COO

(A suspension bridge hangs over a river. FIN stands on the bridge, looking upwards. They remain, frozen, then sigh, bending over the railing entirely.)

FIN

So? What do you think?

(FIN chuckles mirthlessly.)

Ha.

(Enter PIGEON. It lands on the bridge, beside FIN.) 

PIGEON

Coo.

(FIN stands straight and stares at PIGEON)

FIN

Hello. Pigeon.

PIGEON

Coo-coo.

FIN

How are you doing today?

PIGEON

Coo.

    (FIN nods sagely.)

FIN

Why thank you for asking. I’m fine.

(PIGEON pecks at FIN’s shoes. FIN scoffs and turns away.)

PIGEON 

Coo-coocoo.

(FIN ignores the PIGEON. Their fingers tap on the railing. PIGEON continues pecking at FIN) 

FIN

What do you want, pigeon. 

(a pause) 

What could I ever give you?

(FIN gestures to the sky.)

You’re free to go. Fly!

(The PIGEON pecks at the ground.) 

You like this bridge? What’s so good about this place? It’s all asphalt and, concrete, and, and- water. Go back to the city, where you belong with all your other little pigeon friends.

(FIN scoffs.) 

That’s right, just go and frolic with all your other little pigeon friends. Go!

(FIN kicks at the PIGEON. It jumps up with a flutter of feathers, landing on the railing besides FIN. The two stare at each other in silence.)

PIGEON

Coocoo.

(FIN sighs, nudging the PIGEON. It shuffles closer. FIN nods appraisingly.)

FIN

Okay, I see how it is. 

(a pause)

You’re like me, aren’t you? You don’t have friends. Not real ones. Did they leave you too? Is that why you’re here too? Why...

(FIN trails off, staring into the distance. The sound of the rushing water fills the silence.) 

Because- (voice breaking) because there’s nothing left there. Everyone’s gone, and nothing matters. Is that why you’re here? Did the world abandon you too? 

PIGEON

Coo.

FIN

Okay. Okay, I see how it is.

(FIN takes some deep breaths, regaining their composure.) 

Y’know what? I don’t think I deserved it. Any of it. It wasn’t fair, you know? It wasn’t fair.

PIGEON

Coo.

FIN

I tried, I really did. Everyone told me to just “Get your shit together!” and I tried, didn’t I? Yeah, I tried. (a pause) And they all think it’s so easy. Just pick up the broken pieces of your self and puzzle them back together. Super-glue them, sure.

(FIN’s voice thickens with tears.)

Super-glue them? What do they think I am? Some plastic vase, some battered-up Barbie? Y’know those porcelain-looking plastic plates Mama used to buy from Chinatown?

PIGEON

Coo?

FIN

Yeah, of course you don’t. They all think it’s that easy. Just a clean break. Just like I’m that flimsy porcelain-looking plastic. (a pause) Nah. I don't even look that pretty. 

(FIN pauses to catch their breath. The sun, half-hidden in clouds, has begun its descent. )

But you get it, right? I bet you’ve torn apart a mouse before.

(a pause) 

Do pigeons eat mice? 

PIGEON

Coo-coo. 

FIN

But it doesn’t tear away clean, does it? No! People don’t break into a few clean pieces. We tear all bloody, tendons and muscles and bones breaking and all. We shatter into a million irretrievable pieces and sparkle in the sun until we realize we’re made of ice and start melting. Not even superglue can fix a puddle of water.

(FIN laughs again, but then stops and stares at the PIGEON.)

Do you understand anything I’m saying?

(FIN pokes the PIGEON’s chest.)

PIGEON

Coo...

(FIN nods slowly, mouth pulled into a straight line. Their voice is choked.)

FIN

It never would have worked. None of those red twine bracelets or jade bangles made any difference. None of the therapy did either. There’s shit you just can’t fix, y’know? 

PIGEON

Coo-coo.

FIN

My life was shit.

(FIN stands up straight abruptly. They slam down on the railing with a fist. A dull metal clang rings out.)

Dammit! My life was shit!

(FIN breaks down into tears.)

Everyone else made it, didn’t they? Everyone else made it. Everyone else...did something. They’re worth something.

PIGEON

Coo. Coo.

FIN

And me? What do I have left, huh? Who am I? Give me a reason, lil’ pigeon, just one, and I’ll sleep on it. I’ll stay. 

(voice cracking) 

I’ll stay, y’know? Cause there’s something about living, just something about being here. But what’s any of it worth when you’re all alone in the dark? You can’t see any of it. You can’t hear any of it. You’re all trapped and alone and you’re asphyxiated by the nothing-ness of everything.

PIGEON

Coo-coo-coo.

(FIN sighs, fists clenching tight.)

FIN

You just get tired of it all. All the lectures and the pity and the glances. And the red packets on New Year’s? They always say it’s for luck. But we all knew that luck only came by way of cash. I’m a fucking adult, goddammit! (a pause) What did I ever do wrong? 

PIGEON

Coo-oo.

FIN

You’re right. What did I ever do right? 

PIGEON

Coo.

(FIN breathes heavily, hair hanging over their face, eyes trained on the water below.)

FIN

(weakly)

It’s a pretty far drop.

(FIN nods repeatedly, tears falling off their chin.) 

If I fell...

(FIN shakes as they place one leg over the railing.) 

...I wouldn’t make it back up.

(FIN trembles even more violently as they swing both legs over, sitting on the metal rail.) 

What would they say about me?

PIGEON

Coo.

FIN

That I was a coward? That I caved under the pressure of life?

PIGEON

Coo.

FIN

What could they say? 

(a pause) 

Or would they just...not? 

(FIN sobs, unrestrained.)

I’m nothing to them, anyways.

(They turn to stare at the pigeon, who, like FIN, has seated itself on the rail. PIGEON nuzzles FIN.)

PIGEON

Coo.

(A laugh bubbles through FIN’s tears.)

FIN

What the hell am I doing, talking to a pigeon?

PIGEON

Coo!

    (FIN pets the PIGEON affectionately.)

FIN

Well, you should probably go now. 

(a pause) 

I should too. After all, that’s what I came here for. To leave. 

(a pause) 

It’s what we all do anyways. Just come and go.

PIGEON

Coo.

FIN

And where are you going?

PIGEON

Coo-coo.

(FIN ponders the PIGEON for a while. They both sit in silence. FIN can’t bring themselves to look down. A flock of pigeons flies towards the railing. They flap their wings at PIGEON. FIN finds themselves laughing. A broad, genuine grin stretches across their face.)

FIN

Well, it looks like you were just waiting all along.

PIGEON

Coo-coo-coo.

(FIN pushes the PIGEON, almost reluctantly, off the railing. It hovers mid-air, then joins its companions.)

FIN

Bye. Enjoy your life!

    (FIN gives it a wave.)

PIGEON

Coo-coo-coo!

(The PIGEON flies off. FIN sits, alone, staring down into the silence. The sun graces the horizon, a sunset glow turning the water pink. They shiver.)

FIN

Dammit.

(FIN swings their legs back over the railing, wobbling slightly as they jump back to their feet. FIN crouches down, pressing their palms against the asphalt. Standing back up, FIN’s gaze wanders to the sky. A lone bird flies across the setting sun, its silhouette black against blood-red. In the distance, a “coo!” can almost be heard.)

FIN

    (shouting)

Well- I guess I’ll see you again-!

(FIN falters.)

...again...

(They shrug.)

Might as well.

(FIN heaves an exhale. They walk off the bridge- as the final dying embers on the horizon go out.)

END OF SHOW