?

FUTURE remains silent for a few moments, weighing it up in his mind before he responds.
FUTURE

• You tell me, you'll be there soon enough.

PRESENT takes a swig from his hip flask.
PRESENT

• Y'know, I'm getting real sick of you being so goddamn cryptic.

PRESENT takes another swig.
(In a mocking voice)

• Oh hi Tom, yeah things are just swell. I'm a fucking homeless man who apparently went back in time to torment his younger self. Gee Tom, sure sounds like you've got your life on track. Right you are Tom, can I get you a drink? Sure Tom, you have any of that vodka left?

PRESENT gives a snickering laugh at his own tirade.

• Would it be that fucking hard just to give me the short and skinny? Shit I'd be more likely to get a lifetime supply of Grey Goose.

FUTURE
(As if muttering to himself)

• No wonder why she left you.

PRESENT gets off from the table, leaving the hip flask there, and walks to face FUTURE.
Fists clenched, PRESENT stares FUTURE in the eye. The empty bottle of vodka looms in the corner of PRESENT's eye.

PRESENT
(Softly)

• Say that to me one more time.

FUTURE refuses to look PRESENT in the eye. PRESENT walks over to the vodka bottle and picks it up.
Returns to face FUTURE.
(Louder this time)

• Say that to me one more time.

FUTURE
(Quietly, as if willing PRESENT to do it)

• Go ahead kid,

FUTURE gets up from the table and meets PRESENT's gaze.
(Louder and more confident now)

• You'd have to be a whole other kind of stupid to fuck up your only chance at turning this around.

PRESENT

• Turning what around? TURNING WHAT AROUND?!

FUTURE remains calm at PRESENT's outburst.
FUTURE

• Your life. OUR life. Tom I'm here to help you.

PRESENT seems unsure of himself. His grip on the bottle loosens.

• Don't you want to see her again?

PRESENT lets the bottle drop. Tears well in his eyes.
(Voice rises with each sentence until it is almost a shout)

• Why do you think I came back Tom? Not for you, not for me, but for her! Isn't that why we're in this room together? How many nights have we spent like this? How many days, how many weeks how many months?

PRESENT sinks lower and lower into the ground with each sentence until he is finally reduced to sitting on the floor.
(Softly spoken)

• How long do you think we've been here Tom?

PRESENT

• I...

PRESENT seems at loss for words. He stares numbly at the hip flask on the table.

FUTURE

• We can't keep living like this Tom.

PRESENT

• I know, I know, I know I know I know...

PRESENT is on all fours. Sobbing now.
FUTURE walks over to PRESENT and extends his hand. PRESENT grasps his hand and FUTURE pulls him upright.
Lights gradually dim with the silhouette of FUTURE comforting PRESENT.
 
SCENE 3
Table is still set up prominently in the middle of the room. In the middle of the table is a blue recycling bin full of bottles and cans. There is an assemblage of vodka bottles, dozens of half crumpled cans of beer.
Two chairs face each other, one is at stage left of the table, the other is at stage right of the table.
PRESENT is a little worse for wear. He is more ragged than his appearance in SCENE 1. The resemblance between PRESENT and FUTURE is becoming more pronounced.
The clock remains frozen overhead, still locked in place at 3:30 AM.

FUTURE

• Is that all of it?

PRESENT reaches into his pocket and pulls out the hip flask.
PRESENT

• No.

PRESENT stares long at the hip flask. He moves it around and it makes a sloshing sound.

FUTURE

• Do it for her.

PRESENT seems encouraged by this and holds the hip flask over the recycling bin.
He hesitates.

PRESENT

• I haven't seen her in so long. How do we go back to how things once were?

At this FUTURE seems uncertain.
After all FUTURE isn't even sure if things can be fixed at this point.

FUTURE

• I don't know.

PRESENT

• Well that fills me with a great fuckin' deal of confidence.

FUTURE
(Voice rising)

• What I do know is that you don't want to see what happens if you keep drinking.

PRESENT

• And just what exactly is that? You keep talking about this big bad future of yours but you seem awfully shy on the details.

FUTURE
(Louder)

• That's none of your goddamn business.

PRESENT
(Angrier)

• The hell it ain't, I'm you as well in case you've forgotten.

FUTURE

• That's exactly the point. I don't want you to become me.

PRESENT

• What did you do, just what the fuck did you do that gives you that right?

FUTURE

• That's-

PRESENT
(Interrupting)

• If you say that's none of my business then so help me God-

FUTURE

• my cross to bear, and mine alone-

PRESENT

• What are you hiding from me that's so fucking important?

PRESENT rises from his chair.

• WHAT ARE YOU HIDING FROM ME?

FUTURE

• Don't you see what's going on here?

FUTURE rises from his chair.

• Why do you think I'm wearing the ring you threw away a year ago? Why do you think I'm back here when she's gone?

FUTURE pulls out the ring from beneath his shirt.

PRESENT

• What do you mean?

FUTURE
(Voice rises until it reaches a crescendo)

• Don't you get it? Why do you think I'm back here when it's too late? Because I CAN'T! I thought backwards was the new forwards. I thought I could go back and change things. But I'm too late, I will always be too late...

FUTURE punctuates his last point by slamming his fist on the table.

• Don't you get it?

Tears start to stream down FUTURE's eyes.
FUTURE sinks back down onto his seat. His body slumps over the table with his fists keeping his head from slamming into the table.
(Hoarsely)

• Daisy's dead Tom. She's dead because of you; she's dead because of me.

At this PRESENT takes a step back in shock.

PRESENT

• No... NO! That's not true. TELL ME that's not true.

PRESENT slowly sinks back down to his own seat. Tears start to well in his eyes.

FUTURE
(World weary)

• Why do you think I'm here Tom? Aren't you the one that said you wish you could go back? How long do you think we've been here Tom?

PRESENT seems surprised that FUTURE knows this, temporarily forgetting that they are essentially the same person.
For FUTURE every day is exactly the same. He has relived this moment before, and will continue to do so.

PRESENT
(Softly)

• I just want to see her again.

FUTURE reaches out and grabs PRESENT's hand from across the table in kinship. For better or worse that is the reason the two of them are here.

• What happens if I stop drinking?

PRESENT looks at the hip flask in his other hand. He drops it into the blue bin experimentally.

FUTURE
(Slowly)

• I cease to exist.

PRESENT
(Rushed, excited)

• Isn't that what we want?

FUTURE

• I no longer go back to where we are now.

PRESENT

• Wait, doesn't that-

FUTURE
(Not listening to PRESENT)

• I no longer stop you from gradually becoming me.

(Becoming more animated)

• I no longer stop you from causing Daisy's death.

Gives a bitter laugh.

• Damned if I do... damned if I don't...

FUTURE gives a barking laugh, full of mirth, with an eerie resemblance to PRESENT in SCENE 1.

• Don't you see? Time is a circle.

FUTURE sinks toward the table and closes his eyes.
Spotlight shines on PRESENT as the rest of the lights dim.

PRESENT
(Fully aware of the temporal paradox)

• How long have I been here?

Spotlight fades to black.
 
SCENE 4
Table centre stage.
Spotlight trained on the table.
Typical furnishings around the room. There is an armchair, a single chair behind the table facing the audience. Other than the armchair there are no other furnishings beyond the table. No pictures on the wall, just a lone clock.
Bottle of vodka on the table (half full). Label is different from the one in SCENE 1.
Framed picture of a girl on the other side of the table. Colour of picture frame is different from the one in SCENE 1.
Clock overhead, clearly visible to the audience, time is frozen at twelve minutes past midnight. Colour of clock is different this time around.
PRESENT sitting alone at the table facing the audience. Shot glass in one hand. Faint tan outline of a ring visible on his finger.
PRESENT is informally dressed. His jeans are starting to fade but still look wearable. He is wearing a bright yellow v neck shirt. There is a 5 o'clock shadow of stubble on his face. Bags are starting to form under his eyes. He looks like a young man currently going through a rough patch.

PRESENT pours a shot.

PRESENT

• They say time is a line.

Drinks shot. Shudders. Glances over at the framed picture. Forces himself to look away.

PRESENT

• You have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Pours another shot.

PRESENT

• Bullshit.

Raises shot glass in mock salute. Sways lightly. Drinks shot.
Slams table with free hand. Picture frame moves closer to the edge.

PRESENT

• Time is a circle.

Tosses shot glass off to the side. Glass shatters.

PRESENT

• The past shapes the present, and the present creates the future. Isn't that what we always say?

Reaches for bottle. Misses the first go.
Unscrews lid and drinks from the bottle. Lid is discarded off to the side.
Grimaces at the taste casts another long look at the picture in the frame.

PRESENT

• That history just repeats itself over, and over and over.

Swaying more heavily now. Eyes red and bloodshot. Raises the bottle to his lips.
Pauses.
Looks over at the picture frame.
Takes another long shuddering sigh.
Forces himself to drink again.

PRESENT

• That no matter what you do you can't ever go back.

Wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.
Dribble of vodka spills free and stains his shirt.

PRESENT
(Sighing)

• I guess you can only ever go forward.

Hiccups.
Takes another swig of vodka, doesn't grimace this time.
Body lurches forward, resting his elbows on the table to keep himself upright.

PRESENT

• How do you go forward when every time I think I've forgotten I just remember all over again?

Takes another swig from the bottle.
Slams the bottle down more roughly on the table.
Picture frame bumps closer toward the edge of the table.

PRESENT
(After a pause)

• Maybe it's true what they say; that time heals all wounds.

Snorts.
Gives a brief laugh of absolute mirth.
Falls silent again.

PRESENT

• What a crock of shit.

Raises the bottle to his lips. Hesitates. Takes a drink anyway.
Tosses the empty bottle to the side.

Bottle clips the picture frame and sends it tumbling to the ground where the glass shatters.
PRESENT lets out a howl of anguish. Jumps up from his seat and flips the table over. Immediately retrieves the picture frame. Picture frame is broken. PRESENT cuts his fingers pulling out the picture from the frame.
PRESENT backs away from the upturned table, toward stage left. Spotlight focuses on PRESENT. PRESENT holds up the picture to the light checking to see if it is damaged. Gives an audible sigh of relief when he realises the picture is fine. Kisses the picture.

PRESENT
(Slowly, slurred)

• Time is just one big, fuckin', circle.

Spotlight slowly fades.
(Softer)

• I just wish I could go back...

 
Final Notes
Each performance of Yesterday is to be exactly the same as all others in the same production. Different directors and productions may interpret things differently but all performances of Yesterday within that director/production must be completely
consistent.

SCENE 4 is SCENE 1 repeated but with slight differences to indicate the possibility that the endlessly repeating cycle of SCENE 1-3, might be one day be broken, and that is left to the audience to decide.
It is always 'Yesterday' to both Toms' as the PRESENT Tom is stuck trying to forget the past, and the FUTURE Tom is always forced to go back to Yesterday or live with the guilt of his actions.
There is never any reference to PAST Tom as the past can never be changed, only repeated. FUTURE Tom is the only one who is fully aware at all times of the cyclical nature of his reality as he is the time traveller.
The most important line in the play is the line "How long do you think we've been here?" as it alludes to the fact that this isn't the first time both Tom's have had this experience, and will not be the last.
PRESENT Tom is subconsciously aware of the fact that he is stuck in this temporal paradox but is never fully aware of it until the end of SCENE 3 where he asks "How long have I been here?"
The specifics of Tom and Daisy's relationship are never elaborated upon as it allows the audience to formulate their own idea. The audience is left ambiguous as to whether Tom drinks as a result of Daisy leaving him or if his drinking is what drove Daisy away in the first place.
​
It is implicated that Daisy's death is a result of Tom's drinking, and Tom's guilt is what motivates FUTURE Tom to go back in time. However in trying to outwit time FUTURE Tom finds himself stuck in a temporal paradox as he arrives too late to change what happened.
FUTURE Tom is therefore forced to endlessly repeat the same sequence of events to prevent Daisy's death, even if he knows that ultimately it is futile. FUTURE Tom endures this with the hope of breaking the cycle by making Tom fully aware of its nature.