by Aisling Ashbery

Created on: August 09, 2009   Last Updated: August 25, 2009

"The Magic Wand"

CHARACTERS:

Ayla: 23. Still not willing to admit for sure that Santa Claus isn't real.

Milo: 28. Stopped believing in Santa Claus on his own when he was four, because it was a "silly idea."

SETTING: An inner room in a museum of human artifacts. It's the kind of room that should probably be redone, but there isn't enough money in the budget. It's sparse and not many spectators come visit it anymore. At center is a pedestal, with what looks like a long, thin piece of wood in a glass case.

*Note: <brackets> replace italics for stage directions since Helium doesn't support special text.

<As the lights come up, we see Ayla moving stealthily in the room. She is dressed in black, in a ridiculous outfit that identifies her as a cliche thief. She carries a large gym bag over her shoulder. She approaches the case at center, but quickly hides when she hears approaching footsteps and voices.>

MILO (off):
So it's just past here then? All right, thank you very much. Did you disable the security system? Oh, I see. Yes, it wouldn't need disabling then, would it? No, it shouldn't take long. A few days at the lab and the story runs next week. All right, thank you.

<Milo enters. He wears a business suit and carries a brief case, which contains various tools for measuring and testing things. He approaches the case at center and sighs.>

MILO:
Such a silly thing to have under glass. To think, some child could be using it to roast marshmallows instead.

<Milo lays out a variety of tools from his briefcase. He checks some things with his funny gadgets with the wand still under glass, and then he reaches out to remove the case.>

AYLA (Trying to speak hoarsely):
Don't touch it.

MILO:
Hello?

AYLA:
You heard me. There's sixteen guns pointed at your back right now. Leave the wand or I've got me a new -

<Ayla's hoarse voice causes her to break into a coughing fit.>

MILO:
Is someone there?

<Ayla continues coughing.>

MILO:
Um ... is someone dying?

AYLA (between coughs):
You are if you don't step away from the wand.

MILO:
Would you like a lozenge?

AYLA (normal voice, recovering):
That would be lovely, thanks.

<Ayla comes out from hiding and takes a lozenge from Milo. Her face sours at the instruments in his briefcase.>

AYLA:
What are you, some sort of weatherman?

<Milo straightens up>

MILO:
Scientist.

AYLA:
Even worse. Where's your white coat?

MILO:
I don't need it. The majority

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