 How to stream land below, come everybody, thanks for coming today, especially to the Newtown Art Gallery here in Williamsburg for letting us use their space to bring us in here. We've done a couple of other readings here as part of the Plays in Progress series. We're not familiar with that. About once a month we have a reading of a new play. To get audience feedback to put up the play right here, how it sounds, you can get comments from the audience afterwards about what you thought about it. As a matter of fact, right here on this chair, there's a slip of paper with some questions that we will ask at the end of the play if you care to have a feedback about that. Some of the pens work, some of the ones don't, so make sure your pen works. So after the play we'll do a little feedback session. Andrew Kramer, the playwright is going to be sniping in for that part. Right, and also there, welcome folks, come on in. Also here's a slip of paper that says, ask me to roar like a lion, roar. And if you take that slip of paper and leave this particular reading and go over to the libraries this afternoon at two o'clock, where we will have a production of streamways, you will get into that production for now. The streamways is today at the library. We also will be doing, please silence your phones if you haven't done so already. And just to let you know, we are streaming online, so the microphone picks up everything. And for those of you in streamland out there, if you're hearing a hum, that is the air conditioner. So if you say anything, you whisper, it's going to be picked up right on that line, so just for you to know that. Crying for Lions by Andrew Kramer. Crying for Lions was developed under the Ingram New Works Lab at Tennessee, Reptory Theater in Nashville, Tennessee. It received staged readings as part of the Ingram New Works Festival in June 2012. It was directed by Lauren Shoes. Further development in October 2012 with New England Public Theater under their springboard new play reading series. It was directed by Jeremy Lewis. Play also had development at New York Theater Workshop, New George and NYU Under Director, Hirona Yusada. Teacher in a mid-sized as she gives English tests and has her students read contemporary literature about Jane's girlfriend. Shane pays attention to detail, maintains specific order and writes legibly at all times. An independent researcher and biologist vote it would come as a surprise. He seems too charming to be a scientist as a quick one. Late 40s, early 50s, maintains a perpetual balance of curious eccentricity and a wise, rugged stability of honor. He handsomely wears his age and is an expert in the field of large cats, specifically the Eastern Cougar. The Eastern Cougar, a large cougar that mostly watches but sometimes speaks. When it does, it has its own voice but we also recognize it as Shane's. Setting, a subluded house east of the Rocky Mountains. One note about the Eastern Cougar is a large, lifelike puppet with four strong legs and a mercurial, present face. It should look like a cougar, but please, please don't design or construct it through the lens of realism. My dream of it towering over the character is huge, like the size of a dinosaur. It is operated by the actor, playing Shane. In Europe, people talk a great deal of the vials of America, but the Americans themselves never think about them. They are insensible to the wonders of the inanimate nature and they may be said not to perceive the mighty forests that surround them till they fall beneath the hub in the woods. A soft light in some dark forest, not a real time or space. Grey is there among them. Faced with a vial down onto the beetle position, of course, stand your ground. Whatever the beast may be, don't turn your back and initiate the chase. Don't turn and run. In the distance, there is the loud echoing cry. Puma, mountain screamer, mountain lion. The cougar has over 40 names due to its wide distribution all over the world. These large cats arrived 15 million years ago, just after dinosaurs and large reptiles. They punctuated their arrival with high mammal metabolism, needing 10 times more food than their reptilian, the venicessus. The moon appears, like the eye of a group of ants to musculature. The woods around them begin to move. There's something large, swiftly moving, circling about, stalking. Lights of a alliance with a shame and ray pass through the forest and into Saturday in the new house that looks very old, with the kitschy air loop remnants of a large family den. There's a large bay window that overlooks an expanse of land populated by forest trees and high golden grass. It is evening. They recently moved in, and shame comes and goes, bringing boxes in and out of the room. Ray is sorting the comments. He's sweating because he's working hard. She's sweating because she's pregnant. How often do you see all your shit in one place, like this? Like packed in boxes in one room. It makes it seem like so much shit, you know? 61 weeks, 60 months, 1,826 days. First home together, but you're right, it will... It arrives, meaning you're nervous. You'll see it's going to take courage from the wound, safely of course, but we're really piles of money with your new little stubby finger. A shitty teacher's salary while daddy strays from work he should be doing to pursue some new project he's not interested in. That would be the elite world it's going to soon and not totally acting like French Warmoire. And you'd better get used to it. You're scared of the trees. See this image kind of hovering before me, but see through incandescent in the shape of a wild animal. Like from just above the butt to the mid-back. It's huge. You're about it at first, but we'll convince them it's a very special birthmark that only very special children get. Raps a box that opens it. We're pulling out a pack without thinking about babies and nations. The new house starts to deal the cards... Two weeks. Real weeks. That will be 14 days. They fix up the pile of cards back in each hand and begins to play bullshit. I start with... Two space. Three things for me. Four for baby. Baby calls bullshit. Ah. We're going to have a card shark on our hands. Shane picks up the pile of cards. That's a week. I tried to explain your work to my students. That's a discussion. One, six. People are testing the lessons because they didn't think they'd need it in the real world. They just thought... I've been good lately. I've been getting work done. I don't really feel like I have a direction. Excited about it. Then go back to studying the cougar. At least you were doing something. Just studying the cougar. And you were awarded the grant. It seems so... New surroundings. I just want to spend time with you guys. Everything else seems so pointless. You're the one who sat me down and said, same thing now, we're getting... Maybe you want. Maybe we talked about it. We both want it. What's the problem? I just know that you could change the world with your hands behind your back if you're going to make this a beauty. He goes off. Ray takes her way back to old shit. She takes out a few thick pipes. She goes to check on it. Just as she approaches, flies open by its own will. She hurries to close it. Then goes off. She shines in the large big window, which again Ray enters putting clothes on. She notices the open window. It's nicer than I thought it would be. Or two. Like again, I thought you'd need for just two people. Excuse me, can I help you? Yes. Maybe some water? It's a very long drive. Longer than I expected and I'm fairly thirsty. What time is it? Early-ish. Yes. Water would be really great. It's a sure sign I'm anxious. I forgot my water bottle. I'll never forget my water bottle anywhere I go. It's one of those nice metal ones that keeps your colds really cold but your warmth is really warm. Hot really. I burned my tongue more than a few times but I didn't want to stop and buy something that would have worn off the entire schedule. I wanted to get here during daylight hours. My line of oak trees on the highway helped some. They're very nice around these parts so many different kinds. Why right there next to each other? Black oak, northern red oak, scarlet oak, min oak, white oak. Where's Shane? What are you talking about? Who are you? Right. Shit. We've not met. I've heard so much about you. So much about you. I feel like we already know each other or at least that I know you. Or at least that I know you. So for you, I've got a lot to... Let's start again. Sorry. I'll go back to the door. Act like I've knocked, okay? Okay. I'm Cortland Lyons. Everyone just calls me Lyons. Vits for the work I do. This will be much easier if Shane's told you. I've heard your name before, yet. That's Lyons. Where's Shane? I'm sorry about this. Dirt tracks, mud tracks. These lutes have seen so much damage. Look, Mr. Lyons. Okay, just Lyons. Don't think that you can just walk into our house. Shane enters. Sleeping in pajamas. Tell me you heard. Shane. What's the clothes on? Or don't, but hurry. You really can't wait. And can I have some water? I've asked Ray for some, and she's not talking to me yet. Go put some clothes on and bring him some water. He does. Ray goes and moves. This is a great house. Shane says you inherited it from your parents. That's none of your business. I mean, I've inherited it was a bad heart. I would have much better heard a house. But it was dream location. Right out here in the middle of nowhere. What can we do for you, Mr. Lyons? Shane returns with clothes on and a glass of water. Thank you. What time is it? I think I think later by the minute. That declaration? What? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Declaration officially released this morning. About the Eastern Cougar. That's what you've come here for? In Jesus' grace. So it's only been four years. Four years since you graduated. I've not taught him how to throw his due to sense. You haven't even read that declaration? No. What does it say? A consensus exists among wildlife officials in 21 eastern states that the Eastern Cougar has been extirpated from the eastern United States. Based on? Based on thorough research, or what the common thorough research, on the lack of a native breeding population. That's always been a concern. Now they've concluded that the Eastern Cougar is extinct. Possibly since the 1930s. Have you ever heard of our steaming pile of bullshit? In all your life? Extinct? Don't you think you should put a little more trust in an established national office? What? No. If your bureaucratic asshole was what do they know? I could bring you over 200 people who have heard the cries of the Cougar. 100 more who have seen it. All of this in the last five to ten years. The Eastern Cougar is not extinct. Not by a long shot, but by the time outside. It takes time and patience. Cougars are called the ghost cat for a reason. This isn't really about some declaration. Don't expect you to understand. It's sleek, elegant, and unparalleled. They're the only animal in the United States that could live and thrive in all 50 states. They exist in all places at once, regardless of the adverse conditions. Distinction, especially here. Yes. These are logical consequences. An explosion in your dear population forced to be unable to regenerate. Just a few of the many problems that could become of this. This isn't just about some declaration. It's about life. About living and existing and seeing something we once had slipped into our understanding. This creature was once breathing and thriving in this country long, long before us. Regulating the entire ecosystem by its mere existence. And now that I've said no longer exists. A motion outside of a large shadowed shape moves past a window. A ray sees it and screams. It drops its glasses and shatters it. Oh my God! I'm sorry. What happened? I thought something out the window. You didn't see that? You're starting to be a knight. Do you have a broom? I'll clean it up. I'm sorry. I know it's fine. I'll get it. I'll go check it out. It's fine. I'll go. It goes. Shame starts to clean the glass. This is you. And still, you would breathe to stay with me and trap you into this. Work on this. She starts off to another room, but stops. The answer is not over. The wood pile near the house was messed up. I didn't see anything. There's some interest in the tracks near the house, though. Did you look at what passed by? I'm not good enough to distinguish it if anything. It's Sunday night. It's dark. The lights are turned down soft. Ray sits pouring over books and papers. There's a scene he played at something on the table before. Shane enters the scene. You should eat this. Shut up. I did when I had a hard time. I'm wearing deep, conservative values I never knew I had. Mostly involved with your parents and children. Do you see an era? A brother and a sister. We'll assume greater importance. You started off like a child into another room and left me to deal with that. It's yours to deal with. This isn't about me. It's about us, Ray. And I would have appreciated this. You want to know what I did when I stormed off? Let me get a skewer. If you get tons of work done while I just sat around. No, I tried. I tried to get work done, but all I did I waited in the bedroom and put my gear to the door listening to you two. We're just speaking the same fucking language, don't you? Ray, stop. Is he here? Still. Because he had to travel to a hard time. What? Since we have the room. Of course, Ray, that we should take in there. I trust you. You're giving him a sense of adventure. Like you said, so I thought maybe it would be cool. I want you working on something just because. I want you working so that you can do something. Change something. You said earlier you wanted me to go back to being happy. Yeah, happy shame because you were doing the work that you loved to make your passion in something or not. Happy shame because I am a parent. Ray, Ray, you've seen people like really big. And right now, that's very appealing. She works for a bit after a moment. You're going to be sleeping out here in the living room? I'm sleeping on a couch. I have to sleep on the window open. I have a difficult time nesting him in without him being annoying. With that guest room just off, I didn't want it to bother you if you were sleeping in here. He's sleeping in here. But maybe you'll be lucky enough to hear the way it does. It's dry and warm. It's the glooper's stormy. You can be a drone made from the lion's coat. It's not music that you'll hear, but what misfortune and bad old deer with looping in my head all day with more power in nature than people first think. Bring shame here. It's unmistakable. They scrape at scent posts on a mark. Because they're so elusive, they're sent for usual inclusion and before any. I've read to say that I've not smelled anything that's worked on it. I'd like not to be up all night. She continues to work. She grows tired. Late Sunday, early Monday morning, dark. Rae's sleeping on the couch. And for a moment, there's a rumble on offstage all causes her to stir. There's another rumble on offstage. How loud or harsh that catches Rae's moving off the side of the room. Rae stands up and looks around. Something breaks. The familiar setting of the house fades into the darkness as the nighttime lights in the surrounding and there's muscular movement. Rae sees something moving among her trees and she can't. We never see what she does. We only hear it. See it's a breath. Maybe it's eyes. It stays in the darkness and surprises us with its ability to speak from every part of our heart. It's too bright to be seen. It hits the leaves of the trees and they shine. Like a meat fever. On your skin. Under the baby crying. Are you there? Are you there? Do you hear the sound of meat to be torn apart? Do you hear the sound of meat to be chewed? Light stays. Let's start at the work week. Right light to the next morning. Shade is drinking coffee. After tucking in last night, I stayed up and watched out the window. Rae was cooking bacon until about four. That's about like a morning. But then again, four a.m. is morning. I was hoping to see her hear something outside of the trees. Can't ever be that lucky, right? Dislike me. Of course I don't. I'm just thinking about other things. Other things? Are you thinking about everything? Should pull some possibility towards you? No, Shayner. I don't think you should. Not at all. If anyone has reason to be hostile, don't you think it's me? When I called, when you called me, it was the first time we'd spoken in years. And it was to tell me how seemingly unhappy you were. Did I sound unhappy? Did I misread? Here are the facts from that conversation. You called to tell me that you're a girlfriend. She's more than my girlfriend. Are you married? Engaged? What should I call her if not your girlfriend? You called to tell me that you were expecting a baby and that you're moving into a new house and that you hate your work. You didn't call your father or your brother or anyone else. You called me. What am I supposed to think? Until now, when you showed up, that's what happens when you get picked in an old scam. We almost forget it's there. But as it starts to heal, it starts to shoo, and we can't resist peeking and reiteritating it, opening up into something wrong, something that bleeds. And when you showing up here, last year they were less than oppressed. Okay, Shayner. You want me to leave? Because I believe if you really want me to, this is a wildlife on established natural areas and the whole sanitary trade policies play in the containment of the adhesive, not a subject that really, it's nice seeing you. Really. It's great. But Ray hates it. And I hate it. It was chaotic. You know that. Sometimes among the mess things a lion. And for a moment it all seems there's this striking sense of clarity. Call called me the exact time that Cougar's extinction was declared. Then things were pointing me here before I blinked. I was in the car driving to you. You don't even have a well thought out plan. You're acting impulsively. What happened to the scientific method? What the scientific method? I'm trusting the pumping in my gut, my intuition, the thing that keeps me up at night. Just listen to me. Cougars in the western hemisphere were originally classified into 32 subspecies. Do you remember this from our studies? Of course I do. Things have changed. Current genetic research only identifies six groups. The entire western hemisphere. Geographically that would put the majority of those groups in the central and south American rights. Yes, exactly. Five of the six groups suggested to some biologists that all North American computers make up one subspecies. Yes. And based on the recent declaration that one of the subspecies would not be the eastern group. They're based on the declaration of its extinction in theory. But complete taxonomic evaluation, including morphology, ecology, and biogeography has not been completed. And isolated populations can develop some genetic differences through path biomechs and breeding within a small population. Well, yes, you're exactly right. This house sits on the edge of a stream that empties into a lake. They are a perfect monitoring hall at the base of an open land with tall trees and golden grass. It's dry throughout the day, up at one in the morning, and there are high numbers of both downed trees and deer. They're perfect. I need to be here. Outside. We're doing work with the Cougar. So I planned on going out today to get some necessary outdoor gear so I can set up camp. You're going to camp out in our backyard? Yes. I'm going to set up camp in the woods, back in the trees, in the way of the lake. And I think that with your help, we can accomplish something great. Like you've always wanted to. Like I've always wanted to. Jane grabs his keys on Monday evening. After work, she sets her stuff down and stands before the bakery box. She contemplates with her and I go to open it. Lion's enters her behind and sees her. You're ready for two now. Go ahead. My hotel? Christ, do you care about your university? He's out back in the yard helping me set up camp. Camp? Yes. I decided I'd be best for everyone. I reckon that women should be under any additional stress. That is correct. Is Jane worth today? You're creating a child with your mate. You're carrying it inside your body for nine months. Justin, I'm accommodating. Jane enters. He's not wearing a shirt. Sweat covers his chest in the back. We're all set up. Great to go. Actually, that's pretty comfortable. Jane pulls his shirt from his back pocket and puts it over his head. He puts it in the bakery box. It's something I brought home for us. Cupcakes or something? Don't have any. More red on top. He pulls out a cupcake. A little frosting. What are these? Jane, I told you not to open the bucket. You're getting so upset about cupcakes, right? I'm not. Now, I will explain. This is exactly what I'm talking about. Here, shut it. Shut up! I really prefer not to deal with it right now. Yes, be outside. In my identity. Bucky is surprised. There are bakeries that will help surprise you with the sex of your baby. Bring in an ultrasound and it's sealed envelope and your cupcakes are filled with sex of your baby. Some dessert, baby. Look at our ultrasound before we did. Brett, I wanted to wait until I was born. You knew that. I couldn't wait any longer. And I don't get some sort of say. I'll buy the janitor's closet on his way to the brawl. To prepare. Ammonia cleaner in each mouth. He was going to spit it at the other one. Lying to him and have an edge but before he could even get to the lunch room, the ammonia made him feel dizzy. Nauseous. He vomited of blood in deep scarlet gauze. Caps out and vaulting. The ammonia ate his taste buds. Destroyed. We'll be better. Please believe me. Sighted it. I realized that there's another... You realized discuss this to death before we decided to get pregnant? I'm getting freaked out here. You're not acting like yourself. Stop. I am. Then what do you realize? We're going to have a boy, Shane. And I'm just deficient. I don't want my child to be confused. I don't want my child to be you, Shane. Just sit here and say the same thing. I don't want my daughter to be like you, Ray. Come back. Come back. Ask. Maybe carry your fucked up baggage along with her. If we do, we can do how to child with my confusions and my situation. Mature enough of an adult to our son. Happy. Happy. Be safe. Ray goes to the box of cupcakes, picks them up, throws them into the trash. Another rumble. Slowly, a growing intensity. Windows fly open. Easter cougars cry across the woods. Eating visit. You see something approaching? A large eastern cougar comes through the open-to-date window. Walks slow, elegance, parallel. Just as mine, as I said. Please, hide. Where do you hide? Please, tell me and Shane so they can find you. And then he'll leave and Shane and I can raise our child without him. I hope to make dish into my mouth, down my and tubes until it lands. Gracefully. Somewhere off far, far in the distance is the sound of a baby crying. But is it, it's hurt. Ha ha ha ha. I've snapped the past on you. Obstacles, Puma con color, low revos, bottom pad, teardrop shanked toes. The cougars will see in the environment that we different neontominer. You'll see in their eyes that they're a bit more wild and unhinged. I have my camera set up around the tent. There's any commotion in trees. It'll be picked up. Lions. Lions. You don't miss this? I don't. I cancel my classes due to a field study trip. I've dedicated my life to studying this kind of thing. I feel upon this for it. A love for it. And it's been declared extinct. I can't even comprehend that. I feel an obligation. To who? To myself. The sun is set. It becomes a darker evening. Lights fade too. The smell of blood. Pray still with the cougar inside the house. I don't like you here. You make noises. You push open the windows. You break things. You're not unable to be tamed. You don't belong in a house. You're so quick to lay out. Yes, yes. You do want a house in someone else. You're more alive than on me. You're not nice to me. Stop! Don't! The eastern cougar leaves great debates chasing after them. Soon the house fades and she finds herself wandering the woods. There are night boys snapping twigs like bones. Don't partially win the cougar. You're acting weird again. Stop! Shane, go in the house. Excuse me. Go in the house. Stop it. Both of you. Ray, what do you want? I want to talk to you. Excuse me? The cougar is near. We're closed. No, I've seen, I've been seen around and it's made me have questions. What you've been seeing is probably something else. It happens all the time. No, what I have been seeing is a cougar. Without evidence, I hope you'll understand my skepticism. And I want to help you find the cougar. And Shane says that you're the leading biologist in the field and I'm wondering if I'm not Shane, me mother. She, she wasn't she was a terrible mother, a terrible person, but it wasn't her fault. Her brain is never really right. She was just, she was cloudy. Her eyes were dark. Her hands strong. I just, I just want to know could my baby become her? Be like her? Do the, do the things she did. My, my father, these 36 stab wounds. She said she didn't remember anything that she was found standing over the body. Maybe it could become a mother or a president. You can't tell these things. And that's why parents and children are so beautiful. Use that information against me. Do you hear me? Excuse me? Some fucked up world I thought that you'd be able to help it. Just don't use it against me. Not everyone prowls the world seeking to fight. Then why did you come here? Why did you come here? Really? You need to go inside, Ray. You can't be dealing with all this on top of your expanding uterus. I worry. I know you do. At first, of the mountain song you sang to me. You don't want to hear it. Please sing it. So you're still strong, still feeling brave, chasing the cougar. In the night you check his scent, you check his cave, unprepared for the coming fight. You tell yourself you'll find him now, lingering on the margins of the wild. Return on home and what you'll find is beasted on your child. If you're really singing the Eastern Cougar, you need to be careful and you need to have something to prove it. That's not enough. You'll need proof. I'll get you more than that. Ray leaves the tent but remains in the woods. A meeting in the woods. It's dark, winds blowing. Eastern Cougar breathes, cries out ferociously. Come here. Right here in front of me. Eastern Cougar approaches but stands its distance. Right here in front of me. The Eastern Cougar stares at Ray and doesn't bow. Shame. Compete with that. Shame's faithful to you. I know. And you know all of these things. What? The Eastern Cougar raises its face. It will keep things tighter, contained. I need to get married so I can work to keep things together. I will not be a wife who don't and winds and cries. That is not who I am. You know that. Do I? I am not a wife who don't hear from me and not the other way around. The Eastern Cougar pens Ray watch your mouth. Yet off of me. I'll tell you one more time. Get off of me. Somewhere off the power in the distance is the sound of a baby crying. You should go and help me. Should get off of me or I will hurt you. You can't hurt me. I can. The Cougar licks Ray's neck. You wouldn't take that away from the Earth. Ray struggles underneath the Cougar. She reaches up and with her bare hand locks him to the Cougar's mouth. She struggles and rips. After a fight she rips out the Cougar's neck. The Cougar howls and pangs. Ray scumbles out on her beneath. The Cougar digs its claws into the ground and prepares to leap. Don't move or I will kill you right here with your own weapon. She holds the Cougar's large, sharp bang. Her hands are bloody. The Eastern Cougar cries out loud. Leave and give you things. Go! In the distance is the sound revealing lions and shanes shadows. Did she say she'll be fine? She should sleep before she says too much to a stranger for a second time. Did she talk about her mother? She spoke of things. Yes. I raise not like that. I know her. Well then what are you worried about? Kids not. Bring muscle. Every piece of me that I want this child and live in this world with rage by my side but what if that's not enough? It probably won't be. Think that? Your cock routinely took up occupancy in my mouth. Of course I think that. You your mountain is hardly the reason I love you. You were the only one. You were it. The exception to the rule. There have been no others to stop acting like you know some great big secret about me. I love you, lions. A lot. I felt things with you and I loved that. You made my mind robbed. You showed me new things. Opened the world in a new way to me. The physical follow. Does Ray know about the child? Lions don't. So she doesn't know? No. Not about that and I don't think she should. Why? She knows about everything else though. Yes. Of course I've never kept information from her. Except this. Except this. Right. Every time I think about the extinction of the eastern Cougar. I think of that child and the future of my life and the future of your life. Extinction. Listen to the word and see how it slips out of the mouth. A cockback of the tongue a knock of the teeth, a harsh slide. We sat down together and discussed adopting a child. Seriously discussed it. I know. Do you? Do you really know? Because you'll have children. You have one on the way. Do I? I want things lions. Things that I'm getting and that you would never be able to give me. Like a what? Like a child and a house and things that I can say. This is mine too. More than I've ever loved. Anyone. Who was I? I want different things lions. Things that I can't have with you. Nice, traditional things the way my parents live. The way I want to live the way I want my children to live. Tradition. You're young and unmarried and expecting a baby. Not traditional as that. She comes from murderous blood. She thinks she's seen the Eastern Cougar. What about this makes you think this is a good idea? I'm trusting the pumping in my gut. My intuition that thing that keeps me up at night. Why did you do that? Did you feel it? No, I didn't. They stand looking at each other. The moon grows brighter revealing gray outside the tent. Her hands is still bloody. I have proof. The proof of what? Are you okay? What's with the blood? It's Cougar blood. The three stand illuminated by the moon. The fang attracting the light. The pelage of the cougar has a coarse texture. His coloration ranges from a yellowish brown on the upper parts. A lighter, almost bumpy color on the belly. The throat and chest are white but not stained with blood. The eyes are mature. Grayish brown to golden. Like shades. The Pollux is small set apart from the other digit of forehead region. It's regal with an arched dignity. The dental formula is three over three, one over one, three over two, one over one. The mandible is short, deep, and powerfully constructed. The carnasial teeth are massive and long. The canines are handy and compressed. The incisors are small and straight. The mountain lion has one more small premolar on each side of the upper jaw than half the bobcat and the links. The bloody fang has stained all their hands. They stand in the trees held together and reach with a hand of a large in the distance. There's a loud and green cry that we need to include. Shane lets go of the fang and looks at the blood. He steps away and looks to lions and gray. Suddenly he runs off deep into the trees. The blackout immediately voices in the darkness. Shane! The house is gone more or not gone but so overrun with plants and trees he's unrecognizable. We see a forest and it's dark. There's movement but we can't see who or what. Only voices in the dark forest. Shane! Shane, can you hear us? Where are you? Shane! Answer if you can hear us. Shane! Ray, over here. There's a patch of moonlight coming through. They come into some light. Do you need anything? Shane, I'm going to keep your fucking hands up! It's not working. What? It's busted, it's not working. It's us around 8.30 but it's been a while. We need to find him. You still have the thing? My husband is missing and you're worried about a fucking thing? You may need it. And he's not your husband. And he's not yours. With every minute I spend with you I realize that more and more. Shane wants to get married. To you. He wants to get married to you. He doesn't want to marry me. We need to find the house. You should be out here. No, we can't go back and have other things to find right now. I thought you were scared of the trees? We're going to find the cougar. We're going to find Shane. Let's move. They move but are stopped. There's movement in the woods around them. The cougar's breath seeps in and leaves. More power in nature than people first think. That's what we want. And we search hard enough. Ray, let's make our way back to the house. Which way is that? We're lost, lions. No, we are not. Come on then, please. Leave the way. In the trees of the cougar's house. Who knows how long we'll be stuck out here. If I go into labor, I want to know that you'll be able to help. We won't have to worry about that. It might be a lesson. It might be perfect. If I have the baby out here, it would be a wild forest child with sharp fangs and a hunger for blood that will just live among the trees. If that's the case, I won't have to do anything. Just throw a rock of meat out the door every few days. You're considering all the beautiful, wonderful things. The world is not bad, Ray. Do you agree? No, I don't. Ray begins to walk off into the trees. Where are you going? Pine chain. Lights shift. Back at camp is your cougar. He goes back inside the tent. We see his silhouette. He begins to search for lions' things. He hides a big hunting hunt. He takes it and steps from the tent. There's a noise from the trees around him. A deep, wistly exhale as breath surrounds him. Hello? Ray? Who's there? Shut up. I will. I will see them again. Ray, where are you? Eastern cougars laugh at those in the dark. Shane grabs a lantern from the tent. You've been missing Ray. You're the one, aren't you? What do you want with her? Leave her alone. Stop fucking things up. Leave her alone. Tell me things. Will she be okay? Will we be okay? Will the baby be enough? Ray? Lions? Shut up. Continue to circle Shane. Land gets hot over and goes out. Can you see the stars? I don't care about the stars right now, Lions. We need to find an opening in the forest top. We can see the stars and we can follow the constellations back to the house. They stand, watching the side of the trees. Let us see. Their sickness has always been my favorite. I have a great respect for swans and they have an inability to get lost. There are nine main stars right there. You can use them to gain your direction, parents. The sun of Poseidon. Beautiful and strong. Why are all the men in Greek mythology young and beautiful and skilled with a sword? Because gods give birth to beautiful children. When Cygnus met Achilles, they fought for hours in an intense struggle. But Achilles discovered that Cygnus' sin was impenetrable. Poseidon made his son's skin like hardest metal so that nothing could pop Achilles. Achilles had a lover called Arintrasis. They were geniuses, formations, survival techniques. Between the two of them, they knew it all. And turned his son into a swan so that he could fly away. So there he is up in the sky. Cygnus. Achilles found out about this. He traveled a long way and turned upon their lives in hope. That's not the real story. No myth is the real story. The Greeks later found eminence or rarely sinned. They make us accustomed to what was lost. We didn't kiss. I kissed. I kissed him. Why did you do that? To see if your lips would fit. And they wouldn't. Shane's mouth and my mouth fit together in a way they nor's would. Think of YouTube. I think of my baby as if it were you. As if it were Shane. I don't want it. I want it with anything. I want you gone far away. I want it to keep roaming like this. I can't keep worrying. I can't keep wondering. So you listen to me because I want to say this once more. We are going to find this cougar and then we are going to find Shane. And then you, we can work. Shane and I. The breath of the eastern cougar fills the stage. The rain cools away. Easy. Hey stop. It's too ugly to raise a child and I won't be able to save it. First steps. First words. Animals. Tugging in. Reading stories. Looking at photographs. Helping with homework. Putting on band-aids. Explaining pain. Giving presents. Giving kisses. Getting kissed. Reignoring. The outside is a storm. There may be dark clouds but that happens. This isn't some bubble of comfort in this world. And you knew that. Before you decided to have a baby there was a responsibility to the country of being a parent. Being a mother. The greatest responsibility one could have. You want to talk about the world, our world and the world on earth after we're gone. Be a mother. Ask yourself on to another body. Transparency. Give the world something. A new person that will contribute to make it better. You're forgetting about all these things. That was shame. All together into the trees. All ends were resolved. Ray stops. Turns the opposite direction. Runs off. We're holding the oogers. Bang. Out like a butterfly. Ray stands among the trees. Somewhere off the distance. Make it back. Your flesh can be. Amazing mother. And shame is going to be an amazing father. I'm going to be the best mother. Pass myself on to another body to contribute to make the world parents. He's crying. Do it yourself. That would just be messy. Make you a good mother. Right beside you. Behind you. Run. Run as fast as you can. It'll focus on me. The baby is gone. Ray, run. Protect your stomach as you go. But run. Run fast. When you face with a wild animal, they tell you not to run. Go! Ray takes off. He begins to charge the cougar. He cries out loud. He's stopping lines. It's a standoff. Ray is running through the trees. She stops to hide behind the tree. Out of breath. Behind her, there's a slow dragging. Shame comes at us. This came all the trees, the mud and the moon. Did you run off? Where did you go? I went. Give the world a something. A new person that will contribute and make it better. Somewhere off the mirror in the distance is the cry of a westerner. Shhh. Do you hear that? This way it sounded like... No, no, shame. We need to get out of here for us. The baby. Yes. The baby for us. Come along this way. They go off into the trees. A great hunt. Lions in the eastern cougar are facing each other. That guy is a beautiful person. I knew it. I knew you weren't dead. I knew we weren't gone. One day, we will be gone. We all will. You will. Aaron shouldn't have had you. They gave you a weak heart. A weak gene. Look at me, Shane. Look at me. I'm not Shane. Look at me. All I ever wanted was to be a father. I wanted to be a dad. I wanted to teach my child things. I wanted to affix him. Something. Some part of the world. I wanted to teach a child things. Things a father teaches his child. I wanted to walk down the street holding their hand and have people look on and know that that is my child. Because it looks like me. You're doing it with her. And when the baby's born, you have it all. Everything you ever wanted. What do I have? I have nothing. This world is meant for parents and for children. And I'm no one's parent. And I'm no longer a child. I can't even tell but you who I've chased for so long. I'm glad I saw you. Even if the world doesn't know. Even if you evade them. You must have a heart attack. You hear the sound of a faltering heart in the distance. A hum. A hum.