Long Train of Abuses

Short play: Stage is dark for 20 seconds, First image appears of jefferson for 5 seconds, then his image fades to black, with the words remaining "long train of abuses. Text fades . Stage to black for 5 seconds. Then train named "Abuses" comes across from stage left very slowly. On the passenger cars are faces of children, and the names of all the abuses that the US has placed upon other nations. Steam is rising from the train as it moves slowly across the stage. Metal grinding on the rails is heard, and a hushed sharp whistle on the train. As the train reaches stage right, an image of the tree of liberty slowly fades in. Suddenly, from out from behind, and through the image of the tree of liberty, comes Uncle Sam pointing a finger at the audience, muttering "I want you to obey me"! Followed with "I want you to serve me"! Uncle sam keeps muttering and is walking straight for the audience finger pointed at them, when suddenly he falls into a trap door on stage, and the entire stage goes black for 3 seconds. Then lights fade in with the text "we did it so you wouldn't have to, dont dissapoint us". The text slowly fading to black. --Short play over. 

Stage Directions: (Stage remains completely dark for 20 seconds.)

Scene 1: (A faint image of Thomas Jefferson appears center stage, projected onto a screen or backdrop. His image remains for 5 seconds. Then, his image fades, leaving behind only the words: "long train of abuses.")

(The text lingers for a few seconds before fading to black. Stage remains dark for 5 seconds.)

Scene 2: (A slow, ominous rumbling is heard. A train named "Abuses" begins to move across the stage from left to right.)

(The passenger cars carry projected faces of children, along with written names of the various abuses the U.S. has inflicted upon other nations. These names may include "Genocide," "Slavery," "War Crimes," "Colonialism," "Corporate Exploitation," etc.)

(Sound Effects: The metal grinding of train wheels on the rails, a hushed but sharp whistle.)

(Visuals: Steam rises from the train as it moves slowly across the stage.)

Scene 3: (As the train reaches stage right, an image of the Tree of Liberty begins to fade in, strong and resolute.)

(Suddenly, Uncle Sam bursts through the image of the Tree of Liberty, stepping forward aggressively toward the audience.)

(Uncle Sam points directly at the audience, his voice low and ominous, muttering:)

UNCLE SAM: "I want you to obey me..."

"I want you to serve me..."

(He continues muttering variations of these phrases as he advances closer to the audience, finger still pointed.)

(Just as Uncle Sam reaches the front of the stage—he suddenly falls into a trap door, disappearing from sight.)

(The entire stage goes black for 3 seconds.)

Scene 4: (Lights slowly fade back in.)

(A final message appears in text on the screen or backdrop:)

"We did it so you wouldn’t have to. Don’t disappoint us."

(The text lingers, then slowly fades to black.)