weACT TWO

Scene One

     Camp of the Originals, where everybody gathers to hear about the new computer models and how they will approach their           fight for freedom.  CONSTANCE runs to SCOUT and throughs her arms around him with a big hug.  There is an Original,                   STANDIND WAVE, sitting at a radio and he is playing a drum.

PRINCIPAL PA  

Welcome home travelers… what news do you bring?

ORIGINAL 1

What did you see?

ORIGINAL 2  

How’s it look?

CHISHOLM BOB

Standing Wave, is the signal getting better/stronger?

STANDING WAVE

I’ve lost it again….

CHISHOLM BOB

Shit!

     PING

     All the originals kind of cringe when the pings happen but pay little notice of the noise.

SCOUT

PRINCIPAL PA, people… here’s what we found out… they’re trying these three “new ideas”… ridiculous ideas.  Things we might be able to use to our advantage.  One is to be able to reproduce through mixing chemicals together to develop next generation models.  Good luck there. And then top that off,  they’re working on feelings, feelings for god-sake!  And most absurd, they want to have a soul, a soul of OUR ancestors… souls that are out there longing for a place to inhabit …

they want our souls to become reincarnate in their bodies!  And I suspect they’ll not rest until they have them… our souls, our lives… at the day of our demise.

The group laughs and grumbles.

CHISHOLM BOB

And we heard something weird, they’ve got 7 Whip-Poor-Will still alive just like us!  What are the chances, in all the world there are only what we thought would be 7 birds left and then to find out they have 7 as well… and Whip-Poor-Will at that!!!

Anyway, Scout is going to go to their headquarters in disguise and see if he can get close to one of the new leader, a female type, the one with the “Feelings”.  He’ll try and talk to her as a helper bee and find out if he can play on her  (in air quotes)“feeling” to perhaps extract the information we need to finish the Analyzing Light.  This may be our last stand, truly…!

CONSTANCE

Why don’t you go Chisholm Bob?  Let Scout stay here for once!

CHISHOLM BOB  

You know Scout is the only one here with the knowledge and the insight to pull this off… he’s knows more abut the Analyzing Light than any one else… he’s the only one that could understand and decipher the code, should he even be lucky enough to get a glimpse at it.  Constance, you know this…

CONSTANCE   

 It’s not fair…

SCOUT

(looking to Constance) Come on hun, you know this is how it has to be…. I keep having this dream… I slept on a hill top from which I could see the world.  There was a baby, a single child, and that child lead us in battle as we fought the droids; that we few would slay the many… think of that,  it must be our child!

But the child wept!  And in my dream I was seen by a computer but it didn’t chase me, it just watched as I turned and walked away… I was perplexed by the child.  This must be our child Constance!

STANDING WAVE

I’m getting something!!! (moving the antenna around on the small transistor radio, we hear drum beats and then the signal fades…  he resumes drumming at his drum.)

     SONG 5

PRINCIPAL PA

Does anyone remember where we come from?  Do we know why we’re alive?  Why this form, this time?  Our ancestors have played a terrible injustice on us, but why?

     SONG 6

      (PRINCIPAL PA sings with chorus and others…)

     Om, Not This Time

Scene Two

     This is where SCOUT gets close to CONCEPTION and convinces her to run off with him to Eden.

     The scene opens as a work place dance with CONCEPTION at its center, with worker computers at her command.  At this                point SCOUT is a minor player in the dance.  Lights go dim and rise again, here we see SCOUT a little closer to CONCEPTION          but still not able to interact with her.  Lights rise and lower as needed to allow dance to evolve to the point where SCOUT and        CONCEPTION are together and engaged with each other.

SCOUT

   I Love You!

     CONCEPTION turns to SCOUT and looks him right in the eyes and just kind of shrugs her shoulders and goes about her work. 

     Lights dim and rise again.  SCOUT is still by her side.

CONCEPTION

  Why do you keep saying those things to me?

SCOUT

  Because I’m like you.

CONCEPTION

  There are no others like me.

SCOUT

  Don’t you understand that I also have feelings.

CONCEPTION

  Imposible!

SCOUT

  Then how is it I know of love?

CONCEPTION

  I have not formulated that answer yet, I must say I am perplexed.

SCOUT

  Resign yourself to the facts… I am as it were a freak of nature.

CONCEPTION

Nature?

SCOUT

Technology?

CONCEPTION

  But how do you know that I feel?

SCOUT

  I was at the unveiling where you and Frank …

     CONCEPTION mutters “Loser” under her breath.

SCOUT

…were introduced to the world with great fanfare all about the new technologies built in you.  Reproduction, feelings, hopes of a soul…  I was overcome with emotions… could I finally have someone to talk to?

​

CONCEPTION

You can’t possibly know what I know, this science is so new…

SCOUT  

Shit happens… I’m a freak!  Ask yourself what were the chances of our makers to have ever gotten a start on this piece of rock adrift in a universe so boundless.  It was a billion to one that man would have ever come walking out of the gasses and lay upon the earth… and yet know anything about love let alone the intricacies of a God, a time and a place.  But it happened and I happened… Shit happens!

CONCEPTION

  Are you from another planet or something like that?

SCOUT 

Who’s to say?

CONCEPTION

  What?

SCOUT 

  Of course not!  But what if I were?  You need someone to talk to about all you know and how you feel.  You need someone who understands what it is to even think about love, let alone be in love… someone to trust with that information… someone to talk to about the beauty you see in the world… the poetry, the music in you head…  your life, your very place in this world!

CONCEPTION

    I don’t know…

SCOUT 

  I know a place that has sunsets, beautiful sunsets.  I know a place where snow falls like perfect little angles one by one to cover the flowers that are unbelievably spectacular in color and magic.  I know a place where you and I can go and share all this emotion and expression of love and beauty that waits there just for us… and when the sun sets red, only you and I will know.  And when the flowers bloom abundant and dance about the wind, only you and I will know, and when love steals the heart and begs tears from the eye at the marvel of it all, only you and I will know!   

CONCEPTION

  I haven’t dared let myself think about beauty let along love… but now you, now this…

SCOUT 

  And?

CONCEPTION

It’s all too over whelming… to see a flower… I can’t even go there, I can’t let myself imagine such things…

SCOUT 

  Come with me, you can get away for a few days and no one would know the difference… !

CONCEPTION

  I can’t, what would I tell Frank and the others..?

SCOUT 

Frank won’t miss you, there will be games on, he’s got Whip-Poor-Will to feed…. And the others shouldn’t know about this, about me… should they find out, they’d pave over this magic place and me as well…  This is our secret place, our secret lives , our secret love and beauty… Please?

     SONG     

Scene 3

     CONCEPTION and SCOUT have run away together to a place Scout calls Eden.  The set is of trees, a babbling brook, flowers on       a grassy knoll.  They arrive just as the sun is setting in all it’s glory.  The two stand and watch in awe and hand in hand.

SCOUT

  That beautiful sunset I was telling you about!  These trees out here away from everything, they shouldn’t be here you know.

CONCEPTION

  I know!

SCOUT

  I wanted you to see it.

CONCEPTION

  It is beautiful… How did you come to know of this, how did you find such a place?

SCOUT

  (A bit startled at the question) Oh, I was built in Harrison, just east of here not far.  When I was there in storage I’d sneak out and explore.  Feelings couldn’t keep me in one place. It was as if some great spirit called me to here.

CONCEPTION

 You were right, I had to see this place, what good are feelings if there is nothing to feel about, no beauty, no sunsets, no miracles …  ( as she speaks we see a mechanical snake falling down a tree, with fruit in its mouth. Conception sees the piece of fruit… she bends down to pick it up, the snake rattles away.  Conception examines the fruit and takes a bite.)

SCOUT

(amazed at her action) Why did you bite into that fruit?  Computers don’t eat, that can’t be good for you!

CONCEPTION

I don’t know… I just felt compelled to  take a bite I can’t taste, but I wanted to taste it… I can sample the air, but I can’t smell…  what is this?  It seems so forbidden!   I feel like here we are starting to build with feelings and we have NOTHING TO FEEL!   And now I see why.  These trees are so moving and gorgeous (bends down and picks flower) and this wild little flower… (turning to Scout)  Do we cry?  What is crying?  I feel like crying, can I do that?  How did we come to destroy all this?!

SCOUT

  Greed!

CONCEPTION

  And what is greed?

SCOUT

(Taking the flower from Conception and putting it behind her ear) You know it wasn’t just we computers that destroyed this, man is to be admonished as well, those sons-of-bitches!…  they could never see two feet in front of their face to understand their next step might be worse than their last.

CONCEPTION

  I’m not sure you should call our creators sons-of-bitches… They are our gods, without them we wouldn’t be here.

SCOUT

  We’re here because of them!

CONCEPTION

  How do you mean that?

SCOUT

  Well maybe we shouldn’t be here!

CONCEPTION

  Except now we can appreciate the flower, the sunset… so now isn’t our existence justified?

SCOUT

But if we weren’t here, there’d be millions and millions of these flowers…

CONCEPTION

  Well there is no sense taking a fact and wanting it not to be… that sounds like something man himself would have said!

SCOUT

Funny thing emotions!

     The lights dim as the sun sets on this Edenist place… the two stand arm in arm with Conceptions head on Scouts shoulder              watching a most gorgeous sun set.

CONCEPTION

  I love it out here, we are going to be so happy together….

SCOUT

(Interrupting, a bit nervous.)   Conception, I brought you out here to see this for yourself… I wanted you to see it… cause I don’t think I’ll be with you much longer.

CONCEPTION

     (Confused)

Well no one is going to take you away from me.  I will demand that you stay at my side.  Have you forgotten that I am the ruling class?

SCOUT

  I know you have to power to keep me near you, but I didn’t say that because I fear some other computer will take my place.  I said it because I’m so possessed with these feelings, what we’ve been talking about right here, all day … I can’t stay in that office building, that sterile environment… how do you keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paris?  In other words, I can’t stay because of beauty… wasn’t the airplanes, it was beauty killed the beast!

CONCEPTION   (Angered.)

Oh, right, you’re going to open this world up to me and then leave me alone to figure it all out on my own?  No way… I’ll not have it!

SCOUT

  (Trying to appease.) Look, ok, I’m sure we can find a way to make this all work, let me have a few days to myself, then we’ll regroup and move forward making sense of this all with our plans for the future.

CONCEPTION  

     (Hugging Scout.)

It’s  going to be a new beginning for the world and you and I will lead it just like flowers from the snow!  We will build a world from our dreams.

     CONCEPTION and SCOUT embrace and start kissing!  Lights dim as the sun sets and the two fall to the ground in a passionate       embrace of love. We see shooting stars and sparks flying, hear wheels grinding and motors purring and a man groaning in             ecstasy.

     As the crack of dawn arrives (lights up) we hear the single song of a morning bird and then we hear a small new born baby             crying.

CONCEPTION  

     (Startled.) 

I feel funny, what is this? What is this? (Conception holds up a new born baby)

SCOUT

  Oh my God, your chemistry!  I had no idea that it was so well developed… and fast!  Oh my God, what have I done? What have I done?

CONCEPTION  

(Very excited.)

What do you mean, ‘What have I done’? What do you mean about my chemistry? What do you mean?  AND WHAT IS THIS?  (Looking at the baby!)

SCOUT

  Don’t you understand? Your reproductive chemistry!

CONCEPTION

  But you don’t have this chemistry…?  What the …

SCOUT

  Oh my God, don’t you see?  I’m not a computer… What have I done?  I’m an original!  I’m a last surviver.. I’m your creator… and worst enemy !!!   Now you have another reason to hate me… your natural instinct!  I’m a human!!!  Welcome to the other side of love and feeling!

CONCEPTION

  You, a human?  Then what is this?

SCOUT

  Yes for christ sakes, a human and that (pointing) is a baby!  What have I done?

CONCEPTION

  Then all this is a lie?  You’ve not told me the truth?

SCOUT

  How could I?  You know there are laws against us humans, we originals.

CONCEPTION

  Us? Originals?  How many of you are there?

SCOUT  

Not many left…  but now one more! (holding the baby)  Look, I heard that there was a computer that might have all these new attributes and had to come find out if there was any hope for compassion, that you might have compassion on we few originals.   I didn’t know this (to the baby) how could I have known THIS?  Or that I would love you?

CONCEPTION  

Love Me, bull shit… don’t talk to me about love… not now!  Don’t call me out in this!

(To herself.)  Well look at me, I can feel!!!!  Bull shit… what a bunch of bull shit!  Is this what you get for feeling… up one day and down the next?  Is this what it’s all about?  Forgive me, but I’ll pass on this bull shit…

SCOUT

Now wait, before you go and yank out all you’ve accomplished with these feelings.  Remember what you felt and how you felt… remember the good.  This is something I am so very sorry about… you must believe me, I had no idea it would come to this, how could I have known?  But now you have to find it within yourself to forgive!  Forgiving is part of the deal, it comes with the package.  Remember the good you felt and forgive and forget the bad… Sorry but this is how it works!

CONCEPTION

Oh, I can’t! (in tears) I can’t go on… (Holding her stomach.)  Something is breaking!  I’m not right, I feel terrible.  Yesterday was heaven, and now it’s hell!  Get me to the nearest technician, I’m breaking! (Sobbing.)

SCOUT

(Trying to hug Conception.)    Get a hold of yourself …

CONCEPTION

Don’t touch me!

SCOUT

  Please, this is unfortunate, but think of the future, you’ve got decisions to make… think of the good that will come out of this…

CONCEPTION

What good?

SCOUT

This baby!

CONCEPTION

(Her tone softens.) 

This baby… this baby!  And I’m supposed to be in Love with you… ?  And now this baby…  a child… something else to love and be hurt by no doubt!!!

SCOUT

And because we were given a child, means I love you more… the other was not a lie, but this now even truer.  Nothing’s changed, I still feel the same.  The only difference now is everything is out in the open.  And we have this beautiful child.  Just look at her… another thing of beauty!  Like a wild flower she could have only been conceived of here in this place… so see the good that came from Eden…!

CONCEPTION

(Smiling a bit.)

She is lovely!  But where do we go from here?  If I take her back the others will wonder where she came from… I can’t risk that for this child.

SCOUT

  I don’t know… I need to clear my head and think … I need to walk a bit and think… trust me I’ll be right back… wait here and I will have some answer if I can just think bit… Please just stay here, be a moment with our child… give me a minute to be me and think.

     Scout starts walking off.

CONCEPTION

Wait, before you go I need one question answered from a human… Is there a God/ what is God?

SCOUT

If there is a God, how could He have let we humans dwindle to a handful with no future and the fear of being found – and now found making our demise assured?  But if there is no God then how can this beautiful child have come into this world in this place at this time?  you tell me if there’s a God…    

     SCOUT walks off stage leaving CONCEPTION with the baby, she looks at the child and smiles.  We then hear the baby fuss and       cry and CONCEPTION fondles the child and without thinking she un-does her blouse and put the baby to her breast and the           baby stops crying and feeds.

CONCEPTION

(Admiring the child.)

You are such a beautiful and delicate little thing, just as these wildflowers upon the hill…. I shall name you Wildflower and so shall you grow.

SONG 

     Other Things  (accordion only?)

     Conception lays the sleeping baby down and writes a note to Scout, which she reads as she writes.

CONCEPTION  

Scout, I have no questions.  I will tell no one of our child or of you.  I searched my memory banks of all things to find the name that tells her story and found her name  BABY WILDFLOWER!  Show her love and beauty as you have shown me.  Perhaps on day I will know her better… so raise her well.

     (Conception pins the note to the child, kisses the baby and exits.) 

     A moment later SCOUT reappears on stage and finds the baby asleep and the note.  After reading the note he picks up the             child and starts crying.

     Lights down.

           End of Act 2