THE
NEVER-ENDING DREAM
by
Lauren Walter
My entry into the English
National Opera's Mini-Opera Script Competition, based on Neil
Gaiman's The Sweeper of Dreams.
Synopsis:
A woman in love with her dreams tries to hold on to them until the
Sweeper of Dreams gives up on her. Realising the consequences of her
decision, the woman pleads for the Sweeper to return.
THE NEVER-ENDING DREAM
You're gone.
I never knew that you were
there,
but now you're gone
It seems like everything I've
done
has turned out wrong
And I'm hoping ...
I'm hoping ...
I'd depend on you to wipe
away my fears
Stop me from falling, slay
the demon, slow the tears
You cleared away the debris
left from my nightmares
Once I'd brushed the sleep
out of my eyes I'd have no cares
But then the dreams no longer
gave me such a fright
Slowly my demons disappeared
during the night
Then light and laughter, hope
and love had come my way
All I was missing in my
mundane everyday
I was happy there, I saw him
when I dreamed
Thought nothing could come
between us, or so it seemed
Until you burst in and tore
everything apart
I'd count the hours to
twilight when my dreams could start
I'd make excuses to return to
my fantasy
Re-scheduled my life so I
could go to bed early
I forced myself to sleep,
tried to force the dreams to stay
I'd squeeze my eyes shut but
you'd still sweep them away
Then the next night came, and
my lovely dream returned
Though somewhat colder than
before, and somewhat blurred
But I clutched my dream - I
watched it playing out
Dreading when you, dear
Sweeper, would wield your clout
You stole my happiness,
returned me to my strife
You swept away my image of
the perfect life
I held on to my visions,
fought till you were gone
And now you're sweeping
somewhere else: yes, I have won!
But I am anxious, I am angry,
I'm afraid
And the people here are all
some sort of shade
They don't see me, they stare
right through me, glide on past
Oh how much longer is this
torture going to last?
I don't want to be like those
that I have seen before
The ones who scream
obscenities at every door
Those who respect you often
whisper: "Is she all right?"
I need to see the end of this
terrible night.
Your departure keeps me
trapped within my mind
I thought that I could leave
all of my dreams behind
But now I know the reputation
you have earned
Only you can stop this, so
I'll wait till you've returned
I want to see you sweeping
all the fog away
I want to wake one morning to
a brighter day
Help me escape this curse -
grant me reality.
Dream Sweeper, please come
back to me!