Scene 4 -Ants

James is sitting on the bench. When Beta walks in

James: (subdued) Look what the cat dragged In.

Beta: James

James: (still subdued) Yeah

Beta: My superiors are interested in your Hypothesis. Please can you elaborate on your theories.

James: What theories might that be sweet pea.

Beta: You are suggesting we are too rigid in our approach to work. That we should eat real meals more often and that...

james: and what

Beta: and that... (slightly annoyed) 99% percent of our society should become inebriated.

James: Well i'll be dammed if i said that.

Beta: You said 99% percent of the population need to kick back with a beer

James: (he interrupts) i know what i said... I guess i said something along those lines.

Beta: Will you help us. They believe your theories may help us understand why so many of our people are self terminating.

James: Sure No problem

(pause)

Beta: Thank you

James: Beta

Beta: Yes

James: Before we begin I need to ask you something.

Beta: What would you like to ask

James: You keep saying that you are a different species that you are not human.

Beta: That is correct .

James: and you evolved from a different species,

Beta: That is correct

James: Is it a species that i know.

Beta: I am sorry but i cannot say.

James: My grandpa used to say that when the Russians and the Americans finished with each other the only thing that would survive would be the bees and they would evolve to rule the planet.

Beta: Your grandfather would be mistaken. Bees lived on the surface of the planet anything that lived on the surface would not have survived.

James: Then What did you evolve from

Beta: I am sorry i have not been granted the authority to say.

James: Well you better get the authority. because of you don't tell me i won't talk i won't help you.

Beta: That is not what we agreed. You already confirmed you would help

James: I didn't agree to be locked up here so does that mean your going to let me go

Beta: That would not be possible

James: then tell me (james stands up)

Beta: (beta looks up) Subject is requesting...

James: No Beta (james grabs Beta's arm knowing he can touch her if he is not hostile) do not ask them, just tell me.

Beta: Very well. We evolved from a species that is unknown to your world. However the closet relation of that species would have been known in your world as...

James: as what... (calmly) tell me Beta

Beta: Ants

James: Sweet Jesus. Thats not possible

Beta: I assure you it is.

James: Your kidding me.. Your fucking kidding me

Beta: I assure you i am not

james: But how can it be.. How.. (he looks directly at her).. We used to watch you burn... (points a finger at Beta) We used to watch you burn...

(pause)

Beta: I do not understand

James: As kids we used to play with ants.. We had ant farms. Clear containers that would allow us to watch you... watch you dig a tunnels and take food to the queen.

Whatever food we put in there... no matter how big it was.. piece by piece it would make its through the tunnels. Every ant would take a little piece...A tiny little piece and before you knew...it was gone.

My Cat used to fight with every cat in the neighborhood. It used the roam the garden like it was the king of Egypt... If anyone came it near it... If anyone even tried to stroke it... it would run away... or hide under the porch... I guess he just worked alone... but ants... ants were different... You formed lines.. You worked together...You had order...You communicated.

I asked my dad how... how do ants do those things.. did you have your own world... Like our world but smaller... Ants that knew each other... ants that were friends.. ants that hated each other.. and ants that loved each... and do you know what he said... he said it was instinct that everything ants did was instinctive. That you just did what you did for no reason at all... but it wasn't instinct was it. It was intelligence.

Beta: Maybe, It is hard to say how intelligent ants of your time were.

James: but they were intelligent. My father was wrong. but they weren't intelligent enough. Not intelligent enough to get out the way when little five year old Jimmy held his magnifying glass over the ants in the hot sun and watched them burn to death. You didn't seem so intelligent then... and now its me isn't it. it's me under the magnifying glass its me thats going to burn.

(pause)

(anger) answer me Beta. I'm going to burn like the ants i tortured

Beta: We did not create you to seek revenge, That is not in our nature and we would not want any harm to come to you. We created you to help us. Nothing more. The fact that you tortured ants as child is purely a coincidence.

James: Ironic though isn't it

Beta: Yes i suppose it is.

james: Whats going to happen to me Beta.

Beta: This has not been discussed.

James: This doesn't seem like you, not to have a plan

Beta: We did not know if you would survive and we did not know..(she stops)

James: What Beta Spit it out...

Beta: If you truly were an intelligent species.

James: and whats the verdict

Beta: You are able to communicate with me satisfactorily, Your brain has shown increasing strength in your synaptic pathways and you have provided a hypothesize that may help resolve our problem. Once my assignment is complete i am going to recommend we transfer you to a secure location were you may live out your days.

James: and were might this place be, another room like this. I don't want to end my days in a prison.

Beta: No. It would have to be a remote location somewhere on the planet that would provide the most suitable habitat for your survival.

James: what do you mean by a remote location. How isolated will i be

Beta: We would be unable to release you into the general population. This would have a negative impact on our society.

James: and what i am going to do in this remote location who am i going to spend my time with. Have you not learnt anything about human behavior. I doubt you will be joining me in this paradise.

Beta: I can recommend we create you a mate... I believe this would be a adequate reward for your help. I will propose this solution to my superiors then you may live out your days together.

James: Somehow i find that hard to believe.

Beta: Why, What were you expecting

James: have you ever heard the saying "what goes around comes around"

Beta: I told you we do not seek revenge. We have evolved far beyond such behavior

James: I hope so Beta I hope so.

(pause)

Beta: Will you help us james. Will you help us understand your theory

James: Then you have to get me something for me

Beta: what is it

James: I want you to get me a beer and none of that Centauri crap i want a genuine beer straight from the fridge.

Beta: I do not think this will be possible.

James: Do not give me any of that crap. If you can can fill my stomach without putting so much as one scrap of meat to my lips then you can brew some barley and get me a beer.

Beta: I will have to see if this is possible.

James: Trust me Beta It's possible so then take that sweet ass of your outer them doors and get me a beer.

Beta: Very Well (Beta heads towards the doors)

James: Beta one more thing

Beta: Yes.

James: Make it two

Beta: very well

Beta exits.