Prisoners of Hope (20pg sample) 2:17

PRISONERS OF HOPE
A full-length play
By J. Allen Fitz-Gerald
“I am a prisoner of hope.”
Mary Robinson,
former President of Ireland,
about avoiding environmental catastrophe.
Contact:
John Allen Fitz-Gerald
60 Howard Heights Lane
Jay, NY 12941, USA
fitzge35@charter.net
518-593-9020 (cell)
copyright February, 2017
prisoners of hope/fitzgerald 1

PRISONERS OF HOPE
UNIT SET: A veranda that overlooks the ocean, out front. It is attached to a house, off
right, on a private estate. Upstage, a door from the veranda to the rose garden. Onstage,
all-weather furniture: a table with two chairs that face the ocean, not each other; Roger’s
chair is left of table, wife Nan’s is on the right, closest to the house. The decor includes an
anchor, framed photos of sailboats on the back wall, and a potted plant. Downstage, the
edge of the veranda, one step down for an exit off left to the beach.
TIME and PLACE: Late spring/early summer. The present. On the New England coast.
The play may be performed with an intermission after Scene Four, or without a break.
Scene One
ROGER is in his chair, slowly shaking his head. His dark suit and tie suggest mourning.
TODD enters from the house, upstage right; he too is dressed in mourning.
TODD
Lunch is ready.... Mom said to tell you “Luncheon is now being served.”
ROGER
I’m not hungry.
TODD
Pop, the whole family is waiting. They’ll be upset if you don’t join us.... Well then, we
are going to eat your lunch. As it were. Ha-ha-haaaa.... Sorry, just trying to cheer you up.
ROGER still doesn’t react. TODD shrugs,
returns inside. At the SOUND of a seagull,
ROGER looks out at the ocean. NELSON
“flies” in from the house, also wearing black.
NELSON
Grandpa, time to eat. Nana told me to tweet you, live. So: Tweet, tweet!
ROGER
I’m not eating today.
NELSON
I should tell her you’re fasting?
ROGER
Whatever. Say there, congratulations on how you look today. Smashing. Black on black!

NELSON
“Nana’s little black bird.” So, you’re on a hunger strike. Is that what fathers do? If one of
their kids dies? Would Uncle Phil want you to do that?
ROGER
Not that you should call it a strike, Nelson. Don’t tell her that.
NELSON
Got it. I’ll tell her you need to commune with his spirit. To speed him on his way, to
whatever.
(goes back inside)
ROGER nods. AURIE soon enters from inside,
looks at Roger and hesitates before speaking.
AURIE
Pop, can I bring you some lunch out here?
ROGER
No. But maybe you can tell me why your brother killed himself. I mean, in your view,
was it because of the cancer, or his bankruptcy?
AURIE
The cancer.
ROGER
What makes you so sure?
AURIE
Do you really want to talk about this?.... Remember, his genetic test did show that he had
a predisposition for cancer. Phillip did not want a slow, painful death.
ROGER
So you, you must have that same gene, you and Todd both.
AURIE
Not necessarily. We’d have to get tested too.
ROGER
So do it. And if you do have that evil gene, can’t they cut it out? Gene splicing!
AURIE
The science isn’t quite there yet.

ROGER
So maybe I should start a foundation to speed it up. Cut out your cancer before you get it!
AURIE
Wouldn’t that be great.
ROGER
Aurie, I don’t want it to sneak up and grab you, too.
AURIE
Guess what: neither do I. But if gene therapy ever gets that advanced, it’s way off in the
future. A future that may never exist for us.
ROGER
For you and Todd?
AURIE
For our species. All of us! At the current rate, we’ll go extinct before we get rid of cancer,
completely. Can’t get rid of it if we don’t get rid of its number one cause.
ROGER
Which is? Oh, pollution. You and your environmental stuff. Seriously, I’m keen to start a
foundation that will work for— well, for prevention, via genetics!
AURIE
You’d be wasting your money. Same as you did by investing in Phil’s coal business. I’m
sorry, but there is only one way to prevent cancer.
ROGER
Which is?
AURIE
You have to understand: Phillip’s predisposition for it might never have been triggered,
except for environmental factors. Don’t shrug your shoulders. It’s true!
ROGER
Aurie, I know how angry you are about getting asthma from our modern air, but—
AURIE
I’m talking about all of it! Our toxic air, water, and food!
ROGER
Righto. All we have to do is stop breathing. And eating. Hello!

AURIE
If you want to prevent cancer, get them to stop poisoning us! In what we eat, drink, and
breathe! Start a foundation to work on that. In Phil’s memory.
ROGER
(standing up)
Maybe I will. Yes, I’ll think about it. Give me some of your literature. But no politics!
That’s just—just more pollution, of the airwaves. Another kind of air pollution, isn’t it.
NAN
(entering from the house)
What is going on out here? The caterer is ready to quit. Come inside, now!
AURIE salutes.
ROGER
Yes, the boss has spoken. Actually, the dictator. Trump’s influence.
NAN
I thought we agreed: No Trump talk out here.
ROGER
Righto. Well, you go on, kiddo. I need to spend more time with my thoughts.
NAN
We can think about Phillip for the rest of our lives. Right now, it’s time to eat.
ROGER
(going to the edge of the veranda)
No, I’m going down to the beach. If that last storm didn’t wash it all away.
(steps off and exits down left)
NAN
This is your fault, him talking like that. Because of you with your Chicken Little
negativity. Watch out, Roger! The sky is falling!
NAN huffs and returns inside. AURIE shrugs
and follows her.
Blackout

Scene Two
Several weeks later. A sign now hangs on the veranda wall: “This is a Trump-free Zone.”
Loosening his tie, ROGER enters from the house. NAN follows with two glasses of iced
tea. ROGER stops when he hears a rumble of thunder.
ROGER
Go away!
NAN
What!?
ROGER
Not you. Another storm brewing. Don’t you turn into another goddamn hurricane!
NAN
It can’t. You told it to go away. With your voice of God.
(gives him his tea and sits in her chair, right side of table)
ROGER
My insurance company is the one that plays God. Won’t pay for our beach house getting
washed out to sea, but then they double my premium, and blame it all on “acts of God”!
NAN
Ay yi-yi. Is this what you dragged me out here for? To listen to another rant?
ROGER
No, this time it’s about action. Before our house gets washed out to sea, too.
NAN
In a thousand years.
(sips her tea)
ROGER
Americans have such short memories. Have you forgotten “the storm of the century”?
Which now comes just about every year.
NAN
You’re getting to be as bad as Aurie, ever since the funeral. Why do you let her get to you
with that alarmist nonsense.
ROGER
Because the sea level is rising. That’s why we have to talk, now, about a new foundation.

NAN
Don’t be silly. They’d have to jack up the entire house.
ROGER
Not that kind of foundation. This is about a foundation for.... philanthropy.
NAN
Oh. Oh? And what would your foundation do?
ROGER
Our foundation, M’dear. I’m keen to name it for both of us.
NAN
Don’t include me. If this is something Aurie put you up to.
ROGER
She says we’re in a total global crisis.
NAN
She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
ROGER
That’s what your president said about the generals in the Pentagon. When they said
there’s no bigger threat to national security than climate change.
NAN
You are forgetting, our sign there: No Trump-talk. Now, back to Aurie.—
ROGER
Who does know what she’s talking about. From having worked at Friends of the Earth!
NAN
Which turned her into an extremist! Eating dried prunes, and..... and adopting black kids!
ROGER
Will you please stop. Nelson is not “black kids.” He’s just one black kid, our grandson.
NAN
Who caused her divorce. Poor Walter could never relate to that little black bird as his son.
And Aurie had to rub it in, naming him Nelson, the reincarnation of Nelson Mandela.
ROGER
Which reminds me: Our foundation will be a memorial for Phillip.

NAN
That is a non sequitur.
ROGER
No, M’dear, it’s an inducement, to get you on board.
NAN
A memorial. What would I have to do?
ROGER
First, help me get Aurie on board too. Then, charities give money away. You’re good at
that. Spending my money is what you do best, so now you can do it for a worthy cause.
NAN
Snowbird Haven isn’t a—? Roger! I bought you our getaway so you won’t have a stroke,
from all your stress on Wall Street. Isn’t that a worthy cause? And don’t our vacations at
Snowbird Haven beat that dreary place of yours? in dreary old England.
ROGER
My castle is suddenly dreary?
NAN
In your dreary winters, yes! And you have to admit, Snowbird Haven was a steal.
ROGER
At nine million dollars!?
NAN
They were asking ten! Until I suggested you offer cash. So I saved you a million dollars.
ROGER
Let’s not go over this again. But I must say, some days down in your sunny Florida are
even colder than up here. Now that the weather swings from one extreme to another.
NAN
Ay yi-yi. He says let’s not talk about it, then he talks about it.
ROGER
I am trying to tell you about the foundation!
NAN
Why didn’t you say so?

ROGER
I did. And I said you need to help me get Aurie on board as its director.
NAN
You dreamed it.
(sips her tea)
ROGER
If so, I’d have dreamt up a nice glass of bourbon too. Instead of your bloody iced tea.
NAN
Blame your doctor, not me. But do sit down, if you can stop harping on the weather.
ROGER
It’s not just me. The Paris Agreement got every country in the world harping. Along with
the pope! If I’m harping, so is the pope, in his famous Encyclical on climate.
NAN
You should tell him: A lot of our politicians say he should mind his own business. Not
that he cares what Americans think, I suppose.
ROGER
Your government stands alone against the world, all because of....
(looks at the Trump sign, finally sips his tea and grimaces)
How can you drink this stuff. So American.
NAN
I’m American. Let me introduce myself: I am your American wife, who got you your
American green card. Without which, you would still be back in your dreary English
castle with your dreary English tea, calling it “jolly good.”
ROGER
I never say “jolly good.”
NAN
Not any more. Not since I said if you didn’t stop, I’d tear up your green card.
ROGER
Back to the foundation. It’s Phillip’s memorial, but I’m naming it for us: The Roger and
Nan Harrison Charitable Trust. Yes. Its mission is to change the course of history.
NAN
Could you be.... a tad more specific?

ROGER
By keeping the climate from changing so fast that we may soon be history, all of us. If
these storms get so bad they blast us all to hell.
NAN
You mean, out to sea.
(sips her tea)
ROGER
Which you can help prevent. If we act now, as Aurora says we must.
NAN
And what would Phillip say? That you both talk like fools.
ROGER
No, he would volunteer to be the foundation’s director.
NAN
He would not. After the failure of that horrid business you got him into, he learned his
lesson. The hard way.
ROGER
What lesson?
NAN
About not believing you, you and Aurie, with her “expert” ideas.
ROGER
Clean coal was not just her idea. Back then, a lot of people thought we could sequester
carbon dioxide out of coal. Nobody knew that would prove to be too expensive.
NAN
Then why didn’t all those company owners go bankrupt? And all kill themselves.
ROGER
They didn’t all have cancer.
NAN
Which wouldn’t have struck Phillip, if you hadn’t set him up with that coal company.
ROGER
Did I tell him not to wear his face mask? Was it my fault that he—? Anyway, the
foundation is now his memorial. With Aurie as its director, hopefully.

NAN
A mere consultant, who is only qualified to play Chicken Little.
ROGER
A chick with an MBA! From Harvard! And experience with several companies!
NAN
But what about Todd. Are you going to back his campaign for Congress or not? He has to
know! You promised to think about it.
ROGER
Well, I stopped thinking.
NAN
I can vouch for that.
ROGER
Since he started spouting those fact-free talking points. Just like “the Donald.”
NAN
What is happening to our Trump-free zone?!
ROGER
Todd’s campaign, that’s what. He launched it without reading any of Aurie’s material,
which would help him run a truthful campaign. Truth matters.
NAN
Talk about spouting.
ROGER
No, Aurie says we need action. A crusade, to save the children. To save their future.
That’s why I launched my new investment fund, for folks who want to divest.
NAN
Divest or invest? I still don’t see how your clients can make money by getting rid of it.
ROGER
Don’t be obtuse. M’dear. But we’re not here to talk about that. Yesterday, when I called
Aurie about starting a foundation, she kept asking me what you think.
NAN
And you said what? That you can’t even sit down and tell me if she wants that job?

ROGER
But I said I would. So!
(finally sits in his chair, left of table, and puts down his glass)
She wants to know if both of us are “all in.”
NAN
“All in”?
ROGER
“Like, totally.” Her exact words. Funny how they talk. I said all of me is, totally.
NAN
But that could leave us....totally.... totaled. A total disaster, believe me.
ROGER
Now you did it. That is a pure, unadulterated Trumpism!
(points at the sign)
But I forgive you, if you will help me convince Aurie to be our director. Will you do that?
NAN
No.
NAN sips her tea. ROGER stands back up.
ROGER
It’s the iced tea, the lemon, that’s what’s making you so.... sour. Really, why do
Americans like to ruin perfectly good English tea.
NAN
Been here for over forty years and he still hasn’t heard of the Boston Tea Party. Maybe
it’s time for another American Revolution.
ROGER
I— I can’t do this without Aurie, so you have to help me convince her. M’dear.
NAN
Was there something ambiguous about the way I said no?
ROGER
You’re going over to the dark side.
NAN
I’m doing what?!

SOUND of a coastal bell buoy. ROGER goes to
the edge of the veranda, looks out at the ocean.
ROGER
You hear that?
NAN
No.
ROGER
The buoy! It’s warning us. And look at those huge waves. Old Neptune, bobbing his big
ugly head up and down, getting ready to attack us again.
NAN
And there you go again, expecting the worst. Aurie has turned you into a fatalist.
ROGER
No, I’m still an optimist, but an enlightened one now. Thanks to The Gaia Hypothesis.
NAN
What’s that?
ROGER
Ask Aurie, when she comes up. I called both kids to be here tomorrow.
NAN
What, to gang up on me? You’re not going into the city? You got Todd to take the day off,
too?
ROGER
Said I have some big announcements. But it has to be here, in person. So, tell the cook
there will be four of us for lunch. No, tell her to take the day off. I’ll do my barbecue.
NAN
Tell her yourself. I have to go make a couple of phone calls of my own.
(goes inside with her tea)
ROGER
And I have to go have a Boston tea party.
(pours his tea into the potted plant and
raises the empty glass as a toast to victory)
Blackout

Scene Three
The next day, late morning. Deep in thought, ROGER enters, again in his business suit.
He goes to the edge of the veranda and looks out at the ocean.
ROGER
Neptune, old boy. Up to your old tricks. Sneaking back out to sea last night, your famous
calm before the storm, isn’t it.... Mighty Neptune! Are you there?!
NAN
(off)
No-o-o!
(enters up center from the rose garden with
a rose and scissors, wearing a garden apron)
Have you lost your mind?! Yelling at the ocean. Or does that mean you’re just having a
midlife crisis. No, you’re too old for that. Now, before the kids get here, don’t you want
to go and change? Into something less formal.... You’re not listening.
ROGER
They’re still saying this hurricane may hit the coast. Making landfall at high tide again. If
that happens, the full moon will make it worse. Why don’t the authorities do something?!
Before the whole ocean ends up right here, right on my doorstep.
NAN
Look on the bright side, Mr. Optimist. Easier to go for a swim. No need to go down to the
beach, if the beach comes up to you.... Sorry, just trying to cheer you up. Don’t want to be
grumpy for the kids. Really, you should go change into something other than your suit....
Oh! What did the doctor say? About your liver.... Aren’t you going to tell me?
DOORBELL rings off right. ROGER starts off
left as NAN grabs a remote opener from the
table and point-clicks it off right.
They’re here, and you are still wearing your—Roger! Where are you going?
ROGER
Down to the beach. To give some more thought to my announcements.
NAN
What should I tell the kids?

ROGER
Whatever you like. That I took a great notion, to go jump in the ocean.
(rushes off, left)
NAN
In your business suit?!
AURIE, TODD and NELSON enter right: Aurie
and Todd in suits, Nelson in a T-shirt and music
earcords dangling from his neck.
AURIE
Look who’s just home from graduation! Your grandson is now a free bird.
NELSON
Your “little black bird,” Nana. Migrating back here to my summer feeding ground.
NAN
Nelson, if I told you once, I told you a thousand times: “Na-na” is for old ladies.
AURIE
Mo-ther, he just likes to get your goat.
NAN
Well, Mr. Smartypants, my goat says: Ba-a-a-a-a!
NELSON attaches his earbuds, listens to music
and checks his cell phone. TODD kisses Nan on
the cheek. SHE gives him her rose.
I’m so glad you could tear yourself away. Now, be sure to insist on an answer from Pop,
about supporting your campaign. This is not a Todd-free zone. Don’t let him cut you off.
(snaps her scissors)
TODD
Ouch. Where is he? Oh, out in your rose garden. Firing up the grill! I was telling Nelson,
that’s what alpha males do. They summon their tribe for the kill, and “fire up the grill.”
NAN
But right now, he’s just firing up his big announcement. Practicing on the seagulls.
TODD
Hope it won’t make us squawk like them. Ha-ha. Quick, Mom, what is this all about?

NAN
I told you on the phone, it has to be about us nipping this fantasy of his in the bud.
(again snaps the scissors, then puts them in her apron pocket)
AURIE
Is it also about his liver? You mentioned a new doctor’s appointment.
NAN
He just got back. He wouldn’t talk about it, but I’m sure he’s still in the same gray area.
Your father has become more secretive than a CIA agent.
NELSON
Not with me. At Uncle Phil’s funeral, Grandpa said it’s no secret, this place will be all
gone by the time I have grandkids. Entirely under water by then.
(reacts to a text message)
Wow, look at this!
NAN tries to look, but NELSON hides it.
It’s from my girlfriend, Nana.
NAN
Nan! Ba-a-a-a-a. Can’t you put away your toys?.... Did you have a nice drive up here?
NELSON
Not so much. They got into a fight about the weather. Whether we can weather it.
TODD
Seriously, Mom, give us a heads-up on all of Pop’s news. Is it generally good, or bad?
NAN
Yes....
AURIE
Translation: It’s good and bad. Like Mother on the phone, mixing chit-chat and threats.
NAN
That was no threat, it was a promise. And here’s what else you should know, all of you,
even if the kid isn’t listening. Once Todd secures the nomination, we need to keep a
united front, or else Todd will not get Pop’s help.
AURIE
I bet that’s why he told Todd to leave his family home today.

TODD
What is that supposed to mean?
AURIE
So the united front can’t gang up on him, like when you all pushed him into letting you
use his yacht. And then sailed it onto the rocks.
NELSON
Sailed The American Dream onto the rocks. Symbolism not intended. But Uncle Todd
said Gramps left his family home to keep the spotlight on himself. If I can say that.
TODD
No, you can’t.
NELSON
You did. See, Nan? I do listen. Wow, the kid can walk and chew gum at the same time.
NAN huffs. AURIE whispers to NELSON, who
sheds his earbuds and pockets his cell phone.
TODD
What I actually said was: Alpha males always have to be the center of attention.
NELSON
Is that why Mom said he’s a phallocrat?
NAN
A what?!
AURIE
I said that’s how he used to be. But he has changed.
(uncomfortable, she ambles slowly back to Nan)
Don’t you agree, Mother?
NAN
Nelson means plutocrat, not a—that other word. Aurie, why are you walking like that?
AURIE
Like what?
NAN
A duck. You never walked like a duck.

NELSON
So, Grandpa is a plutocratic phallocrat. No, “used to be.” Oh, Nan, you’ll appreciate this:
What was Beethoven’s favorite fruit?.... Give up? Ba-NA-NA-NA-na-a-a.
(sung to the tune of the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony)
AURIE
Nelson, why don’t you go find Grandpa. Now. Before Nan nips you in the bud.
NELSON restores his earbuds, trots off left.
TODD
(shaking his head as he goes inside, up right)
Phallocrat. God, do I need a drink.
AURIE
Mother, good news: I got Nelson an internship, at Friends of the Earth. They may even let
him make a documentary! Thanks to his college minor in film.
NAN
That’s nice, Dear. Now: Quack, quack? I want to know why you’re waddling.
AURIE
I’m not.
NAN
Well, you were, just now.
AURIE
Stop trying to make me feel bad.
NAN
I’m not. I just thought you might be pregnant, with a child of your own, instead of a—
But how’s it going with your new “item” there? Now that Nelson is back home, do he and
Patrick get along? Being almost the same age, that could affect your relationship.
AURIE
With Patrick? No, Mother. Patrick is a joy. Though he can be a bit much at times.
NAN
Oh? Does that mean you’re sorry you divorced good old Walter? Do you miss Walter?
AURIE
Only when I’m too— I don’t know, tired.

NAN
And just want to sleep? While Patrick wants to— Ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
AURIE
Mother, please.
NAN
So serious. Like on the phone, when I criticized your father’s ridiculous idea of pouring
money into a do-good foundation, and you said I’m an idiot for calling it that.
AURIE
I did not say you’re an idiot. Just ignorant.
NAN
You need to understand: Pop has become a total fatalist. Even though he says he’s a—
Oh, what is this Gaia Hypothesis? Never mind, here they come. Now remember what I
told you. I meant every word, so don’t you encourage him. Or else!
NELSON returns down left with ROGER.
NELSON
Found him, walking sideways, like a sand crab. Checking out the latest erosion.
AURIE
Hi, Pop. Bet you’re glad that storm last week wasn’t another superstorm.
ROGER
But it reminded me of your beach house being washed away. I wonder where it ended up.
If it’s still intact, is another little girl now playing with your one-eyed Winnie-the-Pooh?
AURIE
And Tinkerbell, with her magic wand. Which made all the stars come out at night.
ROGER
Abracadabra! Bring back the magic wand. To help us defeat the bad guys.
AURIE
(glancing at her mother)
If only everyone could still believe.
TODD
(returning with a glass of bourbon and the rose in his lapel)
Believe in what? Hi there, Popper.

ROGER
Believe that my little bit o’ heaven won’t end up under water. Believe that our so-called
leaders will ever do the right things. I’m telling you, Son: Someone has to light a fire
under those greedy beggars.
NELSON
Or a bomb. Mom says that’s what it’s going to take.
ROGER
And boy, are we working on it. Wait, did I say boy? to a young man who just graduated!
Which might explain why Todd is partying, with my Jack Daniels. No boudt adout it.
TODD
What? I.... didn’t think you’d mind, since the doctor made you unfriend your old friend
Jack. Ha-ha-ha..... Sorry, not funny. So, is Aurie teaching you how to make green bombs?
ROGER
Yes she is, but we call them solar panels.
AURIE
And windmills. Renewable energy, Todd.
ROGER
It’s not too late for you to get with it, Boyo. To redeem your brother’s false hope for coal.
NAN
Yes, Todd and I had a good talk about what he can do, if he gets to Washington. If! Not
that we want him to become another extremist, tilting at windmills.
ROGER
But he better support building some. Wind farms, like that one I’m buying in England.
NAN
Todd will sponsor a bill for you to, to— to make the climate get better.
ROGER
As if it just caught a sudden cold.
NELSON
Yo, its temperature has gone up.
AURIE
Enough to melt tons of ice. Gigatons.

ROGER
And raise sea levels. Right, M’dear? When your mom first saw your photos of South
Florida, with fish swimming in the streets at high tide, she said they must be—
NAN
Photo-shopped. But I do believe that Todd will win his election, if he has enough money.
ROGER
And his first bill in Congress would say what?
TODD
Erosion is now against the law. Ha-ha-ha.... Seriously, I’ll call for building more jetties,
like your breakwater out there.
ROGER
I told you, storms now rage over those boulders, even up and over my sea wall. Gobbling
chunks of lawn like that Pacman of yours when you were a kid.
TODD
But I could lead the fight for bigger sea walls, along the whole coast. That’s where most
of us live, right? On all three coasts. Sea walls: now those are walls we really need.
NAN
And it’ll create jobs, don’t forget jobs. That is always popular.
TODD
I’ll get support from both sides of the aisle. Not to mention in Trump-free zones.
NAN
See, Roge? Todd does have ideas of his own.
ROGER
But who told him about that one? Aurie.
AURIE
I even showed him an article about dikes and levees, but he wouldn’t read it.
TODD
Because that’s a done deal, right? At least around Lower Manhattan, for Wall Street.
NELSON
Walls for Wall Street!.... What? So it won’t be under water. Like when it got flooded by
that hurricane, with the fourteen-foot waves. Can’t let Grandpa drown in his office.

Prisoners of Hope (20pg sample) 2:17

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