A PLAY IN THREE ACTS

BY
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993
 CAST OF CHARAC~fERS

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 1756-1791 Austrian composer A

child prodigy at 3 years of age.
He wrote 600 works in his short
life time, including 35
symphonies and several operas.

John Lennon: 1940-1980 English song writer

and member of the Beatleso He
also produced many solo works
after the group disbanded In
the late "70"s, he moved to
New York city where he lived at
the Dakota with his wife Yoko Ono
and their son, Seano

Charles Perrault dArmancort: 1628-1703 French writer and

compiler of fairy tales. His
Tales of Mother Goose in 1697
included the stories of
Cinderella, Puss in Boots~ and
Little Red Riding Hood.

The Children: Several children (three with

speaking-parts) that accompany
Perrault. They are the innocents
in the afterlife.

Albert Einstein: 1879-1955 American physicist

born in Germany. Set forth the
Special Theory of Relativity in
1905. Won the Nobel Prize for
Physics in 1921. Accepted a
chair at the Princeton Institute
in New Jersey in 1933o U.S.
citizen in 1940.

The Four Live New Yorkers: Warren, Todd, Marshap and Sally.
Seen only on video tape, the four
people who see John Lennons
ghost.

Thomas Morton: The TV talk-show host seen only

on video tape. He interviews the
four people who saw Lennons
ghost
The TV Talk-Show Audience: Seen only on video tape

Ludwig van Beethoven: 1770-1791 German composer who

despite becoming deaf continued
to write great musical works.
His 9 symphonies are considered
classics.

Christopher Marlowe: 1564-1593 Elizabethan dramatist

who wrote Dr, FaustUSo

Mary Shelley a k a Persephone: 1797-1851 English novelist who

wrote Frankenstein.

Michael Drayton: 1563-1631 Elizabethan dramatist

who drank with Jonson and
Shakespeare.

Francis Beaumont: 1584-161~ Elizabethan dramatist

who worked with Fletcher.

John Fletcher: 1579-1625 Elizabethan dramatist

who was part of the team that
replaced Shakespeare after the
Bard retired from the Globe

George Bernard Shaw: 1856-1950 Irish writer noted for

highly individualized opinions in
musical criticism, socialist
pamphletsrand plays His plays
include: Man and Superman, and
St. Joan He won the Nobel Prize
for Literature in 1925.

William Shakespeare: 1564-1616 Elizabethan dramatist

who wrote 36 plays including:
Hamlet, The Tempest, Macbeth and
Othello

Ben Jonson: 1572-1637 English dramatist who

was a friend and competitor to
Shakespeare during the
Elizabethan theatrical era
The Band from the Several musicians lead by a
White Poplar Inn: guitar-playing singer They
provide the entertainment for the
revelry at the end of Act 2; and
they open Act 3o

The Revelers of the A mass of extras who sing,

White Poplar Inn: dance, and party during the
initiation ceremony at the end of
Act 2o

Charles Darwin 1809-1882 English naturalist who

originated the theory of
evolution by natural selecUion~

The Three Spin Doctors: A group of three assistants that

put the proper slant on whatever
Admiral Byrd says or does

Counselor: The man who prosecutes the 4amne

souls~

Admiral Richard Byrd: 1888-1957 American naval officer

and flyer who explored
Antarctica He wrote a book
chronicling his adventures
entitled Alone.

TIME: 1993.

PLACE: Strawberry Fields in New York

City
 ACT I
SCENE 1

SETTING: The time is 1993o The place is

New York City We are ~n Central
Park between 70th and 73rd
Streets This area borders on
Central Park West, and is
popularly called Strawberry
Fields.
There are paths leaking to a
cloverleaf center. In this
center sits a piano. Up-stag~
center the perspective set d~ign
gives the illusion of a tunnel in
the distance running under a
bridge overpass There are
various park benches placed~ere
and there.

AT R~SE: It is morning Behind ~he plahor

sits WOLFGANG AM~DE~E MOS~I~, as
h~ was whe~ he was 95 years
year of his death, 1791o

MOZART sits comfortably and plays

the piano JOHN LENNON walks out
of the tunnel He is dressed in
black silko The style of the
clothes he is wearing is circa
1980o He wears a plain s~irt and
pants. LENNON appears as he was
when he was 40 years Oldo
MOZART faces the audience and
plays the piano throughout the
opening scene MOZART does not
face LENNON until John walks in
front of the piano.

MOZART
Hello. Enjoying your walk?
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
- 2

LENNON
(Pauses to ponder the question, and
think about a response.)
I seem to be lost.
MOZART
No~ youre not lost. Youre just disoriented This is the
beginning of our orientation It always begins this way
slightly confused novice o . piecing the puzzle together.
(MOZART smiles broadly and plays with
enthusiasm. LENNON shrugs and wanders
about the stage Long pause as MOZART
continues to playo He looks over to
LENNON, shakes his head and changes the
tune he is playing
MOZART (Continued)
Do you like this melody?
LENNON
(Looking up as if shaken from a day
dream.)
Sorryp I wasnt listening You know, everything ~m~ famili~,
but I cant identify anything. Do you know me?
MOZART
Only since youve walked in front of me. How about this one?
(He plays a different variation)
LENNON
If you dont know who I amp how do you know Irma sllghtly
confused novice beginning orientation"?
MOZART
An obvious deduction from available data Maybe this one
instead?
(He alters the music again.)
LENNON
Its not that obvious to meo

ACTS BY AoDo CAMERONE

 STPu~WBERRY FIELDS

MOZART
Youre probably new.
(Preoccupied suddenly by his
composition.)
I like this!
(He rigorously plays the new piece)
LENNON
(Trying to talk over the loud piano
playing.)
Are you old?

MOZART
Older than you, yet younger.

I thought you didn,t know me?

MOZART
I know of your and about you. Look at your rlght
slee
V eo See "
that number? It says 40, right?
(LENNON looks and runs his fingers over
the embossed numbers)
LENNON
Astonished)

MOZART
(As he extends his arm, he reveals his number.)
My right arm says 35. That makes me younger Yetr I must have
been in this state longer than you--although that type of memory
is always vaguer-so I must be older Dont worry. Some
scientific type will flash by and explain the whole time policy
to you. Im not overly scientific. I understand the basic
principles well enough myself; but I dont always present it
properly in pedagogical communications. Just as well let one of
the others explain the ~ourth ~imensiono You know, I can be
mathematlcal ~o a certaln o .
(He returns to his new composition.)

LENNO______~N
Others? What others? How do you know there will be others?
MOZART
(He stops and cordially responds)
Im not sure what others, but theyll be here.
(He resumes playing.)
Listen to this, its the motif for my 45th symphony
ACTS BY A.Do CAMERONE
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 4
LENNON
How

MOZART
(He stops)
do I know there will be others?
(He resumes playing.)
There are always other during an orientation. If youre lucky,
youll be blessed with a good group. Where were you born?
LENNON
Born o born o
(He looks ~t his feet and begins to
examine his body as if hes seeing it
for the first time~ His eyes, filled
with awe, stare at his various body
parts: first at his legs; then his
torso; his eyes scan up to his shoulder
and down his arm. As he manipulates
his digits, the movement reinforces his
analysis of his identify. He cradles
his right hand in his left. Then he
suddenly has a revelation and
proclaims:)
Born2 Thats right--I was born! But o I still don~t
remember where
MOZART
(He stops playing the piano.)
Sure you do. Youve already made the first connection Relax.
reflect o . o take your time.
(He chuckles and plays a soothing tune)
LENNON
I cant remember Nothing seems specific I had no concept of
identity, until I saw you There seems to be something missing
I cant remember where I was born. I cant even remember if I
was born I take it for granted I was born only because you
suggested it. Where were you born?
MOZART
Salzburg, Austria
LENNON
Salzburg . o . Austrlao
(Mechanically, as if done as a reflect
action)
Liverpool . o England I was born in Liverpool, England

ACTS BY AoDo CA~ERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS

MOZART
(He rises)
See, that wasnt that bad. Now that youve set the process into
motionp sit down and relax.
(He motions to the piano stool)
The chick has broken through the shell. The butterfly has
emerged from the cocoon
LENNON
Wait a minute All I know is the number 4o and Liverpool,
England
MOZART
(He sits back down at the piano and
plays softly as Lennon reflects.)
Wait for it. It will come.
LENNON
Im John o o Lennon.

Its like knocking down a row of dominoes: firstt your age;

then, your birthplace; next, your name. You a~e on your way
Nowp lets help each other. Where did you die?
LENNON
Die! Im dead? I am dead. Where did I die?
MOZART
Try to relax, and the answer will come to you.What do you think
of this motif . . ?
L_L~ENNON
Why did I die did I die? Are you sure Im dead?
MOZ_ART
I suppose anything is possible ~ o o I have heard tales of
interactions with live units. Maybe what we have here is a
LENNON
You know where we are?. Where exactly is here?
MOZART
I,m not exactly sure~ Some knowledge of the bending of our
space-time continuum would help you understand the irony of your
question All I can be positively sure of is: that we are here;
and where we are is a place subject to constant change
LENNON
I can "t remember dying Maybe I didnt die?
3 AC~S BY AoD. C~MERONE
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
- 6 -

MOZART
If you are indeed alive, it would be a first for meo There is
one way to find out. The location and date of your death event
should be written on the inside of your shoe Take a look, see
if
LENNON
Why didnt you just so say.
(He plops down and pulis both shoes off
simultaneously)
MOZART
It is always better for you to realize these thing for yourself.
Your participation will accelerate your memory activation.
LENNON
(Reading from the inside of the left
shoe.)
John Lennon: born 1940 in Liverpool, England; died 1980 in
NoYoC. Oh no
MOZART
More than likely, thats where we are--NoYoCo
is NoY.C,?
LENNON
New York City is in America This looks like Central ParkI
think I live across the street.
MOZART
That would explain why we are here. Well, either way, thats all
the data I require for your orientation application.
(He removes a form from the pile of
sheet music on the piano and records
the infoo)
Something is written on that mosaic over there by the bench. I
believe it said~ "Strawberry Fields". Does that mean anything to
you?
LENNON
Yes . some people Called a section of the park Strawberry
Fields. "let me take down cause Im going to Strawberry
Fields"
MOZAR~
Thats where we are than-w"Strawberry Fields". Welcome to the
afterlife ~Mr.. Lennono By the way, my name is Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart: bor~ 1756 in Salzburg, Austria; died 1791 in Vienna.
 STR2~BERRY FIELDS
7
LENNON
What do you want from me?

No-hing, good sir. I am here to spend some time with youTo

keep you company while you wake-up and orient yourself.
LENNON
You mentioned hearing tales of encounters with live people
There are others here?
MOZART
Oh, yes, many others.
END SCENE 1

3 ACTS BY AoD. C;~ERONE

 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
8
ACT 1
SCENE 2
(Enter CHARLES PERRAULT
DARMANCORT with an entourage of
several CHILDREN. As the group
walks across the stage, PERRAULT
leads them in a happy, communal,
singing of "Sing a Song of
Sixpence")
CHILDREN
Sing a Song of Sixpence,/ a bag full of ryep/ four and twenty/
naughty boys/ bakd in a pyeo/ When the pie was openedr/ the
birds began to sing;/ was not that a dainty dish, i to set before
the king?/ The klng was in" the countlng
money,/ the Queen was in the parlorp/ eating bread and honeyoi
The maid was in the garden,/ hanging out the clothe.s,/ there ca~e
a little blackbird,/ and snapped off her nose
(Part of the entourage pauses awhil~ to
play with LENNON and MOZART. The resU
of the group makes their way across the
stage with PERRAULT and exits)
CHILD ~i
(Walks up to LENNON and asks:)
Round and round the rugged rock the ragged rascalran~ How many
Rs are there in that?
(LENNON looks amazed and amused)
C~ILD 1 (Continued)
Nowr tell me if you can?
LENNO____~N
I dont know o I wasnt really paying attention why do
you ask?
CHILD 1
Round and round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran.How many
Rs are there in that?
(LENNON is trying to count.)
CHILD 1 (Continued)
Now tell me if you can?
LENNON
Wait a minute. Wait a minute
ACTS BY A.D. CA~ERONE
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS

CHILD 1
Ill ask you one more time

LENNON
OK.

CHIL~ 1
(Rapidly)
Round and round the rugged rock the ragged rascal ran How many
Rs are there in that? Now, tell me if you can?

Seven! There are 7 Rs in that.

CHIL_~_ 2

Nor silly, there are no Rs in t-h-a-t--that,

Well, if you already knew why did you ask?

CHILD 1
(Looking around to his friends.)
its a game, silly. Dont you know it s just a game?
LE~NON
Whats a game?
CHIIzp_ 2
(She faces MOZART and turns her fingers
one over the other as she sings the
first line of the riddle)
May my geese fly over your barn?
MOZART
Yes, if theyll do me no harm.
(CHILD 2 waves her hands over his
head.)
CHILD 2
Fly over his barn and eat all his corn
(She messes up MOZARTS hair~ All
laugh as MOZART picks up the tyke and
places her on his knee. MOZART pulls
out a piece of string and starts a
cats cradle.

ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
i0 ~

CHILD 3
(He approaches LENNON to play
patty-cakeo)
Claps hands, clap hands till father comes home; for fathers got
money ,but mothers got none.
LENNON
(He replies as if he is programmed to
recite the rhyme. He quickly mimics
CHILD 3 and picks up the hand
movements.)
Silken Stockings on his legs, Silver buckles glancin,a sky-blue
bonnet on his head, and oh, but he is handsome
MOZART
Not bad Now, youre getting the hang of it.
CHILD 3
Clap hands, clap hands, hie Tommy Randy, d~d you see my good
man? They call him--COCK-A-BRANDYo
(LENNON cant remember the response)
CHILD3 (continued)
Cmon, did you see my good man?
(ARM~CORT reenters, and calls to CHILD
3.)
ARMANCORT
NOWp Ashleyr mind your manners. Dont bother this good fellow.
Besides, what did I tell you about talking to strange men?
MOZART
(Seizing the moment)
Allow me to introduce myself and my companionto you and yoursr
Monsieur
ARMANCORT
No need to introduce yourself~ Herr Mozart. I know you wello
Many a night Ive fallen asleep while your sweet music acted as a
lullaby I am honored to finally meet you. I must thank you for
playing all those wonderful melodies for us.
MOSART
You can hear my piano playing?
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS

ARMANCOURT
24 hours a day. I can switch you on and off, too Theres
always plenty of music. I hear several people. Dont you?

MOZART
No. The only music I hear is my own. Are all these children
yours?
ARMANCORT
Heavens, no! Im the tutor for this brood. Havent you seen the
children before?

No, I havent. Have you, John?

(To PERRAULT)
By the way this is John Lennon, 40-1980.
LENNON
Do you have to refer to me as a number?
ARMANCORT
(Pedagogically)
Its the easiest way to transmit the most information, John I
am Charles Perrault dArmancort, 75-1703o
MOZART
And I am~ of course, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 35-1791o
LENNON
Well, whats all that supposed to mean? Just what the hell is
going on here?
ARMANCORT
Carefully, sir--the children--no need to alarm them. They have
very big ears.

I thought your report stated he knew his numbers?

MOZART
I only filled out that form moments ago. You received it
already?
ARMANCORT
Its that new fiber-optic network. Everything is transmitted
instantly.
3 ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 12
LENNON
What are you guys talking about?
ARMANCORT
Do you or do you not know your numbers and what your numbers
mean?
LENNON
Sure I do o
(Reciting the information like a rhyme)
John Lennon, 40~1980o My name, my age, my time Ask me no
questions Ill tell you no rhymes.
(LENNON is pulled away by one of the
children; but he continues to
ease-drop on what the other two men are
saying.)
ARMANCORT
(Looking to MOZART)
A little unconventional, but it seems to work o is this your
first case, Wolfie?
MOZART
(Motioning to ARMANCORT--so he doesnt
let the cat out of the bag.)
I
You have me there, Monsieur. Until you just mentioned it,
forgot I was an a case
(Indicating LENNON.)
Actually, I have no real memories. It seems as if I am
constantly in the present
ARMANCORT
(He finally gets the message, and plays
along)
Good grief. Youve been here since 1791 and you still dont
remember anything? What have you been doing all this time?
MOZART
Playing the piano. It seems like Ive only been here a day or
two at the most How long have I been here?
ARMANCORT
Teacher teaching teacher o o if Lennon is brand new at 1980
you have been here some 190 years. I arrived about 80
years earlier than you
LENNON
(Rejoining the adults conversation.)
So that means that Im definitely dead
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
13 -
ARMANCORT
(To MOZART)
He still doesnt believe hes dead?
(MOZART shakes his head no)
ARMANCORT (Continued)
Have you had anything to drink since you arrived, John?
LENNON
No thanks~ Im not thirsty
MOZART
Hes not offering you a drink, John
(To ARMANCORT)
Hes only arrived a few hours ago; he hasnt visited the memory
pool.
ARMANCORT
Well this is highly unusual. Ive never seen anyone until after
they have sipped from the Pool of Memory There must be a
mistake. Are you sure you havent b~en drinking?
LENNON
No, I havent had a drop. Im just not thirsty. How about youp
mate?
MOZART
Ive sipped from the pool on several occasions.
ARMANCORT
Gentlemen, this is quite awkward.
(He rounds up the CHILDREN by
corralling them into a group and
guiding them to the exit.)
ARMANCORT (Continued)
Im afraid I have to remove the children. No telling what effect
you condition will have on them Herr Mozart, I would like to
suggest that you take Mr. Lennon for a visit to the White Poplar
Inno Maybe the walk will make him thirsty.
(To LENNON)
The White Poplar Inn is one of the better places to get a
drink o or information about a drink~. if you know what I
mean?
LENNON
As a matter of factr I dont have the foggiesto Where are you
going in such a rush?

3 ACTS BY A~Do CAMERONE

 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
~4
ARMANCORT
Sorry, but we do have to run
(ARMANCORT and the CHILDREN hurriedly
exit.)
MOZART
Good-bye, kids o see you, again . . oh, well~ What say we
go get a drink at the White Poplar Inn?
LENNON
Im not thirsty.
MOZART
Theres no rush. Lets take our time I seem to recall that you
have an appointment at a planetarium. Where did I put that
itinerary?
LENNON
Theres a Hayden Planetarium in New York on 81st Street
MOZART
How did you know that?
LENNON
I dont know maybe my memory is coming back
MOZART
Well, if we are in New York it sounds logical enough.
LENNON
It may sound logical to you; but its just meaningless words to
meo Im still very confused. Even if the time and place mean
something, I still dont get it. Why are we going to the
planetarium?
MOZART
Actually, its coming to you. Our space-time continuum is
wrapped aroun4 here Most of the time things come to you.
LENNON
OK, why is the planetarium coming to us?
MOZART
To you o o o Im off for another meeting A certain ~ro A
Einstein is coming to meet with you Have fun o o ..it was nice
spending the morning with you o Ill catch up wlth you
later
.(He exits through the tunnel upstage
center
END SCENE 2
ACTS BY AoDo CAMERONE
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
15 -
ACT 1
S__CENE 3_

The planetarium mega projector

appears. Albert Einstein is
seated in the control chair He
is working on an equation and is
using the projector to visualize
his concept

LENNON
Pretty fancy piece of equipment. Isnt it a bit heavy to carry
around?
EINSTEIN
NO~ with our gravitational field its light as a feather.
everything is relative you know

LENNON
What are you doing?

EINSTEIN
Im calculating the degree light is bent as it passes through the
double-center of Andromeda What are you doing?

Im waiting for Godoto

EINSTEIN
oh, really~ youre in for a long wait.

I don,t know what I~m doing. I just woke up from a very deep
sleep, and Im very confused Itm supposed to be visite~ by ~om~
guy from the ~ayden Planetarium~
EINSTEIN
I see Wellr try to be attentive. I have something important to
tell you, and I will not be able to repeat myself.

Is that so? If it makes any differencer being attentive hasnt

been my forte since I arrived here Where ever here is?
 STP3~BERRY FIELDS

EINSTEIN
I see. Lets not get ahead ourselves Try to keep up your
spirit. For starters what do you know about Linear Time
Interpretation?
LENNON
I dont have the slightest clue as to what youre talking about,
mate. Who or what is Linear Time?
EINSTEIN
What an odd question. Let me answer by sharing a thought
experiment with you. Two twins were separated at birth. One
stayed on earth for 50 years while the other travelled in a space
ship at the speed of light for those same 50 years. When they
are reunited, would they still be the same age?
LENNON
Earth o o . isnt earth my home? Is that where we are now on a
space ship? Are you an alien time traveller?
EINSTEIN ~
Not quite. Let me put it to you this way. Our perception Of
reality is limited by our capacity to decipher the input we
receive. To understand reality, we must first understand the
nature of the conceptions that underlie our mind-set.
LENNON
That makes a difference, does it?
EINSTEIN
Certainly it does. You realize, of course, our species can
locate itself in various environments, and become connected to
said environments in a relatively short time period
LENNON
I hate to say it, but I dont know what your talking about again
EINSTEIN
Try to have some faith You must first accept certain premises
Human beings, you and I and the others, have an inherent ability
to form an empathic linkage with whatever environment we come in
contact with
LENNON
That sounds all well and good, but what does that have to do with
me? By the way, who are you anyway?
EINSTEIN
Which question should I answer?
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
-17
LENNON
"Answer them both, but answer the second one first
EINSTEIN
I am Albert Einstein, and it has everything to do with you. Try
to concentrate and think about this It makes no difference if
we are right or wrong when we interpret reality. We are allowed
that luxury We also know we can learn from our mistakes~ Life
is transient
LENNON
You mean Im still alive Im not dead?
EINSTEIN
NO, youre dead all right Let me rephrase. Your
existence--dead or alive--is transient and so is your analysis of
reality
LENNON
I dont think I like being dead This whole experience is very
unsettling.
EINSTEIN
Dont despair You can re-group~ re-form~ and reinterpret It
doesnt matter how you feel about your current plight. What
matters is that you remain vigilante Be conscientious and
constantly monitor the status your theori@s. Be flexible
Adjust to new or reinterpreted data and the universe is your
oyster.
LENNON
You dont seem to understand. I dont have any theories I
barely know my name. I want to go home
EINSTEIN
" t working. No sense in beating a
I see Its obvious this isn
dead horse~
LENNON
Do you have to put that way?
EINSTEIN
Sorry o well, you still have time to get yourself together
before you see Admiral Byrd. As soon as it is possible,
arrangements will be made to pencil in an appointment to make an
appointment for you
LENNON
I
Take your time, if seeing Byrd is any thing like seeing you,
dont want to see him.
ACTS BY AoD. CAMERONE
 STRA]WBERRY FIELDS
- 18

EINSTEIN
Dont be rash~ You have no idea how many people are waiting to
see Byrd Hes the temporary King of the Cold Palace in Hades"
absence
LENNON
I dont care if hes the King of the Counting House I dont
want to see him I"m going to find a way home Im not sray~ng
here
EINSTEIN
Dont be ungrateful You should consider yourself fortunate that
an appointment to set up an appointment will be pencile4 in for
you. Everybody has to see Byrd before they can go anywhere. The
question is when and where.
LENNON
Great~ I have to wait around to meet with a man that I dont want
to meet with If you were supposed to help mar our talk hasnt
been much of a success.
EINSTEIN
We started the ball rolling on your appointment with
LENNON
Big dealo Well, forget it I dont need to meet with him Just
erase the penciling~ino
EINSTEIN
Dont be absurd. Getting that appointment is nearly impossible
There are people here who have been waiting forever to see Byrd.
You wont get far with that type of attitude. One of Byrds
people will contact you, sooner or latter~ to setup the actual
meeting
LENNON
I dont want to see the temporary King of the Cold Palace o
Hey~ wait a minute~ doesnt Hades live in hell?
EINSTEIN
Ohp you poor lost soulp let me try one more angle. The beauty of
our evolutionary mechanism is that every member of the species
has a certain, special~ inborn trait that is activated and
developed by our life or death experience
LENNON
Pleaser if you really want to help me~ try and keep this simple.
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 19

EINSTEIN
This special trait is quite important for the evolution of our
souls. Every individual has this capacity. Every individual
gets a shot at deciphering the laws of nature. Every individual
has the opportunity, at one point or another, to connect with the
totality of the universe. The trick is to stay there
LENNO~
Right, like attaining Nirvana, and living as one with the
universe.
EINSTEIN
Now, youre on to it my boy Do you remember when you first
realized that?
LENNON
I can remember feeling that way as a seven year~oldo But I
couldnt have used those words then. I guess I knew it a~l
along, but it was when I was with Yoko that I finally believed it
in my soul.
EINSTEIN
Thats good, now we are finally making headway. Who or what is
Yoko?
LENNON
Im not sure dont you know?
EINSTEIN
Im afraid not. Maybe Byrd knows Your entire history is
sitting in a file in the Cold Palace Kings office. He probably
knows . . o that is if he saw it o o o the amount of information
that man receives could fill Jupiter. If he saw your file he
knows . that man never forgets anything Theres a good
enough reason to see him.
LENNON
Im starting to feel funny
EINSTEIN
Well, thats a good sign. Maybe we finally started the ball
rolling with this Yoko?
LENNON
Are you projecting images on that wall?
EINSTEIN
No o and I dont see anything.

ACTS BY AoDo CAMERONE

 STP3~qBERRY FIELDS
~ 20
LENNON
Then why am I seeing a movie of what looks like me?
EINSTEIN

Ah ~ ~ . very good and quite rare Your memory banks have

deflnltely turned Ono Youre probably externalizing your
thoughts on to a three-dimensional field.
LENNON
Pretty scary o
EINSTEIN
Nothing to worry about, everyone who has had a drink from the
pool of memory can do it.
LENNON
I havent had anything to drink since I arrived here What is
this pool of memory everyone keeps talking about?
EINSTEIN
Are you sure you havent had anything drink since you arrived
here?
LENNON
~hy does everyone ask me that? No, I havent been thirsty I
have not had anything to drink.
EINSTEIN
Well, I must say this is quite rare. Darwin will be glad to see
you. You may be a mutant.
LENNON
Im no mutant, mate Im a man--just like you
EINSTEIN
Of course you are I really must be going. Im not sure why you
have meet with me before you drank form Mnemosyne But, thats
water under the bridge You have met with mep and I am officially
noting that your memory has been activated.
LENNON
Hey, wait a minute what about
EINSTEIN
I am going to suggest that you wait until you are visited by
Darwin to continue any discussion of Yoko. For know why not
enjoy yourself.

3 ACTS BY AoDo CA~ERONE

 STPu~WBERRY FIELDS

LENNON
What about these images Im seeing on the wall?
EINSTEIN
GO for a walk, go have a drink o ~ o I can recommend the white
Poplar Inn. Good place for a drinkp and a good place to find
some good company
LENNON
But these images theyre not going away I am I going to see
them forever? What do they mean?
EINSTEIN
It was a pleasure to visit with you Ive told all that I could
the rest is up to the others and yourself
(He vanishes with his projector into
nothingness. LENNON continues to call
to him after he is gone)

3 ACTS BY A.Do CA~ERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
22

ACT 1
SCENE 4

LENNON
What do they mean? Will they go away? Where are you going?
Will I see you again
(Enter MOZART from the upstage center
tunnel.)
MOZART
Who are you talking to, John?
LENNON
Albert Einstein he was just here a momenn ago.
MOZART
Wellp hes gone now. Are you OKp mate?
LENNON
Why do you keep calling, mate? Youre not Englisho
MOZAR~
NO, Im Austrian, but Ive spent some time in London. I call you
mate, because I know it is familiar to you I use it as a form
of affectionp my friend.
LENNON
Are you really my friend, Wolfgang?
LENNON
Arent we two lost souls on a musical journey?
LENNON
Ah . I keep forgetting the music. Listen, Im very confused.
Do you see th~se images on that wall over there? It looks like
me in the movleSo
MOZART
Movies o whats movles.
LENNO~
You know moving pictures. Do you see any pictures of me over
there?

ACTS BY A.Do CA~ERONE

 STPJ4WBERRY FIELDS
- 23

MOZART
Im afraid I dont see these moving pictures you are talking
about John Try to tell me what you see
LENNON
On this wall . . I see movies, o images o motion
pictures of what seems to be me me doing things I have done
before.
MOZART
Oh yes, now I know what you mean I call it the "show" Yes,
Ive seen movies, as you call them, of myself before. Sort of
disquieting at first
LENNON
What do they mean?
MOZAR~
Im not sure They come and go you know. Im surprised you are
seeing them so soon

(LENNON runs his hands over the

projected images.)
Are you sure youre OK, John?
LENNON
Yes, Im fine. No, I didnt know they come and goo
MOZAR~
When did they start?
LENNON
They started when I was talking to Einstein about Yoko. He said
it was a 3-D projection of my memory banks
MOZART
What a clever interpretation Great rationalization for a
nauseating problem. I wish I had been here I have a few
questions Mr Einstein may be able to answer. When is he coming
back?
~ENNON
He wouldnt say All he said was he had to gOo He suggested
that I go to the White Poplar Inn to have a drink.
MOZART
Thats thats ~the same place Perrault suggested.
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS

LENNON
Perrault?
MOZART
Yes, the man with the gaggle of kids.
LENNON
Right the children . . o
(He absentmindedly mouths the rhyme)
o how many Rs are there in that? yes, he said the
same thing. Where is that inn?
MOZART
Not far from here. I can take you there
LENNON
Einstein said I have to wait to meet with Darwin until I can find
out more about Yoko. Do you know where I can find
MOZART
Heres a bit of a coincidence. Darwin is the subject of t~e
message I have here waiting to be delivered to you.
LENNON
Im starting to feel like Alice. This place ~ust gets curiouser
and curiousero
MOZART
Who is Alice? A friend of Yokos?
LENNON
Aliceo o Alice has something to do with those nursery rhymes.
I cant remember exactly who Alice is but she seems to be
associated with my youth.
MOZAR~
I guess it means more to you than it does to me. Heres the
message I have for you. You will meet with Darwin sometime in
the near future. Dont worry about the time and place. He will
find you.
LENNON
That certainly narrows things down. Great piece of info, Wolfieo
Dont know how I would get on without it
MOZAR~
Dont be so smug. It could have been quite disconcerting if old
Darwin popped up in your bathtub or something.

3 ACTS BY A~Do CAMERONE

Bathtub?
M~
The place where you take a bath.
LENNON
in the middle of a bath in the middle of a bath I
call your name ~
MOZART
At least, now, you know hes coming You can expect him. His
arrival wont be such a surprise
LENNON
Nothing should surprise me in this place.
MOZART
The movies surprised you
~ENNON
You said that White Poplar Inn wasnt far from here.

Not far from here at all.

LENNON
How do I get there?
MOZART
Heres a mapp You go straight ahead through that tunnel and look
for the white poplar tree. What say we take a promenade through
the park? We can walk awhile, talk awhilep and stop off at the
Inn for a libation.
LENNON
(Looking at the map.)
Sounds great to me ~ o . This building here
(He points to the map.)
The Dakota o . ~ it means something to me . but I cant put
my finger on ito
(He is distracted by the images on the
wall.)
Did you see that?
(He runs to the wall.)
Look at this2
M~
Sorryp Johnr I don~t see what you are seeing

ACTS BY A.Do CAMERONE

 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
26 -

LENNON
Oh my god, someone is getting shot outside of the Dakota, but I
cant make out who it is o
MOZART
Look John I cant help you with these movies youre seeing.It
might be less embarrassing if you do this alone.
LENNON
Wait a minute. The scene is being replayed
(He is engrossed in the projected
images of a man being shot.)
MOZART
have to
You have the map. Ill go ahead to the inn Do what you
do; then join me later Theres no rush--take your time Ill
see you when you get there.
(He walks toward the tunnel without
further adieu)
LENNO~
The scene keeps being replayed o . o
(He sees himself being shot. Yoko is
standing by his side crying)
Oh no its me Ive been shot o o o its me2
(He breaks down and puts his head in
his hands.)
Its true Im dead o o oh, Yoko o o how can I go on without
you

END SCENE 5

3 ACTS BY A.Do CAMERONE

STP~WBERRY FIELDS

ACT 1
SCENE 6

LENNON sits silently not sure

what to dOo He keeps his head
lowered as in reflects during a
long pause When he looks up he
spies FOUR PEOPLE walking through
Central Park They are in the
dimension of the livingp and
LENNON has made a rare
cross-overo As LENNON crosses
over to the other dimension the
FOUR NEW YOR~RS see him fading
in and~out llke a ghost Both
sides try to co~Jaunica~e Go each
other, but can not~

END ACT 1
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
~ 28 -
ACT 2
SCENE 1

A large monitor is lowered from

above. All action for scene 1 is
seen only on video tape. We are
watching the introduction to a
New York City talk show. Title
graphics are seen for the Thomas
Morton show, followed by a
close-up of the hostg poise4 in
the audience telling the viewing
audience what the topic of
todays show is about

MORTON
When we dle~ we die. Or do we? Can dead vlslt the llvlngo Is
there a link between the living world and the hereafter? TodayS
guests believe SOo

guests)
These four New Yorkers claim to have been visited by a ghost--the
ghost of John Lennon-- while they were walking through Central
Park. They swear it is true. Lets start with youp warren.
Tell us what happened o do you really believe you saw John
Lennon~s ghost?

WARREN
I know I saw him, Thomas; and so did Marshar Sally, and Todd
here

(All three nod and start to talk

simultaneously The audience makes a
collectlve moan of disbelief.)

MORTON
OKr OK, o o o one ~t a time everyone will get a chance to speak.
Sally, just what dld you see?

SALLY
We saw John. He was standing there in a black suit with the
number 40 on his arm

(The audience laughs.)

ACTS BY A.Do CAMERONE

 STRIgqBERRY FIELDS

TODD
Its true We were walking through the ~estside of Central Park
in Strawberry Fields Lennons image faded into view; sort of
hovered there for a second; faded in and out a couple of times
then disappeared
MORTON
What makes you think it was Lennons ghost you saw?
MARSHA
We all know what Lennon looks like. It was hlmo He was wearing
those round wire-rim glasses I know John Lennon when I see
him. We figure he was ghost because of the way he faded in and
out
(The audience voices their disbelief)
MORTO___~N
OK, fair enough o
(He tries to quiet the crowd.)
Did this image say aaything to you?
WARREN
NO, he sort of raised his h~nds ~ o ~ like he wa~ trying ~ get
our attention It looked llke hls llps were movlng, but we
couldnt hear what he was saying.
MORTON
Im sure you couldnt We are going to take a commercial break
right now When we come back, our guests will be joined by two
bisexual women who claim to have slept with Elviss ghost during
a ghoulish menage-a-trOiSo Stay with us well be rlght back
END SCENE 1

3 ACTS BY AoD~ CAMERONE

 ACT 2

SCENE 2
All signs of the monltor are
removed The interior of the
White Poplar Inn is revealed. It
is filled with activity A group
of ELIZABETHAN DRAMATISTS are the
trend setters here and the decor
is from their era The group
sits at a long table in a raised
alcove situated upstage
Downstage center is a billiard
table. MOZART is peacefully
executing various billiard
shots~ Downstage leftI BEE~IfOVEN
sits at a piano playing a tune.
wlth pool cue in hand~ MOZAR
crosses to BEETHOVENp ~nd they,
converse about the music MOZART
plays a few notes and BEETHOVEN
picks up the motif and improvises
on it.
LENNON enters in a hurried state
and goes straight to MOZART.
LENNON
Im glad I found you. I have to tell you what I just saw. You
are not going to believe this but
MOZART
Hello, my ~rlend o . o
(He continues his improvisation for 4
hands with BEETHOVEN.)
LENNON
Listen~ I have to talk to you. Could we go sit some
MOZART
How do you like this progression?
(The music increases in volume and
intensity.)
LENNON
just saw an image depicting my death; then I saw
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS

MOZART
Sorry, I cant hear a word youre saying Can you hear him,
Ludwig?
(No response from BEETHOVEN)
No, of course not. Do you knowr Beethoven?
LENNON
Yes, I mean no ~ o I know ~f him, but o o o forget about the
introductions for now. I thlnk I know how I got here. And I
just saw four ghosts
MOZART
(He stops playing but BEETHOVEN
continues)
My dear friend you are the ghost.
(He rises, picks up his pool stick and
guides LENNON to the billiard table)
You may have seen some living-people
LENNON
What?
MOZART
(He takes a shot.)
First things first. You say you think you saw your death event
You probably did. Sounds like a spontaneous recall
LENNON
What kind of a recall?
MOZART
(He hands the billiard cue to LENNONo)
Did you go to the memory pool?
(LENNON shakes his head nOo)
Did you drink anything before you saw your death event?
(LENNON shrugs nOo)
Then it has to be a spontaneous recall
LENNON
So theres no doubt about it Im really dead?
MOZART
You just saw your death event

3 ACTS BY A oDo CAMERONE

 LENNON
Thats how I died? I was shot in the chest and I died

A bullet wound o o ughp must have been messy I died in my

bed ~ killed my a cold
LENNON
Who were those people I saw? You think they are alive? Maybe I
can get back to New York?
MOZART
One step at a time, John, you just got here
(He produces another cue and resumes
playing billiards)
LENNON
If those people I saw where alive, maybe Im not dead?

Oh youre dead all right Others have seen the living before.
Dont let it bother you
LENNON
Maybe I can go back

No one who has died has ever gone back to what they were
LENNON
could be the first

John, we have other things to attend tOo The boys dont know
that you have already viewed the images of your death event Irm
going to have to tell them o even though it is sure to spoil
the fun
LE~NON
What fun?
(He become curious and takes an awkward
shot.)
MOZART
Your initiation We have big plans for you to drink from the pool
of memory tonight
LENNON
(He tries another shot)
Im not going through any initiation Itm going home
3 ACTS BY AoDo CAMERONE
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
~ 33 ~
MOZART
Dont be a party pooper
(MARLOWE ambles downstage from the
alcove, and approaches MOZART)
How are you doing, Marlowe I didnt know you had arrived How
fares my favorite scribe?
~ARLOWE
Still a little foggy How are you, Herr Mozart?
MOZART
Fine, my friend, fine This is John Lennon
MARLOWE
Oh yest the new boyr there will be plenty of time for him
latter For now
(He puts his arm around MOZART and
guides him up to the alcove)
o . o Do. me a favor ~and come up here to help me settle a bet with
that paln in the ass Bernard Shaw He says you wrote every note
of music down as you composed it o
(MARLOWE and MOZART move towards the
al cove )
o Come tell him how it really happened.
LENNON
Hey, what about me?
MOZART
Take some time to think about what I said. [ii be right back.
LENNON
All right o o .
(LENNON tries another shot but a woman
appears from nowhere and as she walks
by she snatches the cue ball from the
table~)
END SCENE 2
 STRAWBEP~qY FIELDS

ACT 2

SCENE 3

PERSEPHONE
Youre not very good
LENNON
(Offering her the stick.)
o if you can do better,
PERSEPHONE
(She takes the stick and plays,)
Im Persephone

LENNON
Im Winston Oo Boogie.
PERSEPHONE
Poor boyp you dont know who you are do you? Wellpnot to
worry Yourll know who you really are after you drinkfrom
Mnemosyne
(She passes the stick back)
LENNON
Mnemosyne?
PERSEPHONE
The pool of memory. Didnt anyone tell you?
LENNON
Tell me what?
PERSEPHONE
How to make your way around here.
(She grabs the ball again LENNON
gives up the stick.)
Who is your guide?
LENNON
Guide?
PERSEPHONE
Who was the first person you saw when you arrived here?
LENNON
Herr Mozart
 STP3~BERRY FIELDS
35

PERSEPHONE
Thats odd he should know better would you like to know who you
really are and how you died?
LENNON
(He takes the stick from her)
I already had a spontaneous recall,
PERSEPHONE
I see youre playing dumb You already know who you are Very
funny o . no matter, I know who you are John Lennon. Im
Admiral Byrds personal secretary
(She produces another stick from
nowhere, and takes a shot.)
LENNON
Thats all well and good; but what does it have to do with me?
PERSEPHONE
YOU want to get out of here dont you?
LENNON
I guess SOo Where do I go once I get out?
PERSEPHONE
one step at a timep please. The first step is to see Byrd.
LENNON
Byrd can help go back home?
PERSEPHONE
Millions have crossed over to the other side I spend six months
out of the year topside
LENNON
Are we in the ground?
PERSEPHONE
Actually, no, we exist in a loosely fitted electromagnetic
spectrum. An electrical charge that left your dead body was
transmitted here by your soulo
LENNON
Please spare me the metaphysics On second thought maybe I
should see Byrd. When can I meet with him?
PERSEPHONE
If you just wait a minute,, Ill get to that I bet that
spontaneous recall really shook you up?
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
36 -
LENNON
It was eerie. Is that how I really died?
PERSEPHONE
If yOU have any doubts you can reactivate your memory banks.
Just take a sip of the water from the pool out back.

LENNON
Im supposed to do that tonight at the initiation
PERSEPHONE
Is that the plan?
LENNON
Theres a big party here tonight, and Im supposed to drink from
the pool.
PERSEPHONE
These European intellectuals are so hypocritical Their powers
of thought are so underdeveloped. This entire crew has sipped
from the memory pool many times Then they forg~t and spen~ emnz
roaming around in a blue fog
LENNON
Whats in store for me during the initiation?
PERSEPHONE
Just some weird ceremony The brotherhood make themselves feel
superior by exploiting the newcomers trauma when he recalls his
death event.
LENNON
What does that mean?
PERSEPHONE
They set up the new guy and make fun of his reaction to his
recall.
LENNON
Doesn ~t sound very sporting
PERSEPHONE
No matter~ everything will be changing soon Byrd is leaving
The men at the top believe the White Poplar Inn is a sham The
entire format is being revised The new plan is to leave
everyone on their own You can be part of it~ if you likeo
Forget about them. Theyll be stuck here forever.
LEN~ON
You mean everyone is stuck here? Forever?
ACTS BY AoD. CA~ERONE
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
37 -

PERSEPHONE
Most of them have been here for too long~ When they aretruly
to
left to their own devices they will never figure out how
leave.
LENNON
Could they leave if they wanted to?
PERSEPHONE
They were always free to do what they desired. Ask them why they
are here They have built their own prison~ and have become
their own jailers
LENNON
So why do they stay?
PERSEPHONE
Because they dont know any better No matterf lets stay on
something more important Are you ready to reexperience your
death event?
LENNON
I dont know It was very disturbing. It makes me feel I should
contact my family I miss Yoko and Sean
PERSEPHONE
Try to take as many sips for the pool as Zou can handle. The
more you know the easier it will be to cross over
LENNON
When do I leave?
PERSEPHONE
First I have to verify an appointment for you with Byrd. You
wait here Ill contact you to schedule an exact time and place
(She is gone as mysteriously as she
arrived)
LENNON
(Looking around talking to empty
space)
Im already penciled in for an appointment to make an
appointment Does that make any difference
END SCENE 3

3 ACTS BY A.D~ CAMERONE

 MOZART
(Walking downstage.)
I see Persephone has come and gone--asusual. Whats the little
vampire up to now?
LEN~ON
Shes going to help me crossover. Im going back to the living~
MOZART
(Standing at the the table rolling the
ball around with his hand)
SO SOOn Do you think thats wise?
LENNON
Why stick around here? How many times have you in~tia~ed new
arrlvalso
MOZART
Many times o you keep your recall for a while, then you
slowly forget Every time a new comer arrives our recall is
reactivated
LENNON
So you were just using me--like you use everyone elseo
MOZ~ART
We are all in this together. We all need each other
LENNON
Well, you can count me OUto Im going to see Byrd~ and then Im
going home
MOZ~ART
Its not that simple. Persephone didnt tell you anything she
hasnt told all of USo
LENNON
Is that so?
MOZART
She told YOU Byrd is leaving, right Byrd is always leaving
Everyone here has had numerous appointments with Byrd--he hasnt
kept one. Everyone here is waiting to see Byrd. No one has seen
him yet

3 2~CTS BY AoD. CAMERONE

 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
39 -
LENNON
Youre kidding?
MOZART
Im afraid not This is one big waiting room. You better learn
how to enjoy yourself After a while you welcome turning off and
forgetting about yourself. Turning off provides you a rest.
LENNON
You like spending half your existence in a blue fog?
MOZART
John, right now while we are awake it is our time to party. Try
to enjoy yourself. There will be other new comers arrlvlng
soon. You wont be the new boy on the block for long. Wi~h your
spontaneous recall youve already become a celebrity
LENNON
What kind of life is this--hanging around a pub waiting to
someone who isnt going to see you?

MOZART
Its not a life. Youre not alive anymore A more appropr1ate
word would be existence.
LENNON
Something tells me to go home, and thats what Im going to do.
I have to get out of here
MOZART
Even if you do crossover you wont be alive Youll be a ghost.
You cant go back to the way things were again.
SHAW
(Calling down from the upstage alcove.)
Herr Mozart, grant us the pleasure of your company. Come up here
and tell this ass, Marlowe, how you really wrote Don Giovanni.
MOZART
Certainly, Bernard
(To LENNONo)
Come up and meet the ladso It will do you good.
(MOZART crosses upstage. LENNON pauses
then follows a few steps behind.)
END SCENE 4
 STP3~IBERRY FIELDS
~ 40
ACT 2

SCENE 5

(Grabbing MOZART and guiding him to a

seat at the table Referring to SHAW)
Why is it that this old dolt never consumes an ounce of ale nor
sips of any spirits; and~ yet, he always sounds like an old
philosopher deep in his cups?
(To LENNON.)
Sit down good friendr if you have not an argument that needs
resolving.
(LENNON sits at the table, and fiddles
with the cup and table-setting before
him.)

Dont be too hard on old Shaw. He is driven by his passion for

the dialectic.
BEAUMONT
His thesis needs an antithesis,

FLETCHER
His synthesis needs synthesizing.
(ALL laugh except SHAW.)
SHAW
(Referring to LENNON.)
What have we here . . a waif in the night?
LENNON
My name is John Lennon.
(He looks around the table to find:
SHAKESPEAREo DRAYTONr MARLOWE, JONSON,
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER They are
#iting around drinking and eating as
the converse)

Johnr let me introduce you the gang Going clockwise we have:

Christopher Marlowe~ Michael Draytont Ben Jonson~ William
Shakespeare, Francis Beaumontp John Fletcher~ and the man with
the beard and the big mouth is George Bernard Shaw.
SHAKESPEARE
We understand you had a spontaneous recallo lado
ACTS BY A.Do CA~ERONE
 STR21~BERRY FIELDS
- 41
LENNON
News travels fast around here . where ever here iSo

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER

(BEAUMONT starts the line and FLETCHER
finishes ito They always speak this
way)
We seem to be enveloped o
in a self contained sphere.
Where electromagnetism and gravity are at a minlmum o
and the strong and weak nuclear forces are non-existence.
JONSO~
You befuddle the boy with you pseudo-scienceo
(To LENNONo)
If it will help, the White Poplar Inn travel all over the
universe We havent been to Earth for many live-time cent~rieso
DRAYTON
Usually, the souls of the dearly departed travel to us. I gues~
you can say we made a special trip to pick you up.
SHAKESPEARE
There will be plenty of time for theory later~boys Rig,~t own ~
the matter of the initiation needs attention John, you want tO
be a team player dont you?
LENNON
not really o
SHAKESPEARE
(To SHAW.)
I thought you said he was a communist?
SHAW
I said Valdimar Ilich Lenin, the Russian, was a communist This
is John Lennon, an Englishman from New York City Hes a rock
and roll singer
SHAKESPEARE
Good Lord~ a rock and roll singer! Why the hell did he
experience a spontaneous recall?
MOZART
Mro Lennon seems to be an anomaly. Dont forget he also saw the
children before he drank from the poolo We have an exception to
the rule herer gentlemen

ACTS BY AoDo CAMERONE

 "STRAWBERRY FIELDS
42 -
JONSON
That could be good news It could prove we are not caught in an
never-changing cycle
MOZART
Gentlemen, our waif is more of a heavyweight than meets the eye~
He could be our way out of here
SHAKESPEARE
Thats all well and good, if it is true But, in a short time,
this room is going to be full of lost souls looking for an
initiation Lennon is going to have to go along with the sting
for now and play dumb
SHAW
Im not so surer Willy. Hes no Lenin, but he might be a
catalyst for a revolution after allo Lets tell his story the
way it happened and see what develops
LENNON
PersephOne told me you guys are trapped in a self~induced o
fantasy
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER
Did Persephone aleo tell you o o She worked for Byrd?

Yesp shes going to arrange a meeting with Byrd for meo She said
she was his personal secretary.

Thats a laugh Shee the abducted wife of King Hades

shes Hades right arm
LENNON
Hadesf the King of Hell, Hades?

Actually hes the King Of the Underworld. He runs the whole show
here. Byrd is his front man.
LENNON
Is Hades with us or against us?

JONSON
No one knows All we know is he doesnt believe any one
MA~.LOWE
Youll never see Byrd, and Hades doesnt even know you exist
Your best chance is to join up with usp John.
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
- 43

LENNON
What! Join your band of fantasy revolutionaries so I can spend
eternity fighting for lost causes?
MOZART
Take it easy, John.
LENNON
YOU dont understand I want to get out of here, right now I
dont like the idea of being stuck in some comic-book mythology.
I miss Yoko and Sean. I have to see Byrd. I have to go back
home.
DRAYTON
Byrd can,t help you
JONSON
We all want out
SHA~_
The question is how do we do ito
MOZART
and can we take everyone along Einstein believe~ ~he
course of events here may be beyond our control
LENNON
Nothing is beyond my control.
JONSON
You had better calm down. No sense in going off
half-cocked
LE_~NON
Listen, Im going to find Byrd If he wont come to met Ill go
to him
MARLOWE
Great strategy~ you had better hope Byrd is in the sphere
Because whether you want to believe it or not, we are essentially
powerless prisoners encapsulated here
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER
Even if you wanted to
You couldnt leave here to see Byrd
or anyone elseo
Everything and everybody has to come to you.
LENNON
The White Poplar Inn travels all over the universe doesnt it?
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 44

DRAYTON
Actually The White Poplar Inn is embedded in "the sphere""The
sphere" travels all over the universe.
SHAKESPEARE
Thats correct and "the sphere" hasnt been in earths space-time
continuum for quite awhile The last time we were here was
centuries ago.
MARLOWE
Einstein calculates the present time to be 1993. Byrd
crossed-over to spend some time in Antarctica some years back
SHAW
We assume Byrd is sick of all that snow by now and he is ready
rejoin USo
JONSON
If you really want to find Byrd, you have to wait here and hope_
he comes to you
LENNON
Well~ I cant wait. How do you know all this stuff about "the
sphere" is true?
JONSON
Weve worked on "the sphere" theory independently. We share our
data with each other for replication We are not as unorganized
as Persephone will lead you to believe She believes what we
want her to believe
LENNON
There are holes in your theory. First of all, you said no one
crosses-overo I saw four live people soon after I arrived here
How do you explain that?
SHAW
You didnt crossover Those people probably came to you. And
they didnt fully crossover Just their images made it through
LENNON
OK, what about Byrd~ you just said he crosse4-over to visit
Antarctica How come he did it?
SHAKESPEARE
He did it because he is the "Temporary King of the Cold Palace"
Rank has xt s privileges even in the underworld, dear boy

3 ACTS BY A.Do CA~ERONE

 FIELDS

LENNON
Shaw died in 1951. I died in 1980. You say the sphere hasnt
been to earth in centuries. How did Shaw get here?
SHAW
Drayton just told you how. I travelled to the sphere. You guys
where in the double-center of Andromeda when I arrived,werent
you.
DRAYTON
Thats right, Bernard.
LENNON
OK~ you say the present time on earth is 1993. How can that be
if I died in 1980 yet I just arrived here hours ago.
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER
Consider this premise
When you eXist o o
In a varied space~time continuum
YOU can experience . o
A varied ability to tell time.
LENNON
If this is a riddle forget it Im in not in the mood.
MARLOWE
Its not a riddle Let me put it to you this way: you died on
November 9, 1980; the first thing you saw after your death was
Mozart playing the piano. How far back did your memory go before
your spontaneous recall?
A solo musician with acoustic
guitar and harmonica appears on
an elevated platform, stage
left. He plays the instrumental
versions of various tune~ in the
background. All the music is at
a low levelo As LENNON and the
BOYS talk, the room continues to
fill up with people.

LENNON
cant remember. Make your point
MOZART
The images of the people you saw come from 1993.

3 ACTS BY AoDo CA~ERONE

 STR~I~BERRY FIELDS
- 46 -
LENNON
Whats the point, Wolfie?
(MOZART shakes his head in disbelief)
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER
When you first arrived here o o
You were dead for twelve earth years o
Yet you thought no time had passed
In reality~ no time had passed for you o o o
But not so for the other sections of the universe~
~OZART
We here in the White Poplar Inn havep in the twelve years sance
your untimely demiser travelled all over the universe We hBve
spent many centuries in those twelve years slipping in and out
several different time dimensions
LENNON
Stop it. Youre confusing me and boring boring me at the same
time Wolfgang~ when we first met~ you said we were in
Strawberry Fields
MOZART
What I meant was our sphere had encompassed Strawberry Fieldso
The solo guitarist has finished a
song Three more musiciansw-a
drummer and two more g~itar
players--join him The band
plays another song.
LENNON
Can I leave the sphere and enter Strawberry Fields?
SHAKESPEARE
Are you sure you want to?
LENNON
Of course I am o I want to go home
MOZART
If you leave the spherep you will be left in limbo You111 be
stuck between two dimensions
JONSON
No one will be able to communicate with you. All theyll see is ....
a ghostly image.
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
-47

DRAYTON
Did Persephone tell you that, when you crossover, you dont take
your true essence with you?
LENNON
No, she didnt mention any details.
MARLOWE
Of course, not . why bother with the gory details?
A brass section appears and joins
the band for another song as
scores of 16-year olds surround
the stage
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER
After you crossover, you wont be able to touch or feel anyone-
an~ they wontt be able to touch or feel you
SHA~.
We all want to leave, but theres no sense jumplng out of the
frying pan and into the fire
LENNON
What are saying? Are you telling me I cant go back home?

SHAKESPEARE
Maybe we better take this a bit slower What happens if you
leave the sphere and Byrd comes back?
LENNON
I give up. What happens?
SHAKESPEARE
Youll miss Byrd, and you will probably never be able to find him
again.
LENNON
Why not?
MOZART
Its a big universe out there When you factor in these
alternate space-time continuum, its expanse is exponentially
increased.
LENNO~
What do mean . . . exponentially? Dont start using mathematics
to muck up my plans
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 48 -
DRAYTON
Were only trying to help you.
LENNON
Im not so sure. You may or may not be on to something here. If
what Persephone says is true, the fantasy world you have created
is your only prison.
MARLOWE
Persephone is the master of the half-truth.
SHAW
You could use drink from Mnemosyne I was there this mornlng and
after a deep drink, I felt much better
(SHAW pulis out a flask.)
Look what I brought back for you. Will you drin~ it, John?
LENNON
What for?
SHAW
Youll know "what for" after you drink
MARLOWE
It will help understand who you were~ and what you have become.
MOZART
What harm could it do? Its only water.
The band leader puts a toilet
seat cover over his head LENNON
sees himself in the band leader

SHAW
I guess if youre not going to drink it,Ill just pour it out
(He starts to tip the flask.)
Seems~like a terrible waste
MOZART
Definitely~ an opportunity lost
SHAKESPEARE
Just pour it out~ Bernard He doesnt want to know what he has
really become.
(SHAW spills out a small amount of
liquid)

3 ACTS BY AoDo CAMERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
~ 49
LENNON
No o wait this
o Ill drink it2 Give it here I guess
is one way to see if you guys are telling the truth
(LENNON drinks the contents of the
flask.)
END SCENE 5
STP3~BERRY FIELDS
- 50 -

ACT 2

SCENE 6

The room has been steadily

filling up with people. When
LENNON drinks from the flaskr the
whole room which has been
watching him roars with delight
Frenzy ensues while the crowd
cheers and sings a short chorus
of "For Hes a Jolly Good Fellow"
followed by a small section of
"Auld Lang Sy~e"o
The solo musician has been joined,
by a full rock and roll band> and
they play a few tunes complete
with words and music. As the
~usic progresses the revelry ~
Increases in lntensityo Ev~ry6ne
is singing and danc~nq~ There
are severa~ p~ople drinking from
the mysterlously revealed pool of
memory that is now locat@d
downstage center. The musical
frenzy reaches a crescendo, and
LENNONr who has danced his: way to
the poolr plunges his head in the
water

END ACT 2

ACTS BY A.D. CAMERONE

 All the trappings of the White
Poplar Inn are removed
The act opens with the ROCK AND
ROLL BAND playing a tune As the
band plays, they are also seen on
a large screen After playing
half the song the band
disappears, but their video image
remains
LENNON appears on the screen and
3oins in "for.the harmonica worM,
on tune. .It is L~NN~NS dream ~e
~re watchl~g (He is dreaming he
is performlng the tune Withth@
band.)
The screen recedes and the
Strawberry Fields section of
Central Park is revealed (sameas
opening of Act io) There are
paths leading to a cloverleaf
shaped center. Upstage centeris
the tunnel of a bridge overpass
LENNON is sleeping on a park
bench. The song ends and the
screen disappears.
MOZART walks out of the tunnel
playing the flute He spies
LENNON and goes to him. The
flute music wakes his sleeping
friend.

MOZART
Good morning, my friend.
LENNON
Oh, boy, I dreamt I was a rock and roll singer playing the
harmonica in a band

ACTS BY A.Do CA~ERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
~ 52
MOZART
YOU were . dont you remember o
LENNON
Please, no more memory recalls. Do you guys get blasted like
that all the time?
~OZART
No, this was a particularly intense initiation Listen~ JohnrI
have something to discuss with you A!ter last night, the
consensus is that you are right in wanting to get out of here
LENNON
Why does everything have to be so confusing? Do you want me te
stay or to go?
MOZART
NOt just you~ all of us we all want out
LENNON
So~ whats the solution?
MOZART
We agree we should go~ but we dont think it will be ~o our
benefit to wander about eternity as a bunch video-lmage
LENNON
Its simple as far as I am concerned Wehave to figure out
exactly where we are, and then figure out a way to get somewhere
elseo
MOZART
Sounds like another viscous cycle. Exactly where are you going
to go?
LENNON
Back to Yoko and Sean o back to New York City
MOZART
You want to go back there, and become the "Ghost of Strawberry
Fields"?
LENNON
Is that what Ill be?
~ozAR~
We have to figure out a way to take our true essences with us
when we leave. And we cant return to earth We cant go back
to our past lives after weve died.
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 53
LENNON
Are there any other alternatives?
MOZART
If we have to we can stay here
LENNON
I realize weve been over this before,but where Is here?
MOZART
Here in this free-floating, loosely-fitted electromagneti~
spectrum. Its still our only link to the rest of the Unlverseo
LENNON
I still want to go home
MOZART
If you go to New York, you might get stuck there At~least we
travel with the White Poplar Inn.
LENNON
whats the plan?
MOZART
YOU have the best chance to meet with Byrd The boys want you to
talk Byrd into setting us free
LENNON
Listenp Wolfgang, dont put this whole thing on my shoulders I
just got here~ remember? Tell everybody to do what they want to
do. Ill do what I want to do.
MOZART
I guess you re rlght o . o
(Long pause as MOZART sits there
dejected)
LENNON
Why did we go through that pompous initiation last night?
MOZART
It was great fun.
LENNON
Wild o who was the house band?
MOZART
First time I heard myself. They were doing a re-enactment of
your club days in Germany Did you recognize it?

ACTS BY A.Do CAMERONE

 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
- 54

LENNON
Not really, but it did make me think of earth It made me want
to go back so bad. I got desperate o so I drank from the
that flask Shaw was holding.
MOZART
Did it help?
LENNON
Not if I judge this conversation as proof. Im just as lost now
as when I first met you
MOZART
If It S any consolation, Im just as confused as you For now,
why not sit back and enjoy the morning. Im going back to the
Inn to give my report to the boys
LENNON
Still playing the spy for the bureaucrats, Wolfgang?
MOZART
Dont be too hard on me, John. We are in this together Our
best strategy is not to put all our eggs in one basketYou work
your angles--Ill work mine.
LENNON
Its OK. Tell the crew I had a great time last night. I~ll be
by in awhile
MOZAR~
Heres some peanuts Feed the pigeons.
LENNON
(He takes the bag of peanuts.)
What plgeons.
MOZART
Just throw down a few peanuts. Theyll fly in
(He exits through the tunnel.)

END SCENE 1
 STP~qBERRY FIELDS
- 55 -
ACT 3

SCENE 2
!~_ENNON
(Breaking up a peanut and throwing it
down in front of him.)
Pigeons . o
(He throws another nut.)
Feed the pigeons. What,s a pigeon?
(A bird appears.)
Thats a pigeon . sure o here you go, birdie
(He throws more nuts and two more birds
appear.)
Hello my little pigeons
(DARWIN appears also throwing peanuts.)
DARWIN
Interesting diversity in sub-species. City pigeons know no
boundaries
~_ENNON
Hey, arent you Charles Darwin?

How did you guess?

~ENNON
Your beard o o I remember seeing a photograph of you when I was
a young boy
DARWIN
You remember your childhood?

No, not really ~ . o but just then I did when I saw you. I
remember sitting in a library, looking at your photograph in a
book
DARWIN
I assume Einstein told you we would be meeting
LENNO_____~N
Einstein, of course o do you work for King Hades?
D__ARWIN
Good lord, no. Who told you that?

ACTS ~Y A~Do CA~ERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
~ 56 ~
LENNON
NO one I just wondered if you did . when do I see Byrd?
DARWIN
That I dont know because not even Byrd knows when he will see
you
LENNON
Why is that?
DARWIN
Because Byrd only sees those people who accidentally run ~nto
him. Its a random process you see~
LENNON
Great o can you help me get back to New York City?
DARWIN
If you go back to New York, you will never see Byrd.
L_~NON
So whats the big deal about seeing Byrd?
DARWI~
Its your only way out of here Byrd is the only one who can
you free

DARWIN
Hurry up and wait. Do you know how many people are at the White
Poplar Inn waiting to see Byrd?
DARWIN
Thousands o o o you only saw a small fraction at the
initiation156
last night. Most of them didnt wake up. The majority is still
encapsulated in the blue fog of forgetfulness
LENNON
I guess there,s not much for me to do should I just sit back,
relax and wait patiently?
DARWIN
Johnp you have arrived here on the cusp. Your spontaneous
recall, while not unique, shows promise for individualized
awakenings.
LENNON
What are you talking about?

3 ACTS BY A.D. CA~ERO~E

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 57 -

The white Poplar Inn is going to be scrapped Byrd is leaving

Einstein and I are leaving with him.
LENNON
Save the party line for someone who doesnt know any better. I
know Byrd is King Hades" front man. If you are all in cahoots,
why did you say you didnt work for Hades?
DA~.WIN
I dont know where you got your information; but I can assure you
Hades is just a myth we use to frighten the wicked and cruel
The posts Einsteinp Byrd and I hold have been filled by various
personalities through the ages
LENNON
If there never was a King Hades, then why did I see his abducted
wife, Persephone?

T~e lady.you saw is not Persephone. Shes Mary Shelley. She

gives quite a performance--doesnt she?

The only way for me to get out of here is to see ~y~?

DARWIN
Thatrs one way. You can follow your instincts and do something
else if you like.
LENNON
Then I can go back to my family in New York City.
DARWIN
If you go back to the living, you wont be able to interact with
your family If thats what you mean
LENNON
Why not?
DARWIN
Your previous existence on earth is over. Remember, John,
consciousness is energy deciphered by mattero Your body is dead
and buried If you go back to earth~ only an incomplete version
of what you are now will make it back through the transition
LENNON
So~ where does that leave me?
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 58
DARWIN
The universe is a vast place. There are many space-time
continuum that will accept thefull essence of what you are,
now It just so happens earthisnt one of them

What about Yoko and Sean?

Theres always the possibility that you will be reunited after

they have finished their time on earth.
LENNON
Then I should wait for Byrd?

Most definitely.

But you just said Byrd is leaving.

DARWIN
He iSo

When . when, exactly, is Byrd leaving?

D__ARWIN
I really couldnt tell you You have to remember, that time is
influenced by gravity. We exist in a sphere where invisible dark
matter produces erratic gravitational forces

What does that mean?

D__A~IN
It means you no longer experience time on the linear plane you
were accustomed to on earth. The actual time is minuscule. You
will decide how long it seems It could be an instance, or it
could seem like eternity
LENNON
If everyone must see Byrd in order to leave here; how can Byrd
leave if he doesnt see everyone?

First of all~ everyone is free to leave without Byrds

permission. All the souls at the White Poplar Inn are their own
jailers. If they are stuck here, it is only because they arent
clever enough to use their free will to move-on. Secondlyr Byrd ~
will not see everyone Some will be left behind.
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
59 ~
LENNON
But those who are not to be left behind, willByrd see all of
them?
DARWIN
Yes, sooner or later o
LENNON
Its just a matter of time.
DARWIN
Right.
LENNON
It seems you have taken me around in a big circle Irm ba~k Go
where I started.
DARWIN
Sorry, lad, but you took control of the conversation I had a
nice speech on diversity and natural selection prepared ~e o~iy
spoke about the subjects you proposed.
LENNON
Well, tell me about diversity and natural selection~ now.
DARWIN
No time for that, now. Besides it wouldnt do any good
(DARWIN starts to exit.)
Good luck in whatever you decide to do, lad. Im sure youll
bump into Byrd sooner or later.
LENNON
Hey, wait a minute, what about that diversity stuff--maybe it
will do some good
(DARWIN walks away in silence)
I have a question about natural selection o
(The pigeons follow DARWIN.)
Will I see you again?
END SCENE 2
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS

ACT 3
SCENE__!3
A voice comes from the tunnel
MARY SHELLEY a k a PERSEPHONE is
calling LENNONS name. She comes
through the tunnel and appears
upstage center.
s~
John o John Lennon
LENNON
Oh~ no, its "The Ghost of Christmas Past".

Oh~ there you are Its me Persephone. I have great news for
you o
LENNO~
I know who you really are Mary Shelley
SHELLEY
Ohp dear, I hope you arent mad that I deceived you Hades is
such a potent symbol Im afraid its embarrassing when the veil
islifted.

Dont flatter yourself I didnt believe a word you told me

~HELLEY
Dont be bitter, John, I have good news for you Byrd
youll
strolling through Central Park. Theres a good chance
bump into him.
LENNON
Dontt you want to go home, Mary?

I am home, John.
~ENNON
No, I mean your home on earth Wouldnt you like to go back even
if only for a little, while; or maybe like Persephone for six
months out of the year?
SHELLEY
You still dont fully realize where we are--do you?

3 ACTS BY A.Do CAMEROHE

 STP~I~BERRY FIELDS

LENNON
Ive heard the theories on space-time continuum and force fields.
SHELLEY
Let me share some classified information with you. Our Milky Way
Galaxy contains dark invisible matter that spans for hundreds of
thousands of light years. Through this darkness the Magellanic
cloud moves in a spiral orbit that takes 25 million years to
complete This sphere, we currently call home, is the result o~
that marvelous interaction. You couldnt do better than to exist
here
LENNON
I could be just as happy in New York City
SHELLEY
No you couldnt You wouldnt be happy being "The Ghost of
Central Park". You would be bored stiff. I bet you would spen~
eternity in the "Blue Fog".
LENNON
Whats wrong with the blue fog?
SHELLE[
Talk about dull. Listen, I have a lot of lost souls to finE.
Keep your eye out for Byrd.
(She exits.)
END SCENE 3

3 ACTS BY AoDo CA~ERONE

 STPJ~BEP~Y FIELDS

ACT 3
SCENE 4

LENNQ~_
Hey, wait, what about the boys at the White Poplar Inn? Is Byrd
going to see them too?
MOZ~T
(Entering from the tunnel.)
Was that Persephone?
LENN__Q~
Her real name is Mary . Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
MOZART
Is that who she is? Who is Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley?
LENNON
She wrote Frankenstein in 1818.

How do you know that?

LENNON
I remember reading the book.
MOZA~
No, I meant how do you know shes really not Persephone?
LENNON
She was just play acting. Trying to confuse us to keep us on our
toes~ There is no Persephone. There is no King Hades It was
all a myth.

How did you find out? Did you figure it out, or did somebody
tell you?
LENNQ~
She just admitted to me. But Darwin told me first He passed by
while I was feeding the pigeons.
MOZART
Thats what I came to tell you. Darwin is at the White Poplar
Inn right now. He saw you alone?

ACTS BY A~Do C~RONE

 STP~WBERRY FIELDS

LENNON
Yes . .o o but heres the big news. Persephone~ ah,Mary Shelley
just informed me that Byrd has rejoined the sphere Supposedly,
hes walking through Central Park as we speak
MOZART
If what you say is truep things seem to be coming to a head.
Have you decided what you are going to do?
LENNON
No have you?
MOZART
Darwin made a big impression on the boys at the White Poplar. He
gave a great speech on diversity and natural selection Ev~ryon~
was completely won over. The general consensus is we should wait
for Byrd as group.
LENNoN
Did Darwin also tell you that the White Poplar Inn was being
eliminated?
MOZART
Yes, but after a quick analysisp we figured it wouldnt make any
difference if we were leaving anyway.
LENNON
What about those who will be left behind? Or the souls who will
come in the future?

MOZAR~
We dldn t consider them because everyone is ~o be left on their
own.

LENNON
SO now it is popular to accept the double-speak of the party
line?
MOZART
What do you mean?
LENNON
Can we make it on our own?
MOZART
Talk about flip-flopso You were the one who wanted to go off on
his own.

3 AC~S BY AoD. CAMERONE

 STPu~i~BERRY FIELDS
- 64

LENNON
I just wanted to go back home I realize now that might be
impossible Maybe we should think about the souls who will
follow us. The next newcomer could be member of one of our
families
MOZART
This is a perfect example of how we got into the mess we are in
now. Constant indecision o
LENNON
Not indecision--diversityo Maybe we need both not
either/or, but also/ando
MOZART
What are you proposing?
LENNON
Granted it s not such a great idea to go back to the land of the
living. We should move on and explore the universe. B.ut maybe
we can do something to help the loved ones we left behind on
earth to make it easier for them when their time to d~e comes~
MOZART
Darwin says everyone will have to figure it out for themselves,

Maybe we can help them Lets take what we know about the
physical laws that govern "the sphere" and use that knowledge to
send a message to earth.
MOZART
YOU mean set up a White Poplar Inn on earth?

We can do better than that. There should be more to death than

flip-flopping between the blue fog and wild parties at some inn

did help pass the time

LENNO~
We can do more. We can create something better. We dont need
Byrd and his bureaucrats. We dont need Hades and his
mythology Lets take control of our existence and then teach
the people on earth to do the same
MOZART
Sounds great, but how do we do it?
LENNON
Im not sure . but we have plenty of time to figure it out.
END SCENE 4
3 ACTS BY A.Do Ci~2~ERONE
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 65
ACT 3

SCENE 5
(A great commotion is heard as
the BYRD entourage inundates the
stage Three advance men noisily
prepare the way)
SPIN DOCTOR 1
Nor no this is Central Park We are going to the White Poplar
Inn after we leave Strawberry Fields.
SPIN DOCTOR 2
(After consulting a map, talking to
SPIN DOCTOR 3.)
The inn is through that tunnel and around the bend.
SPIN DOCTOR 3
(To those who are following behind.)
Through that tunnel and around the bend
(Half the entourage continues on
through the tunnel.)
SPIN DOCTOR 1
(Noticing LENNON.)
Oh, yes, Mro John Lennon--NYC1981. Let me tell you what is going
to happen here Admiral Byrd will be disposing of several oases
simultaneously. Just stand by quietly and speak only when the
Admiral speaks to you first.
LENNON
Go take a hike. Who the hell are you?
SPIN DOCTORS i, 2~ and ~
(Simultaneously.)
We are the Admirals spin doctors Are you familiar with King
Hades?
LENNON
Look, I already know that Hades is a myth If youthink, you can
bust in here and o
SPIN DOCTORS I~ 2~ and 3
(Simultaneously.)
Quleto Here comes Admiral Byrd

3 ACTS BY A.Do CAMERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
........ 66 ~

(Enter BYRD surrounded by his many

aides)
BYRD
Now, let me get this straight. You feel these souls have all
committed atrocities, so heinous, that rehabilitation is
unlikely?
COUNSELOR
Yes, Admiral, these souls are beyond redemption. Repudiation is
our only course.
B YRD
Very well, bring them to meo
(The COUNSELOR waves his handr and the
condemned group files over.)

You people know why you are here. Know, now, because you will
forever forget. Go and roam these fields with no hope of
salvation You will be visited by King Hades let him be~
youreternal tormentor
(The group exits silently)
LENNON
That,s it Im leaving.
MOZART
Cmon, John you cant go now Not when we are this close to
finally meeting with Byrd Just relax, and play along
(LENNON tries to sneak away)

(Noticing LENNON.)
What have we here ~ the infamous John Lennon NYCI981?
SPIN DOCTOR 1
The Englishman from New York

The rock and roll singer

BYR____~D
Where are you sneaking off to, young man? Did my sentencing
those poor souls to eternal damnation disturb you?
LENNON
I know all about you and Hades
ACTS BY AoDo CA~ERO~E
 STIh%WBERRY FIELDS
67 m

Have you been talking to the erstwhile Persephone, Mary Shelley?

LENN_Q~_
Yes, I have; but she didnt tell meo Darwin told me Hades is a
sham
BYR~
Not to those who believe otherwise We never said we wanted you
to believe in Hello

LENNQ~
I dont care what you want me to believe. Ive decided to go it
alone
BYRQ
You too, Herr Mozart? You are awful quiet Will you go it alone
too?
MOZ .ART
Theres something to be said for Johns plan.
BYRQ
And just what is "Johns Plan"? A loosely fit~e~ plo wi~h ne
focus

It compliments our loosely fitted electromagnetic spectrum.

(The entourage is aghast at LENNONrS
presumptuousness~)
BYRD
(A MESSENGER delivers a document to
SHELLEY, and she hands it to BYRD.)
Heres the transcript of your most recent conversation with
Mozart. Your~plan is no different than a hundred others that
have been submitted to meo Another do-gooder out to save
humanity What makes you believe you can succ@ed wh~re s~m~ many
others have failed?
LENNOX_
ItJs worth a try If I fail, I fail. No harm in trying.

Ill be the judge of that Neverthelessj this of no matter We

have already charted a course for you

3 ACTS ]~Y AoD. CAMERONE

 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
68 -
LENNO~
You cant control meo Im going to choose my own course to
follow o and Im going to encourage the others to do the
same
BYRD
Ohp you are? Well what you say is of no matter John Lennon~ I
sentence you to remain aware of your plight in the afterlife.
You shall not find solace in the blue fog You will spend
eternity knowing who you are you are truly on your ownr my
dear boy
MOZART
We are not afraid to control our destiny. Im with John
LENNON
Exactly where am ~?
MOZART
Not now, John
BYRD
So be it the same will apply for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart..
MOZART
Your decree is a blessing; not a punishment~ mien Admiral Byrd
BYRD
(BYRD is already moving on to other
business)
It was meant to be neither. Now~ go on your merry way. Theres
a whole universe waiting to be explored If you can send back
message to earth that will help those hopeless wretchesr more
power to you
(BYRD exits through the tunnel and his
entourage follows The SPIN DOCTORS
take a few steps then come back to
LENNON.)
END SCENE 5
 STPu~WBERRY FIELDS
- 69 -

ACT 3
SCENE 6

SPIN DOCTORS i~ 2 and 3

(Simultaneously)
We would like to put the proper slant on what Admiral Byrd said
SPIN DOCTOR 1
There is a good possibility that the Admiral did not mean what
you thought he said o o
SPIN DOCTOR 2
While we admit that the probability of the existence Of King
Hades is remote o
SPIN DOCTOR 3
The creation in the minds of the damned of suchan entlty is non e
the less realo
LENNON
Save your conundrums for your next victim I know what Byrd said
o o he said I can do as I please o and at th~ moment I
choose to ignore you
SPIN DOCTORS i~ 2~ and 3
(Simultaneously)
Well~ what you say is true o for ,now~ lets leave it at
that.
(The SPIN DOCTORS attempt to exit but
they seem to have lost their way.)
SPIN DOCTOR 1
GOOd grief, everyone is gone Are you sure the Inn is this way?
SPIN DOCTOR 2
Through the tunnel and around the bend o
SPIN DOCTOR 3
Yes, through the tunnel and around the bend. Can you believe
these guys got away with that?
(The SPIN DOCTORS finally exit
Leaving LENNON and MOZART alone)
END SCENE 6
 STP~WBERRY FIELDS
70
ACT 3

SCENE 7
MOZART
(Long pause as the two stare at each in
awkward silence)
Quite a roller coaster ride
LENNON
Well, we saw Byrd and where did it get us?
MOZART
Were free. We have the whole universe to play ino
LENNON
I still feel empty and lonely
MOZART
Youre not alone, John, you have meo
LENNON
And you have me
MOZART
Poplar
We have each other, and theres everyone at the White
Byrd is probably setting them free right now. We canall get
together
LENNON
To do what?
MOZART
We can work on your plan to send that message to earth
LENNON
Do you really think it could work?
MOZART
Sure I dOo Cmon, it wont be that bad Lets take a stroll
Ill play you that new variation for the flute Ive been working
on.
(He pulls out a flute and plays
softly.)
 STRAWBERRY FIELDS
- 71

LENNON
Why not? We have plenty of time Which way shall we go?
(They look at the four directions the
paths leado)
How about this way?
(They stroll upstage to the tunnel)

THE END