Foreseeable by Peg Tittle

This Play is the copyright of the Author and must NOT be Performed without the Author's PRIOR consent

Scene 1:

It is a time of war, doesn't matter where or when.

Several people in their twenties are hiding in a bombed out room: ANA
JASIC, GORAN JASIC, ALEKSANDER BARTOL, and MIRJANA PUSKAR are huddled
together

Mirjana holds an infant to her chest

JANKO PUSKAR stands near the entrance, peering out anxiously.

Gunshots, running steps, and occasional shouts are heard in a way that
suggests the enemy is shooting on sight everyone they find, and
getting closer

The infant begins to whimper and shift in Mirjana's arms.

They all look at it, stricken, then they look at Mirjana.

She jiggles it, strokes it, and kisses it, with increasing desperation

But the whimpering escalates.

Goran, closest to her, dangles his finger in front of the infant,
trying to intrigue and distract it

Its whimpers continue to escalate.

Janko turns toward Mirjana with annoyance and anger, and hisses at
her.

The shots and steps get closer

Everyone holds their breath

Just as the infant opens its mouth to flat-out wail, Mirjana puts her hand
over its mouth and nose

In a moment, the infant is still.

[end of extract]