A Hole in Annapurna

Two climbers are attempting to climb Annapurna. Tragedy occurs. Most who have read this have cried. And there is a surprise ending.

 A Hole in Annapurna

 

A play in two acts

by Norm Valentine

Setting:  

Two mountain climbers are en route to the summit of Annapurna

Stage:  

Four levels with a front main level and three other levels about 1.5 to 2 feet above each previous level. Each step is used to portray further climbing towards base camp (at top level) and in the distance on the back wall is a painting of the summit ridge of Annapurna.

Two characters:  

Walter and Jeb. Walter is around 40 years old, has identical nine-year-old twin boys, Walter Jr. (nicknamed Butchie) and Donnie, and wife, Joanne. Jeb is ten years younger than Walter and single.

Act One

 

(Both enter stage right and slowly move toward center stage)

 

 

Scene one

 

 

WALTER This way.

JED You sure? Last time, ya know.

WALTER Sorry. Too bad. Compass was upside down.

JEB My toes hurt. Hurt bad.

WALTER You always say that.

JEB They always do.

WALTER Cry about it. My foot fangs are loose and rubbing my heels. Poor baby.

JEB Yeah.

(Pause as they move on a bit left)

 

JEB Whatta day! I’m waaaarm now. First time in a week.

WALTER Storm coming.

JEB I’ll take today. (Long pause) Hmmmph. I ain’t scared of no storm. C’mon, Annapurna. Best shot, big gal.

WALTER We’ll see.

JEB Maybe we’ll see Yeti today. Sun’s out. Let’s see Yeti.

WALTER There’s no Yeti.

JEB Howdya know? Could be.

WALTER Rest stop here. Gotta get this pack strap off my neck. Owww.

JEB Now who’s whinin’? Lord, what I put up with.

(They both take off packs and sit on them)  

WALTER Singu Chuli up there. By tonight?

JEB Yeah, tonight easy.

WALTER If the toes don’t slow us down.

JEB The toes. Knock off the toes.

WALTER You started it.

JEB Hey, we’re buds, aren’t we?

WALTER (Flip) For life. Of course, I love Joanne more. (Pause) But she won’t pull me up this mountain.

JEB Me neither�"not with the sore toes.

WALTER Leave it alone. Leave me alone.

JEB How does Joanne live without you?

WALTER Sarcastic?

JEB No, really. What is she doing while you’re up here?

WALTER I dunno. Raising the twins, I suppose.

JEB Hey, look at that cloud cap over the Glacier Dome.

WALTER Brewin’.

JEB So she’s raisin’ the kids?

WALTER Yeah.

JEB They playin’ ball?

WALTER Yeah, Butchie plays first. Donnie’s at second.

JEB They any good?

WALTER Naaa. Take after the old man. Oh, Donnie can hit, but he don’t know where to throw the ball. Maybe it’s my coaching.

JEB I coached, too.

WALTER When?

JEB Oh, four, five years ago. Little League.

WALTER Your teams win?

JEB One of ‘em. We won the league. Messed up in the playoffs, though.

WALTER What’d you teach ‘em?

JEB Watch the ball. Ya know�"concentrate.

WALTER They do it?

JEB Sometimes. Some of ‘em. Not enough of ‘em.

WALTER Hmmmm. (Pause) Cloud cap’s getting’ bigger. We better move up.

(They get up, don packs, move slowly left, lights down)

 

 

Scene two

(Lights up. They move slowly to second stage level.)

 

WALTER We’ll go up this arête and around to the left.

JEB Why not stay in the couloir on the right?

WALTER Avalanche.

JEB Whoa. Well said. Okay, Mr. Arête. Ready for action.

(They move further left)

 

JEB (Looking to right. Avalanche sounds.) Holy cow. Ya see that?

WALTER Avalanche.

JEB We’d a been swimmin’ in that.

WALTER Told ya so.

JEB Imagine�"you’re in a clothes dryer, they put in a quarter. Only it’s cold and all downhill.

WALTER It’s power�"white and glistening�"from up here!

JEB Thanks, Mr. Arête. Thanks. Good call, Walter.

WALTER Stick with me, kid. (Pause) I was in one.

JEB Huh. Ya never told me.

WALTER Yeah.

JEB Where?

WALTER Cho Oyu. Same kinda gully.

JEB Whatdya do?

WALTER Swam. I was with Paul Guisner. We both just prayed and swam.

JEB In that order?

WALTER Yes, in that order.

JEB What happened?

WALTER We stayed on top. I never went under. It was a small one. When it stopped, I was stuck. Paul dug me out.

JEB Stuck?

WALTER Couldn’t move arms or legs. I wasn’t sure I wasn’t paralyzed.

JEB Are you claustrophobic?

WALTER Wouldn’t have mattered. If Paul had been stuck like me, we’d both still be there.

JEB You prayed?

WALTER Yeah.

JEB Whadya say? Who to?

WALTER I prayed to God, I guess. You know, the praying and the swimming were instinct.

JEB Yeah, I suppose. (Pause) Ya really believe in God?

WALTER Yeah, probably. Makes sense.

JEB Creator?

WALTER Yeah, I think so. Look at all this.

JEB I dunno. Maybe.

WALTER Maybe not?

JEB Maybe. (Pause to change subject) So Butchie plays first?

WALTER Who plays second.

JEB No, Donnie plays second.

WALTER Let’s stop this before…

JEB Okay.

Scene 3

(On level 3 of stage. In camp�"tent, fire, wind. Outside tent as they eat dinner.)

 

JEB Great cup a tea.

WALTER Anything hot.

JEB Naw. Only the tea. Tired of the old cup a soup. Ughhh, split pea.

WALTER Hmmph, you liked it in the Wind Rivers.

JEB I was tired and cold.

WALTER Well?

JEB Okay, I‘ll make split pea. But I’ll make it hot.

WALTER I can’t wait.

(JEB starts melting snow for dinner. WALTER sits down to watch and rest.)

 

 

JEB You think about the family much?

WALTER All the time. I�" (Pause to reflect) I think of them one at a time�"in order.

JEB Yeah?

WALTER Joanne always says “Cute”. Everything’s cute. Kids, the woodpecker eating the siding, all animals, even things that happen.

JEB Like what?

WALTER The van breaks down by a pond. It’s cute. I’m mad. The pond is cute. The situation is cute. I’m still mad. She says, “We’re together.”

JEB Cute.

WALTER Stop it. You asked. We’re not together. Let’s get off of this hill and get home. Okay?

JEB There’s a storm.

WALTER You said, “Bring it on, Ms. Annapurna.”

JEB Let’s sleep on it. We’ll take her in the mornin’.

(They go into tent)

JEB (From inside with sounds of boots being removed and sleeping bags being zipped) You think about ‘em one at a time?

WALTER Yeah.

JEB You said�"in order. Butchie was out first, right?

WALTER Yep. I think about Butchie first and then Donnie.

JEB How long?

WALTER I dunno. Varies. Sometimes a long time.

JEB Whatdya think about?

WALTER Oh, what they look like. They’re identical.

JEB So you only need to visualize one of ‘em.

WALTER (Laughs) Yeah, I guess so. But I consider how different they are. Twins. You’d think. Hmmmm. Nope, they’re nothing alike.

JEB How so?

WALTER Butchie’s mellow. Donnie�"I don’t know. He sasses Joanne too much. She lets him. “It’s cute”, she says.

JEB Cute. (Smiling) She means he’s a brat.

WALTER Yeah. No, not really. Just always wired.

JEB How about Joanne?

WALTER All the time. Last thought after you shut up and let me fall asleep. And first thought at first light.

JEB What’s love like?

WALTER You ever done that?

JEB No.

WALTER Like the start of something beautiful. That wind outside? It blows and eases up, but never stops. Never will. We’ll all be dead or on another mountain, and this wind… (Pause)

 

JEB After we’re dead?

WALTER I’ll always love her.

JEB Shut up now and let me sleep. I’ve got to pull you up there tomorrow so I can get you home.

WALTER Yeah�"goodnight yourself. (Quiet)

 

Scene 4

(Next morning. From inside tent)

JEB Hey, Walter. Still love that woman?

WALTER Hmmmph. It’s first light, isn’t it?

JEB And the wind’s still blowin’.

WALTER Hey, you get us some brews, and I’ll fix some rope up above.

JEB Be back in half an hour.

WALTER I’m gone.

(JEB melts snow while half out of tent door. WALTER starts up)

 

JEB Careful.

WALTER Yeah.

(WALTER moves up. Loud bang. WALTER disappears into crevasse.)

 

WALTER Owwww! Owwww, Jeb. (Shouting in pain)

 

JEB Walter? (Bolting from tent, spilling hot water) Walter, where are you?

WALTER (Muffled and out of sight) Up here. Follow the rope.

JEB (Moves right) What happened?

WALTER I’m in a hole up here.

JEB Are you okay?

WALTER I think both ankles are smashed. Owwww.

JEB How’d it happen?

WALTER Owwww, I was fixing rope and broke through.

JEB How’d you hurt the ankles?

WALTER I hit a ledge down here. I think I’m about 30 feet down.

JEB Don’t worry. I’ll get you out.

WALTER Yeah, I know. But we won’t catch the top of this one till next year.

JEB Yeah, next. You’d better be a quick healer.

WALTER Sorry, Jeb.

JEB Next year, good buddy. We’ll be here next year.

WALTER Jeb, I’m getting cold. Really cold.

(Lights fade. End of Act One.)

 

 

Act Two

(Same place, several hours later.)

 

JEB Walter, get your Jumars. I’ve set an ice screw.

WALTER Jeb, I can’t. (Pained)

 

JEB Walter, you need to.

WALTER I’m too cold. My ankles hurt�"bad.

JEB Now, c’mon. We both know its my toes, not your ankles.

WALTER Ha. (Attempts to laugh through pain) Owwww. Jeb. I don’t think I’m getting out of here.

JEB Don’t talk like that, Walter. I’m not gonna leave you up here. And, besides, you got Junior and Donnie and that cute woman. Just put the Jumar on the rope and pull up.

WALTER Jeb, I can’t use my right arm. I think I see a bone sticking out. Owwww.

JEB Well, pull up with your left arm.

WALTER I’m on a six inch ledge, but there is a five or six foot overhang up there. I can’t get by that with one arm.

JEB What if I try to get some mechanical advantage?

WALTER Try it.

(Jeb sets a second ice screw and moves rope around it. Pulls.)

  

JEB It doesn’t want to budge.

WALTER I think I saw a rock spur above this overhang as I fell in here. Maybe it’s wedged.

JEB (Leans further over hole.) I can’t see what it’s hung on.

WALTER I think I am here to stay.

JEB Now stop that.

WALTER Well, what do you suggest?

JEB I don’t know. Go for help.

WALTER This is early season. No one else’ll be on the mountain for two weeks.

JEB Walter.

WALTER I know.

JEB Walter. (Sobs)

 

WALTER Listen. We’ve talked about this before.

JEB We’ll think of something.

WALTER Maybe. But just in case.

JEB Just in case, what?

WALTER I want to prepare.

JEB We’ll think of something.

WALTER (Firmly) I want to prepare.

JEB How? Prepare to … (Pause) …for starving to death here?

WALTER For freezing to death, Jeb.

JEB Walter!! (He screams as he pulls furiously on the rope again to no avail.) You can’t freeze to death.

WALTER I’m half way there already, Jeb. I’m so cold, and yet its not so painful now. (Pause) Jeb, help me�"prepare.

JEB Do what?

WALTER Remember we talked about God?

JEB Yeah.

WALTER I’ve been wondering about that for this whole trip.

JEB I thought you were thinking about baseball and your family.

WALTER That, too. You have a lot of time to think when you climb mountains.

JEB I don’t think much up here, Walter. I just try to stay alive long enough to get to the top. (Pause) Hey, I didn’t mean it that way, Walter.

WALTER I know. I was like that ten years ago when I was your age. And before the twins. And Joanne.

JEB Come to any conclusions? About God, I mean?

WALTER I don’t know. I could pray to God to get out of this hole, but would that be fair?

JEB Why not?

WALTER You know, to disregard a God until I need a big favor. Wouldn’t I be using God?

JEB Would it matter?

WALTER I’m not sure. I think so.

JEB Shall we try it?

WALTER I’d rather not.

JEB Why? Couldn’t hurt!

WALTER I think I’m not getting out of here. Maybe my soul is what is important now.

JEB Whatdya mean?

WALTER Joanne believes she is going to heaven when she dies.

JEB Yeah?

WALTER Do you think maybe I should do what I can to try to meet her there?

JEB Walter, I don’t know things like this.

WALTER You said we should try praying.

JEB You said you’d rather not.

WALTER I meant about praying to get out of this hole.

JEB Then what…

WALTER Pray that I’ll go to heaven. That I’ll see Joanne again. For my soul.

JEB Wouldn’t that be using God, too? To have Him let you see Joanne again?

WALTER I want Him to save my soul.

JEB That sounds like a prayer.

WALTER What?

JEB You said you want Him to save your soul. That’s a prayer.

WALTER It is, isn’t it?

JEB Do you think He did it?

WALTER I think so. I think that is what Joanne has said…just ask God to forgive and save your soul. How about you, Jeb?

JEB What?

WALTER Do you want your soul saved?

JEB (Abruptly, as surprised) No. Not just yet. Later.

WALTER Jeb, pull up my pack and get out my journal.

JEB Okay. (Pulls up pack. Opens it and fumblingly pulls out WALTER’s journal) What?

WALTER I need to prepare for dying here. Joanne needs to know I died without fear. Write this down and give it to her.

JEB Yes.

WALTER Joanne, don’t cry. I’m in this hole in Annapurna and always will be. I will not cry. I accepted this outcome years ago when I first climbed in the Wind Rivers. Jeb is with me, and he thinks we may come up with some way of getting me out. But we won’t. I have two broken ankles and a bone fracture in one arm. It _was_ painful, but the cold up here is anesthetic, and the pain is masked.

Not all of the pain, however. There will be a few hours yet of the sorrow of leaving you this way. Then a few years of waiting for you in heaven. Then, if what I recall from your stories about God is correct, a forever with you and the boys.

Tell them good things about me. I know I’ve been away a lot. I could never explain to anyone why I had to do this. “Because its here” is no real reason, because it’s equally true that you are there. I meant no harm.

I tried to explain to Jeb that our love is like this cold wind that will kill me. It is incessant. It will be here well after I’m not, gusts and all.

Don’t blame Jeb for not getting me out. Like you, he was all he could be as a friend and partner to climb Annapurna with. He loved me as you did. And he would have given his life for mine if it could have worked that way.

Tell Walt to keep his glove on the ground and Donnie to swing through the ball. Tell them both what they risk if they choose to climb. Tell them to be careful. But don’t tell them not do it if their spirits require it.

And, Jeb, sign it “Love, Dad.”

JEB (Sobbing) I’ll get this to her.

WALTER Now, go down, Jeb. This storm won’t wait for a long good bye.

JEB I’ll be back next year. Remember? Next year.

WALTER Next year, Jeb.

(Jeb descends through the storm to bottom stage level and then exit on stage right where they had started.)

 

Epilog�"A year later

(Jeb enters from left. He walks slowly to the hole. It has moved due to glacial flow.)

JEB Walter. (Pause) I told you I’d be back. They all took this as hard as I did. No one is over it yet. (Pause and sob) You were a dad. Your days were why they lived. I’ve seen something in their eyes that says you’re coming home. It’s hope. In a way I took you home even after leaving you here. I had to, you know? I mean, leave you here. (Pause) But they know how I left you. They know that Dad didn’t cry but was sad. Loved them but couldn’t come home. Joanne was the same. Except she knows you’re in this hole forever. Her eyes know you won’t be home. I read her your letter. Now she has one for you.

(Jeb pulls Joanne’s letter out of his backpack and reads her letter)

 

“Walt, you’ll never know. I know you never cried. I did, though. Jeb will tell you there are stains on these pages. You never knew about Anna. I found out after you left. I named her Anna. For that mountain you are on.  She’s solid, like you were. Little Walt and Donnie say she has never done anything wrong. Though sometimes she clings to me heavily, and I think she might sense you’re not here. I know she doesn’t really, but I do. I feel it in every new sunrise. And often just before dawn when I wake and reach for you.

Jeb will say that I am well, and I am. Jeb will say the twins are still playing baseball. They try to remember what it was you taught them about their swings and how to field with their gloves on the ground. But I think they are forgetting and starting to do things the ways their new coaches are teaching them.

There is one other thing, but I’ll not put it in this letter. I’d rather Jeb tell you.

Love always, Jo.”

JEB (Placing her letter on the edge of the hole, then gently pushing it in)

 

 Joanne says she loves you, but you know that. She also said to tell you that, like the cardinals at your feeders and the elk that trample the gully out back and even the broken down van by the pond, Anna and the boys are “cute”.

Remember how we talked about God? I hope you are with Him. I think you might be. I won’t be sure, but Joanne is. She believes she’ll see you in her time.

In the meanwhile I’m much older than I was a year ago. I’m climbing the big one next year. No oxygen. I won’t whine about my toes. They’ll hurt, but I’m a bigger boy now. Then I’ll not climb again.

Joanne and I will settle down. (Pause, struggling) It will be awkward (as it is awkward to say this out loud) for me to live in the home you and Joanne built. And to love in the way you loved. We both ask your blessing. (Pause and wind gust sounds) In this Annapurna wind we accept your silent consent. Walter, we both loved you as we now do each other. Goodnight, friend.