Storymania - Something That Shouldn't Be Real by Rachel Heath

Something That Shouldn't Be Real
Rachel Heath

Briana: A 200-year-old fairy trapped in our dimension for the last 100 years. She looks like a normal 27 year old human with shoulder length blond hair, and gray eyes. She is cautious of strangers, but wants to be helpful.

Iris: A 20-year-old sophomore in college. She is studying to get her major in mythology and is willing to accept the doubtful. She has long dark hair, and brown eyes. She wants to get to know Briana better since they are next door neighbors, and Briana seems to have the same interests.

Kara: Iris�s roommate also 20 years old. She is not as open minded as her roommate, and is majoring in History. She often finds herself trying to keep Iris out of trouble. Kara has short brown hair and hazel eyes.

Scene I :Briana�s Apartment

The play has two sets on a revolving stage. Each set is one of the apartments. When the curtain opens we find ourselves in Briana�s apartment which has a single lamp providing a little light sitting next to a chair which Briana is sleeping in. The chair is center stage, but a little to the left. There is a coffee table in-between the chair Briana is in and another char. On the table you can clearly see an old thick book, and another book that is slightly less old next to it. Stage left is a door, and along the wall you see a desk with a computer on it. Stage right has two doors. One is upstage, and one is downstage. In the middle is a phone held to the wall and more of the fantasy artwork you can see clearly on the other walls. There is a knock on the door, and Briana wakes up. She stands and walks upstage to the left to answer the door there.

Briana: (as she looks through the peephole) Who is it?

Iris: It�s Iris. Kara and I ran out of sugar and were wondering if we could borrow some of yours.

Briana: (Steps away from the door, and opens it to allow Iris to enter. Once Iris is inside she closes you can hear it slam against the frame) Sure, I�m always glad to help a neighbor.

Iris: (starts to wander around the apartment looking at the artwork on the walls) Thanks so much. I just love the art in the apartment Briana.

Briana: (walks across the stage to the door that is downstage left) You say that every time you come here Iris. I�ll get the sugar for you right away. (Briana exits through the door, and is now offstage)

Iris: Great, Kara just about went crazy when we ran out of sugar. Her parents are coming in a few days and she wanted to create a practice dinner.

Briana: (Walks back onstage through the same door. She is now holding a container of sugar) Well, I hope that everything turns out well. By the way, I have a book I think you�d be interested in. It�s on the coffee table.

Iris: (Walks towards the coffee table in center stage and looks at the two books. They are roughly the same size and shape she debates which one to grab, but grabs the one with the fairy on the cover) I�ll be sure to get it back to you soon. Kara�s going to complain about me taking time to read yet another fantasy book, but hey I�d rather do that then study.

Briana: Who wouldn�t? (The two of them both start to walk upstage towards the door. When they get there Briana opens the door) Well have a good evening Iris. Tell Kara I hope everything works out with her parents.

Iris: (Walks through the door) I will. Thanks again.

Briana: Bye. (closes the door behind Iris and locks it. She then walks back over to the coffee table and looks around at everything.) I just hope that this works out. I want to go home.

The lights go out as soon as Briana finishes her sentence.

Scene II: Iris and Kara�s apartment

The lights come back on and we are now in a different apartment. In this one the setup is much the same. On the right wall upstage is a door, and on the left wall are two doors upstage and downstage. In this apartment there are two desks in between the doors each with a computer present. The lighting comes from two lamps that are quite bright. There is a couch center stage and a table. There is also one chair off to the right. Kara is seen to be sitting in the chair, text books spread out on the table, and Iris is laying on the couch reading the book with the fairy on the cover avidly.

Kara: Iris, I�m telling you put the book down and study for a change.

Iris: I am studying Kara, I don�t think this is fictional. For one thing it keeps mentioning fairies like they actually exist. Kind of like an instruction book. I wonder where Briana found it.

Kara: Probably at a fantasy book store where you find everything you read that doesn�t have to do with your classes. Besides, it has to be a work of fiction because fairies aren�t real.

Iris: (Sits up and sets book down on the table) Kara, try please just try to have a little bit of belief in things you can�t see and touch.

Kara: No way. Not fairies. Iris saying that maybe some of your myths that you study have some form of truth is one thing, but fairies? NO.

Iris: (Stands up and starts pacing upstage back and forth between the two walls. She clearly has something on her mind) Kara pick up the book and look at it. It�s talking about fairies and their everyday lifestyle. Briana has notes in it for crying out loud. Notes on how to get home. Why is Briana writing notes in a book about fairies about trying to get home?

Kara: (Didn�t move to pick up book, but is now looking at it like it�s grown horns. She moves to stand in the way of Iris and her pacing) Iris the notes are most likely in there because she didn�t have anywhere else to write them. Now stop pacing, sit down and study for a change.

Iris: If those notes are normal notes then how come not once does it say turn left, turn right, watch for this exit? No Kara she�s got stuff about where candles should be placed, and lighting.

Kara: (Now moves downstage towards book and starts skimming through it hastily. She starts to frown and sets the book down) I don�t believe it.

Iris: I know this is going to be hard for you to swallow, but I�m not having the easiest time figuring this out either. As far as I knew fairies were so fictional that everyone thinks they are a legend. Now it looks like we might have one living next door to us.

Kara: (shakes her head and sits down on the couch) No Iris, I think I�ve finally met someone as crazy as you are. Briana is NOT a fairy. Fairies are fictional. Don�t ask me why she�s got all that writing in the book, but she is NOT a fairy.

Iris: You just don�t believe in anything do you?(walks over and sits down next to Kara and opens to the book) Just look at this? Does this sound crazy to you?

Kara: Do you really want me to answer that?

Iris: Why don�t we go ask?

Kara: (bolts to her feet and looks down at Iris like she�s grown another head. A textbook clatters the floor) Absolutely not. I can just see us walking next door and asking Briana if she�s a fairy. Not only does that seem like inviting trouble, it�s walking right into it.

Iris: (Stands up next to Kara, and grabs her arm. She starts leading her towards the door stage left) Look Kara, what�s the harm in asking? I mean if I�m right then we�ll know that I�m not crazy, and that our neighbor is a fairy. What�s the harm in knowing that?

Kara: (Pulls her arm free from Iris) Iris, if she�s not a fairy we are going to have a lot of explaining to do. Specifically you, are going to have a lot of explaining to do. Are you sure you want to do this?

Iris: Kara you read part of the book, she doesn�t act like a normal person. Besides what if she needs this book?

Kara: Why me? What did I do to deserve such a crazy roommate? Iris, she�s not a fairy. There are no fairies.

Iris: Look we just go over and ask, and if we�re wrong, we�re wrong if we�re right then we�ve actually found out something new. It�s a learning experience think of it that way.

Kara: It�s very temping to just let you go and do this by yourself. Well, your wrong and I suppose someone should be around to do damage control. Come on Iris. Lets get this over-with. (Kara opens the door) I can�t believe that I�m doing this.

(Kara walks through the door and offstage. Iris follows and the door slams shut. The scene goes black)

Scene III: Briana�s Apartment

The lights come on and we now see a brightly lit apartment. Briana�s apartment looks much the same way that it did before. None of the furniture has moved. All the lamps are blazing and Briana is sitting in the chair looking at her apartment. There are books scattered on most of the surfaces. While sitting there she hears a knock on the door. Briana bolts strait to her feet and heads towards the door that is stage left.

Briana: (Looks through peephole and lets out sigh of relief. She unlocks the door with a click and opens it. Iris and Kara walk through the door. Iris is holding the book. The door closes with a soft thud.) Oh Iris, you have my book. Thank goodness I was so afraid that I�d lost it.

Kara: Well, I�m sorry that she put you through the trouble Briana. She must have grabbed the wrong book on her way out.

Briana: (Hastily takes book from Iris and then walks to center stage where she sets it down on the coffee table) Thanks for bringing it back. I�d forgotten that I�d lent you a book otherwise I would have called. Well, I�m sure I�ll see you tomorrow, now if you don�t mind I have a project to get back to.

Iris: It�s ok, Briana. We don�t think your crazy. In fact I want to know if what that book says is the truth? Do fairies really exist?

Kara: (Stomps her foot and throws up her hands) Good grief Iris how many times do I have to tell you that fairies aren�t real? What part of this don�t you understand?

Briana: (Watches as Iris walks downstage towards her and sits in the other chair) She really doesn�t believe in much does she?

Iris: Nope, if she can see and touch it, then it�s real. If there is no proof then it�s a myth, or worse.

Kara: (Stalks over until she�s standing next to Iris) Briana I�m really sorry to have put you through this trouble, and I�m sure Iris would be to if she wasn�t to busy trying to get her head into another cloud, but you�re busy and we should go.

Iris: Kara, you said that we�d at least ask. Besides, what harm can it do to ask?

Briana: Ask what? Why would you get in trouble for asking a question?

Kara: This is Iris we�re talking about Briana, her questions are crazy. Besides it�s a book. Fairies aren�t real, and you aren�t a fairy.

Iris: Unless you are a fairy. In which case that would be really cool. Are you fairy?

Briana: (She picks up the book that Iris returned and flips through it) A fairy? Iris, I think this time Kara is right.

Iris: Then why the handwriting about going home? Why the specific instructions? That book isn�t listed as a work of fiction, and it wasn�t written recently.

Kara: Iris would you let it go. She just said she wasn�t a fairy. What more do you want?

Iris: (Stands up and walks downstage before turning so that she�s facing them) The truth. Briana are there fairies?

Briana: She never gives up does she Kara?

Kara: (Takes the seat Iris has left) She�s worse then a dog and it�s favorite bone. She never lets go of something.

Briana: Then I suppose I should tell the truth.

Kara: You�re joking. Briana, don�t encourage her. Just tell her the truth, that she�s delusional. It wouldn�t be the first time.

Iris: (walks upstage towards Briana)Listen for a change Kara. You may learn something. Go on Briana, tell us the truth?

Briana: How to say this without sounding like I�m completely insane? Well, Iris is right. There are fairies, but not here on earth.

Iris: Ok, but what about you? Aren�t you a fairy?

Kara: I think I should be going now, I don�t know if I want to hear a crazy person go on about fairies. Iris congratulations, I think you�re normal.

Iris: (moves stage right so that she�s standing behind Kara. She sets her hands down on Kara�s shoulders so she can�t get up) Listen Kara, at least let her finish. She hasn�t gotten to the part about being a fairy yet.

Briana: Yes, I�m a fairy, but I�m the only one left on earth. About 100 years ago we were all told that we had to return to our dimension. That our presence here was causing to much attraction to the fairy realm.

Kara: Ok, I don�t believe this for one second, but if you�re a fairy and all the fairies were told to leave then why are you still here?

Briana: No one just suddenly believes that fairies exist. I don�t blame you. I�m still here because I got caught, and I didn�t make it out in time. I didn�t know how to leave and my ride so to speak left without me.

Iris: So you�ve been living here without any of your own kind for 100 years? Doesn�t that get kind of lonely?

Kara: Is there any way for you to get home? I mean you can�t just really be trapped here.

Briana: (Stands and walks to the desk that is on the wall stage left. She opens one of the drawers and it lets out a long squeak. She pulls out several candles) Yes, I�ve been here alone for 100 years, and it wasn�t that lonely. I didn�t feel the need to hide, I just lived a normal life. I�ve always been looking for a way home though.

Iris: Now you think this book can help you get home don�t you? Do you think that it will really work?

Briana: It�s written by an actual fairy who knows things that only someone who could move freely between our realm and your realm would know. I hope that it will work.

Kara: When will you find out?

Briana: Tonight, I was going to try right away. I�m not lonely here, but I miss my family.

Iris: Wait, you�ve been here for 100 years, how long does a fairy live?

Briana: I�m 200, baring this attempt to go home going very wrong I should live for another 100 years.

Kara: Do you need help? I mean, you�ve been great while you�ve been here, and I�m sure Iris agrees that we�d like to help you.

Iris: (lets go of Kara�s shoulders and walks until she reaches the other chair. She sits down and starts reading the book intently) Kara, I thought you didn�t believe in fairies, or other worlds for that matter. Why volunteer to help?

Kara: She doesn�t sound that crazy. Well, yes you do Briana, but not like the normal crazy person. I mean what�s going to happen if I help? If it works then she�s telling the truth, and I did something good, if she�s crazy it just means I�ve joined the club with you two.

Briana: Well that�s a refreshing sentiment. With an offer like that how could I say no? I just don�t know if I really need help.

Kara: Sure, everyone can use help. We�ll even watch the candles for you or something. Blow them out when you leave.

Iris: I�d listen to her Briana. She knows about things like this. She never does anything unless she�s sure that it will work.

Briana: (Walks to center stage and hands Kara the candles she had been holding) Two feet apart around the coffee table.

Kara: (Stands up and walks downstage the center and places one candle down. She continues to walk around the room placing candles two feet apart) I hope this works, because I don�t want to explain to myself later why I got into this if it doesn�t.

Briana: Now, Iris can light the candles. (Briana moves so that she is sitting at the coffee table surrounded by candles, Iris walks around the room and lights the ten candles) Stand back people, I don�t know how this is going to work. Oh, and turn out the lights.

The lights go black and all we see is candle light. We can hear a soft whispering sound, but no distinct words. The outline of three people are visible, until a flash of green light goes through and then everything is dark.

Scene IV: Iris and Kara�s apartment

The lights come back on and we find Iris and Kara each sitting in the same spots they were in before. Iris is flopped out on the couch, and Kara is sitting in a chair to the right. The room is lit by the lamps. Iris is reading the same book that she gave back to Briana, and Kara is once more studying.

Iris: (Sits up and closes the book with a loud clap) Well, it�s all gone. This book is useless. Now it�s just filled with mindless drivel.

Kara: (Sets down her book on the table) What did you expect? Briana spent 100 years looking for that book, and she mentioned that they didn�t leave things behind.

Iris: Do you think that it really worked? I mean she was gone when we got everything working again, but who knows what really happened.

Kara: A bright flash of light happened. Briana�s gone and no one is going to believe you that fairies actually exist. I still don�t know if I believe that fairies actually exist.

Iris: (Stands and paces towards the desk downstage and to the right) I e-mailed several people who are interested in fairy lore, and none of what I suggested rang any bells, but that�s the way of things I guess. Still Kara, you saw and I saw she was there, she was speaking, and then she was gone in a flash.

Kara: That�s not all that special Iris. I mean I�ve seen it at a magic show all the time. So have you for that matter.

Iris: Must you rationalize everything? (Turns and walks back so that she�s standing next to Kara once more) Come on Kara you can say it, just repeat after me :My next door neighbor was a fairy.

Kara: My next door neighbor was something that shouldn�t be real.

The lights go black and the curtain closes. This is the end.