© 2014 by Jon Wai-keung Lowe
Directed by Aeron Macintyre

Featuring Kelli Crump and Christian Haines

LAUREL studies what seems to be a handkerchief, floating
in a puddle. ARAM can be heard approaching from way,
way, way offstage. LAUREL steps quietly behind a tree.
ARAM
(entering)
Ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod!
Laurel grabs him before he can step into the puddle.
LAUREL
Careful.
ARAM
Holy fucking Jesus, they are actually trying kill us!
LAUREL
(checks for followers)
Yeah, kinda! Maybe if you’re going to curse, try to keep your voice down.
ARAM
Sorry, I’ve never seen anyone get motherfucking slaughtered like–
LAUREL
You know, they can’t use the footage if you swear. No screentime, no sponsors.
(SHE smiles and waves to an unseen camera.)
Also, the other tributes will hear you and then they will come here and then they
will kill us.
ARAM
Shit, you’re—I mean, “yes, you’re right.”
LAUREL
(sizing him up)
I’m Laurel. District 11.
ARAM
I’m Aram, from 10.
LAUREL
Aram? Isn’t that a kind of Middle Eastern pocket sandwich?
ARAM
What? No. How did you even get ahead of me? I was running hard, and you’re
not even out of breath.
LAUREL
You’ve been running in a circle for the last 20 minutes. I’ve been listening to
you go around and around.
ARAM
Oh, this is the absolute best. Fu–udge! Fudge me!
He turns, and she catches again.
LAUREL
That’s quicksand, there.
ARAM
You saved me.
LAUREL
Technically, twice.
ARAM
But only one of us can live. Two tributes from each district, but only one victor!
LAUREL
They’ve changed the rules before. The only constant is you’ve got to give them a
good show.
(ARAM smiles unconvincingly and waves where he
imagines a camera might be. LAUREL redirects him.)
I’m hoping for… well, I dunno. Do I look brave? I don’t want to kill anyone. I
think if I could just get the payload from that parachute–
ARAM
A sponsor already sent you a parachute? Is your family rich?
LAUREL
It was meant for that girl from District 3. She’d been bragging all week about
how many sponsors she’d lined up, and then…
(She gives him a look.)
ARAM
Shiii—p. Wreck. Shipwreck.
LAUREL
Better her than us, I guess. So, you wanna team up?
ARAM
Just like that? I might kill you in your sleep. Or you me.
LAUREL
We know how it is: every winter the twelve districts send a boy and a girl to the
Games. The whole nation watches as twenty-four kids battle it out til a victor
emerges. Yeah, one of us might betray the other, but I don’t think brute force is
either of our fortes. Besides, if I wanted you dead, I would have let you fall into
the quicksand.
ARAM
Thank you. I didn’t say that before.
LAUREL
Don’t thank me yet. We need a plan. Neither of us has the physical skills to
compete against those Master Race featherpluckers from Districts 1 and 2.
Sorry. Just being realistic.
ARAM
It’s fine. I didn’t think I’d make it this far.
LAUREL
If you help me get that parachute, I’ll split whatever’s in the payload with you.
ARAM
What do you think it is?
LAUREL
Based on the intended recipient, it might just be a dozen shades of lip gloss, but
maybe we could burn it for warmth or something. I don’t freaking know! I just
need to accomplish something before I lose my freaking ship out here!
ARAM
Okay, okay, okay. So, I supposed you’ve tried poking it with a stick?
LAUREL
Yeah, that was not a success. The ‘chute is so heavy or the quicksand is sucking
it down or something. The stick broke, and I nearly got a faceful of mud.
ARAM
What about making some kind of a bridge?
LAUREL
Oh, okay. Lemme get my welding helmet. It’s right over what the fudge are you
talking about?
ARAM
Well, if the pit is about yay wide, that log might span it. How’s your back?
LAUREL
I lift with my knees. Come on.
ARAM
(As they maneuver the log around the puddle:)
I can’t see where I’m stepping. Do you know where the edge is?
LAUREL
Uh, go slow! SLOWER!
ARAM
Sorry! Sorry! [Ad-libbing as necessary: “Here?” “Have you got it?” “How
about—?”] Ready? Three, two, one!
(They set the log down with a grunt.)
LAUREL
This might actually work. Somehow, we both made it through the first day—
almost– of the Games. Half the other players are dead.
ARAM
In a way, you could say we’re halfway there. All we have to do is stay in the top
half of whoever’s left.
LAUREL
Right? We don’t have to always be the best. Just stay ahead of the worst.
ARAM
One person should brace it, so it doesn’t roll.
LAUREL
Okay, you go. I think I’ve already proven I’m not going to dunk you.
They take positions. ARAM makes his way out to the center.
ARAM
(gets a splinter)
Ow! Fuck!
(Laurel gamely waves at a camera.)
ARAM
The log! Brace the log!
(recovering)
Okay, just a little bit further… I’ve almost got it… Laurel.
LAUREL
What? Why are you talking instead of crawling?
ARAM
Did you see the payload come down with the parachute?
LAUREL
Yeah, I pointed it out to that girl. She was right behind me when she got…
ARAM
I’m sorry. The mud must be too strong for the parachute cords. There’s nothing
but the ‘chute.
LAUREL
The temperature is gonna drop when the sun goes down. We’d better make
some shelter happen.
ARAM
Together?

LAUREL grasps his hand. They both wave to the unseen
cameras.

Advertisement