Knights in Disguise

Act I

The curtain opens revealing an empty hallway in a business building. There are many doors lining the walls and an elevator at the end of the hallway. A man in a dark suit enters the hallway from one of the bordering doors and goes to the door labeled "stairs." He tries opening it, but the door is stuck and will not open. Reluctantly, he goes to the elevator and takes it downstairs instead. Now it is evident that the workday is over as many people fill the hallway from the various doors. Many are carrying briefcases and most of them are wearing winter jackets. Diane, a young mother holding the hand of her son, Anthony, enters the hallway from a door.

Anthony: (looking back towards the door as it closes and waving) Bye Daddy!

Diane: (tugging on her son's hand to move him along) Come on Tony, we have to get home. You'll see Daddy later.

Suddenly, a loud alarm sounds. Everyone stands still for a moment, startled by the obnoxious noise. Sprinklers above their heads turn on and spray a light mist of water onto them. They now realize that it is the fire alarm and all at once, people rush to the stair door to get out of the building. A man named Randall leads the pack. He approaches the door and twists at the knob.

Randall: (pushing against the door) It's stuck. It won't open.

A thickset man with dark skin named James pushed his way through the gathering crowd of anxious people toward the door.

James: Let me try. (He presses against the door and nothing happens.) He's right. It's stuck. We'll have to take the elevator.

The crowd moves as one to the elevator doors. The light above the door lights up signalling that the elevator has reached their floor. The doors open exposing a small compartment, only big enough to hold a half a dozen people comfortably. Eight people squeeze in, including Diane, Anthony, James, and Randall.

Anthony: (not aware of the seriousness of their situation) Can I push the bottons Mommy? (Without waiting for an answer, he pushes his way over to the control pannel and begins pressing all the buttons in random order.)

James: (pulling Anthony away from the control pannel) Hey, stop that! (to Diane) Control your kid, lady.

The doors of the elevator close and all the people remaining in the hallway begin to run around searching for a way to get downstairs safely. The sprinklers have made their clothes damp by now and they continue to spray water on the people below.

The Curtain Closes

~~~

Act II, Scene I

The curtain opens from the center so that just the elevator is showing. The rest of the stage is hidden by the curtain.

Anthony: (crosses his legs and looks up at his mother) Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom.

Diane: Just hold on one minute. We'll find you a bathroom as soon as we get out of this building.

The lights flicker and everyone looks up startled.

Anthony: (in awe) That was cool! Make it happen again!

The lights flicker again and then dim until they are off completely. An emergency light kicks on, but it is not as bright. The elevator comes to a stop and the people inside stumble against the walls at the unexpected halt. Alan, a businessman standing on the side of the elevator hits his head on the wall. He puts his hand to his head and removes it noticing that he is bleeding.

Diane: (nervously to her fellow passengers) What's going on?

Randall: Stay calm ma'am. We'll get out of this just as soon as we can. (He picks up the emergency phone and returns it to the base after discovering that it was dead.) The phone isn't working either.

James: (sarcastically) This is just great.

Randall: (noticing that Alan is bleeding) Are you alright? We need to stop the bleeding.

Diane takes a child's blanket out of her bag and gives it to Alan.

Alan: (putting the blanket to his wound) Thank you.

A middle-aged woman named Karen speaks up from the back.

Karen: Hopefully it was just a false alarm and the elevator stopping is just a coincidance.

Diane: (beginning to panic) But even if the building wasn't on fire, would you want to be stuck in this elevator?

Scott, the man standing behind Diane, put his hand on her shoulder.

Scott: Don't worry. I have a cell phone in my briefcase. (He bends down and opens his briefcase and extracts a cellular phone. He dials a number and puts the phone to his ear. The rest of the passengers eagerly wait for him to begin speaking to someone who can help them.) Yes, hi. We need help. We're trapped in an elevator and this building is on fire. (He calmly looks around while he listens to the voice on the other end. He notices the lights above the elevator door that tell him their position.) We are between the third and fourth floor and we have one man with a head injury. (He listens again.) Alright, please hurry.

Randall: (eagerly) What did they say?

Scott: The firemen are aware of our position and are presently working on the fire. They are already trying to send someone in to help us. (He looked at Diane.) She said to stay calm and not to panic.

There is a thump on the top of the elevator and they all look at the ceiling. A light shines above the ceiling of the elevator and reveals to the audience a fireman, Paul. There is a ladder hanging from the top of the stage as well. Paul removes a ceiling tile so that the elevator passengers are able to see him.

Diane: Boy am I glad to see you!

Paul: We're going to get you out of here safely, but we need you to all be patient. We can only take you one at a time until more help arrives. (looking at Alan) You're first, sir. We need to get you medical attention. (giving directions to Alan) Stand beneath me and raise your arms. (Alan complies and Paul pulls him up on top of the car.) Climb up the ladder to the first door. I'll be right behind you. (The two men climb up the ladder until they are out of sight.)

Diane: (nervously) They can only take us one at a time? This is going to take forever! We're all going to die!

Randall: (reassuring Diane) Everything's going to be fine. Take some deep breaths before you hyperventilate.

Another fireman, Roy, lands on the ceiling of the elevator with a thump.

Roy: (to Diane) Okay ma'am. I'm going to take you and your son up.

Diane: (moving to be under him and raising her hands above her head) Oh thank you!

Roy: (pulls Diane up and out of the elevator and directs her to the ladder) Begin climbing. (to James) Please hand me the boy.

Roy positions Anthony on his right hip and holds him with one hand. He begins climbing the ladder to safety behind Diane.

Scott: (attempting humor) Now that Diane's gone we can all relax a bit.

Before Scott can finish his sentence, there is a loud snapping noise and the remaining passengers in the elevator are jumbled around. There was a thud as one of the cables that was supporting the elevator fell onto its ceiling.

James: Oh no, the cable just broke. We've gotta get out of here!

Scott: (yelling insanely) Help! We need help! The cable broke!

Karen: (beginning to cry) I need to be there for my husband and my kids. Please don't let me die!

Paul: (from high up on the ladder, still out of sight to the audience) I'm coming. Don't move.

Paul returns to the top of the elevator and lifts Karen and Scott out. They begin climbing the ladder and as soon as they are gone Roy returns. He helps Randall and the two remaining passengers through the ceiling and they all climb up the ladder, as well. The curtain closes and a loud crash can be heard.

~~~

Act II, Scene II

The curtain reopens to show a city street. There are many people crowded together behind a street barrier looking in the same direction. The audience can tell that they are looking at the burning building by their comments. A man named Steve emerges from the crowd and ducks under the barrier as Anthony runs toward him.

Anthony: (jumping into Steven's arms) Daddy!

Steven: (rushing over to Diane) I'm so glad to see you!

They blend back into the crowd as the other elevator passengers make their way into the street in the order in which they were rescued. After the last one enters the stage, they all group together. Alan has a bandage on his head now. Together they walk over to the two firemen who rescued them.

Randall: (to Paul and Roy) We want to thank you for saving our lives.

Roy: (extends his hand to Randall who shakes it) Well, it's our job, sir.

With that Roy and Paul returned their helmets to their heads and walked back toward the building.

Randall: (to the other rescued elevator passengers) If I only earn half of their dignity in my lifetime, I will be proud.

The group agrees by nodding their heads and making quiet comments. The lights go out and the curtain closes.