Escape!

Play 2

Scene 1:

Orang utans' cage

ORANG UTAN 5:
   (Standing lookout at the gate.) I hear footsteps! Hit the ground, everybody!

ORANG UTAN 1:
   Yeah right!

ORANG UTANS 2-5:
   (flop on the floor, looking as if they just suddenly collapsed there.)

(Enter Zookeeper and veterinarian.)

ORANG UTAN 1:
   (Makes some frightened squawking noises and shinnies up a tree.)

VETERINARIAN:
   (Examines each orang utan in turn, except Orang utan 1.) Well, this is some mystery.

ZOOKEEPER:
   Indeed. Indeed it is. It seems that it came on so sudden. So sudden. Strange that it should hit these four at the same time (waves hand at the four orangu utans on the ground) but this one is still fine. (Points at tree with Orang utan 1 in it) Very strange it is.

ORANG UTAN 1:
   (Seeing the Zookeeper point and thinking she's been noticed, she makes some scolding noises.)

VETERINARIAN:
   Yes, I would isolate that one. But what's really strange is that I can't see anything wrong. These appear to be weak, but they're perfectly healthy. Have they eaten?

ZOOKEEPER:
   No, not a thing. Not a thing. these four (waves hand at them) have not eaten a bite all day. (Shakes head.)

VETERINARIAN:
   Well, that could be part of the problem. We'll have to force-feed. But, of course, we also have to find why they quit eating. Hmmmmm...

ZOOKEEPER:
   Yes, as you say. Let's start with that. As you say, Doctor. All right Nakiko, get down outa that tree. Come on!

ORANG UTAN 1:
   (Screeches and frantically tries to get higher in the tree.)

ZOOKEEPER:
   No no, that won't do. That won't do, Nakiko, I said down, not up! Down, Nakiko, down with you! (Shakes tree to no avail. Produces a ladder and leans it against the tree.)

ORANG UTAN 1:
   (Seeing the ladder, she tries to scurry down and run for another tree.)

ZOOKEEPER:
   (Grabs the orang utan by her leg.) Gotcha! Now come along, come along.

(Exit Zookeeper and Orang utan 1. Orang utan 1 is going unwillingly, scolding and squealing by turns.)

VETERINARIAN:
   (Paces the floor mumbling to himself:) Wow, this is odd. But I HAVE to do something or I could lose my job... (Mumbles.) Well, I don't know what the cause is, but if I could make them stronger it might treat the symptoms for a time. Then I'd be doing something and if worse comes to worst, . . . (Mumbles.) Well, we could try that new drug that's just come out lately . . . (Mumbles.) It's not meant for this, but it does give additional strength to these animals. It's the only thing I know to do anyway . . . (Mumbles.)

(Enter Zookeeper carrying a bucket.)

ZOOKEEPER:
   All right, here's the stuff. I'll start feeding now. All right. (Sighs. Goes to the first orang utan who happens to be Orang utan 3 and kneels down besides her, scoops a cupful of the liquid food from the bucket and begins to force feed. Talking to Orang utan:) Come on, come on drink up, it is good. Tastes like bananas, it is good. (Talking to Veterinarian:) So, there is nothing you can do, by the way, nothing at all?

VETERINARIAN:
   (Sighs.) Well, I don't know. There is a new drug that's just come out and we could try it. But again, it's new, so I do not know what the risks or side effects may be.

ZOOKEEPER:
   Ooh, risky. Risky. Well, I believe we have nothing to lose here. They are far along, it seems, nothing to lose. (Goes to second orang utan who happens to be Orang utan 5 and does the same with him.)

VETERINARIAN:
   It's true. All right, then we'll go through with it. Here, I'll administer the first dose now. (Moves to first Orang utan and pulls a bottle from his pocket. Administers dose, then moves to the next, working one animal behind the Zookeeper.)

(Exit veterinarian and Zookeeper after finishing all four orang utans.)

VETERINARIAN:
   (As they walk out:) I'd like to take a look at Nakiko. There's no tellin if this might be contagious, and we wouldn't want her catching it. We'll keep her in isolation for awhile.

Scene 2:

Orang utans' cage

ORANG UTAN 2:
   Orang utan, what was that stuff? Axle grease? Soooo nasty!

ORANG UTAN 3:
   (Chuckles.) Right on! Axle grease! Hahaha.

ORANG UTAN 2:
   Almost makes it worth staying just so I don't have to eat that stuff again!

ORANG UTAN 5:
   You don't get it! In the good old free days no humans ever meddled in our problems. There were herds of orang utans, and we'd help each other. Us orang utans know best!

ORANG UTAN 3:
   I believe that. Except the one they took out, that is. Glad to be rid of her. (Winks.)

ORANG UTANS 2, 4, 5:
   (laugh.)

ORANG UTAN 5:
   (Resumes lookout post.) Rrriiiight. By the way, did you hear what the veterinarian said? Makes me think we're on the right track.

ORANG UTAN 3:
   Yeah, the axle grease stuff they're giving us is supposed to make us stronger.

ORANG UTAN 4:
   That's right. And since we're not actually weak now, that means it'll make us unusually strong.

ORANG UTAN 5:
   Now, how about that! (Mournfully singing:) Oh, the good old free days! How I long to feel the warm sunshine and the breeze blow and climb strong, tall trees and see real green grass oh oh, and the clear blue sky before I die!

ORANG UTAN 2:
   Hey, you're making it sound depressing. Let's just put it this way: (shouts at top of her lungs:) FREEDOM! Freedom's a good thing, yeah!

(Orang utan 3 joins in.)

ORANG UTAN 4:
   Shhh! I hear voices. Come back here!

(Orang utan 5 abandons lookout post, all join Orang utan 4 near back of cage.)

(the following dialogue is heard offstage.)

Yes sir.

We're going to donate a herd to that cause. That means shipping 20 of our elephants to Thailand. They will be acclimated by the zoo there then released into the wild to help elephants come off the endangered species list. So I want you to choose the 20 elephants, have them checked over by our veterinarian, and get them ready to fly into Thailand. There are to be three males and seventeen young females.

All right, will do.

Good. I want them loaded onto the truck tomorrow morning. The plane leaves in three days, but you know how it is. They require the animals to be in isolation at the airport for three days before they can enter Thailand. So we'll take them up tomorrow.

Yes sir.

(Silence.)

ORANG UTAN 5:
   Hmmm. That just might be our escape route.

ORANG UTAN 2:
   If we can get out of this cage that fast, that is. No telling how fast the axle grease is going to work.

ORANG UTAN 4:
   (Wanders over to gate and examines it.) Look! Told ya they'd get careless.

(Orang utan 2, 4, 5 come over to gate.)

ORANG UTAN 3:
   It's not locked?

(Orang utans 2-5 whoop and cheer and slap each other on their backs and do high fives.)

ORANG UTAN 2:
   So, basically, we've just got to keep it up til tomorrow morning.

ORANG UTAN 5:
   No. We have to get out tonight. We need to locate the elephants, and only the cover of darkness will keep us from being seen.

ORANG UTAN 2:
   Oh, you're right. Thanks Wise Guy.

Scene 3:

Orang utans' cage

ORANG UTAN 5:
   Footsteps! Down!

(Orangutans 2-5 collapse into position they were in in scene 1.)

(Enter Zookeeper with the bucket. He works silently with each orangutan one at a time, force feeding and administering another dose of the medication as before. Exits.)

ORANG UTAN 2:
   Aww orang utan, that again?

ORANG UTAN 4:
   Well, it's the last time. We're outa here!

ORANG UTAN 5:
   Yepyepyep, the good old free days are near! (Jumps up and dances in place at his lookout post.)

ORANG UTAN 3:
   By the way, I have got some energy to burn too. (Runs to a tree and takes hold of it, meaning to climb, but instead he uproots the tree.) OOPS!

(Orang utan 3 and 4 stare, their eyes wide.)

ORANG UTAN 5:
   What ya do that for?

ORANG UTAN 3:
   Didn't mean to. Must be that axle grease.

ORANG UTAN 5:
   Aha!

ORANG UTAN 4:
   Hey, lemme see! (Picks up uprooted tree.) WEEEEE! (Throws the log to Orang utan 2.)

ORANG UTAN 2:
   (Catches tree.) Man, I didn't know trees were so light! (Does squats while holding the tree horizontally over head.)

ORANG UTAN 5:
   How cool is that? Over here! (Catches tree as Orang utan 2 throws it to him.) Huh, this is light. As you say, (looks at Orang utan 3) must be that axle grease. By the way, it's time to go. There haven't been any humans walking by for awhile, and I'll bet it's dark now.

ORANG UTAN 3:
   (Comes over to gate.) Awww orang utan! It's locked now.

ORANG UTAN 5:
   Never fear. If you can play catch with a tree, surely you can break the lock.

ORANG UTAN 4:
   Or just push down the gate!

(Orang utan 2 comes over and puts a shoulder against the gate. Orang utan 3 and 5 join in, and with a loud creak the gate gives way.)

ORANG UTAN 4:
   Ouch! Hope the humans didn't hear that!

(Orang utan 5 is already gone. Orang utans 2-4 shiver as a cold draft hits them.)

ORANG UTAN 5:
   (Reappears in gate.) Hurry up! Come on!

(Exit Orang utans 2-5. They go through the door to right of stage and out of the Primate house. A cheer of "Ta da!" is heard as they leave.