literature

Constellations and Highways (Act 1)

Deviation Actions

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Aerode
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Literature Text

ACT 1


Scene 1
Birds chirping below clouds. Sun gleams.
Enter Constellation Lady.

CONSTELLATION LADY   Once again, I grow weary of
    The same schedule every waking
    Dawn. I am bound to the stars,
    And am unable to leave my
    Domain of the clouds, unable
    To be released from the grasp of
    The sun.

Enter Arctic Lady.

ARCTIC LADY               Whatever are you doing?
    You are due on the other side of
    The world. They will be curious
    As to where the stars are residing,
    And we are never to disrupt the
    Course of nature.
CONSTELLATION LADY   Do you ever wonder what
    It is like below the clouds? I
    Believe it would be wonderful.
ARCTIC LADY [appalled]    Why do you bring such
    A thing to my attention? We
    Were chosen by the Holy Mother
    Herself, and to speak against her
    Is a sin upon all sins.
CONSTELLATION LADY   I am not speaking against her.
    I only wish to be... to know
    If there lies something below.
Constellation Lady exits.
ARCTIC LADY [aside]   I have yet to understand
    What passes through her strange
    Yet beautiful mind these days.
She exits.



Scene 2
Flourish. Enter Constellation Lady, Arctic Lady,
and Mother Nature. Scene is on the clouds
above the southern hemisphere.

CONSTELLATION & ARCTIC LADIES [curtsying]
    We have the eternal blessing of
    Serving you, my Queen.
MOTHER NATURE            I grant my
    Love to both of you. Now please,
    Perform the duties you have
    Promised to complete.
CONSTELLATION LADY [curtsying]
    As always, my Queen.
Constellation Lady exits. Arctic Lady stays behind.
MOTHER NATURE           Why do you
    Stay, Arctic? Does something trouble
    You?
ARCTIC LADY               Yes, my Lord.
    I worry for Constellation Lady's health.
    She has been wishing to see the world
    Below, and I find myself unable to bring
    An end to her inquisitiveness.
MOTHER NATURE [aside]   Damn the mind
    Of the stars. I cannot allow them
    To touch upon earth. --Is she sick
    Both mentally and physically? Or
    Does she only yearn for the sights
    Of the ground?
ARCTIC LADY               I believe she
    Only requires a simple glimpse.
MOTHER NATURE         This ought to
    Be a simple fix. Arctic, please seek
    Constellation and bring her forth.
ARCTIC LADY               Yes, my Queen.
She exits. Enter Father Time.
FATHER TIME               We have seen
    Far too many an earthsick soul
    In these clouds, far too many
    Rebellious thoughts against the
    Galaxies.
MOTHER NATURE            I fear the
    Worst for both Lady Constellation
    And Lady Arctic. The stars wish to
    Embrace the earth, and the winter
    Is lovelorn, estranged from those
    Very stars.
FATHER TIME                Are you certain that
    Arctic seeks love? She does not appear
    To be one who serves under Cupid.
MOTHER NATURE            I am certain
    Of this fact. Too many stars are dimmed
    Under Cupid's devilish wrath. We must
    Warn the pair lest we lose them
    In space.
Arctic Lady enters with an estranged Constellation Lady.
ARCTIC LADY               I have brought her forth, my Lords.
CONSTELLATION LADY   Why do you call me?
    The ground trembles and quakes,
    Sick without the presence of the
    Stars.
MOTHER NATURE            Both Father Time
    And I have heard from Arctic that
    You desire a glimpse of the lowlands.
    We have decided to grant you the request.
    You shall be put off your duties for
    The morrow. I shall dress you in robes
    Borrowed from the ground, disguise your
    Unearthly appearance with the sky,
    And both you and Arctic will be free
    To explore the simple world below us.
    However, you may not reveal yourself
    To anyone who may ask your identity.
    You are to remain as anonymous as
    Possible to anyone you may talk to.
    It is best if you do not associate with
    A human being.
CONSTELLATION LADY   Words cannot express
    How grateful I am to both Your Majesties
    For giving us this astounding opportunity!
    I will finish my tasks with the utmost care,
    And look forward to what the morrow will
    Bring. I thank you both, my benevolent Lords.
Constellation Lady curtsies and exits.
ARCTIC LADY                  I kindly thank you, my Lords.
She hurriedly exits without a curtsy.
FATHER TIME              Arctic does not seem pleased with our gift.
MOTHER NATURE            I would be unfazed if she is not.
They exit.


Scene 3
Enter Constellation Lady and Arctic Lady on
Earth dressed in beggars' clothes. They
stand on a highway and it is nighttime.

CONSTELLATION LADY [ecstatic]     Arctic, can you believe
    These majestic and unearthly sights! I
    Believe it ironic: we are perched on the
    Earth and yet everything appears unearthly
    And divine among these parts. The lush
    Emeralds of the evergreen feathers,
    The lavender hue of the snow-dipped peaks,
    It is all glowing with beauty!
ARCTIC LADY                      Yes, my dear, it is beautiful.
CONSTELLATION LADY [concerned]   Why the dim expression?
ARCTIC LADY                        The servitude in the heavens
    Has been rendering me exhausted.
    I deeply apologize if I appear out of
    My typical demeanor, Constellation.
CONSTELLATION LADY            Your apology is accepted,
    My dear. To where should we walk?
    There are billions of places on earth
    Which we could never access when
    We were residing in the clouds. I shall
    Gladly accompany you to whichever
    Destination you'd like to tour. --Hold!
    I see a civilian. He appears to be one
    Of the earth. Shall we pay him a visit?
ARCTIC LADY                        Whatever you wish.
Constellation Lady takes Arctic's hand and brings her
to the civilian. Enter Highway Man.
CONSTELLATION LADY            Good evening.
    Why do you walk
    at such untimely hours?
    You seem to be the only one.
HIGHWAY MAN                       Good evening, fine travelers.
    I am simply soaking the stars.
    With the new arrival of the metropolitan
    Factories, I can barely see them.
CONSTELLATION LADY              Nature has been brooding from the pollution.
    You are correct.
ARCTIC LADY [aside to Constellation Lady]
    Does it slip your mind that Mother
    Nature has warned us to keep to
    Ourselves? She suggested for us to
    Stray from association with humans.
CONSTELLATION LADY               Why do you never cease
    To worry? Why must you attempt to ruin
    Our one day of entertainment? He is
    Harmless. What do you always fear?
ARCTIC LADY [aside]                  I fear you do not love me.
She exits.
HIGHWAY MAN                           Is the lady alright?
    She appeared most unwell.
CONSTELLATION LADY                  She shall be well.
    Please, kind sir, regale me with your stories.
HIGHWAY MAN                           I will be most honored to.
They exit.

End of Act 1.
Meet the royalty of the skies, and the poor man who is unaware of their existance. More to follow soon.

Critiques most kindly welcomed and accepted! More to follow soon.

Edited a few things in preparation for Act 2.
© 2014 - 2024 Aerode
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hopeburnsblue's avatar
hopeburnsblue
 What an interesting premise for a story! Your imagery is brilliant, too.