NOTES FROM AN EXOPLANET

by Ed Ballou

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2020 edballou@icloud.com

CHARACTERS: 1

DRAWDE - an human in the future, in his 60’s

HODO - a female alien apparently in her 30’s, iridescent outfit, a shiny bald head

THE OTHER - another alien of another race - he takes the forms of other life forms around him
- but you can tell it is him by his rapidly darting eyes and twitching body, like a dog dreaming

HURTADO - an alien apparently in his 80’s, but still sound of mind and body

DOGMO - Drawde’s dog, a Russian Wolfhound bred into a human form - in his 20’s, tall and
unkempt, but with an air of nobility

Scene 1

At Rise: The interior of a very small starship newly landed on Zabro, an exoplanet - all white
with a bed, table and chair - through a window we see an oddly-colored sunrise with two suns
- DRAWDE, a human from the future, is writing at the table, occasionally slicing an apple with
a knife to eat a section - he pauses to look at the sunrise, then looks back at what he has
written, reads it aloud..

DRAWDE

I’ve been here almost a week - landed here because Earth got so messed up - good thing I
spotted this exoplanet through my telescope - and good thing I could fly here in this spaceship
Dad built - he had a Doctorate in Applied Space Sciences, while I only became a high school
math teacher - but before he passed, he did reconcile with my lot in life, saying he was glad I
had made a place for myself in the world - then came the Nuclear War followed by the Great
Conflagration - Dad died, almost everyone died - and me and Dogmo - that’s my dog - barely
escaped in Dad’s ship - had to enter suspended animation for eight years, just so we could get
out here - good thing no one was here when we arrived on this planet - or no thing, except for
some rabbit-creatures - when I picked one up, it surprised me with a nasty bite… it is kind of
lonely here, even with a dog.. fortunately, while I was still on Earth, I saw from a spectrograph
the atmosphere of this planet would be rich in oxygen, with only trace elements which so far
haven’t hurt me - that’s how I can keep the windows and door of the spaceship open.. I’m
making do, realizing I can never go back to Earth, now a land of radioactive ruins and glowing
mutants - ah, poor Earth!

(Puts down knife, gestures out window)

My dog’s out there, in what passes for a desert, chasing those rabbit-things - hope he doesn’t
catch one and get bit - my dog fits right in with this planet - looks like an alien, bred in former
Russia, back there on Earth - even has a Russian name - Boris! - but I just call him Dogmo..

(Gestures out window, whistles)

Dogmo! Dogmo!

(Looks offstage)

Here he comes..

(ENTER DOGMO through the open door at a run,

he runs around the room a couple of times, jumps
up on the couch, looks attentively at Drawde)

Do you always have to run everywhere?

DOGMO

I am Borzoi!

 DRAWDE 2

I know, I know - what I don’t know is why I ever got a big goofus like you - I should have
settled for an ordinary dog..

DOGMO

Master is unhappy with Dogmo?

DRAWDE

No, no, but sometimes you’re a handful..

DOGMO

Am I not faithful companion?

DRAWDE

Yes, you’re like a person, almost human - though you’re just a dog..

DOGMO

Master is pleased..

DRAWDE

Yes, good dog.. but could you try not to take things from the tops of cabinets? - I know you’re
tall, but I have to keep looking for things - like the bananas - you took two bananas from the
top of the frig, ran outside, and I still haven’t found them - and you don’t even eat bananas!

DOGMO

That what Borzoi do..

DRAWDE

Okay, okay.. you want to go for a walk? - you need to run, get in some miles..

DOGMO

(Jumping off the couch, jumping up and down in

front of Drawde)

Oh, a walky, a walky!

DRAWDE

It’s just into this desert, or what passes here for a desert - we’ll hike to that far hill today - or
what passes for a hill - I spotted a cave at its base with my binoculars - we got nothing else to
do, so guess we’ll investigate - maybe some sort of alien animal lives in there! - hope not an
alien bear - I guess we’ll find out - come, Dogmo!

(DRAWDE EXITS out the spaceship door, with a

running DOGMO EXITING after him - LIGHTS DIM
- LIGHTS RISE on three gleaming triangles,
one below the other, dimly revealing a cave wall -
a beam of light weaves back and forth from
offstage - ENTER DRAWDE, flashlight in hand)

DRAWDE

Where did that damn dog go?

(Calls behind him, offstage)

Dogmo! - he chased a rabbit-thing right past the entrance to this cave..

(Calls offstage)

Dogmo! Dogmo! - well, he can smell my trail, in here - he’ll find me - he’s a dog..

 DRAWDE (Con’t.) 3

(Sees the triangles on the wall, shines his flashlight

on them)

What’s this?

(Looks closely at them)

Maybe bioluminescence growing in a pattern.. but doesn’t look like a natural occurrence, even
for this planet - I wonder why they’re glowing?

(Touches a triangle - an unearthly SOUND

emanates from it)

What’s that?

(Touches another triangle - an unearthly SOUND

with another tone emanates from it)

That’s weird..

(Touches the third triangle - and unearthly SOUND

with a third tone emanates from it)

Hmmm..

(He presses the three triangles randomly - the

unearthly tones go up and down in pitch)

Sounds like what could pass for alien music.. but what for? - and where are those aliens?

(He tries producing a pattern of tones by pressing

the triangles - finally, he makes a pattern of
SOUND like ‘My dog has fleas!” - a section of the
cave wall slides open and a beam of artificial
LIGHT shines through into the cave passage)

Oh, crap! - life on.. ! - wherever we are - I haven’t even given this planet a name..

(Slowly goes over to the lit entrance, slowly looks

in, looks down)

Stairs.. made of something that looks like metal.. going down to what looks like a floor with a
big machine-thing on it - like a huge steamship engine! - guess I’ll go down, being as I’m
bound to explore this cave..

(Calls back)

Dogmo, come!

(He steps through the entrance as the LIGHTS DIM

- LIGHTS RISE on him stepping off the bottom of
the stairs onto the floor of what looks like a factory,
upon which rises a huge alien machine in the
shape of a cylinder with circular windows at the
top and bottom, a narrow cone on top - through
the windows we see something shimmering and
shifting its shape - the dim outlines of other huge
machines in the near distance - Drawde looks back
up the stairs)

Damn dog better pick up my trail and find me down here..

(He walks up to the huge engine)

What’s this?

(Walks around it, touches it)

Cold.. means it hasn’t been running, at least not recently..

(Looks offstage)

More of these big machines, must be a couple dozen.. wonder what they’re for.. maybe some
sort of.. power generation - maybe anything, maybe nothing.. maybe they’re ancient, been here

for centuries - and whoever made these machines been gone centuries, too..

(ENTER HODO)

Whoa! - where’d you come from?

(Hodo pauses, looks at him, up and down)

 DRAWDE (Con’t.) 4

You’re an alien! - but look strangely human - is that why I’m so calm?

(To Hodo)

I come in peace!

(Hodo slowly dances an alien dance around him)

You don’t understand me, do you? - that’s all right - then speak to me in your language! - I’d
like to hear speech, any speech..

HODO

(Speaks in a language which sounds like a

refrigerator running with a bad bearing - she
adjusts a knob on her outfit, points at him)

You’re the alien! - I’m from here - where are you from?

DRAWDE

You speak our language!

HODO

We have intergalactic translators woven in our fabrics..

DRAWDE

Impressive!

HODO

You haven’t told me where you’re from..

DRAWDE

From a planet far away, called Earth - I came here with my dog - I had to find a new planet!

HODO

And it’s our planet you found, Zabro - I know of Earth, as you call it - the third planet from your
star - not only is our planet similar to Earth in size, geology, and chemistry - but it has followed
a similar process in the development of our life forms - thus the similarity in look between me
and you - what’s a dog?

DRAWDE

Like a companion, although I own him - he looks like me, although in the old days dogs used
to be covered with fur - over the years, we bred an advanced dog..

(Pauses)

Are there are more of you? - I mean, of your race..

HODO

One more only..

DRAWDE

What happened to the rest?

HODO

The Other..

DRAWDE

The Other?

 HODO 5

He's up there on the surface with you..

DRAWDE

I haven’t seen anyone there - except for my dog, and a bunch of nasty rabbit-things..

HODO

You just haven’t recognized him - as a survival mechanism, The Other mimics the shapes and
sounds of life forms around him..

DRAWDE

You mean, I could have seen him and not known it?

HODO

Possibly..

DRAWDE

Then you could be him..

HODO

I’m a female of my species, have you noticed? - The Other tried to kill the last of our species
and failed - but he will kill you, if he can..

DRAWDE

Whoa! - that’s what happened to the rest of your race?

HODO

Yes, The Other chased down my species when we lived on the surface and slaughtered most
of us - except for two - The Other could not find us down here..

DRAWDE

And you built these machines?

HODO

My grandfather did..

DRAWDE

So he’s the second surviving member of your race - what do they do, these machines -
generate power?

HODO

They are engines for the planet..

DRAWDE

What do mean, engines?

HODO

Interstellar engines - they drive the planet forward through space..

DRAWDE

You mean, like a space ship? - but aren’t we circling your two suns?

 HODO 6

No, the planet is now moving through space in a straight line - haven’t you noticed our stars
getting smaller and dimmer?

DRAWDE

So that’s why they rise and set at different times.. but where are we going?

HODO

On a journey to another planet - only a very small one..

DRAWDE

Why do you want to find another planet? - you already have this one..

HODO

You will find out if you stay down here..

DRAWDE

But I have to get back to the surface - I have to find my dog..

HODO

(Pauses)

Will you visit again?

DRAWDE

Well, sure! - I mean, I want to..

HODO

Next time bring your dog..

(Hodo turns to exit)

DRAWDE

(Shouting at her back)

Well, wait! - I mean, what’s your name!

(HODO EXITS through the door)

Man, strange, but I kind of liked her, even though she is an alien - but I need to go up and look
for my dog..

(Drawde starts to go up the metallic stairs)

The Other, huh? - better watch who I find - who or what!

(DRAWDE EXITS calling, as the LIGHTS DIM)

Dogmo! Dogmo!

(LIGHTS RISE on his room, now mid-day,

with two suns up - Drawde writing at his desk)

DRAWDE

(He reads what he has written)

Found an alien! - sounds so casual, but it actually happened - looks to be a female of a

species similar to our human species - maybe it won’t be so lonely here, after all - she was
sure attractive, even with that bald head - but she looked to be thirty earth years, while I’m past
sixty - how could that work?

(Calling out the window)

Dogmo! Dogmo! - must still be chasing the rabbit-thing..

 DRAWDE 7

(To himself)

So, there’s not only life on Earth, but life on Zabro ..

(ENTER THE OTHER as Dogmo - his eyes dart

around and he twitches)

DRAWDE

Dogmo! - guess what? - there is other life on this planet!

THE OTHER

How possible, Master? - I thought we were only ones..

DRAWDE

Another race has been here before us - it’s their planet! - but now, there’s only two left..

THE OTHER

(Pauses)

Where are these two?

DRAWDE

Living in that cave we just hiked to..

(Gestures out window)

.. but while you were chasing the rabbit-thing, I went in the cave and down some steps - and
found an alien!

THE OTHER

Show me the cave..

DRAWDE

You were just there!

THE OTHER

What did the alien look like?

DRAWDE

Like you and me..

THE OTHER

(Eyes dart, he twitches)

Like me?

DRAWDE

It spoke our language because they have translators in their clothes!

THE OTHER

I wish I had seen this alien..

DRAWDE

You were too busy chasing the rabbit-thing..

THE OTHER

Oh yes, that kettleton..

 DRAWDE 8

What did you call it?

THE OTHER

(Pauses)

Kettleton..

DRAWDE

Where did you get that name?

THE OTHER

(Pauses)

I named the rabbit-thing myself - those kettletons can be dangerous - that one turned on me -
I was forced to bite and it took off..

DRAWDE

This alien I found - she looked human!

THE OTHER

I will run back to the cave in order to see her..

DRAWDE

What’s the rush? - the aliens aren’t going anywhere - they’ve probably been hiding there for
years..

THE OTHER

Years too long - they could use some company..

DRAWDE

And you know what, Dogmo? - the alien told me there’s even another life form on this planet,
besides us - the alien was afraid of him..

THE OTHER

Why?

DRAWDE

Because he’s a killer - she called them The Other - he almost wiped out her race!

THE OTHER

(Pauses)

What does this other alien look like?

DRAWDE

She said he has the ability to look like anyone..

THE OTHER

(Pauses)

Tell me the way to that cave, again..

DRAWDE

Oh, Dogmo! - see that hill over there?

(Gestures out the window)

 THE OTHER 9

I searched there once before..

DRAWDE

You searched! - for what? - kettletons?

THE OTHER

Nobody, nothing..

DRAWDE

(Looking out window)

See that smudge at the base of the hill? - it’s the cave - you go in the cave and after about a
hundred yards, you come to a fork with two passages - take the one to the right - when you
see three triangles glowing on the left wall, press them - they make tones - make this sequence
of tones by pressing on them..

(Mimics the SOUND of “My dog has fleas..”)

.. a door will slide open in the wall, revealing some stairs - go down the stairs and you’ll see
some big machines at the bottom - that’s where I found the alien..

(Looks out the window, his back to The Other)

THE OTHER

(Grabbing knife off table, hiding it on his person)

I will find her, Master..

(THE OTHER EXITS)

DRAWDE

(Looking after him)

Why was he searching for kettletons? - they’re everywhere..

(LIGHTS DIM on Drawde - LIGHTS RISE on the

stairs in the cave - ENTER THE OTHER, looking
exactly like Drawde, stepping off the bottom stair -
his eyes dart around, he twitches, goes over to one
of the machines)

THE OTHER

(To himself)

I could hear these machines humming, but never locate them..

(Looks around)

Where are the last of their race?

(A pause, ENTER HODO)

HODO

You came back!

THE OTHER

Yes.. I wanted to see you again..

HODO

I'm glad..

THE OTHER

These machines - what are they for?

 HODO 10

(Pauses)

I told you already, they’re interstellar engines..

THE OTHER

Engines.. for what purpose?

HODO

(Pauses)

For our journey to the little planet - you do not remember?

THE OTHER

Oh, the journey, yes..

HODO

Where is your dog? - you did not bring it?

THE OTHER

My dog? - somewhere on the surface..

(Goes over to the huge machine)

How does one shut down these machines?

HODO

Shut them down? - but we need these engines for the journey..

THE OTHER

The journey.. I don’t want to go on a journey - I want this planet to orbit your two suns -
nobody asked me about a journey..

HODO

But Zabro is our planet! - the journey was decided long before you arrived - only The Other has
a right to complain - he lives on this planet, too - but you are not The Other..

THE OTHER

Does The Other wants to go on this journey?

HODO

Really, I don’t care! - the Other is a killer - he tried to exterminate my race! - only my
grandfather and I survived - he’d like to kill us, too, but can't find us - so I maintain the
interstellar engines while grandfather navigates us through the stars - and we sail on, voyaging
toward the tiny planet..

THE OTHER

You told me of the planet..

(Pulls out the knife, his eyes dart and he starts

twitching)

But we will not journey there..

HODO

(Pauses, steps back)

The Other! - what have you done with the human! - killed him?

 THE OTHER 11

He’s alive, but suspects nothing - he’s on the surface, surprised at your presence - but your
presence will soon become the past..

HODO

You mean to kill me..

THE OTHER

Drawde will think you want no further contact - I’ll drag your body to the surface and throw it in
the desert - the kettletons will find you - they are ever hungry..

HODO

We are the last of our race and you the last of yours - only one race can inherit this planet..

THE OTHER

(Raising the knife)

It shall be me!

(Grabs Hodo and attempts to stab her - she twists

away and dances around him as he attempts to
stab her - she makes a sudden dance movement
and grabs the knife between them - a sudden
movement and one of them gasps - they stare into
each other’s eyes for a moment)

You should not have done that!

HODO

You should not have found me..

(The Other falls to the ground, wounded, and rolls

behind the engine - she throws the knife away,
goes and looks at him)

Looks dead.. and so we continue our journey..

(ENTER DRAWDE down the stairs - he stops and

sees her looking at the body of The Other)

DRAWDE

What happened?

HODO

It’s The Other..

DRAWDE

You mean, was The Other - looks dead to me..

(Reaches behind the engine)

.. let me turn him over..

HODO

No! - don’t look upon him..

DRAWDE

Why not?

HODO

Because he looks.. exactly like you…

 DRAWDE 12

What?

HODO

I told you, he could mimic life forms around him..

DRAWDE

(Pauses)

Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to see myself dead..

(A door opens - ENTER HURTADO)

Another alien!

HODO

My grandfather, Hurtado..

HURTADO

Welcome to our journey..

DRAWDE

Yes, our journey..

(Putting his hand on an engine)

But why don’t your engines ever get hot?

HURTADO

We developed a new cold energy process - the heat from the Interstellar engines is converted
into star drive for our journey..

DRAWDE

Journey to where?

HURTADO

To Sabie, a small planet in the Triangulation Constellation..

DRAWDE

Our journey.. well, I guess if I can stay on your planet, it doesn’t really matter where it’s at -
orbiting your suns, or taking off on a tangent through the universe..

HODO

It matters to us..

DRAWDE

I’ve seen the Triangulation Constellation from Earth - it’s an isosceles triangle..

HURTADO

But from Zabro, it’s a scalene triangle - you’re on this side of the galaxy, looking at the
constellation from the side..

DRAWDE

I’ll have to get used to this new perspective..

HURTADO

You have no choice..

(HURTADO EXITS over the Bridge of Peace to the

console under a window vista)

 HODO 13

You must know math - you knew the difference between an isosceles and scalene triangle…

DRAWDE

I once taught math on my planet..

HODO

You did? - I’m also a mathematician!

DRAWDE

It was just a job to me..

HODO

But don’t you just love math?

DRAWDE

I love teaching..

HODO

What about the beauty of proofs?

DRAWDE

Proofs! - one wrong step and you’re doomed..

HODO

But still, math!

DRAWDE

Well, math people do seem to click…

HODO

(Pauses)

What is click?

DRAWDE

(Calls up the stairs)

Dogmo! Dogmo!

(ENTER DOGMO down the stairs, a tall,

unshaven young man in his twenties)

DOGMO

(To Drawde)

Yes, master?

DRAWDE

I want you to meet my new friends..

HODO

I thought he would look different from you..

 DRAWDE 14

While your race was making advances in space travel, our race was making advances in
genetics, specifically DNA manipulation - we bred out the annoying fur and bark of our dogs,
and bred in their ability to walk on two legs and develop language skills - now we can take our
dogs everywhere, and they can even hold a conversation - that’s evolutionary progress..

HURTADO

(To Dogmo)

Your name is Dogmo?

DOGMO

(Drawing himself up to full height)

My name Boris of Baluchistan - I am Borzoi, Russian Wolfhound..

DRAWDE

He’s a dog with attitude - and I own him..

HODO

(To Dogmo)

You’re owned by the human?

DOGMO

Not owned - I am dog person!

DRAWDE

Watch this!

(Fetching a ball from his pocket)

Fetch, Dogmo!

(Throws the ball offstage)

DOGMO

Not again..

DRAWDE

Fetch, boy!

DOGMO

Stop humiliation!

DRAWDE

Fetch!

(Dogmo runs offstage, returns with ball,

drops it at Drawde’s feet)

DOGMO

Last time!

DRAWDE

(Picking up ball)

Again! Fetch!

(Throws ball offstage)

DOGMO

Not do, Master!

 DRAWDE 15

You’re a dog, you have to fetch..

DOGMO

Not want - no more Dogmo - Boris!

DRAWDE

Dogmo, Dogmo! Fetch, boy!

DOGMO

Nyet!!

(Runs offstage after ball)

DRAWDE

He’s such a good boy..

HODO

Let us cross over the Bridge of Peace to the console..

(She gestures at the console, past which huge

vista windows look out on stars slowly moving as
one - they walk onto a small composite bridge
arching over an iridescent creek bubbling down
from one ethereal pool to another with a musical
SOUND like brightly flowing water - they pause on
the bridge, as Hurtado makes sightings through
the vista windows)

DRAWDE

(Looking down)

Looks like a stream of flowing water on Earth - water, H2O? - two hydrogen atoms bonded to
an oxygen atom..

HODO

I know the formula - we have water on Zabro - without it, there could be no life - except this is
not flowing water, it’s flowing energy, the Stream of Peace..

DRAWDE

(Looks down at the energy stream)

Why doesn’t the energy escape into the room?

HODO

As part of our cold propulsion system, we must continually expose the energy to oxygen, thus
the appearance of a water stream..

DRAWDE

(Leaning way over the Stream)

Interesting..

(Loses his balance)

Whoa!

(Hodo grabs him by his belt)

 HODO 16

Careful!

(She pulls him back)

You wouldn’t want to become part of the energy stream - your molecules would instantly
disassociate - come over to the console..

(They cross over the Bridge to the console)

DRAWDE

(Looking out the vista windows)

What a spectacle, all those stars!

HURTADO

(Waving an object that looks like a sextant)

This is how I navigate, by the stars - soon all the way to my little planet, Sabie..

DRAWDE

(Pauses)

Why must Dogmo and I journey to another planet?

HODO

Because you’re on our planet, and that’s where we’re going..

DRAWDE

But your planet is now my planet, too..

HURTADO

.. and our journey has become your journey - we’re going back to my home planet, to regain
something lost - when I was young, my father was killed by a rock slide on Sabie - in order to
feed my mother and siblings, I had to work on space freighters traveling between planets, and
send the money back to mother - she has passed, but our planet continues, and I navigate the
stars on my journey back to her - Sabie is the last holdout of the natural world against the
technological world - there we have no spaceships, no cellular devices, no power except fire
for warmth and flame for light - we live in villages, tend small plots, raise animals for
sustenance - we have only the simplest hand tools and no machines - we cross our seas on
ships of sail that use the power of wind..

(Gestures at the energy creek)

.. not the pollution of technology - everyone on Sabie knows everyone, all are at peace, and
there is no stress - life is simple and slow, not complex and warp-speed - we don’t need to
return to nature, because we never left it..

DRAWDE

You sound like a Luddite..

HURTADO

A what?

DRAWDE

A Luddite - men who smashed machines on planet Earth - they railed against a new
technology they could not understand, only see it take away their jobs and lifestyles - and they
would not move into the future with the rest of Earth’s humans..

 HURTADO 17

Then Luddite I am - but we will smash no machines, because on Sabie machines do not exist -
we are people engaged with the land and the sea - not beings who sail between stars on ships
run on magic..

HODO

(Looking at a screen on the console)

Grandfather, we need another course correction..

(Hurtado sights the stars through a vista window)

HURTADO

After we land on Sabie, I’ll program planet Zabro to disappear into the Triangulation
Constellation, leaving us free to live a simpler life - computers there will be none, artificial
intelligence will destroy itself, all technological advances will be scrubbed from the records -
we will hear only the wind as we stand, hoe in hand, gazing at a sparkling sea..

HODO

(At the console)

Grandfather, which way?

HURTADO

(Scanning through the Vista with the sextant)

There.. no, no, not those stars.. there! - now I see it - those stars! - the Triangulation
Constellation - there lies Sabie!

(LIGHTS DIM on the vista - LIGHTS RISE on

the Bridge of Peace - ENTER HODO - she walks

on the Bridge, pauses at top, looks down at the
Stream of Peace - ENTER DRAWDE, sees Hodo on
the Bridge, walks up, stands next to her)

DRAWDE

Feeling peaceful?

HODO

(Looking down at the Stream)

Trying to..

DRAWDE

What’s wrong?

HODO

Maybe this journey.. what if I get there and don’t like it?

DRAWDE

You mean, Sabie?

HODO

That’s Grandfather’s dream, not mine - I wasn’t born there - I was born on Zabro..

DRAWDE

How do you think I feel? - I’m from Earth..

HODO

It’s not your fault you’re coming with us - you didn’t know any of this when you landed.

 DRAWDE 18

There’s nothing I can do about it - your engines are driving us forward; I can’t stop that..

HODO

When we get to Sabie, we’ll never be able to go back - to the here, to the now, to the
technological advances we’ve already made - all will be wiped out..

DRAWDE

Why not just keep planet Zabro orbiting Sabie’s sun, while we figure out things - I’m part of
this, too! - a new planet might not work for me, either..

HODO

(Pauses)

Grandfather could stay, if he wants - he’ll have gone full circle, from birth to death on Sabie..

DRAWDE

But Sabie’s not your planet - and now Zabro’s my planet, too - I don’t care which sun we’re
circling, as long as this planet stays habitable..

HODO

Me neither - even if there’s only one sun - If Zabro’s at the proper distance, thing’s will be fine..

DRAWDE

The Goldilocks Zone..

HODO

What zone?

DRAWDE

Goldilocks, from the fairytale - not too hot and not too cold - that’s how I chose your planet -
it’s in the Goldilocks zone from your double star..

HODO

(Pauses)

What’s a fairytale?

DRAWDE

It’s a story, a fantasy, where everything turns out right..

HODO

Goldilocks..

DRAWDE

A little Earth girl with blonde hair who ate porridge..

HODO

What’s porridge?

DRAWDE

Like a soup.. oh, forget it..

HODO

(Pauses)

And what’s hair?

 DRAWDE 19

(Grabbing his locks, shaking them)

Like this stuff..

HODO

(Running her hands over her smooth bald head)

Hair..

DRAWDE

Don’t worry, you don’t need any - you look just fine..

HODO

(Pauses)

Just fine.. so do you.. look just fine..

(They pause, look at each other - he bestows

a light kiss on her - she responds awkwardly)

HODO

What was that?

DRAWDE

A kiss.. it’s how we show affection on Earth..

HODO

I liked it.. what’s affection?

DRAWDE

When you like somebody, and you want to show them you do..

HODO

(Pauses)

I like you..

(Leans forward and gives him an awkward kiss,

which deepens into a more passionate one, as the
Stream of Peace murmurs on - ENTER HURTADO)

HURTADO

(Comes up on the Bridge)

What’s this?

HODO

Nothing, Grandfather..

DRAWDE

We were kissing, Grandpa - an Earth custom..

HURTADO

Hmmphh.. Hodo, come to the console - we must check again if we’re still on course for Sabie..

(Picks up his sextant, sights through it)

DRAWDE

(Pauses)

I know when I’m not needed..

 20

(DRAWDE EXITS - Hodo looks after him, then

reluctantly follows Hurtado to the console as the
LIGHTS DIM, leaving only a blaze of stars
twinkling through the vista - LIGHTS DIM on the
console - LIGHTS RISE on Drawde writing in his
ship - he pauses, reads aloud what he has written)

DRAWDE

Dogmo and I are here on Zabro, our new planet - but there’s a wrinkle - we no longer orbit its
two stars - the aliens - rather, one of its alien races - has transformed the planet into a starship,
and we’ve begun a journey to a small planet with no technology to speak of - our fate is now
bound up with Zabro’s and we can’t get off - although an alien of another race seems bent on
sabotaging this space journey, seeking to exterminate us - and I haven’t seen Dogmo for a
while - I’m going to look for him down in the engine room…

(LIGHTS DIM on Drawde - LIGHTS RISE on

The Other disguised as Dogmo, sniffing at the

interstellar engine, eyes darting, body twitching -
ENTER HODO - she looks at The Other sniffing)

HODO

You’re Dogmo, Drawde’s dog..

THE OTHER

I’m a dog, yes..

HODO

But you don’t like being a dog..

THE OTHER

Not so - I get to go places with Master, as his companion..

HODO

But don’t you go anywhere on your own?

THE OTHER

Only when I chase kettletons - otherwise, I stay with Master, to protect him..

(Flashing his fangs)

I bite the enemy!

(Sniffing her arm)

You’re one of them..

HODO

One of who?

THE OTHER

The aliens on Zabro..

HODO

There are two races on Zabro - I belong to one race..

THE OTHER

And the other?

 HODO 21

Yes, he’s called The Other - and he’s a killer! - but he’s no longer down here - there was a
conflict and he died, so we took him to the surface and left him for the kettletons…

THE OTHER

(Pauses, shows his teeth)

But still, you’re an alien - what if you’re a threat to my Master?

HODO

(Stepping back)

I’m no threat - I consider Drawde my friend..

THE OTHER

Yet, you force him to go to another planet against his will..

HODO

I’ll be good for Drawde and you - lots of nature on that little planet - you could run around!

THE OTHER

I’d rather Zabro stay orbiting its suns..

HODO

But you’re just a dog - you don’t have much say about anything..

THE OTHER

And you're a threat! - you have too much to say about everything!

HODO

Stop shouting! - you’re beginning to sound like..

THE OTHER

(Interrupting)

.. The Other!

(Bares his fangs)

HODO

(Looks at him)

But, you’re just a..

THE OTHER

.. dog! (Howls and throws himself on her neck, attempting

to bury his fangs - she fights him with dance steps
- ENTER DRAWDE down the metallic stairs)

DRAWDE

Dogmo, stop that - stop! - bad dog! - what are you doing?

(Runs, grabs The Other by the neck, shakes him)

Don’t bite!

(The Other runs up the metallic stairs -

THE OTHER EXITS)

Hodo! - you all right? - I don’t know what got into Dogmo - he’s never acted like that before!

 HODO 22

(Rubbing her neck)

That’s not Dogmo..

DRAWDE

Not Dogmo?

HODO

The Other assumed the form of your dog..

DRAWDE

But we left The Other for dead on the surface!

HODO

He must have been mimicking death..

DRAWDE

Then we’ve got to find him - come on!

HODO

Find him - or find your dog?

DRAWDE

(Pauses, leans against an interstellar engine)

You’re right, how will we know?

HODO

Well, maybe we could..

DRAWDE

(Interrupting her, jumping back from the engine)

Ouch! - this engine is hot!

HODO

Impossible! - it’s powered by cold energy fusion - heat is expressed into space as propulsion..

(She goes and puts her hand on the engine -

quickly removes it)

Something’s wrong..

DRAWDE

Not going to blow, is it?

HODO

I’d better shut it down..

(Goes to the control panel, flips some switches

- SOUND of the interstellar engine powering down,
stopping its humming - she looks at the gauges)

Someone’s been tampering with this engine..

DRAWDE

(Cautiously putting his hand on the engine)

It’s cooling down - you don’t suppose..

 HODO 23

(Interrupting)

.. The Other - I found him sniffing among the engines..

DRAWDE

We’ve got to find him before he does more damage! - but how will we know if he’s my dog or
The Other?

HODO

By clues in his behavior - Dogmo fetches balls - The Other never fetches anything, but waits
for things to come to him - let’s go to the bridge - I must tell Grandfather an engine is down..

(HODO and DRAWDE EXIT - LIGHTS DIM -

LIGHTS RISE on Drawde writing at his desk - he
pauses and reads what’s written)

DRAWDE

I found a second alien, known as The Other, in the engine room disguised as my dog - he was
attacking Hodo - when I intervened, he bit me and disappeared - I don’t know why these two
races can’t get along - they are both of this planet, which is big enough for both to coexist -
I don’t know where my real dog is - and if I find him, how can I be sure he is my dog? - but
we’ve got to do something - The Other means to take control of Zabro and keep it in orbit
around its two suns - but I don’t care if we do end up on Sabie, I just want to live a simple life
and walk my dog, technology or no - is that too much to ask?

(LIGHTS DIM on Drawde - LIGHTS RISE on the

console - The Other, disguised as Hurtado, is
sighting his sextant on various constellations
sparkling in the big vista windows - his eyes dart
as he twitches - ENTER HODO, she crosses over
the Bridge of Peace and stands by The Other - she
looks out at the stars)

HODO

Grandfather.. where is the Triangulation Constellation? - I don’t see it..

THE OTHER

(Looking through his sextant)

It’s there..

HODO

(Looking)

I believe we may have drifted off course..

THE OTHER

(Looking through his sextant)

We are taking a different route back to Sabie - I now remember the shortest path - I entered the
new coordinates into the console..

HODO

(Looking)

But those two stars, that binary system ahead - they look like Zabro’s suns..

THE OTHER

(Looking through his sextant)

There are many binary systems in the galaxy..

 HODO 24

Yes, but these two have magnitudes similar to ours - one bright and one dim - those are our
suns - we’re heading back to them!

THE OTHER

(Puts down his sextant, looks at her)

We have no longer need to go to Sabie..

HODO

What? - but that’s been your dream! - to return to a simpler life, be in tune with nature - you’re
heading us back to a life of technology!

THE OTHER

Nothing wrong with technology - I can see that now - all this time, it was I who needed to
change - we ‘ll soon be back in orbit around our two suns..

(Picks up the star-sextant, starts sighting)

HODO

(Looks at The Other sighting)

Grandfather, you’re sighting through the wrong end of the star-sextant..

THE OTHER

Oh!

(Turning sextant around)

I’m tired - it’s been a long journey..

HODO

(Pauses, looking at him)

You’re not Grandfather, are you..

THE OTHER

(Putting down the sextant)

What are you talking about..

HODO

What have you done with Grandfather?

THE OTHER

My dear Hodo..

HODO

My dear Hodo, nothing - shut up, you’re the Other! - are you going to attack me, again?

(ENTER DOGMO, followed by DRAWDE)

DRAWDE

I found him!

DOGMO

Hello, Master People..

HODO

Who do you think you found?

 DRAWDE 25

Dogmo! - watch..

(Takes the ball from his pocket)

Fetch, boy!

(Throws ball - Dogmo reluctantly runs after it, picks

it up and brings it back, dropping it at his feet)

You told me The Other is too proud to chase anything..

DOGMO

Master, no more - not good for self-image..

DRAWDE

But where did The Other go, if he’s not my dog, anymore?

HODO

(Pointing at THE OTHER)

He’s taken the form of Grandfather..

THE OTHER

Granddaughter, don’t be foolish!

DRAWDE

Then where did Grandfather go?

HODO

(Gesturing at The Other)

Ask him! - maybe tied up in the engine room - or already killed and hidden away..

THE OTHER

You don’t know what you’re talking about - I changed my mind about going to Sabie - a man
can do that!

HODO

But you’re not a man! - you’re an amorphous being, you have no shape of your own..

(Pointing at the vista of stars)

.. and look, we’re going back to our suns! - just what The Other wanted..

THE OTHER

Then perhaps The Other is right! - there’s nothing wrong with technology - it brings a bright
future! - maybe it’s time to make peace with The Other and live in harmony on Zabro..

HODO

You don’t want to live with us - you want to exterminate us! - you want Zabro for yourself!

THE OTHER

Listen, Zabro insect - you don’t deserve to live on this planet - you and your race always trying
to impede my progress - claiming Zabro was your planet because you developed here from a
single cell, while I came from a faraway place that I mistakenly fouled with my technology -
Zabro was perfect for me, an untouched laboratory - except your race was here and tried to
suppress me when my technology became too great! - and now you have this new alien, the
Earth man, with whom you will likely breed to increase your numbers - I won’t allow that - you
both must die!

(The Other rushes them, raising sextant as a club)

 DOGMO 26

Master!

(Dogmo rushes The Other - they all struggle,

Dogmo accidentally biting Drawde on the arm, ,
then biting The Other, causing him to drop the
sextant)

THE OTHER

You fool!

(Dogmo chases him over the Bridge of Peace -

THE OTHER EXITS - Dogmo stops, turns)

DOGMO

Master.. good dog?

DRAWDE

Good boy, Boris!

HODO

But The Other is still on this ship - we have to track him down!

DRAWDE

First, I need to bandage this bite..

HODO

You need more than a bandage - you need a cast - follow me..

(LIGHTS DIM on the engine room - LIGHTS RISE

on Hodo checking the engines - ENTER DRAWDE
down the metallic stairs - he has a cast on one
hand and his shirt is unbuttoned)

DRAWDE

Thanks for the plasma cast - that bite’s starting to heal already! - how long do I wear this thing?

HODO

Until you are fully healed..

DRAWDE

But this cast is annoying - I can’t button my shirt..

(Hodo looks over at him, continues checking the

gauges on the engines)

Button it for me, will you?

(She looks over at him, pauses, comes over, and

starts to button his shirt - they have a moment as
she finishes buttoning - behind Hodo, Drawde
sees a face slowly float into the engine portal -
it is Hurtado, face bloated, eyes staring)

Hurtado?

HODO

(Turning, seeing the face)

Grandfather!

(She rushes to shut down the engine)

DRAWDE 27

It’s too late, Hodo! - but at least we know what happened to him..

(The face floats out of view)

HODO

We’ve got to get him out of there!

DRAWDE

There’s nothing we can do! - he’s become part of the Stream of Peace, propelling us to Sabie..

HODO

(Stops turning dials)

You mean?

DRAWDE

I’ve been thinking.. I want to go there, Hodo - to live a simpler life, like your grandfather did -
I don’t want to keep serving the technology god, lost in various devices which move us further
and further away from each other..

(Hodo pauses, peers into the engine portal -

Hodo turns back)

You’ll come with me, won’t you?

HODO

(Pauses)

We’d have to turn the planet around..

DRAWDE

We could do that..

(Goes and puts his arms around Hodo, holds her,

as the LIGHTS DIM - LIGHTS RISE on The Other

disguised as Hodo standing on the Bridge of
Peace, looking down into the stream, twitching,
eyes darting - ENTER DRAWDE, goes on the
Bridge, stands next to The Other, looks down into
the Stream of Peace)

THE OTHER

The Stream centers me - I love its murmur..

DRAWDE

(Pauses, looking down)

You happy we’re going back into orbit?

THE OTHER

I think it’s best for us..

DRAWDE

But you’ll have to learn to live with The Other..

THE OTHER
Maybe it’s time - his technology is quite powerful - by rights, this should be his planet, and we
his grateful guests..

DRAWDE 28

But he tried to kill you and your grandfather!

THE OTHER

(Pauses)

Maybe it’s our time to die..

DRAWDE

(Pauses)

What about me - and Dogmo?

THE OTHER

Perhaps it’s your time, too..

DRAWDE

And what about us?

THE OTHER

About who?

DRAWDE

You and I, you know..

(Goes to hIm, tries to kiss The Other, who averts

hIs face)

What’s the matter?

THE OTHER

Nothing - I just don’t feel what you feel..

(He leans over the Stream)

DRAWDE

Hodo..

(Puts his arm around The Other)

THE OTHER

Please don’t..

DRAWDE

What’s the matter with you? - you feel different, all stiff..

(He squeezes The Other)

THE OTHER

I said don’t!

(He suddenly grabs Drawde)

Time for you to die - now!

(Struggles to throw Drawde into the Stream)

DRAWDE

Hodo - don’t!

(He prevails and holds The Other over the Stream)

What’s the matter with you!

(Looks into The Other’s eyes, who stares back,

eyes darting, body twitching)

 DRAWDE (Con’t.) 29

You’re not Hodo.. you’re The Other! - what have you done with Hodo?

(The Other tries to heave him into the Stream -

they struggle, but it is Drawde who manages to
throw The Other into the Stream - a loud boiling
SOUND and then quiet, as LIGHTS DIM - LIGHTS
RISE on DRAWDE in his spaceship, writing in his
journal - he pauses, and reads what he has written)

DRAWDE

Something strange happened today - I encountered Hodo - rather who I thought was

Hodo - on the Bridge of Peace - turned out to be The Other disguised as Hodo - we got into a
fight and he tried to throw me off the Bridge - fortunately I prevailed, and threw him into the
Stream of Peace - his molecules were instantly disassembled, nothing could have survived that
immersion - yet still, I felt I was fighting Hodo and causing her demise, so I’m feeling weird
about it, especially since I haven’t seen Hodo, today - the real Hodo - I need to tell her what
happened and make sure she’s all right - at least, we won’t have to worry about The Othe ..

(LIGHTS DIM on Drawde - LIGHTS RISE on Hodo

disguised as Hurtado on the bridge, gazing at the
stars through the vista windows, twitching, eyes
darting - ENTER DRAWDE, pauses upon seeing
who he thinks is Hurtado)

DRAWDE

Hurtado?

HODO

(Looking out the vista of stars)

Beautiful, isn’t it? - the Triangulation Constellation - and somewhere in it is my planet, Sabie -
I’ll soon live a life of peace..

DRAWDE

But.. you’re dead! - the interstellar engine.. I saw you floating inside - you couldn’t have
survived that!

HODO

(Looking out)

Sabie.. such a tropical green planet.. hordes of parakeets chirping under a warm sun rising
over an extinct volcano.. and palm trees rustling in the morning breeze..

DRAWDE

Unless.. you’re The Other..

HODO

The Other?

(Turns around)

Yes, I am the Other - but it’s not who you think.. it’s me, Hodo! - I just wanted to see my
grandfather one last time - even better, to be him one last time..

DRAWDE

But how..?

 30

HODO

(Crossing over the Bridge of Peace)

My father and mother were hunted down by The Other - my father he executed, my mother he..
compromised - she died in childbirth giving life to me - I was raised by Grandfather - and so,
yes, I am half Other - the genes from our two races were combined in one individual - me! -
and now, an entirely new race of people could be created - half..

DRAWDE

.. Zabren..

HODO

(Pausing on the other side of the Bridge)

Zabren - yes, I’m Zabren - but you are not..

(HODO EXITS)

DRAWDE

(Running up on the Bridge, calling after her)

But Hodo! - the new race could be half Zabren and half human!

(A pause - he looks down into the energy stream -

ENTER HODO, in her rightful form - they gaze at
each other as she climbs up the Bridge)

Stay with me, wherever we go?

HODO

Help me create a new race of people?

DRAWDE

I can do that..

HODO

Then, I’ll stay with you forever..

(She enfolds herself in his arms, as they gaze down

into the murmuring Stream of Peace, the stars
twinkle through the vista, and the LIGHTS DIM -
LIGHTS RISE on Drawde sitting at his table in his
spaceship, Dogmo asleep on the couch, twitching
and yipping in a dog dream - Drawde pauses and
reads what he has written)

DRAWDE

We’ve turned around the planet - or I should say, ship - on a course headed to Sabie - we are
right on course - turned out Hodo is a combination of both alien races of Zabro, and she wants
to.. well, populate Sabie with a new breed of.. star beings… we’ve been.. practicing.. amazing
how similar she is to an Earth woman..

(ENTER HODO)

HODO

Last night was - interesting..

DRAWDE

I thought so..

 31

HODO

(Looks over at Dogmo)

Is Dogmo sleeping?

DRAWDE

Yes, probably dreaming of chasing kettletons..

HODO

Do you want us to walk him when he wakes up?

DRAWDE

I’ll wake him - just let me finish writing my journal..

HODO

I’ll wait for you..

(She sits down on the couch next to Dogmo, gently

pets him - Drawde looks up from his writing, smiles
at her, she smiles back - he looks down and begins
writing again - she starts twitching in spasms, eyes
darting - he looks up again, she quickly stops
twitching, her eyes focus, she smiles at him, he
smiles back - he looks down and keeps writing, as
the LIGHTS DIM)

CURTAIN