At the end of our piece the combination of good and unpleasant had to choose. To show this the combination pushed the middle block forward ( as shown in the set plan diagram 2) and made another rhythmic sound, while the good and unpleasant went up. Then the combination jumped onto the block while the good and unpleasant pulled the combination to either side.
This set was created to be part of our development piece about “Kuno’s exploration of the planet’s surface”. The set showed change by the blocks which made an invisible line separating the machine (inside) world and the real (outside) world.
Script
(Action takes place in a world where physical interaction is not permitted)
Light comes up on Jessie (J) sitting centre stage. Kyle (K) enters stage left and K stops short when he sees J.
Kyle: Mother!
Jessie: Kuno what are you doing here? You know you’re not allowed to be here?
Kyle: I am here because I have a plan for us to get out of here
J stands.
Jessie: Why couldn’t you have told me about this plan of yours through the machine? You put your life in danger.
Kyle: You know the machine is monitoring us. That’s why I had to risk it.
Jessie: Okay I understand. So tell me of this plan of yours.
Kyle: First of all I need to know if I can trust you
K moves around J nervously wringing his hands.
Jessie: Of course you can, after all I am only your mother.
Kyle: Okay, my friends and I have found a way to get out of here and I would like it if you came along.
K stops circling and their eyes lock.
Jessie: What? Why? I know this place isn’t that good but it is our home.
Hannah (H) enters stage right, detached wondering around stage. K and J cannot see her.
Kyle: I have discovered an error with the machine. Its time to find a new home and I want you to come.
Jessie: What’s wrong with the machine?
K goes into a still frame while H and J talk. (H is J’s conscience)
Jessie (J puts right hand on her head): We know we can’t do this
Hannah: Why not?
Jessie: We’ve spent our whole lives in the machine. Living and breathing through it. We can’t just betray it like that now.
Hannah: Do we really value the machine more than our son?
Jessie: I do value the machine for it has given me life and a home where I feel safe and secure.
Hannah: We shall go with him
H goes into a still image while K comes out of his still image and continues the conversation with J as if there had been no delay.
Kyle (Gesticulating excitedly): There is a hole
Jessie: Where?
Kyle: Don’t worry about where it is. Just believe me when I say I have found one. Does this mean you will come with me?
Jessie (Stumping): Hmmmmmmm
K goes into a still image again while J and H talk.
Hannah: We should go with him
Jessie: Then what happens to us?
Hannah: We have a chance to start over and do things the right way. It’s our choice, yes or no.
Jessie and Hannah (in unison): Yes!
END
By Jessie Addington
