(this is a little different to the actual story, but too bad.
(sound of and explosion. Downward spotlights appear on stage, highlighting. The light on the walls and floor are like reflecting water. Set in an underground tunnel. There are a few large rocks lying around. In front of the curtain are a few trees.) (enter josh, carrying sarah. Lays her in a spotlight upstage, and kneels beside her protectively. Looks around cautiously)
josh (sees sarah is stirring) ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
Sarah MY FOOT, IT HURTS. (looks around) WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID I GET DOWN HERE?
Josh THE ALIENS' ROBOTS BLEW UP ONE OF MY BUILDINGS. LUCKELY NO ONE WAS INSIDE… I THINK YOU WERE HIT BY THE DEBRIS. I HAD TO DRAG YOU DOWN HERE, I'M SORRY, BUT AT LEAST NOW THEY CAN'T FIND US. Sarah (sitting up) YOUR BUILDINGS? WHO ARE YOU? YOU'RE NOT… JACK RABBIT… ARE YOU?
Josh (smiles slyly, and shakes his head) NAAH. NOT ME.
Sarah (sadly) AND I'VE BEEN LOOKING AAAALL OVER.
Josh DON'T WORRY, SARAH THE PINK. SARAH THE PINK? THAT IS YOUR NAME, ISN'T IT?
Sarah HOW DID YOU -
josh TRADE SECRET. NOW, I MAY NOT BE YOUR JOSH, BUT I'M STILL AT YOUR SERVICE. WHAT DO YOU NEED OF ME? (bows curtly)
Sarah (still trying to understand) UH… I'VE COME FROM THE NETTA TO ASK FOR JOSH JACK RABBIT'S HELP.
josh WHY?
Sarah EVERYONE KNOWS THAT JOSH JACK RABBIT HAS A WAY OF AVOIDING THE ALIENS. AND HE KNOWS HOW TO RESQUE PEOPLE FROM THEIR SLAVE PENS.
Josh (exasperated) WHAT HAS MOUSE DONE NOW (pulls her up to carry her from one light to another)
Sarah MERSADIES IS A GREAT LEADER! (josh snorts) SHE IS! SHE'S ORGANISED FOR US TO ALL GET FOOD AND SHEALTER, AND, EVEN… FIRST AID!
Josh (not impressed) …wow…
Sarah IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEVER MET HER IN PERSON THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. MERSADIES IS AN INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN!
Josh (without enthusiasm) YEAH, I KNOW. BY THE WAY I HAVE MET MOUSE. WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER BEFORE THE INVASION.
Sarah (embarrassed) OH.
Josh AND I TAKE IT SHE STILL HAS THAT SAME, SPARKLING, PRIZEWINNING, PERSONALITY.
Sarah YOU'RE BEING SARCASTIC, RIGHT?
Josh I SURE AM. (pause to rest under a spot light. Puts her down. Sarah acts like her foot hurts and sits down. Josh talks, but mainly to him self.) I BET JOSH WILL CALL A MEETING ONCE WE'RE BACK. JUST TO SEE WHO WILL HELP. BUT EVEN IF NO ONE ELSE WILL GO, I'LL HELP.
Sarah WHY?
Josh WHY NOT? IT'S STARING TO GET A LITTLE TOO QUIET AROUND HERE FOR ME. AND BESIDES, DON'T YOU THINK THIS FEUD BETWEEN THE NETTAN'S AND THE CONNITES' HAS GONE ON FAR TOO LONG? I THINK IT'S POINTLESS. ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE OTHER FIGHTING THATS AROUND. I BET MERSADIES DOESN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE TRUE REASON WHY WE'RE FIGHTING. (looks at the audience and giggles mischievously.) WE BETTER KEEP MOVING. (pulls her up and piggy backs her down stage in front of the curtain. Curtain closes behind them. He puts her down.)
Sarah (breaths deep) IT'S SO GOOD TO BE OUT OF THOSE TUNNELS! FRESH AIR! AAHHH!
Josh (points out to audience) I WOULN'T BREATH TOO DEEP. THAT STREAM ISN'T FILLED WITH GOOD OLD 'HAICH TWO OWE', YOU KNOW. (starts too look distracted)
Sarah (still looking at the stream) WHAT IS IT? ALIEN GUNK! GROSE! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW! SICKENING!
Josh HMMM…. (looking around more noticeable. Crouches to get a better look. Whispers) THEY'VE HAD NEWS YOU'RE OUT. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR YOU.
Sarah WHO?
Josh THE ALIENS.
Sarah (startled) ME?!? WHY ME?!
Josh (rising slowly) BECAUSE THEY KNEW YOU WOULD FIND ME. SOME ONE MUST HAVE TOLD… (louder) THIS IS A SET UP!
Sarah DON'T BE STUPID! WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? HOW CAN THIS BE A SET UP, THERE'S ONLY ME AND YOU -
josh AND THOSE ALIENS OVER THERE,
Sarah AND BESIDES, WHAT WOULD ALIENS WANT WITH EITHER OF US? WE'RE BOTH UNIMPORTANT. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE THE LEADER OF THE RESISTANCE, OR ANYTHING.
josh (pauses and looks out to the audience.) UH…. IT DOESN'T MATTER. I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN LATER. IF WE'RE STILL ALIVE THAT IS.
Sarah YOU'RE CRAZY! I DON'T SEE ANY THING! THERE IS NOTHING THERE.
Josh (dragging her) IT'S WHAT YOU DON'T SEE THAT KILLS YOU. COME ON!
Sarah MY FOOT! YOU'RE HURTING ME!
Josh WOULD YOU RATHER DIE? COME ON! (pushes her behind a tree) MOOOVE! (josh stays on stage, goes to opposite side . Hides behind a tree. )
(there is a small pause, then enter aliens)
alien#1 (carrying a riffle type gun) WE LOST THEM! I HAD THE LEADER IN MY SIGHTS AND THEN HE DISSAPPEARED!
Alien#2 SOME HOW HE BECAME AWARE OF OUR PRESENCE. DON'T WORRY, WE KNOW HE WILL TRY TO GET BACK TO THE EAST TOWN. WE WILL CATCH HIM ON HIS WAY THERE. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. HA HAH HA ! (both start laughing, then go to exit alien #1 behind alien #2. As they pass Josh reaches out and grabs alien #1's gun with out the alien noticing. Aliens exit.)
( Pause then Josh goes back to Sarah and pulls her from behind the tree.)
Josh SEE, THEY WERE AFTER US. ONE THING YOU NEED TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF THE NETTA, MISS PINK, IS THAT I DO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. WHEN I TELL YOU TO DO SOMETHING I NEED YOU TO DO IT WITH OUT QUESTION. IT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU LIVING AND YOU GETTING YOUR HEAD BLOWN OFF. (brightly) 'KAY?
Sarah I GUESS SO.
Josh GOOD. NOW LET ME SEE YOUR FOOT. (looks at her ankle and puts his hand in it, then reaches with his other hand to touch the tree. Concentrates. Sarah gasps and the tree begins to grow. Josh releases her and she gives him a fearful look.
Sarah WHO ARE YOU?
Josh NOT WHO YOU THINK I AM. COME ON, WE BETTER GET GOING BEFORE THE ALIENS DECIDE TO COME BACK WITH TRACKERS….. OR CAKE-TOWNERS. (helps her stand and she finds she can stand perfectly well. Follows josh off stage.)
(Lights down.)
(lights up! Curtains open to reveal a large hall - like, well lived in room, filled with kids of all ages that are playing happily. Some with toys, some playing chacey. Stars can be seen through a window on the wall. Around the outer parts of the wall are lounge chairs and couches. Some older kids act like guards, others play with the younger kids, keeping them happy. There is a large wooden door at the back, with a slit that moves back and forth.)
Pete (standing at the door) HEY, LEEZA! COME OVER HERE!
Leeza (wadding through the kids, she is one of the cooks.) I'M COMEING. (when she is beside Pete) IT'S WAY PAST DARK OUT. DO YOU THINK HE IS ALRIGHT? HE'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR A LONG TIME… WHAT IF THE ALIENS GOT HIM?!?
Pete YOU WORRY TOO MUCH LEEZA. HE'LL BE BACK, LIKE HE HAS SO MANY TIMES BEFORE (seems bored).
Leeza WHAT IF IT WAS A TRAP? YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MERDSADIES… APPRIECIATES… HIM. SHE COULD HAVE ORGANIS-
Pete LEEZA, IF YOU CONTINUE ON WITH THESE HYSTERICS, I'LL HAVE TO SEND YOU TO YOUR ROOM!
Leeza (calmly) YOU'RE JOKING, AREN'T YOU.
Pete IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, I'D SWARE YOU WERE SWEET ON HIM.
Leeza AS IF!!!
Pete MMM HMMMM… TELL ME. WHAT HAS GOT YOU SO SPOOKED UP ABOUT IT THIS TIME.
Leeza (embarrassed) UH… I…I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE ….. I …..
(loud knock on the door. Every one goes silent and still. Pete opens the slit on the door.)
Pete (husky voice) PASSWORD.
Josh "COME ONE , COME ALL TO THE DANCING HALL"
Pete (closes the slit, undoes some locks, and opens the door.) WELCOME, STRANGER. ENTER OUR HUMBLE ABODE.
Josh (enters with Sarah behind him, and the ray gun hung over his shoulder. Jokingly ) YOU ARE SO FULL OF IT, PETE. (Pete closes the door. Some kids come up to Josh, hug him, show him toys, etc..) HEY KIDS! HEY ANDREW, HOW IS IT GOING? THAT'S A NICE PICTURE JESSICA… WHO ARE THE PEOPLE?
jessica (holding up the picture) THIS IS YOU AND ME, AND THAT IS LEEZA AND PETE AND STEPHANIE, AND THAT IS MY MOMMY AND MY DADDY.
sarah (looking at the doll jessica is carrying) AND WHO IS THIS?
jessica CINDY. SHE WAS A BIT BURNED WHEN THE MONSTERS SET FIRE TO MY HOUSE BUT JOSH SAVD HER. HE'S SO BRAVE!
josh (embarrassed)…ACTUALLY-
pete (interupting, points to sarah) IS THIS THE GIRL YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER TODAY? (looks her up and down)
Josh SURE IS. (leaves kids, goes next to sarah) SARAH THE PINK, THIS IS PETE OF THE SKYTRACKERS, LEEZA………………………., ANDREW THE FROG, AND EVERY ONE ELSE. EVERY ONE, THIS IS SARAH THE PINK.
pete NICE.
sarah (to josh) YOU STILL HAVEN'T TOLD ME YOUR NAME YET.
josh (uncomfortable) UHHHH…. REALLY?
pete YOU'RE KIDDING?! DON'T TELL ME YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE WITH THE GREAT JOSH JACK RABBIT FOR THIS WHOLE TIME?! HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!
Sarah (turns to josh) I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE'NT JOSH.
Pete HUH? WHY WOULD HE SAY THAT?
Josh (pulls pete forward, away form sarah) WE HAD A CLOSE ENCOUNTER. NOT AS CLOSE AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT THEY MEANT BUSINESS. MORE THAN USUAL, I MEAN.
Pete OH…. BUT HOW MUCH MORE BUSINESS - MEANING CAN THEY GET? THEY HAVE ALREADY TAKEN OVER OUR WORLD AND KILLED OFF ALL THE ADULTS - I KNOW YOU THINK THEY'RE STILL ALIVE, BUT WE HAVE TO FACE FACTS…
leeza PETE, DON'T SAY THAT SO LOUD! THE LITTLE ONES! (some start to cry. leeza tries to comefort them)
Pete YEAH, WELL…(josh puts down the ray gun, pete sees it) WOW JOSH! I SEE YOU SNATCHED ONE OF THEIR RAY GUNS! COOL! ONLY YOU COULD PULL THAT OFF!
Josh MMM…
pete GIVE US A LOOK! (josh hands it over, and moves off to one side, letting kids croud around pete< looking at the ray gun) COOL!
kids (adlib) WOW!
josh BECAREFUL WITH IT. YOU KNOW THE KIND OF DAMAGE ONE OF THOSE CAN DO.
pete SURE, WHAT EVER.
Sarah (steps forward, confronting josh, angrily) SO NOW YOU ARE JOSH JACK RABBIT? MERSADIES WAS RIGHT! YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A LYING, SLEAZY, JIRK! (everyone freezes and stairs at her. Some look very angry, and appear to want to attack any second.)
josh (quietly) LEEZA, CAN YOU TAKE THE KIDS OUT OF HERE, IT'S VERY LATE AFTER ALL.
Kids AWWW!
andrew YOU SHOULD ZAP THE NETTAN FOR SAYING THINGS LIKE THAT, JOSH. I KNOW I WOULD IF I COULD AND SHE HAD SPOKEN TO ME LIKE THAT!
kids YEAH, ZAP HER! (adlib)
josh (shocked) …NO! I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL GO TO BED!
jessica ANDREW'S RIGHT! YOU SHOULD ZAP HER.
josh I WILL DO NO SUCH THING! GO TO BED!
jessica BUT WE'RE NOT TIRED!
josh (frendly) WELL I AM, AND I DON'T NEED YOU KEEPING ME AWAKE ALL NIGHT. AGAIN. IN THE MORNING, I'M ESCORTING MISS PINK HERE BACK TO THE NETTA.
sarah HUMPH!
kids CAN WE GO TOO?
josh THAT DEPENDS ON IF YOU WAKE UP IN TIME. BED!
KIDS YAY! YAY! WOO-HOO! (adlib. jump and run around excitedly, start to exit.)
Leeza (aside to josh) ARE YOU ALRIGHT? YOU LOOK A BIT PAIL.
Josh YEAH, I'M FINE. IT'S JUST ALL THEIR WILD EMOTIONS GET TO ME SOME TIMES. BESIDES, MISS PINK AND I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO WORK OUT.
Leeza GOOD LUCK! YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GET ANY OF MERSADIES' PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON.
Sarah HEY! I RESENT THAT!
Pete TOUGH.
leeza COMEON KIDDIES! BEDTIME!
kids NIGHT JOSH! (he waves and smiles)
pete ARE YOU SURE YOU'RE ALRIGHT JOSH? I DIDN'T NOTICE BEFORE, BUT LEEZA WAS RIGHT… (josh gives him a look) RIGHT. I'M GOING. NIGHT!!
Josh (waits until everyone is gone, turns to Sarah who is fuming.) LOOK-
Sarah (angrily) YOU LIED TO ME! I TRUSTED YOU AND YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A CAKETOWNER FOR ALL I KNEW. WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY WHO YOU WERE?
Josh FOR YOUR PROTECTION, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. (meaningful tone) PLUS SOME OTHER THINGS.
Sarah YOU REALLY TALK CRAP, YOU KNOW.
Josh LET ME EXPLAIN. IF THOSE ALIENS HAD HEARD ME ADMITTING WHO I WAS THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTHING STOPPING THEM FROM BLOWING US AWAY. THEY DON'T LIKE ME VERY MUCH. (Sarah does not look convinced. Josh sighs, and flops onto a couch) THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE NETTA WHO IS WORKING WITH THE CAKE-TOWNERS.
Sarah SO?
Josh SO SITDOWN… (she does) HERE WE ALL KNOW, THE CAKE-TOWNERS HELP THE ALIENS FIND OUT ALL THEY CAN ABOUT THE RESISSTANCE , AS LONG AS THE ALIENS STAY AWAY FROM THEIR… PLANTATIONS.
Sarah AND?
Josh AND SOMEONE CLOSE TO MERSADIES IS A SPY. HE - OR SHE - LET THE ALIENS KNOW YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ME, AND THEY JUST HAD TO FOLLOW YOU. LA LA LA. (pause) I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT WAS THE SAME PERSON WHO ORGANISED JOSEPH THE HAWK'S CAPTURE, TOO.
Sarah HOW DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!?
Josh (smiles dangerously) I KNOW LOTS OF THINGS. IT IS WHAT MERSADIES WANTS HELP WITH, AFTER ALL… (pause) I'M NOT REALLY A SLEAZE.
Sarah HMMM… THERE'S A SPY, EH?
Josh YEAH, THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, ANY WAY.
Sarah (she leans close to him) DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO THE SPY WOULD BE?
Josh NOT FROM HERE. I MAY BE GOOD, BUT NOT THAT GOOD. THAT'S WHY I'M GOING BACK WITH YOU.
Sarah (leaning closer to him) WHAT IF I WAS THE SPY? WOULDN'T I BE PUTTING YOU IN A LOT OF DANGER?
Josh (amused) SARAH, I'LL TELL YOU THIS. IF YOU WERE A SPY FOR THE CAKETOWNERS OR THE ALIENS, YOU WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE IN DANGER. I WOULD HAVE KILLED AS SOON AS I MET YOU. THERE IS NO WAY YOU WOULD HAVE EVEN SEEN MY FACE, LET ALONE BEEN ALLOUD INTO MY HOME.
Sarah LOVELY.
Josh (shrugs) MMM. WELL IT'S TRUE.
Sarah BUT… HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT FINDING OUT WHO THIS SPY IS?
Josh (giggles mischievously ) THERE ARE WAYS.
Sarah HUH?
Josh (musically) I'M NOT TELLING!!!
Sarah WHY NOT?
Josh I KILL SPY'S FOR THE ALIENS…. DEPENDING ON THEIR REASONS… BUT, I JUST DON'T TALK TO SPY'S FOR MERSADIES. (whispers) IT'S AGAINST THE RULES.
Sarah ARE YOU IMPLYING THAT I -
Josh OF COURSE I AM! I'M NOT STUPID YOU KNOW.
Sarah HUMPH!
Josh BUT DON'T THINK I WILL HOLD IT AGAINST YOU. (musing) I WONDER WHAT THE OTHERS WOULD DO IF THEY FOUND OUT. THEY ALREADY DON'T LIKE PEOPLE FROM THE NETTA.. IT'S REALLY QUITE SAD…
Sarah (starts to get nervous.) UMMMM….. BUT WHAT IF I DON'T--
josh DON'T WORRY, MISS PINK. YOU ARE MY GUEST AND I AM YOUR HOST. NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU HERE. I WONT TELL IF YOU WONT., IF YOU CATCH MY MEANING? (she nods) GOOD. BE CAREFUL THOUGH, PETE ALREADY SUSPECTS.
sarah HOW DO YOU KNOW?
josh I TOLD YOU, I KNOW LOTS OF THINGS. SO DON'T DO SOMETHING STUPID, LIKE CONFIRM HIS SUSPICIONS. 'KAY?
Sarah OH NO! I WON'T!
Josh GOOD. I THINK WE WILL BECOME VERY GOOD FRIENDS, SARAH. AND TOMMOROW, WE'LL GO TALK TO MOUSE.
(lights down, end scene)