Vanity and Glory

At RISE:
(SPIDER, CATERPILLAR, MOTH, and
WASP gather around the waterspout of
a suburban home. The air is moist, hinting
at the possibility of rain, and gray clouds
cover the sky.)

CATERPILLAR
Oh, whatever may lie atop such a precipice? May there be fortune upon fortune? Or perhaps better: the freedom of open sky? What daring soul one must have to brave such a venture!

MOTH
Only the most daring of souls, I should say. But I would not let such prerequisite dissuade from at least the attempt. If it would stay your nerves, I would accompany you.

CATERPILLAR
(joyfully)
Ah, you are the most compassionate of friends! How I long to feel the open air and heavens upon my back!

WASP
(scornfully)
Damn fool! The sky is but around us all, were you not too ignorant to acknowledge such gifts. Mayhaps you will learn, but I doubt your aptitude for self-improvement.
(Wasp buzzes his wings for emphasis)
No matter. Let myself and Spider venture unto such darkness.

SPIDER
(angrily)
Do not volunteer my efforts with prior consultation, arrogant friend. I shall not assist in your endeavor, as you have so careless assumed.

(Wasp bares his stinger threateningly,
glancing pointedly at the waterspout.
Spider quails, nodding sheepishly.)

CATERPILLAR
(shocked)
But-
(Wasp turns his stinger on
Caterpillar, glaring)

CATERPILLAR
(dejected)
-yes. Excellent point. Moth, perhaps we should reconsider our designs.

WASP
(jovially)
I knew you would return to sense, dear companion. Let us journey.

MOTH
(glancing at the sky apprehensively)
You must hurry upon your adventure, my friends. I fear the sky’s wrath if you do not act soon. Already I feel the air ensnaring my wings.

(Thunder rumbles overhead as Wasp
and Spider enter the waterspout. Blackout.)

(Inside the waterspout. The walls shine
with dirt and grime, and a small trickle
of water winds down into darkness.
Wasp flies lazily up the spout, while
Spider struggles to climb the slippery
surface.)

SPIDER
(wheezing)
I must know, dear companion, why you endeavored to bring me on this fool’s errand?

WASP
(lightly, almost laughing)
So that my dear companion may enjoy the wondrous experience which lies atop! Who would not aspire to reach such heights? Already I can see the end of our--

SPIDER       WASP
Those who would aspire to survive to    (glancing up as the sky darkens)
reach another dawn, perhaps. I should     --where has it gone?
wonder why you fail to do the same,
given our current-
hold a moment. What is that sound?

(Spider looks up to see a cascade
or water rushing down at them.
Spider drops from the wall as Wasp
is caught in the wave. Screaming, the
two are washed from the waterspout.
Blackout.)

(The sun burns overhead. Spider lays
trembling on his back, steam curling
from his legs and the waterspout. Wasp
lies in a puddle, unmoving. Caterpillar
is nowhere to be found, and Moth is
almost entirely buried under mud.
Spider rolls onto his stomach,
feebly standing.)

MOTH
(weakly)
Approach, friend of mine.

SPIDER
(softly)
I am here.
MOTH
(turning to Wasp)
Do not follow that mad fool’s folly, you will only find similar fate. But… I would have liked to look upon the summit.
(closes his eyes, slumping)

SPIDER
(remorsefully)
Farewell, friend.
(Spider gently rests Moth’s head on
the ground and returns to the
waterspout, gazing up at the top.)

SPIDER
(to himself)
For it is a question of “whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to die, to sleep- and perchance to dream” of our successes untried. May we die safely, in the comforts of our inadequacies and unlived dreams, or fall while gazing into the light of our desires?
(to Wasp)
You have committed the latter…
(to Moth)
… and you the former.
(to the waterspout)
And I will claim your prize so none may fall to temptation again.

(Spider enters the waterspout. Blackout.)

(Spider nears the top of the waterspout,
scrambling to navigate the newly-soaked
walls.)

SPIDER
(grunting with exertion)
There is the beauteous light of triumph!
(hauling himself over the top)
And there is the sweet scent of sky!
(crawling to the edge of the gutter)
Oh friends, if you would have joined me upon this awesome precipice! See the golden shine of the heavens upon the earth! See the infinitesimal sights below! Such achievement is sweetest in the company of the closest companions.  Only then would such victory not be so empty and… bleak.
(softly)
Perhaps I may join you.

(Spider jumps. End of play.)