Prologue

WANDER

by Rob Kramer
wandertheplay@gmail.com
wandertheplay.com

Download the PDF

Starting the play with PROLOGUE and then proceeding to DISMISSED does the following:

-adds ten to fifteen minutes to the play, getting the full performance to over an hour and a half

-Mr. and Mrs. Earth have brief roles in the original script but PROLOGUE features them prominently, each with a challenging scene.

-provides more background to the problems the four students face

-The play now opens abruptly and loud in contrast to the subtle opening in DISMISSED

If the PROLOGUE is used (I would say the only reason not to is for time and/or to lessen the demands on Mr. and Mrs. Earth) only two minor changes have to be made in the main script:

-DISMISSED would have the four students (as well as other students) arriving to school and sitting down in chairs which have just been put in place (in front of stage/curtain?) and will promptly be removed.

The passage of the school day can easily be portrayed, for instance by a parade of posters with times of the school day. The last one would be one minute before the final bell, then go to Chole standing up in DISMISSED.

-In LIVING ROOM SCENE, Mr. Earth has to be seen entering left, exhausted, just as Alex says “here’s my place…”.

P2.

ACT I

SCENE P - MORNING MOODS part A

SETTING: The theater is dark

AT RISE: Edvard Grieg’s well known MORNING MOOD is played (it is in the public domain).

The first sequence of about twenty-two notes (about nine seconds) is heard and then repeated. During the second sequence, Mr. Earth abruptly interrupts as the spotlight is on him and the music is turned off. Mr. Earth enters from the rear or side of the theater and walks the aisles as he speaks. He is loud, bold and confident. Perhaps he holds a giant inflatable globe or drags a large weighted-down globe. If so, maybe he seeks some brief help with it from an audience member. He addresses them directly, seeking interaction with them. The spotlight on him expands as he progresses to the front of the stage but the stage itself is not lit until the last few lines.

MR. EARTH

I JUST LOVE THIS DAY, IT’S MY FAVORITE ONE

TODAY WE ARE ALL EQUAL UNDER THE SUN

WELL…THERE’S ACTUALLY ONE OTHER DAY JUST AS NICE

YOU SEE EACH YEAR WE GET THIS DAY TWICE

TODAY ALL THE EARTH HAS TWELVE HOURS OF NIGHT

WHICH LEAVES EACH OF US TWELVE HOURS OF LIGHT

EQUAL NIGHTS, THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED THE EQUINOX

EQUAL LIGHT, GUESS YOU COULD CALL IT THE EQUILUX

P3.

OH, I SHOULD INTRODUCE MYSELF - MR. EARTH, PLEASED TO MEET YOU

IT’S MY JOB TO KEEP THE PLANET MOVING…HOW DO YOU DO?

IT’S A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT I HAVE HELP…GOOD MORNING TO YOU

MRS. EARTH AND I KEEP ALL OF US IN ORBIT, JUST US TWO

DO I HEAR A THANK YOU?

I MEAN, OUR EARTH WEIGHS THIRTEEN TRILLION TRILLION POUNDS

WHO DO YOU THINK KEEPS IT GOING AROUND?

AND WE DO THAT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR

THAT’S GOT TO BE…(doing mental math)...JUST A MINUTE HERE

WHOA, SOMEONE GET ME A PEDOMETER

THAT’S ALMOST A BILLION KILOMETERS!

AND WE’RE MOVING AT SIXTY-SEVEN THOUSAND MILES AN HOUR

AND WE DO ALL THIS WHILE LEANING OVER (demonstrates 23 degree lean)

AND THEN THIS TWENTY-THREE DEGREE TILTED WORLD

EVERY DAY IT NEEDS TO BE TWIRLED

THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE TIMES EACH YEAR

I FORGET…IS THIS A LEAP YEAR? (gets help from audience)

SO YES, 365 TIMES THIS YEAR/ (or) / OKAY, SO IT’S 366 TIMES THIS YEAR

IT’S A LOT OF WORK BUT IT’S GOT TO BE DONE

SO EACH PART OF EARTH GETS TO SEE THE SUN

AND THE SEASONS CHANGE AND NIGHT BECOMES DAY

AS I TURN THIS WORLD IN A COUNTERCLOCKWISE WAY

THAT IS OF COURSE IF YOU LOOK DOWN ON MY HEAD

BUT IT’S CLOCKWISE IF YOU LOOK FROM BELOW INSTEAD

AND THEN TWICE A YEAR I HIT THAT SWEET SPOT

IS IT VERNAL? AUTUMNAL? IT MATTERS NOT

SUNLIGHT EQUALITY IS THE THEME OF THIS DAY

AND TWELVE HOURS OF DARKNESS, THE EQUINOX WAY

P4.

WHETHER POLAR, TROPICAL OR TEMPERATE ZONE

WE’RE ALL THE SAME, NO MATTER WHERE’S YOUR HOME

THIS WONDERFUL WORLD THAT WE HAVE ALL GOT

DEPENDS ON JUST THE RIGHT SUN ON EACH LITTLE SPOT

AND IT’S MRS. EARTH AND I THAT KEEP UP THIS FIGHT

SO MUCH ON THIS PLANET THAT NEEDS HEAT AND LIGHT

THERE’S CRUST, MANTLE AND A CORE, A

GIANT MAGNET THAT GIVES US AURORA

WE’VE GOT JUNGLES, GLACIERS, MOUNTAINS, PLAINS

OCEANS, DESERTS AND HURRICANES

FORESTS, VALLEYS, HILLS, VOLCANOES

ICE CAPS, WIND, RAIN AND TORNADOES

THERE ARE PRAIRIES, STREAMS, PLATEAUS, LAKES

RIVERS, CLOUDS, SNOW AND EARTHQUAKES

(trips and falls down at that word, quickly gets up)

OH, SORRY…DON’T WORRY, THAT ONE WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT

YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T EVEN FEEL IT

GOT TO KEEP THEM HEATED JUST SO

NOT TOO WARM AND NOT TOO COLD

GOT TO HAVE THINGS ILLUMINATED

LIVING THINGS NEED LIGHT TO LIVE

ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATED

INFRARED AND ROY G BIV

WE’VE GOT SO MANY THINGS WE NEED TO CARE FOR

THAT’S THE REASON WE ALL ARE HERE FOR

WE WORK HARD TO BRING YOU HEATING AND LIGHTING, FOR

WHAT HAVE WE GOT? A WORLD WORTH FIGHTING-

P5.

(at this point Mr. Earth has gotten up on stage which is now lit, and at the last word turns to see Mrs. Earth sitting at a table, stage left. She is slumped over, head resting on the table)

MR. EARTH

FOR goodness sakes! Mother…dear…are you okay?

MRS. EARTH

I’m still sick. I just can’t go, you’re going to have to do the next twelve hours.

MR. EARTH

Okay, but I’ll be exhausted when I get back. Who will take the Moon out?"

MRS. EARTH

Alex will have to do it.

MR. EARTH

But he didn’t do it yesterday - and where is Alex? Doesn’t he have school today?
(starts to exit stage left)

MRS. EARTH

He should be down in a minute. Have a nice day dear.

ALEX

(enters stage right)

Good morning Mom…why so sad? Where’s Dad?

MRS. EARTH

He’s covering for me. I don’t have any energy.

ALEX

Then who will take the Moon out tonight?

MRS. EARTH

That will be your job when Dad turns off the light.

P6.

ALEX

But I was hoping to go to school tonight. There’s a meeting about applying to college… so I thought I might…

MRS. EARTH

No, you absolutely have to be home by sunset. If you’re not here, Dad will be upset.

ALEX

Okay Mom, I’ll be here.

MRS. EARTH

Thank you dear.

ALEX

I told Bryce I would pick him up so I’m going to run.

MRS. EARTH

Alex, did you get your morning chores done?

ALEX

Umm… yeah (he didn’t really, makes grimacing face to audience)

MRS. EARTH

I really appreciate the extra work you’re starting to do. Dad and I are so proud of you.

(ALEX acknowledges and runs off stage left)

ALEX, I love you (MRS. EARTH calls out as ALEX is now gone. She watches and after a few seconds ALEX runs back and give her a big hug)

ALEX

I love you too. (exits left)

BLACKOUT

P7.

(The following three parts of PROLOGUE all have the same table and chairs stage left. Remove garbage can and recycling bin that are present in LIVING ROOM SCENE. If photos are used in that scene, they should also be in the opening and then removed at this point. MRS. EARTH actress will be playing each student’s mother in the remaining MORNING MOODS scenes. She needs to make very rapid costume changes as well as try to make each character appear and sound unique. In each case she is warm, caring and supportive of her child. Consider having MRS. EARTH in a bathrobe, large slippers and a sleeping cap. These can be quickly taken off at BLACKOUT so that she enters wearing professional dress as Bryce’s mother, as well as having her hair up in a bun and wearing glasses.

MORNING MOODS part B

SETTING: BRYCE is seated at the table finishing breakfast

AT RISE: MOTHER BRYCE enters left, she is in a rush MOTHER BRYCE

Bryce, I have to go. I just got an email from your father, he won’t be coming home today. He needs more photos for his National Geographic shoot. I’ve got an important vote at the Capitol today so I won’t be home until tomorrow.

BRYCE

So what will I have for dinner?

MOTHER BRYCE

There are leftovers in the fridge.

BRYCE

But who’s going to eat with me? I don’t want to come home to an empty house.

MOTHER BRYCE

Bryce, you’re in high school. It’s not a big deal, you can do this (gives a big hug). Have a nice day at school.

P8.

(MOTHER BRYCE exits left, ALEX enters right)

ALEX

Hey BRYCE, good morning, let’s get going.

BRYCE

Okay, I told CHLOE we’d pick her up.

(Both exit left, BLACKOUT)

MORNING MOODS part C

SETTING: CHLOE is seated at table eating breakfast, looking at phone.

AT RISE: MOTHER CHLOE enters left. Her hair is now down, glasses gone, wears an apron to cover prior scene attire.

MOTHER CHLOE

CHLOE, what are you looking at? Why do you waste your time on those videos?

CHLOE

I don’t know

MOTHER CHLOE

Isn’t there anything you’re interested in?

CHLOE

I don’t know.

MOTHER CHLOE

(puts her arm over CHLOE’S shoulder)

CHLOE, I care about you and I’m worried…you’re not doing well in school.

CHLOE

Sorry Mom, I just don’t know what to do.

(stands up and hugs Mom and gets ready to leave. ALEX and BRYCE enter right)

P9.

BRYCE

Hey CHLOE, should we pick up DELANEY?

CHLOE

No, why bother, she’s probably been at school for two hours already.

(ALEX, BRYCE AND CHLOE exit left.

MOM watches with concern. BLACKOUT)

MORNING MOODS part D

SETTING: DELANEY is at table eating while doing school work.

AT RISE: MOTHER DELANEY enters left. Another costume change to have her

looking distinct from prior Moms

MOTHER DELANEY

What have you got there DELANEY?"

DELANEY

Physics, studying for a big test.

MOTHER DELANEY

I thought that’s in two weeks.

DELANEY

Yep, it is. (never looks up)

MOTHER DELANEY

You know, there are other things to do besides study.

DELANEY

Like what?

MOTHER DELANEY

How about your friends? I notice they haven’t been coming by lately to pick you up.

P10.

DELANEY

So?

MOTHER DELANEY

Maybe you should make an effort to get together with them.

DELANEY

Gotta go.

MOTHER DELANEY

How about a hug?               (DELANEY packs up books and walks right past Mom, exiting left. Mom watches sadly)

BLACKOUT

(Proceed to DISMISSED

as described on page P1)