I wrote this short play for a prompt that involved using a song and a journey of some sort. The song I choose was
"The Monster's Loose."
A Trip to the ZooBy Eric MarcarelliScene i Setting: Inside the Findlebo house, around noon on a warm summer day. Linus is playing the song "The Monster's Loose” while adjusting his hat. Enter Mother. Mother: Hurry up! We've got to get going! Linus: I'm almost ready. Mother: We were supposed to leave an hour ago. Linus: I don't really want to go. Mother: I know, but you promised to try something new. Linus: I just hope no monsters get loose. Let's go. Scene ii Setting: Walking from the parking lot to the gate of the Slowbore Zoo. Mother: We're here! This is going to be a great day. Linus: Ah! There's a spider hanging in front of the door! Mother: Come on, just push it out of the way. Linus: I can't! Mother leans into the car and kills the spider Linus: Eek! Mother: Wow, the lot is empty. We almost have the place to ourselves! Linus: What a nice wasteland. Normal people have more sense. Enter Frank. Mother: Isn't that Frank from your class? Linus: Yes... Mother: He's all alone. Linus: His mom works here in the summer. He must come a lot. Poor guy. Mother: We should ask him to come along with us, it'll be fun! Linus (to himself): Ugh. Mother: Hello Frank, how is the Zoo today? Frank: Oh! This is going to be a great day! Mother: Why's that, Frank? Frank: You'll see. You're lucky you came today! Linus: Why, are they closing up? Frank: What's wrong with him? Mother: He's afraid of animals. Linus: I'm not—afraid. Frank: Oh! They're but all so friendly... Linus: You don't want to come with us, do you? Frank: Oh! I could show you a lot. But I have plans to do first. How about we meet at the snake pits in an hour? Linus: Snakes! Mother: Sure, we'll see you there. Exit Frank. Mother: Oh Linus, look at this. (reading) "New today! A lion exhibit.” Doesn't that sound exciting? Linus: Sure... Can we start at the ducks? Scene iii Setting: Inside the main part of the Zoo. Directly in front of the squirrels; near the snakes. Mother: It says here the red tailed squirrel— Linus: I don't see anything. Mother: It's hiding, Linus. Linus: What does it have to be afraid of? Mother: The bathroom is right over there. I'm going to go, don't move from the squirrels, ok? Linus: Sure. Exit Mother. Enter Frank. Frank: Linus! It got away! Linus: Huh? Frank: Oh! Look over there, the lion's cage is empty. He's gone! Linus: Did you have something to do with this? Frank: Well, maybe indirectly... Linus: Did you let the lion out? Frank: I came here right after I talked to you and watched them bringing it in. I just wanted to see it, but the guys left the door unlocked. Linus: And? Frank: I opened it just a little, but I got scared and ran. Linus: You call that indirectly? Where is it? Frank: Oh! Run! Linus: What, where? There! (screams as the lion advances) Frank: I'll go for help! Linus: Help! The monster's loose! The lion advances slowly, growling. Linus starts to back away put backs into a stone wall. Before he hardly knows what he's doing, Linus advances towards the lion, bent down and arms out. The lion crawls between his arms and lays down. Linus begins to pet the lion and it growls happily. Enter Mother. Mother: Linus! What's going on? Linus: Look Mom, it's the one that got away. Linus laughs as the lion rolls over on its back happily and Frank returns leading three Zoo security guards. Scene iv Setting: Back at the Findlebo house, in early evening. Linus: (whispering to his hands, inaudible) Enter Mother. Mother: What do you want for—Linus? Who are you talking to? Linus opens his hands and reveals a furry black spider. Linus (smiling): A new friend. |