Scene 1 | Scene 2 | Scene 3 | Scene 4 | Scene 5 | Scene 6 | Scene 7
Scene 8 | Scene 9 | Scene 10 | Scene 11 | Scene 12 | Scene 13
Open Skies ZERO:
Prelude to a New Life
SCENE 4
[Sarah - a young girl with a parakeet on her shoulder, Randall, Cage, and Moose gathered round a table inside a barn.]
[Left half (stage right) of stage is inside barn, right half (stage left) of stage is streets where Red and Angel are propped against the back wall. The barn side of the stage is completely dark, only the city side can be seen right now. Nighttime. The eagle is seen in position where he died in front of Red and Angel. The arrow is still sticking in him.]
Red: Man… what a strange day… I think we should try and get some rest.
[Red pulls out a couple blankets and small pillows out of his backpack.]
Angel: Yeah… I’m really tired… [looking at Eagle] poor thing….
[They both lay down and go to sleep. The lights fade on that side of the stage, and dim lights come up on the other side where Sarah, Randall, Cage, and Moose are sitting on stools around a short table, eating. They each have a mat close-by where they sleep.]
Sarah: So did you guys make any progress on crossing the waters?
[At the same time:]
Cage: Nope
Randall: Nah..
Moose: Still perplexing…
Sarah: Any idea at all on how it works or what exactly makes it so hard to cross?
Cage: Beats me!
Sarah: Hmm.. … How about the eagle? Any sign of him?
Moose: No, I didn’t see him.
Cage: No, I didn’t see him anywhere either.
[Randall looks away avoiding the question. Sarah looks at him, and he turns his head to look the other way. She leans to look him in the face again. They do this several times. Cage and Moose are slightly amused and chuckling at it. Finally Randall spits it out quickly and reluctantly:]
Randall: Okay okay okay! I saw eagle today [the others' eyes light up in excitement], in town, and he was… he was… [starts turning his head again, holding his bill closed with his wings, reluctant to finish his sentence.]
Cage: What, brother? Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.
Moose: Yeah I’m sure you’re just exaggerating! What is –
Randall: He was DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!! [He bursts into tears.]
[Everyone else in shock, sad, confused, worried.]
Cage: [pouting and worried] But we don’t have much time left….. …
Sarah: No, it can’t be… Dead? Are you sure?
Randall: He was laying there lifeless, in the middle of the road, with an arrow sticking out of him.
Sarah: Someone shot him down?! No, that can’t be right! This is not how it ends!
Randall: I wish it wasn’t so… I loved him so much.
Sarah: Me too!
Cage: And me too!
Moose: And me!
Sarah: Are you absolutely sure he was dead?
Randall: … Well, not absolutely, I guess. I mean, I don’t really know how to know something like that. …. …
Sarah: … Hmm… [thinking] It pains me to hear this….. It pains me more than you can believe… But, we can’t let go of hope. He always showed us that…. Even in the worst of times, there is always hope. If he is gone, then he is gone…. but you say there is a chance, so we have to hold on to that… that spark, no matter how small it is, is still hope. I can’t say any more for this.
Cage: Yeah…. let’s hope.
Moose: Yes…. …. and get some rest…
Randall: Yeah… Goodnight, guys.
[They all lay down on their own mat to go to sleep. All lights fade out. Each of them thinks out loud sporadically, hoping out loud, can improvise thoughts like:]
Sarah: Please eagle, you can’t leave us. We need you.
Cage: Eagle, you were my best friend…
Randall: Eagle, please, please please
Moose: I don’t know what to say.. just the thought of you being gone is almost too much to bear…
[As their thoughts and hopes continue sporadically aloud, a gentle light fades in on eagle, very slowly getting brighter. Three angels are kneeling around him. Angel1 is holding his head, caressing him. Angel2 takes the arrow out and dresses the wound. Angel3 is kneeling in wait holding chainmail armor in her lap. When the wound is dressed, Angel3 puts the armor on him. The angels exit stage (flying, floating, walking, doesn't matter). Several moments pass and Eagle stands up, stretches his wings wide, and takes off in flight. End scene.]
SCENE 4
[Other group is introduced – 4 members - leader is brown-haired girl (Sarah), the others are the two ducks from scene 2, and the moose. This group is generally in a light-hearted, friendly and simple mood.]
[Stage is left ½ inside barn (their ‘base’), right ½ streets where Red and Angel are. The barn side of the stage is completely dark, only the city side can be seen right now. It’s right after sun-down. The eagle is seen in position where he died in front of Red and Angel. The arrow is still sticking in him. Red and Angel are just finishing up their last bite of bread.]
Red: Man… what a strange day… I think we should try and get some rest.
[Red pulls out a couple blankets and small pillows out of his backpack.]
Angel: Yeah… I’m really tired… [looking at Eagle] poor thing….
[They both lay down and go to sleep. The lights fade on that side of the stage, and dim lights come up on the other side.]
[It’s completely dark on the streets half of the set. Low light on the left half where the group of 4 are sitting around a small table. They each have a mat close by on which they sleep.]
Sarah: So did you guys make any progress on the river? Or any news on Eagle?
Moose: Well, the river is still impassable…
Sarah: Good to know you haven’t given up yet. You’ve tried more than any of us here!
Moose: Yeah, but I was put to shame by Randall here on his first try today..
Sarah: Oh really?.. How did that go then?
Randall: Yeah, we [motioning reference to him and Cage] tried to cross also, and no luck… Same thing with Cage, flying seems to be out of the question. By swimming I started to make it, but just when I thought I was onto something, currents and winds picked up and I found myself back on the shore before Cage could even think of something clever to say.
Cage: Whatever, I just didn’t want to break your concentration.. I was happy for you, ya know..
Sarah: Okay, okay… That’s okay. Any signs of Eagle while you guys were out?
Cage/Randall/Moose: [looking at each other, looking slightly sad] No…
Sarah: Aw well, that’s okay, don’t let it get your hopes down. Let’s try to stay objective and hopeful. We’ll rest tonight and let’s all keep Eagle in our prayers. Tomorrow, we will continue the search and attempt to cross, as of now, we’ve done all we can do. Good night everyone. [Sarah lays down]
Cage/Randall/Moose: [as Sarah is laying down] Goodnight..
[Each lays on their mat to go to sleep. Soft murmurs of prayers are heard under beautiful music as the light fades again on that half of the set. All is dark for a moment with only music and prayer murmurs heard. Then a gentle light shines on Eagle. You see three angels kneeling around him. One angel is holding his head, caressing him. Another angel takes the arrow out and dresses the wound. The 3rd angel is kneeling in wait holding chainmail armor in her lap. When the wound is dressed, the 3rd angel puts the armor on him. The angels fly away. A moment passes and Eagle stands up, stretches his wings wide, and takes off in flight. Fade out scene.]
