By Derek Wenmoth
Two airline passengers discuss how the plane they are flying came into being. (An allegory on creation v. evolution)
Rosie (casual, slightly 'cosmic')
Margaret (businesslike, precise)
An airport travel lounge.
(Scene: An airport lounge where two friends have just met. Each has just completed purchasing a ticket for their respective destinations, and, having not caught up with each other for some time, sit together to discuss their upcoming trips....
Margaret is sitting in the lounge, examining her tickets, with a pile of papers and books beside her. Rosie enters, walking away from the counter trying to stuff her newly purchased tickets into her over full handbag.)
Rosie:
Margaret... Margaret Anderson... it's me - Rosie, Rosie Adams. Fancy meeting you here! (She moves immediately to sit beside Margaret)
Margaret:
(Looks up from her study of the ticket) Huh - oh, hello. (composes self and offers Rosie her hand to shake. Rosie looks at it, unaccustomed to the formal practice of shaking hands, but takes anyway and gives a weak shake)
Rosie:
(obviously excited at the prospect of flying) Getting ready for a flight somewhere? So am I - Isn't it exciting? I just love the vibes I pick up at an airport - and the thought of being suspended thousands of feet up in the air... (breaks off using hand gestures to indicate the magnitude of feeling)
Margaret:
(A formal tone) yes - I guess that is quite an accomplishment
Rosie:
(Picking up on Margaret's lack of enthusiasm, makes an obvious glance at what Margaret is wearing and her bag and papers etc.) Oh - I guess you do this sort of thing quite a bit? Don't mind me - this is only the second time I've flown in over ten years!
Margaret:
(Becoming more personal) I'm sorry - it's just that I've got so much of this paperwork to check before I get back to the office. I fly out to Sydney next week, and everything has to be up to date! How about yourself, where are you off to?
Rosie:
Oh - I'm going to Auckland next month! There's conference up there on alternative medicines, and I'm going up with a few from our local herbal tea drinkers association.
Margaret:
How nice.
Rosie:
(Picking up on the lack of interest from Margaret, spies a book in Margaret's bag and tries to change the subject) Say - you must get through a power of reading!
Margaret:
I like to keep abreast of what's happening (adds) you have to in my business
Rosie:
(taking a book from the pile) This doesn't look like a business related book (reads the title) Aircraft Engineering and Design Specifications - Boeing 747 - that doesn't sound like it has anything to do with real estate!
Margaret:
Oh that - I just like to make sure I understand fully the workings of the craft I'm entrusting my life to!
Rosie:
Whew - that's beyond me - I just look at those big planes out there and think "what a miracle to think they can actually get up and fly"!
Margaret:
But haven't you ever wondered about what actually makes them fly? You know, how all the parts work together and how they can be controlled?
Rosie:
I guess I've never considered... I mean, as far as I'm concerned, planes just are, you know - they just... became that way!
Margaret:
You mean to tell me you think that jumbo jet out there just appeared one day on the tarmac, ready for takeoff? How do you explain the incredible interconnections between the millions of individual parts and components?
Rosie:
I don't know - I mean, my brother once took me flying in one of those little planes, I just thought that perhaps they grew to be big planes!
Margaret:
Next you'll be telling me there was a big explosion in a parts factory and when the dust settled they had all miraculously assembled themselves into a 747 jet?
Rosie:
That could explain it - there are all sorts of forces out there you know (gestures in an obscure manner)
Margaret:
Oh Rosie - I don't mean to sound rude but you make me laugh. How could you explain the perfection of the design, the precision with which all the parts fit together, the symmetry, the... (pauses, looking for other ways of expressing herself) Look - with a design that good, there has to be a designer - that's all I'm saying.
Rosie:
(Sounding a little convinced) Yes, but...
Margaret:
(Interrupting) Think of it Rosie - how many explosions do you think it would take before such a perfect specimen miraculously appeared?
Rosie:
(Sounding even more convinced) I suppose you could be right... (thinks) and that's why you're reading this manual?
Margaret:
That's right - I'm always amazed when I read the designer's manual - it gives me a much greater faith in their product...
Rosie:
(reaching over to inspect Margaret's ticket) Say - what airline are you flying with?
Margaret:
Air International - I always travel with them!
Rose
Thanks (preoccupied, stands to walk away)
Margaret:
Hey - was it something I said?
Rosie:
Huh - oh no - I'm just off to change my ticket
Margaret
Why - is there a mistake with yours?
Rosie:
No - I think I'll see if there's room on Air International - it sounds... "safer".
© Derek Wenmoth 1997
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged.
In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed.
He may be contacted at: dwenmoth@xtra.co.nz