SIAH AND ZAC AND JOSHUA BY JEFFREY LO
A nice moment of understanding between JOSHUA and ZAC.
A moment that is broken by heavy panting and the return of SIAH.
SIAH
I got them!!
(Sees ZAC:)
What are y –
ZAC
(Interrupting SIAH:)
Who are you!?
Why are you here!?
Are you harmless!?
SIAH
Why are you acting like this Z –
ZAC throws a rock at SIAH to stop him from saying his name.
SIAH(cont’d)
Ouch!
JOSHUA
Zachary! It’s ok. This is the guy I was telling you about.
The fig guy.
Josiah.
Josiah, this is Zachary.
ZAC
(Extending his hand for a handshake:)
It’s good to meet you Josiah.
SIAH, extremely confused, shakes ZAC hand.
SIAH
Ok…
JOSHUA
You were both friends of Jesus.
ZAC
We were?
JOSHUA
Yes.
SIAH
Yes!
ZAC
You know what? You do look familiar! That’s right! I recognize you Josiah!
SIAH
Are you ok?
ZAC
(Trying to force SIAH into understanding:)
It’s good to see you again JO-SI-AH.
SIAH finally starts to get it but.
SIAH
Ugh – oh…
It’s ummm.
It’s been so long since we saw each other last Zachary.
ZAC
Sorry about throwing the rock at you earlier.
SIAH
Don’t worry about it.
I like it when rocks are throw at me.
SIAH picks up the rock and throws it on his own foot.
SIAH(cont’d)
Ouch! See?
ZAC
Yes… I see…
A moment where ZAC and SIAH stare at each other trying to communicate through their eyes but failing.
JOSHUA
Hey!
ZAC & SIAH
Huh?
JOSHUA
Do you have those figs?
SIAH
Oh.
JOSHUA
You said you had the figs.
SIAH
I do!
JOSHUA
Really? All 30?
SIAH
Uh huh.
JOSHUA
But how?
SIAH
Not important. Just know that I have them.
SIAH produces the 30 figs.
JOSHUA
Wow…
That’s just…
JOSHUA starts to tear.
SIAH
Are you… crying?
JOSHUA
It’s just so beautiful to look at.
SIAH
Figs make you cry?
ZAC
He’s really hungry.
SIAH
Oh, yeah, that makes sense.
JOSHUA
Look at them!
There are so many of them!
SO MANY FIGS!
SIAH
You should eat them! They’re all yours!
JOSHUA
I can’t wait!
SIAH
Then don’t wait!
And now that you have them, I’ll just go and –
SIAH starts to make his way inside the cave.
JOSHUA
Wait!
SIAH
What?
JOSHUA
One – you have to go with him.
SIAH
With Zac?
JOSHUA
Yes. He gave me water and I agreed to let him go too but I only want to let people in once.
SIAH shrugs.
SIAH
Sure, ok.
JOSHUA
AND!
SIAH
And what?
JOSHUA
I have to count the figs. Make sure you’re not shorting me.
SIAH
Oh, of course.
JOSHUA
It’ll only take a second.
JOSHUA gathers all of the figs and starts to intently count them.
ZAC pulls SIAH to the side.
ZAC
Do you have all of the figs?
SIAH
What are you doing here?
ZAC
Do you have all 30 figs?
SIAH
I thought you weren’t going to help me, but now you’re here.
ZAC
Can you please just worry about that later?
Answer me, do you have all 30 figs?
SIAH
I think so. Yeah.
ZAC
You think so?
SIAH
Look at them, doesn’t that look like a lot of figs?
ZAC
You didn’t count them?
SIAH
They look like a lot of figs!
ZAC
Are you kidding me Siah? How long would it have taken to count to 30?
SIAH
I’m pretty sure it’s over 30!
JOSHUA
Huh…
ZAC and SIAH look over at JOSHUA.
ZAC
What is it?
JOSHUA
That’s weird…
SIAH
What’s weird?
JOSHUA
I better count it again.
SIAH
(Shift back to ZAC:)
You still haven’t told me what you’re doing here.
ZAC
I have a plan. Follow me.
SIAH
But what is the plan?
ZAC
Follow me.
(Shift to JOSHUA:)
Hey Joshua.
JOSHUA
Just a second, I don’t want to lose count…
ZAC
Joshua –
JOSHUA
Wait –
ZAC
JOSHUA CAN I HAVE SOME OF MY WATER?
JOSHUA
Oh. Uh. Sure.
(Looking embarrassed:)
I drank over half of it. Sorry.
ZAC
No, no. I’m sorry. I told you to finish it and here I am asking for it back.
I just need a sip if that’s ok.
JOSHUA
Of course.
JOSHUA hands ZAC the bottle.
ZAC
Thanks.
JOSHUA starts counting again.
ZAC takes a quick sip of the water.
JOSHUA
Huh. I was right…
ZAC
About what?
(Returns the canteen back to JOSHUA:)
Here you go.
JOSHUA
There aren’t 30 figs here…
ZAC
Oh really…
JOSHUA
There are 32 figs!
SIAH
WOW! 32 FIGS! THAT’S AMAZING!
SIAH shoots ZAC a look.
ZAC mostly ignores it.
ZAC
Well that’s great!
JOSHUA
Do you want them back Josiah?
SIAH
The 32 figs?
JOSHUA
No, not the 32 figs! The first 30 are mine. I mean the other two.
SIAH
Oh, um…
Well…
ZAC
No.
SIAH
No.
ZAC
You should keep them. As a thank you from him to you. From both of us really. For letting us see our friend Jesus.
SIAH
R… right.
A thank you for letting me see my boy Sussy.
JOSHUA
Wow. Are you sure?
SIAH
Yeah.
ZAC
Definitely.
JOSHUA
Thanks!
Pause.
ZAC
So… Can we?
JOSHUA
Oh! Yeah, of course. I’ll just need help moving this rock.
If you don’t mind.
SIAH
Nah.
ZAC
Not at all.
JOSHUA
To be honest, that’s kinda why I wanted you to go in together.
This rock is a more of a three person job.
It’s a bit of a workout.
JOSHUA, ZAC and SIAH work together to move the rock blocking the entrance of the cave.
The three of them get a bit winded from it.
JOSHUA(cont’d)
And there we are.
Your free to go.
ZAC and SIAH nod to JOSHUA and start to enter the cave.
JOSHUA(cont’d)
Oh, guys.
Just be prepared.
I know he was your friend and…
He doesn’t look great.
Beat.
ZAC and SIAH nod and walk into the
cave.
JOSHUA watches them off and sits back down and starts to open a fig.
JOSHUA(cont’d)
Nice guys…
(Beat)
God I’m out of shape.
(Opening the canteen:)
Moving that rock just once has me all winded…
JOSHUA takes a sip from the canteen and his eyes immediately grow.
JOSHUA(cont’d)
What is this?
This can’t…
I thought this was water.
I haven’t had a sip of…
Oh no…
I forgot how good this feels.
Oh no…
I like this…
I like how this tastes…
I like how this feels….
Oh no, oh no, oh no…
(In fear and excitement:)
Wine…
JOSHUA starts to chug the wine from the canteen.