The 4 sons

Casting

• Jeffrey Robertson - Barry Magdalene
• Laura Miller - Jamie Schreiber
• Sam Miller - John Popadopoulos
• Sharon Jackson - Andrea Skala
• Paul Meyers - Judah Isaacson
• Alicia Meyers - Pearl Skala
• Zack Finley - Jude Fairchild
• Mona Hirsch - Simone Cylima
• Haggai Peres - James Popadopoulos
• Max Barnaby - Philip Harrison
• Carol Lucchetti - Chris Carpenter
• Anne Isyanov - Tamasa Vallipil
• Kerry Phelps - Frank Bartholemew
• Trisha Summter - Eve Matthews

Setting

The planet Jerusalem. In a one room school house in a village on the frontier of the colony, an elderly teacher finishes a history lesson.

Jeffrey Robertson

On earth, you taught early American history to college students, and executed grand research projects, reviewing and rereading letters and manuscripts written by the founders of that country. Here, you are founding your own country.

The students in your classroom were all born after the ship arrived from Earth to the Planet Jerusalem. The ship left because people on earth had destroyed the planet. The journey was long and hard, and was only made possible because of good people. You are summarizing your lecture for the young children at this point, because the names and dates go over their heads. You must make them understand the importance of the trip, and the lessons that you have taken with you about environmental destruction. The students in your class range from kindergarteners to 14 year olds, so keeping them all interested is a challenge.

PLAYER'S NOTE: Your actions here are somewhat scripted. Four students will ask you questions. Here are your responses:

• To Sharon: "Great wrongs were worked against the environment and against people like ourselves. Here we have been granted a second chance. We must protect the new planet and protect each other. Come speak with me before you go to high school and I will tell you more of what needs to be done."
• To Paul: "Great people rescued us from hard times, and we need to remember both the hard times and the great people."
• To Zach: "We're here to remember what great people did for me. With an attitude like that, you would have been throwing rocks at the ship, not getting on it, and certainly not helping to build it."
• To Carol: (Carol will probably not ask, but will sit, looking at you.) When there is a break, say: "This is for the sake of what SHIFRA did for me, taking me out of a dying earth."

Laura Miller

You are a classroom assistant to Jeffrey. You help him keep the younger children under control while he works with the older kids. You were just a kid when you made the trip from Earth, and only remember bits and fragments of living there. Jerusalem is your home. Your younger brother Sam is one of the students in the class.

Sam Miller

You are way too old for this. You've heard the lecture before, from Dr. Robertson, from your parents, from everybody. You're 14 and you can't wait to go back to the central colony for high school. Maybe you can get Sharon's attention instead. She's pretty cute, and she's also leaving for high school next year.

Sharon Jackson

As many times as you have heard the story of the trip from Earth, it still horrifies and fascinates you. You're 13, and you have been hearing it since you were a baby, but you still want to know more. Of course, you will only get to if the children will keep quiet and Sam doesn't start pestering you again.

NOTE: When you get a chance, ask "What are the things we must do to prevent this from ever happening again?"

Paul Meyers

You are here with your twin sister Alicia. You think that this is interesting, but Alicia won't leave you alone. You want to know more, but you only can listen if she stops bothering you!

NOTE: When you get a chance, ask "What is this about?"

Alicia Meyers

Another history lecture. Doesn't Dr. Robertson know that you're too young to sit through another history lecture? Maybe your twin brother Paul will entertain you.

Zack Finley

You are not impressed. Yeah, yeah, the earth went up in flames, your ship barely got away, yah di dah. You're here now. What's important here is building up the colony and growing food. Why do you have to hear about all this bullshit again?

NOTE: At some point, interrupt to ask "What does all this bullshit mean to you?"

Mona Hirsch

You try to be good. You really do. But these lectures mean you have to sit and your desk, and sit at your desk. If you have to sit there any more, you're going to explode.

Haggai Peres

Oh, Dr. Robertson is rambling again. You're sure he's talking about something important, but it's never as interesting as what's in your head. In your head, you're fighting space battles. You only get in trouble when you forget to keep it in your head.

Max Barnaby

Why do people keep interrupting the lecture. That's just rude. You're sitting here, quietly taking notes, but the poor teacher can't finish a sentence. If you have to sit through one more snarky comment you are not going to let the idiot off.

Carol Lucchetti

You just started school. Everything here is interesting. You like to sit in the front row and listen, but you don't always understand everything Dr. Robertson talks about.

Anne Isyanov

Your parents don't speak much English in the house, and you only started school last year. You are starting to understand what is said, but it's hard. Your parents always taught you to ask questions whenever you do not understand. Make sure you understand this important lecture.

Kerry Phelps

Your teddy bear Cuzzy, finds this all very depressing and scary. If Dr. Robertson doesn't stop talking about bad things, Cuzzy is going to have nightmares tonight. You don't like it when Cuzzy has nightmares. They wake you up, too.

Trisha Summter

You didn't get enough sleep last night because you had a great idea for an art project. Now you're trying desperately to stay awake through a long, repetitive history lecture. It really isn't working too well.