A Fortress Deep And Mighty (8.12.12)

The prompt for August 12th was: look around your living space for an interesting object. How could this object be a metaphor for a situation or a person? For example, an embroidered pillow with spiralling patterns could represent the complexity and repetition of a person’s relationships, or a fancy crystal vase with dead flowers in it might represent a wealthy person who is spiritually dead. Use this object in your play without telling your audience, “HEY LOOK! A METAPHOR!”

  

#12: A FORTRESS DEEP AND MIGHTY

Written

by

Sean Pollock

(Lights rise on a LEADER and his FOLLOWERS)

LEADER: Well guys, today is the day. The time has come. We have all gathered here at last to build a civilization of our own.

(The Followers cheer)

LEADER: Thank you all for joining me in this effort. It has been hard to get a bunch of people to follow me in this pursuit, but I thank you.

FOLLOWER 1: We love you, Leader.

FOLLOWER 2: You are truly fearless.

FOLLOWER 3: And original.

LEADER: Now, in order to make this civilization, we must make a fortress. In order for me to make that fortress, I have assembled here a bunch of bricks. I need you to help me build this fortress, for I cannot do it all on my own. It takes a lot of work, and I need everyone’s cooperation. Got it?

ALL FOLLOWERS: Yes sir.

LEADER: Now whose ready to build this thing?!

(All cheer)

LEADER: Here, now grab a brick and start building our fortress!

(All the followers take a brick and begin building. After a few beats, one Follower stops)

FOLLOWER 4: Sorry Leader, I got to go.

LEADER: Why? You’ve come all this way! Thousands and thousands of miles!

FOLLOWER 4: My back hurts from building. I have to go back to my doctor.

LEADER: But you said you’d help build this fortress—it’s a communal effort, you know.

FOLLOWER 4: Sorry. My doctor’s more important than building a fortress or creating a new civilization. Sorry to let everyone down for my selfish needs.

(Follower 4 exits)

LEADER: Let us not be discouraged by this follower who has left us. For, we still have enough people to make this fortress a reality! Let’s keep building this!

(Follower 5 gets up)

FOLLOWER 5: Sorry Leader, I got to go.

LEADER: But why?

FOLLOWER 5: I miss my dog.

LEADER: But…you said you’d help build this fortress—it’s a communal effort, you know.

FOLLOWER 4: Sorry. I miss my dog. And my dog’s more important than building a fortress or creating a new civilization. Sorry to let everyone down for my selfish needs.

(Follower 5 exits. Follower 6 rises)

FOLLOWER 6: Sorry Leader, I got to go.

LEADER: But why?

FOLLOWER 6: I don’t think I’m much of a builder.

LEADER: But, you said you’d help build this fortress! It’s a communal effort, you know.

FOLLOWER 6: Sorry, but I just don’t think I’m much of a builder even though I’ve only been building this fortress for a whopping two minutes. And the belief in my own self doubt is more important than building a fortress or creating a new civilization. Sorry to let everyone down for my selfish needs.

(Follower 6 exits. Follower 7 rises)

FOLLOWER 6: Sorry Leader, I got to go.

LEADER: But why?

FOLLOWER 6: I need to catch up on my beauty sleep.

LEADER: But you SAID you’d help build this fortress—it’s a communal effort, you know.

FOLLOWER 6: Sorry, but I’m tired. And getting enough beauty sleep is more important than building a fortress or creating a new civilization. Sorry to let everyone down for my selfish needs.

(Follower 6 exits. The rest of the Followers begin to rise)

FOLLOWER 7: Sorry, but my hair is too long. I need to get a haircut. And getting my hair cut more important than building a fortress or creating a new civilization. Sorry to let everyone down for my selfish needs.

FOLLOWER 8: Sorry, but I need to see my brother. And seeing my brother right now is more important than building a fortress or creating a new civilization. Sorry to let everyone down for my selfish needs.

FOLLOWER 9: Sorry, but I need to eat an orange. And eating an orange right now is more important than building a fortress or creating a new civilization. Sorry to let everyone down for my selfish needs.

(Soon all the Followers come up with excuses and they all overlap. They all leave, except for the Leader and Followers 1, 2 and 3)

FOLLOWER 1: We’re here for you, Leader. We committed to you, and we’re not leaving.

FOLLOWER 2: We’re on your side.

FOLLOWER 3: No need to worry.

LEADER: But how am I going to build a whole fortress—and civilization—with only myself and three people?

FOLLOWER 1: Well it’s either us or nothing.

FOLLOWER 2: So would you rather have a flawed civilization and fortress with only three followers or nothing at all?

(The Leader thinks)

LEADER: Making this civilization is really important to me, so I guess a flawed one is better than none. (beat) I wish people would just learn to commit to the things they started.

(The lights fade…)