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All is Dark. A slow methodical voice is heard.

Voice: Fallen, Falling, Falling, I fell into the darkness.

Consumed, by all consuming Darkness.

Slowly waking, waking darkness.

In darkness I awake.

Deepest, living, darkness.

In darkness I awake.

The lights come on and a man lies asleep on a lone bench. There is a large darkness behind the bench. A sign nearby reads: Bus 25 No longer in service. The man wakes with a start. He looks around in confusion.

MAN: Hello! Hello, is any one there?

VOICE: I am here. Here there’s darkness holding fast. I am here.

MAN: Where?

VOICE: All around you, I am darkness.

Holding fast, I am here.            

Now there comes another.

What is coming.

WHAT comes out of the darkness holding a book of knowledge and takes a seat on the bench. She begins reading the book unaware of MAN.

MAN: Excuse me, can you help me.

WHAT: I cannot.

MAN: Oh? O.K.

They sit in silence for a few seconds as MAN looks about in confusion. WHAT sneaks a glance at MAN then puts down her book.

WHAT: Hello, sir.

MAN: Oh, hello.

WHAT: What are you looking for?

MAN: My room…I think. I was asleep in my room just a moment ago and then I woke here.

WHAT: Is that so?

MAN: Yes.

WHAT: Well then. Either you are dreaming or you have been kidnapped and left lying at a bus stop in the dark.

MAN: That’s exactly what I was just thinking.

WHAT: What’s your name then?

MAN: It’s…well actually I seem to have forgotten it.

WHAT: That’s nice. Can I just call you Man then?

MAN: Um, Sure I guess. What’s your name?

WHAT: Yes. My name is What. Not a very interesting name I’ll admit but at least I never have to introduce my self since people already know it.

MAN: Wait, You mean to say your name is What?

WHAT: Exactly.

MAN: I see. I’m sure this must be a dream then.

WHAT: If you say so. Have you been waiting long?

MAN: Waiting, Waiting for what?

WHAT: The bus of course. Bus 25 only stops here and at The Answer.

MAN: I’m sorry I don’t understand.

WHAT: What are you doing here then if you’re not waiting for the bus?”

MAN: As I said before, I was asleep in my bed and then-

WHAT: (looking at her watch) Well, I must say that bus is very late today. I suppose I’d better start walking if I want to get to The Answer in time.

WHAT stands to leave and MAN follows her.

WHAT: I don’t know what it is with busses theses days they’re just not as reliable as they used to be.

MAN: Wait! Wait for me! What!

WHAT disappears into the darkness and MAN tries to follow but stops at the darkness afraid to go in. As MAN searches in vain for What. WHY appears from the other side and takes a seat on the bench.

MAN: I want to go with you, What.

WHY: Good gracious, man, must you holler so?

MAN: Oh hello, hello. I can’t seem to find my way about here. Can you tell me where we are.

WHY: We are in Darkness of course. Don’t you know anything?

MAN: as a matter of fact I can’t seem to recall if I’ve ever known anything.

WHY: You are acting very odd, Man. Perhaps it would be better if you had a seat.

MAN: Yes, yes, maybe that would be best.

MAN takes a seat beside WHY still staring worriedly at the darkness.

WHY: that’s better now. I don’t suppose you know me. I am WHY.

MAN: As in: your name is Why.

WHY: That’s right. Here man stop looking about so and talk to me. What has got you in such a state?

MAN: I…I don’t like that darkness. It seems to be waiting for something. Waiting until I’m alone so it can take me. It took What?

WHY: Nonsense! Darkness isn’t alive

VOICE: Deepest, living, darkness.

In darkness I awake.

MAN jumps to his feet in a panic.

MAN: There, see? Deepest living darkness… It is alive.

WHY: There now, let’s talk of other things shall we. What think you of Solomon?

MAN: Who, Solomon? I’m not sure. He was a king wasn’t he?

WHY: Yes, but he was also the wisest man who ever lived.

MAN: (returning to sit on the bench) right, right. Wise guy, I remember now. He cut a baby in two and gave it to the wrong mother didn’t he?

WHY: No, no. He threatened to cut it in two and then determined that the child’s real mother was the one who would rather give it up than see it killed.

MAN: Right, sounds like a good man.

WHY: Did you know that even though he was the smartest man alive he still chose to do things the wrong way?

MAN: Why would he do that?

WHY: I can’t imagine? It goes to show though, wisdom is definitely overrated. Do you by any chance have the time?

MAN: Time? No…I’m afraid not. I left my watch on the nightstand.

WHY: It seems to me that the bus should have come by here already.   

MAN: Perhaps it just a bit late.

WHY: It’s very rude to be late I think. I do hope it comes by soon.

MAN: Are you headed for The Answer by any chance.

WHY: Of course, that’s where bus 25 goes. I take it you don’t ride the bus very often?

MAN: No actually, I’ve never ridden the bus before.

WHY: You mean to say you’ve never left Darkness.

MAN: Well…I suppose you could say that. I haven’t left it since I first arrived anyway.

WHY: I see. You’re one of the blind ones aren’t you?

MAN: Excuse me?

WHY: I know all about the blind ones. People say they spend their whole lives in Darkness. They’re comfortable here. I can’t say that I understand it myself. Of course there is my one cousin who was one of the Reluctant.  You know always taking the bus back and forth. He always said he’d come back to darkness and live like a king but after a while the voice would get to him. Then he would go back to The Answer. He couldn’t stay there very long either because he’d keep thinking about all the good things here and before he knew what was happening he’d be on the bus again.

MAN: I heard a voice, just a moment ago.

WHY: I don’t know much about the voice. Only some people hear it I guess. Of course it’s always the crazy ones. They run about talking about the darkness being alive and trying to eat them and all that. I’ve never had a problem with Darkness myself. Nice little place if you ask me.

MAN: Why are you going to The Answer then? If you like this place so much why don’t you stay?

WHY: Because it’s expected that I go to The Answer. My father How went many years ago and his father before him and so on. My sister What who is in fact younger than me left just last year. Of course they say girls usually mature faster than boys so I wasn’t too upset.

MAN: There was a woman here just before you came. Her name was What too.

WHY: That’s not surprising. It’s a very popular name in Darkness. Why is also a popular name. In fact. About a third of my friends are named Why.

MAN: What is it that The Answer has-

WHY interrupts MAN as he jumps up in a hurry.

WHY: My word! It is getting very late. I must hurry if I want to get to The Answer in time. Excuse me. It was very nice talking to you, I must be on my now. Goodbye.

MAN: Wait Please a moment…

WHY rushes off into the darkness and MAN tries once again to follow but stops as he reaches the darkness and begins backing away.

MAN: No, I can’t go in there. It’s too dark and I might get lost.

VOICE: Darkest living darkness

Alone in darkness waiting

Waiting all alone

For How I am waiting

MAN: Hello, who’s there? What is that voice?

VOICE: Darkest living darkness

            Where all things begin to live

            Consuming darkness living

            Now run away to life

Run

Run

find The Answer

MAN Returns to the light and huddles fearfully on the bench facing away from the darkness.

HOW enters from the darkness with his bicycle and sits beside MAN.

HOW: Hello there!

MAN: (startled) Oh…hello. Who are you?

HOW: My name is HOW. Are you alright? You look a bit pale.

MAN: Do I? I suppose I do. I’ve had a terrible scare.

HOW: Have you really? What was it that scared you?

MAN: This place I suppose. All the darkness and the voice, I don’t know if I can take much more of it.

HOW: Why don’t you leave then?

MAN: I don’t know how. I’ve tried to wake up but I can’t.

HOW: But certainly that’s not the only way out.

MAN: I’d take the bus if I could but, it seems to be running very late.

HOW:(laughing) Silly man, didn’t you read the sign? The Bus isn’t running today.

MAN looks up at the sign confused as to why he has not seen it before.

HOW: In fact, the bus hasn’t been running for many years.

VOICE: Darkest living darkness

            Darkness consuming life

The bus is no longer running

What shall we do what shall we do

Run

Run

Find The Answer

MAN: (standing excitedly) There! The Voice, did you hear the voice?

HOW: Of Course I heard the voice. That’s why I am on my way now to The Answer. I’ve been traveling for a while and I just stopped here for a breather.

MAN: Can you tell me then? What will we find in The Answer?

HOW: We will find what everyone else finds.

MAN: But what is it?

HOW: The Answer to the question of course.

MAN: And is this a good thing to have?

HOW: Some say it is. Some who have been there and returned say that it is a wonderful thing. Others say that it is not so good because once you have been there you can never return to darkness. Recently, since the bus stopped running, many have gone looking for the answer and returned without ever reaching it. Some never even bother starting out. They say that The Answer is over rated and they much prefer the comfort of Darkness. Some simple go looking for it because it is expected of them and they seldom find it any better than Darkness. Then again there are some like you and me who will never stop looking because we were fear Darkness and hear the voice. You and I, We have no choice but to find The Answer.

MAN: It doesn’t seem quite fair.

HOW: Who are we to say what is fair. In all honesty I think it’s nice not having to make as many choices. Unlike others I know exactly what I will be doing with the rest of my life. I will be seeking The Answer.

MAN: Do you think… I mean, since you and I are headed the same way and all that, would you mind if I traveled with you?

HOW: I was hoping you might actually. Here, just hope on the back then.

HOW and MAN climb onto the bike and disappear into the darkness.

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