FOOLS FORUM

Brandon Thompson

May 17, 2000

Edited June 22, 2000

Re-edited Dec. 18, 2000

To all my Love;

To those who's glances passed my way

To her who gave me my first kiss

And to those who I gave theirs.

To all those who've ever blushed and giggled.

To those whose love was boldly shown,

And to those who's love was not.

To those who've trusted me.

To all those who I've held against my breast

And to those who I've loved from afar.

To those who made it hard at night.

To those who gave me their first love,

But especially,

To she who gave me her last.

ACT ONE

As to be expected, the curtains open to begin the play, and the lights slowly rise with them. On the stage, in tableau, are a MAN and a WOMAN. They are posing as though they were mannequins in a window. They are not aware of each other and perhaps they are not even aware of their own existence.

At both SR and SL there is a small mound. Two large rocks, to be more precise. For now, this is all the set that there is.

Another person walks on in full flowing robes, looking very much like a sage or something to that effect. Not really above the NORM, anyways. He wanders over, inspecting the two frozen entities. He is Wandering SOUL.

Soul- What is man, you ask? That may be the oldest and hardest question ever asked. You're Capable of so much, or so I've seen. Laughter and tears, often in the same moment. Such kindness and hope you show, if only you could get over the little things. Of course, I'm referring to you're selves. Maybe then they could get to their true meanings. You don't know what that is, perhaps? Well, love, of course. Every stem of everything they ever felt is love. Even if merely the love to hate.

I'm sorry, how rude I am. I have not introduced myself. I am... Well, I'm... Just a wandering soul, I suppose. Not much of a scholar, really. I just know what I see and I've been wandering close to the lot of you for quite sometime now.

You don't believe me then? I could show you if need be.

(Wandering SOUL walks over and touches MAN on his shoulder. MAN awakens and begins to inspect himself)

Soul- You, friend, are Man. Hopeful and strong. You have been given a mighty mind and arm. Your kind has been responsible for bringing light to darkness, carrying voices millions of miles to land softly in the ear of another. For centuries you have built shelters, established order and put food on the table for those you mean to protect and love. But you will need your wits about you, for you are the hunter.

(Wandering SOUL walks towards WOMAN and places a hand on her shoulder. She also awakens to inspect herself.)

Soul- You are woman. Full of caring and strength. You have been given a heart of pure gold and wisdom beyond your years. You have been the foundation that every great feat has stood. Behind every great deed there is a greater woman for whom the deed was done. Every man, woman and child must answer to you, for you are the true lover, you are the real gift to your race. You are mother, wife, sister and friend. You will cry, but do not cry for long for you will need a sensitive but strong heart, you are the lover.

Man- I do not understand.

Soul- Perhaps you were not meant to.

Woman- What are we to do?

Soul- That is the question that will plague you for the rest of your lives. If you would like, I could save you the trouble of learning one minute to late what you are to do on this earth.

Man- Is it some great secret? Is it to be of some importance to us in life?

Soul- More then you may know.

Man- Then why are we not to learn it until the final moments of our life.

Soul- You are born knowing it, it is only that you spend your whole lives denying it.

Woman- Please tell us this secret.

Soul- I don't know that I should. Perhaps life is best learned, not answered.

Woman- We would learn faster if we knew what it was we were to learn.

Soul- I'm sorry, but do I think you need to learn it, yourselves.

Man- If you will not tell us, at least point us in the right direction.

Soul- Very well. Look at each other. What do you see?

Woman- I see Man. Security, food and protection.

Man- And I see woman. Care, support and compassion.

Soul- You have a long way to go, still.

Man- Is that not what you said she was?

Soul- Must you look with my eyes? You were given eyes of your own, some of which you may never discover, due to thinking like that. Learn to look with those eyes. I must leave you now. My place is not here, there is much yet to see and I have only scathed the surface of the plane I must travel today. Good luck to you in life.

Man- Wait, there is so much yet to ask.

Soul- Then there is so much you need to learn.

Woman- And you will not tell us?

Soul- Not while you have so much left to live.

Woman- What are we to do?

Soul- You have each other.

Man- Without you, what are we to do?

Soul- I will be there. Be assured by this.

Woman- And are there no more answers you can give us.

Soul- I will never run dry of answers, and so neither will you.

Man- Where will we find these answers?

Soul- Perhaps then, that is the first question you need to ask. I must away.

Woman- Why are you leaving us.

Soul- Please understand, it is fare-well to you, never good bye.

(Wandering SOUL exits the scene. MAN and WOMAN are now alone with their surroundings, they are not aware of the audience as SOUL was. As far as they are concerned, there is only them)

Man- Who was that?

Woman- I can't say I've ever met him before.

Man- Nor can I. Though, I can't really say that I've ever met you before either.

Woman- No, that's true. I certainly seem to be meeting a lot of new faces.

Man- So do I, but since I've never actually met anyone before, it's understandable.

Woman- That makes sense. It's no real wonder, though, this place seems very barren. I wonder where we are.

Man- Well, I suppose it's where we're supposed to be.

Woman- Why are we to be here? There seems to be nothing for us to be here for. Just those rock things.

Man- Maybe we're here to answer our questions. It seems we have no distractions or worries here, so we have time to think.

Woman- That seems logical enough.

Man- Well, what questions should we answer, while we are here?

Woman- It seems we've answered one already. We're here to answer questions, the enigma, of course, being the purpose of our placement.

Man- So in short, this is definitely the place where we'll find answers.

Woman- Wasn't that the first question?

Man- Pardon?

Woman- Didn't that man say that the first question we should ask is where to find our answers.

Man- I suppose he did, yes.

Woman- Then the hardest of the riddles has been solved. There we've solved two question. This place has told us that it will provide us answers, which was the original question, and at the same time, that tells us what we're here for.

Man- Then maybe this place will tell us who we are.

Woman- It might. That makes sense.

Man- Oh! Perhaps we're mighty warriors! Tried and true. Battling for our lives in death struggles.

Woman- Battling for our lives?

Man- We're allowed to have quiet days I'm sure. I have an idea. Why don't you be the damsel in distress and I shall rescue you.

Woman- I can't be the damsel in distress!

Man- And why not? Do you not want to be saved by me? Did you have someone else in mind?

Woman- No, it's not that, I just have no idea how to be a damsel in distress.

Man- Simple. You stand there and act helpless and look as thought you have no hope of escape without me. Then I shall burst in with my sword unsheathed and scream "Foul villains! release this poor princess at once!" And then I shall battle monsters and guards to the death, until finally I find you. I shall then come to your rescue, sword in hand! I would then cut the ropes that bind you and sweep you off of your feet, to victory.

Woman- Why can't you be the damsel in distress.

Man- Boys can never be damsels in distress. It's a rule.

Woman- And why not? it seems to me you need as much saving as I do, perhaps more, and you look more harmless then I do. Besides, there are no monsters to fight, anyways.

Man- No, only ourselves to fight, I suppose.

Woman- We cannot be warriors then. We are not even armed.

Man- Ah ha! And there you are wrong. Armed we are and armed forever we will be for we were given arms to fight with.

Woman- No, silly boy. We have no weapons.

Man- Why do we need weapons? Animals do not need weapons and what difference is there between us and them? With merely my bare hands I could kill the strongest wolf, I'm sure!

Woman- I do not doubt it, but why, pray tell, would you want to do that?

Man- A test of strength and bravery, mine against theirs. Skill on skill. A duel to the finish, where the best of the two will go home triumphant, not to mention well fed.

Woman- And the other? What will become of him?

Man- Well, perhaps wolves were a little much. I am sure I could fare against one, but just as well against a raccoon or something of lesser size. I can't imagine what I would do with so much meat, anyhow. Well, if we are not warriors, then what?

Woman- Perhaps we are great thinkers! Born of higher power and strength then the bodies we are doomed to.

Man- Aren't you being a slight eccentric? I don't think we're doomed to these frames. I think their really quite attractive.

Woman- As do I, but think of it. Our minds being on a different plane. Stronger then the things we do and see.

Man- But, where does that help us? It just creates more questions, doesn't it?

Woman- And as great minds, we can answer them.

Man- I suppose so, but we've answered nothing so far, have we?

Woman- Indeed we have! We've solved the greatest riddle posed ever to date. We have learned that this is the place that harbors our answers.

Man- What if we are wrong? I mean, if that wrong, then everything we think we know is wrong too, and in the case of that, Well, the question still lingers on. Then we could not be great minds, that's for sure.

Woman- Let us test this thought of yours. It may take some thinking to solve the greatest riddle in existence. So much, perhaps, that even great minds may stumble upon it. We should ask each other questions of a lesser nature. If we are great minds, then we will be able to answer them, easily.

Man- Fair enough. Who between us should start?

Woman- I think, since it was on my suggestion that we be great minds, you should start.

Man- I agree, since you were the one to suggest it, you may be a greater mind then I, and so who better to test it on. Let me see... Where do you suppose the One Who Woke Us went?

Woman- That is a good question. Abroad I suppose.

Man- Abroad where? If there is a place beyond this that we see, what do you suppose it is?

Woman- I don't know. Where he lives I suppose. Everyone needs a place to live.

Man- I guess they do, but that really doesn't answer the question.

Woman- No, I guess it doesn't. Maybe it's the place we came from.

Man- That doesn't make sense. If we came from there, and he brought us here, why go back? I mean, if the place is good enough to go back to, why did he leave and, if it's better there, why did he bring us here?

Woman- Maybe it's not better there.

Man- If that were the case, then why would he go back? Why not just move here?

Woman- Maybe it was so we could answer questions like this.

Man- But if that's not true, then we're not even great thinkers! Which would bring us back to the question of why we're here.

Woman- Just maybe it was so we could answer questions, like this.

Man- Do you think that we couldn't answer things this way there? If that's where the One Who Woke Us lives and he knows everything, surely, if we stayed there, wouldn't we eventually know everything too?

Woman- Your questions are very good. It seems I cannot answer them.

Man- Then we cannot be great minds.

Woman- If your questions best my answers, then perhaps you are the great mind.

Man- I do admit, my questions have been very hard. I suppose you could try to ask. Perhaps I will do better.

Woman- What do you think we're here for, if not to answer questions.

Man- Perhaps to confuse us. Maybe there is no reason for us to be here, which, all in all, a reason, even if it isn't.

Woman- But if the reason is that there is not reason, then we might as well be somewhere else. That means there must be a reason. There's a reason for everything, isn't there?

Man- Then maybe we're here because we don't belong anywhere else.

Woman- That seems more like an answer to something you asked. I wish I had thought of it when you put the question to me.

Man- You don't think, then, that it answers your question?

Woman- Oh, yes, it answers my question fine. I just think it suits one of yours better.

Man- I see. I'll answer again. So, why are we here? Well, there is you and there is I. Two of us. I suppose that this is the place that were staying. I guess that we live here, although, we could live anywhere, so that doesn't answer the question, either. There is a mound to this side and mound to that side. We are standing between them... Above us is nothing and below us there is something. Beyond the rocks there is more of this nothing and something. Therefore, we are here and so are they.

Woman- But, what does that mean?

Man- Well, after carefully weighing it all out, the answer to that is... I haven't the faintest clue.

Woman- That doesn't answer the question very well, then, does it?

Man- Not really. Maybe we're here so we can learn. It might be that The One Who Woke Us was here once too, but he learned enough o go there.

Woman- You must be the great mind. That's a very good thought.

Man- Thank you, I had it myself.

Woman- But, what determines whether you know enough yet, or not?

Man- There must be someone who decides.

Woman- And how did he get to be better then the other ones?

Man- Maybe he knows more stuff then they do.

Woman- Then he must have been here longer.

Man- Either that or you still have to learn when you get where ever we go after this.

Woman- Then theoretically, there is no better then here.

Man- Maybe it's nicer there.

Woman- That doesn't seem fair. What if we get everything wrong, or, never learn enough stuff... Or learn the wrong stuff, even. Then we'll be here for an eternity.

Man- We must stop sooner or later. I mean, we can't just keep going forever, can we?

Woman- If we're not careful about it, we will.

Man- If we take care of ourselves maybe we'll be alright, then?

Woman- Sure, why not? Hey! Perhaps we're here to care for each other. Lets try that! I will care for you in what ever way I know how, if you take care of me in what ever way you know how.

Man- I suppose we could try it. How can you care for me?

Woman- I don't know. What do you need?

Man- I need someone... to... help me figure out what I need.

Woman- Well, I'm afraid I can't do that for you. This doesn't seem to be working out very well.

Man- That really is unfortunate. It was a very good idea.

Woman- Let's try it again, then. This time, think harder. What do you need?

Man- I will need someone to cook the animals I catch, right?

Woman- And I need someone to catch the animals. What else do you need.

Man- I will need someone to mother to my children.

Woman- And I will need someone to father them. This seems to be working out better second time around.

Man- It certainly appears to be. But, why here? We could take care of each other where the One Who Woke Us is, couldn't we?

Woman- I guess we could. So that really doesn't answer that old question very well. I'm glad we're not being great thinkers any more. If we we're, I doubt we'd ever get a break.

Man- It certainly doesn't seem that this place has any answers for us. Every thing we come up seems to have a wrong side to it. I can never tell whether we've come up with the answer or not. So, maybe we're wrong in thinking that this place has anything to offer us.

Woman- Then I guess we will have to do the best with what we have. I've heard they call that improvising. If this place has nothing to offer us, then we will have to find out what we have to offer us. After all, we're the only thing we have left.

Man- True. We've already decided that we can help each other out with the food, and being parents... At least the basic part of it. What else?

Woman- I don't know. Maybe I can help you help me.

Man- But then, if I'm helping you help me, then who's going to help you?

Woman- Why, You, of course.

Man- We're not really helping each other at all, by those terms. I mean, what if we both need help. The who's going to take care of us?

Woman- Maybe we shouldn't question the unknown so much. It might get angry at us.

Man- What do you suppose the unknown might do to us if we annoy it?

Woman- Not sure. Perhaps why they call it the unknown.

Man- What do you suppose the unknown is, exactly?

Woman- I hadn't really thought about it, but I'm guessing since that we're not supposed to know, hence the name.

Man- Maybe it's this place.

Woman- Oh, definitely not. we know what this place is.

Man- Oh?

Woman- Yes, it's Here, of course.

Man- It can't be the unknown if we know what it is, can it?

Woman- Not really. Did we established that it hasn't got anything to offer us?

Man- That was why we were trying to figure out what good we are to ourselves, wasn't it?

Woman- Oh, that's right. As I recall, we didn't come up with a lot for that either, did we?

Man- Just that we can't always take care of each other. That kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

Woman- Maybe we can just take care of different things, that way, if we work together, everything will be taken care of.

Man- That's right. I'm supposed to catch food and build shelters and protect you.

Woman- And I'm supposed to stand behind you and cook and take care of the kids and b sensitive when you need me to be.

Man- But, then, who will be sensitive when you need some one to be?

Woman- And who will protect you when you need it? I think we're back to square one.

Man- Then I guess nothing can offer us anything. That's depressing.

Woman- We've made that point well enough, but what if this place does have something to offer us?

Man- Then we should know it. Only a great fool does not know that he is a fool, correct?

Woman- So, in theory, only a wrong person wouldn't know if they were right or not. I understand that part, but what does the rest mean?

Man- Well, since we don't know that we're right we must not be.

Woman- Which must mean that we're fools.

Man- That makes sense. Since we don't know that we're fools, we must be.

Woman- I guess that's true. So, what do we now that we're fools?

Man- I'm not sure. I heard somewhere once that a fool jests.

Woman- I heard that once too... But there is no one here but us. Who do we jest to?

Man- Ourselves perhaps. It seems that there is only ourselves to fool.

Woman- So, since we're fools, I suppose we should do our best to fool ourselves, shouldn't we?

Man- I don't really know. It doesn't seem to make sense. Why would we want to fool ourselves?

Woman- Because it seems that there is no one else to fool. What did you say a fool does again?

Man- From what I remember, a fool jests. truth is, I've actually never heard of a fool fooling.

Woman- I guess we should jest then. Where do we start?

Man- I guess I will entertain you and you will entertain me.

Woman- That does sound a lot more fun then the other things we did.

Man- Most definitely.

Woman- How do we start?

Man- I don't know. I've never been entertaining before. Maybe you should sit on that rock thingy, there. That way you can watch me.

Woman- And then what?

Man- Like I said, I'm not sure. I'm not very experienced. What do you think I should do?

Woman- I definitely think you should do something. if you don't, you run the risk of being boring.

Man- Oh dear! That doesn't really suit my purposes does it?

Woman- Not if you hope to entertain me, no. Can you dance?

Man- I don't think so. Can you?

Woman- Maybe if I had some music I could. Do you know how to make music?

Man- Oh, yes, I imagine I could, if I had some kind of instrument to play, which I don't.

Woman- That really is a shame. If you did, you could play it and I could dance. That would be fun.

Man- Oh yes, I'm sure it would be. How do you suppose I could go about getting an instrument of some kind.

Woman- I would think you'd have to make one on your own. Carve it out of wood or something. Hollow it out, put some holes in it and hit it with some sticks. That would make music, then I could dance and we could have some fun.

Man- Having fun seems to be a lot work. Do you think we'll have time for it? I mean, between having babies and hunting and stuff?

Woman- I think we'll have to find some time for it. I don't think I'd be very happy doing nothing but things that aren't fun.

Man- What if we spent only a little time making fun. Do you think that would still make you happy? We can do all the things that we don't want to the rest of the time.

Woman- If we have to. If we can't make fun all the time because nothing else would get done, it sounds like a good plan. After all, I can't imagine making babies and hunting is very fun.

Man- It might be. Besides, why would we have to something that we didn't want to do? That doesn't make much sense.

Woman- Then, do you think that we're here to be happy?

Man- Why not? It doesn't sound like a bad reason to be some where.

Woman- Not really. But, at the same time does that mean that we wouldn't be happy where the One Who Woke Us is?

Man- Not sure. Did he look happy? I can't remember.

Woman- I couldn't really tell whether he was happy or not. He didn't seem sad.

Man- Well, if he wasn't sad, then he must have been happy.

Woman- Well, maybe knowing everything wouldn't make us happy.

Man- I can't see why not.

Woman- But as long as we're fools, we can't no everything. If we did, we wouldn't be fools anymore. So, the question is, are we happy being fools?

Man- I can't really say. We already seem to know all the questions. Do you think we learned to much before we became fools?

Woman- Probably. Should we stop learning now?

Man How would we do that?

Woman- Well, we would have to be blind so we couldn't see anything. We'd have to be numb so we couldn't feel anything. We'd have to cut our tongues out so we couldn't taste anything. Then we'd have to stop talking, so we couldn't question anything, but in case we did, silently, we'd have to be deaf so that we couldn't hear the answers. Do you think we could do that?

(No answer from MAN)

Woman- I said, do you think we could do that?

(No answer, again, from MAN)

Woman- We haven't started yet?

Man- Haven't we?

Woman- No. We haven't decided whether we could that yet or not.

Man- I just did, didn't I?

Woman- I guess. What was it like?

Man- Not very nice. I don't think it would make us happy.

Woman- No? Then, maybe we could just stop questioning things. that way we wouldn't learn so much.

Man- But we've already learned that we're fools.

Woman- And now that we know that we're fools, we can't be. That is what you said, isn't it? So what does that make us?

Man- Well, if we're not fools or great thinkers, what can we be?

Woman- We can't be warriors. We established that already.

Man- If we can't fight and we can't think and we don't jest, we must be kings.

Woman- Well, if we're kings what do we rule?

Man- Everything I guess.

Woman- Together?

Man- Why not?

Woman- Because, if there is only us, what can we command?

Man- Why, each other of course.

Woman- So, I will command you and you will command me?

Man- I guess.

Woman- But, if I tell you what to do, and you tell me what to do, then we must be able to tell each other that we can do what we want.

Man- I hadn't thought of that before. That is confusing.

Woman- Yes, it is. In theory, if I tell you that I want to think for myself and you don't want me to, then you can tell me that I can't, and if I tell you that you can't say that, then you could just as easily say that I can't say that. That could go to you saying that I'm not allowed to tell you what to do and I could do the same, so by ruling each other, we actually have no control over what the other does.

Man- So, by controlling one another, we really have no control at all.

Woman- It would certainly seem that way.

Man- Well, now what do we do?

Woman- To fix the problem, one of us has to have rule over the other.

Man- And how do we pick who has the power between us?

Woman- Let's have a vote.

Man- That sounds fair. Alright, all of you who want me to be in charge, raise your hand.

(MAN raises his hand)

Woman- Okay, and all of you who want me to be in charge, raise your hand.

(WOMAN raises her hand)

Woman- The vote seems to be one to one. We've tied. And even if we try it the other way around, which is asking the same question, only reversing our answers it will still be one to one, only the results will seem much kinder.

Man- Would you like to try it that way?

Woman- It would be nice for the vote to seem less selfish on my part, but I don't think there would be much of a point, would there?

Man- I suppose not, since we already know that the results would be the same.

Woman- Then we are still stuck with this dilemma. One of has to be better then the other. I propose that we tell each other what makes us better leaders. We will tell what we know about ourselves and then we will tell what we know about each other and weigh it all out and pick the best one to fit the job.

Man- That sounds fair. I will start. The One Who Woke Us said that I am stronger, that means if anyone were to invade us, I could defend better then you.

Woman- That is true. What else?

Man- I was also told that I can build shelters and things. Wouldn't that be useful if we ever needed to get out of the open air? I could build lots of them and we could fill all of them will children. Then we would have something to rule.

Woman- That is also true, but do keep going.

Man- Then I was told that I could establish order. That means that I could organize everybody into groups and shelters and make other leaders and things like that.

Woman- You certainly seem to be able to do a lot. Can you think of anything else?

Man- Well, yes, actually, because after all of that he told me that I was able to bring food to our tables. That means I can feed everyone. Certainly that is premise for me to be a leader, isn't it? But, before we decide, I think it is only fair for you to get a turn. What can you do?

Woman- Well, I was told that I have wisdom beyond my years. I would guess that that would be a good thing, because then we wouldn't make so many mistakes all the time. Then, instead of fighting all of the defenders off, maybe we could make friends with them, instead, then we could get more help and have even more to rule.

Man- I suppose that's true, but how would you do that?

Woman- Well, the One Who Woke Us also told me that I am caring, so that must mean that, since I am caring, I would be trusted. That way I could reason with everybody and stop the fights before they started.

Man- That would be a very good thing, because then there would peace. But you can't be everywhere at once. What would happen if a fight broke out before you could get there to stop it?

Woman- I don't know. I was also told that I am supportive.

Man- So if your caring and supportive you could nurse the hurt people back to health and they would have learned there lesson.

Woman- That's right. And after all of those other things I was told that I was sensitive and so I would be able to talk to everyone and they would listen, out of kindness and politeness of course, and then we wouldn't need to fight anymore.

Man- I suppose, then, that you would be a better leader then I would be.

Woman- But if I was leader, then who would build the shelters and catch the food?

Man- I don't know. That is a good question. I suppose that I could do all of that any ways. And besides the One Who Woke Us did say that behind every great man there would be a greater woman. Doesn't that mean that you would be a better leader then I?

Woman- Well, if I were to be leader, then there would be no great man for me to be behind, and so I would be out of my element.

Man- Then, if you would be the better leader then I because I am the leader, then we must be at an impasse.

Woman- Then we should lead together.

Man- But that will just cause us to fight. I would want things to be strong and you would want things to be kind and so we could never agree.

Woman- Then I guess we could not be kings. But if we do not rule, then who else will?

Man- Maybe no one. Maybe we're here to have our free will.

Woman- So we don't have to have leaders?

Man- That way, we won't have to worry about who is leading us. I guess so. I guess that means that we're free.

Man- We can do what we want.

Woman- And what do we want?

Man- That is a very good question. I suppose if we're free we must have wanted that.

Woman- Now that we have what we want, what can we do?

Man- I don't know. I guess if we wanted freedom, and we have it, we must not want anything anymore.

Woman- That seems to make some sense, but if we don't want anything, then we must be free.

Man- That was simple. We must be free.

Woman- I'm afraid that being free is awfully boring.

Man- Does that mean were not happy?

Woman- I don't know. Are we still supposed to be here to be happy, or has that changed?

Man- I think it hasn't. It wouldn't be a bad reason.

Woman- Well then, I think that being free is boring. And since the word "boring" in no way describes anything to do with the word "happy", it must not make me happy.

Man- Well, if we're not happy then we must want something else.

Woman- Didn't we establish that when we we're being fools.

Man- Kind of. We decided we want answers because we have too many questions, so we aren't happy being ignorant... and fools are always ignorant. And since we want something, we can't be free. Because wanting binds us to something, and the word "bind" doesn't seem to have any kind of connection to the word "free" and since I must use it to describe our situation, we can't possibly be free.

Woman- I guess that makes sense. So, we're not free? I don't know what that leaves us with. Though I must admit, we have been very creative, up to this point.

Man- Well, then maybe it's in our nature to be creative.

Woman- That would make us creators, wouldn't it?

Man- Yes, I suppose it would. Create, after all, is the root word of both creator and creative, so if we're one, we must be the other.

Woman- I suppose that, if we're creators, we should be creating things, then.

Man- And what should we create?

Woman- I think it would be nice to create some company. No offense to you, but I would like to have some others around to talk to. It's not that I find you boring, it's just a little tedious is all.

Man- How do you think we should go about doing that? Especially since we haven't really created anything yet.

Woman- Give us a chance, we haven't even been creators for a full five minutes yet. I would think it takes longer then that to create things.

Man- Like I'd said, I've never created something before, so I wouldn't know. Everything that's here was already here when we arrived.

Woman- I would think that we first have to come up with some idea of what we want to create before we can create it.

Man- And we've done that. You said that you wanted to create some company.

Woman- Okay. So, that's step one finished.

Man- And what's step two?

Woman- I don't know, I haven't created that yet.

Man- I have an idea. Why don't you stand on that rock there and I'll stand on this rock here and we'll see how that goes.

Woman- How will that help us create something?

Man- I don't know, but they seem to be the only commodity we have and since they've been here since we were and we're creators, maybe they are too.

Woman- We could give it try.

(They both retreat to a rock, one each, and stand there)

Man- Now I guess we could try and create something.

Woman- How do you think we should go about doing that?

Man- I don't know. I hadn't thought that far ahead. I just figured that once we got here, things would just start creating themselves. I mean, we can't be expected to do all the work.

Woman- Well, maybe if we started to say things about what we wanted they would create themselves. They can't be expected to just now what they're supposed to be yet.

Man- Why not? We're here and we don't really know what we're meant to be yet.

Woman- Well, I guess the One Who Woke Us probably told us what we're supposed to be, but I guess we forgot or something.

Man- He kind of did, I think. He told us what we were, anyways. Maybe there's something to that.

Woman- I don't know, and besides, we shouldn't try to figure it out. It's not our place.

Man- Your right. I should have thought of it back when we were great thinkers. Now that we're creators it doesn't seem like we'll have a lot of extra time for thinking.

Woman- it certainly doesn't. But doesn't that make for a bit of a problem?

Man- How so?

Woman- If we don't have time to think, how are we going to create things. After all, step one is to think of something to create.

Man- You're right. we can't rightly just go creating things without knowing what they are, can we?

Woman- I guess not. After all, how would we know that we created it if we didn't know that we created it.

Man- I guess your right. After all, the One Who Woke Us certainly seemed to know something about us.

Woman- Does that mean that he created us?

Man- I guess it would..

Woman- That would make him the creator, wouldn't it? Which means they we're probably not creators at all.

Man- Or at least, if we are, we're only second rate creators.

Woman- How did you come to that conclusion?

Man- Well, if he created us, then he must have given us the power to think.

Woman- Oh, I see! So, if he gave us the power to think then we must not know how to do anything he didn't teach us.

Man- So, I guess your right, we can't be creators.

Woman- Not if we can't even create our own thoughts.

Man- Well, that's kind of depressing. All this time, I've been thinking that I was thinking, when I really wasn't thinking at all.

Woman- I guess so, but you do know you were thinking it. That means you must have thought it.

Man- That doesn't make sense. Am I right or wrong then?

Woman- Well, if you know that you can only think what your told, then that must mean that you were told to think for yourself. Which means that your only thinking for yourself because someone thought that for you.

Man- And so, the thoughts we're thinking must have been someone else's thoughts first. I wonder if we're to think someone else's thoughts.

Woman- I don't think so.

Man- No you don't. Someone else does. You're catching on.

Woman- No, I mean, if you thought that, then someone out there must have wanted you to know that we're here only to think their thoughts. This is very confusing.

Man- Yeah, I really wish someone would think of what the reason for us to think their thoughts is.

Woman- Well, that doesn't make sense. You just questioned something. if you could question something, and not have an answer for it, then you must have had that thought on your own.

Man- Either that, or we're here to question.

Woman- That seems silly. If you can question it, then that means there must be an answer, or else there wouldn't be a question. Why would we need to question things if there's already an answer. If whoever is thinking for us knows already, then what would be the point of us questioning it.

Man- Unless the one who is making us ask the question doesn't know either.

Woman- That seems even sillier. If we can't actually think for ourselves, then what good would it be to make us ask the question.

Man- Well, perhaps who ever is thinking for me isn't the same person who's thinking for you. Maybe Mans have someone different to think for them then womans.

Woman- But who would that be?

Man- Do you think they don't know each other?

Woman- What?

Man- If you don't know, then... Wait, shouldn't we know who is thinking for us?

Woman- Not if they don't think it?

Man- Then they have the same problem as we do.

Woman- Then how in the great Abroad can them thinking for us be of any use. Especially if they don't know any more then they do? If they're coming up with answers, who's telling them?

Man- Maybe then, everybody has there own different person to think for them and they all have someone to think for them.

Woman- This a viscous circle. It doesn't seem to have an end at all.

Man- Everything has to have an end, sometime.

Woman- Then what's stopping it?

Man- Someone else doesn't think I was told that.

Woman- Ten there are some questions with out answers?

Man- Every question has to have an answer.

Woman- Then we don't know, which means, if we're being thought for, they don't know... Which means that, if you travel up through the people thinking for other people, nobody knows, which means that some questions don't have answers. Unfortunately that isn't possible because we can't create and so in order to have a question, we must, some how, know that there's an answer If there wasn't then the question wouldn't exist. My head hurts.

Man- So, what your saying, is that nothing can exist unless it does.

Woman- Exactly.

Man- Then, maybe we're here to learn the answers ourselves.

Woman- Well, that settles it! If that's true, no ones thinking for us. You see, to learn something we must have free will and if someone is thinking for us we must not have any free will. By those standards, who ever was thinking for us, probably wouldn't want us to think that he was thinking for us because that would mean that we wouldn't need to question because we couldn't really learn anything.

Man- So, otherwise, were probably not here to think someone else's thoughts.

Woman- I guess not. That must mean that we're thinking all our own.

Man- So, that must mean we're creators then.

Woman- But we don't seem to be able to create anything!

Man- Then I suppose the only option left for us is that we're here to learn.

Woman- I guess so, but that still doesn't tell us who we are.

Man- Sure it does. We must be students.

Woman- How can that be. It doesn't seem that we have anything to study.

Man- I guess we could always study each other.

Woman- That seems an odd notion. I don't think I would be comfortable with you studying me.

Man- No. I don't know that I would be comfortable studying you.

Woman- That only leaves ourselves to study.

Man- That, the nothing above and the something below.

Woman- The place we live, you mean.

Man- I guess. But what is there to study? It's here and we're here and what else is there?

Woman- I do wish that the One Who Woke Us would come back. I do think he could tell us more of what to study.

Man- Maybe he would have us study him.

Woman- That is certainly a lot of things to study.

Man- Then I guess, if we have a lot to study, we must be students.

Woman- If we're students, I guess we'd better start studying then.

Man- Without a teacher?

Woman- Well, no... I guess we can't be students without a teacher, can we?

Man- Not probably. I have an idea, since you seem to be the smart one, then why don't you be the teacher?

Woman- Goodness, I wouldn't know where to start.

Man- I think it would be good if I sat and you went up to that rock and started to tell me things so I could learn them.

Woman- I think that that might work.

(She goes up to the rock MAN sits. WOMAN stands there in silence)

Man- Now that I am here and you are there we can start.

Woman- I don't know at all what to teach you. what would you like to be taught?

Man- You could teach me about you.

Woman- I think I could do that. I am woman.

Man- Go on.

Woman- I... I am sensitive and, smart and caring and... and I am... thinking for myself...

Man- I know all of those things already.

Woman- I can't think of what else to say.

Man- You could say, for instance, that you have are very good at parties. Or that you are fond of cherries. You could tell me that you've always wanted to be a ballerina or a nurse or something.

Woman- But I don't know whether I'm good at parties. I don't really like cherries and I never wanted to be a ballerina, or a nurse for that matter. So, if I told you those things, even for instance, I would be lying.

Man- But that's the reason you have to teach me those things. I don't know them.

Woman- Oh, I see. You seem to be a very good teacher. Maybe you should be here instead.

Man- I wouldn't know how to teach.

Woman- Neither would I.

Man- I think you've been doing quite well. Besides you have experience now. You've been a teacher for over five minutes already.

Woman- I suppose your right. I could try to be a teacher for a little while longer. But only if you promise to help.

Man- Do you think I should teach you how to be a teacher before you start?

Woman- No, that seems silly.

Man- I guess it does. I could still teach you to be a teacher when you think you need it. After all, you can't be expected to know everything, can you?

Woman- No. You can sometimes teach me then, but, just when I ask for help though, okay?

Man- Sounds fair.

Woman- I suppose I should start again, then. I am woman. I Don't... Ummm... I don't...

Man- Don't what?

Woman- I don't know what I'm doing! You could teach me some now, if you'd like.

Man- Okay. Let me think... If you don't like cherries, what do you like?

Woman- I like strawberries, sometimes. If it's late enough into the summer. Blueberries are very nice too. Peaches are very good too, when they're ripe.

Man- When does that happen.

Woman- Summer I think.

Man- You must like summer a lot then.

Woman- I suppose I must. Spring is very nice too, though. All the pretty rain and flowers and things. I think I like the lilacs and roses the best. The lilacs make everything smell pretty and the roses colour everything so beautifully.

Man- I see. Go on.

Woman- I think I've run out of things to say about that. You'll probably have to ask me questions from now on.

Man- Okay. What did you want to be when you were little?

Woman- I kind of always wanted to be a mommy. I like kids.

Man- Why?

Woman- I don't know. They seem so happy and innocent and everything. They don't even know what questions to ask yet.

Man- It seems that we ask a lot of questions. Kids don't, you say?

Woman- No... well, I guess they do, just not important ones. Important meaning that I can't answer them, of course. They ask things like why does it rain and the answer to that is simply so that the flowers can grow.

Man- Is that why it rains?

Woman- I guess so. if it didn't rain, then how would the flowers drink? I certainly don't have time to water them all myself.

Man- No, certainly not. The problem, of course, is that the kids will grow up and their questions will get harder and harder. Like, instead of "Why does it rain?" They'll be asking 'Where does the rain come from?"

Woman- Well, that's easy. The nothing above, I guess.

Man- So, who makes it fall from the nothing above?

Woman- I don't know. I guess that would have to be the One Who Woke Us, because, as we said earlier, he's the creator. And since the rain must be created somehow, I guess he did it.

Man- You certainly are a good teacher.

Woman- And you certainly are a good student. You seem to know all of the things that I should teach you.

Man- I think I've taught you to teach pretty well.

Woman- Indeed you have. Would you like me to teach you how to teach now?

Man- I think it might be a useful thing to learn. I mean, what if one day you don't know something and I have to teach you about it. If I don't know how to teach, then you'll have to teach me how to teach first so I can teach you and by that time we might have forgotten what I was supposed to teach you to begin with and that won't be very good.

Woman- I guess your right.

Man- So, what should I teach you?

Woman- I don't know? Maybe you should teach me the same things I taught you.

Man- I guess I could. I am man. Beyond that I suppose you'll have to ask me things.

Woman- That sounds fair. Do you like cherries?

Man- I guess I like cherries okay. I'm much fonder of steak though. Well done. That might be good for you to know, then you'll know how to cook it when I get back from hunting.

Woman- You're a hunter?

Man- I guess I must be. How else would I get food?

Woman- That is a good point.

Man- I guess it is.

Woman- Did you want to be a hunter when you were growing up?

Man- I guess I kind of did, but I really wanted to be the best at it. I mean, really great!

Woman- Yeah? Why do you think that was? Wouldn't just being a hunter be good enough?

Man- You would think that, wouldn't you? But I had always dreamed of being the best. I don't know why.

Woman- Well, how do you know you're not?

Man- I don't know.

Woman- Have you ever hunted before?

Man- Actually, now that you mention it, I can't say that I have.

Woman- Would you like to try it?

Man- I think, since you asked, I would. Why, what did you have in mind?

Woman- I thought that maybe you could be a hunter and I could be a deer, or something like that.

Man- That seems silly. You don't even look like a deer.

Woman- I know. I just thought that I might be able to teach you how to be a hunter.

Man- Would you?

Woman- The best there is.

Man- I don' know how we're supposed to do that. There aren't a lot of places for you to hide.

Woman- I guess not.

Man- I will, of course, have to get us some food, sometime though. I am getting hungry, after all.

Woman- Now that you mention it, I'm hungry too. You could learn to be a hunter on your own.

Man- Could I? Then, who would be the teacher?

Woman- whatever you were hunting, I guess.

Man- That makes sense. Would you like me to go out and hunt, then?

Woman- If you would. I will figure what we should do with it, while you are away.

Man- That sounds good.

Woman- How long do you think you'll be away?

Man- I don't know. I would think that something like this would take a good hour or so, wouldn't you?

Woman- I would think so. What will you have to do?

Man- First I would have to think of an animal to find. Then I would have to wait for it, quietly. After that I might have to stalk it for a while. Then I guess I would kill it and bring it back.

Woman- That might take a few hours.

Man- Then, along that logic, it'll be at least an hour before I get back.

Woman- Okay. Do be safe and take your time, no need to rush things.

Man- Take care of yourself, also, and don't worry, I'll be back soon enough.

Woman- Good luck, then.

(MAN exits. WOMAN sits on a rock and contemplates what she is supposed to do.)

Woman- Well, I suppose that's being taken care of. But, how will I hold up my end of things? What am I to do with the thing when he brings it back? Surely we can't just stare at it. What would I do with it? Cook it, I guess. What with, I wonder? I don't think these rocks will do very good. They do get warm, but not warm enough, that is for sure. I shouldn't strain myself, though. He won't be back for some time. But what do I do, then, while he is abroad? Perhaps, I myself, should be abroad. Perhaps we're here only not to be. I should ask man that when he returns. Silly thing, this. It appears that I can't think of a thing to do. It always went that while man was here I could think of something to do, but now that he is gone... Something is missing. I can't really say that I can make sense out of it. But, I do wish he were back.

He said he would be gone for an hour. I wonder how long it takes an hour to run its course? Seconds I do believe I'm able to grasp. They never seem to last longer then a second each. Minutes are a little harder, but only if you're aware of them. If you forget minutes are there they don't seem to take much longer then the seconds. Hours, however, are very different. Whether you're aware of them or not they seem to take a good deal of time to pass. More so if you are paying attention. I guess time has no real reason to rush. It can't possibly beat itself, so there's no real point. I wonder if time was only invented to make life seem longer then it really is, so we don't feel as though we've been jipped. After all it is true that in my more recent years time has decided to speed itself, with only a few slow moments like these. Maybe that's because when I was younger I less to do and could pay more attention to time. Funny, that.

(MAN returns)

Woman- That was a very quick hour.

Man- Well, it would have been a very quick hour, had it been an hour.

Woman- What happened to the rest of the hour, then?

Man- Well, I'd got a short bit that way, before I realized that I really have no idea what I'm supposed to hunt. And even if I did, I wouldn't know how to hunt it. Even if I stumbled over something, killing it, then would be a problem, because I have nothing to kill it with.

Woman- What happened to killing wolves with your bare hands?

Man- I got to thinking about that too, and the idea seemed entirely too messy.

Woman- I see. I was having my problems as well. I wasn't quite sure what I was to with it when it died.

Man- I hadn't thought that far ahead, I was mostly concerned with how it would die to begin with.

Woman- I guess I didn't have anything, really, to worry about, then.

Man- If you don't have anything to worry about, what will you think about?

Woman- I don't know. I did do some thinking while you were away, but I don't guess, since your back, that I was entirely correct in my thoughts.

Man- I see. For arguments sake, could you tell me what your thought was?

Woman- It's merely that, perhaps, since you were away, the purpose for this place is so that we don't have to be here. But, now that your back, I must be wrong.

Man- I could go again, if you'd like to test your theory further.

Woman- Oh, no. I think that you've got the wrong idea. I very much like that your back. Things seemed funny while you were away.

Man- Funny? Like how?

Woman- Well, not so much in a laughing kind of way, more that it was awkward. It must have been that you were missing and I wasn't really sure of what I was to do with myself.

Man- I think they call that "loneliness". It seems very odd that it would happen so quickly, since you're new to it. Most things take practice, don't they? I think it's very admirable to know that you did it so successfully on the first try.

Woman- Yes, I didn't even break a sweat.

Man- I'm quite glad you didn't. You smell so nice and I would hate to have you ruin that by over exerting yourself.

Woman- I don't mind it so much when you do it.

Man- Sweat, you mean?

Woman- Either, really.

Man- Does that mean that they're pleasant together?

Woman- I can't really say. You've only started sweating as of recently and I've never seen you over exert yourself, before. That's not to say that you don't, I've just never been a witness to it, myself.

Man- You should come hunting with me next time. All the figuring on how I'm supposed to do it is quite tiring and I break quite an even sweat over it.

Woman- I can tell. What was it like to be a way like you were?

Man- I don't know. I think it was confusing. Everything looked, mostly, the same, only the rocks and things were in different spots and, of course, you weren't there. So, I guess you could say that being abroad is very different from staying at home. I'm not honestly sure I liked it.

Woman- I certainly wouldn't then, if things were so very different.

Man- Yes, I most definitely like it better here.

Woman- I guess that creates a new question. If you really don't want to leave, then how, pray tell, do we get food?

Man- That's a very good point. We've been here quite some time now and no food has wandered in asking to be eaten. I guess that maybe if I'm to hunt I will have to be abroad sometimes.

Woman- First maybe we should figure on what exactly you need to do to go about this hunting business correctly.

Man- That might be good. I seem to think better when I'm using your brain to do it.

Woman- What should I think for you first, then?

Man- I don't know. Maybe you should think that we should go through this step by step.

Woman- All right, done. So, you said the first thing was to think of an animal to hunt. We've already decided that wolves have a little too much meat. What was the other thing you said after that?

Man- Raccoon, wasn't it?

Woman- Then why don't you hunt a raccoon?

Man- That seems a good idea. Raccoons are probably easy to find.

Woman- Now, the second thing you have to do is wait for it. Perhaps if you hid in a place where a raccoon was then you would be able to find it easier.

Man- I see what you mean. I doubt there would be a great deal of point in waiting for a raccoon where one doesn't actually exist.

Woman- Precisely. Then, of course, you'll have to kill it. You could use your hands, but, as you said, it would be messy.

Man- What if I used a rock?

Woman- It would be only a slight less messy if you used a rock, I think.

Man- Only it wouldn't be me getting the brunt of the mess, but, the rock, rather .

Woman- In that case, you should maybe use a rock.

Man- I'm sure I could find one small enough to fit in my hands. Should I find my way abroad again so I might test out our new thinking?

Woman- I am getting awfully hungry.

Man- Well, if your getting hungry, then I guess it's my duty. The One Who Woke Us said that it was my job to bring you food, so I'll bring you food.

Woman- I do hope you find some.

Man- Oh, me too. I have a whole strategy worked out. I plan to wait in a bush, right where a raccoon is, then when it comes into view, I plan to club it quite roughly and squarely in the head. It's a lot more efficient then my last plan, which was just to wait where there wasn't a raccoon, in hopes that one would come by and then I was going to jump out and scream "FOOD!" at it.

Woman- Do you think that would have worked?

Man- Well, the idea was simple. I had figured that the animal would realize that I was hungry and sacrifice itself for the greater good.

Woman- You thought that it might die for you?

Man- I wasn't really sure. I was hoping it would.

Woman- I do believe that our new plan is superior. At least you aren't counting on the raccoon to do the work for you.

Man- Well, I guess I should away now.

Woman- Do be careful.

Man- I will do my best.

Woman- Come back safe and good luck.

(WOMAN Kisses him on the cheek. He is quite taken by this and stands quite dumbfounded)

Woman- Aren't you going abroad now?

Man- Oh? Yes? Yes! I suppose I am. I am? Well, I must be, or why were you wishing me such good luck and saying good by and such? Well, if it weren't that I were leaving somewhere... Besides I might need it some of that luck thing... Abroad... yes...

(He wanders off dazedly SR)

Woman- Funny that he would react that way. All I did was... Touch him with my lips. Funny that I would do that to begin with. It's not that I minded the way it felt. Very nice, it was, really. I recall that being called a "kiss", but why would I "kiss" him I wonder? I do hope that I can avoid noticing the time. That way he won't be gone quite as long. I would very much like to talk to him about this "kiss" thing that I've done. Dear me, it does seem that I've been doing plenty of new things today without really straining myself. Very handy, really.

(From SL a couple of people wander on. They see WOMAN and stop, obviously not knowing what to make of another. They stand and whisper back and forth I shall call them, for arguments sake, BOY and GIRL although, they are really no younger then MAN and WOMAN, it's just that those generalizations have been taken)

Woman- If I continue in this way I do believe I might stumble on something important, if I haven't already. What an odd notion. Though, since I can't really tell whether what I've stumbled upon is important or not, it must not be. Although that "kiss" thing did seem to hold a certain amount of significance. I wonder if-

(WOMAN notices the new additions and nearly jumps out of her skin)

Woman- Oh dear! MAN!!!

Boy- Have we met?

Woman- Why? Who are you?

Girl- I was just about to ask you the same question.

Woman- You first.

Boy- I am man. That's why I asked you if you knew me.

Woman- You can't be. You don't look like Man. Besides, he went to hunt.

Boy- He hunts as well?

Woman- Why, are you a hunter too?

Boy- Well, yes. Don't I look it?

Woman- I can't really say. The only hunter I know is Man. My man, not you. And I don't even know you. Either of you! Your not Man. Man should be coming back from hunting any time soon.

Boy- I don't want to hurt you.

Woman- How can I be sure?

Girl- The thing is, we just sort of stumbled here.

Boy- We had no idea that abroad was inhabited.

Woman- It must be, you came from abroad yourself.

Girl- I do suppose that were just abroad, weren't we.

Boy- Then why is it such a surprise that it has more Mans and Womans in it?

Girl- I don't know. It must not be then. Did you find us surprising?

Woman- I would say so!

Boy- Please calm down. I'm just as confused as you are, I imagine.

Woman- I doubt it, after all, you weren't interrupted in mid-importance. How did you get here?

Girl- Well, we wandered from the place we live and this is where we ended up.

Boy- We were originally out looking for something to hunt. We went together because of the loneliness.

Woman- That is a very good idea. Man just left out to find a raccoon to hunt. I wish he had thought of taking me with him.

Girl- I'm very glad he didn't. That way we might have not known that there were more womans to meet.

Boy- A raccoon did you say? What a marvelous idea for something to hunt. Your man must be very smart.

Woman- He is when he's using my brain to think with.

Girl- Perhaps you should use my brain to think now and then, who knows what we might come up with.

Woman- It does work very effectively. I think this business of there being more then one man and more then one woman is very confusing. Maybe I should call you two something entirely different.

Boy- Well, there are more of us, so it should be you who we call something entirely different.

Woman- But there are only more of you because my man is away. If he were here there would be just as many of us as you.

Girl- She has a point. What do you purpose you call us?

Woman- Well, I should call you Girl, since you are a girl, and I should call him Boy, since he is a boy.

Boy- I don't think I like that. It doesn't seem fair that our names should be different. Boy sounds childish.

Woman- Well, then, since I don't want to change my name and you don't want to change yours, I say we take a vote on it.

Girl- What's a vote?

Woman- It's easy. We each give our opinions and the one with the most opinions in their favor wins. So, everyone who thinks that he should be called boy, raise your hand.

(WOMAN put her hand up)

Girl- I don't know, sometimes you can act awfully childish. I think maybe that boy would suit.

(GIRL puts her hand up)

Woman- See, that's how it works.

Girl- It seems like a very good method. I think we should keep doing it for all of us.

Boy- I don't think it is a very good method at all.

Woman- Well, lets vote on that.

Boy- Sounds fair.

Woman- Okay. Everyone who thinks this is a good method, please raise your hand.

(Both WOMAN and GIRL raise their hands)

Woman- I'm sorry Boy, but the majority rules.

Girl- I thought it was kings which did the ruling.

Woman- Oh, no. We already discussed this, Man and I. We decided that because kings rule each other they don't really rule anything.

Girl- I guess majority has most of the power then, doesn't it.

Woman- I guess the best we can hope for is to be majority one day, then.

Boy- Shouldn't we get on about this voting business.

Woman- I suppose we should. Where was I? Oh, yes, I remember. Anyone who thinks that she should be called girl, please raise your hand.

(Both WOMAN and BOY raise their hands)

Woman- There it's settled. You are Girl and you are Boy.

Girl- Maybe I was a bit too hasty in liking this voting thing.

Boy- I'm sorry, but some of the time you act dreadfully silly, like a girl.

Woman- Well, I guess majority spoke twice. I'm sorry that it didn't speak in your favor. Maybe I've treated majority better then you.

Boy- Maybe you have. I didn't know we were supposed to be treating majority at all.

Woman- I guess that's why it spoke in my favor instead of yours.

Girl- That must be it.

Boy- This Man of yours must really be something.

Woman- Oh, he is. You should see him break a sweat.

Boy- How long ago would you say he left?

Woman- Some time ago, I guess. Why?

Boy- I was thinking maybe I could run and meet him.

Woman- Oh, well, if your looking for him, he should be easy to find.

Boy- Oh? How so?

Woman- All you have to do is look for a raccoon and he won't be far.

Boy- Oh, that sounds easy enough.

Woman- That's right. There have to be dozens of raccoons out there and only one him, so I would think it would be easier to look for the raccoon, instead.

Boy- Thank-you.

Girl- Good luck.

Woman- Aren't you going to give him a kiss?

(BOY exits SR after MAN)

Girl- Oh, no. We've tried that already, it didn't quite work out. I thought I had killed him.

Woman- Yes, Man and I ran into a similar problem before he went out hunting.

Girl- I think these kiss things should be given when mans have nothing better to do then look all drooly and such.

Woman- I think your right. I do hope that they find each other. I would hate to think of what they would do if they were lost forever.

Girl- I'm sure they will. After all raccoons can't be that hard to find.

Woman- You would think not, but Man has been out for some time looking for one. If it takes the same amount of time for boy to find one, then man will be home already.

Girl- Oh dear, I hadn't thought of that before. It took Boy a long time to realize that he couldn't find anything last time. But he was still Man then. Maybe the new name will seem innocent enough that the raccoons won't suspect him as much.

Woman- I do hope so. I wonder, what is it like to have a new name, like you do?

Girl- My, I hadn't really thought of it before now. I think it feels much the same as it did when I was still Woman. Only now, I don't answer to that anymore.

Woman- I guess. I wonder if anything else has changed.

Girl- I don't think so. Do I look any different?

Woman- No, I guess not.

Girl- Then I must not be. This is a very interesting place.

Woman- Kind of boring, really.

Girl- I understand, that's one reason why Boy and I left our place. It was nice and all, but it got to be... monotonous, being so much the same from one second to another.

Woman- I thought you said you had left because of loneliness.

Girl- Oh, yes, well, that was our original intent, but we decided that other places seemed so nice that we might not go back.

Woman- Weren't you afraid that you might have left all your answers behind?

Girl- Hardly. We did think a lot about that, what we were doing there, that is, until we finally came up with the realization that we were put there because it was as good a spot as any.

Woman- Do you think that The One Who Woke Us would have been so vague.

Girl- The one who which? Oh, him! I really don't know. He seemed very vague to me, besides, he didn't stay around long enough to really tell us what was going on.

Woman- He left us with very little as well. He did, however, tell us, that we were meant to find our own answers. I found that very strange, since it wasn't really an answer either. So he must have meant it.

Girl- Really? He didn't tell us that. He told us to try and figure out what it was, exactly, our questions were first. We got to thinking about that, Boy and I, and we came up with the conclusion that we had to ask the right questions to get answers.

Woman- That seems very smart. Has it worked?

Girl- I don't really know. I don't think we've asked any of the right questions yet.

Woman- What, do you think, are the right questions?

Girl- I don't know. If I had known, I probably would have asked them already.

Woman- I guess that makes sense. So, that probably wasn't the right question either then.

Girl- No, I doubt it.

Woman- How, do you think, will you know it's the right question when you ask it?

Girl- We just sort of assumed that the right question would answer itself.

Woman- That is an interesting notion. Are you sure it will work.

Girl- If it does, then that certainly wasn't the right question. Do you think it'll work out that way?

Woman- I doubt it. Man and I have asked lots of questions now, to many to count, and none of them have answered themselves.

Girl- I guess, by now, we would have hit on at least one that would. Unless, of course, it was a particularly lazy question.

Woman- That's a very good point.

Girl- Where do you suppose the mans have got to?

Woman- They have been away quite some time now. Oh dear! it seems that something has slipped my mind.

Girl- And what is that?

Woman- What are we going to do with the raccoon when the mans come back?

Girl- Cook it of course.

Woman- How are we supposed to do that?

Girl- You don't know?

Woman- Since I did ask, it would be a safe assumption.

Girl- Well, we need fire, obviously?

Woman- Fire?

Girl- It looks like... well... sort of... Red and hot.

Woman- And it cooks?

Girl- Yes. I was told to be careful of it though. I guess if it can cook raccoon, it could cook us as well.

Woman- I think that we might want to avoid that unfortunate drawback. So, how do you make one of these?

Girl- We need pieces of tree and maybe some dry leaves and some special tree that gets hot when you spin it.

Woman- I see. I'm guessing we'll need to be abroad to find these things.

Girl- Well, certainly. I don't see any of them here.

Woman- What if the mans come back while we're away.

Girl- If I know mans, they will.

(Both GIRL and WOMAN leave SL. Directly following, in the SR direction, comes BOY and MAN. They are carrying a dead rabbit and a dead raccoon)

Boy- Did we take a wrong turn?

Man- I don't think so. I certainly looks like where I had come from.

Boy- Yes, it does. Although you would know better then I would. You've been here longer.

Man- Well, it has the same rock here, and the same rock there, but no Woman.

Boy- If this is where we came from, then where do you think the womans could have got to?

Man- I Haven't any idea. I did think they would wait until I brought back something from my hunting.

Boy- Oh, wait! I think I know.

Man- Yes?

Boy- They have probably gone out to find the ingredients for that fire thing.

Man- Fire thing?

Boy- Oh, yes certainly. It's supposed to be a reddish, orangey, yellowish tree.

Man- What purpose would that go to serve?

Boy- It's meant for cooking. We were told that when it's made it will get very hot, like the sun, only closer to home.

Man- It sounds like a very stupid thing to me.

Boy- I wouldn't know. I've never made one before.

Man- Where did you hear about this hot tree?

Boy- The One Who Woke Us told us all about it, and how to make it. I'll admit it sounded like quite a stupid thing, myself.

Man- And you think that the womans are out collecting things to create one?

Boy- It's as good an explanation as any.

Man- I suppose. It's very odd that The One Who Woke Us told you about that.

Boy- Why? Didn't he mention it to you?

Man- No. Not a word on the matter.

Boy- I wonder why not?

Man- Perhaps we're meant to help each other.

Boy- Maybe. What did he tell you?

Man- Lots of things, I guess.

Boy- How to hunt things?

Man- No.

Boy- How to build shelters?

Man- No.

Boy- How to protect the womans?

Man- No.

Boy- How to fight things and win?

Man- No.

Boy- Then I think he must not have liked you very much.

Man- I had never thought of it that way.

Boy- Well, what did he tell you?

Man- He said that there was something that we needed to learn, but we'd spend most of our time denying it, whatever that means.

Boy- That doesn't seem very useful.

Man- Not really. Except for thinking, but I think he woke womans to do that job.

Boy- Very odd. Then what did he tell you.

Man- Not very much. Just that we needed to learn for ourselves.

Boy- Do you think that's what we're here for?

Man- Woman and I talked about that a lot. Eventually we decided that that must be why we're here. To be students.

Boy- That too, is very odd.

Man- It must be. I can't make sense out of most of it.

Boy- I do wish the womans would hurry back.

Man- How much stuff does this fire tree thing take to grow?

Boy- Not a lot. But, then think of how long it took us just to catch just these two things.

Man- I guess your right.

(The womans return with armfuls of sticks and leaves and things)

Woman- Hello mans.

Boy- Hello womans.

Girl- Is this Man?

Man- That would be me.

Girl- He's very handsome.

Woman- Thank you. I didn't have to work for that or anything. He just came that way.

Man- Is that things for the fire tree that your building?

Girl- Yes. They were mostly very easy to find.

Woman- As was Man, I hope, Boy?

Boy- Oh, yes, although, not as easy as we had planned. I looked everywhere for a raccoon thing, but no where could one be found. I began to think that maybe Man had given up on the raccoon thing, so I started to look for this rabbit.

Man- Unfortunately, I hadn't given up on the raccoon. I was still waiting where the raccoon was and I had just started thinking that I was wrong in thinking that it was a place where one was.

Boy- I kept on looking where a rabbit was, but there was no Man.

Man- That was mostly because I wasn't where the rabbit was, I was where the raccoon was.

Boy- So we just kept looking in all the wrong directions.

Man- Then I got lucky. I was lying there, minding my own business, watching where a raccoon was and suddenly, one was there!

Woman- Just like we planned it!

Man- Exactly. I spent a few minutes watching and I got ready to pounce upon it, rock in hand.

Boy- It was just about then that I spotted one of the rabbit things. It saw me and started to run away, so I chased it. I tell you, those rabbit things are wicked fast!

Girl- So! Get to the point, what happened!

Boy- Well, actually, as I was running, I tripped over Man and landed on the raccoon.

Woman- That explains how you found each other and got that raccoon creature, but what about the rabbit?

Man- When Boy tripped over me I accidentally launched my rock and it hit the rabbit smack in the head.

Boy- Right, then all we had to do was collect them up!

Girl- And here you are!

Man- With food.

Girl- And we can make a fire, so I guess we're all set!

Man- Good thing too. Does this fire tree your going to grow give off light, by any chance?

Girl- I think it would, why?

Man- Because, I've just noticed that it's been getting rather dark.

Boy- Now that you mention it, yeah, it has!

Girl- I guess we should get to work on making that fire.

Man- And we'll shave the food. I doubt the fur coating would be very tasty.

Woman- How do you know?

Boy- I tried it already. Man's right.

Man- What do you think will happen when the sun goes out?

Woman- I guess we sleep.

Man- I guess we do.

Girl- But I have a feeling it's going to be a long dark.

(The lights go down. end of Act One)

ACT TWO

(The lights come up on the little piece of ground. There is a charred looking pile of sticks and ashes between the two rocks. WOMAN and GIRL are lying US of it. The mans are gone. GIRL is the first one to wake. She wakes WOMAN)

Girl- Good light.

Woman- Huh?

Girl- Oh! Sorry. Should I have greeted you so soon after you woke up?

Woman- I really don't think it mattered. The sun thing did well enough to confuse me. Where are the mens?

Girl- I don't know. Abroad, I suppose. Where else would they be if they're not here?

Woman- That makes sense. How far into the light do you think we are?

Girl- By the look of that sun, I would think far enough. I would guess the dark has been over for a while now.

Woman- That's good then.

Girl- I wonder how long the mans have been gone for?

Woman- Possibly since the dark ended. Or before that, even.

Girl- What do you think they're doing?

Woman- Maybe collecting tree pieces so they can build a shelter.

Girl- I would much prefer to think that Boy is out doing something nice for me.

Woman- Why?

Girl- Don't know. I just do.

Woman- Like what?

Girl- I don't know. Bringing one of those raccoon creatures or something.

Woman- You hope that they may be out hunting?

Girl- Not really just hunting, but rather hunting just for me.

Woman- That seems funny

Girl- Why?

Woman- What would you do with a whole raccoon?

Girl- Cook it, obviously. What else would I do with it?

Woman- But if you cooked it for all of us, then it wouldn't really be just for you, then, would it?

Girl- I mean, in principle, if it were just for me. Of course I would share it, but the thought of him doing something nice just for me... Well, I dunno.

Woman- I think I know what you mean. It would make you feel kind of special. Like your important to Boy or something.

Girl- I guess. Do you think mans are supposed to do nice things for us?

Woman- I don't know. Do you ever feel like you have to something just for one of the mans?

Girl- Sometimes.

Woman- Me too, but only for Man. Do you think that it's because I've known him longer then I've known Boy?

Girl- I don't know. I'll admit, Man certainly is nice, but I like Boy a lot more.

Woman- What do you like so much about him?

Girl- I don't know. He's not very smart or anything, but he does always know exactly what I need all the time.

Woman- Man seems to know what I need to hear sometimes, too. But he doesn't seem so stupid as you make Boy out to be.

Girl- Well, it's not that Boy is stupid, he just doesn't always come up with very smart ideas and he doesn't pay attention to a lot of things.

Woman- Oh, Man is very good at paying attention, but he's smaller then Boy is.

Girl- Yes. Boy definitely has that advantage. I tell you this much, when we first met you, I was certainly glad he was with me.

Woman- Boy certainly is more convenient then Man. He always seems to be around when you need him.

Girl- I guess so. Does that mean he does care about me more then Man for you?

Woman- No. Man takes care of me pretty good too. I asked him to hunt for me and he did, even though he really didn't know how.

Girl- I can imagine it must be embarrassing for them not to know how to do what their supposed to do.

Woman- Not that we have the slightest idea, either.

Girl- I guess your right. Although we were told how to make that fire tree.

Woman- And they did manage to get us food, even if it was only an accident that they did.

Girl- I suppose they'll have to start making one of those shelter things

soon too. The dark is a lot colder then the light, even with that fire tree between us.

Woman- I'm sure they'll get to it. They have a lot to do with all of their hunting.

Girl- And we don't seem to have enough to do.

Woman- Well, eventually, we're going to have to start making babies.

Girl- Really? I didn't know that. How do you make one?

Woman- I don't know. The One Who Woke Us didn't really say.

Girl- What ingredients do you suppose they need?

Woman- He didn't say that either.

Girl- Did he say that we were supposed to make them?

Woman- Not exactly. He just said that we were supposed to be mothers.

Girl- What does that mean?

Woman- It means that we have to make babies. That's how we're going to become mothers, isn't it?

Girl- Maybe the babies are just supposed to show up.

Woman- If that's true I really hope that they hurry up. All this waiting around gets boring.

(The lights on the two womans goes down. Sitting SL are the mans. Light up on them)

Boy- What do you suppose the womans are doing now?

Man- Who knows. Maybe sleeping still.

Boy- Not this far into the light.

Man- Really? How long do you think womans sleep?

Boy- Much longer then they should, obviously.

Man- Though I will admit they look very good when they're sleeping.

Boy- They sure do. Why do you think that is?

Man- Let me think...

Boy- Maybe it's because they're not talking. They seem to talk a whole lot and when they do, and they're not usually so cute when they're doing that. And any ways, I always end up at the bad end of it.

Man- No, it's not that. I think that maybe it's because they look kind of helpless.

Boy- Why should that make any difference?

Man- Well, they need us more then, don't they? After all, we are supposed to be here to protect them?

Boy- Is that why? I guess that's one question answered.

Man- I don't think it's the only reason.

Boy- Well, why else, do you guess?

Man- I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I can't really say.

Boy- On second, maybe it's that the womans seem so nice when they're asleep because they look so happy. Hey! Do you think that we're here to make the womans happy?

Man- That seems silly. If we spend all of our time making the womans happy we wont have any time to do anything else. And besides, if that were the case, who would make us happy. Unless, of course, that makes us happy.

Boy- It could. Womans certainly are confusing.

Man- They sure are.

Boy- What do you think makes them happy?

Man- Womans? Don't know. Probably if we sweat a lot and do all the work, they'll probably be pretty happy.

Boy- Yeah, if I had someone doing all the work for me I think I'd be rather content.

Man- No, I think I'd get bored. But, then again, I'm not a woman.

Boy- I don't think I'd like to be, anyways.

Man- No, being all helpless and stuff doesn't really seem to appealing.

Boy- Not really.

Man- It doesn't seem that our hunting has been very productive, so far.

Boy- Are we where a thing to hunt is?

Man- I guess we must not be. Maybe we should go out looking for a better place, and a rock to club whatever we find with.

Boy- How did you find the raccoon last time?

Man- It was easy. I just went where a raccoon was and waited for it to show up. I guess I was early.

Boy- That was all?

Man- Well, no, I had to lie down first.

Boy- Why do you think that is?

Man- I guess so it doesn't see us.

Boy- You knew that?

Man- No, actually, I just got tired, so I lied down.

Boy- Oh. Maybe it just wants you to get tired first. I mean, we have to work at least a little bit for these things, don't we?

Man- More then you know.

(The mans start to walk off. Lights out on them. The light on the womans

comes up again. They are lying on the rocks)

Woman- These rocks certainly do give off a lot of heat by this time of the light.

Girl- I'll say. Although, not as much as that fire tree.

Woman- That's true, but we didn't really have to work for this either.

Girl- I guess the best things need to be worked for.

Woman- That makes sense. Other wise we'd always just do the best things and all the finer pieces to life would go neglected.

Girl- I definitely wouldn't want to neglect anything.

Woman- That's for sure, even the small things.

Girl- Yeah. The small things especially. I wouldn't want to make then feel inferior either. The mans seem to be taking longer then I thought they would.

Woman- What ever there doing must take a lot of time.

Girl- I think everything that mans do is supposed to take a lot of time. They seem to be abroad a lot more then anything else.

Woman- Lets hope they're okay.

Girl- Yes, I don't know what I'd do without Boy.

Woman- I'm sure we could learn to hunt also, and those shelter things can' t be that hard to build.

Girl- I don't mean that. I mean that I would miss him.

Woman- Miss him? How?

Girl- Well, just him not being there would bother me, I think. Funny thing is that I miss him already, even though he'll probably be back any time now. Your smarter then I am, surely you understand.

Woman- It seems kind of silly to me. I'm sure we'd get along just fine without the them.

Girl- Don't you miss Man?

Woman- I guess I do.

Girl- Well, I certainly miss Boy, a whole lot.

Woman- Why do you think that is?

Girl- I don't know. Mans are annoying and they brag all the time.

Woman- Not to mention that awful smell that they make after eating.

Girl- They're also loud and stubborn and macho like, but I still miss them when they're gone.

Woman- do you think it's because they protect us and here we'd have to fight for ourselves. I admit that if a wolf came wandering in here, I might be a little put off of what to do.

Girl- Oh yes, I think I too would be put off, but I don't mean that. I miss his bad humours and his silly notions. I can't really say why.

Woman- Funny. I feel kind of the same now that you mention it.

Girl- It's kind of like I need his silliness.

Woman- And mans ARE silly.

Girl- Certainly. But I can't really place why I miss him so much.

Woman- Maybe we'll never know.

Girl- I hope that's not true. I think as long as Boy is around, the answer will come to me.

(The mans return with another rabbit. BOY holds it)

Boy- Still asleep are you?

(GIRL gets up rather quickly and goes and hugs BOY. MAN looks rather left out and kind of hurt by it)

Woman- Where did you two go?

Boy- Just out on a hunt.

Girl- Is this for me?

Boy- Uhhhh... Yeah! Just for you.

Woman- Didn't bring anything back for me?

Man- Well, it was boys kill... I guess.

Boy- It was great! I was just lying there, which is what Man told me I had to do and this rabbit just hopped right out of no where.

Girl- uh-huh.

Boy- Man told me that it was a place that a rabbit would be and it was.

Girl- So, what did you do?

Boy- I saw it first and I watched it come close. Then it started to eat a little and I jumped out and smashed it and blood went every where! It got all over me! And then it started to leak this kind of sticky liquid from it's head!!

Girl- How... Nice. That was very brave of you!

Woman- Not really. All he did was take it by surprise and club it when it wasn't looking.

Boy- I thought it was rather smart.

Girl- It certainly was! And it was brave. You've seen the size of the teeth on these rabbit creatures. I'm sure if it was mad it could be quite dangerous.

Boy- I don't know about that...

Girl- Well, it was still very brave.

(She kisses him once on the lips. They stop a little confused and amazed by the kisses power. They kiss again. Then again, this time a little longer. They look into each others eyes then kiss for a really long time. hey look towards MAN and WOMAN, who seem very perplexed at their behavior)

Boy- We'll be right back.

(They charge off SL, hand in hand)

Woman- What do you suppose that was all about?

Man- Don't know, but they seem happy.

Woman- Yes. They do seem to get along very well.

Man- I guess they do. I'm sorry I didn't bring you a rabbit. We had been out at least half of the light and we thought that one rabbit would do for now, especially since it took so long for it to find us.

Woman- It would have been nice to have one too, though. You could have stayed longer.

Man- I did my best.

Woman- I imagine you did. What's the matter?

Man- Nothing. I just wish that you had given me one of those squeeze things when you first saw me.

Woman- I could give you one now.

Man- You could, but it wouldn't mean as much now.

Woman- Do you think it meant something to them?

Man- It must have. I know it would have to me.

Woman- I guess I could try to remember that, but, why does it matter?

Man- I don't know. It would just be a... Nice thing I guess.

Woman- Please do cheer up. I don't like the way your acting.

Man- I don't know why it should matter to you. You don't seem to be feeling it.

Woman- That's the funny thing. I DO seem to be feeling it. I don't like to see your mouth do that down curling thing.

Man- I think it's called a frown. I'm not really sure though.

Woman- It could be. Does that mean your sad?

Man- Not really, I feel like you don't really want me here. I feel as though you want me to go away.

Woman- Why would I want that?

Man- Maybe it's because I didn't bring you a rabbit too and you seemed disappointed.

Woman- I'm sorry. I could give you one of those squeezey things now.

Man- Why?

Woman- I'm not sure. I think it might make you feel better and I want you to feel better.

Man- Really, you do?

Woman- Yes... Well, a bit.

Man- I don't think that I would mind it if you did.

(She hugs him)

Man- I guess it does make me feel a little better.

Woman- Me too. I wonder why that is.

Man- Maybe this is what we're here for.

Woman- These squeezey things?

Man- Partially.

Woman- I don't understand. To make each other feel better, do you think? But couldn't we do that any where?

Man- I don't know. I think I would like to do it everywhere. All the time.

Woman- Wouldn't that get tedious?

Man- Maybe so, but I can't help but notice that you haven't let go yet.

Woman- Oh, yes. Neither did I. Would you like me too?

Man- No, I don't think that I would.

Woman- I would like for you to try it now.

Man- Why?

Woman- I don't know. I feel kind of awkward. Panicky, even.

Man- Why would you feel scared?

Woman- I 'm not sure, but I would like you to squeeze me back.

Man- All right.

(MAN stands and gives WOMAN a hug. A big one)

Man- Does that feel any better?

Woman- Yes.

Man- Why are you feeling this way?

Woman- Funny thing, really. I just started thinking about what it would be like if you did go away and I got scared.

Man- How so?

Woman- Scared, but not for my life. I could survive if you weren't there, I just don't know that I would want to.

Man- I haven't ever thought of that.

Woman- I think it would be best if we didn't think about it again.

Man- I agree.

Woman- Do you think you would like to do one of those kiss things now?

Man- it seemed to have made Girl and Boy happy. I think I would like to surprise you with one, though. Maybe one time after I bring you back a rabbit. I think I should go and find Boy. We could go out right now and get you a rabbit or one of those raccoon animals.

Woman- That would be nice, but maybe we should leave Boy and Girl alone for a little while. If you could just hold me a little longer...

(The lights on MAN and WOMAN fade. Spot on GIRL and BOY, who are lying extreme SL)

Boy- That was very nice. I think we should do it again sometime.

Girl- Oh, yes, definitely.

Boy- something is bothering me, though.

Girl- I'm sorry, did you need more?

Boy- No. I was just thinking about Man and Woman. I think maybe I was being a little selfish when I claimed that rabbit for you. I mean, if it hadn't been for Man, I never would have caught the thing.

Girl- Still, I think it was very sweet.

Boy- Maybe so, but we should have stayed long enough to get Man one too.

Girl- He did looked very sad that he didn't have one for Woman.

Boy- I would if it was the other way around.

Girl- Do you think you should go back and help Man catch one to give to Woman?

Boy- I think that it would be fair.

Girl- That would be very good of you.

Boy- I think I owe him that much.

Girl- Do you have to go right away.

Boy- Not for a minute, no.

Girl- That's good.

Boy- Do you think you could cook that rabbit while we are away. I'm getting very hungry.

Girl- I thought it was just mine, though.

Boy- There will be plenty to come yet, just for you. But we do need to eat.

Girl- I guess your right. I would be glad to cook it for you, after all, you did catch it.

Boy- I think I should go and find Man now, before the dark comes back. I don't think I would like to hunt in the dark time.

Girl- That sounds fair. I'll come back with you.

(The couple get up and walk towards MAN and WOMAN. WOMAN has fallen asleep in MAN's embrace)

Boy- Hello Man.

Man- Boy, Girl, you're back.

Girl- Yes, I suppose we were.

Man- What did you leave so quickly for?

Boy- I will explain that on that on the way, you have a rabbit to catch.

Man- Really? Well, then, I shouldn't wake her.

Girl- I'll wake her when you're far enough away.

Man- Thank-you.

(MAN softly lies WOMAN down and then quietly goes SR with BOY.

Girl- Good luck you two.

(GIRL hugs BOY as he leaves, then lies beside WOMAN, watching the mans go. Once they're far enough out of sight, she nudges WOMAN awake)

Girl- Oh! Good light again. I was wondering when you'd wake.

Woman- Hmmm?

Girl- I'm sorry again. I forgot not to greet you so soon after the sleep. My mistake.

Woman- Where did Man go?

Girl- He went abroad with Boy, again.

Woman- Oh? How long ago?

Girl- Well, it's hard to judge this time thing. I would say either a few minutes ago, or a few hours ago... Or something.

Woman- Well, whatever it was, it's alright as long as there was only a few of them, but I do hope he's safe.

Girl- Well, a few isn't that long ago.

Woman- When did I fall asleep?

Girl- I don't know, I was off with Boy.

Woman- I should apologize to Man. I shouldn't have fallen asleep on him like that.

Girl- I don't think he minded.

Woman- No? Well, that's good.

Girl- Very.

Woman- Why did they go out abroad again?

Girl- Oh! Well... I think that they went out to.. find some ingredients for that... Shelter thing.

Woman- That's great! Didn't they think just the fire tree would be enough.

Girl- They didn't think so. I mean, what if the fire tree thing goes out? Or what if it rains? Or one of the rabbits come out and tries to kill us?

Woman- I don't think one would do that. They seem very small to kill people.

Girl- Oh no! I think with teeth like they have, they could do us in, but good! I tell you, I wouldn't want to meet one alone, that's for sure!

Woman- It's very sweet of then to want to protect us and things.

Girl- Mans are like that, I guess, if they're provoked. Is something wrong?

Woman- No, I just miss Man.

Girl- I thought you said you could live without mans.

Woman- Funny, I'm beginning to wonder if I thought too quickly.

Girl- You've been finding a lot of things funny, lately.

Woman- Yes, but for some reason, they don't seem so funny right now.

Girl- Why do you think that is?

Woman- I don't know. I just wish Man would come back.

Girl- Yes, I miss Boy, but they do need to hun... I mean, build shelter things, after all.

Woman- So, he's out getting us a shelter thing?

Girl- That is what he said.

Woman- I hope they each get one. One for both of us

Girl- Why?

Woman- I don't know. I think I would just want to spend some time alone with him. No offense or anything.

Girl- None taken, I know what you mean. There was a time that I really wanted company, but now that I have it, I want to be alone with Boy a lot more often.

Woman- Why, do you suppose, that is?

Girl- Dunno.

Woman- I feel kind of silly now.

Girl- I don't.

Woman- Why do you suppose I do, then?

Girl- Probably for the same reason you want Man back. But your the smart one between us, you should be able to figure it out.

Woman- I'm really beginning to doubt I'm as smart as we thought I was.

Girl- why did you think that?

Woman- Well, you seem to be the one who's answering all of the questions between us. You seem to know much more then I do.

Girl- Oh! Well, I don't think I'm really answering them, just suggesting things to find out if they're right or not, because your smarter then me.

Woman- If I'm smarter then I should be doing the suggesting. Besides, since you're right all the time, I would figure that it's you who's smart.

Girl- That's a very interesting point.

(At this point MAN and BOY return with a possum)

Girl- Boy!

Boy- Girl!

Man- Good light Woman.

Woman- Good light Man. How did you two do with finding a shelter thing?

Man- A shelter thing? No, we went out hunting, again. I brought you a tree rabbit.

Woman- How did the two of you manage that?

Boy- It was a lot easier this time, really.

Man- It sure was. There it was, just hanging in a tree and so I jumped up and screamed "food" at it.

Woman- That worked?

Boy- It sure did. The rabbit thing just fell right out the tree.

Man- Just like I said it would.

Woman- That's very good of you.

Man- Thanks.

Boy- Well, why doesn't Man go take off that fur coating it has so you two can eat it.

Man- Sounds like a good idea.

(MAN leaves SR with the possum)

Woman- Why don't you and girl join us?

Girl- I think we're fine, Woman. We just ate not so long ago.

Woman- Man and I certainly can't eat it all ourselves, can we?

Boy- Maybe we'll join you later.

Woman- I would like that very much.

Girl- I've got an idea! Why don't we, Boy and I, that is, go abroad and find things for that fire tree?

Woman- Oh, please, let me help you.

Boy- We can do it ourselves, Woman, I'm sure.

Girl- Why don't you just wait here for Man.

Boy- That's right. I'm sure it won't take long for him to take the fuzzy coating off. It didn't seem to the last time we did it.

Woman- I suppose.

(BOY and GIRL leave togetehr SL)

Woman- Deary me, do I ever feel very un-useful. Man doesn't need me to take the fuzzy coating away from the tree rabbit and Boy and Girl don't need me for building the fire thing. Perhaps they'll let me cook it or something. Otherwise I run the risk of being all in vain.

(MAN returns. He's clutching his hand which appears to be bleeding and his face seems to have been cut up some too. It's ther small gash on his neck that's the concern)

Woman- Goodness Man! What happened to you?

Man- Well, the funniest thing, actually. I took the tree rabbit out a bit to take away it's fur coating. I found a sharp rock and set the thing down on the ground and held it there, so it wouldn't slip away. But, before I could hit it, it jumped up and scratched a lot.

Woman- Oh! Man! Are you okay?

Man- I don't know. I think so. I seem to be leaking red now, though.

Woman- Well, how do we stop it?

Man- Well, we have to be doctors to know that. I don't think we were ever doctors before, were we?

Woman- No. You didn't teach me how to be.

Man- And you didn't teach me how to teach you to be, either.

Woman- I'm not sure what to do then. Do you think leaking is bad.

Man- I can't think of any reason why it would be good.

Woman- Me niether.

Man- Maybe if we plugged it up, or something.

(BOY and GIRL return with some branches and leaves and things)

Boy- That was a lot easier then I thought. We didn't have to wait for these things, they were just there.

Woman- Boy! Girl! Somethings wrong with Man.

Girl- Oh dear what.

Man- I'm leaking.

Girl- Goodness! You certainly are? What should we do?

Man- We think maybe we should try to stop it.

Boy- Let's just put some of these leaves on it.

Man- But, don't we need those for the fire tree.

Girl- Come along Man. I think the fire tree will do fine, even missing a few leaves.

Man- I suppose.

(BOY wraps a few longish leaves around MAN's hand. He squirms a bit)

Man- Ow!

Boy- What's wrong, Man?

Man- Nothing, it's stingy, a bit, that's all.

Girl- It stings to leak?

Boy- I would think it should.

Man- But I think it's stopped... At least this one has.

Girl- That's good, but what do we do about the other leaks?

Woman- Maybe if we clean them up some they would stop.

Girl- I'll go find a water stream.

Boy- We passed one on the way here, I think.

Girl- We can take one of those fur coating things with us to hold the water.

Woman- Good idea.

Man- I feel a little strange.

Woman- You don't look very strange. Maybe I'm just not noticing it.

Man- I certainly am. You've sort have gotten all fuzzy.

Woman- Perhaps you should sit down on that rock over there.

Man- It does seem like a particularily inviting rock at the time.

Woman- Maybe I should start growing a fire tree.

Man- I don't see much point in it now, the tree rabbit went away.

Woman- I guess your right.

Man- To tell you the truth, I am getting a little cold.

Woman- But, it's the middle of the light.

Man- I know. Perhaps it has something to do with my leaking.

Woman- You do seem to have leaked a lot.

Man- Have I?

Woman- Probably more then you should have.

Man- Really? How much should I have leaked?

(BOY and GIRL return with a wet pelt)

Girl- We're back.

Boy- The water stream was closer then I remember it being.

Woman- That's very convenient.

Girl- How are you doing Man? Have you stopped leaking?

Man- I don't think so. Woman seems to think that I've leaked a lot.

Girl- well, we'd better get you cleaned off a little then.

Woman- Good idea.

Girl- Maybe you should do it Woman, after all, he is your Man.

Woman- I suppose.How do you feel Man.

Man- I would like it if someone started on the fire tree.

Girl- I suppose they don't grow all by themselves. But, why do you want a fire tree? It's still light out and very warm, don't you think?

Man- No actually, I find it a little cold.

Woman- That doesn't sound very good Man.

Man- I'm sure once I get some rest I'll be okay.

Girl- You can't be worn out, already Man.

Man- Fighting with that tree rabbit must have taken a lot out of me.

Boy- Yes, and he's been leaking too, I'm sure that requires some amount of effort.

Man- It must.

Woman- It doesn't seem as if I can make him stop leaking.Especially from this one in his neck.

Boy- It does seem to be leaking a lot more then the other ones.

Woman- Can you stop it, Man?

(MAN strains to stop it)

Man- Did it stop?

Boy- Nope.

Woman- Well, if it requires effort it must require none at all to stop it.

Man- I'm affraid I can't try not to try very easily. It would take too much out of me right now.

Girl- We wouldn't want that, you've already lost a lot out of you.

Woman- You can't just keep leaking like this, though.

Man- It would have to stop sometime, don't you think?

Woman- Well, everything that starts must probably stop.

Man- Even us?

Woman- What do you mean?

Man- Well, we started didn't we.

Girl- I guess we did.

Boy- Do you think you'll stop when the leak does?

Woman- Well, then, we'll just have to keep it leaking then.

Man- Silly Woman, I can't just leak forever.

Woman- Well, you certainly can't stop, that's out of the question.

Man- I suppose I must stop someday.

Woman- Yes, but it doesn't have to be today.

Man- I'm feeling very worn out.

Girl- Wow, this leaking thing must really be bad. You weren't even made more then two days ago now and you're already worn out.

Man- That would explain the holes

Girl- You have holes?

Man- It would certainly seem so

Girl- Then I would suggest you stop leaking now before you start to wear more holes through yourself... If it's very hard to leak, that is.

Man- I think you're right. All this leaking has started to make me feel kind of dizzy.

Woman- Man, please stop leaking, your starting to scare me.

Man- I'm sorry, Woman, but I'm not sure if I can stop it. I did try already. I even tried not to try.

Woman- Well, try not to try harder.

Man- I'm not sure I would know how to do that. Besides, I'm getting very tired, I don't think I'd want to try anything new right now. It might wear me out more.

Woman- Well, we have to do something.

Boy- I'm al out of ideas. I've never seen anything leak before.

Girl- Me neither. It kind of scares me, too.

Woman- Maybe The One Who Woke Us will know what to do better.

Girl- He does seem to know a lot of things.

Boy- Where do we find him?

Girl- Should we go abroad and find him?

Woman- Perhaps he'll come back. He did say that he would be back didn't he?

Man- Not in so many words, but yes.

Girl- Well, how many words was it?

Boy- It doesn't matter how many words he used, but rather just that he used them.

Girl- I suppose, but all the same I think we at least try to find him.

Woman- Then do, but please hurry. I don't know how much longer Man can leak.

Man- Geting... very... Tired.

Girl- Alright, we'll do our best.

Woman- Please hurry.

(GIRL and BOY exit SL)

Woman- How are you feeling Man?

Man- ...Tired...

Woman- Don't sleep now, Man. It's still light...

Man- I see.

Woman- Well, you can't sleep, then. Sleep is only for dark.

Man- Isn't it getting darker?

Woman- No, it's still very light. Can't you see that?

Man- I'm very tired.

Woman- You can't sleep now, Man. You can't! Girl and Boy will be back with The One Who Woke us very soon now. He'll be able to help you. If you're asleep, how will you be able to talk to him. Then what would we do? Man? You can't fall asleep now, Man. Wake up! It's light. Don't you see it? Open your eyes and look, Man. Man!

(WOMAN cradles MAN on the ground. She begins to cry, his lifeless body in her arms. The wandering SOUL walks in, SR.)

Woman- Oh please, Man, wake up. I still have to give you a kiss thing. I promised you one. And you promised me a squeezy thing and... you can't give me one if you're sleeping. I need one right now, Man. Oh Man, I need you right now. Wake up. I couldn't stand it if you stopped, Man. Please wake up and show me that you're only sleeping. Please show me that it's only that leaking has made you tired... You can't leave me now! You can't.

Soul- I see you've answered the riddle.

Woman- Why did this happen?

Soul- So you would learn.

Woman- At what cost? I would have given up all the learning and lived stupidly with Man, rather then this.

Soul- You don't get it, do you? All this time you've been denying that, like I said you would.

Woman- You can't... not now.

Soul- Why can't he?

Woman- He promised...

Soul- What did he promise? A rabbit? A kiss, perhaps?

Woman- No. It was different.. the way he promised..

Soul- Did you promise back?

Woman- Since I first saw him. I just didn't know it... until... Please.

Soul- Then you've learned. Hold him close, he is a part of you.

Woman- I need you here now.

Soul- He'd want to say that back to you, you know.

Woman- But he can't.

Soul- Yes, he can. He wanted to be a warrior, once. A hero. You're both all of the things you had thought you were. You are each others hero, fighting for eachothers happiness. Great thinkers, because you can rationalize and feel. Kings, because you rule each others hearts. Creators because of the children you will have and the lives you will shape. Students for you will always need to learn. Teachers because there will always be something yet to tell. Care takers because you will need to be to make each other happy. But until now, you were never fools. A fool knows more then he seems, because only a great fool can love. Blind to all but beauty. Deaf to all but sweetness. Dumb in want for words to perfect to live in mortal language, but lies perfectly in the language of the heart. Fools are the only true lovers, and above all, you are meant to be lovers. That is the great secret. That is what you are.

Woman- And a lot of good it has done me.

Soul- I'm sorry. But, now, at least, you know.

Woman- I don't want your stupid old secret! It wasn't worth it. I want him back!

Soul- Look at him, tell me what you see?

Woman- I see nothing now. Where once there was hope, now there is nothing.

Soul- Then hope he shall be. Hold him close and let him hear your heart beat. There's magic there. The magic of life.

Woman- I love you.

Soul- And in those words. What does he mean to you?

Woman- I would die for him.

Soul- Does he mean nothing, then? Death is no punishment, only a mercy for those who do not love.

Woman- But I love. I love him and he loved me.

Soul- Then you must live for him.

Woman- Then will he live for me?

Soul- If your heart is his.

Woman- It is. I swear it, it is.

Soul- Well, has your heart stopped?

Woman- No.

Soul- Then niether has his.

(MAN awakens as this last line is said and hugs her tightly. She begins to cry as she returns the squeezey thing.)

Woman- I thought I'd lost you.

Soul- Only when you lose what's truly important, will you ever lose each other. I must go, as I have very little time. But it is not good-bye. It will always be fare-well, for when you travel the hallways of life, some forgotten, some lost, some undiscovered, I will be in those that seem familiar, welcoming and comfortable, though unattractive. If your ever lost, this is where you'll find me. In those hallways of the soul.

(SOUL exits)

Woman- Never leave again.

Man- I left?

Woman- Yes. You don't know?

Man- I remember I was leaking, then I got tired. Now my head hurts. Did I go?

Woman- Yes. I think you stopped.

MAn- But I seem to be going again. Do you think I needed winding?

Woman- I never want you to stop again.

Man- Alright, I won't if you don't.

Woman- How do we do that?

Man- Lets just promise to out go one another.

Woman- I will, gladly, but first I do believe I promised you something already.

Man- What was-

(They kiss)

Soul (Just his voice)- But in the hallways of the heart, that's where you'll find each other.

(Darkness falls. End)

END