The Tumbleweed Zephyr

By Maggie Lee

Two brothers, Atticus and Kai, climb aboard the Tumbleweed Zephyr, a transcontinental train headed from New Providence for the wilds of the Western Territories. But what starts as a simple journey by rail soon veers off track, with airship bandits, twists of fate, and wayward sparks of romance. All aboard for this epic new steampunk adventure!

"The characters in this show are rich, the language is compelling, and the story is equally balanced with action, romance, and mystery."
— Copious Love Productions

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mneme Press
• Release date: Oct 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386758150

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Copyright © 2018 by Maggie Lee

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Mneme Press

http://mnemepress.org

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Book design by Rebecca A. Demarest

For Performance Rights Please contact Maggie Lee at [e-mail]

The Tumbleweed Zephyr

Note on Casting

Diverse, multicultural casting is strongly encouraged. While the rhythm and vocabulary of the dialogue may at times suggest a British or Southern accent, it is preferable not to employ any accents in this play other than the actor’s natural dialect.

Characters

Atticus Hernandez: Male, late 20s. A man on a journey.

Kai Hernandez: Male, early 20s. His younger brother.

Claire Song: Female, mid–late 20s. A lady at a crossroads.

Evangeline Song: Female, 30s. Her older sister.

Miles: Male, 30s–40s. A train conductor.

Gen Hernandez: Male, 50s. The notorious Steel Fox Bandit.

Ennis Lamperouge: Female, 20s. A train passenger.

Hoban Hughes: Male, 30s. A train passenger.

Setting

A passenger car of the Tumbleweed Zephyr, a train traveling west from the great industrial city of New Providence to the township of Rumination, in an alternate steampunk universe similar to the 19th century Wild West period, with a few significant cultural quirks and technological differences.

Act One

We are plunged into the hustle and bustle of Central Station in the city of New Providence: the sound of vendors hawking their wares, clanking cargo being loaded, the grinding gears and labored gusty sighs of the mighty locomotives waiting to depart. The set is a First Class passenger train car on the Tumbleweed Zephyr. The main cabin is a private room with two tidy bunks, a sitting area, and a curtain hiding a compact washroom. A sliding door opens to a narrow hallway that runs the hidden upstage length of the car, emptying into a tiny foyer with a crank-handled dispatch box on the wall. From there, a door leads outside to a small open-air deck on the end of the car. Here, metal stairs descend to the ground and a precarious walkway hops over the train coupling to the next car offstage. A narrow metal ladder provides access to the roof. Claire Song sits on the roof of the train car, reading a book. Miles, dressed in a rumpled uniform and cap, enters from the next car and crosses into the foyer. He picks up the receiver of the dispatch box and cranks the handle.

miles: Engine room. (beat) Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, Jonesy, but it’s time to roll. How’s that bloody boiler coming along? Right-o, fair enough. Hitch up your britches and let’s get her moving, there’s a good fellow.

Miles hangs up the receiver and climbs down to the platform.

miles: All aboard, Ladies and Gentlemen! Westbound through the Territories! Katasumori Springs, the High Plains Desert, and Rumination! All passengers for the Tumbleweed Zephyr! All aboard!

Evangeline Song enters from the next car and leans over the railing of the deck. She is an attractive woman in a stylish corseted dress.

evangeline: Oy, Miles? Are we off already?

miles: Soon as this old bucket of bolts is ready to limp out of here. Was there something you needed, Miss Evangeline?

evangeline: I was just wondering if you’d seen–

Ennis Lamperouge and Hoban Hughes enter, walking down the platform. Ennis is wearing a severe black traveling gown and Hoban is in a well-worn suit and a wide brimmed hat. They appear to be lost.

hoban: No need to scuttle so fast, they’ll hold the train for us.

ennis: Excuse me, Conductor? If you could direct us to Carriage 6?

miles: Right this way, Miss. Just down two cars.

ennis: Much obliged. Oh, and about our luggage–

As Ennis and Miles talk off to the side, Hoban sidles up to Evangeline.

hoban: (to Evangeline) Well howdy, Miss. Didn’t notice you there.

evangeline: (coy) Didn’t notice me? I must be losing my touch.

hoban: It’s entirely my fault. I really ought to get these glasses looked at.

evangeline: I do believe you aren’t wearing any.

hoban: Is that so? My eyes are so dazzled that I can’t tell the difference.

ennis: Excuse us, Fraulein. We don’t have time for window shopping at the moment. Come on, you.

hoban: Hey now, I was just being pleasant–

Ennis drags Hoban off down the platform as he protests loudly.

miles: One might observe that you seem to enjoy causing trouble, Miss Evangeline.

evangeline: You wound me, Miles. (grins) I was just being pleasant.

miles: That fellow there will be in a heap of pain with all those pleasantries. Say, I picked up a telegram for you at the stationmaster’s office. The lads on post said it came in last night.

Miles hands her an envelope. She stuffs it carelessly down the front of her dress.

evangeline: Thanks for the delivery. You seen Claire around?

miles: (points up) Ah. I believe the young lady is in her office.

evangeline: I see. Much obliged, Miles.

miles: My pleasure, Miss Evangeline. Now, if you’ll pardon me. (bellows) All passengers for the Tumbleweed Zephyr! All aboard!

Miles exits down the platform. Evangeline hitches up her skirt and climbs the