PURPOSE – THE SCREEN PLAY

PURPOSE – THE SCREEN PLAY

Characters:

• The Elder – Mid 70s, calm, grounded, radiates presence and clarity

• Michael – Middle-aged man, late 40s, anxious, restless, searching for meaning

Setting: A quiet park bench under old oak trees. Morning sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that shift with the breeze. Birds chirp in the distance. Michael is on one bench, fumbling with papers that threaten to slip from his grasp, looking frustrated. The Elder sits on an opposing bench, calmly feeding pigeons with deliberate, meditative motions.

Scene 1: The Meeting

(Michael shuffles papers aggressively, dropping one. As he bends to retrieve it, another slips away. He exhales sharply, runs his hand through his hair. The Elder watches this quiet chaos, then speaks without looking up from the pigeons.)

ELDER: Perhaps you’d join me over here?

(Michael freezes mid-reach, startled. He looks around—is the Elder talking to him? The Elder gestures to the empty space beside him with a gentle tilt of his head. Michael hesitates, clutches his papers to his chest protectively, then reluctantly crosses to the Elder’s bench. He sits on the far edge, leaving space between them, body angled slightly away.)

(Long pause. The Elder continues feeding pigeons, his movements rhythmic and unhurried. A pigeon lands near Michael’s foot; he jerks his leg back. The silence stretches. Michael shifts his weight, crosses and uncrosses his legs, glances at his watch. Finally, the Elder speaks, still watching the birds.)

ELDER: I thought I might be able to help. It looks like you’re trying to figure something out. What I find is that when I discuss it with someone else, it makes it easier for me to see the problem for myself. Makes it easier for me to solve it.

(Another pause. Michael opens his mouth, closes it. His papers crinkle in his tightening grip.)

MICHAEL: (sighing, shoulders dropping) I just can’t seem to get this right. Every plan, every goal, every strategy… (he gestures vaguely at the papers) …it just feels so empty, so hollow, so meaningless. Something is missing, and I don’t know what that is yet.

ELDER: (looks up, smiling softly, making eye contact for the first time) You look like a man searching for something he doesn’t even know how to name.

MICHAEL: (startled, meeting the Elder’s gaze, then looking away quickly) Oh… uh… I guess I am. (pause, then quieter, almost to himself) What keeps coming up for me in the last few days is the concept of “purpose,” but I’m not even sure what it means anymore.

ELDER: (chuckles warmly, tossing another handful of crumbs) Ah. Purpose. That old friend. Or maybe it’s the friend you think you’re chasing.

MICHAEL: (turns toward the Elder slightly, brow furrowed) What do you mean?

ELDER: Purpose exists in three ways: a noun, a verb, and a way of being. Most people think it’s just a noun—something to find, something to “have.”

MICHAEL: (leaning in now, papers loosening in his grip) A noun? Like… a goal?

ELDER: Depends on how you define a goal. Exactly. Purpose as a noun is your tangible outcome, a reason for existence. The “what” behind your action. A doctor heals, a teacher educates, an artist creates. It’s static, guiding, and points you forward. Without it… (gestures broadly at the park around them) …you drift. Decisions scatter. Energy leaks everywhere.

MICHAEL: (nods slowly, setting his papers down beside him on the bench) So, knowing your noun… that’s the first step.

ELDER: But not a noun like a destination, a money target, a measure of profitability. Purpose becomes your vocation. So, a noun doesn’t mean anything until it has a verb.

MICHAEL: (sits up straighter) A verb?

ELDER: (more animated now, hands gesturing as he speaks) Yes, a verb. Action. Doing. Enacting. A teacher doesn’t just think about teaching; they teach. A doctor doesn’t just care; they innovate, advocate, and listen. Purpose as a verb transforms the noun into momentum. It ripples outward, influencing others, reshaping circumstances.

MICHAEL: (eyes widening with recognition) So, it’s not just about thinking or planning… It’s about living it?

ELDER: Precisely. And finally… (pauses, letting the moment settle) …purpose as a way of being.

MICHAEL: (quieter now, almost reverent) That sounds… abstract.

ELDER: (turning fully to face Michael) It is and it isn’t. An authentic purpose as a way of being is woven into your existence. It naturally informs choices; shapes your character and embodies a presence. It doesn’t seek recognition, reward, or applause. It is simply who you are.

(Long pause. A breeze rustles through the oak leaves above. Michael’s face transforms—the tension in his jaw releases, his shoulders drop, his breathing slows and deepens. He looks out at the park with new eyes, as if seeing it for the first time. The papers beside him remain forgotten.)

MICHAEL: (leaning back against the bench, a small smile forming) So, the noun gives clarity, the verb gives momentum… and the way of being gives depth?

ELDER: (nodding, returning to feed the pigeons with quiet satisfaction) And together, they align thought, action, and essence. That is living fully. That is the gift and responsibility of purpose.

MICHAEL: (smiling genuinely now, looking at the Elder with gratitude) So… it’s not something to chase. It’s something to live… and become.

ELDER: Exactly, Michael. Most chase conventional purposes: status, symbols, recognition. But real purpose… It’s in knowing, doing, and being. The rest? (waves his hand dismissively) Noise.

MICHAEL: (reaches down, gathers his papers calmly, no longer gripping them desperately, looks at the Elder with clear eyes) I think… I’m ready to start.

ELDER: (smiling warmly, placing his last crumbs on the bench for the birds) Good. Begin as a noun, act as a verb, and live it as a way of being. Watch how life changes when you do.

(Michael stands, papers now held loosely at his side. He extends his hand. The Elder takes it—a firm, connecting handshake. Michael nods once, deeply, then walks away with measured, purposeful steps. The Elder watches him go, then turns back to the pigeons, a knowing smile on his face.)

(Lights fade slowly as the Elder sits in stillness, the morning sun warming his face. The distant sound of Michael’s footsteps transitions from hurried to steady, then fades. A quiet sense of alignment and possibility fills the air.)

END

ANNOUNCEMENTS - anuncio – annonce – הודעה –- ܕܘܟܬܐ – aankondiging

We moved Elder or Elderly registration from October 14 to October 7. We heard from enough people who requested we open the door earlier. They had people in mind to enroll, connect, and be inspired, and thought it was too short notice. So registration will open next week. This moment in our lives matters—those ready to step into elderhood shouldn’t have to wait.