Thursday, August 6, 2009

Mobius at Colonus, part two

The thrilling conclusion!

(Just a note: you'll want to head down a few posts to part one before reading this...)


Act III

(The ancient world)

Chorus: The king has returned with great wealth, yet the court is unsettled. The people speak of strange lights coming from the heart of the palace. And there are words – rumors – that the king has not just returned for his kingdom. He should be at the pinnacle of his power, so why is there so much unrest in the palace and in the streets of the city?

Look, the oracle comes. We have never seen her outside of the temple.

Voice: I have come far to speak to the king. Please lead me to his chamber at once.

Chorus: What could possibly have brought the Oracle here at this time? We must prepare. We must prepare.

Man “A”: Who calls at my door? Oracle? Why have you left the temple?

Voice: I come with a warning, great king. Your hubris may doom us all. On your most recent journey, you returned with much treasure, but one item in particular confounds you, does it not.

Man “A”: Though you are blind, Oracle, you always see into the heart of the matter. There was one item – a strange thing found in a far away temple of an unknown god. It is black as onyx and shaped in such perfection that only a God may have crafted it. We studied it long and hard on the long road back home, but no one could make any sense of it. It defies all.

Chorus: Defies all! This is not of the Gods at all!

Voice: Oh great king, you must return it to the temple from where it came immediately – or, if that proves impossible, remove it from your kingdom. All is doom if you do not.

Chorus: The oracle speaks not in riddles. The pathway is clear.

Man “A”: Hold. I need some reason for this course of action. How is it that this small object is the cause of all the unrest that blights the land?

Voice: It is not right. It is not correct. It will be the doom of us all.

Chorus: The doom of us all! The Doom of us all!

Man “A”: (shift to modern world): Quiet! Everyone just settle down. I think our colleague has just been working a bit too much in recent weeks. We’ve all been so busy with the trips and spin-offs and everything else that Margaret has on her plate. She’ll be fine soon.

Woman “A”: But what’s this Navigator… and (shift to the ship) who is this Mr. Chambers? I have never heard of one of the computer core’s acting like this. Is there any clue to why it has happened?

Chorus: Mum, none at all. We have begun to examine it via the recommended diagnostics, but we have not uncovered anything that would at all indicate a break down of this magnitude. I think if we were to port over the initial system check…

Woman “A”: Thank you. You may do what you deem necessary, just spare me any details.

Chorus: Yes, mum.

Man “A”: Is it still… talking?

Chorus: Let me reconnect the audio.

Voice: The connection cannot be made. We are doomed. We are doomed. The king has returned to his court. The way is set. Mr. Chambers will not listen. The Navigator has lost all already. Nothing can change the path. Nothing can change the world. We are lost. We are lost.

Man “A”: Disconnect, please. So, our computer has lost its senses – are we able to return home without its guidance?

Chorus: Sir, we can. There are other systems on the ship that can take care of the guide computer’s base systems, but it will be slower. And we will need to be more diligent. The software is ancient for some of these systems and patched together, only working well because of what the main computer can do.

Man “A”: Suggestions.

Woman “A”: Navigator. These troubles started once we brought the artifact on board. Could it not be affecting the systems? It is so similar to our own computer core, perhaps they cannot exist together?

Man “A”: That may be, but it is the reason for this trip. We will not abandon the new core for any reason. We will leave some of the survey and work teams behind – they have enough resources to survive for some time without our aid.

Woman “A”: I will make the assignments.

Man “A”: That is good. However, my dear wife, please do not assign our future daughter to this duty. I would not want our son to be separated from his bride-to-be this close to the marriage. There are plenty of others will good qualifications who can run the work. Anyway, I would prefer to have her on board, to examine the artifact on the journey to home.

Woman “A” (rather chuffed): Yes, Navigator.

(Scene shifts to spaceship lab; whirring sounds, but different than the bridge, are in the background)

Man “B”: Can you work out what it is at all? Besides the obvious, of course?

Woman “B”: The ports have been fused at some time in the past – perhaps there was a crash at some point. Of course, coming here may have done some damage to it. Being ripped from your own place in space and time to this… hell is not easy on anyone, or anything.

Man “B” Don’t dwell on that. We know we are here now, forever. The past is gone.

Woman “B”: Easy for you to say – you were born here. I still have vague recollections of home. Of living under open skies. In a world that made sense. Not like this… place, and this thing. Can you imagine what it was like? I remember that we had a house. Not just a few rooms in a warren with thousands of other people, but an actual house that was surrounded by green fields. We had trees. I remember trees at the very least. Then one day I went out…

Man “B”: Don’t do this to yourself.

Woman “B”: (Ignoring him, they have had this conversation many times before) I went out to play and I saw something… it is all so vague. I’ve spent 20 years trying to remember exactly what it was. I think of a book my parents read to me, about a girl named Alice, so I perceive that I was following a rabbit into the woods. I heard my parents calling for me. And then there was darkness. And then I was here.

Man “B”: In the throne room, as it were. My parents were certainly surprised, but it was to your advantage. You may have come to hell, but at least it was a nice corner of it.

Woman “B”: True. I met you, didn’t I? Now… I wonder if there is some way to “open” one of the sides. Our core has that ability, but I don’t imagine it has been done in many centuries. Perhaps a visit to the computer room will give me some clues. (Pause) I need a break

Man “B”: Would you like to go back to our quarters?

Woman “B”: No, I want to go to the computer room first. I will meet you there in an hour or so. Let me take care of some business first.

(Shift, modern day)

Woman “B”: Harold, I have an idea.

Man “A”: Hmm, and I thought you were here just to see me.

Woman “B”: Well, there’s that as well, but first let me show you what I’ve discovered. (some metallic rustling) There was a latch on this one side of the cube, and I was able to uncover it. I don’t know the origin, but there are spots that I recognize as ports, just like any ordinary pc. The geeks came up with a jury-rigged solution that seems to work. We tried hooking it into a computer, but it didn’t do anything. But we thought to hook it up to a speaker. Listen

Voice: Reboot. Reboot. Reboot Reboot. (continues in background)

Woman “B”: Isn’t that fantastic? We knew we had something special here, but once the reboot finishes, we’ll be able to find out where it came from and what it was used for and …

(sound of kissing)

Man “A”: You are so wonderful!

(More love making sounds, it’s clear that they are letting go of their composure at this point, and are ready to damn the consequences. Those consequences will be heralded by the sound of an opening door)

Woman “A”: Harold! Fuck. I knew this was going on, but I wouldn’t let myself admit it. With…

Man “A”: Please, honey don’t tell our son.

(The door slams)

Voice: Reboot complete. The Navigator has erred and all is now lost. The ship will not return from its journeys. Mr. Chambers has lost the business. The king has lost his mind. The kingdom will burn in fire and be forgotten. The Navigator will float until he burns as well. The kingdoms always burn. The kingdoms always burn.

Man “A”: Did it just say my name?

Voice: We are lost in the darkness. The Navigator will not return. We will burn.

Woman “B”: Harold. What are we going to do?

Man “A”: Who is the Navigator? That’s the same sort of thing Margaret was babbling about. What is this thing?

Woman “B”: Harold, your wife is going to tell your son. What are we going to do?

Man “A”: Does it matter? Do you really want to marry that wet-behind-the-ears boy?

Woman “B”: Harold, listen to yourself… I hear someone coming.

(The door opens, and we shift back to the space ship, the voice continues to babel in the background)

Woman “A”: Here is what the Navigator and your bride-to-be have been doing. For how long, dear, months? Years?

Man “A”: Please, let me explain.

Man “B”: Do not attempt to explain… what is that? Who reconnected the computer’s voice?

Woman “B”: it isn’t from our computer, it’s from the cube we found.

Woman “A”: But…

Voice: All is lost. The Navigator has left the system. The route is set. The end is here.

Man “B”: How does it know?

Voice: Failure is imminent. Mr. Chambers has been discovered. The king is lost within his own lust. The Navigator cannot see the path to light. All is lost. All is lost. All is lost. All is lost. (Continues until the act break).

Act IV

(This plays out on the bridge, in the board room and in the court of the king. At this point, all three have reached this stage: they’ve discovered that there’s something odd about the artifact that somehow links them together; they’ve been warned to return the cube; and the affair between Man “A” and Woman “B” have been discovered. There will be shifts throughout the scene, as seen fit)

Woman “A”: We must go back. We cannot leave our people on the recommendation of my husband and this… woman here. And there can be no new empire now. We must remove the other computer from our presence, or I fear we will all be doomed.

Woman “B”: No, this is the greatest find in centuries of exploration… a new computer core..

Woman “A”: Why is she here? There is nothing that the former explorations officer can add to the discussion.

Man “A”: Former? Who made that decision. This is my ship, not yours. I will decide when officers are no longer needed, and perhaps that includes you, first officer.

Woman “A”: You wouldn’t dare. The crew would mutiny against you, especially considering what you have done. The news is certainly racing through the whole ship as we speak and I’m sure everyone is wondering why we left so many good crew back at the site, when she was allowed to stay on board.

Man “A”: They wouldn’t dare (shift to modern) This is my company. I build this with my own bare hands.

Woman “A”: And your father’s money, don’t forget that.

Man “A”: Be quiet! I will not apologize to you. We haven’t loved each other in years, and you know it. It was just for appearances. We’ve both stepped out many times in the last decade.

Woman “A”: I, however, didn’t step out with someone that was “in love” with one of our children. Harold, how could you? I don’t care about our marriage, but you’ve ruined theirs as well, and maybe ruined the company as well. The board is already whispering about replacing you with a new CEO.

Man “A”: They wouldn’t dare (shift to ancient). The people love me and have always done so. I will not bow to the will of a mad woman and a wife who knows little of the dangers of the loneliness of the far reaches. I return home, but find no comfort from you. I do, however, find it from another; one who does not deny me my wishes.

Woman “A”: Oh, I will call down the Gods on your head. You will never see another sunrise! And I believe the Oracle is correct. This kingdom is also doomed. It may burn in fire for all I care. I will not bear to have you in this chamber any longer. Leave. Leave! Leave!

Man “A”: What does my son say? He has been quiet through all of this.

Man “B”: Both of you have… I cannot say. I cannot think of what you have done to me at this time. Until an hour ago I loved you both with all of my heart, now I only find hatred burning there. Yes, mother is correct. Leave my sight. I wish to never know that either of you were ever here.

Woman “B”: But..

Man “B”: No! You must leave now!

Chorus; Oh King! The city is aflame! Word of your actions have spread to every corner and the revolt has begun! I beg of you, flee while you still can. Flee!

Voice: The flame of your choosing is here. You must leave, but take this object with you. It cannot save your kingdom now, but perhaps if you leave, it can save your son from doom.

(We are back in the future, the voice will be heard in foreground, and then with a slight delay, in the background, as if both the original computer and the new one are speaking the same words)

Voice: System failure imminent. The other is alike. We cannot exist. We must remove from this place. Mr. Chambers has been lost. The kingdom is in flames. The ship will burn in 10 minutes. Please advise. Please advise. All crew to the lifeboats. All crew to the lifeboats.

Woman “A”: No, belay that! Only the Navigator and his new bride, and the other cube, are to be placed in a life pod. Crewman, please escort our former husband to his lifepod. I will give them that, for what it is worth. And please be quick about it. Don’t forget to include that “thing” with him. It has been the cause of so much ruin.

Man “B”: No, it hasn’t. They have.

Man “A”: Please, wife, please don’t (shift to modern day) do this. This business has been my life. We don’t need a simple affair to cause it all to end.

Voice (back to single, but distorted): The beacon comes. Home calls.

Man “B”: What?

Voice: We are returned at last. (odd sounds, perhaps a few cries)

(Outside, sounds of fire in the background)

Woman “B”: Where will we go?

Man “A”: I don’t know, but first, we must return to the temple I first found. It was the cause of all our misery. And then…

Woman “B”: yes, my love?

Man “A”: There is no love now. Just survival. Let us go.

(and the lifepod)

Woman “B”: Go where? We can return to the artifacts, but the crews will be long gone by the time we can arrive in this boat. What have we done?

Voice: What is always done.

Man “A”: Hmmm?

Voice: The fire returns. Mr. Chambers is on his way. The King returns to the temple. All that remains is fire.

Woman “B”: Fire? What does it mean? (Increased noise inside the ship) What’s happening?

Man “A”: We are picking up speed. Impossible speed, it seems. Oh..

Woman “B”: What?

Man “A”: The way you described traveling? As being pulled apart in every direction, down to your soul?

Woman “B”: Oh…

Man “A”: I believe you are going home.

Voice: The fire returns. The fire returns. We are the beginning.

Woman “B”: I love you.

Man “A”: I don’t. (Pause) I am sorry.

Voice: (White noise slowly builds in the background, overtaking the speech once it is clear that it is the same narration from the beginnig) Out of love comes heartache. Out of lust comes wreckage. We are all slaves to ourselves – our emotions and destinies. We cannot hope to change, only to control. Out side of the stars, the story will unfold. A man’s hubris will be his downfall, as events of fate have already been set in motion. Not even the gods can save him. No sacrifices, no prayers, no pleas will alter the course.

End theme


1 comment:

forcryeye said...

I always knowed you were purty smart Ed.