THE BLACK HOLE
by Eduardo
CHARACTERS:
EL FIN, the SPACE, male, age one billion
ESTRELLA, the STAR, female, age one million
SETTING: In outer space, far away from any planet. There are asteroids flying around leaving a flare of red behind them. The sounds of worlds (planets asteroids, comets) exploding in the distance.
TIME: Unknown, time in space is limited.
AT RISE: EL FIN is just there watching an asteroid collide into another asteroid. Estrella is off to the side minding her own business.
EL FIN
(El Fin moves closer to Estrella) Did you just see that asteroid explode into another asteroid!
ESTRELLA
(Unbothered) Ehh, it’s nothing. I see that happening all the time.
EL FIN
But aren’t you tired of seeing that happen every single time?
ESTRELLA
It’s nothing major.
EL FIN
Look! A black hole is forming! (Points to the black hole)
ESTRELLA
Yeah, so what?
EL FIN
t’s getting bigger and bigger! Something is not right about this black hole.
ESTRELLA
Don’t worry. It’s just another random black hole. It will just suck in a few things and then disappear in no time. Just watch.
EL FIN
(Worried) I don’t know, Estrella. I got this gut feeling that it will be bigger than any other black hole that has formed. Look at it, it’s sucking in more things than usual.
ESTRELLA
When have I ever stopped you from doing the correct thing? Huh. I would not put our friendship in danger.
EL FIN
Shouldn’t I do something about it? I feel like I should. And I am. But what can I do? (Thinking to self) I know! I should go and find my parents to guide me and to show me how to stop this black hole.
ESTRELLA
Find your parents? You never brought them up before. Why now?
EL FIN
I don’t know. I feel like I got a bigger purpose to do than to just sit here and watch stuff like this happen. I need to do something about it and the only ones who can show me are those who created me, my parents.
ESTRELLA
You don’t need to do all of that. Just stay here, don’t go. You’ll waste your time going to try to find your parents. This black hole is nothing but a clean up. It’s just sucking up planets and stars that don’t need to be here no more. That’s all.
EL FIN
What if this black hole sucks you in with it, or sucks me in? Now what? What will I do if we get separated? Never again to see each other. Aren’t you afraid of that? If we get separated.
ESTRELLA
Well yes, I will be afraid if we get separated.
EL FIN
Well, I’m only doing this so that I can protect you and me from getting separated. You’re my best friend and practically my sister. I will never let anything bad happen to you.
ESTRELLA
Then stay here and forget about finding your parents. That way I can keep showing you the light, the correct way of doing things. I can become the brightest star, not just for you but for myself as well because then I got something to prove.
EL FIN
How can you show me what to do about this black hole?
ESTRELLA
I’m not really sure but I know I can. (Sighs) Look, the truth is I’m afraid that if you go you will abandon me and you won’t return back or even care about me. (Looks down, sad)
EL FIN
Now why would I do that Estrella?
ESTRELLA
Because, if you find your parents not only would you want to get guidance from them but you would want to get to know them and you will want to spend a lot more time with them. And if that happens I’m going to feel unloved because you’re all the family I had and I’m the only family you had from a very young age.
EL FIN
Estrella, we grew up with each other. Our family love will never change. If I go, I promise I’ll be back. And if everything goes as planned we can continue our lives being there for each other like the best friends we will always be.
ESTRELLA
And if you don’t come back? And if you realize you want to be with your parents more.
EL FIN
(Puts hand on Estrella’s shoulder) Then if I do change my mind I promise I will never forget about you. I’m still going to be around you and keep being here for you. I’m not going to leave you hanging all alone.
ESTRELLA
(Smiling) I always dreamed about being the brightest star. I always dreamed that because I thought that if I was the brightest star, I too can be a big success like my best friend. (Smile goes away) But if you leave I won’t have no one to shine with and I’ll be sad to try to shine the brightest. And I will eventually just become a big ball of rock with no shine left in it from being so lonely.
EL FIN
I felt weak growing up without my parents because no one showed me how to actually be strong and show me how to do things the way they should. I mean you have been there for me, showing me how to do things correctly but not really the way it should be done. The only ones who can are my parents because they’re the ones who created me. They’re the ones who can show me how to truly fix this.
ESTRELLA
(Surprised) You’ve never shown me the weak part of yourself growing up. You’ve always been strong. I never thought you had these feelings inside you. It makes me feel like I never really was there for you because you have only showed me the outer side of you and not how you are on the inside. I always thought what made you strong was that you had me by your side.
EL FIN
The reason why I have been weak from the inside growing up is because I knew I was helpless not being able to prove to you that I was strong when a dangerous situation occurs. I have actually only been able to show you what a great best friend I am and show you the love you need as my little sister.
ESTRELLA
Well, you should have shown me that weak part of yourself, the inner side of yourself because if anything did or does ever happen I want you to know that you won’t have to do it yourself, protecting me. I will able to have my back as well as yours.
EL FIN
Then it sounds like you don’t need me to protect you. (Backing away)
ESTRELLA
It’s not that I don’t need you to protect me (gets closer to El Fin) but there are going to be situations where I can do it myself and in others I’m going to need you to help me protect myself, just like how I can help you protect your self from a danger when you need it.
EL FIN
You’re very brave for saying that, Estrella, but in a situation like this I don’t know if I can protect you because I don’t know how. That’s why I need help to solve this situation so that in the future when another situation like this happens again I will be able to protect you from it.
ESTRELLA
You think you can’t protect me or you know you can’t? If you truly put your mind to it we, not you, can accomplish more that what we can do if we do it together. If we truly put our minds to it. I’m not going to let you do this alone, Fin. I want to be the one to help you build up your mentality of being strong, not weak.
EL FIN
So, you’re saying we can both do something about this black hole?
ESTRELLA
I’m not just saying it. I’m letting you know that we can do it together, as one.
EL FIN
If you’re up for it, Estrella, I am too! But we both still don’t know how exactly to stop this black hole. We both don’t know anything on how to stop it.
ESTRELLA
You’re right. We both don’t know how. (Thinking face) Well Fin, since I’m going to help you do this we are going to need serious help. I have one idea in my mind on how.
EL FIN
And what’s that Estrella?
ESTRELLA
Well since I’m scared of you abandoning me and I don’t want you to do this alone I will go with you to find…..
To be continued…
