A play about time travel.
by Stephen Walkiewicz
Two desks are in a “L” shape. Art sits behind one desk. John sits behind another. There are small microphones on the desks, some mugs, and other desk decorations.
They both wear headsets to signify they are “on air.” Taking headsets off means they are “off air.”
There is a cozy atmosphere to the room.
Art: We are back, ladies and gentlemen, it is such a wonderful night out here in the desert. I have a very special guest with us tonight. His name is John Tonberry. John, it is an absolute pleasure to have you here tonight.
John: Thank you, Art. I’m happy to be here.
Art: Now, John, you have a very special reason for being on the show tonight. Can you tell the audience who you are and why you are here?
John: Uh, sure. My name is John, and I’m- er, well, it’s a little hard to say
Art: Go ahead.
John: I’m, uh, I am a time traveler.
Art: Amazing! Isn’t it, folks? We have a genuine time traveler here on our show. I have so many questions as I’m sure our audience does as well!
John: (nervous) Yea.
Art: Well, let’s get right into it then! When are you from?
John: Oh, well, I don’t want to get too specific
Art: What do you mean?
John: Well, there is a lot of things I’m still trying to figure out now that I’m in the past, you know?
Art: Umm, actually, I don’t. (laughs) I’m not a time traveler. You are.
John: Right. Well, so the biggest question is does me talking about the future change it. Art: Well, I certainly hope so, if it’s a bad future we should change it.
John: What if it’s a good future?
Art: Huh. Well, I hope it is. Do you have good news for us then? I am dying to know what happens next! The audience is dying to know that, too. So please, tell us the future!
John: The future. Yes. Well, things happen.
Art: Things happen? (pause then laughs) That’s a really good joke. Okay, I think that maybe you’re a little nervous, I get that this is a really important thing to discuss but we, I am including myself with the audience, want to know the future! We want details, specifics. What if something horrible happens six months from now, and we can stop it? Help us, John!
John: I-I really do want to help people.
Art: I believe that you do! So, how about I ask some questions? Who is the president in your future? What are the politics of the country at that point?
John: We have a president, and there are politics happening. That is a true statement.
Art: Okay, What about disease, war, famine? Should we be worried about the apocalypse? John: N-no, not really, but kinda?
Art: John, you gotta give us something here, anything. Why did you come on here if you don’t want to talk about the future?
John: I do! I really do, it’s just I’m kinda realizing that this is a huge responsibility for me. What if I say something that changes things for the worse? What if I want to help but me helping makes it set in stone that things can’t change?
Art: Yea, I hear ya. That’s a lot to take in, but it makes sense that there are ramifications to time travel. Folks, we’re going to take a quick commercial break but stay tuned because we are going to learn more about the future with John Tonberry. Be back soon.
Art takes off his headset.
So does John.
Art: John, what are you doing?
John: I’m taking off my headset
Art: No, I mean, why the hell aren’t you talking about the future?
John: Oh- I thought you understood, there are ramifications
Art: John, we got a lot of people listing here that want to hear a story. Tell them a story. John: I don’t understand
Art: Talk about the future, any future. If you think it’s interesting, the audience will find it too. If you don’t want to talk about it, they aren’t going to listen. Work with me here, please.
John: I’m sorry. I just feel a lot of pressure
Art: You don’t have to be one hundred percent accurate here, they just want to know what’s going to happen. You can say that, otherwise, why are you here?
John: I just want to do the right thing
Art: So do it by telling us something! Anything!
John: Okay.
Art makes a wrap-it-up hand gesture, and both he and John put their headsets back on.
Art: Welcome back folks, sorry to take so long, John was just telling me some fascinating events that happened and I had to tell him to stop and wait till we’re back on the air! You are not going to be disappointed. So tell us, John. What’s on the docket for the next twenty years?
John: Oh- Um, twenty years. Well, a lot can happen in twenty years. A lot can happen in just one year.
Art: Yes, and what are those things? Didn’t you mention something about an overseas conflict? That was an interesting point you made.
John: Art, can I ask you a question?
Art: Can you answer one of mine? (laughs)
John: If changing the future meant changing what you’re doing, would you do it?
Art: Of course! But I need you to tell me what the future is.
John: You would be willing to change?
Art: I’m willing to do whatever it takes, but I need to know what happens before I can do it. So tell us about that overseas conflict.
John: The overseas conflict?
Art: Yes the one you were telling me during the break. You were explaining that one country was destroying the art and culture of a people and how that bled into our country.
John: Can we cut to a commercial?
Art: Folks, as you can see this man really cares a lot about our safety. We are going to take a quick break and make sure that John knows that we care about the truth on this program. I promise when we return, you will know about the future.
Art and John take off their headsets
John: Thank you.
Art: Look, I don’t know who you are, but this is a show. You either say something interesting or get the hell out of here.
John: What?
Art: You are wasting my audience’s time and, more importantly, my time. I will not be made a fool on this program. Do you understand me?
John: I don’t understand what’s going on here
Art: Why did you contact me? Why did you get on this show? Do you have a story to tell or not?
John: Yes! Please it’s important, but I am just processing everything.
Art: Process it faster. I need a story by the time we are on air. I don’t care what it is, I don’t care what happens in the future, I am only concerned with the here and now. These people want to feel something, and I am going to give them that. You can give them that too, but you have to do it!
John: Do you believe I’m from the future?
Art: It doesn’t matter what I believe, it matters what they think. And what they are thinking right now, is why is Art letting some weak little person whimper on air when I could be hearing about world war three!
John: I don’t think you’re going to want to hear what I have to say
Art: Oh, I want to hear it. They want to hear it. That’s why you’re on this show. Whether you or I tell them the future, the show must go on!
John: Will you play everything I have to say?
Art: Yes! But you have to say it!
John: (exhales) Alright.
Art makes the wrap-it-up hand gesture, and they both put on their headsets.
Art: Folks, we are back, and I promised you before the break that we were going to hear about the future, and I believe we are. So John, tell us about the future.
John: You need to stop this program.
Art: Heh- Come again?
John: You need to stop doing this. All of this. It needs to stop.
Art: Why would I do that John?
John: Because of the content of your show, people will cause catastrophic harm and damage not just to infrastructure or society but, more importantly, to innocent people.
Art: John, you are way out of line.
John: In ten to twenty years from now, people become completely feral because they distrust everyone. What you do on this show matters, but it leads to alienation, hatred, and fear.
Art: John, I have had just enough
John: You had someone on this program last night talking about how the earth is flat, how they put their life savings in silver, and that the Second Amendment is the most important law in the world! How are these people supposed to believe in anything if that’s the garbage you’re putting out here!
Art: That’s enough! This whole evening has been ruined by you! You won’t talk about the future, you insult my audience, and worst of all what you are expounding is just horrible!
John sits in silence for a moment
Art: I hope you think about what you’ve done and how you’ve completely ruined this evening’s show. The poor people out there listening, dying to know if something horrible out there is happening and we have the chance to stop it.
John: Do you believe that I’m a time traveler?
Art: I think we’re well past that
John: I asked if you believe that I am a time traveler?
Art: No, John. I don’t believe you are.
John: Then why would I come on here and embarrass myself just to have you scream at me. This doesn’t sound like a good plan, does it?
Art: What are you getting at?
John: What is the purpose of a time traveler?
Art: Okay, I think we’re just going to cut the broadcast. Folks, I’m so sorry to do this, but
John: Do not turn this off! Answer my question.
Art: You can’t just tell me what to do
John: The purpose of time travel, the purpose of going back in time or forward is to make things better. That is the fundamental idea why anyone is interested in it. It’s to know the unknown and do whatever it takes to avoid pain and suffering.
Art: Alright.
John: And if you take me off the air, you are telling your audience that you, Art, do not care what happens to them, even if you have the answer to help them.
Art: You are making a lot assumptions about me!
John: You just said the audience is dying to know how to stop a horrible future. I am trying to tell them that. Unfortunately, it means that you have to change. That you need to do something different. Are you willing to do that?
Art: Why me? Why now? Even if what you’re saying is true, there are so many machinations out there that I have no control over. You don’t have control over, none of us do!
John: And that’s the whole point. What if we could have some control over it? Art: (pause) Okay. Now I see what you’re getting at.
John: You do?
Art: You’re just part of the Illuminati. Or should I say, you are advocating for their plan?
John: What? No! I’m
Art: You want control over everything, don’t you? You want a one world system of government, where big brother watches over everything you do
John: You’re grossly misconstruing what I’m trying to get at here
Art: Am I? Or am I just exposing this cover up that you have tried to fleece over all of our eyes and ears?
John: Art, stop trying to avoid the subject!
Art: I’m just getting to the truth! The truth is you want to destroy this community! You want to rip apart what I have worked so hard to build. These people out there want to know the truth, and I am the only one brave enough to say it!
John: You are not a community. You are a community of one. You. You’re the only commonality for these people. How many answers have you gotten on this show? How many deep mysteries have you solved? By creating a world for people where there’s always something just out of the corner of your eye ready to take everything away from you, you have nothing. That’s the future that needs to stop. People can change things right now if they want to.
Art: You’re wrong.
John: Am I?
Art: Of course you are!
John: Well, I think we know how to figure this out. We let the audience decide. If they keep listening to you and I’m right, well you’re going to be the villain. But, if you stop right now and I’m right, well, you get to be the hero. Who do you want to be?
Art: Well, huh, fascinating. The thing I couldn’t help notice is that in both cases, you’re right
John: I just told you the future, Art. That’s what you asked me to do, and I did it. Now answer my question. Do you want to be the villain, or the hero?
Art: This is absurd! What you are asking of me is just
John: Art! (pause) What do you want?
Art: I want to be a hero.
John, Okay. So do it.
John gets up, takes his headphones off, and leaves.
Art sits quietly. He is still on air but doesn’t say anything.
Lights Fade.
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