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)