EXPEDITION

A play in one act Inspired by a story by Robert W. Chambers

Etext by Dagny
Etext by Dagny
This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in 
print or other media may be made without the express consent of the 
Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about 
performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or 
audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee 
or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank 
Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or 
frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at 
http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130

                    

                     By Frank J. Morlock
                     C 1983


Characters:

Simon Grey, a research scientist with a famous institute,

            about thirty-five years old

Evelyn George, a pretty girl, in her twenties

Max Kemper, a scientist in his forties, robust, and a bit

            of a ladies' man

Grue, a beachcomber, about twenty-five years old


Scene: A beach on a tropical island, near some bayous. A cove on a secluded bayou.

Simon Grey, a young man about thirty-five is scanning the sea with
binoculars. To his right Evelyn George, dressed in dungarees, a tight- fitting shirt, and a captain's hat is writing in her diary. In the background we can see evidence of the tents and small camp that has been established. It is clear we are on a peninsula of sorts, jutting into the sea. There is water on both sides and even to the rear of the actors.

Grey
No sign of Kemper yet.

Evelyn (as she continues writing)
Is he late?

Grey (uneasily)
No. But, he's usually early.

(Grey looks at her a little furtively. She is attractive in an unselfconscious way, and Simon Grey is not a little disturbed by her, though he denies it to himself, and makes an effort to put it out of his mind.)

Evelyn (still not looking up)
Where's Grue?

Grey
Scouting around someplace. (pause) I'm not sure why, but I don't seem to care very much for our friend and guide, Grue. Do you?

Evelyn
I never liked him. I wish you hadn't picked him.

Grey
Any reason?

Evelyn
Why do you ask?

Grey
Because he's never done anything wrong, exactly—yet, somehow he makes me uneasy. I should never have taken him on.

Evelyn
He looks dirty. Or at least he makes you feel like he's dirty. He's always swimming, so he's got to be clean enough. Brr! He gives me the creeps.

Grey
Well, we can't send him back now.

Evelyn
Why not? We haven't told him the purpose of our expedition

Grey
He's the best guide around. Besides, we'd have to take him back to the mainland, which would delay us a couple of days. No. We're stuck with Mr. Grue.

Evelyn
I suppose. He's a sponge fisher.

Grey
Did he tell you that?

Evelyn
No. But yesterday, I saw him dive off a mangrove hanging over the water. He caught a snake bird by the neck and went under with it. It was amazing.

Grey
Sounds that way. He must have amazing reflexes.

Evelyn
He stayed under—

Grey
What was he doing under water?

Evelyn
Tearing the bird to pieces. All that came up was feathers and some bubbles.

Grey
He's got to stop that sort of thing. Snake birds are harmless and I won't have him killing them in such barbarous fashion. I've warned him already to let the birds alone. It seems to be a mania with him.

Evelyn
It certainly is disgusting.

(Enter Kemper from the camp area.)

Kemper
Hello, Grey! Here I am, you see.

Grey (startled)
On time, as usual. But, how did you get here without my seeing you? I've been watching since sunrise.

Kemper
I beached on the other side of the reef. Thought I'd have a look around first. Won't you introduce me to your pretty friend?

Grey
Of course. Professor Kemper, this is Miss George.

Kemper (eyeing her and evidently taken)
Very glad to meet you.

Evelyn
Call me Evelyn.

Evelyn (uneasy under his frank gaze of admiration)
You must be hungry. I'll get some sandwiches. (gets up and goes toward the camp) Back in a minute.

(Kemper and Grey both watch her as she exits gracefully, Kemper with undisguised admiration, Grey with a certain irritation as she evidently upsets his routine.)

Kemper
Nice tail on that little fish. Why on earth did you bring her?

Grey
I'll tell you over lunch.

Kemper
Not that one needs too many excuses to have someone as cute as that around.

Grey
I hope you know me better than that, Max.

Kemper
I've known you for twenty years and I've never thought of you as a lover. Too busy staying home and getting ahead.

Grey
Devotion to science.

Kemper
Still, Simon, there's a time for love, even in a scientist's life.

Grey
Well, this isn't it, so stop it, will you?

Kemper
Easy, Simon. I'm just trying to make sure there's nothing between you two. I never was one to move in on a friend's territory.

Grey (coldly)
It's nothing to me.

Kemper
She's a waitress, isn't she?

Grey
She was a waitress.

Kemper
So, why did you bring her here? Especially if this is as important as you say.

Grey
Not to wait tables.

Kemper
Ah, the plot thickens. Not to wait on tables and not to play house.

Grey
Look, you don't have to stay if you don't want to. It's entirely up to you.

Kemper
That's a funny thing to say, after getting me to come out to this God forsaken swamp.

Grey
No. It's not funny. If this thing doesn't work out, I'll be a laughing stock.

Kemper
Why?

Grey
I had to tell them at the institute exactly why I needed the money for the expedition.

Kemper
Wouldn't the usual excuses suffice? Study of reef life, etc.?

Grey
The budget for that sort of thing has been cut severely. So, I told them the truth?

Kemper
Which is?

Grey
I don't want you to risk your reputation as a scientist unless you choose to risk it yourself.

Kemper
Well, let's hear what's up. You've played it mysteriously long enough.

(Evelyn comes back with a hamper and some thermoses.)

Evelyn
Chow's up, guys.

Grey
What do we have?

Evelyn
Tuna sandwiches. Ham and cheese, and an Evelyn George special. Also, beer and cola.

Kemper
I'll have the special, ma'am, and a beer.

Evelyn (handing him his food and drink)
Coming up, sir.

Grey
I'll try the tuna for openers—and a cola.

(Evelyn gives Grey his food.)

Kemper (munching)
My compliments to the chef.

Grey (munching)
Very good.

Evelyn
One good reason for bringing an experienced waitress along.

Kemper
Now that we're all together, can we cut the mystery and will one of you explain what this little fishing expedition is all about?

Grey
Nothing could be simpler. We're looking for—well, some sort of humanoid.

Kemper
Oh, is that all! I thought E. T. went home.

(They all laugh.)

Evelyn
We never thought of it as an extraterrestrial—although, I suppose, that it's a possibility.

Kemper
No UFOs sighted recently?

Grey
Not around here.

Kemper
Then, what's it all about? These are not the latitudes to look for Bigfoot or the Abominable Snowman.

Grey
Exactly. It's a secluded part of the world, mainly inhabited by Indians. And, it may be only an Indian legend. If it's merely a legend, we can, I suppose, confirm that there's nothing more to it. Though, we'll look awfully foolish—

Kemper
Well, what is it, exactly?

Evelyn
It's a type of man with three eyes.

Kemper
What? That can't be.

Grey
But, if it is—

Kemper
If it is, well, it would be an astounding discovery. More important than anything Leekie has discovered. It would confound practically all theories of evolution.

Grey
We'd be as famous as Darwin.

Kemper
Agreed. But, what proof have we that this isn't a wild goose chase?

Grey
Tell him, Evelyn.

Evelyn
You see, Professor Kemper, I'm distantly related to the tribe that inhabits these islands.

Kemper
You don't base this on the testimony of some semi-savages?

Evelyn
These Indians have never been known to lie.

Kemper
Still, from all reports, they're isolated and just barely civilized. Haughty, suspicious—

Evelyn
They consider me one of them. My grandmother was, I guess, a kind of princess or something.

Grey
They trust her enough to talk. They've never told anyone else.

Kemper
Granted that their reticence lends some credence to it. They aren't just looking for publicity. What exactly have you learned about this three-eyed creature?

Evelyn
I used to hang around the docks on the mainland because I like to sail. Some of the Indians who come in to sell fish and occasionally some crafts used to talk to me. When they found out who my grandmother was, I became a favorite with them. I made especially good friends with a fellow called Tiger Tail. He used to sell sponges, and would pearl dive for a quarter. Since I worked as a waitress I was able to sell some of his shells and stuff in the town—because he would never set foot in the place. Well, one day I was reading a paperback book on Greek Mythology. It was illustrated with all kinds of pictures. I was just sitting on the dock reading when Tiger Tail came up—

Kemper
All very interesting, but—

Grey
Let her finish.

Evelyn
He got all excited about a picture of Juno holding the head of Argus—

Kemper
I'm afraid my mythology is a little rusty.

Grey (quickly)
Argus had a thousand eyes.

Kemper
I guess—

Evelyn
To make a long story short, Tiger Tail told me his tribe had been hunting and killing three-eyed people like that for hundreds of years.

Kemper
Fascinating tribal legend, but, certainly no such creatures remain today. Assuming for one moment that they ever existed.

Evelyn
Tiger Tail told me they still hunt them.

Kemper
Ah, but do they catch them?

Evelyn
Yes. They still do. I've seen the skulls.

Kemper (taken aback this time)
What!

Evelyn
I persuaded Tiger Tail to take me to the village. I talked to everybody. I'm somewhat of a celebrity with them. My grandmother must really have been somebody. Everybody claimed that there are still three-eyed men on the island.

Kemper
The skulls? What about the skulls?

Evelyn
To prove the truth of what they said, the chief, who became a great friend of mine, showed me three skulls. Each skull was painted Spanish Red. And just behind—just over where the pituitary gland is situated —was a bony orbit—unmistakably the socket of a third eye.

Kemper
Where are those skulls?

Evelyn
In the village somewhere. They are kept very well hidden. They wouldn't part with even one of them. I offered what for them is a fortune, but they wouldn't budge.

Kemper
So, where's your proof?

Evelyn
I see my word is not enough.

Kemper
In matters like this, testimonial evidence isn't enough.

Evelyn
Here! (she pulls out several snapshots) I've managed to get a snapshot with a miniature camera. They've never seen one of these before. (she shows a small flat camera of a common type) I'm sure they wouldn't have let me do it if they had known.

Grey
We can be thankful our Indians are a few years behind in the latest technology.

Kemper (looking at the photos)
This is truly amazing.

Grey
You can see for yourself the holes haven't been made by man. There's no evidence of boring.

Evelyn
The tribesmen regard these creatures as a sort of sacred monsters. They hold them in horror and kill every one they can. But, just the same, they regard them with awe. And they think the skulls are a powerful charm or medicine.

Grey
Well, now do you think it worth a try?

Kemper
Yes. Certainly. But, why bring a woman if it's likely to be dangerous?

Evelyn
Really, Professor Kemper!

Kemper
Max.

Evelyn
I never expected a male chauvinist remark like that from you. It's my discovery—my contribution, isn't it?

Kemper
Certainly. No one is trying to take any credit away from you. But, this three-eyed creature is likely to be a bit dangerous, especially if he's used to being hunted by the Indians. It's likely to be a little bit rougher than a Girl Scout picnic.

Evelyn
Look, if you think you're going to just butt in and take away my discovery—you can just get back in your boat right now—

Kemper
No offense, no offense.

Evelyn
Grey and I can handle this alone—

Kemper
Peace. I'll never play Sir Galahad again.

Evelyn
See that you don't, it's a little outmoded. (pause) Anyway, Tiger Tail told me that the race is probably nearing extinction, but that there are still some left.

Kemper
Yes. Even if we could come across a skull, that would be something.

Grey
I want a live one.

Evelyn
Tiger Tail says he startled one of them himself. The creature was eating a meal of fish. It dove into the water and escaped.

Kemper
I suppose this was many moons ago.

Evelyn
Not more than two weeks ago.

Kemper
Then, there still are some?

Evelyn
It appears that centuries of persecution have made these three-eyed men partly amphibious. He says they are capable of filling their lungs with air and remaining underwater almost as long as a turtle.

Kemper
That's impossible.

Evelyn
It thought so myself. Tiger Tail says they can breathe through the pores of their skin—

Kemper
This is too much.

Grey
Can you reconcile such a creature with anything living that is known to science?

Kemper
No.

Evelyn
Tiger Tail says they are covered with tiny silk hair and when they dive, they appear to be silver-plated.

Grey
Exactly like air-breathing water beetles. Globules of air clinging to the body hairs seem to silver-plate them.

Kemper
This is beginning to sound like a nightmare.

Grey
You know, if it were not for the fact that I trust Evelyn completely, I think I would tend to doubt my own sanity.

Kemper
How did you get involved in it, anyway?

Grey
I met Evelyn, last summer, when I was here on vacation.

Evelyn
I used to wait his table. We became friendly. So, when I heard about this, I thought Simon would be interested enough to want to see.

Grey
It took some convincing, I assure you. I know Evelyn is reliable and wouldn't make up a wild story like this. Then, there are the pictures.

Kemper
Well, let's assume, for the sake of argument, that it's all true. What's your plan?

Grey
Very simple. We go into the swamp and stay till we catch one. It's that simple.

Kemper
Alive?

Grey
Preferably.

Kemper
It may be hard. The Indians in this swamp are barely civilized. They aren't likely to take to our poaching in their game preserves.

Grey
That's another reason Evelyn is here—and will be very useful.

Kemper
What must these creatures be like? Having been hunted for centuries—

Grey
I don't know. But, I'm determined to have one.

Kemper
After all, they may be human in every other respect.

Grey
A creature with three eyes?

Kemper
Oh, come now. The entire country is in love with E. T., who looked almost like a cobra. People are accepting things a lot more outlandish than this three-eyed creature—

Grey
In the movies, perhaps. But, just let them see a real one and they'll jump out of their skin.

Evelyn
We certainly should try not to hurt it if we can help it.

Kemper
Can I have a look at those pictures again?

Evelyn
Sure.

(Evelyn hands the photos back to Kemper.)

Kemper
No, those skulls look real. There can't be any doubt. How do we proceed, fearless leader?

Grey
We'll establish a base camp here, then go inland.

Kemper
Have we got a guide?

Grey
A beachcomber named Grue. We don't care for him too much, but he knows the country.

Kemper
Equipment?

Grey
Plenty of food. Tents. Rifles. Even a portable cage for our three-eyed friend.

Kemper
Is it strong enough?

Grey
It's designed to hold a gorilla.

Kemper
Fair enough.

Grey
We even have tranquilizing darts and harpoons.

Kemper
Well, the only thing we seem to be missing is our three-eyed friend. Can I see the cage?

Evelyn
I'll show you.

(Evelyn leads Kemper off towards the camp. There is a noise of flapping wings and a bird cry.)

Grey
What's that?

Evelyn
Just Grue killing some birds.

(Evelyn goes off toward the camp.)

Grey
Damn it! I'm going to stop that right now. (yelling) Grue! (louder) Grue!

(Grue enters. He is a slovenly man, about twenty-five, dressed like a beachcomber. He wears a slouch hat. One immediately senses there is something wrong about him, without being precisely sure what it is.)

Grue
What is it, Mr. Grey?

Grey
Where have you been? What have you been doing?

Grue (sullenly, defiant)
Nothing.

Grey
Listen, Grue. I don't want you to kill any birds except for camp purposes. Is that understood?

Grue
Sure.

Grey
Why do you try to catch and kill birds?

Grue
I don't.

Grey
You mean to say, that you don't somehow manage to catch and kill birds?

Grue
No, I don't.

(Grey stares at him, ponders giving him the lie direct, then decides not to. Evelyn returns from the camp, but says nothing. She eyes Grue with distaste.)

Grey
Grue, I haven't yet explained to you the object of this expedition. But first, let me ask you a question or two. You've lived in these bayous, haven't you?

Grue
Yes.

Grey
Did you ever see anything unusual in these parts?

Grue
No.

Grey
Are you sure?

Grue (slowly)
What are you looking for?

Grey
Something very curious, very strange, very unusual.

Grue
There's nothing strange here.

Grey
Something so strange and unusual that the institute I work for would pay a great deal of money for it.

Grue
For what?

Grey
For a totally new species of human being, Grue.

Grue
What an idea!

(Kemper emerges from the camp. He is pulling the portable cage. It should be apparent that Grue is aware of him, even though Grey and Evelyn are not.)

Grey (pursuing his point)
I am willing to offer you five thousand dollars if you can guide us to a spot where we can see this hitherto unknown creature. A creature that is man-like in most respects, but which has in the back of his head a third eye—

Grue
You must be crazy.

(Suddenly Grue tenses.)

Grey
Grue, what's the matter with you?

Grue
The man behind me.

Grey
That's Professor Kemper. He's setting up the portable cage. You'd better meet him.

Grue (warily)
What's it for?

Grey
To house the beast, of course.

Grue
You won't take me so easily.

(Grue leaps toward Kemper with a sudden turn, pulling his knife.)

Grey
Max, look out!

(Kemper turns just in time to avoid Grue. Grey picks up a tent pole, but Grue is aware of him without turning.)

Grue (without turning)
Put down that tent pole, Dr. Grey.

Grey
Kemper! He's one of them. He can see behind him. He's got a third eye. Get him.

(A ferocious struggle now ensues with Grue holding off both his opponents. Grue edges towards the water.)

Kemper
Keep him from the water!

(Grue throws his knife at Grey but misses. Kemper tackles Grue from behind. Grey helps and Grue is quickly subdued.)

Kemper
Watch him.

Grey
I've got him. Quick, Evelyn, get some ropes.

(Evelyn quickly returns with some tent ropes. Grue is tied to a tree.)

Grey
I should have brought handcuffs.

Kemper
This will do. He' snot really very strong.

Grue
Release me!

Kemper
Well, our expedition is over before it began.

Grey
Let's have a look at that third eye.

(They examine the back of Grue's head despite his struggling.)

Kemper
Incredible, quite incredible.

(Grue has been cursing them throughout this business, and uttering wild moans and cries.)

Grey
There's not doubt about it.

Kemper
Rather easy work.

Grey
Almost too easy.

Kemper
Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth.

Grue
What are you going to do with me?

Grey
Take you back to the mainland and let my colleagues at the institute have a look at you.

Grue
You have no right.

Grey
You tried to murder Professor Kemper. That's enough reason to hold you.

Grue (sniveling)
Only because I thought you meant to put me in that cage.

Grey
If you hadn't gotten scared like that and lost your head, I'd never have suspected you.

Kemper
Incredible luck.

Grey
Care to pose for pictures? (goes to his gear and returns with a flash camera) Evelyn, will you take our picture with Grue?

Evelyn (taking the camera)
Sure.

(Kemper and Grey pose of both sides of Grue. Sometimes they twist his head about so his third eye can be seen.)

Grey
Say cheese, Grue.

Kemper
Would you like to pose with him, Evelyn?

Evelyn (who has been growing uneasy)
I find him repulsive.

Grey
He's certainly not much to look at, is he?

Kemper
How about one of you and Simon?

Evelyn
Okay.

(Evelyn goes over to Simon Grey and Kemper snaps a couple of pictures while Grey poses stiffly beside Evelyn.)

Kemper
There. An historic moment. Now it's my turn with Evelyn. Come on, Grey.

(Kemper and Evelyn pose. Kemper puts his arm over her shoulder. Grey winces, but takes the pictures.)

Grey
That's enough. We can take some more later. There's plenty of light left. And I've got plenty of film. Let's get a couple of pictures of our friend, Mr. Three-Eyes.

(Grue lets out a piercing shriek.)

Grey (furious, threatening Grue)
Stop that. Stop making such an inhuman cry.

(Grue screams again.)

Kemper (grasping him by the throat)
If you won't stop, we'll gag you, understand?

(After a tense moment Kemper releases Grue who no longer makes an outcry.)

Kemper
I want to see about those silky hairs.

(Kemper pulls off Grue's shirt. Grue's body is completely covered with fine, silky hairs.)

Grey
It's true, after all.

Kemper
It's disgusting.

Evelyn
I wonder—

Grey
What? What do you wonder?

Evelyn
Why was he shrieking like that?

Grey
What do you mean? Because he's a savage, that's all.

Evelyn
I wonder if he was trying to call for help. I wonder if there aren't more of them.

Kemper
I hadn't considered that.

Evelyn
That cry pierced me to the soul. It was like something that my ancestors must have heard eons ago.

Kemper
We'll take precautions, that's all.

Grey (to Grue)
How many of you are there?

Grue
Enough.

Kemper
Where do you come from?

Grue
We've always been here. We always will be.

Grey
How did you learn to speak English?

Grue
I don't.

(Grey and Kemper stare at him.)

Grey
What do you mean?

Grue
What I said.

Kemper
You're not being very cooperative.

Grue
Why should I be?

Kemper
If you want to eat, maybe you should.

Grey
We can stay here for several days, if necessary, before we take you back. We're in no hurry. You can get awfully hungry and thirsty in a place like this in three days.

(Grue does not respond.)

Kemper
Are you afraid of the Indians?

Grue
Yes.

Kemper
Why?

Grue
They'll kill me and take my head.

Grey
We'll protect you from the Indians.

Grue
No one can protect me from the Indians.

Grey
How did you get to the mainland?

Grue
I swam.

Kemper
All the way? But, it's almost a day by boat.

Grue
Easy for me.

Kemper
Are there some of your people on the mainland?

Grue
Some.

Kemper
How many?

Grue
Enough.

Grey
Are you human?

Grue
As human as you.

Kemper
If you come with us peacefully to the mainland, you'll be rich.

Grue
I don't want to go.

Grey
Then, we'll use force.

Kemper
You have no right to kidnap me.

Grey
You have no right to hide in the bayous.

Grue
Where else would I hide?

Kemper
You're a medical and scientific marvel, and you must go back to the mainland.

Grue
No.

Evelyn
Is your family here?

Grue
Dead.

Evelyn
The Indians?

Grue
Yes.

Evelyn
No wife?

Grue
No.

Evelyn
Children?

Grue
No.

Kemper
Then, come on, man. No one will miss you.

Grue
I will stay here and die here—in my home.

Grey
In the name of science, I appeal to you.

Grue
In the name of justice, I appeal to you.

Kemper
This is for your own good.

Grue
I am the judge of that.

Grey
You are in our power.

Grue
You abuse your powers.

Grey
You must do what we think best.

Grue
No.

Kemper
We represent a higher civilization.

Grue
Take your civilization and screw yourself with it. I am free.

Kemper
You have no education worth speaking of. You've never been to school, have you? (Grue shakes his head) Then, you must listen to us.

Grue
I will not listen.

(There is a sound of drums.)

Grey
What's that?

Grue
Indians.

Evelyn
They must have heard his screams.

Grue
God help me.

Evelyn
God help us all if they find us. They'll kill him. And us, too, I think, to protect their secret.

Kemper
We'd better get out of here.

(The drum beats an increase.)

Grey (after a pause)
We'd better get out of here. Evelyn, get the guns from the camp. We'll start breaking camp.

(Exit Evelyn.)

Kemper
You see, you must come with us.

Grue
Release me. I'll fend for myself.

Grey (Kemper)
I think maybe you'd better get the boat. We'll leave the tents. With the money we're going to be rolling in, we can forget it.

(Reenter Evelyn with a shotgun. She points it directly at Grey and Kemper.)

Evelyn
Let him go.

Grey
Let him go! Have you lost your mind?

Kemper
I hope you know how to use that thing, young lady.

Evelyn (icily)
You'll see, to your cost, how well, if you don't do as I say.

Grey
Why are you doing this, Evelyn? After all, capturing him was your idea.

Evelyn
I can't stand what you're doing to him.

Grey
It was your idea from the beginning!

Evelyn
Maybe. But I can't do it. And I can't let you do it.

Grey
He's only an ignorant savage. A nothing.

Evelyn
He's a man for all that. Just release him.

(Slowly, dully, Grey obeys her.)

Evelyn
Are your all right, Grue?

Grue
Yes.

Evelyn
Can you walk?

Grue
Yes.

Evelyn
Swim?

Grue (rubbing his wrists and ankles)
Yes.

Evelyn
Go ahead then. You'd better dive.

Grue
Thank you, miss.

(Grue goes out and we hear a splash.)

Grey (furious)
Do you realize what you've done?

Evelyn
My duty. I've set a man free.

Grey
You've just ruined my life. I could kill you for this.

Evelyn
Not while I've got this shotgun.

Kemper
Why, Evelyn, why?

Evelyn
What we were doing was wrong.

Grey
You little bitch—I'll never forgive you for this. You had a chance to be famous, and you gave it up for what?

Evelyn
Self respect.

Grey
Go back to slinging hash and waiting tables. That's all you're cut out for.

Kemper
Shut up, Grey. I'm sure you meant well, Evelyn, but I think you're a little confused.

Evelyn (leveling the gun at Kemper)
Keep your distance. I'm not confused. My mind has never been clearer. And I'm not asking your forgiveness.

(The drumming becomes more insistent.)

Grey
I'll never have another chance like this in my life.

Kemper
There are more on this island. We can always come back.

Grey
Grue will have warned them. It won't be easy.

Evelyn
We'll take precautions against you.

Kemper
We?

Evelyn
Yes, we. You see, I never told you that my grandmother married a three-eyed man.

Kemper
What!

Grey
Are you one of them, too?

Evelyn
The three-eyed man, my grandfather, died soon after my grandmother married him. The trait was not passed on to my mother. But, she told the story to us. So, you see, of course, I knew it was true.

Grey
But you wanted to capture one.

Evelyn
Of course. I felt no kinship with them. I wanted to be famous. Just like you, Dr. Grey.

Kemper
Then, why?

Evelyn
When I heard Grue cry, I felt something in me that I'd never felt before. I knew what it was to be hunted. Suddenly, I couldn't stand to do it and I knew what I had to do.

Kemper
Well, it seems you've done it. Will you put that gun down now, please?

Evelyn
In a minute. After I leave.

Grey
Where are you going?

Evelyn
I'm going to join my people.

Kemper
You can't—

Grey
You'll drown—

Evelyn
We'll see. I've noticed I can stay under a long time. Maybe they'll accept my help.

Kemper
This is lunacy.

Evelyn
Goodbye, Simon—Max.

Grey
Don't go, Evelyn. I, I love you—

Evelyn
I'm only a savage.

(Evelyn disappears and a moment later we hear a splash.)

Kemper (after a long pause)
Well, I told you bringing a woman along wasn't a good idea.

(The drums get louder.)


CURTAIN