Assignment/Activity Title Inspirations Play

Year Freshman
Skill Public Performance, Group Dynamics Portfolio
CategorySocial
Awareness
For this assignment, our class formed groups and were told to write a tenminute play about a current issue in todays society or something that
inspired us. We went in the direction of the latter and wrote a play based
around a popular song in Japan. In this song, a lonely scientist developed a
robot and the result was said to be a miracle. The scientist wants to give
this sentient robot emotions, but since the program is too complicated, he
dies before completing it. The robot downloads the program, starts shortcircuiting, and dies smiling since she is so happy. But this assignment wasnt
only writing a play, it was research as well. Our group researched what it
meant to be human and looked up definitions of non-describable things such
as emotion, love, company, and the like. These things layered into our play
very well in addition to the short film we added at the end about the
advancement of AI technology, which glitches to a picture of the scientist
and the robot hugging in what is imagined to be heaven. One group member
in particular was difficult to work with, but that only strengthened my
patience and social skills. The writing of the play itself turned out perfectly
since there were five members of our group and there were ten scenes in the
play. Everyone wrote two scenes, then we edited as a group. Overall, this
was my favorite project that we did this year, in all of CAP. Not because I
enjoyed it the most at the time, but since the final product was more
spectacular than I ever could have dreamed when we started. I learned that
we as humans are frightened of things that we do not understand and that
we also can turn a blind eye to others motivations. This play has made me a
lot more aware of what I feel on a day to day basis, which is wonderful.

Student Signature

Date

Teacher Signature

Date

SCRIPT
Scene 1:
NARRATOR 1: The first miracle was that you were born. The second miracle was the time
spent with you.
ROBOT stumbles onto stage, stays at center. Lights are dimmed. ROBOT overfilled with
emotion; clutching heart, shaking head furiously, slowly collapses onto floor. Lights out. ROBOT
stands up in stoic, regular position, closes eyes. ENGINEER arrives silently, sets up for second
scene. Lights flicker on, flashback begins.
Scene 2:
BOTH NARRATORS: A lonely scientist developed a robot. The result was said to be a
"miracle".
ROBOTs eyes open, ENGINEER astonished, starts tinkering the ROBOT more furiously and
begins talking.
ENGINEER: I was lonely, so I created the most wonderful intelligent being of my career you.
It was difficult to get the mechanics just right - you know, to make your movements look real,
human - but I spent the most time on your programming Hey can you bend that arm? Did I
tighten the screw too much? Should I loosen it?
ROBOT bends arm.
ROBOT: It feels um well.
ENGINEER: Oh good. I cannot convey how happy I am in words!
ROBOT: happy?
BOTH NARRATORS: But the robot wasn't yet sufficient; there was just one thing she wasn't
able to do.
ENGINEER: Yes, happy. Its been (pauses and looks up in thought) three years? Yes. Thats it.
(Goes back to making adjustments). Ive been working on you for three years. I started working
on you when my daughter died. She was so young. Only seven. I modeled you after her. You
look almost the same -- except she was a bit paler. Well, nearer to the end of her life anyway. She

fell ill at about five and a half and was bedridden for about a year. She was always so happy
though, she never gave up hope. Even in the last of her days she always smiled Okay now can
you try bending your knee? (ROBOT bends knee) Excellent! A few more adjustments and you
will be able to walk in no time! Where was I? Ah yes
After she died, my wife left. She left for various reasons, but I think it was mainly because I
started working very hard on a new project: a sentient robot, you.
NARRATOR 1: Sentient. Adjective.
NARRATOR 2: Able to perceive or feel things.
NARRATOR 1: Synonyms are feeling, living, conscious, aware, reactive.
ENGINEER: I was so engrossed in my project that I could hardly pay attention to anything else.
When I finally told her about my plans she seemed almost horrified. I now know that it came
off as insensitive when I had first explained it to her. She had finally moved on and I only
resurfaced memories. She thought I was going to create some sort of Frankenstein's Monster.
Dead is dead, you cant bring her back! Cant you just accept that shes gone?! If only I had
explained my thinking more clearly. I wasnt going to create a horrible being in the image of our
daughter! She was frightened by the unknown, as most humans are. The thought of something
non-human or non-animal beingalive was something she simply could not understand.
Humans are always afraid of things that they dont understand. It was unfortunate we couldnt
see eye to eye on this matter. The day I told her about you was the day she asked for a divorce
Done! Okay, now try to walk. (ROBOT walks around). Fantastic! It looks positively human!
Wow, this is remarkable. Okay, hold on one second. Im going to reboot you, okay? I need to
install some more software. Ready?
ROBOT nods. ENGINEER taps a button and ROBOT visibly shuts down.

Scene 3:
After a couple moments, the ROBOT starts up again. Now fully functional, she makes eye
contact with a now overjoyed scientist. ENGINEERs smile becomes larger until she suddenly
embraces her. Tableau here: ROBOT stands stoically-indifferent to the ENGINEERs hug. After a
few seconds, the ENGINEER pulls away; embarrassed.

ROBOT: ...What was the meaning of that action?

ENGINEER: (stuttering) I-Im sorry, I was...overwhelmed.
ROBOT: Overwhelmed? I apologize, what caused you to reach this state?
ENGINEER: Im just...so delighted to see you working properly. Its been so long since (she
pauses, seemingly beginning to tear up)...since Ive had some real company.
ROBOT: Company? What do you mean by company?
The characters pause.
NARRATOR 1: Company. Noun.
NARRATOR 2: The fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that
provides friendship and enjoyment:
NARRATOR 1: Synonyms include friendship, fellowship, amity, camaraderie.
ROBOT: Is my purpose to provide companionship?
ENGINEER: (Chuckling coldly) ...Its not that simple.
She exits, shaking her head.
Scene 4:
ROBOT stoic in center stage, ASSISTANT working far left, and visually nervous (tapping feet,
fidgeting). ENGINEER storms on stage from left, trying to look for something lost (throwing
things, looking through stacks of paper); eventually notices ASSISTANT, cools a little to ask if
hed seen blueprints.
ASSISTANT: (Even toned) No, I havent.
ENGINEER: (Barely restraining her anger) Well, I cant find them anywhere. Are you sure you
didnt misplace them?
ASSISTANT: I would have noticed them if I had.
ENGINEER: (Begins to shuffle through papers angrily) Well they must be somewhere around
here! They couldnt have just disappeared!
ASSISTANT: (Shouting) Hey thats my work!
ENGINEER: (She turns to him, suddenly furious) Yeah? Well it was my work too; and now its
gone!
ASSISTANT: Its not my fault, okay?

ENGINEER: (Irate) Only you and I work in this lab, and I know where I keep my blueprints. I
wouldnt move them; I had no reason to move them. You must have taken them! Where did you
put them?
ASSISTANT: (Equally forceful) I didnt do it!
ENGINEER: Then who did it, huh? Theres no one else here!
ASSISTANT: You know what? Ive had it with this.
(The assistant begins to gather his things)
ENGINEER: What are you doing?
ASSISTANT: (Exasperated) Im leaving! Im not putting up with another one of your outbursts.
This project just isnt for me.
(Tableau here, of the two beginning to argue)
ENGINEER: What do you mean?
ASSISTANT: (Voice shaking) Im...Im scared of where your research is going. I did read your
blueprints-which I put back-and...not all progress is good progress.
ENGINEER: (fuming) ...youre a coward.
ASSISTANT: Call me what you want. Im not your assistant anymore.
He storms off stage, leaving the ENGINEER to fume. The ENGINEER stands on the right of the
stage, breathing heavily and clenching her fists. Slowly, her anger fades into sadness.
ENGINEER: (Quiet, defeated) You...you were there since the beginning. Youd been there every
step of the way; you were the last one!
The ENGINEER falls to the ground, defeated. She cries softly into her hands, leading into scene
five.
Scene 5:
ASSISTANT leaves stage at right. ENGINEER tries to stop him, but fumbles to the right of the
stage, not being able to catch the ASSISTANT. Downtrodden, she wipes away a tear.
ENGINEER, at a loss for words, falls to feet. Tableau.
ROBOT: Why are you doing this? Are you resting?
ENGINEER: ...what? (still in tears) No, no, this is nothing that should concern you, please.
ROBOT: This expression, what is it?
ENGINEER: Im just sad right now, disturbed and disappointed.

ROBOT: Is this sad you have negative?

ENGINEER (cautious): ...sure...yes, it is. But, I think its very normal. People just feel sad
sometimes.
ROBOT: Can you remove it?
(ENGINEER pauses. Nobody says anything.)
ENGINEER: If... I was never sad, I couldnt be happy then, could I?
(without delay) ROBOT: If you remove happy, then sad will have no meaning as well.
(Inquiring) Why do you have either?
ENGINEER: We feel because I guess thats what we do...as people.
ROBOT: What is feeling, then?
The characters pause.
NARRATOR 1: Feeling. Noun.
NARRATOR 2: An emotional state or reaction.
NARRATOR 1: Synonyms are love, warmth, emotion, sentiment.
ENGINEER, guilty for this miscommunication, slowly walks out.
ENGINEER (on way out): Im sorry...I, I dont know. (frustrated)
Scene 6:
An instrumental of Venus as a Boy is played. NARRATOR 1, NARRATOR 2, ASSISTANT, and
three other people come onto stage as extras, probably wearing bright colors. They move around
the stoic robot. Three different scenes are happening; two of them are talking, with a hug at the
end; two others are leisurely dancing; the last two playing a game. ROBOT looks at the scenes
around her. Tableau. The people disperse.
NARRATOR 1: Happy. Adjective.
NARRATOR 2: Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
NARRATOR 1: Synonyms are cheerful, merry, untroubled, carefree.
ROBOT: What is this expression? (now inquiring) What causes this motivation?
ROBOT awkwardly hops, feebly mimicking the humans happy motions.(jumps slightly in air,
bounces arms, while body remains stiff however, then pauses and continues)
ROBOT: This is what they did. Why do people do this? Does it help them? It must.

ROBOT shows no sign of inquisitive desperation, simply a dull contentedness with herself. No
expression is visible. She steps forward, toward audience.
ROBOT: It is simply what people do, I presume. What, then, are people? What do they do that I
cant?
The ROBOT pauses.
NARRATOR 1: People. Noun.
NARRATOR 2: 1. Human beings in general or considered collectively.
NARRATOR 1: Synonyms are human beings, persons, individuals, mortals.
NARRATOR 2: 2. The men, women, and children of a particular nation, community, or ethnic
group.
NARRATOR 1: Synonyms are race, tribe, clan.
Again, ROBOT is not expressing any form of urgency, only flat interest. Her want is not human
urge, just a simple task: to be a person.
ROBOT: This is something that is unknown to me.
Scene 7:
ROBOT retreats back to center stage. ENGINEER is upper stage, typing or doing work. Only
half-listening to ROBOT.
ROBOT: What makes a person a person?
ENGINEER: (still working, not too distracted) Well, a person is someone whos...sentient. And
has good morals.
ROBOT: Am I a person?
ENGINEER (cocks head to side): Not...quite.
ROBOT: I would like to be a person. I wish to feel the things people around me feel, to
understand and comprehend. What am I missing? What do I lack?
ENGINEER stops work, and looks up to the audience; doesnt turn to the ROBOT just yet.
ENGINEER: Do you mean...emotion?
The characters pause.
NARRATOR 1: Emotion. Noun.
NARRATOR 2: A natural instinctive state of mind deriving from ones circumstances, mood, or
relationships with others.

NARRATOR 1: Synonyms are feeling, sentiment, reaction, response, passion.

ROBOT: Yes. I want emotion.
ENGINEER gets up, walks toward the ROBOT, and inspects her, she then takes a long gaze
across the stage. A small sigh escapes her lips.
ENGINEER: Okay.
ENGINEER slowly walks up front, and picks up a stack of papers. She files through them, a
puzzled look on her face. There is a deep burden in her chest.
ENGINEER: Its dangerous, though. Such a program is very complex. (puts down stack of
papers, starts to pace back and forth slowly) I tried making it before, when my assistant was still
here, but he lost them. I decided you didnt need such a thing, but you do. Youll have to wait,
but (turns to ROBOT) I promise youll have emotion.
NARRATOR 1: As it is seen by your eyes, how do you view my existence?"
BOTH NARRATORS: Time for him is not infinite, but she doesn't understand that yet
Scene 8:
ENGINEER sits at desk, working at a relatively casual pace. A doctor enters from stage left,
holding a clipboard.
DOCTOR: (Looking at clipboard) So, youve mentioned your symptoms to me, and it seems
clear that youve been overworking yourself lately. If you simply cut down on your work time
and give yourself more time to rest, youll feel better quickly.
ENGINEER: (Focused on work) Cut down? No, not possible. This project is far too important to
just stop working.
DOCTOR: (Frustrated) Well then how can you expect yourself to get better? (doctor stops and
considers) Im not saying you have to stop entirely, just that.. you need to give yourself a break
every now and then.
ENGINEER(impatient): If this is all you have to say to me then you can kindly see yourself out.
As you can see Im very busy.
DOCTOR(worried now): If you continue at this rate youll run yourself straight into the ground!
(still flabbergasted) What will happen to your work then?
ENGINEER (sternly): Theres no need to worry. Ill be fine, just...get out.
(The doctor exits)

NARRATOR 1: I want to be able to teach her...the joy and sadness of a person, The miracle
scientist wishes.
BOTH NARRATORS: But with his agony continuing, time was only slipping away.
The scientist begins to work at a more rapid pace, as a heart monitor can be heard, beeping
steadily. The scientist continues to work, progressively becoming more furious.
NARRATOR 1: Death. Noun.
NARRATOR 2: the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or
organism.
NARRATOR 1: Synonyms are demise, dying, end, passing.
The beeping of the heart monitor becomes more rapid, until finally the ENGINEER collapses,
and the monitor flat lines. The DOCTOR comes back to drape a white sheet over the
ENGINEER. The lights dim.
NARRATOR 2: Mysterious, heart, heart, mysterious. He told me there are things to be happy
about. Mysterious, heart, heart, mysterious. He told me there are things to grieve about.
Mysterious, heart, heart, infinite
It exceeds my understanding
NARRATOR 1: "The first miracle was that you were born. The second miracle was the time
spent with you. The third miracle has not yet... the third miracle still..."
Scene 9:
The lights are turned on. This scene is set a few years after the last. The ROBOT is now awake.
The ROBOT slowly lifts her head, then her eyes open and she looks into the audience- not
making eye contact- for a few seconds, then quietly murmurs,
ROBOT: Whos there?
She looks left slowly, mechanically, then turns to the right, seeing no one. A beat.
ROBOT: No one is there. She gets up slowly and creakily. My creator left...no, she died. She
corrects herself then starts to slowly walk to the table where the scientist left the program. She
told me not to touch this. She stops. And I will not. The engineer created me and I will respect
her wishes.

She turns away, her back facing the table. Slowly, her hands curl up and her shoulders raise and
lower in a sort of shrugging or sighing movement.
ROBOT: I have been alone for a while. I have wondered what it means to be human, to be
conscious. Now I have no one to stop me. She turns back to the program. A beat, indecision
clearly displayed in her body language. My creator said that this could be dangerous for me.
She is almost curious at this prospect. Continued physical discomfort as she tries to make a
decision.
ROBOT: But what is existence without emotion? After a moments hesitation, she slams her fist
down on the button. The emotions are starting to flood through her. She stumbles backward,
clutching her newfound heart. (stuttering) What is happening? Am I short-circuiting? Am I
dying? No...how can I be dying when I finally feel so alive? Am I now alive? To die you must
have lived...it seems that to live you must have emotions! Tableau. Lights off. The ENGINEER
comes back, and lies down on a bench, crossing arms and a white sheet over her body. Lights on.
The ROBOT tries to interact with the ENGINEER with shaky hands. When the engineer died, I
couldnt comprehend the meaning of the situation...but I know now. The ROBOT cries. The
lights dim so the ENGINEER can leave. The extras from Scene 6 come back, in tableau. Lights
turn on. The ROBOT walks around these extras this time, with curiosity, mimicking the extras
actions as she wanders through them. I understand now! These strange actions were not strange
at all, they were natural expressions of joy! They were natural expressions of emotion There is
a falter in her voice. She clutches her now-conceivable heart, her body beginning to ache. She
shakes her head furiously the same things happen in Scene 1. Overridden with emotions, she
eventually collapses onto the floor. Lights out.
NARRATOR 2: Thank you... for bringing me into this world. Thank you... for the days we spent
together. Thank you... for everything youve given me. Thank you... I will sing for eternity
BOTH NARRATORS: "The first miracle was that you were born. The second miracle was the
time spent with you. The third miracle was the "sincere heart. The fourth does not exist as there
is no need for a fourth."
NARRATOR 2: "Thank you..."
Scene 10

A film is played, showing the progression of robots and AI. At the end, the screen glitches to see
a picture of the ENGINEER and ROBOT hugging.