d.h.bryce

Here is Part 2 to "A Red Star on the Horizon" Word Count: 1894

SCENE 3

Lights up. CANDANCE, HOLLY, and ALEX at dinner table.

CANDANCE: And then in English today I proved to the entire class that I could walk! I got the teacher to put two rows of desks together so that I could get up and hold myself with up with my arms, and walk to the other end of the classroom. Sure it took me five minutes, but I got there, and you should have seen Brett Farson’s face. He told me it was the coolest thing that he’d ever see anyone do, and he doesn’t say anything nice to anybody!
HOLLY: That’s wonderful sweetheart, isn’t it Alex?
ALEX: Yes, wonderful, and speaking of Brett Farson’s face, does he still have those awful warts?
CANDANCE: Ya, but he says that he’s getting them removed next week.
ALEX: Thank goodness, sometimes I have to refrain from kissing the little blighter myself in hopes of turning his frog features into a prince complexion.

General laughter. HOLLY gets up and takes some plates to the kitchen.

(ALEX): After all, you should be thankful I married your mother or she’d still be in that smelly swamp. Then again, without makeup these days she’d give old Chewbacca a run for his-

HOLLY re-enters.

(ALEX): Honey, thanks for clearing the table.
HOLLY: Hey, I only clear it, you’re the one washing tonight.
ALEX: Sounds like a barrel of wookies.
HOLLY: What?
ALEX: Barrel of monkeys, and speaking of, how did your trip to the hospital go today Candance? I’m sure it was a blast.
CANDANCE: (Less cheery) Oh, well the doctor said everything was okay. He wants to run a few more tests next week.
HOLLY: I’m sorry I couldn’t go with you today but you remembered that I had a meeting.
CANDANCE: Ya, I remembered. The bus dropped me off and picked me up on time for once.
ALEX: Well there’s some good news. Anyway, I best be leaving my queen and my princess to fulfill my duty as royal dish-washer.
CANDANCE: Well, I think I’m off to bed anyways. See you tomorrow dad. Night mom.
ALEX: Sweet Dreams.
HOLLY: Goodnight sweetheart.

CANDANCE exits and scene changes to CANDANCE’S bedroom. Wheels to
table and starts writing.

CANDANCE: Dear diary, today I got up not knowing what to expect. I got dressed and went to school, where I proved to my classmates that I really can walk. It felt awesome, just knowing that I managed to get all the way across the room without some stupid chair. But all of that went away when gym class came and we were told that “dance” was our next unit. For the whole hour I say there and watched everybody have a fun time while I sat in a corner not even able to tap my toes. What made my day even worse was that I was forced to go to the doctors after school. Mom was at a meeting and dad was at work, so I was all by myself. It was scary. The really bad part is that I heard the doctor talking to the nurse, and he said something about phoning my house later tonight. I think he also said something about automatic something or other. I don’t know what it means, but it doesn’t sound good. I got away as fast as I could, and when I got home I took the phone off of the hook. I didn’t want to tell mom or dad about it because it would probably worry them, and they’ve had quite enough worrying lately. Looking back on it now I think I really should have stayed and taken my medication. Oh dear, I was planning on writing more, but I’ve just been so weak lately. I think I’m going to go to bed now, even though it’s only eight thirty. What am I saying? I can’t go to sleep, it’s so bright and hot outside. I can hardly see. Wait, I think something’s coming. A sort of light, but as it gets closer it’s getting darker. It says my time is up. What does that mean? My time is up? Wait, can’t I say goodbye?

SHE trails off at the end of the sentence and folds head on desk, arm falls limp and she dies. After a beat a RED STAR appears and “Amor De Mi Alma” starts playing. CANDANCE wakes up. SHE has an excited expression on her face after she realizes what happened and she stands up from the WHEELCHAIR. SHE walks around the room getting used to her new ability and the runs to her bed. SHE grabs her teddy bear and jumps up and down in excitement.

(CANDANCE): Teddy, look! I’m walking, I’m really walking! We’ve got to show mom and dad!

SHE runs to her parents room and wakes them up in a flurry of excitement. Music fades

CANDANCE: Mom, Dad! Look at me! I’m walking, I’m really walking!
ALEX: Candance, is that you? Go back to sleep and show us in the morning.
CANDANCE: You don’t understand. Get up and look.

CANDANCE tears the sheets off of their bed. HOLLY gets up, rubs HER eyes, looks astonished, and taps ALEX.

HOLLY: Alex, you’re not going to believe this. Get up!
ALEX: What’s going on?
CANDANCE: Look daddy. I can walk!
ALEX: I don’t believe it.
HOLLY: Sweetie, are you feeling all right?
CANDANCE: All right? I’m better than all right! I could run a marathon, swim a length, do the splits-
HOLLY: When did this happen?
CANDANCE: Right when I woke up, just a few minutes ago.
ALEX: And what’s the last thing you remember before you went to sleep?
CANDANCE: Well, I was writing in my diary, and then I felt really weak, and it was really hot, and then I think I blacked out, or collapsed, or something, but when I woke up I could walk!
HOLLY: Weakness, your blood pressure was rising-dear, did you take your medication today?
CANDANCE: What does it matter? I’m fine now, better than fine, as fine as can be!
ALEX: These miracles just don’t happen sweetie.
CANDANCE: Well, it did to me!
HOLLY: Maybe we should call a doctor, just to be safe.
CANDANCE: Why? the doctors didn’t do anything for me today. They just wrote silently on their stupid clipboards and talked about me and automatic hyper-something behind my back.
ALEX: Autonomic hyperreflexia?
CANDANCE: I think so.
HOLLY: But if you were diagnosed with that, and you never took your medication- why didn’t you say something and why didn’t the hospital phone?
CANDANCE: It’s all my fault, okay? I ran away without getting my medication and when I got home I took the phone off the hook.
ALEX: Why would you do that?
CANDANCE: Maybe because I started to feel more like a car than a person. You don’t know what it’s like to have to go in for an oil change every month and have rude people talk about you behind your back.
HOLLY: But honey, you could have died!
CANDANCE: I think I did, but I’m not dead anymore. Now I’m better than new.
ALEX: Oh Candance.

ALL hug.

CANDANCE: Mom, Dad, would you dance with me?
ALEX: Pardon?
CANDANCE: Well, today in gym class they started a dancing unit and I had to sit out. I was just wondering if you wanted to dance with me.
HOLLY: (wiping tears) Certainly sweetheart.

ALEX picks CANDANCE up and all three dance slowly to unheard music.

CANDANCE: Thank you.
ALEX: It was our pleasure.
CANDANCE: On second thought, I am getting a bit more sleepy. Maybe I’ll feel more awake in the morning.
HOLLY: Are you feeling alright?
CANDANCE: Actually, I’m a bit warm.

CANDANCE sits down. THE MOURNED enter from SR and SL.

(CANDANCE): Mommy, who are they?
HOLLY: (noticing for the first time) I don’t know honey.
ALEX: Don’t worry, they won’t come any closer. Back away, get away from my daughter!
HOLLY: I’m scared Alex.
CANDANCE: Wait. They want me to go with them. It’s just like my dream.
ALEX: You’re not going anywhere honey.

One of THE MOURNED raises a hand and the parents are invisibly pushed down to sit on the edge of the bed. If possible, a fog/smoke machine can now be used. THE MOURNDED start to encircle CANDANCE.

CANDANCE: Goodbye mom and dad.
ALEX: Don’t leave us honey!
HOLLY: We love you! We’ll always love you!
CANDANCE: Even though you might not be able to see me I’ll always be there, and I’ll always love you.

THE MOURNED surround CANDANCE and lights dim.

SCENE 4

All of the set is moved off stage and THE MOURNED remain frozen in the centre. If possible the fog machine should still provide a slight mist. Everything onstage including levels should be white. “Amor De Mi Alma” starts playing. THE MOURNED part to different sides of stage. JESPRESS, JACE, and CANDANCE should all be in white robes and be the only ones of THE MOURNED not to wear masks. JESPRESS crosses to DSR, JACE crosses to DSL, and CANDANCE crosses to USC (on a raised level if possible). DSR lights up. Music quiets to underlie scene until the end.

JESPRESS: I gave birth to my daughter Natomi in a small town hospital. Because of a lack of proper medicine and blood available I died in the delivery room. Because of a small miracle, a single red star, I was given the chance to hold my child in my arms before leaving this Earth for good. I am eternally grateful, and even though I am not physically with her, Natomi knows to this day that I gave my life for her and that I watch over her every moment. She is my sweet, my love, and my own.

DSL lights up.

JACE: I made a lot of dumb decisions during my short life. I chose to uphold my reputation instead of listen to the one person who really loved and cared for me. I would never have wanted forgiveness from her, yet thanks to a miracle I was given the chance to say goodbye and was also the receiver of an accepted apology. Katie knows that I love her, and I know that she will accomplish great things and keep my memory safe and not easily forget.

USC lights up.

CANDANCE: Over the course of one short night I was not only given the chance to say goodbye to the people who raised and cared for me despite my condition, but also given the opportunity to have something I never could have dreamed of. I was ten years old when I died, but was only a paraplegic until my final hour. I crawled on earth, but now soar in the sky. My parents will join me one day, but until they do it is my responsibility to look after and care for them for awhile and return their favor.
JESPRESS: Never forget to look back on those you’ve said goodbye to.
JACE: Believe in miracles and accept the unexpected.
CANDANCE: And never forget to look to the horizon.

JESPRESS, JACE, and CANDANCE raise arms, turn to face back stage wall, and point to the horizon. There is a blinding light as music reaches its climax, and lights quickly fade to black. Music fades.