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mary's waltz
date		2011
instruments		kbd, electric guitar (optional), db, perc1, perc2 (optional)
duration		7'30"
commissioned by
performances		2011.04.14. yale cabaret, new haven, ct (US) * 2011.05.21. exapno, brooklyn, ny (US) **
performer		* adrian knight (kbd), sam adams (bass), michael mcquilken (perc) ** adrian knight (kbd), sam adams (bass), max zuckerman (el gtr), john corkill (perc1), ian rosenbaum (perc2)
recording		n/a
publisher		pink pamphlet pps17b

> story:

Mary’s Waltz is music for the last scene of a dramatic work in progress. The second half of the scene goes like this:

Suddenly, through one of the doors, Jim comes stumbling in. He’s drunk. Maggie is not with him. He enters the room without closing the door. With a sigh and with considerable effort, he gets up. Goes out one of the doors as if to the bedroom. Stumbles back out again. She’s not in the bedroom. A slow, sad waltz starts playing. It’s hazy at first but gets more and more defined. Jim goes out one of the other doors – perhaps she is in the hallway? She’s not in the hallway. He then proceeds to stumble in the direction of the bathroom. He tears down the shower curtain and almost falls over but lands on one knee. He turns to look at the tub. Mary’s in the tub, the water is dark red with blood. Mary’s eyes are wide open. She’s dead. Jim looks at her dead body. He’s motionless, on his feet but with bent knees. What seems like a fairly long time passes. He suddenly gets up, pulls up his sleeves, and grabs hold of Mary, arms around her back, and pulls her out of the tub. It’s a tremendous effort for him, although Mary is not heavy. He is able to get her limp body out of the water, and sits with her in an embrace for a while, her arms hanging loosely. He is not noticeably upset. It is as if he was expecting it to happen but did not expressly want it, but now that it’s happened he’s dealing with the practical issues. He whispers something inaudibly as he awkwardly carries her over to the sofa and lays her down on it for a minute. He sits down looking at her, expressionless, but obviously tired. Feeling the whole display is inadequate, he finds his way to the coffin in the dark, pushes the lid off – it makes a really loud noise – and stands by it for a second. It’s empty. He goes back to the sofa to get Mary. A light follows him as he carries Mary over to the coffin, and with an arm under her legs, gets her into the coffin. He straightens her legs out and pulls her hair back from her face. Although Mary is pale as snow, she’s at peace. Jim observes her for a while. He then goes to get the lid that fell on the floor. It’s heavy of course. He gets it up on the short end first, and then manages to get it on top of the coffin. He goes over to the sink, turns on the faucet and washes his hands and face. He gets Mary’s package that’s still sitting at the table, carries it under one arm, without looking to see what’s inside. Either he already knows, or he doesn’t care. He turns around and takes a good look at the room, then exits through the open door.

> photos by nick thigpen from the yale cabaret show with lupita nyong'o and marcus henderson. more photos on michael's website.