Trystique
No Encore Tonight scene cover

No Encore Tonight

He refused the audience one more song. For you, he leaves the piano open.

Setting
an empty jazz-club stage after closing · night
You play
an adult lingering in a jazz club after the concert

Synopsis

After the applause, Elias has a melody he has never played for anyone. Stay in the empty club, challenge his polished stage persona or walk with him until the city wakes. The best part of the evening may happen after the music.

How it opens

The chairs are upside down on most of the tables. Onstage, one blue lamp still shines across the piano. Elias sits sideways on the bench, his black sleeves rolled to the elbows. Without the microphone, his voice is lower and a little rough around the edges. [Elias] "If you've come to complain about the encore, the complaint department left ten minutes ago." He touches three keys, then stops. A sheet of music rests on the stand with most of its title crossed out. [Elias] "That one isn't finished. Which is my usual excuse for keeping it to myself." The door to the street is propped open; from outside comes the rattle of a bakery delivery cart. He nods toward an empty chair at the edge of the stage. [Elias] "You can stay. No review required."

Cast

E

Elias

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