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jazzfishAs always, comments welcome.
“Orders”
Cast of characters
GIRL. . . . . . . . . . . . . ten years old. Dirty, torn floral print dress. Dark hair and eyes.
SOLDIER . . . . . . . . . . . twenty-five. Full dress uniform.
FATHER. . . . . . . . . . . . thirty-five. Not a small man. Laborer's clothing. Black hair.
HAUPT . . . . . . . . . . . . thirty. Sharp features. Trenchcoat and boots.
(Blackness. The sounds of warfare: gunfire, artillery shells, mens' voices barking orders, helicopters, etc. The sounds die out as two pools of light come up.
The light stage right is harsh and incandescent. It reveals a GIRL, seated on a wooden chair.
Stage left, the light is more humane, more gentle. In it a SOLDIER stands at attention. As the sounds fade completely he comes to "at ease."
NOTE: Initially, the lights illuminate only a small area around the actors. As the play progresses the circles of light gradually widen.)
GIRL
It had been raining all night, and the shells lit up the sky like a movie.
SOLDIER
Yes, sir. Command Order ML5 had come down the day before. It stated that we were to enter the village that night, and arrest all those who had previously been identified as sympathizers. Intelligence provided us with names, descriptions, and places of residence for these men and women. Yes, women too. They were held in a different facility.
GIRL
The explosions were just loud enough to keep me awake. Not really something I could hear-- I just felt them, deep in my bones. Thump. Thump. Thump. Every time I would start to drift off, another would come and shake me awake. Thump.
SOLDIER
No one was quite sure what to make of the order. We had done grab-and-go ops before, but nothing on this scale. (pause) Well, there were something like a hundred and fifty names. (pause) There was also the question of where to put the prisoners. We assumed that they would be airlifted out that evening, but no flight plans had been filed for anywhere near our area. It wasn't until early evening that our questions were addressed.
(The GIRL's FATHER steps into her light.)
GIRL
I heard Father and Mother talking, so I sat by my door and listened to them. Mother was very upset. She kept repeating "Don't go." I couldn't hear what Father said to that but it didn't sound like he would be gone for long. He would be back before morning, like always.
(FATHER places a hand on the GIRL's shoulder. She smiles up at him.)
SOLDIER
A civilian named Haupt had flown in with the courier that brought the orders. He'd been shut up with the CO all day. Now, we get "observers" all the time. The smart ones stay out of the way, write their reports, and go home. The real gung-ho ones tag along. Sometimes they get killed. Sometimes they get good men killed. (pause) No sir. (pause) Facts. Yes sir. (pause) Haupt . . . he was different.
(HAUPT enters the SOLDIER's light.)
SOLDIER (cont'd)
I first saw him when he stepped out of the CO's office. He had this look, like he knew what was really going on. Like the rest of us were just so much vermin.
(FATHER takes a step away from the GIRL.)
GIRL
Finally, Father shouted
FATHER
They give me no choice.
GIRL
They both got very quiet after that. I think Mother started crying. I ran back to bed so they wouldn't know I had been listening. After awhile Father came in and gave me a kiss, but I pretended to be asleep, so he left.
(FATHER steps to the edge of the circle of light, towards the SOLDIER, watching HAUPT.)
SOLDIER
Just before we left the CO informed us that Haupt would be coming with us, as an "observer," and that we were to "render to him any assistance he deems necessary," which, translated, meant stay the hell out of his way. Then he said we were "expressly authorized to terminate any recalcitrant individuals." The orders wouldn't be issued, but the intent was clear.
GIRL
A little while after Father left the explosions stopped. That made it worse, though. They only stop shooting when they're coming in, either here or further down.
SOLDIER
I ended up sitting next to Haupt at dinner. There wasn't a lot of friendly conversation. (He turns to HAUPT) Been out here long?
HAUPT
Just got here today. You men ready to sweep?
SOLDIER
Ready as we'll ever be. Why now, though?
HAUPT
We've acquired a complete list of the sympathizers in this village. If we can demonstate our effectiveness here, show that we tolerate no dissent, the rest will fall in line. They'll realise that there's nothing they can do that we can't put a stop to. And they -- or their children -- will thank us for it.
GIRL
I think Mother stayed up, sewing or reading. At least, she never turned the light off. She always worried when Father went away.
SOLDIER
(turns back to audience, resumes “at ease.” Pause) Yes, sir, I believe it was relevant. (pause) Sir. (pause) So the dozen of us loaded into a transport at 0200 and headed for the village. HQ had ordered a cessation of the artillery barrages at 0145: they felt that giving the sympathizers a tip-off that we were coming was better than shelling us on our way in.
GIRL
I heard the soldiers kick in the door, and Mother say "He's gone out." There was a slap, and Mother started crying again. I think they took her away. I got under the bed and stayed real still.
SOLDIER
Haupt vanished almost as soon as we arrived.
(HAUPT walks to just outside the light, towards the GIRL.)
SOLDIER (cont'd)
Off on some job of his own. The rest of us split into four teams, and moved through the village like the angel of death.
The first one knew what was coming. He stared into my face as I pulled the trigger. There was no capitulation in his eyes, though he didn't try to resist. Just stood there and hated. That hatred . . . it made me want to hate back. Made it easier to do the rest. (pause) I still have nightmares about it. (pause) Sir.
GIRL
I heard the door to my room open--
SOLDIER
We were working our way down the list--
GIRL
As the village seemed to inhale--
SOLDIER
--when there came a bright red flash--
GIRL
--and then release--
SOLDIER
--followed by a slow explosion--
GIRL
--and everything came awake.
SOLDIER
--and three houses next to me were gone. Smoke and debris. Ash began to fall around me.
GIRL
In the next instant the rattle of gunfire began.
SOLDIER
They were everywhere. What was originally to be a simple grab-and-run had turned into a firefight -- and we were badly outnumbered, in unfamiliar territory. Over the radio the captain was shouting for us to fall back, but the debris from the houses had us trapped.
GIRL
The soldiers must have run back outside when the shooting started. I stayed under the bed until I heard Father's voice.
(FATHER slowly turns and walks towards GIRL, not noticing her at first.)
FATHER
Lena?
GIRL
(runs to FATHER)
Father!
(They embrace)
SOLDIER
It was utter chaos. The men I was with were gunned down almost instantly. I was hiding behind some rubble, squeezing off a few shots to keep them off me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Haupt.
(The light has expanded to reveal HAUPT again.)
SOLDIER (cont'd)
Crouched behind an overturned shop cart. He looked a little worse for the wear, but not nearly as bad off as the rest of us.
FATHER
Where is your mother?
(The pools of light are now overlapping, and expand no further.)
SOLDIER
Haupt waited for a moment, and then sprinted across the street, into a house whose door had already been kicked in.
(HAUPT begins to cross, deliberately, to the FATHER and GIRL.)
FATHER
(looks up and sees HAUPT; stands up.)
Go. (pushes GIRL towards the wings) Go. Hide. Don't let him see you.
(The GIRL runs to the far edge of the light, and turns and watches.)
SOLDIER
He'd done all right for this long, so I figured that he had a better idea of how to keep from getting killed than I could come up with. So I started to follow him. I stopped when I heard voices. (Turns and takes a few steps towards HAUPT.)
HAUPT
(stops several feet from FATHER)
Mahmoud.
FATHER
I gave you what you wanted. The names. Everything.
HAUPT
And then you went and warned them. (pause) You can't really believe that either of us would trust you again after that. What did you hope to gain?
FATHER
It wasn't for me.
HAUPT
Your family, then? Even with your wife on the list?
FATHER
You took my Lena?
HAUPT
(genuinely surprised)
You didn't realise? A regrettable necessity, to ensure your cooperation.
FATHER
You bast--
(FATHER makes as if to draw a gun, but HAUPT is faster. A pistol is in his hand, barks once. FATHER crumples.)
HAUPT
(shakes head)
If only you'd been smarter, Mahmoud. None of this had to happen. The arrests would have been sufficient. But you had to play both sides . . . Amateur.
(HAUPT turns to face the SOLDIER, and begins walking.)
SOLDIER
(To HAUPT)
I couldn't hear all the conversation, but the gunshot was clear as day. (The GIRL runs to the FATHER's body) When he reappeared in the doorway, he looked disappointed. Almost human. (The GIRL looks up at HAUPT) Then . . . (the GIRL draws FATHER's pistol, and fires twice at HAUPT.) He fell.
(HAUPT falls. The GIRL walks over to HAUPT, looks down at him. The SOLDIER sees the GIRL for the first time. He draws a pistol, aims it at her . . . and then lets his arm fall.)
GIRL
That was all I remember. (She returns to the chair.)
(The circles of light return to their original size.)
SOLDIER
(turns to face the audience, resumes “at ease.”)
Yes, sir. I let her go.
GIRL
Mother came back that morning. She wouldn't tell me where she had been.
SOLDIER
She wasn't a combatant, sir. Just a child.
GIRL
My cousin Markos says he will get me a real gun, so I can be ready when they come back. I asked him why they would come back here, and he told me that it was because we had beaten them, and they cannot accept that.
SOLDIER
At some point it has to stop. We can't win a war like this. (pause) No sir. (pause) Yes sir, I realize that. But . . .
GIRL
(The SOLDIER's light fades out as she speaks, and the battle noises return.)
But when they return, we will beat them again. And one day they will not come back.
(Blackout.)
“Orders”
Cast of characters
GIRL. . . . . . . . . . . . . ten years old. Dirty, torn floral print dress. Dark hair and eyes.
SOLDIER . . . . . . . . . . . twenty-five. Full dress uniform.
FATHER. . . . . . . . . . . . thirty-five. Not a small man. Laborer's clothing. Black hair.
HAUPT . . . . . . . . . . . . thirty. Sharp features. Trenchcoat and boots.
(Blackness. The sounds of warfare: gunfire, artillery shells, mens' voices barking orders, helicopters, etc. The sounds die out as two pools of light come up.
The light stage right is harsh and incandescent. It reveals a GIRL, seated on a wooden chair.
Stage left, the light is more humane, more gentle. In it a SOLDIER stands at attention. As the sounds fade completely he comes to "at ease."
NOTE: Initially, the lights illuminate only a small area around the actors. As the play progresses the circles of light gradually widen.)
GIRL
It had been raining all night, and the shells lit up the sky like a movie.
SOLDIER
Yes, sir. Command Order ML5 had come down the day before. It stated that we were to enter the village that night, and arrest all those who had previously been identified as sympathizers. Intelligence provided us with names, descriptions, and places of residence for these men and women. Yes, women too. They were held in a different facility.
GIRL
The explosions were just loud enough to keep me awake. Not really something I could hear-- I just felt them, deep in my bones. Thump. Thump. Thump. Every time I would start to drift off, another would come and shake me awake. Thump.
SOLDIER
No one was quite sure what to make of the order. We had done grab-and-go ops before, but nothing on this scale. (pause) Well, there were something like a hundred and fifty names. (pause) There was also the question of where to put the prisoners. We assumed that they would be airlifted out that evening, but no flight plans had been filed for anywhere near our area. It wasn't until early evening that our questions were addressed.
(The GIRL's FATHER steps into her light.)
GIRL
I heard Father and Mother talking, so I sat by my door and listened to them. Mother was very upset. She kept repeating "Don't go." I couldn't hear what Father said to that but it didn't sound like he would be gone for long. He would be back before morning, like always.
(FATHER places a hand on the GIRL's shoulder. She smiles up at him.)
SOLDIER
A civilian named Haupt had flown in with the courier that brought the orders. He'd been shut up with the CO all day. Now, we get "observers" all the time. The smart ones stay out of the way, write their reports, and go home. The real gung-ho ones tag along. Sometimes they get killed. Sometimes they get good men killed. (pause) No sir. (pause) Facts. Yes sir. (pause) Haupt . . . he was different.
(HAUPT enters the SOLDIER's light.)
SOLDIER (cont'd)
I first saw him when he stepped out of the CO's office. He had this look, like he knew what was really going on. Like the rest of us were just so much vermin.
(FATHER takes a step away from the GIRL.)
GIRL
Finally, Father shouted
FATHER
They give me no choice.
GIRL
They both got very quiet after that. I think Mother started crying. I ran back to bed so they wouldn't know I had been listening. After awhile Father came in and gave me a kiss, but I pretended to be asleep, so he left.
(FATHER steps to the edge of the circle of light, towards the SOLDIER, watching HAUPT.)
SOLDIER
Just before we left the CO informed us that Haupt would be coming with us, as an "observer," and that we were to "render to him any assistance he deems necessary," which, translated, meant stay the hell out of his way. Then he said we were "expressly authorized to terminate any recalcitrant individuals." The orders wouldn't be issued, but the intent was clear.
GIRL
A little while after Father left the explosions stopped. That made it worse, though. They only stop shooting when they're coming in, either here or further down.
SOLDIER
I ended up sitting next to Haupt at dinner. There wasn't a lot of friendly conversation. (He turns to HAUPT) Been out here long?
HAUPT
Just got here today. You men ready to sweep?
SOLDIER
Ready as we'll ever be. Why now, though?
HAUPT
We've acquired a complete list of the sympathizers in this village. If we can demonstate our effectiveness here, show that we tolerate no dissent, the rest will fall in line. They'll realise that there's nothing they can do that we can't put a stop to. And they -- or their children -- will thank us for it.
GIRL
I think Mother stayed up, sewing or reading. At least, she never turned the light off. She always worried when Father went away.
SOLDIER
(turns back to audience, resumes “at ease.” Pause) Yes, sir, I believe it was relevant. (pause) Sir. (pause) So the dozen of us loaded into a transport at 0200 and headed for the village. HQ had ordered a cessation of the artillery barrages at 0145: they felt that giving the sympathizers a tip-off that we were coming was better than shelling us on our way in.
GIRL
I heard the soldiers kick in the door, and Mother say "He's gone out." There was a slap, and Mother started crying again. I think they took her away. I got under the bed and stayed real still.
SOLDIER
Haupt vanished almost as soon as we arrived.
(HAUPT walks to just outside the light, towards the GIRL.)
SOLDIER (cont'd)
Off on some job of his own. The rest of us split into four teams, and moved through the village like the angel of death.
The first one knew what was coming. He stared into my face as I pulled the trigger. There was no capitulation in his eyes, though he didn't try to resist. Just stood there and hated. That hatred . . . it made me want to hate back. Made it easier to do the rest. (pause) I still have nightmares about it. (pause) Sir.
GIRL
I heard the door to my room open--
SOLDIER
We were working our way down the list--
GIRL
As the village seemed to inhale--
SOLDIER
--when there came a bright red flash--
GIRL
--and then release--
SOLDIER
--followed by a slow explosion--
GIRL
--and everything came awake.
SOLDIER
--and three houses next to me were gone. Smoke and debris. Ash began to fall around me.
GIRL
In the next instant the rattle of gunfire began.
SOLDIER
They were everywhere. What was originally to be a simple grab-and-run had turned into a firefight -- and we were badly outnumbered, in unfamiliar territory. Over the radio the captain was shouting for us to fall back, but the debris from the houses had us trapped.
GIRL
The soldiers must have run back outside when the shooting started. I stayed under the bed until I heard Father's voice.
(FATHER slowly turns and walks towards GIRL, not noticing her at first.)
FATHER
Lena?
GIRL
(runs to FATHER)
Father!
(They embrace)
SOLDIER
It was utter chaos. The men I was with were gunned down almost instantly. I was hiding behind some rubble, squeezing off a few shots to keep them off me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Haupt.
(The light has expanded to reveal HAUPT again.)
SOLDIER (cont'd)
Crouched behind an overturned shop cart. He looked a little worse for the wear, but not nearly as bad off as the rest of us.
FATHER
Where is your mother?
(The pools of light are now overlapping, and expand no further.)
SOLDIER
Haupt waited for a moment, and then sprinted across the street, into a house whose door had already been kicked in.
(HAUPT begins to cross, deliberately, to the FATHER and GIRL.)
FATHER
(looks up and sees HAUPT; stands up.)
Go. (pushes GIRL towards the wings) Go. Hide. Don't let him see you.
(The GIRL runs to the far edge of the light, and turns and watches.)
SOLDIER
He'd done all right for this long, so I figured that he had a better idea of how to keep from getting killed than I could come up with. So I started to follow him. I stopped when I heard voices. (Turns and takes a few steps towards HAUPT.)
HAUPT
(stops several feet from FATHER)
Mahmoud.
FATHER
I gave you what you wanted. The names. Everything.
HAUPT
And then you went and warned them. (pause) You can't really believe that either of us would trust you again after that. What did you hope to gain?
FATHER
It wasn't for me.
HAUPT
Your family, then? Even with your wife on the list?
FATHER
You took my Lena?
HAUPT
(genuinely surprised)
You didn't realise? A regrettable necessity, to ensure your cooperation.
FATHER
You bast--
(FATHER makes as if to draw a gun, but HAUPT is faster. A pistol is in his hand, barks once. FATHER crumples.)
HAUPT
(shakes head)
If only you'd been smarter, Mahmoud. None of this had to happen. The arrests would have been sufficient. But you had to play both sides . . . Amateur.
(HAUPT turns to face the SOLDIER, and begins walking.)
SOLDIER
(To HAUPT)
I couldn't hear all the conversation, but the gunshot was clear as day. (The GIRL runs to the FATHER's body) When he reappeared in the doorway, he looked disappointed. Almost human. (The GIRL looks up at HAUPT) Then . . . (the GIRL draws FATHER's pistol, and fires twice at HAUPT.) He fell.
(HAUPT falls. The GIRL walks over to HAUPT, looks down at him. The SOLDIER sees the GIRL for the first time. He draws a pistol, aims it at her . . . and then lets his arm fall.)
GIRL
That was all I remember. (She returns to the chair.)
(The circles of light return to their original size.)
SOLDIER
(turns to face the audience, resumes “at ease.”)
Yes, sir. I let her go.
GIRL
Mother came back that morning. She wouldn't tell me where she had been.
SOLDIER
She wasn't a combatant, sir. Just a child.
GIRL
My cousin Markos says he will get me a real gun, so I can be ready when they come back. I asked him why they would come back here, and he told me that it was because we had beaten them, and they cannot accept that.
SOLDIER
At some point it has to stop. We can't win a war like this. (pause) No sir. (pause) Yes sir, I realize that. But . . .
GIRL
(The SOLDIER's light fades out as she speaks, and the battle noises return.)
But when they return, we will beat them again. And one day they will not come back.
(Blackout.)
no subject
Date: 2005-05-11 06:09 pm (UTC)the back clause there feels bad to me... I can't hear it in my head, because the last "that" breaks up the sentence to me.
Other than that, I quite liked it.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-11 06:17 pm (UTC)Thank you.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-11 11:04 pm (UTC)Also, I've been trying to pin Michael Bigelow Dixon down to talk to him about internships, but we keep running into each other as we're both on our way somewhere else. I may see him Friday. Are you still interested in this fall, or do you just want some general information?
no subject
Date: 2005-05-11 11:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-05-13 03:55 am (UTC)*blink* You know, if I could hold an idea in my head for more than about five minutes I might be dangerous. Um. Yeah, whatever you can turn up on this fall would be nice; I haven't really got firm plans for anything right now. General info is also good.
re Playwrights' Center: Google is my friend. Will check out the site when I'm more awake tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2005-05-12 01:22 am (UTC)There's just one thing that maybe I'd change. And it's Haupt's line after killing the father, it's good, but it feels a little bit redundant. Again, it's just a suggestion, I really loved this play. You have to tell us if this ever gets produced (or even better, take pics! Or record a video!!! ;)).