After finishing KURT VONNEGUT, The Last Interview and Other Conversations yesterday, his words haunted my dreams. In the last few interviews he talked a lot about how we’re completely destroying the earth and at this point there’s nothing we can do about it. Bummer, right? Well I wrote a play about it, pretty short… 3 pages, and it’s pretty preachy, but I kinda like it. As usual, please ignore errors, I just wrote it!
Gray And Ash, a short play
By Rachel Bublitz
MOTHER and CHILD are on stage.
MOTHER
It is an important day. Today you will walk the earth.
CHILD
I am ready Mother. I will make you proud.
MOTHER
We’ve told you what to expect. It will still astound you.
CHILD
I am prepared.
MOTHER
Child. Child, child, child. That is what you say. The winds are fierce. The earth is gray and endless. It is hard to navigate. But you must. We need you to gather the ash.
Pause.
CHILD
What if I get lost?
MOTHER
You will perish.
CHILD
I’m scared, mother.
MOTHER
You should be. Bring extra strips for your test kit. You need to double check the ash you collect for contamination.
CHILD
Right, extra strips.
MOTHER
You can return in two years, if you live that long.
CHILD
I will try my best.
MOTHER
I have faith in you.
Pause.
CHILD
What’s the sky like?
MOTHER
Gray, it matches the earth. You can’t touch it though, it reaches up to the dark black sun. Do you have the compass your father gave you?
CHILD
Yes.
MOTHER
Trust your instincts, but don’t ignore your tools. Two years isn’t so long. And the more ash you collect the better for us all.
CHILD
Isn’t there anything better to eat? What if-
MOTHER
(Interrupting) Ash is all that’s left. You’ll see. When you return you’ll be allowed to couple and mate, if you wish to.
CHILD
Can we work together on the surface?
MOTHER
You can try, the great open does funny things to folks though, so be careful.
Pause.
CHILD
Tell me about before.
MOTHER
This is not a time for stories! Your departure is eminent!
CHILD
I need to hear it, once more before I go.
Pause.
MOTHER
Very well. I will tell you one last time. Hold the words in your heart, my dear. You will get no comfort above. (Sigh) Before the gray, there was a vast green that covered our earth met with blue, red, purple, and every color in between. Before we lived in the sun, and it shone bright orange and brought warmth. Before we ate from the trees, when trees still stood. Before we ate from animals, when animals still stocked the green. Before, long before now, no one ate ash and no one lived below the ground.
CHILD
I wish I lived in those times, Mother.
MOTHER
We all do child. The people before us were foolish, and forgot to care. They gave away the trees, the colors, the animals. Ash is what is left now. Ash and gray, ash and gray, ash and gray. You must be brave my child. You will come back to me.
CHILD
Most don’t come back.
MOTHER
I know, but I did. I know you can too.
CHILD
I will hold you in my heart, mother.
MOTHER
I will hold you too, my dearest child.
End of play.