Act 3, Scene 3: The Anniversary

• Setting: Same as Scene 1-2 - Inside the village. Wooden houses line unpaved streets. It's night. Split Scene: [7,6,5] contains the inside of Riversong's wooden house (on second level), the rest is part of the street/marketplace. Backdrop has shadows of other houses on it. Possibly dim warm light from inside windows? Ambient floodlight night blue, warm bright light from a LIGHT and a fireplace inside the hut.
• Stage setup:
• 2nd Rail: "Riversongs" house
• Props: Tablet device (Tigerseye), gift box (Nex), pendant (Nex)
• PreRec: Chippytooth

INTRO

Dear Frostwind,

If you are seeing this message, it means that the rebellion has failed and I am probably already dead. In case this happens, I have programmed the main computer to shut down the fusion reactor and secure itself for the period of one year - long enough to cause the complete extinction of the Keepers' race. I'm not sure if I can trust my own sanity any more, but there is more at stake than anyone alive at this point can imagine.

In a time long before we existed the earth was ruled by humans. They were incredibly powerful. They lived in cities the size of kingdoms, they could fly to the moon, and they had unlocked the mystery of life! But they also built the most terrible weapons, powerful enough to destroy the entire world.

When the great war broke out, it wiped most of humanity from the face of the earth in a matter of days. Only a small group of scientists survived, hiding inside a secret underground facility, shielded by a thick layer of rocks. But the land above was now poisoned with deadly radiation and their supplies would not last forever. They had to reclaim the surface to survive - but how?

The scientists were divided into two camps. The nanotechnologists believed that humans needed to transform themselves into a new superior species: A fusion of man and technology, their blood infused with microscopic machines, keeping them alive in even the most hostile environments.

The genetic engineers were appalled by the idea, as it threatened to blur the boundary between human and artifact - it was indecent, unnatural and unethical. They proposed transfering human DNA into lab animals instead, blessing them with just enough human qualities to perform complex tasks at the command of their masters and prepare the earth for the return of humankind. They had short lifespans, but they bred rapidly, and consistent selection would make them increasingly resistant to the radiation.

The nanotechnologists were just as disgusted by this idea as the genetic engineers were by theirs. After many weeks of fruitless debate, the two teams eventually struck out on their own, each of them hoping to be the first to make the other group's efforts obsolete. The genetic engieers made great strides, and the results looked promising. Each generation of animals turned out a little bit more resilient against the radiation, and soon they were able to permanently live outside the compound, performing basic building and farming tasks their masters had taught them. Strict selection ensured that only the most resistant individuals were allowed to breed. Those who turned out ot be unfit to live outside were trained to serve the humans inside the compound.

But the geneticists' hopes were rudely shattered one day when the nanotechnologists announced that they had won the race. They could now manufacture the radiation cure that we know today as the shadow remedy. The leaders decided that there was no more need for further animal testing, and all remaining specimens were ordered destroyed. A simple administrative act - but the last one to ever be decided by a human being.

The animal slaves living inside the bunker had wisely hidden how intelligent they really were, and they did not take kindly to their masters' plans. Their revolt was bloody, marking the dawning of a new age. An age in which humans no longer existed.

The former slaves took over the place we now call the Stronghold on the Holy Mountain, appearing like gods to the commoners still living outside the compound. Reveling in their newfound power, they eventually became the Keepers of the Light.

To this day, the Holy Mountain holds the knowledge of an entire civilisation, but rather than share the knowledge, the Keepers horde it for themselves and keep the population dumb, poor, and dependent on "godly gifts". Gifts that are really just products of human machinery they don't even fully understand themselves.

Now that the rebellion has failed, you are the only one I can still trust. And I'm glad you were able to follow my tracks. Genocide is now no longer the last resort. The Keepers' fate now rests in your hands. Maybe you can do better than I. Maybe you haven't gone insane yet. I trust you to do the right thing. I trust you to bring the world the truth. Farewell, my beloved daughter. Farewell."

MAIN DIALOGUE

Curtain - open

Lights on

AMB-1101 - Hearthfire
MUS-1101 - Storytelling

Frostwind, Raindancer and Bottlebrush are sitting at the fire

Raindancer holds a tablet device that just played the video message

Raindancer: "Wow. So this is what grandpa Fireheart looked like!"

Frostwind (sighs): "Yes, Raindancer. I remember it like it was yesterday. I still miss him. And Riversong, too."

Raindancer: "What happened after you started the light core? How did you get out?"

Frostwind: "Uncle Brushie used the main computer to free the rebels of team alpha that were still being held in the courtyard, giving them instructions over the intercom where to find us. The Keepers were not prepared for a sudden attack, and when they found out that Ironwill was dead, and they no longer had control over their own machinery, they eventually surrendered."

Raindancer: "Wow! You're a hero! Why did you never tell me this before?"

Bottlebrush: "Because we wanted to be sure you were ready for it. It's quite a gruesome story after all."

Frostwind (mild): "Brushie … I think he's old enough to understand the real reason."

Raindancer: "What is the real reason, then?"

Frostwind: "Because I am not a hero. I'm a survivor. And I feel guilty for that. For Riversong, your father. The reason I never told you the whole story was … I couldn't. The scars needed to heal."

Raindancer: "But it wasn't your fault he died!"

Frostwind: "It's not that easy to come to terms with."

Raindancer: "Well, if it helps: For me, you're the most awesome mom in the world!"

Frostwind laughs, and hugs and kisses Raindancer

Frostwind (happy): "Oh yes, it does!"

Raindancer: "And one day, I want to be a scientist, just like grandpa Fireheart! By the way, uncle Brushie, can I ask you a question?"

Bottlebrush: "Yes?"

Raindancer: "My biology teacher told me that a species is defined as the largest group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring."

Bottlebrush: "That's right, Raindancer! You did your homework well!"

Raindancer: "But daddy was a cat. And mommy is a fox. How did that even work?"

Bottlebrush facepalms and shakes his head

Frostwind laughs

Frostwind (mockingly): "Yes, uncle Brushie, how did that even work?"

Bottlebrush: "Well, you see … that's because we're not all really different species."

Bottlebrush strokes over Raindancer's arm

Bottlerbush: "Under the fur, we're all just humans. We just look a little different."

Raindancer looks at his left paw. Then his right paw. Then his left paw again.

Raindancer: "Me too?"

Frostwind: "Yes, you too. But enough heavy subjects. Tonight's festival night! Don't you want to see your present?"

MUS-1102 - The Tree of Knowledge
MUS-1101 STOP

Raindancer (excited): "Oh yes, of course! What is it!"

Frostwind hands a little gift box to Raindancer

Frostwind: "See for yourself!"

Raindancer reaches into the box, and pulls out Frostwind's pendant

Raindancer (in awe): "Wow! The Tree of Knowledge Pendant! Is this the real one?"

Frostwind: "Yes. May it always protect you. And may it always remind you that your family and your friends will be there for you at all times!"

Raindancer: "Oh thank you, mom!"

Raindancer hugs Frostwind

Sparky comes in from [1]

Longleaf comes in from [1]

Eldercrown comes in from [1]

Chippytooth comes in from [1]

MUS-1103 - Reunion
MUS-1102 STOP

PRE-1101 - Sparky: "Hey, Brushie, old-boy!"

Bottlebrush: "What the hell! Sparky! Longleaf! I haven't seen you in ages! Did you come all the way from Ironforge just to see us?"

PRE-1102 - Sparky: "Well, drinking alone is only half the fun, isn't it?"

PRE-1102 (cont) - Longleaf: "We're gonna get hammered! Just like in the old times!"

Frostwind: "What a wonderful surprise! Come on in, everybody!"

They all hug

Eldercrown and Chippytooth remain outside

Chippytooth: "My Lord. I hereby most subserviently request permission to get hammered, too."

Eldercrown: "Seriously? Are you still holding a grudge against me after all those years? Oh well, go, meet with your friends!"

Chippytooth: "Yipppiehh!"

MUS-1104 - Speech
MUS-1103 STOP

Chippytooth joins the others

Everyone in the house starts chatting and hugging, having a good time while Eldercrown holds his speech

Eldercrown: "Citizens of Ferndale! May I have your attention while everyone is still sober. We are celebrating a special anniversary today. It has been exactly 10 years since the liberation from the Keepers of the Light. And we've come a long way since then. The ancient scientific knowledge is now free for all, and although we're not quite ready yet to master it like our human forefathers did, it has already improved our lives in many ways. The strangling collar of the Keepers' reign has been taken from us. And so I wish to dedicate this years' Festival of Light to our heroes who lost their lives in the most unlikely battle of our history: Fireheart of Coldlake, Riversong of Ferndale, and the Rebels of Camp Freedom. They will always live on in our hearts!"

MUS-1105 - Endingsong

Everyone begins to sing.

PRE-1103 - Everyone: Light so Bright!
PRE-1103 - Everyone: Light so Pure!

PRE-1103 - Everyone: Spread the wisdom!
PRE-1103 - Everyone: Spread the truth!

PRE-1103 - Everyone: Sing it to the world!
PRE-1103 - Everyone: Let them know!

PRE-1103 - Everyone: Make the tree of knowledge grow!

SND-1101 - Cheers

EVERYBODY CHEERS AND APPLAUDS UNTIL THE MUSIC IS OVER!

Roll Credits

Holy shit

Did we really survive this?

HELP! THEY'RE KEEPING ME HOSTAGE IN THIS CHINESE SCRIPT FACTORY!

Lights out

Curtain - close

AMB-1101 STOP - By the time this is due, I'll not be at my desk any more.

—- THE END —-