Act One, Scene One

Douglas is speaking with General over a table, they are discussing tactics. Messenger enters and rushes towards them in a panic. Douglas stops speaking and listens as Messenger whispers in his ear. Douglas listens for five seconds and then turns to face Messenger, his face is very grave.

Douglas: (in a whisper) Are you certain of this information?

Messenger nods ominously and Douglas whisks him out. Douglas faces General. The General senses something is amiss and immediately on edge.

General: (fearing) This isn’t them … is it?

Douglas: (defeated) Indeed so. I hope you’re ready to put those strategies (points to table) to a test on the field. The last fellow who made it as far as you was never quite able to make it past the paper stage of any plan.

General: (gulping) I will ready the troops then, sir?

Douglas: (commanding) No! I will inform the Prime Minister first. Perhaps he can do something with the hand we’ve been dealt.

Douglas leaves a very flabbergasted General and exits. General exits soon afterwards and the scene changes to Prime Minister standing in a press conference. Reporter One and Reporter Two are in front of Prime Minister, listening intently.

Prime Minister: (caring, loving, fearful) My fellow North Americans. I find that though I normally enjoy speaking to you directly like this, this day I am not so cheerful of the prospect. Although in the last twenty-four hours, you as a people have not changed in regards to me, so any misgivings on my part are not the fault of the people. What troubles me this day is that once again our alliance is plagued by the threat of another war. (reporters gasp) Although the United Nations has tried and failed many times to bring peace, our enemy once again has pushed us near the brink of war. I fear only that recent events will push us pas the threshold of peace into the void of conflict. Moments ago the Chinese invaded Saudi Arabia, a dear friend to our alliance. Reports are not clear, but we are certain that, as is the precedent with these invaders, many people have already perished. As such I have decided as Prime Minister of these Allied States of North America, that is my duty to ask that parliament accept my proposal to retaliate. If such a measure passes, and if this current state of affairs is maintained, it will, then we will bring Earth to a point that history has never wished to contemplate. (Prime Minister looks up at the people gravely) Thermonuclear war.

Scene Two

Douglas sits at his desk reviewing some letters, and is cradling his head in his right hand. He is under enormous stress. David enters and stands in front of Douglas’ desk.

Douglas: (frustrated) And you are?

David: Doctor Davidson Monroe. (shakes Douglas’ hand) Is this a bad time, I booked this appointment with your secretary, but if you’re as busy as it looks I could …

Douglas: (interrupting) No, no, no. You may sit down. My secretary has the annoying habit of booking appointments without consulting me first, that’s all. And besides, with a war in the making my work now will seem like a holiday compared to what I’ll be doing when it hits.

David: I wouldn’t worry about this so much, sir. War only seems close at hand.

Douglas: (surprised) Really!

David: Indeed. You must remember that even though wars are fought with strong-minded men like you and I, they are still commanded by politicians, the weakest and most compromising people of all. If you forced a politician to not change his mind for even month he’d have to resign or he’d die on the spot, I tell you. The folks that run the world are shrewd people, who put the world on edge, on the brink of war, just long enough to heighten everyone’s patriotic spirit and then pull out when they think they’ve gotten the best deal. North Korea did it seven times before China finally annexed them.

Douglas: As much as I find your unpatriotic and cynical remarks amusing, I have the overwhelming feeling that you are wasting my time.

David: (offended) Why sir, but can’t you see! This cycle of being on the precipice of destruction, then rebuilding peace, then being on the precipice of destruction can’t sustain us for long. Why, it only few seconds after the Prime Minister told the nation of our dire straits, the stock market lost a trillion dollars. A trillion dollars! Can you believe it. If you stacked a trillion dollars worth of hundred dollar bills you’d have a pile as tall as Mount Everest. Lost over a scare. Uncertainty kills people, sir. People are running around, scared to death out there, and they’re the richest people on the planet. Should I invest in gold, maybe the dollar, maybe arms dealers. They don’t know! The only thing to fear is fear itself.

Douglas: And what are we going to do.

David: We need to force the major powers to follow through. We need to start a war.

Douglas: How would we do that.

David: (arrogant) Well, let’s look at the facts. Back when wars were fought with guns and swords there was a war every other weekend practically. And in that time the greatest empires were born. Now, when we fight with nukes, wars never happen and nearly every country on Earth that didn’t consolidate into a larger alliance with us, the British, Russians, or Chinese, ended up in a civil fighting over increasing finite resources. Everyone knows that the Chinese and North Americans have been staring down each other for a quarter of a century, but no one really wants a war because they know that either hundreds of millions of people will or the world will be destroyed. I have a solution that won’t cause either.

Douglas: What?

David: We can change the game. I am developing a new kind of weapon that attacks the mind (points to his head). The Chinese soldiers outnumber us five to one, so if we were to attack them directly in any melee situation, we’d be destroyed. But if we convinced their soldiers that they worked for us, then we could fight the Chinese without losing a single North American life.

Douglas: I really don’t think this is the right way to solve our problems. If there really isn’t going to be a war, and I don’t quite believe that, then our situation can’t be so dire as to call for measures so drastic, I really can’t quite …

David interrupts Douglas by standing up to leave.

David: Fine, Mr. Field Marshall. Do as you wish. But remember, Hitler nearly conquered Europe by brainwashing a nation, and he only needed static filled radio stations and a few state-funded films. With modern day technology, think of what we can accomplish.

Douglas: (desperate) But why bother to do it.

David: Because, sir. At the same time our stocks fell, the markets in Hong Kong reached record highs. China knows it will end up with more than when it started, and we will lose, war or no war. There may never be a bullet fired between the two of us, but they will just keep moving like a crushing wave of molasses over the hills and the valleys and the fields that once were the land of freedom until us and them can see eye to eye, then we will know we lost. It may take a decade, a century, or even a thousand years, but they will win if we don’t subdue them. If we don’t act now, it can only get worse from here.

David begins to walk away, as if to leave, when Douglas stands and begins to talk.

Douglas: (irritated) Fine, I’ll see if I can get you some military funding.

David: (conceited) Considering your ties to the regime, that shouldn’t be much trouble, especially since you your fate in that regime relies heavily on this experiment.

David leaves a very angry Douglas glowering in his office.

Act Two, Scene Three

David is sitting in his laboratory, reviewing papers. Douglas enters, and David lifts his eyes from his page to see whom has enters. Upon realizing it is Douglas, David stands and solutes.

David: Field Marshall Douglas Venport. Lovely to see you.

Douglas: Well, I heard you’d be selecting the candidates today, and I decided to come and watch.

David: Come and review my selections you mean. Hmmm. Well it is unfortunate that you come so late, sir. I have already selected the best candidate. However, if you would care to stay, I am scheduled to begin with the first experiment right away.

Douglas: (confused) But I was told the selection process was to be held at noon, and it is barely eleven now.

David: I decided to have it at the crack of dawn. I really would hate if pesky bureaucrats were poking around and breathing down my neck and therefore hindering a scientific selection, Mr. Field Marshall.

Douglas: (stubborn, unwilling to admit defeat) Very well, then shall I least see whom you have selected.

David nods and gestures to the door as Johnathan enters.

David: Field Marshall, meet Sergeant Johnathan Strauss, our first subject. Now, John, whatever happens, I want to follow only my orders and never do anything the Field Marshall asks of you.

Douglas: (offended) Hey! What is the meaning of this?

David: It is only for the purposes of this first trial, Mr. Venport. Nothing further. (speaks to John) John, do you see that glass of water?

John: Yes, sir!

David: Do not, under any circumstances, drink that water.  Do you understand, John?

John: Yes, sir!

David: Doug, tell him to drink the water.

Douglas: (puzzled) But you just told him not too.

David: Just do it!

Douglas: (annoyed, rolling eyebrows) Drink it, Sergeant.

John stands resolute. Douglas turns to David looking very angry.

Douglas: See, he didn’t do anything, just like you told him to. Now you’re just making look like a fool.

David: No, sir. I merely had to test his will power. (flicks a switch on a gizmo) Now, Field Marshall, tell him he is thirsty.

Douglas: Doctor, this is ludicrous. I’m leaving.

David: (begging) Please, sir, you must or this experiment is bound to fail.

Douglas: (after a long pause) Fine, I’ll do it. (turns to speak with John) Sergeant, you are very thirsty.

John looks around in dismay and then tilts his head to speak to Douglas directly.

John: (in a frightened whisper) Good heavens sir, I think I am!

David: (speaking so softly that only Douglas can hear) Tell him to drink the water again.

Douglas: (thoroughly humiliated) Drink the water, Sergeant!

John stands firm, but then he begins to shiver. Gradually his shivers turn to shakes. He takes a glance at the glass, but then turns his head in shame. Then he tightly presses his lips together and looks straight forward, although he is fidgeting. He takes another glance, but then looks forward. He begins to gaze toward to the glass and suddenly he’s fixated. He looks around to see if anyone is looking, then he stealthily walks on the tops of his toes to the glass and deftly drains it in one gulp. David begins to clap and turns off his gizmo. John drops the glass in shock.

John: (defeated, fearful) I’m very sorry, sir. I tried sir, I tried, but I had to. I was so thirsty, I had no choice. My throat has burning, sir. I was in agony!

David: Really, agony?

John: Yes, sir. It felt as if my throat had been banished to hell and was smouldering in its fire, sir!

David: Yet only five minutes ago I had you drink an entire litre of water. I would think of your throat as a water-logged swamp, not a burning abyss filled with hell-fire as you describe.

John: (saddened, crying) Oh I’m sorry, sir. I couldn’t control myself. I’m so sorry I failed you.

At this point John is on his knees begging forgiveness. David raises an eyebrow in wonder.

David: Don’t worry, Sergeant. You performed spectacularly. I’ve never seen someone hold up against the psychic ray for so long. Even I drank the water when I did it to myself. Having said that, you do seem rather emotional, I’ m not quite certain if that is a side-effect or simply a character trait. But whatever, you are dismissed. See you tomorrow, Sergeant.

The Sergeant bows and solutes, then he leaves. David soon follows close after him.

Douglas: (not quite able to comprehend) So what, the day is finished at 11:10 now!

David: (before he leaves) That is science, my friend. A few hours of experiments then a few days of analysis.

Scene Four

David and John are sitting opposite one another both wearing some sort of device on their heads.

David: Are we all comfortable now?

John: Aye, sir.

Douglas enters and David looks up at him.

David: So, you’ve decided to come back then, eh, Doug?

Douglas cringes in disgust as David uses his shortened name.

Douglas: I’ve thought that perhaps there’s something in these experiments after all.

David: (gleeful) Excellent, then I shall explain today’s trials. Johnathan and I are going to be communicating mentally while he is under the influence of psychic waves. I will mentally tell him what to do and we shall see if his will power is stronger when being spoken to or when our minds are in direct contact.

Douglas: (inquiring) Why is that important?

David: Because, sir, direct mental contact can happen at any distance and the Chinese are an ocean away from us.

Douglas: But how can we make mental contact with millions of Chinese soldiers if you have wear your ridiculous helmets and wires?

David: (as he lowers his visor) There’s always room for progress, Doug.

Douglas: (angered) Stop calling me that!

David: (ignoring Douglas) Very well, let us begin in five, four, three, two, one!

David and John snap their eyes shut. John begins to twitch, then he beings to murmur to himself. Gradually the twitching turns to shaking and murmurs turn to groans.

Douglas: (concerned) What are you telling him?

David: Nothing, I’m trying to make a few subtle changes to his personality.

Douglas: (alarmed) What!

David: Don’t worry, I can always reverse it. I need to test the limits of what my methods can do.

Douglas: Good God, man. What if it goes wrong? What if this man turns into a completely different person or worse, what he becomes a complete vegetable?

David: His assignment to my experiments has voluntary, Doug.

Douglas: I told you to stop calling me that.

David: Whatever, now let me concentrate.

Douglas: No, Davidson, I’m going to pull the plug. Changing personalities is taking things too far.

Douglas steps forward and takes the wire in his hand. He removes from his waistcoat a knife and prepares to cut it. David sits up in alarm.

David: (genuinely scared) Don’t do it, sir. If you severe the connection now …

Douglas cuts the wire. David jumps from his chair and tears the helmet and visor from his face. John begins to scream. David and Douglas look at him in shock. John’s screams become so loud that they can only suggest pure agony. Douglas slowly moves towards him.

Douglas: (afraid) What’s happening to him?

David: (defeated, confused) I have no idea.

Suddenly John goes into his death throws and finally he stops and his violent shaking is over. His head tilts to the side to suggest he is dead. Douglas puts his hand on John’s pulse and looks up at David.

David: (in pain) He’s … dead?

Douglas nods and removes his hand.

Douglas: (horrified) What have I done?

John begins to twitch again. Douglas and David step back in shock. John’s heads rocks back and forth. Then his eyes shoot open. John springs forward and lunges at Douglas. Douglas falls to the ground and narrowly misses John. David moves forward, desperately trying to contain John, but John punches David in the stomach and growls. He runs, screaming, off the stage.

Douglas: (panting) What did you turn him into?

David: (confused) I just wanted him to like liquorice.

Act Three, Scene Five

David enters and puts his jacket on a hanger. He pours himself a glass of booze and sits down and drinks it quickly. Then he refills it.

David: (sick) What an awful day.

John: (mysterious, dangerous) Really, and why is that.

John is still concealed from David, and he looks around in fright.

David: (frightful) Hello! Is anyone there.

John: (evilly) Oh, wouldn’t you be surprised.

John steps forward and grabs and David. David struggles, but soon John has David subdued. John pulls David backstage.

Scene Six

Douglas enters. He takes off his coat and hat and throws them on a chair.

Douglas: Honey, kids, I’m home!

When there is no response, Douglas begins to feel something is wrong. He begins to panic and search desperately.

Douglas: (frantic) Mary, Jake, Jane? Time to come out now, you’ve scared me quite enough.

John turns in his chair and faces Douglas, Douglas’ face goes pale.

John: Oh, I very much doubt that, Mr. Venport.

Douglas: What have you done with my wife and children, Sergeant.

John: (remembering) Sergeant, eh. Like a distant memory so clear, and yet, I still have trouble recalling anything from back then correctly.

Douglas: (seething) Sergeant, what did you do to my kids.

John: Oh, they’re quite alright. Your dear Mary left a note (holds up a piece of paper) telling you she’d be running late. The good doctor on the other hand (reveals a tied and gagged David) is not doing so well.

Douglas: (angered greatly) Let him go!

John: Oh don’t worry, I will. Once you can guarantee that what’s been done to me can be undone.

Douglas: (calmly) Okay, Johnathan. I’ll make sure Davidson tries to fix. You just need to come with us, back into the lab and …

John: (yelling) I didn’t mean undo what’s been done to my mind you idiot. I’ve never felt better in my life. Finally I can do what I want and be who I want rather than the slobbering and apologizing fool I was.

Douglas: Then what do you want me to fix?

John: My poverty, what else. I signed up for this stuff because my family’s starving and my sick grandmother can’t pay the hospital bills. I need you to give my five million in cash and a certificate of immunity.

Douglas: Look, John. Come with me and we’ll see what we can do.

John takes out a gun and points it at David’s head.

John: Not good enough, sir!

John loads his gun then stares at Douglas. But suddenly David is somehow free of his bonds and he grabs John’s gun and throws him to the ground. Douglas is impressed.

Douglas: How did you do that?

David: I was a sailor before I was physiologist, the military gave a free education back then. Knots are no problem to me.

Douglas: Well, shoot him then!

David: (shocked) What!

Douglas: Shoot him. He’s an experiment gone wrong. We can’t bring him back, and if he leaves, who knows what kind of people he’d tell about what we’ve been doing.

David: But, I can’t do it, Doug. I have to see what went wrong. A few hours of experiments, a few days of analysis.

Douglas: You have to give up on this, David. Your psychic wave weapon isn’t going to work, we need to tie the loose ends. Get rid of witnesses.

David: No!

Douglas: (outraged) Why you…

Douglas lunges at David. David accidently shoots Douglas. Douglas dies. David cradles his body.

David: Oh no, I didn’t mean to.

John steps up and walks to David.

John: Yes, you did, David. You had to do it.

David looks at the gun.

David: Perhaps. I doubt I’ll ever know for certain. You seem to have lost that crazy look in your eye.

John: Yes, sir. Everything went by so fast, and now I feel strange. But I am thinking clearly. May I go to the store sir?

David: Why would you wish to do that?

John: (puzzled) I don’t know. I just have a craving for liquorice.

-Fin-