My First Mask

Stan Cook

So I've never written a mask before. But here's how I would make one, if it were allowed:

There would be 3 fake people in it. Well, they'd be real people, but they'd be masking. One is a young boy, one is a guy like me, and the last one an old man. They only talk to the viewers, and they do it one at a time. When they talk to the viewers, they stand in the same place, that has the same light. They all look similar (same hair color, eye color, skin color, height).

They stand in the same place. Then everyone leaves but the boy:


BOY

I'm only seven. I have hopes and dreams that I want to see happen. Remember the Necessary War? I wish it didn't have to be. I would have my daddy. Wars cause people to die.

(BOY and YOUNG MAN switch places)

YOUNG MAN

I am 17. I am about to go to fight in The Newer More Necessary War. I haven't met someone I love yet. Once I wanted the Wars to end, but I see now what a great honor it is to fight for my President! When I get back, I want to meet someone to love!

(YOUNG MAN and OLD MAN switch places)

OLD MAN

I am 65. I remember a long time ago. The war was called The Necessary War because it needed to happen. Otherwise, we would all be raped by Invaders. I like to speak English. It is the best language. If the Invaders win, we will speak their bad tongue, and sound like crazy people. My government doesn't lie.

(The Three Men come to the same place on the Masking Space)

BOY

People change when they get older. They start to wish the world were bigger, not smaller. They want to hurt people they don't know, or hide from things they don't understand. We can't love as much as we could when we were boys, and children like me. This is a big problem, and only you can do something about it.



But here's a secret:

YOUNG MAN

I want to meet someone to kiss!

BOY

We're not all masking the same person, growing up. We're all different people from one another.

OLD MAN

(holding money) Off to war!

(a gunshot is heard. Or maybe a bomb. YOUNG MAN dies violently.)

BOY

If he (indicates OLD MAN) wants that man (YOUNG MAN) to die for his old beliefs...

(BOY takes out a knife and cuts the head off the OLD MAN)

BOY

(holding the head) Then why can't I get what I want, too?

(BOY throws the head at viewers. BOY sheaths the knife and slides it in the direction of the viewers)

BOY

Take the future. After all, it is yours. (smiles)

END OF MASK