AT CURTAIN RISE
SCENE 1
ALEX enters upstage left. She is followed by HARPER who is examining a map. ALEX crosses to center stage while HARPER lingers behind. ALEX scans the surrounding area while HARPER continues to study the map.
HARPER
Welp, it’s official. We’re lost!
ALEX
[stops scanning the surrounding area] Don’t be ridiculous we are not-
HARPER
Lost! We are lost. Dead lost. Alone in a vast sea of wilderness-
ALEX
Harper! Stop, being so over dramatic. We are not lost. A little off track maybe but not lost.
HARPER
Get over here, look at this map and tell me that! [walks towards ALEX]
ALEX
Fine, fine, [HARPER hands ALEX the map] but it’s not going to change the fact that we’re not [examines map]... okay so we might be a little lost but-
HARPER
Ha! I knew it. I knew it! We’re lost. Oh god, we’re lost. [HARPER paces rapidly back and forth behind ALEX, as ALEX begins to move downstage] Where’s Felix and Ellie? Are they lost too? Or-or worse? What if they got swept away by a river? Or they fell from a tree? Or-or what if a bear got them?
ALEX
Harper, breathe! They’re probably fine. I don’t imagine they were climbing any trees, and a bear would only eat them if it was really hungry. Really, I don’t think-
HARPER
That’s it! The bear was hungry, or maybe there were two, and they were both hungry. Oh no, we’re surrounded by hungry bears-and we’re all alone and-
ALEX
There are no hungry bears! (calmer) Ellie and Felix are probably fine, we just got a bit separated. We’ll find somewhere to rest, gathering out bearings. Then we’ll head out and look for them, alright?
HARPER
(Breathes in deeply) Alright, okay. That seems good. But, where are we going to rest?
ALEX
(looks around) How about here?
HARPER
Here?
ALEX
Yeah, I mean it’s perfectly nice isn’t it? We can stay here for a bit, and rest.
HARPER
You’re right. You’re right. [ALEX moves to sit down downstage center, behind her HARPER begins shifting through her camping gear] Besides, while we’re doing that I can start looking over the map maybe I can get an idea of where we are. Then, once that’s figured out we can try and to get to the main road, and once we’re there we can signal a car and get some help for Ellie and Felix. Ah ha, yes, that’s perfect!
ALEX
Yeah, I mean you could do that...or
HARPER
Or?
ALEX
Or… we could stay here for a bit. It’s getting dark out, and it could do us some good to rest our legs. We can camp out here for the night, and regain our strength. Then we can go after them tomorrow.
HARPER
I don’t like the idea of spending the night here.
ALEX
It’s the most pratical solution
HARPER
Maybe but I can’t help feeling like we should be doing something, other than just laying here!
ALEX
If we leave now, and try to navigate the woods, on our own, in the dark, we’ll get even more lost. If we build a fire and stay here, at least we’ll be warm. Besides, who knows maybe Felix and Ellie will see the light and stumble on over here.
HARPER
Maybe…
ALEX
At least sit down and have dinner with me. I’m not going any farther on an empty stomatch.
HARPER
Alright, alright.
[ALEX begins to cast aside her gear and prepare a fire. HARPER relunctantly sits down. She keeps her gear close to her. Abruptly HARPER stands up casting the map aside. ALEX notices, stops making a fire and turns to her]
ALEX
Are you alright?
HARPER
Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just some ants.
ALEX
Ants where? [ALEX begins to move over to HARPER]
HARPER
Right there. [HARPER points upstage, as she continues to frantically brush her arms and legs off. ALEX approches the spot where she pointed, puzzled]
ALEX
I don’t see them.
HARPER
What do you mean you don’t see them?
ALEX
I mean I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t see any ants.
HARPER
How can you not see them, they’re right there.
ALEX
I just don’t see them.
HARPER
Well, they were all over me a second ago. [HARPER resumes her frantic brushing] In fact I think there are still on me.
ALEX
You sure that’s not just your imagination?
HARPER
Very. God they’re all over me.
ALEX
Why don’t you come sit over here by me. I don’t see any over here.
HARPER
(grumble) That’s exactly the problem.
ALEX
What?
HARPER
Nothing! I-just, you dragged us on this stupid hike and-you-you (pause) you, just don’t think things through sometimes, and you pretend problems aren’t there, when they are, and I just--why can’t you just take some responsibility?
ALEX
Responsibility? You think I need to take responsibility?
HARPER
Yes!
ALEX
I’m not the one who wants to go running off into the woods looking for our friends, when don’t even know where we are!
HARPER
That’s not fair-
ALEX
Oh yes it is! I mean sure, maybe at times I do over look things, but that’s better than finding problems where there are none. Why can’t you accept the possibility that we can’t do anything. Maybe, for once, just for once, things are out of our control.
HARPER
You’re just afraid.
ALEX
You’re being foolish. Besides you’re the one whose afraid a pack of hungry bears is out to get our friends.
HARPER
I never said-
ALEX
You’re paranoid, and dramatic, and you won’t even consider the possibility that maybe the world isn’t out to get us. (pause) Maybe the world just doesn’t care.
HARPER
Is that what you believe?
ALEX
Yes.
HARPER
I’m sorry.
ALEX
Don’t be. It’s not some tragedy. It’s just how things are.
HARPER
I guess so. (pause) You think Ellie and Felix are okay?
ALEX
Honestly? [HARPER nods] I don’t know.
HARPER
You think they will be?
ALEX
I really don’t know.
HARPER
I’m scared, for them (pause) and for us.
ALEX
We’re safe for now.
HARPER
But what happens when we leave? There may not be packs of reavenous bears out to get us, but there will still be steep hills, brambles, and bugs…
ALEX
It won’t do us any good to think of that now.
HARPER
I suppose not...still it all just seems so unfair. That we get to be somewhere like here, while they’re stuck out there.
ALEX
So much is unfair. We won’t help it any by getting up now.
HARPER
We can’t do anything sitting here, either.
ALEX
We can rest. That’s something. [HARPER and ALEX move to sit down]
HARPER
I hope Ellie and Felix get a chance to rest wherever they are.
ALEX
I hope so too.
HARPER
This place isn’t so bad you know?
ALEX
You think so?
HARPER
Yeah.
ALEX
You’re not still bothered by the ants?
HARPER
It’s funny, now that you mention it, I don’t see them anymore. [HARPER yawns tiredly]
ALEX
I’m sorry.
HARPER
For what?
ALEX
For getting us lost. You’re right. I’m the one who dragged us on this stupid hike anyways. It’s my fault Felix and Ellie are lost.
HARPER
There were circumstances outside your control.
ALEX
Maybe, I still should have thought ahead more. I should have known we could get lost, I was being reckless and stupid and-
HARPER
You found us this clearing. That’s enough. [HARPER rubs her eyes, and begins to slump down]
ALEX
Maybe. [ALEX begins to build a fire again] I’m scared for them too you know.
HARPER
Hmm?
ALEX
Felix and Ellie.
HARPER
[HARPER yawns, and falls down to the forrest floor] Ah yeah, yeah.
ALEX
I just-I don’t know what will happen to us outside this clearing, and maybe you’re right to be bugged by the ants here, and to want to push on. But I’m just so worried. Nothing’s gone according to plan, and what happens if we go on, and we get lost. What happens if we can’t find Felix or Ellie, and we loose our way, and can’t get back here either? I know this place isn’t perfect and I know we’ll have to move on eventually but… I’m just so, so scared Harper. You’re probably right, we should try and solve this tonight, but I’m just, so tired Harper. The world isn’t against us, but it isn’t for us either, and I just don’t have the energy to fight it right now. I just want to stay here for a night, and forget all about the brambles, and the bears outside of here. I just want to forget the ants, and forget about tomorrow, and I know I’m rambling on but- [HARPER snores slightly] Harper? Harper? Are you awake? [ALEX moves over to prod HARPER and see if she is awake. Seeing that she is asleep ALEX withdraws] Ah, that’s probably for the best… [ALEX walks over to her bag and retrives a blanket which she lays across HARPER. She then lays down a little a way from her, starring up at the sky. Slowly she closes her eyes]
CURTAIN FALLS
THE END
SCENE 1
ALEX enters upstage left. She is followed by HARPER who is examining a map. ALEX crosses to center stage while HARPER lingers behind. ALEX scans the surrounding area while HARPER continues to study the map.
HARPER
Welp, it’s official. We’re lost!
ALEX
[stops scanning the surrounding area] Don’t be ridiculous we are not-
HARPER
Lost! We are lost. Dead lost. Alone in a vast sea of wilderness-
ALEX
Harper! Stop, being so over dramatic. We are not lost. A little off track maybe but not lost.
HARPER
Get over here, look at this map and tell me that! [walks towards ALEX]
ALEX
Fine, fine, [HARPER hands ALEX the map] but it’s not going to change the fact that we’re not [examines map]... okay so we might be a little lost but-
HARPER
Ha! I knew it. I knew it! We’re lost. Oh god, we’re lost. [HARPER paces rapidly back and forth behind ALEX, as ALEX begins to move downstage] Where’s Felix and Ellie? Are they lost too? Or-or worse? What if they got swept away by a river? Or they fell from a tree? Or-or what if a bear got them?
ALEX
Harper, breathe! They’re probably fine. I don’t imagine they were climbing any trees, and a bear would only eat them if it was really hungry. Really, I don’t think-
HARPER
That’s it! The bear was hungry, or maybe there were two, and they were both hungry. Oh no, we’re surrounded by hungry bears-and we’re all alone and-
ALEX
There are no hungry bears! (calmer) Ellie and Felix are probably fine, we just got a bit separated. We’ll find somewhere to rest, gathering out bearings. Then we’ll head out and look for them, alright?
HARPER
(Breathes in deeply) Alright, okay. That seems good. But, where are we going to rest?
ALEX
(looks around) How about here?
HARPER
Here?
ALEX
Yeah, I mean it’s perfectly nice isn’t it? We can stay here for a bit, and rest.
HARPER
You’re right. You’re right. [ALEX moves to sit down downstage center, behind her HARPER begins shifting through her camping gear] Besides, while we’re doing that I can start looking over the map maybe I can get an idea of where we are. Then, once that’s figured out we can try and to get to the main road, and once we’re there we can signal a car and get some help for Ellie and Felix. Ah ha, yes, that’s perfect!
ALEX
Yeah, I mean you could do that...or
HARPER
Or?
ALEX
Or… we could stay here for a bit. It’s getting dark out, and it could do us some good to rest our legs. We can camp out here for the night, and regain our strength. Then we can go after them tomorrow.
HARPER
I don’t like the idea of spending the night here.
ALEX
It’s the most pratical solution
HARPER
Maybe but I can’t help feeling like we should be doing something, other than just laying here!
ALEX
If we leave now, and try to navigate the woods, on our own, in the dark, we’ll get even more lost. If we build a fire and stay here, at least we’ll be warm. Besides, who knows maybe Felix and Ellie will see the light and stumble on over here.
HARPER
Maybe…
ALEX
At least sit down and have dinner with me. I’m not going any farther on an empty stomatch.
HARPER
Alright, alright.
[ALEX begins to cast aside her gear and prepare a fire. HARPER relunctantly sits down. She keeps her gear close to her. Abruptly HARPER stands up casting the map aside. ALEX notices, stops making a fire and turns to her]
ALEX
Are you alright?
HARPER
Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just some ants.
ALEX
Ants where? [ALEX begins to move over to HARPER]
HARPER
Right there. [HARPER points upstage, as she continues to frantically brush her arms and legs off. ALEX approches the spot where she pointed, puzzled]
ALEX
I don’t see them.
HARPER
What do you mean you don’t see them?
ALEX
I mean I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t see any ants.
HARPER
How can you not see them, they’re right there.
ALEX
I just don’t see them.
HARPER
Well, they were all over me a second ago. [HARPER resumes her frantic brushing] In fact I think there are still on me.
ALEX
You sure that’s not just your imagination?
HARPER
Very. God they’re all over me.
ALEX
Why don’t you come sit over here by me. I don’t see any over here.
HARPER
(grumble) That’s exactly the problem.
ALEX
What?
HARPER
Nothing! I-just, you dragged us on this stupid hike and-you-you (pause) you, just don’t think things through sometimes, and you pretend problems aren’t there, when they are, and I just--why can’t you just take some responsibility?
ALEX
Responsibility? You think I need to take responsibility?
HARPER
Yes!
ALEX
I’m not the one who wants to go running off into the woods looking for our friends, when don’t even know where we are!
HARPER
That’s not fair-
ALEX
Oh yes it is! I mean sure, maybe at times I do over look things, but that’s better than finding problems where there are none. Why can’t you accept the possibility that we can’t do anything. Maybe, for once, just for once, things are out of our control.
HARPER
You’re just afraid.
ALEX
You’re being foolish. Besides you’re the one whose afraid a pack of hungry bears is out to get our friends.
HARPER
I never said-
ALEX
You’re paranoid, and dramatic, and you won’t even consider the possibility that maybe the world isn’t out to get us. (pause) Maybe the world just doesn’t care.
HARPER
Is that what you believe?
ALEX
Yes.
HARPER
I’m sorry.
ALEX
Don’t be. It’s not some tragedy. It’s just how things are.
HARPER
I guess so. (pause) You think Ellie and Felix are okay?
ALEX
Honestly? [HARPER nods] I don’t know.
HARPER
You think they will be?
ALEX
I really don’t know.
HARPER
I’m scared, for them (pause) and for us.
ALEX
We’re safe for now.
HARPER
But what happens when we leave? There may not be packs of reavenous bears out to get us, but there will still be steep hills, brambles, and bugs…
ALEX
It won’t do us any good to think of that now.
HARPER
I suppose not...still it all just seems so unfair. That we get to be somewhere like here, while they’re stuck out there.
ALEX
So much is unfair. We won’t help it any by getting up now.
HARPER
We can’t do anything sitting here, either.
ALEX
We can rest. That’s something. [HARPER and ALEX move to sit down]
HARPER
I hope Ellie and Felix get a chance to rest wherever they are.
ALEX
I hope so too.
HARPER
This place isn’t so bad you know?
ALEX
You think so?
HARPER
Yeah.
ALEX
You’re not still bothered by the ants?
HARPER
It’s funny, now that you mention it, I don’t see them anymore. [HARPER yawns tiredly]
ALEX
I’m sorry.
HARPER
For what?
ALEX
For getting us lost. You’re right. I’m the one who dragged us on this stupid hike anyways. It’s my fault Felix and Ellie are lost.
HARPER
There were circumstances outside your control.
ALEX
Maybe, I still should have thought ahead more. I should have known we could get lost, I was being reckless and stupid and-
HARPER
You found us this clearing. That’s enough. [HARPER rubs her eyes, and begins to slump down]
ALEX
Maybe. [ALEX begins to build a fire again] I’m scared for them too you know.
HARPER
Hmm?
ALEX
Felix and Ellie.
HARPER
[HARPER yawns, and falls down to the forrest floor] Ah yeah, yeah.
ALEX
I just-I don’t know what will happen to us outside this clearing, and maybe you’re right to be bugged by the ants here, and to want to push on. But I’m just so worried. Nothing’s gone according to plan, and what happens if we go on, and we get lost. What happens if we can’t find Felix or Ellie, and we loose our way, and can’t get back here either? I know this place isn’t perfect and I know we’ll have to move on eventually but… I’m just so, so scared Harper. You’re probably right, we should try and solve this tonight, but I’m just, so tired Harper. The world isn’t against us, but it isn’t for us either, and I just don’t have the energy to fight it right now. I just want to stay here for a night, and forget all about the brambles, and the bears outside of here. I just want to forget the ants, and forget about tomorrow, and I know I’m rambling on but- [HARPER snores slightly] Harper? Harper? Are you awake? [ALEX moves over to prod HARPER and see if she is awake. Seeing that she is asleep ALEX withdraws] Ah, that’s probably for the best… [ALEX walks over to her bag and retrives a blanket which she lays across HARPER. She then lays down a little a way from her, starring up at the sky. Slowly she closes her eyes]
CURTAIN FALLS
THE END
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