Jennifer Griffith

(in the darkness)

What’s next?  What do we do now?

Lights.  A posh hotel room in New York City. EILEEN with three young ACTIVISTS.  She’s dressed somewhat presentably, the ACTIVISTS wear jeans & t-shirts.

Nearby, the makings of a party:  folded tables, piled tablecloths, rented glassware, boxes of liquor, etc, just waiting to be assembled.

EILEEN

Wait a minute—where’s Cori?

ACTIVIST#1

She told me she had a thing—

ACTIVIST#2

She might need to be late—

EILEEN

Late?  I sent her over to the office—to, to—

(lying)

There were some last minute things for her to check—but she should be here by now—

ACTIVIST#3

No worries—you can count on Cori—she’s the best.

EILEEN

We’ve got less than an hour, and there’s a lot, there’s still a lot we need to—

ACTIVIST#1

It’s cool, don’t worry, we’ve got it—

EILEEN

It’s NOT “Cool”—NOTHING is “cool” until we’re ready!

(quick shift)

Sorry—I’m a little out of my element here—my staff—my people are back at The West

Coast office, we only had enough budget to send management, it’s hard for me to—

ACTIVIST#2

Dude, don’t worry, you’re on the East Coast now—things get done.  We’ve already checked

in all the rental equipment, and the food—

EILEEN

This could be a very big event for E.A.G—

ACTIVIST#1

There’s no “could”—whole conference’s gonna be here—

ACTIVIST#3

Way to calm things down.

ACTIVIST#2

He’s right—there’s always a million parties on Saturday–

everybody wants to rock out before they head home—

ACTIVIST#1

But this will be the party to be at—

ACTIVIST#1

Cause we’re giving the Lovelock Prize to Hank Alan Foster tomorrow—

ACTIVIST#2

Cause Eileen is like, instead of some boring Science Dude, or even more boring Political Dude—

ACTIVIST#1

Let’s give the prize to a frickin’ movie star and The Environmental Action Group will finally

be where the action is.

ACTIVIST#1 & #2 high five.

ACTIVIST#3

We’re not the important thing—Hank Alan Foster is not the important thing—the mission is the important thing!

EILEEN

All right, OK—we need to get to work here—

The ACTIVISTS all high-five (with EILEEN) and begin setting up the party.

EILEEN watches as they attack their tasks with zealous determination

EILEEN

This is such a cool idea. Such

a cool idea

A beautiful idea

come have a drink after the program

with a star!

my “old friend” Hank Alan Foster

I can’t believe he said “yes”.

a few drinks

and conversation

Such a great, great, great, great idea! I’ll promote myself

I’ll be the hit of this year’s conference

I’ll bring spark

they won’t for-get

and of course it helps the mission helps to get us some attention helps me get what I deserve

THE ACTIVISTS (as they set up) Save—The Earth! Love—The Planet! Save—The World!

EILEEN

these 20-somethings—

they make me wonder

If their brains are defective

If they have eyes

Why they can’t see it

see the core of betrayal the disappointment— it’s a farce

Full page layouts

from the folks who sold the poison

ads with mermaids, smiles and flowers—

help us fix the world we spoiled

clean the world we soiled

“sure, we’re sorry, really sorry

look at all these pretty pictures pretty, pretty pictures

men in seal-suits, bear pajamas

take a button and you’ll want to buy the t-shirt

buy the people

cleaning nothing but your conscience

oh, we’ll make a few concessions no one needs to leave embarrassed

Come and scrub that conscience clean your conscience clean

nice and clean

THE ACTIVISTS (working) Save—The Earth. Love—The Planet.

EILEEN

Scrub my conscience crystal clean . . .

CORI rushes in.

CORI

Sorry, sorry—

the traffic really sucks

Sorry, sorry— I hope I’m not too late

it’s so exciting

my first conference

so excited aren’t you—

EILEEN

What did they say—back at the office? What did they say ‘bout the ‘Earth Firsters?

the threat we got this morning

that it’s ‘already too late’

do they think we have to worry do they think we’re infiltrated— are they planning terror

what did the office say—

CORI

Here, I printed out the emails

they don’t think there’s any danger—

EILEEN

‘They don’t think’—

(she reads from the emails)

“kill one of your beautiful creatures . . . ” What does that mean? “beautiful creatures”?

CORI

I don’t—I mean—you know—the way these people talk—

EILEEN

(reading)

“You’re imposters—vanityand decadence

that needs to be washed clean”—

sick, sick people—

(she keeps reading)

CORI

Sorry, sorry—I’m still flustered—

but don’t you think these Earth Firsters don’t you think they’re kind of brave— (sorry, sorry)

EILEEN

Eco-Terror—Cori—

does more harm than good makes us all look bad

CORI But

don’t you understand it

don’t you ever lose your patience

don’t you want a transformation

we want the world to change

EILEEN

(done with the emails)

This is scary.

These people are scary.

(abruptly:)

You should go and get some ice—

CORI

But I think—

EILEEN

I don’t need your “thoughts” right now.

Please . . .go and get some ice.

A moment.  CORY nods, exits—EILEEN can’t dismiss the emails.

EILEEN (cont’d)

Could they be planning violence?

Should I just text a cancel?

Dear Lord save me from the—nuts.

CORI rushes in with the ice.

CORI

The last symposium broke early—we’ve got guests!

The GUESTS enter, festive and pumped.

ALL

Save, Save, Save Save, Save, Save Save, Save, Save

Save the World

it isn’t a logo

it isn’t a slogan

Save, Save, Save

Save the World!

Introductions are made:

ARJUN

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers—

DEBORAH

Friends of The Earth in Cameroon—

RITA

Communidad ecologistas—

TAZ

Plus-Ecologique aux Luxembourg—

CORI

I’m Cori from the New York office—

STAN

(poking himself in)

Stan Colgate—PowerAmerica—

EILEEN

And the man of the hour—

HANK

I think you might know me—

my name is Hank.

A burst of good-natured laughter at his modesty.

HANK (cont’d)

I guess I’m not like most of you—useful folks— I make movies for a living—

Even more laughter—he’s so charming!