Flight of the Maybug (Script)

ACT 1

Fritz sets the diary on the ground, inadvertently opening it down the middle as he does so. Removing another match from the matchbox, Fritz prepares to strike it alight. However, moments before doing so, notices something written in the diary, instantly halting his urge of pyromania.

The stage goes dark, leaving only a single spotlight on Fritz as he continues reading, a matchstick still in hand.

The sounds of war grow louder as a cold wave of dread rushes over the young man. Deafening screams, the cries of children, the roar of fire, all join the horrific symphony that grows ever louder with each passing second. After a few more moments the sound is almost unbearable, it seems as if it will never end until.....WHOOSH! Nothing but silence.

Fritz remains frozen within the spotlight, his eyes empty husks.

As the soft patter of shellfire delicately caresses the silence away, another spotlight fades in through the darkness, illuminating Max, stage-left. He is revealed to be pointing his pistol straight at Fritz, still frozen in place.

Pause.

MAX: Americans? You're taking us to the Americans?

Fritz slowly turns to look at Max before turning just as slowly back.

FRITZ: (Nonchalantly) Well technically Marcel was supposed to take us to the Americans...

Max cocks his pistol.

MAX: You fucking-

FRITZ: How would you like a promotion?

Pause.

MAX: What?

Another spotlight fades in, momentarily illuminating Wilhelm standing up-centre stage. Unbeknownst to Fritz, Wilhelm has been shouting at him the entire time.

WILHELM: Fritz what the fuck are you doing?! Burn the fucking thing! Are you deaf or something?! Burn it-!

Fritz shakes off Wilhelm's protests, prompting the spotlight on Wilhelm to disappear as quickly as it came.

FRITZ: It's over Max, Hitler's dead.

Max stands in shock.

FRITZ: And soon I'll be dead with him. You'll be fine though, they'll forget about you.

A hint of fear creeps into Max's stern demeanour.

FRITZ: And that scares you doesn't it? No wife. No children. No family. No-one. Most people die twice, firstly when their heart stops beating, then again when the last memory of them fades. Though in your case both deaths will share the same grave. Unless...

Fritz holds up the diary.

FRITZ: It would seem as if the dear old Captain never wrote his name on this thing.

Pause.

FRITZ: The world's gone to shit Max. You've told me a thousand times I should be proud of what I did, but how can I be? It was all too easy. There was no screaming, no crying, no blood. We'd say "walk", they'd walk. We'd say "wait", they'd wait. I remember there was this little girl, with the most beautiful, big, brown eyes. She'd tripped while we were walking, scraped her knee. I don't know why but I asked her if she was okay. She said she was. She told me her mum had told her to be brave. And so she got up, and trotted away. I saw her again as they waited in the woods. She was picking at grass and singing under what she called her "favouritest tree". I went up to her and told her that I wasn't aware she was a fairy. I figured little girls like being called fairies. I don't think she knew what a fairy was but, she knew it was a good thing. I told her anyone who sings like that must be part-angel. She liked that, she liked being called an angel. She said when she grew up she wanted to be a proper angel. Imagine that, a professional angel. I gave her some toffee, angels need toffee I said, helps them fly. But she wouldn't eat it. Hadn't eaten in days but she wouldn't eat it. Not unless I got a piece, too. She said if she wanted to be an angel she'd have to learn to share, even with Germans. Even with Germans. So she broke a piece off and gave it to me. Tasted like shit but...yeah. We got the signal and it was time for them to "go inside", as it were. So we said "walk", and they walked. But I wasn't going to let that little girl walk in there. Not this little girl, not in there. So I took her hand and...I led her away. We were walking for about 5 minutes, and the whole time all she did was smile. The brave little girl who loved to smile.