Read Flesh and Bone Page 3

DACO

  Prosper or rot.

  YSIP sits down.

  FIONN

  Well…those are some strong laws. Eat or be eaten. I now understand why you all are comfortable with eating…your friend.

  GALOS

  He tastes good.

  FIONN

  I’m sure.

  DACO

  These are your laws?

  FIONN

  Actually, no. In fact, I don’t live by laws.

  YSIP

  No laws? How are you not dead?

  FIONN

  Because I live in a society that follows philosophies, instead.

  TIGAS

  What are those? Can I trade you something for those?

  FIONN

  You can have them for free.

  DACO

  No gifts before eating!

  FIONN

  Daco, this isn’t the gift I was talking about earlier. This is for everyone.

  DACO

  Oh. Okay, give it.

  FIONN

  I would be honored.

  FIONN stands and tries to look as ceremonial as YSIP did.

  Here are…the The Philosophies of Ain. The first--

  GALOS

  Who’s Ain?

  FIONN

  Well, Ain is—

  DACO

  [To GALOS] No talking!

  Half-beat.

  FIONN

  Ain is the name of my species’ government. Anyway, the first philosophy of Ain: Non-voilence is the most beneficial path of life.

  Beat.

  TALAO

  Huh?

  FIONN

  To harm another puts oneself in harm. But if everyone helps each other, all will survive. Each being is unique, and their loss is everyone’s loss.

  Half-beat.

  AGBAYANI

  Too long.

  YSIP

  It…seems to make sense.

  FIONN

  The second philosophy of Ain: to improve oneself, one must improve their surroundings.

  Beat.

  GALOS

  I don’t get it.

  FIONN

  When danger is non-existent, the mind is free to look inwards, for life improves overall when death is no longer a threat. Also, one’s own perspective can improve when compared to others.

  ANGARA

  He speaks so many beautiful words.

  DACO

  No death? No more death? Daco likes this very much.

  FIONN

  The third philosophy of Ain:--

  GALOS

  How many more?

  FIONN

  This is the last one, I promise. The third philosophy of Ain: Focus upon one’s consciousness, for it is what makes one self-aware. By being more self-aware, one is capable of true understanding. And, the only way one can repay enlightenment to others is to return it. To remain in ignorance is to deny oneself spiritual prosperity.

  Beat.

  That’s it. What do you think? Are the philosophies of Ain appealing to all of you?

  YSIP

  I prefer the laws of the Lumahan.

  AGBAYANI

  Too long.

  TALAO

  Ya’ have to remember all those yerself, do ya’?

  ANGARA

  Philosophies…it makes my tongue sing.

  DACO

  Daco likes not dying. No worries. No fighting. Just sleeping and eating. Daco likes this.

  GALOS

  Eh! Sounds stupid. No fighting makes us weak. Makes us food. Fionn and his words is stupid.

  DACO

  Daco likes Fionn’s philosophies. Daco likes Fionn. You call Daco stupid?

  Beat. The LUMAHAN all know where this is going and prepare to watch the carnage.

  Are you calling Daco stupid?!

  GALOS doesn’t know how to respond. HE is caught between a need for self-preservation and the desire to gain social power. DACO stands up.

  GALOS

  I…I--

  FIONN

  I’m sure he didn’t mean it. After all, everyone’s entitled to their opinions aren’t they?

  GALOS

  I…you--

  RINGOR

  [To GALOS] You challenged him. You challenged Daco. Called him stupid. Don’t act like a coward.

  The LUMAHAN cheer on the fight, tempting GALOS to fight. GALOS stands up and readies HIS weapon.

  GALOS

  Yes, I-I-I challenge you, Daco! You are stupid! Your friend Fionn is stupid! I will kill you and become the new leader of the Pangan!

  DACO slowly moves towards GALOS, who backs away defensively. The LUMAHAN leave their seats and holler and shout as THEY did in the earlier fight.

  FIONN

  No, no more fighting, please. Haven’t you heard a word of what I said?

  TIGAS

  Kill him, my leader! Kill him!

  TALAO

  Rip his head clean off!

  ANGARA

  Oooh, two fights in one day. Fionn, stand close to me.

  FIONN

  No, I can’t allow this to happen again on my account.

  FIONN moves to grab something out of HIS pocket, but AGBAYANI, expecting the use of magic again, immediately holds FIONN’s hands behind HIS back.

  AGBAYANI

  No magic!

  FIONN

  Agbayani, please stop this!

  RINGOR

  Fight!

  GALOS swings HIS weapon in the air over and over again, getting closer and closer to DACO. DACO does not move an inch. GALOS is almost too afraid to hit DACO, for HE knows what massive strength HIS leader has.

  GALOS

  Boss me around…[Swings] Tell me what to do…[Swings] No more…[Swings] No mooooooore!

  GALOS runs in for a powerful hit. DACO moves like lighting: SHE dodges the attack, grabs GALOS’ hands, knocks the stick out of HIS hands, spins HIM around, and then snaps HIS neck. GALOS drops to the ground dead. The LUMAHAN cheer.

  TIGAS

  Well done, well done, my leader!

  TALAO

  Killed him outright, you did!

  ANGARA

  See Fionn, Daco lives. There’s no need to worry.

  YSIP

  And so dies another weaker foe.

  AGBAYANI lets go of FIONN. FIONN is less shocked and more annoyed than the last murder.

  FIONN

  You kill so effortlessly. Do you not mourn what has been lost? Do you not fear for your own lives? One killing another, the strong against the weak, fighting and eating each other until you’re all too full to move? Can’t you see the pain you cause yourselves? You constantly fear for your lives, but you don’t hesitate to steal what you can from the weak and dying. You can be more. Stop fighting over the base pleasures of life. Share what can be enjoyed by everyone. Protect each other. Don’t you want to become enlightened beings? Don’t you want to feel safe? Don’t you want to escape your fear of death?

  DACO

  Daco does.

  Beat.

  DACO

  Daco fears for life every day. Daco is the leader. Daco is the strongest. But…Daco must kill or be killed. Daco fears for her life and for her baby’s life.

  FIONN

  You’re pregnant?

  AGBAYANI

  My child.

  FIONN

  And you still let her fight?

  AGBAYANI

  It’s our way. Eat or be eaten. There’s nothing else.

  DACO

  Your…philosophies. Daco wishes…Daco wishes to live by your philosophies. Daco doesn’t want to fight anymore. Help Daco and baby to live happy.

  YSIP

  This is sacrilege! We must live by the old stories or we die!

  DACO

  Be silent, or Daco will kill you next! Tigas, store Galos for meat later.

  TIGAS

  Yes, yes, my leader.

  TIGAS first picks up GALOS’ weapon, thinki
ng it a good thing to sell or trade with later. Then, HE drags the body away and exits.

  DACO

  Fionn, give me your gift now. What is it?

  FIONN

  [Pondering over GALOS’ lifeless body] If peace is brought about by the sacrifices of a few, then I suppose it is worth it. My present to you, Daco, and to all your people, and eventually to your entire species, is this.

  FIONN reaches into HIS pocket and reveals a small sphere. After a moment, it lights up, and DACO is completely mesmerized by it. ANGARA, YSIP, AGBAYANI, and TALAO move closer to it. RINGOR keeps HIS distance.

  ANGARA

  It shines like the sun.

  YSIP

  It is like no crystal or gem I have ever read about.

  TALAO

  Never knew ya’ had that on ya’, Fionn. I might’ve killed ya’ for it if I did. Ringor, come look closer.

  RINGOR

  No. I can see it from here.

  TIGAS returns and is immediately mesmerized by the sphere as the others.

  TIGAS

  Pretty, pretty. What kind of trinket do you have? Want to trade for it?

  FIONN

  This is a mechanical wonder of my people. We call it the Eye of Peace. It’s capable of generating a sense of tranquility and enlightenment, more so to one being at a time. Daco, leader of the Pangan Tribe, I give this gift to you. May it help you on your path to enlightenment.

  FIONN hands the sphere over to DACO, whose mind is showered with a sense of happiness never known to HER before.

  TALAO

  What’s it feel like, Daco?

  DACO

  It’s…strange. Daco feels…happy. Very happy.

  TALAO

  Happier than after ya’ eat?

  DACO

  Happier. Thoughts, thoughts Daco never thought of before.

  ANGARA

  Like what?

  DACO looks at FIONN after just realizing something.

  DACO

  Killing Galos was wrong. Daco understands now.

  FIONN

  You do?

  DACO

  Yes. Killing Galos robs me of Galos. His meat means nothing to his…his…his brain. No, not brain. His…

  FIONN

  Spirit?

  DACO

  Yes! Yes, his spirit! Daco misses his spirit, that’s it! Daco will miss him.

  DACO’s eureka moment is overwhelming, and SHE has to sit down in HER chair.

  YSIP

  Galos challenged you. You had no choice but to kill him.

  DACO

  Daco had choice. Daco could’ve talked to him. Asked him questions. Understood him.

  YSIP

  Understood him?! What evil magic is this?! [To FIONN] Stop casting your spell on our leader! [To AGBAYANI] Defend Daco!

  AGBAYANI

  Daco is not in danger.

  YSIP readies HER knife for a strike at FIONN.

  DACO

  Stop her!

  AGBAYANI stops HER.

  YSIP

  What’s wrong with you, Agbayani? He poisons our leader!

  AGBAYANI

  He makes our leader happy. That is good magic.

  AGBAYANI lets go of YSIP.

  FIONN

  Ysip, the Eye of Peace only shows what is possible. It does not force anyone to think anything. Daco likes my sphere, because she now understands the path of non-violence. Look at the sphere with her and you’ll see too—

  YSIP

  No! I will not defile my eyes with your tempting lies. I’m leaving. [Goes to leave, but looks back at FIONN] Fionn, stranger to our world, you will soon know what it means to be a Lumahan.

  YSIP exits.

  FIONN

  I should follow her and try to convince her of my good intentions.

  ANGARA

  No, stay here. Stay here with me. I…want to hear more of your pretty words. Tell more things about your world. Show me more of your magics. Please?

  FIONN

  I…[Realizes that YSIP should be left alone.] I would be happy to.

  ANGARA

  Not here.

  FIONN

  Why not?

  ANGARA

  Somewhere private. Please?

  FIONN

  As you wish. Daco, I will return shortly.

  DACO

  What? Yes, yes. Do what you want.

  FIONN and ANGARA exit. AGBAYANI watches them leave, making sure THEY are out of sight before talking to DACO.

  AGBAYANI

  Why do you protect the stranger? What do you see in light?

  DACO

  Daco sees many things Daco never saw before. Come. We must go.

  DACO gets out of HER chair.

  All of us.

  TIGAS

  To where, my leader?

  DACO

  To Galos’ body. We have to…to…mourn.

  AGBAYANI

  Mourn?

  DACO

  We have to feel sorry about killing him.

  TALAO

  [Laughing] Why do that?

  DACO

  Daco does not know yet. But Daco will soon. Come.

  DACO, AGBAYANI, TALAO exit. Before TIGAS can exit too, RINGOR gets HIS attention.

  RINGOR

  Tigas.

  TIGAS sneaks over to RINGOR.

  TIGAS

  These are curious, curious things, aren’t they Ringor?

  RINGOR

  Yes. Curious.

  TIGAS

  Daco likes the stranger’s toy, doesn’t she?

  RINGOR

  Very much.

  TIGAS

  Think she’ll sell it to me? Think she’ll let me have it for a weapon or more jellies?

  Half-beat.

  What are you thinking up, Ringor?

  RINGOR

  Daco ignored everyone when she looked at the stranger’s toy. She didn’t care how close others got to her. She was blind to danger.

  TIGAS

  I guess. Yes, she didn’t see anyone but her toy. What do you think of Fionn’s phillysophophies?

  RINGOR

  I thought they were useless.

  TIGAS

  Yeah…So did I, so did I. But they sounded smart, didn’t they?

  RINGOR

  We live and die by the laws of the Lumahan. That’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it’ll be forever.

  TIGAS

  Yes, yes. But if Fionn’s tribe lives without death or hunger, then maybe…I’m sorry. I’m sorry. They’re stupid ideas. Stupid, stupid, stupid…[Looks around for DACO; whispers] Stupid.

  RINGOR

  What is the third law of the Lumahans, Tigas?

  TIGAS

  Uhhh, find weakness and kill it.

  RINGOR

  What’s the fourth law?

  TIGAS

  Uhh…let me see…oh, fools die alone. Yes, that’s it.

  RINGOR

  If Fionn’s toy makes Daco weak, then we must find a new leader.

  TIGAS

  You mean…[Whispers] Kill Daco?

  RINGOR nods.

  How? I mean, she’ll deserve it, yes, yes. But…She is so strong. No one has ever hurt her. She’ll kill anyone who attacks her.

  RINGOR

  Not with that toy. With it, she is weak. With it, anyone can kill her.

  TIGAS

  Yes, very clever, very clever. [Chuckles] But what about Agbayani? He will defend her and his child, won’t he?

  RINGOR

  Yes. He will. But he is simple. I will think of something for him.

  TIGAS

  But what about Fionn, the stranger? He has strong magics. How will you stop him?

  Beat.

  How?

  RINGOR

  I don’t know! I will…wait. He must have a weakness, too. I will find it. In time.

  RINGOR exits, TIGAS following.

  TIGAS

>   Ringor, if you become new leader, you will keep Tigas as your very, very good friend, yes? Look out for him, yes? Ringor, do you like jellies and shiny things?

  END ACT I, SCENE III

  END ACT I

  ACT II, SCENE I

  Blackness.

  The same dark atmosphere from before is here now. It is as if the world paid no heed to the small wave of positively-charged philosophy that has washed over the LUMAHAN.

  DACO (OS)

  I understand peace!

  DACO enters. SHE is rounder with child, and HER eyes are wide and full of ideas and pleasant thoughts. The satisfied FIONN follows HER, being the wise teacher to the eager student. Following them enters ANGARA, TALAO, AGBAYANI, TIGAS, and RINGOR.

  DACO sits flatly on the earth, and everyone follows HER example: FIONN being by HER side.

  DACO

  I understand it now. It’s need. It’s…purpose.

  FIONN

  Good. Would you please explain it to me?

  TALAO

  And to me. I’m not getting it.

  DACO

  Peace is no killing, but it’s also no need for killing. If no one kills, then no one needs to kill, and all the killing stops. If there’s no killing, there’s no death. Only life.

  FIONN

  Well, your species will die of natural causes until your sciences prevail, but for the most part you are correct.

  AGBAYANI

  We still die?

  FIONN

  Of natural causes, yes. Have you ever known anyone to die of old age?

  Beat.

  Anyone?

  ANGARA

  In my dreams, I have. I dream of many things

  TALAO

  I heard me a story ‘bout a Lumahan who lived nine times longer than any Lumahan, and then he got his head cut off.

  FIONN

  Then…you’d live even longer than him.

  TALAO

  Really? I like that a lot.

  TIGAS

  Me too. Me too.

  TIGAS notices RINGOR’s displeasure and quiets down.

  DACO

  I understand thinking, too.

  FIONN

  Good for you, Daco.

  DACO

  Thinking makes you smarter. Thinking makes you understand things, make things, build things. Like, now I see why Talao is good.

  TALAO

  I am?

  DACO

  Yes, you…you are hardy.

  TALAO

  What’s that mean?

  FIONN

  Hard to kill.