Float On
by Jacob Juntunen
WOMAN IN THE FOREST: A woman of indeterminate age
COURTNEY: A teenage girl
MARIA: A teenage girl
COURTNEY: A teenage girl
MARIA: A teenage girl
Setting:
Empty stage
Empty stage
(All three characters onstage. A long silence.)
COURTNEY
Did that one move?
Did that one move?
MARIA
Dios mio.
Dios mio.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
I don’t think so.
I don’t think so.
(Pause.)
COURTNEY
I thought it moved.
I thought it moved.
MARIA
We should keep going.
We should keep going.
COURTNEY
If some of them are alive, it might be okay to drink.
If some of them are alive, it might be okay to drink.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
It’s just the current.
It’s just the current.
COURTNEY
There’s not much current.
There’s not much current.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Not like there used to be. You used to be able to hear it crashing over these rocks for miles. Now it’s like a lake in a river bed. What did they do to destroy the current?
Not like there used to be. You used to be able to hear it crashing over these rocks for miles. Now it’s like a lake in a river bed. What did they do to destroy the current?
COURTNEY
How long have you been here?
How long have you been here?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
A hundred years? Maybe two hundred?
A hundred years? Maybe two hundred?
(Long pause.)
MARIA
It’s going to be freezing out here once the sun goes down, we need to keep hiking, find some kind of shelter—
It’s going to be freezing out here once the sun goes down, we need to keep hiking, find some kind of shelter—
COURTNEY
There! That one!
There! That one!
MARIA
I don’t think so.
I don’t think so.
COURTNEY
I’m pretty sure—
I’m pretty sure—
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
If it’s floating on the surface, it’s dead.
If it’s floating on the surface, it’s dead.
MARIA
We need to go further downstream, find ones that are still swimming, fill our bottles, and keep going. Find a ranger station or something.
We need to go further downstream, find ones that are still swimming, fill our bottles, and keep going. Find a ranger station or something.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
There’s one at the edge of the park.
There’s one at the edge of the park.
COURTNEY
I can’t keep going without taking a drink.
I can’t keep going without taking a drink.
MARIA
This will kill you. It’s brown.
This will kill you. It’s brown.
COURTNEY
Dad took me and my sister here every summer, I can’t believe all the fish are…
Dad took me and my sister here every summer, I can’t believe all the fish are…
(Silence.)
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
I think the mushrooms are still okay to eat.
I think the mushrooms are still okay to eat.
MARIA
Chingate.
Chingate.
(Silence.)
COURTNEY
When Congress was in recess, we’d camp and catch more than we could eat.
When Congress was in recess, we’d camp and catch more than we could eat.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Your parents died with the rest of them?
Your parents died with the rest of them?
MARIA
Obviamente.
Obviamente.
COURTNEY
Dad was in DC.
Dad was in DC.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Maybe he’s okay then.
Maybe he’s okay then.
COURTNEY
Then why didn’t he come back for us?
Then why didn’t he come back for us?
(Pause.)
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
What about your mom?
What about your mom?
COURTNEY
She didn’t come home from work. I couldn’t find her. But I think they’re both okay, somewhere.
She didn’t come home from work. I couldn’t find her. But I think they’re both okay, somewhere.
MARIA
Then why didn’t you stay in Rockford? How are they going to find you? Huh? Estúpida muchacha blanca.
Then why didn’t you stay in Rockford? How are they going to find you? Huh? Estúpida muchacha blanca.
COURTNEY
I ran out of water… And the mobs… I had to…
I ran out of water… And the mobs… I had to…
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Your sister?
Your sister?
COURTNEY
The men… They started taking the girls somewhere… When we ran out of water to give them…
The men… They started taking the girls somewhere… When we ran out of water to give them…
(Long pause.)
COURTNEY
(cont)
I had to leave.
I had to leave.
MARIA
And now we’re going to freeze to death in this forest unless we keep going.
And now we’re going to freeze to death in this forest unless we keep going.
COURTNEY
How do you keep warm?
How do you keep warm?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
I sleep under the dirt.
I sleep under the dirt.
MARIA
She can’t help us.
She can’t help us.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
What happened to your family?
What happened to your family?
MARIA
They were drinking the water the whole time, so they died. I tried to bury them in the back yard but I couldn’t get the holes deep enough.
They were drinking the water the whole time, so they died. I tried to bury them in the back yard but I couldn’t get the holes deep enough.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Why aren’t you with them?
Why aren’t you with them?
MARIA
Once the mierda from the sink started smelling like rotten eggs, I just drank bottled, even if I went thirsty. I’m no idiot.
Once the mierda from the sink started smelling like rotten eggs, I just drank bottled, even if I went thirsty. I’m no idiot.
COURTNEY
I saw the brown water from people’s sinks on the news, but our water never got like that.
I saw the brown water from people’s sinks on the news, but our water never got like that.
MARIA
Why do you think the mobs went to your neighborhood, tonto?
Why do you think the mobs went to your neighborhood, tonto?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Where did you two meet?
Where did you two meet?
MARIA
I saved her culo on Route 2 when she ran out of water.
I saved her culo on Route 2 when she ran out of water.
COURTNEY
She showed me how to start the abandoned cars and get condensation from the air conditioners.
She showed me how to start the abandoned cars and get condensation from the air conditioners.
MARIA
Now that the electricity’s gone, though, we can’t pump any more gas. That’s why we need to keep going. Find some water that isn’t killing the fish.
Now that the electricity’s gone, though, we can’t pump any more gas. That’s why we need to keep going. Find some water that isn’t killing the fish.
COURTNEY
What do you drink?
What do you drink?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
I drink from the river here.
I drink from the river here.
COURTNEY
Even though it’s killing everything?
Even though it’s killing everything?
MARIA
It’s killing the grass on the banks! It’s poison! We can’t drink it.
It’s killing the grass on the banks! It’s poison! We can’t drink it.
COURTNEY
She does.
She does.
MARIA
She isn’t like us.
She isn’t like us.
COURTNEY
We had to read this play in school where everything was at war, everything took sides—dogs, cats, clouds, wind, light, darkness… even water. Do you think the water is at war with us?
We had to read this play in school where everything was at war, everything took sides—dogs, cats, clouds, wind, light, darkness… even water. Do you think the water is at war with us?
MARIA
We need to keep moving, find some flowing water. The current will clean it.
We need to keep moving, find some flowing water. The current will clean it.
COURTNEY
I don’t think water’s at war with me. I think it’s okay to drink this.
I don’t think water’s at war with me. I think it’s okay to drink this.
COURTNEY drinks from the river. Lights fade down, then back up.
COURTNEY and the WOMAN IN THE FOREST sit comfortably.
MARIA paces, cold.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
You should get going if you’re going to make it to the ranger station before the sun sets.
You should get going if you’re going to make it to the ranger station before the sun sets.
MARIA
Aren’t you cold?
Aren’t you cold?
COURTNEY
I feel fine.
I feel fine.
MARIA
You don’t feel sick?
You don’t feel sick?
COURTNEY
I feel fine.
I feel fine.
MARIA
My sisters puked their guts out from the water.
My sisters puked their guts out from the water.
COURTNEY
I feel fine. Why don’t you drink some of the water and stay with us?
I feel fine. Why don’t you drink some of the water and stay with us?
MARIA
What did the water do to her?
What did the water do to her?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Why did you save her?
Why did you save her?
MARIA
She was so pathetic, out there on the highway, out of water—
She was so pathetic, out there on the highway, out of water—
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Didn’t you meet lots of people on the highway?
Didn’t you meet lots of people on the highway?
MARIA
Not who were still moving.
Not who were still moving.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
If the highway was as dead as this river, why didn’t you just let her go?
If the highway was as dead as this river, why didn’t you just let her go?
MARIA
Courtney, come on, we need to get going before the sun sets.
Courtney, come on, we need to get going before the sun sets.
COURTNEY
I’m not cold.
I’m not cold.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Why didn’t you just let her find peace?
Why didn’t you just let her find peace?
MARIA
Dying from thirst isn’t peaceful.
Dying from thirst isn’t peaceful.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Well, she’s peaceful for now.
Well, she’s peaceful for now.
COURTNEY
I’m fine. You should go.
I’m fine. You should go.
MARIA
I’m not leaving you.
I’m not leaving you.
COURTNEY
Then have some water.
Then have some water.
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
The ranger station has cots, blankets, everything you’ll need. Even a hotplate to boil the water, if you think that will help.
The ranger station has cots, blankets, everything you’ll need. Even a hotplate to boil the water, if you think that will help.
MARIA
Then why can’t she come with me?
Then why can’t she come with me?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
You can see she doesn’t want to.
You can see she doesn’t want to.
MARIA
What if I go to the ranger station and come back in the morning.
What if I go to the ranger station and come back in the morning.
COURTNEY
I don’t think we’ll be here by then.
I don’t think we’ll be here by then.
MARIA
But I can’t keep going alone!
But I can’t keep going alone!
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Why not?
Why not?
MARIA
It took me days of walking through all those cars, with crows eating what was left of the people, and the smell, and not knowing if I’d ever see another human again, and… You’re not coming, are you?
It took me days of walking through all those cars, with crows eating what was left of the people, and the smell, and not knowing if I’d ever see another human again, and… You’re not coming, are you?
COURTNEY
--
--
MARIA
Are you even here?
Are you even here?
COURTNEY
--
--
MARIA
Did you take her from me?
Did you take her from me?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
--
--
MARIA
Well, I’m not staying here. This isn’t how my story ends. I’m going to find people. We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to survive. We’re going to undo whatever your dad did out in DC. There could be millions of people left. Out there. Somewhere. And I’m going to find them.
Well, I’m not staying here. This isn’t how my story ends. I’m going to find people. We’re going to figure it out. We’re going to survive. We’re going to undo whatever your dad did out in DC. There could be millions of people left. Out there. Somewhere. And I’m going to find them.
COURTNEY
Thanks for getting me off the freeway, away from the crows.
Thanks for getting me off the freeway, away from the crows.
MARIA
Chingate tu madre, guey! You people destroy everything!
Chingate tu madre, guey! You people destroy everything!
(MARIA leaves, alone.)
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
We should get under the dirt before the sun goes down. We don’t want you to get cold.
We should get under the dirt before the sun goes down. We don’t want you to get cold.
COURTNEY
Will the fish come back?
Will the fish come back?
WOMAN
IN THE FOREST
Come on. I’ll show you where our holes are.
Come on. I’ll show you where our holes are.
(Fade to black.)
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