Heroines of Chaos

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Free script for several actors.

Version 5.0
Childbirth
childbirth

Same Otakou farmstead: verandah – DAY. Sun-up.

Zsófi stands in front of the verandah, dressed like a heroine going on a quest, holding a questing stick. Tamara, Hawaiki, and Ferenc watch from the verandah.

Your quest, Zsófi – should you choose to accept it - is to seek out, and brin’ back blueberry bushes.

(Zsófi raises a clenched fist like a true heroine.)

From beyond the plains of Mordor!
Wait up. I’ll come with you!

(Tamara grabs her gear from inside the house, and re-emerges. She squeezes Ferenc’s shoulder in farewell. Zsófi leads off down the track. Tamara follows.)

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

On the track to Cromwell – DAY. On the quest.

Zsófi is walking along the dusty track. Tamara is somewhat behind. A wind is blowing dust in their faces. SOUND: the wind howls, and both girls struggle.

Wait up, Zsófi. Wait up!

(Zsófi waits for Tamara to catch up.)

There’s a plant nursery on the way into town, eh.
What?

(The wind abruptly dissipates.)

Ya know, we just need to choose which varieties, and they’ll deliver to our doorstep on electric golf carts.

(Zsófi laughs.)

Quests aren’t what they used to be.

(Zsófi steps forward, then turns back to Tamara.)

The other thing is : Salvadori is growing olives. There’s a big demand for them. None are coming in from overseas.
It’s too wet for olives here.
Not this year. And we just had two years of summer drought.
I’m not convinced, ya know.
Olives can self-pollinate. They’re not reliant on bees.
Let’s give it a go, eh. Try different varieties. See what works, eh.

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Otakou: same farmstead: verandah – DAY

Delbee stands at the front edge of the stage, to one side.

Hi. Time passes. The blueberry bushes are delivered and planted. Then, small olive trees are delivered, and planted. Winter comes, summer passes, the bushes and trees grow. The orchard is in macadamia, blueberries and olives. It is now 2041. The pandemic continues to dominate people's lives. Sometimes, ambulance personnel find the people are dead already; they bring out the bodies on stretchers, and burn the bodies on the street.

(Delbee exits the stage. Zsófi comes out onto the verandah just as Yuvan comes up the steps.)

Ah, Yuvan! I'm just wondering... Could you make some kinda small cot, Uncle?

(Yuvan stops, taken aback.)

What?
A small cot, Uncle, could you make one? Please.

(Dawning realization on Yuvan’s face. His mouth opens and closes. Tears well up, and begin to trickle down his cheeks. His voice is soft.)

Yes, Zsófi, I’d be proud to. Very proud.

(Yuvan sobs gently.)

And stick around, Uncle.

(Yuvan nods through tears, beaming.)

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Same Otakou farmstead: verandah – DAY. First light.

Ferenc, leaning on the balustrade, is using NATO field-glasses to scan the terrain for snipers. Instead, he spots something on approach road.

Tamara! Come already!

(Tamara emerges from inside the house, wearing striped pyjamas. Ferenc silently hands her the field-glasses.)

On the track. Someone is lying there, collapsed. It might be Yuvan.

(Adjusting the field-glasses, Tanara looks.)

Hard to tell. Hmm. Wait up, Ferenc.

(Tanara goes inside the farmhouse, and comes out again.)

Yuvan's not in his room. He was supposed to get back last night. I hope to God it's not the plague.

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Same Okatou farm: memorial plot - DAY. Setting sun. Three headstones, as before, moved from original farm, plus a crude wooden cross for Yuvan.

Zsófi, Tamara, Hawaiki, Ferenc, all masked, stand mourning.

Even beyond death, Great-Uncle Yuvan, there'll be a place for you in my heart. We shall miss you, more than you know. I just wish you could have seen your granddaughter.

(They turn away, begin to meander back to the farmhouse. Tamara and Zsófi cling together, crying. Ferenc trails.)

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Same Otakou farmstead: verandah – DAY. Early summer. Sunset.

Delbee stands at the front edge of the stage, to one side. Tamara, Zsófi, Hawaiki, and Ferenc are on the verandah. Zsófi is early in her second trimester, but showing. Cool linen skirts, linen tops on the women.

Hi. By this time, the Thwaites glacier in Antarctica has collapsed. As a result, sea-levels are rising, but by less than half-a-meter.

(Delbee exits. Hawaiki pours tea. )

The ice-wall is melting faster than predicted.
But what about the pandemic, Zsófi? There’s a new strain.
Hospital’s too risky. We’ll have to do a home-birth.
Have you decided, Zsófia, on a name for the baby?
Odval. We’ll call her Odval. It means chrysanthemum.

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Same Otakou farmstead: verandah – NIGHT. Late summer. On the verandah are a patio rocking chair and verandah swing. The radio is on. This scene involves childbirthing, which can take place behind a short privacy screen backing the verandah, as if indoors. The flooring is old, wooden tongue-and-groove. Much fresh blood thereon.

Zsófi lies behind the screen, exhausted. She has just given birth. The newborn, still slick with amniotic fluid, lies on Zsófi’s chest. Zsófi looks very pale and exhausted. Tamara, Hawaiki, Ferenc are all there.

The government has today confirmed that there will be no border restrictions which affect the tourist industry. Some reports state that world population has now fallen below five billion. Temperatures in Otakou are expected to reach thiry-four degrees tommorrow.

(The fly-screen door squeaks open, and Hawaiki comes out of the house. She looks distracted and worried. Hawaiki turns the radio off, and goes back inside.)

Zsófi! It's your baby girl, Odval, look!

(Tamara gently rubs the baby’s back. The baby splutters and wails. Zsófi does not stir. Her eyes begin to stare. Tamara picks up baby Odval and wraps her in a towel.)

Oh! The placenta's out already. Here, Zsófi, you hold baby.

(Zsófi is unresponsive. Tamara looks at Ferenc, who is inspecting the placenta amid a spreading pool of blood on the floor. Tamara, very worried, cradles baby Odval.)

Zsófi's bleeding bad.
Hawaiki, massage Zsófi below the navel!

(Hawaiki is unsure exactly what to do, and she seems ineffectual.)

No, lower, Hawaiki! It’s to help the womb contract, and stop the bleedin’, eh.

(Tamara has both hands full. Hawaiki massages Zsófi's lower abdomen gently. Tamara shakes her head.)

Ferenc, check the placenta real quick!

(Ferenc gets up. Zsófi goes limp.)

It’s all there. But Zsófi’s bleeding out! We’re losing her!
Keep massagin’, Hawaiki!

(Tamara checks the baby again. Odval wails.)

It’s not working! Zsófi's still hemorrhaging.

(Ferenc checks for Zsófi's pulse.)

Hawaiki, take baby now! Tamara, pressure on the lower abdomen!

(Tamara hands baby Odval over to Hawaiki, who cradles her. Ferenc starts CPR. The pool of blood spreads. Zsófi’s soul departs.)

(SCENE LIGHTING TEMPORARILY OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(Ferenc stumbles out of the house, blood on his knees, wiping blood off his hands.)

Shit! Shit! Shit!

(Tamara comes out, less bloody.)

Baby’s fine. Hawaiki’s got her.

(They stand, hands on the verandah balustrade, staring blankly into the darkness. Tamara begins to sob. Ferenc puts an arm around her, then two, and holds Tamara. SOUND: wail of the newborn baby from inside the house. Tamara breaks away.)

I’ll make formula, eh. She needs feeding right quick.

(Hawaiki appears holding the swaddled baby.)

Let her suckle, Hawaiki. We’ll both have to try to breastfeed.
Oh!

(The women go inside.)

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Otakou: the same farmstead: verandah – DAY. Sunrise. There are two Nordic walking poles leaning in the corner of the verandah, and a tokotoko, a traditional ornate walking stick reserved for Maori elders.

Ferenc stands, leaning on the balustrade, looking out over the orchard.

(Tamara and Hawaiki come out of the farmhouse. Hawaiki carries Odval, the new-born baby, in a linen sling. Tamara carries a backpack.)

We’re off to the high pasture.

(Ference barely acknowledges. Hawaiki picks up the tokotoko walking stick. Tamara uses the Nordic hiking poles.)

To Altan, eh?
Yes. Then to the Yazidis, ya know.
One of the girls there is breastfeeding her baby. Maybe she can give milk to Odval, too.

(The women set off.)

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Otakou: the same farm: on the high pasture – DAY

The yurt-tent stands in the distance. There are goats nearby. Altan stands gazing into the distance as Hawaiki and Tamara approach.

(SOUND of goats bleating. Tamara and Hawaiki enter. Hawaiki hands Odval over to Altan to hold. Altan smiles.)

Odval.

(Altan looks at Tamara.)

Zsópi?

(Tamara shakes her head. Hawaiki takes Odval back. Tamara, tears rolling down her cheeks, stands in front of Altan, holding each of his hands tightly.)

Can I go and see her now?
Ya know, Altan, she didn’t make it. She bled out. She lost too much blood, eh. We just couldn't stop the bleeding.
She's dead?

(Tamara nods. Tears spill onto her cheeks. Tamara pulls Altan toward her, and buries her head on his chest.)

It’s just you and me now. ... And Ferenc.

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)

Otakou: the same farm: memorial plot by the track – DAY.

Delbee stands at the front edge of the stage, to one side. The rain is heavy and relentless. There are four large umbrellas, and four mourners. Three headstones, as previously, their inscriptions blurred by the downpour. SOUND: background music: a lament in Mongolian style. Add new headstones: Ivaskow Yuvan 1964 – 2041 Zsófi’s Great-uncle Kovács Zsófi 2005 – 2042 Odval’s mother. Candle in the wind. Rest in peace heart-mine. Tamara, in black, and hooded, stands cradling baby Odval in her arms. Odval is six months old. Ferenc leans on his stick. Hawaiki and Altan stand close together, each handling their grief in their own way.

Six months have passed.

(Delbee exits. Ferenc salutes through tears. Then, Hawaiki reaches across to Tamara and gently takes Odval. Tamara picks a dandelion.)

A candle in the wind. Rest in peace my dear sweetheart.

(Tamara places the dandelion on Zsófi's grave. Pause. Hawaiki presents the baby to Altan. Altan smiles at last.)

Milk? Goat?
Yes, yes. Milk.

(Altan joins in the lament, his voice a low, mournful drone that echoes the tragedy of the past months. Eventually, Altan trudges back in a different direction, up towards the high pasture. The others walk slowly toward the farmhouse, clinging together for support.)

( SCENE LIGHTING OFF : BLACK-OUT : Black-out)

(END OF SCENE)