SCENE 1: The East
Two narrators appear center stage.
| Narrator 1: | A long time ago— |
| Narrator 2: | (Interrupting. Sickly sweet) —In fairy tale times— |
| Narrator 1: | (Annoyed, but continuing) —there was a land called Yarzach. Yarzach was a large kingdom divided down the center by a wide river that snaked its way through the country. |
| Narrator 2: | The River divided the land into two regions. Both regions were beautiful in their own way. They were also very different from one another. |
The narrators leave the stage. Two new narrators appear stage right.
| Narrator 3: | Easterners in the kingdom valued art and beauty above all else. |
| Narrator 4: | Many years later, doctors would call these people "right brained."" (Disdainfully) What psychobabble... |
The narrators leave the stage. Easterners enter on the right side of the stage, either from behind the audience or from backstage. They sing while moving about the East, greeting each other. The Easterners are all dressed in fancy, ornate, gaudy costumes.
Song 1: Easterners
Easterners exit on applause.
SCENE 2: The West
Two narrators appear stage left.
| Narrator 5: | Westerners in Yarzach valued simplicity, logic and precision. |
| Narrator 6: | That's right. These people would eventually be called "left brained" by those same psycho babbling quacks. |
The narrators leave the stage. Westerners enter on the left side of the stage, either from behind the audience or from backstage. They sing while moving about the West, greeting each other. The Westerners are all dressed in simple, austere costumes.
Song 2: Westerners
Westerners exit on applause.
SCENE 3: The King in His Court
Two narrators appear center stage.
| Narrator 7: | The land of Yarzach was ruled, of course, by a wise king. His name was King Two Sides. I bet you can guess why his name was "King Two Sides"... If you can't, see me after the show and I'll explain... |
| Narrator 8: | Like all wise kings, King Two Sides had a huddle of advisors. Wiser than most, the King made sure that his advisors were all independent thinkers. |
| Narrator 9: | The advisors from the East were just like all Easterners: artsy fartsy types. |
| Narrator 10: | The advisors from the West were just like all Westerners: computer geeks, only before computers... |
The narrators leave the stage. King Two Sides and his advisors enter. The advisors group together—Easterners stage right and Westerners stage left—and remain still. King Two Sides paces around his palace. He's thinking, wracking his brain. Finally, he gets an idea!
| King Two Sides: | I've got it! I know what we have to do to bring Easterners and Westerners closer together. |
The narrators come to life.
| Western Advisor 1: | Use Crazy Glue? |
| Western Advisor 2: | Tie them together with rope? |
| Western Advisor 3: | How about Saran Wrap? My nanny said that it's great because it doesn't leave marks. |
| Eastern Advisor 1: | Let's have everyone read the great works of literature. (Swooning) Shakespeare... Dickens... Jane Austin... |
| Eastern Advisor 2: | We could throw an ice cream social! |
| Eastern Advisor 3: | Or a square dance! (Does the square dance) Swing your partner dosey-do... |
| King Two Sides: | Very funny, all of you. No, what we need to do is this: (Pauses for effect; Faces the audience) We need to build a bridge. A bridge that connects the East and the West. |
| Western Advisor 4: | People could walk and ride their horses from one side of the river to the other and back. |
| Eastern Advisor 4: | Easterners and Westerners would, would... (Horrified) MINGLE! |
| King Two Sides: | That's right. (Proudly) The road to greatness for our kingdom is to have people from both sides of the country to get to know one another, to learn from one another, to value one another. |
Song 3: We Need a Bridge
At the end of the song, King Two Sides and all of the Advisors remain on stage.
SCENE 4: Proposals
The king is sitting on his throne.
A series of Eastern architects enter and line up, stage right, like in a wedding party, waiting to present their designs. Each holds a poster with their design, but we can't see the designs.
| Eastern Architect 1: | (Bows, then shows his design, which is beautiful but ridiculously impractical) You'll note, Your Highness, that the bridge is made from silver, and is adorned with rubies and emeralds. |
The Eastern advisors like it. They vigorously nod their heads up and down, and mumble their approval to the King with statements like, "Yes, yes," and "That's the one, sir."
The Western advisors hate it. They vigorously nod their heads side-to-side, and mumble their disapproval to the King with statements like, "Oh, no," "Impractical," and "Too fancy."
| King Two Sides: | Thank you for submitting your proposal, kind sir, but this is not the design we need. NEXT! |
Eastern Architect 1 slinks away, and moves to the back of the line.
| Eastern Architect 2: | (Bows, then shows his design, which is even more ornate and lavish—and ridiculous—than the first one we saw) Your Highness, note that the bridge is made from pure gold, and covered with diamonds. |
The Eastern advisors like it. They "ooh" and "ahh" while silently clapping, smiling and nodding approval.
The Western advisors hate it. They stick their fingers down their throats, pretending to throw up. They signal "no way" with their body language.
| King Two Sides: | Thank you for submitting your proposal, kind sir, but this is not the design we need. |
Eastern Architect 2 slinks away, and moves to the back of the line.
King Two Sides is frustrated. He gets up and walks toward the remaining Eastern architects. Each one in turn shows the King and the audience their design.
| Eastern Architect 3: | Hand carved ivory, with over 10,000 scenes from the Bible. |
| King Two Sides: | Nope. NEXT! |
| Eastern Architect 4: | It's 100% Macramé. |
| King Two Sides: | (Mimicking George H.W. Bush) Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent. NEXT! |
| Eastern Architect 5: | Made from flower petals. |
| King Two Sides: | Uh, no. (Losing his patience) All of you, get out of here. (Turns to his Western advisors) Bring me the proposals from the West. (Returns to his throne) |
The Eastern architects back up several feet. A series of Western architects enter and line up, stage left, like in a wedding party, waiting to present their designs. Each holds a poster with their design, but we can't see the designs.
| Western Architect 1: | (Bows, then shows his design, which is simply a plank of wood) You'll note that the bridge is efficiently constructed, and has a minimalist design. |
| Eastern Advisor 1: | (Shouting over) I'll say! |
| Eastern Advisor 2: | It's a plank of wood for crying out loud! |
The Western advisors like it. They vigorously nod their heads up and down, and mumble their approval to the King with statements like, "Yes, yes," and "That's the one, sir."
The Eastern advisors hat it. They vigorously nod their heads side-to-side, and mumble their disapproval to the King with statements like, "Oh, no!," "Horribly ugly," and "So plain."
| King Two Sides: | Thank you for submitting your proposal, kind sir, but this is not the design we need. NEXT! |
Western Architect 1 slinks away, and moves to the back of the line.
| Western Architect 2: | (Bows, then shows his design, which is plain and ugly) 100% metal. Sleek and simple, sir. |
The Western advisors like it. They "ooh" and "ahh" while silently clapping, smiling and nodding approval.
The Eastern advisors hate it. They stick their fingers down their throats, pretending to throw up. They signal "no way" with their body language.
| King Two Sides: | Thank you for submitting your proposal, kind sir, but this is not the design we need. |
Western Architect 2 slinks away, and moves to the back of the line.
King Two Sides is frustrated. He gets up and walks toward the remaining Western architects. Each one in turn shows the King and the audience their design.
| Western Architect 3: | A no-nonsense approach to the problem at hand, Your Highness. |
| Western Architect 4: | Glass. Glass. Glass. Everywhere Glass! |
| King Two Sides: | Not right. NEXT! |
| Western Architect 5: | My idea is the only LOGICAL choice, sir. |
| King Two Sides: | (He's lost his patience) No, no, NO! All of you, get out of here. |
The Western architects back up several feet.
| Eastern Advisor 3: | I liked some of the designs. Like the macramé one. Or the one made out of gold and diamonds. Or the one made of flowers... |
| Western Advisor 1: | Nah. All of the ones you like are like music with too many notes. Me, I liked the simple, straightforward designs. |
| King Two Sides: | (Dejectedly) Well, it seems like we are at an impasse. |
All Advisors, East and West, sullenly nod their approval.
Song 4: We Need a Bridge, Part Two
After applause, King Two Sides returns to his thrown, and slumps down into it, depressed.
| King Two Sides: | You are all dismissed. (Waves his arm, to dismiss them) Please leave me now. |
All of the advisors leave the stage. King Two Sides leaves the stage a few seconds later.
SCENE 5: A Young Boy Visits the King
Mobius and two Guards appear on stage. Mobius approaches the gate of the King's palace, where the Guards are standing at attention. The guards notice Mobius, who is carrying a long, thin strip of paper. (He also has a piece of tape on his sleeve or elsewhere, which is not necessarily apparent to the audience)
| Guard 1: | (Laughing) Would you look at this runt? Ha! |
| Guard 2: | He looks like a Cabbage Patch Doll. |
Mobius waits for them to stop laughing. They begin to take him seriously.
| Guard 1: | Actually, he looks kind of serious. Quite self-assured. |
| Guard 2: | Yes. I agree. (To the audience) I think something significant is about to happen. |
Song 5: Who is This Boy?
The next two lines are actually lines within the song above.
| Mobius: | I'd like to see the King, please. |
| Guard 1: | Very well. Follow us. |
The guards lead Mobius into the King's advisory chamber. The King enters immediately and sits on his throne.
| King Two Sides: | (Haughtily) What is a dirty runt of a boy like you doing requesting an audience with the King? |
| Mobius: | Greetings, Your Highness. |
Mobius waits for the King to say something. But the King says nothing, so Mobius continues.
| Mobius: | I bring you a design for the bridge that you wish to have built. |
Again, Mobius waits for the King to say something. Again, the King says nothing, and again Mobius continues.
| Mobius: | I am confident that my design is exactly the thing you are looking for to bring Easterners and Westerners closer together. |
For the third time, Mobius waits for the King to say something, then continues after the King says nothing.
| Mobius: | I shall show you my design, then. |
Mobius quickly twists the strip of paper and tapes the ends together. (He makes a Mobius strip) Mobius stands still, and says nothing. The King breaks into a beaming smile, which spreads across his face.
| King Two Sides: | Tell me about yourself, boy. What is your name? |
| Mobius: | I am called ‘Mobius', Your Highness. |
| King Two Sides: | And who are your parents? |
| Mobius: | My father is a Westerner. He is an industrial engineer. My mother is a Easterner. She is a sculptor. |
| King Two Sides: | What? A Easterner and a Westerner? Married? With a child? I have never heard of such a thing. |
| Mobius: | It is the only marriage of its kind, as far as I know. It is truly exceptional. |
| Mobius: | You see, sir, my parents are two of the few citizens that have crossed The River. My father built a small raft to do it. My mother made a large ceramic pot, which served as a boat. They met each other in this way. |
| King Two Sides: | Truly remarkable. |
| Mobius: | Yes, sir, my parents are remarkable people. |
| King Two Sides: | (To the audience) It is nice to meet a kid these days who is willing to say nice things about his parents.
(Making a proclamation) It is decided. We will build a bridge based on Mobius' design. And I hereby commission his father, the industrial engineer, and his mother, the sculptor, to build it. |
Song 6: Connection
After applause:
| King Two Sides: | Go now, Mobius. Run home to tell your parents the good news. We are going to use your design for our bridge. But come back tomorrow so you can explain your idea to my advisors. |
Mobius skips off stage. King Two Sides exits a few seconds later.
SCENE 6: Mobius Explains
King Two Sides, his advisors, and Mobius are on stage.
| Mobius: | Wow! I've never seen so many wise men in one place at the same time before! |
| King Two Sides: | Don't worry, Mobius. If you heard some of the ideas these clowns came up with for the bridge... I mean they were absurd, brainless, cockamamie, crazy, daffy, daft, feebleminded, half-baked, harebrained, idiotic, — |
| Advisors: | (Defensive) What are you trying to say, boss? |
| King Two Sides: | I mean, they were kooky, loony, ludicrous, mad, moronic, nutty, preposterous, silly, wacky, weak, zany — |
| Mobius: | I get the picture, sir. |
| King Two Sides: | Please tell my advisors your idea, Mobius. |
Mobius takes a strip of paper from his sack and holds it up to the advisors.
| Mobius: | Notice that this piece of paper has two sides; much like our great kingdom currently has two sides. |
The advisors are impatient. They nod their heads. They grunt in agreement.
| Mobius: | But if I twist the paper while I bring one end around and connect the two ends— |
| Western Advisor 5: | Then there is only one side! |
| Western Advisor 6: | You might need to explain it to those guys (Points at the Eastern Advisors) They're not so good at math. |
The Eastern advisors make faces back at the Western advisors.
| King Two Sides: | Go on, Mobius. |
| Mobius: | (Points at a point on the strip) Well, suppose I start here and draw a line along the strip. If there are still two sides, when I'm finished drawing, one side won't have a line drawn on it. |
Mobius takes a feather pen from the nearby desk. He draws a line on the strip of paper. It goes all the way around.
| Mobius: | But, see, the line is everywhere! |
| King Two Sides: | Do you see the significance? One side. Two sides suddenly, elegantly merged into one. Just as we desire the two sides of our great kingdom to merge into one. |
The advisors all chime in, telling the King what a great idea it was, saying things like, "That's just what we need," "Exactly the thing we're looking for," "Wonderful idea," and "Perfect!"
Song 7: Connection, Part Two (King Two Sides, Mobius, Advisors)
SCENE 7: Building the Bridge
Mobius, his mom, and dad enter.
| Mom: | We are so proud of you, son! |
| Dad: | I don't know what is more impressive; your design for the bridge or that you went and saw the King. |
| Mobius: | Ah, shucks. Thanks mom. Thanks dad. |
| Dad: | There's only one problem, son. |
| Dad: | I don't know how to build an actual bridge using your idea. You see, the surface of your strip—which we've started calling a Mobius Strip, by the way (Pats Mobius on the head)—turns upside down. |
| Mom: | How can a person or a horse walk across a bridge that goes upside down? |
| Dad: | We've asked everyone to help us. We asked the King's advisors, but those guys are a bunch of bozos. |
| Mom: | We asked all of the wise men in the village, too, but no joy. |
| Dad: | It seems like, however clever your idea was, Mobius, we just don't know how to implement it in the "real world." |
Mobius, his Mom and Dad stand quietly. Mom and Dad are depressed. Mobius is thinking.
| Mobius: | (Suddenly has an idea) Why does the bridge have to remain stationary? |
| Mobius: | Here, let me show you. |
Mobius, his mom, and dad huddle together at a desk. Mobius makes a Mobius Strip and moves it around in the air.
| Mom and Dad: | (Facing the audience) Wow. Our son's a genius. |
Construction Workers enter. They begin working, constructing large clay blocks of which the bridge will be built. Mom oversees the work, while Mobius and Dad stand to the side and talk silently.
| Mom: | (Picks up a block and smoothes it with her hands. To the workers) Like this. So there are no air bubbles. |
More Construction Workers enter. They begin building a mechanism that will be used to turn the bridge. It has a series of gears and pulleys, and a handle. Mobius and his dad walk over to oversee the work.
| Dad: | We're going to use this to turn the bridge. A single citizen should be able to do it. We'll get the Minister of the Interior to put a work schedule in place so that the bridge will be manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
| Mobius: | (To the audience) And the phrase "24-7" was born... |
Song 8: Building a Bridge (Mom, Dad, Construction Workers)
SCENE 8: The Bridge Is Ready
The bridge has been built, and spans the river in the center of the stage. King Two Sides and his advisors are center stage. Easterners enter stage right. Westerners enter stage left.
| King Two Sides: | People of Yarzach! Today is an historic day. Today is the day when people from the East can cross to the West, and people from the West can cross to the East. |
King Two Sides steps toward the bridge, ready to cross it. At the last second, he stops.
| King Two Sides: | (Motioning to Mobius) Come up here and walk with me, Mobius. We owe this day to you. |
| Advisors: | (Mimicking the King, sarcastically)
Some: Come up here and walk with me, Mobius.
Others, slightly delayed: We owe this day to you. |
Mobius points toward his parents, and whispers into the King's ear.
| King Two Sides: | And I'd be honored if your parents joined us, too. |
Mom and Dad join the king and Mobius. The four walk across the bridge and back. The Easterners and Westerners all cheer.
| King Two Sides: | It is important that we all get to know one another better. The greatness of our kingdom depends on us growing even stronger as a single, unified People. |
| Mom: | It is important that Easterners cross into the West. |
| Dad: | And that Westerners cross into the East. |
| King Two Sides: | We will all lead richer, happier when we integrate our cultures, our arts and sciences, ourselves. |
King Two Sides whispers into Mobius' ear.
| Mobius: | The Bridge is now officially open! |
The Easterners and Westerners all cheer again.
Song 9: The Bridge is Open (Mobius, King Two Sides, Mom, Dad, Advisors, Easterners, Westerners)
SCENE 9: Citizens Begin Crossing the Bridge
An Easterner enters stage right. He reluctantly approaches the Bridge. He looks around, then quickly crosses the bridge and comes right back.
| Easterner: | Hmm. (Pats himself, looking for injuries) That didn't hurt one bit. |
The Easterner leaves the stage. A Westerner enters stage left. He reluctantly approaches the Bridge. He looks around, then quickly crosses the bridge and comes right back.
| Westerner: | That wasn't bad at all. (Begins to strut away) |
The Westerner leaves the stage. A group of Easterners enter stage right and cross the bridge and go back. A group of Westerners enter stage left and cross the bridge and go back. Everyone eyes everyone else suspiciously and says nothing.
Half the Easterners cross the bridge and stay on the West (left) side. Half the Westerners cross the bridge and stay on the East (right) side. Slowly the people begin talking with one another.
King Two Sides and Mobius enter toward the end of the song, silently talking. A little bit after they enter, Mom, Dad, and the King's Advisors enter, also silently talking.
When the song and applause end, the Easterners and Westerners stand in groups and talk.
| King Two Sides: | Attention everyone. I have a few announcements. |
Everyone quiets down.
| King Two Sides: | First, from now on, there are no longer "Easterners" and "Westerners." There are only "Citizens" of Yarzach. |
| Westerners: | Hurray! Hip Hip. |
| King Two Sides: | Second, my name shall no longer be "King Two Sides." |
| Advisors: | (To the audience) Makes sense! |
| King Two Sides: | My name from now on will be King Mobius. |
| Citizens: | Hip. Hip. Hurray! Hip. Hip. Hurrah! |
| King Two Sides: | Third, because of his invaluable service to the Kingdom, I hereby announce that I am naming the boy named Mobius as my new chief advisor. |
| Everyone: | Hip. Hip. Hurray! Hip. Hip. Hurrah! |
Song 10: Harmony (FINALE)
THE END
