[1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6...]

[The library doors creak open. Our heroes test subjects troop out into the living room, grumbling all the while.]

Silver: Boo.

Chester: Boo!

Azurite: Indra didn't turn evil at all. I am so disappointed.

Chester: Elara, on the other hand, seems to have started out that way.

Azurite: And... gah... that dialogue. I can still hear it.

Silver: Nah, she's only obnoxious. That's different.

Azurite: I need to wash my brain.

Chester: Same thing, if you ask me.

Azurite: If anyone wants me, I'll be in the bathroom... pouring Listerine in my ear.

[Azurite stalks away up the hall. Silver flops down into one of the chairs. Chester attempts to perch on the other chair's armrest, with the result that he and the chair both wind up in a heap on the floor.]

Silver: Still identifying with Indra, I see.

Chester [muffled by the carpet]: Bah. Belligerent beakless biped.

[Chester props the chair back up and hops awkwardly onto the seat.]

Silver: So, what do you think? According to Sue's e-mail there's still a lot of story left to get through. Are you gonna make it?

Chester: Yeah, yeah. At least it's more interesting than the newspapers in my cage.

Silver: Now there's a quote for the book's dust jacket: "Better than bird cage lining!"

Chester: "Two pinions up. Guess which two!"

Silver: "Fun for the whole flock, assuming that the only alternative is a nap!"

D.Smiley: "Action that will keep you on the edge of your perch!"

[Chester and Silver look up.]

Silver: Heyyy, DS! When did you get up?

D.Smiley: A while ago. Not to criticize or anything, but all your groans of disgust and shouts of derision made it kind of hard to sleep.

Silver: Sorry 'bout that. But hey! I bet you wouldn't mind the noise so much if you were in on the fun!

D.Smiley: Ohhh no. I'm not reading another of those stories. The last one gave me nightmares for a week.

Chester: Aww, come on. It's not that bad. Not all the time.

Silver: Yeah, there are line breaks between paragraphs. It's very restful.

Chester: Besides, we need a third reader, and Azurite will probably be busy for a while.

Azurite [from down the hall, muffled]: Listerine's no good, huh? Okay, this looks like a job for Mr. Drano...

D.Smiley: Uh huh. Talk all you want, but I'm not...

D.Smiley: ...

Silver: Er... DS?

D.Smiley: ...zzzZZZzzz...

Chester: Wow. I didn't know humans could sleep standing up.

[The LIBRARY sign flares to life again, and colored lights flash urgently.]

Silver: Never mind that. We've got Story Sign!

Chester: So soon?! But... but... we haven't had time to detraumatize!

Silver: Oh well, at least we've got company. Come on, help me lift.

Chester: [whine]

[And so the two head back into the fray library, toting their snoozing roommate along as they go...]

[6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...]

« Act I, Scene 3 | Act II, Scene 1 »