SETTING: 

PARIS, FRANCE, on two separate occasions. Separated by hundreds of years. 

The Left Bank somewhere near a large Cathedral. You will hear the church bells several times. 

​

CHARACTERS: 

EDGAR, A macho pigeon of distinction who is now aging. 

SHIRLEY, a female pigeon who loves her mate.

 

(Another century passes) 

​

THE SAME SETTING: 

PARIS, FRANCE, in May, rainy and drizzly. 

​

CHARACTERS: 

SPENCER, a seventy-five year old gentleman who is aging and fighting it. He adores his wife of forty years. They are on vacation. 

JULIE, seventy-four, devoted and adoring wife who is used to her husband's complaining.

 

DEJA VU 

​

(Paris, France, late May. The 

weather is inclement but tolerable. 

​

Two older pigeons are flying in 

the air. One pulls over to a 

building windowsill to rest while 

the female follows him and perches.) 

​

SHIRLEY 

What’s wrong now? 

​

EDGAR 

My left wing is hurting. 

​

SHIRLEY 

You look uncomfortable. 

​

EDGAR 

I’m off my game. I keep missing my target. 

​

SHIRLEY 

What do you mean? You had a perfect poop mark in pigeon flight school. You graduated top of your Bleu du Gascogne squadron in Normandy You made Captain. 

​

(The bells in the cathedral San Sulpice

chimes twelve o’clock.) 

​

EDGAR 

Face it, I’m getting old. I’m losing my gravitas.

 

SHIRLEY 

​

(She reaches over and gently pecks one of his feathers

with her beak.) 

​

There, there now. You’re as handsome as ever. 

You aim over a car and let go. Out it plops. You hit a car or a person. Bullseye. Don’t overthink it. It’s our job to fertilize the planet with love and poop. 

​

EDGAR 

It’s not happening. I’m a failure. 

​

SHIRLEY 

Stop tucking it in. relax your feathers. Think meditation tape. You know. That tape we were listening to over Rue De Renn. What happened to shake your confidence? 

​

EDGAR 

That miniature terrier got too close for comfort. In the old days I would have dive-bombed his little bouffant muff. 

​

SHIRLEY 

You need something to relax you”. Like recycled Xanax or gout berries. 

​

EDGAR 

That was the old days. We’ve evolved. 

​

SHIRLEY 

Really? How? 

​

EDGAR 

We were Human. Now we’re superior. We are closer to God. The heavens. 

​

SHIRLEY 

Says who? 

​

EDGAR 

Careful don’t piss him off. Or he’ll send us back to being...you know... 

​

SHIRLEY 

(Gasps) Human? 

​

(Edgar swoops down to the street he picks up a 

shiny gold heart lying in the street and flies 

back to Shirley. He places it at her feet.) 

​

SHIRLEY 

(Coos contentedly) You remembered. Our Anniversary is today. 

​

(There’s a crash of thunder 

and...Another century. Another 

culture...another life. 

Two humans walk down the street. 

It’s Paris in May, rainy and wet. 

The male sits on a street window sill.) 

​

SPENCER 

You keep going, my back hurts. I need to rest. My heart is pounding. 

​

JULIE 

Why are you stopping? 

​

SPENCER 

This street is like out of the Exorcist. Dark, long and impossible to climb...I didn’t poop this afternoon... or ...the day before. 

​

JULIE 

I gave you those pills. You took two and you still haven’t pooped? 

​

SPENCER 

I took three. 

​

JULIE 

Oh God, it’s going to be a long night. You know, you broke a wine glass last night. 

​

SPENCER 

I know. Don’t remind me. I stepped on a shard today. And I’m limping now. 

​

JULIE 

You know, I’ve got this strange feeling. Like .. Deja vu.

 

(Suddenly a pigeon flies by.... A white streak 

plops on Edgar’s shoulder. The church bell tolls 

twelve noon.) 

​

JULIE 

(laughs) 

I feel like you just got a message. 

​

EDGAR 

I feel the same. Like we have done this before? 

​

(He hands her a box. She opens it 

and pulls out a small diamond 

heart) 

​

EDGAR 

For your forty-seventh birthday. 

​

JULIE 

I’m seventy-four, you idiot 

​

EDGAR 

You’ll always be forty-seven in my eyes. 

​

JULIE 

Why? 

​

EDGAR 

Because I love you. And we’re two birds of a feather. Forever. 

​

JULIE 

And ever. 

​

There’s a cooing sound in the heavens as.... 

​

THE LIGHT FADES