"Lose Yourself"
Piper and Trotter, two astronauts, are on the surface of Mars outside their biodome. They are the last remaining members of a 5-person crew. Their morale is kept alive by scarce moments of a dustless night-sky and the nostalgia of a shared childhood bond.
Trotter: When we finally pulled you off, “there [was] vomit [all over your] sweater!” If memory serves me right, it was your “Mom’s spaghetti.”
The two laugh uncontrollably, pausing after they calm down.
Piper: It’s strange to think that we were already preparing for High-G training on a playground centrifuge. (pause) I wish that we had any home cooked food right now. Even if it was the only thing that Mom knew how to make, she made that spaghetti well.
Trotter: Unlike baked potatoes. I am so sick and tired of baked potatoes.
Piper: What are you going to do about it?
Trotter: The next potato will end up “chewed up and spit out.”
Piper: It’s the only thing we have. We’re lucky Watney left those “back [in] the lab.”
Trotter: So tired of them.
Piper: It’s not like I can cook you a feast. Cows don’t grow on Mars. At least not anymore. That was Watney’s last project, creating life on Mars. It didn’t go so well.
Trotter: It's so sad what happened to them.
Piper: So sad.
They both pause while they shake their heads in remembrance.
Piper: Anyway... “back to reality.” We still have to find a way off of this stupid rock.
Trotter starts to announce everything about Piper in a sports announcer’s voice.
Trotter: Ladies and gentlemen, “he’s nervous, but on the surface he looks calm and ready.”
Piper: Let’s see, I need to go inside to do the calculations and be ready for any transmissions we receive.
Trotter: That’s a good plan, but “he keeps on forgettin’” that we are stuck here forever. He tries to open “his mouth, but the words won’t come out” because who wants to believe they’ll die on Mars?
Piper: Can you stop that?
Trotter: “The clock’s run out.”
Piper shoves Trotter who falls to the floor. Trotter is confused and starts to become aggressive, but realizes that Piper is trying to get him out of his own shock. While on his back he sees a light flickering in the atmosphere.
Trotter: Do you think they know we’re still alive?
Piper: I’m sure they do. We might have lost all of our communication systems, but… (points) You see that light flashing?
Trotter: Yeah, it’s been going on for a while now.
Piper: Dude, why didn’t you say something? It’s signaling us in Morse code, but I can’t decipher that quickly.
Trotter: I didn’t realize.
Piper: (sighs) This is the first clear night that we've had in a while.
Piper pulls out a slip of paper and pencil.
Trotter: You remember when I aced the test that Ms. Perry gave us on binary, but then couldn’t remember it after Summer break?
Piper: Jesus Christ. (pauses) Luckily, I came prepared with a book of ciphers. Give me a second.
Piper jots down a few notes.
Piper: It says “Congratulations! The world has decided to spend billions to save both of you instead of eliminating world hunger! We’ll be sending a module, named Gravity, to come pick you up at 0400 hours. “You only [have] one shot, do not miss your chance.”
Trotter: No way! “This opportunity comes once in a lifetime!” I’m surprised that you managed to translate that entire message in such a short amount of time. I think you should be the one “stepwritin’ the next cipher.”
Piper: What?
Trotter: Alright, “success is [our] only…option, failure’s not.” It feels so good to have hope again. All these years, I’ve been “growing farther from home,” floating away on this big rock. “I cannot grow old in Salem's lot.”
This piece was written in collaboration by Brendan and Aneesa
