Children: Another six-act play

 

Characters:

 

8 children – The ones who forever seek dominance…(also known as 'kids')

Observer: The one who comments on the way of the World...

 

***

Prologue

(Enter Observer)

 

Time:

 

Curious creatures, children are.

They seem to travel wide and far

Fail to grasp, yet try to grasp.

Try to decide, yet cannot decide.

They spill power childishly, which flows down,

Down like blood into the dark abyss.

They try to be important, yet remain unimportant.

Thus the lions cry and sob for prey...

And fall down into the abyss of 'power'

The everlasting, dark and deep abyss called 'power'...

                                                                                

                                                                                               [Exit.

 

***

 

Act 1

 

Scene 1

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children. 

(They stand in the middle of the field.)

 

 

 

Kid 1: Let’s go this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

 

(Moments of silence. A wind blows whimsically.)

 

Kid 3: Let’s go that way.

Kid 1: (deeply sighs) Alright. Let’s go that way.

 

                                                                           [Exeunt.

 

 

 Scene 2

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

 

Kid 2: Let’s go that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

 

(Moments of silence. A flock of crows crow aloud – as if laughing…)

 

Kid 5: Let’s go this way.

Kid 2: (anguished) Fine. This way.

 

                                                           [Exeunt.

 

 

 Scene 3

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

 Kid 8: Let’s go this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

 

(Moments of silence. A wind blows whimsically…)

 

Kid 1: Let’s go that way.

Kid 8: (deeply sighs) Alright. Let’s go that way.

 

                                                                                   [Exeunt.

 

 

 

Scene 4

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

Kid 7: Let’s go that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows caw aloud – as if laughing…)

 

Kid 2: Let’s go this way.

Kid 7: (anguished) Fine. That way.

 

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

***

 

Act 2

 

Scene 1

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 3: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

 

(Moments of silence. A group of children laugh aloud..)

 

Kid 1: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 3: (deeply sighs) Okay. Cricket.

    

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 2

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 4: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows disappears into the night sky, cawing laughingly...)

 

Kid 6: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 4: (anguished) Agreed. Soccer then.

 

                                                                     [Exeunt.

 

 

 

Scene 3

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 6: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

 

(Moments of silence. A group of children laugh aloud…)

 

Kid 8: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 6: (deeply sighs) Okay. Cricket.

 

                                                               [Exeunt.

 

 

 

 Scene 4

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 5: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows disappears…)

 

Kid 3: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 5: (anguished) Agreed. Soccer then.

 

                                                                     [Exeunt.

 

 

***

 

Act 3

 

Scene 1

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 1: Let’s go this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

 

(Moments of silence. A wind blows whimsically.)

 

Kid 4: Let’s go that way.

Kid 1: (deeply sighs) Alright. Let’s go that way.

 

                                                                           [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 2

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 8: Let’s go that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

 

(Moments of silence. A flock of crows crow aloud – as if laughing…)

 

Kid 6: Let’s go this way.

Kid 8: (anguished) Fine. This way.

 

                                                       [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 3

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 5: Let’s go this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

 

(Moments of silence. A wind blows whimsically…)

 

Kid 3: Let’s go that way.

Kid 5: (deeply sighs) Alright. Let’s go that way.

 

                                                                                   [Exeunt.

 

 

 Scene 4

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 4: Let’s go that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows caw aloud – as if laughing…)

 

Kid 2: Let’s go this way.

Kid 4: (anguished) Fine. That way.

 

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

***

Interlude

(Enter Observer)

 

 

 

Observer:

 

Curious creatures, children are.

They seem to travel wide and far

Fail to grasp, yet try to grasp.

Try to decide, yet cannot decide.

They spill power childishly, which flows down,

Down like blood into the dark abyss.

They try to be important, yet remain unimportant.

Thus, the lions cry and sob for prey...

And fall down into the abyss of 'power'

The everlasting, dark and deep abyss called 'power'...

The abyss in which kingdoms fall,

The abyss which makes the dark past alive…

 

                                                                                [Exit.

***

Act 4

Scene 1

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

 

Kid 7: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

 

(Moments of silence. A group of children laugh aloud..)

 

Kid 4: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 7: (deeply sighs) Okay. Soccer.

 

                                                              [Exeunt.

 

 

 

 

Scene 2

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 6: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

 

(Moments of silence. A group of children laugh aloud...)

 

Kid 8: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 6: (deeply sighs) Okay. Cricket.

    

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 3

(A morning at the school playground)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 2: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows disappears…)

 

Kid 5: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 2: (anguished) Agreed. Soccer then.

 

                                                                      [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 4

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

Kid 6: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

 

(Moments of silence. A group of children laugh aloud…)

 

Kid 3: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 6: (deeply sighs) Okay. Cricket.

 

                                                              [Exeunt.

 

 ***

 

Act 5

 

Scene 1

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 4: Let’s go that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows caw aloud – as if laughing…)

 

Kid 1: Let’s go this way.

Kid 4: (anguished) Fine. This way.

 

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 2

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

    

 

Kid 8: Let’s go this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

 

(Moments of silence. A wind blows whimsically…)

 

Kid 2: Let’s go that way.

Kid 8: (deeply sighs) Alright. Let’s go that way.

 

                                                                                   [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 3

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 3: Let’s go that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows caw aloud – as if laughing…)

 

Kid 6: Let’s go this way.

Kid 3: (anguished) Fine. This way.

 

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 4

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 6: Let’s go this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 1: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

 

(Moments of silence. A wind blows whimsically…)

 

Kid 5: Let’s go that way.

Kid 6: (deeply sighs) Alright. Let’s go that way.

 

                                                                                   [Exeunt.

 

***

Act 6

Scene 1

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

 

 

Kid 6: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

 

(Moments of silence. A group of children laugh aloud..)

 

Kid 2: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 6: (deeply sighs) Okay. Cricket.

    

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

 

 

Scene 2

(A morning at the school playground.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 1: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows disappears…)

 

Kid 3: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 1: (anguished) Agreed. Soccer then.

 

                                                                     [Exeunt.

 

 

Scene 3

(An evening at a street.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

Kid 7: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 5: No, cricket.

 

(Moments of silence. A group of children laugh aloud..)

 

Kid 6: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 7: (deeply sighs) Okay. Cricket.

    

                                                                    [Exeunt.

 

 

 

Scene 4

(Dusk falls in a street. A local park.)

 

Enter the eight children.

 

 

 

Kid 5: Let’s play cricket.

Kid 4: No, soccer.

Kid 6: No, cricket.

Kid 8: No, soccer.

Kid 7: No, cricket.

Kid 2: No, soccer.

Kid 3: No, cricket.

Kid 1: No, soccer.

Kid 2: No, cricket.

Kid 5: No, soccer.

Kid 8: No, cricket.

Kid 7: No, soccer.

Kid 4: No, cricket.

Kid 6: No, soccer.

Kid 1: No, cricket.

Kid 3: No, soccer.

 

(Moments of silence. A murder of crows disappears…)

 

Kid 3: Let’s play soccer.

Kid 1: (anguished) Agreed. Soccer then.

 

(Moments of silence. The darkness grows on…)

 

Kid 1: Let’s go this way.

Kid 4: No, that way.

Kid 5: No, this way.

Kid 2: No, that way.

Kid 7: No, this way.

Kid 8: No, that way.

Kid 6: No, this way.

Kid 3: No, that way.

Kid 2: No, this way.

Kid 5: No, that way.

Kid 8: No, this way.

Kid 6: No, that way.

Kid 4: No, this way.

Kid 1: No, that way.

Kid 3: No, this way.

Kid 7: No, that way.

 

(Moments of silence. A wind blows whimsically.)

 

Kid 8: Let’s go that way.

Kid 1: (deeply sighs) Alright. Let’s go that way.

 

                                                                                 [Exeunt.

 

 

Winds: (voices overlapping over one another)

 

They go and fall…

They go and fall…

Into the void…

Into the void…

They go and fall…

They go and fall…

Into the void…

Into the void…

 

                                                                     [Exeunt.

 

***

Epilogue

(Enter Observer)

 

 

Time:

 

Curious creatures, children are.

They seem to travel wide and far

Fail to grasp, yet try to grasp.

Try to decide, yet cannot decide.

They spill power childishly, which flows down,

Down like blood into the dark abyss...

They try to be important, yet remain unimportant.

Thus the lions cry and sob for prey,

And fall down into the abyss of 'power'

The everlasting, dark and deep abyss called 'power'...

                                                                                

                                                                                               [Exit.

 

***