Captain’s Log : Scene 4
Once more into the unknown!
It’s been a busy year! Even with it being summer, things only recently slowed down!
I’ve been typing away at a few different things and I am currently going through a major editing/rewrite push with the full manuscript of Cordolium. So, while that’s happening, I figured I’d revisit the play, Captain’s Log!
Enjoy scene 4!
SCENE 4
The stage is now the surface of a barren alien
world. There are some rocks and small vegetation
scattered about. The away team enters from
offstage with LINUX leading them. He is scanning
the area. EDWARD is next, carrying a large bouquet
of flowers. Unbeknownst to the other members of the
away mission, his large laser rifle is hidden in
the flowers. QUINARRA is at his side. The others
bring up the rear.
EDWARD
Sally, are we there yet?
SALLY
Why don’t you ask the one in the lead.
LINUX
We are close, sir. The signals keep disappearing though.
EDWARD
Doctor, did you bring any snacks?
PIPER
No. Just a first aid kit. You can eat when we get back.
EDWARD
But I’m hungry now. We’ve been walking forever.
SALLY
Maybe you wouldn’t be so tired if you didn’t insist on carrying a huge bouquet of flowers.
EDWARD
These flowers are a peace offering. You insisted this was a peaceful mission, so here’s me being peaceful.
QUINARRA
Captain, just so you know, my people do not have flowers on their homeworld and do not care for them, so this kind of offering would be futile.
EDWARD
Well at least they look pretty.
WYATT
I don’t want to be here.
MALCOLM
Neither do I. We have an important mission at hand and this is a waste of time.
SALLY
Quiet guys, we don’t want to upset the local animal life.
EDWARD
This planet is uninhabited, Sally.
SALLY
By intelligent life. It still has creatures that can’t form sentient thought. Like wild animals. And you.
EDWARD
If a wild animal were about to pounce on us, I’d know. I have keen senses, commander. Sharp, focused. Like the eyes of a mole.
MARY-ANNE
Aren’t moles blind?
EDWARD
How do they see in the dark tunnels then?
At this moment there is a loud sound of a creature
growling. It sounds large and scary. The crew
reacts.
WYATT
Oh, no, what was that?
LINUX
Scanners are picking up a creature coming this way.
WYATT
No duh!
PIPER
Where is it?
The creature growls again.
It rumbles and sounds closer.
EDWARD
I don’t know, but it sounds like something that could earn me a medal.
MALCOLM
You must protect us at all costs!
EDWARD
Stand back, Quinarra. I’ll protect you with my crew’s lives!
SALLY
Hey!
Edward rips the laser from the flowers.
SALLY (CONT.)
Really?!
EDWARD
Sally, shh, I’m trying to stand confidently. Ensign Wyatt, prepare to throw yourself at the mercy of the beast.
SALLY
Get ready to owe me $20, Piper.
A small creature pops up from behind a rock. It is
controlled by a stage hand. It is small and
adorable. It looks at the crew.
WYATT
Oh, thank goodness.
LINUX
Fascinating.
MARY-ANNE
What is it?
LINUX
It’s a rare specimen. With no higher lifeforms on this planet, it has not developed a fear of predators. Being this close to it is rare.
MARY-ANNE
It’s rather cute.
EDWARD
I got this.
It lets out a cute cry. Edward fires. The creature
explodes.
LINUX
Oh.
EDWARD
Check out that shot! You all saw how it was coming right for us?
MARY-ANNE
You could have hit us!
EDWARD
You’re welcome for saving your lives. Sally, take note. High command will want to hear about this. I may get another medal.
SALLY
Give me that! (She rips the gun out of his hand.) What did I say?
LINUX
Sir, I must register my disapproval. That was a unique specimen.
EDWARD
So collect it for research. Here. Wyatt! Go get the dead creature.
WYATT
I don’t want to.
EDWARD
I said fetch! (He grabs WYATT and pulls him forward.)
PIPER
Guys, focus. Who’s that?
The crew turns to see 3 hooded figures enter from
stage left.
WYATT
Oh man!
EDWARD
Sally, gun!
SALLY
I can’t believe I’m doing this. (She hands him the gun.)
EDWARD
Stop right there. In case you don’t know who I am, I’m the man who needs no introduction. Hi, I’m Captain Edward Smith. You are interfering with an official mission. I am going to have to ask you to not take another step closer.
The lead figure takes a step forward.
EDWARD (CONT.)
I warned you.
EDWARD fires a shot from the rifle. We hear the
sound and watch as the figure recoils from the
hit, but he does not fall down. EDWARD fires
multiple shots. The figure stays standing.
MALCOLM
This isn’t working. We need to get out of here. We’re endangering the mission.
LINUX
It would appear they are wearing body armor resistant to our weapons. I suggest hand-to-hand combat.
EDWARD
Right. You heard him, Wyatt. Get in there.
WYATT
ME?
EDWARD
You got this. (Whispers to the others.) While they beat on him we’ll surround them and take them out.
WYATT, nervous steps forward and strikes a
fighting pose. One of the figures pulls of a small
box and hands it to the lead figure. He holds it
out.
SALLY
What’s that?
The figure pushes a button and the box turns
into a gun. He takes aim at WYATT.
PIPER
Somebody do something!
EDWARD
Wyatt, do something!
MALCOLM
We have to leave. I will not let these thugs prevent me from completing my mission.
The figure takes aim and fires. WYATT drops to the
ground.
WYATT
I don’t want to die!
MALCOLM grabs his chest.
MALCOLM
I’m hit! They prevented me from completing my mission!
He falls over, dead.
WYATT
I’m alive!
The figure takes aim again.
WYATT (CONT.)
Uh-oh!
EDWARD
(He grabs QUINARRA by the arm and begins to run.) Protect the ambassador! I got her! Out of the way!
EDWARD and QUINARRA run off. LINUX seizes the
opportunity and rushes one of the figures.
They tussle, during which LINUX is injured
but he disarms the figure and throws the
gun to the ground.
MARY-ANNE
Linux!
The figure lands one last hit and turns to flee.
MARY-ANNE runs to LINUX and he kneels down.
PIPER
What do we do?
SALLY
I don’t know!
PIPER
Think, Sally. You’re the commander!
SALLY
Right! Everyone, get what you can and get back to the shuttle. We’re evacuating. Now. Move!
WYATT drags MALCOLM’s body off while MARY-ANNE
helps LINUX across the stage. They all exit and
the lights fade away.
