(Scene 4) from R4-P2 by Dylan Higley

Cast of Characters: 

R4-P2 “Rapz” (she/it): Female/neutral, ageless (by time: only a few years, biologically: 18-ish). An android who appears robotic, but acts unusually human. Kind, curious, with a heart the size of the moon, a child-like sense of wonder, and unfortunately easy susceptibility due to that. 

Prof. Frederick King (he/him): Male, mid 40s. R4-P2’s creator or “father.” A brilliant and talented inventor with a troubled past. Well known for his work in robotics and cyborg tech, he has paid the price for many failed experiments and bargains with others in his field. Few lines. 

Dr. Gothara Lux (she/her): Female, ageless (by time and biologically: undetermined, appearance wise: late 40s). R4-P2’s guardian after bargaining a deal with Frederick. She may appear to be sweet and compassionate (and flamboyant), while under that veil, she’s using R4-P2 for her own personal gain. A cyborg with almost too many robotic implants; human plus. 

Eugenie “Gen” Fitzharris (she/they): Transfem, 18-20. R4-P2’s best friend who helps her escape and learn more about the world, while also getting to know Rapz and herself a little more. An energetic, fun-loving tinkerer, and a bit of a sneaky thief. 

Patrick “Pat” Stanton (he/they): Transmasc, 19-21. One of Eugenie’s friends, assistant to a well-known tech shop owner, covers for Eugenie when she steals. Brief appearances. 

Ensemble: Citizens, workers in the Labs, store owners and other passerbys. 

Place 
A city merging the appearance of a medeival kingdom and the technology and aesthetic of a sci-fi city. 

Time 
Far into the future.

SCENE 4 

Setting: Out in the city. A futuristic and yet still present-realistic city is projected on the back wall. On stage are boardwalk rails downstage, a small simplistic ice cream cart upstage, and a trash can and a bench anywhere. 

At rise: Rapz and Eugenie are exploring the city together as music plays. The two start on the bench, ensemble passing them by about every five seconds. 

(As the music plays, RAPZ and EUGENIE silently exchange conversation at the
bench, then retrieve ice cream cones from the cart in the back, and walk with
them to the boardwalk rails. The sequence lasts about two minutes, during which
they walk around a bit more and get rid of the ice cream cones, and by the end
of it are back at the boardwalk rails, laughing.) 

RAPZ 
(excitedly) 
I’m having so much fun! 

EUGENIE 
(also excitedly) 
Right? 

(The two share a few more soft laughs, then RAPZ looks at EUGENIE with a
smile.) 

RAPZ 
(sincere) 
Thank you for taking me out and showing me around Eugenie. I’m really enjoying it. 

EUGENIE 
Ah shucks, it’s nothing! I’m glad you’re having fun! I could tell you needed it. 

RAPZ 
Yeah, I did….It’s nothing at all like what my Mother told me it was. 

(A sense of melancholy falls over the stage, the lights dimming a bit to highlight a
spotlight on RAPZ and EUGENIE.)

RAPZ (cont’d) 
My Mother told me the world was all dark, and terrible. She told me people were evil, and selfish. She said they’d take me, and steal my power to use for themselves. My power source is permanently active, but using too much of it at once can drain the power it gives my body until I can recharge it. 

(Beat. EUGENIE is beginning to put pieces together, but lets RAPZ keep talking as
much as she needs to.) 

She said she took me away to protect me, and that she only uses my power to maintain her functions…for years…. 

(Her voice trails off. EUGENIE furrows her brows, having put the puzzle together.) 

EUGENIE 
I think your mother is using you. 

RAPZ 
Yeah, I know. 

EUGENIE 
No, I mean abusing you. Years of using your special charging abilities, probably every single day… 

RAPZ 
(in mild denial) 
I… 

EUGENIE 
Meanwhile your cooling cable came loose, your charging circuits almost overheated, and some of your other circuits went out of calibration. Your mother isn’t protecting you, she’s keeping you for your power! 

(RAPZ pauses, shocked by this revelation, and unsure of how to feel. She looks out,
not meeting EUGENIE’S eyes.) 

RAPZ 
N-no, sh-she wouldn’t…my mother is trying to protect me, t-to keep me from people who would — (slowly, realizing) use me for my power….

(EUGENIE realizes the big bombshell she just dropped on her new friend. She puts
a gentle hand on her shoulder.) 

EUGENIE 
(gently) 
We need to get you out of this situation. Do you know where you came from? Could we take you to your original creator? 

RAPZ 
(quietly) 
My original creator…he activated me briefly, before my Mother took me in. He had such a kind face, the hug he gave me was warm and inviting. 

EUGENIE 
(still gently) 
Do you remember his name? 

(Beat.) 

RAPZ 
It was on the name tag on his labcoat…King. Professor King, I think. 

EUGENIE 
(excitement swelling a bit) 
Wait, Professor King? The Professor Frederick King?! He’s your creator?! 

RAPZ 
(a bit surprised by the enthusiasm) 
I think so. 

EUGENIE 
He’s my boss’s boss! I met him once! I know where his lab is, I’ll take you there! 

(Suddenly, the stage lights come back on as the spotlight goes out, only now
they’re a bit red. A harsh electrical shock noise is heard, and EUGENIE shakes and
twitches. RAPZ gasps as EUGENIE falls to the ground, revealing DR. LUX behind
her, holding some sort of electrifying rod. RAPZ looks terrified, and DR. LUX looks
angry, before turning to RAPZ and quickly putting on a smile.)

DR. LUX 
(acting pleased to see RAPZ) 
There you are my dear! I’ve been looking for you everywhere. 

RAPZ 
(terrified) 
M-Mother? H-how did you find me? 

DR. LUX 
(a bit annoyed) 
Oh it was easy really, I simply listened for the sound of complete and utter betrayal and followed that. 

(RAPZ sighs.) 

Come, R4-P2. We’re going home. 

RAPZ 
No, not yet Mother! I’ve been having such a fun day, and I’ve learned so much! I’ve met people and made friends —/ 

DR. LUX 
/Now dear, people will only hurt you, the world will hurt you. I’ve told you this. 

RAPZ 
No Mother, wait! You don’t understand, I… 

(RAPZ gazes at EUGENIE’S sprawled form on the ground, scared by what her
mother could have done to her.) 

She’s my friend! 

DR. LUX 
(incredulously amused) 
Friend?! (laughs hard) Oh please dear, that’s ridiculous! 

RAPZ 
No, it’s not! The world isn’t what you told me it was!

(Short beat. DR. LUX tries to hide her worried look. RAPZ presses on.) 

RAPZ (cont’d) 
Not one person I’ve met today has tried to steal me or use me for my power, that was…you! It was all you! 

(Another short beat. DR. LUX looks angry, trying to look angry at RAPZ for accusing
her of this, but in reality, angry at her for seeing the truth. In her anger, she drops
her tasing rod.) 

DR. LUX 
(angrily, dangerously quiet) 
Everything I did was to protect you. 

(RAPZ turns away with a huff.) 

RAPZ 
(angrily) 
I spent my entire life hiding from people who would use me for my power —/ 

DR. LUX 
(trying to be firm) 
R4-P2!/ 

R4-P2 
/When I should have been hiding from you! 

DR. LUX 
R4-P2, listen to yourself! Do you even —?/ 

RAPZ 
(firmly, almost angry) 
/And my name is Rapz. 

(DR. LUX pauses, taken aback by RAPZ’S assertiveness. She tries to make her own
clear, but struggles.) 

DR. LUX 
Now you listen here, Rapz, enough of this traipsing. It’s giving you ridiculous notions.
(firmly) We’re going home.

RAPZ 
No. I’m not. 

(DR. LUX, clearly agitated, firmly takes RAPZ’S arm, hurting her. Enter PATRICK from
behind, seeing the whole thing unnoticed.) 

(now a bit scared) Mother stop! You’re hurting me! 

DR. LUX 
(angrily) 
Enough already! Stop fighting me! 

RAPZ 
No! I won’t stop! For every minute of the rest of my life, I will fight! I will never stop trying to get away from you! 

DR. LUX 
You cannot! You are mine! You belong to me! 

(PATRICK seizes the opportunity and grabs the tasing rod from off the ground. He
jabs it right into DR. LUX’S side, and more harsh electrical shock noises are heard,
DR. LUX twitching now as the stage lights blink on and off. She lets go of RAPZ,
who steps back in surprise, then the stage lights brighten before an electrical boom
noise is heard, and the spotlight goes out. Blackout for a moment, before the stage
lights blink back on, no longer red. DR. LUX is sprawled on the ground,
lifeless. RAPZ looks up at PATRICK, who’s breathing heavily, holding the rod far out
in front of him with both hands, surprised by what he just did.) 

RAPZ 
(shocked) 
Patrick…(now happier and glad to see him) th-thank you! 

PATRICK 
(still heaving a bit) 
Hey, that’s what friends are for! 

(The two briefly smile at each other, then RAPZ furrows her brows, remembering
EUGENIE, and gets on her knees next to her.)

RAPZ 
Eugenie! Are you okay? 

(PATRICK gets on his knees as well. EUGENIE groans again, slowly sitting up. RAPZ
reaches around to plant a hand on her back. EUGENIE slowly heaves.) 

EUGENIE 
(croaking out the words) 
I’m fine. Nothin’ to worry about. 

RAPZ 
You just had all the life zapped out of your body. 

EUGENIE 
(slyly grinning) 
Exactly. 

(RAPZ and PATRICK softly giggle, then help EUGENIE to her feet, wrapping her arms
around their shoulders between them.) 

Come on. (to RAPZ) Let’s get you home. 

(Exit RAPZ, EUGENIE and PATRICK. Blackout.) 

(END OF SCENE)