Four Eyes

We were given an assignment where we had to chose a historical event, and write a two to five page scene. You must include the time, and a prop that will be a huge significance. Enjoy.

FOUR EYES
It is an early morning in Cambodia, 1997. A field is seen with many people lazily leaving it. A woman, Akara is seen walking from the field. She has her hair cut into a black bob, and is very thin. She moves slowly, limping She is holding a small cloth bag without items in it. She sits at a raggedy bench situated stage right. Seconds after sitting down, her friend Chan joins her. He is bald, and is too very thin.
CHAN

Morning Akara.

AKARA

Chan... Good morning.

CHAN
Is everything okay?

AKARA
I’m just feeling weak is all.

CHAN
We haven’t had a good meal in a while, that’s probably why.

AKARA
Yes, some food would do me good.

CHAN
Lucky that we were released from the farms early today.

AKARA
That’s never a good sign. The guards are probably getting ready to do a sweep of any enemies.

CHAN
Or maybe they just thought we needed a break for one day.

AKARA
Chan, are you crazy? If these people can burn down our homes, rape us, and starve us, I don’t think they give a damn about us being too tired to work on their farms.

CHAN
Akara, you shouldn’t talk so loud.
Chan looks around, looking to see if any army generals are in the area.

AKARA
I’m just tired, Chan. I wake up and I’m instantly tired. I wake up and I feel like a ghost of my past self. I bet you didn’t know I attended one of the most prestigious universities in Cambodia.

CHAN
Are you serious?

AKARA
Yes. I had dreams of leaving this country, and going to America and becoming a radio host. I wanted people to hear my voice everyday, and people to know who I was. What am I doing at this farm? Why has my life changed?

CHAN
(seriously)
Akara sweetie, you shouldn’t question why things like this happen. You might get in tr-

AKARA
(shouting)
I don’t care if I get in trouble with the Kyhmer Rogue. I don’t care.

CHAN
Akara, please stop shouting. You may not value your life, but I do.

AKARA
It’s not that I don’t value my life, it’s that I don’t value this life I’m living. I never wanted my hair this short, I never wanted to be captured and put to work on a farm, I never wanted to watch soldiers execute my friends. This isn’t the life I signed up for. What Pol Pot has done to life is unforgiveable.

CHAN
I’m sorry that all of that has happened to you, but you just can’t go around challenging our Lord.

AKARA
Lord...? Did you just refer to that murdering pig as my Lord? My Lord would never send humans on a field to be worked to death, no Lord in existence would do that. He’s not a Lord, he’s a coward.

CHAN
You really need to watch your mouth Akara, guards could be around this corner.

AKARA
Chan, why are you so afraid? The worst they can do is kill you.

CHAN
I don’t plan on dying, that’s why I’m afraid.

AKARA
Yet you praise the man who has made this your life.

Chan is hurt by the comment and looks away. They sit in an awkward silence, as Akara begins fiddling with the brown bag.

AKARA
I used to wear glasses....

CHAN
What?

AKARA
Before I came here, I wore glasses. I’m blind as a bat. That’s why I’m always squinting.

CHAN
I always just thought you couldn’t take the sun’s glare.
They share a laugh.

AKARA
What would you do if I put them on?

CHAN
Akara, what are you saying?

AKARA
What would you do if I put my glasses on?

CHAN
Why do you still have them?

AKARA
It was the night the guards came in and invaded my home. I was visiting home from University. The guards bursted into the door and demanded me and my family to leave the home. My mother put up a fight, while my dad tried to pull her to the door, and not cause a fight. I hid in the corner, but when they did a search, they found me and dragged me by the hair to the front door. They noticed I was wearing glasses, and ripped them off my face, and crushed them. I heard shouting, and my father tried dragging me out the door way. A putrid smell crept into my nostrils, which I now know was smoke. The last thing I saw before my dad dragged me out were my crushed glasses on the floor. I reached for them and pulled them under my shirt. I was not going to let the Khmer Rogue steal my identity.

CHAN
Akara, you know we aren’t allowed to wear glasses here. The guards will see you as an intellectual, and have you killed.

AKARA
I know.

CHAN
Then please don’t do anything rash. I can’t lose you, you’re... you're my best friend.

AKARA
I can’t live like this anymore.

A guard come in from stage left. He is wielding a weapon, and is looking around suspiciously.

GUARD 1
Is everything in compliance over here?

CHAN
Uh.. Uh no complaints.

GUARD 1
You can’t speak lady?

AKARA
Everything is in compliance sir.

GUARD 1
What’s in the bag?

CHAN
Sir, I think I see some strange activity over in the distance.

GUARD
Quiet. Now lady I asked you what’s in the bag.

AKARA
A part of me.

Akara opens the bag, takes out the crushed glasses frame and places them on her face. She sits up proudly.

This is who I am.

CHAN
Akara, no!

The guard swiftly grab her by her arms and drag her off stage. Black out.

Author's Note

The bold text indicates Stage directions, italicized words are parentheticals,