Squonk

Quick notes: The two men are from a war-mongering country on a mission to infiltrate the government.

SCENE 1- EXTERIOR OF WHARF- NIGHT
AMATO is a weather-worn sailor with hair that is growing white. He has a soft Scottish accent.

AMATO
“I know you’re upset…”

VEON is a very young man, barely 20, with an angsty air about him. He is the leader of this expedition.

VEON
“Leave it.”

AMATO
patiently
“I’ve been trying to explain this to you…”

VEON
explodes
“Damn it, stop! Everyday you try to bring it up and I can’t see your point!”

AMATO
quietly
“There are reasons why things happen, and this was no exception.”

VEON
flatly
“You’ll always be the fatalist, won’t you?”

AMATO
“If God is fate, boy, then you can be sure I am.”

VEON
angrily
“And I suppose he deserved what he got?”

AMATO
“Was it not reasonable punishment?”

VEON
“How can punishment be reasonable when more innocent are dead than guilty?”

AMATO
always the patient one of the two
“Are you guilty then, as well?”

VEON
bitterly
“For more than one thing…”

AMATO
Shakes head and swigs a drink, mumbles to self
“Always placing blame.”

VEON
angstily
“Where else would it go? You believe in fate, don’t you?”

AMATO
“He got what was coming to him.”

VEON
loudly
“It was his duty!”

AMATO
“He betrayed us!”

VEON
exasperated
“Is that not like our duty? Is that not exactly what we are? Traitors…?”

AMATO
“This is war, boy. All is justified.”

VEON
softly after a pause
Is that what it is now?

END SCENE

SCENE 2- INTERIOR OF SLEEPING CHAMBER- NIGHT

VEON is opening and closing and opening and closing the curtains. AMATO is sitting on one of the two beds in the room and chewing something.

AMATO
“Give it up, lad. These people are no more suspicious than they are welcoming. Give it a rest now; you’ve been running on pure adrenaline for three days.”

VEON
while checking under the bed
“I know my limits.”

AMATO
“How can you if you’ve never encountered them?”
gestures

VEON goes through the chest of drawers, throwing a book from one aside. AMATO chuckles at his companion and he gets ready for bed, throwing his boots in a corner.

VEON
“What’s this?”

VEON holds up a small vial that he had found on the floor. AMATO pales; it’s his, and it’s dangerous.

AMATO
“Give it here, boy. It’s not for you to be toying with.”

VEON relinquishes it reluctantly.

VEON
“If I’m in charge, then why do you keep secrets from me?”

AMATO
“Why do you ask questions you know I will not answer?”

VEON
“You’ll get me into trouble.”

AMATO
laughs gruffly
“Boy, I get you into trouble, and all of Marajha suffers.”

VEON
huffs
“I trust you won’t then.”
proceeds to tip the dresser on its side

AMATO
Tches, to himself more than Veon
“No consideration!”

VEON
Grins mischeviously
“Isn’t that my job?”

END SCENE