In Trapped, a man wanders through a desert to save another man from a prison.

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Trapped

By

J.C. Davis

Scene – a small prison in a dessert camp

     Characters:

THOMAS – a young hero who has been captured by the enemy and thrown into the prison. He is headstrong as a bit brash at times but is truly the ultimate do-gooder that the audience comes to love.

ZARIN – an older fellow, wise in life, he is a prisoner of the enemy and has been for twenty odd years.  He speaks with knowledgeable wisdom and is another character the audience wants to love.

INT. – DAY – PRISON

THOMAS is thrown into the prison.  When the door opens light shines through and ZARIN must shield his eyes from the light.  Thomas stumbles in.  Zarin is sitting.

ZARIN

I was wondering when the next one would show up.

THOMAS

(Recovering)

Next what?

ZARIN

Prisoner.  It’s been ten years since the last.

THOMAS looking toward Zarin

Last?  Ten Years?  How long have you been here?  Who are you?

ZARIN

Last prisoner.  Yes.  About twice ten.  And I am me. Now, who are you?

THOMAS

I’m the guy who’s been thrown into a black hole with some wacko.

ZARIN

Really?  When did all this happen?  I’ve been a bit out of the loop.

THOMAS now glaring at Zarin

Seriously?  (Pause) Nevermind

He stands up.

ZARIN

All right then.  May I ask why you’re here?

THOMAS

I didn’t have much choice in the matter.  Most of the time being caught in war ends this way… or worse.

ZARIN

I’d take worse any day.  This gets dull after the first five minutes.  Taking walks doesn’t provide much in the way of scenery change either.  Nothing to see anyway, just dirt.

THOMAS

Wouldn’t imagine you could walk to far in a room this size.

ZARIN

No.

Awkward pause.

THOMAS

So what is there to do her for fun?

ZARIN

Taking walks and pondering the meaning of life.  That’s how I’ve busied myself while I wait.

THOMAS

Waiting for what?

ZARIN ignoring him

Do you know what the meaning of life is?

THOMAS

I’m afraid not.

ZARIN

Pity.  There’s much bliss in the answer… or so I’m told… I guess I won’t know anytime soon, eh?

THOMAS

Sorry.

ZARIN

Not your fault.  Now, what are you in for?

THOMAS

Promise not to laugh?  I’m in for falling in Love.

ZARIN

Does that still exist?

THOMAS

I thought it did but I suppose not… not in the sense I was brought up with.

ZARIN

Love is a funny thing.  You fall into it as you would a trap and just like a trap it is almost always easier to figure out than it seems.  Did you know that Love is the meaning of your life?

THOMAS

I thought you said that you didn’t know the meaning of life.

ZARIN

(Under his breath) Forty-two.  (To Thomas)I did… but I didn’t specify anyone’s life until just now.  The meaning of YOUR life is Love.

THOMAS

(Sarcastically) That’s wisdom.  How do you figure.

ZARIN

I figure that anyone locked away for Love has got to think the Universe of it.

THOMAS

I think my opinion has changed on what Love is.

ZARIN

You give up so easily?  Tell me about this Love?

THOMAS

(Pause) Fine. Abridged, she is the most beautiful being that I have ever imagined.  Outside and inside…  She gives me an energy that I cannot describe… fills me with the strength to go on.  Up until recently, that is.

ZARIN

Falling out?

THOMAS

Of a sort.  More like I was a split second too late.  Fate was against me, and now I’m here.

ZARIN

Don’t believe in fate and here isn’t so bad.  You have time to think about her.

THOMAS

I’ve thought about her too much.  I have to get back to her before it’s too late.

ZARIN

For what?  Tea, it’s only five o’clock.

THOMAS

What?

ZARIN

Tea isn’t until noon tomorrow.  Granted you missed it today but it’s daily.  Better get used to grub sugar though, there isn’t much else around.  I’ve looked.

THOMAS

If you say so…  I’m going to try to find a way to get us out of here.

ZARIN

Save your lass, eh?

THOMAS looking around

She’s not mine… and knowing her she’s already rescued herself. 

ZARIN

Then perhaps you should stay for tea.  I mean she’s in Love with you… I think she can wait another… ohh… half a day.

THOMAS

I never said she was in Love with me.  Usually you get to know the person before committing to that kind of feeling. 

(Begins searching floor for trap doors)

Will you help me out?

ZARIN

She obviously feels something towards you or you wouldn’t feel the way you do.

THOMAS

(Turning to Zarin)

How long did it take you to come up with that?

ZARIN

Just now.  It felt right.

THOMAS

(back to searching)

Listen, you can enlighten me on this subject once we’re out.  Now, will you help me?

ZARIN

Help you what?

THOMAS

GET OUT!

ZARIN

But I’m sitting down.

THOMAS

I mean, I’m trying to find a way for us to get out of here.

ZARIN

Oh, well in that case you might try the door.

THOMAS

Maybe you didn’t notice but we’re locked in without a key and even if we had one we couldn’t use it on this side of the door.

ZARIN

Why would you need a key on this side of the door?  All you have to do is unlock it.  The switch is on the knob.

THOMAS

WHAT?

ZARIN

Turn that switch, open the door, and walk out.

THOMAS

If it was that simple why didn’t you tell me that before?  Better yet, if you knew about that why didn’t you attempt to escape already?

ZARIN

Escape… never thought of that… I mean I take an evening stroll every night.  That’s my life tea at noon and stroll at midnight.  I guess it got programmed into me so well that I just did it.

THOMAS

So you stayed here?  After walking off every night you just came back for tea?

ZARIN

I need to sleep, no?

THOMAS

(Unlocks door and shakes head)

I can’t believe it.  Didn’t you know that you could have found someone on our side who would provide real shelter?

ZARIN

Yeah, and look it only took twenty years for someone to find me.  Don’t you think that this was easier for an old man like me?

THOMAS

But twenty years ago you were younger… about twenty years so. 

ZARIN

But I was busy.

THOMAS

Doing what?

ZARIN

I thought I already told you.  I wanted some tea.  Once I had a cup or two I needed to go for a walk and I did.  When I got back I was so tired I thought that sleep wouldn’t do me any harm.  And when I woke up there was a fresh pot of tea on the table, so I thought that I might have a cup or two.