by Tim Westfield
Inspired by the work of Chris Van Allsburg
Frank (The Leader - Age 22)
Tony (The Optimist - Age 21)
Adrian (The Pessimist - Age 20)
Gordon (The Joker - Age 19)
Setting: A small sail car. (A sail car is a small cart propelled by wind power that rides along rails like a train. Such modes of transportation are very popular in the windier sections of Defeltia.) This particular sail car is made of wood with two levels, each level wide enough to sit two people across. The sail car faces downstage at an angle. FRANK sits on the top stage left handling the sail. TONY sits to FRANK's right. Adrian and Gordon sit on the bottom level.
ADRIAN: How much longer do you think?
TONY: The old lady said we only needed two days of good sailing to get there.
ADRIAN: I bet there really isn't any castle.
TONY: Oh, how would you know?
ADRIAN: How would you know that it is even there?
FRANK: It's there.
ADRIAN: How do you know that it's there?
FRANK: I just know. Trust me.
GORDON: "Trust me" he says. "I know its there" he says. I have a feeling that he may have an actual fact to back this whole thing up. But then again, who am I kidding? Proof. Frank doesn't need proof, do you Frank?
TONY: Leave Frank alone.
FRANK: No, it's okay Tony. If it wasn't for Gordon, the ride would be a heck of a lot more boring.
GORDON: Thank you, thank you. I will be appearing throughout this adventure, you?ve been great be sure to tip your navigator.
ADRIAN: Enough already.
GORDON: I aim to please.
(Lights Fade)
(Light come up)
TONY: How big do you think this castle will be?
ADRIAN: Probably the smallest castle you'll ever see.
GORDON: Maybe it will be a castle for mice, with a full mouse size moat and such that we could cross with one step.
ADRIAN: I wouldn't doubt it, what with all the things we seen in this place.
GORDON: But we still haven't found what we were looking for.
TONY: That's true, but we will, won't we Frank.
FRANK: I hope so Tony, I hope so.
ADRIAN: But you don't have any guarantees?
FRANK: Nothing in life is quaranteed.
GORDON: One minute you could be sitting there minding your own business, and the next God could strike you down, you could have a heart attack, or a butterfly could flap its wings, Ect., Ect., Ect..
(FRANK laughs)
FRANK: That's the reason I like you so much Frank.
GORDON: Thank you.
(Lights Fade)
(Lights come up)
(Tony and Frank are sleeping)
ADRIAN: It's taking a lot longer than that old woman said.
GORDON: Well, the winds are not being very cooperative. And quiet down, the other guys are asleep.
ADRIAN: (Quietly) DO you really think that the answer will be found at this castle.
GORDON: I don't know but for Frank's sake I hope so.
ADRIAN: What if the answer he is seeking is not found there.
GORDON: I have been thinking about that Adrian, and I don't like were those thoughts were taking me.
(Lights Fade)
(Lights come up)
(TONY is standing up)
FRANK: What do you see?
TONY: Nothing.
ADRIAN: We have been going at this for two and a half days, and if something doesn't happen soon, we are going to run out of food and starve to death
TONY: No we won't. We have plenty of food to last us another day or two.
ADRIAN: If you say so.
TONY: I say so, and I have had enough of you attitude. At this point I am ready to throw you overboard whether Frank says so or not.
FRANK: Guys will you just calm down.
TONY: I won't calm down as long as Mr. Negative over there is going to keep making his unhelpful observations.
ADRIAN: I am free to make whatever observations I want to. You can't stop me.
TONY: Maybe I can, and maybe I will.
FRANK: GUYS!
ADRIAN: STAY OUT OF THIS FRANK!
TONY: IT'S JUST ME AND HIM NOW!
GORDON: Guys, what's that?
ADRIAN: What is what?
GORDON: That thing in the distance.
TONY: What thing in the distance?
GORDON: That thing there, just to the left, above that cliff.
ADRIAN: OH MY GOD! It's the castle. It's the castle.
TONY: We found it, we found it.
GORDON: Hey, wait a second, I saw it first.
ADRIAN: Does it really matter?
TONY: Yeah Gordon, does it really matter?
GORDON: It matters to me.
FRANK: And it matters to me as well.
GORDON: Thanks Frank.
FRANK: You're welcome Gordon.
TONY: Do you think you'll find the answer there Frank?
FRANK: Yes, Tony, yes I do. Now that I have seen the castle as the old woman told us. I believe. We have gone through too much and come too far for this not to be the place. The old woman told us this would be the place, and I have a feeling. For the first time in my life I feel like I am on the right track, and I don?t mean the rails under us. I feel that this is right where I am supposed to be, on this track with all of you on the way to the castle to find the answer to that question that has haunted me through me entire life. In that castle I will find the answer to that question that has been my burden throughout life. I will finally be able to be free from that burden. And freedom from that question is within that castle. If there is an answer to be found, I will find it there.
GORDON: The question being Why do hot dogs come in packages of ten and hot god rolls come in packages of eight.
FRANK: (Laughing) Exactly Gordon. Exactly.
(Lights Fade)
(Lights come up)
FRANK: We're almost there, I can see the station up ahead, its right by the castle. In a matter of minutes we will finally arrive, and I will have my answer. I will find the truth.
TONY: I can't believe after all that we have gone through that we are finally here.
ADRIAN: I never would have thought we would make it. I thought we were goners for sure.
GORDON: I knew all along that we were going to make.
FRANK: I'm sure you did Gordon. I?m sure you did.
TONY: Are those people up ahead.
ADRIAN: I think so.
FRANK: I think that is our stop gentlemen.
GORDON: LAST STOP! MAGICAL CASTLE, HOME TO THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF LIFE?S QUESTIONS.
FRANK: Let's hope so Gordon. Let?s hope so.
(Fade to Black)
End Scene