Perhaps the Final Story
by Jacob Juntunen
DAD:
KID/MOUSE:
WHALE:
MOM:
KID/MOUSE:
WHALE:
MOM:
Setting:
Bed & Sea
Bed & Sea
DAD is sitting on the KID’s bed, reading.
KID
Please keep reading this one, Daddy.
Please keep reading this one, Daddy.
DAD
I don’t know why you want this book tonight of all nights. Where were we?
I don’t know why you want this book tonight of all nights. Where were we?
KID
The mouse built the boat.
The mouse built the boat.
DAD
Right. “Despite everyone telling him it was impossible, the mouse built his boat and set it afloat on the sea.”
Right. “Despite everyone telling him it was impossible, the mouse built his boat and set it afloat on the sea.”
The KID becomes the MOUSE and floats onstage on the
bed, which is also a boat.
DAD
(cont)
“The mouse sailed so far from the shore that all she saw around her was water. It was peaceful. Night came, and she lay on her back and looked at the stars. She saw a meteor shower, and a pod of whales spouting in the moonlight.”
“The mouse sailed so far from the shore that all she saw around her was water. It was peaceful. Night came, and she lay on her back and looked at the stars. She saw a meteor shower, and a pod of whales spouting in the moonlight.”
The WHALE enters swimming by the MOUSE’s boat.
WHALE
We have a code blue in room 243.
We have a code blue in room 243.
The WHALE exits as the KID sits up.
KID
What was that?
What was that?
DAD
That wasn’t about you. Darn it. I told her to turn that down.
That wasn’t about you. Darn it. I told her to turn that down.
KID
It was just the doctor show Mommy watches?
It was just the doctor show Mommy watches?
DAD
Right. It was exactly like that.
Right. It was exactly like that.
KID
But I saw one where a kid had open heart surgery and, and, and…
But I saw one where a kid had open heart surgery and, and, and…
DAD
That was just pretend. I’m going to go tell her again to turn it down—
That was just pretend. I’m going to go tell her again to turn it down—
KID
Don’t leave!
Don’t leave!
DAD
Never. I’ll never leave you.
Never. I’ll never leave you.
KID
Will you just keep reading to me, Daddy?
Will you just keep reading to me, Daddy?
DAD
Lie back down. “The Mouse floated for hours.”
Lie back down. “The Mouse floated for hours.”
The KID becomes the MOUSE again.
DAD
“But then the rain started, and a giant—” Hey, why don’t we read a different story?
“But then the rain started, and a giant—” Hey, why don’t we read a different story?
KID
I want to hear about the mouse!
I want to hear about the mouse!
DAD
I think there’s a mouse in Green Eggs and Ham?
I think there’s a mouse in Green Eggs and Ham?
KID
Please, Daddy. What if this is my last story?
Please, Daddy. What if this is my last story?
DAD
Why would you think that?
Why would you think that?
KID
The voice saying code blue?
The voice saying code blue?
DAD
I’m going to go tell her to turn it down. I don’t want you getting scared by—
I’m going to go tell her to turn it down. I don’t want you getting scared by—
KID
If you stay, I won’t be scared. I promise. Just keep reading to me?
If you stay, I won’t be scared. I promise. Just keep reading to me?
As DAD reads, the KID/MOUSE acts out the story.
DAD
“But then the rain started, and a giant wave came and threw the mouse into the ocean! She floated there under the stars and the moon, and wondered what it would be like to die—”
“But then the rain started, and a giant wave came and threw the mouse into the ocean! She floated there under the stars and the moon, and wondered what it would be like to die—”
KID
Why are you crying, Daddy?
Why are you crying, Daddy?
MOM enters.
MOM
Hey, what’s going on here?
Hey, what’s going on here?
DAD
Nothing.
Nothing.
KID
Daddy’s crying.
Daddy’s crying.
MOM
Why are you reading that to her?
Why are you reading that to her?
KID
It’s my favorite!
It’s my favorite!
The WHALE enters.
WHALE
Any pediatrician to room 245, stat.
Any pediatrician to room 245, stat.
The WHALE exits.
DAD
That’s not about us, honey.
That’s not about us, honey.
MOM
Can’t you ask them to turn that down?
Can’t you ask them to turn that down?
DAD
I have. Repeatedly.
I have. Repeatedly.
KID
What happened to the mouse next?
What happened to the mouse next?
MOM
You know this story, we’ve read it to you hundreds of times. Let’s read you something else.
You know this story, we’ve read it to you hundreds of times. Let’s read you something else.
KID
No! What happens to the mouse?
No! What happens to the mouse?
The parents share a glance, checking in. There’s
nothing else to do.
DAD
Um, “She floated there under the stars and the moon, and wondered what it would be like to die—”
Um, “She floated there under the stars and the moon, and wondered what it would be like to die—”
KID
You already read that.
You already read that.
DAD
Okay, right. “As she tread water, the mouse wondered, ‘Did dying hurt?’”
Okay, right. “As she tread water, the mouse wondered, ‘Did dying hurt?’”
KID
Why’s mommy crying?
Why’s mommy crying?
DAD
We’re just tired honey.
We’re just tired honey.
The WHALE enters the space, human.
WHALE
We’re ready now.
We’re ready now.
KID
We haven’t finished the story.
We haven’t finished the story.
WHALE
Sorry. The OR is booked solid tonight, and the anesthesiologist just finished with the last patient.
Sorry. The OR is booked solid tonight, and the anesthesiologist just finished with the last patient.
MOMMY
We’ll be right here, honey.
We’ll be right here, honey.
KID
Read a little more, Daddy?
Read a little more, Daddy?
DAD
“As she tread water, the mouse wondered, ‘Did dying hurt?’ Just then, a whale surfaced next to her—”
“As she tread water, the mouse wondered, ‘Did dying hurt?’ Just then, a whale surfaced next to her—”
WHALE
Hey little girl. Are you ready?
Hey little girl. Are you ready?
DAD
“The whale said, ‘What are you doing swimming way out here?’”
“The whale said, ‘What are you doing swimming way out here?’”
KID
Mommy, I’m scared.
Mommy, I’m scared.
MOMMY
You’re going to be ok.
You’re going to be ok.
DAD
“The mouse told him about falling off the boat.”
“The mouse told him about falling off the boat.”
KID
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want to die.
WHALE
We’re not going to let you die, honey. The doctor is going to fix your heart, and then you can play with all your friends. Won’t that be nice?
We’re not going to let you die, honey. The doctor is going to fix your heart, and then you can play with all your friends. Won’t that be nice?
DAD
“The whale swam with her on his back, all the way back to shore.”
“The whale swam with her on his back, all the way back to shore.”
WHALE
Ok. We need to go.
Ok. We need to go.
KID
I’m scared.
I’m scared.
MOM
We’re going to be right here waiting for you.
We’re going to be right here waiting for you.
DAD
The whale’s going to carry you back to us. We’ll be right here.
The whale’s going to carry you back to us. We’ll be right here.
The WHALE takes the KID/MOUSE on his back and walks
offstage. The parents hug. Blackout.
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