{"id":2012,"date":"2020-01-09T02:15:28","date_gmt":"2020-01-09T02:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/?p=2012"},"modified":"2025-10-22T22:32:58","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T22:32:58","slug":"time-laser-30-minute-play-cowritten-with-chava-baum-ferrise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/2020\/01\/09\/time-laser-30-minute-play-cowritten-with-chava-baum-ferrise\/","title":{"rendered":"Time Laser"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Time Laser<\/em> is a 30-minute play cowritten with my friend Chava Baum Ferrise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay, a narrator<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater, a narrator<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cahbrianna, Hazel\u2019s mother <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umbrellamae, Delaney\u2019s mother<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allie, Hazel\u2019s friend<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie, Delaney\u2019s six-year-old neighbor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden, Evie\u2019s twin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airin (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fryen (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fireblossom (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soliana (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skyburst (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire, the Legendary (dragon)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 1: Whoops, I Almost Gave Away the Whole Show! (Potay, Ol\u2019 Tater)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Enter Potay.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: (ominously) Many people have tried to build time machines. And all of them have failed. But, only a few times in history, two machines have merged, and then \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: You\u2019re not supposed to tell them that! It\u2019s confidential information!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: They deserve to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: What have they done to deserve such knowledge?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: They should at least be forewarned.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: No, they shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: Yes, they should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: No, they shouldn\u2019t! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: Yes, they shou \u2014 aaaaah! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Ol\u2019 Tater grabs Potay and drags him offstage; Potay is screaming dramatically the whole time and a good while afterward, too.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: Aaaaaaaaaaaaa \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: Shush! You\u2019re holding up the show!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 2: Going to the Park (Hazel, Cahbrianna, Delaney, Umbrellamae)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Enter Hazel and Delaney.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel\/Delaney: Mom, I\u2019m going to park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Delaney and Umbrellamae freeze.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cahbrianna: All right, Hazel. Watch out for poison ivy and be home in time for dinner at about 6:00 o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: OK, Mom, I will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Delaney and Umbrellamae unfreeze, Hazel and Cahbrianna freeze.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umbrellamae: Of course, Delaney, dear. But be very careful. You\u2019ll be all alone there, after all. Are you sure it\u2019s safe?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Yes, Mother. Literally the safest thing ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel and Cahbrianna unfreeze.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel and Delaney walk to the park.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: (unenthusiastically) Oh. Hi.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: (also unenthusiastically) Hi. I need to, um, get going now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Bye.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They both hurry away.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel and Delaney continue walking. They start talking about how annoying the other is.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Ugh, she\u2019s so practical and uncreative. She won\u2019t even think<\/em> about dragons. Well, when I finish building my time machine, I can bring dragons from the future and prove they exist!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Delaney is completely incapable of any kind of rational thought. She doesn\u2019t even believe in global warming. I need evidence from the future that we need to change it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(There are small tome machines onstage, and they fiddle with their machines for a few \u201cminutes.\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney\/Hazel: Ugh, this isn\u2019t working!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: But I did all of my calculations three times over!!!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: What shall I do? I\u2019m despairing most uncorrect! Terrible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Oh, I forgot to put this screw in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: This screw looks friendly. Hello, sir. How are things? Anyway, I shall put  you in this place of honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel\/Delaney: Here goes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Slowly and cautiously, they simultaneously insert the dragon amulet, er, screw. Make sure this is dramatic! There is the sound of a dragon roaring, and someone turns on string lights that go across the stage, connecting the machines.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: I have to go home and get supplies.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: All right! Here I gooooo \u2014 Wait. Maybe I shouldn\u2019t go just yet. Mother will panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Mom, I\u2019m home. Is dinner ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cahbrianna: Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Smells like baked potatoes and hot sauce. Are you home, or at least somewhere in America, Mother?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umbrellamae: Yes, dear. And yes, it is. I hope you like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel\/Delaney: Thanks for dinner! (Go to bed offstage. Wake up the next morning.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 3: The Future . . . Or Not (Hazel, Cahbrianna, Delaney, Umbrellamae, Allie, Evie, Eden; at the end all dragons except Starfire)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Enter Hazel, Delaney, Cahbrianna, and Umbrellamae.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Hazel:  I\u2019m off to the park. See you later, Mom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cahbrianna: Bye, honey.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: I need to go work on my project at the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umbrellamae: You mentioned that once. What type of project is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: A machine of sorts. If it works I can show it to you. Bye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Umbrellamae: Bye. Good luck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel and Delaney walk to the park, roll their eyes at each other, etc.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: (Mimes talking on the phone.) Hi, Allie, yes, it\u2019s Hazel. Do you want to come with me into the future in the time machine I built? (Pause.) No, a real one. (Pause.) At the park. (Pause.) Great, see you soon!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Off to save the trees. OK, good, three books and two notebooks. I\u2019m prepared. Well, maybe I should get another. I mean, only three! No, I can\u2019t spend time on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: (Is carrying a backpack; she pulls stuff out of the backpack.) Food \u2014 check. Water \u2014 check. Clothes \u2014 check. Phone \u2014 check. I think I\u2019m ready.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allie: (Enters.) Hi, Hazel! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allie: Definitely. Wow, your time machine is so cool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie\/Eden: (Enter.) Hi, Delaney! Can you play with us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Not right now, but in a few days, OK? (Waves and starts to walk away.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie: What are you doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden: Can we help?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Delaney has been walking toward her time machine, and Evie and Eden see it.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie\/Eden: Ooh, cool!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden: It looks like a time machine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: This is a big, huge, exciting secret, and you can keep it for me for a few days, can\u2019t you? Then, once I make sure it\u2019s safe, we can all go. How does that sound?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie: I guess. . . . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Thank you. (Enters the time machine; Evie and Eden sneak in behind her.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel and Delaney each take a deep breath.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel\/Delaney: I can\u2019t wait here forever. Here I go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: It\u2019s \u201cas dark as a crow flying though a pitch black night,\u201d as Lemony Snicket says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie\/Eden: Who\u2019s Lemony Snicket?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: He\u2019s the author who wrote A Series of <\/em>\u2014 Wait, what are you doing here? I told you not to come; it\u2019s too dangerous!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie: But you\u2019re here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Yes, but \u2014 fine. But stay here.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden: You\u2019re an awesome friend, Delaney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Thank you, but remember to stay here. Oh, and read page thirty-nine of this book if you need to escape. (Points to a book; walks down the tunnel.) And stay here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie\/Eden: (stage whisper to the audience) We can\u2019t read. (Start giggling. Then follow Delaney.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel\/Delaney: Oh, a tunnel! (Literally bump into each other; look at each other with shock.) Oh, sorry. It\u2019s you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Why are you here, and what is this place anyway?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Um, I, uh, built a time machine. Isn\u2019t this, like, the future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: I don\u2019t think so. Is the future a giant tunnel? That would be depressing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: It would. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Pause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Well, I hadn\u2019t expected to bump into you here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Especially so figuratively!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: You mean literally, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Of course not. That\u2019s ridiculous! Ludicrous! Unrational!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: That\u2019s not a word. And ugh, it\u2019s literally.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: That makes no sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Explain how figuratively can mean literally.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: It just does. I mean, it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Think about root words and their meanings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Who cares about that? That has nothing to do with the actual meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: No, it does. (Expounds on this, speaking at a normal theater speed and then speeding up; the audience doesn\u2019t have to hear every word. Tries to annoy Delaney.) Even if the English word the way we use it now is seemingly unrelated, there\u2019s always a connection. Where else would words come from? As an example, transfer <\/em>and translate<\/em> come from the Latin transferre <\/em>and translatus<\/em>, which are different forms of the same verb. It means \u201cto carry across,\u201d which is the literal meaning of the English words, though that\u2019s not how we use them. Notice how I said \u201cliteral\u201d \u2014
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Fine. Switch the two if you like. (Rolls eyes and looks completely and utterly bored.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: (still speaking quickly) I\u2019m not, because literal<\/em> pertains to a word\u2019s technical meaning. Figuratively<\/em>, however, refers to imaginary things. Like, if I imagined what would happen if there were a dragon in front of me, I could say it\u2019s a figurative<\/em> dragon. (Slows down for the last part.) But if there\u2019s literally<\/em> a dragon \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel and Delaney come to the entrance of the dragon cave. Enter all dragons except Starfire.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Pause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel, Delaney, Allie, Evie, and Eden start screaming.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 4: A Friend, Perhaps (all dragons except Starfire; Hazel, Delaney, Allie, Evie, Eden)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: Well, well, what do we have here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: It looks like humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fryen: Humans? Those\u2019re weird. Haven\u2019t seen \u2019um in ages.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: (glaring and snarling) I know that, Conscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: (Sniffs.) I didn\u2019t say you didn\u2019t. And you did ask what they were.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone: (taking great delight in saying so) Ignore him, Conscience. Cockerell\u2019s just mean.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: WHAT DID YOU SAY?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone: Nothing, sir.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airin: Nothing, nothing, nothing at all. Hee hee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone: (threateningly) Airin . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airin: Funny little old Icestone.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone: (Fearsome dragon roar.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fireblossom: Well, what should we do about them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soliana: I forgot how to dispose of humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone: With ice. Freeze them.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: (snarling) That won\u2019t work, you idiot. Ice won\u2019t survive here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fireblossom: With fire we could burn them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: I don\u2019t think we should kill them. . . . We should at least find out who they are and why they are here. They have done nothing to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: We don\u2019t need your stupid opinion, you worthless runt. Now scram!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All dragons except Pyren and Starfire: Go away! Get out! Etc. (Rudely shoo Pyren offstage.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: Ouch. (Sneaks in front of the stage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skyburst: Take away their phones. I think phones control human lifespans now, don\u2019t they?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: Just kill them already!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: Jump! I will catch you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: (stage whisper) You three \u2014 run! Hazel \u2014 pretend to fall. And scream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Whaaaaaaaaa \u2014
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney\/Hazel: Aaaaaaaaaaaa \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Pyren catches them.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fryen: Well, that takes care o\u2019 that, eh? Wait a mo \u2014 hey you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All dragons except Pyren and Starfire: We\u2019ll get for this, runt! I\u2019m warning you for the last time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Evie, Eden, and Allie run away. The dragons chase them around during Pyren\u2019s line and capture them after it.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: Shh! I apologize for this ordeal. They have lost their sense of morality and only recognize dragons as people. (as an afterthought) And, I suppose, they don\u2019t even recognize some dragons as such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soliana: Why don\u2019t we take them prisoner? It\u2019s less . . . messy.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: That was my plan all along, you fool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone: (as if Cockerell can\u2019t hear it; sarcastically; to the audience) Of course it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(The dragons take the three humans prisoner.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 5: The Dragons\u2019 Way (Pyren, Hazel, Delaney)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: We are safe for the moment. Oh, and my name is Pyren. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Hazel: I\u2019m Hazel. Nice to meet you. But, um, you\u2019re a dragon? A real one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Thank you so much. And you\u2019re a dragon! That\u2019s so cool!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: Indeed I am. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: So, um. It\u2019s a nice cave. I like the \u2014 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Get to the point, Delaney. WHERE ARE WE?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: We\u2019re in the center of the earth. Oh, watch out, there\u2019s a lava stream!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Thanks, Pyren; the center of the earth is awesome!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: But \u2014 but \u2014 how are we not burning up, then?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: When you stepped in the portal, it formed a heat shield around each of you.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: That\u2019s impossible.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Portal? We were building a time machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: I think they somehow merged and became a portal.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Cool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: But how will we get back?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Why\u2019d we want to do that? It\u2019s so amazing here. I mean, there\u2019s dragons! I didn\u2019t need to travel into the future after all!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: I am glad you like it. But do you not want to rescue your friends?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Right, that. Come on, Hazel! Let\u2019s go!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Uh, Delaney . . . We need a plan. . . .
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Exit Hazel, Delaney, and Pyren.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 6: The Punishment for Traitors (Cockerell, Conscience, Airin, Icestone, Evie, Eden, Allie)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Enter Cockerell, Conscience, Airin, and Icestone with Evie, Eden, and Allie as prisoners.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: Here we go; I\u2019m putting you in here. You are now our prisoners, and you must behave, because I said so and I am superior to everything and everyone, and am the most important entity that ever existed.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie: You\u2019re mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden: My mommy\u2019s way better than you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airin: Y\u2019all, that might actually be true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: WHAT WAS THAT, AIRIN?!?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airin: I was just saying what an amazing king you are. You\u2019re the most wonderful, excellent leader that anyone could hope for and I am indebted to you forever just to be in your presence \u2014 nothing could possibly compare to you.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Cockerell is lost in admiring himself; Allie, Evie, and Eden make faces at him behind his back.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone: Nothing, nothing, nothing at all. Hee hee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airin: How dare you, Icestone; that\u2019s my line!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: (Comes back to his senses.) Why, thank you, Airin. Well, yes, I suppose I am quite magnificent. You just might be my new top henchman so you can say things like that all the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: But I\u2019m your brother \u2014 you can\u2019t just fire me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: Why, yes, I can, Conscience. You\u2019re fired. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: Cockerell, you are the meanest person I have ever met in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: Conscience, your presence is no longer needed. If you don\u2019t leave, I shall lock you in a cell.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: Noooooooooooooooo \u2014 I mean, I have better things to do anyway. (Storms away and exits.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: Now that he\u2019s gone, I\u2019m going to find the other two humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Exit Airin, Icestone, and Cockerell. Evie and Eden start to cry.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allie: There, there. We\u2019ll escape soon enough.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 7: The Legendary Starfire (Evie, Eden, Allie, Conscience, Starfire)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden: Evie, can you pick the lock? I know you\u2019re really good at it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie: OK. (Picks lock.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allie: (to herself) Is it bad that a six-year-old can pick a lock?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: (Enters.) What are you doing? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie: Um . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: I\u2019ll get you guys out of here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie\/Eden: YAY!!!!!!!!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: (Opens cell door.) Quiet!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allie: Where are you taking us?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: (Enters.) Come me with me. Conscience, what do you think you\u2019re doing? Give them to me.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: No, come with me. He\u2019s a \u2014 a traitor, or something.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: No, I\u2019m not. My name is Starfire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: (Gasps dramatically.) Th-th-the L-legendary S-st-arfire?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: Precisely.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Conscience quivers with awe; Starfire beckons, and Allie, Evie, and Eden climb onto his back. He flies away.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene<\/strong> 8:<\/strong> A<\/strong> Change<\/strong> of<\/strong> Heart (Pyren, Hazel, Delaney, Conscience, Airin, Icestone, Fryen, Skyburst, Soliana, Fireblossom, Starfire, Allie, Evie, Eden, Cockerell)
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Enter Pyren, Hazel, and Delaney in front of the stage. Enter all dragons except Pyren, Starfire, and Cockerell onstage.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: Perhaps we shall overhear where they have been imprisoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Great idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Why don\u2019t we just sneak up on them and ask where they are?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Why don\u2019t we just jump into the lava pit? That\u2019s pretty much the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: Stop bickering so we can hear what they\u2019re saying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: It was Starfire, I\u2019m telling you. He took the prisoners.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fryen: Serves ol\u2019 Cockerell right, don\u2019 it?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fireblossom: Isn\u2019t Cockerell dead? Didn\u2019t he die as Starfire did a long time ago?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscience: I told you, Starfire was . . . Oh, no. Cockerell. (Starts to sneak offstage to try and save Cockerell \u2014 for he thinks him to be in danger.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skyburst: Was his tree species really dead, though?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: (Enters.) Not quite, my friends.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Allie, Evie, and Eden enter behind him.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone\/Airin\/Fryen\/Soliana\/Fireblossom\/Skyburst\/Pyren: (Gasp, take step back.) The . . . legendary . . . Starfire. . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hazel, Delaney, and Pyren climb onto the stage.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Allie!! (Hugs her.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Evie, Eden!! (Hugs them.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: Pyren, it\u2019s so good to see you at last. My great <\/p>\n\n\n\n

grandson. . . .
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: Great-grandson?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Icestone\/Airin\/Fryen\/Soliana\/Fireblossom\/Skyburst: Great-grandson?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: You didn\u2019t know?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: How could I have? Besides, we all thought you were dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: Well, way up at the top of Mount Everest, a few trees of my coexisting species survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel\/Delaney: Coexisting species?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: Each dragon is connected to his or her own species of tree. If that species goes extinct, that dragon will die.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skyburst: And if the trees are in danger, we lose control of our fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soliana: Which causes global warming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fireblossom: (roaring) And you humans are cutting them down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fryen: Totally uncool, y\u2019know?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren\/Starfire: But we can make peace . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Airin\/Icestone: . . . if you save the trees.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel\/Delaney: We\u2019ll do it.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie\/Eden: We can help you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Are you sure?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evie: We snuck into your time machine.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden: And escaped from being captured.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allie: They\u2019re very capable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: And this is the evidence we need! You\u2019re right, Delaney, we didn\u2019t need to travel into the future!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: Thank you, brave humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone onstage: Goodbye! (Group hug. Then the five humans walk away.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Cockerell and Conscience enter.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: You\u2019re letting them get away? STOP THEM!
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Conscience moves to help him, but the others block his way.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pyren: They\u2019re loyal humans. Let them go. They\u2019re helping us save the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: My great-grandson is right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: The legendary Starfire? Great-grandson? Right?
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starfire: Precisely.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cockerell: I guess you\u2019re not a runt, after all. And Conscience, you\u2019re unfired. Thanks for helping me, brother.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All The dragons: Bye! (Wave as the humans exit. Then they also exit.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scene 9: Three Years (Potay, Ol\u2019 Tater, Hazel, Delaney)<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Enter Potay and Ol\u2019 Tater.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: The success of the tree mission is undetermined. But Hazel and Delaney have changed for the better.
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: It took them three years to change, but still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: And then \u2014
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: Don\u2019t spoil the ending! (Drags Potay offstage.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potay: Aaaaaaa \u2014
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ol\u2019 Tater: Shush!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Enter Hazel and Delaney.)
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: The dragons said the existence of unicorns isn\u2019t physically impossible. I wonder . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(They bump into each other.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazel: Oh, it\u2019s nice to bump into you here, Delaney!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delaney: Literally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Time Laser is a 30-minute play cowritten with my friend Chava Baum Ferrise. Characters Potay, a narrator Ol\u2019 Tater, a narrator Hazel  Cahbrianna, Hazel\u2019s mother  Delaney  Umbrellamae, Delaney\u2019s mother Allie, Hazel\u2019s friend Evie, Delaney\u2019s six-year-old neighbor Eden, Evie\u2019s twin Pyren (dragon) Cockerell (dragon) Conscience (dragon) Icestone (dragon) Airin (dragon) Fryen (dragon) Fireblossom (dragon) Soliana (dragon) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"0","ocean_second_sidebar":"0","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"0","ocean_custom_header_template":"0","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"0","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"0","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"off","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction-poetry-opinions","category-short-stories","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2012"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2206,"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2012\/revisions\/2206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crysaniadangoor.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}