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by Sopannary B. Characters: Blue the butterfly, female, 17 yrs old Green the dragonfly, male, 18 yrs old
Setting: On a mossy swamp where it’s always green. The water is so clear coi fish can be seen from the great big trees with branches that hang low. It’s never quiet, you can always hear buzzing of bees, chirping birds, crickets, the wind as it sways in the high grasses, and splashing of the water from the pond as animals bathe in it. Time: 12 noon on a late fall day. At Rise: Blue just arrives at home from summer camp.
BLUE (excited) I’M HOME!!!
Blue flies around to find an empty tree, so she goes out to the pond to find Green.
Green? Green? Gree… GREEN
Hey, Blue! I’ve missed you so much. There’s so much we have to catch up on.
BLUE
(very happy) OK, let’s go back to my tree, there’s no one home.
GREEN
How about we head over to my new log that your family helped me find? I’ll show
you around…what do you say?
BLUE
OK…but I have to make sure I’m home before nightfall.
They fly to his log. GREEN
So this is it (looks around)…isn’t it great, Blue? There’s so much space for our larva to run around and stuff… BLUE
Wait…what to you mean OUR LARVA?
GREEN
You know what I mean (flies closer to Blue). Remember? You remember, right? That night we talked about having larva but then you went off to camp… and now’s the perfect time because flutter season is ending in 2 days…
BLUE
Yeah, I remember, Green (she turns away from Green, then with her back turned, in a light, soft voice) but I changed my mind.
GREEN
(whines) What do you mean…? You know how important it is for me to start a family. It’s flutter season and I’ve been waiting for you all through fall. And I don’t think I’ll make it through winter.
BLUE
Yeah, I know, but…but…well…I want to go off to butterfly academy and having larva right now isn’t a good idea. GREEN
(sad, angry, disappointed) You’re only thinking about yourself right now… BLUE
So are you! You’re being selfish right now, Green. The academy will help better my future as a butterfly. I could get a job like working at the butterfly plant or even a doctor, or maybe even a teacher…I don’t know, I just want a good job so that I don’t have to worry about bills and stuff. I don’t want to struggle, you know?
GREEN
(sad & looks down while talking) Having larva means a lot to me. I lost my family in the fire last fall and I didn’t have anywhere to go. If it weren’t for you and your family, I think I’d be dead or doing something to earn butter bucks like selling hypnotizing honey from the bees. I’m ready to start a family to prove I can do this. Take care of you, of us! BLUE
I know and I get it…you want a family but this can wait. We still have tons of time. Going to the butterfly academy will be a big accomplishment. Before I got sent to summer camp my life was terrible, I wasn’t attending pre-butter classes. I went into depression. I shut everyone out…I even stopped flying. Now that I’m done with summer camp, I’m ready to get back on track with my life.
GREEN
So what you’re saying is that life with me before camp was hell, ‘cause I mean you did stay with me before the fire.
BLUE
That’s not what I’m saying.
GREEN
(raising voice) Well, that’s what it seems like! (Blue gets frightened & turns away.) Look, I don’t have much time is what I’m basically trying to say, ok? (softens up, approaches Blue) I almost died in that fire and everyday isn’t a promise, especially during winter. This is my only chance to start a family, Blue. I thought you’d understand out of everyone. Guess not. (sad / looks down / cries…makes the audience want to cry) BLUE
Green, are you crying? (gives him a hug) What will it mean to you?
GREEN
(sniffles) I’ll feel loved…
BLUE
But I love you.
GREEN
I know, but it’s different. I’ll feel content. I don’t want to feel empty, hopeless, unloved, uneasy. BLUE
But how do you know that this will solve things…? It could make things worse.
GREEN
We won’t know until we try.
BLUE
I’m…I’m… (not harsh but kind of like “what a relief”) I’m AFRAID!
GREEN
I didn’t know you felt that way.
BLUE
Because I never told you and I thought you kind of knew because I’ve brushed it off over the past year that we’ve been dating and it came up. Aren’t you afraid?
GREEN
Yeah, I know we’re young and it scares me sometimes, but how do you know you’ll be good at something if you never try?
BLUE
Exactly, how do I know if I never try? This is the time for me to at least try and go to school and do something with my life, be someone. In my family only 3 went to butterfly academy and only 1 graduated. I want to be the 2nd, but…
GREEN
But I can take care of you, I have butter bucks and a job. You won’t even have to work, you could just stay home and take care of our larva.
BLUE
How about we wait till I finish my 2 years of academy? Even though I really wanted to transfer to an international academy. We need to prepare and a lot of time to think this over.
GREEN
(smiles) Then…?
BLUE
I’ll move in with you and have larva. |
