Again.
Joe Fox
5/01/08
(A One Act Play)
Joe Fox
5/01/08
(The Unfinished Full Length Play)
SCENE 1
Characters
Onstage:
CHARLOTTE
JOHN
Video:
ROBERT - Charlotte’s husband.
NATHAN - Charlotte’s son.
STEPHEN - Nathan’s best friend.
Setting
(It begins in absolute darkness. Only a few shapes, and a figure sitting down, can be seen.)
CHARLOTTE
(onstage)
Again.
(The projector whirs and springs to life, illuminating the huge screen at the back of the stage. After a second or two of white noise, a scene appears. It appears to be a bright, summer day, but the camera is pointing awkwardly down at the ground, revealing freshly cut grass and a woman’s feet.)
CHARLOTTE
Now?
ROBERT
Yeah, there it goes. The light came on.
CHARLOTTE
Okay. Nathan!
(The camera sweeps up, revealing a nicely decorated yard. A young boy, about nine years old, sits at a picnic table, eating a burger.)
Nathan, show us what grandmom sent you!
(The boy shrinks away from the camera, covering his face.)
NATHAN
Aww, mom, no!
CHARLOTTE
Come on, Nathan!
ROBERT
Come on, buddy. Let’s see it.
NATHAN
Do I have to?
ROBERT
We’ll make a deal. If you show us, I’ll stop letting her in the house.
CHARLOTTE
Robert!
(The camera lowers slightly, pointing at the ground again.)
She’s my mother!
ROBERT
Well, that’s not your fault.
NATHAN
Alright, alright...
(The camera quickly swings back up to NATHAN, showing him jamming a yellow and red cap with propeller onto his head, pouting. MAN and WOMAN can be heard trying not to laugh. NATHAN pouts even more, looking down at his burger.)
CHARLOTTE
Oh, Nathan... smile!
(NATHAN smiles, reluctantly, as his parents continue to speak.)
We’re not going to make you wear it any more than you have to… just when grandmom comes over.
ROBERT
Sorry, Nate. It’s your mother’s house too.
(The camera swings over to reveal MAN.)
CHARLOTTE
What is THAT supposed to mean?
(MAN smirks and shrugs his shoulders.)
ROBERT
Uh… I don’t… Well, you know.
CHARLOTTE
Maybe I don’t.
ROBERT
Well… Nate! Want another burger?
NATHAN
Can I take this stupid hat off?
ROBERT
I don’t know. Can you?
NATHAN
MAY I take this hat off?
(The camera moves between MAN and NATHAN, both looking hopefully at the camera.)
ROBERT
I don’t know. Charlotte?
CHARLOTTE
Wha-… I… don’t you dare put me in that position.
ROBERT
Honey-
CHARLOTTE
The two of you always team up on me.
ROBERT
He’s my son…
CHARLOTTE
He’s my son too, Robert.
NATHAN
Mom!
ROBERT
We’re not fighting with you.
CHARLOTTE
It’s frustrating, Robert.
ROBERT
We’re not trying to/ bother you, honey.
NATHAN
Mom!!
CHARLOTTE
I know. I know. You have to understand/ that-
ROBERT
/I do.
CHARLOTTE
You have to understand how much it drives me/ crazy.
NATHAN
/Mom!!!
CHARLOTTE
What, Nathan?
NATHAN
I’m taking the hat off.
CHARLOTTE
You don’t need my permission!
STEPHEN
Nathan!
(The camera pans over to the gate, and a boy about NATHAN’s age is seen drawing closer.)
Hi, Mr. And Mrs. Chaudhari!
CHARLOTTE
Hello, Stephen.
ROBERT
Hey, Steve. Where’s your brother?
(NATHAN leaps up from the table and runs over to the gate, greeting STEPHEN. The camera goes off, and there are another few seconds of white noise. The next scene is inside a house, presumably a dining room. The room is dark, and full of kids. As we watch, MAN places a large cake, the candles lit, on the table.)
CHARLOTTE
Everybody!
ROBERT
Aren’t we going to wait for your sister, Nathan?
CHARLOTTE
Oh, ha ha. Come on!
EVERYONE
Happy birthday to you!
STEPHEN
Dun dun dun.
EVERYONE
Happy birthday to you!
STEPHEN
Dun dun dun.
EVERYONE
Happy Birthday dear-
(Every individual offers their own name for NATHAN, with STEPHEN’s being “dofus-face.” NATHAN playfully punches STEPHEN’s arm.)
EVERYONE
Happy birthday to you!
ROBERT
You live in a zoo...
(A door opens onstage, and a figure ducks into the room.)
CHARLOTTE
Make a wish before you blow the candles out, Nathan.
JOHN
(Onstage)
Charlotte?
(NATHAN begins to blow out the candles.)
CHARLOTTE
(onstage)
Pause.
(The video freezes and the lights slowly come up on the stage. The room is rather uninviting. The walls are made of concrete, and there are sparse decorations. CHARLOTTE is sitting on a couch, her back to the audience. A man has entered the room, noticeably nervous.)
What?
JOHN
Hey, Charlotte... Ulysses asked me to tell you about a meeting at 0800 hours in the mess hall...
CHARLOTTE
This isn’t the military, John.
JOHN
I know.
CHARLOTTE
And it’s a dining room. A DINING ROOM.
JOHN
Well, whatever you want to call it, there’s a meeting in it in a few hours.
(beat.)
Okay?
(Beat.)
Charlotte!
CHARLOTTE
Okay, John.
(JOHN sighs and glances back at the screen, frozen on NATHAN blowing out his candles.)
JOHN
Your son’s birthday party, eh? How old was-
CHARLOTTE
Off.
(The screen goes black, and JOHN sighs again. He turns to leave the room.)
JOHN
I’m sorry, Charlotte. Just... have a little hope.
(CHARLOTTE doesn’t respond. JOHN meanders from the room, and the lights dim.)
CHARLOTTE
...Again.
SCENE 2
Characters
SIMMONS
MALONE
LOVELACE
Setting
(The action takes place on one side of the stage, where the lights are up on a small table. Three tired and haggard men are seated at the table, wearing white, button-up shirts and ties. The older man, LOVELACE, sits at the head of the table, waiting for the other two, MALONE and SIMMONS, to finish reading through a pile of folders haphazardly strewn about the table.)
SIMMONS
I see a surprisingly low number of casualties.
MALONE
Yes... Like the old woman, we managed to find him just before things got really detrimental.
SIMMONS
Where is he now?
MALONE
Underground, with the other four.
SIMMONS
Right.
(He closes the folder and tosses it onto the table, yawning.)
You had a new one for us, Mr. Lovelace?
LOVELACE
Yes... Gentlemen, prepare for a shock...
(LOVELACE slides a slightly less disheveled folder across the table towards SIMMONS, who cranes his neck to glance at the picture on the front.)
SIMMONS
She’s cute.
LOVELACE
Read the file.
(SIMMONS shrugs and flips back the cover of the folder, briefly scanning the page before reading.)
SIMMONS
Name, Harukawa Aiko. Female, 20 years of age. Manchester, New Hampshire. She was living at the New Hampshire Institute of Art at the time of her collection on October 9th.
MALONE
Collection? She’s not... she’s not here, is she?
SIMMONS
Underground.
MALONE
Oh, Jesus... don’t-
LOVELACE
Mr. Malone, no one comes here but us. ...Hell, you’ve been outside. No one goes anywhere these days. We’re perfectly safe.
MALONE
Yes... in a nice, clean concrete and steel box.
LOVELACE
We’re not allowed to take risks. Not when we’re the only ones.
(SIMMONS stops reading and lets the folder drop onto the table as LOVELACE continues.)
We have to remain diligent, and brave. Save our country. Most of Europe is refusing to get involved in this mess, and we still can’t reach our agents in Africa. Russia, I’m afraid… well… Anyway, it’s up to us to-... Simmons?
(LOVELACE and MALONE glance at SIMMONS, who is still staring at the folder, shaking his head in denial.))
Simmons?
SIMMONS
Tho-... Thous.... A thousand, f-four hundred, and ninety-three?!
LOVELACE
I told you to prepare for a shock.
MALONE
A thousand what?
SIMMONS
People, Malone. Students.
(The lights fade on the group.)
SCENE 3
Characters
JEAN - Jean Pierre - Charlotte’s closest friend
AIKO - Harukawa Aiko - Young Japanese American woman
MS. WILCOT - Ms. Elsie Wilcott - elderly, God fearing woman.
ULYSSES - Army officer, occasional antagonist
CHARLOTTE - Charlotte Chaudhari
JOHN - Timid follower, tends to look up to Ulysses.
Setting
(The lights slowly fade in on a large metal door in one corner of the room. Located right next to the door is a large, red button. After a few seconds, the rest of the lights fill the room. JEAN, AIKO, and MS. WILCOTT are in the dining room, which is just as uninviting CHARLOTTE’s lounge. JEAN and MS. WILCOTT sit at the table. JEAN is half-heartedly reading an old newspaper, while MS. WILCOTT is flipping through her bible. AIKO sits in the corner, frantically typing at a computer. She stops typing, stares at it for a few seconds, then slams her hands on the desk in frustration.)
AIKO
Dammit!
JEAN
Aiko, give it up.
(AIKO continues fooling with the computer, clicking the mouse rapidly.)
AIKO
God dammit.
MS. WILCOTT
Young lady, your language-
AIKO
Is atrocious. I know!
MS. WILCOTT
Do not raise your voice at me. The lord’s name is not to be taken in vain.
AIKO
“He” is not my god, Ms. Wilcott.
MS. WILCOTT
And THAT is precisely why we’re here. We have sinned, therefore, we have to watch the last days of the world as we know it.
AIKO
Ms. Wilcott, do you even listen to yourself?
JEAN
Cut it out, Aiko.
AIKO
The Internet won’t work.
JEAN
It’s never going to work. There are more important things you could be doing.
AIKO
It was working yesterday.
(JEAN drops the newspaper, glowering at AIKO)
JEAN
How long were you online?
AIKO
Not long enough.
JEAN
Three minutes. And two of those three minutes were spent waiting for pages to load!
AIKO
Yeah, but it worked!
JEAN
For three minutes. You checked your Facebook.
AIKO
I had eight new notifications!
JEAN
Oh, our little celebrity! You couldn’t even check them. That was as far as you managed to get before we lost the connection.
(JEAN goes back to reading his newspaper.)
Three minutes to check absolutely anything, and you went to Facebook...
AIKO
Well, let’s consider the state of the world on the outside... What would you have checked, Jean?
(Beat. JEAN grunts and continues to read the newspaper. AIKO turns back to the computer. A few seconds pass.)
MS. WILCOTT
The Internet is the devil’s playground.
JEAN
Okay, Ms. Wilcott.
MS. WILCOTT
We all know why we’re here!
JEAN
Ms. Wil-
MS. WILCOTT
Forced to watch the world die around us, as we live forever, immortal... at least, until we run out of food and starve to death.
JEAN
Ms. Wilcott, please... try to keep a positive attitude, would you?
AIKO
(quietly)
At least that threat was rational...
(MS. WILCOTT glances up, nervous.)
MS. WILCOTT
What? It’s gone international?!
AIKO
(raising her voice)
I said, at least that threat was more rational than the bloody water and the locusts!
MS. WILCOTT
Oh, yes... Well, that too. Our hair will fall out in clumps, and our skin will be covered in boils, and Death Himself will come to collect us when everyone else is dead.
JEAN
This is not 1348, Ms. Wilcott. There is no Bubonic plague!
AIKO
I think we’d have seen some of these signs by now.
MS. WILCOTT
Why, no... because this is all happening on the surface!
AIKO
Good God.
MS. WILCOTT
And he will have you first, you heathen harlot! Then you will beg for forgiveness for your sins.
AIKO
I’m about to make YOU beg for forgiveness for my sins.
MS. WILCOTT
You wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me.
(JEAN stands up, preparing to break up the ensuing fight as ULYSSES enters the room.)
JEAN
No, she wouldn’t. Right, Aiko?
AIKO
Jean!
ULYSSES
Ladies and Gentleman... ATTENTION!
(JEAN, AIKO and MS. WILCOTT stop bickering and glance over at ULYSSES. ULYSSES hastily inspects them, then nods and takes a seat at the head of the table, folding his arms. JEAN and MS. WILCOTT drop what they were doing, but AIKO continues to fiddle with the computer.)
JEAN
…What’s going on?
ULYSSES
Emergency meeting.
(JEAN stares at ULYSSES in confusion, then glances at the single clock in the room.)
JEAN
Ulysses, it’s eight in the morning.
ULYSSES
Any time is a good time for an emergency, Pierre.
JEAN
(excited)
We have news from the surface, right? That’s the emergency!
(ULYSSES doesn’t respond. Instead, he glances over at AIKO and whistles.)
ULYSSES
Hey, Chee-chee. Stop playing with that damn thing and get over here.
(AIKO swivels around to glare at ULYSSES, then rolls her eyes and reluctantly wanders over to the table. JEAN and ULYSSES continue speaking as she walks.)
JEAN
What’s the news, man? Did they find someone else? Is it safe to leave? …Or is it bad news?
ULYSSES
We’ll talk when everyone is present.
AIKO
Which means we’ll be here for a while.
JEAN
Aiko…
AIKO
What? It’s true. She rarely leaves that room.
MS. WILCOTT
She has sinned. She hides her face in shame, unable to communicate with us, fearing our presence will remind her of the judgment that awaits her.
AIKO
Or she’s just hiding from you.
(CHARLOTTE and JOHN appear in the doorway as the fighting continues.)
MS. WILCOTT
You know what they called you, girl? Back in my day, we had names for your kind.
AIKO
Ms. Wilcott, I am a fucking American!
MS. WILCOTT
You don’t look like one.
CHARLOTTE
Has the meeting begun?
(The room falls silent as everyone turns to look at CHARLOTTE. ULYSSES grins, extending his arm.)
ULYSSES
Charlotte, my dear! Come, have a seat!
(The room remains silent as CHARLOTTE casually chooses a chair closest to the open doorway. JOHN remains standing, nervously rubbing his hands together.)
How’s the day treating you? I trust you’re doing well…
CHARLOTTE
It’s the morning.
JEAN
What’s the news, Ulysses?
(ULYSSES stares at CHARLOTTE for a few awkward seconds, then clears his throat and slams his hands down on the table.)
ULYSSES
Right! We’ve been down here for a month, more or less/, and we-
AIKO
Less.
ULYSSES
Silence! …We’ve been down here for a month, and things are starting to seem rather hopeless. We’ve only managed to intercept news from our bordering nations - namely Mexico and California - yet we barely know what is going on above our heads. Perhaps the entire country is dead… perhaps there are more people just like us, hidden in bunkers, forgotten… Whatever the case, I feel it is time we discuss an important issue.
(Everyone glances around the table, confused. JEAN glances at the big, metal door, his face brightening.)
JEAN
Escape?!
ULYSSES
What? No! Repopulation!
(He falls silent, smiling, letting the word sink in.)
See, when we’re free to go, we don’t know what state the world will be in. I propose a plan… we’ll need to start repopulating the world. What better place than to start here?
AIKO
…What the fuck…
JEAN
Ulysses… that’s crazy.
ULYSSES
No! It’s a brilliant plan!
MS. WILCOTT
Like Noah and his family…
AIKO
It’s insane! …Plus, Ms. Wilcott is past her prime.
ULYSSES
(Disgusted)
Of course… no offense, Ms. Wilcott, but you’ve already done your part for the country.
AIKO
(Snickering)
Forty years ago.
MS. WILCOTT
(Glaring at AIKO)
And what of the harlot? Have we forgotten that love should be between a woman and a man?
(AIKO stops snickering, returning the glare.)
ULYSSES
That won’t matter when the apocalypse arrives! It’s survive, mate, feed, kill, reproduce, rebuild, spread-
CHARLOTTE
I’m leaving.
(CHARLOTTE stands up to leave, silencing ULYSSES immediately.)
This is insane. The world is fine. The country is fine. No one is going to do anything stupid.
ULYSSES
Charlotte…
(CHARLOTTE leaves the room, and ULYSSES watches her go, his face red.)
Charlotte…. Charlotte!!
(As he yells, the rest of the table quietly gets up and leaves the room through various doors, trying to avoid any ensuing conflicts.)
…This isn’t over.
(The lights fade.)
SCENE 4
Characters
Video:
CHARLOTTE
ROBERT
NATHAN
GRANDMOM
GUESTS
UNCLE
MS. MORRELLI
Setting
(Once again, we’re in CHARLOTTE’s darkened lounge. The screen blinks on, then the camera cuts in on a kitchen. ROBERT is cutting something at the table. A few seconds go by, throughout which CHARLOTTE coughs several times.)
ROBERT
Are you playing with that camera again?
CHARLOTTE
I’m not NOT playing with the camera… again.
ROBERT
(Snickering)
Save the battery for tonight, honey.
CHARLOTTE
I’m not recording the fireworks!
ROBERT
Not for the fireworks, for the family.
CHARLOTTE
No one’s here… just you and me.
ROBERT
Where’s Nathan?
CHARLOTTE
He went to Steve’s.
ROBERT
Oh…
CHARLOTTE
…Don’t worry about the battery. It has a full charge.
(CHARLOTTE coughs again, and Robert glances up, worried.)
ROBERT
That cough sounds worse today. Are you sure you don’t want to see a doctor?
CHARLOTTE
Eh, I’ll be fine. It’s the onions.
(ROBERTS holds up the onion he was cutting and grins.)
ROBERT
Funny. It’s not bothering me.
CHARLOTTE
Well, you don’t have a cough… and you haven’t been puking for the last few days.
ROBERT
True, my dear, but coughing generally isn’t considered one of the typical symptoms of your ailment-
CHARLOTTE
Robert!
ROBERT
Yes, my queen?
(Beat)
CHARLOTTE
Pay attention to me.
(ROBERT glances up at CHARLOTTE, then winks and begins washing his hands.)
ROBERT
Gotcha.
(The camera cuts out and shows more white noise for a second, then switches to another scene. It has been a few hours, as we can see that the sun has set significantly, making the scene darker. The camera pans slowly to show all of the guests in the front yard.)
NATHAN
Mom! Over here! Bring the camera over here!
(The camera pans over to a group of kids swinging from a low tree branch.)
Watch this, mom!
CHARLOTTE
Nathan-
(NATHAN grabs the branch, then swings once and lets go, landing on his feet only a yard from the tree, grinning.)
NATHAN
It’s awesome, mom!
CHARLOTTE
Just be careful, Nate…
UNCLE
Yeah, we don’t want any more eleven o’clock trips to the ER.
NATHAN
Yeah, Uncle Stu.
CHARLOTTE
We don’t want them following your example, do we?
UNCLE
I’ve learned. Booze. Cherry Bombs… Not a great mix.
ROBERT
Hey, you kept your fingers, Stu. Who’s hungry?
(NATHAN’s friends immediately stop what they’re doing to wander over to the grill.)
GUESTS
Me! Me! I wanna… I hate fish! Me! Can I have a…
(The camera follows the kids to the grill, revealing ROBERT armed with a spatula and his chef’s hat.)
ROBERT
Hey, hey, one at a time… Nathan, where’s your hat, dude?
NATHAN
Dad, no!
ROBERT
Your grandmother will be here any minute-
CHARLOTTE
She should have been here half an hour ago.
ROBERT
Maybe she got lost.
CHARLOTTE
Why, because she’s old?
UNCLE
No. Come on, Char, you know what we’re like. She IS our mother.
ROBERT
Yeah, why do you think I got all that medical training after I met you?
UNCLE
Charlotte, we are seriously lucky to be here.
CHARLOTTE
Stu, she’s never this late.
UNCLE
Chill out, maybe she figured we’d run out of food and stopped by the Pathmark. Fireworks don’t start ‘till ten, sis.
CHARLOTTE
She’d at least let us know!
UNCLE
How? You know she doesn’t own a cell phone. She wouldn’t even use one if you bought it for her.
ROBERT
That’s just the way she is. She’s a stubborn old crone.
CHARLOTTE
Robert!
ROBERT
Sorry, sorry... I shouldn’t say that. I mean, 73 isn’t even considered “old” these days...
MRS. MORRELLI
Charlotte!
(The camera lowers slightly as CHARLOTTE answers.)
CHARLOTTE
Yes? Oh, hello Mrs. Morrelli!
MRS. MORRELLI
Charlotte! Hi, um... Where’s your bathroom? Stephen needs to go, but he’s afraid to ask.
STEPHEN
Mom!
CHARLOTTE
Oh, come on! I’ll show you!
MRS. MORRELLI
Thank you so much! I apologize for making you move-
ROBERT
It’s cool. She needs the exercise.
CHARLOTTE
It’s no problem at all, Mrs. Morrelli. Nathan!
(beat)
Nathan!
NATHAN
Yeah?
CHARLOTTE
Nathan, take the camera.
NATHAN
Cool.
(The camera switches hands as we hear faint dialogue.)
CHARLOTTE
Don’t hold it like-
NATHAN
Mom, I got it.
(CHARLOTTE’s and MRS. MORRELLI’s voices can be heard fading away.)
CHARLOTTE
Alright, alright...
MRS. MORRELLI
So... when is your daughter going to be here?
CHARLOTTE
Um... a few weeks, they’ve said.
MRS. MORRELLI
What’s her name?
ROBERT
Yo, Nate!
(The camera, now at a different level, looks up at ROBERT.)
Don’t worry, dude. Your grandmom won’t care if you’re not wearing the hat.
NATHAN
Mom said she would.
UNCLE
Ahhh, your mom’s crazy.
ROBERT
Oh yeah?
UNCLE
Oh yeah? She’s my sister. That’s proof enough. Your grandmom ain’t gonna care if you’re wearing that thing. Heck, by the time she shows up, you’ll be in bed.
(ROBERT glances over at the street as a car is heard skidding to a halt.)
ROBERT
Hey, Stu... Don’t look now, but...
UNCLE
Ah, crap... It figures. I wonder where she was... Hey, Ma!
(NATHAN turns away and begins playing with the camera, pointing it at his friends, who take turns making dumb faces and acting like kids. ROBERT, UNCLE and GRANDMOM can barely be heard off-screen.)
Hey, mom!
GRANDMOM
Stuart?!
UNCLE
Ma, it’s 7:38. Where were you?
GRANDMOM
Stuart! Robert! Where’s Charlotte? Where’s my little girl?
UNCLE
Ma, she’s fine.
ROBERT
She just went in. She’ll be out in a minute. Want something to eat?
GRANDMOM
I need to see her... I need to talk to her. Right now!
UNCLE
Whoa, mom, hey... calm down! What’s wrong?
(NATHAN has taken interest in the conversation and swings the camera back around, revealing UNCLE, ROBERT, and a red-faced GRANDMOM.)
GRANDMOM
Need to... Twenty-seven people... just today... need to...
UNCLE
Okay, okay... here, sit down...
ROBERT
I’ll get you something to drink...
GRANDMOM
I don’t need something to drink! I need my daughter!
(GRANDMOM glances over and sees NATHAN. She narrows her eyes, frowning.)
Is that my Nathan? Where’d you get that camera?
(Beat)
...Where’s your hat?
(ROBERT turns and reaches over the camera, giving NATHAN a gentle push.)
ROBERT
Go get your hat, buddy.
NATHAN
Dad-
ROBERT
(exasperated)
Please, Nathan...
NATHAN
Alright, alright!
(NATHAN sets the camera down on the picnic table, keeping UNCLE, ROBERT, and GRANDMOM in view.)
UNCLE
Come on, mom, have something to drink. Look at you!
GRANDMOM
I’m fine!
UNCLE
Where have you been? What’s going on?
ROBERT
She’ll be out in a minute. What’s the rush?
(GRANDMOM looks reluctant to speak at first, then leans back in the lawn chair, holding her forehead.)
GRANDMOM
Is Nathan gone?
ROBERT
Yeah, he’s gone. What’s wrong?
GRANDMOM
You remember my friend... Catherine, Catherine Feeny?
UNCLE
Yeah, ol’ Mrs. Feeny! How’s she doing?
GRANDMOM
She died this morning.
(beat.)
UNCLE
Oh.
GRANDMOM
Not just her. Twenty-six other people in her town.... Oh...
(GRANDMOM moans and tilts her head back as ROBERT and UNCLE exchange worried glances with each other.)
...The news said it was some kind of ... some kind of freak occurrence. No one knows how-
CHARLOTTE
Mom?
(GRANDMOM lifts her head up, smiling slightly.)
GRANDMOM
Charlotte, honey...
CHARLOTTE
Mom? What’s wrong? ...Oh God, do we need an ambulance? Let me call-
GRANDMOM
No, no...
ROBERT
That may be a good idea.
GRANDMOM
I’m fine!
(GRANDMOM struggles in her seat, trying to stand.)
Charlotte, I had to warn you-
CHARLOTTE
About what, Mom?
(CHARLOTTE coughs, and GRANDMOM, UNCLE, and ROBERT suddenly focus on her, silent. The kids in the background have gone quiet as well, listening.)
...What’s wrong?
GRANDMOM
It’s... it’s about Sarah.
CHARLOTTE
Sarah is fine, mom! Everything is fine!
ROBERT
Charlotte...
(There is another pause as Charlotte coughs again. In absolute silence, GRANDMOM, ROBERT, and UNCLE stare off-screen, their wide eyes following something to the ground. We hear a loud, off-screen thump, after which GRANDMOM screams and ROBERT and UNCLE rush forward, accidentally jarring the camera, which tips over and points up at the sky.)
Charlotte! Oh my God!
UNCLE
Answer me! Oh Christ, answer me!
CHARLOTTE
(onstage)
Off!
(The screen flickers and shuts off, and the lights gradually come up on CHARLOTTE’s lounge. CHARLOTTE is sitting on the same couch, her head in her hands, sobbing quietly. This goes on for about ten seconds, then the lights fade.)
SCENE 5
Characters
ULYSSES
JOHN
AIKO
JEAN
MS. WILCOTT
(The lights fade in on the table in the mess hall, revealing ULYSSES and JOHN on the left side of the table. JOHN is working on a sudoku, his glasses propped on his nose. ULYSSES has his head down on the table, and we can see his face, contemplative.)
ULYSSES
I can tell she doesn’t respect me, John.
JOHN
Regrettable.
ULYSSES
It’s as though she hasn’t even noticed me.
JOHN
Well, you did come across a bit strong... sir.
ULYSSES
A bit strong? I had to! She hadn’t noticed anything else!
JOHN
You are ten years her senior.
ULYSSES
...Christ. Am I really 48 years old?
JOHN
Forgive me. Twelve years.
ULYSSES
I’m 48 years old, John! What else have I forgotten, stuck in this hellhole?
JOHN
It’s been a month, Ulysses.
ULYSSES
A month too long! You know... we may never get out of here!
(JOHN glances nervously over at the big, metal door before answering.)
JOHN
We... we’ll just have to wait and see.
ULYSSES
Easy for you to say! You can keep yourself busy with those... puzzles, and your thoughts. Me? I’m a man of action! We need to plan ahead, John!
JOHN
Of course, sir.
(The lights dim on the two as the right side of the stage lights up, revealing AIKO, JEAN, and MS. WILCOTT. AIKO is seated at the computer, and JEAN stands behind her, his arms folded across his chest. MS. WILCOTT is standing in the doorway, watching.)
JEAN
I still see nothing.
AIKO
I swear, Jean, I was online. I swear!
JEAN
Swear all you like; I’m not seeing a connection.
AIKO
You will, just give it a moment.
JEAN
Aiko-
AIKO
You can wait for a minute, can’t you? What else do you have to do?
(JEAN glances at the razor in his hand, frowning.)
JEAN
Well, I wanted to shave.
AIKO
I’m sure we’ll forgive you if you put that off for another few minutes.
(JEAN rubs his jaw, grinning.)
JEAN
I don’t know. I might only have a few minutes before my rough, Canadian beard claims some more victims...
AIKO
If that comment had ANYTHING to do with how “beards irritate our thighs,” I’d think /you were-
JEAN
/What? No!
AIKO
Right, ‘cause... you know I don’t go for that. Right, Ms. Wilcott?!
(AIKO leans over and smirks at MS. WILCOTT in the doorway.)
Not one for moustache rides, am I, Ms. Wilcott?
(MS. WILCOTT smiles, nodding at AIKO.)
MS. WILCOTT
Go ahead and taunt me, girl. Our fate is on God, now.
AIKO
Christ, you’re a nut. What are you doing hiding in the doorway?
MS. WILCOTT
Just... standing. Thinking. Watching.
AIKO
Watching me, right?
MS. WILCOTT
Watching anyone.
AIKO
So, technically, you’re watching me.
MS. WILCOTT
I’ll watch anyone I want, dear.
AIKO
Yeah, right... but you were looking at me.
MS. WILCOTT
There are only six of us... that does narrow it down.
AIKO
Don’t look at me, you creepy old bat.
MS. WILCOTT
Honestly, I don’t see why it bothers you.
AIKO
It bothers me that you’re so-
JEAN
Ahh!
(JEAN leans over AIKO’s chair, pointing at the screen.)
Aiko!
AIKO
What?
(AIKO turns her attention back to the computer, studying the screen. After a second, she freezes, shocked.)
It... See?! See that? It works!
JEAN
Do something!
AIKO
W-what do I do?
JEAN
Not Facebook! Not Facebook! I don’t know... news! News! CNN!
AIKO
What’s the address?!
JEAN
Just search CNN!
AIKO
You know, Facebook has these news applica-
JEAN
Shut up! CNN!
AIKO
Alright, alright.
(As AIKO types, Ms. WILCOTT casually creeps closer to the computer.)
C... N... N....
(Beat)
....It’s loading...
JEAN
I thought it was slow?
AIKO
I don’t know, maybe we found a faster connection.
JEAN
How do you find THAT? Did it migrate?
AIKO
I don’t know! Maybe it was the time of day, or something.
JEAN
Come on! CNN!
AIKO
Alright, alright, chill!
(AIKO clicks the mouse and leans closer to the monitor. JEAN does the same, holding his breath in anticipation. MS. WILCOTT, now behind the computer, cautiously reaches up to grip the computer’s power cord.)
Look, look!
JEAN
Right. It says-
(MS. WILCOTT abruptly rips the cord from the computer, and the screen shuts off. JEAN and AIKO continue to stare at the empty screen in utter shock. After a moment, JEAN pulls back and continues staring, his expression blank. AIKO falls back in her chair, her face screwed up in frustration.)
MS. WILCOTT
Oops... silly me. I didn’t think that would happen.
(AIKO and JEAN continue to stare in silence. MS. WILCOTT grins again and heads back to the doorway.)
MS. WILCOTT
Oh well... it mustn’t have been important anyway... The Internet is not a force to be trifled with. Think of all the danger we’d be in if we were subjected to it everyday down here! Thank heaven books don’t need any electricity, or ... connections....
(MS. WILCOTT exits the room. Several seconds later, she sticks her head back through the doorway.)
Or cookies!
(MS. WILCOTT disappears with a cackle.)
(Beat.)
AIKO
I’m going to kill her.
JEAN
I can’t seem to find the willpower to stop you.
AIKO
I am going to kill her!
JEAN
We’ve established that.
AIKO
I’m serious, Jean. Dead. I’ll tear her apart. I’ll leave a leg in here, an arm in the hallway.... I’ll smear everything in-between with her blood... Oh, she’ll be laughing then, won’t she?
JEAN
Now you’re starting to worry me.
AIKO
I’ll go Old Testament on her!
(AIKO pushes the chair away from the computer, catching JEAN’s leg. As he yells in pain, she leaps up, making a beeline for the door.)
JEAN
Ow... Aiko! You’re not killing anybody!
AIKO
There will be blood tonight!
(AIKO hurries through the door, leaving JEAN to glower and clutch his leg.)
JEAN
Well, if this is half as bad as it feels...
(JEAN takes a seat as the lights fade on the right side of the stage, then fade in on the left. ULYSSES and JOHN are still seated at the table, but ULYSSES has become more animated, obviously causing JOHN some aggravation.)
ULYSSES
-And she says, “I’m sorry, but I need someone who cares more about his work.” Me! All I do is work! I’ve been working my entire life, and she says I don’t do enough! This meant something, John.
JOHN
No matter how much work we do, it’s never enough?
ULYSSES
No! Never trust anything anyone says, especially a woman!
JOHN
Shocking.
ULYSSES
That’s why I have to tell Charlotte! That’s why I need her!
JOHN
Because you don’t trust her?
ULYSSES
No! She needs to realize that we’re all that’s left! Six people! Three men, two women-
JOHN
Three.
ULYSSES
(reluctantly)
Three women. We can’t wait much longer! We don’t know how long this will last, so we should make an effort to preserve it!
JOHN
Permission to speak freely, sir?
ULYSSES
Permission granted, soldier!
(JOHN rolls his eyes and places his notebook and pencil on the table.)
JOHN
It’s only been a month. Reproduction would take NINE.
ULYSSES
You’ve had training in birthing, haven’t you?
JOHN
If by “training,” you mean a college Biology Class, then... yes.
ULYSSES
Same thing!
(ULYSSES paces away from the table as the entire stage is lit, revealing JEAN sitting at the computer chair, inspecting his leg.)
JOHN
Not remo-
ULYSSES
I’m off to see Charlotte! Wish me luck!
JOHN
No.
(ULYSSES shows no indication of having heard JOHN. Instead, he moseys past JEAN, then stops.)
ULYSSES
Nasty cut you got there, Jean.
JEAN
Thanks.
(ULYSSES nods, then continues from the room, his chin held high. The lights fade.)
SCENE 6
Characters
LOVELACE
SIMMONS
MALONE
(The lights come up on stage left, once again revealing the small table. However, this time, the folders are neatly stacked in one corner. A tired looking LOVELACE is seated on the table, idly glancing between his watch and the doorway. He loosens his tie, then wipes his forehead, sweating. After a few seconds, he glances down at the stack of folders, then carefully lifts the edge of one, reading the first page. He continues to read as MALONE enters the room.)
MALONE
Mr. Lovelace!
LOVELACE
What took you so long?
MALONE
Sir, the precautions-
LOVELACE
I know about the precautions, Malone. You called me over an hour ago!
(LOVELACE drops the folder and gets to his feet as MALONE stammers.)
MALONE
Sir, .. Mr. Lovelace, Simmons is on his way.
LOVELACE
So?
MALONE
He’s downstairs, sir. I fear he took the info in that college girl’s folder rather... badly.
(LOVELACE stares at MALONE, unperturbed.)
LOVELACE
...And?
MALONE
He’ll want an explanation. Shouting will be the least of your worries.
LOVELACE
For God’s sake... He’s not going to kill me!
MALONE
Sir-
LOVELACE
In the extremely rare case that he may be motivated to do such a thing, he’d make it through security.
MALONE
Sir, security is curious about what you have to say as well.
LOVELACE
Christ, you’re getting all worked up over nothing.
MALONE
I’m not Simmons. Perhaps you should tell that to him.
LOVELACE
Should I phone downstairs, or-
(The door flies open and SIMMONS storms in, a folder under his arm.)
SIMMONS
Over a thousand dead, Lovelace! One thousand, four hundred, and ninety-three, to be exact. What did we do?
LOVELACE
A thous-... is that what this is about?! We haven’t killed anyone, Simmons!
SIMMONS
We might as well have!
LOVELACE
We haven’t done anything!
SIMMONS
Exactly! That’s WHY these people are dead! Do you know what it looked like, Lovelace? It looked like a goddamn concentration camp!
LOVELACE
Simmons... you’re over-thinking this. It’s over.
SIMMONS
It still happened.
(MALONE takes a step back as SIMMONS grabs LOVELACE by his shirt, looking him in the eyes.)
How can you brush aside the deaths of... of thousands... of students, professors... visiting family... lying dead in the streets because we didn’t intervene? What kind of monsters are we?
LOVELACE
But we did intervene!
SIMMONS
You placed a damn blockade around the campus. You virtually slapped an impenetrable bubble over the college and watched as everyone died!
(SIMMONS presses LOVELACE over the table, causing him to gasp for air. MALONE takes a step forward and nervously lowers a hand to his belt.)
LOVELACE
We, Simmons... We... The U... S... Government.
SIMMONS
No, Lovelace. This was your call. It was on you, on your branch... and you murdered them.
LOVELACE
(Whispering breathlessly)
And... and what would you have done, Jack? What about the... the neighboring civilians? What of the hospitals? How many of them would you have killed in your noble attempt to save the damned?
(SIMMONS sneers at LOVELACE for another second, then sighs and shakes his head, slackening his grip.)
SIMMONS
You let them die... We let them die.
MALONE
Simmons...
(MALONE puts his hand on SIMMONS’ shoulder, gently pulling him away from the stricken LOVELACE. LOVELACE gets to his feet and massages his chest, wincing.)
LOVELACE
What would you have done, Jack? Do you think the decision was easy? Do you think any of us have been sleeping well after since the incident?
(SIMMONS turns away, hiding his face. MALONE releases his hold on SIMMONS and takes another step back, folding his arms.)
You know there was no way to save them. The best we could do was isolate them. ...As cruel as it sounds, the decision saved the city, Jack.
(Beat.)
SIMMONS
I know.
(Beat.)
I can’t do this anymore... The child...
LOVELACE
I assure you, Aiko is fine.
SIMMONS
No...
(SIMMONS turns back to LOVELACE and MALONE, his expression somber.)
Not her. The infant.
(LOVELACE lowers his head as MALONE straightens up, suddenly attentive.)
LOVELACE
Oh, well-
MALONE
She’s still alive.
LOVELACE
...What?
MALONE
The baby. She, uh... she’s alive. Still. ...Recovering, in fact.
(There is a slight pause as LOVELACE glances at SIMMONS, then up at the ceiling. As he stares, an odd smile slowly appears on his face.)
LOVELACE
Malone, that gives me an idea. Simmons, get me the president on the phone. I need a favor.
SIMMONS
Would do, Mr. Lovelace, but... the election is less than a month away.
LOVELACE
...You’re right. Ignore that order. We’ll keep this quiet.
MALONE
Is that legal?
LOVELACE
Of course it’s legal! It’s for the good of the country, dammit! Contact Sisco in research, we need to-
(LOVELACE begins coughing mid sentence, causing SIMMONS and MALONE to panic and stumble backwards, eyeing him in fear. LOVELACE clears his throat, then narrows his eyes at the others.)
LOVELACE
Oh, for God’s sake... He was choking me! I’m fine. Start moving!
(MALONE and SIMMONS both mumble their goodbyes and hastily stumble through the door way, leaving LOVELACE alone. He watches them go, then sits on the edge of the table again, his eyes on the folders.)
Should have thought of this before...
(End Scene.)