D.M.

LARSON Controlling the Future

CAST
BAKER - (Fares / Kareem)

JONES – Joumana

ZOMBIES (6-8)

-ZOMBIE JOE - Omar

ZOMBIE MOE Ahmed

ZOMBIE GOE - Hala

DR ALAN - Joury

CREATURES (Adham – Jana)

REPORTER – Mohamed Selim

SANDRA - Aisha

BECKY – Sandy

RANDY - Dorra

MANDY - Maria

MORTY - Salma

JOEY - Ahmed Hassan

NURSE - Sama

PENELOPE – Dima

Song ( )
 SCENE 1 CELLPHONE ZOMBIES

(Two time travelers, BAKER and JONES, are on stage)

[T1+T2]
(Lights come up and ZOMBIES - ZOMBIE JOE and MOE - wander around the
stage looking at their cell phones moaning as they walk not looking where
they are going and bumping into each other)

BAKER: We have traveled back in time to a critical time in our history. This
is a key moment where our world was nearly destroyed by a mind-numbing
technology that turned everyone into zombies.
This is the zombie apocalypse!

JONES: It's horrible. What caused our ancestors to suffer this terrible fate?

BAKER: It's these strange devices they are all carrying around and staring
at. They can't stop looking at them.

JONES: What's that strange sound they’re all making?

BAKER: We call it the iMoan. [T3]

JONES: This is too horrible. I can’t watch.

Why did you bring me back to see all this?

BAKER: Because history tells us you are the one who stops it. A time
traveler with your name is the one who saves humanity?

JONES: Are you sure it was me?

BAKER: I sure hope you're the right one. We've been planning this your
entire life.
JONES: You mean you've been grooming me my whole life to travel back in
time and save the world?

BAKER: Yes. [T3]

JONES: That explains the guy in the suit and sunglasses that was always
following me around as a kid.

BAKER: I was hoping you didn't notice that.

JONES: He was creepy! He gave me nightmares!

BAKER: Sorry about that.

JONES: So how am I supposed to save the world anyway?

BAKER: We're not sure. We just know that you somehow do it alone. No
mention of anyone else.

JONES: No mention of you?

BAKER: Affirmative. Very odd indeed.

JONES: Hey! Lookout! That zombie is driving a car while looking at one of
those devices!

BAKER: This is bad. These are all manual vehicles. No self-driving cars in
this time period.

JONES: It's headed right for us!

BAKER: I have to stop it. You have to be safe! You must complete your
mission!

JONES: What are you doing?! [T4]

(BAKER runs off stage. There is a car screech and thump - or this can be
staged in a silly way with a zombie person driving a small kid car or a cutout
of a car and hits BAKER)

JONES (CONT.) [T5]

Oh no! Baker’s dead. What do I do? Okay, stay calm Jones. You were
trained for this kind of situation. The emergency kit. Look in the emergency
kit. We have a wound self-cleaning bandage, unlimited credit instant
currency card good for any time period, A daily meal pill… a sonic
toothbrush... [T6]

(Turns it on. Zombie Joe, who is closest to JONES stops and moans louder.
Phone isn’t working anymore. Zombie Joe holds it up to the sky and tries to
get reception)
JONES (CONT.): Did the sonic toothbrush just disrupt your phone? [T6]

(JONES points it at another person, ZOMBIE MOE, and turns it on. That
person’s phone stops working. They moan too and hold it up too trying to
get reception).

JONES (CONT.): This sonic toothbrush has higher settings… I’ll turn it to up

(More zombies stop and moan and hold up their phones. If more actors are
not available then the moaning can come from off stage. The first and
second zombies, JOE and MOE, are starting to turn back to normal)

ZOMBIE JOE: What’s going on?

ZOMBIE MOE: I don’t know.

ZOMBIE JOE: Where am I?

JONES: Welcome to the future, my good people. I have freed you of the
terrible creature that took over your world. Be free of this device forever.

(Takes Zombie Moe’s phone and throws it)

ZOMBIE MOE: Hey! I don’t have insurance on that!

ZOMBIE JOE: I have the dropsie plan. I can drop it and get a new one. I do
that monthly. I always have to have the latest phone.

ZOMBIE MOE: Let’s go get new ones. I hear the new iPid is awesome.

ZOMBIE JOE: What’s an iPid?

ZOMBIE MOE: I have no clue but it’s new!

ZOMBIE JOE: I want one!

(ZOMBIE MOE and JOE exit)

JONES: It’s no good. They are obsessed. I will have to find a way to destroy
all the phones. Let’s set this to plaque removal.

(Turns it on and there is all kinds of moaning from all over - use pre-
recorded moans or get audience to join in)
 Who would have thought someone could save the world with a sonic
toothbrush?

***

JONES (CONT.)

Where is that time traveling device anyway? You’d think an emergency kit
would have one

Oh well… at least I have this no credit limit currency card…

(ZOMBIE MOE runs in and grabs it)

ZOMBIE MOE
Zoink! I’m buying me an iPid.

(ZOMBIE MOE runs off)

JONES
Hey! Give that back!

(JONES runs off after ZOMBIE MOE. ZOMBIE JOE finds the emergency kit
and starts going through it)

ZOMBIE JOE
A daily meal pill? Hmmm…

(Puts it in his mouth)

ZOMBIE JOE (CONT.)

Hey… it’s like I’m eating… like the food is appearing in my mouth as I suck
the pill… Fruit Loops… coffee.... Donuts… some kind of melon… pizza for
lunch… uh… why would they put anchovies on it? Uh…

END OF SCENE
 SCENE 2 STRANDERED BACK IN TIME

JONES
Stranded back in time… no way to escape. I will have to forge a
new life for myself and find a way to blend into the past. Or will
I have to hide and isolate myself? Anything I do could affect the
future. Should I fade away and let the world forget about me?

(BAKER appears part way through JONES’ speech. BAKER looks

younger now with no white/gray wig and smiles ironically)

BAKER
Or you could just wait until someone comes to rescue you.

JONES
Baker… but you’re…

BAKER
Dead?

JONES
Yes.

BAKER
My older self died here today, but I am the younger me… here to
save you.

JONES
Oh… cool.

BAKER
So you ready to go… back to the future?

JONES
Please.

BAKER
You didn’t leave anything behind?

JONES
Well, uh…
 BAKER
Oh, no. What did you leave?

JONES
These guys… they were these horrible zombies… and they took
my credit card… and my emergency bag. We’ll have to recover
these items…

BAKER
That Time Code sounds like a real drag.

JONES
You don’t have the Time Code in your time?

BAKER
They must have written it later. Our main rule is don’t kill
anyone.

JONES
Good rule. Keeps it simple.

BAKER
Ready to go… back to the future?

JONES
You like saying that don’t you?

BAKER
I really do.

JONES
Your older self would never say silly things like that.

BAKER
My older self sounds like a real stick in the mud.

JONES
You help write the Time Code too.

BAKER
What happens to me in the future? I’m like the cool maverick
guy now… the loose canon… the rogue.
 JONES
Oh, they don’t allow guys like that anymore.

BAKER
I bet I broke the mold… there will never be anyone like me
again.

JONES
You won’t even be like you again.

BAKER
Weird. Makes me wonder what happens. Let’s go.

(BAKER gives JONES a device)

BAKER (CONT.)
Begin countdown.

JONES
BAKER
5… 4… 3… 2… 1…

JONES
Oh, wait… I….

(LIGHTS BLACKOUT)

SCENE 3
(BAKER and JONES are in darkness)

BAKER
What were you going to say?

JONES
I was going to ask what time period we were jumping too.

BAKER
We jumped to your time… after I’m dead so I won’t run into
myself and create a paradox or anything.
(Lights come up and Creatures are walking around. Aliens,
werewolves, vampires, gremlins, people with weird features,
etc.)
JONES
Wait a minute… this isn’t my time… this isn’t even my world.

BAKER
This old piece of junk. Where are we?

(A human looking person with books and papers wanders by. A

creature bumps into him and he drops his stuff)

ALAN
Hey!

CREATURE
Watch yourself.

ALAN
Do you know who I am?

CREATURE
Oh… sorry Dr. Alan.

BAKER
Excuse me…

ALAN
Dr. Alan.

BAKER
Huh?

ALAN
My name is Dr. Alan. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?

BAKER
Sorry… no.

ALAN
I’m late for my lecture.
 JONES
Let me help you carry your stuff.

BAKER
Can you tell us what year this is?

JONES
And what planet?

ALAN
The year is 2155. The planet Earth. You’re not time travelers
are you?

BAKER
Maybe…

ALAN
Well, don’t be… it’s outlawed now.

JONES
Outlawed… it was never outlawed. I’m from 2155… this can’t
be Earth.

ALAN
Well, it is. Did you accidentally change your timeline? Don’t
you guys have a Time Code or something that keeps you from
doing that?

BAKER
Don’t say it, Jones.

ALAN
Why don’t you guys come to my lecture? I’m late… and I could
use a hand. Then after, I’ll see what I can do to help

JONES
We appreciate the help.

BAKER
What is going on here?
 JONES
This isn’t the future I’m from. Something I left must have
affected things. I told you the Time Code was important.

BAKER
We’ll just go back and fix it.

JONES
Let’s go then.

BAKER
These watch take time to recharge. So let’s see what Dr. Alan
has to say

JONES
Let’s go. Dr. Alan is waiting for us.

BAKER
Did you see which way he went?

JONES
This way I think.

END OF SCENE
SCENE 4
JONES
Dr. Alan… do you have a moment?

ALAN
Ah, the travelers… we’ll leave it at that. You won’t want to
mention how you travel.

BAKER
Why is there a ban… on our kind of travel?

ALAN
Our Leader banned it. He said it was too dangerous and that we
shouldn’t mess with our past.

JONES
He sounds wise.
 ALAN
Actually, some think he is quite… CRAZY.

BAKER
CRAZY? Then why is he your leader?

ALAN
We don’t have a choice.

JONES
You don’t have elections… voting?

ALAN
Not in my lifetime.

BAKER
How long has he been leader?

ALAN
A very long time. It’s hard to remember a time when he wasn’t
our leader.
JONES
How did he take control?

ALAN
He owns everything so naturally he has control of it.

BAKER
So you still have currency?

ALAN
Of course… is it different in your time?

JONES
In our time, we all are provided with everything we need…

ALAN
You must be from a very distant time then. We’re nowhere
close to that kind of world now.
BAKER
So what is this leader’s name?
 ALAN
He is the owner of Ash Industries… Zack Ashton
(There is an alarm sound. ALAN looks around nervously)

ALAN (CONT.)
No, no, no. I said too much. Look what you’ve done. They’ll take
you away… they’ll take all of us away. I’m important. They have
to let me go. They have to. I’ll tell them you forced me. I’ll tell
them you forced me to talk.

(CREATURES enter with odd weapons and look for them. BAKER
and JONES hide)
BAKER
Almost charged. Get ready to jump.

JONES
We need to find out what’s going on. We need to fix this.

BAKER
We won’t fix anything if they jail us and take our technology.

JONES
Right… we better jump. I found Ash Industries incorporation
date… let’s go to when the company started.

BAKER
Got it.
(Can be the same CREATURE from before or another one)
CREATURE
There they are!

JONES
Jump!

BAKER
Come on.

CREATURE
Hold it right there.

(BLACKOUT. Weapons fire)

END OF SCENE
 Scene (5)
(Reporter is downstage speaking toward the audience as players such as
Mandy are walking around with their phones in front of them trying to spot
PokyMonsters)

REPORTER
Concern has grown over the new PokyMonster app which you see
the people playing behind me in the park here. One player
stumbled into a dead body near this park while another player, a
young player, has gone missing. Parents are urged to talk with
your children about this game and make sure they stay safe.
Beware of invites from people you don’t know and never go
somewhere alone, especially at night.
(Reporter exits and Tom enters with BECKY)
SANDRA
Okay, when you see a PokyMonster, you hit the cage button.

BECKY
I don’t see anything.

SANDRA
You have to look through your phone.

BECKY
Oh wow… that’s weird.

SANDRA
See there’s one. A PokyCho.

MANDY
Those are the easiest to catch. I have a million of those. They’re so stupid.
SANDRA
I’m teaching him… he’s new.

MANDY
I’m after something way better than that.

SANDRA
Yeah, yeah. Excuse us please. PokyCatcher in training here.

BECKY
So how do I catch it?
 SANDRA
Okay, so you get the cage like this… see.

BECKY
Yeah… cage ready.

SANDRA
Now throw it at him.

BECKY
I’m gonna get you PokyCho!

(BECKY throws the smartphone)

SANDRA
No! Don’t throw the phone! Idiot

BECKY
I don’t get it. This is weird. Can we go get some pizza instead?

SANDRA
We’re here because there’s rumors that a rare PokyMonster is being
released today. If we get enough people here with baits then we might
attract it.

BECKY
Baits? there’s so much to remember.

SANDRA
Not really… cages, baits, treats and grooming.

MANDY
I have a level 99 bait. It’s sure to come for that.

BECKY
That looks like a pizza! I wish I could eat it. I’m hungry.

MANDY
Sorry… baits are for PokyMonsters only.

BECKY
How do you all do this? There’s nothing really there. You all look strange
wandering around chasing after ghosts.
 MANDY
I caught a ghost PokyMonster yesterday.

SANDRA
A PokySpook?

MANDY
Yes.

SANDRA
No way! I’ve been after it for a week.

MANDY
And I got the only one in the city.

SANDRA
I’m very jealous.

BECKY
You are all so weird.

(Marty enters looking upset)

MARTY
Hey, have you seen this boy?

(Marty holds up a picture)

MANDY
No, is he missing?

Marty
Yes, he’s my son… he’s been playing this PokyMonster game but he didn’t
come back yesterday. I thought maybe he’d be here with everyone.

ANDY
Let’s ask, SANDRA. she’s been playing this game a lot. SANDRA? You
seen this kid?

SANDRA
Yeah, I think so.

(RANDY comes and looks)

 RANDY
That’s Joey. He comes to the baits all the time.
Marty
You know him? When did you last see him?

MANDY
He was playing yesterday… he was after the PokySpook too. I beat him to
it. He was pretty mad.

Marty
Where was he? Did you see where he went?

RANDY
I think he said he was going home. He wanted to be home before dark… but
it was pretty late by the time he left. The PokySpook only comes out at night.

Marty
I told him not to play after dark. This is terrible.

MANDY
Maybe you shouldn’t let him have his phone at night.

Marty
Maybe you should mind your own business.

MANDY
He was pretty young… too young for a phone.

SANDRA
Lay off Mandy. Can’t you see She is upset?

MANDY
Just trying to help.

SANDRA
Hopefully Joey will show up here tonight. Everyone is planning on being
here. This is one of the biggest PokyMonster releases this month.

RANDY
This is will be quite a battle to see who gets it.

SANDRA
I’m not letting you this time, Mandy. Don’t stand near me. I want a fair fight.
 Marty
I just want to catch my son… and cage him up. I can’t believe he’d be out all
night after I told him not to. This game is out of control.

BECKY
People get pretty addicted to these things. I’ve just got an old flip phone. I
don’t want a phone that’s smarter than me.

MANDY
That’s not hard.

BECKY
You know what? You’re a little troll, you know that?

MANDY
I know.

(MANDY laughs and wanders off)

Marty
I’m really scared. What if something happened to him? I hear about people
being so wrapped up in their phones that they walk out into traffic or fall off
cliffs.

(TOM is looking through his phone)

SANDRA
What is that? I’ve never seen anything like that before.

RANDY
That’s freaky! I have to catch it.

SANDRA
That doesn’t look like any kind of PokyMonster I’ve ever seen. It’s gone!

RANDY
You lost it… idiot. Let me see if I can find it again. Way to go, loser.

SANDRA
Something was very odd about that.
 BECKY
There… way over there…

SANDRA
That’s it!

BECKY
That’s creepy… what the heck!

SANDRA
Gone again. It’s fast.

MANDY
I’ll get it.

Marty
It got really cold all the sudden.

BECKY
Here’s my hoody if you want?

Marty
Thanks… can you feel it? I’m freezing.
BECKY
Yeah.

SANDRA
It’s behind us.

MANDY
It’s not even registering as a known PokyMonster… no stats… no history…
this is awesome!

SANDRA
I don’t know… something doesn’t feel right. It’s over there now. I’ve never
seen one this fast.

MANDY
It dodged my cage!

SANDRA
My cage can’t even get a fix on it.
Marty
Something’s wrong.
 BECKY
Why is it so cold?

MANDY
I got you!

(Blackout. Screams. Lights again. MANDY and RANDY are gone)

Marty
What happened?

BECKY
It was a blackout.

Marty
Even the moon?

SANDRA
Where’s Mandy? Mandy?!

BECKY
What’s going on here?

SANDRA
I don’t know.

MARTY
We have to get out of here.

SANDRA
It’s back.

BECKY
Just turn off your phone Tom… let’s go.

SANDRA
It won’t turn off.

MARTY
I can feel it getting closer.

BECKY
Come on, Tom.
 SANDRA
I’m going to catch it.

BECKY
No… something’s not right.

MARTY
Please… stay away!

(RNDY to MARTY)

BECKY
Get behind me.

SANDRA
I’ll stun it…

(There is a strange sound from Tom’s phone))

BECKY
What was that?

MARTY
It sounds like it screamed.

BECKY
Don’t make it mad, Tom.

SANDRA
Too late.

BECKY
We’re going… just throw away your phone… it’s not worth it.

(BECKY grabs TOM’s phone and throws it)

SANDRA
Don’t do that! You know what that cost me?

(SANDRA runs after phone)

BECKY
SANDRA! No!
 MARTY
What’s happening?

BECKY
I don’t know, but we need help. Hurry.

MARTY
Wait… what if that thing knows where Joey is? What if it took my Joey?

BECKY
We’ll get help… we can’t do anything…

MARTY
I can’t let that thing go… I have to find a way.

(MARTY grabs TOM’s phone)

BECKY
What are you doing?

MARTY
There… it’s over there.

BECKY
This is crazy.

MARTY
How does this game work?

BECKY
I’m not really sure… there’s a cage, there’s bait, stuns…

MARTY
What are these?

BECKY
That’s like stuff you use once you catch one. Nice things like treats and
grooming and such.
MARTY
What if I give it a treat?

BECKY
Try it I guess.
 MARTY
I think it liked it.

BECKY
Give it more.

MARTY
Okay…

BECKY
Now what is it doing?

MARTY
I’m not sure. Hey… can you understand me?

BECKY
I doubt it.

MARTY
Can you help me? I’m missing my son… Joey… he plays this game but he
is lost… do you know where I can find him?

BECKY
I think it’s nodding. Give it more treats.

MARTY
Okay…. Please, help me find my son. He’s a good boy. I miss him.

BECKY
Look… there’s somebody on the screen.

MARTY
It’s Joey!

BECKY
But… I don’t see him… only on the phone.

MARTY
Joey, it’s mommy. Can you hear me?

JOEY (voice)
Where am I MUMMY?
 MARTY
Can you see me, Joey?

JOEY (voice)
Where am I MUMMY?

MARTY
I don’t know Joey… I don’t know.

JOEY (voice)
Where am I MUMMY?

MARTY
What have you done to my son?!

BECKY
Don’t make it angry again.

MARTY
What have you done?

(MARTY hits a button)

BECKY
Don’t use the stuns!

(Roaring sound)

MARTY
Give him back to me?!

(Hits button and more roaring)

BECKY
No!

(Darkness. Screams. Roaring, then silence)

END OF SCENE

SCENE 6
BLACK FRIDAY SELFIE
(Nurse with patient. Patient, Penelope, is waking up)
 NURSE
How are you doing?

PENELOPE
Still wondering how I survived.

NURSE
It sounded like it was quite an accident.

PENELOPE
I caught it all on video. I was doing a video when the store opened up… it’s
probably the reason I got trampled.

NURSE
Those Black Friday sales are brutal.

PENELOPE
But I uploaded the video and it went viral. So maybe it was worth it… ow,
ow… maybe not.
NURSE
Does anyone know what happened to you? Do you have any family in
town?

PENELOPE
They’re all busy shopping. I’m hoping they’ll see the video.

NURSE
Oh…

PENELOPE
I will try to call them.

NURSE
I hate to see you in here all alone.

PENELOPE
Hi mom… mom listen… oh… yeah, I was going to go there but… I know the
deals are great and I’m missing out but… Okay, mom.

I’ll try Dad.

Dad? Listen… I… I can’t hear you Dad… where are you? Why are there
monster trucks in the parking lot? Dad? Fine, I’ll call you back later.
 Maybe I can get my sister… hey, sis… No… no, I didn’t see your TwitFace
post yet… what did you buy? I’ll look later. Wait, I need to tell you that…
but I can’t right now, I am in… no, I’m not trying to be difficult… I’m trying to
tell you… what do you mean I never listen to you? What are you talking
about? Look, this isn’t a good time… fine, I’m going on TwitFace right
now. Bye.
NURSE
That doesn’t sound good.

PENELOPE
They’re a little caught up in shopping right now.
I hate to send them a message… I’d rather tell them in person… but I may
have to.

NURSE
Send them a selfie of you in your hospital bed. That should do it.

PENELOPE
Isn’t that kind of mean?

NURSE
Maybe… but after the way they treated you on the phone, they needed a little
jolt of reality. We can make it look really good too. I can wrap your head in
gauze and…

PENELOPE
I’ll just do a frowny, pouty face. I don’t want to overdo it.

(PENELOPE does a selfie with a sad, pouty face)

NURSE
If they don’t respond to that, let me know… we’ll do you up good.

PENELOPE
And send…

NURSE
Think that will work.
(phone goes crazy with sounds and alerts)

PENELOPE
They’re on their way. I’ve totally gotta put my pouty face pic on
InstaPin. People will love it.
 END OF SCENE

SCENE 7
JONES
Where are we?

BAKER
Back in my time… I think.

JONES
Where is everyone?
BAKER
Something’s not right.

JONES
I feel so cold. Why is it so cold here?

BAKER
My device is dead. I’m not getting any readings.

JONES
She did it…

BAKER
No, we got away.

JONES
She erased us.

BAKER
No, that’s impossible.

JONES
People once believed time travel was impossible.
BAKER
She seems to have trapped us somewhere outside of time.

JONES
Erased us.

BAKER
 Stop saying that!

JONES
Maybe we deserve this. Maybe we brought this on ourselves. We
thought we were helping and changing the world for the better
but instead we were forcing our values on everyone else. Does
that make us any better than the people we were fighting
against?
BAKER
We were fighting for what’s right.

JONES
But was our right way, the only right way? Who are we to
decide right and wrong?

BAKER
Life is all about deciding what is right and wrong and trying to
make a difference. You can’t sit back and let life happen to you.
And you can’t sit back and let injustice happen in this world. I
will never stop fighting. I will never let evil win. I will find a
way. I will find a way to escape here and put things right.

JONES
You’re a good person, Baker. It has been an honor serving with
you.
BAKER
And you as well, Jones. I pray people like us will continue to
take a stand and control the future.
JONES
Let’s get to work and figure a way out of here.

BAKER
Agreed.

END OF PLAY