The Escape: A Confrontation in Four Scenes

By David Brin

One of the oldest notions in fantasy is a hero’s confrontation with the supernatural. Humans are forever pondering some way to change the hand they’re dealt. From Gilgamesh and Odysseus to Faust and Daniel Webster, fascinating characters have tried arguing with fate or divine will... or the Devil.

Here, with a hyper-modernist and rather science-fictional take on that theme, comes author and scientist David Brin, ready to share some fun with you, along with fresh takes on Genesis and Babel, destiny and randomness, reshuffling the deck and challenging the Grand Order of Things.

A script ideal for table or lectern presentation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David Brin
• Release date: Jul 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005932657

David Brin

David Brin is an astrophysicist whose international-bestselling novels include Earth, Existence, Startide Rising, and The Postman, which was adapted into a film in 1998. Brin serves on several advisory boards, including NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program, or NIAC, and speaks or consults on topics ranging from AI, SETI, privacy, and invention to national security. His nonfiction book about the information age, The Transparent Society, won the Freedom of Speech Award of the American Library Association. Brin’s latest nonfiction work is Polemical Judo. Visit him at www.davidbrin.com.

Book preview

THE ESCAPE

A CONFRONTATION

IN FOUR SCENES

David Brin

*

Copyright 2020 David Brin

All rights reserved.

https://www.davidbrin.com

[e-mail]

Performance note: Ideal for table or lectern presentation

The Escape: A Confrontation in Four Scenes

OPENING MUSICAL BACKGROUND IS 'NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN.'

CURTAIN RISE:

Across a dark stage, we catch sounds of a medical emergency. Muffled voices -- medics fighting to save someone. The erratic flutter of a heartbeat-monitor as a LASER writes pulse-beats across the ceiling, distracting the audience as actors move into position.

EMT MEDIC (O.S.)

We're losing him! Let's intubate and get ready that adrenaline!

Medical sounds start to fade away as the stage lights rise. We see THE DEVIL — Big D or BD — in a swivel chair, small horns on his brow, feet up on a lustrous desk in a grotto-office. To the rear stretch a row of depressing-looking office cubicles with shadows moving sluggishly within. A backdrop gives a visual impression that the cubicles go on, depressingly, almost forever.

Our human — POLO — enters stage right, stumbling at first, quaking once as the fading hospital voices shout Clear! and an electric tremor zaps… then fades away… The hospital sounds vanish.

Recovering a bit, Polo looks around the grotto, at first confused but curious.

Startled, Polo stares at BD. Then, as realization dawns on Polo, he nods… then wanders over to a trophy case and wall of pictures

POLO

You can tell a lot about someone from their decorations… or their hallucinations.

BD

Oh? How so?

POLO

No pictures of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot… any bigtime killers. What I do see are propagandists. Goebbels. Savonarola. Cable news executives… you must be proud of those.

BD answers with an accept that conveys olden times, perhaps a twang, but with aristocratic tones.

BD

One keeps up with the times. So you know where you are? Who I am?

POLO

Who you’re supposed to be, sure. Lucifer, Satan, Serpent, Iblis, Agni, the Devil, Big D….

BD

I like that. Big D. You have — or had — a knack for words.

Polo listens as heart monitor sounds rise again, briefly, to audible.

POLO

Had? So… I’m toast? No chance they’ll save me?

BD

Oh, there’s a chance. It’s why you’re here. Won’t you sit?

POLO

No offense if I stand? Call it a gesture of self-control.

BD

You’re the one who mentioned illusion.

POLO

I said hallucination.

BD

Is that what you think I am?

POLO

Hm. There's more of gravy than of grave about you.

BD

Dickens. So, I’m just a delirium, while emergency room doctors fight to save you. A hyperactive mind, keeping busy to the last. Sorry… keeping busy through a crisis.

Polo gestures at the display case

POLO

Hence, your trophies are what a guy like me