The Great Computer Cheeseburger Play
Act II, Scene I
Washington, DC, Part I
Note to teachers and parents: If you haven't read the Introduction
to this play experience, please go to this link before starting this scene with the students. Keep in mind that this play is meant to be overacted and that
your students will need to fill in many of their parts.
Setting and Where We Are in Our Adventure at This Time:
The setting is on Earth-almost. It's a little above the Washington Monument
as you may recall from our last exciting scene. Currently our characters
are on their way to landing in a space ship that may or may not be a space
ship. (Check on information about the space ship and Mars "landing
vehicle" and decide what kind of space travel this might be. If you
need to, return to Act I for the hints about Mars.) The "ship"
is heading directly for the pinnacle of the Washington Monument.
All the people at the base of the Monument waiting patiently for their
turn to go up to the top of the Monument are about to be rather surprised.
The space explorers are not waiting patiently. They are a little upset
with GC (Great Computer) because they really aren't anxious to crash into
one of the United States of America's national treasures.
Additional characters for this scene:
None, except the people waiting at the Washington Monument for a turn
to ride on the elevator up to the top. They have almost one word to say.
No longer with us again in this scene:
The Tires (Or perhaps the wheels. What are they really?) of the Sojourner
Rover. They are sadly left behind on the red planet. Gathering dust. Becoming
an artifact.
Curtain: The patient curtain rises on Act II, Scene I, a scene which
is decidedly different in its views-north, south, east, and west.
Student #25: (Note to those rewriting this script-remember to insert
names of students when the student numbers are part of the script!)
(In your best news reporter's voice, please describe the scene on and
from the spaceship. GC Hint: <http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index2.htm>)
Look at all those people down there! They've seen us and are looking worried,
I think.
People: (to audience) Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..........
GC: Time for a slight adjustment, I see. Just thought you'd like a rather
different view of the Washington Monument. (looks at the audience, raise
eyebrows, and says) Tee Hee. (to the space travelers) Shall we land to
the east of the monument? Student #7, please check just east of the Monument
for landing.
Student#7: (Checks the eastern view and describes it. GC Hint:<http://www.nps.gov/nacc/east.htm>.
I think we should land to the east on the grassy mall near the Smithsonian
Buildings.
GC: We must definitely look for the best and most exciting place to
land. Student #9, check the western approach.
Student #9:(Checks the western view and describes it. GC Hint:< http://www.nps.gov/nacc/west.htm>.)This
is a good site for landing.
Student #12: I'll check out the south. (Check the south and describe.
GC Hint: <http://www.nps.gov/nacc/south.htm>)
Let's land in the Tidal Basin. Spaceships can land in water can't they?
Can ours? I think we will float and the water doesn't look too very deep.
I wonder....
GC: What's left? Northeast, southwest, north, (fill in). Student #19,
show the computer views of the possible areas we might land, now.
Student #19: (Getting the views on screen, describes what is seen.)
I think we should land at National Airport or Dulles Airport, but I can't
find those on the views.
GC: (In deepest sarcastic computer voice.) Boring! How about if we land
in the Rose Garden of the White House?
Student #27: Oh no, I'm allergic to roses. Not there. (Sneezes loudly
at the thought of roses.) And the thorns might (fill in).
GC: And my great mind tells me that Students #1 and #5 are allergic
to roses, too.
Students #1 and #5: We are. (They sneeze in unison.)
Teacher: Cover your noses when you sneeze, please. (Turns directly to
the audience and says) That has a ring to it, doesn't it? Sneeze, please.
Please sneeze. (Smiles as if very satisfied with self.)
GC: Ready for aquatic landing. How about the Reflecting Pool or the
Tidal Basin or a surprise for a spashdown?
Classmate #27: Oh no!
GC: Let me guess. You are allergic to water, too?
Classmate #27: No, but it doesn't look exactly like the Reflecting Pool
to me.
GC: Surprise. It's not. It's<http://www.his.com/~matson/index.html>.
Don't worry. We are equipped with kayaks, and we'll paddle on down the
(fill in river) to visit some great sites in Washington.
Classmate #28: I didn't know you could do this in Washington, D.C. Neat.
Teacher: Brace for landing. Put on your life preservers. Ready for landing.
GC: Repeat after me, "Great Cheeseburger!"
All: GREAT CHEESEBURGER!
Splash!!!!!!
Curtain: (Describe the scene now and end with) The curtain falls on
a very wet Act I, Scene II. Onward in the next curtain uprising to the
Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Art! Adios.
Teacher: (stepping in front of the curtain which is on the floor)
Homework time. You might want to travel on the Information Highway to
some of the places in our next adventure ahead of time. Here they are:
National Gallery of Art< http://www.nga.gov/>
and Smithsonian Institution<http://www.si.edu/newstart.htm>.
Curtain: (gets up) The curtain falls again. (falls gently to the floor)
Return to The Great Computer Cheeseburger Play Intro
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