Character
Angela: mid to late twenties.
Setting
One--
Earth 2075
Two—Mars
2072
Three—Earth
2075
Four--
Mars 2076
Synopsis
Angela
is a doctor who has worked on Mars to discover a vaccine for a Universe wide
virus. She met and married her Martian
husband Mayyal there. He was in charge
of the labs trying to discover a virus.
After the vaccine was discovered Martians were removed from post of
responsibility and all facilities moved to Earth. Mayyal is on trial or practising as a Doctor
when he was banned now as a Martian from doing so. The sentence could be them both sent in exile
to Mars. Angela does not want that.
ONE
Earth.
Year 2075
Angela in her home on
Earth giving a witness statement at her husband`s trial. She wears an earpiece and at times responds
to the judge talking. We do not hear
what the judge says, only her response.)
The trial is on Earth.
At the beginning she is
over polite and nervous.
ANGELA--
Is it okay to begin? Thank you your honor. I`d like to start, as agreed, by apologising
to your honor, and the court, for my behaviour yesterday. There will be no more outbursts from
myself. I thank the court for its
indulgence in allowing me another opportunity to make this statement. I understand it is not my role to present
evidence. I am here solely as a
character witness for the accused.
(Pause.)
My
name is Doctor Angela Jones. I am the wife
of the accused.
(She gives what she thinks is a secret wave
to her husband. It is seen by the judge.)
Sorry
your honor. No communication with the
accused, I understand. But…A wave is not
really a…
I
am his wife, unlawful or not. And we
were lawfully married your honor. The
laws changed after we were married.
How
can our marriage be annulled? We were
married by an Earth minister.
As
the court wishes.
No,
I do not wish to prejudice my
husbands…The accused trial further. Do you wish me to start again your honor?
But
I`m still technically a doctor for another week?
Thank
you your honor.
(Composes herself.) My name is Doctor Angela
Jones.
I
first met the accused in March 2072 in the Martian hospital city of Grema. Three years ago next month. I had newly qualified from Edinburgh
University as a Doctor of Cross Universe Diseases. Grema is…Was the leading centre for the study
of Cross Universe disease. Anyone who
had any ambition to make a difference went there. The accused…
Am
I allowed to say his Martian name?
Thank
you.
The
accused. Professor…He was a professor
then. I am trying to be factual.
Thank
you.
The
accused Professor Mayyal Orrlarrr was the head of the Mars Virus department.
That
is what it was called then your honor.
They only changed the name later when they moved to earth.
Again,
thank you.
I
had seen the result of the virus on my own family on Earth. Two of my Uncles died from it. I very nearly died myself when young. It was only because they caught it quickly
that I survived. I wanted to be part of
discovering a vaccine. Mars was the one
place I wanted to work when qualified.
I
met Mayyal at three forty PM Earth time.
My time piece was still set for Earth time. I was late for his…My first meeting…because I
hadn`t adjusted my watch.
He
smiled at my stuttering apologies. A
good kind smile your honor. Not mocking. From a good man. He is a good man and
a genius doctor your honor. He has saved
so many with his work. Earth people. That
woman would have died sooner if he hadn`t treated her. He gave her another year with her family.
I`m
sorry your honour but…
That
is what she wishes. He is a doctor how
could he have said no? And her ungrateful family reported him and testified
against him. Just because he`s Martian. What about the woman`s testimony? A dying woman`s testimony. Why was that disallowed?
(Screen goes
blank.)
TWO
Mars 2072
Angela upbeat and
smiling, calling her friend Greta on Earth from her accommodation on Mars.
Hi
Greta, why are you never in when I call?
Diary, check, we agreed the time. Sleeping it off girl after another
night of partying.
Fair
enough if you don`t…Can`t talk to your best friend. I`ve got five minutes girl. It`s all go up
here in Mars you know. Its everything I
ever imagined.
How`s
boring old Earth then?
Come
and join me girl.
There
are some real cutie pies here let me tell you.
Even
some of the Martians. No, I`m not going
all weird. Native. The ones that had the body transformations
you know. Some work better than others
mind but…They look so just like us. It`s
unbelievable. Except for the red badge
they have to wear. And the names of
course. You really can`t tell the
difference.
(Conspiratorial.)
Just
between you and me girl. Not a word to my mum. You know what she was like about
me coming here.
My
boss is hot. He`s blonde and built. They`ve even done the eyes like human eyes. Big blue eyes baby.
But
he`s my boss. And I admit I was a bit surprised. A
Martian in charge of things. Definitely
don`t tell my mum.
It
is Mars I suppose.
Still…He
can be in charge of me any day of the week, let me tell you.
Do
you think they have everything human?
You know what I mean girl?
And
let me tell they need the transformation.
The training does not prepare you.
Second
day in we had to go to one of the Martian villages. Took us forever girl. I mean not the most interesting landscape in
the world.
We
got to the village. I was really excited you know. Nervous I must admit. And then they came out to meet us.
Shit
girl I nearly threw up.
You
thought them guys down the Maxim club were ugly. Fucking Adonis compared to…I lasted ten
minutes and I couldn`t look at them.
Faked, not well. Back to the ship
I went.
Think
they believed me.
Even
if they didn`t what the fuck do they expect looking like that. I mean you know me girl. I`m as broadminded as the next person
but…There`s even talk up here of some of them working down in Earth. Dream on.
And
some of them bitch like nobody`s business.
`
Why should I transform. It`s our planet. `
Who
built the lab, girl that`s what they don`t see.
Earth technology.
If
they came to earth they would have to transform and no messing.
God
there`d be riots at the sight of them.
Boss
man`s not like that. He understands. A bit too reasonable really. Laid back you know. Eyes on the prize. Getting the vaccine. And he`ll get it. You have to admire him girl. Works 24/7.
The
rest of them are lazy shits.
He`s the exception that proves the
rule. (Screen goes blank.)
THREE
Earth 2075
Angela in her home as
before. She doesn`t look pleased,
responding to what the judge is telling her, from his private chambers not in
court. She has watched the film of her call
from Mars in 2072.
ANGELA--
The woman came to him for help because she knew him sir. She had seen his work on Mars.
I
understand that is not the issue. The
law is the law.
Don`t
send us back to Mars sir. Please.
You
seem a kind man. A good judge. And I know you must follow the law but…Isn`t it
enough he cannot practice?
Isn`t
it enough that, that…Rogers…We all contributed sir. But Mayyla drove it on.
Rogers wanted to quit that area of research. He spoke behind my husband’s
back. Saying why should a Martian lord
it over us humans? Maylya is a genius
scientist that`s why sir. If it wasn`t
for him many more throughout the galaxies would have died from the virus.
I
understand you yourself were ill?
Not
relevant sir. Sorry. Now the vaccine bears Rogers name and not my
husbands.
(She listens for a few moments.)
I
was young then sir. And that was a private communique between myself and
Greta. I am not the same person I was
then. I am a married woman for starters.
And soon! (She pats her stomach.) You
cannot send us back to Mars sir. Let Mayyla
work on Earth. In the hospital. Not as a
doctor. A porter. Or in an office.
Something like that.
I
know he was doing that when…Give him a second chance sir. He has already
promised not to practice.
I
understand he made that promise before but… (Pats her stomach.) Give us a second chance. My child deserves to be brought up on
Earth. His home.
(She
listens for a few moments.)
Yes,
sir I understand. Mars will also be his
home. But if you banish there we can
never come back. My child will never see
this as his home. Also his home. That
can`t be right sir. (Pats her stomach.) Henry
here…He`ll be named after my father. What
about his Earth family?
If
I apologise to the court again?
But…This
is my home sir.
This
can be Mayyal`s home.
He
doesn`t want to go back.
I
speak for him sir, since he`s too damn…He wanted me to give my statement. He did.
Because
he won`t stand up for himself.
I
fight for us to stay. All three of us.
He
doesn`t want to go back.
He
doesn`t.
I
can`t.
(Screen goes blank.)
FOUR
2076 Mars.
Angela in her home on
Mars, on a call to Greta.
ANGELA—Christ
sake Greta picks up the damn call. What am I persona non grata now? I
know you`re there. And I don`t blame you
anymore for not deleting that call. But
you should have. I told you to.
Water
under the bloody bridge now.
Pick
up Greta. This is it. Literally my last call. No more communication with Earth. With
people. Only the engineers are left and
they go later today. I`ve got I don`t
know how long before they pull the plug.
Labs
well and truly demolished. Some of the Martians tried to start them up
again. Of course they were going to
demolish them after that.
You
should have seen Mayyla`s face. I told
him not to go and see. But he
insisted. I asked him if he was
involved.
He
said. `Yes.`
Just
like that Greta.
He`s
changed since the body transformation was removed.
Yep,
full Martian now.
Which
is fine.
Doesn`t
blame me for losing my rag at the trial.
Or you for not deleting that call.
Do
you know he sent congratulations to Rogers for the Nobel Prize thing? He even
sat and watched it.
I
had to walk out during that little creep’s speech. No acknowledgment of Mayyla`s
work.
You
know that he left his wife don`t you? Rogers.
What`s her name? Julie or Jane or
something. Jane that`s it. We used to
call her plain Jane.
Would
have made a fine Martian.
His
new wife. Got all the qualifications
required, if you know what I mean. (Makes as if big breasts.) It should have
been Mayyal making that speech. It
should have been me sitting in the audience…That bitch, probably didn`t even
know where she was…Folk coming up to her…Getting all the congratulations.
I
bloody worked on the vaccine.
You
should see their house Greta. It was on
the news. Bitch and double bloody bitch.
(Sarcastic.) I would give you a tour of mine but…The
mansion that it is we don`t have the time.
We`ll
be fine. A whole year now here. And little Harry keeps me going.
We`ll
be fine.
I
always wanted to come to Mars. Remember how I never shut up about it. It felt so…Earth when I got here. I felt so at home.
I
said this to Mayyal the other day. You know what he said. He always felt like
an alien on his own planet.
Now
I`m the alien.
(Screen goes blank.)
No comments:
Post a Comment