The Dilemma(2013)
By Malia C.
Characters:
SHAKEY, the Earthquake – brother, 18 years old.
CLUMPY, the Dirt – sister, 14 years old.
Setting: Honolulu, Hawaii. Summertime. 100° F.
Time: 1pm.
At Rise: Hot summer day; blue sky; bright sun. Sounds of waves and birds. Crowded streets. Clumpy taking a nap. Shakey looking above at the world.
SHAKEY
(Starring at the world above him.)
CLUMPY
(Wakes up yawning so loud)
SHAKEY
(Very irritated) Why do you have to be so loud! Like you add sound effects to your yawns.
CLUMPY
It seems very off today.
SHAKEY
It seems very boring today.
CLUMPY
When is it not?
(Big, booming noise)
SHAKEY
(Runs to look up) What is that noise?
CLUMPY
I don’t know but whatever that was shook the ground harder than you ever had! (Giggling)
SHAKEY
(Starring at Clumpy angrily) WHAT.
CLUMPY
(Frightened) I didn’t. You know… I wasn’t trying to… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. But really, whatever that was, everybody noticed.
SHAKEY
I want to be noticed…
CLUMPY
You are. You are just noticed in a unique way. Keep your head up bro.
SHAKEY
(Smiles, give Clumpy a big hug) I’m glad you think I’m “unique” but I still want to be big.
(Big boom – Clumpy falls)
CLUMPY
Woah! (Smiles) Who is that?
SHAKEY
(Looks outside) Oh! It’s that volcano! They haven’t blown up in 10 years! They’re accepting newcomers!
CLUMPY
Why are you so excited? You act like you’ll leave anyways!
SHAKEY
(Silent)
CLUMPY
You wouldn’t leave… Would you?
(Big boom. Ground shakes harder)
SHAKEY
It’s an option…
CLUMPY
Why would you leave? Leave me and Shiny… We’re your family.
SHAKEY
Don’t you want to start something new? Have a goal?
CLUMPY
Well, I’ve always wanted to help plants grow… But without you it’ll take forever. Your earthquakes help the sun and rain come in and grow my plants.
SHAKEY
Look, If my plan to escape goes well… Then the grounds will crack and you will get more rain and sun!
CLUMPY
What’s your plan…
SHAKEY
I’m gonna make an earthquake big enough to crack the floor open. You can come out and be free from the ground and live in the ups! You’ll get sun and rain for sure!
CLUMPY
But how about us… We’re a family.
SHAKEY
You know sometimes we gotta go our separate ways and do whats good for ourselves. Sooner or later we were going to be separate.
(Volcano comes down)
SHAKEY
I’m sorry, I have to. It’ll be good for me and you.
CLUMPY
(Sadly) I love you big brother!
SHAKEY
I love you too!
CLUMPY
Wait! I don’t think this is a good idea!
SHAKEY
Come on Clumpy, you don’t need me.
CLUMPY
Yes, I do. You’re the only family I have left. Without you I’m not happy.
SHAKEY
Clumpy stop being selfish!
CLUMPY
If being away from your family and being a volcano makes you happy, then go. As long as you’re happy.
SHAKEY
(Hesitating) Why do you have to make me feel bad!
CLUMPY
(Turns around arms crossed) Just do what you gotta do…
SHAKEY
Clumpy please stop acting like that…
CLUMPY
(Silent)
SHAKEY
Alright…. I gotta go…
CLUMPY
(Crying) Quick! Bust a move! You only have an hour to make it to volcano. They don’t accept newcomers after an hour of the volcano eruption.
SHAKEY
(Earthquake – ground breaks)
CLUMPY
(Crying) please don’t go…
SHAKEY
(Stops earthquake) Why do you need me so bad?
CLUMPY
You’re all I got. If I don’t have my family then I’m nothing. Please…
SHAKEY
Don’t you wanna get out of here? My earthquake can help you. I’ll crack up the ground for you so the sun and the rain can come to help your plants grow.
CLUMPY
I rather stay with you… We have a long life we have all the time to escape. Until then, I wanna spend time as a family.
SHAKEY
We already had enough time as a family.
CLUMPY
How do you even know if the volcano people will like you? How do you know they’ll accept you?
SHAKEY
I know I’m good enough! At the same time, it’ll help you… with your plants. This is the only way you can achieve your goal! How are your plants going to grow without this earthquake?
CLUMPY
I don’t know.
SHAKEY
Exactly! You can’t! This is our moment!
CLUMPY
Our moment?
SHAKEY
Stop over thinking Clumpy! I’m running out of time! So what is it gonna be? Are you gonna let me leave? So we can both live a happy life? Or am I gonna stay so we can do the same boring thing we do every day? While your plants die and rot.
CLUMPY
But…
SHAKEY
I got to go Clumpy. Trust me. This will be good.
(Shakey starts earthquake and leaves towards volcano)
CLUMPY
Now my brother is gone. I have nobody to look after me. On the good side… I got my plants. They’re starting to grow.
(Rain coming down the cracks. Plants rising. Flowers blooming. Shakey escapes and makes it to the volcano. They accept him. Clumpy sits as she looks over to the volcano wondering how her brother is. Then she looks back at her plants rising.)
THE END
