|
Lepper:
|
|
( LEPPER talking to himself.)
Man. It sure is a nice day out here. The birds, the sky, the horizon. I wonder why there’s apples on the ground? Harvest time isn’t for one more week. Oh well, there’s a reason for everything.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
Telain.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Yeah Lepper, what is it?
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
Do you have any idea why there are apples on the ground? Apples won’t be picked for another week or so.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Those apples I cut off life to.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
(sounding curious as ever)
But why?
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Those apples were of mild nutrition. I didn’t think they would have a chance so I cut off life to them.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
(Sounding flustered)
They seemed in perfect health to me.
( Looking down on the ground )
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
( becoming angry )
I’ve been living for 71 years now. Believe me; I know what’s best for every apple on my branches.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
( with attitude )
If you say so.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Let it go Lepper. If you know what’s best for you, you should just let it be. It’s over and done with.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
O.K. Telain. I was just arguing my point, what my perspective on the situation was. That’s all. Gosh I’ll let it go.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Good. ( sounding victorious ) we can move on then.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
You know what Telain? I don’t appreciate the way you treat me. I’ve noticed this for a while now.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
( Sounding confused )
What are you talking about? I treat all of you the same?
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
No, you don’t. I’m the last one to be woken up, I get the least amount of nutrients, I have to absorb my water from the dew that’s on me, and I’m the only apple on this branch.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
You have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re grumpy for some reason, at the moment. You need some time to yourself, time to cool off.
( The night was quiet. TELAIN and LEPPER did not say another word to each other for the rest of the day. LEPPER (feeling neglected) just kept to himself for the rest of the night, thinking that maybe he did just need to cool off and calm down. TELAIN on the other hand was thinking horrible thoughts, such as everything he could do to LEPPER if he was pushed to the point. Then the morning came. It was the start of a whole new day.)
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Feeling better Lepper?
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
Sure am.
( He lied )
All I needed was some time to myself.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
That’s all I thought you would need.
( believing Lepper’s response )
See. Everything’s alright.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
( lying again )
Sure is. Just like you thought it would be.
( LEPPER still holding resentful feelings toward TELAIN, pondering the real reason for the lifeless apples being dropped from the tree .)
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Check out the beach today. The water is a lot brighter than usual.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
( answering uninterested )
Yeah. For a moment I thought I was the only one who noticed.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
You know Lepper, you’re the youngest but most intelligent apple on any of my branches.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
( not sure to take it as a compliment )
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Over the years these Special apples bloom.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
What do you mean Special?
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
I mean by, above ordinary.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
But how?
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
Well, ( pausing ) these apples are all green, just like you and the other apples, but smart. Really smart. Their intelligence level even at a young age is really high, as if they’ve been born many, many times before.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
( trying to sound naïve )
You mean like reincarnation.
|
|
|
|
|
Telain:
|
|
( Sounding astonished, but not totally surprised )
That’s exactly what I’m talking about.
|
|
|
|
|
Lepper:
|
|
Well what are you trying to get at?
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
These applies tend to get to smart for themselves or should I say– to smart for their own good.
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
But in what ways? What do these apples do?
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
They have rebellious attitudes. They don’t accept things for the way they are, and they try to make changes. For me, I can’t have changes.
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
Well, why not? Change is good for every one in some way.
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
( taking offense )
Change is not good. I have stayed alive for 71 years, and its because I found one way to do things and kept them that way.
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
( Acting as if he understood )
I see. So what happened to these apples?
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
( Trying to find an easy way to explain )
You see those apples on the ground?
( LEPPER, looking down )
( All of a sudden it all came to LEPPER. The apples that were on the ground were the special children of the tree. Golden in some way. TELAIN cut life off to them and disconnected their stems. It wasn’t mild nutrition. LEPPER understood what was going on and that TELAIN lied to him .)
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
( to himself ) I can’t believe this. I feel wounded. I knew there wasn’t something right about TELAIN, but I had no idea it was this.
( sounding despiteful and torn )
You did that because they wanted change–because they wanted to be different?
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
No. Because it’s caused disorder. I can’t have disorder (getting angry ). Do you understand. And just as I have done to them, I will do to you.
( LEPPER instantly felt his heart drop. He knew it would come to this, but tried to reject it .)
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
( crying )
Do you have no shame what you do?
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
I do not because it’s what I have to do to keep in existence.
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
Can you give me one more night to enjoy the stars, the moon, the feeling of midnight air?
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
( Pitifully )
I guess one night won’t hurt.
( LEPPER stayed awake all night thinking of ideas of what he could do. He knew harvest was right around the corner but he didn’t have that long. Finally, it came to him. He knew if a farmer came to pick a tree and the tree had no apples, the farmer would become angry. The next morning approached, and LEPPER had a good idea but it would cause his ruin. He weighed every thing out and decided it was all he could do . )
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
I’m sorry I have to do this, but it’s for the best of the tree.
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
I understand.
(Out of nowhere, LEPPER screamed long and loud everything about TELAIN. He hollered and hollered .)
|
| |
|
|
| Lepper: |
|
Come on you guys, jump with me, twist and turn, and pull. We have to get off this tree. TELAIN can’t destroy no more if he’s apple-less. He’s being killing off intelligent apples for many years and it has to stop, now!
( Understanding LEPPER, the apples did as he said. Twisting and turning and pulling so they could drop from the tree. One after another, they all dropped. Plop. Plop. Plop. The sound of hundreds of apples falling to the ground .)
|
| |
|
|
| Telain: |
|
( Screaming w/ horror )
Nooo! Don’t, don’t do this. Please. Stop. Don’t.
( But it was too late. All the apples were off the tree. A few days later, a farmer came to collect apples. He came to the apple-less tree of TELAIN. He was furious. He kicked the rotting apples around in anger. He then decided to get his chainsaw and cut down TELAIN and use him as firewood. TELAIN screamed in pain as he was getting chopped. The farmer planted a new apple tree in place of TELAIN, and that was the end of TELAIN .)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
The End. |
