Scene 1

LIAM walks onto the stage, he is carrying a bag and has a hand lifted to his head, searching for something)

LIAM (addressing the audience) I’m looking for something. I’ve been searching for it for days now. This place doesn’t appear to have a top or a bottom. A left or a right. It makes no sense, and appears to have only two dimensions.

ONE enters from the right of the stage

ONE: Who are you? And what are you doing here, denumerate?

LIAM: my name is Liam and I fell here by accident.

ONE: fell? From where?

LIAM: the sky.

ONE: the sky?

LIAM: Yes

ONE: you mean, like, up there?

(points upwards ominously)

LIAM: yes. (steps forward) Is this strange?

ONE: (steps back) oh no! You musn’t get too close! You might… infect me!

LIAM: with what?

ONE: I can’t say. But you must leave as soon as possible.

LIAM: Says who? Who are you anyways?

ONE: I am the Alpha.

LIAM: I don’t know what the Alpha is.

ONE: then you shouldn’t be here.

(it begins to rain.)

ONE: What? What is this? Water falling from the sky?

LIAM: it’s rain. Haven’t you ever seen rain before?

ONE: It is the first change. Please, leave before it worsens!

(runs from the stage.)

LIAM: That was weird. (he holds out his hand) It’s just a little rain. Only drizzling really.

(thunder sounds, lightning flashes)

LIAM: Well…I guess I’d better find cover.

Scene 2

BETA, GAMMA, KAPPA are all standing in a row across the stage

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3!

KAPPA: 11!

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3!

KAPPA: 11!

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3!

KAPPA: 11!

BETA: 2… It just doesn’t sound right…

GAMMA: It simply doesn’t roll of the tongue quite as we intended.

KAPPA: We must make a change!

LIAM walks onto the stage.

LIAM: Hi! Why are you all standing like that?

GAMMA: We are the numerators! Our purpose is to fill the silence with counting! Would you like to hear?

LIAM: Alright.

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3!

KAPPA: 11!

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3!

KAPPA: 11!

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3!

KAPPA: 11!

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3!

KAPPA: 11!

BETA: 2!

GAMMA: 3-

LIAM: Wait! Something isn’t right!

KAPPA: (annoyed at the interruption) what do you mean?

LIAM: Well it isn’t in order.

GAMMA: Order?!

LIAM: (begins to pace thoughtfully) all things in any given society must follow a certain order…

THE THREE: (following him) Why?

LIAM: (still pacing) Because then all of our actions would be… well… obsolete.

THE THREE: obsolete?

LIAM: yes, they would benefit no one. They would disappear into oblivion. Nobody notices the strange or unusual. Or at least, nobody likes it, and they do their best to brush it under the carpet.

BETA: Well then how do you suggest we do it?

LIAM: It’s simple. (stops pacing and turns to them) One, two, three.

KAPPA: Oh. (very dejected) alright, then.

(the sound of rain begins)

LIAM: Oh… the rain caught up. I have to go find shelter. Happy counting (leaves the scene)

(sound of rain and thunder)

BETA, GAMMA, KAPPA in small, unhappy voices: one, two, three, one, two, three…

Scene 3

(LIAM walks onto a scene of people spinning gracefully - they are singing as they spin) EPSILON, IOTA, OMICRON, SIGMA, UPSILON

EPSILON: Who are you, and why are you not spinning?

LIAM: I don’t know. I’ve never spun before.

(they all stop spinning and begin whispering)

All: Never spun? Why? Who is he?

EPSILON: Silence! (advances towards LIAM) What kind of a number doesn’t spin? Are you a denumerate?

LIAM: A denumerate?

ALL: (they begin to spin, but around LIAM) Denumerate! Denumerate! No purpose or function! Denumerate! Denumerate! Denumerate!

EPSILON: Silence!

LIAM: I am not a denumerate!

EPSILON: Alright.

(EPSILON steps back, bows, and rises, the others follow her lead)

EPSILON: Then spin.

LIAM: (sighs and starts spinning)

EPSILON: (whispering) faster.

LIAM: (begins to spin faster, and then begins humming a quiet, sad song.)

Slowly, the other spinners begin to spin with him, and as they spin, slowly, they disappear until there is only LIAM left spinning.

LIAM: (stops) How strange. Everyone’s gone.

IOTA steps forward.

IOTA: now, spin with me.

LIAM steps forward and his hands with hers and they begin to waltz together, and the same hum begins again as music, but slower.

They continue to waltz until eventually they fade into darkness.

The song continues for several seconds more.

Scene 4

The scene begins with nothing but black.

A spotlight flashes on one person, then another, then another, until multiple spotlights are flashing on multiple people.

It goes black again.

Suddenly, all of the people are there, almost all of the numbers but one, they are touching one another, briefly, transparently.

In the center is a child. IMOGEN

IMOGEN: Something isn’t right.

She strides across the stage.

iMOGEN: something is amiss!

She starts to turn in a circle.

IMOGEN: My world is breaking! Why? Who is breaking it!

All of the others whisper: the MAN.

IMOGEN: A man?

ALL: Yes.

IMOGEN: Why is he here?

ALL: We do not know.

IMOGEN: Is he bad or is he good?

ALL: neither.

IMOGEN: Is he tall or short?

ALL: Neither. He embodies no extreme, no one idea. He simply is.

IMOGEN: What must I do?

ALL: He must be eliminated.

IMOGEN: HOW?

ALL: We must ask… her.

IMOGEN: The Mathématicienne?

ALL: yes.

IMOGEN: All right.

Scene 5

LIAM is walking with IOTA. They are side by side, but distanced. He is looking at her but she is looking ahead.

IOTA: You aren’t a numeral.

LIAM: No.

IOTA: You’re human.

LIAM: Yes.

She stops walking.

He stops two steps in front of her.

IOTA: Is it true you’re made of us?

LIAM: What do you mean?

IOTA: Well, that’s why were aren’t supposed to mix. That’s why you don’t belong here. Because We are the numbers, and you are the calculation.

LIAM: I am not a calculation.

IOTA: You are. All humans are.

LIAM: Well… That’s just… That’s stupid.

IOTA: You don’t believe me.

LIAM: Why am I here?

IOTA: You fell from the sky.

LIAM: I know that.

IOTA: I know you do. I’m telling you so I can tell myself. But you should leave, or they will subtract you from the system.

LIAM: How can you subtract me if I’m made of you? Aren’t you killing yourselves?

IOTA: Killing? As in death?

LIAM: Yeah.

IOTA: We don’t die, Liam. We aren’t alive.

LIAM: Sure you are.

IOTA: Touch me.

LIAM: (aghast) What?

IOTA: (exasperated) Not like that.

(she holds out her hand)

IOTA: Touch me.

LIAM reaches out and brushes the tips of her fingers.

LIAM: I don’t feel anything.

IOTA: You see? Nothing.

(a distant call)

EPSILON: IOTA! IOTA!

LIAM: She has come. Quickly, hide!

(she pushes him into the darkness)

EPSILON: Iota.

IOTA: Yes.

EPSILON: Have you seen him? The denumerate?

IOTA: No. Not since the spinning time.

EPSILON. You must tell me if you see him. You would tell me, would you not?

IOTA: Of course.

EPSILON: You know he is dangerous, right? You know he could corrupt us all?

IOTA: (cannot look her in the eye) Yes.

EPSILON: (steps forward until she is very close to IOTA) and you are aware of the punishment for rebelling against the order to aid a denumerate?

IOTA: I-

EPSILON: SUBTRACTION!

IOTA: But-

EPSILON: IOTA! MEN ARE CORRUPT! THEY WEEDLE AND LIE AND TRY TO PUT ORDER TO THAT WHICH ALREADY IS! THEY DESTROY EVERYTHING WE ARE HERE TO MAKE THEIR CALCULATIONS! NOT TO BEFRIEND THEM!

IOTA: Of course!

EPSILON: (calm again) then I should hope that wherever (she gestures around) he happens to be, he will soon be found and turned in.

IOTA: (bows very slowly) Have no doubt.

Scene 6

IMOGEN is standing alone on a large rock with her back to the audience. You can hear the dripping of water.

IMOGEN: Mathématicienne?

(it is silent, but you can hear water trickling now)

IMOGEN: There is a denumerate that has trespassed into our existence. How may I subtract him?

(you hear rushing water now.)

IMOGEN: How can that be?

(now waves crashing upon a shore)

IMOGEN:No. No, no. We need every numeral. Every numeral must remain.

(more crashing)

IMOGEN: (begging) Please.

(thunderous roar of water)

IMOGEN: (bows head) Of course. You are right. It will be done.

(the water goes back to trickling)

IMOGEN: You are the ultimate. His body will be yours.

(the scene goes dark)

Scene 7

(IOTA and LIAM run onto the stage, panting)

LIAM: Where are you taking me?

IOTA: I am trying to find you a safe place, Liam. Please trust me.

LIAM: I do. I just don’t trust this place. It’s dark and cold and empty.

IOTA: Liam. It only became dark and cold when you came.

LIAM: What do you mean?

IOTA: Humans bring grief and pain and sorrow. They bring order where there is to be no order. They are meant to be subtracted. But subtraction is wrong. I don’t want you to disappear Liam. I like your spinning.

LIAM: I like your spinning too.

IOTA: Good. Then trust me. (begins walking again)

LIAM: (doesn’t move) You can’t tell me where we are going?

(IOTA stops)

IOTA: There is a creature. She maintains order in the calculations. Her name is the Mathématicienne. I think she can help us.

LIAM: Okay.

IOTA: Now, come on, we don’t have much time!

(They run off the stage)

(EPSILON and a band of numerals run onto the stage)

EPSILON: Impossible! He is nowhere to be seen!

OMICRON: He must be getting assistance. Someone among us must be a traitor.

(A distant murmur steadily grows louder)

BETA, GAMMA, KAPPA: 1,2,3…1,2,3…1,2,3…1,2,3…

UPSILON: What are you doing?

KAPPA: counting.

UPSILON: How will this “counting” bring us proper light and warmth?! Is this why our world has become so cold, because you are not calculating properly?

BETA: It was the human. He told us we were doing it wrong!

GAMMA: He said this was the correct order!

SIGMA: The fool! The sooner he is subtracted the better!

EPSILON: Let us go! But first! First! We must find Imogen!

BETA: Yes, and the Alpha.

OMICRON: I will go!

GAMMA: And I with her!

(They head off right stage)

EPSILON: Where would he go? Who could possibly aid them?

BETA: Perhaps… the Mathématicienne?

EPSILON: Why would they do that? She works for no one!

KAPPA: But she is wise… Is she not? And she has no biases…

EPSILON: Hmm… Alright. We will head in that direction for now. But if this yields no results…

BETA: We will take full responsibility.

EPSILON: Good.

Scene 8

IMOGEN: I am waiting for them. I know they will come. And when they do, I will kill the number of his heart, and he will be subtracted from our existence forever.

(swirling of water)

IMOGEN: No. It does not bother me. Subtraction is essential for the proper occurrence of the system. I am ready.

ONE: Imogen.

IMOGEN: the Alpha. Why are you here?

ONE: To aid you in the subtraction of the denumerate forever.

IMOGEN: Of what aid could you possibly be?

ONE: I am silent. I am empty. As every numeral should be.

IMOGEN: Then you may join me in my silence.

(scene fades to black)

Scene 9

LIAM and IOTA run onto the stage from the left this time)

LIAM: Iota.

IOTA: Yes?

LIAM: How is it that you knew my name?

IOTA: What do you mean?

LIAM: I never told you my name.

IOTA: Does it matter?! We haven’t got the time for this!

LIAM: Tell me how you knew my name.

IOTA: No, this is ridiculous.

LIAM: Who are you? Who am I?

IOTA: Nothing! No one!

LIAM: Tell me!

IOTA: NO! It doesn’t matter,

LIAM: Tell me, Iota. Tell me who you are. Tell me who I am.

IOTA: I am nothing but a numerate, and you are nothing but a twenty-seven year old meth addict from the downtown eastside.

LIAM: What?

IOTA: You need her more than anything else, she dominates your insides and subtracts the things that make you who you are. She is meth, and she is the Mathématicienne. Do you understand. We are you? We know you even if we don’t realize it. You just aren’t supposed to know us. I don’t know how you got here, but… (her voice breaks) I’m sure something really terrible is going to happen to you. And I don’t know how to stop it.

LIAM: Why would you want to? What does it matter?

IOTA: We have to leave, Liam.

LIAM: Why?

IOTA: (shaking her head) We have to go. Please. Now.

(she takes his hand and leads him off the stage)

Scene 9

(LIAM and IOTA walk onto the stage where IMOGEN stands on her perch, back still turned to the audience)

IMOGEN: You have come.

IOTA: Yes.

IMOGEN: I have already spoken to the Mathématicienne. She has told me what must be done to salvage the life of the denumerate. Step forward, Iota.

IOTA (steps forward) this will save him?

IMOGEN: (looks away) yes.

LIAM: Iota… are you sure…

IMOGEN: Iota. Step into the water.

LIAM: I… I don’t… I don’t think…

IOTA (steps onto the rock and off into the water) It’s cold. And black.

IMOGEN: It must be done.

LIAM: No. No! There must be some mistake!

IOTA: I feel strange.

(heartbeats sound)

IOTA: As if I am dissipating…

LIAM: Iota!

(heartbeats get slower)

(an ambulance sounds, paramedic voices)

LIAM: What’s happening?

(a red light starts to flash, as the heartbeats get slower and slower)

LIAM: There’s something wrong! She’s dying! I know it! You’re killing her!

IMOGEN: I’m sorry LIAM. Your heart is dying.

LIAM: My heart?

IMOGEN: Iota is your heart. Now she is nearly nothing. You are re-entering the world you belong in. She will drown in the darkness you placed in our existence.

The red and black lights begin to pulse, faster and faster, until they suddenly go black.

(ambulance sounds in the background, paramedic frequency and voice overs.)

PM1: I can’t feel his pulse.

PM2: I think we lost him.

PM1: clear!

(electric pulse)

PM2: Nothing.

PM1: He’s gone.

Slowly the darkness lightens.

There you see the many numbers gathered, with LIAM at the forefront.

They begin to spin as white ashes fall down on them.

LIAM VOICE OVER: I know that all of me is gone. But an echo fo me, I think, is still spinning. I think I gained too much momentum to stop. I’m seeing my body crippled on the sidewalk, pale and sweaty and lifeless. But me? The real me? I’m just spinning.