The Invasion (8.18.12)

Prompt: No stage directions. 

Again, I technically cheated on this prompt I guess. The idea of having two people trapped in a cellar during an alien invasion has been an idea of mine for a while but again, never came to be anything until now. I did use two stage directions at the beginning and the end--but I think that's necessary.  After a little bit of tweaking I intend to use this in my one-act anthology "The Alien Plays" which right now features two other plays about aliens/extra terrestrial life. 

#18: THE INVASION

Written

by

Sean Pollock

(Lights rise on a door. Then, after a beat, Robert and Trevor—two brothers—run in. Robert locks the door)

TREVOR: Is it locked?

ROBERT: I think so.

TREVOR: It’s really dark in here.

ROBERT: I know.

TREVOR: Check to see if there’s a light. (after a beat) Well?

ROBERT: I’m looking. (beat) Got it.

TREVOR: It’s still pretty dim.

ROBERT: Better than darkness.

TREVOR: True.

ROBERT: (after a beat) What do you think is going on up there?

TREVOR: They said something about an invasion.

ROBERT: Who?

TREVOR: Who what?

ROBERT: Who said something about an invasion?

TREVOR: Oh. The news. I heard it on the news.

ROBERT: An invasion of what?

TREVOR: Terrorists. Or something.

ROBERT: Do you think it’s terrorists out there?

TREVOR: I don’t know.

ROBERT: I don’t think it’s terrorists. I think it’s the government. Did you see those things? Those drones? Those were government drones.

TREVOR: How do you know it was a government drone? Have you ever seen a government drone? There were lazers coming out of those things. And missiles. They were shooting people.

ROBERT: Ok, but—

TREVOR: And some of them had different colors—some of them lit up—

ROBERT: Ok fine then. If I’m wrong then what are they? Spaceships?

TREVOR: They could be.

ROBERT: You think they’re spaceships?

TREVOR: My guess is as good as yours! I have no idea what’s going on out there, Robert. I just heard something about an invasion and then I see these weird fucking ships darting around and killing people, so what am I supposed to think? (beat) Look I don’t know what they are, ok? They could be the government, they could be aliens…they could be anything. All I know is that we could’ve died out there.

ROBERT: Who says we’re not gonna die down here too?

TREVOR: It’s the lowest point we can go to.

ROBERT: But if they blow up the house the house could come crashing down on u s.

TREVOR: (beat) Out of all the people I could be stuck in a basement with during an invasion. It just has to be you. My pessimistic, dead-beat brother.

ROBERT: Fuck you too.

TREVOR: You have not said one thing so far that has been in the slightest bit comforting.

ROBERT: What, so now I’m supposed to be comforting?

TREVOR: Oh jesus.

ROBERT: Look I’m sorry that this whole thing has got you “un easy”. I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on up there so we can narrow down our options. I wonder how long this whole thing is gonna last. Could be only a few hours…could be days.

TREVOR: I hope Sophie is ok. That’s what I’m worried about.

ROBERT: I hope so too, for your sake.

TREVOR: I told you we’re expecting, right?

ROBERT: (after a beat) What?

TREVOR: I just found out last night—Sophie’s three months pregnant.

ROBERT: Oh my god…congratulations. It seems like it was just yesterday you guys were getting married.

TREVOR: I know…it’s crazy.

ROBERT: Sophie’s great. She’s gonna be a great mom.

TREVOR: I know. She’s gonna be great.

ROBERT: To be honest I don’t really give a shit if Michelle gets hit with one of those things. In fact, I hope she does.

TREVOR: Don’t say that.

ROBERT: I mean it. I hate her.

TREVOR: But yet you still think about her.

ROBERT: Only about how much I hate her.

TREVOR: That’s not true.

ROBERT: Is too. She’s a horrible person. (beat) But you lucked out. You got a winner in Sophie. She’s smart. She’ll probably be spared. (beat) What are you doing?

TREVOR: Praying.

ROBERT: For Sophie?

TREVOR: Yes.

ROBERT: You don’t really believe in God, do you? (beat) What a cop out. You probably haven’t been to church since Mom and Dad used to force us into going in high school. You probably haven’t even thought about praying to God in years.

TREVOR: Couldn’t hurt now.

ROBERT: Praying does nothing. You know you’re just talking to yourself, right?

TREVOR: Shut up, Robert.

ROBERT: I’m just telling you the truth. There is no god.

TREVOR: Well I don’t know how you can say that and be so definitive about it. You have no proof that there isn’t a God.

ROBERT: And you don’t have any proof that there is one!

TREVOR: You don’t have any proof that those aren’t alien spaceships killing people out there.

ROBERT: I’m just saying it’s highly unlikely.

TREVOR: It’s always important for you to be right, isn’t it? See, this is why Michelle left you. You’re a self-righteous asshole. Always.

ROBERT: (after a beat) Wow.

TREVOR: It’s harsh, but it’s true. Alright?

ROBERT: (after a silence) Well you know what? (beat) Never mind.

TREVOR: Say it.

ROBERT: No. Never mind.

TREVOR: You’re a prick.

ROBERT: You’re right. I might be a prick. I might be a self-righteous asshole at times. But at least I’m not a pesty little instigator. See, right now—you’re instigating me. You’re trying to get a rise out of me. You’ve done this ever since we were kids.

TREVOR: Fine, don’t say whatever it was you were gonna say.  I don’t care anyway. What comes out of your mouth means nothing to me.

ROBERT: Oh really?

TREVOR: Really.

ROBERT: Well you know what? I fucked Sophie. That’s what I was gonna say.

TREVOR: (beat) What?

ROBERT: Did I stutter? I said I FUCKED Sophie.

TREVOR: No you didn’t. Stop saying that.

ROBERT: Yes I did, Trevor. I fucked her.

TREVOR: Stop saying that, it’s not true. You’re just trying to spite me.

ROBERT: It is true. I shouldn’t have said anything but you instigated me and look what happened. I’ve fucked your wife, Trevor. Several times, actually. Better than Michelle.

TREVOR: You’re sick. Why would you tell me that. Even if it is true, which it probably isn’t. Sophie would never go for someone like you.

ROBERT: Yeah and how do you know that?

TREVOR: She said so. She said you were ugly.

ROBERT: When.

TREVOR: I don’t know…when did you guys have this "affair"?

ROBERT: You don’t want to know that.

TREVOR: Yes I do. Tell me. Enlighten me. When did you fuck her.

ROBERT: The first time was before you guys got married. On your wedding day. (beat) I’d seen the way she’d been looking at me…and I always felt something for her…and then a few months later when you guys came to visit me and Michelle, we fucked then too. Only briefly. And we met up one time when I was on business. That’s it.

TREVOR: If this is a sick joke or something this better end now.

ROBERT: I'm not joking, Trevor. I shouldn't have said anything. (beat) Sophie and I never meant to hurt you. It was just sex.

TREVOR: I can’t fucking believe you.

ROBERT: I know, it was wrong. I’m sorry.

TREVOR: You are…the worst older brother. Of all time.

ROBERT: I’m sorry.

TREVOR: No you’re not. You’re not sorry at all.

ROBERT: Get off of me, Trevor.

TREVOR: If you don’t believe in God, and you believe the government is just overthrowing us anyway—then surely you won’t mind this.

ROBERT: Stop! Stop!

(Trevor opens the door and locks Robert out. Screaming and pounding on the door. Suddenly we hear the sounds of the chaos outside: drones hovering, lazers shooting out at people. The screams of people calling to someone to save them from their final moments. Trevor crouches down in front of the door, crying. Lights fade)