by Scott Scherr

Created on: December 14, 2008

Battle at the Fortress of Power

Characters:
MARK: A twelve year old adventurer and king of the newly established "Fortress of Power"
LUCAS: Mark's ten year old brother and newly appointed Captain of the Guard.

Scene:
(MARK and LUCAS have just completed their snow fort at the local park on a Saturday afternoon. Soon after, they encounter three strange creatures.)

MARK: (Places the last bit of snow to complete the wall then stands up on a nearby hill) Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention please. I've an important announcement to make. The Fortress of Power is now fully operational. Your king has spoken.

LUCAS: (Shaking from the cold) Who are you talking to? We're the only ones here. I want to go home now. I'm cold.

MARK: Be still now! Only speak when your king has given you permission.

LUCAS: (Whining) But I have to pee!

MARK: Silence I said!

LUCAS: Stop yelling at me. I'll tell mom.

MARK: (Getting agitated) Oh, Lucas! I'm not yelling at you. I'm just pretending to be king and you're ruining the moment here. (Mark stomps off the hill, pouting.)

LUCAS: Sor-ry! Geesh Mark, I was just playing. Can we go home now?

MARK: What, and leave our fine fortress unguarded? Never!

LUCAS: I don't wanna be Captain of the Guard anymore. It's boring and I'm cold! Can we pleeeeease go home now?

MARK: (Throwing his hands up) Fine! Lucas I don't know why I take you anywhere. You are no fun anymore.

LUCAS: (Defensively, and crossing his arms) I am too fun! I am Captain of the Guard remember? I don't know what that is, but it sounds fun to me.

MARK: (Seeing that he hurt his brother's feelings, heads over to him and gives him a big hug) Sorry Captain, I didn't mean to yell at you. It is getting colder, let's get on home. We can always come back tomorrow.

LUCAS: Yeah! Home!

(Just then, the Fortress of Power is assaulted by six snowballs coming from the nearby woods.)

MARK: Incoming! Get down!

(Mark and Lucas duck down and crawl behind the cover of the fort.)

MARK: (Whispering) Where did those kids come from? We've been ambushed!

LUCAS: (Whispering) Mark, let's get out of here!

MARK: Did you make those snowballs like I told you?

LUCAS: Yeah, we're laying on them. Mark, those weren't kids, I saw one of them.

MARK: Aw crap! (Face changing) What do you mean they weren't kids?

LUCAS: I saw it Mark! It was a penguin!

MARK: No way!

LUCAS: Yeah way! See for yourself if you don't believe me. Let's get out of here Mark, the penguin scared me.

MARK: Calm down now. Let's just take a peek.

(MARK and LUCAS peek over the top of the fort just as three penguins step out of the woods throwing a new batch of snow balls.)

MARK: (Spooked by the sudden appearance of snow wielding penguins, Mark grabs Lucas by the coat and pulls him from the fort.) Lucas, run! Back to the neighborhood, hurry!

(MARK and LUCAS exit. Three PENGUINS stop at the fortress, dropping snowballs, and remove their hoods.)

PENGUIN #1: Oh no! Not again!

PENGUIN #2: I told you, it's these silly coats mom keeps making us. All the kids get scared away.

PENGUIN #3: It wasn't as bad as last time. Remember when she dressed us up as dragons? She said those suits were the warmest to wear for really cold days. We made those kids cry that time.

PENGUIN #1: (Watching the scared boys depart) Man! I was hoping for a good snow ball fight. I forgot about the stupid penguin suits!

PENGUIN #2: Mom's just too creative for her own good. These things look too real.

PENGUIN #3: They sure are warm though.

PENGUIN #1: (Excitedly) Hey, let's play a new game! (Reaches down and packs snow into a ball) Last penguin standing wins the Fortress of Power!

Learn more about this author, Scott Scherr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.