Adventure on Algenib / by Marsali Taylor

Cast:

ROBOTS: 1, 2 and 3
COMMANDER -IN -CHIEF OF INTERGALACTIC FLEET HIS AIDES: 1,2, and 3
COMMANDER OF FLEET ASTRONAUTS: 1,2,3,4,5 and 6
CAPTAIN CHURCH
LIEUTENANT SPOKE
COMPUTER ROBOT MX3224457

STAR DANCERS - as many as desired

EARTHKEEP CHILDREN:
CAPELLA
DUBHE
VEGA
SPICA
DENEB
HAMAR
TZAR
SEGINUS
ALDEBARAAN

EARTHKEEP ADULTS:
ALGOL
CAPH
ARCTURUS
RIGEL

TWO REPAIRMEN:
SPLATNAIL
BODGER

OP2K
N06
YT4D
KOCHAB
MEREK
J03T
ALIOTH
GRUMBLETHUMP
GRIMBLETWEAK
DWAYNE
FROYD
STODD
JASONI
ZARANDRA
STRACII
SHARONA
GREAT LEADERS: 1,2, and 3

Fifty-one speaking parts for a mixed cast, which can be reduced considerably by doubling, or expanded with extras such as the Star Dancers, making this is an adaptable script. Some parts can
be merged, too, for further reduction of numbers, e.g. the three Aides could be played as one.

There is no reason why the cast should not be mainly female if desired - or mainly male; most the parts could be played by either, with slight adaptations of the script itself [e.g he to she.].

The play runs at approx one and a half hours; which can be 'short' full-length with interval. It can be lengthened, too, by the expansion of such areas as the Star Dance, or the addition of other dances or songs.

Sample Pages from the script

Extract 1

COMMANDER
At ease, men. [Clears throat, speech-making voice.] Men - er, ladies and - er - men - this is an historic occasion. We are gathered here today to celebrate British achievement in the launch of the first ever fleet to cross the solar system and head for the hitherto unvisited planet of Ursa Minor. You, gentlemen and - er, ladies too of course - are going - are going - er - [He is obviously stuck.]

AIDE 1
An important mission, sir.

COMMANDER
Yes, that's it. [Declaiming again.] Going on an important mission: to boldly go where no man - or woman -

ASTRONAUT 3
They didn't have women astronauts when he was trained.

COMMANDER
Or woman has ever gone before - to seek out new - new - what was it?

AIDE 2
Civilisations, sir.

COMMANDER Civilisations, that's it. Seek out new civilisations and er - [He visibly Ives up the attempt at a formal speech. Could search for notes.] - civilise them. each them to play cricket and all that sort of thing. For Queen and country. Jolly good show!

The astronauts wait expectantly for a moment, then see he's finished. Applause. Commander mops brow.

COMMANDER
I hereby unveil this - this - thingummy -

AIDE 1
Smallship, sir.

COMMANDER
Good luck to all who sail in her.

He pulls the sheet off the ship. Applause.

COMMANDER
I say, it's rather small, isn't it, to go all that way?

AIDE 2
It travels the main distance inside the mother ship, sir. The smallships are really for the other end - landing on Ursa Minor.

COMMANDR
Why isn't it in the mother ship, then?

AIDE 3
It makes a prettier effect to launch them separately, sir.

COMMANDER
By Jove, I wish I was going too! Miracles of modern technology - think how surprised the natives will bel Hope they've taken plenty of coloured beads with them, eh? [This is meant to be a joke. He nudges the Aide and laughs]

AIDE 1 coldly
It is considered in poor taste to offer coloured beads these days, sir. However, the natives will certainly be impressed.

Extract 2

VEGA
Are you sure you saw a light trail, Dubhe?

DUBHE
Positive. It went over like this. [Demonstrates.]

CAPELLA
And then landed like a hippopotamus diving into a dry river-bed.

DENEB
But how on earth could anything like that fly? It's all the wrong shape.

VEGA
It must have done. How else could it have got here?

TZAR
Perhaps someone left it for a joke.

SEGINUS
Those city kids - they're always doing stupid things like that.

VEGA
Where on earth would they get something like this?

DENEB
You go to Leadercity with your dad, Hamar - ever seen anything like this lying around?

HAMAR
Never. SPICA I'm going to call the adults.

CAPELLA
Spoilsport Spica'

SPICA
I don't care.

Spica comes forward. Pushes buttons on belt which bleep. Lights on belts flash; crackling noise. Others gather around, except Hamar, who is still examining the ship.

SPICA
There's something odd in the hayfield. We think it's a spaceship.

ALGOL off
Leave it alone; we'll come and look.

HAMAR
It is a spaceship, you know - look, there're the propulsion tubes and here are the steering fins - what's left of them.

TZAR
Yah! Whoever saw a spaceship like that?

SEGINUS
It must have come out of the ark.

TZAR
Or somebody made it at home from a kit.

SEGINUS
It's probably some little kid's school project.

VEGA
Do you suppose it was manned?

DENEB
Nah! Never!

CAPELLA
Nobody would be daft enough to take off in a crate like this.

DUBHE
If they managed to get it to take off at all.

CAPELLA
It must have done - it came down again, didn't it?

HAMAR peering in at windows
It's monodirectional glass - I can't see if there's anyone inside. [Knocks.] Hey, is there anyone there? Hey!

DENEB
I can hear someone moving.

CAPELLA
There's a door this side. Hello in there!

The children fall back as Captain Church, Lieutenant Spoke and Computer Robot MX3224457 come out. Church and Spoke look dishevelled. They have their helmets on. Spoke takes readings, then nods to Church.

VEGA
What are they doing?

HAMAR
Testing the air, I think.

Spoke and Church take their helmets off.

SPOKE
Oxygen levels similar to Earth, sir.

MX3224457
Lucky that, isn't it? [To audience.] Have you ever noticed how many planets seem to have oxygen levels similar to Earth? You never see the crew of the Enterprise messin about with helmets, do you? [He turns slowly, bleeping.]

CHURCH
Where do you suppose we are?

SPOKE
We could be anywhere, sir. That meteor storm just swept us away -

CHURCH
Towards the edge of the universe -

SPOKE
The places where no man has boldly gone ...

VEGA
You don't suppose they're concussed, do you?

DENEB
They're certainly talking a bit funny.

CHURCH
Exploring new galaxies -

SPOKE
Seeking out new civilisations -

SPICA
I hope the adults come soon.

DUBHE
Do you think they're dangerous?

MX3224457
Don't worry about them. [To Church.] We're on Algenib - it's one of the points of the square of Pegasus. A very advanced civilisation.

CHURCH
Advanced? You call this advanced? Why, I haven't seen haystacks on Earth for over thirty years.

SPOKE
And that's a handcart if ever I saw one.

MX3224457 showing them the reading
A very advanced civilisation.

CHURCH
Remind me to get your circuits looked at once the mother ship arrives.

MX3224457
Suit yourselves.

HAMAR addressing the robot but unnoticed by Church and Spoke
You look okay to me.

MX3224457
I'm fine, thank you for asking - apart from the pains in my left diodes. I've told them about those often enough, but are they interested? No. Not until they disagree with me - then it's off to the mechanic.

SPOKE
Who are you talking to, robot?

He turns and sees the children, then nudges Church.

SPOKE
Look, sir!

CHURCH
Natives!

SPOKE
A pygmy race, obviously.

CHURCH
Not one over four foot.

SPOKE
Pretty primitive dress.